Chapter Thirty Nine – Plans Within Plans
"Master," Narcissa Malfoy kneeled before her Lord. "How may I serve? You have but to say the word and I will devote every resource at my disposal to finding my husband and delivering his head to you."
"Your enthusiasm is noted Narcissa," Voldemort replied. "But I have another task for you. A way to prove your loyalty."
"Anything My Lord."
"Even in betrayal your husband serves my needs," Voldemort said. "Yess, all the wizarding world serves my needs, whether they know it or not. Arise Narcissa, I shall tell you what you must do."
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Percy Weasley entered the small conference room with Minister Fudge. Over the last three days Lucius Malfoy had missed two scheduled meetings with Minister Fudge. That was odd.
Percy allowed himself a brief feeling of satisfaction. It seemed MI5 had made their first move and in the process captured Malfoy. He wondered if they had captured him with Black and if the information he had provided had been useful. The nature of his job and position meant that he most likely would not know for a very long time.
The Minister had summoned him a few minutes earlier. Something last minute and not on the schedule. Percy was surprised when he saw Narcissa Malfoy seated at the table.
"Minister Fudge thank you for seeing me on such short notice," she began.
"Think nothing of it Narcissa," Minister Fudge replied. "I am here to serve. What is it that you wished to see me about? I have not seen Lucius in three days. Is everything alright?"
Narcissa Malfoy looked around the room nervously. "That is why I wished to too see you personally Minister Fudge. You are the only person my husband really trusted. You will know what to do."
"Of course," Fudge said. "Tell me what is happening. Where is Lucius?"
"Lucius has disappeared," Narcissa said.
"Disappeared?!?" Fudged reacted with shock. "I will summon the Aurors immediately."
"No," Narcissa cut him off. "Let me explain first. This is too important."
The Minister calmed down and looked at Narcissa. "What is too important? What happened to Lucius?"
Again Narcissa looked nervously around the room. "Think about it Minister, who really benefits from my husband disappearing?"
"He is vital member of our world," Minister Fudge replied. "No one would benefit."
"There is one man who benefits," Narcissa observed. "Someone who has long opposed my husband, who has been hostile to our family. Someone who knows how much you have relied on my husband's advice in dealing with critical issues over the last few months."
Fudge paused in thought. "Dumbledore," he said.
"Why would Dumbledore do something to Lucius Malfoy?" Percy asked and then mentally kicked himself. But the idea that Dumbledore would do something so obviously foolish was laughable.
"Because he knows it would hurt me," Fudge was nodding. "He's after my job."
Which was even a more laughable idea Percy thought. But he had to play along. "Of course Minister, I wasn't thinking."
"Quite all right my boy," Fudge said. "If true, this is a far bolder move than I would have expected from Dumbledore." He looked directly at Narcissa, "Tell me everything."
"Three days ago, Lucius decided to go to Hogwarts personally to check on the progress of your reforms," Narcissa said. "Umbridge has been doing a wonderful job. But as you know, Dumbledore has been doing everything he can to obstruct her."
"Yes. Unfortunately the law prohibits me from being able to remove a sitting Headmaster," Fudge said. "But Dolores never mentioned anything to me about Lucius visiting Hogwarts."
"I don't think he ever arrived," Narcissa said. "He told me he planned on confronting Dumbledore directly. I have no proof, which is why I didn't come to you sooner, but I believe Dumbledore may have done something to him."
"Yes, that makes sense," Fudge said.
"There is more," Narcissa said. "Things my husband told me. Things he suspected."
"Tell me," Fudge said.
"Dumbledore has been saying You-Know-Who is back for several months now," Narcissa began.
"Yes, he's trying to cause a panic that will weaken the Ministry," Fudge acknowledge. "Your husband helped me to see that."
"Yes," Narcissa continued. "But Dumbledore has no proof beyond the word of the Potter boy. And everyone knows that can't be relied on. But Lucius worried that Dumbledore might go a step further. He might try to create of evidence of You-Know-Who's return."
"Create evidence?" Fudge said. "I don't understand."
"He might do things and make it look like You-Know-Who was behind them," Narcissa explained. "Like making people disappear. People might believe You-Know-Who was behind it."
Fudge nodded. "Yes, I can see that. We've done an excellent job exposing Dumbledore's lies and limiting their spread. Its obvious he is getting desperate."
Percy didn't follow the logic at all. That fudge actually believed this preposterous tale meant that he was an even bigger fool than Percy thought.
"You see now why I had to come to you Minister," Narcissa said. "Dumbledore still has friends in the Ministry," she glimpsed at Percy. "People who keep him informed about your plans against him."
"Do not worry about Percy Narcissa," Fudge said. "He is fine young lad. He knows how to follow the rules. Isn't that right my boy?"
"Yes Minister," Percy replied with a nod. "You're the only one who really understands what our people need. Dumbledore is nothing more than an old man whose time has past." Percy was going to need a long shower when he got home.
"I meant know disrespect," Narcissa said. "But I know Lucius warned you about spies in the Ministry. That is why this must handled properly."
