A/N: Hey guys! We've finished fixing up the next chapter, so here it is :)
Chapter Fourteen: Protective Fathers/A Father's Protection
Despite the wizard's oath and the shock of being found out by Diana Bennett Wells, nothing could have prepared Sebastien Delacour for the wonders of the world Below. The glimpses of tunnels, the sound of clanging pipes, the almost Renaissance manner of dress among the few inhabitants they met and finally the sight of the spiral staircase and the great chasm – all combined to overwhelm his senses.
It was not that he was unfamiliar with the magical or unusual – he had seen many strange things in his previous career as an Auror for Magical France and his ongoing travels now on behalf of the Foreign Ministry of Magical France had exposed him to still more exotic and strange sights. But the proximity of the tunnel world to a bustling non-magical city such as New York with no magical portal to separate the two of them – that marked a first.
By now, the small group had reached the community's library and council chamber and Diana took a few moments to bang out a short message on the pipes. Seconds later, two younger teens stepped into the chamber and after Diana had spoken quietly with her two daughters, led Erin and Catherine away. Then she turned and indicated the council table in the corner of the chamber.
"I've asked Vincent and Father to join us in about half an hour," she told Fleur and Sebastien. "Harry is still at class with your goblin employers, Fleur, but he should be here in an hour. Why don't you try to begin laying the background for your father and I will back you up with any information that you need."
Fleur had been thinking about where to begin with her current story. She recognized the godsend her father's arrival presented to their current investigations, but how could she begin the tale – straight up with the important facts or telling a linear time line. Perhaps the important facts first….
"Papa, we've got a lot to tell you and I frankly don't know where to begin. The important points are as follows – my life was saved by Harry, a young man who turned out to be not only an undiscovered wizard, but a missing wizard who has been the center of one huge manhunt. He has also been the target of some powerful manipulations and dark spells.
"We are in his home now and his adoptive mother you have just met.
"Oh yes, I have chosen him, but I will have to share him with one other." This last she said in a low voice, hoping that he would miss that.
Sebastien's eyes went wide. "You've chosen him, but you must share him with one other? Expliquez!"
Zut, Fleur thought to herself. Papa would zero in on that. "Papa, Harry's sister is a Seer – she…."
Sebastien sat back heavily in the proffered chair while Diana couldn't help smiling at his poleaxed expression and she reached out, patting his arm in sympathy. "Don't worry – we've already overcome our shock – and yes, I think Fleur would make a wonderful addition to the family."
The former Head Auror swallowed and looked at his daughter sharply. "What is his full name and how can he resist the allure?"
"His name, Papa, is Harry Jacob Vincent Wells, the current Black of Black and the former Boy-Who-Lived," Fleur replied with pride in her voice. Then she smiled. "And he's never had a problem with my allure – Papa, he likes me for me."
It took a few seconds for Sebastien to digest Fleur's words. Black of Black – that sounded British although what he knew of the Black family was that it was dark. The Boy-Who-Lived – "Mon Dieu, Fleur, you mean Harry Potter?" Here in New York?"
Fleur's face took on a sad look. "He was Harry Potter – until Albus Dumbledore killed him. Do you understand now why we needed your oath?"
Mutely he nodded and then gave both Fleur and Diana a sharp look. "Tell me everything – from the beginning."
The only interruption to the next hour of Fleur's tale was the arrival of Father and Vincent. It was a measure of Sebastien's attention to the story that he took in Vincent's appearance with only a mild start – it was obvious to all that Fleur was an excellent story teller.
She was just getting to their investigation of the Potter and Black wills when Sebastien saw a tall, thin young man with a shock of black hair enter and fling his books on the table. Seeing Fleur and Diana, he angled over, giving his mother a kiss.
"I swear those goblins are…" It was at this point that he caught sight of Sebastien. "I'm sorry I didn't know I was interrupting something."
Before Fleur could make an introduction, Sebastien rose and extended his hand. "You must be Harry. I would say thank you for saving my daughter's life, but I am not sure I should be friendly with you right now. After all, you are the young man who has stolen my daughter's heart."
Harry's face had first turned red, then white as the implication of Sebastien's words sunk in. Father, Vincent, and Diana could barely restrain smiles as they watched the young man's reactions.
Sebastien's next words, however, took everyone by surprise. "However, I had the honor of knowing your birth parents, Mr. Wells, and I can report to you that you look much like your father, but that you have your mother's eyes."
