Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling or Timothy Zahn.

At the Ministry of Magic Headquarters, Harry and Ron stands before the Wizards' Council, led by Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold.

Scrimgeour. Let me get this straight, then, Captain Weasley. You, alone, and without consultation with anyone in official authority, made the decision to cancel the Nottingham mission.

Ron. I've already said that. I've also stated my reasons for doing so.

Murcus. Which, in my opinion, were good and proper ones. Captain Weasley's duty at that point was abundantly clear: to protect the ambassador in his charge and to return safely to alert us.

Scrimgeour. Alert us to what? Forgive me, Admiral, but I don't understand what exactly this threat is we're supposedly facing. Whoever these gray-skinned beings were, they clearly weren't considered important enough by the old Wizengamot to even be included in the records. I doubt a race that insignificant is likely to be capable of mounting a major offensive against us.

Hermione. We don't know that that's the reason they aren't in the records. It could simply be an oversight or gap damage.

Harry. Or else a deliberate erasure.

Scrimgeour. And why would the Wizengamot want to erase the records of an entire race's existence?

Harry. I didn't say it was necessarily the Wizengamot's idea. Maybe the creatures themselves destroyed their records.

Scrimgeour. Farfetched. Even if it was possible, why would anyone want to do it?

Bagnold. Perhaps Senator Granger Weasley can answer that. [to Hermione] You were more involved in the informational side of the Wizengamot than I was, Hermione. Would such a manipulation have been possible?

Hermione. I really don't know. I never got all that deeply into the actual mechanics of how the Wizengamot's records were handled. Common wisdom, though, would suggest that it's impossible to create a security system that can't be broken by someone determined enough to do it.

Scrimgeour. That still doesn't answer the question of why these creatures of yours would be that determined.

Hermione. Maybe they saw the Old Ministry's coming demise. They might have erased all references to themselves and their region in hopes the new regime might not notice them.

Scrimgeour. In that case, perhaps a fear of rediscovery was all that motivated this attack, as well. Regardless, I see no reason to make a full-fledged military operation out of this. To reduce our glorious forces to the level of a mere diplomatic entourage is an insult to their courage and their fighting spirit.

Murcus. You can dispense with the speeches, Senator. None of our "glorious forces" are here to be impressed by them.

Scrimgeour. I say only what I feel, Admiral.

Hermione. I wonder if we could get back to the original subject here. I presume it hasn't escaped anyone's notice that, whatever their motivation, the creatures were ready and waiting for us when we reached Nottingham.

Murcus. We're going to need tighter security for these missions, obviously. At both ends, your attackers did suborn a local goblin politician, after all.

Scrimgeour. All of which will cost that much more time and effort.

Bagnold. It can't be helped. If we don't protect our negotiators, the Wizards' Council will stagnate and wither. [to Murcus] Accordingly, you will detail a force to accompany Senator Granger Weasley on her trip back to Nottingham tomorrow.

Ron. Excuse me. Tomorrow?

Bagnold. Yes, tomorrow. The goblins are still waiting, Captain.

Ron. I know, but . . .

Hermione. What Ron is trying to say is that I had intended at this meeting to ask for a brief leave of absence from my diplomatic duties.

Bagnold. [frowns] I'm afraid that's impossible. There's far too much work to be done.

Ron. We're not talking about a vacation here. Hermione needs more time to concentrate on her Auror training.

Bagnold. [glances at Scrimgeour and Murcus] I'm sorry. I, of all people, recognize the need to add new Aurors to our ranks. But for now there are simply too many urgent demands on our time. In another year, possibly sooner, we'll have enough experienced diplomats for you to devote the bulk of your time to your studies. But right now I'm afraid we need you here.

Murcus. If you'll excuse me, I'll go and have that escort force prepared.

Bagnold. Of course.

Exit Murcus.

Unless there's something more, we stand adjourned.

Exit all but Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Hermione. [to Ron] You all right?

Ron. You know, it was a lot easier back when we were just taking on the Ministry. At least then we knew who our enemies were.

Hermione. Come on. Let's go see if they've gotten Percy cleaned up yet.

Exit all.