A/N: The year-end conflict approacheth.  (I know that's not a real word.  I also know that Harry hasn't taken his O.W.L.s yet, but there's no reason the big fight can't happen first.)  Reviewer responses are a bit lengthy, mostly due to the presence of two negative reviews from the same reader.  It takes longer to address those.

totallystellar: I did miss you!  And thanks for the Guardian Salad – it was just the thing I needed.  So you don't like Percy or Ron?  Oh, well...  Read on, my friend.

athenakitty: Will Percy get zapped?  Keep reading and find out.

Danae: Both of your questions are answered in this chapter.  And yes, I am having lots of fun writing!

Darak: You have the distinction of being only the second person to give this story a true thumbs-down.  The first bad review I got was on the very first chapter and was so infantile in its composition that I deleted it.  It was of the "you suck" variety from a guy who had only read about two paragraphs before passing judgment.  Anyway, your reviews were more mature than that, which I appreciate.  About the first review: is Dumbledore stupid in this story?  No.  His reason for not acting at the time was that he wasn't ready to fight both the Ministry and Voldemort at once.  What is going on here is that Fudge is blackmailing, buying, or simply resonating with many members of the various branches of the magical government.  He wants to control them all.  I made the point in an earlier chapter that the system was outdated with the potential for exploitation.  If you think this kind of thing can't be done, think again.  Tyrants flourish on intimidation and manipulation.  Look at Hitler; look at Stalin; look at Noriega.  Fictional Fudge is not really like any of these people, but I hope you see my point.  When immoral men are in charge of governments, terrible things happen, no matter how clearly self-serving their actions are.  As to the second review: I most certainly agree that both good and evil are present in the world, but your reproach is theological in nature, which I will not debate here.  If you want a very light, happy story, you may want to look elsewhere.  That being said, I do not consider this to be a "dark" tale at all; there are plenty of stories full of despair on fanfiction.net (Harry kills himself, various characters give up on life, etc.) that I won't touch with a ten-foot pole.  Good will ultimately triumph in this continuing yarn, but the road to victory will not be without tribulation or cost!  As the saying goes, the darkest hour is just before dawn.  Of course, since you say you despise my story, I would recommend finding something else to read.  I am sorry you didn't enjoy it more, but I guess I can't please everyone.

Kaye: I can feel your excitement radiating from here!

Rob: Hello, and welcome!  I'm glad you've been entertained!  I've answered your question (hopefully) in this chapter.  Thanks so much for the kind comments; they were wonderful to see after Darak's disapproval.

LovinsomeElrond: I was humbled into silence by your review.  I've never had higher praise than yours.  I am thrilled – thrilled, I say – that you liked the story so much.  I'm especially pleased that you liked the OCs; I know that OCs can be cloying when not done well.  You've come in near the end of the story, so you won't have to wait forever to find out what happens.

Sherry: Welcome to the story!  I love seeing new reviewers!  Sorry about the cliffhanger – I don't do them very often, only when the chapter naturally seems to end at one.

Wytil: It's great to see your name again!  Keep reading to see what Percy does…

Jemma Blackwell: Hee, I love reading your reviews.  Hey, someone else who likes it when the trio talks about stuff!  They've got such a tight friendship that it feels natural to me.

Quill: Nice to see you again, too!  Sorry, but there's another cliffhanger at the end of this chapter.

Chapter 37: The Unwilling Accomplice

Harry and Ron looked between Percy and Hermione, trying to decide what to do.  Percy was holding his wand in one hand.  Harry's was tucked away inside his robes; you didn't need your wand when playing Quidditch, but he was never without it.  He couldn't just reach for it, though.  Percy had Stunned Hermione, so there was no telling what he would do next.

"What is this message?" Harry finally said.

"It's not something that can be told," said Percy.  "You need to be shown."

Harry and Ron exchanged glances that spoke volumes.  Neither one of them was buying that fish tale.

"What about me?" Ron said warily.  "Can I come?"

"If you wish," said Percy.

Harry blinked.  He hadn't been expecting that.  Still, he was certain that Hermione's dream was coming to pass right before his eyes.

"What makes you think I'll just up and go with you?" Harry said carefully.  "You haven't given me any reason to think I should."

