Disclaimer.
J.K Rowling went out one day so I took her characters out to play.
We ran around, they laughed with glee,
All this fun and she works for free!
Here we go again. I wanted to write more but this is long enough – to the question about the hostages daughters see chapter 15 and this quote.
'"That's the part of the puzzle to be figured out. The parents were Muggles who had two witches attending Hogwarts; Genevieve and Rebecca Faubert."
"Ravenclaw, both of them." Minerva interjected automatically as she fought back tears. "Second and fifth years; bright, beautiful children. Filius will be devastated." '
Thank you for the reviews – I would love more, my ego has been sagging recently. Good, bad or indifferent – say hello, I'm still reading.
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Friday morning and still no word from Severus. Phaelan had spent a fitful night and woke to a dismally grey sky that matched her mood. After running with Hooch, she made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast, to drink coffee and nibble on raisin toast. Food stuck in her craw, her stomach didn't welcome its intrusion as it knotted with worry. Oh lord, she thought, I didn't know love could hurt so much.
Dumbledore noticed the dark circles under Phaelan's eyes. Her usual enthusiasm was missing and her posture and frown suggested deep anxiety. He knew the cause and his heart made him want to comfort her.
The Headmaster approached his Professor of Muggle Studies and asked her to come to his office briefly. Phaelan replied by rising and following him. Making small talk about students and Quidditch, they made their way to the gargoyle and Dumbledore's office. Once there, Dumbledore bid her sit. She declined.
"Phaelan, you are quite distraught. You must trust Severus. He has survived by his wits this long and will doubtless return relatively unscathed again."
"Intellectually, I know that. The odds against him get higher every time he goes to them though. That isn't romantic fancy; it's mathematically proven." She stood looking out the window where Severus usually stood. "One day, the ruse will be discovered. It's just a matter of time."
"You are uncommonly pessimistic today Phaelan, what has brought on this mood?" the old man asked her.
Phaelan sat across from Dumbledore and looked in his eyes, "Do you know what task he has set himself for this mission? Do you?" she asked.
"Beyond heeding his Dark Master's will and garnering information, I had no notion of another agenda." Dumbledore told her quietly.
Phaelan snorted and rubbed her weary eyes with the heels of her hands. "He intends to end this project of Voldemort's. He's going to try to have the captive scientist do it but if the man balks, I know he intends to do it himself."
"He told you this?" Dumbledore asked, shaken by her revelation.
Phaelan shook her head, "No, not intentionally. He has had dreams, several times. I hear him muttering about Unquenchable fire and poison."
"Why did you not speak earlier? I could have dissuaded him."
"It wasn't my place, Albus. He had to make that choice. I respect him too much to gainsay his wisdom on such matters."
"Never the less, you have a duty to the Order…."
"Piss on the order, Dumbledore. This is….this is the man I have come to love. He trusts me and I shall never betray that. Not for you, nor the order nor anyone else. I love him; all the nasty, sarcastic, brooding, angry bits of him and I will not allow you to remove another remnant of his soul by telling him about his duty and redemption for his past transgressions." Phaelan stared down her boss.
Dumbledore nodded. "I see." He sighed. "Phaelan, I never intended to lay a burden of guilt upon Severus, not in the way it appears. At the time, it was the only way I could convince him to live. He was suicidal when he returned to me; he had only intended to confess and give me as much information about Tom as he could. I told him he could better serve the final defeat of his Dark Lord if he helped us and at the same time work to undo the evil he had help wrought."
Phaelan closed her eyes, "When will he have repaid his debt old man?"
Dumbledore smiled, "It was repaid the moment he told me he would work for me. You see Phaelan; you are not the only person who loves Severus Snape. Now, your gift of love will help him love himself."
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Severus was packing up the lab, leaving the stockpile of antitoxin potions in clear sight.
"You're leaving aren't you?" Faubert asked.
Severus paused and answered without looking, "Yes."
"Can we go over it once more? I don't want to muck it up." Faubert was jittery.
"Alright." Severus turned and faced the nervous man. "When the Dark Lord comes, I will suggest that it would be poetic justice for you to meet your maker, as it were, through the intervention of your creation. He does so love drama, our leader."
