A soft flash of green fire lit up the entire room when a simple toad-like woman dressed in all pink stepped out of the fireplace.
"Greetings Minister." Umbridge said in a sickly sweet voice that made even Fudge feel like his hair stood on end, but he quickly got over it, he was used to it after all.
"Anything important to note, Dolores? I'm..busy…" Fudge said while calmly drinking milk tea, ignoring all the reports that lay on his desk.
Not seeming to find anything wrong with Fudge's words Umbridge spoke quickly, "I will not take up much of your time minister, but I think this time we have 'Him' where we want!"
That got Fudge's attention, making him turn to look at Umbridge as she held a buttery sweet smile on her face.
"Tell me more…." he asked patiently.
"Well, a source from within the castle has informed me that Dumbledore is making moves. He aims to interfere in the matters regarding how we handle these silly filthy blooded creatures that have popped up. He wants to form an alliance with Bones. How about for every interference, let's fire ten high ranking mudblood officers and fill them with purebloods."
"Hmm…" Fudge sat silently for a while, as if thinking deeply about something when he nodded softly, "Alright. If he wants war, then let's give him war. The Nobles were getting angsty anyway. But let's not fire those mudbloods, we truly don't have enough manpower right now and that might allow the other side to find justifications for their actions-"
"-Let's instead demote any mudbloods related to each other and use them in the most dangerous spots, at that point their survival is up to them. Let's blame all the decisions on pressure from the Nobles, especially the Longbottom and Weasleys, they're likely the first ones that'll help 'Him', let's say we're just 'helping' them achieve their 'noble' goals."
"Also, where's that reporter in the Daily Prophet…haven't heard from her in a long while…did something happen to her?"
A sickening smile blossomed on Umbridge's face, her tone even sharper as she squealed, "How wonderful. That will give you an opportunity to step in as their savior to finish acting your Sequence 4 Earl of the Fallen potion and advance to Sequence 3 Frenzied Mage, truly what a wonderful and joyous time."
Fudge nodded calmly and continued sipping his milk tea.
Taking the hint, Umbridge quickly said, "I shall inform…Ri…" there was a pause as she seemed to be forgetting a name on the tip of her tongue, but then quickly replaced it as she continued normally as if nothing wrong had happened, "...Bulstrode on my way out." and made her way out of Fudge's office.
Softly closing the door, Umbridge walked into the large waiting hall outside the office eyeing everyone with an air of superiority down her nose, with her chin held up.
People who met her eyes did their best not to flinch while trying to keep up light smiles, and those that didn't made sure to keep it that way by looking at their reflection in the polished granite floors.
Some even went as far as to pretend to be asleep.
Umbridge wasn't a dictator by any means. No, she had risen to the spot of Fudge's most trusted personal assistant, his right hand man so to say, purely through diplomacy.
While most people were able to use their Beyonder abilities to work in the Unspeakables where the competition between high ranking members was tough, Umbridge and her set of skills were particularly suitable for 'office jobs', like, digging up secret affairs, deepest darkest desires, fears, and much, much more.
Her observation abilities enhanced by becoming a demigod of the spectator pathway allowed her to figure out everything that went on in the Ministry of Magic.
If she had to take a page out of Lockhart's book, 'I wouldn't be awarded the Ministry Of Magic's most diligent worker twelve times in a row for nothing.'
As such, Umbridge's fingers tingled.
It had been long since she'd used her abilities properly.
Dumbledore at Hogwarts would know immediately if she ever used her abilities on a student, so stepping out because one of her Virtual Persona's she'd left behind in a subordinate had informed her about a few matters in the ministry that needed taking care of had allowed her this reprieve.
'Mind Depravation.'
Umbridge thought while gently nudging the emotions and thoughts of all those present around her before depriving their ability to be rational as she simply watched while standing in the centre of the chamber hall.
It wasn't even a few moments before-
"Madam Umbridge! Please let me work under you!" a middle aged man stood up and rushed towards her.
What followed was a similar sea of exclamations, some even embarrassingly profane that Umbridge filed away in her mind to be used in the future.
As she looked at the people, big and small, all crowding around her with a 'warm' smile.
