Chapter 20: Noblesse Oblige
Lucius Malfoy would never say as much aloud, but now he secretly wondered if maybe he should have taken that accursed Muggle Studies class when he was a student at Hogwarts. The information provided by such a course would undoubtedly have proven to be invaluable at the moment as he, his wife, and their son were by necessity, staying at a muggle hotel in the middle of the North American Colonies.
Although the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, (which was in an area known to the locals as the St. Louis Central West End,) had a very high rating by muggle standards, the Malfoy family found it difficult to get comfortable there. Lucius further reflected that, under the circumstances, that was probably a good thing. Too much comfort caused one to get lax and complacent. Discomfort, on the other hand, helped one to keep their guard up constantly. Still, the unfamiliarity of it all was somewhat disquieting. And while a Malfoy could handle all manner of discomfort - especially in the service of the Greater Good for Wizardkind - a feeling of disquietedness was something else altogether.
The private flat that the Malfoys had leased was undoubtedly opulent by muggle standards, and included something called "Cable TV," which the landlord proudly pointed out when he showed them the living room. When he did, Lucius nodded, feigning being impressed. But after less than an hour in their rented flat, Lucius covered the blank screen of the "Cable TV" with a large bathroom towel, as it seemed like it was a dead eye that followed him around the room wherever he went.
While Draco's nanny was putting him to bed for the night in one of the smaller bedrooms, Lucius and Narcissa kept vigil in the living room by the telephone. Lucius continued to ruminate about the past few days in his chair as Narcissa was reading a book of Shakespeare's plays while she waited by the telephone for their instructions. Lucius admired his wife's ability to do whatever was necessary for the cause and actually use a telephone, as he felt sullied simply by being in the same room with such a quintessentially muggle device.
But the Colonial Aurors were undoubtedly monitoring the mirrors, scrying orbs, and the Owl Post; all the more so since the Arrival from the Enchanted Realms appeared a few weeks ago and threw them into a tizzy. Because of this, the muggle telephone would be safer to use – and the Colonial Wizarding Authorities would never expect anyone from such an ancient, Pure Blood Wizarding family such as the Malfoys to make use of any muggle communications device; thereby leaving it unmonitored.
Still, Lucius could not bring himself to touch the accursed thing. Even the feel of the material – plastic – made him uncomfortable. Though it superficially felt like polished tusk or horn, Lucius knew that it was something else, entirely; something wholly man-made that might poison him with its unnatural muggle potions called "chemicals." And if that were not enough, the device itself worked on electricity, a muggle force that could be quite dangerous and unpredictable.
In fact, the entire flat was electrified! Lucius felt nervous whenever he had to enter a dark room and light it by moving a "switch" on the wall. In fact, whenever he had to light the room, he would flip the switch with a pencil to keep from touching it directly. And because of a muggle device called a "smoke detector," using a proper oil lamp instead of the electric lighting would be out of the question.
A soft "click" followed by the sound of a constant, gentle wind told Lucius that the device on the wall called a "thermostat" was automatically warming the room, which was not even equipped with a proper fireplace. Lucius wrinkled his nose; absolutely certain that the miasma of the fireless, heated air was making him ill.
Though Narcissa noticed her husband's discomfort, she said nothing. Her husband's fear and loathing was entirely justifiable. But she was also the practical one in the marriage. She was, after all, a mother who had a son whose future needed protection. And to do this, if she had to stay in a flat that was lighted and even heated by muggle means and communicate with a muggle telephone or radio, then she would do what needs must be done without question or pause. This involved a crash-course in muggle culture and "technology;" the substitutes for magic these non-magical people made use of ever since they drove the mages of this world into the shadows.
The telephone finally rang. Not a gentle tinkle like a bell that one would use to summon a servant, but a loud, obnoxious sound that commanded immediate attention. In the other room, Draco began to cry almost as loudly as the ring of that infernal contraption as his nanny attempted to gently soothe the frightened boy. Narcissa allowed the device to ring one more time before picking up the part used to listen and speak to the one calling from the other end.
