A/N: insaneflautist: ask and ye shall receive. Here it is. In case, anybody should wonder (I know, nobody does, but still g) the chapter title is from "Hello Dolly" and there performed by Walter Matthau.

This one is to my London Ladies: Ms. Mona, Louise and Edna, who probably won't read this, but make me look like the sensible one of us. 'Suck, don't blow, Ladies." lol

Chapter 4 "It takes a Woman"


The discussion was in full swing as they came into the hall. An overwhelming mix of languages filled the room as two different opinions battled for supremacy.


Dumbledore took his place at the head-table and raised his hands "Silence, please!" he called out. Slowly the shouting and murmuring ceased. "Now, would you please state your proposals one by one."


Immediately the noise exploded again.


The auburn-haired wizard shook his head. "Silence!" he called again. Slightly exasperated he added "I asked for an order in your statements. So, Giovanni," he turned to a raven-haired wizard to his left, "please, do start."


The man declared with a heavy Italian accent, "Italy is the weakest point in the defence against the Dark forces and the German Muggle army. Even the Muggle Prime Minister said so. We, the Italian Fighters, therefore demand that our forces are to be concentrated there…"


A blonde wizard from a table in the middle interrupted angrily. In a fast, rolling tongue he agitatedly addressed the wizards around him.


Albus desperately turned to Minerva. "That's Dimitri."
Minerva grinned, "So…"


"He speaks Russian. I don't understand that. And no one else does either."
"And you want me to help?"


Dumbledore rolled his eyes "Yes, if you would be so kind."


The woman grinned again. "I will. Although Uray could do that much better, but since he isn't inclined to do anything," she said with a sideways glance at her brother, who sat unmoving in corner. Then she turned to the still jabbering Russian wizard: "Dimitri, please, speak a bit more slowly and I will tell the others, what you want to say."


The man regarded her with a grateful smile and started his comments again.


Minerva translated the proposal as such "He says that we should keep up the strategy we use now. Tag along with the Muggle armies. They pull the ring around Germany closer and closer. Not only do those German Muggle soldiers loose more and more ground but Grindelwald's forces do as well. We just rise the pressure and corner them in Germany. And there and then we can defeat them."


Nods and murmurs of agreement were heard and seen around the room. Only Giovanni was not convinced: "This strategy means that we would have to go all the way to Berlin, in the hope that Grindelwald will stick to his Muggle partner Hitler's side until the end. What if he doesn't?"


Luc chimed in "Of course, we cannot know that, Giovanni. But if we concentrate our advance on one side we are more vulnerable. The way we are now - widespread - gives us more security."


Arabella added "Luc is right. To attack like a spear from the South would mean too many casualties on our side. Dimitri described it well. The ring around the Dark Forces becomes closer, just like the one the Muggle soldiers draw around Hitler's troops. They loose territory until they have nothing left."


A silence ensued as everybody contemplated the comments made. Finally all eyes turned to Dumbledore.


Sensing the demand to make the decision for all of them, he stood up with a deep breath. "Although, Giovanni's proposal has it's advantages, I am in favour of keeping our current strategy. In my opinion, we should advance with the Muggle allies. Once we are in Germany, we will encounter Grindelwald's forces, because they have no place to hide anymore. Then we will fight the final battle. Everybody here should be aware that this fight will be life and death. Grindelwald's forces will have nothing to loose, but we will have everything to gain." He paused here. "Therefore, I ask everybody in this room to vote for or against this strategy."


Arabella looked around. "Very well, let's do the voting. Everybody, who favours a change of strategy and wants to advance via Italy, please raise your hand…"


Nobody reacted.


Arabella turned to Minerva and grinned. The younger witch took over. "Everybody, who is in favour of keeping our current strategy, please, raise your hand now…"


A forest of hands shot up.


Minerva's grin broadened. "Seems like we have an unanimous decision for continued following of the advance of the Muggle allied armies. Thank you all, for your input."


Dumbledore smiled over the crowd "And now, since this meeting shall not only be business, but fun - let the feast begin."

Everybody settled down in a much more relaxed atmosphere.

****


"She is doing that well, isn't she?" a familiar voice told Uray in his corner.


"It certainly seems as if she is in her element." He replied.


"Why is it then that you are sitting here in a corner? Letting her catch the praise for her language ability, instead of you?"


"I am not particularly eager to be in the spotlight, Peri. And she is doing so well in there. Why should I interrupt that? I am so proud that she is handling such a crowd with such remarkable ease. It's very different from the girl who was sporting a scowl at every official function we attended."


The voice in the shadow held an unmistakable trace of amusement "Seems like you have been taken over. Now you have your face arranged in a scowl."


"If you only knew, Peri. If you only knew…"

****

A/N + stuff: Hmm…I have to admit this chapter was a bit heavy on history. But hey, I'm German and a historian. You didn't expect me to throw this aside, didn't you? Besides, since I set up this meeting, I thought I might just as well use it. Also, it came to me that I'm still writing a challenge response, so with the next chapter we are actually going into the wedding affair. Just stay on this road with me….

MK: Yes, big brothers are 'wonderful'. I have one like that. The odd thing is, it's perfectly alright for his teenage daughter to have a boyfriend, but it's a huge problem with me. Once I brought my boyfriend to my birthday party and the whole clan lead by my brother ganged up on him. Needless to say, I didn't have this boyfriend much longer.

Selene: I'm afraid I won't address her parents in here. But since I get the feeling that I'm not done with story telling I might come up with another one.

Child-of-the-Dawn: Thanks for the suggestion. I will take it up in the next chapter.

Isis Malfoy, my dear beta: You are right about the aristocracy-thing. I've got the idea from you story "The Wizards,...". You made the McGonagalls direct heirs of Gryffindor and I thought that this must count for something. So I actually had the idea to make them something like aristocrats. I think, I might address that in a later chapter, but maybe you could remind me again?