Severus continued as though lecturing a class, "I have given you a potion that will act within two minutes to kill you once ingested. For that reason, you must take it first, and then drop this wax capsule on the floor and step on it. Once the two solutions within it mix, they will burst into flame when the solvent containing them evaporates. I have secreted several capsules of Unquenchable fire throughout the specimen's enclosure, with an additive to generate smoke. When you are stung, count to ten before taking the poison then release the fire capsule. When the toxin has worked on your body, no one will be able to enter the lab fast enough to attempt to put the fire out without endangering themselves and others."
Faubert nodded his head. "The obscene things will be killed by the smoke and fire."
"Yes," Snape replied, "the enclosure will eventually disintegrate but the abominable creatures will long be dead."
"What about the labs, will they be destroyed too?" he asked.
Severus looked around and nodded, "Yes, I believe they will."
Faubert nodded. "I'm almost happy about this.'' he smiled tearfully. "Tell my girls I loved them and that their mother loved them; that we were so proud of them. Tell them….Tell them I did this for them so that they could be happy and free."
Severus looked at the forlorn figure before him. Hadn't he once felt this way? Guilty and useless.
"I will tell them the truth. That their father had more courage than any wizard I know. That he was honourable and his love was immeasurable. They shall know of your sacrifice as will all of Wizardkind if I have my way. When my cohorts return, know my words will be cruel to your ears. That is the lie I live." Severus turned away, unable to speak further.
"Try to love them if you can, Snape. Do you have a wife, a girl friend?" Faubert asked.
Severus closed his eyes. He had tried not to think of her. "There is someone. I will say no more."
"Girls need a woman around. So many things a girl needs." Faubert's voice trailed off.
At that moment, Goyle senior strode into the lab.
"Snape, you old codger, been too long since last we met." He slapped Severus on the back while smiling gregariously.
"Indeed, how so Goyle?" Snape asked innocently.
"Weeelllll, you can hardly count the party at Malfoy's, all the wives around and what not." The corpulent servant commented.
"I care little either way. You should know I am hardly a sociable person." Replied Snape.
"You were always odd Snape."Goyle added but stopped as Voldemort entered just then.
"Severus, you are ready to return to your alter ego?" smiled Voldemort.
Snape looked up from where he was kneeling, "I must return soon my lord to avert suspicion of my whereabouts. It was, after all, only supposed to be a funeral in Greece."
The serpentlike man snorted, "Not so far from the truth then my boy considering our excursion yesterday."
"Indeed my lord." Severus meekly replied.
Voldemort walked over and touched Severus on the shoulder, "Rise, my loyal servant, I am well pleased with you."
Suppressing a shudder, Snape rose and stood facing his dark master.
"For your invaluable service I will grant you a boon Severus. Speak it. A woman, a boy, both together? Come now, don't be shy." He told him while bestowing a lipless smile on Snape,
"My lord is too generous and he knows I am loath to so indulge in such dissipation." Severus replied while bowing his head.
Voldemort sighed loudly, "What then, come now don't push my generosity?"
"What had my Lord decided on for the disposal of the Muggle scientist?" Severus asked in his most snarling tone.
Cocking his head to the side, Voldemort was surprised by the question. "I suppose we'll have some sport with him, why?"
Narrowing his eyes Severus played his hand. "Would it not be justice for the Muggle scientist to die by the weapon he helped create?"
Voldemort began to laugh, softly at first growing ever louder. "Oh my boy, you do have a sense of drama and poetry. Very well, it shall be done today; do you wish to observe?"
Severus shook his head, "I do not need to witness it to know it has been done, my lord. With your permission, I shall return to my other persona?"
"Go, son and be assured of my delight in your work." Voldemort gave leave to Severus as a King to his courtier.
Casting a quick glance towards Faubert, Severus bowed and left, quickly making his way to the apparation site. Instead of returning to Hogwarts he concentrated on a spot on the hill just outside the wards of the old farm. There were some low hung hedges he could take cover in to wait and watch.
Some time later, he observed Voldemort and Pettigrew leave and apparate presumably back to Riddle Manor. He resettled himself and cast a warming charm. Time passed and Severus found himself nodding off. Shaking the cobwebs out of his head, he stood and stretched briefly, still watching the barn. Suddenly, Goyle came running out, clearly panicked. He tore at his hair and gestured wildly at the structure behind him. A few minutes later, Severus saw flames shoot up through the roof in the centre of the structure where he knew the apiary was located. The fire quickly lapped across the old wooden structure. Goyle had disappeared. Snape hoped he had enough sense to get out of the country before the loss of Voldemort's secret weapon was discovered. Sighing at the loss of a man Severus was sure he could have called friend under other circumstances, he apparated back to the gates of Hogwarts. Slowly, he walked the path to the hidden entrance as the darkening evening gathered about him.
