I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.
Worst Option
"Kreacher apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Master," Kreacher croaked as Harry held his wand to the thief in question's nose. "Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end."
"You've done really well, Kreacher," said Harry, and the elf bowed low.
"You, too, Winky," Alex said.
"Winky didn't do much, Master," Winky admitted. "Kreacher found Mundungus Fletcher. Winky only caught up in time to come back with them."
"It's alright," Alex smiled. "Thank you for helping."
Winky smiled and bowed. The two House Elves had returned, finally, within minutes of Alex beginning to search through Dumbledore's book, and Mundungus had immediately tried to flee, only for Ron to tackle him. Once Harry had his wand on Mundungus, Ron had gotten off of him. Alex collected his book again and put it away carefully.
"Right, we've got a few questions for you," Harry told Mundungus, who shouted at once.
"I was scared, okay! No offence, mate, but I never signed up to die for you! 'sides, It worked out in the end! None of you were even hurt, were you?"
"For your information, none of the rest of us refused when asked to risk our lives escorting Harry," Hermione said.
"And actually, someone was hurt," Alex added. "Fred lost an ear. Although, he didn't seem to broken up about it."
"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing meself!" Mundungus said. "An' that bit 'bout the ear is exactly why I refused! Mighta been me 'ole head!"
"No it would," Alex scoffed. "You'd have taken one look at the Death Eaters and Disapparated."
"We're not interested in why you refused to escort me," Harry said, moving his wand a little closer to Mundungus's baggy, bloodshot eyes. "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of scum."
"Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-elves? Or is this about them goblets again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em!"
"It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting warmer," Harry said. "Shut up and listen."
Harry's wand was now so close to the bridge of Mundungus's nose that Mundungus had gone cross-eyed trying to keep it in view.
"When you cleaned out this house of anything valuable," Harry began, but Mundungus interrupted him again.
"Sirius never cared about any of the junk!"
There was the sound of pattering feet, a blaze of shining copper, an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony. Kreacher had taken a run at Mundungus and hit him over the head with a saucepan.
"Call 'im off, call 'im off, 'e should be locked up!" Mundungus screamed, cowering as Kreacher raised the heavy-bottomed pan again.
"Kreacher, no!" Harry shouted.
Kreacher's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft.
"Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?"
Ron laughed.
"We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading, you can do the honors," Harry said.
"Thank you very much, Master," Kreacher said with a bow, and he retreated a short distance, his great pale eyes still fixed upon Mundungus with loathing.
"When you stripped this house of all the valuables you could find," Harry began again, "you took a bunch of stuff from the kitchen cupboard. There was a locket there. What did you do with it?"
"Why?" Mundungus asked. "Is it valuable?"
"You've still got it!" Hermione cried.
"No, he hasn't," Ron said shrewdly. "He's wondering whether he should have asked more money for it."
"More?" Mundungus scoffed. "That wouldn't have been effing difficult...bleedin' gave it away, di'n' I? No choice."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"I was selling in Diagon Alley and she come up to me and asks if I've got a license for trading in magical artifacts. Bleedin' snoop. She was gonna fine me, but she took a fancy to the locket an' told me she'd take it and let me off that time, and to fink meself lucky."
"Who was this woman?" Harry asked.
"I dunno, some Ministry hag," Mundungus considered for a moment, brow wrinkled. "Little woman. Bow on top of 'er head." He frowned and then added, "Looked like a toad."
Harry dropped his wand. It hit Mundungus on the nose and shot red sparks into his eyebrows, which ignited.
"Aquamenti!" Hermione screamed, and a jet of water streamed from her wand, engulfing a spluttering and choking Mundungus.
Alex growled, dropping into a chair and pulling his endless cigarette out, lighting it. Of all the women at the Ministry, of course it had to be that bitch. The one person he would have been happier than any other to never see again.
