****Salutations! I hope everyone is having a lovely week. I'm sorry I left you with such a cliffy last update. The story is unfortunately coming to a speedy close. I hope you've all enjoyed it and will follow me for future ones! This is the second last chapter, amigos. Absolutely nothing would be more fantastic than to go out with a bang and you can all help do this by simply reviewing. Honestly, it makes my week. Thanks for all the support and speak to you next chapter.****
The Daily Prophet
HERMIONE GRANGER, GOLDEN GIRL, FOUND DEAD AT MALFOY MANOR
Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter
Loved member of the golden trio, Hermione Granger, was found dead at the Malfoy residence, earlier this week. Her friends and family are mourning her loss, a memorial currently being constructed at her education sanctuary, 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry'.
Granger entered Malfoy Manor, last Friday, in pursuit of her long term boyfriend, Draco Malfoy. Earlier that same morning, Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, was reportedly found dead by the family house elf, according to a Ministry of Magic official.
"It was Lucius, her husband, who killed her. He'd just been released from Azkaban, too. Talk about an oversight of character." Said John Dawlish, of the auror department.
Draco, notified of his mother's death, pursued Lucius to a concealed cellar at the Manor, intending to seek vengeance.
Concerned about Draco's absence and suspecting his motives, Hermione contacted the Ministry's auror department. Upon disclosing her apprehensions regarding Draco's whereabouts, she agreed to accompany a small unit of aurors to Malfoy Manor to conduct a thorough search of the house. Shortly after their arrival, the team detected noises of distress from the Manor's drawing room. The source appeared to be a large fireplace, however, no entrances were apparent. Nevertheless, the existence of the hidden cellar room was soon exposed, after a revealing charm was conducted by Hermione.
"And then she started muttering random words, some very distasteful indeed, when suddenly the fireplace spun and there we were, standing in the cellar." Dawlish recounted.
The Ministry later revealed the entrance word to the room was "mudblood". Hermione, aware of the family's pureblood history, apparently guessed correctly.
"When we entered the chamber, it was very cold and the noises became considerably louder. Screams were echoing off the walls and there was much confusion. One second we had been standing in the drawing room, and the next in a cold room surrounded by tortured cries." Dawlish stated with glistening eyes, clearly haunted by the experience.
Hermione sprinted ahead of the group, into the connecting room, and was confronted by a terrible sight. Lucius Malfoy, torturing his only son, Hermione's partner, Draco. According to Dawlish, he was close to death.
"I could tell straight away, unless he was attended to soon, he was gone from this life."
However, against odds, Draco survived the attack, if only just. He successfully recovered after an admission to St Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, for a term of three days.
A healer at the hospital stated that he was "in a bad way" and "scarcely alive".
Most unfortunately, Hermione was not so lucky. The Boy Who Lived's great friend, did not survive Lucius's wrath. The killing curse struck Hermione immediately after she had uncovered the scene of torture, killing her instantaneously. She barely had time to call Draco's name before her life was taken.
While the soul of the golden girl has faded, her legacy lives on. Her undying will to battle evil, oppose the ill hearted and change the unchangeable will be remembered for all of wizarding history. I, personally, will not readily forgot her incredible mind nor her knack for knowing more than she should. She was truly a hero of our times.
In commemoration of Miss Hermione Jean Granger.
Rita Skeeter