Chapter 24: The Effects of Squid Ink
Groggily, Jennifer Jordan slowly became aware of her surroundings as recent memories began coming back. She remembered people in rubber suits taking her and Auror Wednesday Addams in a van, setting them down on cots and strapping them in as they sped-off to an unknown destination for "Decon." Though Jenny couldn't be sure, she felt at one point as though they went through a large Floo Hearth, van and all.
When they finally arrived and were taken out of the van, Jenny and Auror Addams were separated, and Jenny was brought into a large room that vaguely reminded her of the showers in the girl's locker room at the high school where she and Owen and the rest of her class had swimming lessons in another, past life.
Still under the effects of the squid-ink that that creep named Johnson got her with, Jenny said nothing as three women in rubber suits began cutting her (favorite) sweater and jeans off of her. The women then tossed the rags as well as the scissors they had used into a thick metal box marked "HAZMAT." They then turned on the showerheads, and water came down on Jenny like a heavy cloudburst.
"Should we cut her hair?" said one of the ladies.
"No," replied another, who was clearly in charge as she looked at the ten-year-old witch sympathetically. "Her "pixie-cut" is short, enough. Just give her a thorough shampooing three times over."
"I'd sure hate to be that Agent Addams about now," remarked the third.
After the shower (which seemed to go on for hours and hours) finally ended, Jenny felt herself able to move again, and was able to walk (sort of) under her own steam. As they helped Jenny dry off, one of the ladies said, "Jenny, do you think that you can do some magic for us if we brought you a wand, honey?"
Before Jenny could reply, the lady in charge said, "She's ten. They're only able to do involuntary, reflexive magic at that age. Besides, I'll bet the poor girl is absolutely exhausted. She should rest, first. Let's get her to her room . . . ."
When Jennifer Jordan had finally woken up, she found herself in a simple room with a bed, a nightstand, and a table. A small door that Jenny intuitively assumed lead to a bathroom was off to the side. Oddly, there was what appeared to be a large, curtained window on the wall at the foot of the bed. But Jenny did not see any doors on the wall that might lead out of the room.
A recent conversation played in her mind:
In Johnson's voice, "Currently, the effects of squid-ink to dampen magic are only temporary. But our Home Office scientists are working on making this a more permanent solution to the magical plague. We are working to make it into a cure!"
And, in Michaels' voice, "But to do this, we need more test subjects to experiment on . . . ."
Test subjects . . . ?!
But before Jenny could panic, she remembered that she had been taken by people that the FBS Aurors had called. And besides, thought Jenny with a small surge of relief, muggles use heavy locks on doors to keep people they want to hold from leaving. They don't transfigure doors into part of the wall.
Jenny sat up in the bed and looked around for some way to call someone, like a telephone or an intercom. Seeing none of these, Jenny called out, "Hello? Can anyone hear me?"
And just as soon as she spoke, the curtains on the window of the wall at the foot of the bed drew back, giving Jenny a view into a hallway through a thick Plexiglas barrier. Seconds later, an old witch with a kindly smile came up the hallway and stood on the other side of the barrier. She started to speak, but Jenny shook her head; Jenny could not hear anything the witch was saying to her. Looking somewhat embarrassed, the elderly witch took out her wand, and with a swish and flick, Jenny could hear her voice as though they were both in the same room.
"I do apologize, dear," said the witch. "I always forget to do that part when talking to someone in isolation."
The witch then asked if Jenny had a good rest, and then bade Jenny to clean up and get dressed. With another flourish of her wand, the witch then teleported a plastic bag containing some fresh clothes and some personal cleaning items onto Jenny's bed. Jenny checked, and found a simple ensemble consisting of white, linen shorts and a tee-shirt sealed in a plastic bag. Another plastic bag held a small bar of soap, a washcloth and towel, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.
It did not take Jenny long to get cleaned up, especially after the thorough scrubbing that she remembered getting when she first arrived here (wherever "here" was,) and when she was done, the witch teleported a tray with a light breakfast onto the small table. Before the elderly witch got up to go, Jenny asked about her family, and how long she had been asleep. The witch said that Jenny would get to see her family "soon," and that she had slept for almost a full day.
