CHAPTER TWELVE: The Cliffs of Moher
"Come on, then," said Lucius briskly, turning to walk along the cliff. Fortunately, all three of them had the presence of mind to follow right away.
The path along the cliff kept them away from the edge by a foot or two, so she supposed she should be grateful for that, if she didn't keep looking over it so very often. She just couldn't stop herself, despite her fears; it was right there and morbidly fascinating.
"Mr. Malfoy?" asked Thomas after they'd walked some time.
"Hmn," replied Lucius.
"Who was that back at the manor?"
"Ah, I've no doubt it was 'Ministry Investigators' who've been tipped off on something fishy happening at my house," said Lucius.
"But really the truth is that whoever it is, is trying to keep that case closed," said Hermione.
"Precisely," said Lucius, taking a split from the main trail along the cliff to move down and inland towards a wide field of tall grasses. "I'm sure they've searched the manor by now."
"Drat," said Hermione, moving to walk beside him. "Won't they wonder why the house elf has been cleaning up the place?"
"Maybe," said Lucius. "But it can be reasonably explained away by erratic house elf general cleaning behavior."
"It isn't proof of anything, that's for sure," said Luna from behind.
"Also, I had the presence of mind to bring all the evidence of our investigation with us," said Lucius.
"Thank Merlin," said Hermione. "We need to get Thomas home with the file, and Luna home with her family before anyone can notice they're missing."
"And you too?" asked Lucius.
"Wouldn't I be of better use in a heist of Draco's suppressed memories than sitting around at home?" asked Hermione. "We've no time to lose, you know."
Lucius was quiet in the dark as they stopped before a low fence.
"So," said Thomas, breaking the silence, "how are we going to get home?"
"More portkeys," replied Lucius as he, somehow, clambered gracefully over the fence. Really, clambering was generally pretty awkward, but there was a certain undeniable poise to which Lucius did everything. In general it reminded Hermione of a horrible snake or man-eating cat, but for a moment she noticed and realized it took years of training and discipline to develop such inherent grace, and maybe, just a little, she admired that particular accomplishment by Mr. Malfoy.
She looked up to see Lucius was asking her something.
"I'm sorry, what?" she asked.
"Are you coming?" he asked, and she noticed everyone else was on the other side of the fence. Great, now she would have to clamber, and really clamber, because she was mortal, and mortals clambered awkwardly. On top of that, everyone was going to watch her clambering.
Thomas must have sensed her inner clambersome turmoil (yes, she clearly did wear it all on her face, didn't she?), because he shot forward to help her over the fence. How pleasant it was, even though she really didn't need it, to have his strong arms around her for a moment of fence-crossing, and, again, she really didn't need it. But whatever.
"Are you alright?" he asked her on the other side, as if it wasn't clear she was quite alright.
"I promise I don't suffer from fence-phobia," she said to Thomas, with a self-depreciating smile. "I was just… thinking about something else."
She caught Lucius' smirk and her face burned. Looking like an idiot in front of that man was possibly her least favorite thing to do, so she decided to ignore him until this particular moment passed and turned her attention to Thomas and Luna as they walked.
"So we'll want to get you both home as soon as possible," she said to the other two. "But Thomas, I think Lucius and I should have a look through the file one more time before we hand it back to you."
"Or you could just copy it all quickly?" said Luna.
"Oh," said Hermione. "Have you any parchment?"
"Yes," said Lucius from up ahead, who did not at all seem like he had been listening.
"You thought of everything, didn't you, Mr. Malfoy?" Luna asked jovially.
"Thinking of everything is necessary for decent subterfuge," quipped the Malfoy. He spared Hermione a glance as he said, "It comes with practice."
What was he inferring? There wasn't time to investigate, however, for they'd arrived at a thatch-roofed hovel of which's wooden door Lucius wasted no time in immediately opening and stepping through. The surroundings smelled of fresh grass beginning to grow and, despite the weather being brisk, it wasn't unbearable. Spring was impending like a fuzzy, pleasant doom.
Inside the hovel was a strong scent of wood and the sound of Lucius rummaging around in things that clanked and clunked – she found him around a corner (there weren't many), pulling hand-held objects out of a trunk one by one and considering each briefly before leaving each on a low table nearby and moving onto the next. It looked like a rummage sale.
"You certainly have a lot of portkeys," she said, briefly catching his attention.
"Well, one must," he said, returning to his trunk, and seeming to not find it necessary to explain further. It really wasn't necessary, she knew why he might need a whole trove of portkeys. There were any number of reasons why Lucius Malfoy might need a large variety of portkeys to choose from at any given time.
Luna and Thomas were ogling the rest of the hovel, quaint as it was.
"So what is this place?" asked Luna.
"Oh, just another family holding. You can see we've never really done anything with it," he replied, distracted.
