chapter 7
May 2001
“ I think she’s in Black Hole mode” whispered yelled, if both were possible at the same time, Luna from her open door.
“Black Hole or Dark Hole?” cried Ginny from downstairs
“What’s the difference?” Luna asked in the same manner
This time it was Harry from the kitchen “ Dark hole is just her in darkness mostly under her blanket and Black Hole is…
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape it. Hermione though from her nest under the blanket
… a hole in space that absorbs everything around it”
Meh! close enough!
“Crookshanks just came running out of the room so I think is only Dark” Luna straight on yelled
“Stop with the Howling” groaned Hermione
“Oh, good afternoon Hermione, did I wake you up?”
“What do you want?”
“We are worried about you and lunch is ready”
“Ughhhh, give me two minutes to freshen myself up and I’ll be there”
During Lunch they discussed what they needed about their appointments with Angelina and the progress they have made.
“We’ve got a few owls this morning, one from Kingsley, apparently the Minister and the Wizengamot started meetings to talk about the prison and sentences”. Ginny drank from her glass of pumpkin Juice “also they are gutting Lestrange manor, they don’t know if it’s to make it an orphanage or a retention center”
“A retention center?” Is this real life ? should I just leave this time?
“Well, Kingsley didn’t say it with those words exactly but that’s what the Aurors at the DMLE are calling it, according to Harry, the Minister sent capture orders to every single lowlife in Britain, they are doubling efforts in finding the lesser snatchers that escaped the first round, there is also an article in The prophet I saved it for you” Ginny nodded toward the paper at the end of the table “ with the influx of reported people there won't be enough space in Azkaban”
“They asked the Quibbler to publish it too, they’re asking the population to come forward with their cases, they’re being flooded with letters of people accusing their abusers during the war”
“They’re putting neighbor against neighbor” Hermione said under her breath while scanning the Prophet.
“I mean, if my neighbor Imperiused me during the war and got free because they were busy with other cases, I too would be mad and reporting them this time” Ginny said matter of factly
“yes, yes of course” Hermione assured
After that their meal went on with a couple of awkward silences and Hermione spacing out while Luna and Ginny talked of lighter subjects
Ginny also told them of the owl she got that morning
“I’ve got practice in three days, they are restarting the league”
What did they do with Goyle then? Wondered Hermione.
Luna followed Hermione to the Library and Hermione summoned The Grimoire from her bedroom.
“Did you just accioed the book wandlesly and wordlesly?”
“Yes” answered an excited Hermione. “It’s in the Grimoire, they have keys and roundabouts to master things easily, I also think I feel my magic lighter, like it flows better than before. I’ve been spending the last couple of days in my room reading and practicing, I haven’t been able to finish reading, I stop at every spell trying it at least once, there are also passages that I have to translate from runes”
“It is a great gift that Mr Malfoy has given you Hermione, Have you gotten any clues about the Ritual?”
“It has been difficult Luna, Mostly because not even my innate curiosity drives me to wanting to understand it” she looked around the Library trying to find answers “ If we are to believe Mr Malfoy, that you clearly do and so does Andromeda , then he doesn’t want me to use the ritual to bring him back from death and Narcissa is also not interested, then what use do I have of it?” she continues “ the only other option is to bring back Sirius but why?”
“Why do you say that’s the only option?”
“Well, I haven’t read about the Veil much but I’m guessing I can bring back those who crossed it , and I only know of Sirius”
“That's not right, the Veil is not only in the Department of Mysteries, every soul no matter where they leave us, goes to the Veil before moving on. That night we were there I heard voices calling, one of them was my mum’s”
Hermione held out her hand for Luna and her friend took it , accepting the comfort given.
“Do you think he wants me to bring Draco back?”
“I think it is a possibility but if Mrs Malfoy couldn’t complete it there must be something missing. He told you what he knew and gave you the tools he could. I think this is important Hermione, I know so”
In times like these, when Luna talks with so much certainty, Hermione learned to listen.
“Alright , we’re gonna do this, if you abandon me with this I’ll have your head Lovegood” she pointed sternly to her blond Friend “ we are making a wall a big wall. Luna I need you to clear this space here, not too close to the fire. Kreacher!”
“ Mudblood called for Kreacher?”
