Record keeping: some typos are corrected in chapter 31 - Thank you.
Master Xander
CHAPTER Thirty-Two
'Mind Games-Part One'
While the class and visitors left the room, Alex, followed by his 'guest' Ms. Umbridge, headed toward his small office situated not too far from the classroom. The woman following him at a discrete distance entered the modest room and stood stiff, preparing to make her demands, and Harris knew she did have them. Harris caught the look of disapproval as the woman had entered, and it was instantly apparent that she had a thing against muggles. His office was practically a shrine to non-magical décor. She exhibited that same look when she had entered his store once before, when it first opened. Umbridge hadn't introduced herself then, even going out of her way not to come close to him or Ceraine, as she casually inspected the store, but he remembered her quite well, although he had no intention of letting on.
The woman's face reeked of disapproval, but before she could say anything, Alex invited her to sit on a very strange, comfortable-looking chair and offered her a hot beverage. He was an American, so what did he know about proper hot beverages? But she was curious.
"Is this a muggle chair?" she asked. Umbridge couldn't quite keep the contempt out of her voice.
"Why yes, it is a no-mage ," he answered. "It's very relaxing for the back."
Cautiously, she sat down, dubious about her safety. Although she didn't show it, she was pleased by its feel. She was surprised by that and was displeased by the fact. Taking a breath, she prepared to begin, however Alex jumped in before she could begin.
"Now, I have several tea blends you might like before we start. Personally, I've been drinking hot chocolate lately," he explained easily. "I'm trying to get away from drinking too much coffee."
Smiling politely, she accepted a small cup of English tea made by some muggle machine she'd never knew existed. It looked ungainly and completely muggle, but despite her distaste of the machine, the tea itself was exceptionally good. Taking another sip, she started once more.
"We at the ministry have heard some rather disturbing rumors concerning your class curriculum, and the things you have been teaching," she announced. "I am here to evaluate and report my findings to the Ministry of Magic about some of the things you are teaching and to determine the validity of this class at Hogwarts. I am also here to make suggestions concerning the class for all concerned."
The woman giggled and actually giggled a second time. Alex immediately recognized the false attempts at innocence this woman was trying and failing miserably to portray.
"Wow. That was a mouthful," he said. "So basically, you're checking me out."
Her false smile faltered a bit. "Crudely put, but yes. There are some, shall we say, events we have heard that seem fantastic and far beyond the abilities of muggles to achieve. So, to clarify our understanding of these rumors, we have several questions we want you to answer."
Alex looked at her intently, interested in what she had to say. The concern in his eyes threw her off. The woman expected him to respond defensively. He should have been intimidated, and he didn't seem worried about her presence or her upcoming inquisition. That bothered her.. He looked so intent, Dolores felt uncomfortable.
He smiled inwardly. Anya always hated when he did that. She always claimed that he looked like an evil rabbit ready to pounce. She had a fear of rabbits and, to his chagrin, she had never fully explained why she feared them so.
"Ask away, Mrs. Umbridge."
"My name is Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Ministry of Magic. Please address me accordingly, as this is an official visit."
"Okay, sorry," he answered, "Senior Undersecretary to the Ministry of Magic. Got it." His devilish smile irritated her a bit. She couldn't tell if he was insulting her or not. "Sounds like a bit too much, doesn't it? May I call you Mrs. Undersecretary Minister?"
She frowned, then relented, conceding the point. She gave him one of the most chilling smiles he'd seen in a long time. It would have done Umar the Unrelenting proud.
"These moving pictures…"
"Cinematic movies presented on enhanced 8K EU-DVD media shown on a wide screen television," he supplied helpfully.
"Er, yes. Are they muggle-made and was magic involved in their creation?"
"Yes, but only the power source needed to operate the systems in the school environment. It's called Wi-fi. Non-magical people and equipment are used to produce movies. No magic was involved, unless you consider movie magic as magic, which it is not. The term 'movie magic' doesn't refer to magic as much as special effects, combined with sound, music, visuals, and the actors performing their crafts. Movies are quite popular in their world. No real magic was or is involved in making movies."
The woman was scrutinizing him carefully. Parts of his answer eluded her, but he seemed honest to her with his answer. But she was surprised by muggle capability. "Then how is it that mere muggles can do this?" she asked. She expected him to lie, and then she would pounce. It was a skill she developed when she was a younger woman. Men were so weak-willed.
"There is also a rumor that you have implied that muggles have magical cores," she half-laughed, half-snarled. "Why are you teaching such nonsense?"
Alex thought for a moment as he formulated an answer. "Wizards in America have discovered something remarkable. Every human in the world has a magical core. It allows them to do remarkable things."
"That is not true," the assistant minister practically shrieked.
"Yes, it is," Alex gently countered. Every word he said was measured, laced with as much innocence and humor as he could muster. "Their cores exist. But are different, function differently. Wizarding magic is beyond them, but it gives them other skills, and wizards don't notice," he explained. "But that isn't what you want to hear. And to answer your other question you haven't asked yet; the answer is yes. Non-magicals do know about magic and magical worlds that wizards don't have a clue about." He gave her his best puppy-dog look to counter the rising fury etching the woman's face. "You would have to live in their world to see the magic that surrounds them."
