You, Harry, Hermione, and Ron entered the Ministry of Magic with your disguises on. Earlier, the four of you took down four employees of the Ministry to take their identities temporarily.

"Remember what we said." You heard Hermione's words replaying in your mind.

"Don't speak to anyone unless absolutely necessary. Just try and act normal. Do what everybody else is doing."

You glanced at your friends when the four of you entered the elevator. The doors were about to close, but an employee stopped the doors from closing and looked directly at Ron. "Cattermole." Corban Yaxley said. "It's still raining inside my office. That's two days now."

"If we do that, then with a bit of luck, we'll get inside."

Ron glanced at you, Harry, and Hermione. "Have you tried an umbrella?"

"You do realize I'm going downstairs, don't you, Cattermole?"

Ron narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Downstairs?"

"To interrogate your wife." The man answered. "Now, if my wife's blood status were in doubt and the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement needed a job of doing, I think I might just make that a priority. You have one hour."

Yaxley walked away, allowing the elevator's doors to close. Ron pressed a button, and the four of you held on the handles as it started moving. You pressed your lips together, thinking. "He somehow reminds me of Lucius Malfoy, that man." You commented. "It would be worse if Lucius Malfoy had a kid and be like him."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione shared looks until Ron gasped. "Oh, my God. What am I gonna do?" Ron asked, completely panicking and worrying. "My wife's all alone downstairs."

You furrowed your eyebrows at him. "Ron, you don't have a wife."

Ron blinked twice, processing what just happened. "Oh, right."

"Level 2." The voice on the elevator spoke up. "Department of Magical Law Enforcement and Improper Use of Magic Department."

"But how do I stop it raining?" Ron asked before getting off the elevator.

"Try Finite Incantatem." Hermione suggested before the elevator closed its doors. The elevator started moving again. "Level 1." The automated voice spoke. "Minister of Magic and support staff.

"I say if don't locate Umbridge within the hour, we go find Ron and come back another day," Harry instructed. "Deal?"

"Yes." You and Hermione nodded.

The elevator's doors opened, revealing Dolores Umbridge. "Ah, Mafalda and Hargreaves. Travers sent you two, did he? Good, we'll go straight down."

Umbridge entered the elevator and glanced at Harry in confusion. "Albert, aren't you getting out?"

Harry hesitated, but he got out of the elevator, not daring to look at Umbridge. Harry glanced at you and Hermione before the elevator started moving down. You softly gulped as you glanced at Hermione in nervousness. The woman in pink clothes in front of you was too much stress for you to handle since she's the same person who tortured you with the Cruciatus Curse back in your fifth year.

"Crucio!"

You winced at the memory until you remembered faint voices from the same memory.

"Can you stand? Or walk?"

"How did you know that we're in her office?"

"Pansy informed me, and I came as quick as possible. Go on and help Potter. I'll stay to make some excuses and stall them."

You snapped back to reality when the elevator stopped. You, Hermione, and Umbridge walked inside a trial. Hermione sat on a side, so she was a little bit far away while you were on the other side. Soon, you spotted Harry and Ron entering inside the trial. You noticed a Patronus cat near Umbridge, staring above, so you looked up and found Dementors looking down, causing your eyes to widen.

"Mary Elizabeth Cattermole?" Umbridge questioned.

"Yes." The woman in front replied.

"Of 27 Chislehurst Gardens, Great Tolling, Evesham?"

"Yes."

Your eyes traveled up to Umbridge's chest, and there it rests the locket you and your friends have been looking for.

"Mother to Maisie, Ellie, and Alfred? Wife to Reginald?"

Mary turned her head to the entrance, spotting Ron. "Reg?" Harry pulled Ron towards the woman being trialed. Ron stood just beside her, unsure what to do.

"Thank you, Albert." Umbridge glanced at Harry. "Mary Elizabeth Cattermole?"

Ron hesitantly placed his hand on Mary's shoulder while Mary looked down. "Yes." She replied.

"A wand was taken from you upon your arrival at the Ministry today. Mrs. Cattermole, is this that wand?" Umbridge lifted the wand up, showing it to the woman.

Mary nodded.

"Would you please tell the court from which witch or wizard you took this from?"

"T-Took? I didn't take it. I got it in Diagon Alley, at Ollivander's when I was 13." Mary explained. "I-It chose me."

Umbridge stared down at the woman. "You're lying." She argued. "Wands only choose witches, and you are not a witch."

"But I am." Mary defended. She glanced at Ron for support. "Tell them, Reg. Tell them what I am. Reg, tell them what I am."

Harry walked around, gazing intensely at the locket on Umbridge. He showed his wand, and Umbridge instantly saw this. "What on earth are you doing, Albert?" Umbridge asked Harry.

