Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 7- New Agents
(August 17, 1995, CIA Headquarters)
In his office, Director John Deutch is looking over some papers discussing the recent action in the Balkans when he hears a knock at his door. Deutch looks up and calls out, "Come in."
The door opens, and Agent Barton enters the room. "Ah. Welcome, Barton. Come, sit down," Deutch gestures at the seats in front of his desk. Barton walks up and sits down in one of the seats.
"Black not coming?" Deutch asks.
"No. He's busy in The Hague with the trial," Barton responds. Sirius' lawsuit against the British Ministry of Magic is well underway in the ICMJ. Everything is going very smoothly. The British Ministry's attempt to defend itself has been laughable, and many media reports on the trial around the world have made fun of the British Ministry and it's attempt to defend itself. The trial is due to finish up its closing arguments in two days, and the court, led by a judge from Japan, is scheduled to deliver a verdict on August 24. At this point, everyone expects that the verdict will be to clear Sirius of all charges and expunge his record and award a significant settlement to Sirius. The trial has also caused international outcries for Fudge's resignation. Fudge has been fighting as hard as he can to not only defend his government in the court but also to keep his position.
"Well, hopefully we can get him back soon. Yes, we want him to be a free man, but we need him in the field too," Deutch muses.
"Agreed," Barton responds.
"What was it that brought you to my office today, Barton?" Deutch asks.
"A couple of things, sir. First of all, we received a full report from Agent TAIPAN," Barton responds.
Deutch raises his eyes. Agent TAIPAN was one the Magical Intelligence Division's most important and secret spies. The name was chosen due to his position as a spy within Voldemort's ranks and the association of Voldemort with snakes. His identity was one of the biggest secrets in the MID. Only 7 people within the CIA knew TAIPAN's true identity, and great care was taken to keep the secret from getting out, fearing any chance that TAIPAN's identity could be compromised to Voldemort. The intel he provided was incredibly valuable on Voldemort.
"What do we got?" Deutch asks.
"TAIPAN submitted a report detailing several meeting that Voldemort has held with his followers over the last few weeks. According to TAIPAN, Voldemort is now fully aware of Harry's disappearance. A Death Eater visited the Dursleys, but was able to confirm he wasn't there. Voldemort is now reportedly dialing back his efforts to get his hands on the prophecy in favor of tracking down Harry," Barton says.
"How close are they?" Deutch asks.
"Absolutely no f***** clue, Director. One Death Eater who's somewhat knowledgeable about Muggles suggested he's most likely somewhere within the European Union. So they have no clue as of yet that Harry is here in the US," Barton says. He then hesitates, and Deutch notices it.
"What is it, Barton?" Deutch asks.
"Sir, are you sure we should trust TAIPAN? Voldemort is one of the most accomplished Legillimens there is. Who's to say he hasn't discovered TAIPAN and compromised him?" Barton asks. Part of his reason for asking this is because he is not one of the select group who knows TAIPAN's true identity.
"I understand your concern, but trust in my judgment, Barton. I've met TAIPAN personally, and I can promise you, if he had been compromised, we would know. He knows how to keep his allegiance to us secret, and he knows what to do in the case of being compromised. I can promise you that," Deutch says.
Barton is still concerned, but nods in response. Deutch then asks, "What of our newest operatives within Britain?"
Barton's expression returns to one of business and confidence. "Good. The first test of our communication with them is due to take place today. With luck, when the school term begins, they'll be able to provide us with up to date intel from within Hogwarts," he says.
Deutch nods. The new operatives they are speaking about are Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and the Weasley Twins. Longbottom and Lovegood had been recruited by the MID at the same time as Harry was extracted from Britain, and the Weasley twins had slowly been recruited over the following couple of weeks. It was difficult to do so given the twins were at Grimmauld Place. The MID had managed to establish contact by posing as potential investors in their joke shop, and slowly built up trust before revealing their real goal and getting the twins to commit to serving as agents. They now were officially "on the rolls" of the CIA's spies abroad. Neville, Luna, and the twins, known by their codenames of CONIFER, NARGLE, and GEMINI, are going to be the CIA's main sources of intel in Hogwarts in the coming year.
"Good. Report back to me as soon as the test results are confirmed," Deutch says.
Barton nods. The intelligence game is really picking up in this brewing conflict in Britain. And for good reason. Soon enough, they'll have to begin covert combat operations in Britain. Things are going to be picking up.
(MID Black site, Northern Ireland)
In the MID black site that Harry had come to immediately after his extraction from the Dursleys, several MID officers are carefully monitoring their communications equipment. Or, specifically, a set of journals. Tonight, they are going be receiving communications from Nevile, Luna, and the twins.
The communication they've set up is simple, but brilliant. The MID had provided them with a series of journals that they had enchanted with Protean Charms. The journals, however, needed to be convincing. Therefore, the Protean Charms were actually only placed on 5 pages within the journal right near the end. The rest of the journals were normal and unenchanted, in order to give the impression that they were normal journals. When Neville and the others wanted to send a message to the CIA, they would write their message/report on the enchanted pages, which would then be transmitted by the Charm to corresponding journals kept by the CIA. Another Charm on the pages would erase anything written after 10 minutes.
Tonight is to be the first test of this communications system. Everyone present is waiting anxiously, hoping this will work.
There are three pairs of men in the room. One of each pair has a computer, ready to type whatever is sent. The other of each pair is holding a corresponding journal, ready to read off anything that comes through.
One of the officers, a wizard working for the MID, is watching the three pairs, waiting anxiously for the first message to come in. As the seconds are ticking by, he's feeling anxious, hoping that this will work.
Then, the man holding the journal corresponding to Neville's journal suddenly pipes up, "Something's coming through! Something's coming through!"
Everyone is instantly paying attention to him. After a moment, the man grins and says, "Yes. Agent CONIFER is sending a message." He then turns to the man at the computer and says, "Dave, get ready to type."
Everyone is grinning as the man holding the journal starts reading off Neville's test message as it comes in. Then, Luna's message begins coming through the journal corresponding to hers. This is followed up by the Weasley twins seconds later.
The man in charge is grinning happily. The test of the communication is going perfectly. By all the looks of it, this system is going to work perfectly in the future.
(Grimmauld Place)
In Grimmauld Place, Dumbledore is having a private meeting with Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Ron.
"Albus, are you sure that there is no sign of Harry?" Mrs. Weasley demands.
"Absolutely, Molly. I've tried, but all I've been able to figure out is that he's not in the country," Dumbledore says.
Ginny then bursts out with, "Out of the country? He can't be out of the country?!" Although she fully knows why she's supposed to give a love potion to Harry, she's fully doing it because she's fully infatuated with Harry and absolutely obsessed with him.
"How could this happen, Albus?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I don't know. And Sirius hasn't heard from him, either. Then again, he's busy with his lawsuit," Dumbledore says. The Order of the Phoenix had been surprised when Sirius announced his lawsuit against the Ministry. They had no idea the suit had been filed with the help of the Americans. They thought he had just managed to hire a good lawyer with his family's money.
"Well, how do we find him?" Mrs. Weasley demands. All she really cares about is that their chances of getting Harry's money are now seriously diminished.
"I don't know, Molly. But I promise, we will find him," Dumbledore says, but worried about how he's going to try and find Harry.
And, I'll end the chapter there. Hope you liked this one.
Next chapter should be up in a week or so. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned!