Last time Harry and his family went further inside The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. There they met a team of specially trained Meta Humans who may just be the worlds' best chance of survival, assuming they don't kill each other first. On with the show!

Chapter 7: Searching for the Enemy

"And now you've met the team," said Warren Ulrich to Harry and the others, "The Ramblers; quite possibly the worlds best chance of survival against demonic, undead and other supernatural enemies."

"I'll say it," muttered Ron, "since it's what everyone's thinking; The world is doomed."

"The world is doomed," repeated Harry.

"Oh don't be so pessimistic," said Patricia Walker, "sure, Max and his team have their faults, don't we all? But they really are the best at what they do."

"And just what would that be?" Hermione asked.

"Kicking evil in the ass," said Leon Smyth-Falcon, "that's what we do."

"Indeed," said Jill Sparrow.

"We do what we can," said Max Kildare in a modest tone.

"Speaking of which," said Patricia Walker, "I thought all of you were going to spend the evening at home."

"No way I'm waiting at home while that psycho-bitch Shannon is in town," said Jeff Dambrisi.

"Me neither," said Daniel Pulaski.

"She has to pay for what she's done," said Katina Jones.

"And w-we're the only ones that c-can stop her," said Gillian Anderson.

"We're not the only ones here, you know," said Andrew Carpenter.

"He's right," said Leon Smyth-Falcon, "our magical friends have offered to assist us."

"Yeah right," said Jeff Dambrisi, "like a bunch of magicians can catch Shannon."

"Who says we can even catch her?" Andrew Carpenter asked, "The Bureau has been looking for Shannon for so long, there's a good chance we'll be looking for her a lot longer."

"It sounds like you don't want to catch her," said Jill Sparrow in an accusing tone, "or am I wrong?"

"Nothing would make me happier than to put a large bullet right between that lunatic's eyes," said Andrew Carpenter as he reached to the shoulder holster on his left side and pulled out a very large pistol, "and I'll be the one to do it."

"Oh really?" Jill Sparrow said in a daring tone, "I beg to differ. I'll be the one to stop Shannon," she unsheathed her saber, "when I use this to slice her head off."

"Put those away," said Max Kildare, "we have guests after all," he looked at Harry and the other magic users, "I apologize for my associate's juvenile behavior. They're really not that bad once you get to know them."

"Apology accepted," said Ginny, "I understand completely; I grew up with six brothers."

"Six brothers?" Max Kildare asked in an astonished tone, "how'd you survive?"

"By being one clever little witch," said Ron, "believe me, I know."

"He does," said Ginny.

It was then that Travis Bachman received a text message on his phone, "I've got to check with one of the boys in the Labs. I'll be back."

"Don't make a mess," said Patricia Walker, "you know how much of a neat freak Virgil is when in the Labs."

"You don't have to remind me," said Travis as he left the room.

"Who's Virgil?" Hermione asked, her interest quirked.

"He's one of our really, really, really smart Meta-Humans," said Max Kildare, "quite possibly the biggest Krelboyne on the planet, who's also an overbearing perfectionist when in his element. But he's alright once you get to know him."

"What's your ability, Max Kildare?" Ginny asked.

"Call me Max, just Max. And like my nickname suggests, I'm indestructible, or as near as anyone can be. Since New Year's Eve, 1999, I've been shot 58 times, stabbed 52 times, poisoned six time and strangled three times. I've fallen off and been thrown off multiple skyscrapers, drowned twice, had two buildings partly collapse on me, and this one time I was buried alive in an avalanche. And I've lived to tell it all."

"You're immortal?" Harry asked, vividly remembering the events surrounding the Sorcerers/ Philosophers Stone.

"Oh, I'm not immortal," said Max, "I'm eventually going to die, at the very least of extreme old age. I'm what can be called as 'Hard to Kill.'"

"Max has a unique healing factor," said Patricia Walker, "any wound is healed within seconds, be it a stab or a gunshot."

"His bones are almost impossible to break," said a male voice at the doorway. There stood a man in his early twenties with short light brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a white lab coat over a green shirt and black pants. "Max's immune system can counter most infectious diseases; he hasn't had a cold or flu virus since he was 13. He can also create a natural antidote to most poisons and toxins once he's been exposed to them."

