SuperPotterLock - The Order of the Phoenix

The Woes of Mrs Weasley

John hurried out and nearly walked straight into Mr Weasley. 'Cleared,' he said at Mr Weasley and Harry's questioning looks.

Mycroft bent to whisper something in Mr Weasley's ear, then walked away.

'Thanks for your help,' John called after him, and got a wave of a hand in response.

Mr Weasley beamed at him. 'Excellent news!' he said. 'Fantastic!'

Harry grinned at him, looking more relaxed than he had done all summer.

The courtroom door opened again, and the Wizengamot began to file out. John watched them in silence, all of them refusing to look at him. Some of them seemed scared to look him in the eye, as though he could read everything about them just from a look. John shivered. Maybe one day he would be able to do that, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to.

They waited for the last of the Wizengamot to leave, then Mr Weasley beckoned to John and Harry. 'I'm going to take you straight back so you can tell the others the good news,' said Mr Weasley, climbing up the steps to Level Nine. 'I'll drop you off on the way to that toilet in Bethnal Green...'

'So, what will you have to do about the toilet?' Harry asked, still grinning, suddenly finding it very amusing.

'Oh, it's a simple enough anti-jinx, but it's not so much about repairing the damage, it's-'

Mr Weasley broke off mid-sentence. They had reached the ninth-floor corridor and Fudge was standing a few feet away, talking quietly with Lucius Malfoy.

'Well, well, well... Underage magic,' said Malfoy fixing his cold, grey eyes on them.

John bit his lip. The last time he had heard Lucius Malfoy's voice was when he was watching Voldemort's return, in the graveyard. Harry too clenched his fists.

'The Minister was just telling me about your lucky escape,' Malfoy drawled. 'Quite astonishing, the way you continue to wriggle out of very tight holes... snakelike, in fact.'

'Yeah,' said Harry, 'I'm good at escaping.'

John bent slightly, the pain his chest returning. He clutched at it, and leaned against the wall. He breathed deeply, waiting for it to subside, but it didn't. 'Can we go?' he said, voice strained.

'What are you doing here anyway?' Harry asked, talking over John.

'I don't think private matters between myself and the Minister are any concern of yours, Potter,' said Malfoy. 'Really, just because you're Dumbledore's favourite, you must not expect the same indulgence from the rest of us... shall we go up to your office, then, Minister?'

'Certainly,' said Fudge. 'This way, Lucius.'

They strode off together, but John paid them no heed, the fire spreading across his ribs again. The hallway went dark and hissing filled his ears. He shook his head and tried to see through the darkness, but the pain was too much. He squeezed his palm, forcing the vision to ease off. He came around, shaking and sweating, but still upright.

Mr Weasley patted his back sympathetically, and led them back to the lift.

The Atrium was deserted when they arrived back there, and stepped out of the lift. Just as they were walking back past the fountain, John was tripped up by yet another vision of the fountain breaking into pieces. He yanked himself away, getting irritated. He put his hands over his ears. I just want to go. Leave me alone, he thought.

Mr Weasley took them back to the house the same way they'd come, but John stopped before he walked through the door. He knew the moment he went in, the house would press down on him again. He shuddered at the thought.