"For instance, it feels as if a former Death Eater or supporter of Dark Arts is doing it. The dates, you see...."

The three of them had decided to talk on the matter at the Burrow itself the very next day. Hermione felt anxious because those dates were somehow getting on her, making her bite her lip every moment out of nervousness. Yet, all of them had to cope up with it.

"Why don't you simply dare to say Tom Riddle? Yes, a supporter of the Dark Lord must be doing it - I've got a feeling like that."

As Ron said that, Hermione looked away. Even after the passing of over two decades, she couldn't dare to say that horrible name. She managed to say it a few handful times, just to pluck up some courage at that time. But she couldn't gather all of that courage right now, not at this particular sort of moment when everything seemed against her.

"On 31st, he was born and on 2nd, he died as Harry defeated him in the Second Wizarding War."

Harry looked up at the mention of his name.

"We defeated Voldemort. We all, all of them."

He need not mention the persons who counted in them. Ron and Hermione already knew who they were.

"Pardon me, Harry. So, have we got any other lead? What about the relation of Marrietta with the Carrow siblings? I don't believe if she had ever been any witch."

"You may be right. For we need to identify what her relation was with Alecto and Amycus Carrow. Also, Gerrard John Wellington was a Squib."

"Oh yeah! Who were his parents, by the way? I don't reckon they'd be some great wizard and witch?"

"Ron! You needn't show such disgust towards Squibs."

Ron hated Squibs, for he loathed one of them the most, Argus Filch.

"For now, we've got a proof. Hermione, can you please bring all those letters you've received?"

As Hermione brought down the letters, Harry and Ron raised eyebrows.

"Well, you didn't tell us that you've received so many letters."

"Sorry for that. They're just ten of them out of which the two are providing information about the murders while others are full of hateful comments."

"Well, Hermione. Ten is quite a number which can hardly be forgotten."

Hermione ignored Ron nonchalantly. As Harry and Ron respectively read those letters, they could easily point out that something is common about them.

"You see, these letters are insane. I mean, why'd someone be willing to do this? To spite Hermione?"

"May be the intention to do this is more sinister. We need to find it out."

"I am not able to grasp anything out of it. When I received the letter about the murder of Wellington, I immediately rushed towards my office at the Ministry and decided to go on the spot."

Harry and Ron yelled.
"You....what!"

"I am so sorry. I didn't tell anyone of you anything about it. I was in a state of confusion at that time - I was unable to understand what to do. I just did what I felt like."

And soft tears came out of her brown eyes. Ron tried to comfort her by enveloping her into his arms.

"Oh Hermione! Do not worry. We'll surely find out who that moron is. How did he dare to challenge you? I assure you that when we lay our hands on him, he'll regret what he did."

She gave out a little laugh. Dear Ron! If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be able to do anything.

"Hermione! Let it out; we're going to nab that person."

"Also, I didn't tell you that I and Harry already knew that."

Harry nodded in assent.

"You two knew what?"

"We knew, Hermione, that something was gonna happen - for we'd received something similar to your letters too. We had used my Cloak of Invisibility to do so."

"But how? How did you two know that what was gonna happen at Wellington's?"

"Because even I, at the Auror's office, got that note. Not a letter of the sort which you received, but a precise note about that. Firstly, I thought it to be stupid to take a few Aurors with me, so I went there myself. I reached your office to meet you and inform you about it, Hermione. But you weren't there. So I asked your Senior Undersecretary, Rudolf Jean, about it. He told me that you have already left your office but in a state of rush as if you've encountered something horrible. I understood that even you knew about it. At night, I decided to inspect the Number 10, King's Street a few hours earlier than 10 pm. I found nothing abnormal or any activity which could be suspected to be of a person belonging from the Magical Community. I decided to return back when I just saw what I had been waiting for. Two men had Apparated out of nowhere near the residence, not far from where I was standing under my Invisibility Cloak. I realised that this is the moment. These are the ones who had been doing it. But soon then, I was unable to get a track on them."

"What do you mean you were unable to? Had they used a jinx to invisible themselves?"