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"Whatcha got there Harry?" asked Ginny as she flopped down beside him in front of the common room fire.
"Insurance forms." He told her. "For when I go up in the plane with McKenzie. Some other legal stuff as well."
"What's the insurance for?" she asked looking over his shoulder.
"In case the plane crashes or something." Harry huffed, "Bugger, they'll never sign."
"Who?"
"The Dursley's; I need my parents or guardians to sign 'cause I'm under twenty-one." He replied.
"Twenty-one? You come of age at seventeen Harry." Ginny said frowning in confusion.
Harry shook his head, "Not everywhere Gin and this insurance company says twenty-one is the age of consent so I need their signature."
Ginny narrowed her eyes. "Does McKenzie know?"
"Yeah, I told her."
"But she's still going to let you fly?" she asked.
Harry nodded. "Well, it's obvious then." Ginny grinned at Harry's scowl. "Hogwart's Muggle has a plan."
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Phaelan was in her office marking homework, she'd forgone dinner in the great hall. She heard a pop and looked up to see Dobby.
"Master Dumbledore sent me to tell you that Master Snape is returned Miss." The elf told her while clutching the edge of her desk, "Master Snape does not look happy Miss but he does not look angry either. Dobby is not sure what this means."
"Is he hurt Dobby?" Phaelan demanded both relieved and worried at the same time if that were possible.
"Dobby did not see any blood and the master walked without a limp." He replied.
"Thank you Dobby. "she dismissed him. Pulling on her teachers robes over her jeans and t-shirt, Phaelan fairly ran from her office to the dungeons. When she arrived she saw Dumbledore exiting from Severus' chambers.
"Is he alright Albus? Is he hurt?" she asked him urgently.
Dumbledore put his hand on her shoulder. "He is physically unharmed Phaelan; fear not. He is somewhat distraught however and I thought it best not to press for details at this moment." Taking his hand away, he smiled and looked into her eyes. "Perhaps the gentle attentions of his lady will sooth his soul and give him peace. We shall talk in the morning." Dumbledore nodded and walked away.
Phaelan gave the password and entered Severus' chambers to find him in a dark room sitting on the sofa before the fire. His outer robes had been cast carelessly aside. His posture, elbows on his knees as he supported his forehead in his hands, was unusual. He looked as if he was trying at all costs to contain himself; to hold in an emotion threatening to explode.
"Severus, are you alright?" asked Phaelan quietly. She watched as his shoulders began to shake. Was he crying she wondered? "Severus, speak to me, tell me you're alright." Phaelan approached him slowly and placed her hand on his shoulder. He started and sat up to look at her.
"You knew, didn't you? You knew what I planned." He looked at her in confusion.
Phaelan nodded. "Yeah, I figured it out."
"You didn't try to stop me."
"I am not your master or your conscience, my love. It was neither my place nor right. You had to do this on your own and I respected that." She told him quietly. "It just scared the hell out of me."
Still looking at her, Severus shook his head, "How can you bear to be near me knowing what I have wrought upon another innocent soul?"
Phaelan smiled, "Severus, had not the hostage been willing to carry out this task, you would not be here. I believe he was as guilt driven as you can be at times. He blamed himself, right?"
Severus gave a small chuckle, "Is there nothing that you haven't figured out?"
Phaelan knelt before him and cupped his face in her hands. "Yes; how do I make Severus Snape believe he is worthy to be loved and when will he stop doubting my devotion."
Severus reached up and grasped her wrists. "You must understand Phaelan, I only had feelings close to this for one other woman. "
"Lily Potter." She told him.
"NO. Lily Evans before she married Potter." He replied surprising himself by feeling no bitterness.
"I once told you I'm not Lily."
His dark eyes held her gaze, almost frightening in their intensity. "No, no you're not Lily. You are mine as she never was and was never intended to be. I have released that part of my former life. I don't want to die in her memory anymore. Now, I want to live for you. I want us to be together tomorrow and every other tomorrow. That is what you need to know."
"I love you Severus. Let me share your burden. Let me help." She told him.
