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Diagon Alley, two hours after lunch…
"There you go, niño. Does that feel a little better?"
The cute boy in the arms of the wet-cheeked middle-aged witch that had been taking the attention of Rosa Fernández for the last twenty minutes smiled as he gazed on his just-healed hand. He had been scratched by one of the vampires who had tried to rampage through Knockturn — which, despite it having been considerably rehabilitated over the last decade, still served as the poorer and darker district of wizarding Britain — before the Hollows dragged the creature off for destruction. "Yes," he whispered.
"What do you say to the nice healer?" his mother urged.
The boy smiled. "Thank you!"
Rosa smiled in turn as she conjured a lollipop for him to suck on. As the now-grinning child was taken away, the senior healer of the Black Maidens could only shake her head as she gazed around her. Only a small team of mediwitches were still in Diagon helping with casualties. The number of injuries had been far lighter than what could have happened hadn't Elizabeth Gibbon summoned the Hollows and only seven people had required emergency blood-purges before they were shipped to St. Mungo's, effectively ensuring they wouldn't be turned.
Right now, the pioneer company of the Fourth Battalion was on the scene, under the direction of one of the Schwarze Mädchen's more unique members, Majorin Jade Xìyù Speer. In looks, the native of Mannheim in old Baden was classically Chinese: Wavy raven hair tied in a simple ponytail that went to mid-back, a perfectly-shaped Oriental face and gorgeous gold-pink skin. Seeing such a person wearing the camouflage uniform of an officer in the Deutsches Heer had made almost all the bystanders — even those who knew some things about the Black Maidens — gape in shock and surprise, especially when said officer began barking out orders in fluent German to get her people to work.
The only hint at the fact that Jade had a German father — Rudolf Speer had been part of the military mission to China that had helped that nation's armed forces modernize after the collapse of the Qīng Dynasty in 1912; Jade's mother Lú Qìnglíng was an interpreter then serving the legendary founder of the modern Republic of China, Doctor Sūn Yìxiān who had saved Rudolf's life from a mudslide during monsoon season — was her eyes, which were a deep sea blue in lieu of the brown-black Orientals normally had. She was also one of the more highly decorated members of the Black Maidens. A veteran of the Spanish Civil War, she was a curse-breaker and ward-breaker trained by Gringotts who earned her gold Wound Badge for all the times she personally led her teams into wrecking defensive wards around hard targets. She had also been on the raid on Azkaban in 1939 and the attack on the Ministry of Magic in London two years later; Jade Speer ended the war by rallying all the pioneers — even those too badly hurt to have normally taken to the field — to help destroy the World-Gate during the final battle at Nurmengard.
Jade was now having her team of a hundred and nine curse-breakers, warders and magical construction engineers do a full inspection of all the structures in Diagon and Knockturn. Watching the other officer, Rosa — who doubled as the brigade's psychiatrist — was surprised to note the look of disbelief on Jade's face; no doubt, the pioneer company commander had been taken aback by the fact that many more buildings in Diagon and Knockturn beyond Gringotts were far sturdier than she might have expected for a traditional European wizarding enclave. Even more, she and her subordinates were advising some of the shopkeepers on ways of improving their property's defences against things like thieves and the like, to say anything of potential intrusion by unexpected sources. While there were some older people who looked on Jade and her friends with wariness — no doubt, they had been alive during the war when Tsukuyomi's forces had been running rampant over Asia to cripple European efforts to stop Grindelwald — younger people and those who had been personal friends of the British members of the Schwarze Mädchen like Tom Dodderidge were treating the slender yet muscular Chinese-German woman with the respect she deserved.
"We all finished, Rosa?"
"Sí," the healer stated as she watched a dazed-looking Elizabeth Gibbon and a head-shaking Jessica Gibbon step down from Gringotts, the goblin guards bowing in respect to the two English-born combat witches. "What happened, Elisa?"
"Oh, nothing much, Rosa," Jessica said with a wry smile. "It just turns out that there's a family seat in the Wizengamot that's ours for the claiming."
Rosa blinked several times as her mind tried to wrap around that before she smirked. "Well, that was long proven…though ironic given what we were involved in before we wound up on the Freedom," the native of Badajoz noted. "Normal-born magicals…" — the Black Maidens had been the first group to adopt a policy of complete rejection when it came to nicknames for non-magicals such as "muggle" — "…are always descent to one extent or another from an extinct magical line. Was anyone else so blessed?"
"Don't know," Elizabeth breathed out. "But I will have everyone go through Gringotts to do inheritance blood tests just in case. While it doesn't matter so much in places like Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Portugal these days, there are still inherited seats in the magical parliaments in the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and Spain, not to mention the smaller states like Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, Andorra and Monaco. If the seats can be claimed, let them be claimed." She then winked at Rosa. "All the goblins care about is that the vaults are returned to active service so they can start charging bankers' fees and earning interest; treaties wouldn't let them…oh, my GOD!"
Rosa jolted before spinning around to see what caught the Yorkshire native's attention…
"Shitfire! What the devil happened here?!"
On hearing that familiar voice with its drawling accent, the Black Maidens all turned to gape in shock at the raven-haired tomboyish woman with grey eyes now walking towards them from the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. In a casual business suit with slacks and an open-collar button shirt, she had the silver-ringed star badge of a United States Marshal on her jacket tunic over her left breast pocket. She didn't have a wand in hand, but there was the obvious shoulder-mounted holster for a gun under her jacket, not to mention a wand holster strapped to her left arm, tucked under her jacket sleeve. Then again, recalling what this youthful-looking veteran of the first open war against the daywalker vampires in known history had been like when she personally led a battalion of highly-trained strike wizards on Nurmengard that summer afternoon at the side of Albus Dumbledore, a company's worth of hit-wizards from Britain, the War Hawks and the Immortals, the North Carolinian witch didn't really need a wand.
"Where in God's Name did you come from, Generalmajorin Bean?!" Jade immediately challenged as the other Schwarze Mädchen all tensed.
The veteran of three wars held up her hands in a show of peace; she knew these girls had effectively been transported through time — thanks to the wonders of cryogenic suspension — from 1945 to 2010, so the old animosities were obviously still quite fresh to them. "Nice to see you too, China Girl!" Mollie Bean said with a wink, smiling at Jade's addressing her with the equivalent German rank title to the American's "theatre" rank of brigadier general in the Army of the United States at the end of World War Two. She then gazed in amusement at the Gibbon twins. "Now, Lizzie! This ain't dang fair!" she drawled with an exaggerated Carolinian accent. "You and your friends went and threw a party with them carpetbagger daywalkers, then forgot to invite me! I thought you Limeys were civilized!"
"And you Johnny Rebs believe you had the corner on civilization?!" Jade sneered back.
"Now, Major Speer, that's enough," a strange voice chided, which made people smile as a certain former American president came up from the direction of the Leaky Cauldron. "Hello, Mollie. Don't tell me they forced you away from your kids in Salem just for me."
"Sadly, they did, Mister Lincoln. But given that you and General Gibbon's girls are involved in this, I won't have to stay too far away from my classroom. Don't want the new kids I'm preparing for the Mistresses and Masters Classes to burn the place down while I'm across the pond here in England," Mollie stated as she gazed on Abraham Lincoln. "Did you get any prisoners or did you cut down all the slimy critters?"
"No prisoners…but no escapees, fortunately," Lincoln stated as he warmly grasped the younger woman's hand, leaning over to tenderly kiss her cheek. Noting all the onlookers — even some of the Black Maidens — beaming at the sight of the Rail-Splitter reuniting with the young magical marshal who had been his only real companion during the Score and Four, he added, "Seems our mysterious dragon lover with the energy staff — you know of her?" At Mollie's nod, he waved around. "Seems she closed and sealed the doors behind them to prevent them from escaping to warn Adam Sewell I'm in country now. You heard?"
"I did…and I had to spend an hour restarting my heart on knowing THAT son of a bitch is still 'alive!'" Mollie noted as Elizabeth came over to join them while Jessica moved to get an update from Jade. "Saw that the floo and apparition points here are shut down and the aurors are keeping people here. Can't keep this up forever, though."
"Not really forever, Mollie," Elizabeth said as she offered her hand…then gaped as she felt the aura of a sister Avalonian when Mollie grasped it. "How…?"
"I was the first ever Terran-turned-Avalonian. Got my body swapped years before that became a common thing with folks like Harry Potter's sister," Mollie explained. "A really nice fella from Phentax Two saved me from some carpetbagger daywalker just after I went to the seventy-fifth anniversary reunion of Gettysburg in '38; critter found out I 'betrayed' the South and wanted me dead. Howard O'Connor — that was my rescuer's Earth name; forgot what his original name was — was more American than Niphentaxian; shame he died when Phentax Twelve was made to 'do a Krypton' thanks to Miss Negako, her brother and sisters and their friends from Noukiios and Yehisril. Howard's grandson was an observer in Washington state when the Noukiites swept in to clear them out; he's living on Tengsei these days. So who saved you and yours, Liz?"
"Most likely Rittmeister von Taserich," the commander of the Schwarze Mädchen replied as she crossed her arms. "No proof; there was no letter attached to the cryogenic chambers we were in when the Vinur Drekar found us yesterday morning at Nurmengard."
"I'll go over to speak to the immortals who are now at Nurmengard about Josef, General," Lincoln stated. "If anyone has a hope of knowing what he did, it might be one of them."
"Mind if I tag along, sir?" Mollie offered. "Never got the chance to go visit the place in recent years since the anniversary normally falls near the end of the spring term and I'm too busy in the summer with tutorials to come across the pond."
"Delighted to have your company, my dear."
He offered his arm, which she took. They then headed off. Jade and Jessica walked over to stand beside their brigade commander as they watched them go. "Never understood her," the Chinese-German magical combat engineer commented.
"Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"She's a normal-born from North Carolina. Even if there was Union support all throughout the South in those days, why did she stay loyal when her friends fought under Lee?"
"She was a magical marshal before the war, Jade," a voice answered from behind them, making all three turn as Harry Potter came up to join them. "They swear oaths on their magic to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution when they take federal office in America. Mollie couldn't defy that if she didn't want to lose her magic. And they've never had individual state magical ministries in America, not like it was in Germany during the time of the Holy Roman Empire."
The three members of the Schwarze Mädchen nodded in understanding. "So what's going on with Miss Skeeter, Harry?" Jessica asked with an amused grin. "Is Linn being mean to her?"
