Great Divergence - The Minister of Magic's Sincerity! (II)

"It wouldn't take long," Madam Villanelle said, her breath misting. "I will let your mother know. You will be back at Malfoy Manor in a few hours, anyway. So no harm done, right?"

What else remained to think, then?

"I would be honored to meet your friends, mentor," Darcie said calmly, but her eyes betrayed her enthusiasm. "When are we leaving?"

Madam Villanelle stood up. "Now."

Darcie had already finished her breakfast.

She gracefully landed on the floor and stalked off towards the hearth, where the jar of floo powder was waiting for them.

Behind her, the corners of Madam Villanelle's mouth twitched ruefully, as if she didn't know whether to laugh or not.

"Darcie?" she called out, making the little girl turn around on the spot. "We will not use Floo Network."

Darcie felt quite amazed. Not using Floo Network? Then…

Apparate!

The word exploded in her mind.

One must understand that not even the most skillful wizards and witches dared to take the chances of apparating with children, especially with those who were known to have great magical potential.

There were two reasons for it.

First, no matter how small, there were always chances of splinching during the apparition. With children, no parent was willing to take such risks.

Second, the magic around budding children was notoriously known to fluctuate out of control.

What if such episodes of unpredictable fluctuations were to occur midway during an Apparition? Would the wizard be skilled enough to take control of the situation, then?

In light of these reasons, almost all avoided Apparition with children, using the safer routes of Floo Network and Brooms instead.

For Madam Villanelle to even suggest Apparition, despite Darcie being a little girl and known to have undergone an accident related to control over magic, told how self-confident she was.

Moreover, Darcie trusted her mentor, for the minister, her friend, had chosen her for this job.

"Come," Madam Villanelle held out her hand.

Darcie's gloved fingers grabbed her mentor's and then the pair walked out of the hotel, arriving at a secluded corner.

"Relax," Madam Villanelle instructed. "No matter what happens, you must not let go of my hand, OK? (-Darcie nodded-). Hmm, as it's your first time, you would feel a little nauseated. Still, you are used to traveling through Floo Network, so it shouldn't bother you that much. Are you ready?"

"No," Darcie blurted.

"Good." Madam Villanelle's response shocked the little Malfoy, and then everything happened at once.

The two ladies spun as the very space around them liquefied, collapsing unto itself like a whirlpool.

Darcie felt herself stretching from head to toe as if she had been forced to pass through a thin tube.

Blurred faces, buildings, streets, and whispers moaned in her eyes and ears.

And just when she felt like dying by suffocation, her feet landed on solid ground with a thud.

Darcie staggered, and a hand on her back held her up. Everything was still blurry in her eyes, her mind spinning round and round.

Suddenly, the recently eaten breakfast flew up from her stomach.

As Darcie felt the acidic feeling at the back of her throat, she couldn't help but frown, reflecting the need for her mentor to make her eat when she knew they were going to apparate.

"The first time is also the best time to get used to this nauseous feeling," Madam Villanelle's voice reached Darcie's ears. "Control your breathing, vomit if you must, and you will be fine."

Darcie forced down the acidity, however.

She took several deep breaths and her sight stabilized in no time.

A gloomy sight greeted Darcie as she opened her eyes.

It was a long corridor, with black-tiled walls and a polished wooden floor.

On the walls, torches were blazing with blue-white flames, curtaining the entire stretch of the corridor in a mysterious but deathly silence.

Not to mention there were no windows and doors, startling Darcie even more.

Darcie turned around, and at the end of the corridor, several hundred feet away, she saw a magnificent door.

And outside the door, someone was standing, smiling at her.

"Milli?!" Darcie exclaimed in surprise. Where exactly did they arrive?

Madam Villanelle had yet to let go of Darcie's hand. She brought her to the minister, their steps echoing off the silent walls far and wide.

Alas! There was no one here to marvel at that sound.

"Milli, I don't understand," Darcie said, feeling lost. "Where are we?"

Millicent Bagnold was dressed in a formal red-blue checked coat, a hat, and gloves.

There was a smile on the minister's face, but only when Darcie neared her did she notice this smile felt more saddened than joyful to her.

Even with her brilliant mind, Darcie couldn't make sense of this sudden gathering. She looked up and down, and left and right, trying to see a hint, a clue.

Suddenly, her eyes widened.

Her first experience of apparition seemed to have affected her. Otherwise, with her rich knowledge, she would have already found out where she was.

As Darcie continued to observe, the answer naturally arrived in her mind.

Sure enough, the minister said, "We are at the ministry's headquarters. Please sit. I have some things to tell you. It would all depend on your decision."

Darcie felt puzzled.

The minister waved her wand and three chairs spun in existence in front of the giant door that looked strong and ancient.

As Darcie sat, Millicent and Madam Villanelle eyed her with a profound gaze. Then they nodded at each other.

The minister drew a scant breath. "I just hope you will forgive me after hearing this all…"

And then, in the quiet and heavy atmosphere of the corridor, Millicent Bagnold and Madam Villanelle told her everything.

With every next sentence, Darcie became quieter, not believing what she was hearing at all.

They wanted to raise her to stand against Voldemort's eventual return? They wanted her to become a Symbol of Power? They wanted her to live for one thing — to have the strength to defy the Dark Lord?

Wasn't this all… just too selfish?

How could they decide her fate for their self-interests? How could they?!

Was there anything more absurd than this?!!

If there was anyone else in Darcie's place, then that person, child or not, fool or philosopher, would have surely asked these questions to oneself, feeling aggrieved.

Not Darcie.

"Oh, dear!" the minister rubbed away a stray drop of tear off her face, her eyes as red as blood.

"I am so sorry," she apologized. "I know it's too much to ask of you. You are not even 7, and yet here I am, an old witch demanding such a sacrifice from you without involving your parents.

"If there was any other choice, any other path that I could take, then let me assure you that I would have taken it already. But… Sigh!"

Madam Villanelle was oddly calm, unlike her old friend. She faced Darcie with a smile.

"Darcie, you can reject it all if you don't want to do it," she suggested. "No one would think less of you, and it would remain among us friends, I promise. There is absolutely no reason for you to plunge yourself into these things."

The minister nodded, but reluctantly.

"It's just that…" Millicent said, avoiding Madam Villanelle's penetrating glare and her frown, "… we have a good reason to believe that Voldemort's up to something grand, grander than everything in the last war.

"The sooner we start, the better it will be, for we don't know when he will strike. It can be tomorrow, after a few years, or even after decades. A child, with talents as promising as yours, is our best bet."

Madam Villanelle fumed.

"Stop, Milli," she rebuked. "Don't force her. Do you think she understands the severity of the things you are asking of her?"

To both witches' utter surprise, Darcie smiled at this point.

Till now, her eyes seemed to have undergone a deep struggle. Even her thoughts were lost, wandering to the unknown depths of possibilities and events.

But now? Now she looked exactly like she had always been to others.

The most brilliant witch of her generation!

"I understand," Darcie told them. "I know why Milli did this, mentor, and I think I understand it all."

"What… What do you understand?" Madam Villanelle prodded, looking astonished.

Darcie almost giggled. Why wouldn't she understand what the minister was trying to do?

"Those who strive to achieve greatness must also carry the burden greater than everyone else."