Chapter 20: Success & Failure
Date: Tuesday, 9th November 2010
Time: 7 am, Malfoy Manor
The entire group gathered at the Malfoy Manor dining hall for an early breakfast, which was magically enlarged to accommodate more than 200 people including hosts, guests, staff and invisible security personnel.
After breakfast, Hermione wanted to speak, "I wish to thank every single person here, including our special guest Adena and our brave boys Teddy and Aurey, who we got here after a special permission from Hogwarts. Yesterday, my mindset was such that I wanted all of you close to me. We had the first death in this war yesterday and that could easily have been me. Jack gave me this new life. We must never take our opposition for granted. This time they used the chivalry of Lucas, next time any weakness from any of us is a possible weapon. We must be strong and have faith in each other but we must ultimately trust our own instincts, just like Veena and Jack did. Our captive guest Natalie, is still asleep though we feel she will wake up before noon today. We have physically and magically sealed the room with a brief explanation on how she got here, so that she does not panic. All of us, except the children, will meet her after work tonight. She is our guest but she is also a hostage, who is our main bargaining leverage in order to get the yellow box back. At work, we will vow to never be alone, from this day forward. I will take Veena with me. Athena's main assignment is to be an invisible third in command to Lucas's empire in his absence, which would be up to 3 days until the Quidditch World Cup final on 28th November 2010. She is to be the main ally to Adena and our representative in this invisible informal partnership. Athena's employment as Chief Science Officer was a master-stroke by Lucas. She is already part of the empire as an employee. This is a war of highly intelligent people and slightest mistakes are costly: Harry's kindness, his team's embarrassment, Lucas's chivalry, our own slip of mind in disposing our tea cups, Athena's curiosity, etc."
Veena's eyes suddenly misted, "We are all failing you, one by one. Harry, Athena, Malcom, Lucas and also me, because I did not think of the possibility of an Imperious Curse when alone in restroom. I have been involved in several battle strategies but this one is absolutely unique. When I fail my living hero, I consider this my greatest failure. I simply wonder what will constitute a true success in this war."
Celia asked to speak, surprising every other person, "I think we are all trying to define success and failure with very narrow parameters. Only medical people like Hermione and myself can define success and failure in the true parameters that nature intended: life itself. We know how many processes happen in our own body and subconscious mind functions that ensure we are alive each moment. Our magnificent brain, our special heart and every other cell, tissue and organ system selflessly carry out their function without judging the person outside. That to me is true success. War is competition: for territory, prestige or economic resources. It goes against the natural principles of abundance. Any act of war is a failure, irrespective of whosoever wins. That is why Lucas was a success, keeping an enforced peace. Jack acknowledged his failure in his dying moments, because he set off a chain reaction. He knew that he should have announced his presence earlier and tried to plea bargain for Hermione's safety against a cost to Lucas's empire."
Adena nodded, "I agree. We ought to try for peace till the very end. War is a losing option. I will reinforce the stringent controls Lucas had and try to rein them in. Athena works formally as the Chief Science Officer and informally as my main ally. We will not disturb Lucas at all. He needs to regenerate, because we have many challenges ahead. I will come back today evening and be present when you talk to Natalie. If she reveals even some minor details, I am in a very good position to act on it, because I know the boundaries of the dark world very well. For the moment, I take your leave. Goodbye."
As others waved farewell, Adena shoved in a handful of floo powder in the fire and she whispered her destination inaudibly before vanishing out of sight. Athena nodded and followed her out. The children followed, including Veena's son via a side along floo network.
Celia spoke, "I hope you did not take offense, Luna. I did not include you in medical people. It is just that Hermione and I connect much more subconsciously because we are both dealing with human medicine, so I spoke her name, but left out yours. That does not diminish your vital importance in any way. My own elder sister Rosalyn is a vet. She used to tease me that among both of us, I should be the real surgeon. In college, she had top percentage and the maximum eligibility to choose neuro-surgery but in her senior year, our 20 year old cat died. We lost a member of our family. We were all sad but she was inconsolable. This tabby was her birthday gift when she turned 4. She vowed that she will use her brains to help other families keep their animal members alive. She also spreads her expertise with wild animals and birds-at land, sea and air. She is now a specialist Neuro-surgeon with the European Veterinary Board. She may not classify herself as a real surgeon, but her training was as rigorous as mine as a Cardiothoracic Vascular American Board Certified surgeon and the tearful gratitude letters she gets each day are almost as voluminous as mine. Hermione and I are doing something vital, but then so are Rosalyn and you. We are all championing medicine in a unique manner."
