A/N: As usual, I do not own anything

A/N2: I would like to thank .Grey13 for taking some time to read through this chapter.

NINETEEN

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Scotland

Harry watched as Fred and George – seated beside him inside the command tent that his men had set up in the grounds near the lake –shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

If he had to guess, Harry would say that the reason that the Weasley twins were uncomfortable was because of the fact that they had thought about using their portable swamp – the one that they had used on the Great Hall – against the bodyguards.

Harry was sure that the twins were now thanking whatever deities there were that they had the presence of mind not to prank these men.

Hermione was also thinking along the same lines as her husband. She knew that Fred and George had watched for an hour as a squad from the company had worked on the marksmanship skills with their FAL rifles –she noted that the twins took careful consideration of the damage and the range of the said rifles – and she also knew that the twins had asked one of the ground mechanics attached to the company about the missiles in the attack helicopters.

Shaking her head violently, Hermione wished that the twins would not take inspiration from the explosive power of the missiles that had been brought along and attempt to recreate their own magical version; she was already having enough trouble with their relatively smaller prank gadgets.

Harry noted his wife shaking her head, and he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She smiled at him, and a silent communication passed between the two of them before Harry nodded and turned his attention back towards the Weasley twins.

In a way, they are the reason that we are here today, Harry thought to himself.

His mind flashed back to the night of the raid, two days ago. Al had personally vetoed any student – or men assigned at Hogwarts –from participating with the said raid. The commander of the Potter Family Bodyguards – that was the nickname that the students of Hogwarts had given them – was adamant on that.

Harry, Hermione, Neville and Luna all understood the reason for that– they could afford to be involved in such a raid because they might be injured and the headmaster would notice that – but Fred and George had put up quite a struggle after they were told the same thing.

Al had to place them in detention with him for doing so.

Hermione turned to Harry to ask him about something, but before she could do so, Al entered the command tent – he was carrying a binder under his arms and wearing his now trademark battle dress –followed by two other people, one of them, a woman.

"Right" Al said as he took the center stage. He positioned the binder that he was holding on the podium in front of him, and then he allowed his eyes to gaze upon the assembled people before him, "We are here today to review the results of Operation Sitting Duck and Operation Errant Runner".

Harry nodded, aware that the former was the air strike operation against Parkinson Lodge while the latter was the raid on the Burrow. He smiled as he realized that Al and his people were very, very busy.

"First off, we have Operation Sitting Duck" Al said, he opened the binder and started to read from what could have been the after action report of said operation, though he read it in such a way that it might have been boring for him, "Mission was successful with unknown number of Death Eaters killed, possibly more than a dozen." Al said, he yawned – yeah, Harry decided, it's boring for him – "Group commander in charge of the group that took out Parkinson Lodge reported that the destruction was total and that there was no way that they could be sure of the identities of the fatalities"

Hermione raised her hand and Al acknowledged her. The Duchess asked, "How can we be sure that we would have destroyed the Death Eaters entirely if we are not even sure if we have taken them all down?"

"Your Grace" Al said, smiling a bit as Harry noted that the Battle Wizard was no longer as bored as he was five seconds ago, "The Dark Mark of Voldemort" – only the Weasley twins cringed, and even then, not by much – "was a sort of way for him to siphon off power from his followers, when we kill him, all of his marked followers are going to go with him"

"That is the crucial word, though" Harry suddenly said, he looked at Al and added, "Marked." He paused for a few moments before he added, "We all know that there are some Death Eaters who are not marked, at most, some sympathizers. We need to deal with these blood bigots just as effectively as we should deal with Voldemort"

Al nodded, "Agreed" he conceded, he paused for a while as he thought about that, and then he added, "Unfortunately, for the time being, we would have to leave that to the Ministry"

"Sirius is supposed to be starting his new job today" Hermione commented, "Perhaps we would be seeing some changes in them soon"

"We can only hope" Al said, nodding his head in agreement, he paused for a few moments, allowing his eyes to lock gazes with some of the assembled people before him, waiting for anyone else to make his or her opinion known, before he said, "Now, we go to the more exciting operation, Operation Errant Runner"

Harry smiled when he noticed that the Weasley twins were now seating straighter, clearly, they wanted to know everything about the raid.

"Commander Irina Engels led that raid, and we have her here with us now" Al said, he gave way for the woman who was following him. Harry and Hermione noted that a smile passed between the two, but that was it.

Harry studied this relatively newcomer. She was about a head shorter than Al, with short medium blonde hair that might even be classified as brown. Her eyes were brown – the color of chocolates, Harry thought, just like Hermione's – and she had a taut body. Harry considered that if he was not head over heels with Hermione, he might have looked at this woman twice.

Hermione also studied this newcomer, but unlike her husband, she was also studying her interaction with Al York. It was clear that there was a relationship there, though from what Hermione could tell, it was probably a complicated one.

