Birthday Celebrations

In Diagon Alley the area between the Weasley shop and Ollivander’s was normally used by a sweet and chocolate vendor’s cart. However Minerva and Poppy Pomfrey got in before him. They erected a Hogwarts College Booth. The Headmistress felt that, since the debacle in July, parents of new and present students would like to have reassurance on protection, and might even like a discussion about curriculum. To this end she had a model of the school made, over which the Silver duumviri had erected a miniature shield. Any worried parent was asked to try and penetrate it, and of course they failed. This idea succeeded beyond her wildest dreams, becoming a six day long sideshow. Sundry black sympathisers tried very hard, fearfully reporting their failure to their increasingly irritated master. The results of the marketing ploy would be judged the following Monday by the quantities of prospective pupils on platform nine and three-quarters.

Silvers and Golds departed to service their outposts leaving Mother and Father manufacturing cabinets. Narcissa found the easiest way to teach Lucius was to build two sets of cabinets side by side. Lucius then had a step by step model to follow. The result of their endeavours being on Tuesday afternoon, when two completed pairs of cabinets were ready for distribution.

§§§§§§

Draco and Harry had some difficulty finding the truly hidden valley not too far from Brecon. It was Dean Thomas looking for them on his broomstick that finally drew the duo there. Dean had already done a number on his Muggle mother and stepfather; they were very willing to accommodate whatever protection could be made available. Their holding had its boundaries on the tops of the surrounding Brecon Beacons. In the middle of that territory they ran a bed and breakfast farmhouse, with pony trekking and a visitor centre based in the old farm’s outbuildings.

This posed many problems. The outbuildings were given a shop-protector ward plus worker recognisors; their farmhouse was covered by a domestic protector with handshake recognisors to allow for guests. One small room which connected the outbuildings to the farmhouse acted as a reception office for all the functions. Its counter was equipped with a Death Eater recognisor, based on the shops’ recognisors, which would automatically make a barrier between those in front of the counter and those behind it. It was rigged to activate the burglar alarms at the same time. The duo felt that it would give the family time to hole up in the more secure farmhouse in the event of an attack.

The family bedrooms were where the old servant’s quarters had been at the top of the house, so the centre rooms were lit by skylights. One of these, Dean’s study, was adapted to make a bubble-port. Its internal door to the passageway was sealed; the route into it being only via Dean’s bedroom. The place where the sealed door had been was designated for the cabinet. After lunch the duo bubbled up and spent the afternoon fitting two sets of protectors and bubble-ports in Cardiff. After Dinner, Dean and his two compatriots from the city spent the time learning the bubble and the mirror shield charms; that completed, the other two departed to their respective homes.

Mr and Mrs Thomas had reserved a double en suite room for the Golden Boys.

“It’s all right my dears, we understand. Many of your kind prefer to be quiet and private on holiday; we have a regular clientele and are listed in Cardiff City’s Gay Guide.”

§§§§§§

A hearty welsh breakfast awaited them before flying off to near Carmarthen. A reasonably easy shop-protector ward sufficed the ships chandlery whose magical inmates were quite capable of making a thorough defence. All three of them learnt the bubble charm, and had much fun learning the mirror shield also.

Next, lunch and off to Aberystwyth. Here the University Professor’s house and garden only needed a handshake charm for visiting students. This was an extra precaution on top of the enhanced protectors. After a charm making session and dinner the duo headed back to the hidden valley, followed shortly by the professor and his family.

On arrival they found the portal cabinet already fitted and four flowers waiting to be distributed to the outposts. Muggle telephone calls had the rest of the participants bubbling in. Two of them arrived simultaneously, and spiralled ignominiously to the ground. They took the mishap all in good part. The Thomas’s had reserved all their rooms for the Company’s use that night as the participants intended a joint family shopping trip to Diagon Alley on Wednesday. Once all their recognisers had been made, the whole group had great fun exploring the system before retiring.

One result of that was that the Grangers’ gained some more patients wishing to have dental checkups, and the Thomas’s some more holiday bookings.

