Disclaimer: Still not mine. I wish it was. Then I could quit school.
Author's Note: Urgh I'm like dead tired. I had three projects due on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I spent all day finishing two of them. I still have review class and I went to Notre Dame(it's a college) for a football game. The American version of football nWell my social life is just as hectic as it always is. My one friend's kind of depressed. Even though she'll never read my story, this chapter is dedicated to her. She's actually a character in my story. Oh yeah, before I forget, forgive me in advance. My time estimates are probably way off. Thanx to my awesome reviewers again. Some of you have been slacking off 'cause I only got two on the last chapter. Well now onto the story.
Harry woke up, confident with his plan. If everything went smoothly, the plan would work perfectly. Harry dressed quickly, and bounded down the stairs. Mid-way down the stairs he stopped. I'm seventeen he realized. I slept through my birthday. That's certainly a first. Harry quickly turned around, and ran back up the stairs.
Sitting on his desk were packages of all shapes and sizes. How did I miss them, he wondered? You were too busy worrying about Kingsley and the Prime Minister, a little voice whispered.
Harry quickly opened his presents. He had a huge assortment of Defense books sitting on his desk. People are starting to treat me like Dumbledore. No that's too painful to think about. I guess people thinking of me as Dumbledore should be a compliment, but I don't deserve it. He had a potions book from Hermione. Obviously she still hasn't fully forgiven me. Inside the front cover she had written: "Here's a book to help you with potions. There's no evil Half-Blood Prince's advice inside." Harry frowned. Hermione was most definitely jealous of his potions grade from last year. Ah well, she'll be back on top again this year. I should see if Snap e wrote an updated 7th year book. I'll just have to stay away from the curses. Well maybe I could use them against the Deatheaters. But I'll find out what they do first.
He glanced at the time. 9:23. He grabbed his bag which contained his invisibility cloak, and a few of Fred and George's inventions. Thank you Fred and George. You people actually give me useful birthday presents.
Harry raced into the kitchen, grabbed an apple, and raced out the front door. He was just climbing in the passenger side as his Aunt closed the driver-side door. She put the key in the ignition, and started the car.
They arrived in front of the Prime Minister's office at 10:50. Harry climbed out. "When do you want me to pick you up?"
"Erm, 3:00," Harry shouted as he bounded up the steps.
Harry walked up to the security checkpoint, and placed his bag on the conveyor belt. He walked through the metal detector, and was on his way.
Harry spotted a bathroom and ducked inside. Thankfully it was empty. He opened his bag, and donned his invisibility cloak. He slipped inconspicuously out of the bathroom once the coast was clear. The building was huge, and Harry was relieved when he found a huge map on the wall. The Minister's office was on the 7th floor.
Harry took the stairs, figuring it would look less suspicious then an empty lift. He climbed the stairs as quietly as he could, but they still echoed faintly. He reached the 3rd floor, and crept carefully through the door. As he tiptoed down the hall, he came across no one. It seemed awfully strange. He was about to remove his invisibility cloak when he spotted the cameras. Guess I'm not in the clear yet.
Harry turned left down the hall. He stopped abruptly. He felt something. Well more like sensed it. What ever it was it was strong. Harry walked forward one step, and stopped. There are wards around this place. Just like at Hogwarts, but I can't feel those wards. There must be some way to get through them. Suddenly Harry heard footsteps. He flattened himself against the wall.
A young woman in her early twenties walked by. She had dark brown hair, almost black. It was shoulder length, and she had deep maple brown eyes. Her skin was dark, so Harry figured she was part Hispanic. Harry noticed that she wore a mini purple lion pin.
She walked through the magical barrier with no problem. The pins must deactivate it. I need to get one of those. I can't risk deactivating the wards. I might set them off, or worse I could leave them down for the Deatheaters.
Harry pulled out his wand, still hidden by his coat. Accio pin, he thought. The small purple pin came hurtling through the air, and Harry caught it easily. He continued down the hall till he came to a three-way fork. He went down the middle one.
