The Ministry
Karmylle was looking around at the surroundings; she noticed they reached a street that contained several rather shabby-looking offices, a pub, and an overflowing dumpster. She was confused for a moment then Mr. Weasley stopped at an old red telephone booth. She remembered, at least they weren't taking the bathroom entrance. Mr. Weasley motioned for them to go first. Karmylle caught a glimpse of herself in the window. Her hair was shoulder length a dark auburn in the light it has a glint of purple.
Today she was wearing something that she assumed Mrs. Weasley had picked out; it hung loosely from her frame. She wore a big sweatshirt that seemed handmade and the color of maroon. She had jeans she believes belongs to one of the girls, they were quite tight. She is a little bigger than the two petite girls. She sighed as she looked at her face once again. Her eyes were greyish blue and unbelievably dull looking, or so she believes. Behind her Mr. Weasley was dialing something on the phone. But she wasn't paying any attention to him. She was observing Harry. He looked nice in his suit that he chose to wear.
Karmylle jumped a little when a female voice began talking. Mr. Weasley stuttered a bit and introduced the two youngsters. There was a click and a rattle and two badges shot out of where the coin return was. The female voice stated that all visitors needed to submit their wands for inspection. Turning the badge over it looked just like a regular clip on pin. She put it on and steadied herself as the telephone began to move. It was complete blackness and the only sound was a dull grinding noise as the telephone booth sunk farther into the ground.
When they were able to see light again the woman's voice said, "The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day."
Mr. Weasley stepped out of the box first followed by Harry and then Karmylle. Karmylle's mouth hung open as she looked around herself. The movies did this no justice, just like Hogwarts. They were standing at one end of a very long and splendid hall with a highly polished, dark wood floor. The peacock-blue ceiling was inlaid with gleaming golden symbols that were continually moving and changing like some enormous heavenly notice board. The walls on each side were paneled in shiny dark wood and had many gilded fireplaces set into them. Every few seconds a witch or wizard would emerge from one of the left-hand fireplaces with a soft whoosh; on the right-hand side, short queues of wizards were forming before each fireplace, waiting to depart. Halfway down the hall was a fountain. A group of golden statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking wizard with his wand pointing straight up in the air. Grouped around him were a beautiful witch, a centaur, a goblin, and a house-elf. The last three were all looking adoringly up at the witch and wizard. Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of the two wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat, and each of the house-elf's ears, so that the tinkling hiss of falling water was added to the pops and cracks of Apparators and the clatter of footsteps as hundreds of witches and wizards, most of whom were wearing glum, early-morning looks, strode toward a set of golden gates at the far end of the hall. (Taken directly from OotP)
Karmylle's wished her head could be like an owl's so she could around and keep an eye on everything. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. 'Focus,' Karmylle reminded herself. She was here to help keep Harry sane as his trial approached. She gently bumped into Harry and he turned and looked at her. She smiled and winked at him and he smiled back and blushed a little bit. Karmylle chuckled to herself and Harry turned back to Mr. Weasley ads he was directing them somewhere.
They approached a desk that said 'Security'. Karmylle pulled out her wand so they could inspect it, Harry did the same. "Your wand please," The man in the brightly colored robes said uninterested. The man looked at the wand with a great interest. "This is an odd wand." He voice becoming excited. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat.
"Sorry," the man mumbled. "Ten inches, phoenix core and something else, is it a dragon heartstring? Odd, been in use for a day." The man looked at Karmylle with confusion etched across his face. "Is this correct?"
"Yep," Karmylle said looking at the man with a blank look on her face.
"I keep this and you get this." He said handing her a piece of parchment.
Karmylle took a step to the side so Harry could produce his wand. The man didn't seem as interested in Harry's wand as he was Karmylles'. Harry gave the man his wand, "Eleven inches, phoenix core, been in use for four years. Is this correct?"
Harry replied that it was and they were about move on when the man said something not related to wands. Karmylle was still reeling over what the man had replied about her wand. Mr. Weasley gently grabbed Karmylle's and Harry's arm and guided them away from the man.
