5.

Albus Dumbledore walked up to his office from Professor McGonagall's office and used the fireplace to Floo directly to the Ministry and into the deputy minister for magic's office.

Minerva had, not unexpectedly, taken the news very badly, but was now dealing with the school and rest of the staff for him while he sorted the situation out as best he could.

"Percy, I need a word."

He was ushered into the office and found, when sat, that he was at a loss for words.

"How can I help you?  It looks serious."

"Percy, this afternoon on Hogwarts grounds a student was violently raped."

Percy's skin drained of colour.

"Headmaster, why tell me?  Why not go straight to the Department for Law Enforcement?  It…it wasn't someone I know?  It wasn't Mione?"

"Percy, it was Harry."

"Harry?" Percy asked, desperate for it not to be true, "Harry Potter?  Harry who's like a brother to my family?"

"I'm sorry, Percy."

"But…no, no, Harry's with Professor Snape."

Percy looked perplexed and angry and upset all at the same time.

"Percy, it wasn't Severus."

"Who…do you know who?"

"Sirius Black."

Percy sat back in his chair with a flump.

"Oh God."

"Percy…"

"How is he?"

"Healed, sleeping and extremely insecure.  He'll be fine physically, but emotionally, I'm unsure."

"And Professor Snape?"

"It's killing him."

"I can imagine – he loves Harry more than life itself, and hates Black just a little less."

They both sat in silence for a while, thinking about how this would affect people they had both become very close to.

"Percy, we are unsure as to how to proceed now."

Percy shook himself and went back into this professional mode.

"We talk to Keith Brown from the Law Enforcement Department.  It's best for it to be reported straight away, and we need to start a search for Black as well as get our lawyers to keep this quiet, for…for Harry's sake.  As soon as possible they'll send a counsellor and investigator and take Harry's statement.  The counsellor will stay a while to talk with Harry, and then arrange another appointment for some time later.  They'll take statements from whoever found him, and…who found him?"

"Ron and Hermione."

Percy looked about to cry.  His professional mask had been peeling since he first said Harry's name, and now at the mention of his brother and fiancée, it broke.

"Mione?  And Ron?  They found him after…?  When he was…  Oh, god, I have to see them all.  But first, let's talk to Keith.  No, wait, first let's tell my dad."

*