"Yeah," said Ron in a challenging tone.  "Tell us something about this message or no dice."

"I am your brother," said Percy.  "My word should be enough for you."

"You betrayed our family!" snapped Ron.  "What could you possibly say that would make me trust you?"

"You must believe me," said Percy, breaking his near-monotone for the first time.  He looked back at them, his eyes flitting madly from one of their faces to the other, back and forth, back and forth.  They were full of paralyzed fear, but it was the oddest thing, because the rest of his face was perfectly smooth.

Harry's skin was crawling.  He wasn't sure how he and Ron were going to get out of the situation, but keeping Percy talking seemed like the best thing to do.  It couldn't be long before some of the other Gryffindors came back to the common room, and when they did, Percy would be distracted enough for them to reach their wands.  "Ron's right," Harry said in a stronger voice.  "Tell us something about the message."

Percy's mouth twisted into a slight grimace.  His eyes continued to burn feverishly.  "They're going to execute her," he said.

Ron froze.  "Who?" he said, although he and Harry both knew who Percy was talking about.

"Celeste Thornby.  Tonight."

Harry's blood ran cold.  Fudge is going to kill her?  Without a trial?  He's gone mad!  They needed more time.  Harry seized Ron's arm and pulled him backwards.  "Give us a second to talk," he said, and Percy nodded.

"His eyes," Harry whispered after they had moved several feet away.  "It's got to be the Imperius Curse."

"I figured," Ron whispered back.  "But how can you be sure?"

"I saw Mr. Crouch last year when he was under it.  Later on Dumbledore said he was fighting it at the time.  He didn't act quite like this, but I think Percy's fighting it too.  He's trying to tell us something, but he can't say it.  Not with his mouth, anyway."

"So is he lying or is he telling the truth?" said Ron desperately.

"I don't know," Harry mused, "but it's not all exactly like he said.  This is the trap Hermione was talking about, whether Fudge is going to kill Professor Thornby or not."

Ron glanced in Percy's direction and his eyes suddenly widened.  Harry started to look too, but Ron jerked his gaze back to Harry and hissed, "Don't look!  Hermione's waking up, but Percy's watching us too closely."

Harry kept his own eyes on Percy.  "Keep stalling," he whispered.  "Come on, Hermione..."  He risked the briefest of glances down and saw that her eyelashes were fluttering.  Percy was still oblivious to her.

"Please," Percy said from across the room.  "You must come with me and stop them."

Harry and Ron eyed him warily.  "I don't think we should go anywhere alone with you.  If they're really going to kill her, then we need to get Dumbledore," said Harry.

"No," said Percy.  He licked his lips.  "They're expecting him to come.  They won't expect you."

"Professor McGonagall, then.  Or Professor Bellaton."  Ron's voice held a definite note of desperation.  Harry's own feelings perfectly mirrored his friend's.  Percy was growing more insistent, and things were getting out of hand.  What was Percy going to do if he tired of the game before Hermione recovered or another Gryffindor came?  Attack and drag them along?

Percy stood up and ran his fingers along the length of his wand.  A tear leaked from each of his eyes while the rest of his face remained masklike.  "It's wrong for them to kill her," he said in that eerie, flat voice.  "You will help me stop them."  He took a step forward.

"You're not yourself," said Ron, stepping backwards.

Percy continued to advance on them slowly.  Harry and Ron backed up, but the moment they reached for their own robes, Percy leveled his wand at them.  "Don't make me do this," he grated.  "One way or another, you're coming with me."

Percy had walked past Hermione.  Harry sneaked another glance and saw that her eyes were fully open.  Her head was turned in their direction, but she wasn't looking at them – she was looking at her wand, which lay a few inches from her right hand.  Ever so slowly, she was inching her hand closer and closer.

Percy drew a deep breath.  Harry and Ron exchanged panicked glances.  They were going to have to go for their wands; Percy couldn't curse them both at the same time, but one of them was about to get hit with something nasty.

"Ready?" Harry whispered as softly as he could.

Ron nodded, his eyes wide.

"NOW!"