'Ha, 'He' doesn't truly know how to use the abilities of this pathway. And Fudge is already in the palm of my hands.'
'I will become the next Minister of Magic.'
'The Last Minister of Magic.'
As soon as the gleam in Umbridge's eyes passed she activated her Psychological Invisibility and simply walked away from the crowd, leaving them behind as they continued to sing her praises.
Of course, all of this was for the good of the employees around her since she hadn't used her full strength.
It helped her see who could resist being manipulated. Such people were best sent off to the front lines where their abilities could be put to good use.
Noticing a boy with a curious head full of red hair rushing behind her as she walked away Umbridge was surprised.
Even though her Psychological Invisibility wasn't at full strength, it wasn't weak enough for a Weasley to spot her through it.
Especially since only the first two Weasley kids had any idea of the Beyonder world since Aurthur had run out of characteristics and money at that point.
She didn't pause her steps however, only slowed down a little, just enough to let the young boy catch up to her as she continued walking towards her office where the people who had her Virtual Persona's were already waiting to be misused.
She was going to reclaim her personas and assign them to new people in more appropriate positions since her personas couldn't move around alone without drawing suspicion from the stronger people in the department of mysteries, yet.
With changing times one had to change their pieces on the board. Keep them fresh to respond to any situation.
"Good morning, Madam Umbridge! I've heard much about you in the Ministry!"
'Disappointing.' Umbridge thought, noting that Percy was affected by her Mind Depravation. 'But at least he's still got a decent head. He didn't mention that it was his father that filled his nutter head, about me.'
Taking Umbridge's silence as a cue to continue speaking, Percy spoke calmly, his smile brightening, "As you can see, unlike my colleagues, I have been able to faithfully see through your high expectations from us Madam."
Umbridge nodded, her interest in the conversation growing ever so weaker by the second.
'His shoulders are wet from light drizzle…he probably doesn't live at home otherwise he'd just have used the Floo like Arthur. Some distance between the family, likely to disassociate from the Weasley stigma at the workplace.'
'He wants to make a name for himself…'
'At least, he looks motivated.'
'Could I plant one on him to spy on the Order?'
'Hmm…seeing his ambition towards the Ministry he's likely not deeply included in the Order.'
'Everyone in the Order must also scorn him for it…'
'But with 'Him' trying to interfere in the current matter 'He' is likely short on hands.'
Umbridge's eyes gleamed as a simple idea formed in her mind.
'Yes, even an orbiting member would do. In fact, this boy is the best option since he's less likely to come across 'Him' as long as I give him a busy task at the Ministry while tempting him with a promotion.'
'Then plotting him to send back gifts home while he's tragically away working hard at the Ministry during Christmas, taking care of the heavy burden caused by involvement of 'rogue beyonders', only to show up sick will be the perfect blow.'
'It'll give him the best, the most perfect, opportunity to get secrets out of his family and maybe even everyone else.'
'Hmm…'
"....Perfect OWLS. Perfect NEWTS. I've never been distracted from my work. I have excellent recommendations from Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick…"
'He's still speaking?'
'He's never taken his eyes off of me the entire time and responds positively to every smile and comforting blink while ignoring all my frowns and furrowed brows, probably likes women that are overbearing…'
'His tie is crooked. Given lack of any other imperfections it means that it's a habit that was fixed by someone else. But given that he doesn't live at home, a crooked tie could only be fixed by someone significant who's left him, probably had a break up recently…'
'Has likely been practicing his half decent magical skills given how burnt his wand holder looks…or is that just him being a Weasley…?'
Umbridge noticed Percy's growing nervousness with each word he spoke further, even he seemed to realise that he'd spoken for too long without giving Umbridge a chance to weigh in.
But Umbridge wasn't without options, she'd seen plenty of overly eager new hires, and simply used a placate on him as she spoke.
Her face took on the perfect expression of admiration of a younger colleague for being bold and courageous to take the first step while adding a hint of motherly affection in her tone.
"Percy…? Weasley? If I'm not wrong?" Umbridge said, noticing the instant frown on Percy's face at the mention of the surname but she pretended she saw nothing since he quickly covered it up.
