Disclaimer: Harry Potter world belongs to J.K. Rowling, not me.
Rated T for language
A/N: I'm making a rather big jump in time here, from January to April. Because if I continue at this pace, the story will never end!
Chapter 21
April.
Tonks looked over the contents of the file one last time, making sure it was committed to memory before burning it with a quick incendio charm. As she stood and ambled out of her cubicle, Tonks rolled the new information over in her head. Audrey White… wanted by the American Government of Magic. Known associate… Lynn Willow. That one had been difficult to figure out, actually. She had gone looking for any records of an Audrey White in Britain, and found none. But, going by her distinctive description, Tonks had discovered that Audrey had spent over a week in St. Mungo's being treated for creature-induced burns and cuts two years ago. Her treating Healer had been Hippocrates Smethmyck, and Healer-in-training had been Lynn Willow.
So, she contacted Smethmyck and asked him about the woman, hoping to discover something she didn't already know. And he had sheepishly said he spent very little time with the woman… instead allowing Lynn to do most of the work. He told her they were friends; specifically said he'd heard them making plans to meet later.
And if Lynn Willow was really hanging out with Audrey and company, that would explain the third person she had seen grappling with Aiden…
Tonks apparated onto the main street of Diagon Alley, right in front of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. It made her a tiny bit happy to see the bright colors and flashing lights on the windows of the shop, but it immediately evaporated when she saw the people, lying on the streets, begging to know the whereabouts of their loved ones. The Wandless, they were called with sneers. It made Tonks sick.
Forget that, she told herself sternly. At least for now. Now it was time to follow a lead, the thing she did best. Tonks was so close to the answer she could taste it; this Lynn Willow appeared to be the missing link. Tonks had checked her records, discovering that Lynn was only one year younger than Percy and had attended Hogwarts. They could have potentially been friends, putting Percy in contact with the bizarre young woman. And if they had been, she knew two Weasley's who might know…
"Uh… hello?" she questioned, stepping into the brightly lit shop, looking around for Fred and George.
One of the twins—oh wait, it was Fred, you could tell now, as he had two ears—stepped out from the back room. He smiled brightly. "Hey, Tonks! You're looking great!"
"Right," responded Tonks with a small grin. "Thanks." She stepped forward, offering out the photograph—of Lynn Willow this time—to Fred as George appeared, looking cheerful and lopsided. "Great, hi George. I'm actually here on business. Do either of you recognize this woman?"
George cocked his head at the picture before saying confidently, "Course I do! That's Lynn, with the green eyes. I asked her to the Yule Ball a couple years ago. Why?"
"Um… was she friends… with anyone you knew?"
A frown creased George's forehead, brushing back a lock of red hair. "Yeah… Percy."
Tonks couldn't help breaking a tiny smile at this. So it's true!
"Why are you asking?" demanded George suddenly. "Is this to do with that Ayden guy?"
Tonks froze, feeling her mouth go dry. "What about an Aiden guy?" she asked urgently. "What about him?"
George jerked back slightly, startled. "Um… Look, he came in for stuff and just had a list with some names on it, okay?"
Names… "What names?"
"Oh…um… I remember it was really strange," replied George uneasily. "The names were, I think… 'Percy', 'Lynn', and, and, er…"
"What?" snapped Tonks at him, resisting the urge to grab and shake him. "What was the last name?"
"Audrey!" he burst out. "Audrey, okay?"
Tonks felt her blood chill. That man had all those names on a list? Is Aiden going to try to get something from them?
Stammering a quick thank you, she sped out of the shop, leaving a very confused set of red-headed twins in her wake.
Percy gazed at his reflection in the mirror, examining the right side of his face. The flesh there was still rough and cracked, gross and disfigured. With a sigh, he coated the blistered area with green ointment. Three entire months, shouldn't it have cleared up? And if it hadn't by now, would it ever heal? He knew that burns from dragon fire were different from burns from regular fire. Percy carefully waved his wand over his face, casting a glamour that hid his hideous scars. He felt slightly weak for doing it; after all, he knew that Bill had much worse scars than he did, and he wasn't so self-conscious he needed to hide them. Percy turned away from his reflection, and out of his flat.