Starting from three days later, they began the task of scouting for their inevitable break-in to the Ministry of Magic. They'd leave one at a time with the Invisibility Cloak, Apparating and Disapparating from the top-most step of Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Each day, they would watch the entrance for Umbridge, and to see how likely it would be that they'd get caught breaking in. In the time between, Alex spent his time searching through Dumbledore's books, helping Kreacher and Winky clean Grimmauld Place properly for what was likely the first time in decades, practicing a lot harder with his Metamorphmagus abilities, and wishing he could talk to Luna. Finally, it was decided, mostly by Harry, that it was time. So, after studying and memorizing the plan until they could all recite it word for word, they all went to bed. The next day, they ate the breakfast Kreacher and Winky had made them then Apparated to the small alleyway where the first step of the plan would take place, namely gathering Polyjuice Potion disguises for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Alex had grown skilled enough with his Metamorphmagus abilities to hold an appearance for about twelve hours, provided he remained calm. If his emotions started to drift away from centered, he had to focus on his appearance to hold it. That meant when they met Umbridge, he'd struggle.
The plan started well. Hermione's chosen witch was stunned easily and identified as Mafalda Hopkirk of the Improper Use of Magic Office. Ron's was a little harder, but Hermione eventually managed to convince him to eat a Puking Pastille then, even harder, convince him he couldn't go into work in that state, and to go to St. Mungo's. Ron managed to swipe the bag he was carrying on the way. Then, she and Ron left to get Harry someone's hair and give them a Nosebleed Nougat, coming back with the hair of someone more than six feet tall and threateningly built. As soon as Alex saw Harry after he'd drank his Polyjuice Potion, Alex had a bad feeling about him.
"You chose the wrong person," Alex said, lightening his skin and turning his hair blonde before rearranging his face ever-so-slightly. "He's built like security."
He transfigured his robes into the same robes as Ron now wore before adding a random name to the back. They all headed into the street, Alex and Harry both taking a coin from Hermione. Then, they split, Alex, Ron, and Harry heading into an underground toilet for men, and Hermione to one for women. Within seconds of entering, Alex realized they were flushing themselves into the Ministry, and grimaced. However, he inserted his coin into a stall to get in, climbed into the toilet, instantly noticing his feet remaining completely dry, and pulled the chain hanging beside him. A momentary ride down a short chute later, and he stepped out of a fireplace. Harry and Ron joined him a moment later, and they headed toward the center of the Great Atrium. Where once there had been a golden fountain, now, there stood a huge, black statue. A witch and wizard sitting atop a throne of bodies, Muggles, Alex assumed. Along the base of the statue were carved the words, "MAGIC IS MIGHT" in foot-tall letting. Alex turned his attention away from the statue in time for Hermione and Ron to join him, then Harry a moment later.
"You got in all right, then?" Hermione whispered to Harry.
"No, he's still stuck in the hog," Ron said.
"Oh, very funny," Hermione said sarcastically. "It's horrible, isn't it?" she said to Harry, who was staring up at the statue. "Have you seen what they're sitting on?"
"Muggles," whispered Hermione, "In their rightful place. Come on, let's get going."
They joined the stream of witches and wizards moving toward the golden gates at the end of the hall, looking around as surreptitiously as possible, but there was no sign of the distinctive figure of Dolores Umbridge. They passed through the gates and into a smaller hall, where queues were forming in front of twenty golden grilles housing as many lifts. They had barely joined the nearest one when a voice said, "Cattermole!"
They looked around, and Alex's throat sealed off, his focus immediately jumping to maintaining his appearance. One of the Death Eaters who had witnessed Dumbledore's death was striding toward them. Alex remembered catching a glimpse of him dueling Flitwick, he thought. The Ministry workers beside them fell silent, their eyes downcast. Alex could feel fear rippling through them.
The man's scowling, slightly brutish face was somehow at odds with his magnificent, sweeping robes, which were embroidered with much gold thread. Someone in the crowd around the lifts called sycophantically, "Morning, Yaxley!" Yaxley ignored them.
"I requested somebody from Magical Maintenance to sort out my office, Cattermole," Yaxley said. "It's still raining in there."
Ron looked around as though hoping somebody else would intervene, but nobody spoke.
"Raining...in your office? That's...That's not good, is it?" Ron gave a nervous laugh.
