Chapter 15: Tip of the Iceberg
Dinner out with the Weasleys had been fun, even with the hordes of Harry Potter admirers attempting to storm the table for autographs. James' presence, while acknowledged, was largely dismissed by such admirers. The menacing factor, as Harry called it, was somewhat negated by the magical easy dismissal of a non-magical as a potential threat.
It was a blind spot, as Harry pointed out, but it worked in their favor.
Still, the group had fun, Harry and James were seen, and the Daily Prophet's gossip column was appeased, especially as news of their Sunday bonding party was added in.
Privately, Harry told James, that tidbit of gossip ought to appease the public for a few weeks, at any rate.
More attention was being paid to the op planned for Friday night.
The plan, as discussed ad nauseum in the halls of MI6, was for Harry and Hermione to simply knock on the front door, go in, and take part in the meeting. Harry would assess the threat of the people in the room, compare them to the known identities of the interest group, and alert James when those identities were confirmed, via a warm pulse from his bonding bracelet. Hermione would covertly place magic dampeners in each room the group entered; Harry, too, had a supply of dampeners in case the pair were split up. James and his trusted team of MI6 operatives that included Severus would enter the premises at Harry's signal, subdue the persons of interest and take them into custody to be interviewed and sorted out. The slip of paper on which Millie had written the address had been passed around to the elite team, and to M, so that all would be able to see the place.
With luck, the main players would all be in attendance.
Alec had reported that his player had refused a Friday night date with him, making the excuse of "standing plans with a group of old friends." He had reason to believe his target would be in attendance in London.
As the time approached on Friday night, Harry dressed carefully, in favorite gray trousers and a nice green sweater, and made sure to put his "Harry Potter" glasses on.
"I'm not ashamed to admit I feel a bit like Clark Kent at the mo," he commented idly to his partner, who was just adjusting the weapons harness he wore over the all-black covert uniform dress.
"Get rid of the glasses and you're superhero, darling?" Bond asked with a smirk, re-checking his gun.
Harry shrugged. "Actually, it's with the glasses in the magical world." He adjusted said glasses one more time. "Ready, dear?"
"As ever, darling."
IMBM
Harry and Hermione strolled up to the front of the residence precisely on time, chatting about the bonding party on Sunday to both keep up appearances and to keep down nerves. Hermione held Harry's arm as they approached the door, and he raised the knocker.
Justin Finch-Fletchley greeted them as he opened it. "Harry! Good to see you, mate. Hermione, glad you could make it." He gestured them in. "Join us in the sitting room for drinks?"
"Sure," Harry said. "Justin, it's good to see you. What have you been doing with yourself?"
Harry kept Justin's attention as they chatted, and Hermione placed the first dampener in a potted plant in the spacious foyer. Justin led them to the first door on the right of the foyer, more of an archway, and led them in. "Look who's here!" Justin exclaimed cheerfully.
The room contained several people, and Harry could tell at a glance that they were all on his lists. Justin led the introductions, and as each introduced themselves, Harry mentally checked them off. All but one of the players on his top ten most likely were in the room, plus a few who weren't on the list. He and Hermione were led to seats on a comfortable sofa, and Hermione slid one of the dampeners into its cushions as they sat.
"Drinks?" Justin asked.
"Guinness, if you have it," Harry said with a smile.
"Cider and black for me," Hermione said. "No children tonight."
Several others chuckled. "I know precisely what you mean," a thick-set woman, with pretty features and gentle smile, said. "Mine are at home with their father tonight as well."
Harry assessed the situation. Magic dampeners in place in foyer and sitting room, and all players were here. If any tried to use magic now, though, their position might be compromised. He rubbed his bonding bracelet with one hand, sending the pulse to James, as he chatted idly with the group.
As a crash came from the foyer, members of the crowd jumped up, and for a moment, all was chaos. Harry and Hermione stayed precisely where they were, but others reached for their wands, panicking when their magic didn't come to their aid as it was called. Others rushed for the archway into the foyer and were met with quick action by the black-uniformed elite agents, who quickly took them down and zip-tied their wrists in lieu of cuffs, allowing other team members to slip into the chaos in the sitting room and subdue the other attendees.
It did not take long for the team to have the attendees trussed up in the foyer and hollering about their rights. James stepped up to look at the group and gave a loud whistle to shut them up.
"Do I have your attention?" he asked pleasantly.
Low muttering greeted him.
"I'll take that as a yes, shall I?" James looked to his bonded, who appeared in the doorway, Hermione close behind him. "Would you like the honors, darling?"
Harry grinned. "Right." He looked down at the lot. "You are all under arrest for conspiracy, treason, breaking the International Statute of Secrecy, Muggle-baiting, and other such charges as applies to your individual situations. Under the laws of the International Confederation of Wizards, your only right under these charges is to a fair hearing and trial within your respective nations' governments or in Great Britain.
"You will be detained in magic suppressing cells in the Ministry of Magic while the investigation continues, and you will each be interviewed with Veritaserum to determine the nature and depth of your role in the conspiracy. Should your interviews determine your innocence, you will be released with an Unbreakable Vow to avoid engaging in said activities in the future."
He paused, taking in the stricken and astonished faces of the people around them. Justin looked furious. "As you are being arrested for crimes against both the magical and non-magical communities, you will be charged in the appropriate venue for the appropriate crimes. You will not be charged twice for the same offense. Do you all understand your rights and this procedure?"
Mumbled affirmations could be heard, and Justin burst out, "But you can't try us as Muggles! We're magical! That's purist!"
Harry looked at him impassively. "Under terms worked out between the magical and non-magical governments of Great Britain and participating countries in the ICW, wizards accused of crimes against non-magicals may be charged by the non-magical government that oversees the location in which the crimes were committed, with the full cooperation of the magical government. The ICW, in talks this week, agreed to allow Great Britain jurisdiction in this case because your meetings were being held on British soil, and the British Ministry of Magic has agreed to support the non-magical government in its actions against a conspiracy threatening all non-magicals." He gestured to the black-uniformed MI6 elite.
Justin's jaw dropped. "They can't do that! They're breaking their own statute!"
Harry shook his head negatively. "They amended the treaty, recognizing the greater threats posed to the non-magical public without that cooperation, and recognizing the value of the non-magical public to all. It was signed this morning."
IMBM
The subdued and shocked group went quietly into the black vans parked at the curb, with Q's magic suppressing bracelets an added accessory.
"We're missing one from your top ten list," James commented quietly, at Q's side.
Q nodded. He'd taken the glasses off, putting "Harry Potter" away for the moment. "I know. But I think we know where to find him. Right where we left him in Australia. I've sent a team to pick him up."
James took Q's hand and rubbed the back of it thoughtfully. "Are you alright?"
"Maybe." Q turned his hand and laced his fingers with James'. "I'm afraid that this is just the tip of the iceberg, 007." He sighed. "There's so much anger and hate on all sides. Crimes like this seem inevitable."
"Most of the people in the world live their entire lives, angry or not, without turning to crime," James reminded him. "It's individual choice that spurs the criminal on, regardless of circumstance."
"True," Q conceded. "But cultural conditions don't help. Voldemort left a lot to be answered for."
The pair watched as the last of the group, the mother who'd idly chatted with Harry and Hermione, climbed into the van, tears streaming down her face. Hermione was talking to the driver; she'd be the one directing intake at the MOM.
"I guess we're all going to be picking up the pieces for a long time," Q said softly. "There are no winners here."