Author notes: Sorry for not updating for a long time; had lots of work/ illness/ writer's block/ yadda yadda yadda. Before I start this chapter, I'd just like to say that I'll be renovating all the chapters for all my stories after I've put this one up. You don't need to read them again; I'll just be tidying them up and correcting mistakes etc. Well, I guess all that's left to say is… enjoy!

Chapter 3 – The Squib who knew too much

As soon as they arrived at the Ministry of Magic, Arthur Weasley signalled to a tall clerk behind a desk. Said clerk peered over his clipboard at Harry, and then waved a hand, turning to the next customer in the queue. Arthur pulled Harry out of the hustle and bustle, and into the nearest elevator. After the doors closed and Arthur pressed an impatient hand on the 'Down 5' button, Harry cleared his throat.

"Mr. Weasley… sorry, Arthur… well, last time I came to the Ministry, there was lots of security checks and things like that. Why didn't that happen this time?"

Arthur smiled at him. "Well, that's for two reasons. The first, and lesser of the two, is that with the current situation with the Warrior, security has become a bit lax. The second reason is that… well, frankly, the Ministry are in a bit of a rush to get this Warrior business sorted out, so they put the security desk clerk on a special look out for you and I, and was ordered to let us straight in, no hassle. This works out good, as I'll have time enough to get some work done early so that I can accompany you home at lunch time."

The lift fell into silence as they descended. They stopped at the floor below, to allow a thin, purple robed man, who was carrying many boxes, to stagger in. Along with him came a paper aeroplane, addressed to Harry Potter in red ink. With a glance at Arthur, Harry unfolded the plane. His big eyes scanned the page, and then he read it again, more slowly this time.

Dear Harry Potter,

It is with regret that we write to inform you that your meeting with the Warrior has been delayed until this afternoon. If it is OK with Mr. A Weasley, it would be of assistance for you to stay with him until lunch break. After lunch, you must be escorted to The Minister for Magic's office, for your briefing concerning the Warrior. From there you will be escorted to the place where we hold the Warrior, to do what you can. When you are finished there, you will be returned to Mr. Weasley, who we believe has organised your return to school.

Thank you for your help.

The letter was not signed.

"Delayed," Harry said vaguely. "My meeting with the Warrior has been delayed. Is it all right if I stay with you until lunch?" he asked, showing the letter to his entourage.

Arthur scanned the letter, nodding his approval. "We'll get off on the next floor, and then get another lift to take us up," he said.

There was something curious about the purple robed man. Harry wondered why he didn't just cast a charm on the boxes. He said so.

"I'm… I'm a squib," said the man, looking down at his feet, which he couldn't see because of the boxes. "I'm only here because I know too much."

Harry wanted to question him further, but the lift doors opened with a ping, and Arthur almost dragged Harry out. Thy stepped immediately into another lift, which was already occupied by a stern looking woman holding a clipboard and a chubby man who looked suspiciously like Uncle Vernon. Harry daren't ask Arthur about the purple robed man with these two imposing figures present, so he settled for silence, wedging himself in the corner so as not to get thrown about as the lift stopped and started.

Eventually they got off, and Harry followed his quick paced mentor down the surprisingly empty corridor, and into an office.

"Arthur…"

"You may call me Mr. Weasley, if you don't mind," he snapped. 'Mr. Weasley's' abrupt change in personality made Harry start, and it made him even more curious about the man from the lift.

"Mr Weasley? That man in the lift. Was he-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" Mr. Weasley snarled, and sat down heavily in his desk chair, snapping it clean in two. With a strange growling sound, Mr. Weasley jumped up, brandishing his wand. For a moment, Harry thought he was going to be attacked, but Mr. Weasley just shouted a repairing spell and sat back down, staring at an empty picture frame on his desk.

Harry's thoughts were muddled. Who was the purple robed squib who knew too much? Why had it put Mr. Weasley into such a flying rage? And why had his meeting with the Warrior been delayed? So many questions…

Harry just sat at the back of Mr Weasley's office, willing away the time. Mr Weasley's red hot temper was still intact, and he didn't speak much. A golden paper aeroplane appeared through the door, and glided past Mr. Weasley's head to flutter to Harry's feet. Harry bent to pick it up, conscious of Mr Weasley's eyes on him, but the message leapt up into the air off its own accord, opening out as it did so. Harry stared at the page, willing his eyes into focus.

