Of Days and Ends

A/N: The little voice in my head knows where we are headed, but seemed to be lacking motivation to get started. Puhleeeeze forgive me!
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Chapter 25—The Mission

In the two weeks prior to their operation, Hermione, Ron, and Harry had spent a load of time following the patterns of the Ministry of Magic employees. Carefully choosing three members they could impersonate successfully. Then, each would enter the ministry of magic alone under the cover of Harry’s invisibility cloak. There were several close calls when Harry entered, but the report he came back with proved invaluable to the other two when it came time for them to follow their ministry of magic employee around.

Ron’s trip in had taken an inordinate amount of time, and he refused to say why. Hermione entered the next day and found what he had done almost immediately as Mr. Weasley coincidentally came in right behind her. A simple glance at the scrawl he had pulled out of his pocket made her lose focus on her target and she followed him instead. It was Ron’s handwriting under an advertisement for a two-week long cruise that began in a week, and her eyes slid over the page with incredulity. “Brilliant! Just Brilliant!” She turned and stormed from the Ministry using the exit that Harry told them about.

“You lied, Ron!” She had shouted as she emerged into the sunlit alleyway. Stepping forward he quickly tried to shush her and she grabbed both of their wrists and apparated them to their camp.

“I had to, Hermione! I can’t let them get mixed up in anything. They have to be gone long enough that they’re not suspected of helping us.”

Hermione stared at him for a moment, “You gave one to Percy too.”

“Yes. Well, no. His is different. Percy’s is a letter from my dad offering him the chance to take the trip with him.”

Hermione and Harry gaped at him. It was Harry who defended him, “I think it sounds like you did a brilliant job.”

“That could put us at a significant risk, Harry!”

“Look, Hermione, your mother is safe, Harry had never known his parents, and you are taking the piss outta me for trying to protect my family? Fuck off, will ya! I can’t believe you would try to stop me.” Hermione had the decency to look abashed and apologized. Ron in turn shook his head. “We have to do whatever we can to protect the people we use. They have to know it was us in the end.”

The goal of their mission was simple. It was just the actual task that would be difficult, which was the reason behind them leaving and returning separately. Ron had a brilliant mind for developing strategies and the other two followed his lead without fail.

Apparating to a small alleyway three blocks away, Ron was the first to arrive on location, though he had the furthest to walk. They had scouted the alley several times and never found anyone in it, and that morning was no different. As planned, Ron took off his cloak behind a massive dumpster and transformed it into a muggle, hooded jacket. Luckily, it was raining out, and he didn’t look out of place with his thick hood up. A simple, isolated disillusionment charm rendered his face unrecognisable as he began his trek through muggle London.

Upon arriving at the phone box, Ron entered, pulled a vial out of his pocket and gulped the dark liquid down his throat. Within seconds, his height seemed to melt from him and one arm, from the wrist down disappeared. With practiced ease, Ron transformed the vial into a silver hand and used a different spell to fuse it to his skin. The doppelganger hand would complete his appearance, but he would have none of the power that Wormtail had in his.

With a final sigh to steady his nerves, Ron lifted the receiver to his ear and squeakily answered the cool, female voice on the other side, “Peter Pettigrew.” Immediately the box shuddered and the floor sank as usual. Inside, Ron moved along the crowded corridor with practiced confidence, and reflected on his catch of Pettigrew’s hairs while he waited for the lift to return for the next few groups.

He had been under the invisibility cloak and following a very elderly wizard in deep blue robes for at least half an hour as he puttered back and forth from office to office and opened several letters. He read each letter with a painstaking slowness that made Ron roll his eyes in exhaustion as he reached for another memo that hovered in the air over his head. That was when he spotted Pettigrew and sidled over to hear what was being said to Mafalda Hopkirk.

“—what to do about that, Mafalda.”

“I can’t just override a contract that has been magically bound, Mr. Pettigrew.” She said his name with the emphasis of one uttering it to emphasize her disagreement and distaste for him.

“Oh, but you can, Mafalda.” He too emphasized her name and simpered contemptuously. “You just work on it. Make it a priority, because when I return next Tuesday for my weekly check on this department, I want that curse unbound and that contract thrown out! We all know what happens to those that go against the will of the Dark Lord, and I am sure you would prefer that your dirty bloodline is left unchecked for now.”

Standing merely feet away, Ron couldn’t believe his luck and snuck up behind Wormtail to snatch hairs from near the balding area on his head.

“Yes, Mr. Pettigrew.” She acquiesced humbly.

