Chapter 17: Vacation and a Session
The next morning after breakfast the family gathers in the sitting room to plan their vacation for the next three weeks. After looking at maps and vacation destinations they decide on the beach of Argelès Plage on the Mediterranean for good tanning potential and then on to Paris to visit the Eifel Tower and other sites.
After purchasing their plane tickets they leave for their vacation the next day. It is the first time on a plane for Harry and he is all excited about the trip. Hermione just smiles at his enthusiasm as he keeps looking out the window at the ground far below.
"Think we can fly this high Hermione," asks Harry?
She looks out the window and says," I'm not sure, the air is thin this high up. We will have to experiment to see if it affects us. I suppose we could hold our breaths if we need to."
"I think we need to find out soon so we can see if we have any limits we should know about," Harry says.
"Good idea," Hermione responds, "we could try the breath thing at the beach under water where no one can see what we are doing."
"Ok, as soon as we get settled in we will give it a try," Harry agrees.
They snuggle together and nap for the rest of the flight to the beach resort. Arriving at the hotel, they have a nice lunch and get dressed for the beach and go out to enjoy the fun and sun.
After playing for a while as children normally do at the beach Harry and Hermione walk up to their parents where Harry says," Mum, Dad, Hermione and I are going swimming where we are going to try an experiment under water. If you don't see us for a while try not panicking too much as our magic will always protect us. We are going to see if we need to hold our breaths for long underwater swims or just project an air bubble around us to stay under. The high speed flight north didn't affect us so we think this will be ok. This should help us with high altitude flight as well; we need to know if we have any limits. We don't think we do as we are immortal but it would be nice to be sure."
"Ok son," Mr. Granger agrees," please stay safe and let us know the results of your test. I have utmost confidence in you two to do the right thing."
"Thanks Dad, that means a lot to us." Hermione says.
They wade out into the water casually so as not to attract any attention and then dip under and start swimming. Soon they are very deep in the water and swim a few miles out to sea. As they look at each other they notice a slight glow around each other and they seem to breathe just fine under water.
"Want to try altitude now?" Harry thinks to Hermione.
"Yes, lets dissolution ourselves first so no one will notice." She answers.
After disillusionment, they swim to the surface and with a sonic boom they take to the sky. A very high plume of water follows them as they leave the surface and unbeknownst to them the sonic boom and water plume are detected by the French Coast Guard and an alert is sent out that they are tracking two very high speed objects leaving the surface of the water. The nearest base scrambles two Mirage F1CR fighters to intercept the unknown objects.
Harry and Hermione are flying along going higher and higher and notice the same glow surrounding them that was around them under water having no trouble breathing at high altitudes either. They switch to using their Panthera personas as a precaution while they are flying. The couple are having fun and don't notice the two jets coming up slowly behind them.
The lead pilot radios his wingman one on a private channel," Those don't look like missiles or rockets to me."
"I don't think they are either. They look like two glowing points of light. Better report this to base. Turn on the cameras for recordings," The leader orders.
"Yes sir," the other pilot answers and complies.
They turn on their wing cameras and start filming what they were seeing.
"Base, this is scramjet one. We have caught up to the bogies; barley," the leader reports.
"What do you mean barely?" the base commander wants to know.
"They are flying just under mach one point three ahead of us and above. If they had been flying any faster we would not have caught up to them. Also the bogies are not, I repeat are not missiles or rockets. They appear to be two glowing points of light, we are moving up to intercept." The leader says.
Hunter and Huntress feel the air displacement of the jets approaching from behind and below and look back at them.
Hunter thinks to Huntress," I think we should let them see us and we can talk to them in their minds through legilimancy. This will help establish us a bit further with the muggles."
"Ok Harry you take the lead, I will follow." She returns.
The pilots watch as two beings shimmer into view ahead of them. They look like a man and a woman in cloaks with a blue shimmering glow around them. The pair of beings looks back at them and then with no warning they both turn quickly to fly a loop around each plane and end up flying right next to the cockpits of each plane, with Hunter next to the leader and Huntress next to the wingman's plane. The pilots are a bit startled by the sudden maneuver but recover quickly enough when they see the pair flying alongside them.