Severus smiled. "Phaelan you are my wellspring; my reason for being. I see your face and the sun rises; I here your voice and my soul sings. I grieve tonight for the passing of a brave man but I no longer wish I was in his place. Tonight I rejoice in my life with you."
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"Come on woman, pack and let's get out of here." Goyle ordered.
"Yes dear, but where are we going? I should pack for the season after all. Are there balls and assemblies to attend? When are we coming home." His wife asked.
"All seasons, no, no and perhaps never; all right?" he replied acerbically while he sorted out his liquid assets and temporal property.
Mrs. Goyle gasped as she realized the reason for their sudden exodus. "What about Gregory?"
"He's safest at Hogwarts for now." He paused. "It's a mess; we need to go to survive."
"Shut up you foolish man. I'm just surprised this hasn't happened sooner you idiot. Now pass me the dildo." His wife told him.
Goyle looked at her in amazement, "What?" he asked as he passed her the phallic instrument.
"This is a port key to Amsterdam and my twin cousins." She told him.
"The hermaphrodites?" he asked in shock.
"They're lovely boys or girls…whatever. Now, where had you planned to take us?"
"Arran."
"Ah well, you really should trust your wife now and again. Now, if you hurry, we can have dinner at a nice restaurant beside the canal." She instructed, before waving her wand to shrink and pack their entire combined wardrobes into two trunks along with all her hand sewn linens.
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Phaelan and Severus slept peacefully through the night together, content in each other's presence. After breakfast on Saturday morning, they made their way to Dumbledore's office to meet with him. When they arrived, the found Shacklebolt and Minerva already present. Severus related the events of the previous days in clinical fashion answering the detailed questions with concise, clipped responses as if he wanted to recall as little about the details as possible.
"You will share this with Potter, won't you Albus?" inquired Minerva.
The old man nodded, "Perhaps Severus, if you were to place this in a pensieve?" he looked over at his spy hopefully.
Severus shook his head, "Not permanently, there are moments I must keep for my own sake." He told them quietly. "There is one memory I require Kingsley to witness now, if you will?" He looked at the Auror with a raised eyebrow.
Kingsley nodded, "If it's that important."
Dumbledore retrieved a pensieve from his shelf behind the desk. Pulling his wand, Severus placed it to his head and pulled out the silvery strand of memory and placed it in the bowl. Nodding first at Shacklebolt, he leaned forward together with the Auror to enter. The other occupants in the room were silent, ruminating over what had been revealed to them and mourning the loss of the scientist.
Within minutes, Severus and Kingsley returned and sat on their same chairs.
"I will make the arrangements at the appropriate time Snape but if I do anything official now, it will become public knowledge. It would be unsafe for you and them.
"What is it Severus?" asked Minerva.
Severus sighed, "Faubert the scientist, asked me to become the legal guardian for his daughters and to find away to help them recover."
"A daunting task for you Severus but one you are up to." Dumbledore told him.
Severus snorted. "Regardless, I need to see the girls but I can't visit in this form. What say you Kingsley, are you up to sharing your hair?"
Shacklebolt laughed as he rubbed his smooth shaven head and face. "Sorry old man, I'm a bit short on that. How about a fingernail?"
Severus nodded, his mouth quirked ever so slightly at the humour, "That will work. We'll arrange a visit with Poppy as the girls are wards of the school at the present time. That shouldn't raise suspicions."
At that, the meeting broke up. Phaelan walked slowly down the hall with Severus, neither speaking. Suddenly, he grabbed her hand.
"Come." He pulled her along to their tower. When they arrived he called, "Accio Snape's broom. Accio winter cloaks."
Moments later his broom came flying in to the tower followed by two black woollen cloaks. He passed one to Phaelan who pulled it on over her school robes and donned the other himself.
"Come, we haven't ridden in weeks. I need to get out of here for a bit." He said as he pulled Phaelan to sit before him on the broom. They kicked off and Severus took them high. They flew over the loch letting the cool damp air refresh them. The air was silent. There were no bird calls, no sounds except their hearts beating and the wind passing through their hair. Soon, Severus dropped to the outcropping they had visited before. They got off the broom and went to lean against the face of the mountain where they could look out at the glen below. The greenery of summer was gone but the scene was still harshly beautiful.
"What happens now Severus? Will there be repercussions against you for this loss?" asked Phaelan quietly.
"Honestly, I don't know. I hid everything I could but it depends how much digging the Dark Lord will want to do." He replied, "He's had so much bad luck of late, I can hope that he is too off balance to think everything through."