That very thought revolted her. "That is impossible," she hissed.
"Just as wizards keep their magical works a secret from the non-magicals…"
"You mean muggles," the woman corrected.
"I mean non-magicals," he corrected to her disdain. "I'm American, not British, whether I am here in this country or not."
Surprised, she felt infuriated by his defiance. Calming herself, she chose not to strive to dominate him like she would normally do, yet. He was trying to make her feel sorry for him and she was fighting it. He was just too nice.
"Mrs. Undersecretary Minister of Magic," he started.
"I am not married," she huffed. "If you must, please call me Undersecretary Umbridge."
He smiled and said, "thank you, Undersecretary Umbridge. Wait." He paused for a moment. "You're not married?"
She flushed. "My work keeps me busy," she answered a little too quickly. "I haven't time for such frivolity."
Alex looked shocked. "I'm surprised," he exclaimed, a touch louder than she expected him to. His voice was always so soft. "I imagined some wizard would have swept you up and carried you away a long time ago."
He looked at the desk as if he couldn't conceive of such a possibility.
Dolores stared at him, speechless. Why was he so surprised? More importantly, what was he thinking? Why would her being unmarried be so shocking to him? Once again, this man had piqued her curiosity. This American was so strange!
Harris continued is if he hadn't noticed. "The non-magical world knows much more than you imagine," he told her. He snapped his fingers, and she jumped. "Let me show you," he whispered. "The wizards here can pull memories from their mind to show them to others. I learned a different technique that will show you in detail what I mean about magic unknown to wizards that are the privy to non-magicals."
Umbridge cautiously eyed him. The man was challenging her, daring her to say 'no'. Her first instinct was to decline, but she couldn't say the word. She wanted to see what was in the American's memories and here he was, offering them to her on a silver platter. Try as she might, she couldn't see any traps. The man was pure Gryffindor and didn't have a dishonest bone in his body, not compared to any true Slytherin like herself. No, she wasn't afraid, just nervous.
"What does this spell involve?"
"It's a form of legitimacy, but I will transfer my thoughts and memories of specific events directly to you by touch. I warn you. It feels very intimate and for your privacy, it's only one way. Your will be able to see and hear my thoughts, but I won't hear yours unless you allow me to," he smirked. "The question is, are you woman enough to handle it if you want to see the truth?"
"How dare you!" She was insulted, but very intrigued. There wasn't any real venom in her retort. She could handle anything he could throw at her. She, however, wouldn't give in too easily. "Why can't you simple pull the memory out and display it like you did with the giant ants?"
Ah, she heard about that. Her sources are good, he surmised. "I can convey so much more to give you answers. The question is, can you trust me? How badly do you want to know the truth, and are you the woman I think you are?"
A chill went down her spine. This interview was going in a completely different direction than planned, but this presented an opportunity. She could have her answers if she could properly manipulate him. She didn't trust him, but Minister Fudge would need to know, and he would reward her if she could pull this off. She thought about it hard.
"This is a one-way spell," Alex helpfully added.
"What does this spell involve?"
"It's a form of legitimacy, but I will transfer my thoughts and memories of specific events directly to you by touch. I warn you. It feels very intimate and for your privacy, it's only one way. Your will be able to see and hear my thoughts, but I won't hear yours unless you allow me to," he smirked. "The question is, are you woman enough to handle it if you want to see the truth?"
She thought about it long and hard, but the temptation was too strong. Finally, she decided.
"I will agree, for the good of the Ministry. I will consent to this. But no pixie play," she warned. "I would be in my right to hex you most severely!"
"Thank you," said Alex. "I understand, and I will be the perfect gentleman. This is what we will do. I will place my chair opposite of you, so that we face one another. My right fingers will touch the left side of your face like so," he said while almost caressing her face. "You'll do the same while our free hands grasp one another. Can you handle that?"
"… Of course." She copied his movements, warily.
"Then we will start. For this technique, we don't need to use our wands.
She gulped. Dolores wasn't sure about this. But she decided to go through with it. His hand gently grabbed hers. It was so hot! Her face flushed as he touched it. Her hand touched his face, and she turned beet red. She was touching a stranger she just met in a way she had never touched anything other than her cats. Like his hand, his face was so hot…
He pretended not to notice, being all business. "Ready?"
"Yes."
"Here we go," he said to her. "My mind to your mind. My thoughts to your thoughts…"
It took a lot for him to stay in control.
She felt intense warmth, and then she was lost to the moment.
Vampires, demons, monstrous insects, things she couldn't describe… The muggles know about magic. They knew of magical creatures the likes she never imagined.
Alex allowed her to see. The woman saw what he wanted her to see.
TBC
Next: Explanations as in, why would Alex do such a thing? As usual, all is not what it sees as we continue in Mind Games Part two.