Harry Potter and the Hall of Justice

Chapter 14 A Spy Revealed


Professor Dumbledore and Harry appeared in a flash at the arch of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry within the anteroom of the Hall of Justice. Harry gasped when he saw the enormous area they were standing in.

The old wizard explained what Harry was seeing, as they made their way to the judge’s chamber. Upon reaching the top of the dais, a young security officer, who the professor and Harry recognized to be Captain Stran, opened the door to allow them into the room.

“Professor Dumbledore!” the young blond security guard exclaimed. “I just left Chief Justice Webster on the third floor of the residence. He’s expecting you and asked me to bring you straight to him when you arrived.”

“Thank you, Captain. I assume it will be alright to bring Mister Potter along with me?” he asked.

“As you wish, Professor,” she replied, but stopping and anxiously reaching out to place a hand on his upper arm. “But, sir, before we go up.”

The old headmaster instantly halted, noting the apprehension in the witch’s voice and face. He tilted his head back to look intently into her eyes as she continued. “This morning, when I went to inform the Chief Justice of your planned arrival, I found him on the third level patio with the Executive Assistant and the two newest members of the court. The amulet you gave me heated up as I made my way to the group. I had a very odd sensation something was very wrong.”

“You said there are two new employees of the court?” he asked, arching his eyebrows.

“Yes, Professor,” she said, turning to continue their walk.

Harry and Dumbledore followed the captain out the double doors and into the atrium. Harry gasped a second time at the unbelievable view before him and lagged behind the two as they negotiated the steps up the outside of the edifice. Harry was dumfounded at the size of the place, stopping briefly on the second floor balcony to look out over the large outdoor garden and pool. “This is one heck of a view,” he said in a whisper. “It must be something else to live here.”

Harry then turned around just in time to see his old headmaster and Captain Stran disappear above him. He immediately heard the sound of voices coming down from above. As much as he hated to leave the landing he was standing on, Harry turned and slowly continued up the steps.

As he cleared the top step, he saw a gathering of people around tables in the distance. He turned around and took one last look out across the wonderful panorama before turning to walk again toward the professor. At that time, he spotted a girl standing with her back to him speaking with Professor Dumbledore. She didn’t have to turn around for Harry to instantly know who it was. As he sped up, he noticed Dumbledore nod his way. The girl turned around and bolted toward him.

“Harry!” she cried out, running full tilt towards her old friend.

“Hermione!” he yelled. “I had forgotten you would be here! I should have known better!”

They ran into each other’s arms and hugged, swinging around and squeezing each other as hard as they could. Finally, Hermione pulled her cheek away from Harry’s and gave him a big, hard kiss. He reached up for her head and pulled it to him, planting a big kiss on her forehead.

“That’s from me,” he said, and then kissed her again. “And, that’s from Ginny.”

“Harry!” she cried out. “So much has happened! We must go somewhere and talk. But first, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

She took his hand and pulled him over to a large, handsome young man speaking with Dumbledore. Webster looked down at the excited girl heading her way.

“Your Lordship, I wish to introduce you to one of my dearest and oldest friends, Harry Potter. And Harry, it is my great honor to introduce you to our new Lord Chief Justice, Daniel Milton Webster,” she said formally and with great pride.

Chief Justice Webster held out his hand, taking Harry’s. “It’s damn great to meet you Harry. Professor Dumbledore has told me much about you and your adventures. It’s an honor to have you here.”

“Thank you, Your Lordship. I’m sure there have been many embellishments, though. I’m not really all that adventurous,” he smiled up at the very handsome young man. “Forgive me for saying so, but I pictured you as an older man.”

“You’re forgiven. I am, after all, fifty years old,” Webster said with a broad smile.

“Fifty years old!” Harry exclaimed spontaneously, but quickly embarrassed at his outburst.

“Yes, Harry. There’s much to tell you, but I’m sure Hermione will bring you up-to-date. And she will, over the coming days, I assure you,” Dumbledore interjected with a grin.

Harry noticed Dumbledore’s eyes shift around to look at one of the young girls standing at the table talking with a redheaded witch. Harry, too, felt something odd but didn’t know how to explain the sensation. At his chest, he felt his amulet’s heat. He looked at Deborah Stran and saw her rubbing lightly at her upper chest and saw her glancing at the old professor, too.

“Your Lordship,” Dumbledore began. “Might we have a few private words?”

“Yes, of course. Let’s go into the residence. I bet we’ll be able to find some of that great tea we like so much.”

