Cian and Hermione were in the middle of kissing when a broadcast on the radio caught there.
"URGENT NEWS FROM HOGWARTS! BREAKING STORY!" cried Lee.
Cian hopped from the bed and went into the den and turned the radio up. She was followed by Ron, Hermione and Harry. The two boys had been dozing when they caught the broadcast.
The four of them stood in silence waiting for Lee to continue, but it seems that even was having trouble telling the story.
"Hogwarts is under complete control of Lord…Lord," he choked, "Lord Voldemort. He has appointed Severus Snape as Headmaster. Young witches and wizards are being forced to attend under the threat of harm or even death by Death Eaters. It seems Lord Voldemort wants to be able control what they learn as if teaching a new army of Death Eaters. We can only hope that our comrades who are at Hogwarts are strong enough to resist and doing their best to fight for the cause."
The radio went dead and they knew it was the end of the broadcast. They all stood in silence for a moment. Cian was deep in thought staring at the radio. Hermione rubbed her back as they waited for her to say something.
"Cian?" Harry finally asked.
"Yea?" she looked at him and then at everyone else, "In 6 hours we leave for the Ministry."
"Shouldn't we scope it out or something?" asked Ron, "We have no idea what we're up against."
"You're right," she breathed, "I'll go in 2 hours before everyone else and gather whatever information I can and we'll go from there."
"No," Harry said immediately before Hermione could even get a word in.
"It's our only chance. I go to the Ministry often. I'm an official advisor. My presence there will not be questioned."
"An hour ago you said you'd disguise yourself now you're willing going to go into a hot bed of Death Eaters?" Harry looked at her, "Are you insane? Especially the fight that just took place? What if your sister is there? She will definitely know something is up."
"What other options do we have?" she retorted.
"When was the last time you even went to the Ministry?" Ron looked at her.
"Let's just say it's been awhile," she admitted.
Everyone let out a heavy sigh, "What have we got to lose?" she asked, "Who is honestly going to attack me? Saoirse won't be at the Ministry. Voldemort doesn't want her alliance with him known yet."
There was a pause before Harry and everyone else nodded, "I don't agree with this, but it's our only shot," he finally relented, "Cian will go in 2 hours before us, gather some information, relay it back to us and we'll go from there."
They would get the sleep they could and Cian would be up in 4 hours. She and Hermione headed back to their bed. Hermione stood with her arms crossed and Cian knew she was in trouble. Cian flicked her wand and cast a silencing charm around the room.
"What is wrong with you?" Hermione finally broke.
"I did what I had to do," Cian answered.
"You know damn well there are others way to discover what's going on in the Ministry. We could wait a few days or weeks, spy on it and then make our move," she said.
"We don't have that kind of time, Hermione and you know that."
"Stop trying to be the hero, Cian," she sighed.
"I'm not trying to be any hero. I'm doing what's right. We all know I won't be crossed if I enter the Ministry, Saoirse isn't there and I have access to all areas."
"Cross you?" Hermione looked at her, "They did here in the forest!! What makes you think you'll be safe in the Ministry?!" she shouted, "They know you're against Voldemort and you have no business in the Ministry."
Cian knew Hermione was right. She honestly had no way of knowing if they'd attack her or not. The place would be crawling with Death Eaters and those loyal to Voldemort. She'd most likely be stepping right into a trap.
"Was that your only plan?" Hermione asked, "To go strolling in there and expect to get all the info you could?"
Cian bit her tongue, "No," she finally said through clenched teeth.
"You can be so thick sometimes, Cian."
"Then what do you expect me to do, Hermione?!" Cian looked at her.
"Think of a better plan…" she sighed taking Cian's hand, "You're incredibly smart, Cian. Use your head."
Cian nodded and as they two witches stood there Cian's mind raced with possible plans. By disguising herself she wouldn't have the same access as she would if she wasn't, but Hermione maybe right about the Death Eaters, but this maybe a risk she was willing to try.
"Well?" Hermione waited.
"If I go in disguised I won't have the same access to the Ministry, but if I were to go in as myself I couldn't be denied anywhere."
It wasn't the answer Hermione was expecting. She let go of Cian's hand, the young witch was fuming and couldn't even find words for Cian.
"Hermione…" Cian muttered trying to get her to say something.
"Go!" she finally shouted, "Go!"
"Stop, Hermione," Cian said, "Don't do this."
"The world hasn't seen or heard from you in years. The only people who knew you were still around were your village, Dumbledore and the Minster of Magic. No one else, Cian!" she stated, "And I understand your want to help the world, but you have to understand your importance in this whole scheme of things," she looked on the verge of tears, "The world cannot lose you, Cian," she started crying, "I cannot lose you."
---
"I make a sexy man," Cian smiled looking at herself in the mirror Hermione rolling her eyes. Cian was dressed in a black three piece suit with a red tie. Her hair was a deep auburn color and she stood a few inches taller then she normally did.
"Who are you anyway?" asked Ron looking her over.
"No one," she answered, "I couldn't risk becoming one of the people from the village because those who do work at the Ministry left their jobs months ago knowing the danger. So if they were too suddenly show up it'd look a little funny."
"So how are you going to get in?" asked Harry.
