CHAPTER 6

'You're not looking to well.' Ginny said, as Hermione came down for breakfast the next morning. 'Aren't you looking forward to a happy Sunday?'

Hermione yawned. 'I didn't sleep too well.' she said. 'Where are the boys?'

Ginny grinned. 'They've gone for Quidditch Practice. I'm going to join them in about half an hour- I need to eat first.'

Hermione smiled, and sat down. Ginny passed her a plate of kippers, and she helped herself.

'Did you hear about Malfoy?' she asked.

'Hm…no. What?' Hermione asked, absently. 'Hasn't the Daily Prophet come in yet?'

'It's here. He's broken his arm. Apparently he sneaked out of school last night, and got into some trouble and broke it. He won't tell any of the teachers what happened but it seems to have been broken by some sort of Dark Magic, because Madam Pomfrey can't fix it.'

Hermione looked a little worried. 'He left school last night? You don't think it had anything to do with the Death Eaters, do you?'

Ginny shrugged. 'He deserves it. He's a stupid little prick.'

Hermione frowned at her. 'That's a little harsh. He's suffering, you know, since his dad went to Azkaban.'

'How sweet and unselfish of you to defend Malfoy,' Ginny said, with a mischievous smile. 'Anyway, here's the Daily Prophet, you said you wanted it…'

She handed it to Hermione, who opened it and folded it out.

'Oh!' she said, glancing through it. 'Look at this! They've caught Mulciber!'

'They have?' Ginny asked, glancing over. 'No way! How?"

'Apparently he was at Hogsmeade last night. Madam Rosmerta heard strange noises outside her inn, and when she peeped through her window, she saw a shadowy figure. She immediately alerted the Ministry. They managed to get here right on time. Mulciber was killed.'

'Thank god.' Ginny said, fervently. 'At least that's one down. Hey Hermione, I've got to go now. Quidditch- you know. I'll probably see you in the evening.'

'Bye,' Hermione said. 'Have fun.'

Ginny smiled and left. Hermione returned to her paper.

Her mind was still a whirlwind of questions after last night. She found herself glancing discreetly around the hall.

'Which one are you…' she murmured to herself.

She glanced back down to her paper.

There were a few more articles of not much interest. She put the newspaper away, and took a sip of pumpkin juice, debating what to do today. Originally, she had decided to go investigate the cupboard she had found last night. All of a sudden, however, she wanted to be as far away from her problems as possible.

'I'll go to Hogsmeade.' she decided. 'I need some time alone with myself.'

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She reached Hogsmeade in about ten minutes this time. The snow was falling very lightly, and her footprints were crisp on the ground. She glanced around, and saw that the place was dead empty. She guessed that it had something to do with Mulciber's death.

The Three Broomsticks was, by contrast, looking rather full. When she entered, she noticed that most of the people inside were reporters, all hassling Madam Rosmerta, who was standing at the bar and looking slightly dazed.

'What was your feeling when you first say him creeping around below?' One shouted.

'How did the Ministry officials react to your report?' another cried.

'Did any sexual thoughts come into your mind when you first saw him? A third one piped up.

Shaking her head and stifling a smile, Hermione pushed her way through the reporters, and approached Madam Rosmerta. Her face cleared when she saw her.

'Oh, Hermione!' she said, looking relieved. 'You're the first real customer I've had here all day! Good grief, they don't seem to leave me alone.'

'Why don't you chuck them out?' Hermione suggested.

Madam Rosmerta shook her head, ruefully. 'I can't.' she said. 'They just don't go. I was planning on going upstairs to the rooms and locking the door. If you'd like a drink, you could come with me.'

Hermione nodded. Madam Rosmerta grabbed a tray with bottles and glasses from the counter, and nodded at the men.

'Must go upstairs!' she said, a little shakily. 'No, please move! I have work…'

Finally, the two of them managed to navigate their way to the corner foyer of the shop, from where wooden stairs lead to the upper floor where the rooms were. Hermione mounted them after Madam Rosmerta.

'I have the keys to one of the rooms of the inn here.' she mumbled. 'We can go in.'

Sure enough, she produced a shiny silver key, and unlocked the door, balancing the tray precautiously in one hand. Both entered, and as Hermione seated herself on the bed, Madam Rosmerta poured her out a Butterbeer and handed it to her.

'You don't know how annoying they are.' Madam Rosmerta said, pouring herself a glass and sitting down on the armchair. 'They've been here since last night, asking the most ridiculous questions ever. I'm sorry I can't light a fire, my dear. The grates aren't clean.. I haven't had one in a single room since last week.'

'That's all right.' Hermione said. 'You must have had quite a shock, last night.

'Oh my god! Yes. It was frightening, seeing that shadow. I notified the Ministry immediately, of course. He got killed in the fighting- it was all so silent and sudden. I don't believe anybody else woke up. But you should have seen the body all charred and unrecognizable after everything.'

'It must have been terrible.' Hermione said. 'And now all these reporters.'

