Chapter 26: Field Appointment
A/N: Sorry for the cliffie, but I've decided to break up this set piece into two chapters. There's a lot to digest here, and I'd really like to get some feedback on what I've laid out here before diving into the battle (yes, battle).
Disclaimer: Not my characters, no money being made, etc., etc.
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Little Wizarding, Surrey
Sunday, June 17, 7:02pm
Nymphadora Tonks took delight in showing her boss how to use a doorbell.
"Head Auror Robards, thank you for coming on such short notice," Harry said, after he opened the front door. He shook the man's hand, and led the two into the living room. "Let's see…you know the Headmistress, of course, and you have met Hermione. This is my good friend Ron Weasley and this is…"
"Remus, good to see you again," the Head Auror interrupted, as he nodded towards Lupin.
"Would you like something to drink, Head Auror?" Hermione asked. "We have pumpkin juice, butterbeer, some muggle iced tea…"
"No thank you, Miss Granger," the man replied.
"Let me start by apologizing for the bounce and subsequent walk that you just took," Harry said. "We didn't know that our new security wards would keep you from using your personal portkey until you just tried."
The Head Auror nodded curtly. "I have to admit that I was rather surprised…the only other place that I'm aware of with that kind of warding is Gringott's."
"Yes, well…we just consulted with the…erm, security advisors…who helped install the wards. Apparently I can authorize portkey use by members of the Clan and Clan Friends. We can put you on this list…assuming, of course, that you would want to be one or the other."
The Head Auror gave Harry a confused stare, then turned to Headmistress McGonagall. "Minerva, what's going on?"
The Headmistress smiled, "Gawain, while I am his wizard guardian for a few more weeks, we are on muggle territory, and it is my understanding that under muggle laws Clan Chief Potter is an emancipated minor. In any event he can speak for himself."
"Clan Chief?" the Head Auror asked.
"My barrister filed the papers at the Ministry last week," Harry replied nonchalantly. "Guess with all of the bureaucracy word hadn't gotten around yet…but if it's alright with you, Head Auror, I'd like to defer further talk on this issue and get to the matter that led to our request for this meeting?"
The Auror nodded, as Harry got down to business.
"This afternoon, at approximately 4:15pm, we caught Peter Pettigrew scouting around the backyard of this house in his animagus form. Twenty minutes later we obliviated and released him."
"You did what?" the Head Auror asked. "You do realize that it was at your insistence that Pettigrew had been placed on the 'Most Wanted Wizards' list, don't you?"
"Mr. Potter likely had very good reasons for doing what he did," Headmistress McGonagall interjected. "And I'm sure that he will be happy to share them with us."
"In a manner, yes," Harry replied. "But if it's all the same I'd rather show you what happened, so that you can offer your own opinions on what was said and done." He drew his wand from his back pocket as Ron brought the pensieve out from behind a chair.
"Mr. Potter, I assume you've placed the muggles in this house out of earshot?" the Head Auror asked.
Harry smirked at the Head Auror as he placed his wand tip on his temple. "Rest assured, they are well out of earshot...now close your eyes for a second will you? I wouldn't want to get into trouble for underage wand use."
Robards responded with a gruff "Just get on with it," as Harry pulled a silvery wisp of a memory from his head and placed it into the pensieve.
"Is it safe to jump in," McGonagall asked, "or should we just look?"
"It would be a bit crowded if you didn't jump," Ron replied. "I'll hang back to keep a watch while Harry and Hermione join you to answer your questions."
Twenty minutes later six witches and wizards returned from their journey into the recent past. Ron greeted them with butterbeers. "So what did you think?" he asked.
The Head Auror took a healthy swig from his bottle. "I think that we have a lot to think about."
"Were we wrong to assume that in exchange for canceling the life debt Wormtail's word was good?" Hermione asked.
"No, I think that you worded the agreement quite carefully," Remus replied. "I might have held on to that debt for a better deal, but…"
"It was worth it if what he told us was true," Harry replied. "Besides, he merely exchanged one debt for another owed to Hermione…without her intervention I would have killed him on the spot."
"Pettigrew might have thought he was telling the truth about this plan…" Remus mused.
"We've considered the possibility that he'd been intentionally fed misinformation," Hermione replied. "And we've sketched out a plan that we think will keep us and the Ministry safe, even if it is a ruse."
Head Auror Robards stepped into the discussion. "I find it difficult to believe that the Death Eaters have cells within any Ministry department, much less the Auror corps. I devised the constant vigilance program myself."
"Gawain," McGonagall replied gently, "nobody in this room questions your skills, but remember whom we are dealing with. After all, they were able to hide a polyjuiced Death Eater under Dumbledore's nose for almost a year."
The Auror paused in thought for a minute. "So, Mr. Potter, what are your plans?"
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione before giving the Head Auror a grim looking smile. "Well for starters, I plan on accepting an invitation from the Queen…"
Monday, June 18, 4:00pm
"Mum, I have absolutely nothing to wear for tomorrow!"
Emily Granger couldn't choke off a laugh as Luna Lovegood helped her daughter rummage furiously through her bedroom closet. "Hermione, I never thought I'd ever hear you say something so charmingly teenagerish, particularly given circumstances."