Harry and Ron plunged their hands into their robes and the air erupted with the sound of people shouting.  Harry felt his fingers close around smooth wood just as a jet of white light struck him in the shoulder.  He was blasted backwards off his feet and crashed to the floor.  His arm was cold and heavy, like a block of lead.  To his horror, the icy feeling was swiftly creeping across his chest.  Already it was licking at the base of his neck.  He felt his lungs seize up; he couldn't breathe… and just as suddenly as it had begun, the icy feeling drained away.  Harry drew great, shuddering gasps as lungs thawed.

"Are you okay?" Ron said shakily from next to him.

"Yeah," Harry breathed.  His heart was fluttering like a bird in a very small cage.  There were a lot of people in the common room.  Ron and Bellaton were at his side, looking at him with concern.  Behind them he could see Professor McGonagall and Hagrid helping Hermione up.  There were several others standing around, but Harry was having a hard time taking everything in.  "Did you get him?" he asked.

"A lot of people got him, including me and Hermione."  There was a clear note of pride in Ron's voice.

"Hermione?" said Harry.

"I'm all right," she said breathlessly.

"Did you get hit with anything, son?" said a familiar voice.

Harry and Ron looked up.  "Dad?" said Ron in confusion.

"Did he hit you?" Mr. Weasley repeated urgently.

"No," said Ron.  "He only hit Harry."

"And a nasty curse it was, too," said another familiar voice.

"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed.  He looked all around, but he couldn't see his godfather anywhere.  "Where are you?"

"I'm under the Disillusionment Charm," said Sirius.  "I can't afford to be seen walking the halls of Hogwarts just yet."  Harry suddenly felt the warm pressure of a hand on his shoulder.  "Look closer," said Sirius.

Harry looked at his shoulder, and then he saw it – a hand.  It was the same color as his Quidditch robes and very hard to see.  Harry followed the hand back and saw an arm, which led to a body.  It was difficult to make Sirius out at all; he was like a human chameleon.

"Right," said Mr. Weasley.  "I think we've got you both taken care of."  He looked over to where Percy lay in a heap on the floor.  Mrs. Weasley was anxiously feeling at his face while Dumbledore and some unfamiliar people bent over him.

Harry suddenly jumped.  He could barely sense her, but Professor Thornby was moving somewhere and moving fast.  Alarm bells were going off in his head.  Danger!  Darkness!  Despair!

"What is it?" Professor Bellaton said urgently.  He grasped Harry's arm so tightly that it almost hurt.

"She's in trouble!" Harry gasped.  "Percy was telling the truth!"

"We do not know that for sure," said Dumbledore, rising from where he had stooped over Percy's still form.

Harry put his hands on either side of his head as the warnings screamed at him again.  "She's in a lot of trouble!" he cried.

"There is one way to find out what is really going on," said Dumbledore.  "Severus, have you more Veritaserum?"

"I have," said Snape, stepping out of the shadows.

"Please fetch it as fast as you can," said Dumbledore.  "Time, I fear, is of the essence."  Snape quickly left the room.

Harry was terribly frustrated.  Did Dumbledore not grasp the urgency of the situation?  "We don't have time," he said loudly.  The adults all looked at him curiously, but fear had emboldened him.  "We have to find her now."

"I am not insensible of the danger," said Dumbledore.  "But if it was all as Hermione told us – and Dreamers are seldom wrong – then Fudge will be waiting for Percy to return with you.  We do not have much time, but we have some."  He looked down at Percy.  "Poor lad," he murmured.  "So intelligent and yet so foolish at the same time."

"Was it the Imperius Curse?" said Ron.

"Indeed it was, Ronald," said Dumbledore.  "But from the looks of things, he has been fighting it for some time.  When he comes round, we shall learn all we can from him."

While Snape was gone, Harry took a good look around the room.  There were two other people inside that he didn't know.  One was a black man with a shiny bald head and one golden earring.  He looked to be about the same great height and bulk as Bellaton.  His size only made the woman next to him seem even smaller than she was.  She was young and had shocking pink hair, a button nose, and mischievous eyes.

"Who are they?" Harry said to no one in particular.

Sirius' voice answered.  "The man is Kingsley Shacklebolt, and the woman is Nymphadora Tonks.  Call her Nymphadora and you're likely to get a drubbing; she prefers to go by just Tonks.  They're both Ministry Aurors."

