After Hogwarts

Chapter Eight:

The Room in the Cellar:

A spotted owl swooped in Ginny's office just moments before she and Miranda were supposed to meet Percy. She quickly untied the note from the owl's leg and gave him a bit of a muffin that she was eating. She anxiously opened the note that gave her the Ministry's password of the day, which was chocolate frog.

Ginny grabbed the walking cane and the tape recorder before going directly to Miranda's office. As she entered, she saw a huge black owl flying away.

"Chocolate Frog?" Ginny smiled.

"Yep," Miranda answered, "Let's go!"

Ginny and Miranda wasted no time getting to the Ministry. As soon as they entered, they found Percy waiting for them in the lobby.

"Hi Percy," Ginny greeted her brother and gave him a kiss on the check.

"Hello Ginny," he quickly kissed her back looking a bit embarrassed by her display of affection. Ginny noticed his reaction but chose to ignore it. She knew her brother was different from the rest of her family. He lacked the warmth the rest of them shared and he was a bit full of himself.

"Thanks for seeing us today," Ginny added.

"I had a slot available," He then glanced at his watch. "You are prompt I must admit and I do like that." He looked over to Miranda and shook her hand, "You must be Miranda Mason. I am Percy Weasley, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Miranda replied. She was amazed that Percy Weasley appeared to be nothing like his brothers, Fred and George. He was very proper and professional, almost cordial even to Ginny. He looked very different as well. Percy was fairly tall and lean. He had the same red hair, but his face seemed be have much more definition. Miranda finally concluded that Percy seemed much more dignified than either Fred or George. It was hard for her to believe that this was the same individual who was the laughing stock of the big pow-wow many months ago.

"Follow me ladies," Percy said as he showed them the way to his office. Percy opened every door for Ginny and Miranda and even pulled out both of their chairs when they got to his office.

"I told you he was nothing like Fred and George. He hasn't fallen over you...yet," Ginny quietly teased Miranda as Percy walked around to his desk. Ginny was hoping that he would only show his polite side and not his arrogant one.

"Shhh," Miranda whispered back. Thinking about Fred and George having romantic feelings towards always made her feel uncomfortable because she didn't think of them in that way. Considering Percy in a romantic way didn't make her feel uncomfortable at all. That surprised her, making her feel really self-conscious. She felt her face get warm and quickly turned her head away so Ginny wouldn't see.

Percy noticed Miranda looked a bit pink and thought she may be hot so he said to her, "Ms. Mason, are you okay? Would you like me to get you something to drink?"

"No, no I'm fine Mr. Weasley," Miranda assured him and decided to shake off what she was feeling and put on her best work face. "But, please call me Miranda."

"Great, and call me Percy," he said. "Now, let's get down to why you are here. Your post yesterday was very vague, but you were adamant that you and Ginny needed to see me."

"Well, Ginny why don't you start," Miranda looked at Ginny.

"Well, it all began just the other day," Ginny began. She then pulled out the tape recorder and played it for Percy.

Percy looked pensive, but his face was hard to read. It was hard to tell if he was concerned or just deep in thought. He just sat and listened. He sat there for several minutes after the tape finished before saying anything.

"I see," Percy said without reaction. "Anything else?"

Both women looked at each other and couldn't believe his reaction or lack of one. He was as calm as if they played him a tape of nursery rhymes.

"Well yes," Miranda said feeling more like normal. "Show it to him Ginny."

Ginny pulled out the walking cane and passed it to Percy. Percy closely studied the can especially the handle.

"Where did you get this?" He asked them.

"We got it from a muggle," Ginny said. "He was looking at the port key to The Commons and saw it for what is really is, a broken phone booth." Percy raised his eyebrows. "Even worse, he saw me and Miranda come through it."

"How do you know that?" Percy questioned narrowing his eyes when he looked at Ginny.

