A Bond for the Ages

Chapter 34

Note: I've made up Isaac Clairmorn and the first names for Daisy and Urquhart. Also, I've chosen to make Cormac McLaggen Gryffindor's Keeper instead of Ron.

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Leif frowned as he read the acquisition request for the third time. It was a strange request, considering there were effectively no records for the entire department, not officially anyway, as well as it simply didn't make sense. Officially or unofficially, no such thing existed that was being requested. It was also strange due to the requester, but not because of who they were alone. No, requests from the Minister were common. However, requests about the Hall of Prophecies from the Minister who had been acting extremely unlike himself was strange...and concerning, quite frankly.

Why would Fudge be so interested in the Hall of Prophecies? Sure, Lady Magic's Prophecy was acting differently to other prophecies, but Fudge had never given a damn before. For being the Minister, Fudge had a remarkably lacking interest in virtually the entire Ministry. He relied on departments to handle themselves, far more concerned with Dumbledore, Hogwarts, and the media. He only wanted to be seen as competent, as the one holding the wizarding world together in the face of the trouble constantly produced by Dumbledore and Hogwarts, and the rest of the Ministry just went with it.

So, why was Fudge investigating the prophecy?

Leif dropped the request, tapping his fingers on the podium as he thought. Something was going on with Fudge and it had to do with the prophecy. By extension, it had to do with Harry and, likely, Draco and Severus. He glanced at the request again and then quickly left the Archives, hopping on the lift to the top floor.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, giving polite smiles, nods, and hellos to each employee that joined and left him on the lift as he climbed. He hid his anxiety as the lift stopped on every floor, drawing out his own journey. He was startled, though he didn't show it, when he was joined by Barlow the Unspeakable. The man stood pressed against the back of the lift beside him, standing perfectly straight and silent with his hands clasped in front of him. Leif shot him a confused look out the corner of his eye. The Department of Mysteries was on the Level Nine. Where was Barlow going?

Eventually, they were one floor away, and it was only him and Barlow on the lift. He watched Barlow draw his wand and tap the panel with the floor numbers, making it shimmer and the lift come to a stop. He turned to Barlow with a raised eyebrow.

"The department has a leak," Barlow said.

"Aside from you?" Leif said sardonically.

Barlow glared at him. "Considering Fudge just asked about a very specific prophecy by name the other day, I'd say, yes, aside from me."

Leif's eyes turned sharp. "What are you talking about?"

Barlow huffed and crossed his arms. "Fudge is fishing for information, but it's Fudge, so he's fishing because someone is telling him to. The fact that he asked for a prophecy by name means whoever is telling him to ask has someone in the department giving him the information Fudge needs to get more."

"Fudge is being controlled?" Leif said.

"Not that he hasn't always been, but it's escalated," Barlow said. "Someone else is after the prophecy."

"Which prophecy?"

"Which do you think?" Barlow said, somewhat snappishly. "It's not like there's multiple prophecies glowing, expelling waves of magic, and shaking the entire hall."

Leif cursed quietly and ran his fingers through his hair in agitation before turning back to Barlow. "What was Fudge asking for?"

"Transcript," Barlow said simply.