A/N: Thanks for all of the reviews!!! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: See earlier chapters (It is way too late for this!)
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Veronica stared blankly at Harry for a few moments. "A what?" She finally exclaimed incredulously.
"A wizard," Harry repeated. "They are wizards too." He gestured to the Weasley family. "That is George, Fred, Ron, Ginny, and their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."
Veronica was too shocked say it was nice to meet them. "You mean, like Merlin or Gandalf, or something?"
"Yeah, something like that." Harry wasn't sure how she would take this. The events of tonight were incredible enough to him; to her it must seem like she had left reality completely.
"And that…symbol…" She shuddered at the memory. "That we saw in the park? That was some kind of magic wasn't it?" Harry slowly nodded. "And that thing I took from you, that must be your magic wand…am I right?"
"Exactly."
"Well all I have to say is this," Veronica threw up her hands hopelessly. "Obviously I've gone completely insane. There is no other explanation for all of this."
"You are not insane, my dear." Mrs. Weasley stepped forward and put a comforting hand on Veronica's shoulder. "It is true. We are wizards."
"But it can't be!" Veronica spat out. "I mean magic? That's crazy! There is no such thing! It's a physical impossibility! The things I saw last night…they defy all logic! People can't just appear out of thin air! Objects can't just float in thin air! It all flies completely against the Laws of Physics…oh my God…" She lay back in her bed, breathless after her long rant. Ron looked impressed.
The Weasleys and Harry stared at her in silence. Finally she spoke up again. "I mean…I guess I can't deny what I did see last night…it was too horrible…it must be real somehow…" Her voice trailed off again. She traced the pattern of the hospital sheet with her fingernail. Finally she looked up, with a gleam of resolution in her eyes. "Ok." She nodded. "I believe you. What now?"
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It was about an hour later. After Veronica had accepted Harry's magical abilities, he had launched into a long explanation of…well anything he could think of concerning wizards and how they had stayed so well hidden from the muggles. He aided by an occasional supporting comment by Ron or the twins. Ginny stood dejectedly in the corner with her arms folded, before declaring she needed some fresh air and leaving the room. Mrs. Weasley called on the hospital staff to bring Veronica some more pillows and a cup of tea. Arthur Weasley just watched the muggle the whole time with an excited expression on his face.
When Harry had finally mentioned everything he could think of, Veronica sat there with her brows furrowed trying to digest it all. Everyone else fell silent, lost in there own thoughts. Mr. Weasley cleared his throat, breaking the quiet.
"I was wondering ah, if you could help me out with something?" He asked Veronica.
She looked up, suddenly jerked out of her reverie. "Yeah of course," she said blinking.
"Well I have this new…device…that I am interested in trying out." He kept his voice low, as he glanced cautiously at his wife. "I got it on a routine raid, we were trying to de-hex an office building, you know before any muggles noticed." He paused dramatically. "Do you have a…comfuter?"
"A what?"
"A comfuter?"
"I – er - don't know…. oh!" She laughed. "Do you mean a computer?"
"Oh is that right? That's what they're called?"
"Yeah," Veronica giggled. "I do have one, I mean most people…I mean uh, muggles…do."
"Is that right?" Mr. Weasley looked impressed. "Well from what I've heard, there is a way you can send mail…through this comfuter…I mean-er-computer."
"Yeah, it's called email."
"Snee-mail?"
"No E-mail. With an E."
"Wonderful!" Mr. Weasley shook his head. "It always fascinates me how you all get along without magic! Now tell me how exactly does this email," He pronounced the word carefully. "How exactly does it work?"
"Well," Veronica paused. "I'm not sure – it's kind of complicated – I mean my own mom still doesn't get it! I can give it a shot though."
But their conversation was broken off. Someone was knocking loudly on the door. "Come in," Ron said, looking up curiously. "Oh." His face fell, disinterested, as he saw whom it was. "It's only him."
Percy entered the room importantly, his robes billowing behind him. "Out of the way," He waved imperiously to Ron who was sitting on a chair in front of the bed. "Important Ministry business." Ron rolled his eyes.
"Make way for His Supreme Highness and Bringer of Coffee!" Fred bellowed. Harry tried not to laugh.
"I'll have you know that I was only had to get coffee for everyone once," Percy said rather stiffly, pushing his glasses up his nose. He tried to regain his poise. "I perform tasks far more important than that now."
"Oh yes I forgot, he is a vital part of the Ministry," George said solemnly.
"Practically Fudge's second hand man I hear…" Fred continued.
