Summary: Tonks, Sirius, Snape, Narcissa, Luna, Dobby and Bob the Dementor must save the Wizarding World one evil faction at a time. Together, they walk the downward spiral to insanity.
Ratings: T (downgraded for now, because it doesn't seem as though I'll be doing anything too profane)
Timeline: Post Goblet of Fire, pre Order of the Phoenix, though keeping in mind the various character and spell introductions of the final books.
Disclaimer: (I guess I should probably include this) Harry Potter and all related characters property of J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Twenty Five
At this time of night, the Ministry of Magic was nigh deserted; a few workaholics were holed up in their cubicles, attention paid only to the task before them. At the very least, there was no-one around to notice the rather large contingent of non-Ministry personnel about to assault the Department of Mysteries.
Except, of course, various Order members.
Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin and Albus Dumbledore were patrolling the Hall of Prophecies. Disillusioned, it was suspected that the attacking witches and wizards would be rather more focused on the task ahead. Mad-Eye Moody, under his Invisibility Cloak, guarded the long, forbidding hall of the Department of Mysteries, along with Hestia Jones and Emmeline Vance. For some odd reason, no-one had been able to find Mundungus Fletcher, though it was presumed that he had fled in cowardice at the notion of a potentially dangerous mission. Arthur, Bill and Charlie Weasley were scouting the Atrium, waiting for the arrival. The arrival, when it came, was most unexpected – instead of hardened members of the Wizarding Mafia, Arthur Weasley found himself staring at three of his children, one of their school friends, a house elf, and a Dementor.
Anger did not quite begin to cover it. For security's sake, he dragged them behind the Fountain of Magical Brethren, its size giving off a somewhat artificial sense of security.
'What are you doing here?' he seethed, in an anger that did not befit him. Before an answer could be given, there was a sign that the real enemies were arriving. Hastily, Arthur Disillusioned their unwelcome guests. It went unsaid that they had to be very quiet. Subconsciously, Arthur noted that Disillusionment worked perfectly well on non-human creatures.
Loud footsteps echoed against the black marble floor – at least fifteen lesser members of the Wizarding Mafia, allowing themselves to be led like sheep by the two that were clearly in charge. In amongst the "sheep", Arthur recognised Narcissa Malfoy, and Severus Snape. Behind all the others was a smaller group – five people (one of whom was Sirius) directing three teenagers forward to the lifts. Arthur's grip on his wand tightened.
Despite what they had been through, Harry, Ron and Hermione did not look too dishevelled – not when compared to catastrophes brought on by exploding cauldrons from the second floor of the Burrow. It took all Arthur's strength not to run over there right now, hexing anyone who got in his way. Instead, he pulled out a small silver token from his pocket, squeezing it tightly. If Arthur had not been Disillusioned, it would have turned luminous, though invisibility did not stop it from emitting heat. The Protean Charm was common amongst secret societies, and the Order of the Phoenix was no different – the luminosity and heat would be reciprocated in all tokens linked to it.
As soon as the footsteps had diminished to a distant tapping, Arthur turned to the spot he had last seen his underaged children, and whispered, 'Stay right here.'
Of course, even if they hadn't already crept off in the direction of a lift, they probably wouldn't have listened.
A/N: Another short one because I'm going to fall asleep any second now. If all goes to plan, the Department of Mysteries scenes will last several chapters. After that, there are several key things that will need to be dealt with before the "climatic" finish. Note that these key things haven't quite been planned out properly; when I mentioned a plan earlier, I was actually using sarcasm. This is mostly flying by the seat of my pants. I have general ideas, but no specific plan. That said, I do know how it will be ending, and intend for it to end in the near future so that I can take a brief hiatus to complete a bunch of crappy assignments due in the next three weeks before moving on to the sequel. Yes a sequel. Even if you don't read anything else in this overly long paragraph, remember the word sequel, and hold me to it even if you have to put me under the Cruciatus Curse. Peace out.
