Disclaimer: I am not George Lucas or J.K. Rowling.
Enter Ginny and Aberforth, at their base at the Isle of Drear.
Aberforth. Come in, Ginny. Close the door behind you.
Ginny. Trouble?
Aberforth. A minor problem only. A bit of an awkward one, though. Zeph Salvage just called to say he was on his way in . . . and he has guests: former Wizards' Council generals Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley.
Ginny. [tense] What do they want?
Aberforth. Apparently, just to talk to me.
Ginny. Did they bring their own ship?
Aberforth. Theirs is the only one coming in, actually. Salvage's riding with them.
Ginny. A hostage?
Aberforth. [shakes his head] I don't think so. He gave all the proper all-clear passwords. The Barman's still in Norfolk, been impounded by the local authorities or some such. Apparently, Thomas and Weasley helped Salvage avoid a similar fate.
Ginny. Then thank them, have them put Salvage down and tell them to get out of the region. You didn't invite them here.
Aberforth. True. On the other hand, Salvage seems to think he's under a certain obligation to them.
Ginny. Then let him pay it back on his own time.
Aberforth. Salvage is one of my associates. His debts are the organization's. You should know that by now.
Ginny. You're not going to give Potter to them, are you?
Aberforth. Alive, you mean?
Ginny. [angry] I don't suppose it's occurred to you that Weasley and Thomas might have engineered this whole thing, including the Barman's impoundment, as a way of finding this base.
Aberforth. It's occurred to me, yes. I dismissed it as somewhat farfetched.
Ginny. [sardonic] Of course. The great and noble Ron Weasley would never do something so devious, would he? You never answered my question.
Aberforth. About Potter? I thought I'd made it clear, Ginny, that he stays here until I know why Grand Admiral Grindelwald is so interested in acquiring him. At the very least, we need to know what he's worth, and to whom, before we can set a fair market price for him. I have some feelers out. With luck, we should know in a few more days.
Ginny. And meanwhile, his allies will be here in a few more minutes.
Aberforth. Yes. Potter will have to be moved somewhere a bit more out of the way. We obviously can't risk Weasley and Thomas stumbling over him. I want you to move him to the number four storage shed.
Ginny. That's where we're keeping that droid of his.
Aberforth. The shed's got two rooms. Put him in the other one.
Aberforth indicates the lightwand at Ginny's waist.
And do remember to lose that before our guests arrive. I doubt they'd fail to recognize it.
Ginny. Don't worry. If it's all the same to you, I'd just as soon not have much to do with them.
Aberforth. I wasn't planning for you to. I'd like you here when I greet them and possibly to join us for dinner, as well. Other than that, you're excused from all social activities.
Ginny. So they're staying the day?
Aberforth. And possibly the night, as well. Requirements of a proper host aside, can you think of a better way for us to prove to the Council, should the need arise, that Potter was never here?
Ginny. Are you warning the rest of the Hog's Head's crew to keep quiet?
Aberforth. I'm doing better than that. I've sent everyone who knows about Potter off to get the Silver Goat prepped. Which reminds me . . . After you move Potter, I want you to run his Firebolt farther back under the trees, no more than half a kilometer. I don't want you to go through any more of the forest alone than you have to. Can you fly a Firebolt?
Ginny. I can fly anything.
Aberforth. [smiles] Good. You'd better be off, then. The Ford Anglia will be landing in less than twenty minutes.
Ginny. All right.
Ginny exits the room.
Exit Aberforth.
Ginny enter Harry's cell.
Enter Harry.
Get your case and let's go. It's moving day.
Harry. Aberforth has made a decision?
Ginny. You're moving to one of the storage sheds. We've got company coming, and we don't have any formal wear your size. Come on, move.
Ginny leads Harry to the shed.
In here.
Ginny shoves Harry inside.
Harry. Looks cozy. Probably quiet, too.
Ginny. Ideal for Auror meditation. We'll get a cot or something in for you later. Food, too.
Harry. I'm all right for now.
Ginny. Ask me if I care. Enjoy the quiet.
Ginny seals Harry inside and exits.
Harry. I've been in worse places. At least there's no Horntail here.
Harry rises and examines the lock, only to discover that Ginny has damaged the lock, making that impossible. Looking around the room, Harry searches for a new escape route, to no avail. Finally, after much effort, Harry discovers a power outlet. As the Auror tries to mess with the out let, he hears something.
Hedwig's Voice. [beeps and whistles]
Harry. Hedwig. Is that you?
Hedwig's Voice. [beeps and whistles]
Harry. Steady, Hedwig. I'm going to try and get this power outlet open. There's probably one on your side, too. Can you get it open?
Hedwig's Voice. [beeps and whistles]
Harry. No, huh? Well, just hang on, then.
As Harry removes the cover from his outlet, he is able to see the outlet in Hedwig's room.
I don't think I can get your outlet open from here. Is your room locked?
Hedwig's Voice. Negative.
Harry. Restraining bolt?
Hedwig's Voice. Affirmative.
Harry. Never mind. If there's enough wire in here to reach to the door, I should be able to unlock it. Then we can both get out of here.
Harry inches out a low-voltage wire from the outlet.
It's going to be a few more minutes.
Harry tries to manipulate the lock, with the added risk of accidentally electrocuting himself.
What I wouldn't give to have my lightwand back for a minute.
As Harry tries to cut the wire, he accidentally touches it and jerks his hand back.
Uh-oh.
Hedwig's Voice. What's wrong?
Harry. I just touched one of the wires, and I didn't get a shock.
Hedwig's Voice. [whistles]
Harry. Yeah. [aside] So Aberforth and Ginny didn't make a mistake, after all. They have already cut the power to the outlet.
The wire still in hand, Harry searches for a different power source, his eyes finally falliing on his prosthetic hand.
Hedwig. You know anything about cybernetic limb replacements?
Hedwig's Voice. [whistles cautiously]
Harry. It shouldn't take too much. All I need to do is get one of the power supplies out. Think you can walk me through the procedure?
Hedwig's Voice. [beeps]
Harry. Good. Let's get to it.
Exit all.
