Chapter 3
"I suppose this must be it" Hermione assumed looking about the neighbourhood with hesitation. Number 18 Mabyline Road was nothing alike to what Hermione had come expect from Wizarding homes, not that she knew of a great many to compare it with.
The neighbourhood of Willowsgrove and the house was, well... normal, in the muggle sense of the word. No strange plants adorned the gardens, and most of the homes had driveways (something most Wizarding families found unnecessary, for who needed cars when you could fly, a sentiment Hermione most definitely did not agree with).
Squaring her shoulders, and tucking a stray hair back into her bun, Hermione made her way to the front door giving two quick, but firm knocks to announce her arrival.
An instant later a faraway, misty voice answered, calling from somewhere in the house "Just a moment my dear, I will be with you shortly..." followed by a series of crashes and a somewhat faintly mumbled "although fate and chaos waits for no man"
Something about the phrasing and that voice sounded very familiar to Hermione, although she dreaded the actuality that she had wasted her day, and upset Ron, for her. But it was fairly improbable...
After the clamour of thuds and crashes receded, the door was swung open with a dramatic flare, revealing none other than the visage of the eccentric magnified eyes and dreaded insect like figure of Professor Trelawney, in all of her glittering glory. "Ah, yes, just as I predicted." Was uttered, but lost some of its ethereal tone of her earlier declaration, seeing only Hermione at the door. "The unfortunate one has returned I see... still as unreceptive to the resonances of the future as ever..." Hermione who had already not been in the friendliest state of mind when she had arrived, coupled with the disdainful insults from one of the only Hogwarts's Professors she had utterly no respect for, was ready to start stating exactly what she thought of the Trelawney's short-sighted predictions when another voice came from inside...
"Oh sorry, Miss Granger, please do excuse Sybill." The petite form of Professor Aurora Sinistra, Hogwarts's Astronomy professor, made her way outside giving Hermione a friendly and somewhat apologising smile. "Sybill, be a dear and go inside to see if the tea needs to be reheated, I am sure it has cooled down by now."
"Yes, yes I will take my leave then of you and your guest, Aurora!" announced Trelawney, haughtily adding with a look in Hermione's direction "as I can already feel the Inner Eye being clouded in the presence of one with so a banal ambiance to the cosmos" With that Sybill Trelawney scuttled back inside through the doorway, followed by the sound of many bangles and chains clinking together.
"It's good to see you Professor" Hermione exclaimed, although somewhat confused. Professor Sinistra had been one of the professors at Hogwarts that Hermione never had grown too close to, being someone of a very introverted nature, mostly more interested in the stars than her students.
Her confusion must have shown for Professor Sininstra quickly answered. "You too dear, but I am no longer your professor though, you may call me Aurora if you want to. But please come inside and make yourself at home. You're probably wondering about the note..."
Hermione barely had a chance to answer when, with a jittery nod and a nervous expression Professor Sinistra continued "We will discuss it where there are less prying eyes and keen ears to overhear, yes?"
Once inside, Hermione quickly re-evaluated her previous thoughts on Wizarding homes and appearances. Professor Sinistra's home consisted of what could only be multiple, upon multiple of extension charms.
Where on the outside (when being rather gracious) could only be described as a modest size home, the inside resembled something of a mix between the Hogwarts School library and an observatory, if not bigger and even more filled with telescopes, charts and books. If anything Hermione was entirely in awe...
She herself had something of a growing collection, but nothing compared to this. Every nook and cranny had been filled, contributing to an atmosphere of a methodical disorder. (Probably explaining the previous thuds and crashes, if one was not aware of the ordering system)
As if reading her thoughts Professor Sinistra conversationally said: "Don't mind Sybill too much, she has just retired from her teaching career" (probably more likely having been dismissed in Hermione's opinion) "and needed a place to stay for a while, but she mostly stays to herself in the room upstairs. So if you follow me..." With that Hermione found herself being ushered into an adjourning room that had previously escaped her attention.
Entering she could understand why.
The room itself was protected by spells alike to that of the fidelis charm, making it impossible to know of it, if one had no prior knowledge of it already being there.
Inside the room was dimly lit by a few candles and resembled something of a study.
"Hello Granger, haven't seen you in a long time." came from the corner of the room.
Causing Hermione to almost jump out of her skin. (she must have known something was off since the beginning).
Standing, with a bored expression on his face, and looking for all as if he owned the entire world, was none other than Draco Malfoy.
"What the..." Shocked was an understatement, Hermione had not initially noticed Malfoy standing there in the corner of the room until he had spoken up, being too intrigued by her surroundings.
"I'll just go check on Sybill, can't leave her alone to long, you know" Professor Sinistra agitatedly smiled.
"Thankyou Sinistra" Malfoy said with a nod as the door closed.
And with that they were alone. "Oh, you can find yourself a seat over there next to that globe thing Granger, looking at me like a guppy is not going to give you any answers, and I'm sure you do want answers"
Suddenly angry at the deception and at herself, Hermione wondered what would happen if she just stood up and left, but she would not let that, that ferret get the better of her, (and she was a bit curious, not that she would ever admit to it).
"Malfoy what is the meaning of this?" Hermione nearly shouted. Malfoy on the other hand, actually looked quite calm, as if he had been expecting an outburst of some sort.
Picking now at one of his cuticles, he continued "Now, now, Granger, no need to get your knickers in a twist, I thought you were smart, haven't you figured it out yet?" the little git was smirking
"It's not like I can just walk up to at the Ministry and say Hey Granger, I have some more top secret files for you, without bringing more trouble on my head."
And suddenly everything clicked into place...
The report on ancient druidic time-warping so conveniently being misfiled to her division at the DRCMC
Lea-Anne not remembering who had left the note with her
"It was YOU!" how could she have been so stupid; why didn't she see it before?
The entire thing reeked of Malfoy's special brand of manipulation, it was so very Slytherin. One of the reasons why Malfoy was the Ministry's best negotiator at the Department of International Magical Cooperation, being able to smooth over any contract or deal.
The only thing not quite adding up was the vehement reaction of her superiors at the Department of Mystery's when she had presented her idea, but she could wager her entire book collection that it had something to do with Malfoy...
For once Malfoy was right, it was time to get answers.
Disclaimer: Same as previous