Project 137.43.M.D.

LXII. | AD ACTA

LXII.
AD ACTA
(to consider something closed)

Hermione sat absentmindedly on the Burrow's small patio, gazing into the darkness at the seemingly endless fields that stretched out behind the house. Her hands were wrapped tightly around an almost empty glass of red wine. She didn't know how many she had already had that night. Too many probably. But frankly, she didn't give a fuck.

Red wine was unfamiliar to her, as she usually only drank her beloved white wine. But today, in honor of this special occasion, she had felt the urge to try something new. Or maybe it was just a feeble attempt to break a habit that inevitably reminded her of the last few months. White wine, Draco, more white wine. Draco, Draco, Draco.

Hermione sighed softly, closed her eyes and brought the glass to her lips once more, although she was already quite drunk. She swallowed, then hiccuped. How pathetic.

In fact, pretty much everything about the situation she had been in for the past few days was pathetic. Just like the headline that provocatively flashed at her from the stool on which she had put the accompanying magazine.

Hermione quickly turned her head away as her gaze wandered there again. It was Doxy dung though, because she already knew every single word of the teaser by heart.

Pressler had chosen today, of all days, to exploit the latest gossip in her column. Just last night, the Ministry had declassified certain parts of the retrial, and unlike the Daily Prophet, which had soberly laid out the facts in the politics section to merely inform the magical community, Witch Weekly had made it a cover story - in its very own fashion.

Ten Years for Saving the Golden Girl!
Draco Malfoy - Winner of Hearts?
Read the whole love story on page 4.
Our most popular columnist tells the tale!

Hermione shuddered. So far she had not dared to read the article. The sight of the magazine cover had been enough. But now the red wine was pounding in her head, the silence of the fields was deafening, and she was alone for the first time that day. She surrendered, reached for the magazine, and finally flipped to the right page.

Pressler's author photo, that Hermione was already familiar with, was displayed next to the surprisingly long article, which actually took up a whole page.

Unusually gigantic proportions for a despicable column.

She quickly took her eyes off Pressler's face and started reading.

Weeks ago, I first reported on the affair between popular war heroine Hermione Granger and eligible bachelor Draco Malfoy. As Witch Weekly has now learned, there is no longer a need to cover up Draco Malfoy's past. Ladies, I know we're all secretly disappointed that one of London's hottest young wizards is actually not a Quidditch pro, but a former Azkaban inmate. But his stay in prison hasn't diminished his desirability at all.

Draco Malfoy is back! Those were my words (check issue 35 of this year) and now this statement is to be taken literally. Because Draco Malfoy is not only free, but also rehabilitated.

As I was personally informed by the Ministry of Magic just a few hours ago, the blond ex-Slytherin's conviction represents one of the greatest plots in the history of Magical Law Enforcement. Reportedly, one of the Aurors involved in Draco Malfoy's sentencing ten years ago withheld evidence to keep his own machinations secret. The Ministry doesn't want to reveal further details on the matter, but one thing is certain: No other than Hermione Granger herself made sure that all of this came to light through a retrial. And as a reliable personal source has told me, a current Ministry official appears to be involved in the scandal as well.