Murder at the party
The party was good. Ginny was now on good terms with Hermione and Astoria was busy with his mother-in-law's endless demands.
Narcissa made sure to come by every guest and say hello. A few other Wizengamot members also came to pay their respects to Hermione. Sometimes she forgot how much influence she wielded within the magical world.
"Are you trying to pull off a Dumbledore with that cloak?" asked Draco Malfoy as he finally dared to approach her alone.
"Is it working?" said Hermione.
"You look as ridiculous as he did. So yes, you have done it to perfection."
"People say I look good," said Hermione.
"As if looking like a huge plum is ever good. But people like you can pull it off. You are powerful. It makes people feel safe around you. Imagine if Dumbledore wore normal clothes. That would take away his warm friendliness."
"Good point,"said Hermione.
"Would you like to dance?" asked Draco.
"Of course," said Hermione as she took his hand.
Draco was a good dancer. Certainly better than Harry and miles better than poor Ron. Apparently, Hermione was a better dancer than his wife as well.
"I should have married you. You have no idea how many times Astoria has stamped my feet."
"Careful Draco," hissed Hermione, "People might think that you are trying to seduce me."
"Not when you are wearing this atrocious dress. I'm sure it's Potter's taste. That man has none of it."
Hermione noticed that Astoria was intentionally looking away, paying them no attention.
"I think we should stop," said Hermione, ending their graceful dance, "You are upsetting Astoria."
Draco nodded. "We have to stop," Potter is coming here.
Harry seemed inflamed. He was obviously uncomfortable that Hermione was dancing with Draco.
"I hope you don't mind that I have the next round with her," said Harry rather hastily.
"Of course, my wife needs me anyway."
Draco moved away letting Harry have his dance with Hermione.
"What did he want?" said Harry.
"To have a friendly chat."
Harry huffed and tried his best to let Hermione lead. He had improved but he wasn't as good as Draco.
"Harry, you are doing so well," said Hermione.
He blushed. He slowed down and then they stopped.
"Hermione, I know it's impossible. But can you give us a chance?"
It was impossible, Hermione could not give it a chance, and she did not.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"I know," said Harry walking away heartbroken.
They both did not get to feel bad very long as they heard a very piercing scream.
Hermione and Harry ran to the source and in a room where Hermione had been before they saw Ginny crying by the corpse of a woman.
"Merlin!" said Harry recognising the body.
"It's Lavender!" said Hermione.
It was too late. Lavender had died long ago. Hermione touched her hand and it moved. Hermione tried to check if she was alive, but she was terrified to find out that Lavender's hand was actually chopped away and then put back again. All her body was, but the cuts had been thin and precise. The hand fell apart but there was no bleeding.
"He must have removed the blood," said Harry, "It's the Butcher."
"Harry, call the Aurors!" said Hermione.
"You weren't exactly joking, were you?" said Ginny trembling on the ground.
"I think Ginny's lost it," said Harry.
"What are you talking about? What happened, oh good Lord!" said Ernie as he saw the corpse of Lavender Brown. He looked at it's hand and then shamelessly threw up on the floor.
"Harry, take Ernie out of this room. He is sick." said Hermione.
Ginny looked at Harry in horror. She obviously did not want to be left alone with Hermione, who now regretted her joke about killing Lavender.
Hermione helped Ginny get out of the room. She was shivering madly. Harry conjured two seats for the shocked Minister and his own ex-wife.
"This is madness!" shouted Ernie.
"Hermione did it," said Ginny, "She said she would."
Hermione was utterly shocked. Ginny couldn't be serious.
"This is a very dangerous accusation, Mrs Potter..." said Ernie
"Weasley," Ginny corrected him.
"Ms Weasley… Ginny, frankly, this is the silliest idea I've heard come out of your mouth," said Ernie rather angrily.
"Ginny, please calm down. I know you are shocked," said Hermione, "I have never harmed Lavender."
"Aurors are on their way," said Harry, putting his phone in his pocket.
"How did you get reception here?" asked Ernie.
"Ministry phones are now fully connected to the Floo network."
"Good to know," said Ernie distractedly.
Hermione saw a man coming their way. It was Ron. Ernie stood up.
