I… I don't know, sir," Percy stammered, gripping the edges of the chair so tightly that his fingers began to ache. His heart pounded in his chest, and his mind raced. A spy? The words didn't even feel real. This wasn't some simple task, a little covert job that could be done on the side. This was betrayal. The Ministry, Fudge, Everything Percy had worked for.
"A spy?" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "To deceive the Minister? I've pledged my loyalty to the Ministry. It feels wrong, Professor. I… I can't just turn against everything I've stood for."
Dumbledore's gaze softened, his eyes calm and steady, as though he'd anticipated Percy's reaction. "I understand, Percy. It is complicated, and dangerous, But consider what is at stake." He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "If we do nothing, countless innocents remain vulnerable. The Ministry is blind to the greater threat—it is your position, your access, that can make a difference. Your role gives you a rare chance to serve a higher purpose—beyond ambition or recognition. A chance to protect the people who can't protect themselves."
Percy's head buzzed. Dumbledore's words weighed on him, heavy with authority and meaning, But still, it felt wrong. The idea of betraying his fellow Ministry officials, people he'd worked alongside, people who had once treated him like a fellow colleague—it felt like he was stepping into a world of lies, secrecy, and fear. Everything he knew about right and wrong, loyalty and duty, was being tested. Would it even be possible to keep the act up? Could he lie every day, pretend to serve Fudge, while working against everything he'd once believed in?
Lies, secrecy, constant fear of discovery… All of it flashed through his mind. The consequences of being found out were enough to make his heart race. What if someone figured it out? What if Fudge discovered what he was really doing? Percy knew how easily it could all unravel.
"And… you expect me to do this alone?" Percy asked quietly, the words feeling strange and foreign on his tongue. "Gather intelligence, keep it secret… without anyone knowing?"
Dumbledore inclined his head ever so slightly. "You will not be entirely alone. The Order stands with you, Percy, but the task requires discretion. Appear loyal to the Ministry, serve its cause while serving the greater good. There will be no public accolades. No recognition. No medals." He paused, his gaze locking with Percy's, steady and unwavering. "Quiet vigilance will be your path. You must live a double life, and you must be prepared for the consequences."