Hunter looks over at the leader and thinks to him," Can you hear me. I am speaking to you in your head so you won't see my mouth move. Just think back at me and I will hear you."
The pilot eyes get wide and he thinks back," I can hear you. How is this possible?"
"It is because of who we are that we can do this. It should be obvious by now we are not completely Earth human. We were born on Earth and this is our home. My wife and I mean this planet no harm; we were sent here as guardians to save it from itself. You can tell your commander that two Elders from the Galactic Community of Planets now reside here and will do what is needed to insure the planet develops normally and will try to avert any major disasters from terrorist groups. Our logo stands for Pantheras, which means hunters and we are hunters of truth and justice. We will not interfere in the day to day affairs of any government on the planet unless they try to use weapons of mass destruction. Then we will have to be brutal in our response to the aggressor. I hope it never comes to that as we prefer to never have to take a life if we can help it. We come in peace." Hunter thinks back to the leader.
"My commander won't believe this," the leader thinks back.
"I implanted the message onto the tapes in your wing cameras to help convince him and to back up your story. You may spread this around the world if you think it will help against terrorists and other rouge organizations by putting the fear of the Creator in them. They will never know when we will strike against them or how. We will be watching." Hunter states.
He looks over to Huntress and nods. They immediately accelerate to mach five shooting straight up and disappearing; leaving a couple of startled pilots behind.
"Scramjet one come in," the commander calls," where are the bogies? They disappeared off our scopes."
"I don't know, they suddenly accelerated away straight up and were gone before we could see what happened." He responds," I did get some good film coverage and a message from them."
"What message?" the commander asks.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. He said he implanted the message on the film so you would have evidence of this encounter." The lead responds.
"Return to base immediately," The commander orders.
"Yes sir, returning to base," the leader says.
The two Mirage F1CRs do a loop around and return the way they came and eventually land at the air base where the film is removed from the jets and rushed to be developed.
After the film is developed and analyzed, which didn't take more than an hour; it is set up for the base command staff to watch in order to make a decision on how to handle the incident. While watching the film one of the officers notices the stylized "P" on the cloaks of the alien flyers.
"Sir," he says to the commander," I recognize that symbol on their cloaks"
"Go ahead colonel, tell us what you know." The commander says.
"Well, I have a sister in England and she told me about a news story where two beings fitting the description of those flyers saved two people from being crushed by a large drainage pipe in a road accident a few days ago. They lifted the pipe off the top of the crushed car and took the doors right off allowing the paramedics to rescue the driver and his wife. They will make a full recovery from the accident. The two individuals talked to the police officer in charge and helped clean up the mess. They had British accents when they talked and they did say they were born here on Earth according to the message. I feel reasonably safe to say we have new allies and have nothing to worry about from them. I'm sure we can get a copy of that film if you like sir." He reports.
"Very good colonel, let's acquire a copy of the news story to corroborate your report and kick it up to the High Command to handle. We've done our part." The commander states," Dismissed!"
They all file out of the meeting and go back to their regular duties, glad the excitement is over for now. Unbeknown to the command staff two disillusioned people are watching the whole proceeding and are satisfied by the results.
"Well, we will have to wait and see what happens next, if anything," Harry thinks to Hermione.
"Yea, they may just sweep it under a rug for now or file it away somewhere never to see the light of day again." Hermione thinks back," let's go back to the beach."
They phase back to their spot under the water and come up to the surface and swim to shore where they go up to their parents and lay down next to them to soak up some sun.
"How'd it go you two?" Mr. Granger asks.
"It went well," Harry answers," We went several miles under water and then went ballistic to high altitudes with no effect whatsoever on us."
"That's good to hear son," Mr. Granger responds, shaking his head in amazement at his two children.
After a few more days at the beach they all have nice tans and decide to go ahead with the rest of their trip. The family visits the Eifel Tower and view the Arch de Triumph. After a general good time the vacation finally comes to an end and they return to England and home.
Unbeknownst to the Potters, because of their speed, sonic booms are heard all along their flight path. The noise caught the attention of a freelance videographer, who filmed part of the scene with the fighters and two glowing objects flying overhead. The film makes the international news the next day to the astonishment of the world.
/
The evening that the family returns from vacation they get a visit from a strange elf. The family is sitting around the coffee table in the sitting room discussing the vacation and going over all the pictures they took while in France when the said strange elf pops into the Grangers sitting room unannounced where Harry freezes him in place with a wave of his hand.
Harry and Hermione get up and look the elf over and determine there is no malicious intent in the elf, so they release him.
"Identify yourself please and tell us why you are here," Harry demands.
"I is Dobby," the elf squeaks in awe of Harry," Yous is the Great Harry Potter Sir."
Hermione comes around to the front of the elf next to Harry and when Dobby sees her as well he throws himself on the ground in supplication," Yous is the Great Elders of the Universe. Dobby is highly honored to bees in your presence."
Harry looks at Hermione and shrugs," Stand and face us Dobby. Why are you here?"
"Yous might not remember mees sir. I was at Malfoy Manor when yous freed the mistress from the bad man." Dobby says," I has a message for the Elders."
"Go ahead Dobby, we remember you now and we're listening." Hermione says gently.
"I was ats Malfoy Manor one night sneaking in to gets masters things whens I overhears bad man planning to give cursed object to blood traitor," He says.
"What was this cursed object and who is the blood traitor," Harry asks?
"The cursed object bees a book that's you write in. Bad mans puts magic on book to make blood traitor write in book activating the curse." Dobby says, "Dobby does not knows who blood traitors is. Bad mans says book will opens Chamber of Secrets, releasing the monster withins to get rid of blood traitors and mudbloods."
"Thank you for the warning, Dobby. Can you tell us who your master is," Hermione asks?
"Since he gaves me permission to comes and warns you I can tell you his name. It is Draco Black. He is a good master and I likes working for hims and the mistress Ms. Black." Dobby says proudly.
Jeeves interrupts when he walks in and says," Dinner is served."
Dobby takes one look at him and with tears in his eyes he says," The curse has been broken. I needs to tell everyones so theys can be free from it too."
Harry looks at Dobby and says," We will speak to Draco and get him to release you from the curse as well. We are trying to get all the elves released but it will take a while."
"The Elders are wise and good. I will tell master of this." Dobby says and then pops away.
"Well, that was an interesting encounter," Mrs. Granger says.
"Yea," Harry says," It means our next school year will be interesting as well."
'Let's eat,' Mr. Granger declares and they all go into the dining room for dinner.
/
On July 28th in the early afternoon while watching a football game on the telly Fawkes flashes into the sitting room at the Granger's with a message for the Potters.
"Hello Fawkes," Harry says happily," You have something for us?"
Fawkes drops the note in Harry's hand and flies over to Hedwig's stand to socialize for a bit. Everyone laughs at the two birds trilling to each other.
"What's the note say Harry," Hermione asks?
Harry reads the note and says," The session starts in two days at noon. We need to be there for the swearing in ceremony for new members and should show up 30 minutes ahead."
Hermione looks over at her parents and asks," You two still want to go?"
They nod their heads yes," very much so. We want to see how it is done in the magical world."
"Okay, we need to go to Diagon Alley for new robes for you with Potter crests on them then. Take hold of our arms and we will phase you there to save time." Harry says.
They all stand in a circle in the center of the room and Harry phases them to the apparition point near Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. The family enters the shop and picks out some very nice robes in a neutral color that won't stand out too much in a crowd. They have the crests applied and then make their way back home.
On July 30th ministry workers open up the doors to the Wizengamot chambers to get the room ready for use and notice there are four new seats where there were none before. They are located just behind and a tier above the Chief Warlock's seat. They each have a founders crest on them and look very comfortable. As the workers are staring in astonishment, the Chief Warlock and the Minister for Magic, followed by his undersecretary walk into the room.