"There's a lot more to me, Aaron," said Max, "like the fact that I've only need one hour of sleep a night for the past seven years."

"That and so much more," said the man in the lab coat. He walked over to Harry and held out his hand, "and you must be Harry Potter. Aaron Spartan, MD, at your service."

"Aaron is another Meta-Human who works with The Bureau," said Warren Ulrich, "and is one of the most brilliant doctors on the planet."

"Really," said Ginny after she, Ron, Harry and Hermione shook Aaron Spartan's hand, "well, I know a certain wizard from Huffelpuff house who sees himself as the most brilliant healer in the world. Some say he might be head of St. Mungo's before long." She then winced at the mention of the offending hospital.

"They can have Ernie Macmillian," said Ron in an annoyed tone, "he'd fit right in with those bloody, incompetent gits."

"Don't ask," Hermione whispered to Patricia Walker, then went over to calm her husband down.

"What's your ability?" Harry asked Aaron Spartan.

"I'm a Krelboyne," said Aaron Spartan, "and so is my father. He's over in Afghanistan right now, saving lives, so now I'm the medical specialist at The Bureau. My family has been involved with the BPRD since the beginning. As for me, I'm a physician and a surgeon. I know the human body inside and out and can perform almost every surgical procedure known to man.

"But back to Max. Not only does his ability make him as near immortal without actually living forever, he possessed superior physical strength. No, he didn't have that ability to begin with, it sort of grew on him.

"You know that the body grows muscle cells by using and wearing out old ones through exorcise and strenuous word. Well, with Max, his healing factor takes this to another level. Every time he heals from an injury he comes back just a little bit stronger."

"I don't look like a professional body builder," said Max, "but I can lift nearly a tone without sweating."

"A tone?" Chris asked, "I don't believe it. No muggle can do that."

"Just wait a bit," said Max, "And you'll see what I can do. You'll see what all of us can do."

"I'm sure we will," said Harry.

Harry and the others sat down at one of the tables in the cafeteria, watching Max Kildare and the other Ramblers talking.

It seemed unlikely that this ragtag group of ordinary looking people were a team of unsung heroes. But then Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Chris, Sam and Rebecca listened to the tale as how The Ramblers came to be:

The Bureau had been employing Meta Humans almost since its inception in 1943. Even more so, there had always been extraordinary humans throughout history. But it was only in the latter half of the 20th centaury that the population of Meta Humans began to rise, slowly but surely creating a new people. No one has yet to figure out why Meta-Humans exist, and many have thought long and hard on the subject.

Flash forward to just after the death of Voldemort and the destruction of the Death Eaters. The leaders of The Bureau and its financial and political backers from around the world held a meeting to discuss recent events and to make an important decision.

When the second war against The Death Eaters started, The Bureau was powerless to intercede due to political reasons and other factors. But when Dumbledore was killed, the Muggle Prime Minister of Great Brittan demanded help, and The Bureau responded by sending in 60 of its best operatives.

These agents were handpicked from the best special and covert operation groups in the world; CIA, NSA, Green Berets, Navy Seals, Delta Force, MI6, former KGB agents, Spetnaz, just to name a few.

Sixty were sent in to counter the foul works of The Death Eaters, only a handful came back alive, in one piece and sane. Among these fortunate few were Patricia Walker, Travis Bachman and Warren Ulrich.

Travis would say he survived intact due to his training, having been recruited right out of the Green Berets. As for Patricia and Warren, their abilities were what carried them trough the war.

"You killed a Death Eater by yelling at him?" Ron asked Patricia Walker, "bloody hell!"

"It was a bloody mess," said Patricia Walker, "but he had it coming. That Death Eater was one of the creeps who was spreading that wizard plague."

"I remember reading that one of the bastards was killed by an unknown force," said Chris, "that he was found smashed to a pulp, and that sound was somehow involved."

"Guilty as charged," said Patricia Walker as she smiled.