"Yes. Madam Umbridge."
'He still didn't introduce his father…'
'How prideful..'
'But I like this!'
'The higher they think they stand, the harder they fall.'
"I know your Father. One of the hardest working employees in his department."
Percy nodded, wondering what was happening. But he was just too inexperienced. He lacked the cunning and wits to go head to head with a Beyonder.
Not everyone was like Loki, able to brute force the situation and plant suggestions to control a Demigod of the Spectator Pathway.
So all he could do was be led by the nose.
"Don't think badly of him." Umbridge said in a warm tone as she reached out and fixed his slightly crooked tie causing a flushed look of embarrassment, surprise and admiration to appear in Percy's eyes.
'Yes.'
'Yes.'
'That's the look I want.'
'The look of a puppet.'
"Not everyone can do the job he does. It's a pity that the Minister doesn't see it the way I do. But I'm sure if you could ease the weight on their pockets a little, they'd see you with the admiration you deserve...don't you think so…too?"
Percy was surprised.
His mind told him something was wrong about all this.
That something was missing.
But Umbridge's unarmed, charming, motherly smile made him surrender with a nod.
'Hehehe~ Hook, line and sinker~!'
"I see. So we think the same way."
Umbridge turned around and started walking.
But Percy, still standing behind, found his heart rapidly sinking, wondering if associating with his family had caused him some other misfortune, Umbridge turned around and smiled.
"Come on! I've got tons of work to do at the office! The world's moving whether we want it to or not! Are you not going to follow me!?" Umbridge said, her tone already laced with a deep sense of malice and authoritative desire.
But Percy was already too far gone for him to understand anymore.
He smiled quickly and trotted off behind Umbridge, rushing to keep up with the tasks she quickly started listing off for him to complete.
…
"Professor. I'm not saying that this isn't possible. Given the Ministry's stance against the Order I can't simply allow such a thing without explicit permission from 'higher up'...s . And it's just that the Bones family is currently tied to something else." Amelia explained with a sad expression on her face.
And though her expression exuded an aura of 'tragic sorrow' as if her hands were tied and her words strained, McGonagall wasn't so easy to fool.
She'd already caught all the key points. Especially the way the sentences were arranged.
McGonagall put down her tea cup on the table as she responded calmly.
"May I know why you've joined hands with Walburga?"
A gleam lit up in Amelia's eyes, completely unconcealed since McGonagall was picking up on her invitation and discussing it.
"The Ministry has just dropped past certain lower expectations many people have had of it. And with certain powerful figures in the wizarding world all hellbent on empowering chaos, someone had to tighten the order. So the Black family only promised us in helping regain control over the recent chaos in the Black markets."
McGonagall nodded.
It wasn't a secret to anyone that Dumbledore hadn't accepted the offers of taking up the position of the Minister of Magic after Millicent Bagnold successfully ended her term.
Quite a few were even mad at him for kicking away the chance to clear the Wizarding World of its sinful stains.
Of course, many more knew matters weren't so simple.
But even they were enraged when Dumbledore sided with the Nobles in choosing Fudge as the next Minister of Magic.
A Minister that was sitting in the pockets of Nobles? Letting them play with instruments that could be used against anyone? The same people that had just been charged with wantonly killing 'mudbloods' and 'magical creatures' just a few months ago?
Some even thought Dumbledore had gone mad.
A few Beyonders assumed this was Dumbledore showing signs of madness.
The now infamous Quibbler article, "The Dark Lord Contagion." which described in detail about how the Dark Lord curse was spread by an invisible 'microorganism' and hence affected those close to the carrier, even captured the minds of many until it faded out of memory.
So it seemed reasonable that someone serving the balance of Order would step in.
Not only would it have made them angrier than most.
But it was also a time for tremendous growth.
"You're trying to advance to Sequence 3 : Chaos Hunter?" McGonagall asked bluntly.
A flicker of recognition flashed in Amelia's eyes but she knew that it wasn't time to reveal her cards yet.
And so she spoke softly, "What about you Professor? Aren't you going to use this situation to advance to Sequence 3 yourself?"
Surprisingly, McGonagall nodded.
