Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
Chapter Fourteen: Knight Watch
"I think what you two boys are doing for Witches is commendable. I've never been so proud." Molly complimented her twin son's from across the Sunday dinner table.
"Er,.. Thanks, mum." Fred hesitantly replied.
His twin colored embarrassedly next to him
"Are there more potatoes, Molly?" Arthur asked his wife.
"Certainly, Arthur, I'll just be a moment."
She'd no sooner left the room when her other children grasped the opportunity to take out the mickey.
"How's the opening of the new store going, Fred and George?"
"Peachy" George spat sarcastically.
"Just spiffing" Fred agreed with the same bitterness.
"Really?" Bill feigned ignorance. "I heard you had a rather large problem to deal with initially?"
"S-Several large p-problems." Ron barely gasped out as he tried and failed not to laugh.
Both twins colored at that as the rest of the table started giggling, even Arthur; who had a vested interest, couldn't help the snort that escaped.
"That's it." George announced, rising from the table.
Fred threw done his napkin on his unfinished plate, joining his brother. "I've had enough of this, myself."
"So you're both watching your weight then?" Hermione asked innocently.
The rest of the table broke out in guffaws at that.
With a last gasp of disgust, they turned and apparated away, just as their mother reentered the dining room.
"The twins left?" She noted disappointedly.
"They had to run, mum." Charlie informed his mother.
"They've got a lot of problems weighing them down." Hermione added with a mischievous smirk.
The rest of the table tried, but failed not to laugh.
"Oh, 'Mione!"Ron gushed appreciatively, kissing his wife's cheek and patting the bulge that was now showing on her lower abdomen.
Molly beamed at the exchange, oblivious to the snickers around the table.
After the meal was finished and the family retired to the living room, Molly served a treacle tart she made.
She sighed dejectedly placing her own smallish portion aside, (having remembered that it was Harry's favorite), and sidled up next to her husband seeking comfort.
Arthur put his arm around her shoulder in a half hug of support.
It had only been two weeks since Harry had fallen off the face of the planet, and already it seemed like two years. Christmas was only six weeks away and no one had any illusions that there wouldn't be several gifts left unopened under the tree this year.
When everyone was settled and enjoying their dessert, Arthur asked the room curiously.
"Anything new happen this week?"
Ron cleared his throat from the remains of his inhaled, second dessert and added. "Well, I found out who our new seeker is for this season,… and the next five years."
"Who'd you hire?" Bill asked.
"I didn't." Ron returned, slightly disgruntled.
"But aren't you the general manager and your primary role is player personnel, isn't it?" Charlie added his concern.
"I am, but this is something that Harry apparently arranged before he left. Not only did he get a top flight seeker to replace himself, but he got her under contract for the next five years." He answered intentionally vague; eyeing his sister whose interest immediately peaked at hearing it was a "her" that Harry had hired.
"Who'd he get?" Ginny asked coolly.
Ron pounced. "Cho Chang"
"What! That big eyed, big busted slag?" Ginny shot back in contempt.
"Ginny!" her mother hissed in a scolding voice at her language.
Ron was enjoying himself. First Hermione got the twins good. Now he was afforded the rare opportunity to take out the mickey on his 'baby sis'.
"I suppose she's playing for minimum? No doubt the illustrious Knight has made it worth her while?" Ginny drawled sarcastically, ignoring the hiss from her mother. "She probably has him sing her a lullaby every night before bed, that and the perks that follow?"she sneered suggestively.
"Ginny Molly Weasley!" her mother blurted out in a scandalized voice. "That's quite enough of that, young lady."
"It's not fair, mum. She bats her eyes and he moves heaven and earth to make it all better. I send him a note and he won't even meet me halfway?" she whined.
"He can't and won't, Ginny, and you know perfectly well why. He's made a vow and the loss of his magic not withstanding, Harry always keeps his word."Hermione defended her friend's actions.
Ginny's eyes narrowed to slits as she vented her wrath. "Oh, yes,… his word? Harry always keeps his precious word-TO YOU!" she bit out jealously.
Normally Hermione would have taken the bait and risen to the argument that Ginny was itching for, but she was trying to be a different person. A better person; one worthy of the friendship she'd all but ruined in her thoughtlessness for his regard.
Hermione took Ron's hand and smiled fondly. "I'm counting on it, Ginny. If he does, and he will; then we'll be spending out first year anniversary together. Our first and our fiftieth."
