"Percy?"

The parchment creased under his tightening grip. "Bloody hell, I need to owl Kingsley. This… Why couldn't he just go quietly?"

"The Headmaster? Former Headmaster I mean?"

"Yes, he's decided to die."

Audrey blinked. "Decided?"

"He was cursed. You might not remember, but his hand and arm were shrivelled."

"Yes," Audrey said slowly casting her mind back. "I remember, but I didn't know it was a curse."

"He put a cursed ring on, one of the horcruxes," Percy explained briefly. "Severus Snape was helping keep it under control alongside Dumbledore's own magic. Severus said it was tiring him, wearing him out and without regular aid, he would eventually lose the battle. It seems that Dumbledore has realised that himself and has decided that his time has come. Kingsley assigned an Auror to watch him discreetly. We knew that he would know we were keeping tabs on him and thought he'd rather like the attention. It seems that he's decided to die and has one last grand plan. Essentially this is a summons to Dumbledore's deathbed. Clearly, he fancies that he should lie in state and we are to be the first supplicants."

"Will you go?"

"That's the thing, isn't it? Ignore him and risk the public causing an outcry that the Minister, thus the Ministry, snubbed a great wizard, or go, and wind up involved in some deluded grand scheme. He wasn't sane. I'm quite sure of it. He's been utterly alone since he left the castle. His brother won't have anything to do with him, and he's had no other visitors."

"Floo Kingsley or use your mirror. Perhaps he has had the same letter. You can decide between yourselves what to do."

"This is going to turn into a circus," Percy said slumping back against the headboard.

"Well, perhaps it won't be. He got a good grubbing after February. Perhaps public opinion won't have swung back his way."

"He's dead. There's going to be a run on rose-tinted glasses. He wasn't what you might consider a good man, but he did resolve the Grindelwald situation, although that seems hardly altruistic on his part considering his antics in his youth. He was given his positions and titles. He didn't ask for them, but then he used them to wield influence and power where perhaps he shouldn't. You see what I mean? It's going to be a mess trying to sort it out. There's little chance Severus will allow any sort of memorial erected at Hogwarts. Kingsley will have to tread the line of keeping his distance and recognising his contributions. Then if the public does want some sort of event, we'll have to find somewhere to host it. Godric's Hollow certainly isn't large enough and its mixed residents. We can't afford for wizarding Britain to descend on the village more than they already do."

"Is it an important village?"

"Well possibly it might not have been, but it's where the Potters were living the night Riddle came for them. The house is still there preserved as a memorial to them. As you can imagine it gets a lot of visitors on the anniversary of the end of the war. Dumbledore's family have a family plot in the churchyard. I assume that it is where Dumbledore will want to be interred. Though if the gossip is to be believed from Rita's book he may well not be."

"So, what will you do?"

"Contact Kingsley, see if he wants to go. Send the owl back to the Auror with our decision then have breakfast."

"Eggs do you? I can start while you floo Kingsley."

"That would be lovely," Percy said getting out of bed and gulping his cooled tea. He summoned both their dressing gowns, handing Audrey's hers then throwing his on and heading to the cellar and the floo.

Kingsley answered the call similarly attired. "You got one as well?"

"Yes, I suppose the Auror wasn't sure who would be available to respond."

Kingsley sighed. "Look, we're both up, let's do this via mirror. It's too bloody early to be on my knees with my head in a fire."

Percy agreed, withdrawing his head and closing the connection. The large communication mirror was now hung in the dining room and was positioned overlooking the table. It meant that you could at least sit down. It also made it convenient if Percy needed to have a late meeting as he could spread his files across the table.

Audrey stuck her head out of the kitchen at the sound of his footsteps. "That was quick."

"We're using the mirror."

"I'll bring your breakfast in then, do you want more tea?"

"Please."

Audrey nodded and vanished back into the kitchen. Kingsley was already calling the mirror when Percy entered the room. He answered the call and took a seat at the table. Kingsley didn't have a large wall mirror but did have something more substantial than the pocket mirrors that had been handed out initially.

