I do not own Harry Potter. I dont even have a job right now.

Chapter 28

As September gave way to October, the ICW investigation had already been going on for several weeks. So far the delegates had managed to debrief all of the Muggle sailors and first responders from the Navy. They had also used contacts within the Muggle salvage operation to examine the Bonga for magical signatures. They had all gathered again in the building Dumbeldore set aside for them on the grounds of Hogwarts.

"Right where are we?" LeMarche asked, pulling a muggle notebook and biro from the pocket of his robes.

"The reports from the Muggles have come in." Englebert said, passing out copies of a neatly typed report from the muggle Ministry of Defence. "It is exactly as we suspected. There is no mundane explanation for that container to sink like that. There is no sign of metal fatigue. The structural integrity of the hull was optimal and all of the electrical systems of the vessel were running at optimal proficiency."

"So it is as we suspected then?" LeMarche pressed.

"It is my opinion that whatever destroyed that vessel has to have been magical in oregon." Englebert conferment. "After examining the hull of the vessel it seems to me as if an extremely powerful slicing or severing charm was cast."

"Bon." LeMarche nodded, taking notes. "Is there any way to determine where the spell was cast from?"

Engelbert thought about that for a few moments, nibbling the end of a quill.

"Possibly." He conceded. "It is possible. On land any spell as powerful as this would have left trace magic in the very earth itself. However, the ocean is always in a state of perpetual motion. If the site was scanned immediately it may have been possible…" he trailed off.

"Have you considered having a look at the sea bed?" Pritchard asked.

"How could we possibly see the sea bed?" Engelbert asked. "It is too deep for even muggle divers."

"It is possible that we could access a submarine." Demidova said.

"How could we get a sub?" Pritchard demanded.

"I will ask my Ministry to liaise with our Muggle government." Demidova shrugged.

"Your Ministry has that sort of stroke with the muggles?" Pritcherd raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Da." Demidova smiled. "In Mother Russia the Kremlin rules all. Magical and non magical. I will arrange an international floo call with Dumbeldore."

"Very good." LeMarche nodded. "Agent Pritchard, where are you with the interrogations?"

"I have spoken several times with Percey Weasley. The Minister's assistant." Pritchard reported. "He has told me that he will cooperate fully and has evidence of corruption going back over at least the last year. However he has said he wants guaranteed immunity from prosecution."

"That is a matter for the English." LeMarche mused, "But if his information is good I would be willing to, how do you say? Put in a good word, yes?"

"I will invite him to come hear and speak to us one last time off the record." Pritchard decided. "Try and sound out what he may have."

"Very good." LeMarche nodded. "Have you managed to interview the young Lord Potter?"

"Not yet." Pritchard frowned. "Dumbeldore is making that a bit difficult. He isnt actively blocking my attempts to talk to Lord Potter, but he seems to be keeping the kid away."

"Do you have any idea about how your going to proceed?"

"I am going to accidentally run into him whilst he is on the ground." Pritcherd smirked. "Dumbeldore can't keep watch on him everywhere."

The meeting continued into the afternoon.

In their Defence Against the Dark Arts class the fifth years duelling tournament had bugun with Hermione wiping the floor with Pansy Parkinson.

"Winner" Sirius Black announced, "In 36 seconds with a skilled use of the leg locking curse Miss Hermione Granger." Sirius cancelled the curse on Pansey. "And Miss Parkinson I would advise you to revise shield charms."

Hermione left the ring and high fived Nevile and Lavender as she moved to Harry who pulled her into a hug.

"Next up we have Harry Potter vs Gregory Goyle." Sirius announced.

Harry confidently stepped up to the ring and climbed through the ropes. Goyle caught his foot as he climbed through the ropes and tumbled to the mat. Sirius turned around and buried his face in the corner pad so no one could hear his giggle. Outside the ring Remus buried his head in his hands, Ron singgerd to Dean and Malfoy muttered "What a knob" under his breath. Rather embarrassed, Goyal pulled himself up by the ropes. Throughout this Harry stood stock still never taking his eyes off his adversary.

Sirius pointed his wand at the ring ropes activating the shield. "Remember both of you, you are casting to disarm your opponent. Any dark or dangerous spells will not be tolerated. Now, Potter ready?"

Harry drew his wand and crouched down keeping his eyes fixed firmly on Goyles own eyes.

"Goyal ready?" Sirius asked. Goyal gave a half nod as he struggled to draw his wand. "DULE!" Sirius called as the bell sounded.

Goyal raised his wand and cast "Expelliarmus." Harry rolled to his left and rose with his wand at the ready. He cast a stinning hex at Goyal's wand had hitting him squar on the back of his hand.

"Accio Goyals wand" Harry cast, causing his opponent's wand to fly into his outstretched hand.

"Winner in an amazing six seconds, Harry Potter!" Sirius declared as the bell rang to end the dual at the same time as the school bell.

"Right then, don't forget your essays on different shielding charms are due next lesson." Remus called out. "And I am expecting at least two feet not including your references."

"Are you heading to the library?" Harry asked Hermione as they left the classroom.