Yaxley's eyes widened. "You think it's funny, Cattermole, do you?"
A pair of witches broke away from the queue for the lift and bustled off.
"No," Ron said hurriedly. "No, of course-"
"You realize that I am on my way downstairs to interrogate your wife, Cattermole?" Yaxley said. "In fact, I'm quite surprised you're not down there holding her hand while she waits. Already given her up as a bad job, have you? Probably wise. Be sure and marry a pureblood next time."
Hermione had let out a little squeak of horror. Yaxley looked at her. She coughed feebly and turned away.
"I...I..." Ron stammered.
"But if my wife were accused of being a Mudblood," Yaxley said, "not that any woman I married would ever be mistaken for such filth, and the Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement needed a job doing, I would make it my priority to do this job, Cattermole. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," Ron whispered.
"Then attend to it, Cattermole, and if my office is not completely dry within an hour, your wife's Blood Status will be in even greater doubt than it is now."
The golden grille before them clattered open. With a nod and unpleasant smile to Harry, who was evidently expected to appreciate this treatment of Cattermole, Yaxley swept away toward another lift. Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered theirs, but nobody followed them. It was as if they were infectious. The grilles shut with a clang and the lift began to move upward.
"What am I going to do?" Ron asked the other two at once. He looked stricken. "If I don't turn up, my wife...I mean, Cattermole's wife..."
"We'll come with you, we should stick together..." Harry began, but Ron shook his head feverishly.
"That's mental, we haven't got much time. You two find Umbridge, I'll go and sort out Yaxley's office...but how do I stop a raining?"
"Try Finite Incantatem," Hermione said at once, "that should stop the rain if it's a hex or curse. If it doesn't something's gone wrong with an Atmospheric Charm, which will be more difficult to fix, so as an interim measure try Impervius to protect his belongings."
"Say it again, slowly," Ron said, searching his pockets desperately for a quill, but at that moment the lift juddered to a halt.
A disembodied female voice said, "Level four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau," and the grilles slid open again, admitting a couple of wizards and several pale violet paper airplanes that fluttered around the lamp in the ceiling of the lift.
"Morning, Albert," a bushily whiskered man said, smiling at Harry. He glanced over at Ron and Hermione as the lift creaked upward once more. Hermione was now whispering frantic instructions to Ron. The wizard leaned toward Harry, leering, and muttering "Dirk Cresswell, eh? From Goblin Liaison? Nice one, Albert. I'm pretty confident I'll get his job now!"
He winked. Harry smiled back, hoping that this would suffice. The lift stopped, and the grilles opened once more.
"Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services," said the disembodied witch's voice.
Alex took Ron by the robes on his forearm and tugged, leading him out of the lift, followed by the other wizards, leaving Harry and Hermione alone. Ron gave Alex a surprised, fearful look, but Alex glanced around, then started off, Ron following hastily. After a few minutes of searching, they found Yaxley's office, identified by a nametag, and Alex led Ron inside, both drawing their wands. After trying several, different incantations, starting with Finite Incantatum, Alex frowned as the rain continued to pour on them, if anything falling even harder.
"Now what?" Ron asked.
"It's the Atmospheric Charm," Alex said. "Alright, then. Let's try...Meteolojinx Recanto."
A twisting, coiling bolt of what looked like teal electricity shot into the thick black clouds filling the roof of the office, and the clouds parted and dissipated at once. Alex nodded, satisfied, and waved his wand, the office drying immediately. He decided not to dry them, and he and Ron headed back to the lifts. As they walked in, they found Harry inside, though Harry had to remind Ron it was him before Ron recognized him.
"Where's Hermione?" Alex asked seriously.
"She had to go down to the court," Harry said. "She couldn't refuse."
He stopped as the lift stopped again. The doors opened and Mr. Weasley walked inside, talking to an elderly witch whose blonde hair was teased so high it resembled an anthill.
"I quite understand what you're saying, Wakanda, but I'm afraid I cannot be party to..." Mr. Weasley broke off. He had noticed Harry.
It was very strange to have Mr. Weasley glare at him with that much dislike. The lift doors closed and the four of them trundled downward once more.
