Disclaimer: What can I say? Harry's not mine. All I can do is borrow him for a while to satisfy my own Harry Potter withdrawal symptoms until Book 5 comes out.
Chapter 32
"What do you have against Harry, Percy?" A voice asked from behind Percy. He'd been sitting at the dining table, committing the map Charlie gave him to memory, as well as organizing the scrolls he intended to bring with him. Percy started and looked around. Fred. He could tell nowadays because, if it were late in the evening, George would be asleep. Although nearly healed, he still slept often, as evidenced by drifting off at the table even tonight. So far, neither of the twins had come to talk about what had happened yet, but by the dirty looks Fred had been shooting at him all evening, Percy knew what was coming. Joy.
"I don't," Percy replied, his palms already beginning to sweat. He'd found it easier to deal with his siblings when they were all together. It forced them to be civil. When they searched him out in private it was a different matter entirely. Ron in particular proved to know precisely how to go right for the jugular. Where did he learn that, anyway?
"Then why didn't you believe him? I know he's younger and all, but he's still one of Ron's best friends. He stays with us for at least a little bit in the summer, and Ron talks about him all the time. You may not have spent a lot of time around him, but certainly more than most. Why couldn't you accept what he was telling you?" Fred asked.
"Do you know the tales I've heard about Harry? The crazy rumors that float around about him? I've heard them since he first started at Hogwarts, and every year forward," Percy said with a shake of the head, repressing a sigh, and rubbed his palms against his robes distractedly. He was tired and discouraged, and didn't have the energy to dredge up much self-righteousness. Not that it mattered anyway. He knew he was wrong, but sometimes his defensive anger helped to soften the blows his siblings inflicted. "He loses points for Gryffindor all the time, and he appears to break the rules every chance he gets," he tried to explain. Fred's face hardened, his eyes cold.
"What have you *seen* Harry do? What's he like? Percy, you don't pay enough attention to things to be entitled to make judgements about *anybody*. You've seen how sick he's been. What did you think it was?" Fred replied.
Percy took a deep breath. That hit a bit close to home. He still hadn't forgiven himself for not watching out properly for Ginny her first year at Hogwarts. The signs had all been there; the way she withdrew so completely into herself, and how pale and frightened she looked toward the end of term. He'd been too busy feeling self-important with his duties as Prefect to take the time to look out for his little sister the way he should have.
"I was wrong, Fred. How many times do I have to say it? What will it take for you to believe just *how* sorry I am? How I would give *anything* to get him back? Better yet, to go back in time and make for *damn* sure I don't make the same mistakes. I can't sleep, I can't eat, all I can do is remember the conversation I had with Harry right before…" Percy's jaw snapped shut.
"Before what?" Fred pressed. Percy looked at his brother miserably, but answered anyway.
"Before they gave him the Veritaserum. Harry was right, Fred. About everything. About You Know Who. Look at this," Percy said, pointing at the pile of parchment on the floor next to the bookshelves, all the paperwork they'd sorted through to find the tiny smattering of evidence. "I'm about to go try to prove the people *I* have worked so hard for, believed in, have been cremating You Know Who's victims rather than telling the public the truth. Don't you think I know what I've done?" Percy asked, his voice raising an octave. Fred shook his head.
"I don't know. Do you?" Fred asked coldly. Percy felt his throat constrict at the tone of Fred's voice.
"Believe me, brother, I do. Because of me, they are, as we speak, torturing an innocent boy who could die because I handed him over to the very people my family has been trying to protect him from. Because of me, the Ministry still hasn't warned the public. Would alarms or defenses have helped some of the latest victims? If I hadn't participated in the cover-up, would there be more people alive now? I remember all the questions Fudge had me ask Harry. Merlin, Fred, don't you think it's occurred to me just how cruel they were?" Percy hissed, trying to make sure he didn't raise his voice loud enough for his parents to hear him, while still trying to convey just how strongly he felt.
"You didn't see him when they first brought him over this summer, Percy. How badly he looked. He had bruises around his neck. Merlin, his own uncle tried to strangle him! And you weren't there when the Ministry attacked the house. You didn't see George and Mum… You didn't see… Percy, how could you do it? Do you really trust your family so little?" Fred asked, suddenly sounding more mature, more serious than Percy had ever heard him sound before. Percy ran a hand through his hair in agitation. How could he explain it?
"I just… I just couldn't believe it. I didn't *want* to believe it… Do you want to know the cold, hard truth why I was so adamant not to believe you? Because I was arrogant. My impressions were the *right* ones. It couldn't be *him*… I didn't want to believe You Know Who was back … I wanted you to be wrong. But people were still missing, and so much still appeared to point to Harry. I latched onto the belief that if we could just get the whole story from him… unedited… everything would become clear. *And* I certainly knew I wasn't being given the whole picture," Percy accused.
There was the crux of his argument. Percy had known enough to realize he wasn't being told the truth. Wizards and witches were missing, and Harry knew something about it. His reaction to the Daily Prophet article proved it. Percy's family certainly hadn't been giving details about what was happening with Harry, and Percy had feared for the worst. He'd been right, of course, but not in the way he'd imagined. He'd felt *the Ministry* needed to know, and taken it upon himself to pursue it, when really it had been the other way around.
"Hmm. Do you *really* wonder why we didn't trust you with the whole truth?" Fred mocked, his eyes bitter, as if he read Percy's thoughts. It was a threat more than a question, and Percy started in surprise. He'd never seen this side of Fred. It terrified him, and made him feel sick inside. Percy's actions had created this angry, hateful brother. Percy didn't want Fred to answer his own question, and thankfully, he didn't. "So what do you do now?" Fred asked frankly, abruptly changing the conversation's direction. Percy shook his head and sighed.
"I do everything in my power to free Harry. I try to find proof of where the bodies might have been cremated and get samples of ash to take to Dumbledore. I try to face each minute with the belief that Harry's alive, and that I still have a shot to try to make up for all that I've done to him. I'll spend my life doing it if I have to," Percy swore. Fred's eyes were hard as he stood up.
"For someone who didn't care a whole lot for Harry before, you sure do now, don't you? Here's one more for you, brother," Fred said, standing up to lean over him. Percy flinched at the way he nearly hissed Brother.
"I borrowed dad's Pensieve and saved out all the proof you refused to believe about what Harry's been going through. I also extracted the attack on the Burrow. If you're really in the mood for penance, watch it. But know this…" Fred said, and Percy realized his brother had been carrying the Pensieve carefully in his hand, until now folded within his robes. Suddenly Fred leaned forward so his face was close to Percy, close enough for Percy to smell the Pumpkin Juice on his breath. "I love you, brother, but you nearly got us killed. You have no idea what it was like holding George in my arms. I swear, for a second I almost felt… alone. As if he were already gone…" Fred said, his eyes glazed in memory. Then focus returned as he turned his full gaze directly on Percy once more. "I promise you no second chances. I'll never trust *you* again." And with that statement, Fred's eyes bore for a moment more into Percy's, then he turned and went upstairs. Merlin. He hates me.
Percy sat at the table, thoroughly shaken, as the last of the dirty dishes floated away from the dining table towards the kitchen. A rag floated in to wipe down the table, but Percy glared at it, refusing to move his things. He was grateful his parents hadn't come out from cleaning the dishes while Fred was there. The dish rag hovered for a moment longer, then seemed to understand that Percy wasn't about to shuffle his stuff for it to do its job. It turned around to return to the sink, leaving a dripping trail of warm soapy water in its wake. Percy wasn't about to have water accidentally ruin the map Charlie had given him. He wasn't taking any chances on anything ever again.
His dad pulled out a chair beside him, startling Percy as the chair groaned slightly when Arthur Weasley sat beside him. "Oh, quit whining," he scolded the chair, but had a slight smile as he said it. The dining room chairs had certainly seen more than their fair share of wear and tear lately. With his teacup in hand, Arthur nodded at the map Charlie had provided, along with the scattered rolls of parchment Percy was going to use for his 'audit'. The faintest flicker of sympathy crossed his father's face before it was schooled back into mild, innocent curiosity, but it was enough to let Percy know he'd heard what Fred said. Thankfully he did not pursue it.
