The trio, in their new identifies, emerge. Ron, in the quise of Reg Cattermole, takes out an id card. "In case you're interested, I'm Reg Cattermole, Magical Maintenance Department," Ron states.
"Mafalda Hopkirk, assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office," Hermione introduces.
"I'm nobody," Harry says, patting his pockets.
"You're somebody. Be careful," Hermione says.
Just then a skinny wizard strides by. "Morning, Reg! Good luck today," the wizard calls.
"Oh- yeah. Thanks," Ron replies. Ron glances to Harry and Hermione, jerks his head toward the skinny wizard and they follow.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the skinny wizard drops down the stairs into a public toilet, the trio appear. "What do you reckon he meant by 'Good luck.'?" Ron asks.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry and Ron enter, glance around, then, seeing as everyone else is doing so, slip into cubicles.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry enters. Flushing sounds all around him. He looks to his left, sees a pair of booted feet climb into the next toilet, then looks to his right, sees Ron, as Reg Cattermole, peering in. "We flush ourselves in?" Ron asks.
"Apparently so," Harry nods.
"That's bloody disgusting." As Reg's face disappears, Harry steps up onto his toilet, dips his shoe in gingerly, then withdraws it. Completely dry. Stepping in fully, he reaches up, pulls the chain and is instantly sucked down.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He comes shooting out of a fireplace into the grand atrium of the Ministry of Magic. He sees Hermione's already arrived and standing before a massive statue of black stone depicting a witch and wizard sitting upon hundreds of naked bodies twisted in pain. Harry joins her. "Are those-?" Harry starts.
"Muggles. In their rightful place," Hermione nods in disgust.
Harry glances at the base of the statue, where the words magic is might are engraved. Just then, a balding wizard bumps into Harry. "Move it, will you, oh, Runcorn! Forgive me-" the man pleads. The Balding Wizard hurries away, clearly frightened, as does another wizard, merely at the sight of Harry.
"You appear to be quite popular," Hermione mutters.
Ron approaches, running a gauntlet of pitying looks from co-workers who echo the Skinny Wizard's "Good Luck."
"I gotta tell you, I'm starting to freak out a bit," Ron says.
Just then, a gang of young, rough-looking wizards, led by their leader, Scabior, enter the Atrium, pushing along a small group of captives. "The Ministry must be hiring young these days," Harry says.
"They're not Ministry. They're Snatchers. They hunt Muggle-borns and blood-traitors for a price," Ron replies.
"How long did you say this batch of Polyjuice Potion would last, Hermione?" Harry checks.
"I didn't," Hermione mutters.
"Cattlemole!" Yaxley shouts. They all jump. Yaxley strides directly up to Ron. "It's still raining in my office. Two days now."
"Really? Have you tried an umbrella?" Ron asks.
Yaxley eyes Ron curiously, then leans forward menacingly. "You do realize I'm on my way downstairs, don't you, Cattermole?" Yaxley checks.
YOU ARE READING
A Potter Secret
FanfictionMy life is full of magic. I was barely a few months old when you-know-who came and killed my parents. My brother, Harry, was almost four. They sent him away but I was too weak from the attack. Papa has raised me since then, letting me run around the...
