A/N: I'm not sure whether you're going to like this chapter. It doesn't have much Hermione in it and no magic at all, and is altogether on a rather more serious level. But I felt I couldn't just ignore history completely.
April 2nd, 1982
"... have been attacked and occupied by strong Argentinean forces this morning. Heavily outnumbered, the British forces surrendered after short heroic resistance. The Prime Minister has called an emergency meeting ..."
"What is it, dad?" Hermione inquired. "You look quite shocked."
"What? Yes, of course I'm shocked. Who'd have believed such things were still possible today?"
"But what's happened?"
"Sorry, dear, I forgot. Apparently Argentina has attacked this group of small islands in the south Atlantic, that belong to Britain."
Seeing the blank look on his daughter's face, he continued: "Come over here, to the globe. See – this is Britain – and now – dash it, I can't even find them – well here's Argentina – "
"Oh it's a lot bigger than Britain," Hermione interrupted.
Yes, it definitely is. Well the Falkland Islands ought to be somewhere here – yes, look, these small specks – well, it seems we are fighting over this patch of land with Argentina."
"Why, dad?"
*
"Are you sure You-know-who has disappeared for good?" a very nervous Fudge said to Alastor Moody.
"This is what everyone says, minister."
"But can we be SURE?"
"If you mean, is there any PROOF, the answer is no, however, there hasn't been any report of an activity by him ever since Halloween. – I know what you mean," he added with a mirthless grin, "This business in the Atlantic looks very much like him."
"Just what I thought," Fudge stated importantly. "However he did it, he must have got some hold over the leader of that Silverania country – "
"Argentina." Moody corrected, shaking his head slightly, a gesture that was completely lost on the minister.
"Whatever. As I was saying, You-know-who must have put this president or general, or whatever he calls himself under the Imperius curse – "
"I wasn't thinking of General Galtieri," Moody remarked quietly. "He has a suppressed population to impress. I was thinking of – "
"No!" Fudge's voice was a whisper. "You don't mean HER?"
"Yes, I do. And I don't think we need Voldemort himself in this. (Don't flinch, I've always thought it was stupid not to say his name!) A tough Death eater in the right position is all this needs."
"A Death eater? Are you telling me she is – "
"I am indeed. Just look at the facts: Which muggle in their right mind would start a full-fledged war for a barren patch of land, some ten thousand miles away, with a horrible climate and almost exclusively inhabited by seals and seagulls? Can you imagine a Prime Minister doing this sort of thing unless for some sinister ulterior motive?"
For a moment, Fudge looked uncertain, but then he shook his head resolutely.
"You must be wrong, Moody. She can be rather severe, it's true, but a Death eater? No, I simply can't believe it."
*
April 5th, 1982
"... to recapture the Falklands, a first detachment of a fleet that will finally comprise 60 ships has left Portsmouth with over 3000 troops. Among the detachment are two aircraft carriers, four nuclear powered submarines ... "
"Will there be a war, dad?"
"I'm afraid so."
"But why are they doing this? These islands are so far away, and you say there's nothing there, anyway."
"I'm not sure dear. It's something called patriotism. You're supposed to do everything for your country, even die for it."
"But – what's the use? Argentina isn't going to attack us here."
"Of course not. They just want those islands for themselves, they say they belonged to them before they were made a British colony."
"And they are really next to their country, not thousands of miles away. Daddy, why don't they just let them have these silly islands and forget all about it? That's what I would do."
"I'm sure you would, dear," said George, hugging his daughter. "Unfortunately you can't. That's a thing called politics."
*
June 15th, 1982
"... declared end of hostilities. Argentine Major General Menendez signed the statement of surrender, thus fully re-establishing British sovereignty over the Falklands. It has been agreed that British ships will assist in the repatriation of the Argentine forces. The Prime Minister is going to deliver a speech in honour of the valiant British troops tomorrow. Major General Moore will receive a high decoration from the Queen ..."
"It's over, dear," George said, switching off the TV. "We've won."
"What do you mean, 'won', daddy? People have LOST their lives, haven't they?"
"Yes, they have. And you're right, I'm not so sure whether anybody has really WON anything..."
*
"See? I told you so. About one thousand people killed, and a sum of money thrown out of the window that would have kept several millions from starving. And all this for a few rocks in the middle of the sea. Are you still telling me this is the accomplishment of a normal muggle politician?"
"You're imagining things, Moody. After all, how can you be so sure how the muggle mind works? You did see how enthusiastic all the muggles were, what a wave of excitement went through the country ... Isn't it a question of values, really?"
"Values, my foot! What values are these that make people kill other people for nothing more but prestige? Or rather, that give people authority to send other people to kill in their name, while remaining safely at home all the time. I tell you, this is not just a twisted muggle mind at work, ..."
"It must be a Death eater, I know," Fudge's soothing tone did not contribute much to appeasing Moody's bad temper. "Forgive me. Alastor, I don't think you're right. And, anyway, it's not really any of our business, is it?"
"Of course not, " Moody replied sarcastically. "It's just that we live on the same planet, but of course it's none of our business. Oh, dash it all, I can't stand this any longer."
And he stormed out and slammed the door behind him.
A/N: All right, what do you think? Next part is going to be very different and a lot more magical, I promise!