"Are you there?" said Narcissa in a very businesslike manner. Then she said nothing as she listened to whoever was calling, taking notes and every so often stating that she understood perfectly. After a few more minutes of this, Narcissa said, "Goodbye," and returned the speaking/listening part to its cradle.
"What news do we have?" said Lucius anxiously.
But Narcissa ignored her husband's urgency, and said, "In a moment. I need to check on Draco, first." Lucius nodded, and Narcissa went to check on their fussing son. What seemed to Lucius like an eternity later, Draco calmed down, and Narcissa came back to advise her husband of what had been discovered and what needed to be done to assure the future of Wizardkind.
"The muggle boy, Owen Flynn, who claims to have been inside the Arrival is, indeed, here in this area," said Narcissa. He is staying with his father's brother."
"A muggle," said Lucius dryly. "Then we can take him easily."
"However," continued Narcissa. "There is an unforeseen problem that has emerged. The boy is currently staying overnight with a schoolmate for the weekend."
"That is of no consequence," said Lucius with an impatient, dismissive wave of his hand. "One muggle is as easily overpowered as any other."
"This classmate is a witch," said Narcissa. "Her family was among those evacuated from Maine by FBS Order on the eve of the Arrival. And to make matters worse, she is the young witch who we first met at the Displaced Wizards' Center not long after we came to the Colonies."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Who is it? I can't recall us having met any of the local wizards and witches. And why would we want to? The mages in the Colonies are half-bloods and mudbloods, the lot of them!"
"Oh, our meeting them was not by choice," said Narcissa. "The muggle boy is at this moment staying with the Jordan family."
Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Who . . . ?"
Narcissa sighed. "You remember the Jordans; the blood-traitor of the Peverell line and his obnoxious, slutty muggle wife and their two half-blood guttersnipes? Surely you must remember their insolent daughter and their dirty-faced son who was Draco's age?"
"Yes . . . ," said Lucius nodding slowly. "I do recall meeting those urchins in the ballroom of the Displaced Wizard's Center - the ones who were dressed in rags and were playing with those two muggle brats." Lucius shook his head. Say what you will about families like the Gaunts. But they would never have stooped so low as to allow their children to play with muggles!
"But what of it?" said Lucius. "Lawrence Jordan might as well be a muggle, himself! He is a wizard in name only! He is merely a tradesman with no formal magical education who married that muggle tart doubtlessly because no true witch would have him! He poses no threat!"
"No," agreed Narcissa. "But we know about the muggle boy because of our contact within the American FBS."
"Again, what of it?"
Narcissa sighed patiently. "The FBS knows about the muggle boy because the Jordans contacted them to let them know! Our sources tell us that the Jordans will be taking the boy to Salem tomorrow morning to be interviewed by Colonial Aurors. And we must get that boy before that may happen."
"Then we should go, now," said Lucius. "That twit Ren Jordan would be no match for me in a Wizards' Duel! I can defeat him in seconds!"
"Ah, but Ren Jordan is not alone," said Narcissa. "The Lovegoods are staying with them; no doubt to better facilitate keeping us under observation. Ren Jordan may indeed be little more than a jumped-up muggle. But Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood are another matter, entirely.
"Though we can count our blessings that Jordan's muggle dollymop wife is not with him, at the moment; our sources say that she went back to Collinsport to retrieve some of their family's belongings that had to be left behind when the Colonials Mages ran like frightened rats from the Arrival. True, she cannot do magic. But she doubtlessly has access to muggle weapons like a machine gun or a plasma rifle, or maybe even an atomic bomb . . . ." Lucius looked at his wife incomprehensively. Again, Narcissa shook her head, sighed patiently, and said, "Would it really harm you if you took a little time to read our group's pamphlet, "When Muggles Attack?"
Lucius smiled, shrugged, and said, "That is why I married you, Cissy. You always were the more practical one of us two. I count on you for these things."
Narcissa smiled thinly, and said, "Then we should contact the other members of our team, and be prepared to seize the boy before he may be taken to Salem and interviewed by the Colonial Authorities."
