A letter from the Ministry of Magic

A Snowy-owl was blown out of its course, but it kept flying to the north, where a letter had to be delivered. "Urgent" was written in big black letters on the envelope. Nor the rain nor the lightning could convince the stubborn owl to fly back home. It sailed down and landed near a window. It ticked against the glass with its paw, until a witch let the white creature inside. The witch gave the owl some food and water and took the envelope out of its paw. She shook her hazel brown curles out of her face to read what stood on the envelope.

URGENT

From : The Ministry of Magic

To : Miss Hermione Granger

Hermione frowned. She was finally given some vacation and now they already needed her. She opened the envelope and started to read.

Miss Granger,

You are expected to appear in front of the Committee of Azkaban. You are prosecuted for helping a prisoner of Azkaban to escape. If you do not appear on Wednesday 19th of October, this case will be recognized as a severe crime, in which case you shall be considered as a prisoner of Azkaban yourself.

The Committee of Azkaban

Hermione became very pale and the letter fell out of her hand. What did she have to do now? Who could help her with this? She sat down behind her desk, trembling. The owl hooted one time and flew away.

Dumbledore! Albus Dumbledore could help her! He was a man who had the power to convince the Committee that she had helped a man who had suddenly lost his human rights. Hermione put on a cloak and ran out of her appartement.

Autumn was certainly leaving its marks. Coloured leaves flew through the air and the wind made the lake of Hogwarts wild with high waves. The giant squid was very pleased and threw his arms high in the air, catching a bird in its flight. The moon was covered with clouds.

Hermione entered the Great Hall. Like if Dumbledore was expecting her, he stood in the hall, observing a painting of a wizard who beated his cauldron to little pieces.

When Dumbledore heard Hermione coming, he looked her way.

"Miss Granger, what are you doing here so late at night?" he asked.

Hermione handed him the letter without a word. Dumbledore didn't read it. He put the letter in his pocket and escorted her to his office. Once they had entered, he sat down behind his desk and rubbed his long white beard.

"I told you not to free Lucius, Miss Granger." He said gravely.

"I had to," Hermione retorted, "The man would have been executed without a trial for something he hadn't done."

"Hermione, there are strange things going on lately at the Ministry. Even I don't know what's going on. But I do know that it was for the best if Lucius would have been executed."

Hermione opened her mouth several times, but she couldn't say a word. Was this the noble Dumbledore? Even if it was Lucius Malfoy, Dumbledore wouldn't agree with this, would he? He had once helped another Death Eater, Severus Snape.

"Professor, with all do respect, Lucius didn't escape. It was a set-up. Someone clearly wants him out of the way." She said angrily.

"Maybe so, Miss Granger, but let me explain my point of view. Professor Trewlaney has made a prediction. It wasn't a very clear one, but it was a true prophecy. She told me that you where going to be tempted to free Lucius. She also told me to prevent that you would, because terrible things would happen if Lucius regained his freedom. 'An old force will relive" Trewlaney said to me. That was all she knew. That's why I took precautions. It was I who had send a letter to the Ministry to ask whether Harry could accompagny you, I thought he would prevent that you came into trouble. I also told the Office Deputee to not give you permission to visit Lucius, only me. But you misleaded him."

"Surely you can help me get out of this situation, Headmaster?" Hermione asked.

"This time, I cannot, Hermione. I can't give you shelter against the Ministry. Spies are lurking everywhere. If I would give you protection, I would be send to Azkaban as well. The Minister of Magic is getting overstressed because of Voldemort and he sees a spy in everyone. I can't take the risk of going to Azkaban, I have to find out what these 'old forces' are and prepare for what is coming."

"What must I do then?" Hermione said, panicking.

"Run away, Hermione, and hide."

"Is that all the advice you can give me?" Hermione shouted.

"Yes. You didn't listen, so you have to clear up this situation yourself." Dumbledore said.

"I don't understand."

"Look Hermione, there may be a way to clear your mistake." Dumbledore replied, "Seek Lucius. If you find him, try to contact me. He has to be caught again."

"And be killed? No!" Hermione said.

"No, Miss Granger, not killed. If he's brought to Hogwarts and constantly guarded, the prophecy may not become reality. I will convince the Minister to spare his life. But for the sake of us all, Lucius can never get his freedom back. Do you understand me? Will you find him?"

Hermione felt weak. What a terrible situation, she had to flee for the Ministry! But there was only one way to regain her normal life, she had to find Lucius.

"I will find him and contact you." Hermione said.

"Very good, Hermione," Dumbledore said, "Once again, you show your Gryffindor courage. You will get some things that can protect you."

One hour later, Hermione ran over dark streets, packed with personal things and a package of Dumbledore. He had adviced her to rent a room for the night somewhere and flee to Wiltshire the next day. Dumbledore had a feeling that Lucius could be located there.

The next evening –

Hermione had sought a whole day at places where Lucius could be, but no wizard could give her some hint or had seen something strange. Hermione sat down next to a river. She was exhausted and hungry. Like if life couldn't get any worse, a heavy rain began to fall.

Hermione couldn't have felt more miserable. Large tears fell on her cheek. She burried her face in her cloak and cried.

After a while, she heard footsteps. She removed her face from her cloak andtried to seewho it was. A dark figure came near, she couldn't see who it was, because of the heavy rainfall.

She could see it was a man. He wore very old clothes and carried some sheets. He looked like a begger.

"Good evening," he said when he saw Hermione sitting, "All alone are we?"

"I'm just resting sir." Hermione said.

"Do you have some money for an old man?" he asked.

"No, I'm sorry. I don't even have money myself." Hermione replied. She didn't lie.

The man didn't believe her and became angry. He took a dagger from under the sheets and pointed it at her. Hermione took her wand.

"Go away or I will hurt you" she said. The man laughed.

" Oh really missy?" he hissed. He mumbled some words and around his dagger appeared a green light.

"Probably never heard of Dagger Magicians, do you?" the man asked.

Of course Hermione had heard of them. Not so hard if you read so many books. She remembered a passage from a book:

'Dagger Magician: magician whose wand is surrounded by a dagger. Dangerous kind of people who attack wizards and witches for their possesions. Most of the time very good trained in the dark arts. Many Dagger Magicians followed You-know-who.'

Hermione began to sum up some powerful spells in her head. She had become a little afraid. These kind of wizards could do anything to you. Hermione didn't hear the silent whisper of the man, because of the loud wind. In her eyes, the man just stood there. She didn't attack him if he did nothing. After a while, Hermione still did nothing. She began to wonder why. She should have shouted 'Petrificus Totalus', but she didn't feel any power in her arm.

"Circum donna cum tempesta draconis." The man whispered.

The wind became harder, but only around Hermione. The wind became a local storm. Sand and stones where being mixed in it. They began to hit Hermione, but she couldn't protect herself. She fell to the ground, full of cuts and bruises. The man let the storm calm down until only leaves where twirling around, and walked over to Hermione.

Hermione wanted to stand up and run, but she was too weak. She saw how the man lifted his dagger.

"No" she cried, "Please sir, let me live."

The man stroke, but with her last power, Hermione rolled over. The dagger planted itself in the ground. The man screamed, he lifted his dagger again. Hermione saw blood running over his face. She was confused and exhausted.

The dagger stroke again, hitting a target this time.

A scream, heared by no one, because of the howling wind…

Author's note: yeah, it's been a long time ago since a new chapter appeared… blush but I'm back in action ;-)