CHAPTER 4

The Search Begins

The two of them arrived at a secluded spot near the Ministry in a flash. Since Hermione did not work there, they had to use the visitor's entrance like Arthur and Harry had to use the day Harry was placed on trial for using magic as an underage wizard in his fifth year.

Once inside the Ministry, they made their way to Arthur's office. "This is my home away from home," he laughed as Hermione looked around the room. "It's not much, but it is mine—well mine and Perkin's." Perkins was yet to arrive, so all she could see was his desk.

The walls of the office were covered with muggle pictures, especially those of cars. The shelves were lined with magical artifacts recovered during raids. For instance, there were magical shrinking keys, a biting teapot and magical books.

"The office where Ambrosus works is just down the hall. What say we have a spot of tea?" he asked, carefully using the biting teapot to pour two cups. "It is always full of good tea," he said waving his fingers near the spout, causing it to snap at him like an angry murtlap. "But you have to be careful not to get bit."

Hermione reflexively stepped backward. "Okay."

Arthur handed her a cup of tea and they took a few minutes to enjoy it. "There," said Arthur, sitting his empty cup on the saucer. "Let's see if Ambrosus is in and we can get lucky."

"Yes," said Hermione. "Lucky. Yes."

They exited the office and walked down the hall. Arthur stopped at a slightly ajar door labeled Accidental Magic Reversal Department. "This is it. Here we go," he said, opening the door and stepping inside followed by Hermione.

"Hello," said a stocky man of about fifty or sixty with a bushy mustache and thick, salt and pepper hair. He was smoking a wizard's pipe with a large, glowing bowl of very aromatic tobacco. "How can I help you?"

"You are Ambrosus, I believe," said Arthur.

"Yes, Ambrosus Mynoss," he replied. And you are Arthur—uh—Weasley, from down the hall in the Artefacts office."

"Pleased to finally meet your, Ambrosus. I don't recall us ever being formally introduced."

"Yes, I believe you are correct. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. And who is this lovely, young lady you have brought with you to brighten my office?" he asked cheerfully, causing Hermione, who was trying to look professional, to lose control of her subdued nervousness and blush like a schoolgirl who had just been spoken to in front of her friends by a boy she had a crush on, but was always frighten to speak to.

"This is Hermione Granger," said Arthur, taking her hand to try and soothe her sudden anxiousness.

"Hermione Granger," repeated Ambrosus. "Hermione Granger. I seem to recall hearing that name. What is it? Ah yes. You were the young lady in the news who just brought her missing parents home from—uh—Australia, wasn't it?"

"Yes," she managed to get out.

"Hermione is here trying to find some information," said Arthur, trying to give Hermione a little more time to regain her composure. "She is hoping you might be able to assist her."

"Of course. I'd be happy to help her. What kind of information is she looking for?" he asked, taking a puff on his pipe and exhaling some very intricate geometric shapes such as hexagons, rhombuses and stars which all linked together before dissipating.

"Actually," said Hermione, finally finding her voice. "I am interested in your last name. I read a story with a wizard in it named Dwarkan Mynoss. I am wondering if you can shed any light on the possibility of him being a real person, perhaps even a relative?"

"Dwarkan Mynoss? Hmmmm. I can't say I recall ever hearing that name," said Ambrosus, sending forth a prodigious puff of pipe smoke in the shape of a unicorn. "What was the nature of this story?"

"It is about the early days of Hogwarts," she replied, starting to reach into her bag to extract the book, then thinking the better of it and removing her had. "The story took place a long time ago. So, if he is an actual person and even an ancestor, he would be an—uh—an ancient one."

"I see," said Ambrosus. "Well, I am not much on the family history. But I do have an aunt Melodious who lives in Horsell, down in Surrey. I believe she has a regular storehouse of old family things in her attic. I remember playing there as a boy with my cousin Reggie," he said with a face indicating he was reliving some events for his youth. "There are all sorts of things up there as I recall. A regular treasure trove for young kids with vivid imaginations. No telling what a person might find among the boxes."