"Oh hello, Reg," Mr. Weasley said, looking around at the sound of steady dripping from Ron's robes. "Isn't your wife in for questioning today? Er...what's happened to you? Why are you so wet?"
"Yaxley's office was raining," Ron said. He addressed Mr. Weasley's shoulder, and Alex felt sure he was scared that his father might recognize him if they looked directly into each other's eyes.
"Yes, a lot of offices have been raining lately," Mr. Weasley said. "Did you try Meteolojinx Recanto? It worked for Bletchley."
"Yeah," Alex nodded. "Did the trick, but I'm not sure if it's a permanent fix. I'm pretty sure the Atmospheric Charm's acting up."
"Wouldn't surprise me," Mr. Weasley nodded, eyeing Alex. "I don't think we've met. I'm Arthur Weasley."
"Christopher Paul," Alex lied, using the false name on his back.
Mr. Weasley nodded. "Were you hired recently?"
"Fairly," Alex nodded. "Tell you one thing, dream job this, eh? What child doesn't want to stop it raining in offices when he grows up?"
Mr. Weasley glanced worriedly at Harry, but Harry was affecting a perfect impression of bored indifference as he stared sideways at the wall of the lift. The lift doors opened. The old witch with the anthill hair left, and Ron darted past her out of sight. Alex stayed. Harry made to follow Ron, but found his path blocked as Percy Weasley strode into the lift, his nose buried in some papers he was reading. Not until the doors had clanged shut again did Percy realize he was in a lit with his father. He glanced up, saw Mr. Weasley, turned radish red, and left the lift the moment the doors opened again. For the second time, Harry tried to get out, but this time found his way blocked by Mr. Weasley's arm.
"One moment, Runcorn," Mr. Weasley said. The lift doors closed and as they clanked down another floor, Mr. Weasley said, "I hear you had information about Dirk Cresswell."
"Sorry?" Harry asked, apparently deciding to act stupid.
"Don't pretend, Runcorn," said Mr. Weasley fiercely. "You tracked down the wizard who faked his family tree, didn't you?"
"I...So what if I did?" Harry asked.
"So, Dirk Cresswell is ten times the wizard you are," Mr. Weasley said quietly, as the lift sank ever lower. "And if he survives Azkaban, you'll have to answer to him, not to mention his wife, his sons, and his friends."
"Arthur," Harry interrupted, "you know you're being tracked, don't you?"
"Is that a threat, Runcorn?" Mr. Weasley snarled loudly.
"No," Harry said, "it's a fact! They're watching your every move."
Mr. Weasley glanced at Alex as he turned away, forcing his face very pale by way of his Metamorphmagus abilities. The lift doors opened. They had reached the Atrium. Mr. Weasley gave Harry a scathing look and swept from the lift, only to stop, glancing back at Alex.
"If you have a moment, I have something I could use your help with," Mr. Weasley said.
Alex followed him out immediately, leaving Harry behind. He followed Mr. Weasley through the Atrium quickly, and once they were away from the main crowd and unlikely to be overheard, Alex took a huge risk.
"Don't react," Alex breathed, keeping his head tilted down and barely moving his mouth, but making sure Mr. Weasley could hear him. "It's Alex."
Mr. Weasley's eyes widened slightly before he could stop them, but he reined in his reaction before he could gain attention from anyone. Then, he flicked his wand toward a door off to the side and several shrieks rang out before the door burst open and several people ran out, soaking and with the dull roar of a heavy rain following.
"Looks like you have some good timing," Arthur said. "Let me give you a hand, while I'm here."
Alex nodded and they headed into the office, closing the door before Alex waved his wand and cast Muffliato. He took Mr. Weasley's wand without asking permission, and erased Mr. Weasley's charm to start the rain, then handed it back.
"What are you doing here?" Mr. Weasley hissed.
"Can't say," Alex said. "But I'm not here alone. We all are."
Arthur cursed under his breath.
"We didn't have a choice," Alex said. "Now, listen carefully. It wasn't a threat, it was a warning."
