Letters
Mike and Amanda follow Luke out of the Secretary's office, past the huge double doors, and into the marble-floored hallway.
Mike tapped on Amanda's right with is left hand. She turned around wondering why he looked so sullen.
"You looked exhausted."
Mike let out a sad sigh, "Mia died during the raid this morning."
Amanda's face darken, in the auror business people died. Over time, some people grow numb to it, but for her it never did. Losing an auror in her bureau was like losing one of her children. "What happened?" was the first thought that came to her.
"She caught an Avada Kedavra in the neck." His voice started to crack, but he stopped and then continued. "I told Linda to tell Denver, I certain the New York office was notified and they told her mother by now." "I'll write a letter to her mom, when I go to owl Dumbledore."
"Good."
Luke motioned and interrupted them, "I want Dumbledore owled straight away. Amanda, tell Beatrice to have her staff."
Amanda started taking the words right out of his mouth, "To go over the files and look for people to double the class sizes. Mike, next week I want you to owl her about your experiences with the Death Eaters and how they operate, hell even send it to the field offices, that info could help them now as well."
"Would you mind letting Amy come with, when I see Dumbledore. Two heads are better then one and she has always wanted to see where her father went to school," Mike asked Hendersen, knowing while he would hate parting with his assistant, he would relent.
"No problem, I think you two should go over there for few days. Get the lay of the land and shake down Dumbledore and anyone else you knew from back then for information."
"Thanks boss," Mike thought for a second. "I think I'm going to have a group mourning session at the Other Side Tavern tonight."
Amanda turned to Mike, "Want me to stop by?"
Mike waved his hand in front of him, "Nah, this should just be us lowly folk."
"You're right, but don't drink too much, remember meeting tomorrow at 2 PM."
Mike looked confused, "The Secretary would want me at that one?"
"Yes, with your past experience, he will probably pump you for more info, especially, about that Order group you told us about. Hell, I never really read much of your report about it either."
"I'll be there," Mike shrugged his shoulders.
"Alright team, lets get the ball rolling," Luke clapped his hands and turned to Amanda, "You talk to Beatrice, then get to my office." Hendersen turned to Mike, "You get to the Comm Center and write Mia's mom and Dumbledore. Afterwards get your butt to my office as well"
With that, Mike turned, and proceeded down the hallway to the elevator. The Communications Center was on the third floor, right next to the Department's Operations Center. The Comm Center provided the Department a secure place for its mirror, floo, owl, and electronic communications needs. As the car doors opened, Mike turned left and briskly proceeded down the hall. Passing many closed office doors, and the open portals of the Operations Center.
The Ops Center doors are kept open to allow easy access, well easier access. Each person entering had to request access from the three guard aurors at the first entrance and two more at the second one. The entrances had a distortion charm on them, so no one could see what was happening inside until they entered the Center.
Mike arrived at the first door to the Comm Center, and showed his face and ID to the spy eye. He heard buzz and pulled the door open, and passed the guard seated behind a shielded desk. He walked down a few steps and came to the second door. (Yes, the Department is very paranoid about security.) He retrieved his wand and casted "Entrada Code three, seven, Alpha, Romeo two, niner." The heavy safe like door swung open towards him, he stepped in, and the door snapped shut with a loud metallic clang. Mike walked up a few steps and turned right, to see a young woman, sitting in front of a desk, labeled 'Duty Officer: Laura Kim'.
She glared up from a parchment she was reading, and put on a happy face. "May I help you?" she asked.
Mike fumbled and pulled out his ID again and showed it to the Duty Officer, "Associate Director Kelley, I need a secure room to send some messages."
"Noner or Magical?"
"Oh, um, Mike thought for a quick second, "Magical, owl and mirror, ma'am."
She stood up; Mike tucked his ID card away in back pocket. She reached over to some shelve and turned her he to him, "What level sir?"
Mike's face want blank, "Um, level?
"Security level sir, Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret?" "Oh," Mike felt relieved, "Top Secret should do. Thank you Laura."
Laura smiled at him and pulled from a shelf a white placard with and bright orange border and 'TOP SECRET' in the same bright orange color. "Please follow me, and you're welcome Director Kelley."
Mike smiled, Directory Kelley, it was nice to feel rank again, after being a peon in the Secretary's office. He followed her to a hallway behind and left of her desk. She reached the third door, on the right, placed the Top Secret placard in the door's slot, and opened it.
