Black Dawn – Book 2 (Exodus)
Chapter 6
--------------------------------- Darwin's Bay, Australia – January 5th --------------------------------------------------------
"Bloody hell Harry!" Ron stalked up to him holding the copy of the Quibbler. "What if someone else comes looking?"
"What was I supposed to do Ron? Not get food?" Harry glared at Ron, the glamour already fading, his eyes returning to their natural green, the last of the brilliant blue fading.
"Cover your bloody scar! Use a bandage for Merlin's sake!"
"I forgot, ok?"
Hermione stood up. "Alright, enough. Harry, go see Minister Jones and explain it to her, I'm sure she can get this all straight."
Harry shot one more look at Ron. "As if last month's debacle wasn't enough." He tossed the Quibbler down and steadying himself cast the glamour turning his hair dark mahogany brown. He turned to Harry eerily light blue eyes boring into his friend. "Don't screw up again Potter. We have far too much riding on this."
Hermione cast the glamour and her hair turned deep red, her jade green eyes reminded Harry of his mother. "I'm sorry Harry, but Ron is right. Now, more than ever we have to be careful." They left heading for their apartment.
Ginny plopped down on the couch and snuggled close. "It's actually quite funny. The only paper to run the article is also the only one that no one will believe."
Harry thought for a bit. "Perhaps. Though it'll only take a black and white picture and we are done for. Ron's right. I need to be more careful."
Harry sighed and picked up his cell phone. He dialed a number and waited. "Sam? Yeah, this is Jose. Look, you are right, I'll be more careful. Tell Julia I'm going to call her aunt and see if she can help me fix things up ok?" He paused listening to the person on the other end of the line. "Yeah, I know." A longer pause. "No we'll be fine. Promise." He listened some more his green eyes surveying the contents of the room. "No it's on schedule. End of the month we can move in." He grabbed a pen and paper off the table. "Right. No, talk to Tr – Talk to Bruno about letting the others in. But only our people, I don't want anyone else on site."
He hung up. "Let's go see shall we?" He had a mischievous glint in his eyes and Ginny felt her heart soar.
They stood and cast their glamour and Harry pulled a hat over his scar. "I feel so stupid." They Disapparated and appeared on a cliff overlooking a massive costal valley. The sheltered bay looked to be isolated from virtually everywhere. There in the center was a building, new and shining in the light. Construction crews were working virtually around the clock on building the core of his city. They walked hand in hand down the path into the valley.
Midway down they were met by a troll. The troll's massive body was covered in a patchwork of scars and old wounds. "'Oo gos dere?" The troll lumbered up to them glaring.
Harry removed his hat and glancing around removed the glamour. "It's me, Harry Potter."
The troll smiled, in a manner Harry truly hoped was its attempt at warmth. "Right. You cun pass." The couple continued their way down the path, and Trog stepped back into the cover of the trees.
They passed three more check points until they reached the cleared area surrounding the core buildings. Harry lead the way to a small tent stepping in he noticed three goblins looking at plans. "Yes?" The leader snapped at Harry.
"I'm here to check in on the progress." Harry stated.
"We are on schedule. Occupation can begin in two weeks time." The goblin returned to his papers.
"One week."
The goblin didn't even look up. "One week five days, but only if there's a bonus."
Harry looked at his fingers. "Gollup said he could finish in five days."
The goblin growled. "Fine, one week. Double bonus."
Harry reached out his hand. "Deal." The goblin grasped it and the deal was sealed. "One week from tomorrow occupancy begins."
They left the tent and walked to the building in the center of the construction site. The building itself was complete they walked into the structure, and Harry smiled. The polished marble floors gleamed over the symbol of the phoenix emblazoned under the words 'ex cineris corruptio'. A glossy obsidian desk guarded the only entrance to the building. Behind the desk was a pair of comfortable leather chairs. Harry walked around to the chairs and sat down.
"Now tell me about these Confusers." Ginny asked.
Harry sighed. "No Gin, Computer, not Confuser. They are muggle technology." He pressed a button, and a black screen flickered to life. The motto and symbol appeared again. And then the screen flickered and changed.
Harry pressed keys and Ginny was enraptured. "Oh, I must have one of those." Then her sarcasm faded as Harry began calling up information. Ginny gasped. Harry moved the mouse and Ginny saw an image she thought was impossible. The muggles could see Diagon Alley.
"See, it's not that we are so well hidden, it's that the muggles have no need to look for us." Harry explained. "Oh we do well enough, but the right application of technology makes us vulnerable." He moved the mouse again, and Ginny saw the valley they were in. This time it looked totally undisturbed. "On the other hand *I* keep up with what the muggles know. There is no way for them to spot us. When everything is complete it will appear to be a muggle resort."
He shut down the computer and then walked to the imposing oak doors. He gestured to them. "Go ahead Gin, open them."
She touched to smooth wood surface, and frowned, then pulled out her wand and began a series of spells. The doors showed not only no sign of opening but they showed no sign of tampering either. Harry's smile grew broader the more frustrated she got. "Damn you! Open these damn doors Potter or you are in for it!" She swung her wand to point at him.
He grabbed her hand and placed it on a metal square on the side of the door. It glowed red a second and with a click the doors slid open. Ginny's mouth fell open in amazement. She looked at Harry confused. "B – but how?"
He smiled and pointed to the pad. "It's a take off on biometric technology the muggles are using. However Hermione ant I worked on this one as a possible way to secure the manor back before I sold it. Basically, anyone who is authorized to enter can touch the pad, and assuming they are alive and not in distress the doors open."
They left the lobby and entered a room with a bank of lifts, five on a side and one at the far end. One of the closer doors opened with a soft chime. A feminine voice said "Lobby, please exit the lift and have a lovely afternoon." They entered and the doors closed. "Please state your name and destination."
Ginny looked at the ceiling and said "Ginny Potter, uh, my office?"
"Ginny Potter – Ministry offices seventh floor. Is the other passenger with you?"
She looked at Harry surprised. Harry smiled again. "Harry Potter – I'll be visiting Ginny Potter's office."
"Welcome to the Ministry Harry Potter." The lift moved up with a soft chime the doors opened into a hallway replicating the one downstairs. They walked to the oak doors and Ginny with a smirk touched the metal pad. The doors clicked and slid aside allowing them entry. The small lobby looked like a miniature of the one downstairs. A second obsidian desk and leather chair guarded the entry to the hallway. They walked until they found the office with 'Ginny Potter' on it.
Harry followed his wife into the room. He closed the door and she took a seat behind the desk. "It's for real. We really are going to do this then?"
Harry nodded. The sun glinted off the nameplate 'G. Potter – Department of Education'.
They heard a soft chime and the two of them walked out into the hallway. Arthur and Molly Weasley walked in stunned at the building. "Your office is this way dad." Harry lead Arthur and Molly along the corridor to the end office. On the door in neat paint read 'Arthur Weasley – Minister'.
Arthur's fingers traced the letters. "I – I don't know Harry…"
The four of them walked inside. The secretary's desk held a phone and a computer. Arthur's eyes lit up.
His office was befitting the Minister. He sat behind the desk, and the other three pulled up chairs. "Arthur, are you ready for this? There is still time to back out." Molly said softly.
Harry saw the struggle in his father in law's eyes. Finally he came to a decision. "Yes Molly I am."
"Harry, are we prepared?" Harry simply nodded. "Right then. How long until occupancy?"
Ginny grabbed Harry's hand. "One week from tomorrow dad." She said.
"Right then. Time to call in some favors."