You and Hermione looked at Harry, whose face was starting to change back. "You are lying, Dolores. And one mustn't tell lies."

Harry raised up his wand. "Stupefy!" The spell immediately shot at Umbridge, causing her to bump against her thick and wooden chair. And for that, Umbridge fell unconscious. The others started pulling their wands, ready to attack Harry but Ron pulled his wand out too, shooting a spell at Yaxley, the man who talked to him earlier.

Hermione quickly snatched the locket from Umbridge's unconscious body. She threw it towards Harry, whose face was now exposed.

"It's Harry Potter!" Mary exclaimed when Harry wore his glasses.

"It is, isn't it? That'll be one to tell the kids." Ron commented before running away with you, Harry, Hermione, and Mary when Dementors were set free.

You all escaped from the Ministry and the Dementors, including Mary, by getting inside the elevator. However, the Dementors started sucking out your positive emotions. Harry pointed his wand at them. "Expecto Patronum!"

The Dementors were launched away by the spell, and the elevator eventually started moving. The elevator stopped, and just in time, Hermione's face changed back, including yours. The three of you lowered your heads down to avoid detection while Mary was still clinging onto Ron, who still hadn't changed back into his appearance. "Mary, go home. Get the kids. I'll meet you there. We have to get out of the country, understand?"

You cracked a smile but kept your head low so no one could recognize you.

"Mary, do as I say."

Mary whimpered before pulling Ron into a kiss. You choked a laugh while Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head in surprise and confusion. Harry just blinked his eyes in surprise. Soon, Ron's facade started fading, and Mary pulled away from the kiss. She gasped and stepped back in shock.

You, Hermione, and Harry were gently pushed aside by real Reginald Cattermole when he finally showed up, only wearing his boxers, socks, and shirt. "Mary?" He asked. "Who's that?"

Ron glanced at Reginald before facing Mary, gulping. "Long story. Nice meeting you."

After that, Ron ran with you, Harry, and Hermione when some employees started recognizing Harry. "It's Harry Potter!"

"There he is!"

"Get him!"

"Stop him!"

The security started chasing after you and your friends. You and Hermione glanced back to see Corban Yaxley making his way to catch Harry. You looked at Hermione. "He's a Death Eater, isn't he?" You asked while continuing to run.

Yaxley started shooting spells everywhere, hoping it would land to Harry or you and your friends.

"Watch out."

"Look out!"

"This way!"

Harry pushed some people away and shot a spell on a bunch of papers, sending them flying out to distract the security and hopefully blind and stop them momentarily.

Yaxley, however, was unbothered and continued chasing you and your friends. Ron blindly shot a spell at Yaxley. "Expelliarmus!" He managed to hit his wand away from Yaxley's grasp; however, the Floo Networks started closing down to prevent any of you to escape.

The four of you managed to get inside one and apparated away while Ron Apparated with Yaxley. You noticed while Apparating that all of you weren't heading back to Grimmauld Place. You opened your eyes and felt dead leaves around you. You groaned in pain and sat up seeing Harry sitting up as well. Harry removed his coat off and grabbed the Slytherin locket while you looked around for Hermione and Ron.

You were about to make a joke about what happened earlier until you froze when you saw Ron badly injured while Hermione was beside him, reassuring him. "Shh, shh, shh. It's all right. It's okay."

"Oh, my God." You gasped and covered your mouth with your hands in shock.

"Harry," Hermione called out for Harry. "Harry, quickly, in my bag. There's a bottle labeled Essence of Dittany."

While Harry looked for the bottle, you sat down on Ron's other side and helped Hermione clean up his wound. "You're okay, Ron..." You reassured, making sure to calm yourself as well when Ron started shaking and groaning.

Hermione glanced at Harry who was struggling to find the bottle. "Quickly!"

Harry looked for his wand and pointed it inside the bag. "Accio Dittany!" The small bottle jumped and Harry immediately caught the medicine, bringing it to Hermione.

"It's all right." Hermione continued to soothe Ron. "Unstopper it." She instructed Harry.

Harry almost froze to see what happened to Ron's arm. "Hermione, his arm."

"I know, just do it!" She exclaimed, tears started streaming down her face aa she sobbed but continued to calm Ron down. Harry opened the bottle and Hermione grabbed it from him. Harry sat beside you watching his best friend groan in pain. You placed your hand on Ron's other arm. "You'll be fine, okay? It's gonna sting a little bit."

Hermione started dripping the medicine on Ron's injured arm.

"What happened?" Harry asked. "I thought we were going to go back to Grimmauld Place."