"Here you are sir, if you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, ma'am," Mike smiled again, walked in turned and closed the door. He immediately heard the hiss of the silencing and locking charms being automatically cast, to give him privacy. As he looked over the room, he remembered being in this exact one about a week ago. It featured a talking only floo network fireplace, an intense burning fireplace to destroy any documents that one needed too, a large writing desk with a medium sized communications mirror on the left, on the right were several quills, inkwells, and trays of different types of parchment, and in the center a perch for an owl to stand on. On the wall behind the desk, there was a latch door to the owl house.
Mike sat down with a huff, what to do first, he thought. He looked at his watched, and hoped someone was there at this early hour. While rubbing the mirror's right side he called, "Other Side Tavern." A woman in her 40s with black hair, light brown eyes, and tired face appeared.
"Other Side Tavern, we're not open yet," the woman told Mike with a faint smile.
"Sam, it's me, Mike, Mike Kelley, rough night? Good morning by the way."
"Oh, hi Mike, isn't it always a rough night? So, how is my wayward auror doing?" she mused.
"Not the best, Mia died, a nightmare from the past is back, and I need a vacation."
"Oh, Mike, what happened? I am sorry dear. Anything I can do? You know I love all of you."
"Thanks Sam, you are our favorite barkeep. I'll tell you about Mia later. Anyway, I want to reserve a room for about twelve, tonight, say 8 PM for dinner, private conversation, and mourning. Not necessarily in that order."
"Anything you want dear."
"Six bottles of fire whiskey," Mike told her flatly.
"Jersey Devil's finest will be waiting for ya'll"
"Thanks Sam, see you then." Mike rubbed the mirror again and the barkeep's image faded, until he only saw his own drawn face again. "Next on the list," Mike mumbled to himself. He pulled out a long blank piece of parchment and took and green quill, dipped it in ink and began to write.
'Dear Mrs. Hernandez,
I know the news of your daughter's death has..'
Mike swallowed this was his eleventh letter. It never got easier as time went one. A tear dropped on the parchment. He blotted some of it with his shirtsleeve it did not work. He may be special, but he was not a machine. He did have feelings, well at least some of the time he did. After reading over the letter several times, his sighed and folded it up, took an envelop from a tray, and addressed it.
Putting that aside, he rubbed the mirror again, "Linda Middleton." Linda's face looked exhausted, "Linda, its Mike, what's your sitrep?"
Linda, huffed, Mike chuckled. "What's your problem?" she demanded.
"You sound like me."
"Thanks, buster."
"Don't mention it."
"Back to serious business, please?"
Mike straightened up, "Go ahead."
"The Death Eater, his name's Simon Flint, was trying to recruit the Scorn into Voldemort's camp. From what we can piece together, he has been visiting a few different Dark Arts groups throughout the Hemisphere."
"Interesting."
"I know, and he has, well, had access to a large expense account. I guess being evil pays pretty well."
Mike's mind saw pieces fitting together, like a jigsaw puzzle, "That so fits, I have some fun news for all of you tonight. I reserved a room at the Other Side Tavern for 8 PM. I want the team there, you can bring your significant others if you want." Mike, looked at the envelop for Mrs. Teresa Hernandez, "Did the office there get a hold of New York to let Mia's mother know?"
Linda face saddened, "Yes, New York took care of it. I think tomorrow they will go over the funeral arrangements, and sometime this week, her will."
"Thanks Linda, sorry I had to abandon you earlier, but the meeting was important. I'll tell you all about it at eight."
"Okay, anything else Mike?"
"Nope, see you later, Mike out."
"Linda, out."
Mike rubbed the mirror and Linda's face faded away. "Now on to Dumbledore," he grunted. Mike smiled inwardly and he laughed when this popped into his head, 'I guess this will be a blast from the past for him.' He reached over pulled out a roll of parchment, and an Orange quill. Orange quills were designed to disintegrate after one use, so whatever they wrote could not be recalled with a spell. Mike went about write his message to the old Headmaster.
**************************************************
Date/Time: 15JUNE1996 0917 Local
TOP SECRET
Priority: Flash
From: Associate Director Mike Kelley, Federal Bureau of Magical Enforcement
To: Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Subject: Return of Mr. Thomas Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort,
The Department of Magic has just learned of Voldemort's return. The Secretary is extremely upset at Minister Fudge, about not telling him the truth and ignoring this "problem." While this is a big imposition, I ask this favor of you. Secretary has requested, because of our prior working 'relationship', that I ask you to brief me about Voldemort's return. He would like to keep this 'off the record', meaning in particular, that you not inform the Ministry. I would also like to have Amy Fosterman, fellow auror and my fiancée, present during our discussion.
