Chapter seventeen

"There should be no problem with you giving an interview, at the very least," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "Arthur, can you bring a trustworthy reporter here tonight?"

"Tonight?" said Mr. Weasley, startled. "Of course, but so soon?"

"Certainly," replied Dumbledore. "I think it would be best if Harry and Miss Burton gave the interview here, where they know that she has been, and then depart. With any luck, the interview will satisfy enough to prevent further invasions of privacy."

"Do I have to say anything?" Harry asked nervously.

"Not if you don't want to," said Nell automatically. Then she looked at Dumbledore. "He doesn't, does he?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "You ought to be present, however, please, Harry."

Harry nodded. "As long as I don't have to talk," he said.

"Where will we be sent next, after the interview's done?" asked Nell after a moment.

"We need to discuss that. If it is possible for you to stay with Muggle friends or relatives, that may be for the best."

"Well, my lease is nearly up -- it's uni housing and I'm about to graduate. Should I let a new apartment somewhere?" Nell proposed, not about to go stay with her mother and not really willing to impose on her friends for any length.

"After a bit," he told her. "We'll help you locate a suitable residence. We'll have to ward it before you move in, but be assured that we are working to find you a safe place to stay."

Nell had to accept this, she supposed. She had a further request. "May I go to London today? I need to meet up with a friend and I have business at the uni, and it seems like today would be the best day to be seen about. Perhaps I could find a friend to stay with?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Please leave Harry here, however. We can set up some temporary wards around the Burrow, but the sooner you leave, the better."

"Why can't I go?" asked Harry querously.

"It's not safe, Harry," said Dumbledore, shaking his head.

"Besides," Nell added, "wouldn't you rather fly some more?"

Harry brightened and ran off to find Ron -- and his broom.

Nell watched him go with an indulgent smile, then excused herself and followed him up the stairs to collect her research things.

On the way to her room, she flipped open her mobile and rang Emma.

"Can you meet today, Em?" she asked when Emma picked up the 'phone.

"Nell?" Emma asked. "Er, sure, I think so. When?"

"Two hours? Our usual place."

"Can do, luv. See you then!"

Nell rang off, satisfied.

After she'd gathered her books and disks, Nell headed back downstairs.

"How do I get to London from here?" she asked cautiously.

"You can Floo, if you feel up to it," said Mr. Weasley. "Here, I'll go first to make sure you come out all right. Just drop the Floo powder into the fire, step in, and say 'Diagon Alley'. Be sure to be nice and clear!"

She followed his lead. As she shouted the odd name, she felt the ashes fly into her nose and throat. When she stepped out of the fireplace into a dark, smoky tavern, she could scarcely breathe. Mr. Weasley patted her back in concern as she wheezed and coughed, but when she'd recovered, he smiled at her and disappeared with a POP.

Nell left the tavern and found herself in the middle of London.

She took the tube to her university, where she visited the library to print out the latest draft of her thesis. She popped by her advisor's office to drop it off, but he wasn't there.

Left with an abundance of free time until her meeting with Emma, Nell windowshopped her way to their usual café, trying to decide how on earth she'd explain this fantastical situation.

The truth was always best, she decided. She'd tell her everything, from the beginning.

Decision made, Nell allowed herself to be distracted from her introspection at the sight of an absolutely fantastic skirt in the next shop's window, and she browsed happily until it was time to meet Emma.

They arrived at the café at nearly the same time and got a table next to the window. Emma restrained herself until they'd been served, chatting desultorily, but once the waitress had vanished, she pounced.

"And now, Nell, for God's sake, tell me what's been happening to you!" exclaimed Emma.

"It's like this, Emma --" started Nell after a deep breath.

"So let me get this straight," said Emma incredulously. "They don't think these, these non-magical people --"

"--Muggles--"

"--right, Muggles, are even real people?"

