Chapter 16
A memory, half-preserved...
"Better," Professor Pucey praised as Ara nonverbally blocked a stinging hex. "Mr. Malfoy, you ought to learn something from these girls," she said dryly, gesturing to Ara and Rose.
Scorpius grit his teeth, and narrowed his eyes, gripping his wand more tightly.
"Again," he demanded, and Professor Pucey obliged. He half deflected it, but somehow failed to block the part that hit him on the shoulder. He hissed in pain.
"Zabini, practice with him," Professor Pucey demanded, and moved onto another group.
Ara sighed. "You wanna take a break?"
"No," Scorpius said decisively. "Again."
Much of the period continued in the same pattern, Scorpius demanding another shot to get it right, and Ara boredly sending him another hex.
"Again!" Scorpius demanded.
"Scorp, shouldn't we-?"
SCREECH. SCREECH. SCREECH. Thousands of Caterwauling Charms suddenly went off, interrupting Ara in the middle of her sentence.
"Shit!" Professor Pucey cursed, not caring if the students heard her or not.
McGonagall's silver cat pounced into the room, silencing the Caterwauling Charms within the room.
"Professor Pucey, secure your students in your classroom, and ward it off. Marcus Flint had invaded Hogwarts. Stay safe," the cat ordered, and then disappeared.
"You heard the cat, into the back room," Professor Pucey ordered, but Scorpius was positively livid.
"Are you kidding me?" he demanded, his cheeks turning red. "We're sitting ducks if Flint comes in here! We'll be waiting for him to kill us, and we all know who he's targeting!" Scorpius shouted.
"Orders are orders," Professor Pucey said firmly, ushering the kids up the stairs and into her office.
"I will not stand for this," Scorpius yelled. "What use is DADA then? When we actually need it, when we're in an actual situation, we don't even get to try? We don't even get the chance when Flint comes bursting in here with his Avadas? You know he will. You know he's out to get her."
Professor Pucey whipped around and grabbed him by his collar. "I am responsible for you, you twit," she spat. "You probably don't understand the meaning of the word yet. Guess what it means? If you die, as you seem so keen to do, it is my fault. I am not going to let you run out in the middle of a duel and kill yourself!"
"So you're going to lock me in an office, with no way out, in hopes that he won't find me?" Rose asked softly. "Professor Pucey, you know he's coming for me. You know he will find me. And you know that if you stick me in that office, I'll be fighting with my back against the wall. That's one of the first things to avoid in a fight," she stated, echoing one of their previous lectures.
"Merlin damn you and your brains. You're right," Professor Pucey cursed. "All those in favor of staying behind, get into my office. The rest of you know the consequences of heading outside. Choose now!" she snapped, and most of the first years huddled into her office.
"WAIT!" a voice shouted, barging into the room.
"Finnegan where the fuck were you?" Professor Pucey demanded.
"Bathroom," he shot back, coolly, twitching ever so slightly.
"Get in the office," she snapped. He stomped in, glowering at Scorpius, Rose, Emelda, Ara, Albus and Harper, all of whom refused to stay. Once inside, Professor Pucey sealed the doors, warding it with several security layers.
The silver tabby cat reappeared. "Natasha! He's in the courtyard, we need you!"
Professor Pucey pushed open the doors of the classroom, and the students poured out into the hall. "Find the secret passageway to Hogsmeade, and go!" she hissed, running off in the direction of the courtyard.
The students looked at each other, and instead of searching for the passageway, Rose followed after the Professor, jogging quietly to the courtyard.
As they rounded the corner, Ara grabbed Rose by the arm, slamming her into the wall.
"Ow! Merlin Ara!" Rose exclaimed, rubbing her elbow. "Let go of me!"
"He's out to get you, are you stupid?" Ara snapped. "You should really go, just get out of here!"
Rose wrenched her arm out of Ara's grasp. "I think we can handle him, all of Hogwarts' professors and the best DADA students," she snapped, dashing into the battle.
"He might not be alone!" Ara snarled. "ROSE!" Ara shouted. "For Merlin's sake!" Ara followed, and the rest of the students charged ahead, entering an utter warzone.