Harry sat down, a look of shock on his face. This man was the first person he had met who had known both of his birth parents.
Sebastien sat down himself. "I will be happy to talk about your birth parents later, Mr. Wells. And of course we can talk later about your relationship with my daughter. However, let us return to the tale she was telling us when you arrived."
Fleur's face had gone red during her father's initial words to Harry, but his manner of speaking told her that he was more bluster than bite this time. She had also detected the hidden smiles of the others around the table and couldn't resist smiling herself. Papa must like what he had heard about Harry and was using this occasion to tease him a bit.
Clearing her throat, she returned to their investigations. When she had summarized the various steps taken, she turned to Diana.
"Sebastien, your daughter had suggested that we needed to contact someone who might give us insight into a few things. We determined that Dumbledore is a key figure in the events which have impacted my son's life – from the disregard for his birth parents' wills to the events of October 1994. We – that is Vincent and I – believe that this Dumbledore is doing this with a view to controlling Harry. But we don't know why he wanted to control him and whether or not Harry is still in danger from him – and from this Dark Lord back in Britain."
The former Auror's face had grown thoughtful as Diana was speaking. There were many issues here, he thought to himself. Obviously the existence of Harry, once Potter, now Wells, was the most important issue. However, there were other questions – the existence of this community, the presence of Vincent, the relationship between Fleur and Harry and Harry's training with the goblins – all these had to be considered and taken into account.
He knew now how he should proceed. He needed to give this group some of the background information he knew would fill in the missing pieces – and he needed to encourage them to get into contact with the American magical authorities. Or at least one specific American magical law enforcement officer – if Alexander Mackenzie was still in the business of law enforcement in this city. For Sebastien realized that this current situation could rapidly spin out of the ability of this small group to control events if either Dumbledore or Voldemort were made aware of Harry's existence before they had protections in place – he feared the consequences for this world, this family and Fleur.
Silence had fallen after Diana had finished speaking and Sebastien felt everyone's eyes turning to him. He was the unknown element for most of them, but he felt a burst of pride at his daughter – he knew now that Fleur had already been planning to involve him in this situation and it was a mark of her trust in him that he would even be considered to help. He hoped he would not disappoint.
Besides – the discovery that she had chosen the son of James and Lily Potter after he had saved her life – he would do anything for this young man. He liked what he saw of Harry and his family and he felt he owed an debt of friendship to his old friends. No, he would help Harry anyway he could.
"I am impressed," he began, looking around the table at each one. "I am impressed at what you have built here; I am impressed that you welcomed the son of my former colleagues and I am impressed at how much you were able to deduce on your own. I would have been pleased to work with you, Madame Diana, on my Auror team – you are a formidable investigator.
"I would like to give you information that would have been missing from your own investigation and then I would like to recommend some future steps. This is because you are in a dangerous position here – young Mr. Wells will be a person of interest to two of the three sides in Magical Britain's current civil war – Voldemort's side and Dumbledore's side.
"Allow me first to give you some background. I was Head Auror for Magical France in the closing days of Magical Britain's last civil war and the magical government of France was lending men and resources to the British to combat the first rise of Voldemort. I was leader of our French Aurors…"
Harry interrupted. "M. Delacour, what is an Auror?"
Sebastien chuckled at Harry's interruption. "Pardonnez-moi. I forget that not everyone is familiar with terms that I use every day. An Auror is a magical equivalent to a policeman and soldier in non-magical society – conflict between wizards is not as conflicts between non magicals are. We fight one another as soldiers and warriors did of old – face to face and within sword stroke. Spells are cast at one another using line of sight and one sees the enemies one kills. Does this answer your question?"
At their nod, he began with a much more in depth summary of the rise of Voldemort and the tactics, ideology and impact of the Death Eaters. "They are terrorists, but the British Magical Ministry appeared to lack the will to properly oppose them and indeed, it appeared that Voldemort was on his way to winning.
"James Potter and Sirius Black were two Aurors in the British Ministry and they had opposed Voldemort or his forces at least three times. That is how I made their acquaintance initially – we were in a joint action together and we had saved each other's lives at least once during the battle.
"It was sometime in June of 1981 that James appeared preoccupied and almost scared. He looked at me and Sirius and asked us what we would recommend doing if there was a prophecy concerning a child who could put an end to the Dark Lord and the Dark Lord knew about it. I was surprised at this statement – I had not heard of any prophecy and my first suggestion was to flee the country if he and his wife believed it or had good information that Voldemort believed it.