"But, where am I?" pressed the frightened girl.
"You are safely at the Potomac Shore Wizard's Hospital Quarantine Facility, because of your exposure to squid-ink," replied the witch, who Jenny noticed had lowered her voice by several decibels when she said the last two words before she turned to leave.
"Please, ma'am," said Jenny. "How much longer do I have to stay in here? When can I leave and go home . . . ?" But the elderly witch had left so quickly down the hallway that Jenny could not imagine her leaving any faster if she had apparated.
Though Jenny was not very hungry, she nibbled at the waffles and fruit that the kindly witch had brought to her, and drank a little of the chocolate milk. When she had finished eating, the witch removed the tray with a flick of her wand, and told Jenny that her family had just arrived, and would be with her shortly, raising Jenny's spirits immensely.
But when her mom, dad and little brother and even the Lovegoods arrived, Jenny was not allowed out of the room to be with them.
From her side of the thick, Plexiglas partition that kept them apart, Jenny Jordan watched as her parents and the Lovegoods spoke with the Healer that had been assigned to her case. Though she kept her ears open to what the adults were saying about her, Jenny mainly concentrated on playing a game of pat-a-cake with Ricky through the partition, occasionally glancing up at Luna Lovegood in her mom's arms. Jenny was not surprised to see the one-year-old witch regarding everything that was going on around her with her usual detached interest.
Ren Jordan shook his head with exasperation. "So, exactly how long does our daughter have to remain here in quarantine?"
Healer Wetzel replied, "According to established guidelines, we can't discharge her until she can demonstrate that she is able to perform some basic magic. Indeed, we were hoping that Jennifer would have performed some reflexive magic upon waking up in such a disorientating situation. A lot of kids her age would. But she still has to demonstrate that she is able to do magic before we may discharge her. That is the protocol in a situation like this."
"And when, exactly," said Xenophilius Lovegood. "Was the last time that a 'situation like this' has ever actually occurred? As far as I can tell, there has not been a case of a witch or wizard getting splashed with squid-ink in over a thousand years!"
"Look, Healer Wetzel," said Aggie. "My daughter has been in that room for two days, ever since those goons who took Owen squirted her and Agent Addams with that stuff. You've scrubbed them both down like they were technicians at Three Mile Island. Agent Addams hasn't lost any of her magical abilities. What makes you think that Jenny is still affected?"
Before Healer Wetzel could respond, he was relieved to see the Martindale family and Auror Wednesday Addams coming down the corridor towards them. The latter was almost unrecognizable with her hair cropped so closely as part of her own decontamination cleaning. The poor witch's hair was actually shorter than Jenny's pixie-cut, and she wore a long, black scarf over her head, undoubtedly to feel the weight of something over her shoulders until her hair grew back.
"Ah, Rachel," said Healer Wetzel as his colleague, her muggle husband, their son, and the Auror came up to them. "I was trying to explain to the Jordans and the Lovegoods that until Jennifer here is able to demonstrate –"
"Jennifer Jordan is ten-years-old, Healer Wetzel," said Rachel Martindale reasonably. "She has only been ten for about a month, now. She has yet to get a wand. The only magic that she is capable of performing at that age is involuntary, reflexive magic under stressful conditions. You really aren't planning to keep the poor girl here until she's almost done with Fifth Grade, are you?"
Before Healer Wetzel could repeat his statement for his colleague about trying to coax a magical response out of Jennifer, Agent Addams said evenly, "I was able to perform magic even before I got out of the decontamination shower. It probably wasn't even necessary to cut off almost all of my hair, but I was a good sport about it when you all insisted that I had to comply with 'established protocol.'
"My dear, sweet Uncle Fester gave me this scarf. He enchanted it to encourage my hair to grow back quicker. But then, if you've ever seen my Uncle Fester, you might not feel too confident in his magical hair re-growing ability. Still, it is the thought that counts."
