When Count Dantes arrived at the reception room, Donna Lockhart was already pacing anxiously by the sofa. The untouched refreshments on the coffee table hinted at her troubled mind.
"My apologies, Lockhart," the Count greeted her with a polite smile as he entered. "This new city project is finally coming online, and it's kept me far busier than expected—thank you for your patience."
Normally, Donna would have greeted him with warm pleasantries:
"This new city is an incredible undertaking, and its swift completion is truly astounding."
"You're juggling countless responsibilities, Count—if I arrived at an inconvenient moment, I apologize for the trouble."
But today, none of that mattered. She looked on the verge of tears, barely holding back her panic. "Count Dantes! Please save Gilderoy!"
The Count frowned in surprise. "What are you talking about, Lockhart? Gilderoy is perfectly fine—still teaching at Hogwarts, as far as I know. Is he in danger?"
Donna's voice quivered. "He's been framed, accused of being a Death Eater loyal to You-Know-Who, and he's about to be sent to Azkaban!"
"How could that be?" Count Dantes asked, his expression filled with shock. "Gilderoy is a good man—why would anyone want to hurt him?"
Donna shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "I don't know. I just can't bear the thought of him being locked up in Azkaban. That place… it's not fit for a human being. He wouldn't survive more than half a month in there."
"Indeed," the Count murmured, eyes glinting meaningfully. "Azkaban is hardly humane, and Gilderoy likely wouldn't endure it."
Relief washed over Donna's face. "So what can I do now?" she sobbed, staring at Count Dantes with desperate hope. "Gilderoy said only you could save him. Please—I'll do anything."
Count Dantes tilted his head slightly. "Couldn't your Avery family handle this? If I recall correctly, you replaced your cousin—Gai Avery—using someone else. Dana Emrys from my team was framed instead."
Donna shook her head, tears still falling. "We paid dearly for that. Now, with the new city about to open, my family has spent nearly everything. We can't afford another scandal. And after Dana's case exploded across the Wizarding World—even the Ministry can't risk letting an unrelated person take the fall again."
The Count nodded thoughtfully. "That does complicate things."
"Can't you just exonerate Gilderoy before he's taken to Azkaban?" she pleaded.
The Count raised an eyebrow. "Lockhart, mind your words. Without absolute proof of his innocence, any attempt to free him prematurely could land everyone involved in serious trouble. Especially now—he's publicly accused, and the Ministry won't back down."
At that moment, someone knocked on the reception room door. "Come in," the Count called out.
A servant appeared, carrying an official envelope, and handed it to him with a respectful bow.
Counting opened the letter and scanned its contents. Donna watched breathlessly.
"This," he began, "is from Minister Fudge. I had expressed interest in the British Wizarding World's judicial workings and asked to be informed of any high-profile cases."
He met Donna's panicked gaze. "According to this, Gilderoy isn't only accused of serving You-Know-Who. He's also charged with casting Memory Charms on at least seven prominent individuals, causing varying degrees of brain damage. That alone seals his fate—the evidence is damning."
Donna went silent. She'd been so consumed with the Death Eater allegations that she'd overlooked this charge—arguably even more serious given the concrete evidence.
The Count spoke gravely. "Lockhart—"
She swallowed hard.
"To save him, we'll need to find someone else to replace him."
Donna's voice trembled. "But the Ministry officials won't dare let an innocent person be scapegoated again."
The Count smiled thinly. "What if the person replacing him is willing and closely related to him?"
Donna froze. "Willing and closely related?"
Her eyes widened in dawning horror. "You mean… you want me to take his place?"
She shook her head vehemently. "No! I'm pregnant. I can't go to Azkaban… If I stayed there too long, something could happen to the child."
Count Dantes sneered inwardly. It seemed Donna didn't love her husband as much as he'd thought.
"No, Lockhart—precisely because you're pregnant, this is the best idea. You're still in early pregnancy, it's not noticeable yet. We'll claim you volunteered to take his place; I'll bribe the Ministry officials…"
He paused, letting the gravity settle in her mind. "Half a month to a month in Azkaban, then 'discover' your pregnancy on one of their visits. They'll panic. Your identity makes it too risky—if something happens to you or the child, the fallout would be catastrophic. Under that pressure—and with enough monetary incentive—I can secure your release."
Donna's eyes darted. "Then why not save Gilderoy directly?"
Count Dantes shrugged. "Because you must step in first. The Ministry won't just release a known Death Eater without seeing you subjected to the same. Only then will they cave."
A shiver ran through her as she imagined Gilderoy behind bars in Azkaban. No—she had to do this.
"If it's only a month… I might survive."
She pressed her lips together. "Count Dantes—is this plan guaranteed to work?"
The Count lifted his chin with pride. "Absolutely. I swear on the honor of my Dantes ancestors."
He held up four fingers in solemn oath.
Donna took a shaky breath. Perhaps her sacrifice was the only chance to save him.
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