"I didn't hear anything further about that topic from James – in fact that was the last time I saw him. I heard later from Sirius that he, your mother and you had gone into hiding somewhere in Britain under a secrecy charm called a Fidelius – only the secret keeper could give the address out. Black only told me this once – but he also said that the original prophecy had been told to Albus Dumbledore.
"I do not know what the prophecy said. However, the whole issue of predicting the future is a bit spotty at best – prophecies, even if they are true ones, are vague and many people make the mistake of trying to interpret the prophecy and ensuring that their interpretation gets carried out.
"Albus Dumbledore is such a man. He has been the leader of the light for so long that he believes he is the best judge of what to do and how to do it – he calls his vision of what should happen 'the greater good' and he uses that phrase to justify his actions."
Sebastien took a sip of the tea that had been set down before him earlier and he allowed the tea to linger as he considered his next words.
"I did not nor do not know what the prophecy said, but it would appear to me that the following occurred. One – a prophecy was issued about a child who could defeat Voldemort. Two – two families took to hiding out and disappeared for some time – the Potters and the Longbottoms. Three – both families had boys born within a day of each other – Neville Longbottom on July 30 and you, Harry, on July 31. Four – your parents were killed by Voldemort and you were attacked on October 31, 1981. Five – Dumbledore took you from the scene, disregarded Sirius Black who had been appointed as your godfather and took you to your relatives. Six – Sirius Black is accused of betraying the Potters and is captured and sent to Azkaban without a trial. Seven – as you have pointed out, Dumbledore suddenly emerges as Harry's magical guardian and the will of James and Lily is 'sealed' to the Wizengamot.
"In my opinion, I believe that Albus Dumbledore believes that he is the only person who understands a prophecy that may or may not implicate you – and knowing Albus Dumbledore as I do, he would keep this information to himself, but he would engineer things so that he could control as much of the process of fulfillment of this prophecy as possible. He would believe that only he had the required wisdom and power to ensure that young Harry Potter would be guided and directed to achieve whatever the prophecy suggested must be done to see its fulfillment."
He was silent after making this last statement, allowing his words to be digested by Harry, his family and his daughter. When, after a few minutes, there were nods around the table, he continued.
"I would like to make some suggestions for you and your family, Harry. I make these suggestions because of what Fleur has indicated to me about your relationship, but as well because from little I have seen of your world, I believe this is a special place and would like to see it preserved and protected."
It was Vincent who interrupted Sebastien next. "Are we in danger, Mr. Delacour?"
"In my opinion, you face a number of challenges," he replied, looking at all the group around the table. "Some of these challenges involve the existence of magicals with non magicals; some of these challenges relate to how much of your own world you want to reveal to the larger magical community; and at least two challenges relate to how you will handle the eventual discovery of Harry by both Dumbledore and Voldemort.
"For remember this, Voldemort would want to kill Harry as he was one who got away and perhaps because he would fear this prophecy. And Dumbledore would want to reassert control over Harry to help him 'achieve his destiny' – all for the greater good of course."
It was Diana who spoke next. "What steps do you recommend, Sebastien?"
"One basic step, Madame Diana – you need to contact the American magical government and share this entire situation with a responsible official who can take steps to ease this community, Harry and your children into the larger magical community."
Grandfather Wells was the first to reply. "No! I forbid it – we have kept this world a secret for several years and to reveal it now would put many good lives at risk."
Sebastien could see that he needed to explain his idea. "I am not speaking of a blanket coming out party. I have a contact in American magical law enforcement – someone with whom I have worked several times and whose discretion I trust.
"Besides, do you not have connections already with people in authority in the world above? There is no other way for your world to function down here without it."
Diana blushed at his words and she nodded. "We have contacts in the District Attorney's office and other contacts among leading citizens of the city above. I myself am a police detective for the NYPD."
Sebastien nodded his approval. "With your approval, I would like to speak to my contact – one Alexander Mackenzie of the Magical FBI here in New York. He is a veteran investigator and…."
"Alex Mackenzie of the FBI?"
"He has worked with both magical and non-magical branches of that service, yes."
Diana looked somewhat relieved. "Vincent, Father, Harry – if it is the same Alex I know, he's a good head. I've worked with him on one or two cases – he's not one to get into a pissing match over jurisdiction. And he knows Joe too."
Vincent next spoke. "Diana, if you know this man, could I suggest that you meet him with Sebastien?"
