Chapter 26
The Unspeakables

Ron, Hermione and Harry continued to follow Scrimgeour down the hallways toward the Department of Mysteries. He didn't know how deep they were in now, but that wasn't his main focus. Scrimgeour kept muttering to himself from time to time.

"How much farther until we find the Unspeakables?" Harry asked, "I am finding it funny that we haven't seen an Unspeakable since we arrived here."

"Still a little bit longer until we get to their main office," Scrimgeour said.

"Why are they so far in?" Ron asked.

"I already told you, didn't I?" Scrimgeour replied, as he continued to walk down the hallway. "The Unspeakables are very secretive. They don't trust anyone with their knowledge of the secrets of the Department of Mysteries. They don't get out much either, in fear of someone torturing them for information."

"They leave the Department of Mysteries, though, right?" Hermione asked, "There were some at the Quidditch World Cup game."

"Yeah," Ron said, "Yeah, that bloke that died was there... Broderick Bode. Wasn't that him?"

"That was before the chaos down here," Scrimgeour said, "You guys know how bad it was down here. It was a public relations nightmare after that happened. Witches and wizards sending Howlers wanting to know just how safe the Ministry of Magic was. Reporters from the Daily Prophet and other newspapers wanting to know stuff about the Department of Mysteries. The Daily Prophet! Can you believe it? The newspaper run by people from the Ministry of Magic wanting to release information about its best kept secret into the public! Now don't ask anymore, please. The Unspeakables would be very angry if I told you anymore of the information they have entrusted in me."

Ron looked at Hermione and Harry. Both looked as if they wanted to ask more questions, but neither of them did.

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Twenty minutes later, when Scrimgeour had led Ron, Hermione and Harry in through a door, Ron noticed that the scenery had changed. If this was the Unspeakables office, it sure didn't look like it. Ron was mesmerized at how much it looked like they were standing in the middle of a cave. But before Ron could take in anymore of the surroundings, he noticed a man walk toward them.

"Don't say anything unless you are asked," Scrimgeour muttered to Ron, Hermione and Harry.

"Minister Scrimgeour?" the Unspeakable said, "What can I help you with this fine day? Or is it night? We don't get out much here so we don't know the time."

That was obvious, Ron thought. The man was very pale and he had dark bags around his eyelids. His hair was messy, and he looked very stressed. Ron also noticed that he wasn't very old. Maybe mid-twenties.

"Yes, it is day," Scrimgeour said, "Nearly ten in the morning, I expect."

"I see you have guests?" the Unspeakable asked, "Is there something wrong? These three look too young to be Ministry workers."

"This young man here is Harry Potter," Scrimgeour said, nodding to Harry.

"Harry Potter, eh?" the Unspeakable asked Harry, "Yes, yes. I have heard quite a bit about you, boy."

Ron noticed that Harry didn't look too surprised.

"Oh yes," the Unspeakable said, "Everyone of the Unspeakables know about you. You helped protect the Department of Mysteries when Voldemort's Death Eaters invaded. We thank you for that."

"I can't take all the credit," Harry said, "Ron and Hermione here helped as well."

"You'd be Arthur Weasley's son, then?" the Unspeakable asked Ron.

"Y-yes sir," Ron said, shocked that the man knew his father.

"You look just like him," the Unspeakable asked, "And who is...?

"This is Hermione Granger," Scrimgeour said, "Harry and Ron's friend."

"It is an honor to meet you, sir," Hermione said.

"Oh, the honor is all mine if you helped Harry defend the Department of Mysteries," the Unspeakable said, "Thank you. I thank all of you."

He smiled, before turning to Scrimgeour.

"Now, I am guessing that you came down here to ask us something?" the Unspeakable asked the Minister, "And since you brought Mr. Potter and his friends down here, I am guessing that they are the ones with the questions. Am I right, boy?"

The Unspeakable looked back at Harry.

"Yes, sir," Harry said, "You are."

"Then ask," the Unspeakable said.

"We were hoping to get some ingredients for a potion, sir," Harry said.

"What potion, may I ask?" The Unspeakable asked.

"The Acidic Potion," Harry said.

Ron knew that Harry definitely knew what he was doing. He was very formal. It wasn't hard to see that.

"Very dangerous potion, Mr. Potter," the Unspeakable said, "Almost too dangerous to be legal. Why do you want to use it?"

"It will help to destroy Voldemort," Harry said.

