A/N so this one has been hanging around in the back of my mind for a while, got a couple ideas for moving forward but nothing concrete. maybe one day...
The Call
"Retired Colonel Daniel Granger?"
"Yes." Dan Granger spoke into the late night phone call. He had separated from the military years ago, choosing to become a dentist with his wife yet still had the instinctual responses ingrained in him. "May I ask who is calling?"
"This is Brigadier General Montgomery with Palace security. I have a couple questions for you, but to assure you I am who I say I am, I'm looking at your service record. Your unredacted service record. It includes your part in the incident in Fitzroy."
"I understand," Dan confirmed, knowing that if he could even reference that incident he had the clearance he claimed.
"Thank you, now I Understand your daughter goes to a rather unique school."
"Sir, with all due respect, I'm not sure you-"
"I know about the Statute of Secrecy Colonel." The general interrupted. "In fact, that is why I'm calling."
"Sir?" Dan's mind was running a thousand miles an hour. Why was the most prominent question. Why did this general call him? Why did he know about the Statute? What did he know about it? Why was he the one they called for whatever they needed?
"I understand your daughter is friends with a Harry Potter, Is that correct?" The voice was formal, but even Dan could hear the bit of awe in the man's voice.
"She is."
"What do you know about the boy Colonel?"
"I… Honestly, not as much as a father might wish. I know my daughter downplays some of the incidents they've been involved with at their school. That part of our world is heading to a dark place and he's in the center, but fighting the darkness. I know that I've reported his so-called relatives five times to child services yet they have no file on them. And I know that no matter how much she denies it, she loves him."
"You reported his relatives? For what?"
"We think he's being abused, sir," Dan tried to maintain a professional tone, but the emotion from everything Hermione had told him about the boy's home life leaked through.
"I see," There was a pause, one Dan was familiar with as the general assimilated the new information. "Colonel, I'm not sure how much you actually know about what has been happening in that world and specifically with your daughter, but I have a request to make of you."
"I'm listening." Wariness was evident in his tone.
"First, I assure you this is a request, and any involved may deny this request with no negative repercussions to you or your family." The voice continued, obviously reading something, "Tomorrow, the train that returns your daughter from her school arrives. The Boy's current guardians shall be... Delayed. We ask that you take the boy home with you. The day after, you and your family, along with the boy, are invited to tea."
"Tea Sir?" Dan was rather confused, why would some general he'd never met want to have tea with him and his family?
"Yes, Tea." The man on the other end of the line confirmed, "Her Majesty is concerned about the events in their world and would like their perspective on it."
"Her… Her majesty sir?"
"Yes Colonel, Her Majesty." There was understanding and humor in the voice now. "She does care about all her subjects you know."
"Of course sir," The brisk attentive tone Dan assumed was backed by the straightening of his body to near attention. "We shall be there sir."
"One o'clock at the east gate please, Colonel, I'll meet you there."
"Yes sir," His wife was looking at him askance as she walked in to hear the last bit.
"I'll see you the day after tomorrow, sir." Dan could hear the smile in his voice as the line died.
"What's going on, love?" Emma asked, watching her husband stare at the phone before returning it to its cradle.
"I think we're going to have a house guest for a few days at least." His shell shocked gaze turned to her. "Then, the day after tomorrow, we have an invitation for tea."
"Tea?"
"Yes dear, Tea," Dan confirmed as he slowly eased his wife over in front of a chair. "with Her Majesty."