Chapter 5: The Watchfull Cat
The long corridors of the Ministry of Magic were quiet that evening, lit only by the soft glow of enchanted lamps hovering in the air. Minerva McGonagall, dressed in her deep green robes, stood near the entrance of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, her sharp eyes taking in the scene with careful precision. She was not here as a Hogwarts professor tonight, nor was she here as the Deputy Headmistress. She was here on a mission.
The Ministry was thick with tension. Even without being a member of the Order of the Phoenix, Minerva had felt the growing danger—Death Eaters lurking within the shadows, Voldemort's influence spreading like poison. She wasn't directly under Dumbledore's orders, but she knew that the fight was just as much hers as anyone else's. And tonight, she was going to play her part.
She had been careful, very careful. It was no small thing to play spy in the Ministry, especially when you didn't know whom to trust. Over the years, she had seen the subtle shifts in her colleagues' behavior—some becoming more secretive, some more aggressive, while others fell too silent altogether. Minerva wasn't one to make accusations lightly, but the signs were there. Dark magic was crawling into the very core of the Ministry.
But Minerva McGonagall had an advantage most of her colleagues did not: she was an Animagus. Her ability to transform into a sleek, black-striped tabby cat had proven invaluable in her quiet work against the Death Eaters. By being able to slip through narrow cracks, remain unnoticed, and eavesdrop on conversations not meant for human ears, she possessed an extraordinary talent. She used this gift sparingly, only when absolutely necessary, but tonight was one of those nights.
Word had reached her—vague, but troubling—that several Ministry employees were gathering in secret after hours. There were suspicions that these meetings were linked to Voldemort's growing control, though nothing had been proven yet. No one had seen any of them explicitly supporting the Dark Lord, but whispers suggested that key information from the Auror Office was being leaked to his forces.
Minerva's task was clear: she needed to find out who these traitors were, and she needed proof.
She glanced around once more to ensure the hallway was empty, then stepped into the shadow of a pillar. With a practiced ease, she transformed, shrinking down into the form of a small, elegant tabby cat. The transformation was seamless, almost second nature now. She twitched her whiskers, her ears pricking up as she attuned herself to the new set of senses her Animagus form provided.
The Ministry felt different when she was a cat. The echo of footsteps became thunderous in her feline ears, the rush of air from a closing door like a gust of wind. She padded silently across the floor, her soft paws making no sound as she moved deeper into the labyrinthine halls. She had a destination in mind: the offices of Magical Law Enforcement.
The meeting was to take place in an unused conference room deep in the department's heart, an area few employees ventured after hours. Minerva knew the layout of the Ministry well. She worked here for two years after her graduation, and after that she spent many years advising on Hogwarts affairs here, but even she had not known of this hidden room until very recently.
As she slipped through the cracks in the door, her sharp green eyes—now round and glowing in the low light—scanned the room. She could see four figures seated around a low table, their faces dimly lit by the soft glow of floating candles. They were speaking in low, urgent voices, but Minerva's keen ears caught every word.
The first voice belonged to Thorfin Rowle, a high-ranking official in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He had always been cold, sharp-tongued, and a staunch advocate for harsh measures against suspected Dark Wizards. But lately, his actions had seemed too aligned with Voldemort's agenda.
"We need to move quickly," Rowle was saying. "The Aurors are getting too close. Scrimgeour's been poking around, asking questions."
Another voice cut in, soft but sinister. Minerva recognized it at once: Lucius Malfoy. He wasn't technically a Ministry employee, but his influence within its walls was undeniable. His presence here only confirmed Minerva's suspicions. "Scrimgeour is of no concern," Malfoy said smoothly. "The Dark Lord has plans for him. Our focus should be on diverting attention elsewhere."
Minerva's fur bristled as she crouched low behind a filing cabinet. Malfoy and Rowle. If they were collaborating, it was far worse than she had imagined.
