Chapter 9: Tired and Ready To Go Home
THREE DAYS LATER
Kate, Jamie, Jake and Lily all sighed in relief as they sunk into chairs/the couch of the Ross Ranch.
The past three days had been pure chaos. Worse than the raid that caused it. Immediately after Samhain's death, many Shirors had attacked Kate, intent on avenging their lord. Fortunately, Kate had been expecting that, and combined with the heartened Aurors (and Jamie) left in the room, they had been defeated after little fighting. Kate had ended up with a broken ankle, minor concussion and several large cuts and burns (all of which had been healed without a mark) and everyone else had been along those lines.
The Aurors has lost one man with Jake's team and rescued over 150 prisoners from around the world. The Shirors had been decimated, nearly 200 had died and a further 350 had been rounded up from either the house or other places. That meant 550 out of roughly 600 were accounted for. As for the team themselves, after getting medical attention for the worst of their injuries, they had been protkeyed to the aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean.
From there they had been checked vigorously to make sure they were not imposters, then given more medical exams, before finally they had to deliver their reports. By the time they had wrapped up, they had left at 3am Iraqi time and had gone to bed at noon Iraqi time. The trip itself had taken four hours apparently, from lift off at the arms base to their portkey landing there. The five hours after that had to have been the biggest blur of the whole blur.
The next time they had woken, they had found Kate's face splashed across every newspaper in the world, proclaiming her a hero, and true next Dumbledore and yada yada. Her entire, already rather public, life had been back in every paper as everyone gushed over the 22 year old. Jamie had gotten quite a bit of attention as well, sisters defeat the dark lord, and all. But Kate had borne the brunt of it, to her abject horror.
After that shock, she had been fed whatever she wanted and then stuck in a long briefing with top Auror officials. Being thanked and told what she can and can't say about the whole thing had taken much longer than it should have.
The press conference that had followed had made her want to take it back, undo it. She had been dragged in, forced to be nice and answered all sorts of ridiculous questions. Her picture had been taken in every possible position, and Jamie had been asked to cameo in quite a few. Everything from if she thought her blood status had anything to do with her powers to what quodpot team she supported was asked of her. She answered honestly at least and made sure she was polite to everyone.
The next day (as that had taken all of the first day after), was full of her packing it up and getting ready to leave. That afternoon, she had received a horrifyingly grand, hero's welcome in the ministry of magic (Cella had apologized profusely later). There had been a large banquet as she was awarded the MACUSA medal of freedom with distinction. Very overboard. It had resulted in another press conference and the unveiling of her chocolate frog card. Apparently with all of her achievements, it was about time.
This was one, once she read the card, that actually made sense, she was truthfully rather proud of it (it sounded like it belonged and was even more impressive than several others). Cella had quietly told her that the medal of freedom hadn't been her idea and that everyone was demanding she get it. This made Kate feel more comfortable with it and she said, on camera, that she was most proud of it.
While slightly flattered, she wanted it to all go away. Badly. It was annoying and hard to be that cheerful with her lack of sleep. Finally, that morning, with the last of the paperwork had been dealt with and they had been allowed to leave. Jake's leave of absence had been extended another month in thanks. Lily's reputation had also gotten even grander. So when the three of them, Jake had gone separately, tried to leave the ministry, they were promptly mobbed. While Lily didn't have an autographs to sign, Kate and Jamie (who were used to it from their normal jobs) had even more than normal.
It had been a battle, but after an hour, they had gotten to the apparition point and left quickly. Which brought them to now.
Before too long (a few minutes at most), Frankie, Harry, Tiff, Kenna, and Cella exploded into the room.
"You're back!" Harry exclaimed grinning at them.
"Hey Harry," Kate said tiredly. "How's the last few days been here?"
Kenna grinned at her, "Well all anyone's been talking about is you, so that's annoying, but otherwise pretty good. I managed to convince everyone that I had already asked you for an interview and you said no."
"Thanks." Kate grimaced at the thought of giving interviews or exclusives.
"Between that and the stories they broke about Voldemort, it's been crazy everywhere, especially Britain." Cella informed her.
Kenna had broken the news about Voldemort and the British ministry about four days before they had left for Iraq. It had been pretty big news everywhere and Fudge had been forced to cover his hide. While Britain was still pretty much firmly in his grasp, the seed of doubt was there and many more were believing Harry and Dumbledore than before.
The rest of the world officially looked at Britain as a laughing stock and at Dumbledore with a lot of pity. The article had basically outlined what Harry and Dumbledore claimed, painted Fudge as an idiot, and showed evidence that their story was completely plausible. Then it confronted who you should trust, idiotic minister or leader of the light. It was brilliantly done and very damning to Fudge who had done everything he could to sensor it.
"Anything else?" Jamie asked.
Tiffany beamed at her, "I bought a new store in Hogsmeade, on the main road. I was competing with some lady named Madam Puddifoot, but seeing as I already had successful store and she didn't, they gave it to me."
