When The Bell Tolls

7

June 4; 9:08pm

The last bit of light is fading from where it rimmed the clouds, a blanket of deep blue falling over the jagged rocks of Azkaban's shore. Leacher - the guard and Auror with the scraggly beard, whom Harry had informed her the name of - steers the boat into a cave. Hermione's fingers clench around her knees as he lights his wand, illuminating the space in front of them. The cave walls are a dark, wet brown, and the water in front of their boat eases from a murky blue-green, to purple, to black. 

They rock gently in the water, small waves splashing against wood, and water tinkling down the side of the cave walls. She has her wand this time, concealed within a spelled case to prevent the Scanners from recognizing an unchecked, unregistered wand. It's still there if she absolutely needs it, though, and there's comfort in that. 

The cave expands into a rough circle, and Leacher's wand lights a wall of Azkaban at the far end. The boat makes a hard slant to the left as Leacher grabs the edge and hops into the water, and she feels droplets spray the back of her hand as she leans right. He grabs the end of the boat, and the water sloshes in bigger waves as he tugs them backward. Wood scrapes against the stones on the small shore, and the back of the boat tips down. 

She waits until he steps to the side to stand and move to the front of the boat. He offers her his hand, and she accepts it out of courtesy more than need, stepping down onto the shore. She immediately pulls away from him, water soaking the back hem of her robe, and her fingers tighten around the handle of the briefcase. 

The door Leacher opens is more of a hole in the wall that hadn't been detectable before, and she has to bend at the waist to clear it. After three steps, the ceiling raises to a height that skims the top of her hair when she stands upright, and the tunnel is narrow enough that she can reach out and press both hands to the walls at either side of her. 

Hermione walks quickly, the ground uneven, and sections of wall jut out in blunt stones. She can still hear water trickling down the sides, and occasionally her foot splashes into a puddle that wets the bottom of her trousers. Wandlight moves across another wall and the same carving she had seen the other way here. 

TRUTH; Hermione feels the strange desire to reach up and run her finger along the engraving. She can almost feel the grime and specks of rock on her fingertips, and has to wonder what sort of people have seen that carving before. What type of people were led down the staircase, and what sort followed after them in pursuit of its statement. None are likely ones she wants to know, but perhaps she already does. 

Leacher steps aside after he opens a second door, torchlight illuminating the floor of level eight. She glances at the white gleam of his eyes as she passes him, and feels her adrenaline spike in a tingling sensation along her shoulders. She almost jumps when he speaks. 

"Bells is undergoing the replacement process." 

Hermione walks slowly enough for Leacher to fall into step beside her. "It wasn't explained to me how this is possible here with the Scanners." 

"It was lifted from this level tonight on order of the Minister, as Aurors are using the place to get information from a prisoner." 

Goosebumps break along her arms as they pass a room with two chairs in the center, long chains hanging above one. "And the guards haven't asked questions?" 

"The three who know about it are not paid to ask questions. They were all chosen to watch the Scanners tonight due to their history of suspect behavior toward prisoners." 

"The Ministry doesn't feel that this will endorse that behavior?" 

"Concerning yourself with it isn't your part of The Assignment." Leacher's eyes settle pointedly on an upcoming door. "That is."