What do you want?

"What do you want?" Hermione asked.

"Dumbledore in a cage."

"What?"

"If Dumbledore sits in a cell here for a week, I'm prepared to give you no less than fifty names." Lucius said, his eyes penetrating hers, "And I don't think it's terribly difficult for you to arrange that."

"I can't do that!" Hermione spat.

"Yes you can. If I tell you what he did to those Malfoys on the list, maybe you'll feel some sympathy for me."

"I will never have such feelings for you," Hermione said angrily, "I only feel hate. So quickly find another thing that you want!"

"I always get what I want, and this is it." Lucius said calmly.

"No. Choose something else!" Hermione said.

"No."

"Just give me their names!" Hermione yelled without thinking. That man was so irritating.

"No, quid pro quo." Lucius whispered.

Hermione heard the guard in the corridor, her time was up.

"You know what, tell me what happened to those Malfoys tomorrow. If I feel sympathy, maybe I can arrange something. If I don't, you'll have to be damn fast to find another thing that you want." Hermione said.

"Fine."

Hermione turned around and followed the guard outside.

--- The next day ---

Hermione wasn't happy to be back at Azkaban at six o'clock in the morning. It was the only hour that Lucius wanted to meet her. It was something stupid he had asked for and the Ministry had agreed, as long as he wanted to help them. Hermione knew he was trying to make her angry, but she stayed calm.

"Ah, back again little witch?" Lucius asked.

"Why do you..." Hermione began.

"Tea?" Lucius interrupted her. He had asked the Ministry for tea too.

"Sure why not." Hermione grumbled.

Lucius gave her a cup and began to talk:

"If you want my help, I advice you to listen very carefully to what I have to say. The Malfoys you saw on that list, Miss Granger, were my sister and mother. Before you start to babble again, no, they weren't Death Eaters. If you look carefully on the list, you can see that the battle took place in Wiltshire. That's where my mansion is located.

My mother and sister were visiting me, because Draco was born. Just then, some backward Death Eaters had decided to visit me. They didn't know that they were being followed by Dumbledore, who was eager to catch some more Death Eaters. They came to my house with a group and knocked loudly on my gate. My mother, a woman from a higher class, was shocked to hear people knocking so indescently. She ordered me to bring Draco back to his room, and she opened the door. Two men went inside to look for me. My mother and sister went outside to see what the rest of the group had to say.

And now your noble Headmaster comes into play. He had counted twenty Death Eaters. He probably counted again and he saw that there were still twenty 'Death Eaters'. He attacked them, but they had seen him coming and they quickly drew their wands. It became one big mess and Dumbledore started to lose control. He began to yell Unforgivable Curses. He killed my mother and sister, even though he saw that they were unarmed. I know this because I found their wands later on my dinner table. It was the last time that Draco saw his grandmother and aunt."

Hermione stared at the floor. This story was so unbelievable. Dumbledore would never make such a stupid mistake, she thought. She was brought back to reality by the sound of chains.

Lucius was staring outside, one ray of morning sunlight running over his pale face. He didn't show any emotion, only his eyes were narrowed.

It was up to Hermione to decide now. Was this story worthy to locked Dumbledore up for fifty names? This was getting surreal. But the rules where clear, if she felt sympathy, she would have to accept Lucius' request. Hermione admitted to herself that somewhere deep inside her she had felt sympathy for him. For his mother and sister, she corrected herself quickly. Hermione decided to go to Dumbledore and ask whether he would like to co-operate. He was a man with great power, a week in Azkaban wouldn't weaken him at all.

"Miss Granger?" Lucius asked.

"Yes?" Hermione said, confused being back in the cell with her thoughts.

"Do you accept?"

Hermione said nothing, if she said yes, she would have to admit that she felt sympathy and she didn't want that.

"I'll take that silence for a yes," Lucius said, "One more thing, there's one name, I know where he is and you can't get near him. You have to be a Death Eater to get into his house. Special security. I'll have to go with you."

"Impossible!" Hermione said, "I'm not letting you out of this cell. I'm not going to take the risk to get my carreer ruined by you."

They heard the guard coming closer to the cell, Lucius began to speak faster: "No, you are clever enough to find a way that is safe to take me with you. This is your last chance, do we have an agreement?"

Hermione's mind was racing fast, she hesitated. She could hear the key getting stuck in the door.

"Miss Granger?"

Hermione looked straight in his grey eyes, the door went open.

"Yes."