Who Will Stop the Rain

The Werewolf

Draco closed the door in Hermione's face and let out a long sigh, banging his head against the door in frustration. Although he had been furious to discover Hermione Granger of all people on his tail, he trusted her misplaced notion of keeping promises and believed her when she swore that she wouldn't say anything to Potter about their little talk. He had briefly considered Obliviating her so that she would forget their conversation, but Draco would hardly be worthy of the name Malfoy if he weren't one to hedge his bets.

Draco looked at his bandaged hand again. In the immediate aftermath of the first trial, he realised that there was little to no chance of him getting out of this alive: with three more trials to complete, and the promise that each would be more difficult in turn, he suspected that he was ultimately being set up to fail. Though he was certain he might die in his pursuit, he didn't want to be resigned to the same unknown fate as Theo, Blaise and Marcus. If Granger knew he was in touch with the killer, and he suddenly disappeared without a trace, she would surely search his room for clues. Well, Draco would gladly leave them for her.

He sat back at the writing desk and began scribbling a letter to her, detailing everything that had happened to him - the day Scorpius had disappeared, the contents of the mysterious box, the trials the killer had set for him to complete, everything - in the hopes that she may succeed where he would surely fail. Stuffing the letter into an envelope he scribbled 'Granger' on the front and placed it carefully by the bedside table so she would find it easily if he didn't come back from the next trial.

Despite being exhausted and in pain, Draco dragged the enchanted parchment towards him and wrote simply, What now? He only had to wait a few moments before the next message appeared:

Are you prepared to kill someone to save your son?

Draco felt his stomach drop at those words. It was one thing to hurt himself, but kill another person? He thought back to that fateful night many years ago atop the Astronomy Tower. He couldn't even kill Albus Dumbledore to save his parents, to save himself. Would he be able to kill another person to save his son? Uncertain if he would be able to go through with this, he wrote back, Yes.

His message dissolved into the paper and the the reply appeared on the parchment:

We shall see about that.
The address of the man you must kill is concealed within the werewolf figurine. Use the eye to prove that you have completed the trial. A messenger will be waiting with your reward.
I'd get a move on if I were you, the rain is really pouring now.

Draco glanced up out of the window and saw the rain was indeed pouring, so heavy now that the view of street below was obscured. If it kept up like this, it wouldn't be long before the well filled up with water, and it would be too late for Scorpius. Draco unfolded the werewolf figure and read an unfamiliar address:

79b Grafton House, Mile End, London.
Kill him. Rendezvous with the messenger. Get your reward.

There was no indication as to who the messenger would be, but he supposed they would reveal themselves to him when the time came. Stuffing the paper into his pocket he rose to his feet and made to leave before pausing, the corner of his eye catching the glint of gold shining on the floor. Draco snatched up Granger's traceable Galleon and slipped it back into his pocket. If he was going to die, this way she might be able to find his body.