Chapter 2. What are you up to, Lucius?

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Disclaimer: Hermione is an adult

Parvati and Padma Patil barely woke Hermione up. They were horrified by the bruises under her eyes, deep bites on her neck and very strange wounds on her body.

- Hermione, what happened? Where were you last night? - Padma babbled excitedly.

- Who did this to you? - Parvati looked at her friend in shock.

- What, what are you talking about? I really feel broken...aah – " the girls led her to the mirror.

- You really don't know what happened to you?! - the sisters exclaimed synchronously.

Hermione tried to remember something with tears in her eyes, but it was unsuccessful. She had to run to class, but she couldn't show up like this in front of the whole school.

- I'm going to tell Professor McGonagall, - Parvati realized.

- I'll get Madam Pomfrey right away, - Padma said.

- But, girls, please, -Hermione said in a pleading tone, - no one should know about this except…

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- This is beyond comprehension, Albus! - An enraged McGonagall looked from one colleague to the other. – How can something like this happen right under our noses?

- Headmaster, - Snape's cold voice rang out in the office, - if you don't mind, I'll brew a potion that can help Miss Granger restore the events of last night – he cast an ambiguous glance in the direction of Lucius – obviously, there's a rare magic of erasing a certain area of memory.

- That would be wonderful, Severus, - said Malfoy. – The injured girl, as far as I know, is from a Muggle family. I'm afraid that such a crime has a much deeper context. - He turned to Dumbledore. – I think that in this situation it would be appropriate to report everything to the minister. We don't want war or conflicts between pure-blooded wizards and Muggle-borns.

- And I'd also like to put additional protection in front of the entrance to this student's room, - Minerva noted warily, noticing the suspicious looks of Severus and Lucius. - Mr. Malfoy, by the way, how much more do you plan to spend at our school?

- As long as it takes, Professor, - Malfoy replied irritably, - until I'm fully confident in the safety of my son, we all remember the recent events in the Care of Magical Creatures class.

- Well, friends, - Dumbledore tried to defuse the heated situation – thank you for your time. I think all these measures will be appropriate and useful. Severus, Minerva, start executing them immediately. Lucius…

- Don't worry, Headmaster, I'll take over the minister.

– I'll be very grateful to you-Dumbledore smiled in disbelief.

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A few quiet days passed for Hermione. Harry and Ron tried not to leave her during the day, and the Patil sisters made sure that their friend fell asleep before them. McGonagall provided proper protection for her room, and Snape was preparing a potion, a cooking process that, however, required about two weeks.

One evening, during dinner, Dumbledore got up to announce important news:

- Dear students, I regret to inform you that there was a case of a particularly brutal attack on a Muggle-born student at our school. In this regard, and in order to prevent this from happening later the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, established the post of Commissioner for the rights of Muggles at Hogwarts school and appointed Lucius Malfoy to it.

An exclamation of displeasure swept through the hall. No one could believe it.

- They're kidding us! - Ron exclaimed, - The Malfoys are the most ardent Muggle haters.

The Slytherin part of students burst into wild laughter. The situation was really ironic.

Lucius Malfoy grinned caustically, looking Hermione straight in the eye. That look gave her an electric shock.

- Hermione, are you all right? - Neville asked.

- I wouldn't say that… This is very strange and very suspicious – at that moment a scream flashed through her head, her own scream, and before her eyes there were chains and someone's rough hands strangling her.

- "I'm probably going crazy. In any case, no one should know about it yet."

***********************

- What are you up to, Lucius?

- Ha, what are you talking about, Severus?

- You know perfectly well. I saw you that night... THERE – the Marauder's map, taken from Harry, appeared in Snape's hands.

- Mind your own business, don't forget which of us is the representative of the ministry…