Dear Harry Potter,

The message began, just like the first. However, from then on, the message was not so polite.

Where the hell are you? You should have had your meeting with the Warrior hours ago! We've only just been able to send this message, because there was some kind of blockage round the lifts. What's holding you up? Dumbledore said we could rely on your help. Now get down here as fast as you can!

Just like the first time, the letter was not signed, although there was some strange kind of seal at the bottom. Harry was confused. The letter fell to the floor and crumbled to ash. He quickly relayed the letter's contents to Mr Weasley. On hearing the strange message, Mr Weasley's personality change was instantaneous. He was his old self again. The two of them were silently puzzling over what to do when they heard a soft raspy voice.

"There you are!" Both occupants of the room immediately looked to the door, then Mr Weasley to the desk. Harry followed his gaze, and saw that the empty picture frame on the desk was now occupied by the portrait of Albus Dumbledore. Harry smiled a greeting, then frowned when he saw the look of concern on his old mentor's face. "You two must come quickly!" The portrait continued, giving the vague illusion that he was out of breath. "Something is amiss; there's something very wrong here at the ministry. Very, very wrong. Harry, grab the letter that told you of the delay to your meeting. Yes, yes, I know about the letter," he added at Harry's puzzled look. "Now add the ashes of the letter you just received." Harry did as he was told. "Now get out your wand, and while pointing it at the envelope, repeat this:

Tale of old and ash of new

Point the way

Good and true!"

Harry recited the incantation, thoughts muddling in his head. The envelope rushed out of his hand and began to spin very quickly in the air.

"Now," Dumbledore continued, above the rising volume of the wind. "Arthur, the wind will stop in a moment, and an arrow will appear. As long as Harry keeps his wand out, it will guide the way to the Warrior. Follow it with Harry, and help him fight off the trouble around the lifts. I have given you as much help as I am able. Use your heads!" Dumbledore finished with a final scream, his picture fading. In its place was a growing black dot, which twisted and turned, and then began to pile out of the picture frame. Harry screamed, and he and Arthur ran out of the office, following the wind that had now formed a long slender arrow. Arthur slammed the door behind him, as noise erupted around them.

"That's odd," Arthur commented loudly as they ran. "Someone must have put a silencing charm on my office; we would have heard all this otherwise!" Harry's brow furrowed as he ran on. They got to the lift and the doors opened automatically, revealing a sticky purple substance covering the floor. Harry shouted in surprise and took a step backward, bumping into Arthur.

"Let's try the stairs," he said.

"I checked on the way past, they're full of people; there's no way we'd get down there in time." Arthur replied.

Harry sighed. "Can we apparate?"

This time, it was Mr Weasley's turn to sigh. "I can't," he said, showing Harry a tag around his neck. "I got this earlier this morning. It's a indenture ticket saying I'm forbidden from apparating for fifteen days. They didn't say why. That's partly why I was so angry this morning. I'm sorry."

"It's all right," Harry replied, closing his eyes in despair, wishing everything was all right. "Is there any other way to get down stairs?"

"Not that I can think of," Arthur replied creasing his forehead. "And the arrow does seem to point to the lift." Harry braced himself, then climbed into the lift, balancing his weight on the bars so his feet didn't touch the floor. Arthur hesitated, then followed suit. The arrow flew in afterwards.

The lift doors closed automatically, and they started to go down. Shortly afterwards, the lift stopped completely, and the lights turned off. The doors remained closed. There was a dull lilac glow coming from the arrow, just enough so they could see each other's faces.

"Bugger," said Mr Weasley. That one word said it all.

Author Notes: Again, sorry for the delay of new chapters, I hope you enjoyed this one. I appreciate all the reviews I get; which is not many, seeing as a lot of you have given up on me, and my friends can't be bothered to review, so yeah, great. But please please please if you've read this chapter, give a little of your time and review! I gave you my time by writing this, and for a sort of… payment for reading this, I need you to review! Even it's just criticism, as long as it's constructive, I don't mind! I need your views and ideas in order to make this story better! And my other stories! Come on people, put a smile back on my face!