Thomas regarded the pile of portkeys on the table.
"Looks like this particular holding has been used mainly for nefarious getaways," said Thomas.
Lucius glanced at Thomas, and then turned to Hermione.
"You know we're going to have to obliviate him, yes?" he said to her.
Hermione opened her mouth, but Thomas interjected.
"What?" he exclaimed at Lucius, who only gave Hermione another knowing look and turned back to inspecting his portkeys.
"He can't be serious," said Thomas, turning his anxiety onto Hermione.
"Well, he's not joking," said Hermione, fingering the edge of her sweater. She was unable to reply sensibly, because Lucius had a solid point, despite it being a point she didn't particularly like.
"Don't you trust me?" asked Thomas, now managing to appear hurt.
"It isn't that, Thomas," said Hermione. "It's… well, it's to keep you safe."
"It is?" murmured Lucius.
"Yes," said Hermione, loudly at Lucius' back, and then more nicely to Thomas: "Yes. This way you won't have to worry about anyone questioning you, and you won't lose your job."
Hermione smiled at Thomas as if that would fix everything, but he didn't seem comforted.
"Here, take the file and copy it," Lucius said, handing it to Hermione with some parchment. He rose, turning to face Luna and Thomas.
He handed Luna a dented star ornament and Thomas a can of what appeared to be beans.
"These should get you as close to home as possible without undue amounts of walking. Mrs. Longbottom, thank you for coming this evening, but you should be at home with your family, so I encourage you to leave immediately. Your portkey password is 'nightingale'," he said.
"Will you be alright?" she asked, glancing between Lucius and Hermione.
"Yes, of course," said Hermione, maybe believing it.
"Do not assume being here is the most helpful thing you can do for us," said Lucius. "We don't want to give them a chance to search for you and find you missing. Too many suspicions would arise."
Hermione hugged Luna ferociously.
"Very well, here are some Nargles," Luna said, pulling a jar from her bag. "You do know how to use Nargles, right?"
"Um… not yet," replied Hermione, accepting what seemed to be a plain clay jar with a cloth lid.
"I thought that might be the case, so I brought this for you," said Luna, pulling out a rolled parchment and handing it to Hermione. "Really they do come in handy, sometimes."
"Yes?" said Hermione.
"Good-bye!" exclaimed Luna, blithe and warm. "Nightingale!"
She was gone in a whoosh.
Thomas filled the vacuum in a rush.
"I'd rather not be obliviated," he said simply, addressing Hermione with a sincere look. That sort of look made Hermione want to give him what he wanted, whatever it was.
"Miss Granger," said Lucius' voice from nearby, and she blinked, turning her attention back to Lucius, and maybe waking from a dream. "Copy that file, now."
Hermione looked down at the parchments, file, and Nargle pot in her hands, then moved to sit beside the low table to work.
"Hermione," said Thomas.
"Mr. Bennet," said Lucius. "May I have a moment?"
Thomas sighed. "I suppose."
They faded off into the other room while Hermione worked. She pulled out a few assorted photos and a number of half-done reports. Nothing seemed very thorough in the file. There were included a few newspaper clippings, some memos, and a checklist by Peter Gentry. Using her wand, Hermione charmed a quill to copy all of the written contents of the file, while she dictated to the quill the contents of the photos. She found herself studying the photo of the captured Death Eaters, tangled in magical Malfoy Manor ward-bonds, glowing as bright blue strands against the dark of their robes, and she wondered where they were today. Were they in Azkaban? If so, what would they have to say?
If still alive, they probably were no longer sane. Who were they? What were their names? Where would she find this information if it wasn't in this file?
She bit her lip as she wondered if Azkaban had a public registry. It had to, didn't it? But would finding out their names and who they were make any difference in her investigation?
Maybe.
Hermione finished the copy work and gathered everything to go find Thomas and Lucius nearby in a small, cramped kitchen near the back of the hut. Thomas was standing with his back to the counter, his stance guarded and bracing, and Lucius stood, calm but vaguely menacing, in the middle of the room. She cleared her throat and they both looked at her as if she was an unexpected event.
"I've… finished?" offered Hermione, holding up the file. Thomas smiled at her as his posture relaxed and he received the file, tucking it under his arm.
"Your portkey password is 'roundabout'," said Lucius, addressing Thomas, who still had the dented can of beans. He then turned to Hermione and said, "Mr. Bennet has convinced me he doesn't require obliviation."
That was a surprise. Didn't Lucius always get what he wanted? What exactly happened in this kitchen while she was copying the file?
"He does not?" she asked.
"Not at present," said Lucius, though he seemed a bit broody about it.
"Very good," said Hermione, smiling at Thomas. "Thomas, do you know if the Ministry has a public registry for arrested criminals?"
