Chapter 2: Discomfort

Harry, Draco, Ron, Fred and George took their respective seats in front of Hermione, who sat on a 13th century teakwood chair on a china silk cushion.

'Welcome everyone."

Harry spoke up. "Your victory is the proudest moment in all our lives. Having to report my work to my best friend is the best situation I could have ever imagined."

The rest of them concurred. They were respectively Heads of Departments concerning Aurors, International Magical Cooperation, Magical Law Enforcement and Wizardry Entertainment.

Hermione shook her head, "None of you 'report' to me. We were, are and would always remain allies. To you all, I will remain Hermione and no formal suffix or prefix is required. Having said that, let's get started. Our biggest task now is the friendly Quidditch match between Harpies and Slovenia Dark Bears next week. It is there that we take over the Quidditch Flame to prepare for the World Cup Final between the 2 national teams six months hence in Devon. Draco, how is their Ministry holding up?"

"Everything is fine at my end. Their assistant minister sent me the ticketing and accommodation arrangement. My department is tying up all loose ends smoothly. We expect a total attendance of 120,000. All said and done, we expect no glitches from either end."

"That is good, Draco. Ron, an event of this size carries with it a risk of mischief mongers on either side fans. Has your department covered all potential trouble spots?"

"No worries, Mione. Our respective ministries from both countries would take care of any such occurrence. We have covered 25 sources of trouble and their law enforcement departments have also made preventive arrests of overzealous fans. We have done the same at our end. I expect no trouble either. I will forward you the Master-file tomorrow."

"Harry, moments like this are perfect for a terror spectacle and forgotten Death Eaters rising up to show the world that they are still active. Chances are minimal but have you covered all bases yet, Harry?"

"We have and so have their Aurors. I expect a smooth game."

"That's real good news, Harry! Fred and George, are all arrangements made for a rib splitting closing ceremony?"

"You bet, Hermione! Our land's best dramatic talents have rehearsed on this for the past month. Most spectators will have their belly muscles aching with laughter."

Hermione smiled.

"That is it on work matters. Now that our main work topic is over and done with, I can share a few personal thoughts with you guys."

At this statement of hers, all of them visibly relaxed. They might be husband or best friends but in the confines of her office, without her express admission to the contrary, she was the Leader who commanded respect.

"Harry, Ginny must be over the moon now?"

Ginny had returned to active Quidditch after Harry and Ginny's son was born in 2003 and after retiring as seeker in 2007, took over the team as Chief Coach. They were 2nd in the league and improving rapidly and based on their current form, Slovenia Quidditch Association invited Ginny's Team for the Friendly against their Defending Champions. Harpies only male team member was Ted Tonks who was their Goalie. When Hermione handed her the invitation earlier that afternoon, she exuberantly hugged Hermione as would two best friends in their happiest celebratory mood.

"She was extremely happy and we both have plans for a wonderful dinner."

"Ron, is Luna going to join us tomorrow? Her magical creatures' conservation takes her too many places far away from England!"

The biggest surprise in their personal lives in the past decade was Ron marrying Luna in 2003. All were surprised by his choice but Hermione gave him all the support he needed. He rationalized that in a way they were alike-quirky, unpredictable but reliable. Luna and Neville worked with the Ministry of Magic to spearhead Magical Fauna and Flora Conservation efforts in England and around the world. Katie married Zabini in 2004, followed immediately by Neville and Pansy in 2005. Their love story blossomed in the 4 years after the 3rd Wizarding War after Pansy took up teaching History of Magic at Hogwarts part time since 2001 and full time since Sep 2002 after Mr. Binns decided to hand over his subject to the new generation.

"She will never miss the momentous occasion of celebrating your victory in the Burrow. She is even considering bringing a rare pet from Thailand as a gift for you."

Burrow was the bustling place these days with 7 Weaselys Siblings and their Spouses, Molly, Arthur, 2 children each of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bill and Percy, who married his long time Hogwarts GF in 2003: Rawenclaw's Penelope Clearwater. Hermione and Draco's daughter was born in 2008 named Helen Cissy Malfoy. She was the replica of her Mother and Narcissa. All children of that generation with the exception of Teddy and Aurey were born 2008-2010 and the latest one to be welcomed in the Family was Bill's daughter Gabrielle in April 2010.

Hermione replied, "Well, I hate to act as a spoiler but some things are causing a concern and I wanted to share my gut feelings with you guys. Needless to say, anything said from here on stays strictly in this room. No one is privy to it, not even our loved ones unless we clear it amongst ourselves."

Harry assured her it was needless to say and all would respect her word. They were all ears.

"I have done my background research on all Ministry Heads around the world in the past 2 years. The Slovenia Head of Magic is renowned for his flowery English speeches that he claims inspires audiences but in the past 2 days his public and private messages have not even got one idiomatic expressions. In fact, his speech today to his ministry had all but one idiom. Even leaving his speech style aside, the topics he chose to talk on has got nothing to do with issues of their current and near future importance but it was rather abstruse and abstract, quite unlike his focused approach to his talks. I fear he was under Imperious Curse."

Harry nodded with a worried pout, "Now that you mention it, it had crossed my mind. Two of my Aurors are stationed there just to ascertain this possibility. With our match next week, we can't ignore anything, howsoever trivial. It is not just their Magic Ministry. Even their Muggle President has been acting distinctively strange."

"Harry, similar to the Dark Mark, there are other symbols of Death Eater activity such as Red Scorpion,"

Harry interrupted her "Yes indeed, Hermione. The Yellow crocodile, black whale, purple vulture, etc. are all possible symbols."

Hermione smiled and so did the others. "I am impressed Harry. It seems my passion for reading has seeped into you as well."

"It is not that, Hermione. Even if I read twice your daily volume, which says a lot, I would be lacking your intelligence and insight. My main cause for due diligence is that this upcoming event is your first high profile public event and I want to leave nothing to chance. All of us in our families who care for you are putting in this extra effort especially for you."

Everyone nodded and Hermione's eyes moistened. "Thanks so much, guys. This really means a lot to me."

Composing herself again, she continued, "Please remain extra cautious with regards to whoever we are dealing with in the next 6 months. I suggest we setup an observation team which involves one of us actively involved all the time. Draco can provide you our International Activity schedule and we can closely monitor the situation."

Ron spoke up, "Hermione, it's got to be the 5 of us. You would be too busy with your new responsibilities. You play dispatcher amongst us and we are confident that if we are struck at crossroads, you will spare some time to help us, no matter what. As to the rest, you leave it to us and just indicate what you want done."

"Thank you Ron. I agree to it. I find similar grounds of suspicion in Muggle Italy, Germany and Magical Russia. I am meeting the Muggle PM and would warn him to exercise caution in his dealing with these 2 countries. Fred and George can go as part of a Laughter Festival delegation to Russia and report back their findings here. Casually you can learn the true picture out there."

Fred and George assured that this would be done in a jiffy. Harry would give them both updated information on potential Death Eater activity and Draco would setup their social commitments so that potential targets could be identified. Ron would work on Italy and Germany with England's Muggle PM. Hermione felt at ease after they planned out everything.

Hermione did have a nagging unease that years of instinct could not ignore but she was more than confident of solving things before they turned worse, having full confidence in her team.

AUTHOR NOTE: Hi All, thanks for viewing my story. Kindly review this story. I am developing the story at a slow pace but fear not, there will be a pickup in pace. What do you think of the consistency or changes in life of these 6 major characters?