In These Silent Days

Chapter 9

A quiet buzz is the reigning sound in the grand auditorium. Most attendees have their heads bent together, conducting hushed conversations about the event to take place onstage.

Hermione cranes her neck around the large room, wondering who amongst the auction crowd would be taking home their book tonight.

After translating the opening section of the Malleus Maleficarum, Hermione got to witness Draco perform his curse-breaking. It wasn't much this time, he'd explained with an apologetic tone, as most of the spellwork was anti-Muggle and simple in nature. Still, it had thrilled her to watch him roll up his sleeves, scrunch his brow in concentration, and softly murmur Latin.

Like the man himself, Draco's spellwork is neat and efficient. Dwelling on the memory for a mere few minutes causes a flush to creep up her neck as she shifts in her chair and tries not to draw the attention of the well-dressed man sitting just to her left.

Hermione busies herself with the tasseled program, taking note of some of the featured items up for auction.

"There's certainly a lot of goblin-made pieces here," she says with a frown, "and yet not a single goblin in the crowd."

"It's an unfortunate hazard of the profession," Draco delicately replies. "And they'll fetch a good many Galleons since the material is so difficult to curse."

"Are you looking for cursed items tonight?"

"Hmm, we'll see what's up for bidding. I'd like to find one or two cursed things to clean up and either trade or bring back to auction."

The lights dim as the auctioneer takes to the podium. After thanking the assembled crowd, he gives brief instructions for how to bid and recites general rules for decorum, object procural, and retrieval for winning bids.

Then the event is underway, with item after item introduced and wands raised as shining Galleon numbers float in the air above bidders' heads.

Draco seems uninterested in everything until about halfway through the evening, when an extravagant ruby choker in a velvet display box is wheeled into the spotlight.

"From the private collection of the Fawley family, we have a solid gold choker inlaid with a single, round-cut, untreated, 18-carat ruby. The 17th-century piece has confirmed protective properties."

Draco leans back in his seat with an anticipatory gleam in his eye. Hermione thinks this might be his first bid of the evening, but he does nothing.

Though she doesn't know much about what should or should not fetch a large sum, Hermione can tell this might be the first bust of the night. Bids are slow to start and the numbers are lower than anything that's sold thus far.

A few rows up and across the aisle, Hermione notices an older woman turn in her seat, glance around, then narrow her eyes at Draco. She turns away with a frown, but every few minutes, can't seem to help herself from turning back their way.

"Why does that woman keep looking back at you?" Hermione whispers.

"You don't recognize her? I'm sure you know her husband, just next to her."

Hermione scowls, now seeing the man's profile. "Rigel Fawley, decade-long member of the Wizengamot. Opposed my anti-discrimination bill and voted for the marriage act."

A name from her list.

"Yes. Sacred 28 and Dark Lord sympathizers, though not participants. And avid collectors and sellers of jewelry with magical properties. I own several pieces from them and this one would be an excellent addition."