Chapter XI – More Work, Less Vacation
"Harry," asked Hermione, "will you tell Ron the Washington Wizards are a muggle basketball team and not a Quidditch team. He's been bothering me to go to the library and find out how to get tickets to a match; as if a muggle library would have information like that even if the Wizards were a Quidditch team."
Harry rolled his eyes and answered, "I've told him three times already and he doesn't believe me. He insists a bunch of muggles wouldn't call themselves wizards, so it has to be a Quidditch team. The next time we are in the Secretary of Magic's office I planned to ask him to explain it to Ron."
"That will be tomorrow." said Ginny. "His new secretary sent a message and asked us to be there at nine tomorrow morning. I hope this means our debriefings are over and Luna is finished sitting in on the interrogations of the captured death eaters. We've been here ten days since Kingsley left. Despite what he promised about a working vacation back in London, it has been more work and less vacation than I planned on. Sunday was the only day the Fleas weren't asking us questions and we spent it here in the hotel rooms resting; we saw more sights and a better time when we were on the run."
"The two weeks Kingsley said this would take before we left London were up yesterday along with our paid leave." said Harry. "We haven't had a break yet and Ron and I have Auror training classes starting Monday. We need to be there. This meeting tomorrow better be a formal thanks for the help, and have a nice trip home speech."
"I hear Luna, Neville, and Ron in the hall." said Hermione. "It's after eight. They were at the interrogations a long time today; I hope that's a sign they finished up."
As they entered the room Neville was holding Luna's hand and didn't even give her a chance to sit. "Get to bed and get some rest," he said, "you're exhausted." As Luna walked toward their room Neville turned to Harry and said firmly," I don't care what the Americans say Luna needs a break. They have her at every interrogation to read the prisoner's thoughts and as soon as one group finishes another group hurries her to a new room and prisoner. She hardly has time to eat.
The original death eaters we captured have given up the names of more than twenty other Americans involved with their group and all of them had to be interrogated too. The Fleas don't know how much energy it takes Luna to read their thoughts; they must think she just sits there napping. Harry, you have to tell the Secretary of Magic she needs rest before she gets sick. I won't allow her to go again tomorrow."
"The Secretary has asked all of us to meet with him at nine tomorrow." responded Ginny. "Maybe it's all over. We just finished eating after getting back from our debriefing; food is still out. Would you or Ron like me to get something for you while you tell Harry what was new today?"
Both Neville and Ron replied together, "I'm starving, thanks Ginny and something to drink too please."
As Ginny put two plates together Ron started. "Neville and I took turns sitting in the interrogations with Luna as usual," he said. "The good news is there seems to be no more Horcruxes. All the latest death eaters the Fleas captured using Luna's information seem to be new recruits, brought in by the original group in the last few months. Some of them know what Horcruxes are but haven't made one for themselves yet. Some of them are so new they didn't even know about Horcruxes. If we were six months later in coming over here they would most likely all had Horcruxes and we would never been able to get rid of them. It's a good thing the Americans asked Kingsley to send us over when they did."
Ginny brought in the food and drinks and sat next to Harry. "If that's the good news what's the bad news?" she asked.
"Neville spoke up, "They have a dozen new names Luna got from this last group. That means a dozen more interrogations at least. That's why I said Luna needs a rest. She wants to go on and insists she is fine but all you have to do is look at her to see how much this has taken out of her."
Everyone agreed they all needed a break. It was decided the Secretary of Magic had to be told in no uncertain words; "We are willing to continue to help but only after a few days rest. Otherwise we head back to London."
"It's late," said Hermione getting up from her chair, "let's all get a good night's sleep before seeing the Secretary tomorrow. Come on Ron, goodnight everyone."
At five of nine, with the six friends holding hands, all apparated to the office of the new secretary to the Secretary of Magic.
"The Secretary is expecting you." she said as she stood and walked to the door, "I will let him know you are here."
Six gasps left six mouths as they entered the office. Seated across from the Secretary of Magic was Kingsley Shackelbolt.
"This can't be good." whispered Ginny into Harry's ear.
After moving next door into a conference room with enough chairs for everyone; the Secretary started with, "I see by your faces that you were all surprised to see your Minister of Magic back in the States so soon. He brings some bad news but before I turn the floor over to him I would like to thank all of you for your cooperation. I know we have worked you all too hard and you all deserve a few days break; but that will be up to your minister.
