Thematic task: Write a story in which actions taken for the "greater good" of a person or group of people lead to negative consequences.

Kingsley Shacklebolt looked up at the knock on his door and frowned, glancing across at the elaborate clock that hung from the wall. He called out for his visitor to come in, eyebrows raised as Percy entered.

The other man didn't waste a moment, clearly he had already realised that Kingsley was not a man who liked to be kept waiting. "Sir, the prisoners-"

"What's happened? Do you have the information?" Kingsley interrupted the man brusquely, standing up from his desk. He grabbed his wand and cloak, moving towards the door.

Percy shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. "Er- not exactly, sir."

Kingsley spun around to face his assistant. "Not exactly? What are you doing here then? I thought I made it very clear that I didn't want them left alone for a moment!"

"They're wandless, chained up, and at least three dementors are outside the cells."

"Are you questioning my judgement?!"

At Percy's frightened look his glare softened. "Look, I know you think I'm being overly concerned. But we can't take risks. Can't let anything slip. One chance and they'll be off, and we'll never know where the rest of them are hiding. You must see how important it is that we find every last Death Eater. Voldemort is gone, but his followers could still rally together."

"Yes sir."

Kingsley sighed. The man was spineless, but that could occasionally prove to be useful. "Right. Well, if you still don't have the information, perhaps we need to try a different approach."

"Sir?" Percy tilted his head curiously and Kingsley waved a hand dismissively. "Follow me. And leave that bloody thing behind." He muttered, gesturing at the clipboard that Weasley never seemed to let go of. He was obsessed with rules and regulations, a waste of time during a period when everything was as shaken up and as messy as it was. Kingsley rolled his eyes as he laid the thing down neatly on the desk before meekly following behind as Kingsley strode down the corridors in the direction of the holding cells.

His patrons, a silvery white lynx, prowled ahead of them, her ears held high. The dementors moved apart as they approached, and a complex wand gesture had the doors rolling open. He stepped inside quickly and Percy hurried behind him as the doors sealed behind him.

Light from his wand illuminated the dank corridor in which they found themselves and Kingsley had to blink his eyes to adjust. Barely hesitating, he turned and began marching down to the very end, stoopping at the last cell on the left. Percy frowned, about to say something, but Kingsley ignored him. Instead he waved his wand and the door shimmered before turning translucent, allowing them to look inside the cell.

The occupant of the small room spun around as Kingsley called his name and Percy shivered as he met the grey eyes of Draco Malfoy.

"Minister-"

"Enough." Kingsley pointed his wand at Malfoy, a steely look in his eyes. "Are you ready to talk?"

The boy looked awful. He hadn't eaten in a week, bruises covered his shirtless torso, and a deep cut ran down his cheek. Percy winced, wondering how that had happened. He hadn't seen any of the prisoners; hadn't even known that they were keeping children down there.

Draco didn't respond and Kingsley huffed with frustration. "You have one chance."

He seemed not to hear the Minister, hunching his shoulders up higher but not breaking eye contact with Percy. Suddenly, without warning, a red light lit up the cell and Malfoy dropped to the floor. An unearthly scream echoed through the hallway and Percy stepped backwards, shocked.

"Minister!"

"Percy you must understand. This is for the greater good. This boy is scum, only alive because he is useful to us. We need him to tell us where their base is, we have to find the rest of them. It's the only way we can be safe."

"He's a child!"

Kingsley sighed in irritation. The distraction had gone on for too long. He rolled his eyes, breaking the cruciatus curse to send a gentle stupefy at the man. Nothing that would knock him out, but enough to stop him from interfering.

Percy flew backwards, shock on his face. As Kingsley turned back to face the prisoner he threw up his wand arm, aiming it at the Minister. "I thought we could trust you." he wheezed.

As he spoke the disarming spell Kingsley reacted, a burst of green hitting Percy below his ribs. Draco stared in shock as the man fell down, throwing himself against the back wall of his cell when Kingsley turned to him.

"No, please-"

"Such a mess." The Minister said smoothly, interrupting his pleas for help.

As a second flash of light bounced off the walls a small man sprinted into the dungeons, stopping in shock at the sight he saw. Kingsley recognised him as one of the newest wizards appointed to his cabinet.

"What happened?" He asked, a tremor in his voice.

Kingsley shook his head, grief evident on his face. "Such a terrible, terrible pity. I'm afraid the boy was careless, let the prisoner take his wand..." He trailed off, staring at the ground. "I had no choice but to execute the Malfoy boy."

The other man shook his head in dismay and Kingsley continued talking.

"Such a waste. He had such a promising future."