Hermione did not move. The colour had practically drained from her face as the words sank in, a thousand thoughts swirling around her head at once in disbelief.
"Lestrange?" Professor Quigley asked. Hermione almost missed the conversation continuing as the sound of rushing blood occupied her ears.
" Yes," Harry answered, looking at the professor he had never seen before. "Who are you?"
Professor Slughorn jumped in with a chuckle " This is Professor Quigley, my Apprentice"
ignoring the introduction the young professor continued to ask.
"You didn't say which Lestrange?…"
"It's Rabastan... Mione are you alright?" Harry trailed off as he looked at his friend, Alarmed at how pale she looked and swaying as if she was going to faint.
"What? .. Yes... I" she licked her dry lips refocusing on her words. "Who did you say was upstairs?" She looked over to Harry again.
"Rabastan Lestrange, The younger brother."
The relief flooded through Hermione almost immediately. She could not believe the close call that Bellatrix could have been caught. In the realisation her immediate thoughts were that Bellatrix was no longer safe in the forest, knowing now that the Aurors were patrolling. Despite the centaurs being the protectors of the forest, the risk was too large. She needed to move Bellatrix to a place of safety.
Fluttering to the forefront of her mind she thought of Andy, but she couldn't put that pressure on the older witch who had taken her in. Narcissa was another option but deemed Malfoy Manor even less safe than the forest in the circumstances. Perhaps the sisters had a family residence or safe house which they could place her in.
While all this had been racing her head, Hermione had not realised the professor had returned with a vial of veritaserum. They were now walking up the steps towards the headmaster's office. Harry giving the password Buttercups revealing the doorway and steps towards the room above. The impenetrable silence as they approached the top was stifling, as professor Slughorn stepped to the side revealing a man currently bound to a chair.
Rabastan Lestrange certainly looked worse for wear. His shoulder-length auburn hair Had come loose from what was once a ponytail. His Robes appeared tatty like they had been worn for several days, his wrists were bound tightly behind the chair and metal shackles secured his legs.
Hermione did not register Kingsley Shacklebolt in the room until he leaned past her grabbing the veritaserum from professor Quigley who had followed into the room behind them. He pulled the stopper from the Vial, roughly grabbed a fistful of hair pulling Lestranges head back and pouring the liquid down the back of his throat with no hesitation. Slapping the head as he let go, he took a step back never taking his eyes off Lestrange.
Lestrange spluttered slightly giving the new Minister of Magic a dirty look as he watched him retreat.
"What were you doing in the forest?" Kingsley's booming voice demanded.
Lestrange looked up at him grinning, showing his dirty teeth. " Reminiscing" He responded sarcastically.
SMACK
The sound ricocheted around the room as the back of Kingsley's hand struck Lestrange.
"I am not here for Games Lestrange! Now tell me why were you in the forest, and where the hell you and your parasite of a brother have been hiding!"
"Sod off and suck Merlin's dick, big man!" Lestrange retaliated in annoyance.
Kingsley sighed deeply for a moment, pausing as he wiped the front of his face wearily in a downward motion with his right hand.
Then suddenly at lightning speed swung around punching a large fist straight into Lestange's face. The crack of the nose bones evident and blood began to spill from nostrils down. He coughed violently spitting blood from his mouth and the sound of a tooth hitting the floor.
Hermione was appalled as she looked at the newly appointed Minister of Magic. She looked around the room at the other attendees, McGonnagal clutching her desk, knuckles white, yet saying nothing. Quigley and Slughorn both looked at the floor avoiding the situation. Even Harry looked uncomfortable.
"I thought you said this was a good batch of veritaserum?" Kingsley muttered to Slughorn in frustration.
"It is! Well, it will take a few minutes to kick in but I assure you it works fine" Slughorn proclaimed in his dithery tone.
Kingsley turned back to Lestrange who was still spitting blood. He bent forward so he was at sitting level.
"Lets try one more time shall we?" He said, looking him straight in the eye. " Do you think the veritaserum is working yet Rabastan?"
"Yes"
"Are you going to cooperate with my questions now?"
"Not willingly" he responded Snarkily. Kingsley's lips thinned but said nothing.
"Is there anything you want to tell us about Rabastan?"
"Yes," he almost whispered gasping as he broke into another coughing fit. Eye contact never breaking as Kingsley inched ever so slightly closer in anticipation
" You hit like a girl" Lestrange responded, bursting into a shrill laugh that ended in a spluttering cough.
Kingsley growled, striking a full force left hook into Lestranges stomach. Telegraphing another until a pair of hands grabbed him.
"Stop! Stop!" Hermione cried, grabbing onto the Minister's forearm. She had no sympathy for the Deatheater in front of her, but her morals knew this was not how interviewing was done even in the wizarding world. She knew laws were being broken and couldn't stand to watch it continue.
"Let go of me, Miss Granger!" Kingsley cussed and he tried shaking the muggle-born from his clamped down fists. One of Kingsley's bodyguards lurched forward to grab the muggle-borns waist and pull her off. Before he had reached her however all in the room seemed to freeze as the prisoner began to speak once more.
"The Mudblood'' Lestrange whispered in Aww. His eyes focused solely on Hermione with fascination.
Hermione on hearing that cursed word turned towards the prisoner.
"We were right!" he cackled, still coughing up small amounts of blood as it dribbled down his chin.
"Right about what?!" Kingsley demanded. By now Hermione had let go. All eyes in the room focused on Lestrange as he continued to stare at the muggle-born.
"Granger is at Hogwarts, we can move forward with the plan!" He shouted with glee.
"You're here for Granger? WHY?" Kingsley continued. The room was dead silent. Lestrange still staring cold eyes at Hermione, never once blinking.
"She is the key!" He squealed excitedly, his bloodstained teeth grinning maniacally.
"KEY TO WHAT?" Kingsley bellowed once more.
"Bellatrix!" He hissed. Everyone flinched. Just like times when the dark lord's name would be mentioned. Hermione frowned at the mention of the dark witches' name. Surely he couldn't know?
"Get the Mudblood. Get Bellatrix. And the Dark will rise again!" He sang it almost poetically and burst into a shrill cackle once more.
Harry stepped forward attempting to protect Hermione in some gesture.
"How could you possibly use Hermione to get Bellatrix?" Harry demanded.
"Because . . ." He smiled knowing the room was in anticipation as he strained once more against he's bindings, his breathing became shallow and quick panting with excitement as he continued turning to Harry with a fleeting glance before returning to Hermione. "She is a ho-" he broke into another coughing fit before he could finish. He took a deep breath and tried to speak again "She's a-" more blood spluttered out as he coughed again this time so violently his chair began to shake from the jerking movements as Lestrange struggled.
An unsettled feeling was immersing around the room as people began to realise something wasn't right. By now Lestrange was Convulsing so violently and leaning over his left side, until suddenly the chair finally unbalanced and tipped over completely, slamming Lestrange down knocking him out cold as his head hit the surface.
Hermione instinctively leaned to move forward. Harry stopped her placing his arm in front to stop her from continuing. Instead, he pointed his wand, not taking his eyes off the prisoner. He approached cautiously despite no movement from Lestrange, taking note of the pale colour in the man's face. He kneeled down taking a closer look at the unmoving body.
A few moments passed before Harry stood turning to the others. Hermione could tell straight away from the look of apprehension on his face that something was wrong as he turned around.
"He's Dead"
SlytherinEnigma