§§§§§§

That Monday the Silvers had gone out to their allotted people, making the Lodge bubble branches during the first day and concentrating on the Yorkshire connections on Tuesday; contrary to their original plans. Whilst they were having dinner at the railway station on Tuesday night, Neville arrived unexpectedly with a miniaturised portal cabinet which, after the meal, was set up and resized in what had been the old ticket hall. More Muggle telephone calls had the whole of that group bubbling in and enjoying the new quick communication system.

The Silvers, having had a larger contact group, had only shared the bubble charm with everyone. So they arranged a joint mirror shield session for the participants’ families and students on the temporarily warded station car park. The space was so suited for a practice area that, with the Creevey’s permission, the protectors were made permanent; the area screened from the side road by conifers from the Manor’s nursery, and the Company’s new testing ground was born. The bubble-port was erected in the adjoining old goods shed; being accessed through an altered ventilation clerestory.

§§§§§§

Once Wednesday lunch and the final practices were over, Alan and Blaise headed back towards the Zabini Estate. Alan wanted to collect something from his room, so the pair dropped in on the Grangers by way of a courtesy visit. Melanie insisted that they stay for tea; Gerald and Mary joined them.

There was a knock on the connecting door.

“Oh no! Not another emergency filling?”

“No Dear,” said Gerald answering the door, “It’s the Rector … Do come in Father.”

“Thank you Gerald, hello Alan and Blaise; just the people I needed to see.”

“HELLO SIR.”

After the priest had taken off his hat and coat, he sat down and was given his tea he commenced; “We are all aware of what happened three and a half weeks ago, when the Spirit surprised me, our congregation and your goodselves.”

“YES SIR?”

“Well the Spirit is still at it. She won’t give me any rest; somehow all the parish work is covered. It’s holiday time with less people around, but each of the congregation has offered extra help just when I despaired of ever completing anything. It’s a minor miracle in itself, so now I have no excuse for avoiding where she’s leading me. This appears to be in the direction of the Company to whom you belong. Although I am half afraid of where this is going, I cannot deny the call. Perhaps you could give me some clues about this journey?”

Blaise and Alan excused themselves, had a private whispering session in the kitchen, and then returned.

B: “Like you, we’re on a journey towards an unknown fate, and again, like you we feel that you have something to do with it.”

A: “You ought to know, Father, that we belong to an organisation whose members have supernatural powers. In short, wizards and witches. You also have to know that your commissioning of us conferred further gifts in that direction, for which I, for one, am extremely grateful. Do you wish me to continue?”

“Firstly, I think you should call me John. Secondly, modern learning seems to imply that many people of your persuasion were often misunderstood, and were in fact, extremely good healers before learning, medicine and Doctor’s came along. Thirdly; my Bishop and I have talked and prayed about my involvement, and I am authorised to follow where the Spirit is leading me; even if it does seem very strange and almost heretical. Perhaps you should tell me of these gifts you were speaking of?”

A: “As you know; we came here via Hermione, who will be commencing her seventh year at our magical Academy next week. We had attended her engagement party to Ron, plus a combined coming of age party of three of her friends, who are all wizards. Two of those, Draco and Harry, are an extremely rare and very strong magically conjoined pair. You know me; I’ll do anything for a dare. The duo found that they could charge me up with magical power, and whilst so charged I could enact the spells given to me. It was a good thing they did, for their evil opposites were attracted to such a gathering of light. They attacked, but were defeated: we three plus Auntie and Uncle acted as part of that defence. As we told you, the others stopped over on their way back to school. My two sisters and I persuaded them to church, and you commissioned them.”

“But you haven’t talked of the gifts.”

B: “Sorry John; my brother was giving you a more detailed background. To put it in a nutshell, your commissioning created two new witches and one new wizard in Connie, Betty and Alan; as yet we don’t know how strong they are, but they seem fairly well endowed. Of the established magical ones’ new gifts, Susan sees auras, Tony sees magical spells, Ron is developing an ethereal communication system, Ginny can cast love mist protectors, Neville can create large illusions, our strong two no longer need wands, and I have been able to become a Duumvir with Alan.”

“Is that why you called him brother? Duumviri sounds like an old Roman Office, I cannot remember exactly what. However ‘two men’ seems to come into it.”