"What do you think? Pretty easy to read?" Arthur asked, gesturing at Charlie's map, and effectively breaking Percy's train of thought. Charlie was notorious for the chicken scratches that he tried to pass of as handwriting. Hogwarts professors yearly had complained long and loud about it. Tonight, surprisingly, his writing was clear and precise, his drawing neatly detailed and labeled. Voices began to echo in the back of Percy's mind, as they had intermittently since the Memory charms on him had been broken by Dumbledore.
"...Harry, no one's going to give you Veritaserum. You're too young…" his own voice hollowly reassured the sick boy. Did you really even care? Percy asked himself for the hundredth time as the memory of how Harry *looked* also came flooding back. How do you feel about Harry? Why were you so anxious to believe bad of him? Because Percy was jealous. He realized too late that all those things he resented about Harry were proportional to issues he himself had.
Harry was famous, rich, accepted. On the surface, Harry had had everything Percy craved. Independence. Freedom. Respect and admiration. At some primal level, Percy even had to admit that Harry's love of Percy's family bothered him. Ironic paradox to resent the boy for wanting to be a part of the family Percy had tried so hard to leave behind. Not that I was really thinking clearly at the time anyway. Oh, for the luxury of having been under the Imperius Curse. Percy would have given anything for the choices he'd made *not* to have been voluntary.
"…Promise me you'll make sure they find out the truth. Will you do that?..." Harry's voice, so old and young at the same time, so fragile and tired, echoed in Percy's mind. He'd promised Harry so cavalierly, never realizing how wrong he'd been. He'd made a Wizard's Oath and not even meant it. Since when did making oaths seem so… trivial?
"Percy, did you hear me?" Arthur Weasley asked, affecting that he was sipping absent-mindedly at his tea, but Percy hadn't missed the concern in his father's eyes. Oh. Oops. Pay attention, Percy. "I can easily come with you. It wouldn't take too much to justify my presence." Percy shook his head adamantly.
"No, Fudge knows you sympathize with Dumbledore. If he has anyone monitoring things… We don't want to risk them covering up even more. He thinks I'm neutralized. I won't present a problem showing up, I'm sure of it," Percy said in his most reassuring voice. In truth, he was terrified of *anything* that might tip Fudge off.
"Still, it would make me feel better if you weren't going there by yourself," his father replied, blowing into his teacup to cool it a bit. Percy noticed his father's eyes taking in how Percy still rubbed at his temples persistently and the slight tremble in his hand as he brought his own blessed tea to his lips. Caffeine. Good. His father had the disconcerting habit of using other people's moments of distraction to watch them closely; to judge for himself what he thought their condition was physically, or if he thought they were lying, or stressed. Percy willed his hands to stop shaking, fearing his father had already noticed too much. Arthur Weasley had been deeply displeased at Percy's insistence that he do this alone. It had taken nearly an hour's worth of protest before Percy finally got his father to at least admit that Percy's arguments made sense.
"What about showing up in the middle of the night like this?" Arthur continued. "Will that raise any alarms?" Percy shook his head. He'd tried to think of every angle, and thought he'd done a fair job of it. I'm nothing if not thorough.
"No. Considering that all the expenses I'm going to flag in my 'audit' are from the night shift, I doubt anyone will be surprised," Percy explained. He'd tried to dig up as many questionable expenses as he could, while still not mentioning the very ones that might alert Fudge as to what he was really looking for.
"When do you go?" Arthur asked him. Percy smiled faintly as he gulped the last of his drink down. It was a bit strong, the way he liked it, flavored with milk and a bit of honey. Thanks, mum. I needed that. Percy stood up, slipping the map inside his robe pocket. Just in case.
"Now, actually. I'll just collect my things and be off," Percy replied. Arthur turned his head distractedly as Molly Weasley called for him from the kitchen. He smiled faintly at Percy.
"You be careful, son. I know all those Ministry buildings have anti-Apparition wards, so plan your exits *before* you need them, alright?" Arthur said, and placed a hand on Percy's shoulder. Percy nodded and patted his father's hand appreciatively.
"No worries, Dad. In and out. I'll head straight to Hogwarts with the ash and let you know what we find out," Percy said with a smile, trying to sound confident and reassuring at the same time. His father didn't appear fooled.
"I'll be in the living room all night if you want to Fire Talk with me," Arthur said. Molly's voice sounded again, calling Arthur to come into the kitchen. "Well, I'd best go before she comes after me. Need any help?" Arthur asked, watching as Percy gathered up the last of his parchments.
"No, thanks. Go on before you get in trouble. I'll be fine," Percy joked lightly, and breathed a sigh of relief as his father finally left the room. As he approached the fireplace, a voice sounded from the top of the stairwell.
"Thought he'd never leave," the voice said humorously. "For someone so unpopular, you appear to have a lot of people seeking you out." It couldn't be Fred, Percy knew. Too friendly. George sat at the top of the stairs, just barely visible from the living room, peeking through the handrails, still in his pajamas. Using the rail to pull himself up, George made his way slowly downstairs. At this rate I won't be there until morning, Percy thought.
"It's nice, though, having dad hover," Percy candidly admitted even as he watched his brother warily. As George stepped off the last stair and into the living room, Percy saw the shadows under his brother's eyes. Madam Pomfrey still fussed a bit when she checked up on him a day ago, a clear indicator in Percy's mind that George had been more hurt than his father had indicated.
"I heard what Fred said earlier, Percy," George said, now standing directly in front him, his eyes intent. "It's a harsh lesson you've learned. I don't envy it," he said, shaking his head. "I've thought about it, though. For all our pranks, if we weren't so careful… things could go *very* wrong. I've always known that," George observed, his face solemn.
"So why do you do it?" Percy asked curiously. He'd never heard either of the twins admit that they were aware their pranks could hurt someone.
"Because it's fun. It's entertaining. It's the best way to remind ourselves, and the world, that it's not just You Know Who, good vs. evil, careers, family and death. It's *life*. Dreams and aspirations are nice, but they aren't day to day. Laughter is. Living is," George said. Percy knew his jaw was hanging open.
"Where'd you learn this little gem?" Percy asked, trying to recover his composure. A deep conversation about jokes with one of the twins?
"Fred and I have always known it. But we got a nice reminder right before the holidays," George replied.
"And what was that?" Percy asked, intrigued.
"Harry gave us his Triwizard Tournament winnings. Said we could all use a few laughs," George replied. Percy was stunned. It had been the mystery of the holidays. Where on earth had the twins suddenly come across so much money to purchase supplies for their joke business? They owled out their pranks twice a day, 'filling owl orders' they cheerfully called it. Arthur Weasley had finally confessed to Molly that he'd suspected they'd gotten money from World Quidditch Cup winnings, but no amount of threats from their mother had revealed the truth. Percy cringed as George's words sunk in, then decided not to think about it *too* much. He didn't know how much lower he could feel. Or maybe he did, and that was the problem.
"I'm not sure why I told you that... I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I know you don't need my help for that," George said, humor in his eyes. "I guess I just wanted to let you know that we can make bad choices at any time. I know you were trying to do what you thought was right. And that you've learned your lesson. I for one trust you, Percy. This is one mistake I don't see you *ever* making again," he said and rested his hand on Percy's shoulder just as Arthur Weasley had done just minutes before.
"This wasn't just one bad choice, George," Percy replied. George nodded. You're letting me off too easy, George. I almost got you killed, and you still trust me? *I* don't trust me. What's wrong with you?
"I know that. And for your sake as much as Harry's, I hope this all turns out okay. I…" George said, and Percy watched as George struggled for a moment, his eyes misting up as he undoubtedly thought about Harry, before pushing his own feelings aside to try to continue to reassure his brother. Percy felt his throat constrict. He knew what George wanted to say. That he hoped Harry would survive.
"Me too," Percy whispered. With all his heart.
"And don't worry about that lot. I'll be working on them," George said, nodded his head back towards the stairs. Percy smiled gratefully. "Be careful," George said seriously. Percy nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo powder.
