Black Dawn – Book 2 (Exodus)
Chapter 7
--------------------------------------- Ministry of Magic – London, England -----------------------------------------------
Interdepartmental Memorandum
Eyes Only
From: S. Bones, Minister of Magic
To: Unspeakable Department
RE: The 'Australia Incident'
I want answers damn it! I just got off the floo with the Minister Chancey in Australia, apparently they are shutting down! What in the hell is going on down there? Who is running the wizard government in Australia?
All foreign diplomats have been expelled from Australia, and all floo traffic, Portkey traffic and owl post has halted. As far as we can tell Australia has totally succeeded from the Confederation.
SOMEONE get down there and find out what in the hell is going on and do it NOW!
S. Bones, Minister of Magic
----------------------------------- Ministry Offices – Queensbury, Australia ---------------------------------------------------
Four images shimmered into existence in a darkened building. To say that they were shocked would have been an understatement. The building was completely barren of life. A voice sounded suddenly startling the four. "Warning, you are trespassing on the property of the International Confederation of Wizards. This building is authorized to use deadly force to defend itself. You have ten seconds to extricate yourselves before emergency lockdown begins."
The four disappeared as they had come, reappearing back in their home office mere seconds after leaving. Their commander looked at the four shaken members. "What happened?"
The leader looked at his commander. "The building is on auto-defence. It – it was authorized to use deadly force." He wrung his hands for a second. "Bloody hell mate, I've never seen anything like it. The whole damn building felt like it was going to pounce any second."
"It was empty?" The commander looked thoughtful.
"Commander Boot?" A young officer piped up.
"Yes?" Terry Boot looked at the young woman. "What is it then?"
"What about the over ride codes? Surely they haven't been changed?"
"Perhaps not, but I seriously doubt it. I'm not risking anyone else on this silly task." He turned and walked to the exit. "Floo the Minister, tell her I'm going to give her my report in person." The young officer nodded and grabbed floo powder and began the task at hand.
The four field officers nervously headed to the exit, following in the wake of Terry Boot.
----------------------------------- Telisin Colony – Minister's Office -------------------------------------------------------------
Arthur Weasley stared at the cigar in his fingers, rolling it around, focused on it as if it were the most important thing in the world. In reality he was deep in thought, and was shaken out of it with a beeping noise from his computer. A message was flashing on the screen. 'Intruders inside QSB-M Facility' He saw the image from the remote camera they had mounted in the lobby. It was tiny, and yet had a good picture. He watched as the four Unspeakables heard the building state it's intent to do them bodily harm. They vanished seconds later.
He stood up and walked into the office of the Australian Minister of Magic. "Julia?"
From behind and under the desk came a voice. "Oi! Arthur! Thank goodness it's you mate." Her head popped up from behind the desk, her grey streaked raven locks were askew. "This thrice cursed Confusor isn't working!" she held up a fist full of wires and her face was one of frustration.
"Well, let's call the Confusor tech up." He reached for the phone. It was dead as well. "Ah, yes… Let's use my office then, shall we?"
Within minutes a younger man arrived, and went directly into Julia's office. They heard him mumble things like 'shouldn't be allowed near technology', and 'if you don't know what in the hell it is, don't touch it'. Arthur held back a laugh, and Julia looked positively peeved. "Sure laugh it up Arthur!"
"He is very good at his job, one of the only people in the world who can make technology work around so much magic." Arthur said simply. 'Yes Harry had done his homework well, the staff he had on hand in the Ministry building was simply top notch, a far cry from the paper files and paper airplanes.'
"Perhaps, but I swear he's out to get me." She glanced back towards her office. "I think he has it in for me."
Arthur sighed. "Now Julia, I'd rather discuss the recent happenings."
Her attention immediately shifted from her office where they could still hear the frustrated complaining of the wizard. "What recent happenings Arthur?" Her voice held concern.
