~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meetings, Daddy Chairman, and Return of the Wonder Boy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few meetings was an understatement, it was more like a meetings marathon, Mike mused. Monday was a review of Sunday's meeting and scheduling more meetings. Tuesday's meeting with the leaders of his Special Investigation Groups, which was suppose to be on Monday, but they went well. Mike's fortuitous idea that everyone in the Department would be after anything and everything about Voldemort and the Death Eaters was right on the mark. At least they had the jump on everyone else. Wednesday, the top leaders in America's Magical law enforcement met. That was one for the books.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Wednesday's Meeting~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Listen, you ungrateful MAGGOT! I don't tell you how to do your job, you don't tell me how to do mine!" screamed Howard Morrison, head of Magical Customs, to Wizardry Immigration chief Richard Van Vleck.


They had a small disagreement over how the Death Eater and his galleons got into the country.


Van Vleck shot out of his seat and turned beet red, "Fuck you, tax maid! That's right! All you Customs lackeys do is collect taxes and look good at the apparition points and floo network hubs!"

Morrison pulled out his wand, Van Vleck pulled his. "THAT IS ENOUGH! Both of you sit down NOW!" Hendersen yelled. "This is not some North American hall dueling contest! Put away those wands, before I stick them where the sun doesn't shine! The rest of that meeting was a tad more civil. Hendersen continued, "We need to review and decide how best to improve sharing of information with our counterparts. The current systems in place need to be improved and augmented."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thursday's meeting was in Mexico City. The top aurors from around the Western Hemisphere worked for hours hammering out a viable framework for the Task Force.
"It is a refreshing change to work with our Northern neighbors and not be ignored by them," the Director General of the Argentinean Aurors Enrique Osten said gleefully.

Luke smiled, "The bad old days are over Enrique. LaPomeret is not Stanton, he has morals and principles that he adheres to. He really a stand up guy and I trust him."

Enrique's grin was a meter wide, "It is good to hear this, especially from you my friend. Sometimes I wish for simpler time, when we where at North American. You know, my family still is angry I went there."

Luke looked at him and sighed, "How many years has it been? They need to get over it."

"They're just jealous, I went to the cool school," Osten said. They both laughed. Osten lost his smile, "So, do you think we can succeed Luke?"

Luke pondered for a moment, "If it gets as bad as some say, will we have any other choice but to succeed?"

The Director General grinned again, "Ah, just like the old days, Victory or Death!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thursday Evening~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mike and Amy were entering their home, having driven back from the Department. He was walking through the garage and rereading the proposal to share highly sensitive inside information, i.e. information from snitches and informants, with the other Ministries. "I guess this will work," Mike told her. "We will just have to keep the 'eyes only' list very short, and allow the info to be only viewed at the office, but I really do think it will work."

Amy silenced him, with her middle and index fingers over her mouth. It was the standard Auror sign, quite someone, meaning bad guy, is here. Mike nodded, he waved his right hand ring and middle fingers, meaning get out your wands, or any other weapon you carried. Pointed to the left side of the kitchen island, he pointed to himself and the right, and he went. Next Mike slowly half crawled, half shuffled to the left side of the doorway to den. He saw someone sitting there reading some papers. The question is who? Then, like a slap on the face, at once he knew.

Standing up, "Hello Mr. Fosterman, you scared the hell out of us! What are you doing here this fine summer's eve?"

He rose from the couch, "Hello Mike, please can't you call me Joe?"

Amy rushed past Mike, and hugged her father, almost making him fall back to the couch, "Daddy! Missed you!" She started covering his face with butterfly kisses.

"I missed you to sweetheart, love of my life." He turned to Mike holding, Amy in his left arm. "I am here to see my daughter and her fiancée, before you both run off to Scotland and my alma mata."

Mike opened his mouth and closed it, speechless.

"I told him yesterday, sorry love," Amy told him with puppy dog eyes.

'Ugh, how can I get upset when she uses that look', Mike thought. "Well, you really were not suppose to know that, Mr. Fos-, um, Joe."

"I know, but I have good sources, besides my angel here," Joe said with a smirk.  Mike immediately knew the other 'good source', the Secretary himself. "I guess we can trust you. So, how goes it sir?"

Jose sat back down on the couch, and motioned Mike and Amy to do the same, they both sat down on the facing love seat.

"I was in England this week, talking to Devlin Whitehorn, about the buyout, he was a little upset, but he got over it. Poor guy, he hated selling his company to Scapa Flow and now I come along," Mr. Fosterman laughed.

Amy fumed, "You were WHERE?!!! WHAT! And you didn't tell me!"

Amy's father made an apologetic face. Slowly, he thought up the words, "Sorry, sweetheart, but you were so busy with work."

Amy softened, but still irritated, "What about Mother?"

"She went to Salem for her Board of Governors meeting and met with Headmistress O'Sullivan about school security. It seems that Voldemort's return has gotten everyone into quite a tizzy," Joseph said matter-of-factly.

"Why is she so worried about Salem's security?" Amy asked.

"Because he is a fucking maniac, pardon my French, but I have no doubt Volde and his merry band of murders will attack a few schools sooner or later. Mr. Fos-," Mike paused remembering 'He said call him Joe you moron,' "Joe would you like some coffee or something?"

"Tea would be great, thank you, I have been on such tea kick since I went over."

Mike looked at his beloved, "Would you like anything?"

"Sweet tea, love, you would like some help?"

"No, I gots it."

Joe continued, "I'll wait till you come back, I want to talk to both about another topic."

"Sure thing," Mike told him. He shuffled to the kitchen and began looking for tea. "Where is it? If I were tea, where would I be?" Mike spotted the tea by the cappuccino machine. 'That makes total since, not!' Mike mused. Mike was about to pour the hot water, "Joe, how do you like your tea," he bellowed.

Joe yelled back, "Just honey please, Michael."

Mike opened a cupboard, and put the honey on the counter, then took the wooden honey circular thingy from one of the utensil drawers, and placed a heaping glob of honey into Joe's tea. Then he walked back into the den. "If you want me to call you Joe, please just call me Mike, Mr. Fosterman. I hate Michael, I'm no angel."

Amy giggled, "That's for sure."

Mike handed Amy and her father their drinks. "Ha, Ha, anyway, here is your tea with honey, sir, and madam, your sweet tea."

"Daddy, what else do you have to tell us?"

"Oh, nothing really, I was elected Chairman of Hogwarts Board of Governors," he said like it meant nothing at all.

Amy gave her father a bone crushing hug, "THAT'S WONDERFUL DADDY! What happened how did you do it?!! Please, tell me!"

"Can't breath," Joe said with hoarse voice.

Amy released her father from the death grip.  "Sorry dad, I guess I don't know my own strength."

Joseph rubbed his sides, "It's okay sweetheart, I am just getting old."

"You are not old Daddy!" Amy fumed.

Joe smiled at his daughter,  "Thank you sweetheart.  Where was I, oh yes, while I was in London finalizing the buyout, Amelia Bones owled me on Tuesday.  She became a Board member last year.  We met and discussed how the Board wanted someone above suspicion, to breath new life into the Board, bring new ideas and a new direction for Hogwarts, and someone who knew the seriousness of today's political climate."

"You mean someone who understands the real threat Volde represents to us," Mike added.

"Basically, yes, many in Britain finally understand the gravity of the situation.  Yesterday, I met with the Board, told them that security should be a paramount concern.  I presented my ideas for the advanced studies school, more inter-school competition, besides just the Tri-wizard tournament, a mentor program for noner born students, improvements for some of the facilities and scholarships for students in need."

Mike was astonished, "You must have wowed them Mr. Fosterman,"

"I am so proud of you Daddy!" she gave him another bone crushing hug.

Joe blushed, "Thank you.  They were impressed, and elected me Chairman.  We also, changed the structure to just 9 members, two members from each house, and the Headmaster.  The Headmaster cannot be the Chairman, and the Chairman must be reelected every 2 years.  I also made a small donation."