He smirked. "Your friend could probably have scared Bellatrix Lestrange — if not Tom Riddle himself — in their prime, Jess," the Man-Who-Won answered. "Hard to believe that such a plain girl could be such a demon when interrogating someone."
"And that surprises you, Harry?" a familiar Weasley twin asked.
"After all…" the other twin spoke up.
"…the lovely Linn…"
"…is clearly a relative…"
"…of old Ikari Gendō himself!"
Elizabeth blinked. "Who on Earth is that?"
Fred and George blinked before they smirked as they exchanged knowing looks. "Forge?"
"Yeah, Gred?"
"Do you realize our new friends have not been introduced to the joys of anime?"
"Indeed I do, dear brother. That HAS to be corrected right away!"
"Oh, indeed it must!"
"'Anime?!'" Elizabeth and Jade wondered as Jessica's eyebrow arched.
"Do you REALLY want to introduce them to THAT, guys?" Harry wondered.
The twins laughed…
Rosa Lee Teabag, that moment…
Right now, it was no laughing matter for Rita Skeeter.
She had found herself in Diagon earlier today investigating the news that the leader of the infamous Black Maidens herself — accompanied by her senior combat witch, the very woman responsible for the deaths of dozens of Ministry officials in that catastrophic raid in 1941 that forever stripped Britain of all its colonial magical warriors! — had been brought to the Leaky Cauldron by none other than Harry Potter. Naturally, Rita was attracted to such an odd circumstance. For the longest time, she had dogged Harry's footsteps, determined to finally get the one single clue she needed to unlock the Chinese puzzle that was the Man-Who-Won so she could pay him and his allies — especially Hermione Granger — back for the crap they unleashed on the Daily Prophet's top reporter years ago. And despite her attempts at getting the upper hand over Harry and his friends, they always kept one step ahead of her even after the victory against Voldemort; despite the coming of peace, they never let their guard down as they moved to unleash insane changes on wizarding Britain in the wake of such a spectacular triumph. And while many of those changes had been accepted wholesale by the general public, their ultimate purpose never made any sense at all to Rita. That — in her experience — loudly hinted that there was a big secret somewhere that needed to be exposed to the light of day.
Albus Dumbledore had those secrets.
Tom Riddle had those secrets.
Logically, Harry Potter and his friends must possess those secrets as well.
For the greater good of wizarding Britain — not to mention Rita's future as a newspaper reporter and a writer — those secrets had to be revealed to all.
So she came to Diagon…
…and wound up witnessing something she had NOT been prepared for:
An honest-to-goodness battle between vampires and the Hollows!
And while it had been wrapped up very quick with no harm done to bystanders thanks to the surprising presence of the legendary Rail-Splitter himself — not to mention a half-dozen Schwarze Mädchen as well as some of Harry's friends from the Defence Association and the Order of the Phoenix…which screamed out to Rita that the Man-Who-Won had known about the vampires' attack ahead of time; if THAT got out, it could see the man charged with reckless endangerment…which would DEFINITELY sell papers! — being publicly EXPOSED as an animagus by one of the Black Maidens had NOT been on Rita's work schedule.
If THAT wasn't bad enough, the dazed Rita found herself dragged to this dreary tea shop by the aurors and Grindelwald's reborn warriors, then presented to a tall yet shapely woman with shaggy, long dark brown hair and brown eyes behind the gawkiest pair of reading glasses the Ravenclaw alumnus had EVER seen! Even more, while the majority of the veterans of Grindelwald's War who had come to Diagon to clean up after the daywalkers' attack — which WAS a good thing in Rita's mind; she sure as hell didn't want to be turned or killed by one of those undead monsters — had been in those hideous camouflage fatigue uniforms worn by soldiers when they went to play in the boonies, this woman was smartly dressed in a modern business suit with white turtleneck sweater that accentuated her height and her flowing curves spectacularly. Said woman also sported a small grove of military-like badges on her left breast, topped with the first class Iron Cross and the undress ribbons of the Pour le Mérite Magique and another medal, not to mention the standard wreathed crossed wand badge marking her as a veteran of the Magische Reichsarmee.
Once those brown eyes locked on Rita's green orbs, the reporter found herself frozen in place as those glasses seemed to glitter in the early afternoon light.
It was that glitter that made Rita realize who this woman was.
The "Nasty Nag of Northeim" herself, Majorin Linn Heinrich.
Officially, the honours graduate from the Trischen Academy of Magic (Mistresses Class of 1935) on the island of the same name in the Elbe estuary near Hamburg had served as the chief interrogator of the Black Maiden Brigade. Not a very proficient magical duellist in comparison to some of her more famous contemporaries, Linn earned her reputation by using every form of mental torture known to both the magicals and the normals at the time to get whatever information she desired for the use of her leaders. She was a grandmaster at Legilimency and other magical mind arts, having used them ruthlessly in her duties; some of the veterans of the Allied and Soviet magical forces that had gone up against the Schwarze Mädchen who had faced down this woman spent YEARS after the Battle of the Gates in long-term care at places like St. Mungo's recovering from what she had done to them. And no matter what anyone tried to keep things secret from her, Linn always got what she wanted.
Sixty-five years in cryogenic suspension — unlike many other purebloods in Britain, Rita knew what terms like that meant; she hadn't been a Ravenclaw for nothing, after all! — hadn't dulled this monster's edge one bit.
And with her being an Avalonian now…
"Rita Lorraine Skeeter."
Rita's voice caught in her throat as the other woman's voice washed over her — sensuous and full of throaty richness that made the reporter swoon with orgasmic envy; on sensing her reacting that way, the native of Merseyside felt her heart seize as she hoped beyond hope that her interrogator wouldn't focus on THAT! — before she seemed to deflate as the chronologically older woman sat back, the glitter in her glasses vanishing. "Born on the third of March in 1951 in Liverpool," Linn added to the first words she had said since Rita had fully awoke. "Pureblood from a loyal family, no noble lineage. Currently on the 'A' team of investigative reporters for The Daily Prophet. Also a bestselling writer of three known unauthorized biographies: Armando Dippet, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape being the subject of those books in question. A beetle animagus who never properly registered herself with Her Majesty's Ministry of Magic…but given how such knowledge can be used against you, I can't blame you for that."
As Rita gaped in shock on hearing that conciliatory statement, the bare hint of a smile crossed Linn's face. "Part of the Class of 1962 at Hogwarts, sorted into Ravenclaw," she continued as if from memory. "Graduated with twelve NEWTs in 1969, ranked fourth among a class of fifty-one, specialized in transfiguration and charms. Quite impressive. Joined the Prophet staff as a junior reporter the next year, soon earning a reputation for finding out interesting secrets and exposing them to the embarrassment of others. Such eventually won you the nickname 'Queen of the Quills.' Freiherr Dumbledore called your work 'enchantingly nasty' — according to what Freifrau Granger told me when she warned me about you — though I personally must confess that the titles of your books desperately need a dose of honest originality and objective neutrality. 'Dippet: Master or Moron?' 'Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?' 'The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore?'"
She shook her head. "And you wonder why Markgraf Potter doesn't want you to write his life story, Rita? He's already endured years of scorn and abuse at the hands of your society, right after he emerged fresh out of the living hell he was sentenced to when he was given to the Dursleys after Herr Voldemort was destroyed by Markgräfin Lily Potter in 1981." The smile slipped from Linn's face. "Even if many eventually woke up to how ignorant Freiherr Dumbledore ensured Markgraf Potter would be when he was invited to Hogwarts nineteen years ago, that constant switching from mindless veneration to equally mindless scorn marks a person deep down. Especially one as abused as he. Considering how much value you magically-raised put on children, you should have smelt that out right away and moved to correct it. You would have won Harry's eternal devotion if you did that, Rita. You're a Ravenclaw. Intelligence is second nature to you. Why do you think Harry was so quick to become 'Dumbledore's man' until Tsukiko-sensei woke him up to the bitter truths of what destiny dropped on his head before he was even born?"
Rita blinked as she tried to make her heart stop beating so loudly in her chest while desperately also trying to determine what this reborn demon's angle was. Taking a second to look around, she noted that the only other person in the teashop she could see was Staff Sergeant Callie Norman, the senior non-commissioned officer of the Black Maidens' headquarters company. Another of the British-born members of the Schwarze Mädchen, she was a native of Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. A 1936 NEWT graduate and alumnus of Hufflepuff, Callie was a maternal relative of the Gibbon twins; in fact, save for a different style of hair, Callie could easily pass herself off as either Elizabeth or Jessica. Like Linn, she was currently in a business suit, a small spray of military insignia over her heart topped with the Knight's Cross and a Pour le Mérite Magique with Oak Leaves. While it had been a while since Rita had studied the Black Maidens and could recall their histories out of memory — she read about the Hogwarts alumni in that group when she was a student in the 1960s, then revisited their stories after the Battle of Hogwarts when she heard a rumour that Hermione Granger, a woman who shouldn't have cared at all for a group that was closely linked to the infamous Nazis that had ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, had become a fan of Gellert Grindelwald's coven of combat hit-witches — she knew Callie had earned eleven NEWTs, specializing in herbology and transfiguration; she had been the one who tutored her cousins in the latter subject before she left Hogwarts and wound her way to the other side of the North Sea.
She also had beautiful blue-grey eyes…
ACK! Stop, Rita! the reporter admonished herself as she fought down the blush that was slowly creeping into her cheeks. You can't think THAT! Not NOW, you perverted…!
"There's no shame in admitting something like that, Rita."
Her breath caught in her throat as she felt Linn's eyes focus on her once more, the glasses glittering. Before Rita could muster a denial, the German witch's eyes flicked to her right. Before the reporter could ask herself what was going on, footsteps announced that Callie was moving to stand right next to her. Then — with a softness that surprised Rita — the Buckinghamshire native reached down to gently grasp the reporter's hand, making the physically older woman gasp in disbelief as the sensations of that baby-soft skin flooded her with pure bliss. Rita then croaked as Callie's other hand reached behind the former's neck to tenderly rub the skin under the hairline. As she felt her legs squeeze together as she desperately tried to fight off the arousal that was overcoming her, Rita's eyes squeezed shut…though she couldn't do a thing to make herself pull clear from Callie's grasp. After a moment, the staff sergeant's hand moved from Rita's neck to the right shoulder, reaching under the reporter's jacket to gently knead the tendons that connected her arm to her spine. A delighted whimper escaped Rita's lips as she felt what resistance she could to such an incredible act of seduction fade, her head rolling back to lean against Callie's right forearm.
