A Coded Parchment

Chapter 5: The Assassination

While Ron was enjoying the company of Natalie Robyns, Hermione was fuming behind her desk at the Daily Prophet as she wrote her column. She was still irritated by the disastrous date with Malfoy the night before. Her messing started to become messy as she started venting her anger onto the column she was writing.

"My, my, my, someone's very testy this afternoon," said a soothing voice from behind her. Hermione whipped around and stared into the bright green eyes of Harry Potter.

"Oh hi Harry," she said. Harry's presence helped calm her. "What are you doing here?"

"Just came for a visit. What's wrong Hermione?"

"Oh, it's just Malfoy." She practically spat out the name. Harry nodded in understanding. "I still can't believe that he thought that I would...oh, never mind."

"He doesn't deserve you, Hermione," said Harry as he sat down on an empty chair next to her desk. "He was all wrong for you."

"And would you know anyone who's right for me?" said Hermione sarcastically as she went back to writing her column.

"Oh, I don't know," said Harry. "Maybe someone like me."

"What?!" Hermione's face suddenly sprang up. Harry looked startled.

"What do you mean 'what'?"

"What did you just say?"

"I said someone like...WHOOPS!" Harry only seemed to just realize what he had said. Hermione grinned.

"Are you serious?"

"Well...I...I...I suppose...that I ...er...I have these...feelings for you..."

"Harry, if I remember correctly, you always made a point that your feelings for me were strictly platonic."

"Well...I...I suppose...that...feelings change." Harry looked abashed, but he looked Hermione in the eye and said, "You wouldn't mind would you? I mean, I don't want our friendship ruined because of this..." He would have continued if Hermione hadn't suddenly pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. When they finally broke apart a few minutes later, they both had wide grins on their faces.

"Harry, you're not going to believe this but I've had feelings for you since you saved me from that troll back in first year," said Hermione. Harry looked absolutely startled.

"But that was 10 years ago!"

"Believe me, it was worth the wait!" Harry grinned as Hermione pulled him into another deep kiss amidst all the cheering of the Daily Prophet employees around them.

* * * * *

About a week later, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Natalie were double dating at an expensive restaurant in Hogsmeade. Ron had been ecstatic about his two best friends finally getting together after so many years. "Ha! I just knew you couldn't remain platonic forever!" he had said when the two made their announcement to him.

Harry and Hermione were as close to each other as ever. In was highly advantageous that they already knew everything there was too know about each other and Ron couldn't help but be a little envious of them: he and Natalie barely knew each other.

"Hey Ron, isn't that Percy?" said Hermione as she noticed a number of people enter the restaurant. Sure enough, Percy Weasley and his campaign managers, Philip Johnson and Phoebe Tomans, had just entered the restaurant and were discussing something: most likely Percy's chances of becoming the next Minister of Magic opposed to Draco Malfoy. Philip Johnson was a short, stout man with thinning brown hair and dull blue eyes while Phoebe Tomans was a tall, alender woman with short blonde hair and gray eyes.

Ron scowled and turned away. "Nope, that's the big rock head of Ottorey St. Catchpole." He apparently didn't feel like associating with Percy right now. After eating for a while, Natalie excused herself to the bathroom. Ron took this opportunity to bring something up with Harry.

"So how much of the parchment have you decoded?" he whispered.

"Ron, didn't your boss deny you permission to work on this?" hissed Hermione.

Ron grinned. "Since when have I ever abided to rules?" He turned back to Harry and said "So?"

Harry sighed. He didn't like discussing such classified matters in public but he knew that Ron wouldn't back down. "No. It's taking me forever. I've managed to figure out something called 'the memory' but I have no idea what that is about."

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Have you tried revealing spells?"

"Yeah. The effect was negatory."

"A translater spell then."

"The parchment is designed to repel all forms of spells and charms that could help with the decoding." Harry tossed off his glasses and started rubbing the bridge of his nose. "The Death Eaters probably used some kind of talisman for their decoding. If I can only find out what that talisman was..." He abruptly stopped when Natalie returned from the bathroom.

The four spent about another hour talking about a wide variety of subjects ranging from the choosing of the new Minister of Magic to the current Hogwarts classes. They saw Phoebe Tomans stand up and walk away but paid no heed. Hermione excused herself for the bathroom right around when Harry and Ron had started a heated discussion about professional Quidditch.

"This is going to be the year Harry! This is the year for the Chudley Cannons!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Ron! The Cannons don't stand a chance! It's either going to be Puddlemore United or the Appleby Arrows. I mean the Arrows have got that new seeker..."

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the women's bathroom! Harry and Ron shared a glance before dashing over to the origin of the scream. The scene that greeted them was horrifying to say the least.

Hermione was shaking on the ground, her eyes wide and her face pale. She had her wand drawn. Right next to her was the lifeless corpse of Phoebe Tomans!