Chapter Seven- The Ministry
Apparating was painful. The whole process left Severus as an unbalanced mess, trying to stand up straight. He hadn't enjoyed holding on to Dumbledore for dear life as they span in circles until at last they reached a narrow street.
Dumbledore, however, was unfazed. He started walking to a phone box at the end of the street. Severus quickly got up and ran after the Headmaster, trying to ignore the spinning headache he was currently experiencing. They both walked into the telephone box and Severus watched the street slowly disappear as they descended into the Ministry. They walked into a long corridor which was lined with fireplaces on both sides. Severus wondered why they hadn't just used the Floo Network to get to the Minsitry as there was bound to be a Floo fireplace in Hosgmeade which was not too far from Hogwarts. But Severus had already realised that Dumbledore didn't have a conventional way of doing things. He didn't doubt the fact that Dumbledore was a supreme wizard, he just speculated about the Headmaster's lack of planning, not that Severus was a particularly organised person himself.
But still, the very fact that Dumbledore was bringing a student along with him to the Ministry of Magic seemed very wrong. But Severus was not complaining. In a few minutes he was going to have his hands on a time-forwarder. He hasn't exactly thought up a plan of how he was going to get one, but hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to find. Professor Dumbledore had said that he needed to get some business done anyway, which would buy him some time.
Eventually they reached the front desk at which a short witch sat, reading the Daily Prophet. Her hair was tied neatly in a chignon and she wore small rectangular spectacles that sat rigidly just under the bridge of her nose.
"Excuse me." Dumbledore began and immediately the witch sat up and put down the newspaper as she realised it was Dumbledore who was speaking to her.
"Albus Dumbledore." She greeted him, a little too over-enthusiastic in Severus' opinion. "How could I be of help?"
"This boy is in need of a time-turner." Dumbledore said, looking at Severus.
"And has he completed the necessary examinations?" The witch asked, raising her eyebrows at Severus.
"Yes, he has. Here are the results." Dumbledore handed over a large file containing the tests Professor McGonagall had given to Severus.
"Very well." The witch smiled. "Payton will show you the way."
A tall wizard came out from behind the front desk; he had previously been sitting next to the small witch.
"Follow me." He said.
"I will leave you with Payton, Mr Snape. I have some errands to run. Let's meet here in half an hour, shall we say?"
"Of course, Headmaster." Severus agreed, thankful that now Dumbledore was gone he would have a chance to get a time-forwarder. In his head, the plan he had formed two minutes ago all worked out. If he stole a time-forwarder, the Ministry would not be able to accuse him of anything as they denied producing any. Of course that was if he managed to get one at all.
After walking down a corridor for a couple of minutes, Payton unlocked a door to a room that was filled with hundreds of time-turners.
"We need to get your name engraved in it, too." Payton said. "So if anyone tries to steal it and use it, it won't work for them."
He picked one of the time-turners up.
"These are all new developments. Originally one turn back means one hour back, but we've added three more buttons- day, month and year. Not that you'll be needing any of them of course!" Payton winked at Severus, making him feel suddenly very uneasy. What was he implying? Did he know what his plan was?
They carried on walking further back into the room when they reached a large class cabinet. On it was written in gold fancy lettering, 'Time-Forwarders.' Severus gasped. Here it was.
Severus turned his head to look about Payton, who seemed absorbed into engraving the time turner with Severus' initials, which he had just asked for. He had his back to Severus and was working on a table, his wand in hand.
It's now or never, Severus thought. He inspected the glass cabinet up and down and saw that on the top left hand corner there was a miniature lock, located next to a small handle. As quietly as he possibly could, Severus got on his tip-toes and slowly pulled the handle back.
The cabinet was unlocked! It must have been Severus' lucky day. With his heart hammering inside he reached for one of the devices and quickly shoved it into his largest pocket in his robes. He then shut the glass cabinet shut and looked around, trying to appear as innocent as he possibly could.
A minute late Payton turned around, holding a time turner with S.S beautifully inscribed upon it. Severus thanked Payton and took the time-turner into his hands to inspect it more closely- but not before he saw Payton looking at the glass cabinet.
Damn it, he knows, Severus panicked.
"I think Dumbledore should be done now…" Severus said, the shaking in his voice very apparent.
"Oh yes." Payton nodded. "I'll lead you there."
Dumbledore didn't seem to be in the greatest of moods either, Severus discovered once they had re-joined.
Dumbledore thanked Payton and then left abruptly and Severus had to once again run after him as a result. But he didn't mind- he had a time-forwarder! And if his plan went correctly, Payton wouldn't be able to tell the Ministry anything.