"Walter," said Rachel, addressing her colleague by his first name, "those protocols for squid-ink exposure were written hundreds of years ago – long after the last wizard or witch had ever even been exposed to squid-ink. Based on the swiftness of Auror Addams' recovery, I think that it is safe to say that Jenny is clear of all the effects of that squid-ink she got squirted with."
As the adults debated, Corey went over to the glass partition, and put his hand against the barrier keeping Jenny and him separated. Jenny put her hand against the barrier opposite Corey's hand, and said, "How's your foot, Corey?"
"Oh, I was able to walk again without any problems about an hour after they brought me to the Schaumberg Wizards' Hospital."
"Did your mom fix you up?"
"No, another healer named Dr. Bombay did," said Corey as he removed his shoe and sock. "Check it out, Jenny! Dr. Bombay completely fixed the bottom of my foot so I wouldn't have to walk on a scar; he said that that could cause a lot of problems for me, later on. But I asked mom if I can keep the one on top where the nail came through, and she said yes! She said I earned it! Dr. Bombay thought so, too! So did the nurses and high school age candy-stripers. But I told them that I was already spoken for!"
Jenny barely heard Corey as she looked at the livid weal on top of his right foot, but only for a moment. She then looked at his broad grin, and felt much better. "D-did it hurt, much, Corey?"
"Not really," said Corey. "It only hurt when I tried to move. You remember the dog that helped us? Well, she was growling at the Aurors, trying to keep them away from me. Luckily, one of them was an animagus, and turned into a dog, too. I don't know what he said to that pooch, but she then let them come up and help me.
"Then we apparated straight to the Wizards' Hospital. After Dr. Bombay took care of me, mom and dad came in, and I told them what happened. They were crying and they hugged me and kissed me a lot. And then the pain started."
"What happened?"
Corey sighed. "Dad made me get a tetanus booster and a shot of penicillin just to play it safe; both where the sun don't shine." That made Jenny giggle.
"So, when are they going to let you out of there, Jenny? You look like those pictures of the astronauts when they first came back from the Moon and Mars."
"They say that I can't come out until I can show them that I can still do magic," said Jenny sadly. "Dad says that that could be anywhere from six to nine months from now! I heard them talking to someone from Magical Children's Services about getting me a tutor until they let me out!"
"Well, don't worry, Jenny," said Corey with another big smile. "I'll come and visit you every day until they do! And when they do, I'll give you the biggest hug and kiss you've ever gotten!"
"I can't wait!" said Jenny as she and Corey pressed their lips against the Plexiglas barrier, only to find that they were actually kissing each other on their lips! Because of that realization, Jennifer Jordan and Corey Martindale were only vaguely aware of flashing lights and alarms going off. The Plexiglas barrier between them had disappeared, and Corey helped Jenny slip out of the room and into the hallway. Once there, they both hugged each other and soon, Ricky joined in, giving his sister a big hug as muggle staff (and wizard staff in hazmat suits,) came rushing in.
When someone finally had the good sense to shut off the alarms and flashing lights, Healer Martindale said, "Well, there's your proof of magical abilities! I would say that Miss Jordan caused the quarantine barrier to vanish so she could get that hug from my son!"
"No!" said Healer Wetzel as he scrambled for an emergency hazmat suit stored in a compartment on the wall. "Not so fast! How do we know that the boy didn't do it?"
"Because my son is a muggle!" said Rachel. "Didn't you know? I thought that everyone here knew that!"
"Oh . . . ," said Healer Wetzel, backing away from the hazmat suit compartment with as much dignity as he could muster. Healer Wetzel blinked. The Plexiglas barrier was back in place.
"That was pretty impressive, Jenny," said Agent Addams with a smile.
"I would quite agree," said Xeno, tapping the restored barrier. "She not only made this big piece of Perspex vanish but reappear as well!"
Aggie gave her daughter a hug as soon as Jenny let go of Corey. She then turned to Healer Wetzel, and said, "Now will you let Jenny come home with us?"
Healer Wetzel nodded, and said, "I have no reason to keep her, here. But I have been asked by the FBS to let them know before your daughter has been discharged. They want to ask you a few things, young lady. If you will all kindly follow me to one of the conference rooms, I can let the FBS know that we are ready."