"Harry, I need to speak with Lucius Malfoy. Make sure Ron doesn't overreact."
Ernie slipped away and walked to Lucius Malfoy without raising any suspicion.
"Where did Ernie, I mean the Minister, go?" said Ron, "Are you all okay?"
"No," said Hermione.
Harry shook his head and took Ron to the murder scene. Ginny and Hermione saw him cry but they could not hear him.
"Harry must have put up a sound barrier," said Hermione to Ginny.
Ginny nodded silently. Ernie came back and put his hand on Hermione's shoulder.
"No one is leaving this manor," he said, "We will have our killer tonight."
Hermione nodded but then something occurred to her.
"The killer might have left already, or perhaps he is not one of the guests."
Ginny was avoiding Hermione's eyes. Hermione could tell that Ginny was convinced that Hermione had done it. Why that was the case was beyond her.
The party went on as no one was told of the horrifying crime that had occurred.
Lucius Malfoy seemed undisturbed and he remained calm when the Aurors entered the Manor and sealed all the exits. The guests were disturbed first. Hermione heard Astoria say, "coup d'etat."
Then Ernie announced what had happened and it became far worse. People were sitting looking at each other suspiciously. Tension was high. The Aurors finally came to tend the crime scene.
"We have the powder," said one of the Aurors to Harry.
"That's wonderful. Make sure you follow the protocol," said Harry.
"What powder?" asked Hermione, "You don't mean… "
"Yes, they have made a test version," said Harry.
"We are going to catch him!" said Hermione excitedly.
"How?" asked Ginny in bewilderment.
"Top secret project in the Department of Mysteries," said Ernie, "All I can say is that it is called Time Powder. Hermione commissioned its production."
"Well, you can get the credit for it," said Hermione.
Harry looked at Aurors applying the powder with worry. He wondered if it would even work a bit.
"What if he had precautions against it?" he said.
"Well, no one knew the powder was ready except me and the staff who made it," said Ernie, "That should narrow down your list of suspects to the fingers of your hands."
"It's ready," said Auror Chance and asked them to come and witness the crime.
The room was filled with grey smoke and nothing could be seen. Then the smoke cleared and Hermione saw the impossible; Lavender Brown entered the room with her. The Aurors sighed but no one moved to arrest her. They just watched them talk.
"Now that we are alone, what did you wish to talk about, Hermione?" asked Lavender.
"Lavender, if I'm not wrong I saved you in the battle of Hogwarts from being killed, am I right?" said Hermione calmly.
"You are," said Lavender.
"Then why are you with Ron?" said Hermione.
"We are friends. And honestly, that's none of your business."
Lavender was about to walk away when a Petrification Spell hit her.
"Oh, that is a pity, Lav. I was about to offer you a chance to make it up to me, but you are not going to take it."
Hermione walked around Lavender to face her.
"I really liked you, dear. But you happen to be the competition."
Harry walked into the room. Past-Hermione was smiling at Lavender and he could see terror in her eyes.
"No," he whispered.
Past-Hermione waved her wand and Lavender's face became pale like ash. Her eyes lost motion and upon her death the Petrification Spell lost its effect. Her body fell on the ground quietly.
"Now, the final touch," said past-Hermione. She swung her wand left and right a few times. Apparently, nothing had happened, but present-Hermione knew that Lavender had been cut into tiny cubes that would fall apart when touched.
The Aurors looked at Ernie who in return looked at Hermione.
"I did not kill Lavender," said Hermione nervously.
"Yeah, we know," said Ernie, "It's just that we don't know what to do now."
"We could arrest her!" said a junior Auror.
The others just laughed. Harry looked somber.
"I'm afraid that's what we should probably do," he said.
"Please do if you want to immediately lose your job," said Ernie frostily.
"Aurors, arrest Hermione Riddle," said Harry.
"Harry, that wasn't me!" cried Hermione.
"Hermione, this is the only way," said Harry. "This is the only way to catch the Butcher. He has to think he has won."
"We will get crucified for this!" shrieked Ernie.
