Disclaimer: Harry Potter world belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.

Rated T for language

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Sorry for the late update, but I've had some giant projects in school lately. I'll try to update more often, I promise.

Look out for the chapter, "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes", which should go up this weekend.

Chapter 7

Percy could feel movement in the darkness as he awoke. He rolled over onto his side in the warm bed, groping for his glasses. He slipped them onto his nose just in time to make out Audrey stumbling out of their bed. She walked over to her suitcase—which she had dumped on the floor until she had time to unpack—and began pulling out clothes and changing. Percy smiled at her as Audrey turned to see that he was awake.

"Sorry," she whispered, smiling apologetically. "I have to go to the Reserve early today. I didn't mean to wake you I up."

Percy shook his head, sitting up. "There's no need to worry. Now that I'm awake, I suppose I might as go into the Ministry and get a couple of hours of work done before breakfast…"

Audrey rolled her eyes. "That's what I was afraid of." Percy watched silently for a moment as she slipped on her heavy, steel-tipped boots and began to walk across the flat. She paused halfway to the door, biting her lip uncertainly. "Hey, Perce?" Audrey began uneasily.

Percy sat up a little straighter, unused to hearing her sound so doubtful. "Yes?"

"I really enjoyed spending time with your family," she said slowly.

"Okay…"

"And I was wondering…" Audrey took a deep breath, as if preparing herself for something. "I don't have a very big family. It's just me and my mom; I think I told you that?"

Percy nodded. She had told him earlier that her only living family was her mother who lived in the States; her father died before she was born.

"Yeah. My dad was actually a pureblood, British wizard; did I tell you that part?" Percy shook his head, surprised. "That was the main reason I chose to come over here after my issues with the American Government of Magic. But, anyway, what I'm getting at here is: how would you feel about meeting my mom?"

Percy blinked in surprise—why was Audrey so uncertain about asking him that? "Of course I'd love to, Audrey—I dragged you to a meeting of the Weasley brigade, didn't I? It's the least I can do in repayment."

Audrey smiled, although she didn't look completely relieved. "Thank you. You know, I wrote her about you during the war, and after."

"Did you?" Percy felt a knot of nervousness in his stomach, suddenly having to live up to the expectations of his girlfriend's mother. "What, uh, what did she think?"

"She thought I was making you up," Audrey replied with a grin. "Although that might come from the fact I haven't brought a guy home since I was nineteen."

"Well, I'll be happy to meet your mum," Percy said. "Whenever you want, I'll be ready."

Audrey grinned a little bit. "Great, thanks." Percy watched as she reached the door, pulling it open and stepping outside. Right before she closed it after her, Audrey said, "But I have to warn you, she's a handful."

Percy smirked playfully. "Oh, is that where you get it from?"

Audrey stuck her tongue out at him as she stepped out of the flat. "See ya later, Perce."

Percy leaned back in their bed as the door closed, deciding to rest for a few minutes more before getting up to go to work. He looked around their small, two-room flat that Audrey had sparsely furnished with a bed, couch, desk and some bookshelves. He would have to remember to move in all his things from his Ministry-provided housing…

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Percy leapt up in shock, hand automatically flying for his wand at the noise. He breathed out a sigh of relief to see it was just an owl, rapping his foot on the window. Hermes gave a slightly scornful hoot from his perch in the corner, as if he was annoyed at the presence of another owl. Percy walked slowly over to the window, unlatching it and letting in the large Great Gray. Percy recognized a Ministry owl when he saw one, and wondered what he was being owled about. He plucked the scroll attached to the owl's foot off, hurrying over to the other room of their flat and grabbing some bread to offer to the owl.

As the Great Gray munched away, he unrolled the scroll and read the letter.

Percy—

I'm sorry to be owling you so early, but we have a situation here that I could use your help on. Do you think you could come in to the Ministry?

Kingsley Shacklebolt (Minister of Magic)

Percy blinked in surprise, and then felt his chest swell with pride. The Minister had actually written a letter requesting his presence—handwritten! He knew very well that the Minister rarely wrote letters to their staff by hand; he himself had written the majority of Fudge and Scrimgeour's memos. He was about to hurry to change and apparate to the Ministry, but a loud meow made him freeze in his tracks. Percy turned to face the noise, seeing Lotus sitting on the floor, watching him with intelligent green eyes.

"Er…" Percy cleared his throat, feeling excessively stupidly addressing a cat. "Do you need something?"