"I must get Fred and George onto making me a bigger mirror," Kingsley said as Percy retreated to a seat behind the table.

Percy absently summoned the table mats and cutlery for breakfast. "I'm sure they would be willing."

"To business," Kingsley sighed. "I think we're going to have to go. I don't want to but forewarned is forearmed. I'm hoping for a private ceremony and burial before the public gets wind of it. If we are extremely lucky a small notice in the Prophet will do."

"You're unlikely to be so lucky. The Prophet, despite the articles earlier this year will be falling over itself to make a splash of his death. Whether they tout him as a loss as great as Merlin remains to be seen."

"Cynical but likely true," Kingsley admitted with a sigh. "This is not how I wished to spend my Sunday morning."

"Nor I. Shall we say a half an hour, and we'll meet at the property?"

"Yes," Kingsley agreed. "That should do. Oh, good morning Audrey, I am sorry to disturb you."

Audrey had entered the room carrying the plates of breakfast. Placing them down on the table she shrugged. "It's not a problem Kingsley, somethings won't wait, and your Mr Dumbledore seems to be one of them."

"Sadly yes. I checked the diary last night, and I've got the second week in October free. I thought I'd invite Andromeda and Ted as well, they are Tonks parents. Teddy can sleep upstairs."

"That should be fine," Audrey smiled. "I'll make sure I don't have any work away that week. Then we can move the day as needed with whatever you two have to deal with."

"Great. I'll leave you to your breakfast and go in search of my own." Kingsley nodded and closed the connection.

They ate breakfast together. Percy gave Audrey a quick recap of the conversation then collected up their dishes and set the charm up to clean them as he went to get dressed.

Audrey met him at the bottom of the stairs a cup of coffee in her hand. "I'm going to laze for another hour I think. I might make us lunch if you think you'll be back in time?"

"Make it dinner," Percy said giving her a kiss. "I might not be able to make lunch."

Audrey nodded waiting until Percy had vanished before making her way back upstairs.

The cliff top was lovely. Windswept, isolated. Birds circled the edge riding thermals so close you could believe you could touch them. Like that illusion, the house was another. Percy knew because he had checked, that the house was externally as big as it looked. Which was not to say he wasn't surprised by it. It was not Malfoy Manor. It was smaller than the Burrow. Smaller than his and Audrey's home. It was a two-room building of whitewashed stone with a slate tiled roof. Probably used to be used to house a shepherd. It hunched down into the cliff defensively as if protecting itself from the storms that battered it.

It was in good repair, the small garden that ringed it was well tended. It positively reeked of humbleness, and it was that that which made Percy dislike it. It was yet another manipulation. You were supposed to look at it and think that's not the house of a great wizard. That a wizard as great as Albus Dumbledore, who ruled over Hogwarts castle, must have found some deeper meaning to see this as satisfactory.

Was the location or the view enough to make up for the deficit of grandeur, of space? You were meant to think no, because it was a two-room shack, albeit in good condition. You would be able to touch the front and back wall standing in the middle of the room. Dumbledore was not the tallest wizard, but even he would be reaching the ceilings and ducking through doorways. So no, the location and the view wouldn't be enough, and that would prove that you were lacking in some manner.

Of course, none of this would be voiced aloud, it would be the unconscious thought process that went on as you arrived and approached the door. Nothing Dumbledore had said, but never the less, by the time you reached his door you would be wondering what made him special, without ever consciously deciding he was special, to begin with.

Percy hated it.

Better it be Malfoy's Manor with its hollow, pointless grandeur boldly stating it thought itself, and the family living there, better than you, than this subtle undermining power play.

It was typically Dumbledore though.

Percy followed Kingsley to the gate of the garden. The Auror revealed herself from under a disillusionment charm, and Kingsley dismissed them after attaining their vow of confidentiality until the family made the announcement. At least the Prophet wouldn't hear of it that way.

Inside the house, the illusion wasn't maintained for very long. The narrow low ceiling hall opened on to a bright sunny room that was made entirely out of wizarding space. Percy could imagine the knowing twinkle that Dumbledore would give his guests as they saw the space. The acknowledgement that yes, he had bent a few rules in having this much space inside the small building, but it was just between them wasn't it?

