Chapter 2
The detention cells of the International Security Division at the British Ministry of Magic have always been lower than the lowest vaults of Gringotts Bank. But unlike a bank run by goblins, the jail wasn't magically cold. In the shallowest cells, the temperature rarely fell below 30 degrees Celsius. The situation wasn't helped by the fact that these rooms had no access to light or ventilation.
The conditions were a big surprise to Lucius Malfoy and Thorus Nott. Even more than the fact that they had been separated from the rest of the Death Eaters caught after the attack on the Department of Mysteries after their arrest.
They didn't know how long it had been since the tall half-giant had dumped them into the musty room like sacks of potatoes. They were wandless and bound so tightly they could barely move.
"Thorus?" - Lucius croaked. He felt that his vocal cords refused to obey him from the lack of water. - "Do you recognize this place?"
At first he didn't get an answer to his question. The wizard thought that his friend might have lost consciousness. He was relieved when, after a moment, he heard first a shuffling and then a whisper. - "No. I didn't even know there was anything below the Archives at the Ministry."
They were both scared. However, they knew that they had no choice but to wait for what was to come.
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His body trembled but he tried not to show it. Thanatos Nott didn't know what to expect when he showed up at Hogwarts with his mates. Fudge had warned them that Albus Dumbledore might not be willing to cooperate on this particular matter. However, he knew he was more stubborn than the wizard known for defeating Grindelwald. He clenched his fist in a failed attempt to suppress his emotions as he walked down the hall towards the fireplace.
"It will be fine." - Vincenzo Leggio's whisper was unable to help him. He knew that the Italian was trying to relieve him, but the only thing that could calm him down was to see that his sister was safe.
"I know it will be fine. But only when I see that someone competent is treating her."
"Apparently Poppy Pomfrey is competent."
"Competent as a school nurse. From the minister's words, my sister needs a healer." - Thanatos turned to look at the minister he was talking about as he wasn't present in their company.
The older wizard smiled uncertainly, took off his bowler hat and said in a weak voice, "Nothing happened. So how? Are you ready?"
"Yes."
He didn't walk through the Ministry of Magic fireplace first. Vincenzo went first, then Peter, then the Minister and himself. He hoped Hermione was still alive. She was his only family. And if he has to bite her to survive, he will bite her. He had talked to her about it over the summer after her first year at Hogwarts. She didn't mind. Life as a vampire required some sacrifices, but it wasn't a curse. It wasn't a curse if the Changed had learned to regard it as a blessing.
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Breath.
Minerva McGonagall never thought that something like someone's regular breathing could make her happy. Looking at the unconscious body of Hermione Granger, she began to wonder where she had gone wrong. She had been a teacher for so many years and thought her students could trust her. She liked this girl. She didn't want to lose her. She was too talented for her star to fade so quickly.
"Any progress?" - she heard the question asked by Severus Snape.
Minerva turned to him and looked at his face. In the man's eyes she saw the same pain she had seen day after day many years ago. Is he still...
"She's stable."
The dark-haired wizard pulled out a stool under Miss Granger's bed and sat down. He sighed and without looking at her said, "I hope she'll make it. I will never forget the sight of her bloody clothes... This wound... First time I've seen something like this." - after a moment he asked reproachfully - "Tell me why Miss Granger isn't in the hospital?"
"Albus said the decision about treating her is mine. However, I agree with him that here the girl gets the best care. Besides in her condition... I doubt it's safe to try to move her."
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"Fudge?" - Albus Dumbledore growled as he saw who had come through the fireplace in his office. - "I told you I wouldn't let you touch Miss Granger. I don't understand why you came here again."
The headmaster of Hogwarts watched as Cornelius Fudge, contrary to his usual behavior, completely ignored him. So did the men who accompanied him. He watched in amazement as the minister walked through his office without a word, only to leave it.
He followed them. Annoyed, he shouted - "Cornelius, what's going on here?" - He didn't care about the surprised faces of the older students.