"And I got two of the bastards," said Warren Ulrich, "with my kanabo. I may not be indestructible like Max over there," he pointed to where the Ramblers were still talking, "but I've got natural super strength. I once outwrestled a giant."

"I think I heard about that," said Samantha, "one time a few years ago, a giant wandered out from it's designated habitat up in the Rocky Mountains. By the time our Magical Creature agents responded, it was already dead; its neck was broken."

"I don't believe it," said Ron, "Hagrid's brother Gwarp is a small giant compared to others, and even Hagrid had trouble with him."

"Gwarp mellowed out," said Hermione, "last I heard, he's almost as fluent in English as Hagrid."

"But does he have Hagrid's accent?" Harry asked.

"I still don't believe it," said Ron.

"Wait right here," said Warren Ulrich, "I'll bring something that'll prove my point." He left the cafeteria. While he was gone, Patricia and Travis continued with the story:

With the war over and most of the operatives they sent either dead, crippled or insane, sometimes a mix of the last two, the heads of The Bureau decided that a change was needed. It was clear that Meta Humans would be a valuable asset in Bureau operations in the future, even more so with the new millennium coming. It was decided that an all Meta Human team would be created to combat extreme demonic, undead and other dark forces that threatened humanity.

The eight members of the team were selected from various candidates of existing Bureau Meta-Human affiliates, as well as a few others who had to be sought out and asked to join. Many refused the offer, but enough accepted.

The team was first assembled in the summer of 1999, just in time to learn that the Y2K computer problem was in fact a front for a global demonic invasion. At the stroke of midnight in Times Square on that fateful night, a cult of demon worshipers would complete a summoning ritual and the invasion of soul-stealing demons would begin, eventually consuming the world in a matter of weeks.

Fortunately Max Kildare, along with Jill Sparrow, Leon Smyth-Falcon, Andrew Carpenter, Katina Jones and three others were there to find those responsible for summoning the demons at the appointed hour. With just minutes to go before midnight, they slew the leaders of the cult, preventing the completion of the ritual. As the world celebrated the dawn of the 21st centaury, they had no idea that a handful of brave young men and women had saved them all from a fate worst than death.

"The cult that tried to summon the demons," said Harry, "They were Muggles?"

"You'd be surprise what some people would do in exchange for power," said Max Kildare as he sat at their table, "or rather, the illusion of power."

"There are some things that mortal men aren't meant to delve into," said Aaron Spartan, "and demon worship is one of those things, along with necromancy."

"What happened afterwards?" Hermione asked.

"The check-signers liked the results of the mission so much," said Patricia Walker, "they decided that the team would be a permanent part of The Bureau. Since then The Ramblers have prevented multiple demonic invasions and slain several individual upper-level demons, as well as destroyed several walking dead outbreaks before they got out of control."

"But it has come with a price," said Max Kildare, "there were originally eight of us on the team. There still are eight, but that's the number The Bureau likes to keep. Three of the originals have been killed since that first mission.

"Kayle Manfreedi, she was our original technology expert, plus she could shoot lighting out of her hands. Saul Gordon, he could walk through walls. And then there was Calvin Johnson, he could become like rubber and stretch into all kinds of shapes."

"What happened to them?" Hermione asked.

"They all died in the line of duty," said Max, "Jill, Andrew, Leon, Katina and myself are all that's left of the first eight. Jeff, Daniel and Gillian are the new members of the team."

"And they have no regrets," said Aaron Spartan, "The Ramblers have made a reputation of themselves of being the best, and naturally being the best tends to attract eager volunteers. There are dozens of Meta-Humans in The Bureau who have volunteered to be on the team. The ones on it now are there because they've proven themselves to be the best."

"And we're still proving it," said Max, "and when we find where Shannon is hiding, we'll prove it again."

"I'm sure you will," said Harry. Form what he can tell, Max and his fellow Meta-Humans were the best at what they do. If only they had been there during the war, things surely have been different, but what's done is done.

"Here we are," said Warren Ulrich as he came back into the room with what at first appeared to be a baseball bat in his hands. Upon closer inspection it turned out to be a 5' long oak club fitted with iron studs.