Flashes of red and green spells were blasting left and right, the professors' spells deflecting off of Flint harmlessly. Scorpius shoved Ara to the ground as a stray Avada went sailing inches above their heads, and Rose kept running to the heat of the battle.
"HOLLYN!" Melody cried as her best friend was caught in a crossfire. The blonde girl was thrown into a pile of broken stone, limp as a rag doll. Leonora grabbed Melody, pulling her away. "HOLLYN!" Melody cried as Leonora pulled them to safety, retreating in the opposite direction in hopes of an escape.
"MELODY AND LEONORA GET OUT OF HERE!" Coach Jordan screamed, blocking one of Flint's spells towards the girls.
"Is Rose stupid?" Ara spat, pulling Scorpius up and following the red head.
"Gryffindork," Scorp answered, dodging a nasty chartreuse looking spell.
"How is that possible?" Emelda asked breathlessly, pointing towards Flint.
Flint was surrounded on all four sides, circled by McGonagall, Longbottom, Pucey, Huang, Flitwick, Jordan, even Trelawney was pelting him with spare crystal balls. And yet, not a single spell (or crystal ball) was hitting its mark. No shield was in sight, and yet, every Petrificus Totalus and Stupefy bounced off, so that another person had to duck to avoid being hit.
"This isn't going anywhere," Albus frowned, grabbing Emelda's arm to pull her out of the way of an exploding column. "It's not even getting weaker!"
"AHH!" shrieked Amy Weasley, caught by one of Flint's purple spells. She collapsed to the floor, writhing in pain. Elliot grabbed his girlfriend, desperately trying to pull her out of the way of flying debris, only to be caught by one of Flint's Avadas.
"ELLIOT" Connor yelled, watching helplessly as his best friend collapsed on the ground, his eyes lifeless.
Rose stopped in her tracks, seeing Amy's torture and Connor's anguish, and decided that she was done. Two people had died because of her, and damn it if Rose Weasley wasn't a Gryffindor.
"FLINT!" she taunted. "Marcus Flint!" she shouted, and he turned to look at her, his crazed eyes targeting his next victim. "You want me? Don't you? You want the mudblood to feel the pain! WELL COME AND GET ME, and leave everyone else alone!"
"BLASTED GRYFFINDORK!" Scorpius cursed, wordlessly deflecting one of Flint's spells. "Hey! Ara did you see that?"
"Focus, Scorp!" Ara hissed bouncing one of Flint's spells right back at him.
"Rose you idiot!" Lucy Weasley called. "Get out of he-" but was cut short as a spell blasted her into the wall. She slumped on the floor, motionless.
"FUCK!" Professor Pucey swore, shielding the other children. "I told you to get the fuck out of here!" Professor Pucey shouted.
"STOP IT!" Rose shrieked at the murderer. "STOP IT!"
Flint chuckled maniacally, tilting his head, his pupils changing from brown to green, and back again. "Oh little baby mudblood speaks, does she? Baby Rosie flower wants me to stop hurting its friends, does it? Well, how does this feel?" he jeered. "CRUCIO!" he pointed his wand at Harper, who collapsed, screaming. "CRUCIO! CRUCIO! CRUCIO!" Flint repeated, over and over again. The red light penetrated Ara and Albus's Protego easily, hitting its makr every time.
"Stop," Rose begged, tears streaming down her face. "You want my pain, don't you? Why don't you just take it out on me?"
Flint giggled, skipping towards her, completely unaffected by the professors who tried to block his path. If they got anywhere within two feet of him, they were completely blown back into the piles of rubble, knocked unconscious.
"Baby Rosie flower doesn't understand yet? Does it? Baby Rosie flower isn't old enough. The guilt dearie baby. The guilt just eats you up and kills you from the inside out. It's more painful, volatile than a measly little Crucio. But I guess it wouldn't hurt, would it? Crucio!" he shouted, but Rose ducked. "Rosiepoo knows how to dodge. Run little girl. Let's see you run!" he cackled dementedly, shooting spell after spell at her.
As Flint's concentration was on Rose, Connor tearfully looked up from Elliot's body, seeing a darkened shadow, slithering out of a tarnished silver chain hanging round Flint's neck. Doubtful, but figuring he might as well give it a shot, Connor shot a Stupefy towards the origin of the shadow.
It was absorbed, turning the bubble shield into a soft scarlet so that it became visible for a moment, before the silver chain flashed red, but slightly different from the stunning spell. Confused, Connor tried an Expelliarmus, but the spell was reflected off just like all the others, despite Connor's good aim.
And then, Connor understood.
"STUPEFY! EXPELLIARMUS!" Connor shouted, aiming for the blackened necklace. Flint's shield turned scarlet, then red, and then the necklace flashed light blue, almost clear. Apparently, Flint was oblivious to his color-changing shield, focused on shooting spells at Rose Weasley.
"STUPEFY! EXPELLIARMUS! PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Connor shouted, and the shield quickly flashed scarlet, red, light blue, and finally, green.
"It can't be..." Connor whispered, wide eyed. "I can't do it."
"DAD!" Fiona Flint called, running into the courtyard. "DAD STOP! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"Sectumsempra!" he shouted at Rose, who dodged it with most of her body, but was hit on the wrist, hissing in pain.
"DAD STOP!" Fiona shrieked.
Flint whirled around pointing his wand at his daughter, his eyes still flashing between their natural brown and their insane green. His wand arm shuddered, shaking as Flint warred with himself.
"Avada-" he began, but his left arm shoved its fist into his own mouth, the right arm still pointing at Fiona.
"Stop, father, please!" she begged. "Look at you! You're not like this! I know you're in there Dad. Help me!"
Connor took a deep breath as Flint's left fist tore out of his mouth. "Stupefy! Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalu-" Connor began.
"Av-" Flint began.
"-s!"
"-ada"
"Avada-"
"Ked-"
"Kedav-"
"-avr"
"-rah!" Connor shouted with all his might, completing the spell just before Flint.
Suddenly, Flint's magical shield shattered, and he was stupefied, paralyzed, sent to sleep, and all manner of spells at once.
Connor slumped to the ground, exhausted by the casting of an unforgivable curse.
"DAD!" Fiona screamed, fighting her way past the professors and throwing herself onto her father. "DON'T TOUCH HIM!" she screamed.
"Ms. Flint!" McGonagall exclaimed sternly. "Your father isn't in his right mind. We need to secure him, so please move out of the way."
"He's just going to go to Azkaban, isn't he?" Fiona sobbed, grabbing more tightly onto her father. "You're going to send him to the dementors, who will just make him more crazy! I won't let you!"
"Are you kidding me?" Professor Pucey asked, flabbergasted. "Your dad almost fucking killed you and you're concerned that he's going to Azkaban?"
"Language!" Flitwick cried out, offended.
Fiona stared up and Professor Pucey, brown eyes narrowing. "Slytherins stick together. Family first. Friends follow. Anything else is collateral damage," Fiona spat. "Purebloods all know the rule, and you really ought to, being married to one."
"But Slytherins believe in self-preservation, too," Professor Pucey added. "And we certainly don't believe in stupidity." Fiona glared at her professor.
Coach Jordan knelt down next to Fiona, grabbing her hand. "Come on, Fiona. I promise you that we'll try our best to get him back to normal. But he's very dangerous right now, so would you come over here and let our healer check you over?"
Fiona nodded slowly, getting off her dad and slowly approached Coach Jordan.
"Come now, Fiona. We have to check you out and make sure you're okay for Quidditch!" Coach Jordan smiled cheerfully, offering her hand. Fiona grabbed it, and they slowly made their way to the hospital wing.
"What I want to know," Professor Longbottom began, deadly quiet, "is where all of the damned Aurors were?"
"Damn," Professor Huang spat. "Where in Merlin's name are they?"
"Slaughtered," Harry stated, walking into the courtyard, stone-faced but certainly not dry-eyed. His eyes darted about the courtyard, taking in the dead bodies, before his eyes landed on Albus, alive and well, Harry's shoulders noticeably relaxing. "As well as a couple of the students sealed into their classroom."
Professor Pucey inhaled sharply, looking straight at Rose and Scorpius.
