Neville hadn't actually realized just how close to the Prime Minister's residence that the Ministry of Magic was. It was truly just a stone's throw away but felt like it was in a whole different world. Downing street itself, blocked to traffic by police presence and a gate running across the road, was somehow more insulated from London's noise than he expected. But of course, these barriers were no use in slowing down Kingsley. On their way in, the officers stopped him, but Kingsley pulled out some type of identification or badge that Neville couldn't see from behind him, and the police hesitantly let them through.

They were expected. The iconic black door swung open as soon as Kingsley stepped onto the doorstep, and they entered into the Prime Minister's residence. The building was kind of hard to describe. It was a mix of underwhelming and overwhelming, with time having aged some of its once opulent features. Unmoving portraits hung on the walls, and there were none of the features you might find in a magical home or office. To Neville, it felt very stiff and dead, regardless of marble floors or detailed wall panels. The Prime Minister had been waiting on them, the floor cleared of anyone but himself.

Neville felt like he was watching himself from a distance.

"Prime Minister, this is Neville Longbottom and Kyle Cunningham," Kingsley introduced them, though there was a clear lack of respect coming from the PM. "They both have the biggest role in solving our mystery, and—"

"I don't exactly see why any of this is my problem, Shacklebolt. For all I care, you can join in on muggle life and straighten yourselves out." He spoke in a hushed, hurried tone, his chest puffed out and hands on his hips. Neville, used to Kingsley's mannerisms, could tell that beneath the practiced smile, he was already becoming angered. However, he wasn't the only one.

"Your Excellency," Kyle piped up, her voice level but her fingers curling in obvious agitation. "It's very much your problem. There are still magic users and magical creatures in this world, and I can guarantee you want to be protected from them. You have lived a cushioned existence for the very fact that you aren't having to defend from dragons and sentient plants."

"Kyle, it's alri—"

She ignored Kingsley and continued. "There are no cures for the ails of the magical world falling. You will have deaths and panic and a changed world. I'm sure that a man as educated and respected as yourself can see the value in maintaining calm during what is very much a crisis."

"Listen here, Miss Cunningham," The PM choked after a stunned silence. "I hardly believe in any of this mumbo-jumbo, and I sincerely doubt that your lot are doing as much as you claim. Sentient plants? Laughable."

"I'm more than happy to take you to visit one if you wish."

The thinly veiled threat clouded the air with tension.

Kyle kept on while the PM bubbled with anger. "We are here to protect your world, and ours. We do, however, need your help if you want protection from what's out there. Can you put aside your prejudice for now and let us do our duty?"

Neville could see the way she was shaking lightly—was it from anger, or fear? Either way, the PM seemed to cool for the moment.

"What is it that you need?"

And so Kyle and Kingsley negotiated for the documents Neville and Kyle would need with a lot of huffing and puffing from the PM. But eventually he agreed to their needs and led Neville and Kyle to a cool, dark meeting room that seemed like it hadn't been used in some time. Kingsley went to accompany the PM to 'assist' him, though Neville expected it was just damage control.

"You holding up okay?" Kyle asked Neville after a long time of uncomfortable silence, unbuttoning her jacket. "You're looking a little out of sorts."

Neville looked up at her and those knowing blue eyes. "This is all just kind of insane. Doing anything without magic feels weird, but..."

"I can still take you back to Hogwarts. You don't have to go with me." She leaned in close to him, her hand on his knee. He knew she would take him back in a second if he wanted, but that wasn't going to happen.

"No. I haven't changed my mind. I'm ready to go with you and make sure you're safe. I'll be alright," Neville said, scooping her hand off his knee and holding it between his hands.

Kyle gave him a solemn, slow nod. "Alright. If you are certain this is what you want to do, then we'll handle it as it comes."

After a few hours of being left to do nothing but whisper and theorize, the door to the office opened, both ministers coming in together. Kingsley held up two large envelopes before handing one to each of them. Neville's had the name Matthew Davies written on it, while Kyle's said Nichola Davies.

"As far as anyone from any government is concerned," the Prime Minister hissed, still looking jittery. "You are good, law-abiding citizens, holding respectable jobs in London, who just so happen to have a sizable bank account. I fully expect that nothing we have discussed here will make it out of this building. And I expect you to return with this issue resolved."

Kyle opened her envelope, pulling out a passport, birth certificate, standard identification card, and a second envelope that contained banking information and a card. "I expect the same of myself. And I expect you," she turned her gaze up to the shaken Prime Minister, "to do your very best to protect our people and secrets in my absence. It's in your best interest."

The tension increased until the PM straightened up, gave an uptight nod, and left them, shutting the door to the office.

Kingsley shook his head. "I don't typically recommend threatening the Prime Minister, but I can't say I blame you. What are you planning to do now?"

"Like I said, we have to get to Atlantis. We'll have to find a good way to get there, but I think I can work something out." Kyle stood up, extending her hand to Kingsley. They shook, and then Neville shook Kingsley's hand as well.

"I want you two to be safe. And if there's any way you can get in touch with me, keep me updated. I don't want the next thing I hear from you be about unidentified bodies held up in some morgue."

"We're going to be fine," Neville reassured, though in the back of his mind he was weary about what may happen to them. Emotions from his time as an auror were already flooding back to him, but he held them back for the time, not wanting to relive the things he'd been through.

"One last thing, Kingsley," Kyle began just as Kingsley opened his mouth to speak. "It may be awhile before we can return to you with news. I know things are dire right now, but please do your best to keep the people safe and calm. Do whatever you have to, even if you have to tell them what's going on."

Kingsley gave a solemn nod to her. "I know how much you want to keep things secret. I will do what I can to prevent telling anyone I don't have to."

She let out a long sigh, as if she were a deflating balloon. "Thank you."

Kingsley's smile, forced as it may have been, lit up his features in a way Neville missed. "You two do your best but come back whole. Good news means magic is back. Great news means you're back. But let's get out of here before the Prime Minister changes his mind." He gave them both a clap on the shoulder before leading them out and back onto the street, nodding to the guards as they passed.

"Oh, before you go, Neville, I think there's someone who would like to see you before you go," Kingsley said just as they were about to part ways. "If you have the time to head to Godric's Hollow before you leave."

Neville looked at Kyle with raised brows. "Harry. What do you think? Have we got the time?"

Kyle hummed for a second, then nodded. "I can get us to Godric's Hollow. I cared for a lady there for a while, while I was still in training. We have time."

Neville gave her a big, thankful grin. There had been something missing in the back of his mind about going out on a big mission, and when Kingsley brought it up, he realized that he had been missing the reassurance of his old friends. "Great, thank you both."

And, with a duck into an alleyway and a clasp of their hands, they were off to visit Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.