"I will. Thanks, George," Percy said, the gratefulness swelling in his chest like a balloon. *If*… If Harry lived, survived intact somehow. If Percy was able to prove what the Ministry was doing. *If*... He might just have a chance to redeem himself. And as much as it mattered what George and the rest of his family felt about him, he'd come to realize that unless *he* could forgive himself, it was pointless. "Dracontine Division!" Percy shouted and stepped into the flames. He didn't look back.
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Percy blinked in bewilderment as he looked around him. This was the Dracontine Division? He wasn't sure what he'd expected… he'd never imagined it would look shockingly similar to St. Mungo's. Peculiar. He was standing at the end of a long, white empty hallway with only a wall and fireplace behind him. There were no windows or doors visible, only empty wall space devoid of paintings or photos. Muggle fluorescent lights hummed obnoxiously above, and his boots echoed ominously on the shiny white tile floors as he eventually turned a corner and approached two guards posted by metal double doors. As Percy stepped towards the two men, he pulled out his credentials parchment.
"Good evening, sir. Visiting hours are over, and by appointment only," the man on Percy's left said. He was a burly man, short but stocky. He had a curiously large jaw, and his eyes appeared frank and no nonsense, albeit a shade squinty. The man on Percy's right was much younger, perhaps only a couple of years older than Percy himself. He had straight brown hair cut short and tight to the scalp. Judging by the title on his nametag, he was also most likely the one in charge. His brown eyes were intelligent, but appeared content to allow the burly man to continue. Not really motivated, then. Good.
"I'm aware of that… Mr. Nelson," Percy said, his eyes taking in the name on the man's robes.
"Audit?" Barry Nelson, the burly man, squeaked as he read the parchment Percy had provided.
Percy had long ago learned that no one was guilt free. It proved to be Percy's greatest weapon. The bygone Ministry days, when a man treated his job right, worked hard, and truly cared, were long gone. Longevity used to be rewarded by perks. Loyalty would be rewarded by security. In its place had come the 'election era', as Percy perceived it. Key positions filled by lackeys that changed hands when someone new was brought in. Within the Ministry, it was referred to as the 'changing of the guard'. Few had the mindset still that Percy had, up until recently, had. Percy used to perceive that lack of passion towards their jobs as laziness and a pathetic lack of work ethic. He looked down his nose at those who couldn't wait for the holidays, the weekends, the end of their shift. What he didn't realize was that he'd let his job become his identity. Yet another irony to add to so many, that the very thing he'd despised in others he should have been doing himself.
For the most part, Percy had learned there were now basically two types of people within the Ministry; the 'old boys', and the rest of the world. The 'old boys' retained their positions for decades, securing them through unique skill sets, remarkable networking abilities, gifted arse kissing, or combinations thereof. The rest of the world knew they were disposable, and treated their job accordingly. Quills were stolen without a thought. Office expenses were ordered that never saw the candlelight of their desks. It meant that if Percy looked hard enough, he was nearly guaranteed to be able to dig up dirt on whomever he desired, and *they* knew it.
"Audit?" the younger man echoed. Percy didn't permit himself to nod, he simply stood in front of the two men patiently. It was the patience of authority… or so he hoped. His confidence was going to be needed to carry him through this.
"It's an odd time for an audit," the younger man observed, his eyes flickering over Percy's robes suspiciously. Percy forced himself not to fidget, feeling almost like a schoolboy seeking approval before the two men. I'm here on business. Nothing to question here. If he'd known any hypnosis charms, he might have even used them at that moment just to insure he didn't get turned away. Too much was riding on his success tonight.
"Mr… Hanning," Percy said, reading the younger man's tag, and reached into his sack of parchments. He fished around for a moment before pulling a scroll out. "Excellent. I'll require a meeting with you later, perhaps even tonight, regarding a department purchase you made three months ago, the seventeenth," Percy said, forcing an imperious inflection into his voice. The younger man blanched.
"Sir. We weren't aware of an audit," the older man said, his voice raising a slight octave. For such a stocky bloke, his voice certainly warbled a lot.
"Precisely," Percy replied, and didn't elaborate. He remained silent and watched the two men in front of him fidget uncomfortably. Professor Snape, if you could see me now. Snape's daunting persona in Potions not so long ago had given Percy a good template for intimidation.
"Will you be needing a guide?" the younger man asked after an uncomfortable pause. Percy scrutinized him closely.
"A map will suffice," Percy replied, deciding that a more 'informed' map might be a good idea. Not that he questioned Charlie… just his map making abilities. Please don't insist on an escort. The younger guard reached behind him into a row of folded parchments placed neatly into wooden slots on a desk behind him. At a cursory glance, the map looked splendidly detailed. Good job, Percy. I'm improvising. Not freezing up. Not bad.
"I'll be summoning Mr. Ferguson Schriver tonight, I suspect. I'm assuming he's not on vacation?" Percy asked. The older guard's adam's apple bobbed nervously before he shook his head.
"No sir. He's here tonight," the stocky man replied. Percy nodded. The man's voice was breaking all over the place like an adolescent boy's. It would have been amusing if Percy weren't so nervous.
"Excellent," Percy replied.
"You're here now because there are no Muggles on shift, aren't you?" Hanning, the younger man and the one in charge, abruptly asked. What is he talking about? Is this a ploy? I don't think so. It's too specific. Go with it. Percy nodded.
"Correct," Percy replied. Muggles? Why would there be Muggles here?
"I wondered why you were wearing robes. Not the way to blend in here. So… you've got audit spells you perform?" Hanning asked nervously.
Percy suppressed both his curiosity and the manic giggle he felt nervously rising into his throat. Of course I'd wear robes. Merlin. It looks like arriving in the dead of night was actually the best thing I could have done. This could have been a disaster, if I was supposed to be wearing Muggle clothes.
Mentioning that he'd want to speak with Hanning later appeared to have shaken him up more than he'd originally let on. Obviously the man knew next to nothing about audits and felt the need to try to fish for more information. Both things worked nicely to Percy's advantage. So you think I came at night so I could perform magic? Is no magic performed during the day, then? While Muggles are present? This isn't making any sense.
Percy raised an eyebrow in response to the man's query. This was definitely a trait Professor Snape had inadvertently taught him. It allowed for someone to feel like they've been given an answer, when in reality they hadn't been. There was neither affirmation nor denial. Nothing that could be tied back to him under Veritaserum, should the need arise. Percy forced the memories down that threatened to surface. Don't think about Harry right now. Don't get distracted.
"Well, sir. We won't take any more of your time," the stocky guard said and stepped aside. Several *big* steps. Hanning followed suit, and Percy nodded his head to both men gratefully as he quickly strode past them towards the metal doors that now began to open of their own accord, his heart in his throat. Not bad. I'll make a good spy yet. Yes… this is something I can do… Of course, I had no idea I had it in me.
With this largest hurdle overcome, Percy knew he was practically guaranteed to be left alone to wander the halls unaccosted. Perks of the job. The night supervisor would steer clear of Percy for his entire visit, hoping the 'Out of sight, out of mind' adage proved true, especially since Percy had already specifically asked for the man. No doubt the guards would be reporting *that* bit of news. In fact, it was most likely that everyone on shift would now avoid him, as no one wanted to voluntarily put themselves within an auditor's sights for fear of raising their ire… or their curiosity. Percy knew that as long as he was quickly in and out he would be unimpeded. Hopefully, this would also allow him to try to make sense out of what he'd learned so far.
Why would Muggles work here? I guess that explains a guarded hallway with only a fireplace at the end. To keep Muggles from stumbling onto the Floo Network. But why? To my knowledge, the only Ministry divisions that work directly with Muggles are under the Department of Accidental Magic Reversal, not the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. It wasn't making any sense, yet clearly this Division was using Muggle electricity, and Muggle made materials such as that peculiar *playstick* they seemed so fond of.
Percy allowed his feet to carry him forward, not worrying quite yet about where he was going as he marveled at the map in his hands. Charlie's drawing had shown a rectangular building with three different departments. The map he'd gotten from the guards showed nine clearly marked divisions in a square shaped building.
