Chapter 29 – Our Second Meeting with Ginny's Committee
From the Journal of Freddie James Potter – 4 October 2013
Hogwarts was almost back to normal yesterday. All of my normal classes were taught. I've read ahead for my other classes because I will miss them all today. Another chance to learn what is happening in the bigger world of magical beings at the exact same time that most of the leaders learn what's happening. It really is an honour. I'm sorry I got so angry on the first day of class that I accused Mum of being a bad Mum. I feel guilty that the reward for my angry misbehaviour is being allowed to attend her committee meetings. Not only did I make her cry, but I caused a great desire to prove that she is a good Mum and isn't hiding things from me that I would be safer knowing about. I feel a little guilty that this is why I am here today. Not guilty enough that I don't want to be here, but still, quite guilty. We arrived before Hogwarts breakfast time. There is food here in Aunt Cissy's garden. Another beautiful day, if a very cool morning. Coat over my robes and a sweater to switch to later. Good food of the sort which Hogwarts doesn't serve normally. Chocolate croissants, coffee or rich hot chocolate or tea or a variety of fancy flavoured coffees, freshly made omelettes with sharp cheddar cheese and fresh tomatoes and herbs, baked ham, oven-fried potatoes. It is all so delicious and there are sweet rolls for later.
I should mention that in addition to Headmaster Longbottom, Professor McGonagall travelled with us this time. Apparently, she and Aunt Cissy had made peace after the last meeting. Cissy's combo-twin husband joined us for this meeting. Looking around, I saw a row of weighted duelling-practice dummies lined up at the end of the garden. I knew this would be a most interesting meeting.
Aunt Hermione and Mum reported that their meeting with Head Priestess Anile was most friendly. Anile was still on our side and still nominally in control of her world. Supreme Leader Bison had been dead for six years. In the scramble to succeed him, Marshal Igo and Anile had both been bypassed. An up-and-coming officer Marwa, who was popular with both the traditional forces and those loyal to Anile, was the new compromise Supreme Leader. He had gradually consolidated his power but wasn't secure in his position. He was closer to the traditional rival priests and priestesses but was not strong enough (yet?) to challenge Anile or the soldiers who support her. Anile reported that Supreme Leader Marwa wanted to meet with Minister Hermione and Mum. They agreed. I am telling this story in strict order because these were extremely important diplomatic meetings, and they were reported at probably the most important committee meeting of my lifetime. I don't want to jump ahead to the ending.
Supreme Leader Marwa told Mum and Minister Hermione that as Supreme Leader, he was entitled to be the first to meet with them. it was simply basic diplomatic courtesy. Minister Hermione apologised, saying "we didn't even know you were the Supreme Leader when the meeting with Anile was set. We know her; we don't know you. Marwa waved his hand, as if the slight were of no importance. He reported that "the death of our agent at Hogwarts and the defeat of his forces in seid space was yet another unfortunate defeat for the Veneran soldier caste. Our world had aided Anile in defeating his caste years ago and it hadn't fully recovered its stature since then. He admitted "my predecessor, Supreme Leader Bison, foolishly bet too heavily upon Szilard and his tall tales or should I say lies. Still, that defeat stung, and the soldier caste has been split in half since then. The traditional priests and priestesses are barely holding up their heads and clearly subordinate to Anile's faction. That is not good for my people. Your interference in our affairs must end."
Minister Hermione interrupted him to state that the interference in another world's affairs had been Venera's doing, not hers. They had deliberately invaded our world and tried to murder school students. They had been warned the last time they assisted in the murder of school students, that we would react more strongly in future.
When reminded that our world had left his strictly alone since that time, he replied "we have long memories, and the effects of your prior actions upon our national pride and the position of our castes doesn't vanish nearly that quickly. I needed to show that I was willing to redress your assault."
Minister Hermione ended the meeting with him, telling him that he would be well advised not to send any more of his forces into seid-space. He should know that we would view that as an act of war and respond accordingly.
Break
From the Journal of Rose Weasley - 4 October 2013
The committee was in an uproar. Many insisted upon an immediate strike against Venera, specifically against the huge pro-Marwa barracks and military base. "The big bomb is called for!" I heard that from multiple committee members, and it was largely met with cheers and shouts of "Yes!"
Percy took the opposing view "Minister Hermione issued an ultimatum, based upon Venerans entering seid-space. If they stay away from seid-space, we should not attack and allow them to calm down."