Percy would've sworn that Lotus rolled his eyes. And then the cat flicked his golden tail toward one of the cabinets in the room. Percy slowly walked over to it— because he had no idea what else to do—and pulled it open. He blinked in surprise to see that Audrey had already put some food inside it—cat food, to be exact. Percy scrambled around the kitchen until he found a bowl, and then filled it with the food and placed in down in front of the cat.

Seeming to be satisfied, Lotus sat down next to the door and began eating. Percy was glad to have managed to keep the unnerving cat happy. He grabbed his wand, changed and then disapparated, appearing seconds later in the Atrium. The usual bustle wasn't present, probably because it was so early.

And Magic is Might was completely gone, Percy noticed. Voldemort's influence had finally been eradicated from the Atrium. Percy could only hope it was gone from the rest of the Ministry as well…

Percy looked around the room, seeing the only other three occupants. Kingsley having what looked like a serious conversation with two Aurors. He hurried over, catching the tail end of their conversation.

"…all we're getting from him is that he didn't do anything, which doesn't make sense," one of the Aurors was saying, rubbing his hand over his face tiredly. "I don't know what to make of it."

Kingsley sighed, and opened his mouth to respond when he caught sight of Percy behind him. "Percy!" he said loudly, causing the Aurors to turn around to face him. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"Of course, sir," Percy replied immediately. "What can I help you with?"

"I'm sure you're aware of the situation we're having with Azkaban?" Kingsley asked, and Percy nodded. He had been keeping himself up to date with all the current problems facing the Ministry, meticulously reading every memo issued by every department. "We've decided that we'll be holding Death Eaters and other captured criminals at Nurmengard."

Percy blinked in surprise. The prison which had been used by Grindelwald and then later allotting for him and his supporters? "Really, sir?"

Kingsley nodded. "Yes. I called you because I need someone to go over the details with the representative they've sent. I read in your file that while you worked for the Department of International Magical Cooperation you had many meetings with national representatives. I was hoping you could assist Auror Verus—" he nodded his head at the shorter of the two Aurors, a man with clipped, light brown hair, "—with the diplomatic niceties. The man is waiting on one of the lower levels."

"Yes, sir," Percy replied eagerly. He had gotten quite good at such meetings; he was adept at the subtle art of diplomacy, and, more importantly, knowing when he was being lied to.

"Excellent," Kingsley replied, clapping his palms together. "Justinian here"—he pointed to the taller Auror—"is running interrogations of suspected Death Eaters."

Percy followed, rapt with attention, behind Kingsley and the two Aurors as they entered the lifts and descended slowly to the lower levels.

Their group paused as they passed a small courtroom with an open door. A man was being interrogated by several Aurors inside. Percy recognized with a flash of rage Robert Selwyn, a bastard he knew to be a Death Eater who had worked within the Ministry to punish muggle-borns and blood traitors.

"Did you host rigged hearings to criminalize muggle-borns?" The Auror asked Selwyn, his voice echoing in the near empty courtroom.

Selwyn shook his head. "No, I never did. I have no problems with muggle-borns."

"He's lying!" Percy burst out before he could stop himself, outrage running through him. He had heard Selwyn and his disgusting friends use all sorts of vile slurs against muggle-borns, seen him incriminate countless wizards and witches just for being the first in their family line to get a wand.

Justinian glanced at Percy with a touch of annoyance on his face. "He's under the influence of Veritaserum, kid. He can't be lying, that's the point."

Percy shook his head, gritting his teeth. He knew he wasn't wrong. "I filed reports regarding the monstrosities that man enacted towards innocent people. And besides, didn't you see the way half of his face twitched when he said 'muggle-borns'? That was barely concealed contempt!"

The other Auror, Verus, frowned, drawing his bushy eyebrows together. "Well, maybe he doesn't like muggle-borns. That doesn't mean he was actively running the persecutions during the war. We can't punish people for their views, just their actions."

"But the point of Veritaserum is that you can't conceal anything, including emotions," Percy countered, adjusting his glasses. Kingsley and Justinian nodded, agreeing with his point. It boosted Percy's confidence. "It must be a faulty batch of Veritaserum," he concluded. "You should brew a new batch and re-administer."

Justinian shook his head. "Impossible. We triple-checked for validity. It worked on our own men when we tested it."

"Well, that man is lying," Percy maintained adamantly.