Great. Charlie can't *draw* or write. This map doesn't show a rectangle. What's he talking about? Percy wondered as he continued to stare at the legend on the map. Strange names, undoubtedly Muggle terms, such as Information Technology and the Server Room were listed. Do servants live there? Data Center Operations... Sounds important. A series of hallways that ultimately also connected in a square were in the building's interior. As Percy continued to examine the color coded sections indicating all the offices for each department, he began to feel daunted.
Perhaps Hermione would be a good one to consult if he couldn't find what he was looking for quickly. Percy was all too painfully aware of how little time he had before he drew suspicions. Focus. Alright. The cafeteria and Engineering were in the center sections. All the other departments were on the outside perimeters of the hallways. Good to know this place isn't a labyrinth. This makes it easier to go where I need. But where would Dragon Research even be *done* here? This is very strange. Percy fought the alarm that was beginning to creep in along his spine. Okay. Look at the Department names again. Something should give you a hint.
Percy was aware of the Muggle 'comb pewter' craze sweeping Europe and that the 'inner net' was supposed to change the world... Is that what some of these weird names are about? Okay, let's eliminate the simple ones and see what's left. It's not like I have too many places to check once I cross off the obvious ones. Executive Briefing Room. Easy. Front lobby, cafeteria, Sales and Customer Service. I've got what these are. Now where on earth would I find ashes? Research and Development. That one sounds like a likely candidate. I don't think it would be Engineering… but I'm not sure what Engineering is. Security was a good one to avoid. Human Resources, Account Receivables… well, here's where I'm *supposed* to go.
Now what's this?
Percy frowned and nearly dropped the map in surprise. Abruptly, the lines and colored sections wavered and shifted before his eyes. A side of the map that had been previously filled with office numbers and employee names was now an entirely new section of the building, with three more colored sections indicating additional departments. And now the building *is* rectangular. Percy knew he'd already looked over the map thoroughly before it had changed. It wasn't as if he'd missed it before. Wizard triggers! Percy realized that the maps were charmed to reveal certain additional sections when exposed to magic. Muggles would never see it.
So Charlie was right after all. Sorry for doubting you, Percy silently apologized with a faint smile. The new section held rooms with even more curious names. J Line? What on earth is that? The Cage? Okay… That probably sounds a bit more appropriate. The Fish Bowl? These have to be nicknames, don't they? Burn In. That's got to be it. Percy felt his pulse quicken at the thought. Unfortunately, it appears this new section is on the other side of the building furthest from Accounting. And with only one fireplace that I can Floo from… Should I just go straight to the Wizarding Section and see what I can see, or hit Accounting first? Percy watched as the door marked Accounts Receivable came into view. He'd been heading towards it the entire time he'd been examining the map. Now that he was nearly there, it was time to decide.
Now or never, Percy. What are you going to do? All Ministry buildings were held under heavy Anti Apparition wards except in a few designated and tightly monitored areas. He knew that with only the one central square section of hallways, he didn't stand a chance of escape if anyone really wanted to detain him. How much time should I even spend in the Accounting records? Should I try to find the ash first, then go to Payables and Receivables for a while? I should have thought this part through more. He was so prepared to justify his audit that Percy had practically prepared for one. Now that he was actually in the building though… it seemed like a waste of precious time to actually spend any more than he had to doing *anything* other than looking for the evidence he needed to get Harry released. Think of it this way. The longer you're here, the greater your chance of getting caught. Yes, that does make sense, doesn't it?
The Accounts Receivable office came and went as Percy set his mouth in determination and passed it by. His footsteps were thankfully the only sounds he could hear. I'm committed now. Okay. The Cage and Burn In both sound like likely candidates. They're right beside each other, but it looks like I'll have to go through The Fish Bowl to get to either room.
There weren't any posters or motivational mottos on any of the hallway walls. No billboards with employee's items for sale. There were no bulletin boards with company news or announcements. No torches or candles, paintings or photos. The theme for the Dracontine Division certainly seemed to be *white*. White walls, white ceilings with tiny little holes in them, and shiny white tile floors that reflected the light fixtures from above.
As sterile and unlived in as it seemed, the place in fact felt *more* like a hospital than St. Mungo's. The floors were unscuffed and the walls unblemished. The only thing to remind Percy that he wasn't walking through an illusion were the occasional fluorescent tubes that flickered a half light, almost but not quite burnt out, strobing the hallway annoyingly in front of him.
The doors to the cafeteria had small square windows in them that Percy peeked through as he passed by. They revealed a darkened room lit with Muggle vending machines (he'd seen those at the train station when he went to Hogwarts, so he already knew what they were). No one is at lunch or on break, then. Good. Or would it be dinner? Hmm. Maybe breakfast, at this time of night, Percy thought idly.
The entire place was creeping him out. Most Ministry offices he'd been in were cluttered with parchments and overflowing desks. Harried employees rushed about with anxious expressions and nervous hands. Magic was prevalent in so much of a wizard's life that until Percy had encountered an office *without* it, he'd never realized how integral magic was.
There were file cabinets that came to your desk when you called and owls coming and going at all hours of the day and night. Messenger Spells constantly darted around the building. Enchanted windows allowed in more light and better views, and frequent fireplaces allowed for Fire Talking. Charmed quills were a staple to most offices, required to take dictation. These were all simple things Percy used every day that now seemed oddly *missing*.
The Dracontine Division contained none of this. And considering how empty it currently was, with the guards being the only people Percy had encountered so far, he couldn't quite imagine *why* it was necessary to have Muggles working there at all. This is about Dragon Fire research, and the gland dragons use to make it. What business is it of Muggles? Well, one mystery at a time, Percy. For now, let's focus on checking out the Wizarding Departments on the map. Percy's steps faltered for a moment as he thought of something else.
Do I need to come up with a reason for looking around? That was an appalling thought. If someone were to confront him, he realized it would be better to have an excuse handy to justify his midnight stroll. What were some of the expenses I flagged? And what would be good candidates that I'd *need* to go on this side of the building to validate? Percy began to leaf through the parchments in the sack he carried with him as he continued on his way.
Excessive Sleeping Draught potions and large quantities of livestock were definitely good candidates for an audit flag, despite the Mad Cow and Foot and Mouth Disease hysteria that had swept through Europe and lowered livestock prices to all time lows. Amazingly enough even the Daily Prophet had reported on that.
So I'll question livestock use and utilization, especially considering how *much* livestock they go through. Could the livestock be kept in The Cage? Is it for feeding or for testing purposes? Okay. Well, if anyone asks why I'm going where I'm going, at least I've got a reason. The tension he had felt building in his neck eased just a little, although his palms persisted in sweating furiously.
Percy looked from the map to the wall ahead of him. Uh oh. No door. But the map shows one. Could it be charmed? Percy reached out his hand to feel the wall where the hallway turned a sharp ninety degrees. It felt flat.
I'll bet this has got Muggle Repelling Charms on it. It's got to be right here. Percy muttered a revealing charm, unsurprised at the door that appeared in front of him. He used an unlocking spell and watched the jet of sparks shoot onto the door handle that was now helpfully swinging forward. He stepped through without hesitation, hoping if anyone were watching they would get the impression that Percy looked like he knew where he was going.
He wasn't sure what he expected, but the room he stepped into took him completely by surprise. It had stadium seats lined up in rows with small isles in between them, reminiscent of a Muggle movie theatre he'd once seen a picture of. The room itself was sloped, so that Percy stood at the top looking downwards. It gently rolled downhill so that each seat would not be blocked by person sitting in the chair in front of it. Stadium seating, like for Quidditch matches. A room for spectators.
But the shock Percy felt shoot through his fingers and toes had nothing to do with the room he was in, but rather what the giant windows below him revealed: Two rooms, starkly illuminated. One was empty save for scorch and burn marks, the glass in some places was only barely opaque, with a thick black soot that coated the bottom of the floor. The walls were mostly grey with streaks of charcoal in random places. Is that carbon? Charlie had gotten a great deal of enjoyment describing just *what* kind of residue Percy would be looking for.