"I was, unless you have a better offer for me?" she replied, flashing him a smile that made his knees go weak.

"I thought you might like to have a bit of a walk outside before it gets too cold to enjoy the grounds." Harry suggested poffering his arm.

"That does sound nice." Hermione said, taking his arm. "Besides, I finished that essay last weekend."

"Lets go then." Harry grinned. "See you later on Nev."

The young couple wandered aimlessly around the grounds for an hour or so. Talking of this and that and just generally enjoying one another's company. They found themselves at a paddock that Hagrid had built for his care of magical creatures class.

"Oh Harry, look!" Hermione squealed with delight. "Unicorns!"

Harry couldn't help but remember his first encounter with a unicorn in the forbidden forest years earlier when Voldamort who was sustaining a pitiful half life by drinking their blood to keep himself going while he and Professor Quirel tried to steal the Philosopher's stone.

"Oh yeah." He mustard without much enthusiasm but followed her along anyway.

As they approached the paddock they saw a woman dressed in a black muggle suit with wite shirt and black tie leaning against it with a cigarette in her mouth. Harry, who was becoming somewhat paranoid, pulled his wand out and approached cautiously.

"Excuse me," He began, "i don't mean to be rude, But who are you?"

"I am Agent Pritchard of the Federal Bureau of Aurors." Pritchard replied flashing her badge in the teens faces, "I'm on secondment to the International Confederation of Wizards task force investigating the rise of dark forces within the UK right now. Since your Ministry was less than hospitable your Professor Dumbeldore set us up with some mighty fine digs here at your castle. Now kids, i've told you who I am may I enquire as to your identity?"

"I'm Harry Potter, fifth year prefect and this is my intended Hermione Granger, also fifth year prefect."

"Well shucks, Lord Potter, you are just the man I was wanting to talk to." Pritchard smiled.

"Oh?" Harry said, pulling himself up to his full height, "And why Auror Pritchard, is that?"

"Well it seems to me that you might just about be the only one who knows what happened the night of the Third Task."

"What do you want to know?" Harry asked.

"Well there are lots of questions." Pritcherd mused. "Would you be willing to come in for a formal interview?"

"I have already been interviewed, given statements and memories to Director Bones." Harry told her. "Have you asked her about that?"

"Well no." Pritcherd shook her head. "I think we all assumed that Director Bones is a Company girl. Just another one of Fudge's boot lickers."

"No Auror," Hermione said, "Director Bones is a police officer first and a politician second. But I don't think that she could accuse her of being anyone's boot licker."

"That is good to know." Pritchard smiled. "Thank you Miss Granger for that assessment. I will speak to the Director as soon as possible, but if I have more questions Lord Potter I might need to speak to you again."

"My solicitor of Edward Tonks." Harry told the astonished Auror. "If you want to interview me you can set up an appointment with him."

"Aww shit My Lord, do we really need to get the lawyers involved?"

"I like you Auror." Harry smiled, "But I don't trust the Ministry of Magic."

"I don't work for your Ministry of Magic." Pritchard protested.

"But you do work for the American Ministry of Magic." Harry shrugged. "Our Ministry is a shower of shit, why would I believe yours would be any different. Now, Hermione and I really should be getting back."

It was past midnight in the Cotswolds countryside. Voldamort stood in the centre of a small group of Death Eaters, the Staff of Slytherin clasped tightly in his right hand.

"My brothers and sisters." He whispered. "The time is almost at hand. Soon, very soon the time will come for us to strike. Those fools at the Ministry of Magic have been so kind in ignoring our rise. They have turned a blind eye. They did not prepare themselves and it is too late. We could strike any wizarding landmark. StoneHenge, Hogsmead or even Godric's Hollow could fall underneath our might, but that is not enough. We must strike fear in the hearts of all the denizens of this land. Our first major strike will not be against our own, we will not seek to spill that holey blood that does run through magical veins. No! We will strike the muggles. We will bring them to heel by the might of our august power. We will strike fear into their hearts so that non will dare resist us. We will turn one of their cities into dust!" He held his arms in the air as the gathered Death Eaters cheerd. "You know what must be done. Go and let it be done!"

Authers Notes.

It's been a bloody long time since I writen for this story. I have been some what pre-ocupied by attempting to get a degree, changeing jobs (at least 3 times) and life in general.

another reason I stoped writeing this story was the critisiums regarding my spelling. people telling me to spend massive amounts of money on speak to write software, people telling me i should be ashaimed of not being able to spell basic things and charicter names and such like.

dispite this every time i would get a like, or a faverite ither for my story or for me as an auther it dose warm my heart. So i have desided to give this another go.

Remember ladys and gents, boys and girls and children of all ages I dont get paid for this shit and you didnt pay for it so just enjoy it for what it is. please, please please dont leave a review telling me i cant spell or telling me to get a beta. they will be delited. However if you have some thing constructive to add please do leave a review.

This has been a very short chapter, i think they will get longer again as I get my groove back. I'm not going to commit to an update schedual, but i do hope they will be every week or so. sooner if i stay out of work or possibly longer once i start my new job. CJ