A: “Yes it does. To put you entirely in the picture, we are magically bound together with what is called the unbreakable vow; this star on my palm is the result. That hurt slightly as is burnt in. We are also sexually united – a homosexual pair of consenting young adults. That union enhances our magical powers also. Spiritually united is something we’re still working on; it may be easier when we have a pair of rings similar to Draco’s and Harry’s; their rings have enhanced their ability to converse silently within their minds. We can only do it partially when wearing Ron’s daffodils.”

B: “I have been studying Duumviri history, our records go back well before the Roman Empire. There have never been two sets of Duumviri alive at the same time; your commissioning caused that to happen as well. The records show a rapid handing on of the baton many times. About three days in the case of Harry and Draco. Uncle Severus is the remaining brother of the previous set. They were great, great etc grandfather and equivalent son. Not sexually united, their extra tie was consanguinity, they were quite strong too.”

“You haven’t put me off yet. The Spirit is still urging me on; though the territory is extremely weird.”

A: “Yes John it is. My two sisters and I are still coming to terms with it. I think the next step is to introduce you to our cook, she will appear almost undressed but that’s how elves prefer to be.”

Pop. “You called Master Alan?”

A: “Yes Melanie, this is a special Muggle friend, John.”

“But we agreed that we were not to show ourselves to Muggles, Master.”

A: “This time it is special, as I think he will be like Master Gerald and Mistress Mary.”

“If you say so, Master; welcome Master John.”

“Hello Melanie, I am just learning about the new role that the Spirit is preparing for me. She’s leading me in a very strange place at the moment. I must say your covering is quite minimal.”

“Please Master, don’t let Hermione hear you. We are happy as we are, it’s part of who we are. She gives us lectures about clothing, it’s very hard to disobey a mistress but we do. All that happens is that we feel miserable about the disobedience. Dobby goes to extremes and beats his head on a wall until we stop him.”

“Well now, I suppose I don’t want Dobby harming himself do I? I take it he’s one of your kind.”

“Yes Master. He’s Mighty One Harry’s personal-elf. Sempra is Mighty One Draco’s personal-elf; both masters are very, very special.”

“Thank you for the tea, Melanie, it was delicious. Perhaps I’d better resume my spiritual journey.”

“Yes Master.” Pop.

B: “Still with us?”

“Yes, still hanging in; where next?”

“Hello you two; Oh I see you have a guest, sorry to interrupt, but something told me to come to see you. You know, inside.”

B: “John, meet Susan.”

“Hello Susan, you’re the young lady who sees auras aren’t you. Or so your Duumviri tell me. I’d love to know, what does mine look like?”

“Hello John. It’s an intense pink, just like round the altar in your church, or Ginny’s Dementor repellent mist. I think pink is the love part of us. Our two silver rings here have it, so do Hermione and Ron. Draco’s mum and dad have it in spades too, much the same as Harry and Draco golden rings. I’d better go and tell them you’re here. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye … Err ... Alan?”

A: “Yes John. Is it about names?”

“Yes.”

B: “Duumviri you know. Err … Daffodils are Ron’s communicating system … Err … Muggles is a generic term for all non magical people. Err … Dementor … An evil being who attacks you by consuming your soul. Err … The rings are our auras, silver for us and gold for Harry and Draco. Ah! Here they are.”

“HELLO RECTOR!”

“I think John is more appropriate, please. I’ve been led here by the Spirit and your Duumviri partners have just been pushing me in at the deep end, although I’m still swimming, just.”

H: “Welcome John. Draco was saying he thought we were all bound together. How’s your initiation going?”

D: “I repeat my brother’s welcome. I imagine that the truth about us is very strange to an outsider. Though Alan, Betty and Connie took to it like ducks to water.”

“Yes it is. Strong gay wizards: Girls who can see the colour of your soul: Dementors who can eat them and elfin servants. Very strange indeed, however, like Alan, I’m a sucker for new things, besides which the Spirit is driving me to this, so I have little choice. Lead me onwards please?”

D: “Let’s go to the Manor shall we? Hermione and Ron are in the library doing communication things; Minerva will soon be finished at the booth and has promised to have a Junta dinner with us.”

H: “John have you ever personally experienced any magic?”