He heard the keys of several keyboards being hit. The sound of paper rustling, and filing cabinets being opened and shut could also be heard. Harry reached into his bag and pulled out a color-coded chewable candy.
Harry took a bite of the pink end, storing the blue end in his pocket. He felt a faint tingling as his eyes changed to a crystal blue. Harry removed three more candies. He bit off the green, purple, and yellow ends, while storing the orange, red, and white ends in his pocket.
Harry's eyes tingled once again and he felt his glasses disappear. He now had perfect eyesight. His clothes grew warm as the changed into a nice pair of pants, with a dress shirt and tie. The final change was his hair. It grew so the ends reached the base of his neck. It was alsostraight and dark brown. Harry smeared a bit of muggle cover-up over his scar to hide it. Harry removed his invisibility cloak and stored it in his recently transfigured briefcase.
Harry walked down the hall at a brisk, confident pace. Before he reached the door, he popped one final color-coded chewable in his mouth.
Harry walked up to the brunette woman's desk. She glanced up at him, gestured to the phone, and held up a finger for one minute. Harry nodded, and waited silently. She finished her conversation, and hung up. "Hi, I'm Molina Santana. How can I help you?"
"I have urgent business with the Minister." Harry was surprised at how deep and mature his voice sounded. Fred and George were sure excellent pranksters. They were also brilliant at potions apparently.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but as I said, I have urgent business with him."
"I'm sorry Sir, but if you don't have an appointment, I can't let you see him." Harry bit back a disgruntled sigh.
Harry lowered his face so that it was even with hers. "Look Ms. Santana." She interrupted him. "Please, call me Molina. Everyone does."
"Okay, Molina. I'm Junior Undersecretary to the Assistant Head of Security. I'm here because we've been forewarned of an assassination attempt," Harry said making his voice very low.
"If you really are who you say you are, I'll let you in. But I'm going to need to see some identification." Harry reached into his back pocket, conjuring papers silently with his wand up his sleeve. He pulled out a photo ID, and some position verification papers. He handed them over wordlessly. "Oy Maria, get your arse over here. I need you to check something for me."
A girl with frizzy, wavy, brown hair got up. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She reminded him slightly of Hermione.
"Are these legit?" Maria carefully studied the papers.
"Yep."
"Thanks."
"No prob Molina."
"Okay Mr. er …Evans," She said studying the papers. "You can go ahead into the next room. Tell either Kingsley or Samara that I gave you the okay to see the Minister."
"Thanks Molina, but I go by Harry." He shot her a heart melting smile. She blushed a light pink.
Harry walked past the other secretaries, and opened the door that led to the next room. Harry wanted to avoid Kingsley, so he walked up to the woman named Samara Excelsior.
"Hello," Harry said. "Molina said to tell you that I had permission to see the Minister."
"Okay, take a seat. He'll be finished with Mr.Wilde in a minute."
Harry sat down in a hard chair directly next to the door he had come through. Harry felt nervous. He almost felt like he was in trouble. The Minister's door opened and the Minister bade Mr. Wilde goodbye.
"Minister this is Henry Evans. He's the Junior Undersecretary to the Assistant Head of Security." Harry shot her a questioning look. "Molina sent me a memo informing of your position," she said answering his unasked question.
"Come Mr. Evans apparently we have business to discuss." Kingsley shot harry a questioning glance, but Harry was sure he didn't recognize him.
Harry entered the office directly behind the Minister. Harry shut the door and put a locking charm on it. Then he put an impertunable curse on the room. The Minister looked at him curiously.
"Are all these precautions really necessary Mr. Evans? I must admit that I'm not a big fan of Magic."
"Sorry Minister, but yes. My name's not Harry Evans, its Harry Potter. And I'm not the Junior Undersecretary to the Head of Security. I promise that I mean you no harm though."
"What is the meaning of this?" the Minister asked enraged.
"I'm here to protect you. We don't have much time. Just an hour to prepare."
"Prepare for what exactly?" the Minister asked nervously.