After a brief side trip to the nearest women's bathroom so Jenny could change into the clothes that her parents brought with them for her, the Jordans went to the conference room where the Lovegoods and the Martindales were waiting for them to arrive. Also present were Agent Wednesday Addams and several other FBS Representatives, including Agent Hadji Quest-Singh and a rather heavy-set young man who Jenny told her mom and dad was Agent Addams' older brother, Pugsley, and that he is also an Auror.
There were also a few people there who were clearly not with the FBS. Some of the people wore nametags identifying them as being with the UK's Ministry of Magic. One of them, a fierce looking man with an enchanted, artificial eye, and holding a mean looking staff instead of a wand, looked at everyone coming into the room with guarded suspicion.
Ren didn't catch the Auror's name, but realized with some trepidation that others in the room were reporters for various Wizarding Publications; no doubt also wanting to interview Jenny about her encounter with the Home Office. Ren hoped that they could be persuaded to not identify her by name in their articles.
Finally, there was one older wizard who stood out from the other visitors. Ren recognized him almost immediately. Though he had never met the world-famous wizard personally, he had seen his picture every so often in The Towne Scryer. The man, a bespectacled, bearded wizard in traditional robes, was speaking with the Lovegoods and Agents Quest-Singh and the Addams Siblings. Picking up his pace, Ren moved closer to the small group.
". . . alas," said the wizard with a wry smile. "Though I do confess to preferring the company of gentlemen; I learned almost too late, you see, that Gellert was, in fact, no gentleman . . . ."
"Excuse me," said Ren. "You are P-Professor Albus Dumbledore . . . ?"
"So I am," said Dumbledore nodding. "Though I am afraid that you do have me at somewhat of a disadvantage, sir. And you are . . . ?"
"Ah, I'm Ren – Lawrence, that is; Lawrence Jordan. I sent you a letter a few weeks ago . . . ."
Dumbledore offered his hand, which Ren promptly took in a friendly shake. Dumbledore said, "Well met, Mr. Lawrence Jordan. So now, finally I can put a face to a name.
"I have received the letter that you and your wife addressed to my attention regarding your request for your daughter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this coming year."
"A-and, have you decided anything, yet . . . ?" said Ren.
Dumbledore nodded. "Well, Mr. Jordan, it might interest you to know that ever since the Incursion from the Enchanted Realms appeared in Maine, the Hogwarts Board of Governors has received many, many requests from families in the States and Canada asking for an opening for their children to obtain their magical education in far off Scotland.
"It would seem that suddenly, every-other wizard and witch with children in the Salem Witches Institute, Ilvermorny and Randolph Carter has forgotten that to truly powerful mages, physical distance means nothing. And if we know nothing else of the inhabitants of this so-called "Storybrooke, Maine," and the town's mayor, Regina Mills, it would seem that they have access to very powerful magic, indeed.
"That said, your request was duly considered. Hogwarts does reserve a few spaces for foreign students, though most of those spaces are usually taken by students from the Republic of Ireland. However, due mainly to your family's Peverell ancestry, your daughter's admission and financial assistance has been approved. A letter has been sent to you by Owl Post, and should be waiting for you at your home in University City, Missouri, USA.
"However, due to recent events, a member of the Board of Governors, a certain Abraxas Malfoy, has raised new objections to Jennifer's admission."
Ren took Aggie's hand, and said, "What kind of objections, Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan," continued Professor Dumbledore, "Abraxas Malfoy has threatened to bring up your daughter's recent exposure to squid-ink if you try to enroll her in Hogwarts next year, and said that he will oppose her admission most vociferously on the grounds of "student safety."
"Now, while I am certain that I will be able to convince the Board of Governors that what happened to Jennifer poses no lasting threat to her, much less to the Hogwarts Student Body, and allow her to attend, I am also afraid that I will be unable to ensure that all of her classmates will welcome her with open arms; a difficult task that will be made even more difficult if Jennifer's classmate's parents' attitudes are influenced by Malfoy and his ilk."