“Not consciously no. Though if what Susan indicates, my intense pink means that, what you might call magic, is what I call the Spirit leading.”

D: “We need to make recognisor for you, so you can pass through our portal cabinets. We know they work with Muggles because the Grangers and the Thomas’s use them without any untoward problems. We must obtain your permission first though. It’s extremely bad form to perform personal magic on someone without their permission. That’s what our evil opponents want to do. World domination and all that, Muggles as slaves, more abject that the worst treated elves.”

“Your elves seem happy, if a little underdressed. You have my permission … I didn’t feel anything.”

H: “If you had, you’d be joining Alan and his sisters … Please come upstairs … Through this door … The first stop is in London … Here … Wiltshire… Here… Now we are at the Manor.”

“I find that hard to believe. I thought you used broomsticks or something.”

B: “So do we find it hard to believe. This is a very new communication system for us as well. We do use broomsticks quite often, but then the Death Eaters – oh sorry; our name for the bad boys – they could trace and attack us. We have other forms of transport but they are not terribly secure either. To walk from Devon to the Scottish Highlands in ten minutes is still vaguely disturbing. We’re so used to doing things with flourishes.”

A: “Fa…John. The recognisors we have made for you will now take you in and out of our house near Stoke, and into any other of the dozen or so establishments in the link system; you will not be able to go outside some of the others at the moment. However, should you be magically charged, another witch or wizard may consent to take you on a bubble ride on their broomstick to one of the outposts.”

“You seem to be a besieged community, Are you?”

D: “Yes in a way we are. At one time there was only one place that was safe. To my everlasting shame, I proved that it wasn’t. I let the Death Eaters in to rampage through our only school. Through that our Headmaster was killed. However Harry transformed me and now I fight for the light, as do my mother and our latest convert, my father.”

B: “To take the besieged bit a little further. Our secret network has been built up over the last six weeks, in the face of attacks on many of our sympathisers and helpers. Harry's London house yielded up the portal cabinets, those doors you walked through. Your commissioning gave the twins an insight into how the cabinets worked, so with Ms Malfoy’s skill we have been building more. Our first objective is to ensure the safety of the students at Hogwarts Academy. Most of us in the Company are seventh year students who have banded together to form the defence corps. And we are aided by an equivalent but depleted adult section called the Order.”

A: “The majority of the magical world tries to keep its head down hoping not to get burnt; thus giving us the moral high ground. Come to think of it, the church is something like that too, a small minority of believers amongst a sea of the uncaring. With us the evil is quite often more apparent and extremely vicious. Our death and total Muggle enslavement is its aim.”

“I think I’ve reached my first goal. The Spirit isn’t pushing me any more, she’s grown inquisitive and some of that appetite is now being sated. You do realise that I work under discipline and will have to report back to my Bishop.”

B: “That was understood from the beginning. Will you stay for dinner please, we’re only formal on a Sunday night, and you’ll meet the rest of the cabinet plus Mr Malfoy.”

“Thank you, yes I’d like to. However I’d better tell my housekeeper. Do you have a telephone please?”

A: “The nearest one is in Stoke at Auntie and Uncle Granger’s surgery. Do you need a guide or can you manage?”

“It’s the second set of doors isn’t it? I think I’ll manage thank you Alan.”

John came back looking amused. “I made my telephone call thank you, however I missed my turn somewhere and made the call from the Brecon Beacons Visitor Centre. The Thomas’s had a chuckle with me. They had ended up in an Irish castle when they tried to get home first time. I think I’m beginning to believe you when you say we’re in Wiltshire. What fun!”

A: “We have an hour before dinner John. Would you like to try flying? We have a duple Firebolt broomstick. I enjoyed my first rides, we can do it on the lawns; they don’t hurt too much if you fall off. Besides, my partner will be there to catch you if you do.”

“Why not, I can ride a bicycle so balance shouldn’t be a problem. More like riding a quiet motorbike I should think.”

D: “We have one of those, but it’s noisy; Hagrid uses it at school. We could be there in under ten minutes if you like.”

John noticed Draco’s grin, and declined. “I think I’d rather walk before I try to run, thank you.”

