Latrunculus--Part 1

Ron Weasley glared at the largest stack of parchment on his desk. No matter how hard he worked the stack never seemed to grow any smaller. He half-wondered if someone had hexed it as some kind of prank. But this would be too subtle for Seamus, he decided. He took the topmost one, reviewed it, signed it, put it in another pile, and went on with the next sheet.

He had never imagined that being an Auror would require so much paperwork. Sure he still went on missions and captured dark wizards. He still loved that part of his work. Yet there was always a stack of forms waiting for him whenever he returned.

He didn’t know how long he had been working when Seamus suddenly threw open his office door. The Irishman had to take a deep breath before he could blurt out, “Weasley, thank Merlin! You’re still here!”

Ron was already on his feet. His mountain of paperwork was happily forgotten. “What’s the mission?”

Seamus stared at him. His mouth opened and closed a few times. Like he had to tell Ron something but didn’t know how to get the words out.

Ron felt the first inklings of dread and, if he was honest, fear. “Seamus?”

“Malfoy’s escaped.”

“What?”

“Draco Malfoy has escaped from Azkaban.”

Several emotions washed through Ron as he tried to digest the news. “When?”

“We don’t know. His mother was found in his cell. Apparently she had finally run out of polyjuice potion. He could have been gone for months.”

“Just like Barty Crouch,” Ron muttered. “Wait, my family!”

“Harry’s already on his way to warn them.”

Something in Seamus’ eyes made Ron’s stomach tightened in worry. “But?”

“No one can find Hermione.”

Ron grabbed his cloak and barreled out of his office. Seamus followed him down the hall, running to keep up with Ron’s longer stride. He quickly told the red-haired man that Hermione had already left her office for the day. She hadn’t gone home. No one knew where she was.

The date suddenly hit Ron. He knew where she would be. If Malfoy hasn’t gotten to her yet. The thought made he run faster.

“I have an idea of where she’ll be, but keep men posted at her house,” Ron ordered. “That bastard’s not going to get her, understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

As soon as he was outside of the wards, Ron disappeared with a resounding pop.

* * * * *

It was a shame that he wouldn’t have time to fully execute his carefully drawn-out plan. Draco had been working on it for months, ever since his dear mother proposed taking his place in prison. He knew that revenge could advertise his escape but he couldn’t let Potter and his friends escape without punishment.

But the news of the discovery of his mother had changed everything. Once again she failed. Like she had failed the Dark Lord. Like she had failed his father.

The Aurors would be searching for him in force. He would need to leave England quickly if he wished to continue to enjoy freedom. However, he couldn’t leave without telling one person goodbye. He needed to leave his mark, so to speak, before his exile.

He waited behind the trees. He knew this spot well, almost as well as his intended prey. For some it was a place of grief and sadness. For Draco, it was the reminder of his greatest triumph.

A thrill ran through him as the person finally appeared. For years, he had waited for this moment. Each time that he thought he could finally get revenge, she managed to slip through his fingers.

‘Not this time,’ he thought to himself, smiling as he uncovered his wand. ‘Not this time.’

He had that Mudblood Hermione Granger exactly where he wanted her.

* * * * *

Hermione placed the flowers on each of the graves. Her mother had always loved lilies and she had been fortunate to find some at a Muggle florist. She didn’t think her father would mind.

She hastily wiped her eyes. After all these years, all it took was this day and this place for her to breakdown. But she supposed one never did over the death of parents.

She didn’t know how long she stood there staring at the cold, snow-covered stone. At times, it was still hard to believe. Part of her still hoped that one day she would wake up and it all had been a dream.

“I love you and miss you both so much,” she whispered.

“How touching,” a voice sneered.

Hermione whirled around. She was reaching for her wand as she came face to face with one. It took her a moment to look to the person holding it.

Draco Malfoy.

“Oh, dear God,” she breathed, using the Muggle expression for the first time in years.

Draco’s evil grin grew wider. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Mudblood.”

That name always made her flinch. It reminded her that she wasn’t from this world, that she was some kind of genetic fluke or accident. And it hurt.

But not as much as the thought of dying. She would never get to see Harry’s and Ginny’s baby. She would never spend another Christmas with the Weasleys.

And Ron. That was what hurt the most of all. She would never get to tell him all that she felt for him. That he was special. That he was a worthy man and it was all from his own doing.

A tear spilled down her cheek.

“No final words?” Draco asked.

“Would it make any difference?” she countered.

She thought she heard a pop. She quickly dismissed it as false hope. She had escaped death too many times by now. Her time was up.

“No,” he admitted, “but it would have been fun to have you beg.”

“Hermione!”

She turned in spite of herself. “Ron?”

Then Draco’s curse hit her. She could feel the dark magic pour over her, burning her. She heard an inhuman scream as Ron called her name again and again. Finally, the darkness took her.