"As I said, there's no shame in admitting that," Linn repeated herself. "That's always been one of the several wonderful — yes, even magical — things about wizarding society we normal-borns soon discover when we're invited to commence formal training. Look at how no one ever thought twice of the relationship between Minister Grindelwald and Freiherr Dumbledore when you exposed it in your book about the Freiherr that came out after his death. When they read that, people always lamented on how much it must have hurt the Freiherr to fight someone he deeply loved even if Europe had been rocked with a world war for six years prior to their duel at Nurmengard. There's no derision over the fact that the Freiherr had been lovers with the Dark Lord of Europe. And that's been accepted in wizarding society for a century before it became commonplace in normal society. So please, don't hide the fact that you're attracted to Callie. Yes, I asked her to do this to you…but there's a simpler reason for that than bribing you.
"I'm trying to keep you alive."
Silence.
More silence.
Still more silence.
And then…
"Wh-what…?" Rita sputtered, her surprise at such a show of mercy quite obvious.
"Rita, use your mind and think it out," Linn urged. "Take all the clues you have and put it all together. Make a theory. See where it might take you."
The reporter blinked…before she felt a surge of what clearly was empathic support from the woman touching her now. Gazing up into Callie's blue-grey eyes for a moment, Rita took a deep breath. "Abraham Lincoln's here. He never leaves America unless some idiot daywalker does something stupid and needs to be put down. With the vampires that were here in Diagon today, it's a good thing he was here." She paused before a shudder raced through her. "Your brigadier has the Key of Gonebren now. The Queen holds the Key unless she feels it necessary to loan it to people to carry out a Royal Warrant, like what Harry Potter received in '97 to put Voldemort down. Since Lincoln's a former American president, Her Majesty would be friends with him. So she knows that there are daywalkers doing something in Britain. Given what the Zauberwelt reported from Nurmengard yesterday when she found you and your friends, the vampires were clearly interested in your people. It's interconnected. The Queen gave your brigadier the Key to help put the vampires down. Lincoln's here to help." She paused again before shaking her head. "Why they wanted to go after you girls, though…I can't guess."
The chief interrogator nodded. "Good. Let me ask this, then: Ever since our sisters came here to Earth, what's happened concerning our undead friends?" She smirked. "Especially with Liam O'Connor and William Pratt? You know who they are, I think."
Rita paled. "Angelus and Spike?!" she hissed before blinking a couple times before she gaped. "The vampires want to go to war against the Avalonians?! Why?! After what all your sisters went through thanks to those Niphentaxians, they'd NEVER…!"
"Ja, they wouldn't…but clearly some of our friends of the night don't see it that way," Linn stated. "One of them being Adam Sewell. You know who he is, I believe."
The reporter's jaw dropped. "ADAM SEWELL?!" she exclaimed. "Impossible! Lincoln destroyed him in 1863! That's what broke the back of the vampires who drove the southern states in America to form the Confederacy! How can he still be…?!"
"Didn't people ask that about Herr Voldemort in 1996?"
That made Rita clam up before she shook her head. "Merlin…!"
"Near as we know, the vampires sought us out because we were trapped and helpless in that cave," Linn stated. "Didn't you hear what Elisa said before the Hollows came?"
The physically older woman blinked before she deflated. "That's why she called for the Vengeance of Blood…!" she breathed out…before her eyes widened. "Wait! The vampires wouldn't care about that! So why…?!" Her jaw dropped again. "Oh, Merlin! Sewell has allies here, doesn't he?!" Her brow then furrowed before she shook her head. "Malfoy and his friends! They've been pulling their hair out over the Avalonians since the Liberation. Given what I heard about his attitudes towards his sister…!" She smirked. "Who — under Malfoy Clan by-laws — could take Draco's place as matriarch of the clan and Marchioness of Avebury in cases of treason against the Crown! With a Magical Royal Proclamation standing in the way…!"
"Makes strange bedfellows," the Lower Saxon combat witch said. "Nicht wahr?"
The Liverpudlian reporter nodded. "Es ist wahr."
"So let's say that you avoided Suzanne — it was Suzanne Stuart who exposed you, by the way — and went back to the Prophet to file a story," Linn stated. "You'd probably report that the Black Maidens now have the Key of Gonebren and used it to help destroy a whole tonne of daywalker vampires that were caught in Diagon Alley. You'd also report that you saw Generalmajorin Gibbon call down the Vengeance of Blood in public on behalf of all her command, stating clearly that the vampires and their allies were the reason she called upon Magic to grant that benediction. As I'm sure someone as intelligent as you would do even if you didn't put it down on paper, you also probably would theorize that the benediction was made to forever settle the argument about whether or not the Avalonians are sentient beings or 'golems pretending to be human.'" She made finger-quotes on saying that last phrase. "Could you imagine what Herr Sewell, Herr Malfoy and his allies might conclude once that got out in tonight's or tomorrow morning's editions of the Prophet? And they decided they needed more information?"
That made Rita turn as white as a ghost. "I'll leave it at that for now," Linn said as she stood. "I have an appointment at Gringotts before I head back into orbit. Being as how I'm from the territory of the old Electorate of Hannover, the chance is there that I might have relations on this side of the North Sea. I know for the fact that some of my ancestors fought in the King's German Legion during the Napoleonic Wars. Who knows? Maybe I'll have the right to sit in your Wizengamot as Elisa now does; she just did the test that gave her the right to declare herself Burggräfin of Craiglockhart. I'll leave you in Callie's protective charge until such time as this is over with."
And with that, she headed out. Rita watched her go, then slowly turned to stare in confusion at the native of Aylesbury, who shrugged in return, her eyes twinkling…
Romney Marsh, the offices of the Daily Prophet, that moment…
"You've known Rita's secret for how long?!"
"Since shortly before the end of the Triwizard Tournament."
Taking a moment to absorb that, Barnabas Cuffe blinked before he sank into his chair and stared wide-eyed at the beautiful woman standing before him. "If you knew that, Hermione, why the hell did you — much less Harry! — stay silent over it all this time?! You could have destroyed her after Harry killed Riddle off!"
Hermione Granger smirked as she looked around the office. Unlike the old offices in Diagon Alley, the Prophet's current headquarters was in a roomy structure that offered a wonderful view of the English Channel and the coast of the Pas-de-Calais forty kilometres to the southeast. To ensure the continued safety of the Prophet and its staff, the main offices of Britain's national daily magical broadsheet had been shifted here in the summer of 1997 to keep everything free from the grasp of the Death Eaters and their supporters. Despite frequent requests by some people over the last decade to have the offices shifted back to London, the Ravenclaw alumnus — Barnabas had been two years behind Tom Riddle at Hogwarts — hung off. It wasn't just because it allowed him to remain in close physical proximity to his son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren; the "infamy" of Romney Marsh thanks to the events of 1979 provoked by Ulysses Cuffe still hung over the small village and made people pause before they stormed down here to try to bend the ears of the staff…like Draco Malfoy had done during his sixth year at Hogwarts to keep news of his sister Raven from reaching his mother.
Thinking of what happened to Narcissa Malfoy because of that selfish brat — and remembering what Betty Braithwaite had told him about the tearful reunion a week ago between the matriarch of the Malfoys and her once-lost daughter the day before Bellatrix Lestrange was banished from Britain — the editor of the Prophet could only shake his head in disgust. Still, despite his disapproval over the fact that Raven had been cut off from her family for so long, it wasn't his responsibility to go around Draco to help Raven and Narcissa reunite, especially given that Draco hadn't tried to block news of Cassiopeia Lestrange, Charlotte Crabbe, Ariel Goyle, Grace Longbottom and especially Rose Potter from getting out through the Prophet after the Battle of the Department of Mysteries. If the stupid woman hadn't conceived of the possibility, then asked around, it was her fault in the long term. Besides, Raven's existence had distracted Draco from trying to wrest control of the Prophet from a mixed coalition of Harry Potter's allies like Daphne Greengrass and Neville Longbottom…and now that she had her magic back, Pansy Parkinson-Black. That ensured no headaches for Barnabas and his staff so they could concentrate on more important things.
But this…!
"True, by the letter of the law — a law that needs re-writing, by the way — Rita should have registered her animagus abilities with the Ministry the instant she developed them," Hermione admitted as she gazed once more at her host. "But by the spirit of that law, Rita's abilities are known to agents of government, specifically in the person of Harry as the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. And if people are so stupid that they couldn't guess 'animagus' when it came to how Rita got her scoops, it's not our responsibility to point them out to people as much as it isn't your responsibility to expose her to the public. We don't encourage people to become informants for such trivial things like that. Rita's had her uses to us over the years, Mister Cuffe. She will still have her uses even now that it's going to get out that she's an animagus. That's the dichotomy of a free society. A balance needs to be preserved between an individual's right of privacy and an individual's right to know things. You and those working under you — including Rita — contribute to that balance. As do Harry and all those who such as I who elected to march under his banner when we found ourselves forced into a war that was never ours in the first place. Surely you must realize that in the long term. If you didn't, why didn't you move back to Diagon when Harry ripped Riddle in half with a soulsword on the Long Bridge in '97?"
His green eyes narrowed for a moment before he shook his head, an amused smirk crossing his face. "It is such a shame you were never sorted into Ravenclaw, Hermione. Your intelligence outshines Lily Potter's fifty ways from Sunday." His smile then faded. "But I hope you realize that reporters don't like being rolled."
She grinned. "You got that phrase from the Americans," she noted before sitting down in front of his desk. "And yes, there's always that. I know you people hate being abused in that manner. I don't like it when Harry does that. I believe in a free press…but I also believe in a responsible press. A press whose reporters know when to reveal the truth…and when to sit on a story until the right time comes to let the truth be known. Why do you think I've driven for the institution of libel laws since I became part of the DMLE? Why do you think I recommended to Her Majesty to issue that Magical Royal Proclamation in the fall of 1997 to make the Official Secrets Acts passed by Parliament over the years applicable to magical situations as well as normal situations, forcing people like Harry and myself to swear on our magic to keep things secret if their release may potentially risk people's lives?"
A shudder ran through the editor's body as he found himself gazing intently into his guest's dark brown eyes. "Dear Merlin! You really believe in all this, don't you?!"