In accordance with the Secretary's wishes, please choose a location that we may have privacy, security and place where we may Apparate, without being noticed.
Thank you again
PS: Please feed and give Milo some water, before his return flight.
**********************************************************
Mike looked at his handy work, making sure not to let go of the orange quill. He snickered at all the official formality he used, 'All those years of official memos, reports, and messages' he thought. He dawned on him that he doubted Dumbledore would know Milo was a 'secure' owl. He could not find a small piece of parchment, so he took a noner, white sheet of paper and ripped a small sliver using the edge of the desk.
*************************************************************************
Professor Dumbledore
This is Milo, a secure owl. Just place an unrolled parchment, inkwell, and quill, on your desk. Milo will direct the quill to write out the message. To reply, simply write your message out and let Milo read it. You may write anything you desire, the message cannot be compromised by any means.
Mike Kelley
*************************************************************************** Finished, Mike pushed his chair back and stood up. He laid the orange quill down on the desk. "This quill will self-destruct in five seconds," he laughed. The charmed quill vaporized into a puff of smoke. No one would be able to tell what he had just written. He turned left and shuffled to the Owl House latch door, unlocked and opened it.
"Come here Milo, come here boy." A large black owl with copper eyes swooped into the room and landed on the desk perch with precision. Mike walked back to the desk and rubbed the neck of his owl. "Good boy Milo," he said lovingly. He reached over picked up the small note and grabbed some twine from the bottom desk tray. "Give me a talon," the owl hooted and obliged him by lifting and sticking out his right talon. Mike tied the note to him, "I have a big job for you, here you go." He turned his message to Dumbledore around to face Milo. When the owl, he looked up at his master and hooted. "Take this to Albus Dumbledore, no one else." Milo hooted loudly. "I know it is far Milo, Dumbledore will feed you, promise. Good luck."
The black owl took off and sailed through the open latch door. Mike walked over and closed it, making sure the lock caught. He opened the room's door, took the Top Secret placard out of the slot, and proceeded to the Duty Officer's desk. "Here you go Laura, and thank you."
"You're welcome Director Kelley, have a good day," she replied with a professional smile.
Mike nodded to her, walked down the steps, and began the journey to the Assist. Sec. Hendersen's office.
Mike and Amanda follow Luke out of the Secretary's office, past the huge double doors, and into the marble-floored hallway.
Mike tapped on Amanda's right with is left hand. She turned around wondering why he looked so sullen.
"You looked exhausted."
Mike let out a sad sigh, "Mia died during the raid this morning."
Amanda's face darken, in the auror business people died. Over time, some people grow numb to it, but for her it never did. Losing an auror in her bureau was like losing one of her children. "What happened?" was the first thought that came to her.
"She caught an Avada Kedavra in the neck." His voice started to crack, but he stopped and then continued. "I told Linda to tell Denver, I certain the New York office was notified and they told her mother by now." "I'll write a letter to her mom, when I go to owl Dumbledore."
"Good."
Luke motioned and interrupted them, "I want Dumbledore owled straight away. Amanda, tell Beatrice to have her staff."
Amanda started taking the words right out of his mouth, "To go over the files and look for people to double the class sizes. Mike, next week I want you to owl her about your experiences with the Death Eaters and how they operate, hell even send it to the field offices, that info could help them now as well."
"Would you mind letting Amy come with, when I see Dumbledore. Two heads are better then one and she has always wanted to see where her father went to school," Mike asked Hendersen, knowing while he would hate parting with his assistant, he would relent.
"No problem, I think you two should go over there for few days. Get the lay of the land and shake down Dumbledore and anyone else you knew from back then for information."
"Thanks boss," Mike thought for a second. "I think I'm going to have a group mourning session at the Other Side Tavern tonight."
Amanda turned to Mike, "Want me to stop by?"
Mike waved his hand in front of him, "Nah, this should just be us lowly folk."
"You're right, but don't drink too much, remember meeting tomorrow at 2 PM."
Mike looked confused, "The Secretary would want me at that one?"
"Yes, with your past experience, he will probably pump you for more info, especially, about that Order group you told us about. Hell, I never really read much of your report about it either."
"I'll be there," Mike shrugged his shoulders.
"Alright team, lets get the ball rolling," Luke clapped his hands and turned to Amanda, "You talk to Beatrice, then get to my office." Hendersen turned to Mike, "You get to the Comm Center and write Mia's mom and Dumbledore. Afterwards get your butt to my office as well"
With that, Mike turned, and proceeded down the hallway to the elevator. The Communications Center was on the third floor, right next to the Department's Operations Center. The Comm Center provided the Department a secure place for its mirror, floo, owl, and electronic communications needs. As the car doors opened, Mike turned left and briskly proceeded down the hall. Passing many closed office doors, and the open portals of the Operations Center.