He replayed the video from a few minutes ago. "Damn, they are early." She said. "What are we supposed to do now?"
Arthur picked up his cigar and rolled it in his fingers studying it intently. "Molly will have your head if you light that you know." Julia said referring to the cigar.
Arthur sighed and put it down. "Yes, I know. We wait Julia."
She settled back into her chair. "The dragons are barely dry. They aren't going to be any help."
"That's not part of the plan anyhow." Arthur pulled some parchments out of a drawer, and handed them to Julia.
Stamped on the cover were the words she was still getting used to 'International Confederation of Magic – Eyes Only' under that was emblazoned the symbol of the new order. She opened the sealed envelope and read through the documents. "Is he mad?" her brilliant blue eyes bore into Arthur's. "Giants and trolls?"
"The wards have been in place since the ground breaking Julia. We are safe here." Arthur grabbed his cigar and stuck it in his mouth.
"Molly…"
"Won't know if you keep your gob shut." Arthur finished and lit the cigar. "Now then, let's work on more pressing matters."
"More pressing than the coming war?" She asked her eyebrow askew.
"Yes, more pressing than that."
"And that would be?"
"We need to contact more Ministry offices and convince them to champion us rather than England." Arthur looked at the map on the wall. Australia and New Zealand were in blue. The rest of the world in red. "How long until Charles arrives?"
"The New Zealand offices are ready for evacuation. They'll be here tomorrow or the following day at the latest."
Arthur rubbed his temples and stamped out his cigar. "We really need a larger base of power…"
Julia looked at the map. "You mean the Americas."
"Yes. Well, it's time we had a chat with our American and Canadian counterparts." Arthur stood and walked out to the secretary's area. "Anne, let Molly know Julia and I are going to the United States and Canada. We should be back for dinner."
They walked to the lifts. "Arthur Weasley. International Portkey." Arthur said to the lift.
"Julia Chancey. International Portkey."
"Julia Chancey, Arthur Weasley – International Portkey Station. Second floor."
The lift descended and stopped at the third floor. "Incoming passenger from the Department of Civil Defense." The doors opened and Charley Weasley stood before them looking tired.
"Charley? Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Passenger identify yourself." The lift warned.
"Charley Weasley, I'm going home."
"Charles Weasley – Lobby." The lift moved.
"Yeah, though not enough dad. The dragons are going through a rough phase you know, first growth spurt. We have to watch over them constantly. Will you be home tonight?"
"Should be, we are heading over to try and convince the Canadian and United States to join."
Charley hugged his father, and turned to Julia. "Try and keep him in line?" Arthur glared at his son.
Julia smiled. "I'll try mate. You get some rest, and I'll see your da home by dinner."
"Second Floor – International Portkey Station. Arthur Weasley and Julia Chancey this is your stop."
"Well, even the elevator likes you more than me." Charley said with a smirk.
"Rank hath its privileges Charles." Arthur said smiling.
Charley scowled. "I swear when I find out who put Charles in the bloody system…" the doors closed on the last of this tirade.
They went to the desk and a young man looked them over. "Yes Ministers?"
"We need a Portkey to the United States Department of Magical Affairs, and the Canadian Office of Magical Interaction." Arthur said.
"Yes Minister. For two I take it?"
"Yes and a return that we can activate at will." Julia said.
"Right then. It'll be a few, please take a seat." The young man went to a cabinet and pulled out a few papers and six plain silver bands of metal. "Er, any particular item?" He asked.
"Rings." Julia said. "It's easier to hide."
The young man set about transfiguring the metal bands into appropriately sized rings and then worked on placing the appropriate charm on the items. "Your next window is in five minutes." He handed them each three rings. "The plain silver one is the emergency return. The blue stone is America, the red is Canada. Enjoy your visits."
Arthur mumbled "Somehow I doubt that." They walked to a private room and activated the blue gem on the rings and placed them on their fingers along with the plain silver band.