Sebastien was already nodding his approval of the idea. "If he sees two people he knows, then it would speed up the contact and the ensuing discussions."
Diana thought for several seconds. "If what you say is true and if this is the same Alex Mackenzie that I know, perhaps you could make the initial contact, get him to swear that magical oath you and Fleur swore and then I can make a point to see him as well. I suspect that you have a much more recent working relationship than I do – I haven't worked with him since 1993 on a kidnapping case.
"There is wisdom in your approach, Madame Diana. I will make the first contact and, depending on his response, I will arrange a subsequent meeting for you with him and me," Sebastien replied.
The meeting closed with Sebastien agreeing to meet Alex within the next few days.
Another boring afternoon – the late rays of the sun highlighted the slow dance of dust motes and Alexander Mackenzie, Special Agent in New York for the Magical FBI, could feel his brain cells dying. It had to be a function of his eyelids growing heavy and he wondered anew why he had agreed to serve this stint in the office. Never mind that it was his turn- here in the Magical Mall, nothing was happening in the regional offices of the Magical US government.
Thus the sharp knock on the door came as both a surprise and a welcome relief. So too the familiar voice.
"One of those days, Alex? Bored again?"
It took Alex a few seconds to fire up his brain cells. The hint of a French accent helped him make the connections quickly. It could only be….
"Sebastien? Here? What brings you to my fair city? Tell me that you are here to rescue me from these dust motes?"
The former French Auror smiled back at his old friend. But he also had a mission to accomplish. "Well, Alex, I would like to sit back and drink up some old memories, but I need your help. I've encountered a unique situation right here in New York."
Excitement came alive in Alex's mind. Bye bye ennui. Hello case. For Sebastien to say that something was unique, it had to be truly exciting, unusual, or both. Then he caught his guest's next words and alarm also awakened.
"But I need your magical oath before I give you the details."
Red flags now were flapping in the breeze of Alex's mind. Giving a magical oath was not an everyday occurrence between law officials – especially officials that had literally shed blood for one another on earlier cases and who both shared a common commitment to the rule of law.
"A magical oath? Why?" he asked in a much more neutral tone.
Sebastien smiled internally. He had guessed Alex's possible reaction correctly and while normally, he would have waived the oath requirement, he knew how many lives depended on these secrets being kept. Now how could he convince his former colleague of the oath's necessity?
"Alex, do you trust me?"
The MFBI agent nodded.
"The request for the oath is not from me, but from those who told me the story and updated me on the situation. And if it is any consolation, I need to give the oath as well.
"Oh, and one other fact – the situation involves my daughter, Fleur, among others."
The tall dark haired agent looked at Sebastien carefully for several seconds, but his old friend only radiated calm and acceptance – plus a slight smirk.
"Does this situation threaten the United States – magical or non-magical?"
"No – although if you don't learn about it, it could."
Silence again descended. "Are any other lives threatened or is anything illegal being contemplated?"
"No – but again – if you do nothing, lives could be threatened."
Once more silence. Alex was thinking quickly – he trusted his instincts normally – and his instincts were telling him that Sebastien was sitting on something big, but not threatening immediately – unless he did nothing about it. As to why Sebastien had approached him, he was certain it was because his old friend trusted and respected him on his approach to major issues.
Making a sudden decision, he raised his hand and after uttering a few words, a blue glow flashed and in the light of that flash he could see Sebastien's face relax almost imperceptibly. Bingo – it had been the right choice.
"Okay, Sebastien, your move. Spill the beans!" At Sebastien's raised eyebrow, he clarified. "Start talking."
"May I suggest that you put up some wards first, Alex. What I am going to share is very sensitive information. I would have set up the wards myself, but this is your office, not mine."
Pleased at Sebastien's courtesy, the agent made several sharp gestures with his wand and he felt the wards go up. "Those are the strongest wards I've got, Sebastien. Now talk."
The French ex-Auror looked at his hands for a moment, then at Alex. "What I have to tell you is a story that began with my daughter last April in this city. She was saved from becoming a traffic statistic by a man who only discovered after he had saved her life that he was a wizard. And by the time Fleur had finished talking with this young man, she had discovered the answer to one of magic's biggest mysteries of the past decade as well as encountering a new budding Seer – all in one day.
Sebastien's statements started Alex's thoughts spinning. Fleur saved, by a hitherto undiscovered wizard and the discovery of a new Seer – all here in New York. How had he missed all these events? How could a wizard escape detection for so long? And what had Sebastien said earlier – if he did nothing about it, it could threaten his city? "Well, old friend, that's a lot in those few sentences. You want to start it from the beginning?"