Minister Fudge looks at the chairs and sputters," what the meaning of this Albus? Is this some sort of joke?"
Albus Dumbledore just chuckles and says," It looks like the chamber is aware of what is going to happen today."
"You don't mean to tell me the founders are back do you," Fudge says irritated," That's ridiculous."
"No Cornelius, the Founder's heirs are back and they are going to seat their proxies today as they are still too young to vote." Albus responds.
"Who are they Albus?" the Minister demands," I can't let children disrupt the ministry for a prank."
"You'll see when the time comes. Best get to your seat. The delegates are arriving." Albus says.
Meanwhile at the Grangers everyone is ready to leave when Harry gives instructions to Jeeves:
"Take our parents to the entrance to the visitors section and watch over them. We are going to make an entrance to prove we are not to be trifled with."
Jeeves bows and says," Yes my Lord, your orders will be followed. They will be safe with me. For backup, I will have a couple of Potter elves disillusioned nearby to help if needed."
"Very good," Harry says.
He then turns to the Grangers and grins," Just get comfortable and enjoy the show."
They smile back at Harry and Hermione while Jeeves takes a hand each and pops them away.
Harry looks at Hermione and asks," You ready for this? It could get hostile."
"Yes, I think everything will turn out just fine in the end or there will be a few less members than they started with today." She answers back with a smirk on her face.
Back at the chamber the full delegation is seated and the doors are closed for the start of the session.
"So much for the Founders heirs showing up," Fudge thinks snidely.
The Chief Warlock bangs his gavel to bring the session to order.
"As everyone has probably noticed there are four new seats behind me that haven't been seen in almost a thousand years. Today we will hold a swearing in ceremony for the Founders heirs to choose proxies for their seats until they become of age to vote." Albus declares.
The noise in the room increases to a low roar as everyone talks at once in disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind Albus," Fudge says," Once those doors are closed no one can get in and they are well guarded on the outside."
Albus just smiles because he knows what's coming. As the noise in the chamber increases to an all-time high, everyone begins to hear the sound of music coming from all around the chamber; it seems to be coming from everywhere when a sudden flash takes place above the chamber and a white phoenix appears as the source of the singing, calming the chamber down. In the midst of this two figures silently materialize in the center of the chamber startling everyone into silence.
"Impossible," Fudge says astonished," you can't apparate inside the ministry."
"That was not apparition. They call it phasing and no wards can stop them." Albus says," They are not a threat unless you decide to make them one. You won't survive as Minister if you do."
"Is that a threat Dumbledore," Fudge rants agitated. He hates surprises, especially political ones.
"No, it's a fact. Watch and learn minister." Albus says calmly.
"Now that everyone is here, we can get started," Albus bangs his gavel and says in his formal voice, "What business do you bring before the Wizengamot today Lord and Lady Potter?"
The Potters turn as one and face the Chief Warlock and say in unison, with power in their voices," We come before the Wizengamot to declare proxies for our rightful seats; as is our right, until we can take them ourselves."
Everyone is hushed by the power in the voices of the young witch and wizard.
"Very well, you may begin the ceremony Lord Potter, by declaring your full name and activating your seats, then, you may name your proxies. When he is done you may follow Lady Potter."
Harry's eyes begin to glow a luminous green as he raises his hand where all three of his rings appear," I am Lord Harry James Hufflepuff Gryffindor Potter. I declare my seats activated."
Two beams of swirling magic, one yellow and one red, leave his rings striking the crests on the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor seats, causing them to glow momentarily. No one has ever seen such power in the chamber before. This is definitely not the norm.
"I name Minerva McGonagall as my proxie for Gryffindor and Pamona Sprout for Hufflepuff as they are most versed on how their respective houses would vote on modern day issues." Harry declares.
Proxy rings appear on the index finger of each person named and they walk up to take their seats.