Lucius nodded, and Narcissa went back to the telephone to call the others. The boy staying with a magical family – even a working-class one like the Jordans – does complicate matters, but does not present any truly insurmountable problems for those who believe in the Wizarding Identity Thesis. As Narcissa spoke on the muggle device, Lucius got out of his chair, and went into the room where Draco was sleeping under the watchful eye of his nanny. Lucius spent a few moments watching his son sleep soundly and allowed himself to smile.
"Soon, Draco," said Lucius barely louder than a whisper. "Soon, you shall live in a world free from fear for Our Kind. We all will! A world where only true wizards and witches are in control. A world free from blood-traitors and mudbloods. And in a few hours, we shall make the first move, and the obnoxious Jordan family shall be the first to feel our wrath!"
Then, after watching Draco sleep a little longer, Lucius Malfoy, late of the Death Eaters and the Knights of Walpurgis, firm believer in the Wizarding Identity Movement, went back into the living room of the flat to await the arrival of the other members of their team.
But while Lucius absolutely loathed Ren Jordan, the father in him felt sorry for the two Jordan children, even their cheeky daughter – especially their cheeky daughter, Jennifer. Her poor manners (which she no doubt got from her low-class muggle mother,) can be corrected with proper education and emersion into the True and Proper Wizarding World. And then, a proper betrothal could be arranged for her, if nothing else to keep her away from the Martindale boy.
This would be something that Narcissa would need to look into, once the Wizarding World belonged to the Purebloods. Lucius thought that perhaps a betrothal could be arranged for Jennifer Jordan with either Bill or Charles Weasley, (though they would probably need rehabilitation, themselves,) or maybe even the Worple's boy, Eldred, once the Wizarding Identity Thesis brought sanity to the world.
The Jordans' boy, Richard, would be an easier matter, due to his age. Above all else, the Jordan boy is a descendant of the Peverell family, and that alone made him more than worth the effort to rehabilitate.
Lucius even wondered if Richard and Draco might be raised as brothers, but was roused from his ruminations when he heard a knock at the flat's door. The other members of their team had arrived . . . .
A gentle knock at the Jordan's back door let Ren and the Lovegoods know that the Aurors had arrived to speak with them regarding how the FBS planned to help Owen Flynn. Behind the kitchen door, Jenny was somewhat surprised to see that Agent Hadji Quest-Singh and Agent Wednesday Addams had come instead of Agents Spellman and Graymalkin.
Jenny noticed that her dad and the Lovegoods were surprised, too. Agents Quest-Singh stated that Agents Spellman and Graymalkin were taking a rest to be ready when they came for Owen and the others in a few more hours to escort them to Salem.
"We should be able to answer any additional questions that you may have before they get here," said Agent Addams.
"We only have one question," said Xeno evenly. "Does the FBS plan to rescue Owen Flynn's father from the town of Storybrooke, or do they not have any plans to rescue Owen's father?"
A long silence followed. Then Agent Addams said, "Mr. Lovegood, what you and everyone else here need to understand about the Incursion from the Enchanted Realms is that –"
"No double-talk, please, Agent Addams," said Dori, who pointed in Jenny's direction, making the girl freeze and hold her breath. But it soon became apparent to Jenny that Mrs. Lovegood was gesturing to the living room where Corey and Owen were sleeping, making the girl let out a quiet sigh of relief. "Please answer my husband's simple question: Do you or do you not have any intentions of rescuing Owen's father, Kurt Flynn, from the invaders from the Enchanted Realms who are holding him prisoner, or worse?
Agent Quest-Singh said, "Mrs. Lovegood, if you would please let us explain –"
"Explain nothing," said Ren. "Just answer the question, yes or no?"
Adding authority to her voice, Agent Addams said, "This question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no – it is complicated. But if you would let us explain, we may be able to give you an answer that you will understand completely."
Xeno said, "That would be Bureaucratese for, "no, we are not going to rescue Kurt Flynn from the Invaders," wouldn't it be?"
