2. Chains and Links.
By now, at Dumbledore's suggestion, Fudge had dispatched Level Three personnel to Hogwarts, with the formidable task of reinforcing the charms as necessary. Obliviator Headquarters was stationing observers around the clock, ready to perform a short-term muddle on the memory of any pilot or engineer who approached. The Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee had taken over an unused classroom as their battlefield command tent.
The Committee did some things seemingly un-Ministry. For one, they put Dumbledore in charge of the matter. For another, they announced they were open to any ideas. Good plan, that. When you have no idea what to say or do, listen intently; it'll fool anyone. And, put someone else in charge in case it fails.
A Seventh-Year student with electronics experience offered a suggestion, if the proper charms could be found: generate a "white noise" blanket over the area at ultraviolet, infrared and microwave frequencies. The intent would be to block any penetration by radar or imagery. That took a bit of explaining, but once the great wizard minds understood the concept of spectrum and bandwidth, they found a way to simply extend the visual charm. Serendipitously, it also seemed to fog photographic film -- which explains why no photo record of the effort exists in the magic world today.
On Union Street in Aberdeen, at Rankin & Raven Engineers Ltd., Plotting and Survey Services Since 1897, By Appointment to Her Majesty, etc., etc., there was hell to pay.
Kiki had used all her feminine wiles, Midlothian charm and engineer's logic, but the results still weren't coming. It was all she could do to control herself. Mobile phones were very cheap, and in past years she had broken two against the wall with less cause for frustration. Now she was ready to make it three, and it wasn't the phone's fault.
"Why, John? You lot have been doing business with my family forever. Here's a picture on my wall of your grandfather, leaning out of a Spad to photograph farmland in Aberfeldy for my grandfather. With all your gadgets, you could image a gnat's tonsils on a particular leaf of the third tree to the left in Fiji, and be home for lunch. So, why is it, in Scotland, UK, in the one spot on earth I need, you can't produce full-blown, across-the-board imaging and mapping?"
The voice on the phone was calm and adamant. "I checked them all, Kiki. Go to the French, if you like. Buy their satellite shot. Or the Russians, or anyone. That spot simply comes up blank now. It's an anomaly; I can't explain it. Maybe MI5 has an installation there. Maybe it's interference in space when the satellite passes that particular coordinate. Sorry, Kiki; no castles in the air, but no swamp either. Just the Highlands in all their glory, with a blank spot."
The wireless hit the wall and bounced off two desks and a drafting table before it stopped working. Kiki stood with her arms folded, staring into space, steaming.
"David, bring the Land Rover around front, and tell Randall we'll need him to help you load. Get your Highland route charts. Find an available survey crew. Pull them off another job, if needs be, and have them meet us at Inverness at 10 tomorrow. If Kent has sold the client a bill of goods, we owe it to them to tell them."
She hadn't felt this driven in ages. Let's sniff out this truffle, she told herself.
In late morning the following day, an owl delivered a note to Dumbledore. He relayed its contents to those sitting in his meeting.
"Well, well. Here we go, first word. 'At 10:15 this morning, three white Land Rovers of the surveying firm were seen heading west on the A9, and turned toward Kent.' I dare say our cloud worked, and now they're coming to see for themselves. A cloaked broom is following them, so we should be getting more reports as they get closer. Are all the student teams and owls prepared?"
"We're okay, Professor," answered Hermione.
"And the Muggle Committee?"
"Och-aye, sir!" assured Jock Noonan, muggle husband of a Hogsmeade clerk.
"And the Creature Features?"
"Yeh, Professor, all ready for 'em," said Hagrid.
"And the Weather Wizards?"
"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape.
"And Elfin Magic?"
"House-elves are ready to be of service, sir," answered Dobby.
"Fine. Now, if any of you discover they are carrying weapons, do not approach them. Alert the Weather Wizards right off, and when they get close enough to charm the instruments, they will put a spell on the weapons as well. Be discreet, and remember we're not trying to injure them, merely convince them of their own foolishness in being here. This may take several days, but it will be worth it. Hmm, it might be a bit amusing! Any questions?"
No concerns were raised, and the neighbourhood prepared to repel boarders.