"It appears..." Harry gulped. "That Flint was not alone. Something or someone else attacked, and two of the designated Aurors are missing. The rest died defending the children, though most of the students are physically unharmed. Traumatized? Probably."
McGonagall was shaking her head, her knees weakening. "The children," she whispered, "Merlin save us. The poor children," she sobbed, collapsing onto the floor, Harry and Neville barely catching her.
"How on Earth did he get in?" Professor Pucey asked, gripping her wand so tightly that Ara worried it might snap.
"We don't know," Harry frowned, motioning for his other gathered Aurors to begin cleaning up the disaster and bring the injured to the hospital wing. "But we will find out."
"Ara!" Alex shrieked, grabbing her daughter and wrapping her arms around her. "Are you okay? Merlin, is Scorp okay?"
"Mom!" Ara cried tearfully. "We're okay. Albus and Rose, too, though we've all been scratched up pretty badly. Dad!" she shouted as Blaise came into view, his jaw clenched and eyebrows scrunched in worry.
"Ara, my Ara. You're fine, you're fine," he reassured her and himself, hugging his daughter tightly.
All of the parents were allowed to visit, McGonagall cancelling the next two weeks of school for investigations and family reunions. Most opted to bring their students home, all concerned about their children's safety. There were far too many funerals to attend.
"Thank Merlin," Hermione sighed as she clutched Rose tightly.
Draco and Scorpius embraced, while Albus spoke in low tones with his parents, side by side with James.
"Are you all packed? Got your luggage and everything?" Alex asked the kids.
"Yes," Scorp answered. Ara nodded, too.
"Rose?" Alex asked. Rose looked at her, confused.
"Yes, why?"
"We're staying with the Zabinis for a few weeks," Hermione explained. At Rose's confused look, Hermione continued. "They insisted we stay somewhere with older, better wards. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny are out of their minds with this investigation, and Uncle Blaise and Aunt Alex have plenty of room within Zabini Manor. The wards, so far, have succeeded. So we'll be staying with them. That okay with you?"
Rose rolled her eyes. "Perfect. I spend more time in the presence of Scorpius Malfoy."
"I thought you guys were friends?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Rose said simply. Hermione looked confusedly over at Draco, who caught her eye and shrugged.
"All right, let's all go," Blaise announced, displaying a long pipette tube, at which most everyone (besides Alex and Draco) looked weirdly.
"It's just a portkey, all right?" Blaise sighed. Alex snickered behind his back, knowing he had just lost their bet about wizards knowing anything about biological technique equipment. Blaise threw a glare back in her general direction.
"Why is Potter joining us?" Draco scowled as Harry grabbed onto the pipette tube.
"Because we need to discuss some things," Hermione snapped, just before the portkey brought them into Zabini Manor, appearing in the foyer.
"Ara, go and get Rose and Scorp settled in, would you?" Alex asked lightly as she led Hermione and Draco to theirs. "Blaise, keep the others entertained."
"Yes ma'am," Blaise saluted his wife.
"You'll still occupy the black and silver room," Alex asked, opening the door.
"If that's all right with you," Draco nodded, throwing in some more luggage he had snuck out of the Manor.
"Hermione, what room would you like?" Alex asked, opening all the guest rooms down the hallway. "Just peek into one, and see whatever fits your fancy."
Hermione looked at Alex and rolled her eyes. "Honestly, any of them would be fine, Alex."
"Any particular color scheme?" Alex persisted.
"I don't know," she sighed. "I'm just exhausted."
"Give her the periwinkle room, with the white embellishments," Draco yawned, before turning back to go down to the sitting room.
Hermione's mouth gaped open. Alex rolled her eyes.
"He knows my favorite color," Hermione sputtered.
"The dress you wore to the Yule Ball, wasn't it?" Alex asked as she levitated Hermione's bags into the room next to Draco's.
"Well, yeah, but," Hermione stuttered a bit. "He hated me then!"
"Enough to notice you," Alex pointed out. Hermione fell silent. "Enough Dramione drama, let's get down to get to the bottom of this attack."
