Chapter 1

He was tired. He didn't expect such difficulties while defending the route crossing southern Poland. Thanatos Nott was sitting in a bed in the hospital wing of the British Ministry of Magic. He didn't understand why he had to undergo testing once again, declaring him still fit for duty. He felt as if his colleagues didn't trust the specialists working in the Polish Ministry.

"So? Was there a mistake in the report received by you?" - He knew there was a lot of venom in his voice, but he couldn't help it. It was because of the exaltation of wizards in magical Britain that he now had so many problems.

The blonde , who he saw first time in this wing seemed flustered. Nervously, she closed the folder on her desk and replied in a seemingly impassive voice. - "To my surprise, there were no irregularities in the report."

As soon as she finished speaking, he got up and, taking advantage of the moment of her distraction, he approached the mediwitch. He stood so close to her that he could feel her breathing against his exposed chest. He looked at her as he looked at his subordinates when they made some unforgivable mistake. - "To your surprise? Tell me miss…" - he stepped back and searched her uniform for a name tag, he didn't find it -"... miss, who can't even put on a complete work outfit, what makes you better than Whisper with years of experience?"

The witch's eyes widened in fright. He knew what influence he can have on others, but this time he didn't regret this skill. One of the few he acquired and liked during his transformation into a vampire.

"I'm a graduate of Hogwarts. The best magic school in the world."

"You are repeating the words directly from the Daily Prophet. Let me make you explain. What you have been told about this is sheer propaganda. Hogwarts ISN'T the best magic school in the world. And you are no smarter than Whisper. It is an honor to be a Whisper. Whispering is a vocation which not everyone is worthy of. You're just a graduate of a school that hasn't changed much in a thousand years, while other schools have changed. Get out of here before I throw you out myself!"

He watched with satisfaction as the young witch ran from her own workplace. A smile appeared on his face as he realized who she had passed while walking through the doorway.

"Why does your sister go to Hogwarts if you have such a bad opinion about this school?"

"She insisted that she wanted to meet our brother and they both ended up in separate houses. Peter... It's been a long time."

Peter Smith was one of the tallest and strongest wizards he knew. He relaxed by exercising in the gym. He rested practicing martial arts. It was his work ethic that started the changes in the recruitment and training of Aurors from the International Security Department. Thanks to this, they didn't have to rely only on magic during the fight.

"Two weeks ago." - The man snorted with irritation. - "It's not that long. Did you have to jump on that girl that much? This is her first job. You were her first patient, after all. Previously, she was assigned to the Archive. They were short of hands to work after the scandal involving the death of a patient after administering the wrong potion."

"I don't like when someone excels without proving their skills. We both know that Polish Whispers are one of the best healers in the world. They undergo rigorous training and even tougher exams. I doubt that at least half of our mediwitches would be able to pass the exams with their requirements for the profession of Whisperers."

"You could have been softer. The longer you don't talk to your sister, the more you get bitter."

"Don't remind me. Umbridge, that damned pink toad, is at her school right now. Teaches defense against dark arts. She. Can you imagine it?"

"Not. I hope she won't hurt our girl." - Peter sat down in the chair with obvious disgust on his face. "She clearly doesn't like Muggle-borns. It's probably because of her own inferiority complexes. Why didn't Hermione admit her heritage? She didn't have to want anything to do with your father. You are old enough to be listed as her parent."

"I asked her to do this. Until recently, my position was classified as secret. Actually, it still is. Any newspaper that would like to write something about me would first have to get approval from our boss. Hermione no longer needs to hide who her family is. But would anyone believe her now if she told the truth? I doubt it."

"Difficult case. In any case, if she hurts her, we aren't the only ones who want to settle the score."

"Peter... I don't think Hermione will do anything if she hurts her. It will be worse if she crosses Hermione's border."

Thanatos smiled as he saw his friend burst out laughing. His sister grew up with the boys from his department. She was instructed how to defend herself. How to successfully defend yourself.

"Can anyone tell me what's going on here?" - Both wizards heard the voice of a person they did not expect. - "Why do you make another witch cry right after you return? Mr. Nott, answer the question honestly."