Jennifer turned to Headmaster Dumbledore, and said, "E-excuse me, sir . . . ?" Dori whispered to Jennifer to address Albus Dumbledore as "Headmaster." Jennifer amended, "Excuse me, Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Jennifer?" said Dumbledore with a friendly smile accompanied by a twinkle in his eye.
"I have heard a lot of good things about Hogwarts, but I really don't want to go all the way to Scotland for my magical education." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, and Jennifer continued. "I want to go to Randolph Carter in the Miskatonic Valley here in America. That's where a lot of my friends from Collinsport will be going. The only reason mom and dad want me to go to Hogwarts is that it is half a world away from the Incursion in Maine. They think that I will be "safer" at Hogwarts. But after what I have heard and seen in a pensieve, I don't think that anyplace is safe from Regina's curse if she decides to use it again.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I want to go to magical school in America, and be with my family and my friends and with Corey – he's my boyfriend." Corey smiled broadly. Jennifer continued, "I'm scared. But I am tired of running away."
Professor Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, turned to Jenny's parents, and said, "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, I believe that you have your answer.
"Now, naturally, as Jennifer's parents, the final decision is yours to make. I promise you that should Jennifer enroll at Hogwarts and has any problems with her fellow students, that I will address them with all due seriousness. I will call a school assembly, and inform the student body that exposure to squid-ink causes temporary loss of magical powers, but that it wears-off, and cannot reoccur, nor is it a communicable condition.
"I will inform all of our professors that nobody is in any danger from Jennifer being at Hogwarts, and that any harassment of her or anyone else will not be tolerated. I believe that Jennifer would make many friends; especially in whatever house she is sorted into.
"Indeed, Jennifer, even if sanity is restored and the other American parents withdraw their requests; you will not be the only American student currently attending Hogwarts. A young, muggle born witch named Janelle Facillier from New Orleans is in her second year. She is quite popular and has many friends, and she could no doubt help you to acclimate.
"But there will always be those who will choose not to listen. Sadly, those who have the power to make up their minds without the facts are unlikely to change their minds when the facts are presented to them; all the more so if they or their parents have an . . . an underlying agenda.
"But, Jennifer, before you give your final answer, you need to ask yourself this: If you chose to attend Randolph Carter over Hogwarts; is it because you have found something that you are more afraid of than the Incursion from the Enchanted Realms to run away from . . . ?"
Jennifer chewed on her lip as she contemplated her answer. Headmaster Dumbledore made a very good point. Even before her exposure to squid-ink at the hands of those Home Office thugs, Jennifer did not want to go to another country to learn magic just because it was far away from the Incursion.
Jennifer knew that Hogwarts was an excellent school, and that many of the professors and instructors at Randolph Carter were Hogwarts Alumni. And there was no guarantee that she would not face ostracism at RC if she went there due to her squid-ink exposure, were it ever made public. Still . . . .
"Headmaster Dumbledore," said Jennifer. "The only way that I would be running away from being afraid of going to Hogwarts instead of Randolph Carter is that here in America, my exposure to squid-ink will still be kept a secret.
"But if everyone, everywhere, knew about it –"
"Jenny!" said Ren, who got down on his knee in front of his daughter, taking her by her small shoulders. Ren and Jenny both were only vaguely aware of the camera flashbulbs going off around them. "Do you have any idea what could happen if something like that were ever made public? It could make your time at Randolph Carter a living hell!"
Aggie got down beside her husband and daughter, and added, "Jenny, it's not fair, but kids can be cruel. Those that are cruel don't need an excuse, but if you hand them a ready-made one . . . ." Abruptly, Aggie turned around and said, "And will you people kindly stop with the picture taking, already?"
"But if everyone knew what happened to me," insisted Jenny. "Then they can't say that we tried to hide anything from them. Sure, there are kids who won't want to get near me if they found out. But I wouldn't want anybody like that to be my friends, anyway.
"My real friends will stand by me. And in any case, the Malfoys then won't be able to use it against us, if we let everyone know, first. And I really want to stick it to the stuck-up Malfoys, big time!"
After a long silence, Headmaster Dumbledore chuckled, and said, "I think that it had better be Randolph Carter for you after all, then, Jennifer. If for no other reason, it will save our Sorting Hat the headache of trying to figure out exactly where to put you.