"Hm," said Thomas, then slowly, as if he dreaded the answer: "Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you could maybe have a look and find out the names of those two Death Eaters found at the scene all those years ago?" Hermione asked, continuing to smile, as if that would convince Thomas to further embroil himself in this mess.
Thomas groaned in response.
"Hey," said Hermione, approaching Thomas and gently poking him in the shoulder. "You said you wanted adventure. Well, here it is. It's usually scary and even terrifying and there's generally a lot at stake, but the rewards are enormous."
"Are they?" asked Lucius, one eyebrow piqued and a vague smile on his face, as if he found her description of adventure amusing and interesting at the same time.
She glanced sidelong at Lucius and asked, "Wouldn't you know?"
He seemed not to know how to answer her question.
"Yes, Hermione," said Thomas, taking the hand that was poking his shoulder in his own. "I'll do my best."
"Then get home immediately," she told him, allowing him to hold her hand for the moment.
He nodded, but he lingered, and she almost panicked when she thought he might suddenly embrace her, but the notion never materialized enough to happen. Within seconds, Thomas had clenched his can of beans and his Ministry file, fixed her with a sober gaze and murmured "roundabout" as if it actually meant something, and had disappeared from her reality. There seemed to be a hole in his absence, and it took a moment for her to adjust to the sensation of being alone with Lucius again.
"It must be difficult, warding off lovesick young men enamored by your fame and brilliance," said Lucius.
"Oh, please," she said, noticing his smirk. "It never happens."
"No doubt because you're not the type to take advantage of it," he said.
"Is that a compliment?" she asked.
"Is it?" he returned. Again, everything he said always ended up being dubious. "I'd say it's a miracle you didn't end up married into the Weasley family."
"Not a miracle at all," she said. "We weren't suited."
"I think everyone could see that," said Lucius.
"Oh, well, wonderful when I'm the last to know these things," she said, feeling an old, creeping annoyance come over her.
"At least you did figure it out eventually," he said.
"Why are we talking about this?" she asked.
"Indeed, we should instead be talking about how Mr. Bennet is far too young for you," he said.
"No we should not be talking about that!"
"I'm only trying to help you to not be the last person to know it this time," he replied.
"Lucius!"
"What?" he asked. "I've only your best interests at heart."
"That is not something that you have ever had at heart!"
"Perhaps it would be better, then, to stress to you the need for our investigation to be unfettered by the complications of romance," he said. "Do you have any idea what romance does to any project?"
"Causes complications, I'd wager," she replied dully, leaving the kitchen to find her things.
"If you wish to understate it," said Lucius, following her. "It severely reduces the effectiveness of any endeavor, and why, you might ask? Because the two parties involved are so busy pining after one another they miss details. Important details. Do you not realize that the key to subterfuge is in the details?"
It was enough, and she rounded on him.
"Must you continually condescend as if I'm still a seventeen year old girl with no experience in the world, and no intellect to match? Do you think I've never experienced romance, and thus require your-," and she made quote marks in the air, "'expertise' in navigating my love life? Though it might be shocking to you, I have experienced a range of romantic situations, some with co-conspirators, even! Amazingly, no one died horrible deaths as a result."
Lucius looked bored by her tirade. "Clearly you've cracked the code and can now live happily ever after," he said.
"Look who's talking," said Hermione, and there was a moment his eyes darkened and she realized she'd hit a soft spot. His face grew cold and he went to rummage in the box of portkeys. She gave him his silence and began organizing her things in her bag- the Nargle pot, the copy of the file contents, Harry's invisibility cloak, her wand. She considered everything for a moment.
"What did you do to that pensieve of yours?" she asked Lucius' back.
"I adjusted it to extract specific memories," he said. "From a specific time."
"Does it work?" she asked.
"I don't know," he said.
"Should we test it out?" she asked.
"Probably," he said, continuing to inspect the portkeys. Now he was just acting sullen. She moved to kneel beside him at the portkey trunk.
"So what are you looking for?" she asked.
"For what are you looking," he corrected and her blood ran cold and then hot, one after another.
"You've just corrected my grammar!"
He looked at her. "You love grammar, don't you?" he asked, as if everything were normal and that was normal behavior under these circumstances. She laughed at the absurdity, and then looked over the portkeys.
"We really should stop fighting, you know?" she said, picking up a chipped blue plate.
"But it's so easy," he said, and then he held up an old trophy. "This one will get us near St. Mungo's."
"And now we figure out how to get inside to Draco," she said.
-oOo-
A/N: writing this chapter was like trying to eat glass. sometimes they come easy, this one was nothing but pain and suffering. fortunately the next chapter is coming more easily!
A/N #2: the cliffs of moher (and most of western ireland for that matter) is one of my favorite places in the world. so amazing. miss it all terribly.