"The girl was conceited. Besides, you know who I want, Mr. Minister."

"Then find me some Whisper who isn't in the Sabbath. I can't hire one with a coven, or we're gonna have to arrest her. I am a minister, but because of Dumbledore blocking everything that isn't magic of light, Sabbaths in this country are illegal. Hell, Britain is the ONLY country where Sabbaths are prohibited. And to think that it was in Great Britain that the first Sabbaths were created..."

Peter Smith was one of the last arrested for wanting to create a Sabbath, and it was only through his skill that he managed to avoid being in Azbakan. He was too valuable an asset for the International Security Department. He was intercepted during transport to prison. He officially serves his sentence in a cell next to Bellatrix Lestrange's cell. - "Gentlemen... Let me change the subject. Was there any leak on Whitelock?"

Cornelius Fudge's expression was visibly dull. - "If you want to talk about it, we have to go to a more private place. Your supervisor will hit my ass if something leaks out. As you know, you never know where a potential leak may be. And which way it starts to leak."

Thanatos Nott looked closely at the Minister for Magic. Cornelius Fudge was an extremely surprising wizard. Seemingly a loser who consults Albus Dumbledore on his every decision. In fact, a wizard who, with many questions, often distracted the director from what he really cared about. He was a strategist. A dangerous strategist who could work behind your back under the cover of foolishness.

They walked only a few hundred meters to the elevator. Both he and Peter could see that Cornelius was extremely tense. Something must have happened. Something he hesitated to tell them where they could do something they shouldn't.

"What's happening?"

"Mr. Nott... Wait a minute until we're in my office."

"We couldn't Apparate there?" - Peter whispered in his friend's ear.

"Gentlemen, we go on foot, this gives me extra time to think about how to give you bad information."

Thanatos tugged at the older man's sleeve so that he looked at him. Peter stopped the elevator. - "Speak."

"You have to help me get Miss Granger out of Hogwarts. Albus refuses to let her go, even though she should be treated at St. Mungo's. I guess he's more concerned with avoiding the press than with getting your sister treated. Probably it would have been different if it was Mr. Potter" - the minister spat his name out like a curse spews out - "had been injured. He is convinced that Minerva has the right to make decision. She will never do anything against his will."

Thanatos Nott released the minister's robe and, clenching his fingers into a fist, slammed violently against the elevator wall. Peter watched his friend's knuckles become covered with his blood. Fudge watched as a cavity remained in the metal after the Auror hit the metal. When he looked closely, he saw that the metal had been torn apart. He shuddered at the thought of what would happen to him if the younger wizard decided to hit him in order to let his emotions out.

"How bad is it?" - Seeing the trembling of Thanatos' body, Peter took the weight of the conversation. - "Will she survive?"

"We don't know. That's why I want to move her"

"And this Mr. Potter, Dumbledore's favorite, is injured?"

Both wizards saw a change in the attitude of the man who, despite being in the lampstand, had done so much by working in the shadows. Clenched jaws, erect posture, anger in the eyes. - "I've seen more serious injuries during Quidditch matches. Dumbledore conveniently showed up at the end of the teenagers' battle with the Death Eaters and saved the day when Tom Riddle joined the conflict." - After a moment he added - "Don't look at me like that. It is reason that I mentioned that you never know where it will leaked. I don't know how they got to the ministry. Both the kids and the attackers. All I can think about, although it sounds illogical, this situation was set by someone inside. The Department of Secrets is more secured than my own office."

The silence that followed heralded the storm. Cornelius didn't know if he preferred to be inside it or on the outskirts. He knew one thing for sure. He will not avoid it. And he was glad Albus would accompany him on it.

xxx

I wasn't sure about this chapter. I know I labeled this story dramione, however… It's gonna be slow burning. And in this story, I want to focus on building the world. It is supposed to be a fantasy story with romance, not a romantic story with fantasy elements. A large part of this story will be the operation of the International Magical Security Department. So there will be special assignments from time to time. I would be grateful for the reviews, but I don't insist on leaving them. How did you like this chapter? Regards, katie-krum