Phaelan turned and leaned against his chest, her head just below his chin. Severus wrapped his arms around her.
"I don't want you to be in harms way, my love. Just be careful." She told him as she rubbed his chest softly.
Severus kissed the top of her head, "For you my practical one, I will try."
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Sunday after breakfast found Harry back in his room changing into his uniform.
"Oi mate, what're you all get up for?" Asked Neville of Harry, who was knotting his school tie, "It's Sunday."
Harry grimaced at himself in the mirror. "I…have….to….see….my…bloody….aunt and uncle. Bugger." He pulled off his tie again. He opened the dormitory door and yelled. "Hermione are you around?"
"What you need her for mate?" asked Seamus who was in the midst of a potions essay.
"This bloody tie, I can never get it to look right." Harry told him.
"But you put it on every morning for class." Neville exclaimed.
"I get Hermione to tie it and leave it tied. The elves have been doing laundry again. Hermi….Oh sorry." He apologized as Hermione looked in the door.
"What is it now?" she asked, standing with her arms crossed, tapping her foot in annoyance. "I was in the middle of a NEWT level Arithmancy equation that I was developing to make a charm work and it's ruined. I have to start over."
"Yeah, um could you tie my tie…please?" he asked gingerly.
Hermione huffed, "Good grief Harry Potter, you'd think by now you could dress yourself." She took the tie from him and put it around her own neck. "You can face down a Death Eater wand to wand but you can't tie a Windsor knot." She scolded as she wound the tie around, tucked the end through the opening and tugged it down, "Here! Now do I have to tie your shoes as well?" she thrust the tie back at him.
Harry grinned sheepishly, "Thanks, I can handle the shoes."
"Fine," she snapped and then more softly said, "Good Luck."
"Cheers, 'Mione." Said Harry to her retreating back.
Seamus and Neville were laughing. "Hermione, can you button up my jumper, I can't get the buttons to match the holes." Teased Neville.
"Hurry Hermione, I got to go potty and my fly's stuck, can you get it down?" Seamus shared causing Neville to snort and choke with laughter as he rolled around on his bed.
Harry looked at his room mates enjoying a laugh at his expense. "Very funny, just hysterical. Are you done?" he asked
The two friends just continued to laugh. Harry grabbed his outer robes and the paper work and left muttering incomprehensively to himself. He headed to the Headmaster's office where he met Professor McKenzie who was dressed in the dark blue uniform of an American Naval officer.
"Do you have everything Harry?" She asked.
"Yeah, your paper work and the stuff from the Muggle solicitor." He replied.
"Good, now let me see you." She instructed looking him over up and down.
She frowned, "Did you sleep in those pants Mr. Potter? Has your shirt been near an iron? And your shoes; have you been traipsing through mud?"
"Um, the elves brought the laundry back but it kind of fell in a heap…" he tried to explain.
"Och, honestly Albus. Don't you think we should be teaching some household charms?" Minerva went to fuss over her Gryffindor cub. A few swishes of her wand had removed wrinkles and polished his shoes.
"Minerva, since we're going to be in Muggle territory, can you change the robes into a blazer?" Phaelan asked.
Harry stood patiently as the two women teachers did their make over but when McGonagall mentioned his hair.
"No, don't touch the hair, I like it the way it is." He insisted.
"Just a small sticking charm…." Minerva had raised her wand but Harry stepped away.
"Not the hair." He said.
"He looks better Minerva, leave him a little dignity." Phaelan smiled at the look on Harry's face. "Now, I need a swagger stick."
"A swagger stick Miss McKenzie?" asked Dumbledore.
"You know what that is, don't you?" she asked the old man.
"Yes of course but was not aware American Naval officers still affected them." He replied. Taking a quill, Dumbledore transfigured it into an official looking swagger stick.
"They don't but I doubt the Dursley's will know that and I need the diversion." Phaelan smiled and accepted the stick.
"Indeed, how so?" asked Snape who was standing in the shadows at the window as usual.
"Harry, the Dursley's don't know that I'm a Muggle. Correct?" Phaelan asked the student.
Harry shook his head, "I didn't tell them anything about you except that you were in the Navy."
"So Harry, in their ignorance, what might they assume the stick to be?" asked the teacher.
Harry smiled and nodded. "Very cool Professor."
"Very devious madam, they will assume it is a wand." Severus answered his own question.
