Last time, the Specialists and the Winx Club arrived to help out. Riven didn't believe that The Ramblers were all that, but was soon proved wrong. Stella then knighted Harry for saving Bloom's life twice. On with the show!

Chapter 32: The Interview

The next morning found our heroes talking amongst themselves in several groups. In one group, we find Hermione, Martin, Virgil, Tecna, Digit and Timmy discussing the finer points of time travel. Hermione had just finished recounting the events involving a time-turner and Buckbeak the hippogriff. "So Harry saw himself conjuring the patronus," said Martin, making sure he understood, "And when you went back in time, he conjured it, while his past self saw it." "What we have here," said Tecna, "Is a predestination paradox. By going back in time, your actions caused the events that made you go back in time in the first place."

"What makes it a paradox," said Timmy, "Is weather or not the past or future is the cause and which is the effect." "Temporal mechanics has always given me a headache." Said Martin. "What makes it worse," said Virgil, "Is that if you keep thinking about this, you're head will explode." "You're kidding, right?" asked Digit. "Of course I'm kidding. You'll just end up with the Mt. Everest of headaches."

Elsewhere, Steve, D.P., Skeater, Fay, Brandon, Riven, Caleb, Matt and Nigel were practicing Tai Chi. Stella, Musa, Cornelia, Hay Lin, Irma and Will were watching. "All is one and one is all." Said Fay. "The mind and the body are linked. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind. The same goes in reverse." "I know what else makes a healthy body besides a healthy mind." Said Steve. "Let me guess," said Riven, "food?" "Right on the dot." said Steve as the group as they went back inside.

"I'm starving," said Stella as they entered the kitchen, "What's for breakfast?" "Well, there's egg and bacon;" said Seamus who was cooking today, "egg sausage and bacon; egg and Spam; egg bacon and Spam; egg bacon sausage and Spam; Spam bacon sausage and Spam; Spam egg Spam Spam bacon and Spam; Spam sausage Spam Spam bacon Spam tomato and Spam; Spam Spam Spam egg and Spam; Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam baked beans Spam Spam and Spam; or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and Spam."

"Have you got anything without Spam?" asked Stella. "Well there's Spam egg sausage and Spam," said Seamus, "There's not much Spam in it." "I don't want anything with Spam in it." Said Stella. "Can't you have egg bacon sausage and Spam?" asked Brandon, "There's not much Spam in that." "It still has Spam in it." Replied Stella. "Well not as much as Spam egg sausage and Spam." Replied Brandon.

"Couldn't you do the egg bacon sausage and Spam without any Spam?" asked Stella. "Yuck!" exclaimed Seamus. "What do you mean 'yuck!'? I don't like Spam!" "It's okay honey,' said Brandon reassuringly, "I'll eat your Spam. I love it! I'll have the Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam baked beans Spam Spam and Spam."

Just then, Harry came into the kitchen. "'Morning Sir Harry." Said Seamus. This is going to take some getting use to thought Harry. "You're just in time." Said Steve, "We're having a Spam buffet." "I don't like Spam!" exclaimed Stella.

Later on, Max and Jill were getting ready to visit the Ministry of Magic, to give their interview." "I think I should go with you," said Harry, "It's about time I made a statement." "Suit yourself," said Max. "Anyone else want to come along?" asked Jill. "I'll go," said Fay, "I want to go."

And so, Harry found himself back at the Ministry of Magic. Harry noticed that where the fountain was last year, (which was destroyed when Vodemort and Dumbledore fought) was a sign reading: Future site of the Albus Dumbledore Memorial.

The interview was to be conducted in a small conference room. Already waiting for them, was Scrimgeour, Percy, and to Harry's slight distaste, Rita Skeeter. "Ah, there he is!" exclaimed Rita happily, "The Chosen One! At last we can talk!" She pulled out her notepad and her Quick Quotes Quill. "So Harry, how do you describe the present situation?"

Slightly taken aback at Rita Skeeter's abrupt question, Harry answered; "Right now, the war could go either way. But I think that since The Ramblers have arrived, our chances have greatly improved." "Yes, well get to the Ramblers in a moment. But what about you? How does it feel to be the one who is destined to defeat He Who Must Not Be Named?" "Weather or not I am destined to defeat Voldemort," replied Harry, "I do know this. He won't stop until he kills me himself. It'll come down to the both of us in the end. That I'm pretty sure about."

"But doesn't is scare you that the biggest threat to the wizarding community is after you in person?" asked Rita. "Of course it scares me." Replied Harry. "You have to be out of your mind not to be scared. But I'm not going to let fear run my life. Voldemort is nothing more than a murderer, a thief, and a terrorist. Giving in to fear will only make the situation worse than it is."