I ask you Miss Lovegood to give me just two more days with the new prisoners. My Fleas tell me they couldn't have discovered the information gathered in the last ten days without your help and they think this will be the end of it in America. Each new prisoner seems to be less involved with less new information but the Fleas insist, and I agree, they must be sure before calling an end to the investigation. If even one person with knowledge of Horcruxes escapes we could be back to square one in less than a year. I promise you no more than four hours of interrogations each day and you will be finished."
Harry spoke up, "We talked this over last night and all agreed that Luna's health is suffering. This is a more difficult and exhausting process than you would think. Luna needs a few days rest and a chance to relax before continuing." He looked at Luna and Neville.
They leaned in toward each other and whispered for a few minutes while everyone waited. Finally Luna replied, "Today is Tuesday. I would like to take the rest of the day and tomorrow to be with Neville and rest a bit. Thursday and Friday I will come in and do as you ask but on Saturday I must leave for home. My father hasn't been well and I have left him for too long already. Now if you don't mind we will be off."
Without waiting for the Secretary of Kingsley to say a word Luna and Neville got up and disapparated.
The Secretary didn't look happy about Luna and Neville leaving without permission and he turned to say something to Kingsley who quickly spoke first, "You have to remember Mr. Secretary Luna and Neville are not in the ministry service. They are civilians and didn't have to help at all. We don't have forced service in Great Britain so I cannot order them to help, I cannot stop them from returning home when they want, and I wouldn't if I could. I know how important this is but they are correct in telling you it is an exhausting procedure even if it doesn't look so. If Luna gets ill you won't get any more help from her. Let them have the two days and consider it lucky you got this much from her."
"I apologize for my reaction; normally I do not have people just get up and walk out on me," said the Secretary, "but you are correct. Miss Lovegood cannot be forced into working for us here in the States nor for you when you return home and I know you will still need her cooperation. Perhaps you better tell your people what you told me earlier."
Kingsley looked at Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny but said nothing for some time. Then he stood and began to pace back and forth finally saying, I have bad news as the Secretary said and didn't think I should pass it over communication channels. I also thought you deserve to hear this from me personally.
"First, Dean, Angelina, and I accompanied Jim's body back to his family and stayed for the funeral. I told them the story of Jim giving his life to save Ginny without bringing Horcruxes into it. I also gave them all your regrets for not being able to attend the funeral because you were still rounding up the last of the gang responsible for his death and assured them you would see them upon your return to London.
Then we went straight to the British museum in London and found the object Luna described as Bellatrix's second Horcrux. We took it back to the ministry into the Department of Mysteries where security is best and stabbed it with the sword of Gryffindor."
Again he hesitated then added, "Nothing happened; no scream, no smoke, no sign of a Horcrux being destroyed. I consulted with our best experts but nobody knows anything about Horcruxes except what you people have told them. Some ancient books were found that describe what Horcruxes are and two books had instructions on how to make a Horcrux and how to destroy one, but none said anything about what should happen at their destruction. Is there always signs of destruction or can a Horcrux be destroyed without showing outward signs? Did Luna describe the wrong object, or could we have collected the wrong object?
We need Luna to come to the ministry and perhaps to the museum when she returns to London. Maybe if she looks at the object we destroyed she can tell us more. We must know if Bellatrix has a second Horcrux somewhere and she can still return. I would like you four to break the news to her and persuade her to continue to help."
"It involves Bellatrix," said Ginny, "so we won't be able to stop her from helping. If she hears this, the problem will be to keep her here for four days to finish up with the Americans."
The others agreed. "Let's keep this to ourselves until we get home unless you want her and Neville on a plane back to London today.
Kingsley looked at the Secretary and said, "No. As important as Bellatrix is we have to be sure the situation here is really over first. We can't be bouncing back and forth between here and home every time a new clue is uncovered or someone has to be interrogated. Our people from the ministry are checking into the artifacts in the museum to see if there might be a similar item to the one Luna described but there are about a million things stored in dozens of rooms and vaults that have to be examined. Only a few of our people are cleared for security reasons so it will take them days to separate out look alike items for Luna to examine. Let her finish here and then all of you can come home together. I will fly back today and keep you up to date if there is any news.
