Chapter 10: A Steering Committee We Shall Form.

'No! It's too soon – there's so much to do – please, believe me. I know everyone thinks I sort of made my way through my Auror studies and only got accepted by sheer good luck – but, honestly – we cannot just rush this: however much we want to tell the rest of the family!'

His aunt and great-grandfather both sat at the kitchen table, looking hard at Jules.

'Jules,' said Ginny, 'I am not saying we tell everyone right now – but soon. Please, understand how we feel about this – we cannot keep quiet about this from the rest of the family for long – and certainly not indefinitely!'

'Of course not, Aunt Ginny! I am not suggesting we never tell them, for Merlin's sake, but we cannot just tell everyone – as in, everyone! Have we thought how they might react?' Jules paused, letting this thought sink in with his relatives. Ginny took a long slurp from her coffee. His great-grandfather had said nothing. Yet.

'Listen,' Jules said, and then paused again, letting out a short sigh. 'I can only imagine how you are both feeling about this – really, I can only imagine.' He looked from one to the other and then down at the table top. He really focused on one of the many intricate whorls in the wood as if that would help him collect his shifting thoughts and opinions. 'I learnt from my training that a target being 'spooked' as Muggles call it is a real possibility once a potential cover is 'blown', as they also say.'

'Blown?' asked Arthur, looking to Ginny for some clarification. Ginny shook her head.

Jules registered this peripherally but his gaze never wavered from the wooden table top. 'It means uncovered, like smoke or something – disappeared and you're revealed to the world – and so you run again. Granddad Ron doesn't know I am bugging him. He thinks, with this Derek Bond, that they are still safe. Yes, they are very concerned but they are not panicked yet – they are do not need to begin any emergency planning or even just make a run for it. We need him to keep thinking that. Like you, as much as I want to tell everyone the good news that we have found one of the most wanted men in world, if we tell the family immediately you know what will happen.'

Ginny and Arthur said nothing.

'Someone will break ranks. It could be Great-grandma – or Uncle Harry? Or Mum and Dad? Or Uncle Hugo? Can you imagine? No, they'll all want to see him straightaway.' He faltered slightly and now looked up at Ginny and Arthur. He stroked his chin slowly with his left hand. 'I haven't even begun to think about Grandma … about Grandma Hermione … can you imagine that conversation?' He leaned forward towards them over the table, tapping the table top with his right index finger. 'It's going to take some more research and surveillance and some careful planning.'

'Alright, Jules,' said Arthur, after rubbing his face with both hands quickly. 'Alright, Jules, yes, I agree. We'll cause utter chaos in the family and he'll probably disappear again and that will be that!' Arthur fixed his great-grandson with a clear gaze.

'So what do we do, Dad?' asked Ginny. 'Jules may be right about Ron not yet being panicked and the bugging should be so useful in checking on him – but there's always the chance he'll just go anyway and we'll have lost him – maybe for good … and only us three having ever known? Can you imagine that!? The family will never forgive us. We need to do something now!'

'Alright, so this is what we do, Ginny,' replied her father. 'Firstly, today, you and I will speak to your mother – together. We will tell her that we have a good lead, thanks to Jules and that he is going to investigate further but – but,' her father held up a hand to stop Ginny's expected interruption, 'we will really stress that she must not tell anyone else – at all – in case it turns out to be nothing – we don't want to get her hopes or the family's hopes up, so she must trust us and trust Jules and wait for news from him.' He looked over at his great-grandson, who for some reason was now blushing.

'Secondly, this will give us a chance to plan and do the research and so on that Jules needs to do so we can control the situation and not – what was the word you used? 'Phantomed' or 'ghosted' or some such idea?

'Spooked,' said Jules.

'That was it! Spooked! Muggles! Aren't they wonderful!? Yes, we make sure Ron isn't 'spooked' and we can meet him in a way that will mean we don't lose him for ever.'

'Yes, but what else?' asked Ginny. 'We need more.'

'Well, once your mother is settled to the fact of what we've told here, Jules can be gathering more information and we can meet and consider our next steps. I certainly think you and he should have lunch again, soon, with him.'

'Really?' said Ginny. 'That should definitely spook him!'

'Not necessarily. If what you told me is correct, from what you heard, then I think my son is still as calm about it all – yes, he's concerned but not panicked. Also we don't want him thinking this is some kind of aberration – like you and Jules have given up and gone away. A little more familiarity might just begin to get him used to idea of being with his family again. But, obviously, this time we give them prior warning so they think they are in control of the situation – not realising we are slowly building some kind of relationship, yes?' Arthur eyed Jules over his coffee cup as he took another sip.

