The War.
Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley were in each others arms, locked in an embrace. Draco was cursing sweet nothings as Ginny raised a knee to his groin; Draco collapsed gasping. "Okay then, you can see the Vaults first!" whimpered Draco.
Ginny and Draco had been nominated by Hogwarts to act as ambassadors for the school on a trip to the Ministry of Magic. Ginny had written an extensive piece on the virtues of the Ministry, whilst most felt that Draco had gotten to go as his father was an important figure to the school. Ginny had been amazed that she had won the school competition to go, thinking that Hermione would win it easily. Hermione had thought so too and had been most upset when Ron had 'accidentally' set fire to her own entry on the morning of the deadline. Of course, Ron had been very apologetic, but Hermione had not spoken to Ginny ever since she had won - many had said 'in her place' which riled Ginny no end.
Albus Dumbledore was the Hogwarts representative here and he, Draco and Ginny had spent all morning exploring the ministry. Their guide for this part of the day was called Lord Cedric Godfrey. He was an amiable chap, but Albus had felt a little cheated at having only a retired Minister to show them around. Apparently, something had come up and so the senior ministers had to attend business. Still, Draco and Ginny would give their speeches to the assembled Ministry Wizards this evening and his chest swelled with pride.
That is until he saw Draco limping away from Ginny. He smiled despite the severity of the occasion, noting that although Ginny lacked Harry's sense of justice and honour, she was easily twice as spirited as Harry. Albus and Cedric exchanged glances.
"In my day, the Malfoy's were just as bad," winked Cedric.
"In my day, the girls were just as tough as well!" laughed Albus and the pair roared. Draco and Ginny stopped and eyed the elderly pair with suspicion.
"Well, as I was saying," resumed Cedric, "these are the Vaults of the Ministry. Within this vast maze of books and rooms lie the ledgers and minutes of history itself. A history that shaped this great nation. A history of great men and greater deeds. Put him down Ginny."
Ginny and Draco were acting like ten year olds, but something inside Ginny enjoyed it. Pure and simple rivalry. Like when she was growing up amongst her many brothers. Draco had to smile too when Ginny let go of his head - perhaps he would not whisper obscenities in her ear again today.
The four suddenly felt the floor rock with a dull and distant rumble.
"What was that?" cried Ginny, who had stumbled into Draco's arms.
Draco smiled evilly. "Aw diddums. Want me to protect you then?" Ginny pushed him away in disgust.
"I think we shall postpone our little tour for a moment," said Cedric, whispering something to Albus. "There is a small reading room up ahead. You three wait there a moment and I will go see what on earth is happening upstairs.
"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Albus.
Cedric paused and turned to Draco and Ginny. "What? And leave these two down here? Please Albus! I will only be a moment."
Albus glared at the mischievous pair as they took their seats quietly in the reading room.
Far above them, Percy Weasley was working hard on yet another dossier. The ministry had asked him to investigate alternative forms of public apparition as the portal method was expensive to maintain, what with muggles walking off with apparently harmless looking objects which were vital to the network.
He stared blankly at his cold cup of tea and realised his stomach was rumbling. He called out for his secretary over the crystal ball intercom, but for some reason, it was cloudy this morning. He reckoned that this was due to the Eastern Wizard Company currently refitting out the offices with I-Ching networks: all proper and modern, but Percy, like his father, was a tad more traditional and prized his mobile Crystal Ball.
Standing up, Percy stretched until he heard his joints click. With cup in hand, Percy ambled into his secretary's office. She sat smiling at him, lost in an eternal memo: a large charred hole steamed slightly from the centre of her chest. Percy staggered back, stunned. He felt vomit rising in his throat, but it passed as Percy had missed his last few meals, and after seeing Janine's corpse, was put off the next few meals as well.
"What the hell?" muttered Percy, teacup dripping in hand and sweat glistening on brow.
Along the corridor which lead deeper into the Ministry, Percy saw two other fried corpses. Far below, he could hear shouting and magical blasting. Percy retreated into his office and hid under his desk.
To be continued…
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NB: this is the "Ginny" of old after some bizarre transfiguration spell. J
Disclaimer:
The characters and setting are all thanks to J. K. Rowling. I claim no ownership of these characters, though the events I put them through are all mine. Mwah hah ha.