Mr. Weasley's eyes went wide, his mouth falling open before he hissed, in a voice so low Alex could barely hear him over the rain, "Harry?"
Alex nodded. "He'll be going down to court for Hermione next, and you spoke to Ron. We're all doing okay, but we'll need to get out fast, and soon."
"You'll need a distraction," Mr. Weasley said.
"Not from you," Alex said urgently. "You need to stay out of it. But pass a message for me, if you can."
Arthur smiled, in spite of the horrible reality he was being told about.
"I miss her, but I'm trying to figure out a way to see her soon," Alex said.
Arthur nodded, and Alex jabbed his wand up at the clouds, sending yet another coiling bolt of light up into them to clear them. As they stepped out of the office, Arthur waved his wand to dry them both and they separated, Alex heading back for the lifts. He rode it down to the passageway to the Department of Mysteries and the courtrooms, then cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, as powerful as he could, before starting forward. As he turned into the hallway to the courtroom, he stopped. Dementors lined the hallway ahead, patrolling up and down before the Muggle-borns who were awaiting their trials. Just as Alex arrived, the door opened, and Mr. Cattermole's wife was called in. Alex darted past the Dementors, who made no move to stop him but watched him pass, and into the door. Immediately, he bumped into someone invisible, instantly knowing it was Harry, only to catch Harry before he could fall.
"I'm getting closer to Hermione," Harry breathed.
Alex stepped out of the way of the door then remained quite still, trusting the shadows to help hide him, and instead, simply watched the proceedings.
"You are Mary Elizabeth Cattermole?" Umbridge asked.
Mrs. Cattermole gave a single, shaky nod.
"Married to Reginald Cattermole of the Magical Maintenance Department?"
Mrs. Cattermole burst into tears. "I don't know where he is, he was supposed to meet me here!"
Umbridge ignored her. "Mother to Maisie, Ellie and Alfred Cattermole?"
Mrs. Cattermole sobbed harder than ever. "They're frightened, they think that I might not come home ¨C "
"Spare us," Yaxley spat. "The brats of Mudbloods do not stir our sympathies."
Mrs. Cattermole's sobs rang out loudly, echoing off of the ceiling as Alex carefully swept his eyes around the courtroom. Umbridge had a Patronus, a long-haired cat, shielding herself and those sitting with her from the Dementors that crowded the corners of the room furthest from it. The cold, the despair, the fear. That was all for the accused to suffer for the benefit of Umbridge's enjoyment.
"A wand was taken from you upon your arrival at the Ministry today, Mrs. Cattermole," Umbridge was saying. "Eight-and-three-quarter inches, cherry, unicorn-hair core. Do you recognize the description?"
Mrs. Cattermole nodded, mopping her eyes on her sleeve.
"Could you please tell us from which witch or wizard you took that wand?"
"T-took?" Mrs. Cattermole sobbed. "I didn't t-take it from anybody. I b-bought it when I was eleven years old. It...it...it...chose me." She cried harder than ever.
Umbridge laughed a soft girlish laugh that made Alex want to attack her, and which forced him to focus on his appearance hard to hold it steady. She leaned forward over the barrier, the better to observe her victim, and something gold swung forward too, and dangled over the void. The locket. Hermione had seen it. She let out a little squeak, but Umbridge and Yaxley, still intent upon their prey, were deaf to everything else.
"No," Umbridge said, "no, I don't think so, Mrs. Cattermole. Wands only choose witches or wizards. You are not a witch. I have your responses to the questionnaire that was sent to you here. Mafalda, pass them to me."
Umbridge held out a small hand. She looked so toadlike at that moment that Harry was quite surprised not to see webs between the stubby fingers. Hermione's hands were shaking with shock. She fumbled in a pile of documents balanced on the chair beside her, finally withdrawing a sheaf of parchment with Mrs. Cattermole's name on it.
"That's...That's pretty, Dolores," she said, pointing at the pendant gleaming in the ruffled folds of Umbridge's blouse.
