For Disclaimers and Warnings See Prologue.

Disillusionment

Chapter Three

Percy Weasley glanced over at Oliver wood as they set in his sitting room drinking and reminiscing about old times. "Do you remember that time you made Jason Tucker grow a skunk's tail during Transfiguration?"

"Yes." Percy said irritably. He didn't like reliving times that he'd screwed up. "I didn't do it on purpose but neither he nor his cousin Roger ever seemed to believe me." He frowned as Oliver seemed to find his discomfort funny. "Speaking of accidents, what about the time you walked in Mary and her boyfriend in the common room bathroom."

"That wasn't an accident." Oliver said rather cheerfully. "I heard the noises and wanted to see who was dense enough to actually screw in Gryffondore tower." Percy stared at Oliver for a bit as if he couldn't believe him.

"I never knew you were a voyeur Oliver." Percy said with jokingly "But then again I suppose you couldn't have spent every waking moment thinking about Qudditch." Oliver looked murderous and then suddenly laid back and smirked. "What's so funny?"

"I saw you and Penelope once." Oliver said and Percy felt himself blush and really wanted to hex Oliver at the moment. "I mean I got out of there quick so I didn't see much but I saw enough to know you've got freckles everywhere."

Percy was really embarrassed and wanted nothing more than to disappear. "Why were you looking at me anyway?" He snapped darkly Oliver looked a bit uncomfortable but quickly changed the subject to discussing the latest quidditch league results.

"Hey Perce." Oliver said after a while. "Why don't' we invite Jason and Roger to go out with us one night it could be a reunion of old dorm mates?" Percy noticed he didn't mention their other dorm mate who had ended up one of the dead death eaters from the battle of Hogwarts.

"I'm sure that would be fun." Percy said not entirely convinced his relationship with the cousins had always been a bit strained since the very first year though they had eventually warmed up to Oliver. "I believe you should be going now as you have a game tomorrow." He saw Oliver start at the time and quickly leave talking under his breath about how his whole game may be off now.

Percy had been seeing a lot more of Oliver now ever since the night they'd spent drinking together. They hadn't talked about those deep issues since then preferring to just reminisce or talk of trivial matters. He knew they were still uncertain about if there was anything left of their old friendship to salvage. He was rather amused that Oliver kept asking him to come practice quidditch with him since he hadn't played since he was younger.

Percy couldn't help but think back to their time at Hogwarts when Oliver desperate to make the quidditch team had begged Percy to practice with him and Percy had reluctantly agreed on the condition that Oliver help him study an equal amount of time. As Oliver needed to keep his grades up to keep his parents off his back about his obsession with Quidditch, he had done so readily. Percy was not at all ashamed to admit to himself he'd actually gotten very good at playing Chaser opposite Oliver's keeping and might have even been able to make the team if he hadn't been so busy with the time turner during the lead up to their OWLs.

Percy decided to go to turn in early as he had a great deal of work to do the next day though as he readied himself for bed he found himself wondering why Oliver had looked uncomfortable earlier. He also wondered why Oliver had looked at him instead of Penelope. After all, Penelope was gorgeous and most men would have taken the opportunity to see her not a lanky redhead like him. Dismissing it as pointless and one of the mysteries of his quidditch-obsessed friend, he went to sleep.

Percy awoke the next morning completely forgetting about all that had gone on the night before. He'd even forgotten about Oliver's plans to try to reconnect with Jason Tucker and Roger Winston the pair of half blood cousins who had been their dorm mates at Hogwarts. And soon found himself busy in a meeting between Shacklebot and Pius Thicknesse replacement as head of the Magical law enforcement Aedon Marks.

Aedon Marks was not very intimidating and was very thin and weedy with pale skin and lank blond hair. However Percy knew he was brilliant and extremely gifted magically not to the degree Amelia Bones had been but the best choice of those available to replace Thicknesse."We still don't know who helped the Death Eaters get out of the country." Aedon said tiredly. "It has to have been someone from the ministry but we don't know who yet."

Shacklebot looked down. "Do you have any suspicions at all as to who?" The minister asked in his deep voice. Percy did not like the implication they had managed to purge most of the collaborators bu tif someone was helping the Death eaters to flee the country to nations where they might find sympathy.

"No whoever it is appears to be very good at covering their tracks and they may not even be at the Ministry any more as several employees have retired in the aftermath." He said darkly and looking directly at Percy. "Are you sure he can be trusted?" Percy started to respond himself but a look from Shacklebot told him not to say anything.

"Weasley has my full confidence." The Minister said slowly "Has a new head of the Auror Division been selected yet." Percy had a suspicion that the minister had his own plans for the Auror division involving Harry Potter afer he finally had the necessary NEWTS but he hadn't said anything officially or unofficially.

Aedon frowned slightly. "Not really." He looked away. "Several folks are interested but finding someone qualified who didn't cave to you know who is proving difficult." He looked down. "The Auror and Magical Law enforcement departments are both understaffed we may have to lower our standards for the next few graduating classes of Hogwarts."

"We will not lower the standards." Kingsley said gravely. "Instead check the NEWT Results from the last ten years and offer any with the necessary qualifications a chance to apply if they so choose." Percy saw Aedon's eyes widen. "They'll have to go through the normal three years of training and be subject to the same standards as all current Auror."

Aedon looked down. "That might work we've never considered going to folks who didn't apply right out of Hogwarts.". Percy busied himself taking notes he didn't like the idea of them looking at NEWT Results to attempt to find new Auror candidates since he knew his name would be one of the first ones found who met all the requirements.

Once the meeting was over and he had filed all the notations properly. He was startled to see a letter from Oliver sitting in his inbox. A quick read showed that Oliver had been in contact with Jason and Roger and they would meet them at a bar that Friday night. Percy was annoyed he'd forgotten all about it and didn't particularly want to go. However he had agreed and Percy tried to always keep his word.

To Be continued...