Dumbledore laughed out at that. “Splendid! That would certainly be grand! Yes indeed, I could use a glass or two of that elixir of ours.”

The two men excused themselves. Dumbledore told Harry he was going to have a private chat with the Chief Justice and for him to spend some time catching up with Hermione.

As the two men entered the living area of the residence, they saw a large tea service had been laid out on one of the tables. They quickly made their way to it and took a seat. Nothing was said between them until they had satisfied a little of their thirst.

“Albus, this is such a special brew. I’ve never had anything like it. And I’m really pleased with the coffee they serve around here in the mornings, too. I’ve always understood you British folks are not big on coffee but you sure know how to make it. Coffee has always been my drink of choice early in the morning,” he told the old wizard.

“There have been times, Dan, when I’ve enjoyed a cup of coffee myself. However, there are a large number of fine beverages, both hot and cold, here in our magical world. I hope you are soon able to try most of them. Some are very special to me,” Dumbledore said.

“We have much to discuss. Are you going to lay out your plan?” Webster asked.

“Yes, indeed. There are many, many things we need to get on with. However, something is troubling me greatly at the moment. Something rather dire,” the old professor replied, his expression suddenly turning serious.

“Dire? Has something happened?” Webster asked, anxious for an explanation.

“The young, blond witch outside, talking with the redhead. Who is she?” the old wizard asked.

“Her name is Martha Snead. Hermione knows more about her than I do. She’s going to be, for the present, Hermione’s deputy assistant. Do you know her, Albus?” Webster asked.

“No, I’ve never seen her before to my knowledge. However, she is here under false pretenses, Your Lordship. Of that, I am very certain. With your permission, of course, we should not proceed with our meeting today until the girl is interrogated. And I respectfully ask you to be present during my interrogation. The very last thing we need right now is to have a spy in our midst, especially here within the Hall of Justice. It would undermine everything we are about to put in motion,” the old professor told Webster.

Hearing this, the air was almost knocked right out of the Chief Justice to realize they might have a spy in their midst. “Yes, I agree. I’m sorry I hadn’t noticed anything about her myself, Albus,” he said, almost as if he were ashamed of the error.

“It cannot be helped, Dan. You are dealing with a whole flood of other emotions right now,” Dumbledore said.

“I know. But I must soon learn to control them and focus solely on the task at hand,” Webster said, remorsefully.

“We cannot wait, Your Lordship. Where would you wish to interrogate the witch?” he asked.

“I’m not sure which bedroom she is staying in, Albus. It would be better if we go there. There might be some evidence we must seize before she can destroy it,” Webster said, thinking once more like the old law enforcement officer he had once been.

“Very well, are you ready to proceed?” Dumbledore asked the justice.

“Yes, let’s get to it!” Webster replied, coming to his feet.

The two men walked out again onto the large third-floor patio. Hermione and Harry were nowhere to be seen. However, Sarah and Martha were sitting at one of the tables. Stran had been waiting for the two men outside the door of the residence and followed them over to the two witches.

“Martha!” Webster began. “Where did you sleep last night?”

“In a bedroom on the second floor, Your Lordship,” she said, her eyes opening wide.

“Take us there!” he commanded. “Sarah, would you please excuse us for a little while. We need to speak to Martha alone.”

“Yes, Your Lordship. I’ll remain here on the third floor, if you should need me,” she said.

Martha nervously got to her feet. She lifted her arms across her chest, her hands under her armpits and walked to the stairway. Dumbledore, Webster and Stran followed closely behind the girl. Martha walked to a bedroom door as they left the stairway. She opened it and went inside. Professor Dumbledore motioned for Stran to wait at the door for them.

When Dumbledore closed the door, the girl came to a stop near a chest of drawers with her back to them. Her shoulders were shaking somewhat and the two men realized she was crying.

“Come here and sit on the bed, Martha!” Dumbledore commanded her.

As she turned to comply, she reached up to wipe at the tears streaming down her face. After sitting down on the bed, she hung her head and tightly clasped her hands in her lap.

“Martha, I have sensed you are here on some dark, evil purpose,” Dumbledore said. “We wish to give you an opportunity to tell us what it is and who sent you here. Do you understand me?” Dumbledore said in a very stern voice.

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do it. You must believe me,” she cried out. Her shoulders again quaked from her sobbing, tears flooded down her cheeks.

“Start at the beginning, Martha. Do not leave anything out, we must know the whole truth,” Dumbledore said.

The girl’s chin dropped to her chest. “Yes, sir,” she said, snorting to clear her nose and wiping away the tears. “About three years ago, Professor Jacque Vincent caught my mother having a relationship with one of the students at our school.”

“What does Vincent do at your school, Martha?” Webster asked.

“Vincent is the Potions instructor at Coldstream. He had only been at the school for about a year at the time. My mother, Anne Marie Snead, is the instructor of Transfigurations at our school. She has taught there since she was nineteen. Right after her graduation the old Transfigurations instructor retired, and she was asked to step in until a permanent instructor could be found. She did such a good job they allowed her to stay and fill the position permanently. Mother, that first year, married my dad, and I was born about a year later. When I was six, my dad was killed while on a trip to Romania. My mother was pregnant at the time with my little sister,” she related.

“And Vincent, Martha, what of him? Why is Vincent important to your story?” Dumbledore asked.

“He’s a very evil man, Professor. He caught my mother one evening having sex with one of her young male students, something that’s absolutely forbidden at Coldstream. He threatened her right away, saying he was going to turn her into the headmaster and have her removed. My mother was terrified. Her job at Coldstream was the only thing she had ever known. It was our home and, without my dad and with no other living family, well, she had no choice but to agree with whatever he wanted to save her job,” she said, tears again running down her cheeks.

“Here, Martha, take this,” Webster said, handing her a handkerchief. “Dry your face and collect your thoughts.”

“Thank you,” she said, reaching for the cloth and drying her face before continuing. The young witch finally raised her eyes to glance at the two men. But before she again began speaking, she lowered her eyes back down to stare at her hands in her lap. “In time, he made my mother bring me to watch them together and then later on he began to use me, too. It has been terrible, Your Lordship. He has turned our world into a living hell,” she said.

Again, she snorted and wiped at her eyes. “When the Council of Seven began their meetings, he prepared me to come here and seek employment on the chance there might actually be a nominee selected. He wanted me to gather information and look for weaknesses within the court. Also, he wants to know what magic can work here and, in the future, as I visit my mother, he will send potions and poisons back with me so that I can test if they are changed. Vincent knows I will not use a weapon or harm anyone. If he thought I could, he would have already expected me to make an attempt on the Chief Justice’s life.”

The young witch then looked up at Webster. “Please help us, Your Lordship. I will do anything you ask of me. I’m afraid he will kill my mother and my sister when he finds I have failed him,” with that the girl began crying uncontrollably.

Webster turned to look into Dumbledore’s face. The old wizard clearly saw great rage in the younger man’s eyes. Webster reached out for the professor and led him outside the bedroom. As they exited, Webster told Stran to go inside and watch the girl until they returned.

“Albus,” he said. “We must take this Vincent into custody. He must me interrogated. Do you think he might be one of the Death Eaters you spoke to me about?”

“That is very possible,” replied the old professor. He stood there stroking at his white beard while giving the situation some thought. “We should not act too hastily. Vincent might lead us to others who must be dealt with. Once the girl settles down, we will find out more specifics about him. There again, once we go for him we must be prepared to act quickly against those associated with him or they will surely disappear. And that will only make our work that much more difficult.”

“And what if he simply disappears, Albus? What if we just snatch him? If there doesn’t appear to be any foul play, maybe no one will be the wiser, you see?” Webster explained to the old wizard.

The old wizard’s eyes lit up and he grinned widely. “Yes, splendid idea, Your Lordship! A very splendid idea indeed, as we must not let anyone believe we are arresting and detaining suspects, yet. That would work greatly against us.” Dumbledore said.

“Do you think it might work?”

“Yes, it’s an excellent idea. For now, Dan, we must keep the girl under house arrest, for her own protection as much as for ours. We must not allow her to see any more or hear any more about what is happening in the court. To your knowledge has she heard anything which might have alerted her to the group we have in training?” Dumbledore asked him.

Webster thought back over what had been said earlier. He remembered something Stran had said, and Hermione had asked. “Yes, damn!” he exclaimed. “Earlier, Captain Stran came up when we were having breakfast. I sat her down and asked her some questions in front of the girls. She told me she was in charge of our Hall of Justice security force and the special detail. Hermione picked up on that immediately and asked her about it. But I told her we wouldn’t talk about it until you arrived. I wasn’t looking in Martha’s direction at the time so I can’t say what her reaction was to that. So, truthfully, I don’t know, Albus,” he admitted.