Harry suddenly realized that someone was missing.  He didn't know exactly how this group worked, but everyone in it was one of Dumbledore's allies.  "Where's Remus?" he asked.

"He was off on another errand today," said Sirius.  "He still should have received Dumbledore's summons, but he must have been in the middle of something too important to leave.  He never showed at Alverbrooke, so I had to come without him."

"How did Percy get in here, anyway?" said Ron.

Hermione came over with Hagrid and sat down next to them.  "He followed me into the common room," she said.  "I didn't know he was there; he was invisible.  When I got inside he lifted the charm and asked where Harry was.  I told him I didn't know.  He called me a liar and said he was at the Quidditch match.  Then he said Harry would come looking for me if I didn't show, and he Stunned me before I could get my wand out."

"Bugger," said Ron.  "Were you scared?"

"Petrified," said Hermione.  "I knew Fudge would try something soon, but not this soon."

"So... how did everyone else know what was going on in here?" said Harry.

"Ever since Hermione came ter Dumbledore this mornin', the staff've been on watch," said Hagrid.  "Even the ghosts were in on it.  It was Sir Nicholas who saw yeh and Ron comin' back ter the common room.  He wondered why yeh were back from the game early an' alone, so he went ter Dumbledore's office, where we were all havin' a meetin'."

Harry was about to ask what the meeting was about when Snape came rushing back in with a vial of clear liquid.  "Stand back, Molly," Dumbledore said gently.  Mrs. Weasley reluctantly moved away from her son, and Dumbledore pointed his wand at Percy.  "Enervate!"  Percy's eyelids fluttered open.  When he saw Dumbledore his hand grasped for his wand, but Bellaton brought his foot down on his wrist.  Percy struggled beneath Bellaton, his face twisting into a grimace.

"Finite Incantatem!" said Dumbledore.

Percy immediately stopped moving.  He blinked a few times and gazed up at the headmaster.  "Dumbledore?"  His eyes grew wide.  "I'm free," he whispered.  "Thank God, I'm free!"  Tears began to stream down his face.  Ron looked shocked while his parents seemed both relieved and deeply saddened by turns.  Suddenly Percy's joy gave way to stark terror.  He seized a handful of Dumbledore's robes.  "They're going to do it!" he gasped.  "Please, you must hurry!"

Dumbledore bent down beside him.  "Percy, in order to be certain that we have the truth from you, I need you to drink this," he said, and held out the vial.

"Anything," said Percy.  "You wouldn't believe me otherwise, and I wouldn't blame you."  He hastily uncorked the vial and tossed the contents down his throat.  A few moments passed and his face went slack.

"Who sent you here tonight?" said Dumbledore.

"Minister Fudge."  Percy's voice was just as flat and dead as Barty Crouch's had been in Dumbledore's office one year ago.

"Were you under the Imperius Curse when you arrived at Hogwarts?"

"Partially."

"Who placed you under the Imperius Curse?"

"Minister Fudge."

Professor McGonagall hissed.  Dumbledore's face grew even more somber.  "Is Minister Fudge directly allied with Voldemort?"

"No."  The adults exchanged significant glances at this reply.

"Why did you come here tonight?"

"To capture Harry Potter."

"What does Minister Fudge want with Harry?"

"He is collateral."

"What was he to guarantee?"

"That Celeste Thornby would comply with the Minister's wishes."

Harry and Ron looked at Hermione.  She was staring miserably at the floor.

"What does Minister Fudge want with her?" Dumbledore continued.

"Minister Fudge is giving her the chance to swear fealty to him."

Dumbledore's eyes narrowed.  "What happens if she refuses?"

"She will be executed."

Everyone gasped save Dumbledore and Percy.  Has she been tortured?" asked Dumbledore.

"No," said Percy, and Bellaton let out a sigh of relief that almost sounded like a sob.

"Logically, the threat of physical harm would make her more amenable to swearing."  Harry could hardly believe that the headmaster could talk about such a horrible thing in such a matter-of-fact way.

"The Minister did not wish her damaged."

Dumbledore frowned, and Harry did the same.  What did that mean?

