After The War - FORSAKEN MAGIC (HP8)

Chapter 34 - The Diversion

Hermione did not turn back as she slipped into the old house. She was determined to find Harry and Ron and get them out alive.

The house was old and every step she took made a squeaky sound on the dusty wooden floor.

"Whose there?" Came a voice from the room on her left. It was Nox, a Slytherin she recognised. He stepped out of the room to see who made the noise.

Hermione held her breath and stood still as his eyes scanned the passage. Finally deciding he imagined the sound, Nox turned and went back into the room and continued to pace in front of the fireplace.

Hermione sighed in relief and carefully tiptoed up the stairs. What she saw upstairs made her hand slip off the railing, nearly falling down the stairs, not noticing that her hand tugged the cloak which uncovered one of her shoes.

Too distracted to notice her exposed foot, Hermione stared open mouthed at the only person she recognised in the hallway.

It was Malfoy, dressed like a deatheater. He was talking to some other death eaters, he seemed to be arguing with them about something.

"I never changed!" Malfoy said to them firmly as one of the other deatheaters shook his head in disbelief.

"Yet you turn up when it's most convenient for you." Spat a white haired deatheater.

Hermione could not believe her eyes. Malfoy was with her outside only a few minutes ago! How did he get into the house?

"You need me. Only I can deliver what you cannot." Malfoy said. His face was deathly calm and his voice showed no hint of fear.

Hermione felt a chill run down her spine but she ignored it and scanned the room for a way to get past them unnoticed. She spotted a curly dark haired witch hiding behind a book shelf, stare at her direction.

Stunned, Hermione followed her gaze and with a jump, realised that one of her shoes was not hidden by the invisibility cloak.

Quickly covering herself up Hermione took a few steps down, fixing her eyes on the new stranger.

The curly haired witch seemed to be eves dropping on the death eaters, but the moment she spotted Hermione's shoes her attention shifted.

She put her hands together like she was praying while mumbling something and then pulled apart her hands. The corner of her lips twisted into a small smile.

Nothing happened.

She then stepped out from behind the bookshelf casually suddenly not worried about being seen and made her way to the staircase, her eyes fixed in Hermione's direction.

"Where are you going June?" asked the white haired deatheater.

"For a walk." The curly haired witch said turning around and flipping her dark hair with attitude. She had an American accent. "How did you know it was me?"

"I always know when it's you." The white haired deatheater said with a smile and June blushed.

"The Master said we were not to go out until he says so." A bald deatheater said sternly. June's expression changed to irritation.

"I can walk indoors, Wix" she said rolling her eyes as she turned to refocus her attention at Hermione's direction.

She made her way down the steps, one hand gently on the railing and the other hand touching the wall preventing anything from getting upstairs without bumping into her.