Chapter 9

"That should cover it," Hermione handed a couple of coins to the bartender, and in return received a small loaf of bread.

She was delighted when earlier this morning she had found a few coins in her coat pocket she hadn't noticed the earlier night. That alone could pay for her breakfast and nothing else.

After receiving the bread, Hermione shoved herself into a small booth to eat her breakfast.

Hermione sighed as the booth reminded her of the most recent date she had with Draco. How she missed him, but she knew that her purpose in this place was to help Draco and protect him from a curse she had only learned of in the past week.

Opening her bag, Hermione pulled out the newspaper she had looked at the previous night.

Godric's Hollow, Hermione repeated in her mind as she reread the short section. Hermione knew the place very well, considering that was her new home.

In the town stood the burnt house of the Potters, as a monument to the couple. That must be where they live now. I could possibly send them an owl, Hermione thought.

As soon as the idea came into her mind, she decided that she would act on it. Since she doesn't have her owl with her she would need to visit the owl emporium.

Hermione gathered up her stuff and exited the pub into the busy streets of Diagon Alley. There was much hustle and bustle between the wizards big and small. It reminded her of when she had visited Flourish and Blotts with Draco to find answers about the prophecy.

Look where she is now, scavenging in the past to find the prophecy. Hermione had wished that it would've been as easy as she pictured it, slipping into the Ministry of Magic and grabbing the prophecy. Things went awry and now she is trying to seek help from Harry's dead parents and godfather.

As Hermione approached the owl shop, she saw something that caught her eye. A poster was pasted on the windows of the shop. It read:

The Man Who Will Lead Us All: Mr. Malfoy

Hermione studied the man in the portrait, Lucius's father. He wanted to become Minister of Magic.

From her research, he had forced a muggle-born out of the position previously. This was among many of the reasons Hermione already didn't like this man.

Who would want this man as the Minister of Magic after what he did? Could anyone confirm he wasn't working with Voldemort? These thoughts left Hermione distraught as she entered the Owl Emporium.

Hundreds of animals stared at her as she walked up to the front desk, where an old woman was tending to another customer.

"Hello dear, have you picked out an owl you would like?" The woman asked as Hermione approached her.

"No, I haven't yet. I was wondering if I would be able to rent one to send a message. I don't have enough money to purchase an owl."

"I'm sorry. We don't do that here. Don't you perhaps have a friend you can ask to borrow their owl? A nice lady such as yourself is bound to have plenty of friends." The old woman smiled, and Hermione crossed her arms.

"Thank you for your help," Hermione told the woman and turned to leave the shop. Who knew my trip here would be so expensive?

Hermione thought as she exited the shop. She knew she would have to get the message to Sirius quickly, knowing she can't stay much longer in the past. Her money barely lasted her a couple of days, so to survive she would have two options: apparate to Godric's Hollow and expect the Potters to believe her absurd story, or receive some help from Lucius.

She continued along Diagon Alley, considering her options. She promised herself earlier that she would only go to Lucius as a last resort, but she is afraid she might have hit that point.

With nowhere to stay and little to no money, there wasn't anything she could do about the new lead with Sirius.

Hermione wasn't happy with the decision, but she knew that Lucius was a good ally to have. Now only to find where he is, Hermione thought. She thought back to the first time she met him in this timeline. He works at the Ministry of Magic, I guess that's where I'm heading next. Hermione quickly apparated to the red telephone booth used to enter the Ministry.

She punched in the numbers, "62442" into the telephone and got shot down to the main floor of the ministry.

Before exiting, Hermione fixed her hair and adjusted her outfit. Going into such a clean and proper place, Hermione felt a bit dingy after wearing the same clothes for two days. She stepped out of the booth onto the marble floors of the ministry and was surprised at how little hustle and bustle there was that surrounded her. Surely at an hour like this, the workers would be stirring around doing their work.

Ignoring the abnormally quiet room, Hermione walked up to the security desk.

"How may I help you, ma'am? Do you wish to visit a department?" The lady asked.

"Actually I was wondering if I could see one of the workers in the Department of Mysteries? Lucius Malfoy?"

"Mr. Malfoy? I wouldn't suppose he wouldn't be on duty with the election of Minister of Magic so near. We are all so eager for the elections."

"Is that why a majority of the workers aren't here?" Hermione asked, looking for an answer to her previous query.

"Oh yes, we need all the help we can get in these times. No one has time to be in the lobby."

"Thank you for your help, do you mind telling me the exact day of the elections?"

"Of course, they start in exactly 3 days from now. Make sure to get your vote in, young lady. I'm sure your Malfoy friend would appreciate it." The lady smiled, "Now do you still want to go to the Department of Mysteries?"

"No thank you," Hermione replied, "thanks for all your help,"

She turned back towards the lift. I can't imagine Lucius would want me nagging him so close to his father's election, but I'm not sure I can wait any longer. I need to return to the present as soon as possible, and nothing should stand in front of that. Hermione had decided that she would pay a visit to Malfoy Manor next, no matter how much she would dread it.