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Chapter 7: Meeting the Interwizarding Laywers
"Hello Miss Granger how can I help you today?" asked Mr Gimholt.
"What and how much am I covered by client privilege in relation to the business that I undertake with you and any conversations about my proposed actions?" asked Hermione.
"You have a number of conventions covering client confidentiality and your personal account discussions. As you are aware under Muggle law there is total client counsel privilege. You realize that my partner is of Goblin decent so we are able to utilize his protections in some situations where we believe that there may be some conflict under Wizarding laws", advised Mr Gimholt.
"Can you call your partner in as I have a number of situations which I need to review with you today and it would be easier if we did this just the once?" asked Hermione.
After a couple of minutes Mr Gimholt returned with his colleague, Mr Willow, in tow.
"First off can you please advise me where you think I would stand under the proposed pieces of legislation scheduled for implementation on the 1st September this year", asked Hermione.
"You would be subject to both pieces of legislation." advised Mr Gimholt.
"That is what I believed. I have prepared two sets of questions and would like you to review them. I would prefer a written response this afternoon and I will see your separately completed answers that you have written on the prepared parchments as it will update my master parchment. You will be able to keep and read your own parchments as a record of your consultation but they are spelled for privacy. Please attempt to read each other's parchment and you will see that the contents will be concealed from others."
Each of the parchments had two individual sets of specific questions based on Hermione's reading on the current legislation and the proposed laws. She had two specific areas that concerned her. From her understanding of research reading she had asked several clarification questions on the parchments along with proposing a legal strategy to protect her Muggle and Magical interests from the Ministry. The strategy had several separate parts for each partner to act upon and together the lawyers were able to address any loopholes while not knowing the full picture of their client's affairs if there was an external investigation. In addition to Hermione's own affairs she implemented several legal arrangements to support Remus, along with Tonks and her parents in their exile. As they finished the documentation Hermione thanked the two legal wizards for their assistance.
"We look forward to your future endeavors" advise Mr Grimholt "and if you ever are called to a career before the bar I would like to have you as an apprentice". With what he had seen of her prepared questions and her proposed strategy she certainly had an instinctive perspicacity and natural astuteness that would be beneficial to a career in the silk.
"Sorry I don't feel that I will end in a legal career" advised Hermione as she declined the apprenticeship offer. She was a little flattered.
"You have a sharp legal mind Miss Granger," stated Mr Willow, which was an extraordinary compliment from a goblin.
"Unfortunately Mr Willow I would only be a dabbler as I do not have a true calling. I would rather be passionate about my career."
"I am sorry to hear that and wish you well in whatever career you decide upon' stated Mr Grimholt. "Mr Lupin your final contractual papers will be ready on Tuesday. Mr Willow will meet you at the Paris Gringott's premises to conclude you and your fiancé's contracts and other family matters. We are expecting the Bride's parents later this afternoon."
During the hour that Remus and Hermione met with the lawyers - Tonks, Andromedia and Ted Tonks along with Kingsley Shacklebolt had all made specific trips that they had been allocated per Hermione's master plan. Each item was part of a master list but purchased separately made them look innocuous like normal trousseau shopping.
Kingsley took the opportunity to see his lover at his shop while making purchases and organizing a later assignation where additional items could be delivered. Kingsley would be able to have some time with his lover and some of the more contentious items could be delivered without observation in the store.
The various parties all met up at the Leaky Cauldron for lunch at 12:15. Following Lunch Remus, Tonks and her parents all returned to the Tonks family cottage were they preceded to pack up the contents of the cottage. After packing the contents some complex transfiguration was undertaken to make it look like that there was nothing changed in the habitation status of the property.
Kingsley and Hermione left Diagon Alley and travelled into Muggle London where purchases were made from various venders such as a number of cheap prepaid mobile phones. The purchases were sprinkled in small quantities from each vender so that they would not attract too much attention. There was a quick visit to an intenet café where Hermione logged onto a secret account to gather the contact details of a Muggle document specialist. Using the anonymous email account and the notes her father left her Hermione organized the creation of several Muggle identity documents using the photos she had taken in Gringotts for all of them. Hermione organized that the completed identity documents would be collected by courier exchange at Kings Cross Station on the following day along with necessary payment. In addition while online Hermione created a number of anonymous email accounts along with coaching Kingsley on the use of the Internet as a communication device.
Hermione had also visited a couple of different cash exchange bureaus to change pounds into euros. By spreading the exchanges around she was trying to stay under the official informing requirements that were in place for large cash amounts.
Just before the last stop on their list of Muggle places to visit Hermione asked Kingsley to place a glamour on them so that they would not be identified. Once inside the shop she made a number of high technological purchases along with some low tech purchases such as several sets of lock picks and universal knife tools.
While in the gadget store Kingsley who had been shocked by the extent of the young woman's preparation plans and purchases finally asked why he was brought in on this part of the operation. Reviewing everything in the last week as he waited for her response he found that Hermione clearly had some hidden talents as an undercover agent and her father must have some hidden depths of experience to prepare his daughter with the appropriate contacts to make false documentation. His opinion of Hermione's value to the Order had exponentially increased in the last week and it was then that he realized he was no longer treating her like a child but like a professional colleague.
"Kingsley you and your partner are at risk" Hermione plainly stated after they had left the gadget store. "We may need to have an underground railway to get those at risk to safety. George and Fred need to know about this type of technology as they can apply it in their business while developing further options to ensure the security of others. Please Kingsley ensure that you and George have an escape plan. I am worried that history will repeat itself". Kingsley could see the worry and concern in the young witch's hazel eyes. She was fascinating to watch so small but she stood so proud to face the challenging world she encountered.
After the shopping expedition was completed Kinglsey apparited Hermione and their purchases back to 12 Grimmauld Place were they met up with Remus and Tonks while Ted and Andromedia went to the lawyers.
While the House was relatively empty the purchases were unpacked and sorted. Kits for each escapee was created so that they had the necessary items to support both magical and muggle tradecraft. Hermione divide the various cash amounts she had collected between the different kits to ensure that there was a range of currencies to enable each escapee. While waiting for the Mrs and Mrs Tonks to return from the Lawyers, Hermione enlisted the help of Tonks, and Kingsley to remove the tracking spells from herself and her wand.
Using one of the disposable wands that Tonks had procured Hermione went onto prepare a number of items including extendable travel pouches to carry the kit as well as magical communication notebook sets, which would enable written conversations between each member. The kits were distributed to each member of the group and evidence of the subrosa shopping was removed before the Weasleys had returned to Grimmauld Place.
Using one of the digital hand held scanners Hermione had purchased during the Muggle shopping trip she coached Kingsley in the scanning of books within the Headquarters library so he was familiar with the process. The rest of the exiles proceeded to scan the contents of the Library so that this reference resource was available to them in Europe electronically. Hermione then demonstrated how to transfer the digitally scanned information to the laptop and to a memory stick. She had purchased four electronic equipment sets for the escapees. Each electronic equipment set contained a laptop, digital camera, portable dialup modems, 3 handheld scanners, 3 extra external hard drives along with a number of memory sticks. A technology lesson was undertaken so that all members of the exile party could cope with the technology and their UK based contact would be able to cope as well.
When the Weasley family returned from the quidditch game Andromedia Tonks had a prepared dinner and Hermione was able to gush and show Ginny some of her girlie purchases that she had done to maintain her cover of not preparing to go on the run.