"Exactly what do they have to be angry about. They invaded us; they tried to murder our children," Uncle Harry and Ron complained as one.
While the debate raged, with Percy and his fellow diplomats clearly in the minority, an urgent Stone message was received from Asgard: "THE VENERANS ARE ATTACKING OUR DEFENCES ON THE MAIN SEID LINK BETWEEN OUR WORLD AND THEIRS. THEY ATTACKED WITH LARGE NUMBERS. URGENT SUPPORT REQUIRED!
Twenty aurors with a dozen wand arrays and several largish, but no so large as to destroy the ribbon-between-worlds bombs were immediately dispatched to the Asgard side of the ribbon-between-worlds. Strengthening of our own defences was ordered and immediately put into action. Minister Mum, Dad, Uncle Harry, and Director Shacklebolt left the meeting at once. Mum said they would stay in contact with us by Stone and we should continue the meeting. "Use of the really big bomb should be considered."
Aunt Cissy's duo-husband Henry-Alice spoke loudly enough to silence the competing speakers. "We must go to the Asgard ribbon-between-worlds at once. Next to David's really big bomb, we are the strongest weapon our world has." They were urged to wait for the second wave of our reinforcements. Aunt Cissy was at first horrified, but then admitted: "I must go with them. We have practiced this. We do horrendously powerful triple minor curses, like 'Off!". We can work in perfect unison. Our 'Ex-ter-me-nate! will be devastating."
"Take a wand array," one of the aurors urged. They thought that unnecessary, possibly even dangerous, but agreed it could be a back-up second shot to avoid being trapped. Aagog quickly volunteered a dozen giant, full-grown Acromantula to escort them. Cho and Viktor agreed to Apparate them where they needed to be. David said that he would have the really big bomb and a device to carry it to its target in the Black Stone cavern in two hours, if someone could Apparate it. Two aurors volunteered. They and David were gone. The Acromantula arrived and the twins and our second wave were also gone. It was a time for waiting.
We soon received word that our first wave of reinforcements had arrived on the Asgard-to-Venera ribbon-between-worlds. Despite having dozens of their own Acromantula committed to the battle, the Aesir defenders were feeling shaky about their ability to hold their position. Our leader, who made this report, indicated that with our support, he felt the Aesir could withstand the Veneran attack. "The fighting was fierce!"
"Not surprising!" Mum told us by Stone link. "The Venerans' main quarrel is with the Aesir. They hate and fear them and hold old grudges from what were actually their wrongs against the Aesir. They are determined to avenge their loss of pride."
The next report was that the really big bomb was in the Black Rock cavern beneath Hogwarts. Mum ordered its transport to the Asgard ribbon-between-worlds. McGonagall and Professor Celine led the transport team, along with a half dozen British soldiers and a half dozen aurors.
Cissy reported that she and her husband had arrived. The battle was turning in our favour but was still fierce and undecided. They would launch their attack. A minute later she told us "Wow! We almost also nailed ourselves and the aurors who were protecting us. Utter devastation ahead of us, but the ribbon hasn't been breached. Our side is surging forward. We're going to rest here with our wand array and two protection aurors. We aren't much use in the battle, until we've recharged. We will eat, drink, and rest as calmly as possible under these conditions."
An hour later, our lead auror reported that they had advanced as far along the ribbon as they felt was safe and were setting up a new defensive position. Cissy and her husband had joined them.
It was dinnertime when we received the report that the really big bomb and its team had arrived at the advance fortification on the ribbon-between-worlds. Aunt Ginny announced that she was taking three ravens to that location, in order to scout ahead on the ribbon and eventually on Venera. She said that she knew from experience that the ravens would have an exceedingly difficult time flying on Venera, but that Mum had bred some super-strong ravens and Aunt Ginny was taking three of those. Prime Minister David said that the bomb team had a spy drone, and they would launch that, when our forces had advanced closer to Venera on the ribbon.
The lead auror reported that they had discovered several bombs left behind by the Venerans and had managed to Apparate them off the ribbon. The smallest Aesir spiders and two of our Elves, along with two Aesir ravens were scouting ahead on the ribbon for bombs and Venerans.