The old headmaster grimaced at that bit of information. “I see. Then there might have been other things she picked up on, too. I’ll need to speak with Hermione and the other girl, Dan. We must find out what inquires she has been making. To your knowledge, has she left the Hall of Justice since she arrived?” the old professor asked.

“No, Albus, not to my knowledge. Though, Stran might be able to tell us. She has security officers posted at the door leading out to the anteroom. She would know,” he said.

“Splendid! Let me go back into the room first, Dan. I’ll send Stran out and you can question her while I’m trying to find out more about Vincent. Then we will go and begin questioning the other girls. And Dan, you might ask Captain Stran if there is somewhere safe she can keep Martha,” Albus said, irritated over the whole situation. “I should have suspected this from the very beginning,” he thought to himself. “It was my responsibility. I should have expected something like this might happen from the very start.”

Professor Dumbledore again entered the bedroom and nodded to Stran before pointing towards the door. The security officer returned his nod and left the room.

“Martha? How are you feeling?” he asked in a comforting voice. “Can you answer some more of my questions?”

“Yes, Professor,” she asked, looking up to him while drying her nose.

“Have you left the Hall of Justice since you arrived?”

“No.”

“Have you had any communications with Vincent or have you passed a note?

“No, Professor.”

“When are you to see the man next?” Dumbledore asked, comfortable with the fact the girl was telling him the truth.

“He wanted me to return as soon as I was able. But he’s a very impatient man,” she informed him. “I shouldn’t wait too long.”

“Does Vincent often leave Coldstream? Does he travel about very much?”

“A couple of times each week he goes to a pub in a nearby village. There are a number of magic folk living there, and I believe he has some friends he visits, too,” she told the old wizard.

“We may have need to interview you a number of times over the next few days, Martha. If there’s anything you wish to add to what you have said, or if you remember any particulars you think might help, let someone know. It will be to you and your mother’s benefit. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, thank you. Professor?” she said, looking up into his face. The old wizard noticed the great apprehension in the girl’s eyes before she spoke. “What do you mean to do with Vincent and what of my mother and little sister?”

“We mean to find out if he’s working alone or if this is a conspiracy. We’ll arrest the man as soon as the time is right. All being well, your mother and sister will be safe,” he said.

“And my mother, Professor, what’s to become of her?” she asked, tears again flowing down her face.

“Hopefully, she will continue with her teaching, Martha. I don’t mean her any harm. If she did not conform to school rules, that is between her and the school. I will not inform them of what’s only hearsay. She has nothing to fear from me,” Dumbledore told her in a comforting way.

Martha jumped to her feet and hugged the old professor. “Thank you, thank you, Professor. I have been so frightened and worried.”

“Now, Martha, one other thing before I leave you in the care of Captain Stran. How does Headmaster Doughbry get along with Professor Vincent? Does Doughbry seem to get along with him better than the other professors?” Dumbledore asked the girl.

“No, sir, not at all. Doughbry detests the man. If you visit the headmaster, I’m sure you will find out Vincent was forced on him by some of the schools oversight committee members,” she said.

“Yes, of course,” he said. “Now let’s be on our way.” Dumbledore held out a hand for the young, blond witch and they walked together to the door.

When Professor Dumbledore opened the bedroom door, Captain Stran informed him she would be taking Martha below for safekeeping. After the two witches were out of their sight, the Chief Justice told Dumbledore the young witch had not left the Hall of Justice since she had arrived nor had she posted any correspondence.

Dumbledore and Webster went back into the bedroom and scrutinized the area carefully for anything out of the ordinary. When satisfied the room was clean of such evidence, they walked back up to the third floor patio where they saw Sarah still sitting at one of the tables.

“Sarah, we would like a word with you. Would you come into the residence?” he called out to his court clerk.

Sarah quickly walked to the door of the residence, which Webster held open for her. They walked in and sat at one of the tables with Dumbledore.

“Sarah, Professor Dumbledore has some troubling news,” Webster said, nodding at the old professor.

The old wizard turned to look into the redheaded witch’s eyes before he spoke. “It seems Hermione’s assistant is here under false pretenses,” he said flatly.

“What? Martha?” she cried out.

“Yes, Sarah. Though, it appears she has done this under considerable duress. In fact, I do not believe the girl was acting with malice nor did she intend to do so. She seems to be greatly relieved the truth has come out. Did you know the girl before she came here to the Hall of Justice?” he asked.