"Would it be possible to speak with her, sir?" asked Hermione, high hopes evident in her voice.

"I would have to ask her. She lives alone with her cats. Getting along in years, you know. In her early nineties, now, I believe. But still sharp as a tack."

"That would be wonderful, sir," said Hermione with a big smile.

"Can you stop back by tomorrow? I'll pop over and speak to her after work. She's always happy see me. I suspect she likes most company. Doesn't get out as much as she used to."

"Can I come back in with you tomorrow?" she asked Mr. Weasley.

"Certainly," he answered. A pleasure to finally meet you, Ambrosus. We'll get going. I suspect with both have other work that needs attending to."

"Yes. Quite. A pleasure to meet you, too, Arthur, Hermione. I will look forward to seeing you again, tomorrow," he replied cheerfully as he exhaled a large cloud in the shape of a sailing ship across the room.

Hermione was nearly floating as they returned to Arthur's office. Perkins had arrived during their absence. Arthur introduced them. The both of then gave Hermione an account on just what it was they did in their work. When lunchtime arrived, Arthur took that opportunity to send Hermione back to The Burrow via the Floo Network.

Hermione spent the afternoon doing things around The Burrow with Molly and Ginny. She gave them a rundown of her meeting with Ambrosus and her plans for her meeting with his aunt the next day with the hope she would let her into her attic.

When Harry and Ron returned home from their adventures of the day, they asked for and received a similar report. Hermione was excited, like when she was preparing for a N.E.W.T or O.W.L. exam. Her excitement was contagious. It gave everyone a good feeling to see her so happy. The general mood of The Burrow was festive. Plans were made for a special meal so they could all enjoy the moment.

"I think she may be on to something," remarked Ron to Harry and Ginny.

"I thought you were skeptical of all of this," noted Harry.

"Yeah," said Ginny. "Didn't you tell Harry it sounded like a bunch of waffle?"

Ron looked at Harry, knowing that he had been talking to her about their conversations. "I was. But can't a man change his mind? I think she's really is on to something."

"Okay," chuckled Harry, giving Ginny a playful squeeze. Ginny sort of smirked at him, then Ron.

Hermione and Arthur left after breakfast the following morning the meet up with Ambrosus. Her emotions were clearly resting on pins and needles as the descended into the Ministry via the call box visitor's entrance.

"They're going have to replace this with something else one of these days," noted Arthur. "They're disappearing, what with muggles carrying their phones about in their hands these days. Ingenious, these muggles. That is why I like to study them."

"Yes, they are," agreed Hermione. "I see that all of the time when I am with my parents and their friends.

They made it to the hallway and walked passed Arthur's office, passed a door marked 'Department of Quidditch and other sports', passed a door marked 'Mushrooms & Toadstools Department, finally arriving at the office of Ambrosus. The door was wide open. He was obviously awaiting their arrival.

"Ah, Arthur and Hermione," he said with a puff of smoke. "Good to see you this morning."

He stood up and grabbed a waiting teapot. He poured three cups next to a plate with some biscuits and waited while everyone fixed their tea to their liking. It was a bit early for tea, but this was not an ordinary morning.

"I stopped by and talked with my aunt Melodius," he started as he sat down and placed his cup of tea and biscuit in front of him on his desk. Arthur and Hermione also sat down in a pair of chairs he had placed near his desk in anticipation of their arrival. The others in the room, surely his co-workers, stayed busy with their work, not wanting to interfere while obviously listening.

"That's wonderful," said Hermione politely. Even though she was bursting with hope and curiosity, she was holding herself together in a very professional manner.

"She is very excited about the notion of a visit from you," continued Ambrosus, tapping the remnants of burnt tobacco into an ashtray. 'Seems the chance to talk about the past is very enticing to her. I think you may have your hands full talking to her when you get there."

