Title: It's been A Long Night
By: matea
Summary: Ron tries out a new way of communicating to other witches and wizards with the help of Hermione. They get into another one of their arguments, only this time, it's gone way too far....
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Disclaimer: All characters and names belong to J.K. Rowling and affiliated publishing and/or distribution companies, and are used without permission.
The Department of Magical Communications and Mr. Arlack both belong to the author of this work of amateur fiction. The names above may not be used without the author's permission.
No profit is made from the distribution of this story.
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Chapter 1: A Midnight Meeting
Ron woke up in the middle of the night, and felt his stomach grumble. He turned to the wizard clock hanging on his bedroom wall, and looked at the time. It was 2:00 in the morning. Ron thought of going to the kitchen downstairs to relieve his mid-night hunger. So he groggily got out of his bed, went out of the room, and down the stairs leading to the kitchen.
As he went down the crooked staircase, he heard his father's voice. His father was in the kitchen, talking to Fudge, the British Minister of Magic, whose head was floating by the fire.
"And how is the project as of today, Weasley?" Mr. Fudge asked.
"Oh, the project is going smoothly, Mr. Fudge. No problem at all." Mr. Weasley replied.
Ron froze for a second, then decided to sit along the stairs, and listened to their conversation.
"Good.... I've requested the Department of Magical Communications to give you a box of samples, including a copy of the Ministry's plans to introduce it to the wizarding public." Said Mr. Fudge.
"Samples... of what...?" Ron muttered under his breath. "Could it be a new way of talking to other wizards and witches...?"
"But, Mr. Fudge, ...I think it would be better if the samples were kept by someone from that department, don't you think? I mean, I'm just substituting for Mr. Arlack for the time being...." Mr. Weasley argued.
Mr. Arlack, the Head of the Department of Magical Communications, left for the United States more than 3 weeks ago. He had to work with the United States Ministry of Magic, in one of its California offices, on creating a witches and wizards Internet, that didn't use any `electricity'. No one knew when he would be coming back.
Mr. Fudge assigned Mr. Weasley to take his place in the meantime, since Mr. Weasley had worked for Communications ever since he graduated Hogwarts. But he transferred to Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, when Fred and George were born.
"Oh come on, Weasley... You're better than anyone else in that department! I've told Arlack that you'd be taking his place while he's away, and he sounded very pleased. If anyone could spearhead this project aside from him, it would be you." Mr. Fudge said.
"Alright, Mr. Fudge, I'll keep the jars." Mr. Weasley blushed.
"There goes Crouch... try to flatter dad into doing HIS work... the nerve!". Thought Ron, still watching and listening from the stairs.
"That's the spirit! ... You will get the box of jars from the Communications office, tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I want you find out as much as you can about it. And give a daily report on what you have done so far." Said Fudge.
"Yes, sir." Said Weasley.
"Well then, everything's settled" Said Mr. Fudge
Ron hurriedly, yet quietly, went up the stairs, as he heard the two gentlemen exchange their greetings. "I hope he doesn't see me." Ron worried.
Just as Ron slowly shut his bedroom door, he heard the faint sound of his father's footsteps from the bottom of the long crooked staircase. The footsteps were then followed by the shut of a door.
"Phew! That was close" Ron whispered, in a relieved tone.
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Author's Notes:
matea isn't my real name. I just made it up. This is my first fanfic. So do try to be less critical, ok? Let me know about what you think of this fic. Anything that needs changing or editing? Or adding? Or something you'd like to see in the next chapter, perhaps? As much as possible, review my fics. I'd like to know what you guys think about what I wrote. I'm new to this whole fanfiction writing thing (but I've been reading fanfiction for ages!). Plus, I don't let anyone read my fanfics before I upload them. I just read them and edit them over and over and over.... I already have a copy of the next chapter. But I won't post it until you readers give me some reviews, ok?