"This is a kanabo," said Warren Ulrich, "you'll notice the kanji script near the handle," he showed the markings to Harry and the others.

"What does it mean?" Hermione asked, "I admit that my Japanese is a little rusty."

"Basically is says 'skull-splitter'" said Warren Ulrich, "I used this to crack open the heads of two Death Eaters."

"So you killed two Death Eaters," said Ron, "that still doesn't prove you can outwrestle a giant."

"You still have doubts?" Warren asked, "well them," he placed his kanabo on the floor and took two steps back, "try lifting that."

"Okay," said Ron as he pulled out his wand. One swish and flick later, "Wingardirum Leviosa," and the kanabo was floating in the air.

"He mean without magic," said Hermione in an annoyed tone.

"Oh," said Ron. He lowered his wand, sending the club clattering to the ground.

"Careful!" said an annoyed Rebecca, "that must be an antique!"

"Actually it's about 10 years old," said Warren, "I had it made for me when I join The Bureau back in '93. This type of war club is made for durability."

"They made it for you here?" Harry asked.

"A lot of The Bureau's special operatives have custom made weapons," said Max Kildare. He took out his revolver and placed it in the table, coincidently near Hermione for some reason, "I once had an obsession with Spaghetti Westerns, 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' being my absolutely favorite. I must have worn out seven VHS copies before I finally acquired the DVD version.

"This may look like an authentic Colt 45 Peacemaker, but it's customized to handle my enhanced strength. Later I'll tell you about the time I accentually crushed a gun without meaning to. This piece also packs a lot more stopping power than the original Colt model, which comes in handy against some of the larger, tougher fiends I've dealt with."

"I never liked guns," said Hermione as she pushed the revolver away from her side of the table.

"I have no love for them either," said Rebecca as she picked the revolver up by the handle, "but then," she twirled it around in her hand as she were a professional gun slinger, "just because you don't like something, doesn't mean it's wrong to know how to use it," she handed the revolver back to Max, who said 'Thanks' as he grasped it by the handle, before Rebecca let go of the barrel.

"There'd be a lot less accidental shootings if everyone would just remember the safety rules," said Max as he holstered his revolver, "always treat a gun as if it were loaded unless you check that it's unloaded, when carrying a loaded gun carry it so the barrel is pointed at the ground, keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot, and most important of all, never point a gun at anyone or anything unless you intend to shoot it."

"Too true," said Harry.

At that time Ron remembered that he'd been challenged to lift the kanabo without magic. Thinking that it wouldn't be that much heavier than a Beater's bat, he grabbed it with his right hand and pulled up. He was surprised to find that it barely moved.

"What the…?" Ron said as he now used both hands to try to pick the club up, and found that he could barely get the whole thing an inch off the floor.

"Blimey!" said Ron as he dropped it, "what is that thing made of?"

"Very dense oak and very dense iron," said Warren as he picked it up, "back when I joined The Bureau, I was the only Meta-Human in the world who can use this weapon. But when Max came along…" he tossed the kanabo to Max, who easily caught it with one hand.

"It's not really my thing," said Max as he took a few swings with the kanabo with one had as if it were a baseball bat. He then tossed it back to Warren, who caught it.

Harry then asked, "what's being done to find Revek?"

"A lot of stuff actually," said Patricia, "one of the Special Projects involves using several specially trained Scanners to help locate Meta-Humans and various paranormal activity. The range of the 'Trackers' can be up to the whole world, but tonight they're concentrating on the city."

"The problem with someone like Shannon Revek," said Warren, "is that we can only track her when she uses her ability. Meta-Human powers generate energy, and our Trackers can home in on that energy like sonar or radar. Travis is looking in on the lab where our 'Trackers' are. He'll be back when they have any news."

"It'll have to wait," said Max, "looks like I'm needed to calm things down again."

At the other end of the cafeteria, Andrew Carpenter was chasing Jill Sparrow, who had somehow gotten hold of his watch.

"Damn it, Jill!" exclaimed Andrew Carpenter, "give me back my watch!!"

"What watch?" Jill Sparrow asked in a teasing manner.