Once on the lawn Alan Accioed the duple plus his brother’s broomstick and, after Blaise had charged him, John mounted. There were some wobbles but John soon learnt the knack. However he refused to take charge, being content to watch the others throwing the Quaffle around, he occasionally tried to join in. Harry had to Mobilicorpus John once, because, when he reached for the Quaffle he fell off the duple.

“Thank you for that; it was quite exhilarating. I think I prefer my feet on the ground or sitting between four wheels. Maybe I’ll have another go some time.”

At dinner John was introduced to the others, he learnt more about the two organisations, and the magical world in general. In return they learnt about his spiritual world; and the saving grace of Jesus.

Another topic was the circle-star badges that everyone had started to wear; whether they should denote special people, or be in general circulation. Uncle suggested that perhaps they should only be worn by people who could use the links. Because the network was increasing so it would become less personal, especially as it was intended that families and others should be protected, not just the members. Then a discussion took place about Muggle sympathisers and non-Order magical adults.

Narcissa represented the inventors group and advised the meeting about the various kinds of materials and colours that were available. John mentioned that the church blessed emblems sometimes and wondered if a charm could be cast on the badges. Hermione thought that both badge and aura should match in order to activate the recognisers as an extra safety precaution. Ron said that badge recognition would be much easier for the new flower system. He continued by saying that the system was becoming overloaded with recognisors and its performance was wilting. Then there was another worry about people wearing badges assuming rank and trying to lord it over others, especially if different types of badge were used. They realised that, once the badge was seen to be a status/allegiance emblem, other people might want to wear them.

The decision made was that each badge issued would be tuned to the person’s aura and only be activated by it, gold to be used for its manufacture as it was a more magically retentive. The twins were to be given the licence to sell silver replicas to interested parties. That, part of the golden charm would activate Ron’s flowers and another part activate the recognisors, supported by that particular person’s aura. That the Potfoy openers be replaced by badge/aura recognisers. That a third organisation be set up called the Companions, into which connected Muggles might be accepted and including other sympathetic adult magicians as well. Finally the Malfoy parents stated that they were happier to be called Cissy and Luke in the smaller meetings.

“I will check with my bishop, but I think he would allow me to bless the badges if you so wish; probably at a private service.” John suggested.

“We have a family chapel, which, my sons tell me, has been adopted by the Order and the Company for their ceremonies. Perhaps you would like to see it?” Lucius invited.

As they went, Susan appeared so she was asked to come with them:

“There is some pink here, but not much. There’s some green and silver too, but that’s faint as well. A neutral meeting place really. Cissy and Luke, were you married here?”

“Yes Susan, Why?”

“I think the residual colouration matches that kind of ceremony.”

John bid them all goodnight by offering and receiving the kiss of peace. Alan accompanied him back to the Surgery. He returned ten minutes later; Ron, Hermione and the four Duumviri sat comfortably in the retiring room, sipping cocoa and bringing each other up to speed on almost three days of work. The six thought John’s kiss of peace was a good idea, so at the end of their chinwag, they used it to say goodnight.

§§§§§§

The Thursday morning junta meeting started to discuss exactly what the big threat might be; feeling that the Monday morning Hogwarts Express would be the most likely target. Knowing how sneaky the opposition was they felt that something carried on board would be the most likely possibility. Narcissa said that she and Lucius would have a pair of cabinets ready in about an hour. They were asked to hold up further production and to work on a detection system by which the incoming pupils and their luggage could be checked before boarding the train. Ginny and Neville were to be asked to help out at the joke shop so that the twins could be released for consultation; Susan and Tony to be recruited if necessary. Narcissa felt that they could use the twins’ workshop, so that the built artefact only had to be transported as far as Kings Cross, which was fairly close.

The Duumviri thought that a patrol of the route might be undertaken and offered to do that today, so that potential weak spots might be identified and thought given to remedies or defence. Minerva reported an eighty-five percent student success rate so far, remarking that all the known black sympathiser students were a hundred percent booked. Ron reported that Percy had had a number of prospective first years in Ollivander’s shop buying wands with their parents. Whereas all the eleven year olds came in easily a few of their parents looked extremely queasy when they entered the shop. However the effect wore off once they were inside, only to be repeated as they left.