"I always have," she admitted. "Granted, when I pulled stunts like forming SPEW in my fourth year without all the relevant information, I made mistakes. But I've seen what happens when information is not properly managed. Harry's seen it as well. So have we all, both in the Order and in the Defence Association. Sirius Black ultimately died at the Department of Mysteries because Albus Dumbledore kept certain things about Tom Riddle secret from a LOT of people. That's why we became so desperate to learn from Tsukiko-sensei when the ICMC gave her the go-ahead to offer an apprenticeship to Harry. We needed it. God help us if she hadn't done that. Could you IMAGINE what might have happened if Harry was forced to fight Riddle with the 'training' — or rather, LACK of training! — Albus was willing to give him?" She shook her head. "Harry vowed on the memory of his godfather it would NEVER happen again if he could avoid it. You people decided back in '81 that when Harry survived Riddle's killing curse, he'd be your new saviour. Albus was getting on in years and you needed a new poster child to venerate. Much that he honestly wished you people never did that, Harry understood it…so he acknowledged his responsibilities — ALL OF THEM! — and went forth to help create a society where as many people as possible could raise their children knowing they would have the chance to live the best lives possible, be the best they could be." She nodded towards a family photo on the shelf behind her host. "Do you honestly believe your grandchildren — all of whom are half-bloods — would have the chances they will get if all the changes Harry and we unleashed post-1997 never happened in the first place, sir?"
"What about doing things like acknowledging Riddle with the title 'Magister Maximus?' How could you possibly do that after all that monster did?!"
"A society without laws is a society that deserves to die," she countered. "Granted, some of Tom's masteries weren't — and still aren't — recognized here in Britain. But when the Ministry signed the Treaty of Geneva in 1949 and became part of the ICMC, it acknowledged that despite our local standards, other societies have their own standards and their own sense of right and wrong, so all would be respected in an international forum. Two of Tsukiko-sensei's masteries aren't recognized here, but people here — even those who hate her — still respect her title of 'Magistra Maximus.' There can't be double standards. We are all equal together. That is the law of the land and it will be respected, just like the law that was passed in 1950 that cleared the slate for Elizabeth Gibbon and all her friends. And just like the Magical Royal Proclamation made by the Queen in April that blocked people in the Ministry from rating Avalonians — especially magical ones like Rose Potter — under the Magical Beings, Beasts and Spirits Act of 1811 like what Draco and his friends really want to ensure people like his sister Raven could never claim seats in the Wizengamot. People have different standards of right and wrong. Fine. That's the way of Existence. But as long as they keep their viewpoints to themselves and not try to inflict them on people who don't wish them any deliberate harm, we can all live together in relative peace and harmony. Both within Britain and beyond Britain. Because if we don't fully acknowledge those laws, then we ultimately are saying that what happened to Sirius when Barty Crouch condemned him to twelve years in Azkaban without trial was okay. Harry will be damned to the lowest pit in Hell before he allows that to happen!
"We also acknowledge that there are certain laws of Magic that override even mortal laws, don't we?" she then asked. "Like the Praeda Bellica and the Vindictam Sanguinis?" On seeing Barnabas nod, Hermione smirked. "So there's your Page One headline tonight. If you want, hold off until Rita can write her story to show you still trust her even if she made a 'mistake' because of her animagus abilities. Elizabeth Gibbon — on behalf of all her friends in the Schwarze Mädchen — called down the Vengeance of Blood against the vampires who tried to kill her and her friends while they were trapped helpless in that cave at Nurmengard!" As the editor of the Prophet gaped, the DMLE special adviser smirked. "Look what happened. A whole tonne of daywalkers were hiding throughout Diagon and Knockturn when Elizabeth made the benediction. Yes, we just confirmed they were in country — thanks to Raven Malfoy and Ariel Goyle probing their brothers' minds — thus also confirming the vision Elder Tȟatȟáŋka had that persuaded President Lincoln to come here. Which begs this question: Why the HELL are people like Draco and Greg — and Theo Nott, whom we believe is the linchpin holding this together — risking defying the Magical Royal Proclamation concerning the Avalonians by making an alliance with the vampires?"
She sighed. "What would happen if you — much less Rita — let that go before we can make sure people are safe, Mister Cuffe? Such as your staff? To say anything of people like Achelois Runcorn and Camellia Matthews who know of all this…but most likely haven't committed to firmly joining Theo's side because they're following the Slytherin creed and analyzing ALL the possibilities before electing to act?" She shook her head. "Harry and all of us — even Elizabeth and her friends — have to worry about them. Those are the responsibilities we have. So what are your responsibilities…and what will you do to ensure you meet them?"
He didn't answer her as she moved to leave. "Don't worry about Rita," Hermione added as she stopped by the door. "Elizabeth promised me she'll keep one of her people at Rita's side to make sure she stays safe from any potential retaliation, even seeking her out to get more information. If what we know plays out, it'll be resolved by Friday morning and you'll have one hell of a special edition to put out that evening."
With that, she nodded politely before stepping out of the room. Barnabas watched her go, remaining in place as his mind rolled over what he had just been told.
"Fifty points to Gryffindor," he whispered…
Gringotts in Diagon Alley, that moment…
"I DEMAND TO BE RELEASED FROM THIS PLACE NOW!"
A groan escaped Achelois Runcorn as her eyes fluttered open.
"Lady Mithwold, we have been asked by Director Potter to keep people here until such time as Lady Gibbon considers the situation secure. That is our obligation under treaty and we will not allow our customers to be put at risk."
A shocked gasp responded. "'LADY GIBBON?!'" the shrill voice of one Elaine Mithwold, the current Baroness of Whitley and the maternal aunt to Achelois' year-mate Zacharias Smith, bellowed. "YOU DARE CALL THAT TRAITOROUS MUDBLOOD A 'LADY?!' SINCE WHEN?!"
"ELAINE!"
The dual heiress of the Runcorns and the Collinses found herself smirking on hearing that indignant shout from Elaine's nephew. That was understandable. Zacharias had a reputation for challenging anything he personally didn't approve of, which should have seen the man sorted into Gryffindor if his willingness to help those he did like hadn't made the Sorting Hat put him into Hufflepuff. Rumour had it that Zacharias had been a serious hard-case with Harry Potter in the early days of the Defence Association in their fifth year…before the news of the breakout of prisoners from Azkaban in January of 1996 forced all the D.A. to put their noses to the grindstone and work hard to prepare for the future. He had also questioned a lot of the things Yomigawa Tsukiko and Nekane Springfield had taught to the D.A. in sixth year — according to what Achelois had overheard Pansy Parkinson and the other "Slytherin Vixens" speak of during that time — but had stayed loyal to the Association right through to the Battle of Hogwarts.
It hadn't been without cost, though. Zacharias' father Dennis — who had nearly died in the First Purification War because he had been a half-blood that had dared to "marry above his station" when he had wedded the pureblood Carolyn Mithwold — had been outraged when the Ministry of Magic had let off so many people thanks to the "Imperius defence"; because of his "defiance of his betters," the Death Eaters killed the man two weeks before Voldemort's destruction. That had utterly destroyed Carolyn, a woman who had been totally devoted to her husband — and who, as Achelois later learned from her grandfather Pierus Collins, had long been battered emotionally thanks to her older sister Elaine, a pureblood traditionalist to the core — and effectively estranged Zacharias from her aunt.
So what the hell was he doing standing in the same room as Elaine?
Opening her eyes, Achelois looked around. She was quick to note that she was now on a stretcher in the main reception hall of Gringotts, a blanket over her. Feeling her jaw, she then relaxed on noting that nothing had been broken thanks to that uppercut Rose Potter gave her. Should have been a bit more careful, Loi, Achelois admonished herself as she moved to sit up…before she perked on feeling a hand grasp her shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
She spun left…
…then found herself gaping in awe at a woman who — Heresy! her mind screamed out — outdid Rose Potter in the beauty department. Rusty-red hair that flowed to mid-back framed a face that could have been painted by Leonardo da Vinci himself, pierced by a pair of earth-brown eyes. A glance down revealed her to be wearing a black business suit with a black-and-gold tie — Hufflepuff colours, Achelois realized — with the jacket unbuttoned to reveal a waistcoat, that embossed with the crimson, white and green tartan of the Stuarts of Bute. Over her left jacket breast pocket, there was the silver-trimmed black cross pattée of the first class Iron Cross — Achelois always wondered why that was a pin-on medal in lieu of a standard medal ribbon or the neck ribbon of the Knight's Cross — plus the undress ribbons of a Pour le Mérite Magique and the long service medal for the Magische Reichsarmee nestled atop the pocket's opening. The ribbons were topped with the wreathed crossed wand badge in silver marking this woman as a trained military combat witch. Finally, there were two unknown badges below and flanking the bottom arm of the Iron Cross: A silver wreathed badge with a helmet over crossed swords to the viewer's right and a wreathed badge in bronze with the image of a diving eagle on it in the opposite position concerning the Cross.
"Hello…" Achelois meekly eeped.
The strange woman blinked before her eyes twinkled in amusement. "Relax," she gently soothed with a noticeable Highland brogue in her voice that reminded Achelois of Minerva McGonagall…though this beautiful woman spoke with in the same matronly tone Poppy Pomfrey always used with her patients. "I'm afraid Healer Potter accidentally did you a very serious injury when she struck you with her fist; it was so bad, your spine was dislocated and your spinal column torn." As Achelois instantly reached for her neck to feel there, the other woman smiled. "There was no choice but to give you a new body, Achelois," she added in a whisper, which made the dual heiress of the Runcorns and the Collinses pale. "You'll understand why soon enough. Be patient."
"Chief Mediwitch Stuart?"
She turned as a goblin in a well-tailored suit came up. Griphook, Achelois recognized; his association with Harry Potter and his closest allies was known. "Yes, sir?"
"If you wish, we can do the inheritance test now," Griphook quietly stated as he flicked an amused glance over towards the main doors. "Let's see what it shows."
Achelois blinked before looking herself. There stood a huffing Elaine Mithwold, barred from walking out of the bank thanks to the small phalanx of goblin guards standing in her path. An annoyed Zacharias Smith stood nearby, his arms crossed and a disgusted look on his face as he glared at his aunt, who was busy trying to stare down an elderly goblin in a sharp business suit. That was Erlking, Achelois realized; he was a senior director of operations at Gringotts, believed by many to be Ragnok's chosen successor as chief director of the bank. He was also the personal account manager of the Collinses and the Runcorns. Having dealt with the fellow for years, Achelois was quick to note his amused smirk. Also in the room atop the normal run of tellers and other bank personnel were several other customers, who were watching Elaine — a middle-aged woman who had a reputation as something of a windbag when it came to issues pureblood traditionalists always focused on; in Wizengamot meetings over the previous decade, it had been Elaine who did the filibustering for allies like Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott — with a mixture of undisguised amusement and nose-twisting disgust. That was understandable; rumours that reported that Elaine had a hand in the death of her brother-in-law Dennis Smith had circulated for years since Voldemort's fall. Those were false, Achelois knew; Elaine might be a fire-spitting pureblood traditionalist in the very same vein as Dolores Umbridge, but she was devoted to her younger sister and wouldn't dream of doing anything that would hurt Carolyn. Much like how Melli felt about Charlie, Achelois mused as she moved to pass her hands over her exposed arms, the many years of discipline she had developed over her emotions helping her keep the shock over being forced to undergo a body-swap — Wait! Isn't there some "awakening" a newly-born Avalonian goes through after the soul's generated or shifted over?! she wondered — from appearing on her face.
