Chapter Seven: Staring Contests

Lucius immediately recognized the man at the front of the room. In fact, so did everyone in the wizarding world. As a boy, Hadji Singh, an orphaned, pure-blood wizard, had been adopted by a muggle; a scandal that shook the Pureblood Wizarding World to its very foundations. And to add insult to injury, the muggle who adopted the boy, Dr. Benton Quest, happened to be a very famous scientist. The very thought of what that poor boy must have endured at the hands of a muggle scientist turned Lucius' stomach. Lucius wondered how many experiments Hadji's "father" inflicted upon him so that muggles could learn the secrets of magic . . . ?

"May I have everyone's attention, please?" said Agent Quest-Singh in his too-perfect American accent. "Our Update Session for tonight will begin in a few more moments. We are having some problems setting up the slide projector, so please bear with us. When you see what we have to show you I think that you will agree that it will be worth the wait."

A man with long, blonde hair, who spoke with an English accent said, "Are you finally going to show us what is inside the Incursion? I know that the FBS has obtained some seeing stones." The man was sitting at a table near the front with a platinum-blonde woman who was holding a small baby. Before Agent Quest-Singh could answer, the man continued, "My name is Xenophilius Lovegood, Agent Quest-Singh. I am a journalist for the Quibbler." Xenophilius held out a roll of parchment. "Here are my Press Credentials."

Agent Quest-Singh set down the mike, and went over to the table to examine the parchment. "I've never heard of the Quibbler, Mr. Lovegood. But this seems in order. And you will find out what we have to present along with everyone else." The two wizards glared at each other.

The woman holding the baby rose from her chair, and said, "There is really no need for the two of you to be so adversarial." She then turned to Hadji and added, "Agent Quest-Singh, the Quibbler is a new Wizarding Tabloid started by my husband a few years ago. He used to write for the Daily Prophet, but did not like their . . . approach to reporting the news during the War."

"What Pandora is trying to say so politely, Agent Quest-Singh, is that during the War, the Daily Prophet had all-but become the pet of the Ministry of Magic. For the press to be trusted, it needs must remain fully independent."

"I couldn't agree more," said Hadji. "But for now you'll just need to be patient as we get the slide projector ready."

"I can help you with that, if you want me to, Agent Quest-Singh," said a voice filled with girlish enthusiasm. The adults turned to see that they were joined at the table by Jenny Jordan and Corey Martindale.

Hadji smiled, gave a quick salute, and said, "I think that we have everything under control, Honorary Junior Auror Jordan."

"Well, I'm not speaking as an Honorary Junior Auror, Sir," said Jenny. "Corey and I helped with the AV department at Collinsport Elementary. I think that maybe we can figure it out, can't we, Corey? Corey . . . ?"

Jenny saw that Corey had sat down at the table, and was having an impromptu staring contest with the Lovegood's baby daughter. She stared back at Corey with wide, protruding eyes that gave the impression that she was perpetually amazed by the world around her. Though Corey made a valiant effort, he blinked first, and said, "I should have known. There is no way that anyone can win a staring contest with a baby!"

"But that won't stop you from trying," said Jenny dryly. She turned to Mrs. Lovegood, and said, "My name is Jennifer Jordan and this is my friend, Corey Martindale. What's your daughter's name, Ma'am?"

"Luna," said Pandora. "Luna Lovegood. The alliteration gives it a pleasant ring, don't you think?"

"Yeah," said Jenny with a knowing smile. "Alliterative names are the best . . . ."

"It's a neat name!" said Corey, smiling a broad, eleven-year-old's grin. "Kind of makes her sound like a character from the "Superman" comics."

Jenny rolled her eyes. "Boys!"

Before Pandora Lovegood could ask who "Superman" was, the witch working the slide projector said, "That's got it. We're ready to go, Hadji."

"Please speak with me after your presentation, Agent Quest-Singh," said Xenophilius as Hadji left. "I do want to interview you and your father and brother for the Quibbler. It would make a fine Human Interest Story."

Agent Quest-Singh nodded, said a quick goodbye to the Lovegoods and the two kids, and went back to the front of the room.

"What do you want to talk with him about, sir?" said Jenny.