"The one in your hand, that's what!" snapped Andrew Carpenter, "you know I need it, so give it back!!" he lunged forward to grab the watch, but she sidestepped and transferred the watch from her right hand to her left.

"You don't really need it," said Jill Sparrow, "you can go without constantly knowing what time it is."

"No I can't!" said Andrew Carpenter, "you know I have anxieties."

"As if I can forget that you have them," said Jill as she dodged his second attempt to get the watch, "all the others have overcome their anxieties. You're the only one who is still a prisoner to irrational fear. It's time you got over it."

"I'm not fooling around, Jill Sparrow," said Andrew Carpenter in a deadly serious tone, one had reaching to his shoulder holster, "I need that watch more than to ease my anxieties. My grandma gave me that watch as a Hanukkah present, before she died. It's the only thing I have that truly reminds me of her, so give it back, damn it!"

"And to think you couldn't get more pathetic," said Jill Sparrow as she held the watch in her left hand and rested her right hand on the hilt of her sword, "not only are you an Obsessive Compulsive Dingbat, you're also a grandmomma's boy."

"I'll show you who's a grandmomma's boy!!" exclaimed Andrew Carpenter as he drew his large pistol and aimed it at Jill Sparrow's head, while she drew her saber. They stood there, glaring at each other, waiting for the other to flinch.

"Oh for crying out loud!" said Patricia Walker in an annoyed tone.

"Here we go again," said Max Kildare as he drew his revolver, but held it up so it wasn't pointed at anyone.

"This makes the fifteenth time Jill and Andrew have gotten into a stalemate," said Aaron, "If Andrew shoots, Jill can probably dodge it, but Andrew isn't the kind of person to miss twice, so Jill will have to close the distance pretty fast."

"You mean you're just going to let them kill each other?" Hermione asked.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," said Patricia Walker in a determined tone. She then spoke to Harry and the others, "you might want to cover your ears," she drew a very deep breath, then screamed loud enough to fracture Harry's glasses. He, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Rebecca, Chris and Samantha were nearly bowled over by the sheer volume and force of Patricia's sonic blast.

Fortunately they were behind Patricia, as was Aaron and Warren, while the others in the cafeteria had already taken cover. But Jill and Andrew were right in line of her voice; the force of the sonic scream knocking them to the ground, causing Andrew to drop his pistol, while Jill dropped her saber and Andrew's watch.

Patricia's sonic blast lasted for ten seconds. She then breathed in and out deeply a few more times to get her wind back.

"You alright?" Harry asked Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the others.

"I think so, mate," said Ron.

"I'm alright," said Ginny.

"Me to," said Hermione. She then saw Harry's broken glasses, "oh, let me have them, Harry."

"I got this, Hermione," said Harry. He took his mangled glasses off and tapped them with his wand, "Oculus Reparo." Within seconds his glasses were as good as new.

"Outstanding, Harry," said Hermione.

It was then that Jill and Andrew got back up, but Patricia stalked over to them before they could resume their standoff, "I've had it with both of you! For three years now you've been getting each others' goats, and when you've gotten them, you try and kill each other. Well I've had enough! You two are going to stop this right now, or else!"

"Or else what?" Jill Sparrow asked in a daring tone.

"Or you'll experience firsthand the real reason why I'm called The Tallahassee Banshee," said Patricia.

"I wouldn't call her bluff, Jill," said Aaron, "I've known Patricia for years, she never bluffs."

Jill looked like she was going to call Patricia's bluff, just out of spite. But then she sighed, bent down to retrieve her sword and Andrew's watch, while Andrew cautiously picked up his pistol.

Jill sheathed her saber and handed Andrew's watch back to him, "truce?" she asked.

"Truce," said Andrew as he took back his watch and put it on. He sighed with relief as he looked at the watch face, "but someday, Jill Sparrow, and that day may never come, you are going to push me beyond the point of no return, and then nobody, not Patricia, not Warren, not Max or anyone else, mortal or Meta-Human, nobody will stop me from pushing back."

"I'll look forward to it," said Jill in an eager tone, as if she really was expecting just such a confrontation.