"There are ways to get into the Ministry without using the required networks," she clapped her hands together, "So…here's the plan for now I will enter the Ministry and gain as much information I can within the 2 hours and I will relay it to you via this," Cian pointed to a small black stone set into the center of her tie. She then laid down a quill and parchment.
"How does it work?" asked Hermione.
"The stone and basin act as a viewing system, and the quill and parchment is how we can communicate back and forth" said Cian. She set down a stone basin and filled it with water from the tip of her wand.
"And what is your name incase anyone asks?" Ron handed her, her jacket.
"Rorian Ursinus," she put her jacket on and tucked her wand inside.
They all said goodbye, Hermione stepped outside the tent with Cian. She was fixing her suit, "Be careful, please," she looked at Cian.
"I promise," she took Hermione's head into her hands and kissed her forehead.
---
Cian apparated to Piccadilly Circus it was crowded even in the early morning. She got a few nods from shop owners and police officers, but never drew significant attention to herself.
There was an old beat up phone booth that stood outside one of the shops. Cian quickly darted inside.
"Shit!" she cursed under her breath. The phone had been removed. This was an old entry way into the Ministry, but had been decommissioned years ago, but they had only recently removed the phone. Thankfully there were still wires left. She took out her wand and wrapped the few remaining wires around it. It took only a minute before phone booth began to descend into the ground.
Cian pushed open the door and stepped into a deserted part of the Ministry. She tucked her wand away, straightened out her suit, checked herself in a dusty window and proceeded to the main lobby. The Ministry was quiet at this time with only a few Ministry workers around giving her great opportunity to seek around.
Where to begin? There were so many departments that could give her information. Before she even had time to think a voice caught her attention.
"We need to take greater efforts to round up the Muggle borns, and half-bloods and have them registered…" Cian eyed the fountain as the woman with the voice came into view. Harry and the others were able to see Umbridge.
Ron, Hermione and Harry all sat around looking at the parchment.
"How do we respond?" Ron looked at the quill.
"It's Dolores Umbridge," said Hermione. And as soon as she finished the sentence the quill wrote it down on the paper and it dissolved.
Who is she?
Worked for the Ministry and was assigned to Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. We don't know what she does at the Ministry…
She's talking about rounding up all the Muggle-borns, and half-bloods and making them register for something. I'm going to follow her and find out more.
Be careful, Cian.
Yes ma'am.
Umbridge was leading a small group of wizards and witches toward the elevator. Cian placed herself at the back of group and pushed her way into the elevator with them. The round witch was going on and on about some sort of registry. The woman's voice was ear splitting, but Cian was just thankful she hadn't drawn attention to herself. Although she was getting a few smiles from some of the witches in the elevator.
"Level 5 – Muggle-Born Registration Commission," the voice in the elevator said and everyone got out. Cian once again continued to follow. Umbridge was so wrapped up in herself she had never noticed Cian tagging a long.
The group entered a lobby that was filled with what Cian was assuming were Muggle-borns and half-bloods. She immediately recognized a few Death Eaters guarding the area.
They've created the Muggle-Born Registration Commission. They're rounding up Muggle-borns and half-bloods and having them register with the Ministry. This is insane.
Who heads it?
I'm guessing the toad.
Cian keep your calm. Don't blow your cover.
I know. I know.
Cian was so tempted to reach for her wand and end all of this, but she knew better. Dolores was facing away from her when standing between her and the rest of the group. Then Dolores turned around and the Cian immediately caught her attention.
"Well, hello…" she said smiling widely, "Who are you? I've never seen you around the Ministry before. I think I would remember if I did."
"I'm Rorian Ursinus," Cian smiled and kissed Dolores outstretched hand and keeping herself from vomiting in the process.
"What a charming young man I'm assuming you must be the newest recruit for the Ministry?" she laughed. Cian now had a lot of attention her and it's something she didn't want, but knew how to play the part.
"I think I'm going to vomit," muttered Hermione watching Umbridge drool all over Cian.
"Yes I am. You seem to be doing amazing work here at the Commission," Cian put on her best smile.
"Oo why thank you!" Umbridge blushed, "And where will you be working?"
"Department of Mysteries, but I wanted to see the great new ways the Ministry has changed before I started my position and I see it is doing wonderfully," Cian couldn't believe what she was saying, but she was doing her best to play the part.
Her eyes scanned the area she was inning taking in all she could see. Cian's eyes caught Dolores's office door and there acting as a door knob was Mad-Eye Moody's magical eye.
Found Moody's eye. Dolores has it as a door knob. Wonder how she got it?
"Well free to stop by anytime Mr. Ursinus. I would be more than happy to have you," they shook hands again.
"I will make sure to do so."
Take the bait, Cian! Take it. She could have information.
"Dolores," Cian smiled.
"Yes, Rorian?"
"Would you have time for a quick cup of tea?" she suggested.
"Absolutely," she turned to the group she was leading, "I will see you all again tomorrow, bright and early."
The two headed towards Dolores's office. But a voice in the lobby quickly caught Cian's attention and she turned around and her stomach dropped.
"Filthy mud-bloods," the woman in dark robes said.
Who is it, Cian?
Adele Rainier. Her father Armande Rainier is the head of one of the oldest wizarding families in France and she is heir to the family fortune and my ex-girlfriend.