"Aurors grabbed Hermione's arms and confiscated her wand. She did not resist being arrested. She was pushed through the crowd. People were astonished that she was being arrested. Some cried in protest. Others watched silently and a few began whispering to each other. Hermione knew she had been trapped. This had been the plan all along. She would be taken to Azkaban. The era of Hermione was over.
Lucius Malfoy stepped forward.
"What do you think you are doing? She will be out within an hour and you will have lost your jobs!"
The aurors loosened their grip.
"Do as you were ordered," murmured Hermione angrily.
The grips tightened and the Aurors resumed walking with more confidence. Hermione could see how angry some members of Wizengamot were. Poor Aurors were going to have a rough day. The press would have a field day; she could already imagine the titles and articles. The aurors used a specially modified portkey to transfer her to Azkaban. It was her own design.
Cold. The wind blew her cloak and her nostrils were filled with the scent of salt. Azkaban stood dark in front of them on its tiny island. The aurors guided Hermione to the prison. Inside the building was cold and dark. Fortunately, since Hermione had reduced the number of Dementors significantly, it wasn't as depressing as it used to be. As she passed by the cells the inmates were looking at her in awe. They did not know who this woman was. As they passed by Delphini's cell she smiled.
"What brings you here new girl?" she said.
"Silent," said one of the Aurors called Austin Gibbons.
"Austin Gibbons, wasn't your uncle a Death Eater?" said Delphini.
"Austin!" said Hermione stiffly.
Gibbons stood straight and looked away from Delphini. The aurors who were holding Hermione started moving as she did.
"Who are you?" cried Delphini.
"My name is Hermione Riddle," said Hermione. She couldn't see Delphini but it was clear that she was shocked. Hermione did not stop until they reached the highest security cells in Azkaban.
"Fun fact, she has placed some of the spells here," said a voice not far away from them. Hermione turned her head to the source of the voice and saw Rodolphus Lestrange sniggering. Rabastan in the cell next to him seemed confused.
"Rab, that's the Ex-Minister of Magic, Hermione Riddle. Since you have not read any newspaper since our imprisonment. You might know her as Hermione Granger."
Rodolphus was now laughing so hard. One Auror wanted to silence him but Hermione prevented that by a fake cough. She was put in a cell that was not very far away from Rabastan. Once they least Rodolphus faced her and smirked.
"So what brings you here?" said Rodolphus playfully.
"A simple misunderstanding," said Hermione with a fake smile.
"Please, I've read the newspapers. Your successor was here just a week ago asking all sorts of questions. You are the Butcher, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not. But he is clearly interested in me," replied Hermione.
Rodolphus laughed. Why was he so amused by this?
"So I hear that you arrested your own sister. I'm sure the Dark Lord would have approved."
Hermione huffed. Rodolphus was so annoyingly energetic. He was having fun.
"Thank you," said Rabastan. "Uhm … for the Dementors not constantly tormenting us."
"Yes, yes," said Rodolphus sarcastically. "We are indeed indebted to you."
"Delphini tried to help Voldemort. That is why I had to arrest her. Otherwise I couldn't have cared less who her parents were."
"I cannot believe she screwed up so bad. Well, it wasn't so unexpected. After all, they just tried to revive a very old project."
That had Hermione intrigued.
"What project?"
"Ah, nothing important!" said Rodolphus with a nasty smirk.
Hermione simply stared at him waiting for him to crack up.
"There was a project that was initiated the moment we took over the Ministry of Magic. Rookwood was put in charge. He was supposed to make a limitless time turner."
"The one that Nott helped on."
"True. The Dark Lord believed that we desperately needed such a device to correct a few mistakes. I personally never knew what was supposed to be fixed. But we went with it anyway. All I did was bring supply to Rookwood. His project was not to be found out by anyone inside the Ministry and yet he needed the resources of his old department. There were only a few involved. There was a boy whose identity was kept secret. I simply knew that he was Barty Crouch's son, the Junior's that is. He met the Dark Lord a few times. Nott and Rookwood were only involved in the making of the device. Only the booty and the Dark Lord knew what the real plan was."
"I guess you'll never find out," said Hermione.
Rodolphus smiled. It was not a smirk. It was a genuine smile.
"Actually, I did a week ago. That boy happens to be Ernie MacMillan."