Disclaimer: I am not JK Rowling, nor do I make any money in the writing of this fan fiction
Chapter Eighteen
Draco and Hermione had just exited the Floo of the safe house when an owl flew in the window. Reflexively, Hermione tried to hold out her hand for the letter attached to the owl's leg, but it flew to Draco instead. Looking down, he could tell from the style of lettering it was from the person trying to blackmail him.
"Looks like another letter from the blackmailer. Merlin, this is really beginning to wear on my patience."
Seeing him reach for a letter opener, Hermione laid a hand on his arm.
"Draco, stop. First, put the letter under stasis and an impervious. Hopefully that will keep it from catching fire after it's read." Walking closer, she tried to see the letter over Draco's shoulder. There was something about the handwriting…
Mr. Malfoy,
I always presumed you to be an intelligent man, given your performance in school. Which brings me to question just why you are ignoring me and refusing to deliver to me the Rosier Trust as well as your inheritance from the Black Estate and your own personal Trust account.
You have five days in which to do so, Mr. Malfoy. After that, your Sacred 28 House of Malfoy dies and the Line is at an end.
Good riddance, if you ask me.
Hermione could see the parchment try to catch fire, but the spells placed on it before opening didn't let it get beyond smoldering. She took a second look at the writing itself, rather than what the letter said. She knew that handwriting, and her eyes became wide as saucers.
No. It couldn't be. Not even she had considered this person.
OoOoOoO
Amelia Bones wasn't happy, and everyone in the DMLE knew it. Two Aurors had already been placed on restricted duty, or as it was jokingly called in the Department, 'the rubber wand squad', and another three had been fired. It was obvious that whatever had made her angry this time was worse than when one of the Trainee Aurors had tried to charm all of the quills to sing "Magic" by the Muggle singer Olivia Newton-John any time someone picked up a quill to write a report. Some of the older Aurors still talked about the way Madam Bones had exploded every quill in the office and told them until the charm was lifted, they would all be using Muggle ball point pens.
Think, Amelia. Who has the motive to make reports of assault on Hermione Granger against Ronald Weasley disappear? Harry Potter is too straight laced as an Auror to even try anything like this, since it's one of his best friends getting hurt, DESPITE the accused being his brother-in-law. Harry's wife rarely comes to the DMLE, even to surprise Harry for lunch. Arthur is much too honest and honorable, despite the shrew everyone knows Molly can be…
Without finishing her thought, Amelia stood, and went to the door of her office, catching her secretary's attention.
"What can I do for you, Director?"
"There's a copy of Pureblood Directory: A Wizarding Genealogy somewhere in the Department, but at the moment, I can't remember where it would be; please get it and bring it to my office."
"Sure thing, Director. I'll just be a moment."
Ten minutes later, her secretary handed the huge volume to Amelia, and she sat down, flipping through the pages to the Weasleys. Scanning down, she confirmed Molly Weasley's maiden name, then turned back a few pages to find the Prewett Family. Yes, there she was, Molly Prewett m. Arthur Weasley. Molly's name was on the same level of her twin brothers, Gideon and Fabian, who had both died in the first war. Looking further to the left, Amelia saw another Prewett sibling name: Brianna.
Amelia read the page again, surprised. Molly Weasley had a sister? Adjusting her monocle, Amelia looked at the entry for Brianna Prewett:
Brianna Prewett m. James Macintosh
Calum Macintosh
Narrowing her eyes in anger, Amelia forced herself to calm down. Before leaping to a conclusion, she needed facts, not mere assumptions based on a familial relationship. Also, if what she suspected was true, she didn't want to give the game away yet.
OoOoOoO
"What do you mean, I can't talk to him? He's my brother-in-law, mate. He knows I wouldn't have done anything like what Hermione is saying. Just bring him here, and he can tell you that himself," Ron Weasley told the Auror who brought him his dinner in the holding cell.
Bloody idiots, not even listening to me. Who does he think he is, telling me I can't talk to Harry? Harry has been my best mate since we were eleven, I KNOW he'll back me up on this. I just need to talk to him, to tell him what really happened. Hermione is just trying to fix things so she looks like she's the one who was always yelled at in our spats. She started just as many spats as I did, but Merlin forbid she bring THAT up. Then she couldn't play her 'oh, I'm just a helpless VICTIM' card. I'll just wait until I'm released. I've been too easy on her so far. She wants to say she's a victim? She's not a victim, she's stubborn, and won't mind the lessons I gave her. So I'll just make the lessons more intense, to make SURE she remembers.