"Based on what I have seen so far, you have the courage of a Gryffindor, the wisdom of a Ravenclaw, the ability to make friends of a Hufflepuff, and even the cunning, almost Machiavellian ability to strategize of a Slytherin. That's quite the combination . . . ."
Jennifer turned to her parents, and said, "Mom? Dad? May I please go to Randolph Carter next year? And can we ask the reporters at The Towne Scryer and the other papers to use my name?" Jenny then turned to the Lovegoods, and added, "And will you please interview me for The Quibbler, too? The Malfoys can only use it against me if they have it to use, you know. And I can't wait to see their faces when they realize that we beat them to it!"
Xeno turned to Ren and Aggie, and said, "She does have a point. And if nothing else, it does restore my faith in the idea that a properly informed public is the best defense against panic."
"Or being led around by those who would use the ignorance of others to further their own agenda," added Dori solemnly.
"Randolph Carter is an excellent school," admitted Albus Dumbledore. "I am given to understand that the curriculum emphasizes magic, but also teaches what muggles call the "Core Curriculum," of math, science, literature, and other subjects that most muggle secondary schools teach; a philosophy similar to what muggles call a "High School of the Performing Arts."
"More to the point, your Randolph Carter school does seem to better prepare young wizards and witches to interact with the muggle majority better than Hogwarts, or even Ilvermorny or the Salem Witches Institute. There is something to be said for that.
"You know, last year, we hosted the Randolph Carter Quidditch Team in an exhibition game, with Hogwarts being represented by a team drawn from all four Houses. Though Hogwarts won, it was quite the close game.
"The team from Randolph Carter played well, but most of the Hogwarts student body ended up talking about the others that came over with the Randolph Carter team.
"What was that they called that group of young, acrobatic witches? Cheerleaders . . . ?"
After a few more preliminaries, the meeting got started, and Jenny was interviewed by the FBS Aurors as the visitors from the UK and various Wizarding Publications looked on. The interview of her encounter with the Home Office was brief, and included a memory extraction of the incident to be viewed later in Bureau pensieves. When Jenny's statement and memories had been taken, Professor Dumbledore gave a comprehensive talk about the history and effects of squid-ink on people who have magical abilities.
"So, you see, it really wasn't necessary to use so much water and scrubbing, much less needing to shear poor Agent Addams to be sure that she and young Jennifer were free of the squid-ink," said Dumbledore. "And even though Agent Addams' and Jennifer Jordan's clothes were undoubtedly ruined by the stain of the squid-ink, it was hardly necessary to treat the rags like muggle plutonium.
"Anyone with a simple knowledge of Alchemy could have told you that the effect of squid-ink wears off fairly quickly, and cannot be spread from person-to-person in the manner of the common cold. You know, it just might behoove us to include a review of the effects of squid-ink in our Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, this year . . . .
"Sadly, I truly fear that your "Bureau Protocols" are only going to add to any potential fears that the Wizarding Public may have when this incident becomes common knowledge."
When the meeting was finally over, Albus Dumbledore promised to send some copies of books and scrolls from the Hogwarts library that described the effects of squid-ink on magic users in detail. Agent Quest-Singh said that the FBS would make it a priority to revise Bureau Protocols with regard to squid-ink exposure. But he also added somewhat ominously that with the Home Office working to synthesize an artificial squid-ink that had a more permanent effect on wizards and witches that the revision of Bureau Protocols might not be so simple a task.
Before Professor Dumbledore left, he and Agent Quest-Singh exchanged a few more pleasantries. Not only had Hadji not seen his old Headmaster for several years now, it was due to the intervention by Professor Dumbledore back when he was only ten that Hadji was able to remain with his family instead of being sent to live with the Malfoys. Then, after wishing Jenny the best, Professor Dumbledore and the reporters and representatives from the UK all left for the Floo Hearth.