And although the empty dirty room was the one Percy had been seeking, it was the other room that grabbed his attention. It was the room labeled 'The Cage', and contained a dragon. In fact, it was the most pathetic, misshapen Hungarian Horntail Percy had ever seen. The black scales that adorned its body were dull and flaky, curling up and around other scales like mottled snakeskin unable to shed. Instead of bronze horns, there were tiny bronze stubs. Do they trim the horns, or did they cut them off completely? The shape of the skull, slightly large in proportion to the eyes, indicated it was a male. Wow, Charlie, I had no idea this knowledge would stick. Percy had tried *not* to absorb most of what his older brother had enthusiastically tried to teach him as a child about dragons, and was surprised to find he still remembered quite a bit. Enough, at least, to know what he was looking at was all wrong.
The most pathetic part of the dragon were his wings and limbs. His body was all chest cavity and stomach, with only the tiniest, malformed legs that couldn't even touch the floor. Its wings, shrunken with disuse and perpetual captivity, were scrawny, paper thin and nearly transparent. They were more reminiscent of bat wings than of those of a dragon, and only a fraction of the size a dragon's wings should be.
Around the dragon's neck was a giant collar with a long metal chain attached to the floor. The room wasn't large enough for the dragon to maneuver, forcing him to remain on his enormous belly, with his limbs and wings dangling uselessly high above the ground. The only way the dragon appeared to be able to move at all were using its neck and tail for leverage, adjusting slightly from side to side.
A loud sound, similar to dry parchment scraping against stone, made Percy realize the dragon was looking right at him, his yellow eyes watching Percy intently as the dragon shifted his head to get a better look. The neck chain clinked faintly. Merlin. A small chute, large enough for the dragon to fit his snout through, connected him to the empty scorched room. Suddenly all the obscure titles made sense. 'The Fish Bowl' was where they watched incinerations. 'The Cage' was where they kept the poor dragon. And 'Burn In'… well, the black soot on the floor in *that* room was exactly what Percy had been looking for.
Percy crossed through the Fish Bowl to the door on the other side, set at an angle that indicated it didn't go directly into either room. The door wasn't locked.
The room Percy stepped into appeared to be the size of a decent sized closet, with a door going directly into 'Burn In'. Two lights, one that was green and unlit, and one that was red and lit, were above it. That's easy enough to deduce. The light's used to make sure it's safe to go into the room first. So they must have to secure the dragon, or do they close the chute between the two rooms? So how was he supposed to secure the dragon? Obviously, whoever was about to enter the 'Burn In' Room had to wait to be told it was safe.
There was nothing in 'The Fish Bowl' that looked like a lever. Nothing to indicate a way to close the chute, or lock down the chain around the dragon's neck so he couldn't fit his snout through and breathe fire. Looking at the map, Percy didn't see anything obvious there, either. You're running out of time. What if you just walk in and out? You've seen dragons shoot fire before. They generally need to take a deep breath first. Leave the door open behind you and rush to take the samples. The dragon doesn't appear to be angry, and that's *usually* when they breathe fire. It's worth the risk. With each moment that passed, Percy felt more and more exposed, and knew the likelihood of getting caught increased.
Okay. In and out. Open the door, get the ash, and get out of here. Percy's hand reached out to the door handle. It was locked. Percy nearly laughed. Of course it would be locked. It wasn't safe to go in yet. "Alohamora," Percy whispered, and the door opened easily. Percy's heart was pounding so heavily in his chest that he swore it was making him breathless. Go!
He stepped into the room, and froze as he realized he had a direct view of the chute leading to the dragon's cage. And into two yellow eyes, with catlike pupils, staring directly at him. Percy paused, waiting for a reaction. Any reaction. The dragon blinked.
Percy wanted more than anything to run, but knew he couldn't. See. The dragon is just watching you. It's not like he's got a lot else going on in his life. Get moving! Percy's mouth was now completely dry as he forced his feet forward again. Quickly, but using fluid motions, afraid he'd startle the dragon, he kneeled and began to scoop ash into a tiny box populated with multiple pockets his father had given him. Each compartment had a separate lid to keep samples isolated. Pressing the ash into the first section, Percy closed that lid and opened another one, then walked briskly to another location.
*Shuffffffff*
The air around Percy grew moist and warm for a second. He froze. Was the dragon taking a deep breath? Percy looked into his eyes. The head hadn't moved or reared back. The dragon didn't appear poised to extend much effort. Instead, he remained right at the chute entrance, watching Percy's hands intently. In fact, although there was no facial expressions or any behavior to justify the thought, Percy could have sworn the dragon was curious what he was doing.
*Shuffffa* *sniff* *shufffffffff* *phhhhofffff*
Merlin. So was *that* a deep breath? Percy watched the dragon intently, who was watching him right back. He had quirked his large head to one side and appeared to be trying to take a bigger whiff of Percy. So can dragons smell fear like some of those animals in Hagrid's class could? Will *that* set him off?
The room was already hot, but the slightly sulfurous smell of the dragon's breath was beginning to make Percy queasy. Thankfully, the whole time Percy had been watching the dragon nervously, he hadn't stopped moving, and soon he was nearly done filling the compartments. There. Another one filled. One more to go. Percy dared to walk a little further into the room, praying for his luck to hold. The sound of a chain rattling, and something which Percy could only compare to fingernails scratching skin, indicated that the dragon had turned his body a little to keep Percy visible.
Percy glanced over at the dragon, who blinked again and exhaled gently. Warm air once more washed over him. Percy smiled feebly. Nice Dragon. Glancing around for one last area to gather ash from, Percy eyed the room warily. One more…
He dared now to walk closer to the chute, moving slower as he approached. He kept his hands in front of him to show he wasn't hiding anything. He was now so close he could see the dragon's eyelashes. I didn't know dragons had eyelashes. Wouldn't they singe in a good stiff breeze if he'd breathed fire against the wind? Slowly kneeling, Percy felt a wave of nausea roll over him, nearly giving him vertigo, as the ash he scooped into the box stuck to his sweaty hands.
He shuddered. With the last compartment filled, Percy snapped it gently shut and began to back away. Resisting the urge to wipe his hands on his clothes, he decided he could have done *without* thinking about what the ash *was* until he had a chance to take a shower. You knew from the beginning what you suspected it was. Percy's eye began to twitch uncontrollably as he tried to scold the rising panic attack back into stillness.
He wished he hadn't noticed the ash sticking to his sweaty palms and momentarily flashed to the faces plastered on the front page of the Daily Prophet. "Do you know where these people are? Does anyone know what's happened?" The caption had read. I do. They're on my hands, Percy thought, looking at his filthy, smudged palms. Percy abruptly took several deep breaths, trying to quell a hysterical giggle that threatened to break the silence of the room.
Quit thinking about it. Harmless ash, really. Nothing to worry about. Now that Percy was noticing, he realized he was completely soaked with sweat. Nerves. So maybe I don't make such a good spy. Resisting the urge to wipe his face on his robes, Percy gingerly unstuck his robes from his back. They pulled away with a sickly suctioning sound.
Percy took one final look at the dragon as he slowly backed up until he stood once more on the threshold of 'Burn In'. The Hungarian Horntail had shown no aggressive tendencies at all, for which he was deeply grateful. In fact, the dragon had seemed positively harmless in his curiosity.
"Thank you," Percy said softly into the room. The dragon's eyes widened and he abruptly pulled his head away from the chute. Percy shut the door quickly, standing once again in the staging room. The green light that had automatically turned on when he'd initially forced the door open once again switched to red. He couldn't hear anything, but the door handle Percy still had his hand on abruptly became unbearably hot. Releasing it, Percy nearly blacked out for a moment as he comprehended what had just happened. The dragon had breathed fire.
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The two guards had been brimming with relief as Percy left, first for a stop at the Ministry, then on to Hogwarts. It certainly wouldn't have done the cause any good if Percy had simply headed straight for Hogsmeade without any subterfuge. He'd spelled himself and his robes clean, but still couldn't seem to stop rubbing his hands on his thighs, as if he could still feel the grime and sweat.