"No, we are not," said Agent Quest-Singh evenly. "Or, more accurately, it would not be in everyone's best interest if we tried – and even succeeded - in rescuing Mr. Flynn."
Ren said, "This should be good . . . ."
"And that would be Ignorant Civilian-ese for, "I am ready to patiently listen to your explanation now, Agents Addams and Quest-Singh," said Agent Wednesday Addams dryly as Agent Quest-Singh gave her an admonishing look.
Agent Quest-Singh said, "Mr. Jordan, eventually rescuing Kurt Flynn is not completely out of the question. But it is not possible, at least for now . . . ."
Ren Jordan shook his head and chuckled bitterly. "You know, I can only imagine what would have happened if it was, say, Gomez Addams and Agent Addams and her brother when they were Owen's age. The richest wizard in the nation, if not the world, and his kids trapped inside an Incursion from the Enchanted Realms that landed on them while they were out camping? Even if the FBS didn't send in every available Auror and Whitelighter that they had, the Addams family would have at least had a chance to fight their way out with magic, and get clear of the Incursion on their own.
"And what if it had your dad, Agent Quest-Singh? What if it were Dr. Benton Quest and you and your brother on that camping trip when the two of you were ten? Even though you might not have had much magic at that age; I think that every Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. – if not the Fantastic Four, or even The Avengers - would have been sent in to get your family out. And please don't insult my intelligence by trying to deny it. Your father is too important a person to lose to alien invaders from a parallel dimension.
"Now, if it was me and my family out camping that night; we might not have rated a full-on assault by the FBS or S.H.I.E.L.D. But we wouldn't have been defenseless, either. I may only be a Joe Lunchbucket who works in the lumber department of a hardware store and fixes racing brooms on weekends, but I am a wizard, and I would have at least had a decent chance to get my family to safety without any outside help.
"But Kurt Flynn is just an Average Joe who also happens to be a muggle. So to keep this witch Regina Mills from finding out that we can do magic here, too; you are going to abandon Kurt Flynn and his son to their fate."
Agent Addams sighed. "Mr. Jordan, in the past few weeks, we have learned a lot more about the Incursion, and what we have learned frankly has us worried."
"And since you three will eventually be obliviated, we are able to tell you what we know as of this time," added Agent Quest-Singh. "Then, maybe you will understand our position."
"Why do that?" said Xeno. "Why tell us anything if you are only going to obliviated us tomorrow in Salem?"
Agent Addams smiled sardonically. "We're telling you for us, Mr. Lovegood; for myself and Hadji. I'm telling you so you will understand why the FBS does not plan to rescue Kurt Flynn at this time. And when I tell you why, I am sure that you will agree wholeheartedly with the FBS's decision. At least then, you won't simply dismiss us as smug, heartless bureaucrats."
Agent Quest-Singh said, "As you pointed out earlier, you won't remember, but we will. Let's just say it is important for our morale that you know the truth and understand, however briefly."
"Don't think for one minute," said Agent Addams firmly. "That we do not care about Owen, or that we are abandoning his father to Regina Mills just because he is too 'unimportant' to be worth the effort."
The Lovegoods fixed the Aurors with a stony stare. Ren Jordan just sighed, shrugged, and said, "Alright, what have you got?"
Agent Addams said bluntly, "A potential enemy that we cannot defeat whose magic is greater than ours; maybe even greater than the magic of the Sorcerer Supreme himself, as well."
"What are you talking about?" said Ren shaking his head.
"The spell – or rather, the Curse – that brought the Incursion over here was no ordinary curse," said Agent Quest-Singh. "I've studied it extensively – at least as much as I can without using active magic to probe it directly.
"This Curse was crafted in layers - like an onion or lasagna - with each layer intended to perform a specific task. One layer was used to bring the town from the Enchanted Realms over to our world; another layer to adapt it to our world – changing horse-drawn carriages and wagons into cars, for example; another layer to implant the knowledge of how our world works so those who were cursed could survive and function by making the transition from a Medieval world to 20th Century America."
