Chapter 29: NEW HOPES

Grimmauld Place, 15th November 2010, 1300 GMT

Hermione and the entire order had gathered in Harry's home for a grand luncheon. It was Harry who insisted a change of location and an afternoon of pure relaxation.

Wafting scents of a grand BBQ intoxicated everyone. Hermione stood at the Balcony with her chilled Orange Juice and had a pensive look on her face. She had been looking at her core group and a chain of thought formed in her mind. Harry caught her looking at them with intensity but she gave a small smile and came out here.

She was enjoying the cool winds on her arms and the BBQ smell from the garden below, when Harry joined her.

Hermione smiled, "Wonderful arrangements, Harry."

He shook his head, "It was just my wallet. All the hard work was done by Kreachera, Pernie and Patrick."

"Nice of you to acknowledge the elves. Most wizards and witches take their service for granted. We people from Muggles background appreciate every act of kindness. Frankly in my case, aside from getting married to Draco or holding the Minister of Magic office has given me the service of these amazing creatures. There is nothing in my family by virtue of blood, that will render me deserving of them."

Harry looked angry, "That is a load of BS. With the virtue of your actions and intelligence, you deserve the service and loyalty of every living being in the entire Magical Universe. Never ever put yourself down. You mean the world to me and all of us here."

"If that is the case, the time has come for my core group to prove it, by exerting more of themselves."

Harry scrutinized Hermione, "What is going on in your mind, Hermione? I could sense that there was tinge of sadness in your smile."

"Harry, we have been presented a golden opportunity to make our Magical Universe a permanently better place. I can't comment on others, but with my knowledge base, I can make permanent changes for the better. However for that, I need the support of my core group. You can't just treat your roles as a 9-6 job. In 5 years, you would be proud of looking at your own reflection in the mirror. You just need to walk down that road with me. You folks are the difference between did and could have done. All I need from you is just 2 hours a day extra in research and analysis. I will show you the way."

"You know what, Hermione, it is time to prove ourselves as men rather than overgrown boys. You just show us what needs to be done and we will do it. It is no longer school, where you did the research and we focused on Quidditch and fun. Our maturity is long time overdue. Do not stress, Hermione. I will communicate this within our core group."

Hermione gave Harry a relieved smile. He took her leave and went inside. Hermione continued enjoying the scenery.

She was not destined to enjoy the solitude that afternoon. Natalie joined her, wearing golden blue bands that prevented her from Apparating.

Hermione gave her a warm smile, "It is good you have joined me here, Natalie. We rarely get an alone moment, even though you are at our own home. I need to thank you for your vision and intelligence. We could have defended or even won a war with the Dark World but all my long term plans would have been tossed into the fire. You have made it possible for me to have a long term impact."

Natalie nodded, "We both owe each other a lot. You are like a personal hero to me and I was the one chosen to harm you. Despite your gratitude, if the table were turned and I was your captor, I would not have shown you the same kindness, even if you had saved my life in the process. That is why I owe you one more thing."

Hermione looked at quizzically, "What thing Natalie? You owe me nothing."

Natalie gave a sardonic smile, "Kindly let me finish. Then you will realize it's importance. The Dark World is an expert at sly tricks. If ever there is an audio and video mole on your person and you can't talk freely to your team, all you need to tell me is that the Sun is getting covered by Dark Clouds as per Weather Forecast. That will let me know that you and the Order are in critical danger. I would then try to find a way out with my connects on the Dark Side."

This was too much for Hermione. The tables had actually turned and it was now Hermione in tears as she embraced Natalie in a bear hug. They then sealed the secret message with a special hand code.

Natalie then left her alone and prior to lunch, she still had brief small chats with Draco, Fred, Arthur, Neville, Athena, Adena and Zabini but for most part, she and her active mind were soaking in cool solitude.

Lunch was more of a state feast. There were 8 types of salads from 8 continents, 4 varieties of starters, Caviar, Grilled Pineapple and other fruits, 7 types of Rib-eye, Chicken Lasagna, Penne Carbonara, bucket loads of gravy, Roast Baby Potatoes, Pepper Mushrooms, and farm fresh sauteed vegetables, followed by White Chocolate Almond Mousse, Trealcle Pudding and Tiramasu. Accompanying drinks were Champagne and Wine for Hard Drinks and Orange Juice and Carbonated Soda for Soft Drinks.

Post that feast, no one had the energy to even Apparate back and all of them crashed in Harry's magically enlarged bed rooms that now had more than 80 King Size poster beds. All of them stayed the night at Harry's and they awoke refreshed the next morning.

After breakfast, Athena summoned all of them together.