Lady Potter steps up next and her eyes also take on an ethereal glow as she holds up her hand showing here rings and declares," I am Lady Hermione Ravenclaw Slytherin Potter. I declare my seats activated."
Again, two swirling beams of magic leave her rings, one blue and one green, hitting the Ravenclaw and Slytherin crests causing them to glow momentarily.
"I name Filius Flitwick as my proxy for Ravenclaw House and Severus Snape as my Proxy for Slytherin House." She declares.
Proxy rings appear on their fingers and they walk up to take their seats. After the four are seated Harry has one more proxy to declare.
"I Lord Harry James Potter name my Grandfather, Albus Dumbledore, as my proxy for the Potter seat." He declares proudly.
The proxy ring appears on his grandfather's finger and he smiles back at Harry.
The room is in an uproar over the selections of Flitwick and Snape from the pureblood faction. They both sit in their seats stoically knowing there is nothing to worry about.
"I OBJECT!" declares one member of the pureblood faction.
"On what grounds," the Chief Warlock asks?
"Flitwick is a half breed and Snape is a half blood and a death eater," the member responds.
"Seconded," Madam Umbridge declares without thinking.
Fudge looks at her and says," you can't do that. You're not allowed."
She looks back at him and whispers," Sorry, I couldn't help myself. We can't let a half breed that's not even human and a half-blood sit in the highest seats in the ministry. We just can't. I won't allow it."
"You have no say in the matter madam. With the heirs back, you and I may not have a say in much of anything after today." Fudge whispers fiercely.
"If you two are quite finished I would like to proceed," Albus says quietly.
"By all means Chief Warlock, sorry for the interruption," Fudge says.
The Chief Warlock turns to Lady Potter and says, "Lady Potter, would you like to answer this objection?"
"Yes Chief Warlock, I will." She declares.
"Here goes a lecture," Harry smirks to himself.
She just looks over at him and smiles lovingly.
"Honored members; every war has soldiers on both sides. Voldemort (everyone shudders) had his Death Eaters and we had the Aurors and Hit Wizards. Voldemort decided to mark his soldiers like cattle and led his men by using fear. Proxy Snape was one such soldier from the last war and no longer has the slave mark from Voldemort." She states.
She then turns to Professor Snape and says," Slytherin Proxie, please stand up and show your arms."
He stands to show his bare arms to prove there is no dark mark.
She continues," Lord Potter and I removed the mark from his arm a year ago. It was affecting his personality and teaching methods. He is a better man now than ever. We discovered that the mark is more than a tattoo. It is a leach, a direct connection to Voldemort. He is still roaming around as a spirit and is not completely dead yet. The proof is the mark and the fact that you are still alive. I can sense nineteen slave marks in this room right now. Unfortunately, anyone with the mark will perish when he dies as he will try to steal your life force to stay alive when we destroy him."
"You lie; He Who Must not be Named is dead. He can't come back," someone yells in fright.
"While I have no animosity against ex-soldiers; I can prove your marks are still active if you don't mind everyone knowing who you are." She deadpans, looking toward the speaker.
"Prove it then" He says in disbelief.
She holds up her hand which starts to glow, then clutches her fist, causing nineteen people grab their left arms in pain. This of course causes a stir when some of the arm grabber's turn out to be prominent, well known, members of society.
"Like I said earlier; I have no animosity against soldiers from the last war, as long as they repent their ways and live in peace. If you want your mark removed and can get through the wards at Hogwarts as proof of your redemption, the mark can be removed." She says," As for Proxy Snape being a half blood, it doesn't matter. Blood has no bearing on whether a witch or wizard can perform magic. Blood is only in the body to keep you alive. Your magical core is what determines your strength as a witch or wizard and has nothing to do with being a pure-blood. Marrying your cousin to supposedly preserve your pureblood line only pollutes it with inbreeding. That is the reason most of you can only have one child and no more. Your name alone should be enough to preserve your bloodline through the father or mother depending on whether it is patriarchal or matriarchal in nature. If it wasn't for the fact wizards live long lives, so called pure-bloods would have died out a long time ago."
