"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"Well, Miss-know-it-all, I'm transferred from the Department of Magical Transportation to this one, and I'm here to investigate the Case of the lost Death Eaters together with you."
Hermione snorted.
"Yeah right, you are sweetly going to help me find all those Death Eaters while yourfather is one himself." she said.
"Yes." Draco smiled.
"No, you're not." Hermione said frustrated.
"Look, bighead, it's none of your business why I'm set on this case. Here's the official paper that proves that I'm legally here. And besides, if you're a bit human – which I think with your stinking blood you're not – you would understand that this is the only to see my father more often."
"Ah, now I understand, you're going to help your twisted daddy to escape." Hermione grinned.
"Even if I would, I wouldn't tell you, now would I, freaky mudblood?" Draco sneered, "So shut up and pack your things, we're going to Azkaban."
"Now?"
"No, in the year 3000... of course now!" Draco snarled, and he left the room.
Hermione grumbled, she took the parchment and followed Malfoy.
Hermione and Draco sat in a boat which sailed to Azkaban. The prison was surrounded with a thick fog, which made it look even more dark and spooky than it already was. When they left the boat, Hermione took a large piece of chocolat to keep the unpleasant feeling she got from the Dementors as far from her as possible.
They passed many cells full of screaming wizards. When they entered the corridor of Lucius' cell, Hermione thought it was extremely quiet here, compared to the other corridors. Only the sound of iron chains betrayed the presence of prisoners.
Hermione couldn't control her curiosity. She peaked inside a cell for a second. No one was there. The next cell was also empty. In fact, all the cells they passed were empty. Hermione wondered why Lucius was kept all alone in a corridor.
They stopped at cell nr 13. Draco went inside after the keeper of keys had opened the door. When Hermione wanted to enter the cell too, the guide took her arm and told her that she could visit Mr Malfoy tomorrow. It was better if she went to McNair first. He was located in the next cell.
The man opened the cell of McNair and told Hermione that he would be waiting right outside. Hermione nodded and went inside.
McNair sat on the floor in the middle of the small room. When he saw Hermione, he stood up and grinned.
"Well, well, are they finally giving me something to play with?" he laughed.
Hermione ignored his remark and went straight to the point. Inside she was trembling, but her face didn't betray any emotion.
"McNair, I'll keep it short. I'm here to ask for your help."
"What do you want, witch?"
"Names of Death Eaters who haven't been identified or caught."
McNair laughed, showing his yellow teeth. "So you think that I'm going to betray my collegues to help the Ministry? Get lost!"
Hermione had expected such a reaction and kept herself calm. "I'm sure you'll be more willing if you know what I have to offer."
"Try me."
"If you can give at least ten names, you'll be transferred to a more human prison of which few wizards have knowledge. And on top of that, you'll be a free man in eight years already."
McNair stared at her, but didn't say a word.
"Well, I won't waiste any more of your precious time," Hermione shrugged, "I'll leave the document here. You have until tomorrow to think about it, and personally, I think you should. Good day."
Hermione left the cell with a swift move, inside smiling. She saw Draco leaving the cell of his father. Hermione fought against a strange urge to look inside Lucius' cell, the dream still present in her mind, and followed Draco out of Azkaban.