Deconstruction

Chapter Fourteen: Innocence

When Oliver had woken up, he found himself in a cell at the Muggle police station. He felt groggy as he sat up look at the bars. He reached into his pocket instinctively, but found that his wand wasn't there. He slowly got to his feet.

"I see that your awake," said a guard, giving him a hard stare. "That's good. The inspector wants to talk to you."

"About the man in the trunk," whispered Oliver. "I don't know how he got in there, but I didn't kill him. Where's the person I was with? Where is she?"

"I wouldn't be talking right now if I were you," answered the guard. "I just hope that you can explain yourself."

Oliver's eyes widened as the guard unlocked his cell and handcuffed him. He knew that they were accusing him of murder. He let them take him to another room with a big window in it, a table and only two chairs. The guard directed him to one of the chairs.

Oliver sat on it. It was hard and cold. The minutes and seconds seem to pass slowly as the door opened again. This time the man wasn't clad in a uniform like the guard and the other police officers he had seen on the way in. The man took his seat in the chair across from Oliver.

"My name is Inspector Wright," said the man in a brisk, business like manner.

"You want to know if I was the one who killed the man in the trunk," said Oliver. "I'll tell you exactly what happened if you tell me what happened to my friend. There was two of us. Where is she?"

"We found you alone with the body," said the inspector. "Do you expect me to believe that there was more than one of you."

"Tell me where she is," demanded Oliver more forcefully. "Where are you holding her?"

"I can see this is going to take a while," said the Inspector. "Did you know Dr. McCoy?"

Oliver didn't answer. Instead, he was thinking about what had happened in the house. He replayed very bit of it in his mind as he tried to search for an answer. He remembered the other man coming in and using one of the Forbidden Curses on him. His body shuddered from the memory as he soon realized that if Tonks wasn't there with him, then she was somewhere else with the man who had attacked them. This man was most likely the one who had killed Dr. McCoy

"Are you all right?" asked Inspector Wright, noticing Oliver's trembling. His eyes studied him sharply. The paramedic who looked him over said that it looked like Oliver had had a seizure not too long ago. Inspector Wright thought he was on drugs at first because Oliver's body was jolting from time to time while he was unconscious. And right now, the last thing that Inspector Wright wanted was his suspect having a seizure in the middle of what was supposed to be an interrogation.

"He took her," whispered Oliver out loud. "I have to contact someone. Someone to help her."

"Who?" asked the Inspector. "What happened in that house?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

The inspector settled back in his chair as he prompted, "Why don't you just try to answer a few questions for me?"

"Like what?"

"Like how Dr. McCoy can be dead for several weeks and still be seen at the hospital that he worked at."

Oliver didn't want to explain that and kept his mouth shut. He retracted into himself as the inspector continued, "No one reported Dr. McCoy missing and we came into his house today and found you and his body. According to the medical examiner, the body has been there for a while. More than a day, yet Dr. McCoy was just seen at his place of employment yesterday. Can you explain that?"

"The person at the hospital wasn't Dr. McCoy," relented Oliver softly. "I don't know what else I can tell you."

"You can tell me how someone can just drop dead because the medical examiner can't explain it. There were no drugs in his system and there were no outward injuries," said Inspector Wright.

"Don't tell me that's the first time that's ever happened."

The inspector could tell that Oliver was sharp. And what he said was true: it wasn't the first time that someone was found dead for no real apparent cause in England. But this was the first time that a body had turned up like this in Inspector Wright's county. There were also reports of unexplained deaths, mostly in England.

"You're not going anywhere until you have a logically explanation for why you were in Dr. McCoy's residence," warned Inspector Wright.

Oliver settled himself comfortably in his chair. He folded his arms over his chest defiantly and said, "Then you're in for a long wait if you want something logical from your stand point, Inspector."

Kingsley had his hands full trying to get everything organized in the sector that he had been assigned to. He gave orders to the Aurors under him and went about doing his work. The Ministry was going to be put under the strictest security that it had ever undergone since the resurgence of Voldemort. With the Death Eaters about, Kingsley was surprised that the Minister was able to convince so many foreign dignitaries to come.

He spotted Arthur coming out of his meeting with the Minister. Kingsley went up to him and they exchanged greetings. "So, how did it go?"

"All right," answered Arthur. "Did you tell the Minister about Percy?"

Kingsley shook his head, but didn't betray his surprise. "What did he have to say about him?"

"Nothing that interesting," replied Arthur as he looked around. "It looks like all of the Aurors are out in full force."

"Almost," said Kingsley. "Tonks isn't here."

"I heard."

"If I could find her so easily, I would order her back here for this. We need every person we can get. I really wish that I could have stuck to looking for Percy for you. I can only imagine how hard it is for you."

Arthur stopped in his tracks and looked around to make sure no one could hear them. "I don't know how long the Minister has known."

"I mean you didn't say anything about keeping it discreet here, Arthur," pointed out Kingsley. "You told me not to tell Molly about it."

