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CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Test Run

Harry had been silent since the announcement. Hermione wasn't keen on silence from him. Silence could be dangerous. "Harry? What are you planning?"

Harry looked at her. "We have to stop it, Hermione."

"Harry…"

"You don't agree?"

Hermione phrased her response very cautiously. "I think we need to be careful."

"Because you think it's a trap."

"Don't you?"

"Well, of course it's a trap. Ron knows all about my 'saving people' thing. But it's something else as well. It's an opportunity."

Hermione thought hard about this. "Everyone will know where the Purification Device is…"

"More than that. If they're going to use it, then they need to drop the protective charms."

Hermione shook her head. "Harry, they'll need those charms more than ever. If the Purification Device is used, it needs to be controlled, contained. Otherwise it'll effect…everyone. And if we tamper with that…"

"Yes, I know. It's dangerous. But so's letting Ron carry out this test. If it actually works, then he'll gain a lot of support. And if it doesn't work, if the effect's permanent…we can't let that happen."

Ron was pacing nervously around the Purification Device as Ministry officials prepared to transport it. "Take it straight to the Judiciary Department,"he told them. "They'll know what to do with it."

"Do you want to go to the medical wing and pick up a calming draught?"Parvarti asked him ironically.

Ron seemed to consider it for a moment, then shook his head. "No, I want to keep a clear head. Harry's bound to try something, we can't leave any loopholes this time."

"And have security on stand by in case he manages to get in anyway?"

Ron sighed. "You know, I never thought I'd have reason to be worried about how resourceful Harry can be."

"Anti-apparition wards will be up throughout the whole Ministry building. There'll be constant sweeps for charmed objects and the room will be constantly monitored for improper use of magic."

Ron nodded. "Now we just have to see how Harry gets around it."

Harry and Hermione had been joined for a planning meeting by Luna, Rose, Kingsley and, somewhat by default, Lily. "So, that's the situation,"Harry remarked. "We have to get in, destroy or at the very least severely damage the Purification Device, then get out again, hopefully with Owen, Susannah and Gabrielle."

"So no pressure,"Lily remarked ironically.

"I really wish the Quibbler had been invited to the demonstration,"Luna commented. "I'm sure I would be able to get you in if they were."

"We can't just walk in there,"Hermione remarked. "We're too recognisable."

"Well, a disguise wouldn't take too much trouble,"Harry pointed out. "But we need a way in. They're not going to let in any group of random strangers."

"Suppose we do get in,"Hermione mused,"what do we do then? Kingsley, you started the study of the Purification Device. What would it take to destroy it?"

Kingsley spread his hands. "The Purification Device has lasted for hundreds of years. It would probably take multiple curses just to damage it. And the Ministry has been studying it for ten years, remember. It has reached the point where they could take it apart and put it back together again. Any minor damage will likely be easily repaired."

Harry sighed. "It's looking like it's not just a case of sneaking in and smashing it. To put it out of action permanently, we'd have to steal it."

"So are we doing that now?"Lily asked.

Harry thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Stopping them using it on Owen and the others has to be the priority. If it's just a temporary victory, that's what we'll have to hope for. The main problem is getting in there."

"I think I know someone who can help us,"Rose realised. "Just give me a moment to contact them."

Owen, Gabrielle and Susannah were in one of the holding cells at the Ministry. Owen looked around it somewhat morosely. "I guess this is what they call the condemned cell."

"We're not condemned yet,"Susannah said firmly. "The rest of the Order will be trying to save us."

"Trying and failing, most likely,"Owen replied.

Gabrielle gave a slight smile. "Harry Potter first saved me when he was fourteen years old. He can always surprise you."

Seamus and Oliver opened the door. "Prisoners for transport to sentencing,"Seamus snapped. "Move out." Both of them seemed to be doing their very best not to look the three prisoners in the eye.

Owen, Gabrielle and Susannah filed out.

The members of the press were being shown into the demonstration room by Aurors. What no-one realised what that among them were Harry and Hermione Potter. With them were Zara Mills and Jacqui Langer. While Rose would never have considered them friends, their acquaintance and support of Harry's position was enough to convince the pair to smuggle the two Order leaders in.