Percy pinched the bridge of his nose trying to get a hold of his resentment. He removed his glasses and polished them on his handkerchief giving himself a moment to order his thoughts. He had chosen to come, it was then necessary that he behave in a professional manner even if he itched to take his wand to the enchantments and unravel them all. To stand back and watch as this illusion shattered.

"We could, you know."

"Pardon?"

"Unravel it all." Kingsley brandished his wand at the walls.

Percy's lips quirked. "I shall have to practice my occlumency."

Kingsley snorted. "You don't need legilimency to know that Percy. It screams Albus Dumbledore, his games and tests. Pushing boundaries, seeing who will stand and who will fold and the cost of each. You stood, it took me too long to do the same, and I can tell you that there isn't much difference in the cost of either."

"Why are we here? Why are we giving him this?"

"Because he is Albus Dumbledore. And for better or worse, he had irons in fires and fingers in pies. We may never know how many of each, but we may, by coming here, learn a little more about what he had planned and what is coming at us."

"So, you don't think he went quietly?"

"No, I think Albus was overly fond of burning bright and chose to live by it. I think he's going to burn and rage, and I think he isn't going to go quietly into the good night."

"I'm not sure if I should feel better or worse. Better, because clearly, I'm not the only paranoid one, and worse because if you are thinking it too then, it adds an amount of certainty to the belief that this is just the beginning."

"Hope for the best, plan for the worst."

"If you could elucidate what those might be?"

Kingsley shook his head. "No, it's going to be a surprise. Aren't you excited?"

"Thrilled." Percy deadpanned.

They found the stairs hidden behind a bend in the wall. Percy wondered how long it had taken to stabilise this much wizarding space inside such a small shell. Upstairs there were only two rooms to choose from. The first looked like some sort of personal office, the second was Dumbledore's bedroom.

Albus was laid out on the bed in gentle repose. He was dressed in a set of robes that were unusually understated and sombre. The midnight blue was shot with silver thread, the matching slippers were on his feet. The crooked wizarding hat sat beside the bed on a chair.

"He is dead?" Percy asked pointedly looking around the staged room.

"Auror Smethwick got a negative from the spell. Do you think he means to lie in state here? "

"Well if it came to it, it would be better. Hogwarts will refuse, and the Ministry will be forced into certain concessions in other areas if it was to let it happen there."

Kingsley cast a spell on the body. "He's dead. Lock him up here, check any paperwork we can find for clues, then go tell Aberforth?"

"Are we the appropriate people to be delivering death messages?"

"Who else is there? Three people know, and I'm not sending Auror Smethwick."

Percy nodded resignedly. Kingsley cast a stasis charm on the body until it could be collected.

They rifled the bedroom carefully. Kingsley explained how Auror searches were conducted to Percy and showed him the spells to reveal hidden things. Both men were cautious and conscientious of their work. For all that though, they moved quickly.

The bedroom was done in minutes, the study room took longer. There were letters and journals stacked in seemingly disordered piles on the desk, the bookshelves and the floor. For their efforts, they found nothing but a few scraps of parchment with burnt edges. Whatever Dumbledore had planned he had decided not to share. Or, Percy pointed out, he had left the burnt scraps for them to find so they'd stop looking. The rest of the house revealed nothing of note and the two men agreed to stop.

Percy paused and jogged back up the stairs to the bedroom. He looked around the room one more time then stuck his head into the study again.

Downstairs, Percy, had Kingsley wait as he went through every room once more.

"Percy, what are you looking for? There's nothing here, we're just going to have to wait and see what our surprise is," Kingsley called out.

"This," Percy said as he reappeared. He held out his hand in which nestled an egg.

Kingsley raised an eyebrow. "Hungry?"

Percy choked. "No!"

"Then are we taking souvenirs? If so, then an egg wasn't what I would have had."

Percy followed Kingsley out of the house and waited while he locked the door and set protective enchantments to stop anyone from entering. "Think, what is Dumbledore famous for?"