"Yes, Dumbledore is getting bolder," Fudge said. "But without direct evidence there is little we can do. We must do everything we can to find evidence of Dumbledore's activities."
"But with his spies in the Ministry you must be careful," Narcissa said. "As painful as this is for me to say, we must keep the news of my husbands disappearance a secret. We don't want to cause the panic that Dumbledore is looking for."
"Excellent thinking," Fudge nodded. "We need to create a secret taskforce. One that reports directly to me. Perhaps Shacklebolt can be spared from the search for Black?"
"No," Narcissa said. "Shacklebolt would be too obvious. I have list of people in the Ministry my husband felt could be trusted."
"Again good thinking," Fudge said. "Show me your list."
"Here," Narcissa handed the Minister a piece of parchment that she took out of her bag.
Fudge began reviewing the list. "Yes, these are all good people. Lucius has always been a good judge of character. If Dumbledore knows what's good for him, he will be merely holding Lucius hostage. If has harmed him in any way I will personally see to it that he receives the kiss of a Dementor."
"Thank you Minister," Narcissa said looking visibly relieved. "Lucius was right. I know will do the right thing."
"We must move quickly," Fudge said. "Percy there are some people I need for you to find. We must arrange a meeting. Someplace away from the Ministry after hours. Someplace we will not be observed. We must make our plans carefully."
"Of course Minister," Percy acknowledged. "Anything you require of me."
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It was mid-afternoon before Percy finally found a few minutes to slip away from the Minister. He had personally delivered the Minister's summons to a meeting later that night to five Ministry employees. Percy wondered if Fudge even understood the meaning of the word 'secret.' Having his personal secretary spend his morning delivering messages that could be delivered a dozen other ways just screamed that something was going on. Particularly since he had Percy ignore his other duties until the task was done.
Percy shook it off. The targeting of Dumbledore needed to be reported. But he didn't know how important it would be to MI5. There was however one person who probably should be told as soon as possible.
Percy had managed to set his schedule up is such a manner that he often delivered messages those members of the Wizengamot who were in attendance at the Ministry. He entered Elder Sinclair's small office. It was well known that the Elder liked to chat up some the younger people working at the Ministry, so it wouldn't be the least bit suspicious if Percy spent a few minutes in the Elder's office. He kept the door open.
"Percy," the Elder said looking up from his desk. "How are things with you these days?"
"Things are going quite well Elder," Percy replied. He handed the Elder the day's messages from the Minister. "Minister Fudge has been kind enough to expand my duties of late. It has kept me very busy. But I am enjoying the new challenges"
"Excellent," Sinclair replied. "It is good to know the Minister is showing trust in your talents. Is there anything of interest happening these days?"
"Just the usual demands on the Minister's time," Percy replied. "As you know the reforms at Hogwarts are proving to be more of a challenge than we expected. Dumbledore seems determined to obstruct the Ministry at every turn."
"Yes, it is shame Albus does not recognize that the world has passed him by," Sinclair said. "Well it has been good to see you again Percy."
"Thank you Elder," Percy said leaving the office. He closed the door behind him. To the couple of people who overheard parts of the conversation, it seemed innocent enough. The Elder had made it clear that regretted voting against the Minister in the Potter case, but the law was clear. The Minister had not provided sufficient evidence to convict the boy. And whatever his other eccentricities it was well known Elder Sinclair was a stickler for the law.
Once the door was closed the Elder began to go through the messages Percy left. He opened one of the envelopes. It was a typical letter about some new regulation coming out the Magical Creatures department. The letter was unimportant so Sinclair set it aside to study the envelope. He found what he was looking for fairly quickly. Stuck just inside was what to most wizards would look like nothing more that small piece of trash that had somehow gotten inside the envelope.
A muggle might recognize it for what it really was. A slightly smaller version of the memory cards they might use one of their digital camera's or portable music devices. Sinclair waved his wand at the door to make certain he was not interrupted. He reached under his robes and pulled out a small device. He inserted the card, attached an earphone, which he placed in his left ear and then turned the device on. He then proceeded to listen to the entire conversation Fudge had just shared with Narcissa Malfoy.
This was an unexpected development. Tom had become even more devious during his absence. To use the disappearance of Malfoy to increase the Minister's suspicions of Albus. A brilliant ploy. More importantly though, Narcissa had planted the seeds that Albus might do something bigger. That meant Tom might be planning something bigger and setting Albus up to take the blame.
He must warn Albus. Fudge's clumsily efforts were not a concern of course. The Elder had already noted Percy running around all morning delivering strange messages to various people that he ordinarily didn't deal with. Most likely Albus already knew something was going on. One would have to be blind not to see that Minister Fudge was doing something out of character.
No, Fudge was not a concern. The concern was what Tom may be planning. He was going to use this opportunity to do something far more public than he otherwise would be capable of. They needed to be prepared.
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A/N – Sorry for the lengthy delay in getting back to this story. My muse has been focused on other things and I do have a life outside of writing fanfiction. One I need to at least occasionally check in on.