"Might as well," the mediwitch — Suzanne Stuart, Achelois then mused as she recalled the names of all the British-born members of the Schwarze Mädchen — said as she stood up, following Griphook over to an open teller station.
As the teller nodded in greetings to Suzanne, Achelois stood, folding the blanket that had been covering her before setting it aside, then she moved around, finding it easy to walk despite her being in a new body. I'm an Avalonian now?! she wondered again as she noted there was no stiffness in her joints or any other sign which could indicate that her body was virginal in every way conceivable. And while the idea of actually becoming like Rose Potter had haunted Achelois' thoughts ever since the revelations in February, she hadn't acted on it. While it would have won the support of her father and maternal grandfather, it would have put a strain on her relationship with Camellia Matthews and made things difficult for her with people like Draco Malfoy. Not that it matters now, she then lamented as she recalled what she had seen in Diagon earlier today. Even if he's too scared of Raven, not even Drake would deny the precedence of the Vengeance of Blood over everything else.
"Master Teller Nagnok, a good morning to you. A thousand humble pardons I ask for bothering you with my trivial affairs. May your vaults overflow with gold, your enemies' heads be impaled on pikes and their blood served as blood wine at a feast."
People blinked on hearing that clearly-spoken greeting before they turned as one — human and goblin alike — to gape wide-eyed at Suzanne Stuart, who was now standing in front of one of the senior tellers at his station, bowing her head respectfully to him as she had her hands clasped over her chest with the left hand holding back the right; this, Achelois knew, was the goblin salute of peace. Silence reigned over the main hall before the stunned Nagnok — a man who was probably within a year of being promoted away from the front counters and allowed to assume account managerial duties — collected himself and bowed his head in apology to this incredibly polite Highland woman standing before him. "It is I who must beg a thousand humble pardons from you, Lady Healer Suzanne of Clan Stuart of Bute," he declared. "I was honestly not expecting such a greeting even from one as obviously learned as you. And as brave, seeing you bear the Iron Cross First Class on your jacket…along with a Wound Badge in Silver." His voice then went as cold as the Arctic in mid-winter as he inquired, "May I humbly ask you, good lady, the names of those swine who DARED raise wands against a HEALER?"
And that was a profound question from a goblin, Achelois smirked as she glanced over to see Elaine Mithwold's face turn an interesting shade of puce in outrage at the fact that a "mudblood" was being shown such respect in such a public forum. That simply proved yet again that most pureblood traditionalists were too blind to too many things, especially concerning the beings who — thanks to several bloody "rebellions" over the centuries that culminated in the Treaty of 1779 that forever ensured no wizard would be allowed to form a financial institution to compete with Gringotts — held the public and private purses with grips of diamond. Given how much goblins valued their healers, the idea of actually causing one harm — even a human one like Poppy Pomfrey — would have members of the Noble Tribe spitting fire in outrage.
"Much that I am touched by your profound concern, good warrior, those who caused my injuries and saw me granted such a prized decoration — as it was, so my comrades would gladly say if asked, bought with my blood! — are no longer with us," Suzanne answered. "While I could demand reparations from their relatives as the harming of healers has been outlawed for centuries, I shall not." People around the senior mediwitch were all quick to sense that she had kept the expected follow-on statement "For now" unspoken to emphasize her point. "However, I do have the fortune of possessing my vault key at this time, so may I humbly ask you that an audit of my account is done while performing the inheritance test as asked of me by my war matriarch, the Viscountess Elizabeth of Craiglockhart, a humble warrior of the Order of the Iron Cross granted the right to bear the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds."
"It shall be our pleasure, good lady. Your key, please."
The skeleton key was then handed over. Nagnok handed it to a waiting assistant teller before the latter raced off to do as Suzanne asked. A knife was then produced to draw a small amount of blood from the senior mediwitch's finger to place on a charmed piece of parchment…before a magical family tree began to appear. Gazing on it — as the crowd watching this seemed to hold their breaths in anticipation — the master teller blinked…before his jaw slightly dropped for a second. The faintest hint of a delighted smirk then crossed his face before he gazed on the senior mediwitch of the Black Maidens. "It appears, my lady, you are a potential heiress to the Earldom of Clydeford," he then clearly announced, which made the others watching this gape in shock and Elaine gargle in horror. As was known, the Noble and Most Ancient Magical House of Kirk — whose clan heads were ennobled as the Earls and Countesses of Clydeford — was effectively extinct thanks to its last known living member, Nehemiah Kirk, being Vanessa Zabini's second husband…and the second victim of Martin Kneen and the Curse of Maha, it would be revealed after Vanessa's would-be husband was found crucified in Knockturn a year before Voldemort's first fall. "If I may, we can take a moment to confirm this before presenting this to the Master of Inheritances for his review."
"Please do so, Master Teller."
"NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"
"SILENCE!" Erlking bellowed, nearly knocking Elaine over with the force of his shout. "HOW DARE YOU INTERFERE IN THE PROPER CONDUCT OF THIS INSTITUTION?!" Before the stunned woman could recover, the senior director gazed in Griphook. "Manager Griphook, would you please request a moment of Chief Liquidator Brunth's time?"
Achelois could only smirk at the marvellous sense of control the younger goblin had over his facial expressions as he bowed in return. "But of course, Senior Director!"
People audibly gulped on hearing that while Griphook headed off to do as he was bade. The Chief Liquidator — Erlking had held that position for years before he was made a director of operations shortly after the end of the First Purification War, when it was passed on to Brunth — was the most feared goblin in Gringotts. He was the person who supervised the audits of accounts, investigated allegations of fraud for or against Gringotts…and when came time for the goblins to move to liquidate the physical assets of a client in cases of bankruptcy, claims of the Praeda Bellica during times of war or the confirmed complete extinction of a magical line, was the one who ensured the final distribution of those assets was done properly per treaty. He was also, by tradition, the chief security officer of a Gringotts branch, called on to ensure all was at peace within the bank…and could, in cases of severe breaches of etiquette, act on behalf of the Board of Directors to launch what was commonly known to wizards as a "goblin rebellion." Thinking on that, Achelois smirked as she recalled that those who respected the Noble Tribe and their ways used the term "armed corrective action" these days to describe those bloody wars that had rocked relations between goblins and magical humans for centuries; it had actually been a phrase Hermione Granger coined…which always brought goblins to their knees in laughter whenever they heard it.
"Is there a problem, Senior Director?"
People — human and goblin alike — quickly got clear of the path a scowling, scarred being with the bearing of a seasoned warrior, now being escorted to the main reception hall by a visibly amused Griphook. As Achelois shook her head at what Elaine Mithwold had just brought down on herself today — with her own heir standing nearby, smirking with delight on seeing his aunt now in the hot seat — Brunth and Erlking exchanged bows and hand salutes before the latter glared at a white-faced Baroness of Whitley. "It appears, Chief Liquidator Brunth, Ms. Mithwold here feels it her right to object to our performing our duties according to the Treaty of 1779 when it comes to the distribution of blood inheritances — INCLUDING the seats within the House of Lords Wizengamot! — of lost magical houses to newly-found magical heirs. As the Lady Healer Suzanne of Clan Stuart of Bute, a humble warrior of the Order of the Iron Cross now standing before Master Teller Nagnok, appears to be given the inheritance test just done unto her right now per the orders given to the Lady Healer by her war matriarch."
"Which house?" Brunth asked with an amused smile.
"The Earldom of Clydeford, Chief Liquidator Brunth," Zacharias answered.
As Elaine stared wide-eyed at her nephew, Brunth gaped before he turned to gaze in admiration at Suzanne. "May I complement you, Lady Healer, on the luck the Gods of Magic bestowed unto you the day you were born and granted such gifts by Them," he stated before his eyes focused on the silver badge on her jacket next to her Iron Cross, outrage flaring on his face. "Is that a Wound Badge I see?!" he hissed.
"It is, Master Chief Liquidator," Suzanne calmly stated before turning to give him the salute of peace. "But as I just told Master Teller Nagnok, those who forced me to gain this decoration with the payment of my blood are enjoying whatever awaits us beyond the Veil of the Te'a in the next life. And I pray unto you, good warrior, that you will be forever showered in gold, the skulls of your foes used as a throne for you to rest upon and their blood fill your goblets at feasts held to celebrate your victories."
Now Brunth appeared totally gobsmacked by such a polite greeting. As many of the humans watching this smiled in amusement at such a look of shock, Elaine sputtered out as she pointed in accusation at the chief mediwitch of the Black Maidens. "How dare you try to steal that which isn't yours, you muggle golem?!" she shrieked out as the goblins all stared in shocked outrage — and barely-veiled amusement at such a mindbogglingly stupid display of arrogance in the presence of some of the most feared members of the Noble Tribe in Britain, Achelois noted — at such a scene. "You dare…URRRK!"
"Now, Frau Mithwold…that's not a polite thing to say," a cold voice declared from behind Elaine, making heads snap around to allow people to gaze upon the silver-haired brigade regimental sergeant-major of the Schwarze Mädchen, who had come up behind Zacharias' aunt with the stealth of a ninja. "Especially within the walls of this most ancient and honourable institution. Feel yourself fortunate that treaties between the Noble Tribe and we humans forbid me from drawing my wand or knife on you inside this hall even if I would be justified before Magic Itself in acting in defence of these good warriors." As the goblins all preened on hearing that, Margareta Hecht added, "Be warned this, leicheblut schweinhündin: My beloved war matriarch has called down the Vengeance of Blood on the vampires who tried to strike us down and STEAL OUR MAGIC when we were helpless and trapped in that cave at Nurmengard…AND those who allied with them!" As Elaine turned as white as a ghost on hearing that, Margareta gazed upon the others in the room. "Meine Damen und Herren, who here saw my beloved war matriarch do that?"
"I did."