Part I Ron Weasley glared at the largest stack of parchment on his desk. No matter how hard he worked the stack never seemed to grow any smaller. He half-wondered if someone had hexed it as some kind of prank. But this would be too subtle for Seamus, he decided. He took the topmost one, reviewed it, signed it, put it in another pile, and went on with the next sheet. He had never imagined that being an Auror would require so much paperwork. Sure he still went on missions and captured dark wizards. He still loved that part of his work. Yet there was always a stack of forms waiting for him whenever he returned. He didn’t know how long he had been working when Seamus suddenly threw open his office door. The Irishman had to take a deep breath before he could blurt out, “Weasley, thank Merlin! You’re still here!” Ron was already on his feet. His mountain of paperwork was happily forgotten. “What’s the mission?” Seamus stared at him. His mouth opened and closed a few times. Like he had to tell Ron something but didn’t know how to get the words out. Ron felt the first inklings of dread and, if he was honest, fear. “Seamus?” “Malfoy’s escaped.” “What?” “Draco Malfoy has escaped from Azkaban.” Several emotions washed through Ron as he tried to digest the news. “When?” “We don’t know. His mother was found in his cell. Apparently she had finally run out of polyjuice potion. He could have been gone for months.” “Just like Barty Crouch,” Ron muttered. “Wait, my family!” “Harry’s already on his way to warn them.” Something in Seamus’ eyes made Ron’s stomach tightened in worry. “But?” “No one can find Hermione.” Ron grabbed his cloak and barreled out of his office. Seamus followed him down the hall, running to keep up with Ron’s longer stride. He quickly told the red-haired man that Hermione had already left her office for the day. She hadn’t gone home. No one knew where she was. The date suddenly hit Ron. He knew where she would be. If Malfoy hasn’t gotten to her yet. The thought made he run faster. “I have an idea of where she’ll be, but keep men posted at her house,” Ron ordered. “That bastard’s not going to get her, understand?” “Yes, sir.” As soon as he was outside of the wards, Ron disappeared with a resounding pop. * * * * * It was a shame that he wouldn’t have time to fully execute his carefully drawn-out plan. Draco had been working on it for months, ever since his dear mother proposed taking his place in prison. He knew that revenge could advertise his escape but he couldn’t let Potter and his friends escape without punishment. But the news of the discovery of his mother had changed everything. Once again she failed. Like she had failed the Dark Lord. Like she had failed his father. The Aurors would be searching for him in force. He would need to leave England quickly if he wished to continue to enjoy freedom. However, he couldn’t leave without telling one person goodbye. He needed to leave his mark, so to speak, before his exile. He waited behind the trees. He knew this spot well, almost as well as his intended prey. For some it was a place of grief and sadness. For Draco, it was the reminder of his greatest triumph. A thrill ran through him as the person finally appeared. For years, he had waited for this moment. Each time that he thought he could finally get revenge, she managed to slip through his fingers. ‘Not this time,’ he thought to himself, smiling as he uncovered his wand. ‘Not this time.’ He had that Mudblood Hermione Granger exactly where he wanted her. * * * * * Hermione placed the flowers on each of the graves. Her mother had always loved lilies and she had been fortunate to find some at a Muggle florist. She didn’t think her father would mind. She hastily wiped her eyes. After all these years, all it took was this day and this place for her to breakdown. But she supposed one never did over the death of parents. She didn’t know how long she stood there staring at the cold, snow-covered stone. At times, it was still hard to believe. Part of her still hoped that one day she would wake up and it all had been a dream. “I love you and miss you both so much,” she whispered. “How touching,” a voice sneered. Hermione whirled around. She was reaching for her wand as she came face to face with one. It took her a moment to look to the person holding it. Draco Malfoy. “Oh, dear God,” she breathed, using the Muggle expression for the first time in years. Draco’s evil grin grew wider. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, Mudblood.” That name always made her flinch. It reminded her that she wasn’t from this world, that she was some kind of genetic fluke or accident. And it hurt. But not as much as the thought of dying. She would never get to see Harry’s and Ginny’s baby. She would never spend another Christmas with the Weasleys. And Ron. That was what hurt the most of all. She would never get to tell him all that she felt for him. That he was special. That he was a worthy man and it was all from his own doing. A tear spilled down her cheek. “No final words?” Draco asked. “Would it make any difference?” she countered. She thought she heard a pop. She quickly dismissed it as false hope. She had escaped death too many times by now. Her time was up. “No,” he admitted, “but it would have been fun to have you beg.” “Hermione!” She turned in spite of herself. “Ron?” Then Draco’s curse hit her. She could feel the dark magic pour over her, burning her. She heard an inhuman scream as Ron called her name again and again. Finally, the darkness took her.


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