They eagerly followed Mr. Weasley away from the security guard. Harry made sure to stay close enough to Mr. Weasley and Karmylle, that way no one could be easily lost. Finally they made their way to a smaller hall where at least twenty lifts stood. The three of them went and joined the crowd around one of them. Mr. Weasley began talking to someone and Karmylle looked at Harry. He still looked like a nervous wreck.
"How ya holding up?" Karmylle asked Harry in a low tone.
"Not good," Harry replied. "I'm actually pretty scared seeing as this is the second time they have accused me of underage magic."
"Yea, you think that they would realize the folly in their system seeing as the first time it was a house elf. And wouldn't this be the third time?" Karmylle's brow scrunched up in confusion.
"How do you know that?" Harry asked her with his eyes wide in surprise.
Karmylle mentally slapped herself, how could be so stupid to let that slip. The conversation stopped for a moment when the lift's golden grill opened a crowd of witches and wizards, with Harry, Karmylle, and Mr. Weasley made their way onto the lift. Karmylle found herself smashed to the back of the lift right next to Harry; he was practically on top of her. Karmylle noticed that Harry's scar was showing. She reached up and brushed his hair to block it.
"There." She said giving him a small smile.
Harry reached up and touched his bangs mouthing 'Thank you.' His eyes starting to actually study the small witch in front of him.
The same voice from the phone booth spoke again. "Level seven, Department of Magical Sports and incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."
The door open and one of the wizards exited. "This department was probably going crazy last year." Karmylle said shaking her head. "Ya know with the fiasco with the tournament and everything. A fourteen year old, by golly." Karmylle looked at Harry and he was smiling to himself. She felt proud, getting him to smile and his mind off the trial.
The doors snapped shut and the lift began moving again. "Level six, Department of Magical Transport, incorporating the Floo Network Authority, Broom Regulatory Control, Portkey Office, and Apparation Test Center."
"Don't we learn Apparation next year?" Karmylle asked Harry.
He nodded his head as several paper airplanes flew into the lift. Mr. Weasley sensing the two teen's confusion replied, "Just Interdepartmental memos. We used to use owls, but the mess was unbelievable. Droppings all over the desks."
The two teens covered their mouths in laughter, Mr. Weasley seemed amused himself. The lift went to three more stops before only Karmylle, Mr. Weasley, Harry and a lone witch. Karmylle nudged Harry and smiled at him and gave him two thumbs up. He smiled back but kept his hands firmly to his sides.
"Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services." The lady's voice finally stated.
"This is us, you two. My office is on the other side of the floor."
"Mr. Weasley aren't we underground?" Harry asked as they passed a window with sunlight streaming through it.
"Yes, we are. Those are enchanted windows; Magical Maintenance decided what the weather we're getting every day. We had two months of hurricanes last time they were angling for a pay raise… Just round here."
They turned a corner and the sight of cubicles met them. Karmylle tried catching one of the memos that almost hit her in the head. Harry saw this and laughed. Mr. Weasley was oblivious and kept going. A lopsided sign on the nearest cubicle read AUROR HEADQUARTERS. Karmylle grinned to Harry.
"And this is the place that was trying to catch Sirius. I wonder how they catch anyone with this place looking like this." Karmylle said shaking her head.
Harry just eyed her not quite figuring her out. He didn't know how she knew most of what she did. She had only arrived one day after him and seemed to have most of everything figured out. Why did Professor Dumbledore tell her more than him? Why is Professor Dumbledore keeping him shut out? Harry was becoming more frustrated about everything. Harry was drawn out of his stupor when he noticed Mr. Weasley was talking to Kingsley Shacklebolt. Harry was going to say hi but Karmylle stopped him.
"Wait 'til later," she whispered to him. He looked at her confused once again. That seemed to be his facial expression when he was around her. He shook his head and followed behind Mr. Weasley and Kingsley.
Karmylle leaned over to Harry and whispered, "They don't work in the same department. And since the 'Minister,'" Karmylle said with a sneer. "Doesn't believe that Voldemort is back, they really can't be seen conversing about what really matters. They have to hide it in odd conversations. They could get in trouble for doing what they are doing."
"How do you know this?" Harry asked surprised.
Karmylle looked at him and made a surprising decision. "You think Voldemort sent the dementors after you right?"