Eyes snapped over. "You okay, Loi?" Zacharias asked.
Achelois smiled as Elaine's eyes went wide. "I'm fine now, Zach."
"Achelois Hypate Runcorn! How dare you…AAWWWWK!"
Everyone gasped on seeing Elaine grasp her throat and stagger away from Margareta…then she was elevated into the air as if by a giant invisible hand. As the humans all scanned around to see who was doing that — as the use of magic by humans in Gringotts unbidden was grounds for war — the goblins all smirked. "Be calm, my friends!" Erlking called out as he held out his hands in assurance. "It appears the noble Friend of Dragons is here to do business with us this fine day! My lady, are you here?!"
"Indeed I am, Resource Master Erlking! The Wise Lord's Blessings on you all today!"
Heads snapped over…and then people gasped as a woman in a blue Japanese school seifuku walked out of the shadows, a staff with a head-sized crystal of glowing meson held in one hand. As the goblins bowed respectfully to the Friend of Dragons, the would-be Zoroastrian warrior-priestess from another dimension and ten years back in time came to a stop close to a wide-eyed Suzanne Stuart, her pale blue eyes intently focusing at the arrogant twit that DARED believe herself better than all around her. And who had been there the previous morning at the mansion on the Isle of Lundy when a group of daywalker vampires met with their "allies" to conspire to slay the Heiresses of Sagussa from Avalon for their "crime" of being kind. Twirling her staff to rest the blunt end of the limestone metal pole on the marble floor, she sighed before turning to gaze on Achelois. "Dear sister, a question if I may ask it."
The dual heiresses of the Runcorns and the Collinses nodded as Zacharias' aunt — who was trying NOT to choke to death while trying also to fight her way free of WHATEVER it was that was holding her in mid-air a metre off the floor — paled on hearing this annoying muggle golem busybody call one of the most influential young women in Britain "sister"…which was the title those alien creatures always used for each other! "Ask," she bade.
"Your mother's name is 'Napaeae Agave Runcorn,' is it not?"
A nod responded. "It is."
The newcomer then waved to the struggling Elaine. "Is this creature your mother?"
"No, she is not."
"I see. My thanks, good sister. I pray that — despite your foolish blunder yesterday which just earned you the ire of the one whose love you have desired for so long — your life will be full of happiness from this day onward." She then perked. "Ah, Master Mundungus! I trust you weren't hurt when the vampires came here this day."
"Not with them Hollows brought here by our new friends cutting in like they did, lass!"
People turned as a grinning Mundungus Fletcher came over to join them. With a wave of her staff, the newcomer produced a surplus army dufflebag that was clearly full of things seemingly out of nowhere. Kneeling down to unzip it, he gazed inside…before his jaw dropped in shock. "Merlin! Where the hell did you find some of this stuff, lass?! Some of this…!"
"They were all lost in ships that foundered in Atlantic storms over the years as those fleeing the persecution of so-called 'lords' went to new places to live free of the tincture of hypocrisy that has haunted these islands for so long," she calmly cut him off. "Fortunately, the preservation charms kept them intact even if they had been submerged under countless tonnes of ocean kilometres down for centuries since their owners ran afoul of the various daēva haunting the oceans and were cast through the Veil of Eternity to embrace the Frašōkərəti far ahead of their time. I also took the liberty of culling those objects made by the smiths of the Noble Tribe from what I located. Those, Master Erlking, I return to you and yours."
With a wave of her free hand, another dufflebag was made to appear at Erlking's feet. Instantly, Brunth knelt down to unzip it…before he stared in disbelief at what was in there. "Oh, my…!" he breathed out, his black eyes tearing as he reached in to pull out a beautiful necklace made of the finest jewels, the sight of which made all the other goblins gasp in disbelief. "This was…!"
"Created for the long-lost Loyal House of Peverell of Houndsborough, whose members included the three brothers who amused the Undying Lord Josef von Taserich — then pretending to be the aspect of the Wise Lord others would call the 'Grim Reaper' — so much that he created the Deathly Hallows nine centuries ago which has vexed so many ever since, Master Brunth," Inada Mizuho finished for the chief liquidator. "As much as my good staff could tell me, a relative of the branch of the family descent from Master Ignotus Peverell — whose last living descendant, the Lady Thérèse Peverell, was recently discovered by Master Harry Potter sometime ago to ALSO be descent of the noble creator of Her Majesty's Prison Gonebren and co-founder of the noble and ancient School of Hogwarts — took that necklace as she fled from these shores to what today is the noble Old Dominion. Sadly, she never made it across the Atlantic. I only pray that the Wise Lord…"
"LIAR!"
Eyes snapped up to Elaine Mithwold, who seemed to glow slightly as she tried to summon her magic to break free of whatever was holding her in mid-air. "Elaine!" Zacharias snapped. "Stop, you idiot! Do you really think you could…?!"
"Do not waste your breath with this one, Master Zacharias. She is unworthy of your concern," Mizuho cut him off as she walked over to gaze up at the struggling Baroness of Whitley with barely-veiled amusement. "I find your lack of faith disturbing," she then declared, making some of the people familiar with Star Wars smirk on hearing that quote from Darth Vader. "The Lady Elizabeth openly prayed for the Wise Lord's Blessings when she requested He unleash the Vengeance of Blood on behalf of her and her sisters against your allies who dare defy death by consuming the blood of others. As I speak right now, your body's magic is being torn from you because of the Vengeance thanks to your inability to see the truth of what just happened hours ago outside the doors of this ancient institution. Magic Itself has judged the Avalonians — aye, even the pure-born ones! — as sentient beings. The words you and your allies have spoken about their being otherwise since the Liberation are now worthless. Methinks your handsome nephew shall soon succeed you as the lord and patriarch of your family. And the only fault that can be assessed…" She turned away. "Is your own."
Elaine howled in outrage…before a series of muffled cracking sounds echoed from her body as she seemed to jerk for a second, then she went totally limp. Mizuho gently lowered her to the floor before shaking her head. "She was warned…"
"She failed to listen," Zacharias calmly said. "Director Erlking, if I may…?"
"You need not bother, Lord Zacharias," Erlking stated with the proper decorum even if he was inwardly smirking at such a show of idiocy. "I'm trained to recognize such a catastrophic loss of magic. If I may, I'll take you immediately to see the Master of Inheritances now so we can properly see you made the Baron of Whitley given that your maternal clan by-laws demand that only one of the next generation can rise to take the seat when the last holder of the seat cannot perform his or her duty."
The younger man nodded. "Time is money."
That made the goblin smirk. "The Lady Tsukiko taught you all too well," he stated. "What of her?" he asked as he gazed on the still — yet living — Elaine Mithwold.
"If I may, mein Herren, we'll take care of her," Margareta spoke up. "She was there when our opponents got together shortly after our friend — as she just hinted — killed their friends at Nurmengard and rescued all of us. Majorin Heinrich will want to speak to her."
"Would the good major like her wrapped in a bow tie?" Brunth coyly asked.
Laughter filled the chamber, even from Achelois…which was cut off as the main doors were opened to allow Harry Potter to enter, accompanied by Elizabeth Gibbon and Luna Lovegood. All three then stopped as they stared in confusion at the scene before them before Harry's eyes locked on the lone Japanese woman in the room. "You!"
Mizuho didn't react. "Yes, Lord Harry?"
"I've got words to say…!"
"The Shadowlands."
Silence.
"What?!" Luna eeped.
"Before your friend tries to berate me for delivering the Key of Her Majesty's Prison Gonebren unto Wise Mistress Elizabeth so that the noble Hollows could be summoned to Diagon to help her and her friends protect those who were in this lovely district earlier today from those daywalker vampires, Lady Luna, he should know this," Mizuho stated before she twirled the Staff of Gihan around to create a holographic image.
People looked…before Luna paled in horror. "That's Auschwitz!"
"Aye," the would-be warrior-priestess declared. "Specifically, the interrogation room in the part of the Birkenau camp created by the SS for their magical prisoners. Wise Mistress Margareta, you recognize these two?" she asked as the image changed.
Margareta's jaw dropped. "Mein Gott! That's Wilhelm Mandel and Janina Neumann!"
"Aye! Both of them were turned into vampires shortly after you and your friends helped avert the Nerioite invasion at Nurmengard. Ever since that time, they've been praying for the day someone would come along to help establish the 'Fourth Reich' and allow the swastika flag to fly once more over your beautiful homeland." As those who knew of the Nazis scowled on hearing that, Mizuho added, "They went there today to create some vile mesonium-based potion to absorb the death energy of that accursed place right out of the blood-soaked grounds, much like their friends — once they learned of you and your sisters being trapped in the cave at Nurmengard, Wise Mistress Margareta, Noble Mistress Suzanne — desired to steal your magic. How exactly that would be used, I know not; Master Wilhelm and Lady Janina were not told such things. But given what else we all can conclude…"
"To help them kill the Avalonians en masse," Harry finished with a scowl.
"Aye."
People's jaws dropped on hearing that. "Are they insane?!" Zacharias demanded.
"Most likely yes, Lord Zacharias. And I don't mean that in jest," Mizuho breathed out. "Just because my noble sisters now moving to restore the poor town of Sunnydale within the great state of California back to life after the so-called 'hellmouth' there destroyed it some years ago offered their mercy to the loyal and determined Master Angelus the ever-witty Master Spike and the all-seeing Mistress Drusilla doesn't mean all of Avalon will unleash a campaign to FORCE vampires to return to the sun against their wills! Even if many of the undead have gladly and happily abused their powers and given in to the hunger for blood that has haunted their kind for so long, not all deserve to be tarred with such a large brush!"
"All it needs is one stupid fool to launch a terror campaign."
Eyes locked on Achelois. People considered that for a moment before they nodded. At that moment, the goblin that had been directed by Nagnok to do an audit of Suzanne Stuart's vault came back, several sheets of parchment in hand. "Master Teller!"
"Here," Nagnok declared, holding out his hand.
The parchment was handed over. Scanning what was there, the master teller blinked before he smiled. "Fortunately for you, Lady Healer Suzanne, your vault has not been tampered with since you were believed to have died on the fields of Nurmengard," he said before handing the parchment over. "Your current balance."
The senior mediwitch looked at it before she gaped. "Oh, my…"
"If you wish, I can direct you to an investment adviser," Nagnok added.
Suzanne stared at him for a moment before smiling. "I'd rather prefer your services, Master Teller. I'm sure you can assist me in the future in those matters."
