A/N: The last two chapters are short and I'll try to get them both out over the weekend. The last chapter was written with a word count in mind – won't do that again – my bad.
Remember to review and thanks for reading.
13. The Tunnel
Being a house-elf had it's advantages – even if those advantages were slight. With their ability to apparate nearly anywhere, the trio zipped directly into the Ministry Atrium and were standing just a few feet away from the security agent.
"Hello Thomas," Hermione said quickly. "These two house-elves are with me."
"Oh – yes Miss, met them this morning," he said, looking over his spectacles at the pair. "I'll sign them in for you. Let's see... Winky and Gilbert, right?"
"Yes that's right," she replied. "We'll be off then – in a bit of a hurry," she added as she rushed to the lifts with the slapping of elf feet trotting behind her.
Not being completely sure of what proceeding would be used on Draco, Hermione took the lift to the lower court level. She had instructed big Jim, the Bailiff to send her a note if he heard anything. She was sure he would be involved at some point and he would probably escort Draco to Odd-job Oldowe. Oldowe would be the one to actually take the prisoner to Azkaban.
Rushing into the security offices for the courts, Hermione looked everywhere for big Jim the Bailiff, but he was nowhere to be found. He must be out for lunch, she thought as a small panic hit her. About this time a small witch from a back office came scampering up.
"May I help you Miss?" she asked professionally.
"Yes – thank you, I'm looking for big Jim. Is he here?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Miss, but I think he's taken lunch," she said apologetically.
"Well, do you know if he's taken a prisoner this morning?"
"Can't say for sure Miss – he was out for a little while. Wait..." she said and snapped around. Coming around corner was big Jim in a midnight blue uniform.
"Hello Hermione," Jim said as if surprised to see her.
"Jim," she said, struggling for the words. "Have you... did you take Draco..."
"Yes Miss – I did. Just left him with Fergus Oldowe," he said in a deep voice.
"But you agreed to send me a note before that happened," Hermione said, beginning to flush scarlet.
The two house-elves stood there with heads down and their elf chins on their elf chests.
"Well, I'm sorry Miss – you didn't get the note?"
Hermione stood there firmly without giving the question the dignity of an answer.
"No," she finally muttered.
"Well, Mr. Weasley stopped by about that time – I asked him if he could drop it off!"
Hermione was floored – her heart nearly missed a beat. Ron had never mentioned a word.
"But Jim – I told you to send it to me," she barked at the huge man.
"I'm sorry Miss. I really am," he apologized.
"Well, it's done. How long ago was it? How did Oldowe take him?" she fired the questions.
"They left by floo-powder – for the shack at Prisoner Point – I think," he said as if nearly frightened of the angry witch.
Flustered, Hermione shook her head and paused to think. "Can you show us which floo connects to Prisoner Point then?"
"Sure, I can do that," he said and they all rushed out to find the connecting floo in the Atrium.
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The shack at Prisoner Point sat smack dab in the middle of an idyllic scene along the coast of the North Sea. Spoiling that scene was the dark outline of Azkaban prison that loomed at sea atop a rocky outpost that jutted a few meters above the foamy surf. The prison itself was about three hundred paces from the rock strewn and wave swept shoreline.
The shack was positioned on the point just beyond the first magical barrier to the prison. The first invisible barrier guarded against apparition to the prison and the immediate grounds that surrounded it. Draco and Oldowe had just arrived to the shack via floo powder and stepped out of the oversized fireplace. Draco was shackled by magical bracelets that gave Oldowe the ability to easily control a magical prisoner. Since Oldowe was a squib, the shackles were a necessity. Oldowe opened the door, and they both stepped out into a beautiful day. The wind atop the point was blowing the long yellow grass tops almost flat. The air on top of the point was damp and fragrant with the sweet smell of the sea.
It would have been a beautiful day except for the lump in Draco's stomach that was growing larger with each step. There was a narrow stone walkway down the hill and around a bend that led to the prison entrance. The narrow walkway was not wide enough for two and they walked in single file with Draco ahead of Oldowe down the hillside. He cursed the giant oaf under his breath for fastening the shackles with his hands behind him. He'd have no way to brace against a fall if his footing slipped while going down the hill.
As he struggled down the hillside, he wondered if he'd not gone completely mad. The sounds of breaking waves along the rock strewn shore were growing louder as they began ease around the bend.
To his mind, Narcissa hadn't given a damn about getting him off the Ministry assignment. She was just pissed and worried that his growing feelings toward the Mudblood Granger might wreck the planned marriage to Astoria. He didn't honestly feel Astoria gave a damn either – not really. She was a Greengrass and the Malfoys had always intermarried with the Greengrass family. It was just their way to marry wealthy purebloods and stay that way. They'd have wealthy kids; and they'd probably grow up just like the spoiled little Slytherin shite he had been. And Granger – all she could suggest was getting back to work with Cynthia, the new case officer. Yeah that would be just great, then he'd have four witches to deal with. So... he decided to buck-up and be a man about it. He'd take the damn three months and never have to listen to these witches again.
Only now, there were troubling doubts gnawing at his guts. Granger – maybe there was something in his feeling about her that was difficult to come to terms with. He had gone to her flat that night to clear this mess up, to pour out his soul if need be, and she had turned him away. He hadn't been able to admit until now, but he felt a strange kind of hurt that wouldn't easily go away.
At the base of the hill now and beyond the pass they paused under a large oak tree. There was a simple wooden bench by the base of the tree. Perhaps it had been used by those waiting for family members or loved ones as they were due to leave the prison. The sounds of the waves breaking along the rock strewn shoreline was the aural equivalent of the idyllic scene above.
They continued along the walkway to the black opening of a tunnel that was the entrance to Azkaban prison. As they crossed the last magical boundary it was like walking through a sticky film. Only Oldowe with his security charm could get them through. Taking a half a dozen steps down, they entered the long tunnel under the sea to Azkaban.
‡‡‡‡‡
In a fiery green swoosh, Hermione and the two house-elves stepped out of the oversized fireplace – just minutes behind Draco and Oldowe. They ran thought the first invisible barrier, still several hundred paces from the large oak tree at the base of the hill. The stone pathway was no place for heels and Hermione slowed to yank the shoes off her feet. With a shoe in each hand, she hurried down the hill as quickly as she could manage in stocking feet.
The little trick Ron pulled had stung like a betrayal. Sure, Draco had always picked on him, but this just felt different – it felt wrong. It was almost hard for her to believe he had done it.
With the ground becoming more level now, she picked up the pace and was running full out into a steady ocean wind. Almost at the base of the tree she could see the towering figure of Oldowe and the blond headed wizard almost in the entrance of the tunnel.
"DRACO... DRACO..." but the call couldn't penetrate the final barrier.
With no answer she grabbed her wand and cast a fiery curse toward the barrier to watch it bounce off harmlessly with no effect.
"DRACO..."
She ran up to the boundary and yelled one last time. Nothing.
Out of breath and low in spirit she walked slowly back to the bench and plopped down. Winky and Gilbert were now trotting up to the scene. Pulling her feet up to dust off the loose dirt, she could see the hosiery was ruined and she almost laughed. She slipped the shoes back on and tried to think of what to do next, but her mind was numb and her thoughts were blank.
She felt the amulet given to her by old Alice. She pulled it up and over her head. It never did find a comfortable place between her breasts and was somewhat troublesome to wear. Looking at the carved pattern of runes around the edge, it seemed quaint and simple. Nothing but a good luck charm, she thought. She squeezed her hands tightly around it, no longer able to see the rune markings through misty eyes.