"He told us," Ginny answered ignoring her brother's scrutinizing look. "And when we pressed him further, he told us that the walking cane told him to look, to really look."

"This walking cane?" Percy asked as he began to examine the handle more closely.

"Yes that walking cane," Ginny sharply retorted. She was beginning to get frustrated with her brother.

"How did you get it from him?" Percy continued on. "You didn't use magic did you? Neither of you are authorized to use magic on muggles," his tone hardened as he spoke. He looked at each woman for a moment and paused. Ginny opened her mouth to say something, but Miranda had already answered.

"Of course not!" Miranda assured him. Percy must have believed her because his face softened a bit and his voice calmed down when he continued.

"Okay then, how exactly did you get it from him?" Percy was looking at Miranda.

"Well, Percy," Ginny answered, tapping her fingers on her lap. "We bought it from him with muggle money."

"And why did you have muggle money?" Percy narrowed his eyes again when he looked at her.

"Well, we were dressed as muggles because we were planning on researching the tape by going under cover in muggle London," Ginny honestly answered trying not to lose her temper. She felt like Percy was purposely being extra difficult.

"How good are you two at fitting in with the muggles?" Percy pointedly asked.

"Why?" both women asked.

"Just answer the question please," Percy stated. Ginny knew that he was just trying to give her a hard time.

"Look Percy," Ginny snapped. "All you are doing is asking us questions and treating us like we are suspect. For Heaven's sake, I am your sister!"

"The fact that we are related is not relevant."

"Not relevant?" Ginny repeated. "You are absolutely unbelievable. I suggested coming to you because I knew that I could trust you. It's a shame you don't feel the same about me." Ginny's red face revealed her anger.

"Ginny, you need to calm yourself," Percy said with a subtle patronizing tone that only Ginny noticed.

"Look Percy," Ginny stood up and put her hands on her hips. "I am not a little girl anymore. I am not a child to be dismissed. I know what I heard and what I saw. We came to you for help. Perhaps I was wrong."

"Ginny..." Percy started, but Ginny quickly cut him off.

"No. I know, Miranda knows. Heaven's, even Willow knows there's something not right about that cane," Ginny stated. She then turned to Miranda, "I think I'm going to get a cup of tea and I'll come back in a few minutes. Would you like one?" She paused and turned her attention back to Percy, "That is okay, right? I am allowed to get a cup of tea?"

"Yes Ginny," Percy answered. "Go down the hall and you'll find a vending machine." Ginny slammed the door as she left Percy's office.

"Sorry about my sister's behavior," Percy apologized.

"Look Mr. Weasley," Miranda began. She didn't like hearing a stranger apologize for Ginny when Ginny hadn't done anything wrong. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew that Percy had at least contributed to Ginny's anger. She knew Ginny in both a professional and a personal sense and never once saw her lose her temper. "Ginny Weasley is the finest assistant I ever had. She is hard working, intelligent and honest. If you don't see that in her, then perhaps Ginny is correct and we both made a mistake by contacting you," Miranda stood up gesturing she might leave as well.

"Please Miranda, sit back down. I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend you," his face softened. Miranda could have sworn she even saw a glimmer of insecurity. "And please call me Percy," he added as she sat back down.

"Go on," she said.

"Truly, I didn't mean to offend either you or my sister," he said. "I have to ask hard questions because there is more at stake here than either of you are aware of."

"Like what?" the reporter instinct in Miranda took over.

"I'd like to wait for Ginny to come back before I go on," he said.

"But I am confused on one point. I know you and Ginny knew about this cane, but who is Willow?" Miranda laughed at his question.

"Willow is Ginny's new pet," Miranda started. "This morning Ginny told me about a very unusual reaction Willow had to the cane," she went on to tell Percy the story.

