Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. Nor do I own Scabior, Hermione or any other familiar characters/spells/creatures mentioned. This is just a figment of my imagination and no profit is being made from this.

Death Eaters and the Pains of Owl Post

Morning came all to quickly and once he had showered, changed into some clean clothes and grabbed some quick breakfast, Scabior was back on his sofa, drinking some hot pumpkin juice and reading the small white book again.

20th January 1996

Dear Diary

All I am hearing is Death Eaters. It's the number one story on the Hogwarts' gossip mill. Although most of the stories I have heard are laughable. For one, Luna Lovegood is convinced the Nargles got to the prisoners and led them out. I hadn't heard such nonsense in all my life. The best one I heard was of Susan Bones, expressing her Aunt's concern that Sirius Black was behind the breakout. I know Sirius and frankly, he and his cousin (Bellatrix) were not exactly the best of friends. Speaking of relations - Draco Malfoy has been strutting around Hogwarts and acting as if he's the top man. Oh I'd love to take that stupid wand of his and shove it so far up where the sun won't shine, he will be singing falsetto for weeks...!

Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned. Scabior had once believed that quote was stupid. But not seeing just how short-tempered Hermione was...well, he found he would like to see how far he could push her before she snapped at him.

Hagrid is on probation. As is Professor Trelawney. That is another thing Malfoy is proud of...he won't be so proud when his Father is banged up in a cell. That's right - Lucius Malfoy is a Death Eater. Not that it came to a suprise, he's as slimy as one man can be.

On the plus side, I've devised a plan that is possibly fool-proof. I don't know if I mentioned her, but this reporter Rita Skeeter really riled my nerves last year with all her silly rumours. All these stories cropped up from no-where and it was a mystery. But - I found out, she is an animagus. A beetle. Which is how she got all her information. Genius in some sense. Well, I managed to capture her and now she owes me a favor, for not turning her in to the Ministry.

"Sneaky, cunning and devious. This girl would make a perfect Slytherin." Scabior said.

I owled her yesterday telling her if she wanted an article, I knew just the time and place for her to conduct her interview. I received a very short and blunt reply for me to request a time and place. Now just to get Harry into Hogsmeade with me. Apparently he is going with Cho for the Valentine's Day trip. I'm sure Cho wouldn't mind if I borrow him for a few moments...

Ink splashes dotted the page, almost as if an owl had walked through the fresh print.

...Who ever decided owl post would be a good idea needs to be slapped. Ron's excited owl just dropped down on my diary, trailing ink everywhere. He had a letter from Mrs Weasley. No doubt Ron left something behind from Christmas. Harry has one of his lessons with Professor Snape tonight, so it's just me and Ronald in the common room, along with some other Gryffindors. He's playing chess, or should I say attempting to play chess, with Dean Thomas. Dean however, seems more interested in whatever Seamus is saying...Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil are sitting on one of the sofa's by the fire, whispering and giggling loudly at everyone who walks past. I don't know if it's because I've roomed with them for the past 5 years - but their laughter just irritates me to no end. Surely not everything can be THAT hilarious?

Well, me and Lavender have not really seen eye to eye. Not since third year anyway. I mean, how was I supposed to know about her rabbit? All that drivel Trelawney shoved down our throats about the inner eye just happened to coincidently fall in with the death of her rabbit. Granted I understand loosing a pet must be frightfully devastating - I'd be nowhere without my Crookshank - but Lavender and I just got on after that. Not that I mind anyways; I mean, what can be so funny that she laughs at everything?

Lavender Brown. The name struck a bell in Scabior's head. He tried to envision her. Blonde hair, big eyes similar to those of a baby deer, and a confident stance. Ah yes. Now he knew her. She'd been mauled by Greyback in the Battle of Hogwarts. She'd live - but only thanks to a spell from Hermione which distracted Greyback enough for someone to help Lavender escape. The scars on her face would not heal though.

Harry just arrived back from his lessons. He looks exhausted. Professor Snape sounds like an insanely hard taskmaster. Apparently he's really skilled in the arts of Occlumency, only second to Professor Dumbledore and Voldemort.

Scabior had only faced Voldemort once in his life, and he had hoped never to again. Scabior had been called forward to state his blood status during Voldemort's take over of the Ministry. Being a Half-Blood was better than Muggleborn, but only just. Greyback however, had pulled Scabior aside and spoke to him about the Snatchers. Scabior - seeing this as a way out had quickly signed up. It was because of Voldemort that he'd been freed from Azkaban. But it still didn't mean he had to like the man. Scabior had been tasked of bringing in a Muggle-born woman to prove his loyalty to Voldemort and the Ministry. That was alright to him - being in Azkaban toughened ones weaknesses. What was the most difficult in that task was coming face to face with Lord Voldemort himself.

Scabior had heard tales of Voldemort, from his time at Hogwarts, up to the whispers in Azkaban.

When Voldemort laid his scarlet eyes upon Scabior, the man had tensed in fear. Voldemort held a powerful aura of magic around him. Not to mention that creepy looking snake that glared from its place next to its master. When Voldemort had nodded that Scabior was loyal enough, Scabior had all but collapsed in relief.

"But ol' Snakeface is dead now." Scabior said. He remembered that feeling when he'd heard the cheers of the students as he walked away from the scene, after the ordeal with the bridge. Feelings of relief, relief that Potter had gotten away from the Manor Scabior had taken him too. Guilt because if Potter hadn't escaped, Voldemort would still be alive. Fear because he knew that he would be wanted for his part in the Muggle-Born abductions. He had a bounty on his head and possibly a call out for his arrest. With those feelings in mind, Scabior had fled the Wizarding World and hid in the muggle world for a few months, before stumbling back into the Wizarding World and wandering the Forest of Dean. Which is where he found the cabin he was residing in. Scabior shook the memory from mind and moved his eyes back to the passage in front of me.

Poor Harry! I do feel sorry for him. He's not had it very pleasant during his life. What with his Parents being murdered. In front of him no less! And then his relatives. Don't get me started on them. Barbaric methods they have! I haven't met them - but Ronald has! Said they put bars on Harry's room! Mental! And now to come to School, which is meant to be safe, and find out every corner he takes, someone or something wants to kill him. And I thought that my exams would be hard!

Well, speaking of exams, my revision is calling! Can you believe O.W.L.s are only FIVE months away?

- Hermione Granger

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