Matea
^_^
By: matea
Summary: Ron tries out a new way of communicating to other witches and wizards with the help of Hermione. They get into another one of their arguments, only this time, it's gone way too far....
******************************************************************************
Disclaimer: All characters and names belong to J.K. Rowling and affiliated publishing and/or distribution companies, and are used without permission.
The Department of Magical Communications and Mr. Arlack both belong to the author of this work of amateur fiction. The names above may not be used without the author's permission.
No profit is made from the distribution of this story.
******************************************************************************
Chapter 1: A Midnight Meeting
Ron woke up in the middle of the night, and felt his stomach grumble. He turned to the wizard clock hanging on his bedroom wall, and looked at the time. It was 2:00 in the morning. Ron thought of going to the kitchen downstairs to relieve his mid-night hunger. So he groggily got out of his bed, went out of the room, and down the stairs leading to the kitchen.
As he went down the crooked staircase, he heard his father's voice. His father was in the kitchen, talking to Fudge, the British Minister of Magic, whose head was floating by the fire.
"And how is the project as of today, Weasley?" Mr. Fudge asked.
"Oh, the project is going smoothly, Mr. Fudge. No problem at all." Mr. Weasley replied.
Ron froze for a second, then decided to sit along the stairs, and listened to their conversation.
"Good.... I've requested the Department of Magical Communications to give you a box of samples, including a copy of the Ministry's plans to introduce it to the wizarding public." Said Mr. Fudge.
"Samples... of what...?" Ron muttered under his breath. "Could it be a new way of talking to other wizards and witches...?"
"But, Mr. Fudge, ...I think it would be better if the samples were kept by someone from that department, don't you think? I mean, I'm just substituting for Mr. Arlack for the time being...." Mr. Weasley argued.
Mr. Arlack, the Head of the Department of Magical Communications, left for the United States more than 3 weeks ago. He had to work with the United States Ministry of Magic, in one of its California offices, on creating a witches and wizards Internet, that didn't use any `electricity'. No one knew when he would be coming back.
Mr. Fudge assigned Mr. Weasley to take his place in the meantime, since Mr. Weasley had worked for Communications ever since he graduated Hogwarts. But he transferred to Misuse of Muggle Artifacts, when Fred and George were born.
"Oh come on, Weasley... You're better than anyone else in that department! I've told Arlack that you'd be taking his place while he's away, and he sounded very pleased. If anyone could spearhead this project aside from him, it would be you." Mr. Fudge said.
"Alright, Mr. Fudge, I'll keep the jars." Mr. Weasley blushed.
"There goes Crouch... try to flatter dad into doing HIS work... the nerve!". Thought Ron, still watching and listening from the stairs.
"That's the spirit! ... You will get the box of jars from the Communications office, tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I want you find out as much as you can about it. And give a daily report on what you have done so far." Said Fudge.
"Yes, sir." Said Weasley.
"Well then, everything's settled" Said Mr. Fudge
Ron hurriedly, yet quietly, went up the stairs, as he heard the two gentlemen exchange their greetings. "I hope he doesn't see me." Ron worried.
Just as Ron slowly shut his bedroom door, he heard the faint sound of his father's footsteps from the bottom of the long crooked staircase. The footsteps were then followed by the shut of a door.
"Phew! That was close" Ron whispered, in a relieved tone.
******************************************************************************
Author's Notes:
matea isn't my real name. I just made it up. This is my first fanfic. So do try to be less critical, ok? Let me know about what you think of this fic. Anything that needs changing or editing? Or adding? Or something you'd like to see in the next chapter, perhaps? As much as possible, review my fics. I'd like to know what you guys think about what I wrote. I'm new to this whole fanfiction writing thing (but I've been reading fanfiction for ages!). Plus, I don't let anyone read my fanfics before I upload them. I just read them and edit them over and over and over.... I already have a copy of the next chapter. But I won't post it until you readers give me some reviews, ok?
Matea
^_^