Hermione scratched her polyjuiced face. "Did this person have a skin condition or something?"

"No idea,"Jacqui replied quietly. "You've got the appearance of two Daily Prophet workers."

"And as far as we're concerned, that's who we think you are,"Zara added. "From hereon, you're on your own."

Harry nodded. "Don't worry, we've got some plans of our own."

As the group took their seats, Owen, Gabrielle and Susannah were marched in and tied to chairs next to the Purification Device. Ron stood at the front. "Thank you for coming. As you can see, the Purification Device is fully powered up. It only needs to be activated." He walked over and placed his wand in the appropriate slot. "Excitant,"he snapped and the device began to glow. Witches and wizards began casting Shield Charms around the device and the three prisoners, sealing them in together. "In three minutes,"Ron explained,"the Purification Device will activate."

Harry nodded to Hermione, who adjusted the coin in her pocket.

In the ministry atrium were Dennis Creevey, Michael Corner, Teddy Lupin, Victoire Lupin, Lee Jordan and Li Corner. With security concentrated on the judiciary department, they had been able to come in through the public entrance, with Dennis, one of the least contentious members of the group, making the introduction. Dennis received Hermione's message and nodded to the others. They all downed the polyjuice potion they had brought with them and then fired their wands into the air, creating sparks of light.

Apollo Zabini, one of the Ministry workers present, looked round in shock and picked out one of the advancing figures. "That's Harry Potter!"

Imelda Creevey was looking in a different direction. "No…that's Harry Potter!"

Slowly, those in the atrium began to realise what they were looking at: Seven Harry Potters advancing towards them, wands glowing.

"Get the Aurors!"Apollo shouted.

In the demonstration room, the alarms sounded and several of the Aurors present hurried out. Harry nodded to Hermione and they drew their wands. "Stupefy!" The spells stunned several of those casting the shield around the Purification Device, creating a hole in the shield. Harry and Hermione immediately began hurling curses at the partly unprotected device. "Reducto! Bombarda! Confringa!" This time the spells struck home. At first Harry thought it wasn't having an effect…and then the device began to smoke and burn, the glow fading.

Ron looked at the unfamiliar visage…but he recognised the person behind it. "That's Harry Potter!"he shouted. "Stop him! Protego!" His Shield Charm formed over the hole in the shield around the Purification Device, sealing it again.

Harry and Hermione ran for the door as several Aurors aimed their wands at them. Harry spun round. "Obliviate!" The spell struck several of the reporters, causing them to mill around in confusion and act as a living shield. Harry noted with satisfaction that Zara and Jacqui were among those hit. That should avoid awkward questions.

The pair ran for the atrium where Harry tried not to be fazed by the sight of seven people that looked just like him fighting Ministry personnel. After all, it had happened before. "Impedimenta!"he snapped, Hermione following suit, and the Ministry personnel in their way were knocked aside. "Floo Network!"he shouted at the others and they all quickly disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

Ron walked over to where Padma and Terry were examining the Purification Device. "Is it repairable?"

"Yes,"Terry replied cautiously. "But…it'll take days."

Ron sighed. "Work on it. And…someone take the prisoners back to their cells."

Nymphadora found James in one of the classrooms. "You hear about what happened at the demonstration?"

James nodded. "Yes. No casualties this time but the Purification Device was damaged…and the three Order members remain in custody."

"Is it out of action for good?"

"Not from what I hear. They're repairing it as we speak."

Nymphadora sat down heavily at one of the desks. "If it had been destroyed, this would all be over."

"Maybe,"James pondered. "But maybe not."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if the Order destroy the Purification Device, then that's completely destroying the Ministry's new policy. The Ministry won't let that stand. Either the Order will all be rounded up or the Ministry will fall."

"Maybe we should hope the Ministry get the Device working?"

"I'm not even sure that would solve it. If it doesn't work, then the Ministry will have just about everyone turn on them and the government will fall, and then we really will have anarchy. And even if it works as they say, people will accuse them of tyranny, of forcing through a dangerous new policy even when there's opposition. It could just inflame things."

"Then where does that leave us?"

James thought for a moment, and then slowly he began to smile. "With the third option."