"That's great, Tiffany! Our plans are coming around nicely." Kate smiled and let her head fall back, closing her eyes. As happy as she was, and relieved that everything was working, she was also running on very little (and disrupted) sleep.
"Go take a nap, we'll wake you for dinner." Cella ordered.
They were both too tired and in too much agreement to argue being told what to do like a 5 year old. They all staggered to their rooms and were out before they hit the bed.
THE NEXT MORNING
Harry woke up bright and early this morning and dressed himself before heading downstairs. He was more happy than he cared to admit to have Kate, Jamie, Lily and Jake back for a while. The trip to Iraq has given him several sleepless nights as he worried about his friends.
Wondering if he'd ever see them again was something that he never wanted to see again. Cella had been at the ministry that entire night, monitoring the mission and hadn't been back the following morning, so Harry had begun to fear the worst. Frankie had assured him that either way she would have been away all night, and that she'd have told them by now if something had gone wrong. Harry hadn't been able to breathe easy, however, until that morning's paper came and Kate's face had been plastered on the front under the headline ROSS DEFEATS SAMHAIN.
Harry had been ready to cry with relief when he read that both she and Jamie had been fine. Then horror filled him as realized that an Auror has died. Jake was an Auror. His stomach had clenched and he had wanted to be sick, but then again, there had been 16 Aurors there, two healers, four warders and Kate and Jamie, so, maybe it wasn't him. Plus Cella would have told them, right?
Eventually, about an hour later, Cella has been able to message them that all the Rogues were fine. Listening to Kate's press conferences had been hilarious for him. He knew that she didn't want to be there and so every answer had a double meaning. He had seen her as someone slightly different in that moment as well, however.
She was powerful, the things they were saying about her, well, she reminded him about how they talked about Dumbledore. He hadn't really noticed up until then, but now, he saw it, she was a different personality. He knew her well, but everything just fit with what Dumbledore had been like in the beginning of his career. He hoped she didn't turn out too much like him.
The next two days had been annoyingly long as he waited for them to get back. All the other Rogues had flocked back to wait for them, while Cella was still holed up in the ministry. Then she had come back and said they should be coming in anytime.
It had been an hour later that a weight he didn't know he had been carrying, had been lifted. Last night's dinner had been quiet, but no less cheerful as Kate, Jamie, Jake and even Lily, recounted their tales for the audience. It was then that Kate explained her new way to deal with the unforgivables.
"Wait, so you froze the magic around you and forced the spells to stop mid air!?" Cella exclaimed, looking at her best friend like a rare book.
Kate nodded, "Yes, and then I reversed the flow of magic and they were hit with their own spells."
There was a long silence as everybody digested that. "If they had tried to cast another spell at you, would the magic that you need to build up to do it not move as well? Thus rendering them incapable of using magic for the given length of your trick?" Lily asked her.
Kate shrugged, "I have no idea, I suppose it would just depend on if I latched onto their magical cores as well."
She nodded, "I'm going to take you in to test all of this."
"We can't let anyone outside the Rogues find out about this."
"Why not!?" Cella demanded, "This could save thousands of lives!"
"Could you imagine, Cella, it everyone could do this? Magic would basically be moot, unless only powerful wizards and witches could do it. Then if you get a strong Dark Lord, imagine all the damage they could do! They'd be unstoppable." Kate pointed out.
Cella reluctantly admitted she had a point, but this didn't deter Lily. "We can still bring you in for testing, nobody would need to know why, they can't make me tell them, and I won't leave any records."
They had done this before with a few other things so it wouldn't be that big of deal she reasoned. "Ok, fine. I want to work on our dementor killing spell while were there too."
After the wolfsbane, they had made a potions so vampires wouldn't need to drink blood to survive, and now they were working on a spell to kill dementors. Between Kate, Lily, Frankie and Cella, they were helping the wizarding world a lot.
That was where the four of them would run off to after breakfast. Harry pulled out some pots, he was the first one up, so might as well make everyone food. Biscuits and gravy this morning.
About half an hour later, the kitchen was packed with hungry 20 year olds and Harry set a huge platter of biscuits and two pots of gravy in the middle of the large dining table along with four pitchers of orange juice and two bowls of hash browns. The happy grins he got in return made the whole thing worth it.
Breakfast was a loud and rambunctious affair with everyone being fully rested and happy to have their numbers full. The Weasleys didn't make this much noise (though that was probably because Mrs. Weasley didn't allow shouting), Cella and Lily had their heads together (most likely theorizing about Kate), Jake and Jamie were looking a little too smug (Harry would bet a prank war was imminent), Frankie and Kate were half yelling across the table about teaching, and Tiff and Lenna were both absorbed in the papers around them (muttering to themselves). Harry couldn't help but smile fondly, this was what a family looked like, his family.