"Being so far in the closet he's crossed Narnia? Terrible fashion sense? Being irritatingly correct when he has no right to be?"

"Narnia?"

"I do read Percy, you aren't the only one who wanders over to the muggle world once in a while. He had an obsession with sweets and tragic ideas of what a suitable secure password to his office was."

"Being the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, so named because he has a Phoenix as a pet," Percy butted in as Kingsley didn't seem to be getting the point.

"Ohhh. Is that?"

"Well I assume so," Percy shrugged. "It's not like I know, but it was sat in a pile of ash on a bird perch. I was just going to check if any food had been left out or if it was still hanging around."

"I thought Phoenixes were reborn from their ashes."

"Well birds are born out of eggs, and I've never seen his Phoenix burn. Perhaps they timed it so the bird could stay in his egg in till he found a new person. I'm hardly an authority, but it seemed wrong to leave it here especially if, you know souvenir hunters do come. I'll give it to Aberforth. I suppose it's his more than anyone.

"I can't see Aberforth with a Phoenix somehow, it seems a touch flamboyant."

"Yes, well, I'm not going to leave a defenceless Phoenix egg in a house with a dead man. I'd get reported to the Creatures Department or something."

"Percy, you do know I'm the Minister for Magic?"

"Yes, which is why I would be reported not you, even though you are clearly the superior at the scene."

"I could probably get you off the jail time. Not sure about the fine though." Kingsley said squashing a grin.

"Thank you for your consideration Minister."

"Have you ever had a magical pet?" Kingsley asked.

"No," Percy said as they crossed the garden. "I thought I'd see if Audrey would like to get a cat. A half kneazle or something. I've always quite fancied one."

The arrived in Hogsmeade having apparated separately. Percy had never been to the Hogshead. He was happy to follow Kingsley as the wizard strode around the side of the pub and banged heavily on the door.

The door opened before he could repeat the action.

"Aye, well I thought you'd be along soon enough. Didn't think it would be the Minister himself that came."

"Aberforth," Kingsley greeted the elder wizard. "Might we come in?"

Aberforth shrugged turning away from the door leaving it open. Kingsley was apparently no stranger to the wizard's odd behaviour and promptly followed on his heels. Percy followed Kingsley closing the door behind him and dropping the latch. Aberforth was leaning up against the bar. A glass of fire whisky in his hand.

He thumped two more tumblers on the bar. Percy noted they weren't especially clean, but Aberforth slopped a measure of whisky into both before turning and walking up the stairs. Kingsley grabbed the glasses, a murmured incantation over both had the glasses clean. He handed one to Percy then followed Aberforth up the stairs.

In the small open space, a fire burned brightly in a grate. Aberforth was sat in a chair beside it. Kingsley took the other armchair leaving the sofa to Percy. Percy hid his grimace at the state of the sofa and sat down gingerly, unsure if it would hold his weight.

"So the old bastard is dead. Something I can drink to."

"Might I ask how you know?" Kingsley enquired.

Aberforth jerked a thumb at the picture frame. "Arianna told me. He's woken up in his portrait in the family vault. She's got a painting in there with our parents she visits."

"Do you know what Albus intended for his funeral?"

"No, and I don't care. I've no use for fancy ceremonies. It's enough for me that the world found out about him before he died. That he saw that people hold him accountable for what he did."

"The thing is it's going to be a circus," Kingsley said. "I'm hoping that you'll want to bury Albus quietly and put a notice in the Prophet and that will be it."

"You got out from under him, how likely is it that he agreed with that plan? Isn't that why you're here? Very few could have a Minister for Magic dance to his tune like my brother."

"I chose to disagree with his methods."

"Not many that can say they've done that. I'll have him put in the family plot because that's what my mother wanted. For himself, I'd leave him to rot. I've no reason to inform that bunch of fish wives at the Prophet."

"Thank you," Kingsley said gratefully. "My office can send out a notification to the Prophet. I do think that if we announce it quietly, then the conspiracy theorists will have less to build on."