Sarah shook her head. “No, sir. The first time I saw her was when His Lordship interviewed us for our posts here. I can’t believe, Professor, that Martha would do anything wrong. I’ve found her to be very thoughtful and pleasant. She’s very helpful and has a very friendly personality,” she said, pleading her case.

“Yes, of course,” the old wizard said, nodding his head yet appraising the young woman closely and finding her to be very open and truthful in her responses. Her initial shock was also noted. “Has she made mention to you of her life at Coldstream?”

“She told me her mother’s an instructor there and that she has a young sister. Martha seems to be very smart, and I assume she probably did very well in school. Never did she say anything negative that I can remember,” Sarah told them.

“We will shortly try to get to the bottom of this Sarah, as best we can,” Webster nodded to her and thanked her for her assistance.

Webster and Dumbledore spoke to her a little longer and quickly found she had nothing else to add which could help them with their investigation.

“Sarah, would you please find Hermione and Harry and tell them to come to the residence as quickly as possible. We need to speak with them, too,” Webster said, finally ending the girl’s interview.

“Yes, Your Lordship, right away,” she said and quickly got to her feet.

“Have you given the situation any more thought, Albus?” Webster asked, as he watched the door close behind the witch on her way out of the residence.

“I’ve known Professor Doughbry, who is the headmaster at Coldstream, for many years. He’s a big, jovial man. Always joking and seldom taking anything very seriously, a real joy to be around. He’ll jump at the chance, I’m sure, to give us a hand. So, with your permission, I believe I know the way we must proceed to quickly get our hands on Vincent and get to the bottom of his treachery.” Dumbledore said, having made up his mind about what must be done.

The old professor laid out his plan to the Chief Justice. They discussed their options at length and finally agreed on a strategy to quickly get to the bottom of their quandary. Dumbledore also recommended how Martha should be dealt with, if everything she provided was validated. Webster agreed with Dumbledore’s approach and was very thankful he had the old wizard on his side. They then went on to discuss future plans while waiting for Hermione and Harry to join them.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


The two former classmates had ended up down in the library. Hermione had given him the grand tour and told him everything she knew about the place, along with all that had happened to her since they’d last seen each other. She didn’t quite tell her old friend everything, though. Some things were just too embarrassing to share.

Harry was very pleased his old friend had developed such a wonderful bond with the Chief Justice. Of course, Hermione had been very descriptive about her time in the court and left very little to the imagination.

Hermione couldn’t help buy smile at herself about holding back the most graphic account. She was sure she’d have knocked her old friend right out of his socks if he knew everything. The young witch did leave him with the impression she was quite taken by the young Chief Justice, though, and expected things to warm up between them in time.

Harry had often worried his young friend might never find a lover, considering her being the bookworm and know-it-all she had always been. And, he couldn’t get over the fact that a job existed which was perfect for her and her for it. “You would certainly be my selection for Executive Assistant, if I were the Chief Justice. Nobody could possibly be better suited for the position,” he thought to himself.

But Harry couldn’t help but feel some irritation, though. From somewhere deep inside, he was having jealous thoughts, but he did his best to keep them in check and not let his old friend sense his feelings. Truth was, Harry didn’t exactly know why he’d even bee jealous.

“I’m so happy for you, Hermione. You are perfect for the job. There’s no doubt about that,” he told her again.

“Thank you, Harry. I’ve worried so long over what I might do with my life, not having been born to wizard parents, and that it might take away from me any possibility of finding fulfilling, enjoyable work. I couldn’t be happier or more honored. My future couldn’t be brighter,” she said, smiling broadly at her dearest friend.

“And do you see children in your future, too?” he asked with a smile, but again had to suppress the urge to let his emotions show.

“I don’t doubt that for one minute. The Chief Justice looks to me like he’ll be quite active. If he keeps looking at us girls as much in the future as he has been the last twenty-four hours, I’m not sure how many more young witches we might have to move in here with us. A girl could get worn down you know,” she laughed out and winked at Harry.

“I never thought about you that way, Hermione. I mean being part of a harem,” he said, poking fun at her.

“Me, either!” she exclaimed. “But I think I’ve found my calling!”

After he again settled the emotions down welling up inside him, Harry went on to tell her about himself and Ginny. Hermione was so very pleased. She even shed tears of joy, at least that’s what he would have called them. Hermione seemed really glad for him and Ginny, but he sensed a sadness in her eyes and the certain way she pinched the sides of her lips when she was distraught. They were still sitting at one of the tables in the library when Sarah found them.

“Hermione, Harry!” she called out. “Chief Justice Webster and Professor Dumbledore need to speak with you both. You won’t believe what has happened!”

