Feebly and turned away.

“I – I –“ stammered Ron.

“But if my wife were accused of being a Mudblood,” said Yaxley, “—not that any

woman I married would ever be mistaken for such filth – and the Head of Department of

Magical Law Enforcement needed a job doing, I would make it my priority to do this job,

Cattermole. Do you understand me?”

“Yes,” whispered Ron.

“Then attend to it, Cattermole, and if my office is not completely dry within an

hour, your wife’s Blood Status will be in even greater doubt than it is now.”

The golden grille before them clattered open. With a nod and unpleasant smile to

Harry, who was evidently expected to appreciate this treatment of Cattermole, Yaxley

Swept away toward another lift. Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered theirs, but nobody

followed them: It was as if they were infectious. The grilles shut with a clang and the lift

Began to move upward.

“What am I going to do?” Ron asked the other two at once; he looked stricken. “If

I don’t turn up, my wife … I mean, Cattermole’s wife – “

“We’ll come with you, we should stick together –“ began Harry, but Ron shook

His head feverishly.

“That’s mental, we haven’t got much time. You two find Umbridge, I’ll go and

sort out Yaxley’s office – but how do I stop a raining?”

“Try Finite Incantatem,” said Hermione at once, “that should stop the rain if it’s a

hex or curse; if it doesn’t something’s gone wrong with an Atmospheric Charm, which

Will be more difficult to fix, so as an interim measure try Impervius to protect his

belongings – “

“Say it again, slowly – “ said Ron, searching his pockets desperately for a quill,

but at that moment the lift juddered to a halt. A disembodied female voice said, “Level

Four, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating

Beast, Being, and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office, and Pest Advisory Bureau,”

And the grilles slid open again, admitting a couple of wizards and several pale violet

Paper airplanes that fluttered around the lamp in the ceiling of the lift.

“Morning, Albert,” said a bushily whiskered man, smiling at Harry. He glanced

Over at Ron and Hermione as the lift creaked upward once more; Hermione was now

Whispering frantic instructions to Ron. The wizard leaned toward Harry, leering, and

muttering “Dirk Cresswell, eh? From Goblin Liaison? Nice one, Albert. I’m pretty

confident I’ll get his job now!”

He winked. Harry smiled back, hoping that this would suffice. The lift stopped;

The grilles opened once more.

“Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper

Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services,”

said the disembodied witch’s voice.

Harry saw Hermione give Ron a little push and he hurried out of the lift, followed

By the other wizards, leaving Harry and Hermione alone. The moment the golden door

had closed Hermione said, very fast, “Actually, Harry, I think I’d better go after him, I

don’t think he knows what he’s doing and if he gets caught the whole thing – “

“Level one, Minister of Magic and Support Staff.”

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 611