The goblin gaped in shock on hearing that before he swelled with pride on realizing what was being offered. "My lady, you may depend on me!" he declared.
"I do indeed, good sir. Now, what say we call upon the Master of Inheritances?"
Nagnok smirked. "Right this way."
"Harry, you might want to warn Blaise."
Harry gazed on Zacharias as Suzanne headed off with Nagnok. "Why?"
"Warrant Officer Stuart is a relative of one of Blaise's would-be stepfathers."
That made the Man-Who-Won blink — the phrase "would-be stepfathers" when applied to Blaise Zabini always represented his mother's six late husbands before she married Blaise's father — before nodding. "Luna?"
"I'll get him," Luna vowed before heading out.
With that, people relaxed as Margareta ducked outside to get a couple of Jade Speer's people in to help drag Elaine Mithwold to Rosa Lee Teabag to confront Linn Heinrich. "Harry, are we safe?!" an elderly woman asked from her place near where the goblin guards were still standing. "I mean, vampires…!"
"You'll be protected," Elizabeth assured her. "As soon as Major Speer and her crew are done making sure all the buildings here in Diagon and Knockturn are sound and secure, I'll have a jäger company down here from orbit to help the aurors until we flush them out."
"Couldn't you find them, miss?!" a middle-aged man then asked Mizuho.
"Regretfully, they've all gone to places where even I cannot find them, good sir," the would-be warrior-priestess stated as she held up a reassuring hand. "That can only happen if they mask themselves using mesonium that was created here on Earth…which is a very risky thing to do given what mesonium can do to a vampire." She waved to the Staff of Gihan. "My staff's focusing crystal was first formed eons ago from the remnants of the Seeker's Forge — which today is the core of the planet Yiziba — but only allowed to acquire its present power on my adopted race's lost home planet of Sagussa over a dozen millennia ago. This is the same type of situation the Lady Master General Dean Raeburn and her friends often faced during the North American side of the Greater East Asia War when they hunted the Übermenschen. And while we all now have an idea of where they might be sometime soon, we can't afford to alert the vampires that we know what they plot. As was said long ago, 'loose lips sink ships.' In other words, if they learn that we're on to them…"
"We need oaths of silence until the emergency is over with," Harry finished. "That's why Brigadier Gibbon's people had to take Ms. Skeeter into custody. If she blabbed things out to the general public in the Prophet, the leader of the vampires — we suspect it may be Adam Sewell, the monster who helped provoke the American Civil War back in the 1860s…and yes, it surprises me he's still 'alive' after President Lincoln destroyed him before the Battle of Gettysburg! — would go after her."
The other humans in the room paled on hearing that. "No bloody way I'd want those monsters to rip something like that from me!" the man who had asked Mizuho about locating the vampires then declared. "I'll take that oath!"
Others quickly nodded their agreement. "Director Erlking, could we make use of your ritual chambers for them?" Elizabeth then asked. "I'll pay for it."
"We'll be happy to assist you towards that end, Matriarch Gibbon," Erlking said. "Brunth?"
"This way, everyone!" the chief liquidator bade.
As people headed off, Erlking then walked over to stand close to Mizuho. "My lady, you have the thanks of Gringotts for what you've done," he said as he motioned to two of the guards to take the dufflebag of goblin-made treasures and weapons to a place where they could be properly examined. "You can be rewarded for that, of course."
"The monetary needs of my friends and I are easily fulfilled with the judicious use of the Rōnin's Salvation and the help of Master Mundungus and other friends we've made the acquaintance of over the last few months, Lord Erlking," the would-be warrior-priestess stated. "My thanks on my friends' behalf for your kindness. If I may suggest, though — to ensure honour is upheld for all sides — such reward money should be sent to your branch in beautiful Warsaw for the use of our Polish friends to hire proper curse-breakers and exorcists to deal with the trapped spirits in Oświęcim and those other places the Nazi monsters soaked with the blood of the victims of the Holocaust."
Erlking bowed his head. "It will be done, good lady." He then smirked. "By the way: Back in your old universe, are there goblins there? I'd swear you're part-goblin with the way you've dealt with people since you first came to Earth with your adopted sisters."
Mizuho smirked in turn; no doubt, the goblins had learned of her extra-dimensional origins either via Moroboshi Negako or Luna Lovegood. "With my friend's help, I've learned the Noble Tribe here have counterparts in the dimension and timeline of my birth and short first life," she admitted. "But they do not actually deal with the magicals of my land of birth. Once you learn the truth of me and my friends — which, I pray, will come soon — you will understand why."
"I look forward to seeing that in The News of the Magical World," he noted before bowing to her. "May Ahura Mazdā forever grant you and yours His Favour, Friend of Dragons."
She bowed back. "And may you prove worthy of His Favour as well, Oh Master of Gold."
He cackled as he headed off just as Mundungus came up. "Usual mix of funds, lass?"
"All in yen if I may ask it, my friend," she affirmed with a nod. "Much that visiting other beautiful lands such as your own merry Albion is quite exciting for my friends and I, the pull of home — though a much brighter version of home than the dark land the 'Greater East Asia Republic' (as my Japan is called) is — is too strong for us."
"No problem, lass. I'll take my usual cut as well."
She nodded in agreement. "As always!"
The magical artifact dealer chuckled before he headed off to get some galleons out of his vault to have it converted to yen; with what Mizuho had just found for him, he would recoup the loss and earn a little tidy profit on the side as well. As soon as he was out of earshot, Harry made a gesture with his hand to raise a privacy bubble around him and the would-be warrior-priestess from another dimension; Elizabeth had gone to get some funds out of her account while Zacharias and Achelois had gone off to make their oaths of secrecy and Luna had yet to return to the bank with Blaise. "'Rōnin's Salvation?'" he coyly wondered. "What in Merlin's name is that?"
"'Tis the gift that keeps giving, Master Harry. There are always donors within the shadows who can be made to surrender their ill-gotten gains," Mizuho teased back. "While he has crossed the line on occasion, Master Mundungus has not gone as far as those we hunt to appropriate their funds for much better uses."
Harry's jaw dropped before he smirked. "That's ironic! Stealing from thieves?"
"They hate being robbed much worse than normal people."
A snicker escaped him. "True!"
"Anyhow, I should apologize for obtaining the Key of Gonebren from your home for Lady Elizabeth's use unbidden…but time was, unfortunately, of the essence," she said as she relaxed herself. "However, I will also say that I noted something about the Lady Thérèse that concerned me, so I'll be off to Hogwarts to investigate it."
He blinked. "Why Hogwarts?"
"I don't know. Not yet. I do know this: When the shattered spirit fragment of the late Lord Voldemort that was trapped within Wise Mistress Helga's cup was given true life, it finally freed his battered soul to pass out of the Shadowlands through the Veil of the Te'a. At that moment, the Lady Thérèse became his 'child' in all respects thanks to the magic of the nŏksbae rituals he incorporated in creating his horcruxes. Thus, she could realistically claim the family magic inherited from Wise Master Salazar…including the power of the Moor of Gonebren even if that is subject to the whims of the Daughter of the Pendragon. Did not Master William or Lady Fleur note any sort of spiritual link that tied itself to Lady Thérèse's soul from somewhere?"
Harry took a moment to consider that before shaking his head. "No, why?"
"Because I sensed a small link — almost invisible even to my eyes — that connected your new friend's soul with something to the north of here. With my friend, I learned it was located somewhere within your old alma mater," Mizuho advised. "So once Master Mundungus obtains the funds my friends and I need, I'll be off to Hogwarts."
Controller, you forgot something.
The would-be warrior-priestess perked. "I did…?"
Janina Lise Neumann? the Staff helpfully reminded her.
Mizuho blinked before she moaned. "Ah! Right! Bring her here!"
In a flash of energy, a stretcher was made to appear next to them, that bearing a dark-haired woman with brown eyes, dressed in a pair of form-fitting jeans, a button blouse and a cardigan sweater. She seemed dazed and confused, her head swishing to and fro as she moaned, "Willi…Willi…Willi…"
"What happened to her?!"
Both turned as Luna came up, Blaise beside her. Before Mizuho could answer, Mundungus came over with a bag of money. As Harry moved to guide Blaise off to one side so he could advise the Chief Warlock about his new step-cousin and Mundungus headed off with the dufflebag of lost items, Mizuho then breathed out as she mentally commanded the Staff to form a privacy bubble around her and Luna. "May I present your new friend's old schoolmate, Janina Neumann. My beloved and I caught her and her beloved at Auschwitz earlier today."
The daughter of the owner of the Quibbler gasped on hearing that before she gazed wide-eyed on the former role playing gamer from another dimension. "You met Ataru?!" she hissed, a delighted smile crossing her face. "Oh, my! Does he…?"
"He knows now. I suspect the veil of secrecy will be lifted by the middle of next week at the latest. I hope you understand, though, that I will want to make sure all is safe for my friends as well as Ataru's family before you come to Tomobiki for the interview."
"I can understand that. So what about Janina's friend?"
"He broke free of Ataru's grip when my beloved was armoured…and left his throat behind," the younger woman stated, which made the magical naturalist wince in sympathy; while vampires could be annoying on occasion and needed to be culled when they stepped out of line, she wouldn't wish THAT sort of fate on anyone! "Anyhow, I'm off to do some other things before I head back to face my friends and the panic they're no doubt feeling now at my being gone for so long. Until we meet again, Lady Luna."
And with a flash, she was gone. "Until we meet again," Luna mused…
…before she blinked in confusion. "Wait…!"
"Something wrong, Luna?"
She turned as Margareta came up. After Luna gave a quick explanation as to what Janina was doing there, the senior combat witch of the Schwarze Mädchen headed outside for a moment. She then came back with two of Jade Speer's subordinates, they moving to take the dazed Janina out of the bank and present her to Linn Heinrich over at Rosa Lee Teabag. Once that was done, Margareta gave her friend an expectant look. "Yes, Gretta, there is something odd," Luna then answered the German witch's question. "When I met the Vinur Drekar before, there were some things about her clothes that always seemed hazed to me…" Her brow then furrowed for a moment before her eyes went wide. "A school badge…"
Confusion crossed Margareta's face. "What?"
"She was wearing a school badge on her tie!" With that, Luna headed over to a free teller. "Master Teller Angrok, may I make use of a sheet of parchment and a quill?"
Surprised to hear that — yet knowing the daughter of the Quibbler's owner wouldn't asking something like that without good reason — he nodded. "Of course, Lady Luna."