Amy raised an eyebrow, "Small donation?"

Joe smiled, he knew, that she knew, it was anything but small.  "Alright, it was 500,000 galleons."

"And?" Amy looked sternly at him.

"I would give addition funds to establish the Advance Studies program."

"And?"

"Well, I, ah, well, toldthemIwouldpayforfournewQuidditchpitches."

Amy got him, "What exactly was that?"

Joe firmed up, 'I the parent here damn it and it is my money', "I would pay to for them to build four more Qidditch pitches, one for each house team to use for practice."

"And?" Amy gave him another stern look, 'you may be the parent, but I am the adult here'.

"I would improve the main pitch, to a professional grade stadium."

"Awesome!  Very cool Joe!" Mike high-fived is future father-in-law.

Amy was not a happy camper.  "Dad, there is more to school then Quidditch.  What kind of example are you setting?"

Mike smiled at his fiancée, "A very good one, of course!"

Amy fumed,"MEN!  All of you get older, but never grow up!"

Mr. Fosterman looked at his daughter with stern eyes.  "I am not a child my dear.  I feel Quidditch is just one of the many facets of a well rounded education."  Then the stern looked finally cracked, he started laughing hysterically, "Sorry sweetheart, you know how much I love the sport.  I promise I will work on improving the academic portion of Hogwarts as well."

"So, Joe, when you met with Dumbledore how was he?"  Mike inquired.  He hoped he could pump Amy's father for information, before they met the Headmaster.

"He's tired Mike, the stress is getting to him.  I think he had a major blow up with one of his students, which didn't help at all.  He's keeping everything hush, hush until I meet with him next month."

'This not good, not good at all,' Mike analyzed.  'Dumbledore was old, but I remember him having energy and a certain charisma.'  "I guess war does that to people," Mike told Joe.

"I've never really been exposed to this before, and with my parents being noners, never were either.  I wonder if this is how people felt in previous wars?"  

"I'm certain Dad, right Mike?" Amy asked.

Mike's face darkened, "Amy, Joe, the last war was hell.  Every morning I would read the Prophet and read the body count.  Their feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, sadness and fear were stop strong, most of the time I could not block them from my mind."

Amy stood up immediately and hugged Mike.  "It's okay love, they are only memories, let them go."

Joe, straightened up, and looked at the floor, the ceiling, anywhere but at them.  He felt he was intruding on a private moment of theirs.  He cleared his throat loudly, and went on to change the subject, "So, what time are you leaving tomorrow?"

"The Hogwarts Express is leaving at 11 AM, so he invited us to lunch at noon.  I figure we should apparate to Hogsmeade around 11:30 and walk up to the Castle.  I remember it being a sort of a hike.  They are five hours ahead of us, so, we'll be leaving here at 6:30 in the AM," Mike added.

Joe rubbed his chin for a moment, "I assume then, you will be missing, Miss Hernandez's funeral?"

Mike saddened, "Yes, sir, I asked the Secretary, but LaPomeret stressed this was more important."

Joe took another sip of his tea.  "We I think he is right, I will be going, so with the Director of FBME.  I think everyone will understand."

"I'm sorry love, but there will have to be scarifies made, so there are not any more funerals," Amy said while hugging him again.

"Well, thank you for the tea you two, but I should be heading home.  I'm certain your mother is wondering where I am."

Amy jumped over to her dad and bear hugged him.

Joe choked, "Can't breath."

"Oh, please Daddy," Amy said while she let go of him.  "You aren't that feeble, yet," she grinned.

"Thanks a lot!" her father moaned.

"Oh, I love you Dad.  We'll owl you from England.  You and mom stay safe."

"One step ahead of you sweetheart, I am already having better security installed at all the houses.  Now, you two be safe."  Joe shook Mike's hand.  "Keep her safe."