'They just won't leave me alone. The worst thing is these Ministry officers- they just came and went. They didn't even stay to pick up the body. I had to have someone over to remove it.'

'How terrible.' Hermione said. 'Which officers came?'

'Oh, I really wouldn't know. Madam Rosmerta said, vaguely. 'There was a tall blonde one. And a short one with reddish hair. A nasty lot.'

'I quite understand.' Hermione said. 'But how is this affecting business?'

Madam Rosmerta looked unhappy. 'Quite badly. I haven't had a single real customer until you. And these reporters. Honestly, the questions they ask! One wanted to know whether the position in which Mulciber was walking suggested that he had ever experimented with anal sex.'

Hermione shook her head in disgust. 'I suppose the question never arose that it wasn't Mulciber?' she asked.

'Oh, no.' Madam Rosmerta said, firmly. 'The ministry officials recognized him straight away.'

'That's good.' Hermione said. She glanced at her watch. 'I suppose I must be going. I was planning on checking out the new library.'

'Goodbye, then dear.' Madam Rosmerta said. 'No, no, on the house. It was wonderful having you.'

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When Hermione got back to Hogwarts, it was late afternoon. She didn't feel upto lunch; so instead, she drifted towards the library, completely forgetting that she had spent the last few hours in the library as well.

'Hello dear.' Madam Pince said, as she entered. 'Do you need anything?"

Hermione shook her head. 'Just looking around.'

'It's nice to have you. The library's been completely empty. Draco Malfoy's been coming quite regularly, but he's broken his arm.'

Yes I heard.' Hermione said. 'He sneaked out of school, didn't he?'

'Hm…yes,' Madam Pomfrey said, looking disapproving. 'Up to no good, I'm sure. Well, dear feel free to look around.'

Hermione drifted around, glancing at the titles of books. She found one labeled, 'Dark Magic at its best.' and picking it up, settled down and opened it.

The first chapter was about something called Sodmium Caprentius. She read through it briefly, not paying much attention. She was just flipping over to the second chapter, when she heard loud foot falls. Looking up, she saw Ron rushing towards her, Harry and Ginny not far behind.

'We thought you'd be here!' Ron panted. 'Come quick!'

'What happened?' she asked, confused.

'Ministry officials.' Harry said, thickly. 'They've come to meet Dumbledore. This is an ideal opportunity for us to eavesdrop.'

Hermione looked doubtful. 'Ministry officials…?' she asked. 'How can we-?"

Harry pulled something fleshy and stringy from his pocket. 'Four Extendable Ears.' he said, proudly. 'Don't say I don't think of all. And come, quick now!'

Ron grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled her up. A second later, the four were racing furiously out of the library, and running down the corridors. They skidded down a narrow, gray corridor that was lit by dim torches, and came to a pounding halt outside a gargoyle that guarded the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office.

'Lollipop Paradise.' Harry said, hotly. The gargoyle slowly slid open, and they slid into the little chamber within. A narrow winding staircase led upstairs.

Harry put a finger to his lips, and the four silently made their way upto the stairs. When the reached the wooden door at the other end, they crouched down, and Harry handed each a ear. They unraveled the fleshy strings, and stuck the ears the door.

At first only a light buzzing was heard. Slowly, the buzzing became clearly defined voices. The first was Dumbledore's.

'I don't understand,' he was saying, calmly. 'Why you have visited me. I have nothing to do with Mulciber's death.'

'That's just the point.' an official said. 'We were wondering whether you did. Because you see, neither did we.

They heard a soft exclamation.

'We were as shocked as anyone to see the article today in the Daily Prophet.' another official continued. 'We had nothing to do with the death. We never saw the body. And we definitely didn't send anyone over that night.'

Dumbledore was silent. Then, he said. 'Are you suggesting interference from my side?'

'Most definitely not.' an official said. 'But as this is close to your part of the world….'

'I assure you my dear man, I didn't. You can take my word for it.'

'It makes no sense.' An official said, stubbornly. 'After all the Death Eaters wouldn't want o kill Mulciber. But that suggests that a third party…'

His voice trailed off.

'Enough!' Another official said. 'Dumbledore says he has nothing to do with it. We have no more work here.'

There was a rustle of robes. The four quickly snapped their Ears back, and scrambled down the staircase.

'Quick!' Ginny panted. 'Pretend we were just strolling down the corridor.'

They passed through the gargoyle flanked door, and quickly turned just as the officials were exiting the staircase, with Dumbledore behind them.

'Oh,' said, Ginny, whose eyes had gone wide. 'Good evening Professor.'

The officials merely nodded and passed on, but Dumbledore turned and looked shrewdly at them. 'I take you just chanced to pass by?" he asked.

'Oh…yes.' Ginny faltered. 'We were on our way back the library.'

'Odd.' Dumbledore said, frowning. 'I could have sworn the library was in the other direction.'

With a little smile, he walked away, his purple robes swishing.