Ginny grimaced at that. She was just frustrated and anyone who knew her could see she really wasn't angry at Hermione, or even jealous,…well, not worriedly so?
"I could do with a promise or two, myself. When is it my turn?" she complained.
"When hasn't it been? You've just been too thick to know any better or too full of yourself to care?" Ron returned before Hermione could respond. Unlike his wife, he didn't feel he needed to be a better person just now. Besides, he was itching for a good row now the Hermione was always so calm… probably hormones.
Ginny was already seething at that, so Ron went for the throat before she could formulate a biting response.
"Oh, and just for the record; Chang's contract is more lucrative then your own. Harry must've been the one who received the "perks" in that deal."
Ginny's hand shot into her robe but Ron was faster and hit her with an incarcerus that had her tied up like a hog for market in a trice.
"UH-UH-UHHH." Ron waggled his wand at his seething little sister.
Ginny was spitting mad and was just about to let loose a string of expletives that would have had her mother shrieking to the heavens, so Ron hit her with a silencing hex for good measure.
Ginny's eyes bugged out in her frustration as she silently mouthed words that anyone in the know could easily recognize.
"Ginny!" Molly shrieked at reading her daughter's exaggerated miming.
"That's it for you." Molly warned as she pulled her wand and levitated a trussed up Ginny ahead of her as she marched up the stairs muttering… "A good washing out with soap will clean up that filthy mouth of yours, young lady. Never in all my life…?"
The room erupted with laughter as Ron bowed his thanks.
Once everyone settled, Hermione put to words a sudden realization. "Five Years?"
Ron nodded, his own face drooping in understanding. "I know, luv."
"What? Charlie asked worriedly at seeing their crestfallen expressions.
"I-If Harry signed Cho to a five year contract than he's not planning on returning…?"
"Anytime soon."Ron finished for her, taking her hand supportively.
After several tense moments, Arthur changed the direction of the conversation, hoping for something more positive.
"Bill,.. any investment opportunities in the works that might catch Harry's notice?"
Bill nodded grimacing.. "Several, but he's already a step ahead of me. He's apparently investing heavily oversea's and is buying up land, though where exactly, is a mystery. He's a got a major team of Gringott's elite working on something big."
"How big?" Ron asked curiously.
"Big enough that, Raynock himself, is giving it his undivided attention." Bill informed them with no small amount of awe in his voice.
Charlie whistled between his teeth in understanding the immense scope of such an undertaking that it would personally involve the Head of the Goblin Nation.
"Where is he buying land?" Hermione caught that bit excitedly.
Bill shook his head dejectly as he dashed her hopes. "Its need to know information and I don't need to know." Bill quoted.
Bill spread his hands out before him as he continued sheepishly "So being the conscientious man that I am, I.. er,..snuck a look at the books."
"And?" Hermione blurted nearly coming out of her seat in anxious anticipation
"And the land is registered in the name of the Phoenix Foundation, but the actual coordinates for said parcels is anonymous which can only mean…?"
"A Fidelius Charm." Arthur assumed.
"Right in one dad." Bill acknowledged. At seeing his sister in-law's disappointment he added. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but did you really think it was going to be that easy?"
"No." she agreed dejectedly, "but I'd hoped."
"I did manage to find that there are six parcels in total currently." Bill added hopefully.
Hermione brightened considerably at that "Well, it's a start at least."
Arthur nodded his agreement and then asked "Charlie,…I believe you mentioned you have some news?
Charlie grinned sheepishly before dropping the bombshell: "I've seen him."
"What?" Hermione shot out of her chair. "When,… where… is he…?"
"Whoa…" Charlie held up his hands pleadingly. "Slow down, girl. I saw him , but only at a distance. He came into the Dragon Reserve not two days ago. He was big as life, dressed in full armor with Gryffindor's sword sheathed at his hip."
"Potter's Providence." Bill corrected his brother before he could continue.
"Beg pardon?" Percy asked in a puzzled tone."What's this Potter's Providence?"
Bill smirked as he informed them, "The sword, of course. The Goblin's decreed that the sword of Gryffindor is to be named Potter's Providence henceforth and for all time!"
"Whoa" Charlie blurted at that, mimicking the look of awe shared by the rest of the room.
Shaking himself out of his shock, Charlie continued….