But if anyone at work saw them you'd have to explain, and that's something you can't afford to do, he told himself sternly. Percy was still worried, though. He'd been working at the Ministry with charms covering his face for weeks, and he was pretty sure that no one had noticed anything, but the presence of strong magic like this could always be detected by powerful wizards and witches, and he was still nervous…
I've been nervous and jumpy for months—no, years! Percy thought angrily to himself as he burst out onto the streets of London. The cold was biting; unusually so, for April in England. The people, wizards and muggles alike, huddled together in tight groups, moving through the heavy mist. It was obvious that the Dementors were spawning again. Percy shivered.
Reaching the edge of the Ministry, he pulled out one of his tokens and deposited it in the toilet, stepping inside. Even after doing so what felt like hundreds of times, it still disgusted him.
Percy emerged into the Atrium, once again staring upon the Magic in Might statue. The room was unusually quiet, and just like the cold street outside people hurried past each other, intent on getting to their destination while avoiding eye contact with others. Everyone seemed terrified; of the higher-ups, of each other…
Percy swallowed hard, tightening his cloak around him and pulling out his papers. He set a straight course up to his office, taking a short cut through the generally unused stairwell. Everything became completely silent walking down this gray, bleak corridor. The walls looked mildewed, and it was dark and windowless; the Magical Maintenance team obviously spent very little time here.
"I don't know what we should do, Tonks," said a voice worriedly from around a corner. Percy paused, not wanting to be seen creeping about the back halls of the Ministry. "I don't think we'll be safe in the open much longer."
Percy felt his blood run cold. He recognized that voice. His father.
Percy shifted his papers under one arm, leaning around the corner to see what was going on. He saw his father standing hunched over uneasily, speaking with the Auror, Nymphadora Tonks. She was huge, very far along in her pregnancy, and his father… his father just looked old. Alarming so. He was gray and worn, and stood like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Percy felt a hot wave of inexplicable guilt, twisting his stomach up in knots.
"I'm not sure, either, Arthur," replied Tonks quietly, worrying a strand of tomato red hair.
Arthur ran a hand through his scant hair, looking anxious and lost. "Ginny just came back for Easter holiday, you know. I'm wondering if it time to cut our losses, collect the boys and go into hiding. I've already worked out an agreement with Muriel. We can stay with her, if need be."
Tonks, nodded again, resting her hand on her plentiful stomach. "That's probably a good idea. The Ministry must be watching you closely, given that your family are blood-traitors and have such close ties with Harry."
"What about you, Tonks? You must be pretty far along. Doesn't the Ministry know that Remus is the father? Anti-werewolf sentiment is running pretty high."
Tonks nodded slowly. "Yes. Actually, I was planning on this being my last day before I go back to Remus' place full time. I just… I just have a few loose ends to tie up."
"Oh," Arthur nodded a bit. "All right. I guess I'll leave you to it th—"
"Arthur, wait!" called out Tonks, for the man was already beginning to retreat down the hallway.
"I have something to talk to you about."
"Er… yes?"
"Well," Tonks ran a hand through her tomato-colored hair. "What are you going to do, if the Weasley family has to go into hiding? There are a lot of you."
Arthur heaved another sigh. "I've been obsessing over that for months," he admitted. "Fidelius charms, think. Bill will stay at his house, with his wife, and I'll take Ginny and Fred and George to Muriel's. Charlie's far enough away to be safe by himself."
"But what about…" Tonks lowered her voice, glancing around. "Percy?"
Percy felt himself flinch as the exact same time Arthur did so. The movement was practically identical. Father and son.
"He'll be fine." Arthur's voice had become hard and stiff, face impassive. "He works for the Ministry. He'll be fine."
Tonks eyes narrowed dangerously. She looked furious, and frankly, it was a terrifying sight to behold. "Goddammit, Arthur, you know that's not true! He may not know anything about the Order's efforts, or Harry Potter, but what's to stop them from thinking he does? Or just using him as a way to get one of you to talk?"
Arthur looked pained. "Tonks, he's not going to want our help—"
"I think if it's his life on the line, he might!"
"Tonks… you don't understand what Percy's like. Ever since he was a child… he was as stubborn as hell. He won't admit he needs us."
Percy felt his guts clench. Is that what he father thought of him? Stubborn, clueless, far too proud? Is he wrong, though?