"You think they'll remember he is the great and all-knowing Albus Dumbledore."

"I am very much afraid they will."

Aberforth snorted. "Meddling bastard."

Kingsley raised his glass to Aberforth, Percy joined him and the three men drank.

A thumping on the door had Aberforth wearily climbing to his feet and stumping off down to the bar. The latch on the door sounded, and footfalls were heard on the wooden floor before coming up the stairs.

The wizard entered the space and paused on seeing them. "Minister, Mr Weasley."

"Headmaster." Kingsley and Percy chorused back.

Aberforth came up the stairs behind him, a bottle in his hand. He sloshed more whisky into his glass before doing the same for Kingsley and Percy. He paused before Severus who calmly conjured his own glass. Aberforth grunted and splashed the whisky into the glass.

"Twas a time you weren't too good for my glasses."

Severus joined Percy on the sofa. "There was a time," he agreed sitting down. "But then I gained a little wisdom and realised that if I had illusions of living to the grand old age of thirty then not drinking out of your glassware would substantially increase my chances."

Aberforth snorted a laughed thumping the bottle down.

"Albus' portrait has awoken in my office. A surprise most unwelcome I assure you. I can understand how Aberforth discovered his passing but how did you come across this information Minister?"

"Kingsley," Kingsley corrected. "If you don't mind Severus, I'll leave my title at the door for this one. I've had an Auror stationed watching his home since the day he left Hogwarts. It was a recommendation that made a lot of sense." Kingsley tilted his head at Percy indicating where the proposal had come from. "He knew, of course, that we were watching, and seemed delighted in acknowledging Auror Smethwick each morning despite the disillusionment charms. When he didn't come outside to make his usual morning greeting, and no smoke rose from the chimneys, Auror Smethwick checked for signs of life. Approaching the door, she found a note pinned to it asking that Percy or I be summoned. She sent the owls, and Percy and I agreed that attending was better than ignoring him. We went to confirm the news then came here to inform Aberforth."

"And the Ministry's position on his passing?"

Percy sat up straighter. "The Ministry of Magic is sad to hear of the passing of Albus Dumbledore. The office of the Minister for Magic extends its condolences and asks that respect and privacy are extended to the family during this time of loss. Any expressions of grief must be kept within the bounds of the Statute of Secrecy. Due to the nature of the population at Godric's Hollow, any visits to the grave site should be kept respectful at all times."

Kingsley blinked. "What he said."

"So hands off then," Severus said.

"We dethroned him," Percy replied. "We cannot now come out and join in the teeth gnashers and wailers or the professional mourners."

"I will announce his demise at dinner this evening," Severus said. "I cannot bar him from the other portraits for too long and breakfast at the weekends is to scattered for any cohesive announcements to be done. I will not have Hogwarts be used as a Mecca to those wishing to worship at the altar of Albus Dumbledore."

Decisions made and agreed by all parties the conversation fell to other things. Once the whisky in the glasses was gone, Kingsley stood. "I'll take my leave and let you have your day back Aberforth. The property is warded by myself to stop mischief coming to it. By all means floo me if you wish for me to take it down."

Severus stood. "I'll walk you out, Kingsley. Aberforth, as always it has been a dubious honour."

Aberforth nodded at both men as they headed for the stairs. He paused looking back over his shoulder at Percy who had remained standing by the sofa. "You got something to say?"

"More like something to give," Percy answered holding out the egg.

Aberforth looked at the egg, a wealth of emotion crossing his face. "I don't want it."

"But."

"I don't," Aberforth snapped. "Keep it for all I care."

Percy put the egg back in his pocket, nodded to Aberforth and descended the stairs after Kingsley and Severus. Out in the lane he caught sight of Kingsley apparating away. Severus looked over as Percy exited, at the thump of a door closed and barred by magic.

Severus raised an inquiring eyebrow.

Percy held out the egg. "It was at the house. I didn't want to leave the bird without food but when I found the perch there was just this egg sat in the ashes. I didn't think it wise to leave it there in case it hatched all alone. Aberforth doesn't want it."

