Disclaimer: I am not Timothy Zahn or J.K. Rowling.
On board the Obliviate, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Peasegood discuss their pyrrhic victory.
Peasegood. Not exactly what you'd call a resounding victory. It's going to take a couple months' work just to rewire all the control circuits.
Ron. Would you rather the Ministry have gotten it whole?
Peasegood. Not at all. You did what you had to. And I'd say that even if my own neck hadn't been on the line. I'm just saying what others will say: that destroying all these brooms in order to save them was not exactly the optimal solution.
Ron exchanges looks with Harry.
Ron. You sound like Senator Scrimgeour.
Peasegood. [nods] Exactly.
Harry. Well, fortunately, Scrimgeour's only one voice.
Ron. Yeah, but it's a loud one.
Neville. And one that a lot of people are starting to listen to . . . including important military people.
Peasegood. He'll find some way to parlay this incident into his own political gain. You just watch him.
A transmission comes through from Devlin Whitehorn of Nimbus Control.
[into transmitter] Peasegood here.
Whitehorn's Voice. [over transmitter] Control communications. We have an incoming call from London for Captain Weasley. Is he with you?
Ron. [into transmitter] Right here. Go ahead.
Hermione's Voice. Ron? It's Hermione.
Ron. [grins] Hermione. [frowns] Wait a minute. What are you doing back in London?
Hermione's Voice. I think I've taken care of our other problem . . . at least for the moment.
Harry and Ron exchange looks.
Ron. You think?
Hermione's Voice. Look, that's not important right now. What's important is that you get back here right away.
Ron. [wary] What's wrong?
Hermione's Voice. Admiral Murcus has been arrested and removed from command . . . on charges of treason.
Silence falls at these words, and Ron exchanges looks with Harry, Neville, and Peasegood, all of whom seem just as horrified as he.
Ron. [grim] I'll be there as soon as I can. Harry's here, too. You want me to bring him?
Hermione's Voice. Yes, if he can manage it. Murcus is going to need all the friends he can get.
Ron. Okay. Call me in the Anglia if there's any more news. We're heading over there right now.
Hermione's Voice. I'll see you soon. I love you, Ron.
Ron. Me, too.
Ron breaks the connection and turns back to Harry, Neville, and Peasegood.
Well, there goes the hammer. You coming, Harry?
Harry. [turns to Neville] Have your people had a chance to do anything with my Firebolt yet?
Neville. [shakes his head] Not yet. But it's just been officially bumped to the top of the priority list. We'll have it ready to fly in two hours, even if I have to take the motivators out of my own broom to do it.
Harry nods, then turns back to Ron.
Harry. I'll fly into London on my own, then. Let me just come with you and get Hedwig off the Anglia.
Ron. Right. Come on.
Ron and Harry set off.
Peasegood. Good luck.
Exit Peasegood and Neville.
Harry. We could be on the edge of a civil war here.
Ron. Yeah, well, we're not going to let that happen. We haven't gone through a war and back just to watch some overambitious Gryffindor wreck it.
Harry. How are we going to stop him?
Ron. [grimaces] We'll think of something.
Exit all.