"I need to. The times demand it. I don't want to see anymore losses this time. So regardless for my derision of the entire Beyonder system, I will advance. So that I can protect those behind me."
Amelia nodded.
"I understand. Then don't you think I deserve to do so too? To advance to protect those behind me? Those that are waiting for me? I seem to recall a certain someone telling me that sometimes fate is the one maintaining the balance and we can do nothing about it. I'm only doing my best to make sure such a thing never happens again. I want to maintain my own balance."
McGonagall looked at Amelia in front of her.
She remembered the first time she'd heard of her.
When she'd heard of a student in the Bones family, a family known for being of the Corpse Collector pathway, chose to give birth to a daughter without any excess Beyonder Characteristics, she'd been surprised.
The little girl had grown up seeing her father come home disappointed many times. Telling tales of the people that died in line of work and had to be escorted to their graves.
Eventually she saw her father slip on the edge of the knife and fall to the wrong side, forcing her mother to ferry him to the gates of the underworld along with herself while protecting the little girl.
It was then that at the age of eleven, the little girl chose the Arbiter pathway.
Amelia was quite the troublemaker when she'd arrived at Hogwarts. Even getting into Hufflepuff hadn't stopped her from scouring for trouble.
She wasn't a trouble magnet that caused chaos to descend upon her.
No, she actively looked for trouble and went around disciplining people to act out her potion in the school.
And she did it all under the purview of the rule book.
She never stepped out during curfew.
She never hurt someone unless it was for self defence.
She never abused her authority and privilege she enjoyed with the teachers, only made sure to use it to punish others who'd crossed the line.
After leaving Hogwarts she'd joined the Ministry.
Working her way up, step by step, becoming an Auror first, catching criminals everywhere she went.
Then rising to the head of the Aurors Department.
Slowly even becoming a Judge.
So it was quite troubling to see a woman as talented as Amelia join hands with one of if not the most foul mouthed woman in the world.
Walburga Black.
McGonagall had never seen her go a sentence without insulting someone.
Loki's first insult at the Slytherin table had greatly reminded her of Walburga, but it had only been a minor thought back then.
Only for her to face a huge surprise when Walburga actually adopted the boy and named him heir.
A full fledged 'muggle' orphan turned heir to the Oldest and Noblest House, overnight.
To be fair, McGonagall even doubted that Loki was a muggle at this point. And if not for having watched him undergo the Advancement Ritual for his potions she'd have doubted he was even a beyonder of the Mystery Pryer pathway. Knowing that the 'Great Sage' was keeping an eye on him also made her feel a little better.
So McGonagall sighed and then spoke softly, "I shall ask Albus to extend his support in this matter." Amelia was too important a person to be let openly side with the Black family, not after her own promising little Beyonder Loki had been snatched up by the foul mouthed woman.
The only person left behind for her was her reliable little Miss Granger. Not only was she outstanding in class and had the best discipline, she seemed to be favoured by Dumbledore too.
"Would that let you loosen the restrictions a little?"
Amelia seemed to ponder for a while, but McGonagall could see that her decision was already made.
And after a few seconds she nodded as expected.
"Alright Professor McGonagall. I agree."
McGonagall's slightly downed mood was lifted up again. If she were in her animagus form, the end of her tail would've been swaying through the air, flicking from left to right, rhythmically, as if she were enjoying fish 'n chips.
After talking for a little bit longer, McGonagall bid her farewell, that was when Amelia relaxed into her chair as she looked at the small scroll hidden away in a pouch in her robes.
"Potion Formulae - Sequence 2 : Balancer."
…
Hermione looked at the flyers in her hands with embarrassment.
She had sat up all night last night to make flyers to advertise her fortune telling business where she'd use Astrology to predict the future and act as an Astrologer.
But now that it was time for her to ask Loki for permission to put them in the Hogwarts newspapers or simply in the distribution booths around the castle, she faltered.
'Arghhh!! This is too embarrassing!!!'
'How did Loki do any of this with such a straight face!?'
But left with no other option, Hermione finally pushed herself through the embarrassment.
She remembered her dream from last night well. And she didn't want such a thing to happen ever again.