Percy presently sat in Dumbledore's office for the first time in his life, with a teacup in hand that trembled loudly in the stillness of the room, save the crackling of the fire and the gentle snores of the paintings behind the Headmaster's desk. Dumbledore smiled softly and offered Percy a candy. The Headmaster looked older than Percy had ever seen him look before. Has he always been this old and I just never noticed it? Or is he simply tired? Percy accepted the dish numbly, knowing his nerves were shot, and popped it in his mouth without even looking to see what it was. A lemon drop. His trembling hands seemed to still a little, and even his headache eased mercifully. Maybe I should eat candy more often. Looking at the empty golden perch besides Dumbledore's desk, Percy realized that must be where Fawkes, the Phoenix Ron had talked about, normally stayed. What's the delay? I've got the ash… Why am I having tea? Shouldn't we be testing this?
"Professor Snape will be able to see us momentarily, Mr. Weasley. He had some previous business to attend to," Dumbledore said as if he'd read Percy's thoughts. On cue, Professor Snape's face appeared in the fireplace. He looked awful… even more so than he usually did.
"Headmaster…" Snape began, his normally deep, sinister voice oddly scratchy. Dumbledore stood and nodded his head to Percy, who set aside his tea and stood as well. He was feeling remarkably better, all things considered, and cast a suspicious eye towards the candy dish.
"We'll Floo, Severus. It's faster," Dumbledore said, and Percy realized the Headmaster must be even more anxious than he was. Good. Professor Snape's head obligingly disappeared from the fireplace, and Percy followed Dumbledore through.
He'd never seen Professor Snape's private quarters before. Shouldn't it be silver and green? It wasn't, which shocked Percy. He'd always expected even Snape's socks to shout House pride. Instead, it was very… lived in… professorial, even. Books were scattered everywhere, with little slips of parchment sticking out, clear indicators that the books weren't just for show.
There were ample chairs and smaller sofas, set into intimate little reading nooks with small coffee tables and footstools. The stone walls and floors weren't imposing, but rather… appropriate. Tapestries and rugs covered much that was exposed, so much so that if it weren't for the fact that there were *no* windows, the room could just as easily have been in Gryffindor Tower. Cupboards and shelves were filled with bottles and jars, the only real testament to what Professor Snape's profession of choice was.
Madam Pomfrey was standing beside the Potions Master, who was sitting at a large cluttered writing desk with a space cleared in the center. Hovering, actually. The scowl of disapproval on her face clearly indicated what had gone on before the Headmaster and Percy's arrival, and that Snape was ignoring whatever she'd been trying to suggest.
Abruptly, Percy understood why she was hovering, as he took the first good look he'd had at his former professor in quite a while. Professor Snape's face was chalky white and covered with a thin sheen of sweat. His hair, normally draped around his face like a curtain, was combed back so that it was completely off his face. I think it's wet because of sweat, not because he's had a shower. Several steaming goblets sat before him, untouched. He looked much thinner than Percy ever remembered him being, and the planes of his face were far more pronounced within the shadows of the candlelight. His breath seemed to rattle in his chest a little, like he had a cold.
"So. The prodigal son returns," Snape quipped. Percy flinched, but forced himself to look into those burning black eyes as he handed his former professor the ash samples.
"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted, his voice holding a faint note of warning. The Potions Master looked at Dumbledore for a moment, and some sort of unspoken communication seemed to flow between them.
"Headmaster, surely his presence isn't necessary," Snape said while nodding his head towards Percy. Percy could have hugged Madam Pomfrey for the flash of sympathy that flitted across her face. "I've had enough histrionics for one day," he observed.
"I need him here to take the results to his father once you're finished," Dumbledore replied. "And I suspect Mr. Weasley here is not likely to suffer from any… histrionics." Percy nodded his head in agreement, but dared not say a word. Silence was the least likely way to irritate the Potions Master. He'd learned that a long time ago.
"Ah. Well, it's always nice to see how you keep the feeble minded feeling useful," Professor Snape observed, and Percy felt his jaw drop in shock. What?
"I beg your pardon, Professor…" Percy began, still stinging from the accusation. He may have been a lot of things, but he was never stupid. Not brilliant, certainly… but not an idiot either. Are you so sure?
"Spare me, Mr. Weasley. Keep your mouth shut and perhaps you won't need to be reminded just *why* you're here," Professor Snape snapped. Percy felt the waves of anger and… is it hatred?...radiate off the Potions Master… Not that Snape had ever *liked* Percy… but he'd certainly never been deliberately cruel to him before. At least not unless Percy had *really* screwed up a potion.
"Severus…" Dumbledore said gently, and Percy watched in surprise as Snape suddenly seemed to deflate. The Headmaster's tone wasn't as much scolding as it was… desperate. Time's running out, and we all know it. Even Snape. The Potions Master nodded as if defeated, then reached out for a bulky cloth tied in the center, set at the far corner of his desk. His robes slipped further towards his elbow on his right arm, revealing a bloody bandage that appeared to be wrapped around the length of the man's forearm. That looks painful. Where did he get that?
On the desk before him, Snape rolled out an unwritten scroll that ran the length of his desk, and pulled the bulky piece of cloth towards him. As he unwrapped it, droppers of all shapes and varieties became visible, the glass tinkling gently in the quiet room. Some were of clear glass, and others colored in rainbow hues: red, green, blue, purple… even black and an amber hue. Some were the size of turkey basters, and others were small enough that whatever was squeezed out couldn't be more than the size of the head of a needle. Snape reached out to pull one of the steaming goblets towards him with trembling hands, but Madam Pomfrey was faster.
"Let me, Professor," she said quickly, snatching it out of his fingers, and Percy realized Snape may not have had the strength to hold it properly. He grimaced in annoyance, then raised an eyebrow as if admitting it was probably a better idea for her to handle the goblet anyway, lest he spill it.
"Thank you," Snape said, though he didn't quite sound it. Percy had never heard his voice like that before: scratchy and hoarse, as if from screaming too much. Merlin. What a thought. Percy, your imagination is running away with you. Why would a Potions Master be screaming? Professor Snape pulled a pen drawer in the desk open and extracted a set of nine tiny silver spoons. He placed them out neatly beside the cloth of droppers and began to slowly open the ash samples.
Percy felt his breath hitch as once more he realized just *what* he'd brought back. It would be the moment of truth for the Ministry, and bitterly Percy wished it would fold like a house of cards under the weight of its own bureaucracy and willful blindness.
Gingerly, Professor Snape took a teaspoon and scooped out a sampling from one of the chambers of ash. Dumbledore raised his wand and Snape's eyes narrowed for a moment before he nodded in approval at the Hogwarts seal that appeared with the swish on the blank scroll before him. Dumbledore's seal of authenticity. Percy frowned. He absolutely no idea what they were doing.
"What do you expect to learn with this?" Madam Pomfrey asked, then glanced at Percy's bewildered expression. She was clearly intrigued as to what Snape was doing. "The professor is using a Revealo Scroll," she explained to Percy. "It's designed to break down any substance into its most basic elements. I'm not clear what it will do with the ash, though…" she said, her sentence a not-so-subtle push to get Snape to explain. Dumbledore's eyes flitted from Madam Pomfrey to Snape and back again.
"I've modified the spell," the Potions Master growled, his tone hinting that *that* was the most obvious thing in the world and that he'd had to yet again explain himself to dullards. He gingerly pulled a dropper from the cloth satchel and dipped it in the steaming goblet. Percy watched, fascinated, as Snape, with trembling hands, dropped the potion onto the ash.
The potion changed color the moment it hit the ash, from grayish green to inky black. Ink. It *is* ink, isn't it? At least, it certainly looks like it. The drops of potion created a tiny crater in the ash's center from which more potion/ink began to ooze out. Percy watched, fascinated, as far more potion spewed forth from the pile of ash than the dropper had placed into it. In fact, it looked oddly like an erupting volcano; the gentle kind where magma oozed over the sides and flooded the lands below it.
The ink slid over the scroll in all directions like tiny snakes, leaving an abundance of thin trails behind. Percy held his breath in shock as he realized that the curls and squiggles were shortly turning into what looked like words.
"97% of a corpse's bodyweight is converted into gases upon cremation," Snape said aloud, although it seemed as if he were speaking to himself more than anyone else in the room. "Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen… all are lost. What remains, the 3% left, is generally granulated lime… bone fragments, mostly. No living organisms remain. But human bone fragments aren't enough. The trick is to tie it to our victims…" Here Snape paused to look at Dumbledore. Our? That's an odd turn of phrase. Dumbledore was watching the Potions Master with a solemn face. Percy wasn't sure what he read there, but he seemed… weary and sad.