"Interesting," Percy mused as Ginny walked back in his office with her hot cup of tea. Percy looked at Ginny. "Please sit Ginny, I didn't mean to offend you." Once Ginny had calmed down she resolved to rise above Percy's arrogance. She knew he came by it honestly and didn't mean to hurt other people's feelings. As she sat down, he continued, "There have several other unusual things going on and I think perhaps we can help each other."

"Help each other?" Ginny was surprised to hear Percy admit he needed help. She wondered what it could be.

"What do you need help with?" Miranda was also intrigued. Percy looked around the room as he got up from his desk and shut his office door. He leaned his back against the back of the door.

"What I am about to tell you is extremely confidential and off the record," Percy finally spoke. Neither Ginny nor Miranda had any idea of what he was going to tell them, but were both on the edge of their seats in anticipation. Percy slowly walked across the room and sat back down. "This cane is not the first magical item that has been found on a muggle," he revealed. Both women looked at him in disbelief.

"Not possible," Miranda crossed her arms as she stated. "We work for the paper, news is our business. It is not possible." She was certain that The Daily Prophet would surely know this caliber of news.

"It is indeed possible," Percy replied. When Miranda opened her mouth to answer, Percy cut her off, "The paper does an excellent job Miranda, everyone knows that." Miranda smiled. "But sometimes there are things that perhaps the Ministry needs to keep confidential, from everyone. I'm asking you to give me a little bit of latitude, ok?"

"Fine," Miranda's stopped crossing her arms and agreed.

"What else has been found?" Ginny asked wanting to know more.

"Well, it all began after Christmas break when the Hogwart's students were going back to school," Percy began. "A muggle boy found his way to Platform Nine and Three-quarters..." which was the platform that the Hogwarts Express left from to go to Hogwarts. Percy then explained that a Professor from Hogwarts was taking the train back with the students. While he was waiting to board an oddly dressed boy caught his attention. So, he looked closer and he was fairly sure that he didn't recognize boy so he went over to talk to him. It didn't take more than a moment to recognize that the child wasn't a wizard; he was a muggle. When the professor asked the boy what he was doing there, the boy replied he was told to. The professor asked him who told him to go there and the boy didn't reply. After a few minutes the boy showed him a golden pocket watch bottom side up. The professor laughed, reassuring the boy that watches can't talk. The boy then flipped over the watch.

"What's so special about a pocket watch?" Miranda asked. Percy reached in his desk and pulled out a key.

"Follow me," Percy commanded putting the key in his pocket. Both Ginny and Miranda obliged. He looked at his sister, "Ginny could you grab the walking cane?" Ginny nodded and grabbed the cane.

Percy led them down to the cellar and walked down a long corridor to a large wooden door at the end. Percy pulled out the key and opened the door.

"Please don't touch anything," Percy requested as they entered the room. "This is where we keep muggle artifacts that we think may be dangerous. Many of these things use dark magic." Both women shrank back a bit.

"Percy," Ginny queried. "What does this have to do with the pocket watch?" Percy pulled down a blue lock box and opened it. He reached in a pulled something out. Slowly he revealed he was holding a golden pocket watch. Ginny asked, "Is this that watch?"

Percy nodded as held out the watch for them to see. Ginny caught a flash of red light reflect from the watch. As she looked closer at the outside of it, she felt a twinge of panic as she realized that she recognized it. The top of the watch was a serpent's tail that wrapped around the outside in. The center of it was a serpent's head with very ruby eyes.

"Just like the cane?" Ginny was putting the pieces together. Percy nodded and smiled at his sister.

"Let me see," Miranda said. Percy held the watch closer to her and Ginny gave her the cane. "This is big!" Miranda excitedly said as she looked back and forth between the artifacts.

"What happened then?" Ginny wanted to know more.

"Please go on," Miranda eagerly asked.

"Well it didn't go well," Percy continued. "The professor asked the boy to give him the watch and the boy refused. The boy had to be taken from Platform Nine and Three-quarters. Snape, Black and Dad were called in," Percy proudly said. Ginny was pleased to hear Percy speaking about their father with pride. "Getting the watch wasn't hard, but Dad said that many memory charms had to be used to get the boy back to his family without anyone knowing what really happened. It was dad who then contacted me."

