HP/LOTM: Visionary - 408

Chapter 408: Ministry Infiltration (Choice, The Deepest Level)

On the other side of the Ministry, in the Minister’s office, someone curious snapped shut a black-covered book.

"So, what are you going to choose? Family, or power?" a pleasant young voice echoed through the room.

No one reacted. Aside from the red-haired young man at his desk, none of the other clerks in the office could hear it.

The redhead was Percy Weasley. He stared at the phantom on the page, those heterochromatic eyes telling him it was his youngest cousin.

The news Aiden brought said that his other two brothers had also infiltrated the Ministry, despite being wanted.

Percy, who had always craved status, clenched his fists so hard the veins stood out on his forehead. He glanced once at Pius Thicknesse working in the centre of the office, then back at the ghostly image on the black book.

The next second, he decided. He stood abruptly and strode for the door.

In the outer hall, Harry was wrestling with how to get into Umbridge’s office. If he opened that door now, everyone would see. He would be the rabbit stepping into the wolves’ den.

A black-covered storybook drifted past him. He looked up and saw that the one carrying it was Percy Weasley.

"Right. Just walk down the corridor with the book in hand, chat to whoever you meet, then say you’re turning in items confiscated from undesirables," the storyteller on Percy’s shoulder murmured, spinning the tale with precise care.

Because this was family, a certain dragon did not want to leave Percy as nothing but a faceless extra in someone else’s story, so he had shown himself first.

In the hall, the Ministry guard David yawned. He had been up far too late; blinking the sleep from his eyes, he noticed Percy walking toward him.

"You’re the Minister’s assistant, aren’t you? What can I do for you?" David asked.

"I’m here to hand over contraband seized from undesirables," Percy said, swallowing nervously.

"Oh, right, the Auror Office did turn in a batch yesterday. Looks like Madam Umbridge’s authority has grown again. Even that goes through her now?" David muttered, grumbling as he opened the door for Percy.

Neither of them saw the invisible presence slipping in behind him.

Inside, the office was as pink as ever, like Hogwarts in miniature. The decor looked like something designed to crush a person’s sanity, though its owner somehow managed to live in it quite happily.

"Now turn around. Reach out and pull down whatever you catch," the phantom on Percy’s shoulder prompted once the door shut.

"Tch. You’re not having me on, are you?" Percy said, sceptical. That doubt came from a dragon with a very clear record of mischief.

There was a rustle as fabric fell. The two pairs of eyes that had been separated by the Invisibility Cloak widened at the same time.

Each could read the other’s shock.

"That’s Harry," the phantom murmured in Percy’s mind. The image had faded, but the boy’s voice remained.

"Harry," Percy said, forcing himself to be calm and speaking the name aloud.

"You…" Harry already had his wand out, ready to stun him.

"Wait. I’m here to help. Ask Aiden if you like," Percy said, reaching for the black book.

Somehow, it had vanished.

Percy’s eyes almost popped. He had no way to prove a thing now. A herd of alpacas thundered through his mind as every sharp word he wanted to use died on his tongue.

"It’s fine. I know. I saw the book in your hand," Harry said offhandedly, then turned and started tearing through Umbridge’s office.

"What are you looking for?" Percy asked, curiosity warring with dread.

The next instant, he caught sight of the file on his parents on the desk.

"Arthur Weasley. Pure-blood, but with intolerable pro-Muggle leanings. Member of the Order of the Phoenix. Wife, pure-blood. Seven children, youngest son bedridden. Note: maintains close ties with undesirables. Recommend sustained surveillance."

Cold sweat ran down Percy’s back. The man Harry was pretending to be was the one tasked with this work.

The nickname "mad dog" came from somewhere. Of the people under surveillance, sixty per cent had been personally delivered into the Hazy Realm by this man.

"Damn them. How dare they… I thought pure-bloods would be safe…" Percy snarled, clutching his hair, his face twisting with bitterness.

"So. How does it feel, selling out your parents?" the young voice murmured in his head again.

"I was wrong. I was completely wrong," Percy whispered.

"Who are you talking to? And what happened to Moody and the others?" Harry asked. He had not found the earring anywhere in the office and turned to Percy for news.

"They escaped. No one knows where they are. The magic eye was something he threw away himself during a raid, as a smokescreen. I’ll stay in the Ministry as your mole and pass you information," Percy said at last.

He had repented and chosen to stand with the Order.

"All right," Harry nodded.

He reached up for the eye on the door, but Percy slapped his hand away.

"Do you have a death wish? If you take that now, and the Ministry realises, they’ll lock down every exit. You’ll never get out," Percy snapped.

Harry, now calmer, froze. A cold sweat broke over him as he thought about what he had almost done.

"Go to the bottom level. Umbridge is there. Something like an earring, she’ll keep on her," Percy said, taking a silver light-sphere from his pocket and placing it on the desk before hurrying Harry out.

Harry stepped into the lift just as a soaking-wet Ron stumbled in.

"Morning," Ron mumbled.

"Ron, it’s me," Harry said quietly.

"Oh. Harry, I didn’t recognise you. Where’s Hermione?" Ron asked.

"On the bottom level. Umbridge took her into the courtroom as a scribe," Harry said. He was about to mention Percy when Arthur and an elderly witch squeezed in.

"Merlin, Reg, what happened to you?" Arthur said. Popular as ever, he asked without hesitation.

Ron stared at Arthur’s shoulder, not daring to meet his eyes. "Yaxley’s window was raining. I tried to stop it, but I got blasted straight into the downpour. They sent me to find Barmy… er, Phenistworth."

"Figures. Half the offices have been raining lately," Arthur said with a shrug. "Tried Meteolojinx Recanto? Blagdon says it works well, though the grey clouds up top never quite go away."

With a clang, the lift reached the lowest floor.

Harry clapped Ron on the shoulder, and the two of them stepped out together.

To Arthur, the gesture made it look like Runcorn was bullying a colleague again. He spoke up at once.

"Hey, Runcorn, heard you went after Dirk Cresswell."

"What?" Harry said, blinking.

"Don’t play dumb. You sold out Dirk Cresswell, that so-called pure-blooded goblin expert, for your own advancement, didn’t you?" Arthur’s voice had gone hard.

Harry opened his mouth, but no explanation would come. In the end, the only thing he managed was, "Be careful. Someone’s watching you."