"What?" Umbridge snapped, glancing down. "Oh yes...an old family heirloom," she said, patting the locket lying on her large bosom. "The S stands for Selwyn...I am related to the Selwyns...Indeed, there are few pure-blood families to whom I am not related...A pity," she continued in a louder voice, flicking through Mrs. Cattermole's questionnaire, "that the same cannot be said for you. 'Parents professions: greengrocers'."
Yaxley laughed jeeringly. Below, the fluffy silver cat patrolled up and down, and the dementors stood waiting in the corners. It was Umbridge's lie that set off the chaos Alex had been worried would happen. He saw Harry raise his wand from under the cloak, not even bothering to keep it concealed, and heard the cry of, "Stupefy!"
There was a flash of red light. Umbridge crumpled and her forehead hit the edge of the balustrade. Mrs. Cattermole's papers slid off her lap onto the floor and, down below, the prowling silver cat vanished. Ice-cold air hit them like an oncoming wind. Yaxley, confused, looked around for the source of the trouble, only for Alex's own Stunner to slam into his chest, toppling his chair over backward.
"Harry!" Hermione shrieked.
"Hermione, if you think I was going to sit here and let her pretend-" Harry began.
"Harry, Mrs. Cattermole!" Hermione shrieked again.
Harry whirled around, throwing off the Invisibility Cloak. Down below, the dementors had moved out of their corners. They were gliding toward the woman chained to the chair. Whether because the Patronus had vanished or because they sensed that their masters were no longer in control, they seemed to have abandoned restraint. However, before they could reach her, a shining silver unicorn colt crashed into them, sending them fleeing through the walls. Harry snatched the horcrux instantly and sprinted for Mrs. Cattermole as Alex lit his endless cigarette and allowed himself to retake his own appearance, though he kept up his Disillusionment Charm. They were about to be in for one hell of a duel, but at least this way, no one would be able to get a good look at him.
"Hermione, how do I get rid of these chains?" Harry demanded.
"Wait, I'm trying something up here..." Hermione said.
"Hermione, we're surrounded by dementors!" Harry snapped.
"I know that, Harry, but if she wakes up and the locket's gone..." Hermione said. "I need to duplicate it...Geminio! There...That should fool her..."
Alex jabbed his wand at the chair as Harry continued to struggle with the chains. The chains burst off of the chair instantly, freeing Mrs. Cattermole, and Harry tugged her to her feet.
"I don't understand," she whispered.
"You're going to leave here with us," Harry said, pulling her to her feet. "Go home, grab your children, and get out, get out of the country if you've got to. Disguise yourselves and run. You've seen how it is, you won't get anything like a fair hearing here."
"Harry," Hermione said, "how are we going to get out of here with all those dementors outside the door?"
Just then, Alex's Patronus let out a massive, spherical pulse of white-silver light, Dementors that had been returning to the courtroom fleeing, then charged head-first through the door out. Harry sent his own Patronus after Alex's, and Hermione sent an Otter to join them, though it took her two tries to manage it. They walked out through the door where Alex's Patronus was cantering up and down the hallway excitedly, Harry's walking calmly toward the lift.
"It's been decided that you should all go home and go into hiding with your families," Harry told the waiting Muggle-born, who were dazzled by the light of the Patronuses and still cowering slightly. "Go abroad if you can. Just get well away from the Ministry. That's the...er...new official position. Now, if you'll just follow the Patronuses, you'll be able to leave the Atrium."
They managed to get up the stone stops without being intercepted, but as they approached the lifts Harry started to have misgivings. If they emerged into the Atrium with a silver stag, and otter soaring alongside it, and twenty or so people, half of them accused Muggle-borns, he could not help feeling that they would attract unwanted attention. He had just reached this unwelcome conclusion when the lift clanged to a halt in front of them.
"Reg!" Mrs. Cattermole screamed, and she threw herself into Ron's arms. "Runcorn let me out, he attacked Umbridge and Yaxley, and he's told all of us to leave the country. I think we'd better do it, Reg, I really do, let's hurry home and fetch the children and...why are you so wet?"
"Water," Ron muttered, disengaging himself. "I got dragged into another raining office." He turned his attention to Harry. "Harry, they know there are intruders inside the Ministry, something about a hole in Umbridge's office door. I reckon we've got five minutes if that."