"At 1:00pm there is a planned assassination attempt on you and your secretaries. 6-8 Deatheaters, you do know what Deatheaters are don't you?" The Minister nodded yes. "Well the Deatheaters they'll kill anyone in their way to get to you and Kingsley. We must get you to a safe area. Look Minister, I know you don't want to trust me but you have to. I'm your only chance."
"Mr. Potter if what you say is true then I am in grave danger. But I do not know you nor do I trust you to stop these assassins. I shall have trained professionals protect me."
"No, they are powerless against magic, you must trust me."
"Alright Mr. Potter. You had better make sure that no one and I mean no one gets hurt. What is your plan?"
"I want you to call a meeting of all your secretaries. Bring your body guards with you. I'll put protective wards and locking charms on the door. I'll put an illusion charm on the empty desks. That will buy me a bit of time, but it will not fool the Deatheaters for long. You will be far away while all this is happening. I will be in your office waiting for them. Is everything clear? Any questions? Good."
"Thank you Mr. Potter."
"I'm going to make a big show of leaving. Go to the Delsner Conference Room. I'll do the wards quickly. Then I'll come back and finish the illusion charms."
Harry opened the door. He and the Minister stepped out. He shook the Minister's hand. "Thank you Mr. Evans. Your visit was most enlightening."
"It was my pleasure. Good bye Minister."
Harry disappeared out the doors, and down the hall. He hid on the stairs. When harry was gone Samara walked up to the Minister.
"Is everything all right Minister?"
"Yes Samara, but we have things to talk about. You and Kingsley summon the other secretaries. Meet me in the Delsner conference room as soon as possible."
Harry had grown restless. Being pressed for time, he crept down to the Delsner Room. Harry did the wards and quickly ran up the stairs. After carefully checking for stragglers, Harry entered the secretaries' outer office.
The many desks were all crammed together in semi-rows. He quickly walked up to the first one. He heard footsteps and dove under the nearest desk.
Harry glanced at his watch, 12:50. The Deatheaters were early. Then Harry realized something, he had only heard one set of footsteps. He carefully stuck his head out. It was one of the secretaries, she had forgotten her purse. Harry sighed in relief.
His sigh caught her attention. He quickly pulled his head back. He clamped a hand over his mouth and held his breath.
She shrugged dismissing it as the air conditioner. She left the room without a backward glance. When the footsteps receded, Harry climbed out from under the desk. He glanced at the clock, he had five minutes. Harry rushed around doing illusion charms. He took paperweights off Kingsley's and Samara's desks. He then transfigured them into large human shaped pillows. He put an illusion charms on them, and added a puppet charm.
Harry entered the Minister's office, and placed a locking charm on the door. Harry made "Samara" shuffle through her files, and made "Kingsley" type on the computer.
Suddenly Harry felt the wards fall. The past five minutes had been the shortest of his life. Harry prayed Kingsley hadn't felt the wards fall because it would really screw things up.
Harry heard filing cabinets being overturned, and the sound of many spells being cast. He slowly turned the swivel chair around taking a deep breath. He stared determinedly at the wall, listening hard.
Suddenly a woman's voice was heard over the fray. "Check the secretaries, I think they're illusions." Harry's stomach dropped. His insides felt like they were made of lead.
"They're all illusions," another woman confirmed.
"Burn the place," the unfamiliar woman commanded. He voice had a sinister familiarity to it.
Harry heard a blasting curse. The inner office's door had been reduced to sprinkles. It would be a matter of mere seconds until the Deatheaters would be upon him. Harry could feel the heat; the office was beginning to fill with smoke.
"Avada Kedavra," several voices cries simultaneously.
"It's another illusion," cried the woman who was obviously in charge.
Harry felt a rush of smoke, heat, and air as the door was blasted to smithereens. Harry turned the chair quickly, jumping out of it in the process, wand raised.
Before Harry stood eleven Deatheaters. Curses flew toward his head. He ducked quickly behind the desk. The fire alarm went off. A Deatheater blasted it, but not before all the other smoke detectors on the floor went off. The rest of the building's followed.