"Why does Minister Fudge want her loyalty?" said Dumbledore.

"He wishes to create his own strike force.  It will not be complete without a Singer," said Percy.

"And this is why she has not been harmed?"

"The Minister wants his force in top condition."

"But if she will not swear, he won't let anyone else have her.  Is that correct?"

"He won't let you have her," Percy replied.

"How long ago were you placed under the Imperius Curse?"

"Two months."

"How long have you been fighting the Imperius Curse?"

"I am not sure."

"Did the Minister suspect that you were fighting it?"

"I don't think so."

"Did you try to hide your recovery?"

"Yes, when my mind was lucid."

Dumbledore paused for a moment, stroking his beard with one hand.  "Where will the execution take place?"

"I don't know," said Percy.

"Then how were you to bring Harry to the Minister?"

"I have a portkey," said Percy.

"Is it activated?"

"No."

"Give it to me."

Percy reached into his robes and pulled out a shining prefect's badge.  Dumbledore tucked it up his sleeve.  "What would have happened to you had you returned without Harry?" he said.

"I would have been punished."

"But the Minister was aware that you might not be able to secure him?"

"If I could not take him without being captured myself, I was to abandon the mission," said Percy.

"By what time were you to have returned, with or without Harry?"

"By thirty minutes past sunset."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked to the windows.  The sun was already sinking low in the sky.

"We're running out of time," Professor McGonagall murmured.

Dumbledore nodded.  "I think this is all we can afford to learn at this time.  Severus, we are going to need the antidote –"

"Wait a minute," said Mr. Weasley.  "I think there are a few more things we need to know."

"Ask," said Dumbledore, "but be quick."

"Why did Fudge place you under the Imperius Curse?" said Mr. Weasley.  His face was rock hard.  Beside him, Mrs. Weasley clasped her hands tightly as if she were afraid of what Percy might say.

"I no longer agreed with his way of thinking, but he wanted me to remain with him."

"What were your plans just before you were cursed?"

"To find my father," said Percy.

"Why?" said Mr. Weasley.

"To tell him what Minister Fudge was planning."

"You publicly turned your back on your family."

"I wished to beg their forgiveness."

Mrs. Weasley burst into tears.  Mr. Weasley opened his mouth as if to say something more, but his face crumpled and he closed it again.  He nodded to Dumbledore, then turned away and put an arm around his wife.  Harry and Hermione looked at Ron but quickly looked away again.  Ron's eyes were red and he was blinking furiously.  Judging from his own experience, Harry didn't think that Ron would want them to watch him shed tears.

"Go ahead, Severus," said Dumbledore.  Snape drew another vial from his robes, uncorked it, and poured the contents down Percy's throat.  Percy blinked a few times and his eyes refocused.  Then he saw his parents.  "Mum?" he said hoarsely.  "Dad?"

Mrs. Weasley flew forward and hugged her son tightly.  Mr. Weasley put his arms around Percy from behind, sandwiching him in.  He murmured something in Percy's ear, and Percy began to cry.  For a few moments everyone was still while Percy sobbed in his parents' embrace.  Ron watched the scene with a conflicted look on his face.  Finally he stood up and shuffled over to the rest of his family.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley loosened their hold on their older son.  "Ron?" Percy sniffed, looking hopefully at his brother.

"You've been a right stupid git," Ron said in a hard voice.

Mrs. Weasley gave Ron a reproachful look, but Percy answered.  "I know," he said simply.  "Will you forgive me?"

Ron stared back at Percy for a moment, and then his face broke into a smile. "'Course I will," he said.  "After all, you are my brother."  He threw an arm around Percy, who responded in kind.

Harry heard Sirius give a great sniff behind him.  Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and the two Aurors were all wiping their eyes.

"Welcome back, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore with a warm smile.

"Thank you," said Percy.  "Was I any help to you?"

"You were a very great help," said Dumbledore.  "However, I have something more to ask of you.  With more time I might be able to formulate another plan, but –"

"Tell me what it is," Percy interrupted.  He wiped his eyes vigorously to clear the tears away.

"The Minister is expecting you to return one way or another.  If you do not, he will be suspicious."

