"Is he in?"

Cormac's secretary's eyes grew a little wider. "Mister Potter, he's-"

"He's in?"

"Y-yes, but he's-"

Harry didn't wait for the rest of the secretary's diatribe. He really didn't care. He had been waiting to do this, knowing it was dangerous to do at all, but now that he had a catalyst, he couldn't seem to stop his feet as they led him to the door that read 'Cormac McLaggen - Undersecretary to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement'.

Pushing open the door, Harry surveyed the room, making sure the man was sitting at his desk. The office was cushy. He had never been in here, he realized. It was probably even a little more posh than his own office, but that was because he'd declined any offers to fix it up a little nicer. He shut the door slowly, aware that Cormac was looking at him. "We need to talk."

Cormac's eyebrow went up. He hadn't needed to talk to Potter in a long time. Potter looked serious and rather pissed off, so Cormac readied himself for a sound tongue-lashing about something. "Certainly, sir. Can I offer you something to drink? Tea perhaps?"

"No," Harry said, turning his full attention to Cormac. I don't trust anything you'd give me. Taking a step further into the room, he smiled slightly. He tightened his hand around his wand and cast several silent silencing charms. If he had things in his walls, it was likely the same could be said for this office as well. If anyone was listening, and he was fairly sure they were, he didn't want them hearing this.

After the silence dragged on for a bit, Cormac felt like rolling his eyes. It was just like Potter to walk into a room, declare he needed to talk, and remain silent. "You said you needed to talk. Is this a two-way conversation or do I need to leave my office?"

"I am aware that a person in my position has to be very careful what they say. As I'm sure you know, there are people listening around every corner. Usually I'm not very good at not speaking when I shouldn't, but for some reason I feel impelled to speak to you about something I just found out."

He had things to do and Potter was wasting his time. Inwardly, he was listing the numerous hexes he could aim at Potter, but on the outside, he remained calm and collected. Something was being a bother to Potter, and this something was obviously important. "Well, I'm all ears, then. You have my word that this conversation will be held in confidence."

Harry tried not to laugh, knowing the sound would be hollow and would sound nothing like himself. "I know."

Silence again. Cormac sighed and leaned back in his chair, holding back the urge to snap well?

"Again, I'm listening."

By the time Potter actually got around to talk to him, they were both going to be dead. Cormac did have things he needed to finish.

"I'm sure you're aware of the things people are saying, the things being written about in the more off-beat papers. There's a new group on the rise. They're quietly taking over, apparently. They have their claws in everyone." Harry put a hand on the back of one of the leather chairs that was sitting in front of Cormac's desk. "Have you heard any of this?"

Cormac was careful not to let any emotions slip onto his face. "Of course I have. We get daily reports on people who are requesting Auror services because they thought they saw a 'Librarian' or some such rot. There will always be a group on the rise, trying to take over the world. If you wish, I can have those reports copied and sent to you."

"Would those, perhaps, be internal reports? Because those I would be very interested in seeing," Harry said, carefully watching Cormac's face.

"I'll make sure you get copies," Cormac replied, making a show of writing a memo about the reports. He also made a mental note about asking Elle to double check the false reports and make sure there would be no holes in any investigations. "Most reports come to us from the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, as they use the false group as an excuse for when their charms go wrong. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"You could tell me what you know about people going missing recently, McLaggen. You can drop the act where you have no idea what I'm talking about. I know your loyalty does not lie with the Ministry."

Cormac sighed. "If you want to accuse me of treason, Potter, then do so. Don't insinuate that I am not true to the Ministry or the Minister." His eyes narrowed at Potter. "Are you accusing me of kidnapping?"

"I'm not insinuating anything. I know you're one of them, and we both know it'd be ridiculously stupid of me to make it known publicly," Harry said, putting both of his hands flat on Cormac's desk before leaning over it. "I'm accusing you of knowing exactly what I'm talking about. You're one of them, and more than that, I think you know a hell of a lot more than you let on."

"For being so worried about what you say and always attempting to be careful about your words, you sure do say a lot that could land you in loads of trouble," Cormac replied with an icy glare. "What would you like me to say, Potter? Oh, I'm so sorry for whatever I might have done wrong. Rehabilitate me?"

He smirked and sat back in his chair, acknowledging that he was walking a very fine line. "Or are you hoping that I am a kidnapper of some sort, just sitting under your nose? Need to make someone disappear, Potter?"

Harry slammed both hands down on the desk. "I am not afraid of you, or the people you're a fledgling for. You're going to fall. You're all going to fall, just like those very stupid people that came before you. Every single one of you, you're just too stupid to realize it."

Cormac just shook his head, refusing to take the bait. "If that's all, sir, I have things I need to finish."

"You have absolutely no idea what kind of war you're fighting, do you? You're just going along because you think you have something to gain from being on the side you're on. What have they promised you, huh? Did they tell you you'll have power? Money? Is that what this is about? You're so insecure because no one had heard of you before you became Undersecretary that you fell over yourself to accept the first offer that anyone gave you? You're pathetic," Harry spat.

Dudley's face flashed in his vision, like it had been for several days now, and it seemed like he couldn't stop himself. He launched himself across the desk at Cormac, tackling him to the floor.

Cormac's eyes widened when he saw Potter launch across his desk. He had been about to retort and demand that Potter leave, and didn't expect a physical attack. He was never a strong fighter; his strengths lay in words and manipulations, not brute force. Potter punched him across his jaw, and Cormac pushed with all his might to get Potter off of him. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with me? You are playing with people's lives! What makes you so much better than anyone else? What gives you the right to treat others like slaves?" Harry lifted Cormac up by his lapels and then slammed his head back down on the floor. "Who gave you the right to decide who gets to live and who dies?"

He sneered. "It doesn't matter who gave the right to me. All that matters is that I have it, and I will not have it taken away from me."

"Yes you will," Harry hissed, pulling Cormac up so their faces were inches apart. "I'm going to take it from you. I'm going to be the one to take that away from you. I promise you that."

Harry didn't take his eyes, which were flashing in anger, from Cormac's, even as his secretary began to knock on the door.

"Mr. McLaggen? You're going to be late for your meeting."

Sneering down at Cormac for one more time, Harry let go of him with a jerk. Standing, looking down at the other man, Harry straightened his tie and jacket. "Power is fleeting, McLaggen. You're an idiot if you think they're going to let you have any once they're through with you. It's not how they work, it's not how to reward. You're just a pawn, and you'll always be a pawn because you don't have the guts to function out in the open. You hide in the shadows with the rest of your group, but I promise, we're going to find you. Every single one of you, whatever it takes. Enjoy the power while you have it. You won't have it for long."

"Mr. McLa-"

"He'll be right out," Harry said over his shoulder. He looked down at Cormac, enjoying the slow trickle of blood coming from the corner of the man's mouth before turning and making his way out of the office.

"I'm going to enjoy watching you try to save everyone. I'm going to enjoy watching you fail even more," Cormac said, wiping the blood from his mouth.

Harry stopped in the doorway. "At least they have someone trying to save them. No one's going to save you." He brushed past Elle, looking at her with a critical eye as he strode into the hallway.

Cormac scoffed and wiped more blood off of his mouth. This incident would have to be reported. Mother wasn't going to like that Potter was already so focused against her cause.


Summary: Harry stops by Cormac's office. Surprising things happen.