Athena spoke up, "Life is a series of learning experiences and if one is humble, one can always pick up valuable lessons. Hermione taught me the value of surprises yesterday. I have one of my own. In the normal world, Arthur taught Hermione as his successor. Given the extraordinary circumstances, Hermione and Patrick must train Neville as the next Minister of Magic."

If others showed varying degrees of surprise to shock, for Neville himself, it was like a thunderbolt. He nearly choked on the chocolate muffin. The only calm people in the room were Athena and Hermione.

Athena continued,"As much as this seems to be a surprising decision, Hermione herself adjudged Neville to be the prime candidate to succeed her. There is one more reason why I am bringing this up."

Fred intervened, "Why is that, Athena?"

"Hermione has put out a very brave strategy, challenging the Dark World, and ruffling their feathers. She has gained their awe as well as tremendous respect. However, every sect has rotten eggs, and Dark World has more of those in comparison. Their philosophy is always to eliminate a threat before it can become an Avalanche. Moreover, the immunity that we are granted is a double edged sword. As much as we are sharpening our saw, they are getting the same opportunity. Despite their losses, only a fool would take them lightly, and I am not one. Hermione has now exposed her life to direct threat from these immature members. By immature, it has got nothing to do with age. Some of these are in the cream of the Dark World with horrific spells in their arsenal, spells of such virulence, that the death spell seems a comparative mercy. Zabini was a victim of one such attack in the last war. Some of them are not even registered, so even we don't know their power."

Ginny spoke up, "I think Hermione is safe. She has the whole Order has a protector and her own elite guard."

Athena sneered, "Sometimes it is easy to turn away, when facing a gruesome truth. That is not my habit and you too must stop this, Ginny. Do you really think that their only option is to declare a full war and eliminate her last? Keep dreaming! They have multiple options, the easiest being finishing her off in a single moment of vulnerability, when even her core group can only watch on helplessly. They nearly succeeded a few weeks back but it was the thanks to brave acts of Jack and Natalie, that she is still with us. That being said, her security is the top agenda of all the elite forces of the Magical World and the chances of an assassination are between 10-15%. When she accepted her position, she was fully aware of the risk but she chose to contribute better to the Magical World than think of her own life. Couple it with the fact that she is Muggle born, she is an egg in the face of all the Dark Elite Misogynists. Her own husband was in that infamous group."

Draco hung his head in shame.

"He was brought up that way and that is what he was led to believe. I have no grudges on that account, Athena."

Athena smiled at Hermione as she gave her point of view. Draco smiled at her gratefully.

Athena continued,"This is still another example of the kindness that we can all learn to emulate. Moving on, the process of training Neville will initiate after she gives the Ministry, an indication of the true stakes facing us, without divulging too many details. The primary responsibility will be with Hermione and Patrick, the recipient of her essence. Neville would have to endure 6 written tests, 5 interviews, toughest secretive questioning round from Adena and Me and finally a full day acting as Minister of Magic in front of a board containing Hermione & Core Group, Adena, Me and 2 current board members. After passing this test, he was to repeat this act once a week, to keep his skills fresh. He would receive training in ALL ASPECTS of managing as Minister of Magic including Biodiversity, Defense and War, Law & Order, International & Muggle Relations, Economy, Entertainment & Sports, SMEs, Finance, Education & STEM Research, Healing and a lot more. It is mind boggling to think of the load a person faces everyday at this position and Hermione has handled her job quietly and admirably. She must pass on some of those same skills to Neville. She has also enacted a rule that there can be a maximum of 3 elected terms of 5 years each, post which a leader must under compulsion, find his/her successor. If things go as per normal schedule, Neville has at least 5 years to learn but we can't assume a luxury of time as a default."

Hermione agreed to get things started immediately.

Then the focus turned to transferring this information to the next generation. Acting on their earlier assignments, Pansy/ Neville, Penelope, Fleur and Ginny had identified 100 talented children at Hogwarts. They were to start the process of transferring all information to them in the next 3 months that they had immunity, owing to Celia. Harry had a say in the selection. He wanted every child to be fairly evaluated, irrespective of their House or other considerations. He still considered Professor Snape a secret Hero, and never again would he judge a person by appearances. His own 6 year old child was Jamie Albus Severus Potter. The final house mix was 30-Ravenclaw, 25-Griffindof, 25-Slytherin and 20-Hufflepuff.

These children had special permission from Hogwarts to visit Malfoy Manor and complete their transfer of information.

The next 2 weeks provided normalcy in all their lives, which they had almost forgotten. Behind a buzzing sense of urgency, things were seemingly normal. Adena updated them that Lucas would be away for 2 more weeks, to heal his emotions.

In early December, the game changed forever. The Dark World came up with a move that shook the very foundations of the Magical Universe.