Chapter Eight: The Investigation Begins

The next morning was Saturday. By unspoken consent the teams decided to learn all they could about the wizarding world. It started with Tim. He woke up early, usually to write. This time he went down stairs and found Mrs. Weasley.

"Why are you up so early Tim?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Habit. I typically write on Saturday mornings, but I don't have my typewriter here. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind answering some of my questions." Tim asked.

"Of course I'll answer your questions, if you'll answer some of mine in return." Molly said.

"Certainly. You go first." Tim said.

"Are you published?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yes, I am. Why did Harry leave? I am grateful that he did. He's saved my life on numerous occasions I just feel like he misses the world he grew up in." Tim said.

"Harry left because he wanted to prove that he could be successful at something and not feel like he's riding on his mother's coattails or Dumbledore's either. He didn't want to get his dream job because he was the Man who Conquered. I wouldn't worry over how much Harry misses the wizarding world. Quite a few wizards and witches manage to straddle the gap between our two worlds. What do you write about?" Was the response.

"I write about fictional cases using some of the cases we close as inspiration. I try to make it different enough where people shouldn't be able to connect the dots. What do you mean straddle the gap? We are talking about two different worlds even being able to go from one to the either is impressive in my book how can someone straddle the gap?" Tim asked.

"Magic. I know that it's a frustrating answer but magic really is the key. Let's take Harry and Ginny for example. There's on ocean between us and their home, but that doesn't matter so much because magic allows for teleportation. Owls are just like your muggle mail. It really closes the distance between families. It's not uncommon for wizarding families to live across the world and still have Sunday dinners. There's magical shopping districts in nearly every major city, however the non-magic world has things we don't. The internet for example. From what I hear is like a massive library that houses nearly every record. You just need to know what you're looking for. In the wizarding world we still have to go to the library and figure out what section to start in and then the real research starts. It seems like you have to go through every book and the book you really want is checked out. By straddling the gap they get the best of both worlds. Why?" Molly asked, back on to Tim's books.

"Actually have a perfect example of this. One of my fans made the connection and thought that the entire thing was real and because I add some things that weren't real, like a fling between the main character and the character that had Abby as the basic inspiration, it put Abby in danger. My fan wanted to help me move on but the thing is Abby and I are only friends. Was there a time where I thought we might work out? Yes, but our relationship has settled comfortably into a friendship. I think we would end up hating each other if we tried. I understand your point of view with straddling the gap it just seems like with the wizard's muggle friends we miss out on a lot because the explaining it takes so that they can understand the struggles their friends went through would take away from the actual struggle, especially where the subject is one where they aren't to eager to share in the first place." Tim said, implying the question rather then stating it.

"It's frustrating I know. Wait and ask about the subjects Harry uses as a defense. He's not to keen on sharing his hurt. He's always worried about other people. He has a hard time seeing that just because he can operate physically doesn't mean he's emotionally healed. Are there safeguards for that kind of a thing?" Molly asked.

"Yes there are. I noticed the same thing. Gibbs has that same issue. He closes himself off on a case. I think the greatest amount of emotion he's shown is with Ari. Tony hides behind being a joker and Ziva was taught from a young age that emotions are a weakness that you're enemies will exploit and you never know who your enemies are or when they'll strike, so she has a shell that takes the Megaton Hammer, a hammer in a game that can create a shock wave, to even crack it. I don't suffer from it as badly but that's because I split my time between being on the computer hunting information down and being in the field. Harry mentioned ancient charms. I was wondering what exactly he meant by that. It seems like with a culture that hasn't changed very much you would have records going back to ancient times and that any charms discovered would be recorded." Tim said.

"Unfortunately that's not the case. Yes our records go back for quite a ways but there are some charms that we have the barest mention of, but what Harry meant wasn't quite what you picture when you hear ancient. It's ancient because it's not in use anymore. They are spells that are far more powerful then what we normally cast but they also require a great sacrifice to cast. It's typically because of the sacrifice that witches and wizards stopped using them. I don't know the exact spell he was referencing but if I had to guess, I'd say it's the reason why he survived that night so many years ago. What's Gibbs like?" Molly asked, worried about her son-in-laws mentor.

"Gibbs is stern but fair. He wants the job done and done right. He cares for every agent under his command and the quickest way for you to end up in custody is to piss him off. He doesn't like to leave stones unturned if they pertain to the case and his instincts are great. His rules are designed to help keep everyone safe. The only people safe from his gruff manner are kids. He shows a completely different side of himself when interacting with kids. The only reason I can think of for why he's not a father" Here McGee looks around before continuing. "is that he was never married long enough to have kids. What exactly are the unforgivable curses?" Tim asked.

"The unforgivable curses are the three curses that will get you sent straight to Azkaban for the rest of your life if you are caught using them. That said they are the torture curse, mind control curse, and the killing curse. Both wars saw too much use of all three of those curses. Why did you look around before continuing on with your answer?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Because Gibbs has this habit of being able to appear almost magically when we start talking about him." Tim starts.

"What's that about me, McGee?" Gibbs asked, displaying his talent. McGee gave Mrs. Weasley a look that said 'Yeah, just like that.'

"Just answering some questions that our hostess has, boss." McGee said.

"It's Saturday, we aren't working. You don't need to call me boss, McGee." Gibbs said. McGee smiled slightly.

"Anything we can do to help with the meal. Mrs. Weasley?" Gibbs asked.

"Thank you for offering but I'm good." Was the response. Breakfast was long, not the meal itself but the time it took everyone to eat it was long. This was because they came down in ones or twos. Eventually everyone had ate and went on making the most of their day. Ziva and Justin went on a spur of the moment date, that lasted the majority of the day. Gibbs was recommended a book and sat down to read. George dropped by and he and Tony spent the day hanging out. McGee spent the rest of the day secluded in a room with quill and parchment jotting down 'notes for his next book.' Harry spent the day catching up with friends and family. Ducky found a book about magical healing that fascinated him. Charlie dropped by and ended up talking with Jimmy about dragons. Abby spent the day in the garage interrogating and being interrogated by Mr. Weasley. By the time the day was over the team felt like the had made some significant progress in understanding the wizarding world but still felt like they had a long way to go.