“Yes Kreacher, I need you to bring all the editions of the prophet from the last 2 years, lots of tea and snacks” she instructed Kreacher who was still horrible to her but did her the honour of listening to her requests, most times, ok, some , very limited times.
While Luna levitated the bookshelf of the wall on the left side of the library, opposite the door and dusted and cleaned it, Hermione summoned piles of parchment, inkpots, quills, post-its and pens from her room, she also levitated a desk to be near The Wall and Luna moved the couch out of the way.
They divided the wall in four sections, The Veil scheme ™, Minister Malfoy platforms and allies, Muggle-born radar and Hermione’s Job, she was still working on her legislation even though communication with Sofia, her boss, has been stilted lately.
On the first column they added a polaroid of the Grimoire. Yes, Hermione is that thorough. the note that came with it, the wording of the life debt as said by Mr Malfoy, and the circumstances of the life debt.
On the second column they added everything that she found on the Malfoys from the stolen folders of the archives. Really, when are they going to learn about security? She didn’t even need Harry's Cloak. They analyzed the wording of every contract signed by Narcissa in the last three years and circled the instances in which the vocabulary clearly excluded muggle-borns, squibs, and creatures and beings which people like her called Half-breeds. What in the Umbridge?
Half through this task Kingsley, who didn’t need any prompting, or invitation to come in, apparently, started writing down and adding to the wall the names of the women who were her allies, Mrs Parkinson, Mrs Crabe, Mrs Greengrass, Mrs Finch, Mrs Avery, and a couple more.
“I think you get the pattern” said Kingsley
“ Yes, it’s what Mr Malfoy meant with the wives of his neighbors”
Kingsley nodded and added a cutting from The Prophet to the third column : Justin Finch-Fletchley breaking and entering a house while hiding from the muggle register and stealing from them. Hermione saw this and she spiraled again, walking from one side to the other and muttering under her breath , she would stop the muttering to chew on her lip and she would also flex and unflex her fingers.
She didn’t know how long she was like this, going over and over again: these complaints against Justin were valid but easy to resolve , right? and under a court of law they would find him not guilty or at least not at fault for trying to survive during the war, he didn’t hurt anybody and after the audience they would leave him free. They’re not killing him over a silly thing like finding food when he was on the run, they cannot do that, can they?
“Bloody hell it’s like your aunt Lilian’s” came a voice from behind. She turned, when did they all get here ?
“ the daft aunt ?” asked Ginny
“yeah, the one who reckons stonehenge came in a cauldron from the stars” No need to correct Ron, the actual theory is no less absurd
“ Dean? Is that you?”
“Hiya Hermione” he gave her a hug.Circe, she needed hugs , where is Crookshanks? “I was finishing the mural George commissioned for the store and Ron told me what was happening. Can I be of any help?”
Yes, Dean was Morgana's sent, so warm and helpful. Nimue’s clit I need a shag
She shook her head trying to dislodge those thoughts “ yes Dean, thank you, this is really starting to freak me out. We have some theories but nothing is sure yet. I think you can maybe be on the muggle-born radar column?, create a network, maybe check those papers to see if there is something that escaped our attention?”
“Aye, Aye Captain”
“ I’m guessing you have tasks to impart to me?” asked Kingsley, secretly excited to be part of a project, after terrible months before his deposition and the depressing moments after, he was once again glad to be under the young witch’s guidance. Working, keeping busy and having a goal are doing wonders for his self perception after such a great failure. Besides, he owes her this much.
“Yes Kings, can you tell me of solicitors or attorneys that we could contact in case the muggle-born column needs them? Many might not have the contacts or the money and I can put what I got from reparations to good use”
“ Luna, there is a pile of books on the corner that are about the Veil, can you Ginny and Ron check them out? I’ve been so engrossed in my work and Malfoy’s Grimoire that I haven't got the time”
“How is it that after graduation you keep getting me to do homework?” Ron whined while the girls dragged him away.
I should go and wash my face, Hermione internally mused, if those are my reactions to a paper clipping and seconds later to a hug I need a break , immediately.
note to self, book some self care time tonight.
Alright, Wash your face, get a snack and a drink, or is better to just get a shot? I shouldn’t be drinking while….
“Hermione” a voice, Harry’s voice called her in hushed tones from the end of the hall
“ Harry” she whispers, walking towards him “what are you doing in a cupboard?”
He pulled her into the small space with him to discover there are two other people there. Bill and George.