The only wizard who turned around was a tall, dark-haired man. He smiled, showing his large fangs and red pupils, then with a distinctly cold voice said, "We're from the International Security Division. We've come for Miss Granger. If you object, you will be arrested and placed in the custody of our department."
He stopped walking. The note about the arrest was ringing in his ears. He didn't know what to answer. Before he reacted, the strangers disappeared from his sight. Fortunately, Albus Dumbledore knew where to find these men.
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He walked at an even pace. Every step he took matched the beating of his heart. He tried to focus on what awaited him outside the Hospital Wing door, but his thoughts ran to the detention cells. He wanted to kill his father. The man who genetically was his father. He couldn't understand how this wizard didn't recognize his child when she was standing so close in front of him.
Finally he reached a tall oak door. He stopped, rested his hand on the wood, and sighed. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the last smile on his sister's face that he had the opportunity to see. He hoped that wasn't the last smile he'd seen in her life.
He grabbed the doorknob when he felt Peter's hand on his shoulder. They knew each other so well that he didn't have to turn around to know it was him. His scent was enough. - "Go. And take her."
He grunted, still staring at the doorknob. - "We'll go and get her."
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She didn't even move when she heard the sound of the door opening. Since a few friends of Harry Potter ended up in the Hospital Wing, from time to time someone came to check on their health. Professors, students… There were even ghosts. To Poppy's surprise, the Bloody Baron appeared most often, although none of the injured students belonged to the Slytherin house.
The witch didn't look towards the door, but walked confidently to the bed on which Miss Granger was lying. This girl was the most injured. The wound on her torso ran from her collarbone to her hip. It was wide and constantly bleeding. Less than when she came into her care, but she was still bleeding.
"Hermione..." - An unfamiliar voice startled her.
The Mediwitch dropped the basket with bandages from her hand, then slowly turned to the source of the sound. There, in the open doorway, stood Minister Fudge, accompanied by three Aurors presumably from the International Security Division. At least that's what she suspected, because she had already had contact with Vincenzo Leggio, who was standing next to the wizard, who looked as if he was about to explode due to the excess of emotions.
"Minister… What brings you here?" - she asked, quickly picking things up off the floor.
Cornelius Fudge shuddered at her question. She didn't know the reason for his reaction.
"We've come for Miss Hermione Granger. She should be transported to the care of a qualified healer."
She herself wondered why this student didn't go straight to St. Mungo's, especially since this hospital was closer to the Ministry than Hogwarts. However, she knew she had no right to hand Miss Granger over to the care of the Aurors. Even if they were in the company of the Minister himself. The key aspect was the lack of consent from her magical guardian. And it so happened that Minerva McGonagall agreed on the treatment of the Gryffindor girl with Albus Dumbledore. A wizard who showed more and more arrogance every year.
"I can't give her to you. You know it yourself, Minister. The final decision on Hermione Granger's treatment rests with her magical guardian. She is a Muggleborn so this decision rests with McGonagall."
To her surprise, Minister Fudge growled while holding down the dark-haired wizard who was standing next to him. "Who in Salazar's name says Miss Granger is a Muggle-born?"
She hadn't expected this question. So were the questions that came moments later from the wizard who, if she wasn't mistaken, was also a vampire.
"Who the hell told you my sister was Muggle-born? Well, she isn't. Even if she were, I'm a wizard. Since she was born, I have raised her as my own child."
"What's your name?"
Poppy saw that Albus's voice didn't surprise any of the men. On the contrary. It made the wizard claiming to be Hermione Granger's brother angry.
"Thanatos Nott. My name is Thanatos Nott."
Poppy saw for the first time how someone was completely unimpressed by the fame of the headmaster of Hogwarts. She had the impression that the young wizard towered over Albus. She didn't know what to think at all.
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Hello, I'm back with another chapter. This time I divided the chapter due to different points of view. For the experiment. I would like to ask if you prefer one chapter to have one point of view or do you prefer such "puzzles". Regards, Katie Krum
P.S. In the previous chapter, there was an allegation in the comments that this story contained bashingHarry. That wasn't my intention. I just wanted to show that even the best don't have to be liked by everyone.