"Wait Fudge does know your name by now…right…"
"Very funny." Percy sniffed indignantly. "I'll have you know that Minister Cornelius Fudge will be here any moment…Ah yes here he is now."
Veronica watched as the short, round, balding man walked into the room. Several other important looking officials accompanied him. All of them wore robes, except for Fudge who had on his characteristic colorful pinstriped cloak. Veronica's eyes strayed to the wands they held in their hands.
"Thank you, Patty," Fudge said absently to Percy who had held open the door. He turned white, as Fred and George snickered mercilessly. "Do you have the Veritaserum potion?" He asked.
"Yes, sir." Percy stepped briskly over to where Fudge stood, and handed him the small vial.
"Excellent." The Minister bent over Veronica. Up close she could see that he was worn and weary and had huge bags under his eyes. "Now muggle, we have heard some alarming details about what happened last night, and it has been no easy task charming all of the people who saw what happened…it was after all in the middle of London… we need to get to the bottom of this. So if you take a few drops of this," He swirled the perfectly clear liquid around in the vial. "We will ask you a few questions."
"Sure," Veronica said nervously. She felt strangely like she was on a confession stand. She obediently opened her mouth and Fudge poured a couple of drops the Veritaserum Potion down her throat. She expected some kind of dramatic tingling sensation…some indication that some very powerful magic was going on inside of her. But she didn't feel a thing.
"Now." Fudge took a step back. "Do you have any magical abilities whatsoever?"
"Not that I know of sir." Veronica answered truthfully.
"Is either of your parents a wizard?"
"No."
"Are you positive?"
"I am."
Fudge pursed his lips together deep in thought. "From what I have heard," he said slowly. "You touched Harry's wand, and the dark mark was summoned. Is this true?"
"Well, yes it is." Veronica grimaced. "It scared me more than anything."
"And you did not willingly conjure up the Mark?" Fudge peered closely at the girl.
"No I did not." Her voice was flat and insistent. "I definitely didn't know I was holding a magic wand."
Fudge exchanged glances with the other Ministry officials. "Well," He said nodding. "It appears that it was a freak of chance that the Mark appeared…we seem to find no other reason for it… it does not seem to be due to your involvement in anyway. It must have been some kind of prank…like when it was raised last year…"
"It is not a prank!" Veronica looked at Harry in surprise. He had jumped up and his face was enraged. His green eyes were flashing with anger, and his hair stuck out in odd angles…making him look almost threatening. Percy hissed at him to shut up, but Harry ignored him. "I'm sorry, sir," he continued. "But you are wrong. Voldemort is back – and Dumbledore is right. You have to face the facts! It's not by chance or a freak accident! If you don't do something, Voldemort is going to pick up where he left off!"
Percy looked at Harry in dismay, horrified that he would dare speak to the Minister of Magic in such a way. Fred and George looked impressed, and Ron looked shocked. Mr. Weasley's eyes flickered with a small gleam of admiration, but his face remained passive.
Fudge's face broke into a wry grin. "Harry, times are bad, and I know you believe what you…saw…last year," He cleared his throat. "But the Ministry cannot take that position until we have more evidence. And a few random appearances of the Dark Mark, just don't prove that You-Know-Who is back." He tried to speak confidently, but Veronica could see that he was shaking.
"The Memory Charm, sir." One of the minister officials coughed pointedly. "I think that we should use it, now. It is best for all concerned." The man had cold steel gray eyes, thin blue lips, and a pale face. Veronica shuddered at the sight of him. He gave her the same cold feeling that the Death Eaters in the park did.
"I agree," Fudge said hesitantly, as if he were being forced against his will. "Patty! Why don't you cover this?"
"Of course sir," Percy flushed with pride. Raising his wand, he yelled the charm.
"Oblivate!"
A stream of sparks flew out at Veronica, and she blinked a couple of times.
Percy leaned in closely. "Do you remember my name?" He said solemnly, in a rather distinct and dramatic voice.
"Well of course I do – it's Patty right?" Veronica exploded, annoyed. Fred and George snickered in the background. "And next time you want to mess with my memory I think I should get a say in it!" She protested. "What if I don't want to have a memory charm performed on me?"
"I am sorry," Fudge said briskly. "We have no choice. Again, Patty." He waved at Percy.
Percy tried the charm again with no success. His shoulders slumped, and his face fell at his failure. Fudge looked perplexed.
"Perhaps, we need a stronger charm," he muttered. "But I have much to do…things are rather crazy of late. Some ministry officials will be back tomorrow…with something stronger…" He gave Veronica a strange look. As she looked at his eyes, they seemed lined with fear and a desperate struggle. Then, shaking his head despondently, he left the room.
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