The ministry of magic declared Martial Law the very next day, knocking on doors from one community to the other.
Soone had caught the Delivery Owls, fed them the people infected with werewolf-syndro (using the Shrinking Potion), and then let them return to Hogwarts.
Soone had carried out a well-planned and deliberate act of terrorism, trying to destroy world peace and harm the future of the wizarding world.
Soone had thodically tried to accomplish hidden objectives.
It wasn't just the British Magical Community that was screaming for justice and asking horrifying questions.
The Yellow Warlock had declared war upon the entire world. Lord Ekrizdis wouldn't stop at the made-up boundaries. The Dark Lord's mory was still afresh in the minds, not to ntion; the terror he had inflicted upon the world could still be seen from one end to the other.
But it was only in the evening that they got to know who was truly behind it.
The Daily Prophet had gotten an anonymous letter.
"A Halloween present for the... children," the letter said. Signed by - The Yellow Warlock.
The world blazed with fury, the wizards and witches fuming, reading the news.
They had already co to know that this Dark Wizard didn't care for the children at all through the Battle of Legends. But to specifically target them, and that too in the school?
Was there any safe place left in the world anymore?!
There were, of course, a great number of people who blad it all on Dumbledore.
Lucius Malfoy had been at the forefront of these people, leading them against the Headmaster.
On that very night, he gathered a great mass of wizards and witches (so obviously paid to be there), and demanded the ministry to choose a new Headmaster for the School.
The ministry, strangely, ignored the protest.
"Despite the sorrowful incident," the official statent said, "no student was injured thanks to the tily actions taken by the Professors under Albus Dumbledore's guidance.
"Given the world's circumstances, students' studies and magical training are much more important now more so than ever. Hence, the ministry will appoint more forces to join the Aurors in securing the School."
The reactions to this statent were mixed.
What forces?! Wasn't it just admitting that they couldn't stop more attacks from occurring?! Had the ministry beco incompetent in handling the Dark Wizards already?! What would happen now?!!
All the people got in response to these questions from the ministry were more condemning remarks related to the Yellow Warlock and enhanced rewards on his whereabouts.
So, practically nothing.
*
*
Hospital Wing,
Hogwarts
Hermione was lying on the bed, breathing softly.
On her right, Darcie and Daphne were standing, their faces pale as they saw her bandaged right shoulder.
On her left, Professor Dumbledore was also looking at the hidden wounds, a rare fury dancing in his blue eyes.
Hermione looked at the roof and said, "Thank you, Professor."
Professor Dumbledore sighed.
"I've failed you, Ms Granger," he said solemnly. "Please forgive . If I... Anyway, it wasn't who had saved you. It was your friends.
"Miss Darcie had been carrying powdered Silver and Dittany, luckily. We have hidden the matter of your... injury, Ms Granger. However, if you like to let it out..."
"No," Hermione shook her head, her eyes still on the ceiling. "No."
Professor Dumbledore clenched his left, false hand into a fist. "Please rest," he told the patient. "Hogwarts will remain your ho as long as you wish it to be."
Then, taking another look at the bandaged girl, he walked away, his steps determined.
The world had already abhorred the presence of people inflicted with werewolf's bites.
Now, with the attack on the School yesterday, it would beco impossible for any such werewolf to roam freely in the wizarding world; no matter how innocent he or she might be.
If soone got to know about Hermione, then...
Professor Dumbledore stopped, looked over his shoulder, and saw Darcie looking back at him. He took a deep breath and marched out of the ward.
His blue eyes flashed the blackest behind the closing doors.
...
"I was saying thank you to you," Hermione said, looking at Darcie.
Daphne let out a hollow chuckle.
Darcie nodded. "I know," she told Hermione. "You don't need to be, though. We are friends."
"Are we?!" Hermione almost sat up, but then winced, her shoulder screaming with pain.
"Yes, yes," Daphne said, making the girl lie on the bed again. "She's not so angel, no matter what people make her to be..."
Darcie's mouth twitched.
"Where are they?" Hermione asked after a while. "Are they..."
"They are safe." Darcie nodded.
"Who?" Daphne asked, pressing her brows.
Hermione looked at the ceiling, the stones becoming the werewolf's fangs in her vision. "The boys."
*
*
Gryffindor Tower,
1st-year Dormitory
Lying on the soft mattress, Harry, Ron, Black, and Draco looked up at the roof of their poster beds.
There was an eerie, baffling silence in the room. Neville was pretending to sleep, covering his head with the blanket, but even he felt the silence creeping onto his bed through the gaps.
Outside, none of the boys felt like sleeping, though.
"Can you make more of those gloves?" Harry asked suddenly, putting his back against the headboard.
Black sat up and looked at them. "Of course," he said, smiling. "Professor McGonagall has banned from doing so. They are unreliable, she told . Anyway..." He shrugged his shoulders.
"Unreliable?" Ron sat up, too, sounding offended. "What a load of... Those gloves saved us!"
Draco lifted himself on the elbows and raised an eyebrow. "Really?!"
Ron fud, going red. Harry looked away. Black stared directly into Draco's eyes. "Not gonna say thank you to you, rich ass!"
"Who needs your thanks, you..." Draco spat back.
No matter what they thought or felt, they couldn't deny the truth.
Draco had appeared over the werewolf. He had appeared at the right ti. He had saved Hermione's life. He had saved Harry and Ron's lives. He had saved Black from getting expelled. He had done it all, bleeding; at the door of death.
"Did the pink toad really hit you and run away?" Black asked.
Draco sat up, shocked beyond comprehension.
"How do you know?!" He hadn't told anyone about what happened with Umbridge. He looked at Harry and Ron and realized they knew of this, too. "How..."
"Cough!" Black cleared his throat. "There's a new rule in the Common Room..."
Draco's heart skipped a beat.
"You must speak what you want to hide the most..." Harry told Draco.
Ron looked at the golden-haired boy. "... and then forget about telling it."
Draco's face went blank.
"Whatever..." Giving up, and letting out a breath, he fell back on the mattress. "... my father's so gonna end ..."
The last thing he could afford now was to go to his father with another complaint.
No wonder you have beco a mockery in the na of Malfoys!
Draco turned around and planted his face on the pillow.
Harry let his back touch the mattress as well. "Hermione..." he said, looking out at the open sky through the window.
"... They will throw her to Azkaban, I heard," Ron mumbled, sounding afraid. "If she got found out...."
Black chuckled, of course. "I bet Darcie will teach her to use the fangs..."
Shocked at the touchy remark, Harry and Ron's heads snapped toward Draco. The young Malfoy lifted his head and looked at Black.
"Given Hermione's teeth..." Draco said, twisting his lips, "... maybe no one will ever know even if she got the fangs..."
...
The boys looked at each other and then burst out with a feat of laughter.
**************
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