Hermione's Patronus vanished with a pop as she turned a horror-struck face to Harry. "Harry, if we're trapped here..."
"We won't be if we move fast," Harry said. He addressed the silent group behind them, who were all gawping at him. "Who's got wands?"
About half of them raised their hands.
"Okay, all of you who haven't got wands need to attach yourself to somebody who has. We'll need to be fast before they stop us. Come on."
They managed to cram themselves into two lifts. Harry's Patronus stood sentinel before the golden grilles as they shut and the lifts began to rise. Alex's joined them in the lift just long enough for him to stroke its long face before winking out.
"Level eight," said the witch's cool voice, "Atrium."
Harry knew at once that they were in trouble. The Atrium was full of people moving from fireplace to fireplace, sealing them off.
"Harry!" Hermione squeaked. "What are we going to-"
"STOP!" Harry thundered, and the powerful voice of Runcorn echoed through the Atrium the wizards sealing the fireplaces froze. "Follow me," he whispered to the group of terrified Muggle-borns, who moved forward in a huddle, shepherded by Ron and Hermione.
"What's up, Albert?" said a balding wizard. He looked nervous.
"This lot need to leave before you seal the exits," Harry said with all the authority he could muster.
The group of wizards in front of him looked at one another.
"We've been told to seal all exits and not let anyone-" the wizard began.
"Are you contradicting me?" Harry blustered. "Would you like me to have your family tree examined, like I had Dirk Cresswell's?"
"Sorry!" the balding wizard gasped, backing away. "I didn't mean nothing, Albert, but I thought...I thought they were in for questioning and..."
"Their blood is pure," Harry said, and his deep voice echoed impressively through the hall. "Purer than many of yours, I daresay. Off you go," he boomed to the Muggle-borns, who scurried forward into the fireplaces and began to vanish in pairs. The Ministry wizards hung back, some looking confused, others scared and fearful.
"Mary!"
Mrs. Cattermole looked over her shoulder. The real Reg Cattermole, no longer vomiting but pale and wan, had just come running out of a lift.
"R-Reg?" She looked from her husband to Ron, who swore loudly.
The balding wizard gaped, his head turning ludicrously from one Reg Cattermole to the other.
"Hey...what's going on? What is this?"
"Seal the exit! SEAL IT!"
Yaxley had burst out of another lift and was running toward the group beside the fireplaces, into which all of the Muggle-borns but Mrs. Cattermole had now vanished. Alex swore harshly. He was hoping Yaxley wouldn't be up quite so soon. As the balding wizard lifted his wand, Harry raised an enormous fist and punched him, sending him flying through the air.
"He's been helping Muggle-borns escape, Yaxley!" Harry shouted.
The balding wizard's colleagues set up an uproar, under cover of which Ron grabbed Mrs. Cattermole, pulled her into the still-open fireplace, and disappeared. Confused, Yaxley looked from Harry to the punched wizard, while the real Reg Cattermole screamed, "My wife! Who was that with my wife? What's going on?"
Harry saw Yaxley's head turn, saw an inkling of truth dawn on that brutish face.
"Come on!" Harry shouted at Hermione. He seized her hand and they jumped into the fireplace together as Yaxley's curse sailed over Harry's head. Alex was just behind them, sending a few curses over his shoulder blindly. He spun for a few seconds before shooting up out of a toilet into a cubicle. Harry flung open the door. Ron was standing there beside the sinks, still wrestling with Mrs. Cattermole.
"Reg, I don't understand-"
"Let go, I'm not your husband, you've got to go home!"
There was a noise in the cubicle behind them. Alex looked around. Yaxley had just appeared.
"LET'S GO!" Harry yelled. He seized Hermione by the hand and Ron by the arm and turned on the spot just as Alex caught Hermione's arm.
Darkness engulfed them, along with the sensation of compressing hands, but there was a problem. An extra person had a fist-full of Alex's robes, his Disillusionment Charm having ended as he entered the fireplace. Then, just as they all reappeared at the door to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, there was a scream, a flash of purple light, and they were Disapparating again.
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