"I am very excited, as well," gushed Hermione, no longer able to curb her enthusiasm. "When should I go to see her?"

Arthur reached over and put his hand on her arm hoping to calm her down a bit. "I can take you out there at lunchtime," replied Ambrosus.

Hermione's face was glowing as she sipped her tea, trying to draw down her emotions.

"That's smashing, man," said Arthur, following a sip of tea. "We will all have to get together after this is over. I am certain the family will want to give you a proper thank you."

"That's not necessary. I am glad to do it."

"Of course, but I'm sure my missus and the family would love to meet you and your missus. It appears you have a couple children, as well.

Hermione took a few bites from her biscuit and finished her tea while Arthur and Ambrosus talked about setting up a family meeting. She was thrilled with the progress and prospects of the morning.

"Well," said Arthur, finishing his tea. "I suspect you have a bit of work to tend to before lunch. We'll go back to my office. When you are ready to go, just come down and collect her."

"Yes, actually I do," came the reply as Ambrosus finished his tea and biscuit. "I will be down there in a bit.

Hermione and Arthur got up to leave as Ambrosus reloaded his pipe in preparation for returning to work. "Thank you, so much, sir," said Hermione as they left.

The two of them returned to Arthur's office. Arthur and Perkins busied themselves with logging in and cataloging some items collected during recent raids of muggle houses by the agents assigned to the department. Hermione distracted herself examining the items hung on the walls and lining the shelves of the office. She wondered how many of the things found their way into the hands of muggles. "Probably the work of nargles," thought Hermione, remembering Luna's assertion they were thieves and prone to trickery.

Time passed and before she knew it, she caught a whiff of pipe smoke and looked up to see Ambrosus appearing in the doorway to the office.

"Are you ready to go, miss," asked Ambrosus in his now familiar cheerfully voice.

"Yes, sir," she replied, picking up her beaded bag. "Please call me Hermione."

"Of course," came the reply. "But only if you call me Ambro, like my family."

"Certainly, sir—uh—Ambro," she said, catching her mistake, which caused her to release a nervous chuckle.

"Good luck," said Arthur. "Have a good time."

"Yes," she said with a smile as she started toward the door. I will see you later back at The Burrow."

Hermione followed Ambrosus into the huge entry room of the Ministry. He stopped in front of the fireplaces. "I think using the floo network is our best way to get there," he said. "I trust you know how to use it."

"Yes, Ambro," she replied.

"Very well," he said, holding out a container of floo powder for her to take a handful. "Step in and say 'Melodious Turnpot in Horsell'."

A few seconds later Hermione disappeared in a flash of green fire. Ambrosus quickly followed behind her. A few seconds later she popped out in a very neat cottage. A slim, elderly lady with very neatly groomed silver hair looked at her and smiled with her whisper-thin lips. A pair of cats who were flanking her feet stopped and stared at her, as well. Ambrosus appeared seconds later.

"Ambie," she said in a cross voice as a squadron of whisk broom started cleaning the residue from travels through the floo network off the pair of them. "You know how I hate it when you arrive that way. Look at the mess you made. I'll be cleaning for days."

"Yes, auntie. Sorry auntie. Why don't you welcome your guest?" he said, trying to soothe her ire. "This is the young lady I told you about, Hermione Granger."

Melodius walked up to her with a smile. A pleasure to meet you, dear. Sorry you saw me get angry. My nephew," she said shaking her head and chuckling. "Well, you would think after all these years he could learn to arrive the proper way."

I am so pleased to meet you, ma'am. Ambro speaks very highly of you."

"Please call me Melody. Let's sit down and chat. I do not get many visitors, you know."

"I'm just going to pop back to the office and let the two of you get acquainted," said Ambrosus, wisely heading out the front door. "Good to see you, auntie." A few later seconds they heard to whoosh of him apparating away.