Chapter 13: Preparations
The news of Draco Malfoy's demise spread like wildfire. Before it officially hit the press I found myself once again at Malfoy Manor, bringing terrible news. I warred with myself for a long time before deciding to keep the secret from them. I had risked enough telling Harry and Blaise.
Watching the Malfoy parents attempt to keep their composure almost broke me. Seeing the tears shining in Narcissa's eyes made me vow to myself to find Dracon, no matter the cost.
After informing the Malfoys I went to my apartment o pack for my upcoming trip to America. Luckily I still had my beaded bag from years ago and I could fit the entire contents of my apartment in it if I really needed to. For show I packed a duffle bag because it would have looked odd traveling between countries with naught but a small beaded bag.
I had been in correspondence with Hazel and I would be leaving the day after tomorrow. I appreciated her efforts to speed up the process, but I would still lose an entire day to paperwork.
That night I tuned into the wizarding news radio station. I in conjunction with quite a few other Muggleborns had tried to introduce the idea of television in the wizarding world, but our only real supporter was Arthur Weasley.
Lee Jordan hosted WNN-Wizards' Nightly News- and it was more accurate and objective than the Daily Prophet. It was funded by none other than Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
Adulthood had not changed Lee Jordan. Voldemort himself had been unable to curb Lee's tongue, so I don't know why anyone expected time to do so. When the clock struck seven, Lee's voice crackled over the speakers. "Hello, witches and wizards, and welcome to tonight's Wizards' Nightly News, funded by the one and only Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, not to be associated with Ronald Weasley, professional git. To begin, we have a sponsored message for Ronald: 'Ron, if we weren't so scared of mym we would hex you within an inch of your life. Sincerely Your Brothers and Harry.' What a heartwarming message today, folks. Now any of you men out there that might be excited that our very own war heroine Hermione Granger is single, remember this list of men that stand behind her."
I found myself laughing more than I had for a long while. Molly would be sending a howler to everyone involved with the "sponsored message," including Lee Jordan and Ron himself. It still hurt, thinking about what Ron had done, but it was nice to know that the Weasleys still cared about me. I also knew Molly's howlers would have a little less fire in them than usual because she secretly agreed with the message.
After his nightly antics, Lee got to the more serious portions of the news. "We regret to inform everyone that the resurgence of Death Eaters has continued. In the latest news, they have killed reformed Death Eater Draco Malfoy. But do not panic, ladies and gents. The Ministry is dedicating all of their resources to this very cause, and for once they are even overcoming their monumental pride to ask other countries for assistance. Things have changed since the reign of You-Know-Who. Draco Malfoy is a shining example of this. When I first met him, I knew that he was the most vile, unpleasant first year to ever set their foot in Hogwarts. However, Draco Malfoy has changed and I've had to work with him on multiple occasions, and I actually enjoyed being around the bloke.
"Those Death Eaters are recruiting, and Draco Malfoy is dead because he said no. He has become an example to us all, and the years before his death he consistently filled the world with goodness. Don't panic listeners, because there is still good in the world. Draco Malfoy, I only wish we could have been friends ages ago."
Lee kept going with the news, but I couldn't concentrate anymore. I touched my cheeks. At some point I had begun crying without noticing. It was mental because I knew that Draco Malfoy was alive somewhere in America.
But for the first time since Ron broke off the engagement two months ago, I really let myself cry. I cried for my broken heart, and the fear that infested it, fear of these Death Eaters on the loose. I cried for the people mourning Draco Malfoy, as well as the people mourning other reformed Death Eaters, unjustly murdered. I cried for Carol and Charles, both suffering a major loss because of a world they weren't a part of.
In short, I cried until I had no more tears left to cry.
A/N: I just finished up for the semester, and I'm hoping to update more often. We'll see how the summer treats me. Thanks as always to my readers.