"No, I don't think it's as bad as that. It's more like, we're a kind of children, or some really smart pet. The nicer ones, like the Weasleys, want to protect Muggles, and want equal rights for Muggleborn wizards. But there was this evil guy --"

"--Lord Voldy-thingie?--" Emma snorted. "Now there's a name to strike terror into innocent hearts."

"--Lord Volde -- yeah, something like that. Anyway, this guy wanted to kill off all the Muggleborns and purify the wizarding world. And he didn't even think the Muggles are sentient, let alone people." She raised her eyebrow. "Compensating for something, do you think?"

"So he went around killing people in the name of purity. Not exactly a new story. Did he kill a lot of people?"

"Well, comparatively. The wizarding world lost a lot of the most prominent families, and there weren't a whole lot of them. As best I understand, there was a kind of terrorist rule. The opposition group just wasn't well-enough organised to have any kind of effect on saving the wizards -- and they certainly didn't manage to protect any Muggles," she added with a twist in her voice. "And this went on for something like eleven years."

Emma breathed out. "Whew! How did they stand it?"

"Well, they're still reeling, eight years later, so I'm guessing not very well," said Nell wryly. "Anyway, James Potter learned that he and his wife were targets, as active members of the opposition group. So they went into deep hiding, but they were betrayed, and Lord Whoever went to go kill them." Emma gasped, but Nell ignored her and continued flatly. "He did. Kill them. But he tried to kill Harry, and his spell rebounded on himself and he -- well, they think he died. So Harry is called the Boy-Who-Lived and he's a folk hero. They practically worship his name, and all because he lived when his parents died."

Emma stared for a long minute, then broke out laughing. "You're having me on! Have you abandoned social work for fiction, Nell? You'd be a natural!"

Nell stared her down. Emma's laughter became more and more uneasy, until it faded for good. "You're -- you're serious? This is real?" Nell nodded, and Emma looked shaken. "Oh, poor Harry! Famous for being an orphan!"

Nell nodded. "You wouldn't believe some of the things people have said about him. They ask if he isn't glad that he defeated Lord whoever, ask what he remembers from that night, things like that. I keep waiting for him to snap at them and say something about his parents, but he's such a polite boy. It's nice, of course, but a little worrying. I think those Dursleys really did a number on him."

Emma clucked sympathetically and patted Nell's shoulder. "You're doing fine, dear. He seems happy and well-adjusted with you. There haven't been any incidents, have there?"

"Only one," Nell admitted. "He ran away this morning. But that was because he thought he'd hurt Molly. She'd been shouting at me and he made her lose her voice. But we found him soon enough, and he was reassured pretty easily, especially after Molly apologised to him." Nell grinned. "That was pretty funny. I don't think Harry's ever had a grown-up apologise to him. He didn't quite know what to say!"

Emma smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "What do you mean, he made her lose her voice?"

"He cast an accidental Silencing Charm," Nell explained. "He does magic like that when he gets upset."

"Does he do that often?" Emma asked nervously.

"No-o, not really," said Nell. "I've seen it a lot, but then, he was upset a lot at the Dursleys. He's gotten loads better."

Emma nodded. "Has he ever cast magic against you? I mean, you can't be his playmate all the time, and he's bound to get mad at you."

Nell frowned. "No, he's never done anything against me. I gather it takes quite a lot, and he seems to recognise when someone's being fair. He's big on fairness -- it's very cute," she added fondly.

Emma groaned. "Nell, love, you'd think he was cute if he was putting voodoo curses on you every day!" They broke into giggles.

"So," Nell said, changing the subject, "This Dumbledore says that we need to change locations pretty often for the next while. I was wondering if we could kip in your spare room for a few days?"

"Oh," said Emma looking uncomfortable but happy (it was a very strange expression), "er, my Andrew's actually moving in. He -- um -- he proposed last weekend."

"What!" exclaimed Nell. "When, exactly, were you planning to tell me?"

"When I asked you to be my maid of honour?" Emma said impishly.

"Oh!" And Nell reached across the table to give Emma a quick, hard hug. "Of course I will! Oh, my!" They were both grinning -- Nell hard enough to hurt her face.