The Ops Center doors are kept open to allow easy access, well easier access. Each person entering had to request access from the three guard aurors at the first entrance and two more at the second one. The entrances had a distortion charm on them, so no one could see what was happening inside until they entered the Center.
Mike arrived at the first door to the Comm Center, and showed his face and ID to the spy eye. He heard buzz and pulled the door open, and passed the guard seated behind a shielded desk. He walked down a few steps and came to the second door. (Yes, the Department is very paranoid about security.) He retrieved his wand and casted "Entrada Code three, seven, Alpha, Romeo two, niner." The heavy safe like door swung open towards him, he stepped in, and the door snapped shut with a loud metallic clang. Mike walked up a few steps and turned right, to see a young woman, sitting in front of a desk, labeled 'Duty Officer: Laura Kim'.
She glared up from a parchment she was reading, and put on a happy face. "May I help you?" she asked.
Mike fumbled and pulled out his ID again and showed it to the Duty Officer, "Associate Director Kelley, I need a secure room to send some messages."
"Noner or Magical?"
"Oh, um, Mike thought for a quick second, "Magical, owl and mirror, ma'am."
She stood up; Mike tucked his ID card away in back pocket. She reached over to some shelve and turned her he to him, "What level sir?"
Mike's face want blank, "Um, level?
"Security level sir, Confidential, Secret, or Top Secret?" "Oh," Mike felt relieved, "Top Secret should do. Thank you Laura."
Laura smiled at him and pulled from a shelf a white placard with and bright orange border and 'TOP SECRET' in the same bright orange color. "Please follow me, and you're welcome Director Kelley."
Mike smiled, Directory Kelley, it was nice to feel rank again, after being a peon in the Secretary's office. He followed her to a hallway behind and left of her desk. She reached the third door, on the right, placed the Top Secret placard in the door's slot, and opened it.
"Here you are sir, if you have any questions or problems, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, ma'am," Mike smiled again, walked in turned and closed the door. He immediately heard the hiss of the silencing and locking charms being automatically cast, to give him privacy. As he looked over the room, he remembered being in this exact one about a week ago. It featured a talking only floo network fireplace, an intense burning fireplace to destroy any documents that one needed too, a large writing desk with a medium sized communications mirror on the left, on the right were several quills, inkwells, and trays of different types of parchment, and in the center a perch for an owl to stand on. On the wall behind the desk, there was a latch door to the owl house.
Mike sat down with a huff, what to do first, he thought. He looked at his watched, and hoped someone was there at this early hour. While rubbing the mirror's right side he called, "Other Side Tavern." A woman in her 40s with black hair, light brown eyes, and tired face appeared.
"Other Side Tavern, we're not open yet," the woman told Mike with a faint smile.
"Sam, it's me, Mike, Mike Kelley, rough night? Good morning by the way."
"Oh, hi Mike, isn't it always a rough night? So, how is my wayward auror doing?" she mused.
"Not the best, Mia died, a nightmare from the past is back, and I need a vacation."
"Oh, Mike, what happened? I am sorry dear. Anything I can do? You know I love all of you."
"Thanks Sam, you are our favorite barkeep. I'll tell you about Mia later. Anyway, I want to reserve a room for about twelve, tonight, say 8 PM for dinner, private conversation, and mourning. Not necessarily in that order."
"Anything you want dear."
"Six bottles of fire whiskey," Mike told her flatly.
"Jersey Devil's finest will be waiting for ya'll"
"Thanks Sam, see you then." Mike rubbed the mirror again and the barkeep's image faded, until he only saw his own drawn face again. "Next on the list," Mike mumbled to himself. He pulled out a long blank piece of parchment and took and green quill, dipped it in ink and began to write.
'Dear Mrs. Hernandez,
I know the news of your daughter's death has..'
Mike swallowed this was his eleventh letter. It never got easier as time went one. A tear dropped on the parchment. He blotted some of it with his shirtsleeve it did not work. He may be special, but he was not a machine. He did have feelings, well at least some of the time he did. After reading over the letter several times, his sighed and folded it up, took an envelop from a tray, and addressed it.
Putting that aside, he rubbed the mirror again, "Linda Middleton." Linda's face looked exhausted, "Linda, its Mike, what's your sitrep?"
