Chapter 24: Mission New Delhi

Date: Thursday, 11th November 2010

Time: 6 am GMT- 11:30 AM IST, Nehru Place, New Delhi

Hermione was the first to touch ground in the Capital of India, followed by Veena and the rest of the group.

They chose a deserted room at the Building above a famous sweet shop in a corner building. From their vantage point, they saw hundreds of people flock into a tiny sweet shop.

Veena smiled, "Hermione, it may sound weird to you, but even though I am only away from India on a specific mission, landing back here feels so good. It gives a feeling of coming back home."

Hermione shook her head, "I know exactly the feeling of home. Even when I am away on daily duty, returning back to my own home during evening is a magical feeling of security and peace. Home does that naturally to its' occupants."

Hermione continued, "As planned, Harry, Ron, work the front pack with those Muggle Repel and Memory spells. Fred and George, middle pack while Ginny and Arthur, rear pack."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door of their room. Every person instantly froze into high alert. She indicated Draco.

Draco assumed his most menacing voice, "Who is this?"

A male voice replied, "Rabri and Aloo Paratha, make a perfect day better."

Confusion washed over Draco's face. Veena stepped up, "He is with Indian Intelligence. That is our code, after naming two of our most delicious breakfast items."

All others remained on the alert but Draco opened the door at Veena's approval. The man was a young boy, aged 22-24, wearing smart Muggle winter clothing. He bowed before Hermione.

"Welcome to India, Hermione and Group. You are our valued guests. I am Mehul."

Hermione shook hands with him and he bowed, "It is an absolute privilege to see you in person. A living legend has a tremendous Aura. So is true for Adena and Athena. It is also great to see Harry Potter but my greatest fun is to meet the legends of Prank, Fred and George. This is not to mention the fact that most of our trainee girls swoon upon seeing their handsome faces."

A distinct blush colored their faces. They were not used to such open admiration.

Hermione summarized, "All of us here have distinct qualities, that define us. That makes us the strongest team. As far as legends go, Harry sits at the epitome."

Mehul shook his head, "Harry is definitely legendary at human level. You are at the semi divine level. Youth in general (both genders) worship you across Asia and try to be a fraction of what you are. Veena is just one in 16 of our core squad who considers you the highest ideal of their lives and this includes me."

Hermione smiled in return, "Thanks Mehul. We could get acquainted better but we have to leave now."

Now Mehul's smile vanished and in a serious mien, he said, "I'm sorry, Hermione. You and your group can't enter the temple today."

Shockwaves passed through everyone as they heard this. Harry was the first to recover and ask, "Why not!?"

"Veena and Draco had to clear your plans with us and we checked up on the viability of your maneuver. They purposely lured you in with the bait of an unguarded gate but they have connected every inch of that ground with the Nuclear Weapon. It will also trigger automatic death spells from pre-programmed wands hidden just under the surface. And if you think Athena has death spells covered, she does have it covered but the spells that shoot out from the wands cancels out Athena's force fields with new undiscovered spells. You could have blended with a huge tourist crowd and entered through the main gate but Draco and Dudley closed that option as he kept the general public away from the temple site, citing renovations."

Hermione nodded, "I asked them to do that. Muggles are no sacrificial lambs in this war of stakes between dark and light wizards. We wanted them to be safe."

Mehul smiled, "That is precisely why we love you so much, Hermione. You are kind and intelligent. It has cost you this Mission, however. Can't you just abort this Mission and come back later?"

"This is our only chance to retrieve our DNA filled Yellow Box. We can't abandon this mission. In the event that our main plan failed, we kept as many as 7 backup plans. Hear them out and see if any of them have a chance to succeed."

They all huddled together as Hermione whispered the plans. After going through all of them, Mehul nodded, "Only the 5th Plan seems workable. That will require Harry flying with Oliver and providing Aerial attack to distract their cream. Rest of you can handle the ordinary wizard group and the remaining core members can handle their dispersed cream. We still need one person who can monitor the biological parameters. Contrary to our initial assessment, the key factors here are biological. The opposition can take cognizance of the fact that force fields make the protected atmosphere hot and humid. They may try to purposely push in the force field of Athena, forcing you to retreat. We need an expert Biologist who can constantly communicate the Biological parameters to Natalie and Narcissa. We also need the knowledge of biology if they use Animals to attack us. We ought to know the precise spell that puts them to temporary sleep without hurting them. Hermione, Athena and Adena are fully occupied. Who else can step up? You will be 32 people under 4 force layers. Things will get really stuffy."

Both Luna and Penelope raised their hands before Luna spoke, "Biology is our joint forte. We will take care of this aspect. I have made my career out of Biology and Biology is the greatest passion of Penelope. Her doctoral research on the effect of music on plant physiology was highly appreciated in Muggle circles, where she, like Hermione, contributes to Muggle Science anonymously."