So he did.
Headache mixed with excitement – Merlin, he needed a drink as he listened to Sebastien moving his account to the present. Harry Potter here in New York City, yet dead since 1994; Harry Potter, no Wells, training with the goblins rather than wizards; Harry in a relationship with Fleur Delacour, yet immune to her allure; his adoptive sister a budding young Seer and most likely a witch as well – and the entire Wells family living with others underground. It was almost too much to believe, yet Alex knew that there had been rumors of something living below the city – the numerous requests for investigations from the office of Magical Misuse in Salem had confirmed that.
It was the manner of Sebastien's delivery that convinced him this was no prank from his old friend. The former Auror was telling the story with hints of personal testimony – he must have verified some of the details himself.
The agent was suddenly aware of the silence and realized that Sebastien had finished talking and was now looking at him. Aware of his gaze on him, his old friend smiled. "Alex, normally you are a difficult man to read. But it was fascinating watching your face as you listened to the story. At first disbelief, then excitement, then more disbelief and then, if I may say so, acceptance.
"Est-ce que tu as confiance en moi? M'excuse – do you trust me?"
"I understood you the first time, Sebastien. Yes, I trust you. In fact, I believe you. Your manner of delivery tells me that you checked out aspects of this story yourself."
"Oui, I met the young man and his family two days ago – and I cannot even begin to tell you what I felt like as I met him. It was like one of those early conte des fees – fairy tales you say in English. The best thing for you is to meet Harry and his family for yourself."
Alex was nodding his head even as he reached behind him and pulled out a pen and pad. "Okay, let's summarize the facts of this situation as you presented them to me. Fact – Harry Potter found himself in New York City since the age of 9. Fact – he was taken in and adopted by a family who live underneath the city. Fact – he had no idea he was a wizard until he saved your daughter Fleur. Fact – he died due to some magical summoning spell, most likely the blood ritual initiated by Dumbledore in 1994 – and this has been confirmed by Gringotts who said he is dead to the Potter heritage, but has inherited the mantle of Lord Black as well as having started a new house. Fact – Harry's youngest sister is a budding Seer, most likely a witch, but is only six. Do I have these facts right so far?"
Sebastien nodded and then hit himself dramatically with his hand. "Zut! J'ai completement oublie – Harry's adoptive mother thinks she might know you."
"Who is she?" Alex asked with growing curiosity.
"A detective with the NYPD – Diana Bennett."
Shock appeared on Alex's face. Bennett – one of the most unusual and gifted investigators and profilers he had ever met – there had even been discussion at high levels at the FBI of recruiting her for his agency in recognition of her skills. He had worked with her on a number of cases, beginning with the Gabriel/Chandler case and the last one only being two years before. He then smiled at Sebastien.
"Let me guess – tall, auburn hair, thin, big soulful eyes that somehow see right through you and one of the most unusual minds you'll ever meet?"
"Sounds like Madame Diana. She is a gifted woman – did you know she caught me under a disillusionment spell in Central Park as I waiting to catch Fleur," Sebastien replied, respect clearly evident in his tone.
"She caught you? She's a legend with the NYPD – they call her the Ouija board master when she's not listening. However, she's a professional through and through – she makes intuitive leaps in cases that I couldn't follow, but always found the evidence to back it up. I've worked with her on a number of cases. She's Harry's mother?"
"And mother of Erin, the young Seer and witch. But his father is also 'unusual' – unfortunately you will have to meet him to understand. Just take one word of advice from me – go in with an open mind."
Alex filed that word of advice away and returned to the conversation. "Well, if I remember Bennett well, she's pretty thick with the Manhattan District Attorney, Joe Maxwell."
"I did hear that name – Harry referred to him as his Uncle Joe. I believe he sponsored Harry for U S citizenship when he was 13."
So Harry was an American citizen. He would have to confirm that – but he had heard enough. Now he wanted to hear from Sebastien why he had come forward to talk with him today.
"Sebastien, you came to see me with a purpose in mind. Why and what are you asking me to do?"
The former Auror smiled ruefully. "I am here after seeking the permission of Harry and his family to approach you, on my advice to them. They were reluctant, but they do not know the possible implications of this situation as I do and as I suspect you might.
