Wand-Leader & The Spy

22- The Letter

London, Diagon Alley, September 12th, 1999, 11.45 hours

"So… what happened in the Department of Mysteries?" Luna leaned forward, towards Hermione, uncaring that she just barely manage to avoid pushing her robe into her meal.

"It's an ongoing investigation," the Wand-Leader answered reflexively. "I can't talk about it."

"Of course, sorry I asked." Luna smiled. "So… let's talk about what didn't happen in there!"

Hermione sighed. "Luna…"

Her blonde friend pouted. "But the Ministry already released the official statement: It was a tragic accident during an experiment. So, logically, that means that the investigation has already been concluded!"

Hermione rubbed her forehead, ignoring her own meal for a moment, glad she habitually cast a privacy spell when eating with Luna. "You know that's not the truth."

"Of course it's not the truth!" Luna exclaimed. "Not even you would be that quick. But it means that officially, the matter has been settled! At least as far as we civilians are concerned. Which means you can talk to me about it! About what hasn't happened, I mean."

Hermione thought Luna sounded a bit off, then closed her eyes when she realised what her friend had to be thinking. She patted the blonde's hand. "It wasn't that kind of accident, Luna. It wasn't spell research."

Luna bit her lower lip while she slowly nodded. "I was just thinking about Mum, you know."

Hermione smiled. "I know. It also wasn't an attack by the half-naga."

"Albino half-naga," Luna corrected her. She sighed. "It's a bit of a relief, you know? To see that even in the Department of Mysteries, accidents do happen. Some people said my mum would still be alive, if she had been working there."

Hermione nodded. The other witch had left unsaid that people also said that her mother would have joined the Unspeakables, if she hadn't had Luna. "Accidents happen everywhere." As did attacks and acts of sabotage.

Luna sighed. "The Minister himself told daddy about the accident. She had been working on a new spell for him, and it didn't go well. He later revealed that she had helped him prepare for his confrontation with the Dark Lord. Said Mum was a hero."

Hermione had heard that story often. She now knew that at least part of the story had been a lie; the Dark Lord was still alive. She didn't say so, though. She held Luna's hand instead, and smiled, and listened while her friend told her about her mother.

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London, Diagon Alley, September 12th, 1999, 19.34 hours

"I was thinking, with Dean convinced, we could contact Wand-Leader Benjamin and Wand-Commander Sarah. If they believe me, then we could have a shot at turning the entire Corps before Malfoy notices.

"You know we can't really plan anything without Dumbledore," Ron Weasley said to his girlfriend. They had just finished eating in his room.

Hermione froze for a second in the middle of vanishing their take-out boxes, then sighed. "I know. I just… "

"You just hate how your friends believe in Malfoy and fight and bleed for him," Ron finished for her.

She frowned. "Yes. And how we might be forced to fight them."

"I doubt we'll have to do that. Once Malfoy is dead, and the Dark Lord is dead, we'll have enough time to sort things out peacefully. There's no one poised to succeed Malfoy." At least Ron thought that this was Dumbledore's plan.