"The Minister said that he gets his information from a source within the Ministry itself. It's a unit that's been active since the creation of the Ministry," Arthur told him. "He suspects that Percy was one of them."

Kingsley looked perplexed. "I don't see how that means anything to his disappearance. I mean sure I've heard the rumors myself. The Players of the Game. It's only a Ministry myth. There's no such thing."

"How do you know that for sure?" asked Arthur. "Every thing we've learned about Percy is wrapped up in something else. What about Penelope Clearwater's murder?"

"I started to look into this, but then this happened," answered Kingsley. "I know that you think that Percy should have reported it since he was the one who identified the body, but he had his own reasons. The murder happened in the Muggle world. He didn't want the Clearwaters dragged into an investigation that they couldn't even understand."

Arthur had his doubts and they were plain on his face. He shook his head. "Those pictures. Remus said that one of those people was LeStrange. If he's out there, then why isn't he with Voldemort like the others? No one else can verify where he's gone."

"That's different unit all together, but like me they're all here attending to this, Arthur. I'm really sorry, but this is a matter of timing. But to be frank, it took months and Tonks to a certain extent is right. The trail was cold before she started. That's the reality of it, Arthur."

Arthur stepped back and nodded this time. "I understand, but I refuse to believe that my son is dead."

Kingsley said in a hushed voice, "I would prepare myself if I were you, Arthur."

Arthur tuned and walked away without saying a word. Kingsley could only stare at his retreating back before he turned his attention back to his work.

"Everything is going as I have planned. As it always has. As it always should be," he told his younger counterpart in a cold voice. "I will not have another lapse from you. I will not be betrayed by you. I expected it from her, but not from you. You are my flesh and blood, boy. Remember that."

"We must make sure everything is in place for the next movement though," he went on without looking at his son. "I'm sure that you're prepared for it. Weasley isn't to be trifled with. He is already out and about. Most likely, he knows about the meeting, but he doesn't know what I will be planning for it. I doubt that there is a chance that he will figure it out in time."

The look on the young man's face was impassive. Underneath that veneer, he was trapped. His body was merely a shell, a tool that was used at the discretion of another. He had no control over what was happening. Having no control was no excuse for all of the things he had done. Weaker people were able to fight the curse that he was under. Even if he managed to somehow break it, there wasn't anyway he was going to live with himself.

He was a fool. How could he save the young woman they had captive, if he couldn't save himself? He thought of Percy and what he had let happened to him. Sure, he had no control over his body at the time, but Percy had trusted him. Percy was the closest thing he had to a brother.

Penelope. Penny. That's what he and Percy called her. She was perhaps the most innocent of them. Sometimes he closed his eyes and he could still see look on her face as she fell back from him. He remembered looking over the broken window as she hit the ground and how beautiful she was. How much he both loved and regretted her.

The blood in his veins was cursed. His whole family on both sides had a lot to answer to for their bigotry and their crimes against all of humanity. He had done everything in his power to go against what his family stood for and was ashamed of them. How he wished that he was dead. He didn't deserve to exist.

"I've done everything I can to stop him," murmured the older man. "His will is stronger than I imagined. I thought he would have gone mad now. Never mind. We can still proceed as planned." With that he exited the room, leaving his young counterpart staring off into oblivion.

Percy wasn't anywhere near where he had to be. He had to be in London, but he didn't want to risk Apparating without a wand because he had never attempted to do so. It would be unwise for him to do it. His wand was long misplaced on that rainy morning when Fudge was arrested. Lucky for him, Gwen had given him some money, which in the past he would have had too much pride to except.

He had to get some sleep if he was going to he strong enough to fight back. Percy didn't want to sleep. That was the place where his nightmares would come to get the better of him. Little did he know that was where he needed to go.

Dreams and nightmares were things that weren't easily explained by both wizard and Muggle alike. They were things that the mind must have in order to survive, even though there wasn't much of an explanation for it. In dreams, one can have memories of the past, insight to the present, and a glimpse of the future. Nightmares had the power to kill people in their sleep and were difficult to escape even in waking moments.

The memories Percy had locked away in his mind were potent and powerful enough to drive him mad. He had to allow the dreams to come to him. If not for his own redemption, for the sake of others.

He opened his eyes and found himself in the middle of destruction. The ground around him was razed to the foundation. It was so cold that he could see his breath. There was nothing left. It was deserted. He was quickly proven wrong.

"Ali," whispered Percy when he turned around. "Who did this?"

"We did," replied Alistair. "We did because we couldn't stop him."

Percy took a deep breath. "We have to stop him. After all that he's done to you. To the three of us."

"I was the one who killed Penny," Alistair reminded him. "It was me. You saw it yourself. You remember that day. The day that you followed me after work because I hadn't checked in. He found me because we are linked by blood."

Percy's eyes widened as he whispered softly, "I remember. I remember seeing you like this and being stunned from behind. I woke up and I saw a Dementor coming at me, weakening me. That's when all the things I've learned left me."

"You don't know what else happened from that point on," Alistair told him. "But I do. I know what happened."