"You are hoping to destroy Voldemort?" the Unspeakable asked, "Then it is true. You are the Chosen One?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said, "But like I told the Minister, here, it is just a name. I don't like to hear it."

"I understand completely, Mr. Potter," the Unspeakable asked, "Well, I am sure that you understand that the ingredients down here are very rare?"

"Yes, sir," Harry said.

"Good," the Unspeakable said.

Ron was sure this wasn't going to work. They would have to find another way. Would Knockturn Alley have the ingredients?

"Then I hope that you will treat them with the most respect," The Unspeakable said.

"I can use them?" Harry asked, smiling and looking back at Ron and Hermione.

"Yes," the Unspeakable said, "You and your friends may follow me. Minister Scrimgeour, please stay here."

Scrimgeour looked flustered. Ron knew that Scrimgeour wasn't used to being told what to do, especially since he was the Minister of Magic. But if the Minister was intending to say anything, then he had changed his mind quickly.

The Unspeakable led Ron, Hermione and Harry through the door. They were now in a narrow hallway.

"We never usually let anyone besides the Unspeakables this deep into the Department of Mysteries," the Unspeakable said, "Not even the Minister of Magic is allowed here."

"Then why are we allowed?" Harry asked, "If even the..."

"I believe I have already told you that," the Unspeakable said, "You three are heroes to everyone down here. The secrets of the Department of Mysteries could have been revealed, but you stopped Voldemort's Death Eaters. And if you really want to know, it is not everyday you meet someone who survived a curse like the Killing Curse."

The Unspeakable winked and Ron sniggered. Hermione smacked Ron in the back and narrowed her eyes at him.

"But before we go any further, I must warn you," the Unspeakable said, stopping at a door. "Do not ask questions to any of the other Unspeakables you talk to. Not even to ask them their name. They will take it as a great offense, and will think you are trying to get them to reveal their secrets. It is better off to let me do the talking. Do you understand?"

"Of course," Harry said.

Ron and Hermione nodded.

As the Unspeakable opened the door, Ron noticed that a sign on the door had "Apothecary" written on it. Ron, Hermione, and Harry followed the Unspeakable into the Apothecary. Almost immediately, another Unspeakable, this time a woman, walked up to them.

The two Unspeakables talked to each other in whispers. Each time the male Unspeakable would say something, the woman would glance at Ron, Hermione and Harry. About a minute into the conversation, the woman walked off.

"Did we offend her, sir?" Harry asked.

"No," the Unspeakable said, "She has gone to get the ingredients."

"Do I need to sign any paperwork?" Harry asked.

"No, that will be not be necessary," the Unspeakable said, "We do not believe in paperwork. If there was paperwork to sign, then there was a chance that it could be seen by unwelcome eyes. Someone could find out something they were not supposed to, right?"

"Good point," Harry said.

A few minutes later, the woman Unspeakable returned with a box of ingredients.

"Mr. Potter," she said, "Before I give you these, I want to know that they will not be used for evil purposes."

"Of course not, mam," Harry said, "They will be used to create a potion that will help to destroy Voldemort."

"That is what I wanted to hear," the woman Unspeakable said, "Use caution with the Acidic Potion. It is very dangerous. When the potion is complete, do not touch it or whatever you put it in. Use the Levitation spell to handle the potion. Do you understand?"

"Yes, mam," Harry said.

"Good," the woman Unspeakable said, "Then I wish you luck, Mr. Potter. We all need luck these days."

The woman walked off before Harry or anyone else could say anything.

"I think it is time for us to go," the male Unspeakable said, "Come."

Ron, Hermione and Harry followed the Unspeakable out of the Apothecary and back to the main office, where Scrimgeour was waiting.

"You have it then?" Scrimgeour said, spotting the box, "Good, let's go then. We have no other reason to be down here."

Ron, Hermione and Harry followed Scrimgeour out of the office of the Department of Mysteries. Twenty minutes later, they were in the lifts. Ron, Hermione and Harry stopped by Arthur's office to tell them that they were successful. Arthur magically transported the box back to the Burrow, for safety purposes. After saying goodbye, Ron, Hermione and Harry walked to the Atrium and used Floo Powder to return to the Burrow.

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Weird way to end of the chapter, I know. This chapter was all about the Unspeakables, and I wanted it to stay that way.

I know a lot of this story right now has been a bit more serious, so next chapter will have a bit more fluff between Ron and Hermione. That is all I can say for now!

Would love feedback!