"I didn't know it at the time, but Harry presented my supervisor with documentation from the ICW and the Romanian Ministry that granted him carte blanc. Well, while the man stood their paging through the documentation and blustering like a fool, Harry scanned the reserve before apparating to cave of our eldest dragoness', we call her Elspeth, she's an Gray short tooth.
Now Elspeth is not exactly a sociable sort. She comes out of her cave hissing and spitting red flame. Harry, from what I could tell, dropped to one knee and began hissing something to her that I couldn't make out."
Ron nodded suspecting, "Parselmouth?"
"That's what I figured to." Charlie agreed, before continuing his tale. "Well Elspeth backs right off and damned if she doesn't start hissing back to Harry. They continued like that for several minutes until they seem to reach some sort of agreement. Harry stepped back from the dragoness and bowed formally to her. Then I saw something I'll never forget. Elspeth, extended a claw toward Harry and I thought she was gonna eviscerate him then and there, armor or no, but she doesn't?" Charlie paused in wonder before continuing.
"Harry took the claw in his hand and he reverently kissed her claw as if he was kissing the hand of the queen herself!"
Hermione fell back against the cushion of the loveseat she shared with an equally stunned ,Ron.
"He was." she offered by way of an explanation.
"What?" Bill asked aghast.
Hermione lectured."Don't you see it? He was asking permission for something from the dragon's leader, their Queen, and he treated her accordingly."
Charlie nodded. "Right in one. We never considered it until then, but all the younger dragon's seem to defer to her. We always thought it was an age thing, or because she's the biggest and most dominant, but it makes more sense now. Anyway, Elspeth's eyes hooded over appreciatively and damned if she didn't start wagging her tail in pleasure. Then, Harry stepped back and Elspeth started hissing up a storm. Within moments every dragon on the reserve is winging in or emerging from up out of Black Lake and gathering around the mouth of Elspeth's cave. Once they were all there, she hissed something and they all seemed to perk up at attention. Harry, he turns on his heal puts a fist to his heart and nods his head respectively to the lot. There must've been near sixty dragons there,... the entire reserve!" Charlie nearly crowed.
"I've never seen them gathered like that before, it's quite an intimidating site." he ventured. "Where was I,.. oh yeah, Harry bows to the colony and then stepped back. Elspeth hissed something again and the entire colony exhaled as one, shooting a giant column of fire into the air. Merlin, the heat of it was staggering and I was some hundred yards or more away." Charlie paused waiting for the group to get past their initial shock from that last before he finished his story.
"Then a score of dragons stepped forward and lowered their heads in some sort of bow to Harry and he bowed in turn to them. Then he turned and he saluted, he actually saluted, Elspeth! She reached out a gentle claw and placed it on top of Harry's head and hissed something softly to him. I don't have a clue what she said, but whatever it is, it had all the dragons in the entire reserve bend a knee and put their head to the ground in,… I don't know, admiration, maybe?" Charlie quessed.
The rest of the room stared wide eyed at that.
"After a moment, Harry stepped back, spun on his heel and mounted a Swedish Short Snout as smoothly as if he had been doing it all his life. With a last salute, he and the other nineteen dragons that had come forward and,.. volunteered, I guess? Well, he and the others shot into the sky and were gone before I could so much as call out to him, not that it would have mattered at the speed they were going."
His father fell back into his chair shaking his head in disbelief, a look that was mimicked by the rest of his gathered family.
"He has the dragons." Hermione
"Twenty dragons" Charlie echoed, still awed by the memory.
"Brilliant" Ron blurted out appreciatively.
"Brilliant?" Percy questioned more worriedly than excited. "He's got an army at his command. First, the whole of the Unspeakables and Night Shade: some three hundred strong highly trained personnel. Now, he's got a score of Dragons, as well. He's going to make war on us!"
Ron waved his worried brother's concerns away. "Oh, please, if Harry was gonna take over your precious ministry, he could've done it like that (he snapped his fingers for emphasis). It's a chess game and Harry steps ahead. He's marshalling his strength while building his defenses. Think about it? He's got at least six properties that we know of that are under the fidelius, and I'll bet you anything that he's got those three hundred spread out amongst them and their no doubt all in strategic locations across the map. Now add dragons. Why dragons, or more to the point what are dragons good for?" he turned his attention to his brother.
Charlie cleared his throat. "What aren't they good for? They can see for miles and their sense of smell is even greater. They're the greatest natural hunters alive. They can move well on land air or water-great swimmers. Flame that can liquefy steel, nearly impervious to most curses and I'm fairly certain that muggle firearms are useless against them as well; that hide can repel just about anything." Charlie outlined proudly.