"Arthur, I've been doing some research, and I found out—"
Percy didn't hear the rest what she had to say, and neither did his dad, because his idiotic, spastic body chose that very second to overbalance and jerk, causing his papers to spill out of his arms and scatter noisily across the floor. Arthur and Tonks turned towards him, surprised.
Fuck! screamed Percy in his head (something that he never did). Fuck, fuck, fuck! His face grew bright red as he scrambled on the ground to collect the papers and pushed past them, not making eye contact, not looking back.
He sped up to his office, slammed the door and attempted to immerse himself in his paperwork, failing miserably. Percy found himself glancing up at his door every few seconds, expecting someone to burst through. For several hours, no one did. He felt alternating waves of relief and disappointment, ebbing and flowing with each whiny scratch of his quill.
When the door finally opened, he nearly jumped out of his skin. But it was only Audrey, wide-eyed, hands shoved into her cloak pockets.
"Oh," Percy said, mood improving just at the sight of her. "Nice to see you Au—"
"Yes, Mr. Weasley," Audrey interrupted, voice unnaturally loud. She shuffled into the office, staring wildly around and closing the door. "I've come for the information on those reports, sir." Audrey stepped forward, digging around through the papers on his desk.
"Okay…" Percy rose to his feet, confused.
"I was wondering," she continued, carefully enunciating each syllable, "if you knew anything about those raining offices?"
"Ah, no…" Audrey turned to face him full on. She frantically mouthed something. "What?" he whispered. She mouthed it again. "What?" he asked louder, becoming annoyed. She waved her hands frenetically, motioning for him to quiet down.
"Are you bugged?" she hissed.
"Uh…" Percy was bemused at this point. "Do I have bugs…?"
"Bugs, bugs, listening devices! Didn't you take Muggle Studies?" snapped Audrey. "Can—they—hear—you?"
"Oh!" Percy finally understood. "No, they can't. We're safe in here."
"Thank God," Audrey collapsed on his couch. Percy reflected on what a good idea that particular piece of furniture had been. She leapt up, eyes bright and focused on him and him alone. It was nice to see her looking so happy. She hadn't been so since Ayden was taken. "I've been meaning to talk to you!"
"About?" inquired Percy, extremely pleased that he was once again on the top of her priority list. So much of her time lately had been concentrated on Ayden, which was understandable, but…
His thoughts were broken off as Audrey grasped his face, turning it sharply so that the right side faced her. "Well, for one thing, have you healed?" she demanded.
Percy sighed, and almost shook his head before he remembered the state they were currently in. And he wasn't sure he wanted her to take her hands off his face…
Abruptly, there was a knock on the door, and they both jumped. Audrey quickly retreated into the shadows, literally disappearing with a nonverbal charm.
"Uh… yes?" answered Percy, straightening his robes and running a hand through his hair.
"It's me, sir," came the office assistant Macy's voice.
"Oh, yes, Macy, come in."
"Can you come out here, Mr. Weasley?" asked Macy. Her voice was high and breathless, like she was frightened about something. What the hell was going on now?
"Er… of course, Macy." Percy glanced at where he knew the invisible Audrey was standing and moved his wand to his front pocket before stepping outside. He waited several seconds more than necessary before closing the door after him.
Macy stood, alone and shaking with fear, in the middle of the deserted office lobby. Percy felt an inexplicable lump rising in his throat. "Yes?" he choked out after a few tries.
Macy looked like she was having difficulties with speech. She was staring off to their left a little bit. Percy turned, following her wavering gaze.
Pius Thicknesse, in all his black and gold glory, stepped out into the room, head high, surveying them all with a superior look on his face. This wasn't unusual, except that this whole section of the office was deserted.
"You may go, Ms. Turns," rumbled Thicknesse, and she sped away, leaving Percy alone with the man. His heart felt like it was about to beat right out of his chest, and he had to clench his hands into tight fists to keep them from shaking. Thicknesse sighed, stepping forward. He met Percy's gaze and shook his head theatrically.
"I've just received some disturbing information, Percy," said Thicknesse in a way that indicated something unpleasant was about to happen. Like the first gust of wind before a hurricane. Percy gulped as the man ambled closer towards him. "I've been told that your youngest brother was confirmed to be traveling with Undesirable Number One."
