Only a shorty I'm afraid...

Events at the Ministry

Harry awoke the next morning after a full night's sleep, his first since that night at the ministry. Slightly surprised, but quite happy, he made his way downstairs, to find Ron talking to Percy. Ron's voice was slightly strained, and Harry understood that Ron must have been struggling to forgive Percy.

For the summer previous to Harry's fifth year, Percy had walked out on the entire Weasley family in a storm of temper and ambition, to work for the Prime minister of the time, Cornelius Fudge. Ron had taken it pretty badly, constantly referring to Percy, (if ever he had to), as "the world's biggest git".

Percy stood up as Harry entered the room. They both stood still for a moment. Both knew about the letter that Percy had written last year, advising Ron to stop being friends with Harry. Percy looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry." His voice was flat and depressed, and had lost all of its formerly pompous tones.

"It's alright," Harry replied, taking a seat next to Ron, and taking a slice of toast from the small rack in the middle of the table. As Percy sat down again, a grateful look on his face, Harry turned to Ron. "Where is everyone else?"

Ron quickly swallowed his toast. "Dad went in early, Mum's gone with him, as have Bill and Charlie. Ginny and Hermione are still in their room, and Fred and George have gone to work." At this Percy let out a small snort.

"Work indeed!" he muttered. "Speaking of work... dad wanted me to go in, said something about getting me a similar position to the one I had, except in the Auror department now." There was just the faintest hint of smugness there that Harry picked up on, but Ron didn't. Percy approached the kitchen fireplace, but turned before leaving. "I'll see you both later."

Harry and Ron saw him leave, but as Harry was about to ask Ron how he was, the fire burst into green flame again, and out walked Mrs Weasley, Bill and Charlie.

"It's been madness this morning!" cried Mrs Weasley. "The Daily Prophet has a front page spread with Arthur on it, and there is a crowd of other newspaper reporters trying to grab a quick word everywhere! And then there's been news of a Death Eater attack on a small Muggle Town somewhere in the Southeast so all the Aurors are busy, not to mention the teachers conference going on at the ministry today also! Professor Snape said a quick hello but he was about to be trapped by the escalator doors so he left for his conference."

Harry and Ron both roared with laughter at the thought of Snape being trapped in a lift door, as Ginny and Hermione came down the stairs.

"What's so funny?" Hermione inquired. Harry was still chuckling slightly and looked at Ron, who waved it away with one hand, causing Harry to let out a derisive snort. One of her bushy eyebrows raised, Hermione sat down on the other side of the table. Ginny soon followed suited, seating herself opposite Harry.

She was taller than when he had last seen her, taller indeed, than Hermione. The difference as they sat next to each other amazed Harry, but he didn't comment on it.

*

The day seemed doomed to pass in idleness, with Ron and Harry playing Wizards chess with Hermione talking to Ginny about O.W.Ls. Ginny, much to Harry's amusement, was having considerable trouble looking interested in what Hermione was saying. Hermione seemed to not have noticed. However, after dinner time when everyone was getting extremely bored with Hermione's complaints about not getting 100% on her defence against the dark arts exam, (the only exam which Harry had beaten Hermione in), Bill arrived looking very red in the face, a dismayed expression on his face.

"What's wrong Bill?" said Ginny, as Mrs Weasley whipped around from the washing up.

"The prisoners have escaped from the ministry!"