With a wicked smile, Ron yanked on a pinch of Wormtail’s hairs and jumped out of the way as he spun around. His beady little eyes scanned the otherwise deserted hallway before he turned his attention back to the assistant in the Improper Use of Magic Office. He glowered suspiciously at her before turning to stride twitchingly toward some distant office.

Now that the lifts were opening and nearly a dozen people crowded on, Ron found a way to push into the stuffed lift. A tall death eater in what appeared to be a sleeveless vest, looked down at him and furrowed his eyebrows. “Why the mid-week return, Wormtail?”

Ron jumped a bit belatedly when he realized that the tall man was addressing him, and stammered a quick response, “Mid-week? I d-don’t think that’s any of your business.” Luckily for him, Wormtail was twitchy and nervous by nature and the Death Eater merely rolled his eyes.

“Wormtail, you’re in charge of the Improper Use of Magic Office. How important can your post be?” The Death Eater sneered.

Ron flexed his silver hand, correctly assuming that Wormtail used it to appear menacing. The Death Eater’s eyes dropped to the silver appendage and he seemed to reconsider continuing to tease the diminutive man. Ron felt so grateful that he had avoided further conversation that he got off on the wrong floor and didn’t stop walking until he reached the large black doors of the Department of Mysteries. This was not where the plan was supposed to take him and he turned to go back towards the lift and found himself face to face with Dolores Umbridge and Yaxley.

“Wormtail? What are you doing down here?” Yaxley referred to a folder in his hand, “And in the middle of the week.”

Ron couldn’t come up with an answer, so he tried to act abrasive again, “What the Dark Lord sends me to do is none of your business!” He finished by thrusting his chin forward in a show of defiance.

Yaxley’s upper lip twitched and he drew his wand to curse Ron, and once again Ron’s flinching preparation fit the character well. With a sideways glance at the very excited Umbridge, Yaxley seemed to reconsider. “Well, because you obviously don’t have anything good to do, come preside over a few cases with me.” Ron immediately stammered, trying to come up with a sufficient excuse not to follow him into the criminal courtrooms, but Yaxley cunningly took Ron under his arm and guided him into the vast room.

Ron’s mouth dropped open in horror. The entire chamber was lined with Death Eaters, and he noticed the other two raise their wands and cast the Patronus charm. Yaxley’s tasmanian devil and Umbridge’s cat moved around their masters as they entered the room. Turning back, Yaxley called out, “Comin’ Wormtail?”

Ron couldn’t conjure his patronus there. He felt quite sure that Wormtail’s patronus was a rat of some sort, but his Jack Russel Terrier would get everyone’s immediate attention. It didn’t matter in the end, however. The stress of the chilling cold and despair and horror made Wormtail’s body react violently, and Ron forced a dry heave before emptying his stomach on the grey stone floor. Both Yaxley and Umbridge turned around in surprise and Ron stuttered pathetically and backed towards the hallway. The sounds of their laughter in his wake made him certain that he was convincing enough and he continued to the lift before pulling out his wand and muttering, “Evanesco,” to clean the sick from his mouth and clothes.

A shuddering sound heralded the arrival of the lift and he stepped out of the way for several people and a guard heading to court. Ron watched each of them pass with a returning sick feeling for what they would have to endure. He managed to fight the feeling until the car emptied and he could enter it.

With a sigh, Ron collected his thoughts and rolled his shoulders to prepare. When the doors opened, he stepped out on the floor where all of the executive offices were and walked directly to the Magical Law Enforcement Department. The young witch behind the desk jumped when she finally looked up, and at the sight of Wormtail, she stood quickly for him. “H-how may I help you, Mr. Pettigrew?”

“I want to see the vault with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ronald Weasley’s inheritances.”

The young woman wrung her hands, “Well, you see sir, I really can’t—”

“WHAT? Are you refusing to follow the orders of Lord Voldemort?”

“NO, NO, NO!” She squeaked hysterically, “OH, NO, NOT AT ALL! PLEASE GIVE ME A MOMENT!” She sprinted around the corner and Ron had to refrain from apologizing to the poor woman when she skidded into the room with a large sword, a small, lighter-sized box, and a weathered old bit of parchment.

“Th—” Ron caught himself before he could thank her. “Next time I won’t be so lenient! I’ll send you straight down to have your blood analysed!”

“My blood is pure, Mr. Pettigrew! I swear it! I swear! I—” The girl nearly tripped on herself as she scrambled to walk him to the door.