"Even if they had, I'd have been able to tackle them. But they were doing something beyond my Magical study. As if they had just released a dark Patronus."

"What do you mean when you say a dark Patronus?" Ron asked.

Hermione gave it a thought. Can it be...?

"Do you mean an Obscurus?"

"Well, as I said I do not know that. But chances are equally likely. Yes, it may turn out to be an Obscurus."

"But Harry, how did it block you from doing anything?"

"That Obscurus or whatever it was, entered Wellington's house. And as it entered there, it left behind a trail of black cloud which surrounded the house completely, giving almost no view of the house except its roof. I was, then, unable to get into that smoke as if it was not some gas but an invisible wall that separated the house and the Street. That smoke was so thick I couldn't see anything."

"But when I reached there, I didn't notice any sort of black smoke or thing similar to any Obscurus."

"They must have lifted that specific charm when they had already murdered Wellington." said Ron who had been listening to the conversation between Harry and Hermione with pact attention."

"That can be. But you've got to agree, Harry, that even you had gone at the Wellington's without any preparation."

"Hermione, what do you-?"

"Harry! you cannot deny that you were being an idiot who didn't take any Aurors with him. Have you only received that damn note in your ward?"

Harry remained calm. He tried not to show his anger while speaking anything.

"Yes, Hermione, I received that note specifically in my own ward. I agree that it had been a very big flaw from my side. I must not deny it, but shouldn't you have developed a strategy before going there on the spot unarmed?"

"Have you lost your mind? I reached there late, 'cause I thought that the murderer was making a fool of me. And for your information, I had my wand ready at the slightest of abnormality."

"Alright then, you two do not have to argue on that. Let us consider for the moment that you both are responsible for your conduct."

"I agree with Ron, Hermione."

"Ok."

At last, Hermione tried to summarize all the statements in a matter-of-fact tone.

"For now, we have got two suspects :- the murderer and the one who is delivering us the letters. It is quite simple to notice that those two letters are written by the same person as judged by the handwriting. The other eight letters, it seems, are written by someone else; for they've been typed and not handwritten. It is, of my opinion, that one of the critics is doing all this."

"I totally agree with that. We need to acquire details as to who is, first of all, delivering the letters and that can further lead us on."

Ron and Hermione nodded.

______________________________________

Wilkins asked hesitantly. "Who is the next one, sir?"

But the 'sir' ignored him. He said in a dreamy tone as if providing lively words to his thoughts.

"Do you know, Wilkins, why I have chosen you for this work?"

Wilkins shook his head.

"Because you believe that I am worthy of it, Sir?"

"Because I believe greatly that you're capable, capable to rule the Magical Community under me, capable of keeping my faith and promise; you are capable enough to help me in accomplishing our forty years old desire which is long unfulfilled. The Dark Lord's desire - our, Death Eaters', desire. Wilkins - Oh Wilkins! I'm proud of you. We all are."

Wilkins straightened himself as he felt a surge of pride and confidence getting over him. Sir had been sitting on his throne, soon that throne would change its form - soon the throne on which he sits would be the chair of the Office of Minister of Magic. He'd ensure that it happens.

"Will you be kind enough, Wilkins?"

"I'd feel no greater pleasure in anything , Sir, than serving you and the Dark Lord's wishes. It is of my utmost honor to be a part in the making of our power seizure."

Sir smirked - not because he was impressed of Wilkins' loyalty but because his plan had been working well according to him.

______________________________________

"When do you believe the next murder would happen? I don't reckon that the murderer would likely be stopping with just two of them."

Harry and Hermione had been conversing in her office on 4th September.

"I also think so. But in my opinion, the murder must happen on a very significant day, significant in the sense that it has a history of something very important done in the past on a specific date for Voldemort's supporters and his followers."

"That is quite sure. But since September doesn't have a 31st, I believe it must be some other day. Do you recall any such event related to the Death Eaters that took place on any other date?"

"No, but I believe we can reach out for those in the Ministry Archive. Maybe we get through some of the documents related to any such event like a court hearing in Wizengamot."

"You know, Hermione, I believe we shouldn't rely on those letters completely; probably our search through the Archive may turn out to be fruitful."