Phaelan just smiled. "Let's go Harry, oh and it's Lieutenant Commander McKenzie when we reach the other side of the fire."
"Yes Ma'am. Lt Cmdr." Harry saluted.
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After flooing to Phaelan's London flat, she and Harry drove to 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging. As she parked the car and got out, she looked around the Xerox perfect street. Several people were out wrapping shrubbery for the winter or washing their vans; a scene of suburban domestic harmony. Phaelan gave a silent snicker thinking of the Muggle studies text book and its interpretation of washing the family vehicle.
"They're looking out the window." Harry told her.
"Don't worry. Let them stew a bit, it makes the meat tenderer for the knife." She told him taking her time while getting her briefcase. "I'm just getting the papers."
Finally she came around and joined Harry to make their way to the front door.
Phaelan knocked and assumed her most official pompous officer's demeanour. Snotty Bitch, that was she. Harry noticed and stifled a giggle.
Vernon Dursley opened the door, his wife and son stood in the hallway behind him.
"Who are you and what do you want? What has it got to do with him?" Dursley jerked his thumb towards Harry.
Phaelan pulled out an official looking paper, "Dursley, Vernon - Muggle; is that you sir?" she asked haughtily.
"What if it is?" he asked suspiciously.
"I believe you were advised of our visit. May we step inside or do you prefer handling private government business on your doorstep where others may observe?" Phaelan raised her eyebrow and waited.
Vernon stuck his head out the door and saw various neighbours watching the show. Pasting a spurious smile on his face he nodded at them, "Please do come in, we've been expecting you." He told them loud enough for the neighbours to hear. He quickly closed the door behind them, sparing a look of loathing for Harry.
Harry saw his cousin Dudley standing in the kitchen behind his mother.
"Hello Dudders, shouldn't you be in school?" asked Harry in a taunting voice. "Suspended again?"
"Be quiet Harry. Dudley has been discriminated against simply because of his size. He's constantly taunted just as he has been every summer around here." Petunia placed an arm around the corpulent boy's shoulders. "He's only protecting himself."
Dudley smirked and continued to eat the slice of apple pie he held in his hand.
Phaelan placed a warning hand on Harry's shoulder making him bite back a retort about throwing ones weight around.
Indicating the dining room table, Phaelan asked, "May we sit here? We have a number of documents to review."
Vernon nodded and waved his hand bringing everyone to the table. Phaelan stopped before sitting.
"I'm sorry, please excuse me, I must visit the restroom." Phaelan looked at Petunia.
"Top of the stairs, second door on your left. OH! Please use the disposable towels on the counter. I don't want you…that is I wouldn't want you to pick up any germs, I haven't changed the hand towels yet." Petunia told her anxiously.
Phaelan passed her a condescending smile, "Of course, we wouldn't want any unnecessary contamination."
Phaelan made her way upstairs hearing Vernon begin to question Harry. "What's this all about boy? I thought we'd seen the back of you."
Thankfully the floors didn't creak allowing Phaelan to quickly open the door to the back bedroom under renovation. The room had been gutted the old exterior wall had been removed and the bare beams exposed. The roughed in plumbing for a bathroom could be seen where the sheetrock was missing. The existing walls were however intact with no evidence of damage. Phaelan took a good look knowing her memory could be used in a Wizarding court. She saw no indications of fire damage; they were trying to fleece their nephew one last time.
Going to the bathroom, Phaelan flushed the toilet and ran water in the basin. She wet two of the fancy paper napkins but in a moment of devilry, she also made sure she dampened the fancy hand towels, leaving one lying on the toilet with a corner dipping into the bowl. I'm as bad as the kids I teach she thought but they deserve it, the pathetic bigoted cretins.
Phaelan rejoined the family a few minutes later and noticed Harry red faced, clenching his fists in an effort to control his temper.
"Mr Potter, you seem distressed. Is there a problem I should be aware of? You are, after all, under my jurisdiction at the present time." Phaelan placed her briefcase on the table and withdrew the folders of legal papers and her swagger stick. At the appearance of the latter, the three Muggles sat up straighter. Their eyes focussed on the useless bit of wood rationalizing Phaelan's idea of intimidation.
"No Lieutenant Commander, no problem." Harry bit out a reply.