Kingsley rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking pained. He heaved a deep sigh. "There were rumors," he said slowly, "that the Death Eaters had devised a potion that, if drunk every day, would grant the drinker immunity to all truth potions and spells." Kingsley looked over at the ineffective interrogation. "It would seem that they were truer than we had wanted to believe."

Percy felt his mouth go dry. What could they possibly do now? Veritaserum had been for years the only tactic the Ministry could use to get the truth out of detainees. If the Death Eaters had developed a way to lie even under its influence…

"Could we get a Legilimens, then?" Verus suggested.

Percy shook his head. "I've actually looked into that, sir. It will be exceedingly difficult to find a Legilimens we can trust, given that Legilimency is primarily a Dark Art."

"Well, that only leaves us with one option, doesn't it?" Justinian said darkly, crossing his arms. His steely gaze flitted between Percy, Kingsley and the other Auror. "I've been saying it for weeks, Minister. You have to legalize the use of the Cruciatus Curse on suspected Death Eaters."

Percy couldn't suppress his gasp as it escaped his lungs. How could an Auror suggest something like that?

Kingsley's face darkened. "I will not condone the use of torture," he responded, voice cold, "even on Death Eaters. You are dismissed, Justinian."

The Auror's eyes widened in shock. "But—"

"I've changed my mind—you will attend the meeting and Verus and Percy will take over the interrogations," Kingsley interrupted calmly, gesturing down the corridor. "Go. Nurmengard's representative is waiting."

Realizing that he had been forcibly dismissed, Justinian gave a final frown and set off. Kingsley dragged a hand tiredly over his face, looking incredibly serious, and, well, old. Percy turned to him questioningly. "Are you sure you want me to stay with Verus, sir? What about the Nurmengard meeting?"

Kingsley shook his head. "I'll get someone else to do that with Justinian. Every interrogator should have a partner with them. Have him sit in on your interrogations, okay, Richard? It'll be good to have someone who worked in the Ministry during the war." The Auror nodded, and Kingsley returned it before striding off back to the lifts.

The Auror turned to face Percy. He extended his hand. "Richard Verus."

Percy grasped the offered hand, shaking it firmly. "Percy Weasley."

Verus smiled. "I knew your father, Percy. But I didn't know you received Auror training."

Percy shook his head, feeling his cheeks color uncomfortably. "I didn't. But as the Minister said, I did work in Thicknesse's office. I can provide unique information regarding these suspects," Percy added pompously, trying to recover.

Verus shot him a strange look in response to his tone. "Well, as long you can help, I guess."

Percy felt a sinking feeling in his chest. Brilliant, Percy thought to himself, I've been working with this man for ten seconds and I've already managed to make a bad impression. Bloody brilliant.

The Auror drew in a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "Kingsley definitely made the right call pulling Justinian, though. Honestly, can you believe that man?"

Percy just shook his head. "People just don't seem to realize we at the Ministry can't compromise our values for anything, or else we risk losing much more."

Verus raised his eyebrows, for a second Percy feared he'd said something utterly ridiculous. Then the man smiled. "Couldn't have put it better myself," he glanced back into the interrogation room. "I guess we should start."

Nervousness welled in Percy's chest as Verus lead him inside. The other Aurors who had been interrogating Selwyn left, still looking incredibly frustrated. Percy sat down on one of the tables across from the chair where the Death Eater sat.

"All right then," Verus said, looking at Selwyn with disgust. "Let's get to it."

Several hours and five Death Eaters (all liars, somehow immune to Veritaserum) later, Percy watched as Travers was led away, hopefully to Nurmengard, if the negotiations went through. He'd have to remember to check up on the meeting's progress. Maybe after they were done here he could—

"Percy?"

Percy turned around in his chair to face the exclamation of shock. He himself was surprised to see Harry and Hermione walking into the courtroom. "What are you doing here?" Harry continued.

"I'm assisting with the interrogations," Percy replied immediately, straightening his glasses. "Why are you here?"

Harry and Hermione exchanged a long, meaningful glance. "I wanted to act as a witness of sorts for the next suspect, I suppose," Harry said finally.

Percy frowned. "These aren't court cases, Harry. There are no witnesses. And besides, for whom would you want to—"

He broke off as the next potential Death Eater was walked into the room. His jaw quite nearly dropped.