"Unsurprising. Fawkes was a symbol of Albus' power. The same power that drove them apart."

"Do you?"

"No," Severus answered. "Fawkes and I didn't have a particularly good relationship. He disliked the taint I carry. I doubt very much he will hatch for me."

"Aberforth told me to keep it."

"Then I suggest you do so. If you hand the egg over to the Creatures Department, it is unlikely it will ever hatch again. A battery of tests and researchers is hardly the environment for a phoenix to find a new companion."

"And my home is?"

Severus shrugged turning away. "Stranger things have happened."

Percy looked down at the egg once more. It seemed unlikely that the egg would hatch for him, but he would at least do a little research and see if he could find the correct environment for a phoenix egg to be kept in. He was still young with a hopefully long life before him. In all those years he might find someone the egg would hatch for.

Percy arrived home to find Audrey in the kitchen humming along with the radio.

"How did it go?" she asked as she peeled potatoes at the sink.

Percy took off his robe, removed the egg from his pocket and sent the robe to hang its elf up.

"What's that?"

"A phoenix egg," Percy said. "Dumbledore had one for a companion." Percy explained how he had come into possession of the egg.

"So it will hatch for someone eventually you just have to find them?"

"Yes."

She reached out a hand to the egg, sending him a questioning look. Percy shrugged, so she scooped it up. "It's a lot heavier than I was expecting," Audrey commented, gently turning the egg. "It's warm as well."

Percy took up the potato and peeler Audrey had put down. "I might see if I can owl Newt Scamander. He's an authority on the more exotic animals. He may well have some useful information."

Audrey settled the egg on top of a cup, so it didn't roll off the work surface.

Percy looked over at her. "I was going to ask you if you would like to get a cat, a part kneazle."

"A cat?" Audrey asked in surprise.

"Yes," Percy replied absently, his attention focused on peeling potatoes. "I've always quite fancied one."

"A cat sounds better than a bird," Audrey said. "I've got a bit more familiarity with them. By kneazle, I assume this is a magical cat."

"Yes, there's a pet shop in Diagon Alley. If you like, we can pop in one weekend and see if anything takes our fancy."

"Sure," Audrey said turning away from the egg. "Why not?"

The notices were drafted and owled to the Prophet that afternoon. Copies were also sent to the press department within the Ministry with strict instructions that only the supplied party line was to be repeated. Any divergence would result in the department coming under severe scrutiny.

Percy was unsure if the threat was a step too far, but it did seem to be effective. The Prophet ran the story in the evening edition despite having little to go on. Dumbledore's home wasn't secret kept, but it was little known enough that the Aurors posted there to prevent anyone from breaking in, reported only a few visitors.

Unfortunately, there was an easier target available, and everyone knew where it was. Hogwarts was inundated with visitors. Unable to gain access into the grounds, wreaths were left leaning up against the gates. By Monday lunchtime the tributes were ten-foot-deep, by the end of the day they were thirty.

Percy could only imagine how well Severus would be taking it. Since he wasn't an idiot, he wasn't going to ask Severus, but he was curious enough to give in and send Ginny an owl.

Ginny responded that at dinner on Monday the student body had been collectively told that detentions would, for the foreseeable future involve students going down to the gates collecting up all the tributes. They would then separate out what could be used or salvaged and practice their vanishing charms on everything else.

On Tuesday when Monday's detentions had been completed, the collective opinion of the students attending them was that cauldron scrubbing was better than this task. The Headmaster was providing lists of useful plant parts to harvest for potions. Madam Sprout had a list of plants to look out for, for taking cuttings from and for potting into the greenhouses. Professor Flitwick was gathering up every enchanted thing he could get his hands on to allow his seventh years practice in deconstructing spell work. Anyone actually caught loitering by the gates when the students arrived was treated to a blistering lecture on how Hogwarts was a place of learning, and if the wizarding public wanted to honour Dumbledore, then they'd bugger off and let the school do its job of teaching children.

Ginny seemed to find the whole thing rather amusing. She assured Percy that the Headmaster did not.