Linda, huffed, Mike chuckled. "What's your problem?" she demanded.
"You sound like me."
"Thanks, buster."
"Don't mention it."
"Back to serious business, please?"
Mike straightened up, "Go ahead."
"The Death Eater, his name's Simon Flint, was trying to recruit the Scorn into Voldemort's camp. From what we can piece together, he has been visiting a few different Dark Arts groups throughout the Hemisphere."
"Interesting."
"I know, and he has, well, had access to a large expense account. I guess being evil pays pretty well."
Mike's mind saw pieces fitting together, like a jigsaw puzzle, "That so fits, I have some fun news for all of you tonight. I reserved a room at the Other Side Tavern for 8 PM. I want the team there, you can bring your significant others if you want." Mike, looked at the envelop for Mrs. Teresa Hernandez, "Did the office there get a hold of New York to let Mia's mother know?"
Linda face saddened, "Yes, New York took care of it. I think tomorrow they will go over the funeral arrangements, and sometime this week, her will."
"Thanks Linda, sorry I had to abandon you earlier, but the meeting was important. I'll tell you all about it at eight."
"Okay, anything else Mike?"
"Nope, see you later, Mike out."
"Linda, out."
Mike rubbed the mirror and Linda's face faded away. "Now on to Dumbledore," he grunted. Mike smiled inwardly and he laughed when this popped into his head, 'I guess this will be a blast from the past for him.' He reached over pulled out a roll of parchment, and an Orange quill. Orange quills were designed to disintegrate after one use, so whatever they wrote could not be recalled with a spell. Mike went about write his message to the old Headmaster.
**************************************************
Date/Time: 15JUNE1996 0917 Local
TOP SECRET
Priority: Flash
From: Associate Director Mike Kelley, Federal Bureau of Magical Enforcement
To: Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Subject: Return of Mr. Thomas Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort,
The Department of Magic has just learned of Voldemort's return. The Secretary is extremely upset at Minister Fudge, about not telling him the truth and ignoring this "problem." While this is a big imposition, I ask this favor of you. Secretary has requested, because of our prior working 'relationship', that I ask you to brief me about Voldemort's return. He would like to keep this 'off the record', meaning in particular, that you not inform the Ministry. I would also like to have Amy Fosterman, fellow auror and my fiancée, present during our discussion.
In accordance with the Secretary's wishes, please choose a location that we may have privacy, security and place where we may Apparate, without being noticed.
Thank you again
PS: Please feed and give Milo some water, before his return flight.
**********************************************************
Mike looked at his handy work, making sure not to let go of the orange quill. He snickered at all the official formality he used, 'All those years of official memos, reports, and messages' he thought. He dawned on him that he doubted Dumbledore would know Milo was a 'secure' owl. He could not find a small piece of parchment, so he took a noner, white sheet of paper and ripped a small sliver using the edge of the desk.
*************************************************************************
Professor Dumbledore
This is Milo, a secure owl. Just place an unrolled parchment, inkwell, and quill, on your desk. Milo will direct the quill to write out the message. To reply, simply write your message out and let Milo read it. You may write anything you desire, the message cannot be compromised by any means.
Mike Kelley
*************************************************************************** Finished, Mike pushed his chair back and stood up. He laid the orange quill down on the desk. "This quill will self-destruct in five seconds," he laughed. The charmed quill vaporized into a puff of smoke. No one would be able to tell what he had just written. He turned left and shuffled to the Owl House latch door, unlocked and opened it.
"Come here Milo, come here boy." A large black owl with copper eyes swooped into the room and landed on the desk perch with precision. Mike walked back to the desk and rubbed the neck of his owl. "Good boy Milo," he said lovingly. He reached over picked up the small note and grabbed some twine from the bottom desk tray. "Give me a talon," the owl hooted and obliged him by lifting and sticking out his right talon. Mike tied the note to him, "I have a big job for you, here you go." He turned his message to Dumbledore around to face Milo. When the owl, he looked up at his master and hooted. "Take this to Albus Dumbledore, no one else." Milo hooted loudly. "I know it is far Milo, Dumbledore will feed you, promise. Good luck."
The black owl took off and sailed through the open latch door. Mike walked over and closed it, making sure the lock caught. He opened the room's door, took the Top Secret placard out of the slot, and proceeded to the Duty Officer's desk. "Here you go Laura, and thank you."
"You're welcome Director Kelley, have a good day," she replied with a professional smile.
Mike nodded to her, walked down the steps, and began the journey to the Assist. Sec. Hendersen's office.