"Lady Deathwish indeed," said Andrew in a contemptuous tone. With that they went to opposite sides of the room.

"How many times have they done this?" Ron asked.

"Fifteen," said Aaron, "each of us has taken turns stopping them from leaving a mess of each other."

"If they dislike each other so much," said Harry, "why are they on the same team?"

"I've been asking that myself since September of '99," said Max in a deflated tone.

"They weren't always this hostile to each other," said Katina Jones as she walked over, followed by Daniel Pulaski and Gillian Anderson, "when we first got together for our first mission, they were nice enough."

"They were very civil to each other in the beginning," said Daniel Pulaski, "and for a while it looked like they would be friends, or so I've heard."

"But s-something made t-them dislike each other," said Gillian Anderson, "at some p-p-point after the n-new mi-millennium, they s-seriously st-started feuding and h-have been ever since. It's a sh-shame, really. Deep d-down they do l-like each other."

"Remind you of someone?" Ginny whispered to Harry.

"Definitely," said Harry, "but Ron and Hermione would never do anything like this."

"True," said Ginny.

It was then that Travis came back in. With him was a young man, about 19, with short dark blond hair and hazel eyes. He wore a red and gold shirt and blue jeans with blue and white shoes.

"What's all the ruckus?" the blond with Travis asked, "what's Patty yelling about now? I can hear it all the way in the labs."

"Jill and Andrew tried to kill each other again," said Daniel Pulaski.

"Again?" the blond asked, "Tanj! Those two morons are really grinding my gears. When are they going to grow up? Tanj!!"

"What's tanj?" a confused Ron asked.

"I have no idea," said Harry.

"Don't look at me," said a confused Rebecca, while Chris and Samantha shook their heads in agreement.

"It's an abbreviation," said Hermione as she looked at the boy in wonder, as if seeing a long lost friend, "it means 'There Ain't No Justice." she walked over to the blond man, "Virgil? Virgil Blake?"

"Hermione Granger," said the blond man, Virgil Blake, "as I live and breathe. I haven't heard from you since '97."

"I've been busy," said Hermione. She then smiled eagerly, "still a dateless wonder?"

"For your information," said Virgil Blake as he grinned eagerly as well, "I finally have a steady girlfriend. What about you? Still have beaver fangs?"

"Do I look like I still have beaver fangs?" Hermione asked. She then smiled, showing off her perfect front teeth that she had 'adjusted' back in her 4th year at Hogwarts.

"Well I can see that the rest of you hasn't changed much," said Virgil Blake, "but your choice in men is very different," he looked at Ron and Harry, "which one is yours?"

"This one," said Hermione as she affectingly clutched at the arm of a very confused Ron, "Ron Weasley. We got married earlier this year." she then indicated Harry, "And the other is my brother-in-law, Harry Potter."

"This is Virgil Blake," said Aaron, "quite possibly the most brilliant scientific mind on the planet."

"And has the biggest ego," said Daniel Pulaski.

"And certainly the most chutzpah," said Andrew Carpenter.

"You're just jealous that I've transcended beyond Krelboyne," said Virgil Blake, He then looked at Harry and the others, "while my intellectual comrades are experts in only a handful of scientific fields, I try to make myself a 'Jack of all Fields and Master of None,' so to speak."

"You mean you've done it?" Hermione asked, "you've become a real Mentat?"

"Not just yet," said Virgil Blake, "there's still so much to learn before one can call himself a living computer. But I'm well on my way."

"Who is this bloke and how do you know him?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Oh," said Hermione as she blushed slightly in embarrassment, "Virgil and I were pen pals when we were younger. There was never anything close between us, Ron, I can assure you that. We're just friends and intellectual rivals."

"Uh…" said Ron, not sure what to feel right now.

"You have nothing to fear from me, my friend," said Virgil Blake as he held out his hand, "Hermione and I are nothing more than intellectual associates that never developed any chemistry. You on the other hand, you are her perfect match. You're a lucky man to have captured her heart, if I may say so."

"Okay," Ron said hesitantly as he shook Virgil's hand.