"Surely you must have heard about Hadji Quest-Singh, Jenny?" said Xenophilius Lovegood. "When he was about your age, he was an orphan, living on the streets in India, and ended up being adopted by a very famous muggle scientist named Dr. Benton Quest. Have you children ever heard of him?"

Corey said, "Yes, Mr. Lovegood. He's right up there with guys like Tony Stark and Dr. Reed Richards."

Xenophilius nodded and continued, "At first, nobody paid much attention. But when young Hadji's magical powers started to manifest, it was discovered that he was from a long-line of Pureblooded wizards and witches. The adoption was contested all the way up to the highest levels of the Indian Wizengamot. In fact, Jenny, I believe that your parents are currently sharing a table with the family that led the effort . . . ."

Jenny looked back to the table where her parents and the Malfoys were sitting. She noticed that Corey's parents had joined them. Jenny pointed this out to Corey, (who was attempting yet another staring contest with Luna,) and both kids waived to their parents and signaled that they were now sitting up front with the Lovegoods. When her dad gave them the "thumbs-up" in reply, Jenny turned back to Mr. Lovegood, and said, "The Malfoys tried to stop the adoption? That figures!"

Pandora said, "Well, not Lucius and Narcissa, Jenny. It was Lucius' father, Abraxas Malfoy, who attempted to have the adoption overturned. In fact, he wanted custody of Hadji, himself. If he had succeeded, Lucius and Hadji would have been raised as brothers. And I fear that Hadji would have been brought up to believe all that "Pureblood" nonsense." She turned to Corey and said, "You know, you are something of a minor celebrity, too, young man."

"I am?" said Corey.

"Not many witches adopt muggle sons, you know," said Xenophilius. "At least, not in the UK and Europe. In fact, you are the only muggle I know of to be adopted by someone from our world."

Jenny said, "Well, our friend Katie Dorsey is a muggle, and she was adopted by a wizard who married her mother. My dad says that stuff like that is more common than most wizards and witches may realize."

Xenophilius nodded warmly, and said, "Corey, I would be grateful if you would introduce me to your parents after the Maine Incursion update session. I would like to interview your family for the Quibbler; and the Dorsey family as well. For that matter, I would like to talk with your parents too, Jenny. It is important that the voice of the Pureblood Fanatics not be the only one to be heard."

Corey said, "I'll talk with my mom and dad when the assembly is over, sir."

"Me too," said Jenny.

Moments after Xenophilius Lovegood thanked Corey and Jenny, the speakers at the front of the room hummed and Agent Quest-Singh spoke into the microphone.

"Testing, testing . . . . May I have everyone's attention, please? I have a few announcements before we begin. Following the Question and Answer session at the end of this evening's presentation, we have visitors from the Wizarding UK; a Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy, who would like to address the assembly." Agent Quest-Singh gestured to the table where the Malfoys were sitting and the entire room looked in their direction. Lucius Malfoy nodded in acknowledgement, and Agent Quest-Singh continued. "We would also like everyone's cooperation when the meeting ends tonight, and would like some volunteers to assist with the cleanup."

Jenny said, "We'll help with the cleanup, won't we, Corey? Corey . . . ?" Jenny had to tap her friend on his shoulder when she saw that he was engaged in the latest round of the staring contest battle between him and Luna Lovegood.

"Aw, Jenny, I almost won this time!"

"The meeting is starting!" said Jenny in an urgent whisper. "We've got to be quiet and listen!"

The room was now as dark as it was quiet as the witch working the slide projector awaited Agent Quest-Singh's signal to begin. Jenny Jordan's attention was riveted on the screen at the front of the room.

"This is it, Corey!" said Jenny. "We're finally going to see what came thorough! What do you bet that it's an army of Orcs or Ogres lead by some evil wizard or king? Boy, will they ever be in for a surprise when they see that we can do magic too, and that we have mutants with all kinds of powers that they won't be expecting and that our muggles will be charging at them with tanks and jets instead of on horses, isn't that right Corey? Corey . . . ?"

Jenny sighed and shook her head. In the dim light reflected from the screen, she saw her friend attempt yet another staring contest with the Lovegood's baby daughter.

Boys! thought Jenny with a girlish roll of her eyes. She then turned her attention to the screen to get a good look at who was stupid enough to invade our world, awaiting the first slide with baited breath . . . .