On the underground back home, Harry eavesdropped on Mad-Eye Moody,
who was chatting to Mr. Weasley and relating his World War II stories.
"One of the first things Churchill did when he became prime minister was get in contact with Minister of Magic Gladduck Roach and ask for wizard assistance with the war. (Aside from all the obvious reasons, Neville Chamberlain got the axe because he was staunchly against getting magical folk involved.) But the war was going badly enough at that point that even some of the more conservative men in the government were behind acquiring any help they could.
"So, the Royal Wizard Air Force was formed. I signed up right out of Hogwarts because they promised to pay for my auror training. Probably would have done it anyway. I got placed in the Third Forward Guard. We'd get up every morning, grab our brooms (Nimbus 1940 and 41s), and fly across the channel to patrol the France-Belgium border."
"The Muggles didn't see you, did they?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Oh, sometimes, though we were usually Disillusioned. The Muggle superiors always managed to convince the few that did spot us that they were shell shocked and didn't know what they had seen, or that we were riding classified technology."
"Why couldn't you have just flown into Germany and crushed them all to bits?" interrupted Ginny, who was sitting next to her father.
"Think, girl!" growled Moody. "There are wizards in Germany, too! Berlin had an army of 150 aurors surrounding it, and there were about 4000 more dispersed throughout Germany and other Nazi territories. Not to mention the fact that Grindelwald was roaming around Europe back then! If you ask me, I have a very good idea who in the German Wizard government was good mates with Hitler."
"Who?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Matthaus Metzger."
"That sounds vaguely familiar. He was the Non-Magical Allegiances Director, or whatever they call it in Germany, right?"
"Yep. Had family in England helping him, too, though they'd changed their name to Malfoy after the first war."
Somehow, Harry was not at all surprised.
"You're being paranoid again, Alastor."
"No, that's a verified fact. They Malfoys were spies. Naturally, they've since apologized and paid generous reparations." Moody flicked the remains of his nose deviously. "Constant vigilance!"
"What was it like out there, flying?" Ginny interrupted again.
"Cold. We had to hover above airplane level when we were on patrol. I only saw a little bit of action. On my first big skirmish with an Axis flying carpet squadron I was knocked off my broom and plunged several thousand feet. I managed to slow my fall midair with a parachute charm, but I broke my leg in three places when I hit ground. Damn POW camp mediwizards never put it back together properly. I think they did it out of spite. Hurt like Merlin's warts for years. It was almost a relief when that wiffling fangroller took it off a few decades later."
Harry heard Ginny suppress an "eeugh!"
Later, back at 12 Grimmauld Place, Mrs. Weasley made lemon tea for them all as they sat around the kitchen table. Moody had taken his cup and stomped off to harass Mundungus for moving two dozen illegal pink cabbages into the house while they were gone, and Sirius for not stopping him. Tonks was entertaining Ginny and Herminone with her transforming noses again, and Lupin was relating the day's events to Sirius, who had since slipped down into the kitchen to avoid Moody. Something in the tea had made Harry very sleepy. He and Ron crept upstairs, brushed their teeth, and climbed into bed. The room was dark and they were going to sleep, when suddenly there was a loud CRACK and Ron screamed.
"STOP APPARATING ON ME!"
"Sorry mates. How was the Order's day out?"
Fred and George gazed expectantly down at them in the darkness.
*** The End *** Ha ha! A complete story! Aren't you grateful? I know you are, so please review.
"One of the first things Churchill did when he became prime minister was get in contact with Minister of Magic Gladduck Roach and ask for wizard assistance with the war. (Aside from all the obvious reasons, Neville Chamberlain got the axe because he was staunchly against getting magical folk involved.) But the war was going badly enough at that point that even some of the more conservative men in the government were behind acquiring any help they could.
"So, the Royal Wizard Air Force was formed. I signed up right out of Hogwarts because they promised to pay for my auror training. Probably would have done it anyway. I got placed in the Third Forward Guard. We'd get up every morning, grab our brooms (Nimbus 1940 and 41s), and fly across the channel to patrol the France-Belgium border."
"The Muggles didn't see you, did they?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Oh, sometimes, though we were usually Disillusioned. The Muggle superiors always managed to convince the few that did spot us that they were shell shocked and didn't know what they had seen, or that we were riding classified technology."
"Why couldn't you have just flown into Germany and crushed them all to bits?" interrupted Ginny, who was sitting next to her father.
"Think, girl!" growled Moody. "There are wizards in Germany, too! Berlin had an army of 150 aurors surrounding it, and there were about 4000 more dispersed throughout Germany and other Nazi territories. Not to mention the fact that Grindelwald was roaming around Europe back then! If you ask me, I have a very good idea who in the German Wizard government was good mates with Hitler."
"Who?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Matthaus Metzger."
"That sounds vaguely familiar. He was the Non-Magical Allegiances Director, or whatever they call it in Germany, right?"
"Yep. Had family in England helping him, too, though they'd changed their name to Malfoy after the first war."
Somehow, Harry was not at all surprised.
"You're being paranoid again, Alastor."
"No, that's a verified fact. They Malfoys were spies. Naturally, they've since apologized and paid generous reparations." Moody flicked the remains of his nose deviously. "Constant vigilance!"
"What was it like out there, flying?" Ginny interrupted again.
"Cold. We had to hover above airplane level when we were on patrol. I only saw a little bit of action. On my first big skirmish with an Axis flying carpet squadron I was knocked off my broom and plunged several thousand feet. I managed to slow my fall midair with a parachute charm, but I broke my leg in three places when I hit ground. Damn POW camp mediwizards never put it back together properly. I think they did it out of spite. Hurt like Merlin's warts for years. It was almost a relief when that wiffling fangroller took it off a few decades later."
Harry heard Ginny suppress an "eeugh!"
Later, back at 12 Grimmauld Place, Mrs. Weasley made lemon tea for them all as they sat around the kitchen table. Moody had taken his cup and stomped off to harass Mundungus for moving two dozen illegal pink cabbages into the house while they were gone, and Sirius for not stopping him. Tonks was entertaining Ginny and Herminone with her transforming noses again, and Lupin was relating the day's events to Sirius, who had since slipped down into the kitchen to avoid Moody. Something in the tea had made Harry very sleepy. He and Ron crept upstairs, brushed their teeth, and climbed into bed. The room was dark and they were going to sleep, when suddenly there was a loud CRACK and Ron screamed.
"STOP APPARATING ON ME!"
"Sorry mates. How was the Order's day out?"
Fred and George gazed expectantly down at them in the darkness.
*** The End *** Ha ha! A complete story! Aren't you grateful? I know you are, so please review.