"Thank you Harry," said Rita, "This will make the front page easily." She then turned towards Jill. "Now, about you, the Ramblers?" "Before we start," said Jill, "I just want to get one thing straight. If you misprint one fact, take one statement out of context, I'll have your head between two steamed buns." At this, Rita Skeeter laughed, but Harry knew that Jill wasn't joking. Just then, the door opened, and there was Umbridge, this time, wearing a blue bow in her hair. "I'm so sorry to be late," she said in a tooth-rotting sweet voice. Harry glared at her. "Is she the one?" whispered Max. "Yes," said Harry grimly.

"I'll just sit down then," said Umbridge. "You do that." Said Jill. "Now, what do you want to know?" she asked Rita Skeeter. "For starters," said Rita, What is your group all about?" "It's a very long story," said Jill, rubbing her arm again, "So here's the short version: The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense was founded in 1943 during the height of World War 2. Allied intelligence had discovered that Nazi scientists were delving into matters that are best left alone by mortal man." At this, Umbridge coughed her patented 'Hem, hem.' This was ignored by both Rita and Jill.

"What sort of matters did they find?" asked Rita. "Necromancy for starters," said Jill. "Hitler was attracted by the idea of an army that couldn't be killed. That didn't work out so well. Another example was demon summoning. That also didn't turn out as expectedl." Umbridge coughed again, and was ignored again.

"When Germany surrendered in 1945," continued Jill, "Several key Nazi scientists had escaped capture from both Allied and Soviet armies. While the war in Europe was ending, a secret, occult war was just getting started." Another ignored cough from Umbridge. Harry then noticed that Fay was sitting with gritted teeth.

"It was another ten years before the last of the rouge scientists was tracked down and captured. The Great Occult War ended on November 19, 1955. Since then, The Bureau has contended with numerous demonic incursions and living dead outbreaks." Umbridge coughed again. Fay grunted in annoyance.

"Was the Bureau involved in the last war?" "Yes we were." Answered Jill. "Towards the end of the conflict, one agent was sent to observe the war, but not to interfere. He was captured by the Death Eaters. His body was recovered several days later, tortured and mutilated. In retaliation, thirty of the best agents the Bureau had were sent in to find and kill the ones responsible. They were selected from the best military and civilian covert operation units: Navy Seals, Green Berets, Delta Force, NSA and CIA. When the war ended with Voldemort defeated, only one agent came back alive, in one piece and sane. His name was Nathaniel Callahand." "What happened to him?" "He was assassinated in 1995. When you deal in fighting evil, you make enemies, both human and non-human."

"What about you, the Ramblers?" asked Rita. "The Ramblers were formed in 1999 when The Bureau learned that the Y2K problem was a front for a massive demonic invasion. An elite team of Bureau agents was put together to foil the invasion." "You were among that team?" asked Rita. "Myself, Max Kildare and six others." Another cough from Umbridge. "Are you alright Fay?" whispered Harry. "I'm just peachy keen." Said Fay through gritted teeth. Harry noticed that her left hand was twitching.

"Where did you get the name, 'Ramblers'?" "I can answer that." Said Max. "The name came to me as I was listening to the Led Zeppelin song 'Ramble On.' It hit me that 'The Ramblers' would sound as a great team name."

"Since the new millennium," continued Jill, "We, The Ramblers, have fought more demons, zombies and other fell creatures than the rest of the Bureau put together." "What's the down side?" asked Rita. "The down side is that the causality rate for the Ramblers is too high for comfort." "What do you mean?" "Some died in combat. Others killed themselves to escape from the pressure and stress of keeping such a secret from the rest of the world. Others have been horribly disabled. The really unlucky ones have been driven insane." Another cough from Umbridge. By now, both of Fay's hands were twitching.

"How do you describe your powers? I mean, where did they come from?" "Let me put it this way; the human race is evolving. Nothing short of genocide is going to stop it." Umbridge then gave her loudest 'hem hem' yet. At this, Fay leapt to her feet shouting; "Do you have to keep coughing like that? You bloated sack of proto-plasum!"

"I was just wondering," said Umbridge, who despite a calm voice, was sweating, "Weather or not people like you can be trusted?" "What do you mean people like us?" asked Jill, concern growing in her voice. "I mean Mutants." Replied Umbridge. "Now Deloris," said Scrimgeour, "There's no need for such language." "No minister," said Fay, "Let's here what this toad has to say." "Here's what I have to say." Said Umbridge, who obviously hadn't discovered how to keep her mouth shut. "Mutants can't be trusted." "And what makes you think we're Mutant's?" asked Max. "It's all over your faces. You're Mutants. Your parents were Mutants, and your children will be Mutants. Better to have you're kind exterminated."