Zayden and Hugo had run off, but the rest of the families were gathered and already in a solemn discussion.
"So, we're safe here Zabini?" Harry asked Blaise, who nodded.
"The wards haven't ever been broken in over six hundred years of history. Voldemort couldn't break in even if he wanted to... which he did," Blaise muttered beneath his breath.
"All right," Harry breathed. "So-"
"Who died?" Rose asked. Harry turned sharply to look at her, noting her solemn expression.
"Not many," Harry answered, but Rose cut him short.
"I said, who?"
"All but two of the Aurors. Elliot Applesmith and Hollyn Cleveley," Harry gritted out. James flinched, having been one of Hollyn's best friends.
"Lucy? Amy? They're okay?"
"Surprisingly, yes," Harry breathed slowly. "Harper Hopkins was also injured, and we have two Aurors missing. Aaron Dakota, and Natria Crox."
"Who were the Aurors?" Alex asked softly. Harry frowned, struggling not to break down.
"Roydon Calabrese, Thorly McNiall, Marylu Reynell, Isabelle Fairclough, Lilia Ackler, Leo Butcher..." Ginny put her hand on his arm as Harry struggled.
"Sorry," Alex apologized. "Anyone I know?"
"No," Harry said stiffly.
"Dad," Albus piped up. "You know Connor?"
"Connor Kim, the boy who saved Hogwarts?" Ginny asked fondly, nudging her husband.
"What about him?" Draco asked.
"He mentioned to me a little while ago, that Trelawney had said some sort of prophecy, a while back. He apparently figured it out, and thinks it might have had to do with this attack," Albus informed them.
"Do you know what the prophecy was?" Harry asked.
"Yup." Albus took out a scrap piece of parchment from his pocket, and began reading it aloud.
"As the Scorpio rises with the daughter of light
And the badger strips the rose of its thorns,
There is a darkness that threatens and will put up a fight
But only the black and white warrior can detect it
Should the warrior fail, the puzzle is lost
And the livelihoods of many will die as the cost," Albus finished.
"Scorpio, that's me," Scorp grinned.
"Rose of its thorns, likely, me," Rose deduced.
"Hufflepuff badger," Hermione pointed out, nodding towards Albus.
"And daughter of light," Blaise pointed towards Ara. "Her middle name is Eleanora, which means light."
"What about the black and white warrior?" Alex asked. "That must mean Connor, but why black and white?"
"His patronus is a panda," James said sullenly from his corner, where he was grieving over Hollyn. "Black and white."
"So what was the puzzle?" Draco asked.
Ara's eyes widened. "No wonder!" she exclaimed.
"What?" the adults all asked at once.
"When Connor was hitting Flint, he had to go through a series of spells. Flint's shield was flashing all these different colors and such, and he kept on repeating these spells, even though sometimes they worked or didn't work. At first, I thought he was just being random, but he kept on repeating them in a particular order before the shield would flash a different color just after he finished repeating a sequence. He must've figured out that you needed a certain combination of spells to break Flint's shield!" Ara explained quickly.
Scorp's eyes widened. "You're right. You're bloody right."
"Interesting," Harry mumbled as he took a note of it. "Anyone have any idea how Flint got in?" Harry's question was followed by complete and utter silence. He looked at Hermione, who shrugged.
"Can't be the vanishing cabinet, since that was destroyed after... Crabbe," Hermione ended awkwardly, glancing at Draco.
"The Room of Requirement repaired itself, didn't it?" Blaise asked.
"Yes," James answered from his corner, and then retreated back into a ball. Ginny hugged her son fiercely, patting his back as the discussion continued.
"What's to stop anyone from going in there and needing a way in for Flint?" Blaise suggested.
"But, did he come from that level?" Alex asked. "How did Flint progress through Hogwarts, does anyone know? Maybe we can retrace his path back to where he first got into Hogwarts."
"McGonagall said that the wards just went off in general, from all directions," Hermione told them. "It's odd, because the magic wouldn't just do that. It's supposed to be able to pinpoint the exact origin of breakage."
"Someone planned this out," Draco stated. Harry nodded.
"For once, I'd have to agree with you, Malfoy," Harry shuddered a bit, while the rest of the adults rolled their eyes.