"I've been performing tracer spells from all those on the Missing Wizards and Witches list and embedding them onto the scrolls. The potion is designed to take the components from the ash, and highlight all the names contained therein," he explained, and Percy watched in horror as names had indeed begun to reveal themselves.
Esther Ipswich, Herman Stoneleight, Hazel Crowhurst, Walter Rugby, Arvel Barnes, Lawrence Kenilworth, Clifford Brailes, Bernice Coombe… Name after name began to write itself from within the scroll. Each was a different signature, as if the dead witches or wizards had stepped up to sign the scroll themselves. Some were elegant and elaborate inscriptions, others were shaky and simple block letters… Children's writing… Percy felt his tremors from earlier begin anew and his skin begin to prickle and go slightly numb. No histrionics... No histrionics, Percy mumbled to himself until he was better under control of his emotions. Dumbledore's eyes lit up at the names that filled up the scroll, an odd combination of victory and grim determination.
"This is it, isn't it?" Percy asked, needing the validation said aloud. Please let this be it. Please let this be enough.
"This is it," Dumbledore confirmed. "Severus, do you have other scrolls embedded with the tracker spells?" he asked as he strode briskly to Snape's fireplace, all fatigue seemingly gone.
"Of course," Snape replied.
"Arthur, we have confirmation. I'm going to send Percy to you with the evidence," the Headmaster said as Percy's father's head appeared in the fire. Arthur smiled widely when he saw Percy, relief evident in his features even as he nodded attentively to what Dumbledore said.
"Certainly, Headmaster. Do you still want *all* the pieces in play?" Arthur asked cryptically. Dumbledore nodded, his hat bobbing precariously.
"Yes… All of them. And Arthur… the worst is about to come to pass," he said. Percy watched as his father's face paled and his eyes widened.
"No! So soon? Will they make it in time? Do you need…?" Arthur asked, his voice sounding rough and strained with emotion. What are they talking about? What's going on?
"Yes, I do. I'll need all of them. As for whether it's in time or not, I truly do not know. But the sooner you play your part, the better. Be careful, Arthur. I do not need to remind you how important what you do today is," Dumbledore's voice was intense and powerful.
Gone was the cheery Headmaster. In his place was the man who defeated Grindelwald, who already had plans and contingency plans in place, and was activating them now. If anyone can free Harry, it's him, Percy realized… and although he'd already known that… seeing Dumbledore as he was now: capable, commanding, strategic, and in control… gave Percy more hope than he'd had in weeks.
Snape handed Percy the scroll, which he realized with a start was now almost completely covered with names. Barely any part of the parchment remained unsigned. The Potions Master spelled the ink dry and rolled it carefully up, muttering a waterproof and anti-tearing charm as well before actually placing it in Percy's hands. The message was clear. Don't screw this up. Dumbledore gently steered Percy to the fireplace and lifted the lid from the Floo powder container.
"You've done well, Mr. Weasley. Thank you… I hope you'll have the opportunity to enjoy witnessing first hand the fruits of your labor," he said enigmatically, even as he turned back to the sickly Potions Master and Madam Pomfrey. Already she was trying to get Professor Snape to drink something, and his scowl of annoyance made Percy smile as he called out for home. Home. I've done my part. He nearly laughed aloud as he realized, Percy, old chap… I think you're officially out of a job. Thank Merlin.
TBC…
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Author's Notes: Thank you so much to everyone who wished my mother well. She's doing just fine and recovering nicely. I appreciate all the nice thoughts and sentiments, and hope you've enjoyed the chapter. I promise to do my best to get the next one to you sooner. I have new incentive now… My fiancé is nearly done with the 4th book and will be reading my story once he's done. Yikes! Once my panic attack finishes, I'll jump right into Chapter 33. 8-)
The rest, as they say, are responses and Author babble. Take what you like and ignore the rest. g
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darkphoenix (Not sure yet. Don't want to reveal too much. g Certainly more of that. Hmm, hadn't thought of that aspect, but certainly see it. Good idea!); psychochick (G I really appreciate that. I think that's why I started this. I wanted *more* HP, and JKR wasn't giving it! g Glad I've kept you guessing. Hope I continue to do so); Green Eyed Knight (Nope, still here), ratgirl (as Peter was an Animagus as well, could he have been familiar with what Sirius would and would not notice? Just a thought.); Silverwolf (It most certainly is! And unfortunately I'll be doing it again soon. Yuck! 8-) He transformed once, with a *lot* of help from Severus, but no, he won't be able to do it again.); Kouji (Not sure. Not telling. g); LaminaCourt (Oh yes. Loved it. Dying for Book 5!); Anonymous (working on that…); WeasleyTinsLover1112; Starlette (It *is* addictive, isn't it? Thanks!); Mistri; *~Ice~* (Thanks!); Laterose (I hope the 'long arduous description thing isn't *too* tedius! g); x-woman (I'm shooting for next chapter. As for the rest, you'll have to wait and see!); leaf (I *very* much appreciate that! Thanks! I'm sooo glad you're posting. Congratulations! And I *love* being on Favorites. Thanks!); Anti Pasta (Hmmm… Not soon. Too much to do, you see! g); Lucerito-del-alba (Going as fast as I can. As for the cliffies… They just happen! Honest! I certainly don't set out to do them.); Fleur (Not too many realized the ramifications of that, huh? g Hmm. Maybe that's male bonding… backs away from the keyboard. Kidding!); kapies (I'm going as fast as I can. Really!); Sakura Blossom (Glad you like it. Do porcupines *have* friends? I wonder if it's in Snape's nature. I'll do my best to stay true. Lots still happening, though. As for the plot hole… Nope, it's only been a couple of weeks. Harry wouldn't last that long in Azkaban, I don't think.); Sherylyn (Yep, I think that's why, too. It's also what's so cool about the books. They grow in maturity as he does. It's impressive as heck!); PurePsychicEspeon (I agree. Those reviewers were crackheads!); sk8reagle; Von (Liked that? Cool. We'll see if Snape doesn't someday extract revenge, though. Who's the better man? Hmmm…); Lei Dumbledore; Jessica; Anonymous; Gwendolyn-flight (hehehehe); Sirius fan (lol Thank you, although I myself am *dying* for book 5, I appreciate the vote of confidence! g); Smego Baggins (Love the name! I really appreciate that! Thanks! Hope the truth of what the Ministry has been doing lived up to your expectations! Hmm. She might. I'll have to see about that… Poor Harry breaks my heart too. You wouldn't know it from what I put him through, would you? 8-) Interesting thought. We'll have to see if it fits in, but it's a good idea. Thanks!); ~Aura~ (You'll see soon…); Nosgoroth (Sure do! Any HP addict knows them! Thanks! I'll try when I can!); black panther; Nimue (Hmmm.. I knew that. Did I not present something right? As for the grammar stuff ahem… I write it in Word first, and practically *everything* gets underlined, so I've taken to ignoring Word's prompts. Why? Are you volunteering for the job? g); peewee potter; deso (Nope. No romance here! I'm too into the bonding thing in this fic!); Kat (In a day… shakes head in amazement Wow. Cool to hear. Sorry it took so long to post!); coconut-ice agent h/h (Yep, it made sense.); Tempest Princess (Thanks!); IsabelleMalfoyPotterSnape (Sorry, no romance here. Not that I don't like it. See my favorites to prove that I do. It's just that, for this fic, it doesn't fit. There's too much, and truth be told, romance limits itself to 2 people clears throat usually, and excludes others. This is about friendship and family, so… There you go.); Lisa: Thank you all so much for the reviews!!!