"Thank you, Al" Irina said, she looked at him and smiled again towards Al – they are on a first name basis, so there must be something there since everyone refers to Al as 'commander', Hermione thought –, before she turned his attention back to the assembled crowd, "I would not bore you with the details of the raid, suffice to say, it was a boring one, though if you are interested, I am sure that we have a pensieve in here somewhere, so I would go straight to what we found in the Burrow".

Irina breathed in before she started her report, "We found several potions in a hidden location in the kitchen" – that alone confirmed that it was Molly – "that are disturbing".

"What kind of potions are we talking about Irina?" Al asked.

"Impatient as always, Al" Irina replied, turning towards him with a suggestive smile on her face – Harry noted that Al returned the same suggestive smile – before she said, "Love potions, as suspected".

Al nodded. Harry turned towards Fred and George and noted that the expressions on the faces of the twins have turned dark, but Irina was not yet done, "We believe that it was a much more complex amortentia-type of potion, and our potions experts are working on it as we speak".

"We got to rescue dad now!" George shouted.

Al looked at the twins, and then sadly shook his head, "I know that you want him back, gentlemen, but if we are dealing with a love potion, then we best be careful" he looked at Irina and asked, "Do you think that it has become self-sufficient?"

"Almost certain" Irina replied with a sad tone. A huge scowl appeared on her face, "This long, and with seven children?" she asked rhetorically, "I would also say that he has become dependent on it, we can take him out of it, I am sure, but it would be a long and tedious process"

Al nodded; he turned to the assembled people before him and noted the blank expression on the faces of the four younger Hogwarts students and the expressions of anger on the faces of the Weasley twins. He sighed and then said, "Fred, George, I know that you want to rescue your dad, I want to as well, he is a very well placed member of the Order, and I need not remind you that we have lost all of our contacts with the Order, but if the potion has become self-sufficient, we really need to plan this well".

"I have never came across that reference before Al" Hermione said, scowling a bit, though Al knew that it was just because she was disappointed that she had never came across it before.

Al nodded, he nodded once towards Irina, who moved away from the podium, allowing Al to return to it, before Al continued, "There is no magic in this world that is capable of making you fall in love with someone" he said, "Amortentia, or love potion, works, at best, as a sort of a diversion, diverting the affections that you have for someone else to someone else, like an irrigation canal."

"At worst" Al continued his lecture, "it is nothing more but a liquid imperious curse, mind control, deadly, and deserving of nothing less than death".

"Just as there is no magic that can make you fall in love with someone else, there is also nothing in this world that can make you fall out of love with someone" Al continued, "and I ask you, what is the greatest manifestation of the love that a man and woman share?"

The students – indeed, some of the adults in the room – looked blank at what he had just said. Then Hermione raised her hand and said, "Children".

Al smiled, "Five points to Gryffindor, Lady Hermione" he replied, and then he nodded, "Children".

"Seven of them" Irina said, she looked apologetic as she continued, "Yes, there might have been a love potion involved, but the crux of the matter remains that Arthur Weasley fathered seven children" she looked at Harry and Hermione, "Any man and woman can conceive a child, yes, love need not be in the equation, but once that child comes into this world, he or she is loved by his or her parents unconditionally, no matter the defects, no matter the abnormalities, no matter their quirks, no matter where they came from" she smiled tragically, "or at least, any good parent should, and Arthur Weasley, from what little I know of him, is a good father"

"So basically" Hermione said, "Arthur has also developed feelings for Molly?"

Al nodded, "It was inevitable" he replied, "but for the sake of his children, he had to" he looked sad as he added to Fred and George, "you are not the reason that your father is in his predicament right now, you are innocent of all of these manipulations that your father has fallen into".

"You said you can save him?" George asked after a few moments of silence

Irina nodded, "We can" she replied, "We are not going to remove the affection that he has for your mother, we are merely going to tell him everything that has happened and hope that he will take it well" she smiled, again, tragically, as she added, "It's all up to him actually, though given the potions used, we will need time to brew an effective counter to it".

Fred and George nodded, "Should we tell Bill and Charlie?" George asked, he was clearly uncertain of what to do next.

"We will take care of that" Irina replied, she glanced at Al, who nodded, and then she added, "I best return to Potter Island to help my researchers" she bowed before Harry and Hermione, her right fist over her left chest, "It was a pleasure meeting you in person, my lord and lady, we will meet again"

Ministry of Magic

London, England

Sirius Black was mighty well pleased that the guard at the Ministry entrance knew as much about muggle weaponry as a chicken knows how to play a flute. Which was not really that much, Sirius considered with a smile as he walked along the hallways of the Ministry towards his office.

As he remembered his confrontation with the ministry security guard at the desk beside the Atrium, Sirius thought about the story that Al had told them when he came here as Anton Rosseu just last month.