Ron smirked knowingly. "So not only great protection, but they're great hunters as well, hmmm? Now, … before I forget, he also has the services of hundreds of elves at his disposal and we all know that there's not much those little buggers can't do. Their magic's different from wizards but just as powerful for the most part, if not more so in some cases. They can travel through wards that wizards can't. Elves are tireless and extremely loyal. The goblins are on his side, whatever side that is? Which means between his estate, Merlin knows just how much gold that is? Well, between Harry's estate and the Goblin's financial backing and savvy,… I think it safe to say that Harry's resources, financially speaking, are nearly without limit."
"I'll say."Bill snorted at that. "I did manage to glean something that renders the necessity of any foreseeable financial assistance a mute point? Besides the Potter and Black estates, he's also the heir to both Gryffindor and,… wait for it…Merlin!"
Pandemonium reined for several minutes after the drop of that bombshell.
Once settled, Percy asked one of the questions on everyone's mind.' W-What's in Merlin's vault?"
Bill shrugged helplessly." Who can say, save for Merlin himself, or…Harry. Whatever it is, it's beyond priceless; be it a button hook or Excalibur itself! Anything belonging to Merlin could ransom a fortune in our world."
"Why didn't he ever…. How come he never…?" Hermione stammered dejectedly.
"Told us?" Ron finished for her.
Hermione nodded, wiping at her eyes.
"Because he would not want us to think differently of him." Arthur suggested sagely, explaining further. "He hates the attention he receives; despite however much he may deserve it. If it were generally known that he was the heir of Gryffindor alone, he would be treated like a king in our world. Think how much more so would be the reaction if it were discovered that he was the scion of the great one? Forget what you have heard here. Put it out of your minds. He is Harry Potter and that is all and only who he wishes to be." Arthur paused before chuckling. "That's quite more than enough in and of itself."
The rest of the room nodded their chuckled in relief and nodded their agreement as well as taking a magical vow to remain silent regarding Harry's heritage.
Afterward, Arthur looked to his youngest. "You're the chess master, Ron,.. given the evidence at hand, what do you think he's really up to?"
Ron rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered outloud the variables that they were currently aware of: "Three hundred highly trained individuals spread over possibly six installations. That's fifty personnel per facility hmmm,… and their families…. They went too. Add dragons for security and or surveillance or tracking? More than sufficient elves to maintain said installations… Vast financial resources and last, but not least, the backing of the ICW?"
"Don't forget, Harry himself?" Hermione reminded him.
Ron goggled at her, before nodding and chuckling. "Good one, 'Mione, I nearly overlooked the most important piece on the chess board, the knight."
One person in the room watched the conjecture quietly, offering nothing herself. She didn't need to puzzle out Harry's actions. Fleur already knew what Harry was going to attempt. He had confided in her himself, the night of the Chinese Ministerial Ball. She knew it wouldn't be long before Ron would deduce at least a rudimentary idea of what Harry was undertaking. He was very clever, after all.
He was also very observant.
Ron was not so preoccupied in his musing that he didn't catch the furtive, almost knowing looks in his sister in-law's eyes.
Ron pointed his finger at Fleur. "I could sit here and ponder this all day, but why don't we just ask Fleur? I think-she already knows."
The room went dead quiet as alleys turned in question towards Fleur who smiled smugly, confirming Ron's accusation.
"You knew! You Knew!" Hermione raged at her sister in-law, springing out of her chair to confront Fleur.
Fleur flicked her silver, blonde hair back imperiously over her shoulder. It was a habit that she knew Hermione detested, which was why she did it on occasion.
"I do not know the how, only the why." She returned vaguely.
Hermione glowered at her. "You knew he was leaving and you didn't say a word. Not a single word." she accused caustically.
"I gave my witch's oath and I am still am bound by it. I did not need to give an oath, Harry did not require it of me, but I gave it to him just the same. I value his confiding in me and would do nothing to violate his trust."she returned in perfect English.
Hermione took a half step back. Fleur affirmation struck a nerve which she knew was what Fleur intended.
'Y-You could have advised him to come to me." Hermione struggled to make her pain known.
"Non" Fleur refuted coolly."You were not ready to listen. You only here what you want to here where Harry is concerned and will accept nothing from him but your own view point regurgitated back at you."