Harry took a quick peek at his surroundings. Not only had the Deatheaters destroyed the door, but the entire wall was missing. Harry aimed his wand through a small hole in the desk. He managed to shoot five curses before the desk erupted into flames.
Harry could barely see through the thick smoke, and his eyes were beginning to water from it. Harry could distinguish few sounds above the din. Curses were being thrown every which way.
Harry was greatly outnumbered. Some how two other Deatheaters had joined the fray. They must have been standing guard.
Curses were the only form of light in the dark office. One of the Deatheaters had hit the one of power boxes he had seen in the hallway. Harry couldn't fight thirteen Deatheaters and emerge victorious. He had to get them to accidentally take each other out.
Harry threw curses in several directions and then dropped to the floor. He collided with a body, and pulled off the mask.
She had blonde curly hair, and cold, piercing blue eyes. She lashed out at him, kicking and punching any part of his body she could reach. She was strong. The numerous blows hurt, but Harry ignored the pain. I have more important things to worry about.
"He's on the floor," she yelled.
Suddenly all curses were aimed at the floor. Harry dived out of their paths. Several curse buzzed over his head, while others whizzed by his ears.
"Ouch, that's my finger you moron."
"Sorry Colleen, can't tell who's who."
Harry quickly rose from the floor, and found the wall. He cast an echo charm on himself.
"I'm over here," he yelled. His voice seemed to come from all directions.
The Deatheaters threw curses in all directions. The dull thud of bodies hitting the floor could be heard. Harry was getting a terrible headache from all the smoke. Stay awake, stay focused. It's your only chance. He kept repeating it over and over again to himself.
He was in way over his head. But now was a little to late to do anything about it. He cast the echo charm again. The result was the same, a few more Deatheaters fell. From what he could tell five were still conscious.
"Get him," the blonde woman Colleen screamed.
"I think I see him," another Deatheater said, "over by the North wall."
Harry heard a few muttered spells but couldn't make them out. Harry found himself cornered against the wall, surrounded by Deatheaters. Slowly they began to close in.
He flattened himself against the wall. It was no use. He felt the fingers of his left hand touch something. Harry ran his hand inconspicuously against the wall. It was a large painting he realized. He unhooked it carefully, and threw it with all his might.
The Deatheaters were momentarily distracted, and Harry took out three more of them. He dashed across the room. However he tripped over the fallen bodies. The noise attracted the Deatheaters. They cautiously approached the source of the sound. Harry pretended to be knocked out.
With his head tilted to the side, and his eyes squinted almost completely shut, he took careful aim. He only had one chance to knock both of them out. The Deatheaters fell to the floor when two well aimed stunners hit their mark.
Harry's vision was swimming, and his head was pounding. Darkness was threatening to overtake him. His lungs were screaming for clean air. You must get out a voice screamed in his head. He tried to ignore it. Get out, get out it screamed.
With great effort Harry clambered to his feet. He lifted the neck of his shirt up to cover his mouth and nose. He walked as quickly as his exhausted body would let him. He walked down the stairs grasping the handrail tightly. He felt horribly dizzy, and his knees were about ready to give out beneath him.
Even though the fire had spread, the air was much cleaner on the lower floors. He walked determinedly. Harry had no thought except to keep walking. One foot in front of the other. Keep walking, just keep going.
When Harry reached the base of the stairs, he collapsed. A fireman quickly grabbed him before he fell.
"Are there more people up there?" the fireman asked urgently. The question barely registered in his brain. He nodded.
"They're in the Minister's office. Did you get the people out of the Delsner Room?"
"Yes," the fireman answered. "There are people on the 7th floor," he shouted to his colleagues.
The fireman picked Harry up, and carried him out of the building. He seemed to weigh no more than a feather to the burly fireman. He took Harry to a waiting ambulance. The whole area was surrounded by police tape.
"It'll be okay kid." He looked to the driver. "Take him to the hospital right away." That was the last thing Harry remembered before he blacked out, falling into blissful unconsciousness.