Luna smiled, "It is OK, Celia. I do not mind. We are all dealing with medicine, only our focus is separate. By the way, if you want to keep your brain juices flowing, after work, I can spend a couple of hours each day and discuss the latest medical research. Comparative Biology will help everyone because the pathology is similar in many cases."
Celia agreed, "I would love that. There are also interesting parallels in the magical and muggle world. When I read the symptoms of sick dragons in Charlie's journal, that got transmitted to the care-taking wizards and witches, the pathology was uncannily similar to thermal injuries on skin surface in captive reptiles. Charlie took up these observations with the resident vet and she proved it correct. The red light that provided heat during winter months, were also burning the skin and young vulnerable dragons were getting sick."
Dudley stared at her in open admiration, "My my, Celia. I knew you were beautiful and intelligent. But I never guessed that your observations will find applications in the Magical world as well."
Celia shook her head, "Of course it has implications, Dudley. All of us, Magical or Muggle, we are connected to Mother Nature. What appears as magic to us, is simply because they are genetically better placed to use advanced laws of physics concerning space-time. That is how they sought my advice in training the bodies for faster reaction time against perceived threat. Science would say that their physical bodies are connected to their mind so perfectly that upon their very thought, they use floo medium or Apparate to destinations they think of, just as 2 quantum particles are non-locally connected. Similarly, they have tuned their consciousness and can remain alive as thinking beings in photos. Thoughts are energy and energy can neither be created nor destroyed. I know the explanation but I am not genetically advanced enough to use these powers."
Hermione was openly impressed, "Wow Celia. Thus far, none of us have heard such a clear and true explanation about our powers. If you wish, we can train you to be in the Magical World. I can garner all necessary permissions for that."
Harry and the rest of Hermione's core group nodded in appreciation and encouragement. Hermione signaled ever other person to go on their respective duties except her core group, herself, Luna, Dudley and Celia. She asked the elves to come back.
Celia disagreed, "I would be going against Nature, then, irrespective of whether or not, you secure the permission. Nature wanted me to be just as I am and created me to be me. Dudley is also only helping you, not going against his basic nature as a Muggle. My brains are the gift of Mother Nature that I need to use for the welfare of fellow humans: Muggles in medicine, Magical folks with my clarity of analysis and observation."
Hermione engulfed Celia in a warm embrace, "You are the most pragmatic person I have ever met, Celia. That qualifies for all people apart from myself. I would also never compromise against my basic nature. We would love to keep you involved throughout this mission but if your baby demands your attention, please feel to withdraw at any moment. He/she is your biggest priority now."
Tears stained the face of Dudley, "Thank You, Hermione. Both of us have no words to express gratitude of what you are doing for us and how much you care for our baby. Celia is all set to have a comfortable last few months of her child bearing, waiting in eager anticipation. She has taken a paid leave for the final trimester, as per your advice. We jointly decided that if we have a girl, she will be named Hermione and if it's a boy, you will name him."
Hermione was all dressed formally and ready to go but she suddenly sat down, trying to steady herself before she spoke with a trembling voice with tears sprinkling down her cheek, "I am an emotional person, and my core group knows that, as do all people who love me. They also know that a sudden outpouring of love and honor can make me unsteady. I was mentally prepared for the eulogies of Uncle Arthur and my core group when I was appointed as the Minister of Magic but this is an unexpected and a massive honor. I also do not have adequate words to express my gratitude for this. I must however go now and carry out my normal duties"
Hermione continued, "Patrick, Pernie and Kreachera, I have a special responsibility for you today. You will wait on Natalie and when she comes to, one of you will explain her about all the events that transpired after she was stunned. Kreachera will inform Harry. Patrick is to keep her comfortable as my guest till we all back later today evening but he may come to me for no more than 2 minutes, if he so desires. Goodbye Molly, Arthur, Narcissa, Dudley, Celia and the rest of the home dwelling folks. After we discuss matters this evening, we will decide who and when we return to our normal homes. My core group meets me at 10am. Bill, Percy, and Charlie will join us then. I have specific mission related tasks for them. Veena stays with me for the full day. In office, the only place we speak of this mission is my room, which Malcom has confirmed that it is completely safe. Apart from us, no other wizard or Muggle ought to know about something going on. Luna, I have instructed every person that if you suspect something, however minor or major, just hop into my office and relay it. In this war of instincts and fine lines, nothing is minor. Let us all leave for work now. Luna, you will join me at my office at 9-45am, before the meeting with Bill & co."
Date: Tuesday, 9th November 2010
Time: 9-20 am, Hermione's Office
At work, she asked Veena to do her own work while she tried to finish off her routine decisions, many of which circled around the Quidditch World Cup final. It was certainly her biggest public event. At the precise second, Luna announced her arrival at 9-45 am.