"And the Auror Office?" the third man asked. It was Evan Rosier, the Deputy Head of Magical Law Enforcement. He had always been a bureaucrat, more concerned with procedure than justice, but he had never struck Minerva as someone who would outright betray the Ministry. Yet here he was.
"The Auror Office is already compromised," Rowle informed. "We've managed to place a few key people inside. The information is flowing smoothly. We've sent most of what the Dark Lord needs—except for that list of safe houses."
Minerva's breath caught. The Aurors' safe houses were one of the Ministry's last lines of defense. If Voldemort were to get hold of those locations, he could wipe out dozens of innocent families in a single strike.
Lucius Malfoy leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "That will come in time. For now, we continue as planned. When the time is right, the Dark Lord will strike, and none of them will see it coming."
Minerva felt a wave of anger wash over her. These men were actively plotting against their own world, selling out their fellow witches and wizards for the sake of power. But she had to keep calm. She couldn't act now. Not yet.
"I'll see to it," Rosier murmured. "But we need more people in key positions. If we're going to take over from within, we need someone closer to the Minister."
"There are plans in motion for that as well," Malfoy replied coolly.
Minerva had heard enough. She backed away from the room, her heart pounding in her small feline chest. She had the proof she needed. Rowle, Rosier, and Malfoy were all complicit, and they were working to undermine the Ministry from the inside. Worse, they had already compromised the Auror Office. She needed to get this information to the right people—before it was too late.
With a quick flick of her tail, Minerva darted back through the cracks in the door and raced down the hallway, her paws barely touching the ground. She moved swiftly, slipping through gaps and doorways, avoiding the late-night cleaners and lingering employees. She knew exactly where she was going: the office of Alastor Moody, the Auror in charge of tracking down Death Eaters.
***
Moody's office was on the seventh floor, not far from the main Auror Headquarters. The door was slightly ajar, and light spilled out into the hallway. Minerva could hear Moody grumbling to himself inside. She transformed back into her human form just as she reached the door, taking a moment to catch her breath before stepping inside.
Moody looked up, his magical eye swiveling in its socket to fix on her. "McGonagall," he greeted her gruffly. "What brings you here at this hour?"
"I've found something," she said, her voice clipped but urgent. "Rowle, Rosier, and Lucius Malfoy. They're working together, feeding information to Voldemort. They've compromised the Auror Office."
Moody's good eye narrowed. "How do you know this?"
"I overheard them," Minerva said simply. She knew better than to offer more detail than necessary. Moody was one of the few people she trusted implicitly, and he would believe her with no need every specific.
Moody's face darkened as he considered her words. "If they've gotten their claws into the Auror Office, we're in deeper trouble than I thought." He stood, his broad figure looming over the desk as he reached for his wand. "We'll need to act quickly. I'll alert Scrimgeour and the others. We can't let this go any further."
"There's more," Minerva said, her voice steady but cold. "They're after the list of safe houses. If they get their hands on that, it could mean the end for dozens of families."
Moody swore under his breath. "We'll have to move everyone. I'll send word immediately."
Minerva nodded, though a heavy weight settled on her chest. The scale of what she had uncovered was daunting, and the implications were terrifying. But she knew this was only one piece of the larger puzzle. Voldemort's influence ran deep, and for every Death Eater they unmasked, there were likely two more lurking in the shadows.
"Be careful, McGonagall," Moody said gruffly, his magical eye fixing on her once more. "You've made powerful enemies tonight."
Minerva met his gaze with a steady look of her own. "I'm not afraid of them."
And she wasn't. But she knew the fight was far from over.
As she left Moody's office and made her way back to Hogwarts, her mind was already turning to the next step. She would continue to watch, to listen, and to fight in whatever way she could. Voldemort and his followers would not take the Ministry—not if she had anything to say about it.
With a final glance over her shoulder, Minerva slipped into the shadows once more, the weight of her mission settling heavily on her shoulders. The war was just beginning, but Minerva McGonagall had no intention of losing.
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