"Why aren't you moving?" asked Percy as he forced his eyes to focus. "Your lips aren't moving, Ali. You're just blinking and I can hear you speak. Can you step forward?"

"I can't," admitted Ali. "I can't move or act. When the time comes, I need you to release me. You're the only one who can save me. I'm trapped."

Percy stepped forward and breathed deeply. He realized what he was standing on. The ground underneath his feet was the same marbling that he had walked over for more than a year of his life. It was the Ministry of Magic. "Oh, God. It's not over is it?"

Alistair replied, "What you did only drove him deeper underground and made him more determined, he'll do whatever it takes to stop you. Be prepared for that. No matter what he does or who's in your way, you stop him. Keep this from happening."

Percy woke up with a gasp. He had been asleep for only three hours. He blinked and shook his head. The meeting was going to take place in a day. In a little over twenty-four hours. Percy racked his brain again and tried to calm himself at the same time. He was at the place where he was first attacked. He only went back there because he knew that they wouldn't think he'd go back there.

He got to his feet and started walking around barefoot. He felt the coldness from the floor come up from his feet all the way to his head. He had taken off the nice shirt that Gwen had bought for him and was only clad in slacks and an undershirt. He didn't realize how thin he had gotten until he got new clothes. His skin was so pale. He stared into a bathroom mirror.

The mirror didn't break the way that most people would have assumed. The Muggle doctors didn't exactly say what he used to slash his wrist in their reports, but they did take out small slivers of glass from the wounds. He couldn't bear to look at himself any longer as he looked at the mirror currently in front of him. Yet he couldn't look away.

He closed his eyes and started to breath heavily.

CRACK!

He opened his eyes and saw a large crack running down his reflection. He reached out his fingers and the whole mirror came down before he could even touch it. Crouching down, Percy gazed at his reflection in one of the larger shards. He reached out to touch it, too, but pulled it back.

This was not the time for self-pity. There was work to do. If he didn't, Penny's death would have meant nothing. He had to stop Ali in order to save him. In order to save himself. With that, he left the bathroom and got dress. He exited out of his hiding place and ventured out into the light.

The actual beginning of ceremonies started the night before the first day of talks. Arthur was in the thick of all of it, working the background as an unofficial member of Minister Diggory's cabinet. Arthur hadn't even bothered to discuss the possibility of a promotion with Molly. She simply wasn't in a state to discuss such things.

Molly wasn't sleeping at all, waiting up for news about Percy most of the time. She was also knitting, cooking, and cleaning to keep herself distracted. Her other sons were busy looking for any information on their wayward brother. Molly had gone as far as to tell Ron and Ginny about the situation. Both of them had written back, Ron showed almost the same callous concern that Fred had exhibited earlier, yet Ginny was genuinely worried.

Arthur soon realized that he was using his work in the Ministry as a way of distracting himself. The news came to him from Charlie who had braved going down to the Muggle hospital to find out what had really happened to Percy. The Muggles kept their records confidential, even from family members. None of the information could be released without Percy's written permission. However, after asking some of the lower staff members and the use of his charm, Charlie soon discovered that Percy was in the hospital because of a suicide attempt.

Charlie had gone straight to Arthur after he got the information, and Arthur sent him on to tell Molly. The suicide attempt was the last thing that Molly really needed to hear, and she had taken to bed in a fit of tears and none of her sons could comfort her. She didn't even ask to see Arthur because it seemed more and more obvious to her that Percy was laying dead in a ditch somewhere.

"So, he slashed his wrist," said Bill softly. "It's hard to think that he would kill himself. He doesn't seem like he would ever do that."

Charlie pointed out, "And we didn't think he'd be the one to walk on the family like he did. Now, did we?"

The twins were currently in the shop doing inventory, leaving the two elder brothers alone to talk. It was as quiet as tomb as if they were already in mourning and the sound of the clock ticking away in one of the nearby dens made more sound than either of them. "We should go back to the Burrow and look at the clock," whispered Charlie. "Look and see if he's really gone."

"Don't talk like that," said Bill harshly. "Don't even think like that. He's not dead. He can't be. He's younger than us."

Charlie looked startled for a moment at Bill's reaction, but he softened again and said, "There's a war going on right now, Bill. There's a chance that not all of us on both sides will make it. Percy's been in the thick of it before any of us. He was probably more ready for the possibility than any of us."

"I'm the oldest, Charlie," said Bill as he looked away from him. "It's my duty to protect everyone else under me. I feel like I failed him."

"I think we all feel like that, Bill," said Charlie. "Mum and Dad do. Especially Dad. We can't stand around here and think of what might be. We can't just say we could have done that or should have said this. There's nothing we can do right now, but wait and pray. If there is one thing we didn't have for Percy that he should have had was our faith. We have to have faith in him now. Because that's really all we can do." With that the two brothers fell silent.

AN: For all of you who were wondering where Oliver went, so sorry about the long wait on that. Don't worry too much about him. He's safer there than almost anywhere else. Well, safer than anything Percy's about to walk into.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story belongs to me and cannot be posted anywhere else without my permission.