Hermione staggered to a nearby chair and nearly fell into it, wounded as she was by Fleur cutting, if not accurate condemnation of her previous stance in dealing with Harry.
"I…I deserve that." She admitted vacantly.
Fleur's eyes softened at Hermione show of humility. "I… I cannot tell you what he is doing or why, but I can, at least, tell you that he showed me a side to himself that night, that the rest of us cannot begin to fathom. An enormous responsibility has been placed upon his strong shoulders."
"What responsibility?" Hermione nearly begged worriedly.
Fleur shook her head regretfully.
"I appreciate your sense of loyalty." Arthur complimented, adding…"Is there anything else you can tell us, Fleur?"
Fleur smiled predatorily. Oui. My father calls Harry the last true chevalier. He is that,… and so much more. Would Harry have consented, I would have arranged a date between him and my sister in a heartbeat. I still will if he gives me half a chance." she intimated smugly.
"But why…he,… he and Ginny…?" Bill struggled to understand his wife's duplicity, seemingly against his sister's desires.
"He and Ginny are what, Bill?" Fleur shot back venomously. "Ginny is not worthy of him, no woman is, not even my own Gabrielle. But she would try to be. She would cherish him as he deserves to be cherished. She would honor him and all that he does. Would Ginny?" Fleur searched his eyes and was satisfied by the uncertainty she saw there.
"How many times must we watch her knowingly or not, break his heart?"
"Never again" a small voice returned from the stair case.
Fleur considered her sister in-law momentarily. "I would like to believe you, Ginny."
Ginny nodded her understanding. Her trust would need to be earned thru her actions.
Fleur turned back to the room. "At first I defended Ginny to him. I accused him of playing with her affections. He afforded me the patience of opening my eyes to his view point and I quickly saw the error of my ways. Later, I nearly begged him to give my sister a chance to win his heart."
Ginny's face fell at this, but she did not comment. Though painful, Fleur continued to explain her vantage point.
"My family would be thrilled to count a man like Harry amongst us. My home and my country value and honor such men. I am ashamed at how Britain, in general, has repeatedly misjudged him. Perhaps, to a degree, Harry himself is to blame for some of the public's mistrust? He does not take the time to explain his actions, but then again, I think he no longer feels he has to or that it is a waste of time to do so. People tend to believe what they want to believe. That night he righted many wrongs but what he did for Cho was done not only for her and her family, but in Cedric's memory."
Many gasped around the room in sudden understanding.
"Y-You mean he d-doesn't…? Ginny choked out with a hint of hope in her voice.
"He cares for her, but he does not love her. He helped her because Cedric would have wanted him to, that, and because it was the right thing to do. Cedric was our friend and fellow champion. Harry honors him still as so many of us should our beloved deceased, but do not. We only saw what we wanted to see that night, not what was really going on. Only now,… when it is far too late,… now you realize your mistake. It is a sadness, oui?" she addressed the room in general.
Several around the room grumbled their agreement.
"I would like to tell you what he shared with me, but I don't think I could do justice to the breadth of Harry's vision. It was something that only another empath could truly appreciate."
At length, Hermione spoke. "I'm glad you were there for him. I'm glad he can count on your friendship." She left unsaid her implication that Harry could not count on her own.
Fleur nodded sadly. "He can count on yours now, I think, oui?"
Hermione nodded adamantly, scrubbing at her eyes as she did so.
Fleur turned her attention to Ginny again. "I am sorry if this hurts you, Ginny, but if Harry should ask tomorrow to meet Gabrielle, I'll…"
"I understand." Ginny interrupted hollowly.
They shared a long look of mutual acceptance and understanding..
Christmas came and went at the Burrow with no news on the Harry front from any quadrant. New Year's, however, was a different story.
January 1, 2001
The Daily Prophet
The Knights Have Returned!
No longer shrouded in mystery, this paper has learned that the man behind the establishment of the Phoenix Foundation is none other than our own, Harry James Potter-Magical Knight in service to the magical races.
As our readers may remember, the Phoenix Foundation was the agency responsible for buying out the contracts of all house elves within the European theatre, throwing many homes and business' in domestic crisis.
Knight Potter has informed the Prophet that the move was necessary to liberate the elves, per their own requests in the face of our own governing authority's failure to successfully enact the Elf Freedom Act last October. His action, on the elves behalf, improved their living and working conditions and general quality of life.