Coupled with her already rising urgency to push herself to grow stronger as a Beyonder, she'd lost all qualms about being embarrassed.
Only a serene gaze remained in her eyes as she looked at the Hogwarts Honest Mill office at Hogwarts.
Just as her hands reached up to knock on the door, it opened, only for her to find Loki staring down at her with confusion.
"Huh? What're you doing here 'Mione? Don't you have the transfiguration class right now?"
Hermione stunned for a few seconds because a rather cold aura lingered around Loki gulped before nodding, "Yes. But Professor McGonagall has gone somewhere else so we have a free period."
A flicker of recognition flashed in Loki's eyes as the cold aura around him dissipated suddenly.
He nodded but then his gaze fell on the flyers in Hermione's hands.
"Oh! You've finally accepted your role as an Astrologer!"
Hermione's face flushed red with embarrassment again as she looked at the embarrassingly detailed posters she'd set up for herself.
As Loki observed it he realised Hermione hadn't just put up silly little stars, no the poster contained real constellations that slowly changed, animated to match a sped up version of the night sky directly above them at this moment.
She'd surely gone above and beyond.
And so before Hermione could say a thing more, Loki grabbed her flyers and stuffed them into his storage danger detection ring.
'With Voldemort's original soul with me, I should try improving the danger detection on this one when I have the time.'
Hermione who had frozen at Loki's blatant assault on her hardworked flyers broke out with a shout!
"Wha-! Loki! No! Don't do anything to those! I spent the whole night making those! And I need them! I need to digest my potion fast! And I need to do it faster to grow stronger!"
Seeing Hermione so worried, Loki decided to tease her a little knowing that they wouldn't have such leisure in the coming days.
"Oh? What's gotten you so worked up? Had a bad day? Did Malfoy tell you something about his father again?"
"No! It's just…" Hermione started but then paused, her face fell and tears shimmered up in her eyes turning them red.
But Hermione quickly stuffed them back down, quickly wiping any that escaped as she continued her sentences.
"I don't want to be weak anymore…"
Loki nodded mentally, appreciating Hermione pushing herself but approached the matter differently externally.
He calmly brushed her fluffy hair, turning her now slick curls even springy as he pinched her cheek lightly.
"Don't cry so easily. Things might get a little rowdy in a while so don't worry about being unable to grow stronger. I've 'confiscated' these flyers to help you grow."
Pushing away Loki's pinching fingers Hermione asked with a puzzled expression, "...help? How?"
"Simple. You don't need to advertise to a bunch of ickle wizards who've only ever seen the walls of a garden. Step out into the forest and go directly to the source. I'll distribute these flyers to the Unspeakables and add a few lines that will talk about how you can help them discern their fates and help them prevent their untimely deaths."
Hermione's eyes widened with shock and surprise.
"...You can do that!?"
"He~! You're forgetting! I'm not just Loki anymore. I'm Heir Black. Loki Black. Depend on me a bit more."
For the first time in a while, Hermione's eyes truly lit up with admiration for someone else outside the Tarot Club.
Along with Loki, she remembered the times Harry had helped her by talking to her during her slump after the incident last year. The time when Ginny helped her by sneaking her snacks from the kitchens during her midnight sessions with her studies.
She remembered all the letters Mrs. Weasley had sent her over the days to keep her happy, the letters her parents had written to her ending with questions about Hogwarts and Magic to make her keep writing back.
It all overwhelmed her.
She suddenly felt like not only the cold Mr. Error, but Loki and everyone else outside the Tarot Club were people that she could depend on.
She instantly lowered her head however and made sure her itchy eyes returned to normal before she raised her head once again only to find Loki already walking away.
"Where're you going!?" Hermione shouted as she rushed to catch up to him, wondering if any paintings would notice her using a door to do so as she ran quickly.
"To the owlery. I need to send out a letter to Grandma regarding the newspaper. You should come too since I'm thinking of expanding a few operations, I doubt you'll have time to be the editor anymore so we'll discuss some profit to share or something."
Hermione suddenly elated, almost tripped, only managing to support herself when she grabbed Loki's robes before she eagerly nodded, "That's alright with me!"