"Uncle Harry," Ara started. "You might want to check in on a few of the students. Maybe they're being threatened, or their families are somehow involved."
"Any ideas of students in particular?" Harry asked.
"Iridia von Loisson. Ridiculously mean and defensive." Rose grit her teeth.
"Rose," Hermione began sternly. "Just because someone's mean doesn't mean that they're colluding with Death Eaters."
"I don't think Rose is completely wrong on checking her out, though," Ara said in Rose's defence. "In the beginning of the year, she seemed super defensive, as if she was constantly being attacked. Maybe she's been threatened, or abused?" Ara asked. Harry scribbled down a note.
"Others?" Harry asked.
"Caymen Kwasney," Ara said, without hesitation.
"What?" James shot up, furious. "You've met Caymen! He's nothing like that!"
"You can't deny that he's sneaky," Scorp pointed out.
"He's just a prankster!" James bellowed.
"James, take it easy!" Albus attempted to calm his brother down.
"The only reason why I'm suggesting him, is that I've seen him sneaking around the Room of Requirement before," Ara told James simply. "If he's got nothing to hide, then an investigation or quick interview won't hurt, will it?"
James grumbled, and sat back into his chair.
"Gavin Finnegan," Scorp suddenly remembered. "Dad, he was weird. He had the mask, perfected. Like, adult perfected."
Draco frowned, as Harry looked expectantly at Draco. "What does he mean by the mask?" Harry asked.
"It's a thing in the pureblood community," Alex explained. "Kids learn to read the eyes and subtleties in a mask that deciphers the true emotion behind it. Younger children don't really master the art of the mask extremely well, so it's odd that he's got it down perfectly. Finnegan isn't pureblood by a long shot."
"So what?" Ginny asked, confused.
"So," Hermione explained slowly. "Why does Gavin Finnegan have a perfect, deadened, pureblood mask when he's not even remotely close to the pureblood community? What need does he have for the mask?"
"Gotcha," Harry noted.
"Any connection between the missing Aurors?" Alex asked. "Aaron and Natria, wasn't it?"
Harry frowned, rolling his quill between his fingertips. "Not that I know of. They've only ever been coworkers, never friends, never dates, nothing more."
"Anyone they might have known in common?" Blaise asked.
"No one in particular that comes to mind," Harry answered.
"Why is Aaron Dakota familiar to me?" Ginny asked, looking to Harry.
"Well, you've probably met him once or twice at the various parties and meetings you've come to," Harry suggested.
"Maybe," Ginny speculated.
After a long discussion that led nowhere further, the kids were put to bed and the Potters departed. Hermione, needing a breath of fresh air, opened the vast glass doors to the outdoor patio, where someone else had apparently had the same idea.
"Draco," Hermione said softly, joining him on the rail looking out towards the gardens. He nodded, in acknowledgement.
"How've you been holding up?" Hermione asked.
"It's odd, actually," he sighed. "It's weird, without Tori. But it's not... sad," he tried, looking out into the distance.
"You had closure," Hermione nodded, understanding.
"Something like that," Draco sighed.
They fell into a companionable silence, listening to the water fountains trickling around them.
Half an hour passed by, like that. The two of them, silent, lost within their own thoughts.
"Draco?" Hermione asked.
"Yes?"
"After this is all over, when everything... settles down... where would you like us to be?"
Draco stared up to the night sky, squinting a little as he mulled over her question, and how to answer it.
"More than we are now, but I've always wanted that."
"How far are you willing to go?"
He turned to her, finding those warm brown eyes.
"How far are you willing?" he murmured.
Hermione searched those silver eyes, the ones that grey stormy with passion, or frozen with malice. The ones that softened and melted when they looked at her, so very long ago. The same ones that swirled with pain when they met hers now.
They had tired eyes, Draco and Hermione. Eyes that had seen too much, cried too much, and dried too much. Eyes that mirrored the hearts that beat beneath them.
Part of Hermione cowered at the decision she was about to make, wanting to hide behind the safety of Normal. But the other part, the louder voice in Hermione's head, yearned for Draco. She missed Draco, terribly. She really couldn't live without him.