"I would like to first share the discoveries that Harry, Fleur, and most of all, Madame Diana made on their own about Harry's life, placement and the manipulations of an old bearded fool. Then I would like to make some suggestions."
"I'm listening." And so Alex did listen as Sebastien shared about the discovery of the wills, the lack of trial for Sirius, the placement and the abuse of Harry at the hands of his relatives and the events leading up and including Halloween 1994. As he spoke, Alex could feel the rightness of Diana's conclusions and despite the strangeness of the story, he believed both Diana's and Sebastien's conclusions.
"So you suspect Dumbledore had been manipulating Harry's life until he decided to escape to New York." Alex asked.
"Actually Madame Diana concluded that. She just did not know what the goal of Dumbledore's manipulation was."
"And you have some ideas of your own?"
"Yes, I do. You know Dumbledore's reputation as an information hoarder and how he wants to be seen as the wizard of the Light? What if he heard a prophecy about the possible end of the Dark Lord?"
Alex could see where Sebastien was going. "Of course, knowing him as well as both of us do, he would conclude that only he could properly interpret and understand the prophecy; then he would conclude that only he could be trusted to help fulfill the prophecy and he would do everything possible to see that the prophecy would be fulfilled the way he saw it should happen. All for the 'greater good' of course."
Sebastien's face had taken on a serious mien. "I am convinced, and I told the Wells family this two nights ago, that it is only a matter of time before the news of Harry Wells's emergence leaks out to someone in the magical world. If we do not take steps I am afraid that one or both of the two wizards who have taken an unhealthy interest in one Harry James Potter in the past would come here looking for him – and that could have potential negative consequences for the inhabitants of this city, Harry's own family – and my daughter as well.
"Thus I told Harry and his family that he needed to contact someone from the Magical U S government and voila, I was asked to make the first contact."
Alex could now fully understand Sebastien's reasoning and he could not fault it at all. In fact, the Frenchman's logic was sound and Alex was afraid that the possible future laid out could come to pass if they did not control the situation and eventually issue a controlled release of information.
"I need to meet Harry, Diana and their family," he said, a possible strategy already forming in his mind. "But three things must be done as quickly as possible. First of all, Harry must make a public reaffirmation of his U S citizenship."
"Is he not an American citizen now?" Sebastien was clearly confused.
"Think of how our old goat of a Supreme Mugwump works. He hides behind certain platitudes even while he disregards the laws. It would not surprise me that Dumbledore would argue that Harry making a declaration of U S citizenship at the age of 13 is null and void as no minor in Britain can probably make that choice – at least in the mind of Albus Dumbledore. After all, according to your and Bennett's conclusions, he appointed himself as Harry's magical guardian and he could argue that his choice of U S citizenship was made without his approval. Making a new affirmation now that he is an adult would remove that legal argument.
"Secondly, he needs to continue with his magical training – enough to at least write his OWLs as soon as possible. The British have an idea that a person is not an adult in the magical world if either they are not 17 or they have not yet completed their OWLs. It would not surprise me that Dumbledore would try that argument as well – after all, the key for him is to find some way to bring Harry back under his control and if he has not yet completed his OWLs, then he will try to argue that Harry needs to be guided into the magical world – and of course, what better place than Hogwarts."
Sebastien was nodding his head sadly, but understanding well. This was exactly what he was hoping for in contacting Alex – clear guidelines and advice on how to protect Harry, and by extension, his family, his community and his intended – from the manipulations of an old self-deluded wizard.
"Thirdly, I am making a tentative decision to place this 'World Below' under the heading of a hybrid community – a heading which allows magicals and mundanes to associate together without everyone in worrying about betraying the Statute of Secrecy. This is a temporary binder only – I need to visit the community, get their agreement and see how they work.
"Can you arrange a meeting with them as soon as possible?"
Sebastien now gave Alex a broad smile. "Mais oui, mon ami. Everything has already been made ready on the possibility that things would work out." Then he looked carefully at the business suit his old friend was wearing. "However, seeing as we are going underground, I might suggest that you dress a bit more casual and wear some hiking boots."
A/N: Next chapter will be the answer to many of your requests as a certain bushy haired which connects with her old friend after having a collision with a raven haired student in of all places – the CUNY library.
Where else for a bookworm?
As well, we hope you understand that in this fanfiction, not all adult wizards and not all wizarding governments worship the ground that Dumbledore walks on or would wink at blatant disregard for wizarding or non-magical law. As this story is centered in New York, we would have to involve the American government sooner or later.