As Knight to the Magical Races, Knight Potter is well within his jurisdiction in this regard and readers should further be cautioned that he did so legally and ethically per the articles set forth in the Treaty of 1302 between Wizarding kind and the sentient Magical Races.
Upon further investigation, this paper has learned that the Phoenix Foundation is a nonprofit agency established for the purpose of research, rescue and recovery in both the magical and non magical world.
The Foundation is the largest humanitarian organization of its kind spanning the globe in six locations. All locations area a highly kept secret under stringent security precautions to maintain the safety of its members and their individual families, as per their motto:
Lives Come First.
In keeping with their humanitarian effort; the Foundation has announced the launch of its own tactical division: Knight Watch.
Knight Watch, as its name implies, was founded by Magical Knight, Harry Potter, and is manned by numerous former operatives of both the Britain's Unspeakbles and the Chinese Night Shade divisions, which have since disbanded as of a necessesity due to a lack of available personnel to resume operations.
Knight Watch is fully sanctioned as a peace keeping force by both the International Confederation of Wizards and the United Nations Security Council, (a similar organization to the ICW within the non- magical world).
Knight Potter stresses all members of Knight Watch are highly trained professionals whose primary purpose is the protection of the innocent. He further states that although he is counted among the members of 'Knight Watch' it is a wholly honorary, consultant position, with enlistment only as a temporary field operative on an emergency basis. His first and primary duty is to the Magical Races.
Knight Potter intends to spend any available time outside of his duties as a Magical Knight in both training of operatives for Knight Watch and continued involvement in fund raising efforts to support the Phoenix Foundation who will provide all of its services free of charge to those in need, be they individual or the world as a whole!
Both magical and non magical ministries worldwide have been provided emergency floo and telephone numbers to contact Knight Watch should the need arise.
The ICW cautions all civilian populations that the members of Knight Watch operate under their sole responsibility and should be considered as having all jurisdictional authority in any area of involvement.
"Wow" Ron gasped as he read the article for the second time over his wife's shoulder, (having not believed his eyes the first time thru).
Hermione sighed appreciatively as she dropped the newspaper back on top of her now cold breakfast.
"Well, we knew he was planning something big, but this?" Ron shook his head in awe as he dropped into his own chair across from Hermione.
After several long moments of not receiving even a hint of acknowledgement from his blankly staring wife, he asked worriedly… "What do you think, luv?"
Hermione quirked a half smile and answered with no little admiration, "I think he's going to change the world."
At the British Magical Ministry….
"You have reached the Phoenix Foundation's Knight Watch division. Please state your name, location and the nature of your emergency?"
"Arthur Weasley: Minister of Magic for the United Kingdom." Arthur spoke into his office's private floo.
"One moment….. voice analysis verified. What is the nature of your emergency, Minister Weasley?"
"Er,… it's rather urgent that I speak with Magical Knight, Harry Potter." Arthur inquired hopefully.
He'd rushed to make this call as soon as he was officially provided Knight Watch's floo address. His only thought in mind being to make amends with Harry.
"Knight Potter's services are only available to Knight Watch on an auxiliary, emergent basis. How can Knight Watch be of assistance this morning, Minister?"
"I, ah,... really don't have an emergency here, per say, but it is rather urgent that I get into contact with Harry Potter?" Arthur tried again more desperately.
After a long pause; the receptionist on the floo replied. "I could connect you with Knight Potter's residence?"
"T-That would be wonderful, thank you." Arthur gushed appreciatively.
"One moment, but I caution with all due respect, Minister, please do not contact this office unless you are experiencing an actual emergency. Have a pleasant day- Knight Watch out."
The receptionist strict warning was not lost on Arthur. They would obviously not be accommodating him in future.
The floo connected and Arthur leaned forward in his chair expectantly only Harry's face did not come into view. Instead, a familiar portrait of a squat knight precariously perched atop a fat little pony.
"Forsooth, who dares disturb the peace of my master's abode? Speak quick vagrant, or face the steel of loyal Sir Cadogan!" The little knight drew his miniature sword and brandished it in a threatening manner.
Arthur rolled his eyes impatiently. Harry was obviously screening his calls in a rather inventive fashion.
"Minister Arthur Weasley calling, I'd like to speak to speak to Magical Knight Potter, please."
The knight sheathed his blade and began laughing uproariously. "Minister? Ho… that's a good one! Me, I'm the Prince of Wales and this…" he slapped his pony's rump for emphasis, "…is little Lord Fauntleroy. He-He-He."