With a small smile, Sirius remembered that the Battle Wizard was able to smuggle not one, but five MP-5K sub-machineguns into what was supposed to be a secure facility in the whole of magical Britain. Of course, Al confirmed that same night – when only the adults were up– that he not only smuggled five sub-machineguns into the ministry, he was also carrying two miniature fuel-air bombs that had recently been developed by the US Air Force.

Quite simply, if Al thought that their position would have become unassailable that time, he was prepared to use force.

That was the reason why Sirius did not hesitate to accept the job that Her Majesty's Government had offered him. Aside from the fact that as a Black – a noble family that never signed the Magna Carta – he was answerable to the queen, Sirius was also looking for some payback towards those that had helped with his illegal incarceration.

Of course, Sirius knew that not everyone in the Ministry would view his presence with marshmallows and roses, the former Auror knew that most of the people in the Ministry would rather see him chucked back to Azkaban, despite his innocence being proclaimed.

That was the reason why Sirius asked Al for some help. Al was only all too willing to provide such assistance. Too much of it actually, Sirius thought darkly as he remembered Al assembling an entire company from the Potter family guards – all armed to the teeth with their firearms – for his inspection before informing Sirius that these men would be his bodyguards.

Sirius managed to placate Al by accepting only ten to be his bodyguards, and he would only have two close at hand, and those two were the men that were walking slightly behind him at either flank.

Both men were wearing dark suits, as was Sirius – he did not want to wear robes since he thought that that would be pandering to the purebloods – but the two bodyguards were also wearing earpieces on their right ears that connected them, via radio, to the other eight men that were close by. Should ten men armed with MP-7 Personal Defense Weapons not be enough, there was a Metropolitan Police installation nearby, and thanks to the deals that Al apparently made with MI5, the Metropolitan Police had been asked to assist them.

Sirius finally reached his destination, which he knew from memory was some sort of a conference room. He had been informed that those whom he had requested to be in his overseer team were already waiting for him inside, so he quickly entered the room.

As he had expected, there were four people in the room, but only one woman. Normally, the rather narcissistic – in a good way – Black would have been disappointed at that ratio – I so do not want to compete with three other guys for the affection of a lady, we sexy pieces of flesh need to be generous sometimes – but he knew that this was not the time to be trying to pick up a woman. Sirius also knew that he was more liable to get himself hexed by Amelia.

Sirius greeted each one inside the room with a nod of his head before he took his position at an empty seat in the round table. Sirius had specifically requested – a politely worded demand, actually, given his position – that a round table be used. It would prove easier to facilitate the message that Her Majesty had personally requested Sirius to deliver.

"Welcome to our first meeting" Sirius said, inclining his head once more towards the members of his personal team, he got polite nods in return.

"As you know, this council has been requested by the Muggle Government because they are concerned about the apparent disturbing trends happening within our society" Sirius continued, "I want to be perfectly clear, gentlemen and lady, that though I am the one that Her Majesty has spoken to, this council was, is, and always will be composed of equals"

There were nods around the table, "Her Majesty has given me the go signal to handpick the members" Sirius admitted after a few moments, "and I have decided to share all of these responsibilities with you because I know of your convictions in seeing justice done, and your convictions in helping the ordinary witches and wizards".

Sirius turned to Arthur, the former Department Head looked as if he had not slept for a good number of days. Considering the situation that he found himself in – he was fired for something that was not his fault – Sirius was actually surprised that he was still holding himself together. Sirius had already received the report of the raiding team, and he had spoken with Al right after Al had given the brief.

In addition to being the nominal head of this council, Sirius was also tasked with assessing Arthur's current condition.

"We will be compensated for this Arthur" Sirius said, a thin smile graced his face, "Her Majesty is not one who asks her citizens to render free service"

Arthur nodded and smiled, though there seemed to be little enthusiasm in it, "Arthur, you will be in charge of looking into the incidents wherein the muggle and the magical world have collided" Sirius said, "As such, you will be talking to a lot of members from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, the Obliviators, and the likes. Given your former position in the ministry, I felt that this was the best position for you" Sirius looked at Arthur, "Do you accept?"

Arthur nodded, "I do" he replied.

Sirius nodded, he turned to Amelia, who was seated next to Arthur, "Amelia, as Head of the DMLE, I felt that you should be in charge of looking into our internal security" he said, "We need to insure that there are no Death Eaters in the Ministry" Sirius looked every bit his namesake as he added, "it was the debacle with Malfoy that convinced Her Majesty to find a solution on her own".

Amelia nodded, "I will get on it as soon as possible" she replied.