It was Narcissa Malfoy. Her blond hair was unusually dark and limp, and there were sleep-deprivation marks under her eyes as dark as bruises. She kept her blue eyes locked on the ground as she was lead to the defendant's chair. The complete difference from how proud and elegant she had looked visiting her husband at the Ministry in the years prior was striking. Percy turned in his chair, shooting Harry and Hermione a questioning look. They made no reply and sat down on a stone bench on the far side of the room.

Trying to ignore their enigmatic presence, Percy turned back to face Narcissa Malfoy. As Verus cleared his throat loudly, about to start the questioning, she looked up. Her eyebrows were up and drawn together, her face covered with fear. It didn't take a genius to see she was terrified.

"Name?" Verus asked. Percy leaned in close and watched her face intently as Verus went through the usual inane string of questions that they already knew the answer to at the beginning of the interrogation. Percy dully made notes on a spare scrap of parchment he'd found in his robes.

"Did you and your husband allow Voldemort—" she flinched "—to operate out of your home?"

"Yes." Narcissa's gaze dropped again. Shame.

"And prisoners of the Death Eater's were kept and tortured in your home?"

"Yes." Her gaze didn't lift from the table.

"Did you ever torture any of them yourself?"

"No," she whispered faintly. Percy looked at Verus, and his expression clearly stated what Percy was thinking: this was useless. They were getting nothing from the monosyllabic, barely responsive woman.

Suddenly Percy leaned forward, an idea jumping into his head. "Did Draco ever torture them? Did he ever murder any of them?"

Narcissa's head flew up. "No!" she practically screamed, a huge contrast to her previous muted answers. "He never did, never wanted to! It was me, I was a coward, I couldn't say no to the Dark Lord when he asked…. It wasn't Draco's fault, none of this was his fault…" she dissolved into tears.

Verus looked at Percy with surprise. Percy was about to lean over and whisper into his ear, but decided he'd better say it aloud. "She's telling the truth about that."

Narcissa nodded wildly. "He's a good boy, you can't put him in prison, he was forced to help the Death Eaters…"

"What about you?" Verus questioned hostilely. "You joined them voluntarily, didn't you? You served Voldemort because you believed in his message of hatred and bigotry."

"She saved my life!" Harry suddenly burst out, causing everyone in the room to look at him in shock. "Voldemort tried to kill me, but I was still alive and she knew it but she still told him I wasn't. She lied to him and saved my life, saved everyone."

She did? Percy look at Narcissa Malfoy in shock. Verus had a similar expression on his face. "She doesn't deserve to go to prison, none of the Malfoys do," Harry finished quietly, looking at his feet.

"I think we should give her the Veritaserum," Verus said a moment after Harry's outburst. "I have a feeling it will work."

And it did. She was the first suspect all day not to be immune to it. After Percy and Verus had carefully made note of everything she said, she was lead away.

"I think we're done for the day," Verus told Percy, leaning back and stretching. "Go get some breakfast, or, er, lunch," he amended sheepishly, checking his watch.

Percy nodded, standing up and striding out of the room. Harry and Hermione, after exchanging a few words with the departing Verus, followed.

"What's going to happen to her?" Harry asked him as they reached the corridor.

Percy shook his head. "I don't know, Harry," he sighed. "I'm not an Auror."

"But you're helping them," Hermione pointed out. "I asked."

Percy shrugged, adjusting his glasses. "I'm documenting the proceedings and supplementing the interrogations with the information I amassed personally during the war." They stared blankly at him. "Truthfully, I'm filling in as an assistant to Verus," he added, feeling too exhausted and drained to work up anymore pride in the position.

There were several moments of exceedingly awkward silence. A couple Aurors walked by, and they nodded respectfully at Harry. Sometimes Percy forgot that the nervous little boy who had asked him if Albus Dumbledore was mad was now a national hero…

"You're supposed to speak to a group of Aurors in a few minutes, Harry," Hermione said suddenly.

"Oh, right. See you later, then, Hermione, Percy." Percy waved lamely as the Boy Who Lived set off down the hall to lecture a group of men and women with twice his age and schooling but half his experience with fighting Dark wizards.

"You should go to the shop, Percy," Hermione told him, a sad smile spreading across her face. "Ron and George are there. They could use your help. You know how lousy they are with finances and the like. "

It was almost like an olive branch, a gesture of understanding that was better than he could have hoped for. Percy nodded slowly. "Maybe I should."

Hermione's smile became happier. "Good. See if you can get the Minister to let you go early. I'm sure you've been working hard enough."

"Yeah, yeah, I have," Percy replied, more to himself than to Hermione. It was time that he started helping his family.