The Unwanted Malfoy Heiress

Three: Mr Osric's (Un)Timely News

I was just as surprised as Professor Fig when a rotund wizard with round spectacles, a fashionable goatee, and dressed in a mustard colored suit that did not flatter him in the slightest apparated into our presence.

The man smiled once he saw Fig. "Ah! Eleazar. I am delighted to have caught you just in time before going to Hogwarts."

Fig turned to me. "Ah, yes, of course. Introductions are in order: this is George Osric, my contact at the Ministry and an old friend. I was not expecting you so soon, George. Your last owl post informed me that we would be meeting at The Leaky Cauldron."

Osric sighed, frowning. "Yes, yes, I did write that. But this news simply cannot wait, and it is best not spoken about in the open. Now, if your young charge wouldn't mind if I 'tagged along,' we can be going?"

"Not at all, sir," I answered politely enough.

Mr Osric grinned at me. "Much obliged, Miss?"

Professor Fig interrupted, "Ahem, well, we can become better acquainted inside the carriage. Shall we?"

Osric nodded. "Of course, my friend. Ladies first, naturally. It will, indeed, be good to see the old pile of rocks again."

We entered the carriage, and the driver directed the thestrals to take off. I imagined if muggles saw our travel conveyance that us taking to the air would be quite strange to them.

We settled in, and once we were on the Atlantic Ocean or Pond, as the Brits called it, George Osric unfolded his copy of The Daily Prophet.

"Have you seen this?" Osric asked, his earlier congenial mood more somber now.

"I have. Opinions differ as to how great a threat Ranrok really is," Fig answered.

Osric nodded. "Ah, yes. Well, unlike most at the Ministry, I personally believe him to be a great threat, goblin though he is. Now for my news: Miriam wrote to me before she died, and gave me this cannister that I cannot open, and believe me I have tried every curse breaking method."

Fig sighed. "If she left no correspondence, then that meant that she tried to put this object...whatever it contains into Ministry hands to keep it safe. It does look like this is goblin metal of some kind, so it does make sense that they would want it back."

I felt a sort of...drawing towards the cannister and noticed that the swirl pattern on the cannister was glowing a bright blue color.

"What is that glow?" I asked.

Both wizards looked at me, perplexed. "I don't see a glow."

"Nor do I," Mr Osric commented.

"May I see it?"

Mr Osric handed it to me. "By all means, Miss?"

"Malfoy, sir, Anastasia Malfoy. I don't know if you heard, but my younger brother Colin died recently. I was recalled from Beauxbatons to start Hogwarts as a fifth year."

Mr Osric looked a bit sad. "Oh. Yes, yes, I did read of it in The Prophet. I am most sorry for your loss."

"Why? Did you know him?"

"Well, no, but...wait, the cannister it...it's opening."

The swirl pattern glowed brightly for a moment before it dissipated into the latch in the front of it. The cannister opened, and it looked to be a silver key with the same swirl pattern on the cannister.

"Godric's heart," Fig said with awe. "Perhaps we should.." He was about to speak further, but then a flying movement came right towards us, and before we all knew what was happening, a dragon bit the carriage in half, killing poor Mr Osric instantly.

I fought down the urge to scream and noticed at the last second before Professor Fig grabbed my hand in a firm grip and jumped was that the dragon was wearing an enchanted collar around its neck.

The key I had been holding fell out of my grip as we suddenly fell swiftly towards the Earth, and Fig all but screamed, "The key! Quick! Take my hand!"

I was too terrified to disobey, and he summoned the key back to us. We soon discovered that the cannister key was none other than a port key, and as Fig touched it, and we were transported to our destination, I passed out, and woke up in a dirty, drafty cave feeling like my whole body hurt....