Tales of a Spiritual Warrior

Chapter Twenty: The Survivors

One of the requirements of the Minister of Magic was to occasionally check on the conditions at Azkaban Prison. Even without the dementors, who had never been seen again after they had deserted in the service of the Dark Lord, it was a depressing place. Life term prisoners still shrieked in their sleep and moaned through their days. It was still dark and cold. Of all the things she had to do, Amelia Bones did not consider it one of her favorite tasks, but she was resigned to it.

She always took care to stop at one cell in particular.

"How are you, Mr. Malfoy?"

"A bit bored," Draco Malfoy drawled, as he stretched and rose off his narrow bed, "but as well as can be expected." She studied the young man before her carefully. He looked much the same as he always had. His pale face was still a bit pointed, and his hair was as brilliantly blonde as ever. She pitied him, but she never let him know. He would never have understood her empathy.

"Perhaps this will help," Madam Bones offered. She extended a copy of the Daily Prophet that she had tucked carelessly into the pocket of her cloak. "I'm finished with it."

Draco hesitated for a moment, then took it. "Thanks."

"Any time."

Draco watched her walk away. He was still amused by the idea of Madam Bones being Minister of Magic. At least it wasn't Arthur Weasley or that werewolf, Lupin. That would have been even more humiliating. The Bones woman wasn't too bad. He wondered for a moment what had happened to that niece of hers that had gone to Hogwarts...Susan or Sally or whatever her name was. Draco went over to the small table in his cell. Pulling out his hard wooden chair, he sat down and smoothed out the paper. On the front page, he saw a very familiar face. He began to read the article.

QUIBBLER EDITOR WELCOMES TWO NEW ARRIVALS

Harry Potter, the editor in chief of Quibbler magazine, and his wife, Luna Lovegood Potter, on Thursday welcomed a son, Harry James Potter, Junior. According to a spokesman for St. Mungo's Hospital, mother and baby are both doing well.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr. Potter had announced that final negotiations had been completed for the long rumored Scandinavian office of the Quibbler magazine, which will be located in the port city of Halsingborg, Sweden. The Quibbler, which has offices in Hogsmeade, Paris and Hamburg, is now negotiating to print an edition in the United States, according to managing director, Albert Baddock. By coincidence, our American cousins were, on Thursday, celebrating their Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Besides being partners in the magazine business, the Potters are known for their skill at breeding snowy owls, and for their generous contributions to various charitable causes.

Draco blinked. "Way to go, Potter," he said, almost grudgingly. Looking back at him, Harry's photographic self, fingering a silver chain around its neck, gave Draco an almost imperceptible nod.

THE END.