Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Hermione felt it was quite adorable watching Mr. Weasley try and understand going through a Muggle Train Station. Hermione and Harry helped him at times he had a bit of trouble understanding what exactly to do until they reached an old red telephone box, which was missing a couple panes of glass and in front of a heavily graffittied 

"Here we are, after you two," He said, holding open the door of the phone booth. As Harry and Hermione walked in, Mr. Weasley followed while shutting the door on them, making it hard for everyone to move about. Hermione was pressed up against one of the walls as she watched Mr. grabbing the receiver and peering at the dial before dialing:

"Okay... let's see... six... two... four.. and another four... and another two..." he mumbled to himself. Just as the dial whirred smoothly back into place, a woman's voice spoke from inside the telephone box.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business." 

"Er-- Arthur Weasley, Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office, here to escort Harry Potter, who has been asked to attend a disciplinary hearing and Hermione Granger, who has been asked to interview Barty Crouch Jr...." 

"Thank you," said the voice, "Visitors, please take the badge and attach it to the front of your robes." 

There were two clicks and a rattle as Hermione saw two square silver badges on them. One was labelled, Harry Potter Disciplinary Hearing, and the other had, Hermione Granger interviewer. 

"Visitors to the Ministry are required to submit to a search and present your wand for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium." 

The floor sudden began to shutter as it lowered, sinking into the ground. Hermione watched as they were emerged in darkness for only like a minute till they were illuminated by light from the floor up to them. 

"The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant day." the voice said before the door swung open. Mr. Weasley stepped out followed by Hermione then Harry. Hermione's eyes widened as Harry's mouth dropped. The Ministry of Magic had a prideful looking appearance from the peacock-blue ceiling to the highly polished floors. The corridor they were standing in was surrounded by what tons of fireplaces that had hundreds of witches and wizards and other people walking in and out of. Halfway down the hallway was a fountain with a group of golden statues that stood in front of a circular pool. There was a wizard and witch, a centaur, a goblin and a house-elf. Jets of water were flying from the ends of the two wands, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip of the goblin's hat and each of the house-elf's ears. 

"This way," Mr. Weasley said. They walked among the rows of people as they past by the fountain that was filled with silver Sickles and bronze Knuts glinting up at them with a sign beside it, reading:

All proceeds from the Fountain of Magical Brethren will be given to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. 

"Over here, Harry and Hermione," Mr. Weasley told them as they headed towards a pair fo golden gates with a sign that read Security. After Arthur explained he was escorting a few visitors, Hermione and Harry had their wands searched. As Hermione set her wand down on a scale-like instrument, it began vibrating for a few seconds before a slip of parchment came from it. The wizard tore it off and began to read it then his face twisted in confusion halfway through the parchment. 

"Ten and three-quarters, hawthorn... Oh no, redwood... No! yew.... wait! No, it's all three. That's interesting combo. Then the core um-- phoenix-feather.... White River Monster Spine and... Basilisk Horn!" he paused before looking at her. Hermione shrugged her shoulders, unsure what to say, before he continued, "been in use four years. That correct?" 

"Yes," Hermione stated while the wizard put the parchment on a small brass spike then handed her wand back to him. Hermione mumbled a thanks as Mr. Weasley began to motion them towards the lifts. 

It felt like forever till they reached Mr. Weasley's office, which was on Level Three and on the other side of the floor. Hermione was a bit surprised the walls were fulled with Sirius Black's picture. Of course she wasn't all that surprised, but she figured there would be other Dark Wizards and Witches plastered on the walls as well. On the way, they talked with Kingsley, who handed Mr. Weasley a magazine entitled, The Quibbler, to give to Sirius. 

Upon reaching the his office, Mr. Weasley received a memo that just zoomed right passed them and landed on top of his desk. Mr. Weasley unfolded it and then read out loud: 

"Third regurgitating public toilet reported in Bethnal Green, kindly investigate immediately... Oh! This is getting ridiculous..." 

"Regurgitating toilet?" Harry asked. 

"Anti-Muggle pranksters," Mr. Weasley explained, shaking his head, "We had two last week, one in Wimbledon, one in Elephant and Castle. Muggles are pulling the flush and instead of everything disappearing-- well, you can imagine. The poor things keep calling in those-- um-- plumbles, I think they're called." 

"Plumbers, actually." Hermione corrected him. 

"Exactly. Yes, but of course they're flummoxed. I only hope we can catch whoever's doing it... Ah, Harry, Hermione, This is Perkins." 

Hermione and Harry turned to see a timid-looking wizard panting as he entered the room. 

"Arthur! Thank goodness, I didn't know what to do for the best, whether to wait here for you or not... I've just sent an owl to your home but you've obviously missed it-- an urgent message came ten minutes ago--" he said. 

"The regurgitating toilet, I know." 

"Not the toilet, Arthur! It's Potter's hearing. They've changed the time and venue! It's starts at eight o'clock and it's down in the old Courtroom Ten--" 

Mr. Weasley's eyes widened as he cursed under his breath then jumped out of his seat. 

"Quick, Harry, Hermione! We should have been there five minutes ago!" The three of them rushed out of the room and towards the lifts. On the way to the courts, Mr. Weasley mumbled under his breath about the courtrooms not being used in years and how there couldn't be any real reason as to why they were using it at all. When they finally reached the floor they began rushing down the corridors to find the room. 

"Ah! There it is!" Mr. Weasley said as they reached down to the door marked '10', "I'm afraid I can't come on. I need to escort Hermione to the Interview Room." 

Hermione gave Harry a quick hug before he vanished behind the door. Once he was gone, Mr. Weasley lightly squeezed her shoulder and led her down a few of the corridors. With each turn it felt like the entire place was getting darker and darker by the minute. 

"It should be around here somewhere... Ah! Right--" Mr. Weasley started when he suddenly came to a halt. Before Hermione could asked what was the matter, she saw what the problem was. Standing right in front of the door of the room with Barty Crouch Jr. inside, was Percy. Percy stood awkwardly like he didn't know why he was even there in the first place until he saw them then his demeanor change to appear like this wasn't the first time he had done any of this. 

"Hello Miss Granger," Percy acknowledge her, ignoring Mr. Weasley, who tightened his fists in anger, "I hope you have been prep for this interview."

"Yes, Percy. I have." Hermione told him. Percy took one look at each of them before reaching down with the key and unlocked the door. He opened the door as he motioned for Hermione to go first. As she slowly made her way inside the room, a voice she hadn't heard since the end of Fourth Year spoke: 

"Hello, Hermione,"