bagheera (glad you liked the originals, too! I didn't want OOCs, but a person's world is not solely made up of mutually known people… You're welcome! As for the second review, you'll learn more about Peter soon enough… Nature of Dark Magic should be next chapter. Hehehehe. Yep. I agree. Flatter away. I'm a sponge.); summersun (Less responses here. More story.g); Alex (yes, yes, yes… I agree. I just also want to let reviewers know I read their reviews, and appreciate it. This should be shorter. Hm. Never answered within the review pages before… As for email… had it, lost it, had it, changed it, got it back, am losing it again… g); Star Future (G Thanks. Glad you like all that. I didn't say that Voldemort *could* summon Remus, but that the Potters feared, because of Voldemort's prowess with Dark Magic, he'd find a way to tap into the Dark Magic that werewolves are created with (canon establishes that Werewolves are Dark Magic). It was a fear of theirs, but I didn't establish it as a fact. lol Thanks for the compliments! I'm really glad you're enjoying it!); Mara Arwen Black-McGregor (blushes I agree. I have to admit, I tend to think so!); Ash Smash (Chapter 29 is where the dragons come in, and the speculation from there. Thanks!); Quatre's Angel (kicks at stone shyly Thanks! Yes, I'm pretty impressed with my stamina for this, too. Of course, that's what this is about for me. Glad you like it! It's my substitute for the 5th book, too); Colleen (Not a problem! Good to hear from you!); EternalBastet; Katherine Alexandra Potter; Anonymous (Sorry for the delay!); Emily (Sorry 'bout that); RavenLady (Yeah, in retrospect, it could have been toned down. Ah well.); Michelle (Peter's got a lot happening. I'll be exploring him further, soon. Yep, therapy is definitely in order. Not the beginning of term, yet, though it's coming.); Hblack (Yep, heard it from others, too. Email has changed, though. Several times. I appreciate the sentiments, though. Do keep in mind, though, that to an aspiring writer, reviews are like crack cocaine.); Slyterin Dark Lord; Teardrop; Poetic Grim (Wow. And to think his childhood did prepare him, didn't it? Loved the perspectives and insight, and the pervasive sense of hope amidst hopelessness. Thank you *very* much!); Lilas (LOL!!): More Snape and Harry next chapter!
Teufel Riddle (Thanks!!! Hmmm. Check out http://www.i2k.com/~svderark/lexicon/ for Kneazle info. The rest is me.); MarchoftheDemented (You'll see! g); BenJonBroad; Ashfae (hehehe); Jocelyn; bruce (LOL! G); Bobbi (Believe it or not, I dreamt part of it. The rest just keeps writing itself.); Phoenix Tears Type 6; Christy; Caroline; Nymoue; Semmel; BlackDragon; SpiderGirl05; Mikayla; xellia metallium (You and me both! I think I'll try to squeeze in some 'Old Crowd' later. I *really* appreciate that! I totally agree! ); Prami; fairy cheese; Impacient; Brooke; kungfubabe; Ringo (Nope. Not in this one.) ; Moonlight Yellow (Welcome back! Never played one, but thanks for the recommend!); Thanks again. I'll try for more frequent updates, but can only promise updates. 8-)
And to those who responded to the Author's Notes: I appreciate all the encouragement and good wishes you sent my way. I think you're reviews will be wiped with my update, but know I've read them and *hugely* appreciate all the kind words and thoughts you've sent my way. I look forward to your feedback as the story progresses!
Ruth: Well, I posted the Author's Note, and hope it's helped. Sorry to disappoint. The sparkle isn't gone (at least I hope not), but life is what happens when I'm making other plans. I intend to finish the story, but can't guarantee timing like Fed Ex does, or your money back. Hope you continue to read it, but understand if you don't.
SummerCloud: I've always been more of a character driven writer rather than a plot driven one. This is the first clear plot I've had thoroughly planned start to finish. I'm glad the blend hasn't left one or the other in the dust for you! I do have a mailing list, but haven't been able to use it recently… I think you can be notified when I update through ff.net, too. Thanks for the kind words. Music to my ears, as I'm sure you know I hope to some day be published. Thanks!
ErnieMU03: Nope, don't mind at all. g Yep. lol! Thanks! I'll take you up on that! 8-) Yes, I suspect I know a bit *too* much about JKR's world… g I really appreciate your compliments, and am glad you like the fic!
Sea Chelle: I appreciate that! I think you express yourself nicely. Okay. You've made my day. An aspiring writer simply cannot hear enough of someone telling them they should be published. Manna from the Gods, I say! Yep, the Dementors definitely made an impression on me, and I wanted to explore it. I thought that was pretty sneaky, too. Glad you liked it. It established a fact without anyone having to go out of character, yet showing an irrevocable truth Sirius couldn't argue with. Crookshanks, I'll go a little into detail about later. For now, I've just taken his hatred of Scabbers at Hogwarts and expanded it to something more. Considering the speculation that he's part Kneazle, it opens a lot of possibilities up. Nope, you didn't miss it. Thanks again, and hope you liked the chapter!
Lisette: I appreciate that. Sorry it took so long! Oooh! I hope your roommate likes it! I know! It's wild, isn't it? Truthfully, I did ramble a bit in the beginning, but I think I'm getting better now. Yeah, I've learned a lot about character development, pacing and plotting since beginning this story. It was the smartest thing I've done in a long time! I hope the plot ideas continue to inspire! Thanks for the kind words. I've kind of noticed it, too, when I reread a section to make sure I'm not being redundant and such. I'm pleased you noticed, and thrilled at your compliments. I can't tell you enough how much they mean to me.
Minerva: Yikes. In one night? Glad you like the POV switches, although I have tried to tone that down a bit… At least not so many in one chapter. I have to admit, I modified the Dursleys, and I agree that it's out of canon, but I'll tell you why I did: I wanted Harry out of that house! I'm appalled that Harry has to stay there, and I knew that a catalyst was needed. Taking the Dursleys and pushing them that one little step further (and if you think about it, it's not *that* far: bars on the windows, no friends allowed, chores all day, no homework allowed to be done, no Christmas presents or birthdays… I mean, really! How much worse does it have to be for it to be unacceptable for Harry to stay there?) So… I gave it a nudge. The rest kind of happened. 8-) I see your point about the hugs and physical touches. You've got me there. You're most likely right. Thanks for the thoughtful input! Look forward to hearing more! g
Moonlight: Thanks. I have a dog, and realized that she generally *can* tell when people are sick, or mad. She's really sensitive to these things, so I took a wild guess as to *why*. Glad it played. You'll see. Yep. One more Snape/Harry segment before… bwah hah hah hah!
Ernie Prang: Snape is next chapter. I agree. I've had a bit of catharsis with this story, getting out all that I wish I'd seen in the story. Oh, you smoothie, you. You know how to make an aspiring writer *glow*! Well, just to let you know, I went to *town* on the mood at the Weasley house, and ended up cutting pages of it. In all fairness, *none* of it drove the plot along. I was still partial to the conversations, so I've kept them, but all the rest… Le sigh. I can't answer too much more, but lots on the way. Honest! Thanks for the great thoughts and feedback!
Erika: LOL… It was fun to read your opinions as you progressed from chapter to chapter. Glad you liked, and thanks for the kind feedback!
Lady Foxfire: Hm. Yep, it is. I tried to make it obvious, but can see why it's not. Nothing sinister. Lupin is there.
Lothey: I LOVE it!!!! I've had it open each time I work on the chapter, and think it, like all your work, is a delight and inspirational. Sorry I didn't get a chance to let you know directly. While I moved, my email changed temporarily. It's sort of back now… For a little while longer. For anyone who'd like to view Lothey's latest lovely artistic creation, it's located at: http://www.geocities.com/gredandfeorgeareuptonogood/sirius_harry.jpg Me too! Hmm, haven't heard it or seen the movie, but do want to. Thanks for the recommend. Soundtracks are great for writing, as long as you can separate the movie from the music. Some are too intertwined, like LOTR, but most are fair game. Gladiator was a good one. That would be amazing!!! Okay, you're a bit intimidating… g LOL… I can't tell you how cool that would be to have a theme song, although I'd desperately want to hear it. As it is, I'm already bragging that I have a story that has artwork inspired for it. 8-) Love Chorale work. Christmas on NPR *rocks*! Thanks for the recommends. I will definitely look into them! Tell you what… When I finish the scene I'm talking about, I'll send you a copy directly, before I post. (I don't want to spoil the story g) I'll put a note at the end with what I was thinking about, and see what *you* think. That *would* be fun, though, wouldn't it? I'd like that. Thank you *very* much!