Hermione noticed the look of shock on the young, redheaded witch immediately.

“What has happened, Sarah?” she inquired, jumping to her feet.

“Martha is a spy. Professor Dumbledore found her out, someway or another,” she related.

“A spy!” Hermione cried out. “That isn’t possible!”

“I knew something was wrong when I first saw the two of you talking, Sarah. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was at the time, though,” Harry told the two girls.

“How did you know, Harry?” Hermione asked, looking into Harry’s face.

“I can’t say right now, Hermione. I just knew, that’s all,” he said, leaving it at that.

His statement irritated Hermione but she let it go. “We better go then. Are you coming, Sarah?” she asked.

“No. If I’m needed, send someone down to my office. I’m going to start working on the docket.”

“I’ll talk to you later, then,” Hermione said.

Within a couple of minutes they opened the door to the third-floor residence and found the two men sitting close to each other, speaking quietly.

“Yes!” Webster exclaimed. “Come here! Join us!”

“Sarah just told us, Your Lordship! How could that be? I just don’t believe it!” Hermione shouted out.

“Calm yourself, Hermione. It’s time for cool heads. Chief Justice Webster and I don’t believe she did this with any malice in her heart. She was forced into the scheme under extreme duress. And we believe this to be so. It’s now time for us to get to the bottom of the conspiracy, if there is one. That is to say, if the evil force behind this isn’t working alone,” he explained to Hermione and Harry.

“Professor Dumbledore has come up with a very good plan for us to follow and, with any luck, we’ll put this behind us. But from now on, we’ll be much more vigilant. Professor Dumbledore has agreed to interview all other applicants for positions here. He has a way to sense their loyalty and purposes, you see?” Webster told them.

The two older men went on to question Hermione at length, and it quickly became apparent she knew nothing much about the girl other than what Martha had told her. She did agree fully with what Sarah had told Dumbledore: Martha wasn’t a threat; she had to have been put up to this; Martha wasn’t evil, no matter what anybody thought.

“Yes, yes,” Dumbledore said. “I agree with you completely, Hermione. As I said before, I don’t believe the girl has any malice in her heart. Very shortly, I’ll be off to speak with Headmaster Doughbry at Coldstream. I should have a fairly good idea how we must proceed after that meeting.”

Dumbledore then reached into his robe and withdrew a necklace. Harry noticed right off it was exactly like the one he was wearing. The old wizard asked Harry to reveal his, as he explained the uses of the amulet to Hermione.

“I have brought this for you, Hermione. It will protect you from harm and, after a time, you will find it will have great effect on your incantations. Wear it now and never, never take it off or allow it to be taken from you,” he said to the girl, as he walked behind her and placed it over her head. “It’s best, too, if you keep it under your clothes, against your bare skin, at all times.”

The four sat and talked for sometime. Hermione and Harry were given an overview of what actions they would be taking within the next few days. Hermione was also told about the special training and who was involved. They were both warned, several times, of the absolute necessity of keeping this knowledge to themselves.

“Our plans must be kept totally secret. Only those needing to know and trained for a specific task will be given the information they need to complete their mission. The dark lords will soon go to any lengths to gather intelligence. That will be the beginning of a very dangerous time, indeed, for everyone within our group. There will be many innocents we will have to protect until we have near total control over our current precarious situation,” Dumbledore said. The three of them agreed and knew the old professor’s ominous warnings were not an exaggeration.

Chief Justice Webster told Dumbledore and Hermione the court would proceed as planned with scheduling court cases as earlier planned. This would, as the old professor wisely said, lead everyone to believe the court was very busy and might turn many of the curious away from any rumors to the contrary. Dumbledore also stated the importance of giving the Daily Prophet an interview to support that view.

Dumbledore finally rose from the table. “I must make my way to Coldstream. This is the best part of the day to make my appearance and possibly catch Doughbry in his office. I will return, Your Lordship, as soon as possible,” the old wizard said to the Chief Justice.

Dumbledore left the three sitting in the residence, which allowed Harry to answer questions posed to him by the Chief Justice and Hermione about those chosen for the special detail and the training they were to receive. Hermione again was shocked to find out they meant to kill many of the evil associates on sight, but she accepted it as being the only way, after she rationalized the dark lords would be using lethal force against them. The talk at the table was very unsettling to them all. They only had one chance, they reasoned, to get the deed done and change the course of history. A very terrible future it would be, if they failed.