He began laughing so hard at his own jest that he rolled out of his saddle and fell with a clank from the back of his pony.
Arthur scowled. "Now see here? I am the Magical Minister of the United Kingdom and it's urgent I speak to Harry Potter." he demanded.
The little knight wiped tears of mirth from his eyes and waved off Arthur's demands airily.
"Har-Har, you jest, sir. No doubt you're some irksome solicitor looking to peddle your shoddy wares. Scoundrel though you no doubt are, you're an amusing one at least. Be gone charlatan, lest you taste my steely wrath!"
The flames died, ending the floo call before he could get in another word of protest.
Arthur fell back into his chair dejectedly. Well played, Harry.
Lunch at the Burrow….
"Were you able to contact Harry, Arthur?" His wife beseeched him the moment he emerged from his floo, finding a host of hope filled eyes waiting expectantly.
"No…" Arthur sighed. "I figured it was a fool's errand and was proven correct when put in contact with a rather ingenious call screening system at Harry's office." Arthur groaned appreciatively.
"Call screening?" Ron asked.
His father nodded. "Anyone of you ever run across the portrait of the mad knight with the fat pony at Hogwarts?" he asked his family.
"You mean, Sir Codswollop?" Fred smirked.
"Cadogan" Hermione corrected him.
"Gred had it right." George remarked. "He's a nutter, that one."
"And Harry's using his portrait to screen his calls." Arthur supplied. "Rather effective deterrent, I must say."
"You will try again, w-won't you?" Ginny asked anxiously.
Her father shook his head apologetically. "No. I was warned not to call unless I had a viable emergency that required their assistance."
"But you're the Minister of Magic, Arthur?" Molly groused.
"And they're an independent organization with the full backing of the highest authority in the magical world. Knight Watch is an emergency response, rescue and recovery organization, not Harry's personal answering service. They're well connected and not to be taken lightly." he cautioned the room.
"Look,…I'm sorry everyone, especially so because I had a significant role in Harry's estrangement from this family. Despite what we may wish for ourselves, I'm afraid that we must resign ourselves to the fact that Harry's moved on from our immediate lives and is making his mark in the world. I honestly don't think we've seen the last of Harry Potter and am reasonably sure that when he's of a mind, he'll come back into our lives in some fashion. Until that time all we can do is push on as best we may and be ready to make the most of our chance when the opportunity to reestablish relations, with Harry, presents itself." Arthur suggested.
Many present reluctantly nodded their agreement. Some did not. One such…
"Most of us are responsible to a degree for his leaving." Hermione admitted responsibly, before adding venomously. "But you did the unthinkable. You all but banished him from his home. Every minister he's encountered since his resurgence into the magical world,(at the young age of eleven), has manipulated and betrayed him in some fashion. Yours pales only slightly in comparison to that bungler, Fudge. You might remember him trying to throw Harry in Azkaban at the age of thirteen for merely defending himself and his cousin from dementors; which , by the by, were sent to kill him by that selfsame corrupt ministry in the first place. It's not bad enough that we as a nation have never recognized him and his efforts for the many sacrifices he's made in our behalf, but did we really have to go the opposite route and make his life unbearable?"
"Hermione… don't" Ron tried to dissuade her, grasping at her arm supportively.
"Don't what, Ron?" she asked incredulously, not really expecting an answer. "Don't accept responsibility for my part in this? This,… this…what did you call it, Fleur?" She turned her eyes to her sister in-law nearby. "This "sadness", wasn't it?" she questioned with a wan smile.
"Oui" Fleur agreed glumly.
"That's as good a description as any I've heard. My God,…. Look what he's doing? He's making his mark on the world? That's a poor analogy if ever I've heard one? He's changing the world, while we sit around feeling sorry for ourselves when we could've been helping him. We should be helping?" she reminded the room.
She missed the uncomfortable shifts in posture of her twin brothers' in-law as she scrutinized the others present.
"Maybe he would have still had to leave to do what he's doing and maybe not? We'll never know for sure because the option was taken from him. You did that." she spat accusingly in Arthur's direction, shaking him to his core.
"My best friend has gone and as much as I'd like not to believe I didn't have some part in driving him away, I can't. But for all that, you were the straw that broke the camel's back, Arthur."
He was visibly shaken by that, not just her accusation, but that she was now calling him by his first name instead of dad.