"However far you want to take me," she answered firmly.
Draco's eyes slightly widened at the passion held behind her words. She was sure, for once. And she wanted it, too.
"Draco," Hermione said softly, covering his hand on the rail. "I will fight for us, this time. Last time, I made the mistake of running away. This time around, this time, I will not let you go, so long as you'll have me."
"Always and forever," he whispered.
They smiled against each other's lips, finally finding their way home again.
Death Eater Riots in France, Connection to Hogwarts Massacre? - The Daily Prophet, January 2014
In late August, French Minister of Magic, Arnaud Moreau of France's Liberal Politcal Party, passed a series of legislative measures in hopes to continue integration of the les intouchables and those of pur sang. However, this sparked a series of riots and protests amongst former members of Tom Riddle's terrorist group, called the Death Eaters. On September 1st, 2013, the same day that Marcus Flint brutally attacked families at King's Cross Station, riots began in France. The first major storming of the French Ministry of Magic occurred, where Moreau's life was seriously threatened. The riot has cost the French Ministry of Magic fifteen million Courrones, or 13.5 million galleons in property damage.
However, this was just the beginning of several violent attacks on the French Ministry, including the kidnapping of Arnaud Moreau's daughter, Sabine Moreau. To the French public, no ransom deal has been communicated to the French Ministry, when in actuality, Sabine Moreau's life hangs by a mere thread - whether her father will repeal the integration legislation. The Daily Prophet must commend the Moreau family's courage, it does not appear that Moreau is taking any steps to appease the Death Eater terrorists. However, investigations have been made, and leads are bringing them closer and closer to Sabine Moreau.
Christina Rivers, former famous quidditch player for the Dragon Daredevils, the United States' winner of the North American Quidditch Cup, moved to France recently and took up a job in the French Ministry's equivalent of the Auror Department. In an interview, she was unable to speak much of the details of the current investigation, but promised that Sabine Moreau was safe for the time being. "We have been collaborating closely with the British Ministry of Magic in attempts to facilitate investigations into connections between Death Eater activity in both France and England. We are doing our very best to track down Sabine Moreau's captors, and hopefully she will be returned to us safely," Rivers said about the collaboration between our governments.. So far, the death toll from the Death Eater attacks has reached sixty-seven French citizens, and thirteen unidentified victims.
The Hogwarts Massacre that took place on January 17th was again, conducted by Marcus Flint. Oddly, he does not seem to be acting independently anymore. Investigations are currently underway to discover how Flint managed to overcome Hogwarts' impressive wards. While Marcus Flint was battling several of the professors, it appears that three cloaked wizards or witches murdered six of eight Aurors designated to protect the school. Three students were injured, and two students were killed in the crossfire. Their names have been withheld due to their status as minors. The two missing Aurors, Natria Crox and Aaron Dakota, have been put up on the top of Britain's Missing Persons List.
Who is the monster behind these attacks? It is one thing to storm a Ministry, but to actively seek out and murder children is beyond the Daily Prophet's comprehension. We can only hope for the safety and security of all and that Sabine Moreau and the other missing Aurors will be returned to their families safely.
The British Ministry of Magic and the French MoM ask the public to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
AN: Yay! Dramione is finally happening. FINALLY, I know, don't kill me for taking so long. Netherlands and Bahamas - you guys rock! Surprisingly, I hit a bout of writer's block with this chapter, so I apologize for the slightly worse quality. I hope I did the attack justice. So yes! Flint attacked Hogwarts! That's actually what I had been hoping to do all along, so we're finally getting things done here. Time for the investigations - so I want to hear from you guys. Who do you think broke Flint out of Azkaban? Who do you think let him into Hogwarts? Who do you think is behind the attacks in France? What do you think happened to the missing Aurors? REVIEW! If you want to read more of my work, go check out The Inevitability of Betrayal by Souloflead. Souloflead, Snape'sPaige394, and I all cowrite it - and honestly, it's awesome. Please, don't be put off by the dark Hermione, I promise you that in the end, everything will be worth it. So, SPECULATE BELOW, and check that story out!