She conjures a glass of water, takes a sip and continues," As for Proxy Flitwick; he has a unique perspective on the world due to his mixed race. He is half goblin and half human. The goblins are the most trustworthy race on the planet. They are fierce and honest. Treat them well at the bank and see how much your service improves. He has been head of Ravenclaw house for seventy five years and is the smartest being I know. I trust him to vote his conscious in my place as proxy. Besides, you can't change it anyway. The chamber won't allow prejudicial bills to be passed any more, now that we are here. The Founders did not believe wizards were superior to other magical species. We are all the same under the Creator of all Things."
"Thank you for the speech Lady Potter. I declare this ceremony over with the seats accepted as named." The Chief Warlock declares, banging his gavel.
She leaves the main floor to sit with her husband in the gallery.
As the general session is progressing, Harry and Hermione can feel the tension building up in one of the death eater members and is on high alert. The member in question is staring with hatred at Harry and Hermione where they are sitting near the front of the gallery on the upper tier; seemingly not paying attention. He raises his wand arm slowly and when the tip of his wand passes the end of his sleeve he sends a silent severing spell straight at Hermione's neck. She turns quickly toward him while raising her right hand, stopping the spell and causing it to hover in front of her. With her left hand she reaches out with a clutching gesture. The offending member is lifted out of his seat and summoned across the room with his robes bunched together at the chest as if a hand is clutching them. The whole Wizengamot, having witnessed the spell crossing the room, is now watching to see what's going to happen next.
When the member arrives in front of her she looks at him with hard eyes," What do you think I should do with this spell you just tried to murder me with? Should I let you have it back or just dissipate it so no one gets hurt?"
He just swallows with fear in his eyes.
"Lucky for you I don't kill if I can prevent it so I will let it dissipate." She says and everyone sighs in relief as with a flick of her wrist the spell dissipates into nothing.
"Chief Warlock? I seem to have a would be murderer in my custody," she says," What do you want to do with him?"
"Bring him down to the main floor," The Chief Warlock emphasizes," I've already called the Aurors and they should be here momentarily."
Just as he finished speaking a squad of Aurors enters the chamber to apprehend the perpetrator.
"We were told to come here to arrest someone for attempted murder," the lead Auror announces," Where is the prisoner?"
Albus points up to the balcony, which is eight meters above the main floor, to where the prisoner is floating. The Aurors gape up at him and wonder how they are going to get him down. They each pull out their wand for the attempt to get him down when they hear: "That won't be necessary, gentlemen and ladies."
Getting the message from Albus, Hermione looks over at Harry and nods. They get up and each grab an arm of the prisoner, then step over the edge of the gallery, where they walk the prisoner down to the main floor for the Aurors to take into custody.
Hermione approaches the lead Auror and hands him the prisoner's wand.
"You might need this as evidence," she says.
The couple then turns around and proceeds to walk back to the gallery from the main floor, up what appear to be steps shimmering in the air like a stairway.
Meanwhile the rest of the members are in awe of what they just witnessed and decide amongst them the Potters are truly the heirs of the Founders to be able to do such magic without a wand and with so much power. The legend of Harry and Hermione Potter continues to grow.
After the day is over, the Potters meet with the Grangers for dinner and then head home. When they arrive at home everyone retires to the sitting room for Brandy and Butter beer, and just to relax after a long day.
"That was some show you two put on today," George Granger declares happily," I wish parliament was half as interesting."
"Thanks, Dad," Harry responds," I had an idea something was bound to happen because of our choices. We still have a long way to go in the session though. Hopefully it will be a bit smoother."
"I'm sure it will be fine now that you are there," He says.
After relaxing for a while Harry and Hermione get up to head upstairs to bed," Good night Mum and Dad."
"Good night," the Grangers call up the stairs. After a bit of snuggling they also head up to bed for the evening.
The session continued on through the rest of the summer with Harry and Hermione consulting with their proxies only on difficult matters that needed a firm decision from the Council of Five and the Elders