In the mean time, the Secretary tells me you four are done with your debriefings. I believe I promised you this would be a working vacation so why don't you use the next four days to relax and then return with Neville and Luna on Saturday. Your paid leave will be extended and I brought British muggle IDs and muggle credit cards so you can go to muggle resorts and eating establishments. Also I expect you may want to buy some clothes to replace what you lost in the plane crash. I bet Hermione and Ginny especially are tired of wearing and washing and wearing the same two outfits over and over each day. Please remember the ministry's bank account isn't bottomless so enjoy yourselves but be reasonable with the spending.
The Secretary broke in, "Excuse me but we have muggle condos at both the Ocean City and Virginia Beach resort cities not far from here. You're not the first foreign guests we have visiting and most of them want some get away time too. You four and Luna and Neville are welcome to use them. Spend some time at the shore, there is shopping, restaurants, and night clubs in both locations.
My son and daughter tell me there are quite a number of witches and wizards that spend their vacations in each place. It seems they have a code to identify each other. If someone says I really needed this vacation, my boss is a real witch; you answer my boss is a witch too."
The four friends looked quickly at each other and all said, "That sounds great, we accept."
"One last thing," said Harry, "Ron wants to see an American Quidditch match and he thinks the Washington Wizards are the local team. We tried to tell him they are a muggle basketball team but perhaps there is a local team we can see."
"Actually" said the Secretary, "the Washington Wizards are both. There is the muggle basketball team but there is also a Quidditch team with the same name. Being it is midsummer there are no matches till the season starts in the fall but I think I can get you into one of their summer practice sessions if you like. Why don't you go to the shore and I will set up a visit with the manager of the Wizards and get back to you. It's not that far that you can't apparate over for a few hours and get back to the shore for dinner. I will have one of my people escort you to the resort when you are ready.
Hermione took the IDs and credit cards from Kingsley and everyone said good bye. Kingsley left for the airport to get back to London and the four friends apparated to their hotel to tell Luna and Neville of the plans and see if they also wanted to spend a few days at the shore.
A young man from the Secretary's office showed up a few minutes later and asked which resort they would like to visit. After he explained the advantages and disadvantages of both places they decided on Ocean City because there was a National Park nearby with isolated areas where they could be alone on the beach far from the crowds of muggles but there were still plenty of shops, restaurants, and clubs to enjoy.
After the young man helped them check into the Department of Magic's condos and left; the girls decided to do some shopping for both themselves and the boys who decided they would rather go to the beach to enjoy the waves than shop. That night they went to a muggle night club and listened to the latest American music and did some dancing. Using the Secretary's code hint they managed to find two American witch-wizard couples and made arrangements to meet on Wednesday so the Americans could show them the various activities around the town.
Early Wednesday they met their new American friends and after a quick lesson went out on small motorized boats the Americans called "Jet skis". The Americans also suggested a thing called parasailing which is flying while hanging from a big kite. When the Americans raved about the feeling of being able to soar through the air and look down on everyone on the ground the six friends laughed but declined the invitation. Instead they apparated across the inlet to Assateague National Seashore to an isolated area that few muggles get to and enjoyed the private time on the beach.
On Thursday, Luna and Neville apparated back to Washington to do some interviews but the Fleas were good to their word and the interviews finished up in the specified four hours allowing Luna and Neville to return to the condo by two and get in more beach time. After yesterday's time in the sun, Luna's and Ginny with their fair complexions, decided to limited their time in the sun and waves today and just sit under a beach umbrella talking; but the boys and Hermione spent most of the afternoon body surfing and were exhausted by the time they went back to their rooms.
A message was waiting for them. The Washington wizards Quidditch team practice was at nine the next morning and they were invited to come meet the players and watch. Luna and Neville again had to finish the interviews but the others all accepted the invitation.
Just before nine Luna and Neville left for the interviews and the young man that helped them on Tuesday showed up to escort the others to the practice. The team manager took them around to see the facilities and introduced them to the players who were surprised at some of the technical questions Harry, Ginny, and Ron asked about tactics. When the three of them confessed they had played on their school team the manager asked if they wanted to play on the second team for a few minutes during the practice.
Harry and Ron tried to beg off saying they hadn't played in three years but Ginny took them aside and said, "They don't expect us to be brilliant and this will probably be our only chance to say we got to practice with a professional team. Let's give it a go."