"You want me to pretend," said Percy.

"How good of an actor are you?" said Dumbledore.

"Good enough," Percy replied.

"Wait!" said Mrs. Weasley.  "You said you would be punished if you went back without Harry!"

"Cruciatus," said Percy.  "That's what he'll do.  Or rather, Lucius Malfoy will do it."

"Albus!" cried Mrs. Weasley.

"I can do it," Percy said firmly.  "Don't worry, Mum.  It'll only last for a few seconds."

"It'll feel like forever," said Harry.

"I know," said Percy.  "I've experienced it before.  The Minister is becoming less and less patient with those beneath him.  It was Lucius Malfoy who first suggested the use of Cruciatus as a punishment."

Mrs. Weasley began to weep afresh.  "Oh, Percy..."

"It's all right, Mum," said Percy.  "I have to do this.  I've made so many things wrong already.  They're going to do murder, but maybe I can help prevent it."

"They'll kill her even if you don't do this," said Mrs. Weasley.

"But this way we'll have more time," said Dumbledore.  "Harry, can you find Professor Thornby?"

"I can point right to her," said Harry.  "She's far away, though."

"We'll put a Tracer on you, and the rest of the Order can Apparate to it," said Dumbledore.

"What's a Tracer?" said Harry, just as Ron and Hermione said, "What's the Order?"

"The Order of the Phoenix will have to be explained later," said Dumbledore.  "Suffice it to say that a Tracer simply lets certain people find you."

"You know, if Percy's going in, I could volunteer to be Harry," said the pink-haired woman called Tonks.  "Why not make the illusion complete?"  Harry barely had time to wonder what she meant before her body transformed into someone else.  His mouth fell open when he found himself staring at his mirror image.  "I'm a Metamorphmagus.  I can change my appearance to whatever I like," she supplied helpfully.

"No," Dumbledore said firmly.  "Whatever Professor Thornby ultimately decided, Lucius Malfoy and Walden Macnair would never let Harry survive the night.  I won't risk you when it isn't necessary."  No one voiced any further objections, and Dumbledore seemed satisfied.  "Minerva, would you send the message to the others?" he said.  "Tell them to wait until the Tracer has been still for three minutes, and then Apparate to its location."

"Of course," she said, and she quickly left the common room.

"Severus, I think perhaps you had better not come.  We can't risk the Death Eaters finding you out."

"I strongly object, Headmaster," Snape said tartly.  "This conflict will come to blows and you know it.  Where will you be when you need one of my potions?"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.  "If you come, you will not fight.  You will not reveal yourself in any way.  You will stay with Sirius and Harry, out of sight."

Sirius harrumphed.  Snape glared in his general direction.  Neither of them said anything, though.

"Very well," said Dumbledore.  "Go collect what you need."  Snape quickly left.

A short time later Harry found himself standing atop the Astronomy tower with Ron, Hermione, and the rest of the adults.  Dumbledore's Order of Merlin medallion, which had been charmed to act as the Tracer, was hanging around his neck on its red ribbon.  Harry was to fly to Professor Thornby's location on his Firebolt accompanied by Bellaton, Sirius, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Tonks, who was back to her old self.  The other adults, with the exception of Percy, were to head for Hogsmeade.  From there they would Apparate to the Tracer's final location.

Dumbledore rapped each of them on the head with his wand.  When Harry was struck, he felt a cool sensation trickle down his body like water dripping off his head.  When he looked back down at himself, he found that his body blended in perfectly with the background, just like Sirius did.

"When the Tracer stops moving, the rest of the Order will arrive," said Dumbledore.  "Don't worry if you don't see us; we will be there, making a perimeter.  Then Percy will use his portkey.  After that, wait for the signal."  Everyone nodded.  "You three," said Dumbledore, looking in Harry's direction, "will remain hidden until you are given the all clear.  Is that understood?"

"Yes," said Harry, Sirius, and Snape.

"Then fly swiftly," said Dumbledore.

"Be careful, Harry," said Hermione, and Ron nodded his agreement.

"I will," he said with more conviction than he felt.  He mounted his Firebolt.

"Let's go," said Bellaton.

Harry kicked off from the roof, and the five of them soared away into the setting sun.