At this, Fay unsheathed one of her long stabbing knifes. "I'll kill you!" she shouted as she rushed at Umbridge. Unfortunately, Max intercepted her. "Fay! Stand down!" ordered Max. Fay began to calm down. "You see minister?" Umbridge asked anxiously, "Never trust a Mutant!" "Are you just going to sit there and take this bull sh$t Jill?" asked Fay. "Sticks and stones Fay," replied Jill, who was also insulted yet remained calm, "Sticks and stones."

"I apologize for my comrades behavior." Said Max to Scrimgeour. "I too apologize for my employee's tongue. She needs to learn to keep it in check." "That she does." Max then glared at Umbridge. "I'm going to say this once. And I'll say it slowly so you can understand: Don't f#ck with me." "I beg your pardon?" asked Umbridge. "You herd me, so stay out of Rambler business. You can stay out of Harry's business as well. In fact stay out of everyone's business. Or else." "Or else what?" asked Umbridge. "Or I'll shove this building so far up your ass, you'll be sh$tt$ng concrete for a decade!"

Umbridge was shocked at this insult, but soon recovered. "Just who do you think you are?" "They call me Distructicuss Maximus!" replied Max. "I see that your taste in company hasn't changed much, Potter." Said Umbrdge, "Mudbloods, half breads and now, Mutants." "You should show some respect." Said Jill. "Harry was knighted just yesterday." "He was now?" said Umbridge unconvinced. "Just who in their right mind would knight him?" Harry answered boldly, "She just happens to be a fairy princess from a parallel dimension."

"I see you haven't learned not to tell lies, Potter." Said Umbridge, pulling out her wand. "I still have much to teach you." Harry pulled out his wand. "You were never my teacher! And you can rot in hell for all I care." "Oh you should care," said Umbridge as she raided her wand. "Deloris! Stop!" shouted Scrimgeour, but it was too late. "Crucio!" shouted Umbridge. Yet there wasn't anything to curse. Max had grabbed Harry and pulled him out of the way. Meanwhile, Fay had held her knife at Umbridge's throat. "I wouldn't do that again," said Fay calmly, "or else, you care to witness my knife's sharp point."

Umbridge ran out of the room screaming for her life. "I think you should be more careful about who you have working for you." Said Max. "They might not be as tolerant as others." "I completely agree." Said Scrimgeour. "Make a note Weasley, Umbridge is as of this moment sacked." At this, Harry's mood lifted. "I hope my former Under-Secretary's actions haven't deterred our future cooperation."

"Not at all," said Max, "In fact I'm going to tell you what my team is up to next, so you'll know that we did it." Max then looked at his watch. "Within the next twenty-four hours, my team and I are going to locate and destroy every single Dementor on the planet." "Are you serious?" asked Scrimgeour? "Absolutely." Replied Max. "How can you find every single one?" "Let's just say that our eyes are open." Said Jill.

Back at McGonagall Manor, our heroes were questioning Jill and Max about their next move. "But how are you going to find every single dementor on the planet?" asked Hermione. "It's a trade secret." Said Steve. "First of all," said Jill, "Our intelligence has determined that all of them have congregated to Great Britton. That should make things easier." Just then, Will burst into the room. "Harry! I've found the next Horcrux!"

"Where? What is it?" Harry asked anxiously. "It's in an abandoned quarry in Wales," replied Will, "Ant it is a bracelet belonging to Rowena Ravenclaw. "Well let's get going!" said Bloom. She, the rest of the Winx Club, the Specialists, The Guardians and their boyfriends were ready to go. "Wait for me!' said Ginny. "What makes you think you're coming?" asked Ron. "Because where Harry goes, I go." Replied Ginny.

"Mind if I tag along?" asked Virgil. "Not at all," said Harry, "But why do you want to?" "I'd like to see you kids in action." Replied Virgil, referring to the Winx Club and Specialists. "Okay then," said Harry, "Everyone who can teleport, do so. Virgil, I hope you won't mind a side along apparation?" "Not at all." Replied Virgil. Within second, our heroes plus Virgil had teleported towards whatever unknown danger guarding the fifth Horcruxes.

The end of chapter 32. Next chapter, while the Ramblers are wiping out the Dementors, Harry and co. go off to destroy the 5th Horcruxes. Please read and review. See you next time!