'Yes, Great-grandad,' chuckled Jules. 'As the Auror Manual states, in some cases, some contact with a target is preferable to none. Uncle Harry must be finally rubbing off on you!' Ginny laughed too.

'Well, I do listen hard when he discusses cases here – something was bound to rub off.' Arthur paused. 'You and Ginny slowly getting him talking, even it is as his disguise, as Reg! But again, you're right, you'll do it with the minimum of pressure so he doesn't become wary or too guarded – we'll work on that one before you two try again. Meanwhile this gives you a little time and space, Jules to try and find out what exactly the hell is going on, but use your bugging ideas and so on first, yes? Let's see what we can pick up. Meanwhile, I'll visit The Ministry and do some very quiet asking of questions about Derek Bond.'

'Dad …' said Ginny.

'Oh, don't worry, Ginny. I'll make sure it's very quiet indeed. Derek is a very clever man: if he hears of my questions, he'll know something is going on. I'll be careful, promise.' He smiled at his daughter. 'Besides, there are certain perks that come with being Deputy Minister, even a retired one. I'll be incredibly discrete.' Ginny sat back, seemingly mollified.

'Meanwhile, before you and Ginny make a new visit, what are your priorities now, Jules?' said Arthur, turning back to his great-grandson. 'We must agree a timescale to all this, yes?'

'Alright,' said Jules. 'We need to plan another visit after we've collected hopefully more information from the bugging. You need to ask about Derek Bond and we need to manage Great-grandma and the family if necessary. I also need to see what else I can do to get information on what Granddad Ron – or Reg – or whatever he is these days – is up to and I'm going to need some extra help with that – but I'll sort that tonight.' He thought some more, taking a few seconds to mull over the various ways and means ahead of them. 'Right,' he said firmly, 'a month.'

'A month?' asked Ginny. 'Are you sure?'

'No, I am not,' replied Jules, 'but you're right – we cannot keep this from everyone for ever – that's just wrong. We need to try and resolve whatever this is, as soon as possible. So – a month and then we tell everyone – if we cannot do it sooner. Luckily, I have just applied for some time off – they owe me a lot – and I've been granted it. I wanted to make this my priority now.'

'How much time off?' asked Arthur.

'Funnily enough,' replied Jules, grinning slightly, 'starting tomorrow, one month and a day.'

'What a coincidence!' said his Aunt Ginny, Jules trying to ignore the slight sarcasm in her tone. 'You've been giving this some thought, then?'

Jules ignored the knowing glance between his two relatives. 'Yes, a little,' he said.

'Well, good enough then,' said Arthur. 'We'll talk to your Great-grandma tonight and let you know how that goes. I'll go into The Ministry tomorrow – I've always got a reason to be there if needed – and see if it's safe to begin asking some questions about Derek Bond. What is this extra help you'll need?'

'Oh, just some little extras – odds and ends – really useful stuff; I'll sort it tonight.'

Ginny didn't seem convinced by that slightly evasive answer. 'You're going to see Frank Longbottom, aren't you?'

'Perhaps …' replied Jules, not quite meeting his great-aunt's eye.

'Oh for God's sake, Jules – 'began Ginny but she was interrupted by her father.

'Alright, Ginny. As I said before, Jules, just be careful how you use Frank, yes?' Arthur now turned back to Ginny. 'We have to trust Jules, Gin, alright? If he thinks, Frank can really help, then Frank it is.' Ginny sat back into her chair, seemingly resigned to the prospect. Jules breathed a small sigh of relief. 'Good, well, if we've nothing further to discuss I am going to name us as …' Arthur paused slightly dramatically for a moment, 'The Steering Committee.'

'Are you sure that really fits, Dad?' said Ginny.

'No, not really. It's Muggle expression but I've always liked the sound of it.'

'Alright, then,' said Jules. 'The Steering Committee it is. Right, I must be going. I'm going straight to Frank's now.' He stood up, lifted his cup to his lips and drained the last of his coffee, kissed his aunt on the cheek and reached across and shook his great-grandfather's hand before turning, walking to the kitchen door and opening it to leave.

He paused in the open doorway and looked back.

'Don't worry, Aunt Ginny,' he said, a playful smirk on his face. 'I'll make Frank swear that no plant will be used inappropriately.' And with that, he swept out of the doorway, closing the kitchen door quietly.

Arthur laughed.

Ginny looked over at him, shaking her head ruefully. 'God help us,' she said.

On the stairs, Molly Weasley made a gentle movement with her wand, reinforcing the silencing charms around her body and the staircases, making sure her prolonged eavesdropping wouldn't be noticed. She slowly turned and made her way back up the stairs towards her bedroom to prepare herself for the visit of her husband and only daughter.