Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Seventh Year // Chapter 7

*Weeks Later*

"Why couldn't we just transfigure Ron or Harry into an Owl and have them retrieve the locket that way?" I whine as Hermione explained the plan once more. "That last thing I want to do during a War take another Polyjuice Potion and turn into this, visiting French official!"

"At least you can pull off a fake accent," Hermione said as Harry and Ron stepped out of their hiding spot to grab the first man, Reginald Cattermole, who Ron would be turning into.

"Not a good one, just one to impress Fleur's family and friends!"

"Shhhh!" Hermione shushed me as the door opened and Harry drug in Mr Cattermole. After him, a few moments passed and Ron drug in one, Albert Runcorn. All that was left were Hermione's person, Mafalda Hopkirk, and mine, Marie-Laure Rosaline. 

"Ready?" Hermione held up her strand of hair, while the rest of us held our up. "Drop them in, now!" As she spoke we dropped the hairs in and waited for the potion to fizz up. We drank the potions, which still tasted awful, and transformed into the older witches and wizards. 

"How long will this brew last us?" I asked, adjusting the clothes on my body. 

"Roughly about an hour and a half, so we must be quick," Hermione explained as she grabbed Malfalda's wand and tucked it into her pocket. 

"Hey! This time you didn't turn into a cat!" I said, earning a glare from Hermione. "C'mon, I've got to have some fun with this."

"Whatever, let's just get going." Harry huffed as we all left our hiding hole and walked to the Ministry Entrances. Harry and Ron went into the male restroom while Hermione and myself ducked into the female. 

"We have to flush ourselves in, don't forget that." Hermione rushed into an empty stall and I heard the sound of flushing shortly after. I was just about to step into mine when I heard a voice from behind. 

"Mademoiselle Rosaline, what are you doing?" I instantly recognized the voice and stopped dead in my tracks. I turned to see Percy standing in the doorway. "You should know that you do not have to enter this god-awful way. Please let me have the honour of escorting you to the Visitor's entrance. 

"Why thank you, Monsieur --?" 

"Weasley, Mademoiselle." he did a little bow and extended his hand. I felt bad for playing a trick on Percy, but I took his hand and let him escort me to the telephone booth. 

"Tell me, Monsieur Weasley, do you have any siblings?" I was now just using this disguise to see if he was even still calling us family anymore. 

"Yes ... six actually." Percy's expression fell for a split second, "Well seven if you count my eldest brother's new wife."

"Of course, you would! She would now be family! Anyways, what about them, tell me about your family."

"I really shouldn't bother you with all of this. You have a trail to get to and -"

"Monsieur, I rarely talk to people ... let this moment be special. Rave about your family, tell me all about them."

"Well, I haven't been able to keep up with them much since You-Know-Who came back, but from the small updates I have been getting ... my siblings have been doing splendidly. Fred and George have their own shop, Charlie is doing well in Romania, Bill just got married, Ginny is going into her sixth year at Hogwarts, and Ron made Prefect his fifth year ... but I guess I'm proudest of Lorrinda." 

I had trouble maintaining my act, as he made that comment. Not only because it was about me, but the way his voice cracked and he had to immediately clear it after he made it, just broke me. However, to not draw suspicion as he opened the booth door and we walked in, I sighed and looked at him.