Luna took one look of askance at Hermione, who replied, "Veena is here not just for my enhanced security, I can grant her immediate advanced resource access to all HER areas of research. Speaking of research, which is the main I reason I called you in. Veena's presence here is ideal because she is also an expert on this topic. As we discussed in the morning, ever noticeable weakness becomes a weapon in the hands of our enemy. The gnawing weakness we currently have is fiendfyre. I would like to devote all my brains to find a healing cure against it but to perform experiments, I need subjects. I can't use my hand, etc. and neither can I use gnomes. They are extremely sensitive to pain and the pain is a very very excruciating one. They are also poor candidates for pain neutralizing potions. Both of you are experts at Vet Medicine. Please tell me another magical creature, who can tolerate fiendfyre for the duration of a 5 minute experiment and is not extremely sensitive to pain reliving potions before and after the experiment. These potions are a must. No living creatures, even they be our sturdy subjects, ought to bear this level of pain."
Veena smiled, "You are truly a kind person, Hermione. Muggles have similar experiments but most of them only care about disposing their subjects, not their physical and mental well-being. As to the species, there is just one species naturally suited to bear a burning pain and that is dragons. Their male kind is used to compete for the female and they attack each other with their biggest weapon: fire. Their skins are naturally developed to survive a fire attack. We compared effect of fiendfyre and dragon fire on living dragon tissue stored in a Petri dish. The components of both and the maximum temperature they reach are strikingly similar. Norwegian ridge-back dragons, in particular are the sturdiest in terms of pain medication. Their adult male is the best specimen for your healing experiments. However, you need a special fire proof lab and special fire proof clothing. They may be used to fire but they will certainly not be amused. You can use these experiments for a maximum period of 7 days, their natural fight cycle for females."
Hermione nodded, "7 days/dragon is more than enough time. We now have to build such a lab and clothing equipment. I will get the best engineers from Percy's administration department on the job. Luna, do you agree on the choice of species? (Luna Nodded), OK, it is settled then. Charlie, please join me. (Charlie came in) Charlie, please arrange the transfer of an adult healthy male Norwegian Dragon to our special lab in Southampton in the next 5 days. Repeat a fresh transfer once every week till I ask you to stop. Please make sure that the travel is most comfortable for him and provide me their dietary requirements. Luna, you provide me with all the physical and mental well-being aspects of these species. We will keep them as happy as possible." (Charlie nodded and left, followed by Luna.)
Hermione then called in her core group (Harry, Ron, Draco, Fred and George) & also Bill and Percy.
She began, "I just found a Ray of hope on the success of my healing experiments. (Hermione updated them about the latest developments on fiendfyre). Bill, have you made any significant process in tracking down their (Dark Force) finance routing?"
Bill nodded, "My sources and I have analyzed unusual transfers. The obvious suspect is large fund transfer so my supplementary teams are investigating those. I have personally tried to correlate dark elements with a sudden opening of new SME accounts with dubious business operations. These accounts are the means they use to circulate money between their networks but we are sifting out dubious cases against the genuine cases. I can foresee a major breakthrough by the end of this week."
Hermione smiled, "That is great work, Bill. If we can track and block their funding flow, our war is half won. Percy, can your team build me this lab in 5 days at our Southampton complex with absolute secrecy?"
Percy affirmatively nodded, "You just leave it to me, Hermione. We will get it done."
Suddenly, Patrick came in and bowed before Hermione. When Hermione asked him to speak, he said, "Natalie has woken up 3 minutes back and she read your note. She was extremely calm and composed. She told me that she will wait for all of you and then took a healthy and light breakfast."
Hermione nodded, "Against the backdrop of all our vital missions, our yellow box retrieval is the most critical. Patrick, please inform Athena and Adena. Harry, Ron and Draco, please read up on negotiation tactics with hostages. Veena will assist you because she has seen many such situations. She does not fear pain so we must find other tactics to break her down, including her cultural reference or family background. Fred and George, try to befriend her with your naturally gifted sense of humor. Sometimes, being a friend in need can open up a well of emotions in a person. I also take that approach: she is our leveraging hostage but she is also our guest. We will all investigate her this evening. It will be a major breakthrough for us if she cooperates."
The group carried on its regular activities but all of them bore a cross of anticipation for the interrogation later that night. Their success and the enemy's failure now hinged upon how well they handled Natalie.
A/N: This is purposely a chapter that consolidates our characters' position after the action packed previous chapter. It is meant to be a transition to the looming war ahead.