All except one, that is; the English Auror with the enchanted, prosthetic eye (that Ren noticed actually seemed to bulge out cartoon-style whenever he looked in the direction of Aggie's chest,) remained in the room. But before Ren could comment, Agent Quest-Singh and the Addams Siblings came over to him and Aggie, and introduced the English Auror to them as THE Alastor Moody.
Ren had read about Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody in The Towne Scryer. During the recent Wizarding War in the UK, this man was practically the Audie Murphy of English Aurors. Ren cautiously took the man's hand and shook it, trying his best to avoid looking into that enchanted, prosthetic eye.
Agent Quest-Singh said, "Mr. and Mrs. Jordan, there are a few things that my colleagues and I need to discuss with you.
"First, Auror Alastor Moody is here to escort the "Faux-Malfoys" back to the UK, where they have many outstanding warrants for crimes committed there."
"Spare you and your family the trauma of a trial here in the States, Mr. Jordan," grunted Moody. "And I can assure you that they will suffer just as much at Azkaban as they would have at your Miskatonic Penitentiary. They may even get the Dementor's Kiss for what they have done during the War."
"So then they were using layered Polyjuice Potion," said Xeno Lovegood. "Then, who exactly were they?"
Moody rounded to Xeno, and said, "Does the name "Carrow" ring any bells . . . ?" Ren and Aggie shrugged, but Xeno and Dori turned as white as ghosts.
"Who's he talking about, Xeno?" said Ren. "What's a "Carrow," anyway?"
But before Xeno could reply, Moody said, "Let's just say, Mr. Jordan, that your family, the Lovegoods and the Martindale boy are quite lucky to be alive!"
"And what about the real Malfoys?" said Aggie. "They had to be involved, someway."
"Yes, Mrs. Jordan," said Moody. "Undoubtedly, they are involved. But with their influence in the UK, we have as yet been unable to obtain a Warrant for them to be questioned by a legilimens, much less for a Soulgaze."
"Don't worry, Ren," said Xeno. "The Quibbler will be all over this!" Dori nodded. But Moody shook his head, as much in disgust as in acceptance of a thing that he could not change.
"Possibly not, Xeno," said Moody. "There is talk in the Ministry that your publication is to be presented with an injunction for "security reasons."
"Well," said Dori dryly. "I suppose that we will need to purchase two frames, now."
"I'm afraid that it may be worse than that, Mr. and Mrs. Lovegood," said Moody. "After taking the Carrows to the Wizengamot, I am to escort the two of you to meet with Minister Cornelius Fudge.
"I – I am afraid that he will probably insist that you both make the Unbreakable Vow with regards to speaking or writing publically about this matter."
Ren's eyes went wide. Never in his life had he heard the words "The Unbreakable Vow" spoken out loud in conversation by anyone. It was a spell whose very name was said, if it had to be said at all, in the same hushed tones that muggles used when speaking of cancer.
Xeno's and Dori's eyes also went wide. But theirs was a look of outrage as opposed to unease.
"They can't do this!" hissed Xeno. "Not to us and certainly not to our readers!"
"We'll just refuse, then!" said Dori. "The Quibbler will not be silenced!"
"Please believe me when I say that I am on your side," said Moody gruffly. "But the Ministry can make life very difficult for you if you chose to defy them." Moody glanced over at baby Luna in her mother's arms as Luna returned the glance with nonchalance. "If the Ministry decides to send you to Azkaban on fake charges, part of that will undoubtedly be to have the two of you declared to be unfit parents . . . ."
"Can they really do that?" said Ren incredulously. He then turned to the Lovegoods and said, "Maybe you should consider applying for asylum, here?"
"You can stay with us," said Aggie nodding in affirmation.
"Out of the question, Ren," said Xeno softly. "Our home is in the UK, in Ottery St. Catchpole."
"And if we did move to the States," added Dori. "It would hurt our credibility with our readers if we had to write in exile."
"No, Ren," said Xeno. "We need to go back home, and work within the system."
Moody nodded, and said, "Then you had better work quickly before there is no "system" left to work within."
Ren nodded, but added, "If you ever change your mind . . . ."
"Thank you," said Xeno nodding.
Pugsley Addams handed his card to Xeno Lovegood, and said, "Please stay in touch in case things start to 'go south.' The FBS will do everything within its power to expedite your request for asylum, should it be necessary."