Break
From the Journal of Scorpius Malfoy - 4 October 2013
My turn to take up the account. Even with Aunt Cissy away at the battlefront, her servants kept us fed. It was an exceptionally good dinner. We sat into the evening, finally moving indoors to the assembly room of Aunt Cissy's castle. We received another update from Ginny: there was no resistance from the Venerans as our forces moved forward. Some more bombs were found and disposed off the ribbon. An hour later we got a report of contact with the Venerans. They had what seemed to be a very substantial and well-manned fall-back defensive position. Cissy and her husband, very well rested after the lag in the fighting, unleashed another triple 'Ex-ter-me-nate! The result was almost as impressive as the first use of their weapon. The mini fortress the Venerans had built astride the ribbon absorbed much of the power of that awesome curse. It was demolished. The integrity of the ribbon still held. Cissy and her party hung back as the main force carefully advanced, scouring the wreckage of the fortress for hidden bombs. They found almost three dozen dead Venerans and a half dozen bombs. One bomb exploded as it was being disposed, killing an Aesir fighter. The ravens reported that the way ahead was clear."
It was 11:00 P.M. when we received the next report. Ginny said her ravens showed the ribbon to be clear, all the way to the off ribbons to Venera. They had also just received a message that Supreme Leader Marwa sought diplomatic contact. He was promised that he could come forward without being cursed.
Percy and Callista insisted upon travelling to the ribbon to talk to Supreme Leader Marwan.
Dad showed up at midnight with some local news: "Your Potter's Forest farm family aren't the enemy. They were coerced. The Death Eaters kidnapped their daughter. They were forced to keep silent and hide some of the Death Eaters and provide food and water to other Death Eaters. They were told that their daughter would die if they said anything. It wouldn't surprise me if she were already dead. She was taken five days ago. That's a long time. We searched all of Barnabas's properties. That's where I'd expect her to be if she's still alive."
That information was passed on by Stone to Minister Hermione and Director Shacklebolt. We received a message back from Prosecutor Longbottom that she would approve the search of any properties connected to Barnabas. Just tell her the locations and she'd prepare the parchment.
Headmaster Longbottom suggested that perhaps we students might want to return to our dorms and catch some sleep. After a quick private whisper session, Freddie spoke for us: "no way. If the grown-ups can stay awake, so can we. We can tell how important this is."
"So be it," the headmaster mumbled.
It was a few minutes past 1:00 A.M. when we heard from Percy. The Supreme Leader Marwa wanted to halt the fighting and have each side return to their positions prior to the start of hostilities. If we accepted this, then the Venerans would not blame us for their current defeat and would not seek retribution for their loss in the future. Apparently, the leader of the Aesir warriors uttered a very dirty Aesir curse and ordered Marwa to leave. Our forces continued to advance on the travel ribbons into Venera. We were told that Ginny intended to Apparate into the Veneran Black Rock and meet with Anile.
"That settles it, I can't go to bed while Mum's in danger," Freddie declared.
Ginny got back to us a little after 3:00 A.M. Anile approved a big bomb on Marwa's military headquarters, which housed most of the soldiers aligned against her. Ginny has apparently questioned her closely and determined that there were no children at the base, or within twenty miles of it. The base maintained a cleared buffer zone as a defensive perimeter. Families with children lived beyond that. Only the wives who were fairly high-ranking traditional priestesses of the kind opposed to Anile were allowed to live on base with their husbands.
While Ginny had met with Anile, the British drone and Minister Hermione's special ravens were exploring the path to Marwa's headquarters barracks and the British team was preparing the really big bomb for launch. The launch came at 5:23 our time. By 6:00 A.M. Marwa's base was no more. Cissy and her husband had led a team of spiders and priestesses aligned with Anile in an attack upon the temple headquarters of the opposing traditional priests and priestesses. Cissy and husband shattered the defensive wall and also took out the main entrance barrier with their first curse. The blast knocked out the candles and lanterns, leaving the interior of the temple in darkness. The spiders hunted by smell. They could tell priest from priestess and old priestess from young priestess. They spared the young priestesses, but the priests and the ruling older priestesses were bitten. The attackers Apparated away as quickly as they had arrived and breached the temple.
At 8:20, Ginny, Cissy, and her husband, and many of our forces began arriving at Cissy's castle. "We won!" She told us.
"We're keeping a large garrison on the ribbon-between-worlds, just in case." Ginny elaborated.
Back to Hogwarts, both too tired and too excited to sleep, but in time for breakfast. What a day of history unfolding around us.