Death near the hazel trees

Hermione was pacing in her appartement. She had just received a letter from the Ministry. It said :

"Dear Miss Granger, everything has been arranged. Professor Dumbledore will go to prison tomorrow morning. Tomorrow evening, a group of Aurors will go to the secret hiding place of the last Death Eater. Lucius Malfoy has asked for your presence. He will only talk to you. You will be safe and secure, don't worry, you'll get protection. You are expected at Charing Cross Road, near the old oak tree. Further instructions will be given there. Destroy this letter after reading."

Hermione crumbled the letter and threw it in the fireplace. Her fingers trembled, she was nervous. Just when she wanted to take a seat, a loud knock on the door was heared. Hermione opened the door and was overwhelmed by flowers.

"Hellooo sweet Hermione!" Harry laughed, while he handed her a big bunch of flowers.

"Wow Harry, what's this all about?" Hermione said bewildered.

"I just wanted to thank you, 'Mione." Harry said amused.

"What for?"

"Tomorrow night, thanks to you, I can go on my first mission to train myself for Auror!"

"What? I haven't arranged a thing Harry." Hermione answered confused.

Harry took Hermione around the shoulder and squeezed her softly.

"Dear Hermione, don't be so modest, I received a letter from the Ministry that Miss Hermione Granger would be very pleased if I would accompagny her on this mission."

Hermione smiled weakly. "That's right Harry, I can't live without you, you big Muggle-protector."

She would find out who had sent this message.

- The next evening –

The cold wind blew the fallen leavesfrom the old oak tree away. Dark rainclouds gathered in the sky. A storm was brewing.

A man with a dark cape stood near the oak tree with alamp in one hand and a walking stick in the other. Hermione and Harry walked over to the man and greeted him.

"How many birds will sing a song tonight?" the man asked.

"Nine and three quarters." Harry answered.

"That's correct," The man smiled, "Hi, I'm Tom and I'm the head of this mission."

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter and this is Hermione Granger." Harry answered.

"Ah, Harry Potter, with you in our group nothing can go wrong!" Tom laughed.

He handed them the walking stick. It was a Portkey. Once they put their hand on the stick, they flew miles and miles away. They landed on the ground near a small village. They weren't alone. A group of thirty Aurors were standing under a willow. In the middle of them stood Lucius Malfoy, chained and blinded. Two Aurors kept their wands pointed at him permanently.

Hermione looked at him with a mix of compassion and anger. An Auror came towards her and handed her a spell-free cape. He also gave her a potion.

"In case you get poisoned." He explained her dryly.

Hermione swallowed, she didn't like her participation at all. Harry on the contrary took the potion with a big enthousiastic smile.

They formed two lines and started to walk. After a few minutes, a small house became visible. You wouldn't have noticed it if you didn't stand on the right hill. It was surrounded with mist and hazel trees.

Lucius was pushed forwards by the two Aurors and the towel was removed from his face. He breathed in deeply. Hermione was guided to him, when she looked behind her to check where Harry was, no one was there anymore. She was left alone with Lucius and his two guards.

When they were walking towards the house, Lucius said:

"Oh Miss Granger, what a wonderful evening isn't it? Me, breathing the fresh air of the forests and Dumbledore smelling the stench of all the Death Eaters who died in their cell thanks to him."

Hermione didn't answer, she just stared at the house and kept walking. She would not allow herself to be infuriated by that man. She heard Lucius grin.

They were near the house when Lucius ordered them to stop. He bowed and took a few fallen leaves. He said something and the leaves began to hover, they began to glow and finally spat in a thousand little pieces.

"In precisely six hundred and sixty-six seconds the Death Eater you have been looking for, will come out of the house." Lucius whispered to Hermione.

"What did he say?" an Auror asked Hermione.

Hermione turned around and repeated : "He said that in precisely six hundred and sixty..."

Hermione couldn't go further because someone pinched in her throat. She felt a hand go in her pocket and take her wand.

"Don't worry dear," a voice said, "You can't feel any pain when you're dead. Cruciatus!"

Hermione's sight was gone and the last words she heard were : "Kill him!"

- Yes I'm finally back, I had written a few chapters untill my pc crashed, so I had to re-write ... Anyway, let the story go on! -