Mike, looked into his eyes, "Mr. Fosterman, I promise nothing will happen to her.  When we get back, I think we need to talk to all of you corporate types about workplace security.  You just never know what is going to happen now."

"Good idea, well you two, have a great trip."  With that, Mr. Fosterman apparated home.

Amy turned to him kissed him, "We need to get packing.  What should I bring?"

Mike started thinking.  "Mmmmmmmm, Well, just bring some casual robes and noner clothes.  If we are keeping this off the record, we should skip the uniforms."

"Are we going to avoid their law enforcement then?"

"Yup, that won't be too hard either; I know how to get around their international apparition wards."

"Really now, and how did you learn to do that Oh Great One?"

Mike smirked, "That's for me to know, and you not to find out.  Anyway, lets get packing, and some sleep.  Tomorrow is going to be a very long day."

Amy gave him, you will tell me or else look.

"Fine, fine.  Way back when, I was at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement offices at the Ministry, and just happen to see a layout of their they have."

"I am not even going to ask, lets go pack."

They both headed up the stairs.  Mike spying Amy's rear.

"Stop looking at my ass."

"Sorry, but it is a very fine ass."  Then Mike reached out to pinch it.

"No you don't!"  Amy ran up the stairs, to the bedroom.

Mike ran after her, but thought the better of it.  "It would be nice to play, but duty calls," he told himself.   "Ugh, we should just get packing.  We can be naughty later," he said with a smile from ear to ear.

"Do you think this is too much for tomorrow?" Amy asked him, holding up a beautiful burgundy robe.

"That'll work for tomorrow, Saturday, we'll need noner clothes for Edinburgh, Sunday, we'll be in London, we'll need both noner clothes and robes."

"You don't want to scout up north more before we head to London?" Amy wondered.

"Nah, I don't we will have too much to go on to really do a good search.  Plus, I really want to talk to Scribe face to face.  I really do not trust him," Mike told her.

Amy walked over to the dresser, "Scribe or Diaz?  Is Scribe a he or she?"

"Scribe is a he, and I probably shouldn't trust either of them.  Sometimes, I really hate all the intelligence mind games."

"Hey love, you want me to bring a voice recorder?" Amy asked him from their walk-in closet.

"Good idea, and lots of parchment, and a few Dictaquills too."

Forty-five minutes later Mike and Amy looked checked and double checked everything they packed up.

When Mike felt satisfied, he turned to the love of his life,"Its 11:37 PM, I think we should get some sleep.  What time do you should to get up?"

"Well, I want to wash my hair tomorrow, and you will need to take a shower too, so, how about 5 AM?"

"Sounds good to me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Five AM the Next Morning~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The alarm shirked, Mike instinctively moved his arm and jabbed the alarm off button, "O'Dark thirty, time to make the doughnuts," he muttered.  Rolling over he nudged Amy's shoulder and she rolled over.  "Time to get up love, you take a shower, I'll make you some coffee."

Amy rolled over and killed her soon to be husband.  "Thanks love, just bring it here when it's ready."

"Welcome love."  Mike threw his legs over the edge of the bed, yawned, rubbed his eyes, and headed downstairs to the kitchen.  He started brewing coffee for Amy, he went to the frig for his method of caffeine and sugar intake, Mountain Dew.  With Mountain Dew in hand, he walked over to the table where their owls, Milo and Frodo left their mail.  'Nothing radically important,' he thought.  He took the freshly brewed coffee, with the right amounts of milk and sugar, and his drink back to their bedroom.  Amy was already out of the shower.  "Wow, that was fast."

"Showering doesn't take that long sweetie, its blow-drying, makeup and the rest that takes time, but it helps being a witch.  Anyway, its your turn."

"Thanks, I put your coffee on your nightstand.  Now excuse me while I go make myself beautiful," he snickered.

After cleaning himself up he, packed the last of his toiletries.  "When should I tell Milo and Frodo to bring our mail to Hogwarts?"

Amy thought for a moment, counting time on her fingers, "I think 7 PM UK time."