"I hate you for what you did to him. You put yourself and your family above him after having the audacity to call him one of your own. Then,… then when he was already despairing, you drove him from his home by using his desire to do what was right against him."
Hermione left off rubbing the growing swell in her abdomen affectionately. "My child will never have a Godfather now."
"Hermione?" Ron questioned worriedly, they'd talked about this possibility, but he'd hoped she would soften her stance.
"If it's not to be Harry, then it's no one, Ron. I won't have anyone else take his place. You know I'm right, Ron. It may never have been said out loud, but we always new in our hearts that it's what we wanted, didn't we?"
Ron scrunched up his face trying not to cry as he nodded agreement, not trusting his voice just now.
His father couldn't have felt more low or helpless. "I'll resign tomorrow. That way Harry can return without risking his magic." he offered sincerely.
Hermione shook her head. "No, I'm sorry for taking my frustrations out on you, Arthur." She shot his an apologetic half smile that he readily returned.
"I foolishly got my hopes up that he would actually respond to your call, but I should have known better. It's too soon. He needs time. We all do, I think."
Hermione ran her hand lovingly over her abdomen. "This was the perfect opportunity to cement him as a member of our family, but it slipped through our fingers like water. Our child may never grow up knowing firsthand the exceptional person their uncle Harry is. They won't see his twinkling green eyes or get to see him catch a snitch at their first quidditch match. He won't be here to see his niece or nephew off on the Hogwarts express. A sadness,… yes, that's exactly what it is,… a sadness."
Three month and half a world away….
"Knight Watch One reporting in"
"Knight Watch Two reporting in"
"Knight Watch Three is live and running at optimal, base."
"Knight Watch Four is fully operational."
"Knight Watch Five here, all systems green"
"Knight Watch Six is a go."
"This is Command One. Good hunting Knight Watch group."
Commander William Hoag switched off the com link. He afforded himself a few quiet moments of reflection…
Six Months. Six months of intense training. Stealth, weapons, surveillance, hand to hand, demolition ect, ect... The field agents of Knight Watch were already the best of what the magical world had to offer at the onset, now they were the best in the world. Twelve hour days, six days a week; all spent expanding on their already impressive repertoire of abilities.
No expense had been spared. The Phoenix Foundation had placed its not inconsiderable fortune behind the creation of 'Knight Watch'.
Each base of operation had its own command center, training facilities, recreational facilities, educational facilities, chapel and public housing.
Housing for three hundred operatives and their families had been provided at no expense to the recipients.
They were the best and they were compensated accordingly. Where they once made between eight to twelve thousand as formerly Unspeakable and Night Shade personnel, they know made a minimum of twenty thousand galleons a year. Housing was provided rent free, the occupants only responsible for their own utilities.
Education was provided for all members' families-free of charge.
Harry Potter had coined the phrase 'Lives Came First'. When he's outlined his reasoning for such an all encompassing undertaking, but this?
The man was an absolute marvel.
They'd hoped to be up and operational within a year but at the six month mark they already had agents in the field and early reports were encouraging, very encouraging.
Bill Hoag came back to the memo he received attached to this morning's report. Not surprising, (for those who knew him personally), Harry, himself, was their most pressing problem. He was literally, working himself to death.
When they'd first arrived and began installing security systems, magical sensors, training recruits individually and in teams and so on and so on; Harry had tirelessly devoted himself to making the Foundation a reality. Twenty hour days, seven days a week, he was anywhere and everywhere. When he wasn't training himself, or instructing others, then he was across the globe cementing relations with the magical and non magical world's governing bodies.
Then he'd pop up in some Merlin forsaken pest hole saving lives and directing all the credit for his actions to Knight Watch. No sooner had the cell door slammed shut, on whatever baddie he'd apprehended, then he'd be off again, this time attended some fund raising event or another to fund the Foundation.
The same foundation he's started with his own personnel fortune, which by all accounts, could fund their needs for a significant number of years. But that isn't what Harry envisioned. He planned for the Foundation to be self sustaining.
Thus he recruited some of the most brilliant minds across the globe to head the Foundation's research departments. Any option for improving the human and non human condition was intended to be explored.
The Goblins projected revenue return on some of their initial patents for potions and medical procedures was staggering!
But it wasn't enough for their errant knight. Six installations across the globe was apparently only the beginning. Harry planned to double that number within five years and even his vast fortune couldn't cover the expense. Thus,… fund raising.
His latest brain child: his own quidditch team. He even had the name already picked out.