Prisoners of Azkaban, Probationary Diaries August 2009, Prisoners #19-09-1979 and #09-01-1960
oooOooo
August 7, 2009
The first shock was breakfast: Hannah Abbott served it! She was not on my list; but after eleven years or 135 months or 587 weeks or 4115 days or—the Calculus spell works well with my new wand—around 98,760 hours after Voldemort's victory, I can't know who's still alive, even if they were on my list of the living.
…if I'd had a list of the living.
I remember Hannah. I can still see her on February 14, 1998. At breakfast. In the Great Hall. Eleven years or 138 months or 598 weeks or 4192 days ago she was a plump, pink-cheeked girl kissing Neville Longbottom for Valentine's Day until he blushed redder than the roses he gave her. Now he's dead, and she's a thin, worn-down woman with weary eyes. Her right cheek is marked with a purple curse-scar. Her left cheek is branded with a faded version of the Dark Mark, the letters H and B for "half-blood" curling in black ridges over her cheekbone.
Hannah has taken over the Three Broomsticks after Madam Rosmerta died during a routine Control of the local Death Eater squad. The Prophet claimed it was just a heart attack, according to Hannah.
I expect her heart did give out.
Hannah was helpful. Draco had some papers; but living as a recluse, he's not up to date concerning the rules and regulations of the wizarding world in 2009.
Since we're on probation, she is not allowed to let us stay longer than three nights.
But Miss Violet Puddifoot—Madam Puddifoot's niece—rents out rooms, too.
Madam Puddifoot's square is in the second column from the left, thirteenth square from the window. I never knew her first name. Hannah told me. She was Isobel. She died when Death Eaters attacked Hogsmeade on February 14, 1998. Eleven years or 138 months or 598 weeks or 4192 days ago.
Thus we have almost a week here, where at least the names of the shops are still familiar, even if not much else is.
We must register our wands at the Death Eaters' office today, and turn them in for inspection once a month. Priori Incantatem will be cast on them. Every spell we cast will be registered and Traced.
But we do not have to be branded like Hannah. Minister Malfoy abolished that law on June 27, 2009. A month, nearly six weeks, or 41 days, or 984 hours ago.
I wonder why they didn't brand us. Severus says they likely forgot about us. For eleven years or 135 months or 587 weeks or 4114 days or 98,736 hours.
Why did they remember us now?
We got our wands registered and looked at the bulletin board of the post office. With Draco's galleons we can afford three houses listed for sale. Then we went to the apothecary—my left hand is inflamed. No luck; Murtlap's Essence is a forbidden substance now.
But I don't mind the pain.
It means I am alive and almost, almost free.
oooOooo
A/N: Many thanks to Fliewatuet and Mia Madwyn for beta-reading.
Further notes: They used Severus' Muggle money (money the prison guards didn't recognise as money—h/t Potions Mistress for that idea, with many thanks!) to pay for their room at the Three Broomsticks. Draco gave them galleons he doesn't need (living in the lighthouse the way he does) for buying a house.