5. Fatal Tragedy
"I don't get it why you're still reading this crap!" said Ron when an owl flapped towards Hermione, carrying the Daily Prophet.
"I've told you already," she answered fiercely. "You'd better know what the enemy thinks. Admittedly, at the moment I rather tend to tell Luna that the credibility of the Prophet is naught in comparison with The Quibbler. It just seems unbelievable that the most important source of information among Wizards is such a bad tabloid …" her voice was exasperated, "but it's really packed with useful hints when you read it carefully."
With that she vanished behind the newspaper. Harry, meanwhile, stared transfixed on the last page. He leaned nearer, oblivious to the fact that his sleeve was dribbling with chai. Then he snatched the paper from Hermione's grasp.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Not heeding her protest, Harry read the small article which had caught his attention.
"Muggle police is currently investigating a series of strange disappearances in southern and middle England. As reported previously, there have been several children missing from their homes. Muggle police has now found evidence that apparently leads to an international gang of slave traders.
"A spokesman of the Ministry of Magic, however, confirmed to our reporters that they suspect You-know-who to stand behind these mysterious kidnappings.
"'They seem in some way to be related to disappearances of pets in the last few months which then turned up with their memories wiped. In a similar way, most of the children have in fact reappeared. Fortunately, the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol has been able to find the children before Muggles did. Their fate is hideous. Their memory seems to be gone beyond all repair. They have returned to some kind of primal state and do not even recognise humans as kindred. Instead, they attacked us. There is clear evidence of very powerful dark magic around them.'
"The victims of these crimes are currently at St Mungo's. Whether or not the damage may be undone is uncertain so far."
Harry was bristling with rage. "How come these news only appear on the bloody last page? They should be headlines!"
Hermione, who had read the notice as well, shook her head in dismay. "These children are Muggles, Harry. Be assured, if they were Wizards, these news would have been the number one already. But when Voldemort is openly attacking the Wizarding community, as you know he is, then this kind of news is without interest."
"And why is Voldemort doing this? How does it help him? Or is this their twisted sense of fun?"
Hermione looked unsure. "I don't know. Unless there is some dark ritual involving the memories of children and animals I don't see how this could help him. And fun? The Death Eaters have a very different sense of fun. Hannah's family, now." She was dropping her voice. "They were killed for 'fun'." Angry tears were forming in Hermione's eyes and Ron took her into his arms awkwardly. But Hermione continued.
"I nearly think it might just be a distraction. According to the history books I've read Voldemort's last reign was much more violent. There have been killings recently, all right. But they're still nothing compared to last time. Voldemort is preparing something and he doesn't want us to notice.
"On the other hand … this is too simple. If even we are able to figure that out, then who is Voldemort counting on fooling with that? It's a pity that none of the Order would tell us about what they know."
"What do you think … does the Order know about it at all?" asked Ron musingly. And seeing Hermione's expression, he explained himself hastily. "Well, it's not as if the Order had never committed stupidities in the last few months! Even Dumbledore … leaving Harry in the dark about the prophecy like this, I beg you!"
o
Harry had been restless. Finally he had decided that he simply had to ask the headmaster what he knew. Now he was standing in front of the passage that lead up to Dumbledore's study and was trying different passwords. Soon he was sure that none of the usual sweets, purchasable at Honeyduke's, applied. Then he had to laugh; apparently Dumbledore was not as disinclined to "Fainting Fancies" as Hermione had been. The way opened and he went up the stairs and rapped the door to Dumbledore's study before entering.
"Harry." Dumbledore sat in the chair behind his desk, fingers interlocked. "I have been expecting you."
"You … what?" Harry was taken by surprise but recovered quickly. "Anyway, sir, I'd like to talk about the Order. I hope I did not disturb you?" he added uncertainly.
"No, no, not at all. Make yourself at home." Harry sat down. "Now, what were you interested in?"
Harry pointed at the Daily Prophet which lay on the desk in front of Dumbledore. "Have you read the article, too, sir? The one about the children?" Dumbledore inclined his head.
Harry told him about their discussion and what Hermione was thinking. When he fell silent, Dumbledore took his time, glancing at Harry and then at the newspaper. At last he sighed. Harry noticed how sad and tired Dumbledore looked. He had never seemed that tired, not even after Sirius' death, nearly one year ago.
"And yet again we meet an evidence of Miss Granger's cleverness. The Order has figured out just as much, but no more. We believe the same. I have tried to make out a connection between the victims, looking for common factors. But Tom is very intelligent. He would never leave such an open trail, if there were one. The victims, obviously, have no common factor whatsoever. Their choosing seems random. But still I believe that there is some purpose behind this. I believe that Tom made sure there was no pattern by picking some random victims. The animals, for example. Either he was just practising then or he wanted to lead us on a false trail. But obviously, this is only my speculation.
"But we know what Tom wants; we know what he dreams of: a pure-blood community of Wizards. No Muggles, no half-bloods. What Tom wants is no less than breeding his 'perfect' race. He is not the first to have this delirium. Others have tried that before, Wizards and Muggles alike – useless to say that they have all failed in the end. But like all others before him his aims are to make sure that no 'lesser blood' can interfere.
"You know, Harry, that I seldom consider the Art of Divination useful. Still I know it and I respect it. And so does Tom. My guess is that Tom has tried to divine future liaisons between Wizards and Muggles. He has very gifted diviners in his service. He is making sure that these connections will never exist. He is neutralising possible progenitors interfering with his breeding program."
Harry was listening raptly. What he had just heard seemed so crazy, so unbelievable. But somehow he instinctually knew that Dumbledore was guessing correctly. There was no other explanation.
"Is there nothing the Order can do? Can't we protect these people?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"Alas, no. We have no way of telling who might be endangered. But you are quite right. I have thought long and I don't think we can tolerate this any longer. I will tell you a secret, Harry: was it not for the prophecy I would seek out Tom at once. But it seems as if I will not be the one to end Tom's horrors. All I can do is help to prepare you. And I am sorry for that. Please believe me, Harry; I truly am."
Harry nodded silently. He stood up and left the study. Deep in thoughts he returned to the Gryffindor common room. He was not sure how much he should tell the others. But they had to know. This knowledge was a burden too heavy to be carried alone.