Percy's knees went so weak at that statement that he thought he was about to collapse. Ron! Oh, no, oh, no… Did they capture him? Did they hurt him! Another chilling thought hit him. What about the rest of my family? Are they going to try to capture them and use them for a trade of sorts? What about me? I don't know anything, but will they think they can influence Ron by hurting me?
"I…I didn't know," whispered Percy. "I thought he had Spattergroit."
"No, I'm afraid that was a lie. He was captured with the Undesirable and a mudblood." Harry. Hermione. Oh, Merlin. "Unfortunately, they escaped."
Percy tried his hardest to keep the relief out of his face. It became easier as Thicknesse reached out and placed a huge, cold hand on his shoulder. The grip was tight and controlling. Percy barely suppressed a shiver. "This is a pivotal moment in your career, Percy. Every person who has ever been successful has had at least one."
Percy could feel Thicknesse's breath on his cheek. It was sticky and disgusting. The man was way, way, way too close to him. "Ministry officials are out searching for the other members of your blood traitor family. Several of them are coming here, to talk to you. They have been told to use any, ah, force that they deem necessary." Thicknesse whispered in a voice full of contempt. "Here is your decision. Are you with us, or against us?"
Percy was frozen. He couldn't think, or speak. He was just aware of the heavy hand on his shoulder and the breath on his face, both making him feel desperately sick. He was going to throw up all over the Minister of Magic's robes.
"Stupefy!" Percy felt the weight of the Minister's hand leave his shoulder as Thicknesse pitched forward, stunned. Percy leapt backward, whipping around towards the source of the spell. There was nothing, until suddenly Audrey appeared, looking pale and frightened.
"Come on!" she shouted, leaping forward and grabbing his arm.
"Uh…" Percy still couldn't move, stunned. His body felt frozen and heavy, and it seemed like his brain had shut down.
"We need to get out of here! They're going to send more people, Percy!" Audrey pulled him towards the corridor. "Wait, I have an idea." Audrey shoved her wand under Thicknesse's chin and cast a memory charm and Confundus charm in quick succession. Then she straightened up and looked him in the eyes. "Percy, where can you apparate out of here?"
"Uh…" thoughts were racing through Percy's head, none of which had to do with what Audrey was asking. Ron… Fred and George… what about Ginny? Isn't she at school?
"Percy!" Audrey grabbed his shoulders and shook him desperately. "Answer me!"
"We… we can't apparate out of here. Only the Atrium. New security."
Audrey let out a noise of frustration, fingers tearing at her hair. Then she stopped, looking like a thought had occurred to her. "Percy? What about the Minister's office?"
Percy blinked at her. Ice was spreading out in his chest from his heart. He was beginning to feel really scared. Here he was, trapped in a huge underground building filled with Death Eaters. "Uh… I think you can apparate out of there…"
"Come, on, let's go!" she grabbed him and tried to drag him towards the Minister's office at the end of a long corridor.
"Audrey! You can't be serious!"
"What? You heard him; people are coming to get you! We can't leave through the lifts; who would think to check the Minister's office?"
"Okay…"
They were halfway down the corridor when Percy saw the door to the lobby open, figures stepping inside. Audrey must have seen it, too, because before he knew it her fists were clenching his robes and dragging him into a broom closet. In a split second they were alone in a dark corner, face to face with no space between them. Now her breath was on his cheeks. Percy could see stark fear in her eyes as they met his gaze. They were so close together he could feel her heart fluttering wildly.
Heavy sets of footsteps were slowly making their way towards the broom closet where they stood. Percy and Audrey could hardly pull their wands out of their pockets quietly in the limited space. Percy prayed that his heartbeat wouldn't alert them to his location.
The footsteps were dangerously close. I'm going to die, Percy realized. I'm going to die, and so is Audrey. So much time for everything will be lost.
For the first time in his life, Percy did something impulsive. He just couldn't help it. Percy grabbed Audrey's shoulders, leaned in and kissed her with everything he had. And after a few seconds, she kissed him back, pressing her frame against his. It was about ten times as great as he had ever imagined.
And then he heard the door to the broom closet creak open, and it occurred to Percy that he was going to die, murdered by Death Eaters in a Ministry broom closet while his tongue was in a girl's mouth. Not the way he had expected to go, but Fred and George would certainly be proud.