Of the three new ones, Alan said he was learning most of his spells from Blaise. The two girls were taking alternate day lessons with Molly, so Hermione reported. It was felt that Alan should attend classes with Blaise when not seeing to his lab duties. Blaise could then help Alan through his areas of missing information. It was decided that peripatetic professors should coach the two new witches, using Molly as their personal tutor. In that way the receptionist side of the Grangers’ practice could remain functional.

Minerva said that she was having a meeting with the governors on Saturday, when she would propose Uncle’s continuation as Potion’s Professor and ask them to consider Lucius as the new Defence Professor. She had already sounded most of them out, providing them with written transcripts of the relevant inquisitorial report and some of the evidence gleaned from the ex headmaster’s Pensieve. She knew that the portraits would back her up, but was worried about the Minister’s response. As his assistant was no longer available to prompt him, Minerva was hoping that they could vote in Narcissa to take the vacant place. The headmistress felt confident of a majority decision in favour of her proposals. That was as long as the Ministry had accepted the inquisition’s findings on Lucius.

§§§§§§

Both pairs of Duumviri started their bubble patrols from the Creevey’s station, the Silvers going south to Kings Cross and the Gold’s going northwards to meet Ron and Hermione who were starting from Hogwarts. The two pairs were to meet somewhere south-east of Edinburgh knowing that the daffodil range would kick in before the bubble attraction was activated. From that meeting it was hoped to triple bubble in stages back to the cottage. To that end Draco and Harry borrowed the Firebolt duple for their trip.

The survey took most of the day, the six observers made a report to the junta dinner identifying the places where an attack was most likely. William Creevey, Colin’s and Dennis’s dad was interested in railways and had provided detailed copies of his maps. This made describing the places much easier. Until the line arrived at Peterborough there was a lot of Muggle development so that was discounted. There was one place between there and York where an ambush might be made, otherwise the country was too flat, besides which the line was very busy with Muggle trains. There were a couple of places before the Darlington to Newcastle mining area was reached. Once north of that quite a few ideal ambush spots had been found. Next came the Edinburgh to Glasgow part of the route, with too many houses around. North of that would be ideal for attacking, however the nearer the route got to Hogwarts the less likely would the chance of attack because the defenders would be too close for comfort.

There was a report from Wales that a probing attack had been tried. The local force that bubbled in and had soon sorted that out. Another had been tried in Lincolnshire, with much the same result.

“I think they are trying to make us commit our forces to defending outposts. They don’t appear to have realised our quick response network yet, perhaps we should keep it hidden, by not sending the same troops to reply to their probes.” Lucius was thinking aloud.

Uncle Severus felt much the same and suggested; “Visible patrols of the outposts with small forces would make them think we are too spread out. Say one after breakfast and another couple during the day. On Monday the breakfast patrols could go out and by ten, everybody could be inside the portal links, ready to converge on the trouble spot.”

“Bubble patrols of the likely ambush spots, reporting back any Death Eater activity. Then I could bubble up with the daffodil garden and direct things unseen,” was Ron’s idea.

Narcissa reported that they had manufactured a detection device that worked using holy water. Alan agreed to see John, and ask him to lay in a sufficient stock.

Lucius came up with an idea. “If we made a couple more portal cabinets; one end could be anchored in the nearest link; the other could be shrunk and Apparated or bubbled to near the scene, protected by a shield. That would enable a mass attack and a quick hidden withdrawal afterwards.”

“We need to let them see most of us getting on the train. What if the final corridor connection was adapted to make a bubble-port? Once we were outside the tunnels some of us could bubble back to the emporia and some to Grimmauld House. Then, if we set up a temporary place near Peterborough, the rest could bubble to there and on to the Lodge. Afterwards we can move the portals somewhere where they’ll be of more use.” That was Hermione’s suggestion.

Tonks arrived and asked to speak to them all.

“This is being kept quiet, but we think the Minister has been kidnapped. No demands have been made as yet. Perhaps this is the big thing the other side had planned for the end of the month?”

“I take it that you’d like some help unofficially?”

“Yes please. The Aurors are somewhat stretched so a group of volunteer rescuers, supposedly under my direction, would be most welcome.”

“How did it happen?”