Ron pasted a sneer on his face, puffed his chest up, and strode out. Just outside the door, he felt a breeze across the back of his neck. “H—” Ron shut his mouth quickly and instead scratched at the centre of his chest.

“I see you got it.” Harry’s disembodied voice whispered.

The method of communication had been decided upon prior to leaving. They had to do something that would mark their comrades against their enemies. Ron would scratch his chest when he came across Hermione or felt Harry blow across the back of his neck.

Harry had actually entered the Ministry last. He was supposed to wait in the alleyway outside of the Ministry of Magic for half and hour until the morning rush had finished before attempting to sneak inside, but spotted Kingsley entering the building and battled with himself for a moment before following the auror inside.

The crowds were using the floo to enter and Harry quickly dodged back and forth until he made it to the lifts. Realizing that there was no way to get on the lift without being detected, he waited patiently until everyone had found their offices and stepped onto the elevator with a tall, white-haired, dark-skinned wizard. The man seemed to sense Harry’s presence and looked suspiciously around the car, before getting off at the next floor. Harry rode the car all the way to the Improper Use of Magic floor and trotted off.

Swiftly and silently, Harry found the auror’s office and entered with care. Kingsley was sitting at a desk in the back of the large room and Harry dodged a few low-flying messages as he made his way towards him.

A pencil sat on the desktop and Harry draped his cloak over it to lift it up invisibly. Kingsley seemed completely engrossed in his files and didn’t move. When Harry began to scratch out a barely decipherable message, Kingsley lowered his folder and read the note over the top of his work. Harry’s only sign that Kingsley understood was a minute nod and the withdrawal of a purple and yellow pill from his pocket. He flicked his wand at the paper and the word, “Go.” Was signed across it before he flicked his wand again and the paper caught fire. Harry immediately obeyed and the sound of Kingsley vomiting behind him was his only confirmation of success.

He was now behind time a bit and rushed down the deserted hallways to the lift. The clattering car stopped at the Magical Law Enforcement and Executive Office level and he got off just in time to see Wormtail berating a terrified, young secretary. He hoped that was Ron with the sword and other inheritances in his arms, and moved very closely to him.

“—ood is pure, Mr. Pettigrew. I swear it! I swear! I—”

Harry blew lightly across the back of his neck. It was definitely Ron, as he scratched at the centre of his chest. “I see you’ve got it.”

Ron started walking, “Yeah, mate. Easy. The Death Eaters don’t realize just how easy they’ve made it to impersonate them.”

“Yeah, I noticed. Have you seen Hermione?”

“Not yet.”

The lift doors opened immediately when they reached the end of the hall. After the doors closed them in alone, Harry lowered his hood and inspected the sword. “That’s it.” He said, his voice full of relief. “Now we just need to walk right out the front door.”

The lift came to a halt and announced, “Level eight, Atrium.” With a final smile at his friend, Harry raised his hood and disappeared from view. The doors slid open and both of their hearts stopped.

Snape stood there, taking in the scene before him. He drew his wand and stepped into the car with them. The three stood in complete silence until the doors closed. Harry seemed to have temporarily forgotten that Snape couldn’t possibly know he was there.

Despite their surprise of being caught by Snape, they both dropped their jaws when Snape suddenly slouched with relief and said, “Phew! I saw Kingsley in the atrium. He was vomiting all over the place. I can’t believe you got them so quickly. You’ll have to tell me about it later!” This was definitely Hermione. She did seem to talk too much when nervous.

The lift doors opened on the next floor, so Ron didn’t answer her until the doors closed again. “Brilliant, Hermione! Where did you—”

“Well I fought with him, didn’t I! Turns out I had grabbed a sizeable chunk of his hair in the process.”

They had expected Hermione to show up as a Ministry of Magic employee, but she had decided to take the sample of hair she had stolen from Snape long ago to use. She was supposed to be the first to enter the ministry, but her chosen method of arriving backfired and she realized that she couldn’t apparate directly into the Ministry. Instead, she had to apparate to Ron’s location and walk the three blocks to the ministry. By the time she arrived, Harry and Ron had both been inside for quite a while.

She had crossed the fairly empty atrium, very successfully imitating the stride she had seen many times and the subtle manerisms that accompanied his disdainful glowering. When the guard had nervously asked Snape to check his wand, her snappy refusal made the guard cringe. Knowing Snape as well as she did, she knew never to make threats. His persona oozed more than enough acid to do the job.