"Can I speak now?" Travis Bachman asked, "me, the human with no special abilities."

"Oh don't be so modest, Travis," said Patricia, "you wouldn't have survived the war if you weren't special."

"He wouldn't have joined The Bureau if he weren't," said Warren Ulrich.

"Whatever," said Travis Bachman, "anyway, I just got back from the tracking room; they may have a lead on where Shannon is. They've picked up a large psychic resonance that matches her energy pattern."

"Where?" Jill Sparrow asked eagerly. Max and the other Ramblers listened with equal eagerness.

"In an abandoned warehouse near Penn Station," said Travis, "if we do this right, we can catch her and whoever she's with by surprise."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Katina Jones asked, "Let's go!"

"Not just yet," said Rebecca, "we need to call John first. This is still a joint venture between the AMA and The Bureau, or has that agreement been rendered null?"

"She's right," said Harry, "we need to bring in the Aurors for this."

"It'll take us fifteen minutes to prepare," said Max, "and, assuming the traffic and the lights are on our side, another fifteen minutes to get there. You have that long to inform your people."

"They already know," said Rebecca as she used a small orange crystal to send a 'text' message back to Auror Headquarters in the AMA.

"What can we do?" Harry asked.

"I don't know if there's anything we can do to help," said Hermione, "we're still on vacation."

"She's right," said Chris, "technically you're not supposed to get involved in any major incidents."

"I hate to burst your bubble," said Ginny, "but we're already involved," she looked at Harry, "where you go, I go."

"And where you go, I go," said Harry.

"You can go wherever you want," said Andrew Carpenter, "just so long as it's not in our way."

"And make sure you're not anywhere near us when the shooting starts," said Jeff Dambrisis, "it may get ugly."

"I think we can handle a few stray bullets," said Harry confidently.

"Yeah," said Ron, "a Shield Charm here and there and we'll be fine."

"There'll be more than bullets flying," said Gillian Anderson in an eager tone, "believe me."

Harry was curious as to why the shy girl wasn't stuttering anymore.

"I think we should humor them," said Samantha, "just to be safe, we should watch from a safe distance."

"Sure, we'll miss out on all the carnage," said Chris, "but Samantha and I are still responsible for you, Harry, you and your family."

"And I'm responsible for myself," said Rebecca, "someone has to tell John and Director Irvine what's going on." she then stepped closer, "but I believe I have something that can help us still watch all the action." From her shoulder bag she brought out several pairs of what at first appeared to be Omniocculars.

"One of the best things about being an overqualified desk jockey is finding all sorts of little projects to keep you occupied. I've modified these so they can see through solid walls up to a mile away, and they work."

"Brilliant!" said Harry as Rebecca handed him a pair, then handed a pair to Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Chris and Samantha, and kept the last for herself.

"Now why couldn't Fred and George think of something like this?" Ron asked as he held his pair up to his eyes, just to see if it works, which it did, "Bloody Hell!! I can see all the way up to the streets!"

"I can see all the other rooms on the lower level," said Hermione as she scanned around with her modified Omniocculars, then quickly lowered them, "I guess I shouldn't be doing that."

"That's probably not a good idea to do that," said Samantha.

"The best part," said Rebecca, "is that the lenses automatically adjust to the vision of the holder."

"Brilliant and handy," said Harry as he pushed his glasses up and looked through the Omniocculars, focusing his vision on Ginny, "I never realized how lovely your skeleton was."

"Am I really that amazing?" Ginny asked as she struck a pose that sent Harry's pulse racing. She still had that effect on him, and would probably still for many years to come. The same could be said vice versa.

"She does have a lovely skeleton," said Chris as he looked at Ginny with the Omniocculars.

"Quit looking at my sister's bones!" said Ron, "she's a married woman."

"I'm perfectly fine with them seeing my bones," said Ginny.

"If you're done playing with X-ray vision," said Patricia, "I think we should head back upstairs and get ready. There's dirty work coming."

The end of chapter 7. Next chapter, Harry and his family are shocked and amazed at just what Max Kildare and his Ramblers can do. Reviews will be rewarded with cake and pie. See you next time!