“He went home last night as usual. And our patrols checked three times during the night, he was there just before dawn. Two hours later his housekeeper flooed to say he was missing. We’ve looked around, there were no Apparation traces. His broomstick is missing, so we suppose he went willingly, or under Imperio. We reckon that he can’t have gone far, as we’d have caught traces of him. Of course there are heavy patrols around now. So nothing magical can move. They’ve probably gone to ground somewhere nearby.”

“Grotius Crabbe has a property near the Minister’s home. The Death Eaters allowed me to use it when I was in the Ministry. It was very useful, the old Minister and I would fly in together. I used to lobby him whilst he was half asleep; we got lots of concessions from him that way.”

“We didn’t know about that place Luke.”

“It was kept under concealment charms. Looked like a factory to the normal eye.”

“Do you think you could take us there, and get us in?”

“Sossogenese says that we ought to check the Minister’s there first.” The snake, as usual, had been listening through Harry’s ears. “He’s quite willing to wriggle through a hole and have a look round.”

“Good idea. Who’s going?”

Most of the group wanted to go. In the end Lucius, Tonks and the Golden Duumviri took one bubble – the Golds riding the duple with Sossogenese wrapped round Harry. Lucius knew where they could hide nearby [The place where he’d wait for the old Minister to ride by, before joining him]. Next group would be Hermione and Ron, The Silvers, both pairs riding tandem with Uncle as their steersman. They kept just over the half mile apart with Ron holding the first bubble’s shell. Leaving the second shell at the Burrow with Molly and the battle witches, who would Apparate bringing with them as many of the others as possible, if reinforcements were needed.

As soon as the first group landed Sossogenese took off; sliding through a small hole in the factory’s defences. The Golds did a quick secret detector and noticed that none of the new wards were present. Once the second group landed the Silvers touched the Golds and went off to find Apparation holes. Lucius went on a private look-see to where he thought the ward door was. Everyone returned within five minutes of each other.

Sossogenese reported via Harry that indeed the Minister was there and apologising for smelling so badly, as he had had to slide up the drain to find out. Lucius pointed out a stream nearby, so a smelly snake sashayed away to splash the stink off. Lucius reported that the old recognisors were still on the gate, so he and Uncle would walk in that way.

Ron was to stay outside with his china garden, providing the others with communication facilities. Hermione steering with Tonks behind her had both sets of brothers riding tandem in a triple bubble altogether; a bit unwieldy but it was only to hop over the wards. They entered through an Apparation hole and rendezvoused with the two walkers inside. First job was to seal up the holes in the protectors and the doorway, so no escape with the hostage would be possible. They were made to be Potfoy revealed and released so reinforcements could get in, or the emancipators escape quickly.

Once inside the factory illusion, it was seen to be quite a pleasant house and garden. Lucius, being familiar with the terrain, led the way. The house appeared to be deserted. However they were cautious in their approach, searching all the rooms before they came to the rooms that Sossogenese had reported held the prisoner.

Tonks tripped over a piece of carpet as they crept towards the last room.

“You’re back early. Was there no queue at the takeaway then?”

By speaking, Grotius revealed his position. Harry held the invisibility cloak up so he and Draco could hide underneath; they went into the passageway and stunned Mr Crabbe.

Once inside the prisoner’s room they found that the minister was under an Immobulus hex, which the two Silvers managed to overcome. Sworn to silence he watched as Lucius made a model of him by transforming the bedclothes. They retreated quietly, Oblivating the last quarter of an hour’s memory from Grotius’s brain and setting him to wake up in five minutes. That was enough time for them to be outside the house.

Ron informed them that while they’d been skulking round, he’d manufactured recognisors for them all, and fitted them to the gate. So they just walked out. It took three bubbles for them to return to Grimmauld Place. Ron and the Silvers being the last ones back, as the Silvers had had to remove their extra wards; thus leaving everything as it was.

After they had finished chuckling about what might happen when the two jailors found they were guarding a model prisoner, the Minister was very impressed with his rescuers, praising Tonks for her ingenuity, and promising to process Lucius’s free pardon immediately.

