            "The Department of Mysterious," she said. Her words sounded hollow. Hoarse. How could I be so bloody stupid? "What—" She clamped her mouth shut. Swallowed. "What are we going to?" she asked bluntly, turning away from him. Hermione moved behind the desk chair, facing the window. The manor’s back grounds were a mess of slush and mud on the unusually warm day, the early evening sun casting leering shadows from the tree line. "I can’t believe you only care to mention this now."