Percy then showed them a gold ankle bracelet that looked like a serpent and whose clasp was a serpent's head, again with ruby eyes. It was found on a muggle woman who was found trying to order a snifter of brandy at The Leaky Cauldron. "That was a nightmare," Percy said. "Not only did we have to use memory charms on the muggle, but all the wizards that were there as well, even Tom the Bartender. It took hours. Thank Heavens it wasn't very busy!"

The third item found was hair barrette that had a serpent on it with ruby eyes. It was found on a muggle schoolteacher who was wandering close by enchanted town called Crychester. This town was not viewable to muggles. When asked what she was doing there, she replied she was told that there was a secret city she needed to find.

"This is very dangerous, isn't it Percy?" Ginny asked.

"Yes it is," Percy truthfully replied. "Our whole world can only exist because the muggles are unaware of us. Muggles are fearful of what they don't understand and they often attack."

"We are more powerful than them with our magic," Miranda said.

"True, but there are a lot more of them than us," Percy reminded her. "This could destroy everything we know and value if the muggles become aware of us."

"So why tell us? Where do we fit in?" Miranda asked.

"You both said you were good at fitting in with the muggles, right?" Percy asked.

"Yes," both women replied.

"I need someone I can trust who can roam around the muggles without causing suspicion," Percy said. "We need information and we need to find out how many more artifacts like these four are out there and we need to find out where they are coming from." Both women were taking a few moments digesting everything her was telling them. "I can get you what ever licenses you need to perform magic on muggles. I can get you what ever you need."

"What's in it for us?" Miranda cautiously asked. Ginny held in a giggle because she knew that Miranda was going to help him, just as she was. Miranda was just pushing Percy because she could. He needed them.

"Once this is concluded and we are safe, you will have the best story of your lives," he looked at both Miranda and Ginny. Miranda looked at Ginny and both women nodded to each other.

"You have yourself a deal," Miranda said as she shook Percy's hand.

"Great!" Percy sounded excited. "I am going to continue to research these artifacts while you both see what you can come up with. I'll send to an owl as soon as I have anything."

"We'll do the same," Miranda agreed. Percy and Miranda turned to leave when Ginny interrupted them.

"Percy," Ginny asked. "Who was the professor from Hogwarts who found the first artifact?" Ginny was kicking herself for asking, but she wanted to know if it was Harry. She tried really hard not to think about him, but if he was related to all this then it was work related. That's what she told herself anyway.

"Oh um," Percy turned and looked at his sister. For as hard as she tried to hide her feelings about Harry, anyone who really knew her could see her heart through her eyes. Every time Harry's name was mentioned, Ginny's face betrayed her. Percy didn't want to answer, but he did. "It was Harry. Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter? You mean the infamous Harry Potter who defeated You-Know-Who?" Miranda excitedly asked, but then answered her own question, "Oh wait, he is this years Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Isn't he?"

"Yes," Ginny voice sounded slightly strange as she tried to hide her emotions. "Yes he is."

"He's a good friend of our family," Percy added. In an unusually brotherly gesture, Percy tried to distract Miranda's attention from Ginny. "Well anyway, I believe this meeting is done. I'll talk to you both soon."

Miranda and Ginny left the cellar first. Percy stayed behind to lock up. Once Percy was out of ear shot, Miranda put her hand on Ginny's shoulder, "Was Harry someone special?"

"No," Ginny lied. She had loved him for what felt like forever to her, but at the end of the day he didn't even really know she existed. Stop it, stop it, stop it, she told herself over and over. You have a good life. It's time to get over it!

"Oh, okay then," Miranda knew Ginny was lying, but respected her friend's privacy. She lightened her tone and focused back on work, "Let's go! We've got tons to do!"