Continuing past the many floo grates and reaching the elevator, she had waited as the car chortled into place and the doors slid open. She quickly covered her surprise at finding Ron inside with the very items they came to get, and pulled out her wand. Ron was apparently too distracted by the form of their former potions master to notice that it wasn’t Snape’s wand pointed at him. She backed him into the back wall of the lift and waited for the doors to come to a complete close before releasing her breath with relief and rambling nervously for a moment before she could catch herself.

“Brilliant, Hermione! Where did you—”

“Well, I fought with him, didn’t I! Turns out I had grabbed a sizeable chunk of his hair in the process.”

“Are you sure this is the real sword?”

Harry’s voice suddenly coming from the air beside Ron unexpectedly, made her jump and shriek with surprise. Considering that she did this with Snape’s body and voice, it would have been quite funny were it not for the obscene amount of noise it made. She clapped her hand to her mouth and raised her eyebrows in wide-eyed surprise. The boys chuckled nervously and tried to calm their racing hearts as the lift came to a halt again.

“Level 8, Atrium.”

Together, the trio felt at ease as they made their way to the far grate that would lead to the phone box. The guard looked at them with furrowed brows but Hermione’s glare didn’t seem to quell his surprised stare. It wasn’t until she refocused her eyes forward that she came to a sudden stop.

She and Ron reacted immediately, though in very different ways to the sight of Wormtail and McNair coming out of the booth. Hermione raised her wand and shot three immediate hexes at Ron’s double.

Ron, on the other hand, shouted, “Intruder! It’s them! It’s them!” Wormtail’s voice rang out in the open space and almost immediately people came running from everywhere.

The real Wormtail and McNair grabbed their wands and blocked Hermione’s curses. The sudden appearance of Avery and Rodolphus skidding to a halt and looking back and forth between the real Wormtail and the Polyjuiced Wormtail made Hermione sick with the fear that they had a serious problem on their hands.

Her mind raced and she furrowed her brows, suddenly turning so that she was facing both of the Wormtails as well. “That one was very quick to yell about an intruder. Either one of them could be the intruder.”

“What are you doing here, Severus?”

Hermione had a lie ready, “The Dark Lord has sent me to collect the most recent records on blood purity. The entire school is to be resorted and the mudbloods will be thrown out tomorrow.” Her own words chilled her, but she had to be convincing if they were going to get out with their inheritances.

Avery and Rodolphus immediately turned back to the two Wormtails, each twitching and fidgeting nervously. “I guess we could just ask them a question that only the real Wormtail would know.”

Hermione couldn’t believe how stupid they were. The surest way was right under their noses.

The real Wormtail snivelled, “I’m obviously the real Wormtail! I have The Mark!”

Ron yanked at his ratty sleeve and bore his Dark Mark for everyone to see. “Yours won’t tell the Dark Lord that we’ve caught two impersonators!” Ron said, threatening to press his wand to the inky spot on his forearm.

The real Wormtail seemed temporarily horrified by the idea of having Voldemort come to find him being impersonated. To the outsider, however, it looked as though he was the impostor in fear of Voldemort coming to kill him. Hermione took advantage of this and aimed her wand against him. “It’s that one.” Having personally witnessed the way Snape rounded up his team, Hermione gesticulated for the bogus Wormtail to hand her the possessions. “Bind them, Wormtail!”

Ron didn’t seem to be paying attention, and while Hermione had built an elaborate web of deception for them to escape with, Ron saw a much easier avenue. He appeared to be sniffing the air. Even his nose twitched back and forth, and the little man’s body seemed more rat-like than ever.

Harry had been standing in complete silence; barely breathing for fear that he would be detected. Now, Ron was turning to face him and he was caught in complete surprise as his best friend’s hand suddenly rocketed forward and grabbed him by the throat so hard that the hood fell off.

The training that Snape had given her for months was the only thing that prevented her from giving away her surprise as she instinctively turned her wand on Harry’s visible head. The chaos that ensued was extraordinary and she immediately shouted, “Wormtail, take him directly to the Dark Lord!” Hermione shot binds and gags out of her wand and shouted to Avery and Rodolphus to take the “impostors” to the Dark Lord as well. Then, striding as though having to quickly get their inheritances to a safe hiding place, Hermione quickly got onto an elevator and got off on the first floor that the doors opened to.

Luckily for her, there was floo powder above the random office hearth she chose, so she stepped in and whirled away.

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A/N: I will not forget this story, but I can guarantee you that I will update with more vigour and have generated more interest if I get your feedback. Positive or negative, I really love and need to hear from you guys right now.