"Broderick" Sirius continued, the Unspeakable was next in line, "We need your help in investigating magical artifacts and the likes that your office loves to play with" Sirius said, "Coordinate with Arthur if you have to, but we need to prevent them from interacting with the muggle world in an unsafe manner, meaning, we need to prevent them from interacting with the muggle world at all"

"I will do my best to live up to the expectations of Her Majesty, Earl Black" Bode replied with a nod. The senior unspeakable paused for a few moments, and then said, "If I may, we have detected some unauthorized people near our office for some time and I would like to request anyone who would come across any information relevant to this to inform me" he said the last pointedly towards Arthur and Amos.

Sirius smiled thinly, it would appear that Broderick Bode was not an unspeakable for no apparent reason. The man was aware that Dumbledore and Voldemort had somehow developed an unhealthy obsession with his office.

"Finally, Amos" Sirius continued after promising Bode that he would tell him anything relevant to his request, "As the most competent administrator in all of us here, I would like to leave you with investigating the Executive Board of the Ministry," Sirius sighed before he added, "I know that you still want some form of justice for your son, and I assure you, we will deliver justice, but I need to know that you will not let your personal bias against Fudge color your work".

"It will be done" Amos promised, he nodded once towards Sirius.

"Good" Sirius said, "I will be in charge of investigating Azkaban" he said. Sirius saw the cringe that all four members of his team performed when he said that. It was generally believed that those who spent a considerable amount of time in the prison would not want to be anywhere within ten kilometers of it, but Sirius was volunteering on returning. He smiled as he added, "As the only person to ever escape from the prison, I felt that I am the only one who knows it like the back of my hand, besides" he added, "my visits to the prison will be few and far between, I am actually hoping to see the case files of the prisoners there"

Amelia nodded, "I see" she replied, "Her Majesty's Government must also be concerned about the apparent lack of trial that you suffered"

Sirius nodded, "Indeed" he replied with a smile, he sighed once and then said, "Now, we are a council of five" he continued, "As such, any important matters that we have to decide on would be put to the vote, as we are five, there would be no ties, unless one of us abstains, should that happen, the motion would not carry" he looked at the members of the council, "Are we agreed?"

Amelia looked at Sirius for a few moments, and then added a concern, "Would this not severely hamper our mandate to act with all haste?" she asked, "Voting on matters would take time"

"I agree with Amelia" Amos said, "Sometimes, time is of the essence, especially when we are going to arrest someone"

Sirius nodded, "Her Majesty's Government has expressed concerns in regard to this as well, and the Right Honorable Prime Minister suggested that all motions be given temporary effect for a period of two days before it goes up for vote" Sirius said, "In regards to arresting a person, we can legally detain a person for forty eight hours without any charges against them"

"True" Amelia conceded, inclining her head towards Sirius.

"I am worried about the press that this would attract" Arthur said, he looked at Sirius and said, "Surely the Daily Prophet would not allow us to do our job properly, considering that Fudge is in control of it"

Sirius smiled, "Do you remember Anton Rosseu?" he asked, and when everyone nodded their heads, Sirius added, "He has several friends in the International Media, one of them a reporter by name of Joseph Andrews from the Wizard Times who is coming in from the United States, along with several others from neighboring countries," Sirius smiled, "Fudge might own the Prophet, but most everyone outside Britain equates the Prophet as nothing more than propaganda, and while some of our people do read the fish wrap, Xeno Lovegood did report a rather substantial increase in subscriptions to the Quibler, and said magazine has always been known to print the truth, even if it gets stretched a bit"

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Scotland

Severus Snape was angry, and when he was angry, his snakes knew better than to cross him. Unfortunately for them, the Potions Master was in their common room when he blew his top.

"I want volunteers" the Potions Master said, "I want volunteers to help me take on Al York"

With a wide smile at his face, Draco Malfoy – who had just very recently returned to school after an unexplained two week sabbatical– raised his hand. A few moments later, his two goons followed suit. Having been humiliated by what he assumed was Potter and his girlfriend, Blaise Zabini raised his hand a few moments later.

Half an hour later, half of the house, including several seventh year students, had raised their hands. Severus Snape smiled as he revealed his plan to his students, though he did scowl a bit when Goyle and Crabbe asked for him to repeat it.

In response, the Potions Master shouted his plan at the top of his lungs, he really did not need to, though, he just wanted to, he would later claim that it was to blow off some steam. Of course, the dragonfly camera that Hector had assigned to Snape permanently – it was following Snape twenty hours a day, even when the Potions Master was on the bathroom, though there were no one in the cameras during such eventualities, the ones watching felt the need to take baths themselves – did not need Snape to shout his plans.

It did help though, because now, Hector and his surveillance team were aware what the greasy-haired dungeon master was planning. Promptly warned, Hector sent the report to Al a few moments later, and then tried to decide if he would have a cheese or barbecue popcorn when he watched Snape's plan unfold the next day – wait, sour cream popcorn might be a good bet too.