Mehul patted both of them on their shoulders, "Well done, both you girls. Your combined brilliance makes us boys wish to kick ourselves. When you were studying, we were busy planning Quidditch. In the highest stakes war, it is your knowledge that is saving our skin. OK, you make it a point to communicate with Natalie, every 3-4 minutes. Draco, you are also an excellent flyer. You join Harry and Oliver. Bill and Charlie can get Nathan from the opposing camp, if we manage to stun him. Neville and Veena, your focus remains on the Hydrogen Bomb. We ought to cover Molly in all directions so core group and the rest need to coordinate with each other. Ron, in the absence of Harry and Draco, you will direct Fred and George and you will coordinate with the outer circle. Fleur, in the absence of Bill, you have additional ground to cover, which I am sure you will manage. Zabini and Adena join the core group to cover for Harry and Draco. Katie and Pansy, you also need to cover for the enhanced gap. All telepathic communication will be with Ginny and she will transmit the core group instructions to the other outer circle members. Our group of 7 intelligence officers will place ourselves as the outermost circle. We will handle the Muggle traffic aspect on your way to the main gate. As we approach the other gate, we will follow Hermione's strategy. Are all you people, clear?"

Every person nodded.

Draco laughed, "Here are two rival seekers, now aligning with each other in this game of life and death." Harry and Oliver, held either arm of Draco in a gesture of solidarity.

Mehul continued, "By the way, as a boy and as a human being, I feel privileged to stand near this undisputed Hero of our generation. You are the chosen one, Harry but even you must have echoed my feelings on some level."

Harry nodded, "I did echo precisely that feeling but only at my thought level. I never spelled it out to her. Her intelligence, bravery, kindness, beauty and god gifted patience are a given but what stands out is what she represents as a person. Her very presence could inspire others to lay their lives down for her. What she did with her parents before our 7th year, made me speechless but right then, in my mind I was sure that if the role was reversed and she had to go on a mission to find Tom and my parents were alive, I would have done exactly the same. People like her come along once a millennium and if one is privileged to have her as your own friend, all other parameters of life lose value. She is a hero who inspires heroism in others with a mere smile."

There was a complete silence before Hermione embraced Harry in a bear hug, sobbing hard. "Harry, words fail me now. I can't express in words what you just said means to me. These past few months, you have really opened up your emotions to me and about me but this just takes the cake. To speak like this about your parents, the two souls who love you just for who you are, and keeping them at a lower pedestal than me, I don't have any more words to say. I must be a great person if I can inspire such great people."

For the first time in his entire adult life, Harry publicly dried his tears and looked at Hermione straight in the eye, "You are a special person, Hermione. We dedicate the rest of our lives to serve you and love you." Ron joined the group hug now. Every person there nodded.

Mehul spoke with great difficulty, "OK, we have seen an emotional avalanche. Compose yourselves now and regain your focus on this mission. We progress as planned."

Draco, Oliver and Harry received custom made Nimbus 12000, which were purely circulated in a private market. They separated from the group as others made their way down to the sweet shop.

Cho-Chang pointed to the grey Metro Railways in the background saying, "Our Muggle government has far more sophisticated technology."

Mehul nodded, "That may be true, but in our own right, this network is a jewel, considering there was no corruption and project finished on the set target date. Hermione, after this Mission is over, I would love to treat you to some Indian non-spicy food, that is delighting as well as suitable to your palate."

"I would love to taste it, Mehul. Yesterday itself, Veena prepared Kheer. We just loved every square mm of our plates."

Pushing and shoving, they finally found a clearance and walked the pathway to the main gate. Mehul and his colleagues were busy repelling Muggles. The tension was slowly building in them as they approached the main gate.

Hermione sent the entire group a thought message: "We need to assess their preparedness on the main gate and see if they fall for our trick. If a cream member is here, we switch to Plan 3 for the initial phase."

Hermione whispered a spell and all 36 people assumed Magical Interpol clothes. Hermione took charge and confronted the front guard of 64 people which included just 2 Muggles. At Hermione's indication, Ron clouded the memories of the Muggles, sending them away and Hermione stepped forward in Blue Overalls and Black flowing hair.

"Freeze," Hermione shouted and completely shocked the 17 women and 45 men witches and wizards at the gate. "I am Jessica Shaw, the best officer in the global Interpol. Your mischief days are over. You came here as tourists but you participated in a Nuclear Arms race. You have deceived your host country and embarrassed your own country."

A young man stepped up and scoffed, "Best!? You wish! We never even heard of you."

Hermione looked at him with eyes of cold steel that froze him over and gave a throaty laugh, "That is why I am the best, Junior. In my line, the more invisible you are, that much proportionately good one is."

Another girl laughed, "We don't believe you!"

Hermione gave a chilling smile, "Well the choice is yours! I will demonstrate my powers and then give you the choice to go the easy way or the hard way."

She directed a spell at Earth that immediately produced a series of sparks and strange lights protruded from those spots towards the gate guard. All of them found themselves handcuffed.

Both contingents except Athena looked at Hermione in utter fascination.

Hermione looked at the guard brigade and asked, "Does this prove you my Magic abilities? I can open the handcuffs and go the hard way of a full blooded fight or we can go the easy way and you surrender yourselves and I will work out the best solution. The choice is yours."