The items were handed over. Luna drew an oval with the quill, then sketched out a pair of what seemed to be standard kanji…though it was shaped and curved in a very odd way. After a moment, the magical naturalist nodded in satisfaction, glad that she had trained in meditation and Occlumency…even if it had been hard for her to master those skills given the nature of her Seer gifts. "That's her school's name, I'll bet," she whispered before shaking her head. "I can't read it, though…and I'm fluent in Japanese…"
"That's nine-fold script!"
"Eh?!"
"Nine-fold script," Margareta stated. "In Mandarin, you'd say jiǔdiéwén. I don't recall what it's named in Japanese. It's a very stylized type of script that's normally used in the creation of official seals that go into inkan or hanko. You have to be a VERY good expert in how those characters are written to read jiǔdiéwén."
"Would Jade know?!"
"Ja!"
Luna nodded as she fished out a galleon to hand to Angrok before racing off, the parchment with the symbol of the Friend of Dragon's school in hand. Margareta watched her before shaking her head and following, leaving a smirking goblin behind…
To be continued…
WRITER'S NOTES
1) Translations: Niño — Boy; Deutsches Heer — Germany Army; Nicht Wahr? — Literally "not true?" though normally translated as "isn't it so?"; Es ist wahr — Literally "it is true"; Cross Pattée — Literally "footed cross," this is a cross with wider arm ends than at the centre of the crucifix; Schweinhündin — Female tense of schweinhund ("pig dog"); Meine Damen und Herren — Literally "my ladies and lords," the German way of saying "Ladies and gentlemen"; Daēva — Literally "a being of shining light," the term applied to the devil-spirits in Zoroastrianism; Frašōkərəti — Literally "making wonderful" or "making excellent," this is the state of life in Zoroastrian theology where all evil is expunged from a believer's soul (it is also the name used for the time noted in prophecy when evil is finally expunged from the Universe and all would be in perfect unity with Ahura Mazdā); Old Dominion — Nickname for the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States; Mein Gott — My God; Inkan — Literally "reflective mark," this is the name of an official name stamp; Hanko — Literally "master stamp" and derived from the older term hankō ("printing text"), this is the hand-held printing stamp used to serve as a person's signature in Japan.
2) Sūn Yìxiān is the proper Mandarin way of pronouncing the Western name of the founder of the original Republic of China; said name is normally written in English as Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925). It should be noted that this was NOT Doctor Sūn's birth name; the term Yìxiān (literally "fleeing sage") was an alias he used when he corresponded with Western friends while living in Hong Kong in 1883. His genealogical name (what extended relatives would know him by) was Sūn Démíng and he was baptized Sūn Rìxīn. He was later given the courtesy name Zàizhī; this term literally means "conveying it" and is taken from the philosophical saying Wén yǐ zài Dào ("literature as a vehicle to convey the Tao"). However, unlike the many great heroes of the Three Kingdoms period from which the characters of Ikkitōsen and other such modern works are based, Dr. Sūn's courtesy name is seldom known in China…though, as is her want, Moroboshi Ataru's adopted tōshi sister Moroboshi Hiromi would pretty much refer to the man by the phrase "Master Zàizhī."
3) When the United States began preparing for World War Two, Congress authorized the establishment of the Army of the United States in February 1941. This force would be built up from a combination of the peacetime Regular Army, the state-governed Army National Guard forces mobilized to federal service and the millions of conscripts drawn into service thanks to the draft. Officers from the Regular Army called to serve in the Army of the United States overseas were — while administratively still holding their peacetime rank — given temporary rank promotions to serve the needs of the Army of the United States. When deployed overseas, such temporary ranks were called Theatre Ranks — this was the updated concept of brevetting as was done during the Civil War — and such promotions could come fast if the officer in question showed great promise. Conversely, if the officer screwed up badly, he would endure Loss of Theatre Rank and be sent home in effective disgrace.
For example, Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969) entered the Army of the United States holding the Regular Army rank of colonel; he had been promoted to that rank on 11 March 1941 after almost five years as a lieutenant colonel and sixteen years as a major! He was advanced to brigadier general in the Army of the United States a little over six months later on 29 September 1941. Eisenhower got his second star to make him a major general just under six months later on 27 March 1942. He was made a lieutenant general on 7 July 1942, promoted to general on 11 February 1943 and became the third officer to get his fifth star on 20 December 1944. His final rank of General of the Army would be substantiated in the Regular Army on 11 April 1946 when the Army of the United States was effectively disbanded thanks to the suspension of the draft.
Mollie Bean's case reflects this common occurrence during that time. She started World War Two as a second lieutenant in the Magical Corps, United States Army (MCUSA). Once made operationally part of the Army of the United States, her promotions came fast and furious; she was a brigadier general at the Battle of the Gates of Nurmengard. However, as magical armies were forbidden in peacetime by the International Confederation of Wizards (and later, the International Conference of Magical Communities), Mollie's wartime rank could not be substantiated in the Regular Army and she was stripped of theatre rank and demobilized as a captain even if she would be seen as a reserve officer who could be recalled to duty during times of emergencies. This is the reason George Ballentine addressed her as "Captain" in Part Four…while Jade Speer — who knew Mollie via the encounters between the forces of the MCUSA and the Schwarze Mädchen in wartime — addressed her here as "Generalmajorin."
4) The grandson of Mollie Bean's saviour, Donald O'Connor, noted on here was first mentioned in Part 19 of Avalonians at Hinata-sō.
5) Harry Potter character notes:
As stated before, all of Rita Skeeter's personal information (save for birth year and house affiliation while she attended Hogwarts) is my creation.
The editor of the Daily Prophet, Barnabas Cuffe, first appeared in Half-Blood Prince. The time he attended Hogwarts is my invention; I first noted this in Harry Potter and the Icemaidens.
The names of Zacharias Smith's relatives are my creation. I came up with the idea of Zacharias losing his father to the Death Eaters — not to mention Dennis Smith's disgust over the corruption that ran rampant through the Ministry of Magic in the wake of Voldemort's first fall in 1981, when people like Lucius Malfoy used the "Imperius Defence" (I first used this term in HP&IM) to escape justice — to explain Zacharias' automatic mistrust of things, not to mention his refusing to fight the Death Eaters in the Battle of Hogwarts as shown in Deathly Hallows.
Erlking and Nagnok are my own characters; they first appeared in HP&IM.
The name of Vanessa Zabini's second husband, Nehemiah Kirk, is my creation; he was first mentioned in The Icemaidens and the Philosopher's Stone. The Earldom of Clydeford is named in tribute to a road located in the Glasgow ward of Braidfauld, located on the north side of the River Clyde four kilometres east-southeast of downtown.
6) As is rather typical for the Germans in my eyes, the number of levels in the ranks of the traditional nobility were a lot more complex than what developed eventually in Britain. By the time of the rise of the German Empire in 1871, the ranks that would be roughly equivalent to the noble ranks of the Wizengamot as I first introduced in the Icemaidens series became as follows (with the equivalent British noble titles and Wizengamot noble house titles as I noted in the first Wizards and Avalonians story, going from highest to lowest):
MARQUESS/MARCHIONESS (NOBLE AND MOST ANCIENT HOUSE):
Markgraf ("Count of the March") — Anglicized as Margrave
Landgraf ("Count of the Land") — Anglicized as Landgrave
EARL/COUNTESS (NOBLE AND ANCIENT HOUSE):
Fürst ("First") — Translated as "prince" in English
Graf ("Count") — Often called Reichsgraf ("Imperial Count")
VISCOUNT/VISCOUNTESS (MOST NOBLE HOUSE):
Burggraf ("Count of the Town") — Anglicized as Burgrave
Altgraf ("Old Count") — Anglicized as Altgrave
BARON/BARONESS (NOBLE HOUSE):
Freiherr ("Free Lord")
Herr ("Lord")
It should be noted that thanks to Salic Law — the laws that governed the Franks (these were the peoples of modern day France, the Low Countries and western Germany during the early Middle Ages) which were passed to the Holy Roman Empire and its constituent territories — no woman could inherit land even if she was the eldest child of a local lord; such inheritances HAD to go to a male child. However, as it eventually developed in Germany, the noble titles — with feminine endings — could be used for a lord's wife, daughters or aunts. Thus:
Markgraf — Markgräfin
Landgraf — Landgräfin
Fürst — Fürstin
Graf — Gräfin
Burggraf — Burggräfin
Altgraf — Altgräfin
Freiherr — Freifrau (wife)/Freiin (daughters and aunts)
Herr — Frau
In the end, German magicals respectfully decided to use the higher-ranked equivalent term when speaking of their British counterparts. Because of that, the reason that Margareta Hecht addressed Elaine Mithwold with the mere Frau honorific should be easy to comprehend…!
7) The King's German Legion (KGL) was a corps of German expatriate soldiers which fought under British command during the Napoleonic Wars between 1803-16. Its personnel came from the Electorate of Hannover — whose rulers would also become the Sovereigns of the United Kingdom in 1714 when King George I (1660-1727, ruled Hannover from 1698 unto death) ascended the throne; the union of the crowns of Britain and Hannover would remain in place until 1837 and the ascension of Queen Victoria (1819-1901), which disqualified her from being the sovereign of Hannover due to Salic Law (as noted above) — in modern-day Lower Saxony. They would play vital roles in the unsuccessful Walcheren Campaign of 1809, the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal from 1808-14 and the Hundred Days of 1815 that culminated in the Battle of Waterloo and Napoleon's final defeat. The Legion was practically an army division by modern standards; it had two dragoon (mounted infantry) regiments, three hussar (light cavalry) regiments, two light infantry battalions, eight line infantry battalions, plus artillery and engineer units. After its disbanding in 1816, the veterans of the Legion would help form the core of the army of the newly-established Kingdom of Hannover. Such units would later be merged into the Prussian Army after Hannover was conquered in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866…thus would eventually form part of the Imperial German Army that served right through to World War One.
8) I was first introduced to the concept of reporters being rolled in the 1996 Tom Clancy book Executive Orders (ISBN 0-399-14218-5). In effect, this is where someone — usually a public official — manipulates a reporter into doing something the reporter may not himself have done to promote a specific public reaction.
9) The Rōnin's Salvation concept was first introduced to me in the still-incomplete (as of 2013) fanfic Ranma and Akane: A Love Story, written by Eric Hallstrom around the turn of the millennium. It is archived at this website under the author name Speaker-to-Dreamworlds; it is also marked as one of my favourites. I should also note that it is from this story that I get the descriptive phrase "Don't Point That at MY Planet!" when describing a VERY bright blush.