Harry nodded his head. "Well your wrong." They made their way out of the cubicles and turned right into a dimly lit corridor. They arrived in front of a door that read, MISUSE OF MUGGLE ARTIFACTS.
Karmylle noted that the room itself seemed the size of the broom cupboard across the hall or slightly smaller than it. There was barely enough room for the three of them to even stand in it. The filing cabinets were overflowing with papers and everything. Karmylle found a little corner of the desk that was clear and sat on it taking more of the room in. She looked at Harry and he was looking around the room with excitement. Karmylle couldn't help but to smile at him. He seemed to sense and looked at her and smiled back.
"We haven't got a window. We've asked, but they don't seem to think that we need one. Have a seat, Harry. You ok Karmylle?"
She smiled at him and nodded her head. She looked at Harry. Harry wanted to finish the conversation they started out in the cubicle but Karmylle shook her head. She leaned into him and said, "I'm not that fond of Professor Dumbledore, and I don't want much of what I know get back to him."
Harry sat back dumbfounded. How could anyone not like Professor Dumbledore? "Why?" He finally asked.
"Quick Harry, we should've been there five minutes ago!"
The man that just entered the room flattened himself against the filing cabinets as they rushed from the room. Karmylle mentally slapped herself. How could she have forgotten about this?
"Come ON!"
Karmylle looked at Mr. Weasley he was very angry with the lift.
"Those courtrooms haven't been used in years. I can't think why they're doing it down there – unless—but no…"
Karmylle knew what was going on, the Wizengamount. Harry of course had that confused expression on his face. If it wasn't such a serious situation Karmylle would've laughed. But she kept to a small smile on her face. "The Atrium" the same female voice replied once again. Karmylle was watching Harry making sure that he was alright. Mr. Weasley seemed the most agitated out of the three. Probably cause Harry doesn't understand what this means to him and because Karmylle knew what was going to happen.
"Department of Mysteries," The female voice said and Mr. Weasley ushered them off the lift. They ran down the corridor and towards the stairs. Karmylle shuddered as they passed the blank door knowing everything that could happen there and what is supposed to happen there. She makes a vow that it won't. Karmylle didn't listen to the mutterings that Mr. Weasley was saying as they descended the steps.
They stumbled to a halt in front of a grimy dark door with an immense iron lock. "Go on," he panted pointing at the door. "Get in there."
Harry looked scared for a moment. "Aren't – aren't you coming with me?"
"No, no. We're not allowed. Good luck."
"It's ok Harry just take deep breaths." Karmylle walked up to him and hugged him. He entered the doors.
Mr. Weasley looked at her. "Why did you want to come with him?"
She looked at Mr. Weasley and just shrugged.
"Did you know that you wouldn't be able to go in there?" He asked again.
"Mr. Weasley, I am the only one here without any parents, or guardians trying to look out for what's 'best'" Karmylle said using air quotes. "For me, he needed someone with him. He doesn't need to be isolated from everyone. He is a very brave young man who has stopped being a 'kid' long ago. You guys just need to see that. When someone has been through a lot, just like him they grow up fast. He saw a good friend die in front of him by the same people who murdered his parents."
Karmylle sighed and looked at Mr. Weasley. "I'm gonna let you in on a secret that I know."
Mr. Weasley looked taken a back. "I assure you Karmylle, that whatever you are talking about Albus knows what he is doing."
Just then Professor Dumbledore swept passed them. Mr. Weasley and he nodded at one another as they passed. Karmylle hung her head not meeting his eyes. He went into the room.
"Is this the door Harry will also be leaving from?" Karmylle asked ending the conversation from earlier.
"I believe so, yes." Mr. Weasley said rubbing his temple.
"I will wait right here." She flopped down by the wall and pulled out a book.
Mr. Weasley stood there stunned for a bit, not knowing what just happened.
A/N: There are quite a bit of quotes from the book, Order of the Phoenix, in this chapter, FYI. After the next chapter it will start being even more different from the book and I will get away from it. Should I make it more than just her POV? I sometimes stray from just hers. Just let me know, please and thank you. It's not a HarryXOC fanfic I don't think. I would rather her end up with someone else. We shall see where it leads before I decide. If you would like to tell me if you would like this to have some romance let me know, also let me know who you would like to see her with.