"Okay, be right back," Mike jotted downstairs to the owls.  "Okay you two, bring our mail to Hogwarts around two o'clock our time, seven their time.  Milo, go to the department, and Frodo, get the mail from here and Amy's parents if they have any for us.  Okay?  The two hooted in unison.  Mike petted both their heads, "Okay you two, be good.  See you soon."

Back upstairs, Amy hefted her bags up and put the straps on her shoulders.  "Did you tell them?"

"Yuppers, their stylen.  I think we're ready to go.  Let me get my bags."  After then getting his bags, he walked to the center of the room.  "Come sweetie, time to rock and roll."  Amy walked over and he embraced her with his left arm, taking out his wand with his right hand.

Amy looked up at him, "You sure you know what you're doing?"

"Silly question, of course not."

Amy sighed, "Come on, lets get this over with," and kissed him on the cheek.

"On three, one, two, threeeeeeeeeee,"  they they were gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hogsmeade~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They reappeared, a second later close the Hogsmeade Station.  "Here we are love, Hogsmeade.  Well, the edge of Hogsmeade.  Nodding over to the town with his head, "That was is town," nodding the other direction the road went, "That's the way to Hogwarts.  Come on, lets get going."

They walked up the middle of the road, both of them, enjoying the beautiful, sunny day.

"So, how far are we?" Amy asked.  "It really is a beautiful place."

"I never measured it, but I guess is it just about two miles.  It always took thirty minutes to walk it.  The road goes around the lake.  When we get to the gates, we'll be a little more then halfway there."

"Not that I am complaining about the walk, but why didn't we just apparate there?"

Mike shook his head, "The wards are too strong, even for me.  No one can apparate in, out or around Hogwarts."

"Interesting, at Salem, the Headmistress could turn the anti-apparate wards on and off."

"Sweetie, most of these wards are so ancient, I doubt they even know how most of them work."

 They continued their walk in silence, both enjoying the sunny day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Flashback 2 August 1980~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The three of them sat quietly in his office, eating a splendid lunch.

"Are you adjusting well, to the Hog's Head?" the old Headmaster inquired.  "My brother did clean the room well enough for you?"

"It's not the Potter Manor sir, but it will do.  We all have to make sacrifices."

"Such understanding and manners, I am very impressed Mr. Kelley."

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall," was all he could think of to say.

"Sir, when is the Order going on its next raid?"

"Mr. Kelley, why are you so eager to put your life in danger?" the old wizard asked.

Mike smiled, 'Always testing, looking for how one reacts, you are a clever one, old wizard.'  "I am here to help, sir."

Dumbledore smiled back, "Interesting answer Mr. Kelley, answering yet avoiding the question.  Regardless, we are waiting to see what their next move shall be."

"We should not wait!  We should attack and keep attacking them, always keeping the initiative, always keeping them off-balance. "

"That is more than enough young man, and to think I just complemented you!" McGonagall harshly told him.

"It is quite alright Minerva.  Mr. Kelley does have some valid points, but I feel this will be a better course of action," Dumbledore told them calmly.

"But, but….," Mike stammered.

"That is enough for now Mr. Kelley.  Some more pumpkin juice?" the old wizard offered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

"Mike, Mike, hello, anyone there?" Amy asked.

Mike shook his head, "Sorry, love, just thinking, what's up?"

Amy pointed to a large tentacle in the lake, "What the hell is that thing?"

Mike looked and laughed, "Oh, they have a giant squid or something in the lake. If I remember correctly, there are a number of mere-people also reside in the lake."

"Are they a problem?"

"Nah, I think everyone just ignores each other.  I don't remember any attacks the last time I was here."

"Dad never told me about that, he just told me what was in the forest."

"Wow!" Amy exclaimed.  "That's a lot of castle!"

Mike smiled, "Welcome to Hogwarts!  Over there is the current Quidditch Pitch," Mike pointed over the left.

They almost to the Main doors, when Mike noticed a familiar face.  "Hello, Professor McGonagall."