"Good, now, the first matter of business is the mission Harry will undertake to fly in an F14 jet and observe the effects of magic from the upper atmosphere. This is a project undertaken by my government and Hogwarts jointly. Given Harry's age and the legal requirements of my government, we require the signature of his legal Muggle guardians, namely you." Phaelan looked over at the Dursley's who looked confused.
Vernon recovered first, "What are we signing exactly? I won't be responsible for your safety around this freak."
"Harry is a very talented and intelligent wizard. I look forward to sharing my cockpit with him." Phaelan told the company.
"YOU! You're the pilot?" Petunia asked stunned at Phaelan's revelation.
"Of course. That's what the wings mean." Phaelan pointed to her aviator's wings pinned above her left pocket. "The papers are your permission for his participation and insurance waivers for basic accidental death insurance."
"Waivers?" asked Vernon.
"In the unlikely event Harry should perish in an accident aboard my plane, the United States Navy would not be sued and the insurance would pay you a sum of $50,000 US."
"I see; and if we don't sign?" he looked down his nose at Phaelan.
"Well, "Phaelan snorted derisively, "You can explain to the Home Office why you declined to allow Harry Potter to fulfil his duties. I won't be around to referee."
"The Home Office?" Vernon was suddenly wide eyed, "They know about…you know….Wizards?"
"Naturally Dursley, there are too many incidents affecting Muggles for them not to be." Phaelan replied sarcastically.
Vernon looked at his wife. Petunia shrugged then nodded.
"Alright give me the forms, maybe we'll get lucky and you'll eject him over the Atlantic or something." Vernon and Petunia each signed.
"Excellent." Phaelan took the insurance paper and waivers to put safely away in her briefcase. "Now to the other matter."
"Other matter?" Vernon asked.
"The lawsuit. It must stop." Phaelan told them bluntly.
Vernon laughed, "No, I don't think so. The little blighter caused havoc in this house, bloody fireworks and what not going off."
Petunia grabbed the neck of her tailored blouse. "It was traumatizing; I thought we should perish."
"I see." Phaelan responded. "I have the solicitor's claims for damage here but I didn't find the emergency services statement nor the adjustors estimate for water damage to the lower floors. I'm sure a court would ask for that."
Becoming flustered, Vernon spluttered. "I used the foam fire extinguisher from the kitchen; there was no water used."
"Hmm, why then did you claim damages for your kitchen in the amount of ten thousand pounds?" Phaelan asked.
Vernon, now angry, jumped up, "What has this to do with you? This is a civil matter."
Phaelan stood and looked him in the eye. "Mr. Dursley, I have it on good advice that the protection on this house is in place until Harry leaves Hogwarts. Do you know what I mean?" at this she looked pointedly at Petunia. "If that is the case, then this is Harry's address of record as his family home. Our Muggle solicitor has advised Harry cannot be sued for damaging his own house." Phaelan watched the realization spread across the Dursley's faces.
"We can remove the protection or you can drop the suit. Your choice Dursley." At this Phaelan picked up her swagger stick.
Petunia jumped up, "Wait! Vernon a word." She indicated the kitchen. Phaelan shrugged and began twirling the swagger stick like a baton. The three Dursley's huddled in the kitchen casting quick glances back at the dining room.
Harry leaned forward to whisper, "This is so simple, it's brilliant Professor."
"Not really Harry. If they agree, Dumbledore has to come back and re-ward the house. He's willing of course but…." The Dursley's returned.
"He doesn't deserve it but we'll drop the suit." Vernon spat.
Phaelan brought out the papers. The Dursley's signed along with Harry; Phaelan witnessed. She then passed over a set of forms to the Dursley's.
"These are your copies; we'll have the others dropped at the clerk's office on Monday morning." Phaelan stuffed all the paperwork into her case and stood.
"We must be going. Much as I'm aggrieved to leave your bounteous hospitality, we have other business." Phaelan shared a sarcastic smile and placed her hat back on her head.
As they reached the front door, Vernon reached around her to open it. "Are there many like you?" he asked.
"I beg your pardon?" asked Phaelan.
"You know, are there many of the (cough) magic sort in the military?" he finally asked.
Phaelan smiled secretly at him, "Mr Dursley, surely you understand that is top secret information but…"she leaned in. "You've heard of Area 51 in Nevada?"
Vernon looked stunned, "No….Really?"
"Good day all." Phaelan called over her shoulder as Harry followed her to the car. They contained their laughter until they turned the corner out of sight.