Using his magnanimity as a lever, various other subjects were approached. He was delighted that Draco and Harry were partners, wondering if Duumviri had to be registered. The Company decided not to tell him about the three new adherents and therefore about the second magical pair. He was amazed at the link, although the full extent was not disclosed to him. He wondered if a link could be fixed between his office and the Prime Minister’s as sudden misunderstood explosions of soot made for bad relationships. He was shown the bubble charm, going to the Weasleys’ shop and using their port to get to his office.

The Minister was soon back asking that Harry and Draco go to his home to set up the new wards plus a bubble-port. They agreed to his request and went almost immediately. The Golds were worn out by the time Dinner came round. The Minister also asked if Parbinder Lal and his squib brother Mahmoud could be found somewhere safe to stay, as they were both fully recovered and without parents or a home since the fire attack on their house by the Death Eaters. Smother-mother Molly soon had the two new orphans under her wing.

It seemed that, whilst they were away on the rescue mission, John had come round and blessed the chapel. Susan reported a lovely pink glow inside it. Narcissa had arranged for a special service to be held late on Sunday afternoon, so that all the badges could be blessed and presented before the formal dinner. John had been in the chapel for ages, creating the gallons of holy water which they would need for operating the detectors at the station. He was another worn out person at the dinner table.

Susan and Tony were little better as they had been with each individual, probing their aura and creating the reciprocal charms for the badges. They had found that Connie and Betty were developing flower-like auras similar to Ron’s. When charged by a Duumvir, Mahmoud [a squib] also showed an affinity. Ron promised to test them the following morning and commenced thinking about the possibilities. Uncle was happy with Parbinder as he was the foremost Hufflepuff’s potion’s student.

Minerva suggested that a Company member should bubble to each of the governor’s houses, offering them safe transport in the morning. The nearest Company members were to be asked to go. Tonks, who had joined them, offered to see the Minister as he was also one of the governors.

§§§§§§

It was a hot sticky evening so, after a suitable digestive rest, the Order and Companion members went to the Manor’s pool to cool down. Despite their fatigue, the younger members partook of the Burrow’s mini lake, there to be joined by many of their colleagues. Noise and splashing were the rule; it quite revived their sagging spirits. In amongst the hilarity was a concern for what was about to happen, so every now and again the younger junta members would be joined by others from the Company for informal chats. Alan found a computer buff in Mahmoud.

Various suggestions came out:

Firstly, that a name be chosen to denote the rank and file: Hermione suggested Lictors as it was the name for the elite bodyguards who guarded personages of high rank in ancient Rome. There was some discussion, but a consensus formed around Hermione’s advice.

Secondly, that bubbling out of the back of the train ought to be in pairs facing opposite directions. Because to leave the train itself they would have to fly backwards out of the connection, but, as they were already travelling at speed in the opposite direction due to the train’s momentum they would need to almost hover before moving away.

Thirdly, that it would be possible to stop at the Creevey’s station and take all the students off then use the portal links to transfer them to Hogwarts. Tony thought that he and Susan could manufacture a mass temporary recogniser as long as he was at one end and she at the other to touch each person as they passed. Neville warmed to this idea saying he could create an illusion to make them think they were in a tunnel.

Someone asked him if he could create a train illusion.

“I could, but I’m not sure I could move it. You see I have to anchor the ends of an illusion then stretch it to an anchor at the other end. The tunnel bit would be easy as I could attach bits all round.”

“Say we told them that the train had broken down, and we were transferring them to another one. Could you make your tunnel look like a subway? Then the pretend train could be waiting there on another pretend platform – only they’d really be at Hogwarts somewhere.”

“Another subway on arrival, and we’d put them on the forecourt of the real station and they’d be none the wiser.”

Ginny thought she could make a moving mist. If that coated the sides of Neville’s illusion it would look as though they were travelling.

Neville and Ginny were deputed to work on the idea with four of the other Lictors.

Before they went to bed Draco produced a bottle of liqueur which he had ‘borrowed’ from his father. The Six tried it and found it delicious, also, that in small doses, it relaxed them. Alan wondered if Mahmoud would like to replace Betty and Connie as receptionist at the Surgery and was deputed to find out. Kissing each other a peaceful night, they retired too worn out except to hug each other to sleep.