Hermione nodded. "We were—it's alright, shh. One more, one more." Hermione continued to pour some medicine on Ron's arm. "We were there, we were there, but Yaxley had hold of me, and I... I knew once he'd seen where we were... we couldn't stay, so I brought us here, but... but Ron got splinched."

Finally, Ron's arm was healed but not fully and he finally stopped shaking and groaning. You sighed in relief. "It's good." You informed Hermione.

Hermione sighed and stood up, pulling out her wand while you stayed with Ron, brushing your fingers through his hair. "Protego Totalum." Hermione started whispering spells. "Salvia Hexi."

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Protective enchantments." Hermione told Harry. "I don't fancy another visit like the one we had in Shaftesbury Avenue, do you?"

You stood up while Harry stayed with Ron. "Do you need help, Mione?"

Hermione looked at you for a moment before nodding. "Yes, please." You pulled out your wand and started castinf protective spells while Hermione looked back at Harry. "You can get going on the tent."

"Tent?" Harry asked unsurely.

Hermione ignored him and continued to cast more spells. "Protego Totalum."

Harry looked at you with furrowed eyebrows in confusion. "Where am I supposed to find a tent?"

You glanced at him and gestured your head towards Hermione's bag. "Probably there. Start looking, Potter." You started casting spells again. "Repello Muggletum." You sighed. "Muffliato."

°•○●○•°

"You first."

"Dissendium."

You and your friends Harry shot a spell at the locket but it instead jumped out from its previous position. The four of you looked for it and found it unharmed and laying amongst the dead leaves.

Hermione pointed her wand to the locket. "Incendio."

The locket got caught on fire however it remained clean and well.

"Expulso." You shot the spell towards the locket and the Horcrux flew back just a few feet away. You glanced at Ron who pressed his lips together.

Harry grew desperate and annoyed. "Diffindo." He shot a spell again to the locket. When the locket kept on flying away instead of being broken, Harry continued to walk towards it, shooting out spells from his wand while you, Ron, and Hermione remained standing behind him. "Reducto!"

You sighed in defeat while Harry kept shooting spells at the Horcrux. When his efforts were useless, Harry eventually gave up and picked up the locket, wearing it.

"What are you doing?" Hermione questioned.

"We have to keep it safe until we find out how to destroy it." Harry replied.

"Seems strange, mate." Ron spoke up. "Dumbledore sends you off to find all these Horcruxes, but doesn't tell you how to destroy them. Doesn't that bother you?"

Harry stared at Ron, you, and Hermione for a moment before walking away with the locket. You faced Ron and nodded. "You got a point there, Weasley. I suppose Dumbledore thinks we already figured it our how to destroy it so he didn't bother telling Harry nor us anything helpful."

Hermione tapped your shoulder. "Come on, let's find more wood for later." She looked at Ron. "And you should rest." She stated as she glanced at Ron's injured arm.

You and Hermione walked away to collect sticks and herbs, anything helpful and useful while Ron went back to the tent and turned the radio on. Harry sat down just outside the tent, hearing the radio. You and Hermione began to see Harry having visions again from Voldemort. Hermione excused herself and approached Harry. "I thought it had stopped." When Harry didn't reply back, Hermione sat down in front of Harry. "You can't keep letting him in, Harry."

"You-Know-Who has found Gregorovitch." Harry announced to Hermione.

Your ears perked up when you heard the name and walked towards the both of them before sitting beside Hermione and placing the sticks you collected down. "The wandmaker?" You asked.

Harry nodded. "He wants something that Gregorovitch used to have... but I don't know what." Harry sighed. "But he wants it desperately. I mean, it's as if his life depends on it."

When the radio static became louder, Harry snapped his head back to the tent. Hermione shook her head. "Don't." Harry looked back at Hermione. "It comforts him."

"It sets my teeth on edge. What's he expecting to hear, good news?"

You looked down and poked a stick on a dead leaf. "I think he just hopes he doesn't hear bad news." You explained.

Harry stood up and brushed off the leaves from him and his clothes. "How long before he can travel?"

Hermione looked up at Harry. Knowing the look, Harry groaned in frustration. Hermione frowned. "I'm doing everything I can."

"You're not doing enough!"

"Harry!" You scolded as you stood up, glaring at Harry. Harry glared back at you before walking away. You were about to follow him but Hermione held your hand. "Take it off." Hermione demanded causing Harry to stop.

Harry turned around in confusion while Hermione looked at him as she stood up. "I said, take it off now." Harry immediately pulled the locket away and gave it to Hermione. His expression changed and softened. "Better?" She asked.

Harry nodded. "Loads."

Hermione glanced down at the locket. "We'll take it in turns, okay?"