Intertwined || Percabeth Hogwarts AU

Chapter 31

Ministry of Magic, 2007

A burst of green fire emerged from the fireplace and revealed four men. Three large, burly Aurors flanked Poseidon, the Head Auror, and ushered the queue of wizards waiting before the fireplace out of the way.

He smirked and shook his head as he walked down the hall with the three men following closely behind. He had walked down this hall countless times before never under these circumstances so he took a moment to admire the setting.

The group of golden statues that were larger than life stood in the middle of a circular pool, shining proudly as a symbol of structure and power. The largest statue of all was a noble wizard pointing his wand straight up in the air. A group of magical creatures surrounded the statues, looking up at them in reverence and companionship.

Glimmering jets of water flew from the ends of their wands, flowing down to the pool. The sound of the fountain coupled with the cracks of apparition that normally became background noise were now louder than ever.

Rumors had spread about what would happen today, making the hundreds of witches and wizards who would usually be bustling to get to their offices stop and observe the four Aurors. Poseidon struggled to keep his facial features neutral but was brimming with annoyance as whispers arose.

Leave it to a bunch of middle aged adults to whisper like some school girls, he thought disappointedly.

As they approached the fountain, Poseidon stopped and emptied his pockets of Galleons, dropping them into the water below. Please, keep my son safe, he wished.

"Let's hurry," one of the Aurors said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

But a sharp glance from Poseidon made him flinch and step back immediately. There was a dangerous, nearly animalistic glint in his sea green eyes that promised a painful death. His reputation preceded him; the Aurors were privy to some semblance of the truth of the rumors flying around, causing them to take extreme caution.

Moments later, the four men stepped out of the stream of Ministry employees and toward an area, over which hung a sign saying SECURITY. A large man with a billowing beard in royal purple robes stared them down as they approached.

"We're escorting Poseidon Jackson for his trial," the Auror in front said.

"Yes. Mr. Jackson, please step forward," said the security guard.

Poseidon walked closer to him and the wizard held up a long, golden rod and hovered it up and down along his body.

"Your wand, please," he asked, putting down the golden instrument and holding out his hand.

Poseidon glanced at the Aurors expectantly and they produced his wand, holding it out to the wizard. He dropped it into a brass instrument, which began to vibrate before producing a strip of parchment.

He tore it off and read off its contents. "Thirteen inches, Thestral tail hair core, been in use for twenty-one years. Am I correct?"

"Yes," Poseidon sighed.

"Very well, I will hold onto it for now. Please proceed forward," he said calmly.

His eyes remained firmly locked onto the parchment in his hands, unwilling to meet Poseidon's piercing gaze.

The three Aurors nodded and ushered Poseidon inside through the gates into the smaller hall beyond, where at least twenty lifts stood behind golden grilles. A man walked up to the group, relieving the three Aurors and escorting Poseidon into an empty elevator shaft.