"And there are other layers to the Curse, as well," said Agent Addams. "Concealment and disillusionment spells to hide Storybrooke from our world. Not even S.H.I.E.L.D. satellites with their Extra-Terrestrial-supplied hardware can see Storybrooke from orbit."
Ren blinked. Extra-terrestrial hardware . . . ? He quickly glanced over at Xeno and Dori, who didn't even raise an eyebrow at Agent Addams' comment.
Agent Addams continued, "But even more worrisome is the layer that superposes Storybrooke with the old-growth forest in Maine so that they may both occupy the same physical space at once. And it is that's layer that has us worried the most.
"Mr. Jordan, our resident nerd Agent Graymalkin told us that you took your daughter and her friend Corey to see "Galaxy Quest II: The Wrath of Sarris." Now do you understand what I am saying . . . ?"
Ren Jordan drew a quick breath as the implications of Agent Addams' "Galaxy Quest" analogy rudely dawned on him. The Curse that brought Storybrooke from the Enchanted Realms to our world was kind of like the magical equivalent of the fictional super technology from "The Wrath of Sarris." In the movie, the crew of the NSEA Protector had to recover the Terraform Probe - an invention that could transform uninhabitable worlds into virtual garden paradises - from the show's most popular villain, General Sarris.
In the movie, the Terraform Probe was created for peaceful, benign purposes.
But if it were to be used on a world that was already populated . . . .
Ren Jordan shook in spite of himself. "Whoa . . . ."
"I see that you have finally put two-and-two together, Mr. Jordan," said Agent Addams, but not unkindly. "All that Regina Mills has to do is leave off a few "layers" the next time she cast her Curse to hit us hard! Instead of superposing a town on a section of old-growth forest in Maine, she could just as easily replace the forest with a town. Or, for that matter, an already populated area with whatever she wanted – just like that. And we would be absolutely powerless to stop her." Agent Addams looked over at the Lovegoods, whose eyes were quite sober with understanding.
Agent Quest-Singh added softly, "This is the hydrogen bomb of curses, Mr. Jordan. If we send a team of Aurors or Whitelighters into the Incursion for any reason, Regina Mills would undoubtedly retaliate. Believe me, I feel sorry for Owen Flynn and his father. But there is no practical way for us to rescue Kurt Flynn without possibly starting a magical, interdimensional war that we cannot win under any circumstances." Hadji thought of the Osterhagen Key that the White Council had recently took possession of. Though he was of Warrior as well as Wizarding Stock, the thought made Hadji shudder. But if it were to be employed, at least we could go out taking some of them – Regina Mills included – with us . . . .
Agent Addams said, "So you see, Mr. Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood, even if it had been my or Hadji's family; the FBS or S.H.I.E.L.D. would have been just as unable to rescue us, too. Even worse, if my family had tried to fight their way out, we might emerge from the Incursion to find out that big chunks of our world have been replaced by the invaders with whatever they wanted to put on it. And Hadji's family would have been in the same situation."
"But that doesn't mean that we are unable to help Owen," said Agent Quest-Singh. "We may not be able to rescue his father from the Invaders. But when we copy his memories of what he saw when he was inside the Incursion, we will also be able to subtly change them to allow Owen to get on with his life."
"In other words, you'll make him forget what happened to his father?" said Ren flatly.
"No," said Agent Quest-Singh. "We will give him new memories that his father died in an accident, and implant a geas that will allow him to accept his loss and to move on with his life. The ripple-effect of the obliviation will even allow him to fit in better at his new school by "rewriting" the past week of his life – a process that, might I add, be undone should we ever have the opportunity to actually rescue Mr. Flynn."
"In other words, Mr. Jordan," said Agent Addams softly. "What we do will give Owen the opportunity to grow up as a typical child, and move forward with his life . . . ."
Ren looked over to Xeno and Dori, whose stony looks of Journalists Demanding Answers had been transfigured into expressions of grim understanding.
