A/N: Forgive the long delay! Prom and other distractions er- distracted me…*sigh* Prom was GREAT! Ahem.

Disclaimer: Not mine. I wish Sirius was mine, but, well, you can't always have what you want…

Priori Incantatem
By Mrs Grim

Chapter Three
Into the Ministry


Harry looked at the building again, no longer intimidated. It was a large building, but not as gargantuan as Harry had expected it would be. It wasn't exactly flashy either, but it had an air of importance.

"The easiest plan of action is to get in and distract Fudge so that we can get into his office," Hermione was in the middle of a lecture, "But we can't let the door close!!!"

Fred jerked awake at this, "Huh?"

Hermione scowled. Fred, however, didn't look the slightest abashed.

Harry quickly distracted her, "Why not?"

Hermione, having finished glaring at Fred, turned to Harry and hesitated for a moment, "Well, we don't know exactly what enchantments that Mr. Fudge has guarding his office, but we have to assume that he takes the highest precautions. And since-"

She's going to say "I read it in a book," Ron thought, I know she is...

"Since I read about magical protection charms in a book, I know what the most advanced charm is!"

She looked expectantly at them. Harry was reminded of how Percy tried to get them to ask him just how thick cauldron bottoms should really be. No one asked, they were all shuddering at her sudden resemblance to Percy.

"The charm that I'm talking about," she continued, sounding a little annoyed, "is very complicated-"

"Then Fudge must've hired someone to put it on for him," George whispered, not too quietly "He's too thick to figure it out by himself."

Hermione smiled, or bared her teeth.

"What is the charm?" Harry asked quickly, coming to the rescue once more.

"Well," she said stiffly, as if she was very vexed with them all, "the charm 'reads' you in a way. You won't be able to open the door unless you're the right person. Not even Polyjuice Potion can fool it."

"So," Fred said slowly, suppressing any rude comments about Fudge, "You're figuring that Fudge put that on his office door-"

"And," George continued, "it will only open for him. If we can get in after Fudge leaves, but before the door closes, we'll have a chance."

Hermione nodded, realizing that this was a bit unlikely.

"I suppose if we just tried to force our way in, something unpleasant would happen," Ron commented.

Hermione's face twisted with some strong emotion, "Well, there are, uh, several ways of dealing with intruders-"

"Never mind. I don't want to know."

"Very well," she crossed her arms, and glared at them all, "What's the plan then?"

They decided, upon discussion that this scheme was the most absurd that they'd ever heard. (Fred and George said that they'd heard some pretty bad ones too.) They'd have to scare Fudge (if he was even there) pretty badly to get in (if there weren't any other complicated charms to pass) without him realizing it. It was a chance in a million... and it just might work.

They approached the gates, George holding Harry under his arms and Fred commandeering his feet. Ron and Hermione walked beside them, trying to look panicked. It wasn't too hard, since they were pretty much terrified already.

There were two guards at the gates to monitor cars going to the Ministry, but they looked rather bored, as it was late and nothing was happening. They had their wands in their hands,which hung down harmlessly by their sides.

"Please, sir!" Hermione said fervently, as they reached the guards, who looked only mildly interested. "He's hurt!!"

"Take him to a hospital," one told them halfheartedly

Ron drew Harry's hair away from his forehead.

"Harry Potter!" The other exclaimed staring at the scar in horror.

"Go on ahead," said the first guard and he opened the gates. Both peered at them as they walked to the Ministry.

*~*~*

"Ooof! George! My arms are going to fall off!!!" Harry yelped after they passed the gate.

"Well, that would sure make Fudge freaked out, "Ron commented.
Fred dropped Harry's feet and stood him up when the guards stopped watching. They entered the double doors and walked up to the information desk.

The woman peered uninterestedly at them, absorbed in her magazine.

"What do you want, kids?" she hardly looked up.

Harry groaned and clutched his head, but was careful to let her see his scar.

Her eyes widened, and she put on her glasses to peer at his forehead, "Oh my goodness! Harry, Harry P-potter!!"

"The Minister!" Hermione cried frantically, adding to the confusion, "Get the Minister! Oh, hurry! He can't walk!"

On cue, Harry slumped to the floor, surprised at how well this was going so far.

"Go get the Minister!" The receptionist yelled to a passing wizard.

"Are you mad, woman?" He asked, "That's all the way on the 42nd floor! And you know there's no apparating in the Ministry!"

"Harry... Potter..." She gasped, "Oh, he needs help! Tell the Minister!"

The wizard, noticing Harry in his collapsed state, dashed to the 6 elevators, one of which was already occupied by Fred and George and climbing steadily towards floor number forty-two.

*-*-*

"Minister!!" The wizard yelled, pounding rapidly on the door, which started to smoke.

Fred and George, under the invisibility cloak, watched Fudge open the door. He was hurridly hiding a crossword puzzle behind hid back.

"What is it man?" he demanded, "What is the meaning of this? I am very busy with important Ministry business!"

"Like what the five-letter name of the most incompetent Minister ever is…" Fred whispered.

George masked his cough as the wizard grew more frantic.

"Harry...Potter-hurt!"

Fudge, surprised, stepped out of the doorway and the door started to close.

George was afraid to get any closer or he might get stepped on. Move, move, now!

"Where?!" Fudge asked, sprinting to the elevators.

George dove for the door. Luckily Fudge was too distracted to hear the thump as he hit the floor. The elevator door closed behind Fudge.

"Yeooooooowch!!" George yelped removing his hand from the door.

"You're sacrifice will not be for naught, "Fred said with a flourish, helping George up.

"It'd better not be..."

They carefully entered the office. It was pretty neat and tidy. It was a large, circular room with a big desk and several elaborate chairs. A fire kept the room warm.

Fred and George searched the drawers carefully, but quickly and could find no trace of any wand at all. George glanced at his watch. They'd been there almost five minutes. We can probably count on Harry for 10, but not much more.

*-*-*

Harry flinched and twitched as if he were in great pain. Fudge had immediately summoned a doctor who now bent over Harry. Ron held his breath, sure they would be discovered. Hermione forgot to act hysterical for a second and bit her lip nervously. The doctor was sure to find nothing wrong with Harry. Sure enough, in a few moments, the doctor walked away and she heard his conversation with Fudge.

"There's just nothing wrong with the boy, Minister! There just isn't. Send him home, now, or to his school. That's best."

Fudge looked worried, though. "If you say so," he said reluctantly.

"Harry," Hermione whispered, taking a bottle from her nifty bag (which she seemed to be attached to), "I'm really sorry about this..."

Harry stopped moaning and gaped at her in surprise and some dread, "What? Wh-" Hermione poured some of the contents of the bottle down his throat. He swallowed to stop from gagging.

"Hermione, what-" Harry then stopped as an overwhelming urge to throw up came over him. As he hit the floor, he realized that every part of him ached and his head was spinning...and spinning. The last thing he remembered was Hermione frowning.

"Perhaps I gave him too much..."

*-*-*

Just then, there was the noise of stone grinding on stone and the fireplace opened like a door. Fred and George stood transfixed for a moment as something emerged. Two figures; one short and bald, the other tall whose face they couldn't see. It was hidden in a black hood.

And then they knew who it was.

"Good evening boys," said Lord Voldemort.

They ran.

A/N: Hehe, cliffie! Well, sort of!

Review PLEASE!!!

Mrs Grim