"And stay in touch with us," said Ren as he gave Xeno's hand a final shake, And Dr. Martindale did likewise.
Rachel, Aggie and Jenny gave Dori a hug goodbye, and Jenny kissed Luna gently on her forehead.
Corey attempted one final staring contest with Luna, and naturally lost.
When the Lovegoods left with Alastor Moody, Ren said to Agent Quest-Singh, "You said there is something else that you want to discuss with us? I assume it is about meeting with Bureau Obliviators?"
Hadji sighed. "Not exactly. Because of your run-in with the Carrows and the Home Office, it has been decided that your family is to keep your memories intact, to help you keep your eye out for any potential danger resulting from these incidents."
"So we have to remember everything?" said Ren.
"That's alright, dad," said Jenny. "I want to remember what we did to Owen; about how we had a part in making him join the Home Office. And about how we all failed him big time when he needed us most. Being obliviated would be taking the easy way out."
Ren nodded at his daughter's comment, and said, "Then when do we get to go back home to Col – to U City, Missouri?" The words still sounded strange to Ren coming out of his mouth.
Hadji sighed, and said, "I'm afraid that you won't be going back to Missouri, Mr. Jordan." Hadji then handed Ren an official looking parchment. Ren opened it up and perused it, shaking his head with disbelief. "I'm . . . I'm getting drafted . . . ?"
The room erupted as Aggie and the Martindales crowded around Ren to look at the parchment. To Aggie and Ken, it looked like an advertisement for a new music group. But to Rachel, it was an official FBS document that began, "To Lawrence Jordan from the President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. Greetings . . . ."
"What the hell does this mean?" said Ren, addressing Hadji directly. "I'm not a combat trained Warlock! That Regina Mills would rip my heart out before I can point my wand at her and say "stupify." I've got no formal magical training! Hell, the FBS turned down my application to work in their Broom and Carpet Pool maintaining their brooms because of that."
"Because of the Incursion, the MACUSA has declared an emergency," Hadji said. "Having you work for the FBS' Broom and Carpet Pool will free up a wizard or witch who has formal training."
Wednesday Addams added, "We have been critically short staffed ever since the Incursion hit. Because of this, a general draft has been authorized."
Pugsley said, "You and your family will need to be relocated to Salem by the middle of the week."
"Naturally, without a formal wizarding education," said Hadji. "You will not be paid as much as someone who is a full Auror. The job will pay twenty thousand dollars and five thousand galleons. Your family will need to live in an apartment on the Bureau Campus. There is a school for Jenny and a daycare for Ricky. For that matter, Aggie might be able to do some work at the grade school, since several of the teachers there who are wizards and witches are being reassigned."
It did not take Ren Jordan long to do the math. He hated being "forced" into any situation. But this job would pay half-again what he was currently earning; even more since living accommodations were one of the perks of the job. And even better still, he would not have to keep any secretes from his neighbors. His family would have more freedom to be themselves in Salem than they would even have had back home in Collinsport.
Jenny said, "Agent Quest-Singh? Will the other kids in school be wizards and witches, too?"
"Yes they will, for the most part," said Hadji. "As for your muggle classmates, I think that you may already know one of them . . . ."
Corey smiled. "Mom and dad are being reassigned to Salem. Since Fifth and Sixth grade classes are combined, we'll actually have the same room, together!"
"At least if you manage to keep your grades up, young man," said Rachel to her son. This brought a laugh of relief to everyone in the room.
As the Jordans accompanied the Addams siblings to the Floo Hearth for the trip back to Salem, Ren said, "I take it that I am not the only wizard to get a draft notice."
"Not at all," said Wednesday. "And just so you know, not all of those called up are those without any formal magical education. It just depends on what it is thought that they can do to help out."
"Well, between the two of us," said Ren. "This is a big help for me, too."
"I understand," said Wednesday. "But most people would see it as an imposition."
"Which reminds me, Sis," added Pugsley. "Are we all still planning to draw lots back in Salem to see who gets to serve Endora . . . ?"