A boy with ruffled hair stepped forward, "Hello Miss Jessica, I am Luke, the leader of this brigade. We unequivocally have decided to surrender and leave our fate in your hands."

Hermione nodded, "I have come to know that all but two of you have a clean record with the law, a fact which is crucial for your travel and job plans. All of you will report to the Zurich station and will update a weekly report on your life and activities truthfully on my email ID. Officially, your record will remain clean. The two people with criminal records are to be sent on community service in teaching Muggle Science to Magical Children in Malawi."

Lots of people on the opposing contingent burst into tears before Luke struggled to speak, "Maybe that is why you are the best, you prevent crimes before they occur and nip criminal mentality in the bud. Thank You, Jessica. Please tell us the next steps."

Hermione nodded, "We are pleased with your decision. A special group of 16 cops from Zurich Head Office is coming over and they will guide you. We are not tracking you but we have means to tell between honesty and dishonesty. If we find later that we were played with, the consequences would be severely against your future welfare. From Zurich, you will return to your individual countries and send me that weekly update."

15 smartly dressed cops did arrive and the gate guard contingent went away with them.

Mehul was impressed, "Wow Hermione, that was a smart display of Magic."

Hermione smiled, "Yes, it was! It took me a while to master that Alchemy spell that turns soil into Iron at correct temperature. Athena taught me this morning itself as a backup spell. It is quite a tricky spell that requires 17 parameters to work with pinpoint accuracy."

"Why did you not decide to arrest them?"

"Mehul, all people, especially youth, deserve their chance to be good citizens. They were not criminals yet and we ought to prevent them from becoming one. Besides that, I personally spoke to Jessica about impersonating her and she agreed that this was the best solution. Celia is right in a way: where peace is an option and our own safety is assured, that option should always be the first choice."

Mehul nodded, "That's it, Hermione! I can't hold back any longer. I need 10 seconds from you as a gift to me and my family. In case I don't make it alive through this mission, my family will preserve my most favorite gift."

Mehul produced a small tin flat dish with clay. He imprinted a clear impression of his palm and fingers and asked Hermione to do the same. She willingly gave it. Mehul uttered a spell and the dish flew off.

"Thanks Hermione, my parents and siblings have my gift now with my words and the magically permanent labelled palm impressions. They always knew how much you mean to me. Now they will know that even if I die, my greatest Hero stood beside me momentarily. It is the greatest reward of my life to see my Hero displaying such levels of kindness and pure love. Thank You, Hermione for being yourself."

Hermione gave Mehul a kind pat on the arm before she spoke, "The Part A of the mission is over. Ron is now to take over the mission of guiding Molly to the prize chamber at the heart of the war. Zabini, Adena, Athena, Fred, George and myself will focus on protecting Molly from their cream. They should not be more than 20, including Nathan. Bill and Charlie are ready to collect Nathan as soon as he is unconscious."

Hermione continued, "Let us take a quiet moment out to ourselves. Let us enjoy the winter fragrances, the beautiful weather and the breathtaking flowers. Nature is perfect, it is humans who are the scumbags out to destroy themselves and Nature. Let us close our eyes and enjoy this sight for a few moments."

They Apparated to the patio outside the Lotus Temple basement library door.

Mehul spoke, "Veena and Neville, I will now guide you to the spot where they laid the booby traps. From there, we need to deduce the multiple connections and find out the originating location of that weapon. If that region hides a door or passage, probably the yellow can is there. We can easily communicate this to Molly. Or else, the Nuclear Weapon is a ploy to split our team, just as we are using Harry, Oliver and Draco to split theirs. The reconstituted core group sticks with Molly at all times and the outer circle may remain invisible from the inner circle viewpoint, given the humongous dimension of this building. In that case, it is critical that Ginny correctly interprets the thought messages of Hermione. Luna and Penelope is to position themselves between the two circles and focus exclusively on the biological parameters and their two-way communication with Narcissa, Celia and Natalie. Fred and George will be communicating ground facts with Harry and upon Hermione's confirmation, take on cream members that Hermione identifies. If during combat operations, a cream member faces our outer circle, Ginny takes the lead in shoving them off to the attention of the inner circle. Ginny takes the initiative of informing Hermione about this. Should Ginny become ill, appoint another member in your team, who can be a backup of Ginny's role: probably Alicia. If absolutely mandated by Natalie, we will have to leave the premises and implement Plan 6 F, our riskiest plan that is certain to mean that one of us will not make it out from this battle but we will send the yellow box back to a secure location where Hermione can pick it up. The priority in that case would be us in Indian Intelligence, followed by the outer circle and if no other option remains, a member of the core group that can't be Hermione. Winning a war against the darkest forces with less than 12 members (including Veena and Neville) will be a Herculean Task but we have seen History providing evidence of many such impossibilities occurring. Right, so in we go now. May the deserving win!"

They all raised a rallying cry as Veena, Neville and Mehul went the other way. A critical body phase of the battle lay ahead, the success or failure of which was to have a permanent impact on the Magical Landscape across the world.