Worthy Of Magic

Part 22 - Victoria

Thirty first October Nineteen ninety-three. Eight PM – Ministry for Magic

Emmeline Vance was an unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries of the Ministry for Magic. She had served under the banner of the department for the better part of five decades and fifteen years in that, she had raised the banner of the Order of the Phoenix in secret. She was Dumbledore's greatest spy.

Emmeline Vance had an eye in every part of magical Britain. Nothing escaped her notice for more than two weeks. That was all the time nothing had to hide.

During the rise of the Knights of Walpurgis, led by Dark Lord Voldemort, Emmeline Vance was the shadow cast by the great and revered bastion of good: Albus Dumbledore.

To the rest of those who knew about her, including the members of the Order of the Phoenix, she was simply Unspeakable Vance. In charge of cataloging the hall of prophecies.

Tonight. She sat in her office. Signing off memos to the department, authenticating prophecies. Waiting for the executioner of war to drop the guillotine on an unprepared world.

When she felt the slight tremor of magic only experienced wizards would feel, she sighed. "Good luck Ted," she whispered and then drew her wand summoned forth her patronus. "To Dumbledore," she told it softly. "It's happening. They've broken into the Ministry."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Thirty first October Nineteen ninety-three. Seven Forty-Five PM – Muggle underground train station.

"We're about to cross a line," Ted said. He didn't bother to keep his voice down. The underground was noisy enough. "But these desperate times call for desperate measures. This is for our freedom."

They were about nine of them, all dressed in black robes with their faces, hooded and obscured.

Muggles passing by didn't give them a second glance thanks to the muggle repelling wards around the secret back door to the Ministry. It was meant for the Minister for Magic to exit the Ministry unnoticed.

One of the men was holding a bag that looked like it weighed quite a bit. He was the shortest among them and it was noticeable that he was tense.

"This needs to be done. It can't go on any longer."

Whispers of agreement echoed around him.

Ted took a deep breath and faced the uninspiring grey wall. "Omelette," he said clearly and immediately a crack appeared in the shade of a door in the wall. Dust bellowed out and it opened slowly, stone grating against stone.

Ted tried not to roll his eyes at Fudge's idea of a password.

He focused on the task at hand and quietly stepped into the barely visible corridor inside. Stepped in and found himself near the niche in the back of the Auror Office next to Director Bone's office.

Immediately he ghosted across the floor and hid behind one of the many desks in the large room.

He signalled his companions to do the same.

The Aurors closed office and six pm but there was still a chance of hard workers at work. They had debated when to initiate the attack and had decided to hit when the Ministry was almost fully closed for the day.

They wanted an audience and they didn't want to get caught.

Rubber soled feet ran through the office towards the exit.

A red robed Auror, on emergency floo duty, entered the office with a yawn on his face. He noticed nine black robes rush at him and his eyes widened, yawn caught midway. His arm shot to his waist where his wand was holstered and was too slow.