"It is of the utmost importance," said Agent Quest-Singh. "That we are able to learn what Owen has seen. He is the only person from our world to have been inside the Incursion, and has emerged to tell us about it."
"Then why not just tell him the truth?" said Ren. "Why not just tell him that we are not able to rescue his father right now, but that we may be able to in the near future after he tells us what he saw when he was in Storybrooke? He may have accepted it, then, and we wouldn't have to lie to him."
"Or, he may not have accepted our explanation and refused to help us at all," said Agent Addams. "And given what we are up against, we cannot take any chances that we may not have his willing cooperation."
Agent Quest-Singh added, "And when we say, "we," Mr. Jordan, we don't just mean the FBS and the White Council. We also mean S.H.I.E.L.D., The Avengers, NATO, the Warsaw Pact, and others. Owen Flynn may be our only key to defending our world against these invaders, and without his absolute cooperation, we are right back to Square One."
Agent Addams said, "And we will also need your cooperation, as well, Mr. Jordan, Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood."
And Then Agent Addams turned to the kitchen door, and said, "And that goes for you as well, Jennifer Jordan."
From behind the door, Jenny swallowed hard. Just how long did Agent Addams know she was hiding there? But of everything that Jenny wanted to ask at that moment, that was the lowest priority. Jenny got off her knees, and slowly went into the kitchen, moving to her father's side.
"How much did you just hear, Jenny," said Agent Addams in a tone that was more sad than upset.
"E-everything, A-Agent Addams," said Jenny.
"Then you understand," continued Agent Addams. "Why we cannot help Owen the way he wants us to, at this time."
"I-it's so unfair," said Jenny barely louder than a whisper.
"It is, isn't it," said Agent Quest-Singh nodding solemnly. "But for now, we are limited to helping Owen by giving him what he needs, not what he wants, much less deserves."
"B-but why can't we just go into Storybrooke and hit Regina Mills with everything we've got!" said Jenny. "Owen said that he didn't see any orcs, ogres or dragons in there. If we could surround Storybrooke with Aurors, Whitelighters, and the Avengers and muggles in tanks and flying over Storybrooke in jet fighters, I bet Regina would surrender and give Owen's dad back!"
Agent Wednesday Addams went over to Jenny and put her hands on her thin shoulders. "Honey, Regina does not have any orcs, ogres or dragons because she does not need any to fight us. This curse of hers is all that she needs. Even the Sorcerer Supreme has advised caution until we know more."
Ren shook his head; a gesture that was one part fatigue and one part frustration. "As much as I hate to say it, Jenny, I think that we should do what the Aurors say. I'm worried about Owen and his dad as much as you are. But I am also worried about you, your little brother, and your mother, as well as Cory, Karen and everyone else that we know."
Xeno added, "And I am worried about my family, as well. My wife. Luna. If we so much as make a rude gesture at Regina Mills, she may just erase us all from existence."
Jenny's face began to turn red, her eyes began to water, and she cried hard, shaking with frustration. Her father and the Lovegoods tensed, but before they could say anything, Agent Addams had her wand out, and cast a Disillusionment Charm in the direction of the kitchen doorway.
Agent Addams nodded to Ren, who nodded back, gently held his daughter, and said, "It's alright, honey, let it all out. You won't wake Corey, Owen, Luna or your brother. Truth is I kind of feel a bit like crying, myself." Ren looked over at Agent Addams, and said, "I don't suppose there is any chance of getting that obliviation performed on us now, is there?"
"As much as it goes against every Journalistic bone in my body," said Xeno. "I think that the Missus and I could use a memory edit, ourselves." Dori nodded solemnly.
"I wish that we could get obliviated, too," said Agent Addams sincerely, indicating herself and Hadji. "But we have a duty to perform; not just for the Wizarding World, but to everyone else in this world, as well. And we cannot help you now because neither Hadji nor I are trained as Obliviators."
"As I said, you will all have your memories altered when this is over," said Agent Quest-Singh. He then turned to Jenny, who had calmed down some, but still had a wet, red face from crying, and added, "By this time, tomorrow, you won't even remember us being here, much less making a daytrip to Salem. Your only memory will be of having a sleepover with your friends."