"What's got you looking so happy?" A voice asked to his left. Tiffany was grinning at him and waiting for his answer.
Harry turned, "I'm just happy to be back, it's been too long since we've all been together properly."
She nodded in agreement, "It has been too long, the last time, I believe was before you got your letter. When we were all really living together all day, not just visiting I mean."
"I've missed you guys, I'm not sure I want to go back." Harry admitted in a small voice.
Tiffany sighed, "I don't think any of us want it to end, but you don't have much of choice, none of us do."
Harry gave her a frustrated look, "That's the problem! If it wasn't for Voldemort, I wouldn't have to go back to being on my own!"
Tiff gave him a sad smile, "No, you would have no need for us."
Harry gaped at her for a moment, he couldn't imagine what he would be like without the Rogues. Probably another Tom Riddle, he was already almost there when they had met him after all. "I think there was a chance we could have known each other anyway." He said.
"Maybe, but either way, you won't be alone this term, you never were." She promised him.
What? Well he hadn't ever really been left alone during school, they'd always been a notebook message away. Kate, Cella, Frankie, and Lily's necklaces, Jamie, Tiff and Kenna's wristbands, his and Jake's watch. Well he supposed with Jake in the Order, Tiff's new restaurant and Jamie's potential team switch, he really would have backup. Especially once Ron and Hermione were in the fold.
"I suppose." He said dubiously.
"It'll work out, you'll see."
LATER THAT WEEK
Jamie Ross flew to the ground with relief. The game, and season, was finally over. She grinned as her teammates all crowded their seeker, Kim Byung-ho. He had caught the snitch after a fantastic dive to win the game and secure them the number four finishing spot in the league. She, herself, had had a good game, only letting two goals through, unfortunately the same could not be said for their chasers. They had only scored one goal, had the seeker not caught the snitch, they'd have lost pretty badly.
She made her way over, smiling anyway, they had won. As they all embraced she couldn't help but feel some sadness at the knowledge that this would be her last game with this team. They, while not the best team, were certainly good and they were all friends. She would miss them, but Harry needed her close, so the English League was where she was going. Even if they were all full of themselves.
The best keeper in the world going there wasn't going to fix the ego problem either. Unfortunately. But she could hurt their egos when nobody scored on her, or at least, that was the plan.
"Great catch, B!" She exclaimed in fluent Japanese.
"Thank you, Jamie! Nice game yourself!" He called back happily. Several more congratulations were exchanged as they headed back to the locker room.
Jamie was, predictably, pulled away by a few journalists. "Ms. Ross! Ms. Ross! Can I have a moment of your time?" One called.
She nodded and resigned herself to a lot of non-quidditch related questions. "Sure, hold on… I'll meet you later!" She called to her teammates who nodded as they too, were pulled away.
"First off, great game today! 32 for 34 on saves, is spectacular, even for someone of your caliber! You seemed to be able to predict a lot of the shots taken today, why do you think that is?" The reporter asked.
At least they opened on quidditch. "Thank you, it was a tough game, Hiroshima's a great team, there chasers are some of the best! But today, I was just playing well, Coach Im had us really prepared and studying a lot of film, helped. I was just on today, and noticed several times where they had their hands going away from their eyes and was able to capitalize. It isn't often you get so many good reads, so I just did my best to use them." She answered honestly, and was sure to thank everyone else for her success.
"Rumor has it that you are planning on entering free agency, any comment?" The reporter asked.
"Well, I love playing for Tokyo, but I think I want to be a little closer to the US, um, my contract is up now, and I was hoping for a change of scenery… And somewhere where they speak English, hopefully." Might as well give out clues now, make it seem like it was a long way coming instead of something more sinister.
"Well, I'm sure there will be many teams looking for someone like you. Outside of quidditch, everyone has been talking about how you accompanied your sister on the raid to bring down the Dark Lord Samhain. Is there anything you can share about that?" She had wondered when that would be asked.
"Obviously, for security reasons, I can't say much, but I was in fact, present as many people have noted. It was not an easy thing and I'm grateful to the Aurors and everyone who helped the mission succeed, as well as for the chance to hopefully do some good for the world." Jamie answered her well rehearsed response, one that was completely true and gave away nothing.
"I think I speak for everyone when I give you and your sister my most heartfelt thanks and wish you the best of luck wherever you decide to go. Thank you for your time, Ms. Ross." They were done!
"Thank you, Kwang." She answered him and nodded as they shook hands and she made her way to the locker room.
As soon as she entered she was met with Coach Im and the team general manager, Aki Mohoto.
"You are not going to renew your contract? And there is nothing we can do to change your mind?" Mohoto asked in perfect English.
She nodded, "I want to expand my horizons, it has been an honor to play for such a great team, but I think it is time I move on with my career."
He nodded and gave a pained sigh, "If you are sure."
"I am, thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity, however." Jamie said sincerely.
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