Disclaimer: I am not Timothy Zahn or J.K. Rowling.
Nurmengard arrives in the Nimbus region, one of many Ministry cruisers which make up Grand Admiral Grindelwald's task force. Within the task force is the old broom with the invisibility cloak.
As he and Grindelwald study the scene from the bridge, communications officer Credence Barebone addresses Ogden.
Credence. The Slytherin has just reported in, Captain. They confirm battle ready and request order update.
Ogden. Inform Captain Mortlake that there have been no changes.
Grindelwald. Status, Captain?
Ogden. All cruisers are on line, sir. The broom's invisibility cloak has been checked out and primed. All Ministry brooms are prepped and manned. I think we're ready.
Grindelwald. [nods] Excellent. What word from the Isle of Drear?
Ogden. I don't know, Admiral. [to Credence] Lieutenant. The last report from the Isle of Drear landing force?
Credence. It was a routine report, sir. Time log: fourteen hours, ten minutes ago.
Grindelwald. [cold] Fourteen hours? I left orders for them to report every twelve.
Credence. Yes, Admiral. I have that order logged, right here on their file. They must have . . .
Credence glances helplessly at Ogden.
Ogden. [to Grindelwald] Perhaps they're having trouble with their transmitter.
Grindelwald. No. They've been taken. Potter was indeed there.
Ogden. [shakes his head] I can't believe that, sir. Potter couldn't have taken all of them, not with all those hinkypunks blocking his Auror power.
Grindelwald. I agree. Obviously, he had help.
Ogden. Dumbledore?
Grindelwald. Who else was there? So much for his protestations of neutrality.
Ogden. Perhaps we should send someone to investigate. We could probably spare a Ministry broomship, maybe even the Bluebottle.
Grindelwald. [sighs] No. The Nimbus operation is our primary concern at the moment. And battles have been lost before on the presence or absence of a single broom. Dumbledore and his betrayal will keep for later. [to Credence] Signal the broom. Have them activate the Cloak of Invisibility.
Credence. Yes, sir.
The crewmembers of the battered broom activate the Cloak of Invisibility.
Invisibility cloak on, Admiral.
Grindelwald. [nods] Order them to proceed.
Credence. Yes, sir.
The broom moves past Nurmengard, toward Nimbus, and leaps into lightspeed.
Grindelwald. Time mark.
Derrick. Time marked.
Grindelwald. [to Ogden] Is my flagship ready, Captain?
Ogden. Nurmengard is fully at your command, Admiral.
Grindelwald. Good. We follow the broom in exactly six hours, twenty minutes. I want a final check from all broomships. And I want you to remind them one last time that our task is only to engage and pin down the region's defenses. There are to be no special heroics or risks taken. Make that clearly understood, Captain. We're here to gain brooms, not lose them.
Ogden. Yes, sir.
Ogden steps forward.
Grindelwald. And Captain?
Ogden. Yes, Admiral?
Grindelwald. [smiles] Remind them, too, that our final victory over the Army begins here.
Exit all.
