“granger,”malfoysaidinalowvoie.hermiurnedtohim.“doyouuandanyofwhat’shappenedtous?”itwasinthatmomenthermionefotthedetailsofthease.allthoughtsofthepotentialthatfshedbetweenmalfoyandharrydisappeared.itwaseasytogetdistratedfromthefatthattheyhadbeenursed,espeiallywhentheotherspresentinthearoomseemedtogettheworstofit.theworstofit,sheringed.maybeshedidn’thaveagon-urse,butshestillfeltthegravedespairofsomeoneheldhostagetoanalienfore.hermionewasabouttoaskifmalfoyhadheardfromanyoneelse,butparkinsonleanedin.

“hermione,”pleadingeyesmetherown.“whatdoyoumakeofthis?”parkinsonpulledoutafoldedparhmentandhandedittoher.stillinabitofashokthatshe’dusedhergivenname,hermioneeventuallygrabbedit.whensheopenedit,shegasped,anditdrewtheattentionofharryandron.

hermioneaskedifsheouldreaditaloud.parkinsononsidereditandthennodded.sheread:

towhomitmayonern:

wehavebertriezivantusandwewon’treturnheruntilourdemandsaremet.

10,000galleons

theagreeduponamountofinquollisaniorpusfolia

guinevere,thekneazle

marwanzivantus’timepiee

hermione’svoiefalteredafterthat.forabriefmomentshelokedeyeswithmalfoy,beforelearingherthroatandontinuing:

thedropoffwillbeonthemainfieldattheaubignysportstreinhaddington,

1o’lokinthem

donotinvolvetheministry

“what—whendidyougetthis?”hermioneasked.