The manager led them to a changing room and supplied team practice robes and fair quality brooms. Then Ron talked with the second team keeper, Ginny with the three chasers, and Harry with the seeker getting some quick pointers about the tendencies of the first team players they would be going against in the practice session. Then they were out on the pitch. The manager reminded the players that Harry, Ron, and Ginny were there as guests of the Secretary of Magic to enjoy themselves and were amateurs. "Let's be careful and not put any of them in the hospital." he finished.
Ron went to his goal and the first string keeper to his. The snitch and the bludgers were released and then the Quaffle was tossed in the air by the manager. The action was faster and tougher than any Hogwarts' match Harry had played in. Not as bad as the world cup match they had seen but still after a few minutes Harry realized the difference between amateur play and professional play
If the players were taking it easy on the three of them Harry couldn't tell it. He was dodging bludgers left and right. In the first fifteen minutes Ron had stopped five shots but let three times that many in. Ginny managed to score three goals but Harry thought the two other chasers were generous by giving her the Quaffle more than they normally would; still she was doing great.
Then Harry saw the first string seeker dive suddenly and he started to follow but he caught sight of the snitch to his left and realized the seeker was trying a Wronski feint on him. Harry pulled up and swerved left after the snitch. When the other seeker looked and saw Harry hadn't fallen for the feint but actually had spotted the snitch he turned but it was too late. Harry grabbed the snitch and headed to the ground.
Ron and Ginny met him there in a group hug along with Hermione who had come down from the stands. "Thanks Ginny," said Harry, "you were right I had a great time and would have regretted it if you hadn't talked us into playing."
"Yeah!" said Ron. "I have a new appreciation for the pros now that I had those shots coming at me. I could hear them wiz by but didn't even see some of them including two of the five I actually stopped. These pros are amazing."
The manager and players gathered around congratulating Harry for getting the snitch and also Ginny and Ron for their play. The manager said, "I have to admit this wasn't my idea. When the Secretary of Magic suggested I offer you a chance to practice with the team I thought he was asking for trouble. Amateurs could get hurt easily I tried to tell him, but he said you were good and now I see why. Ron, blocking five first string shots after not playing for three years is outstanding. Ginny you could play chaser on most teams. "
The first team seeker broke in, "Harry not falling for the Wronski feint and then catching the snitch is great playing. If you would like to play professionally here in the States let me know; I will give you a recommendation to my friends on the other teams."
"I saw Viktor Krum pull it on Lynch at the world cup a few years ago and tried it out myself in a match or two; still I did fall for it at first," said Harry," but luckily I got a glimpse of the snitch and realized what you were doing before I committed to my dive."
When they had changed back into their street clothes the four of them apparated back to their condo where Luna and Neville were waiting.
"We finished up the interviews." said Luna. The Secretary thanked us and gave us information about our flight back to London. We leave at nine tomorrow. The man who brought us here will come for us at eight and Fleas will meet us at the airport to take us through security."
"Let's celebrate with one last night out." said Ginny. "If we pack now we can make a late dinner and get a little dancing in before it's too late." Everyone left for their rooms to get ready.
Harry woke at five that morning and realized Ginny was gone. He found her sitting on the balcony watching the sun rise.
"I couldn't sleep." she said, "I've been thinking about the plane crash and all that's happened. I hope this will be the end to it all so we can live our lives together peacefully."
A moment later Ron and Hermione appeared on the balcony next door. When Hermione saw Harry and Ginny she said, "You too? We've spent most of the night talking over the past three weeks and decided to watch the sunrise before we get dressed."
When Luna and Neville came out on their balcony a few minutes later everyone laughed. "I hope we didn't wake you up with our talking." said Ginny.
"No," answered Luna. We've been up for a while and didn't want to wake you lot. Oh, look the sky is all green over the ocean isn't it a beautiful ending for what started as such a sad trip."
As the sun appeared at the horizon, finally the nightmare that began with the plane crash was forgotten and everybody agreed that the last four days were the best vacation they ever had.
At eight the young man from the Department of Magic arrived and when everyone was ready he escorted them to the airport where two Fleas took them past the security area. About ten, almost an hour late the plane took off with six of the most nervous passengers the flight attendants had ever seen.