"And your only "serious" worry," added Ren, "will be of how you and Owen are going to finish the three-page paper that Principal Burr assigned the two of you to write over the weekend."
"You probably won't even have to worry about that," said Xeno. "The ripple-effect of the obliviation will undoubtedly erase your revelation of Our World to Owen yesterday afternoon."
"As far as the entire world is concerned," said Dori. "The two of you will have never left the school grounds in the first place."
Jenny smiled wanly at that, wiping her eyes and nose with the sleeve of her pajamas. Ren shook his head, and sighed. Dori said, "Don't worry, I've got it." And with a swish and flick of her wand, the sleeve of Jenny's pajamas was clean and dry. Jenny thanked Mrs. Lovegood and apologized to her father for her breech of etiquette.
Then Agent Addams motioned for Jenny to sit at the Jordans' kitchen table, took the seat opposite her, and said, "The next twelve hours, or so, will be very difficult for you. You will need to behave as thought this conversation never happened; especially when you are around Owen. Then, when we are finished with collecting Owen's memories of Storybrooke, we can begin the process of memory modification. Then you and Owen can be children, again."
"And I can worry about simple things again, too," said Ren sighing. "Like the household budget and stuff . . . ." Ren tried not to look at the refrigerator full of Shmoo milk, butter and eggs.
Agent Addams said nothing. Agent Quest-Singh looked at his watch, and said, "Sue and Andre – I mean Agents Spellman and Graymalkin - will be here in a couple of hours to escort you to Salem. We had better be on our way, ourselves."
"I know that sleep is probably out of the question," said Agent Addams. "But at least try to get some rest until then. And don't worry, Jenny. It will all be over, soon."
"W-what should I do when Corey and Owen wake up?"
"Just be yourself, Jenny," said Agent Addams smiling. "Just be yourself. Are you alright, now?" When Jenny nodded with only a slight sniffle, Agent Addams waved her wand to remove the Disillusionment Charm from the kitchen door, and added, "You'll do just fine, Honorary Junior Auror Jordan."
Jenny kissed her father goodnight, (good morning?) said goodnight to the Lovegoods and Agents Addams and Quest-Singh, and then went over to the stairs to go back to her room. When she got to the stairs, Jenny paused to take another look at Corey and Owen sleeping soundly. Again, Jenny considered curling up on the chair in the living room where the boys were sleeping. She knew that she would not sleep, herself, and thought it might be a good thing if she were to stand watch over them to keep them safe. But Jenny did not want to take any chances that she might wake them up, and so she moved quietly back to the stairs.
When Jenny got to her room, she hesitated for a moment, and quietly checked in on Ricky as he slept in his own room. Her little brother was sound asleep with his thumb in his mouth and his little rear end in the air, making Jenny suppress a giggle. For a moment, she considered curling up in his bed with him, but again, was afraid of waking him up. So Jenny went back to her room. She sat on her bed, unable to sleep, and decided to read a bit of "The Outsiders," hoping that reading something would help her fall asleep. At the very least, it would give her something to discuss with Tonya at school on Monday.
Monday . . . .
By Monday, everything would be better. She would get to be a child again, as Agent Addams had said. And so could Owen. But until then, Jenny would have to carry an adult-sized burden to ensure that Owen would cooperate. Jenny understood the importance of this, but Owen is her friend, and Jenny did not like having to lie to a friend, for any reason.
Though Jenny did not know what would happen when all was said and done, she was absolutely sure about one thing: She never wanted to play 'Aurors and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,' ever again . . . .
Author's Note: This story is something of an experiment for me. From the beginning, I decided to write this story as I go along; posting it a chapter at a time, with only a basic idea of what will come next and how it would eventually end. I do hope to bring this story to a conclusion by the end of the year (2015,) but I will be posting my new chapters at a much slower rate than before, so please bear with me.
I want to thank all of my readers in advance for their patience and understanding.
In the meantime, how do you like the story so far . . . ?