Hermione talked over her shoulder. "Well it's not everyday that you're invited to dine with the Queen and sit in the Royal Enclosure on the opening day of horseracing at Ascot, is it?"
Emily nodded sympathetically as Luna pulled the blue evening gown out that Hermione had worn at her knighting ceremony. "Maybe you could transfigure this one?"
"Thought of that," Hermione said, "but I'm pants at altering, and even if I weren't, I don't have a clue what I should be wearing…besides a hat, of course. At least you've got that one covered, Luna."
"Oh, I'm not sure about that," Luna said. "Ron made me promise to keep it quiet amongst the muggles, and it does have a mind of its own."
Hermione berated herself for not knowing exactly what to wear to the event. There had to be a book on the subject, but she'd been too busy worrying about defeating Voldemort to read Vogue. With all of the humility she could muster, she finally decided to take her mother's suggestion and ask for some outside help.
Exactly seventy-two minutes later, Wally whisked Luna and Hermione into a small dress shop on a fashionable street in London's West End. He introduced them to the shop's owner, an old friend he worked with at the Royal Household. "Do their beauty justice, Helen," Wally instructed, "they'll be in the Royal Box, so they'll have to look good on camera."
"Cameras?" Hermione asked.
"Of course," the seamstress replied. "The Royal Ascot's always televised, and there's a lot of interest this year with the new grandstand opening up. It'll be something like 60 different countries, 25 million viewers, if you can believe the newspapers."
Hermione looked nervously over at Luna. "If anybody asks," she warned, "your lion runs on batteries."
Tuesday, June 19, 10:30am
Roger adjusted the knot in Ron's tie as they waited for the girls to emerge from Hermione's bedroom. "Funny you don't know how to tie one of these," he told Ron. "It is part of your school uniform, isn't it?"
Harry laughed as stood before a mirror and tucked some unruly strands of hair under his black top hat. "Little muggle boys have clip-ons, little wizards have self-knotting ties."
"Sod off," Ron said, just as Emily and Wally walked down the stairs.
"Oh don't you two look handsome," said Wally, who, as part of their security detail, was also dressed in a morning suit. "They're coming right down, and Hermione's a little self-conscious, so help out, will you?" Harry didn't have time to reassure Wally on that point, as Luna had just turned the corner of the stairs. She wore a tan short-sleeved silk jacket over a full length strapless navy blue silk dress, accessorized by her cork-bottle necklace and lion hat.
Ron exclaimed, "Luna…you look erm…really, really nice."
"Thank you, Ronald," Luna replied breezily as she twirled around once before him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "And you look rather handsome, in a muggle sort of way, yourself."
It was Harry's turn to gaze with amazement as Hermione somewhat nervously walked down the stairs. She wore a dark green full-length dress that matched Harry's eyes. The dress was sleeveless, with a pleasing (at least to Harry) display of décolletage that was partially concealed by her Order of Arthur badge, which hung loosely the end of a thick platinum link chain. Covering the dress was a sheer long-sleeved overlay that buttoned closed at the neck and flared out towards the floor, floating out behind her like a gossamer cape. In deference to her profession, she wore a pointed witch hat that had been transfigured to match her dress color. The brim had been enlarged a bit, so that it flopped down rather stylishly in the front. Large flowers were arranged about her hat, held in place by a familiar looking green vine.
"Devil's Snare?" Harry asked.
Hermione smiled as she ran her hands down Harry's lapels and rubbed Harry's badge, which (like Ron's) was pinned to his suit jacket. "Thank you, Sir Harry, you look handsome too." She then waved off Harry's apology with the comment that his eyes had, once again, betrayed his thoughts. As it was raining lightly outside, Emily Granger shooed the four teenagers into the living room for pictures using both muggle and magical cameras.
"So are we all armed and dangerous?" asked Ron afterwards, as he pulled his wand and a shrunken down broom out of his suit jacket. Harry tilted his head back until he felt the tip of his sword hilt, then reached under his shirt collar and carefully pulled his sword out and over his head. "I'm so glad Fred and George found this magical scabbard for me," he said, as he used his other hand to open his jacket and reveal both his wand and shrunken-down Firebolt. He then tipped his head forward and caught the brim of his top hat as it flipped off of his head. He looked down at all of the objects stored within it. "Same with McGonagall's work on this hat…can't imagine my rucksack being considered an appropriate accessory for the day."
"At least you three have solid concealment," said Hermione, as Luna pulled her wand out from a sheath concealed by one of her sleeves. Lacking similar opacity about her upper torso, Hermione tucked two fingers into a hidden seam on the side of her dress and pulled down. The sound of ripping Velcro was heard as she exposed her right thigh and a garter belt that secured her wand.
"Say," said Harry with a grin, as he reached towards the opened seam. "What else do you have hidden in there?"
"Never you mind," Hermione said as she slapped his hand away. "C'mon, we don't want to be late for the Queen."
A cheer rang out as the four stepped out onto the front porch. Lining the path to the waiting vehicles were friends, both old and new...Fred and George next to Brian and Sir Evan, who were across from Remus and Tonks. Further down stood some of the latest initiates into the Clan Potter family…Dean Thomas, Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell, Lee Jordan, Seamus Finnegan, and Neville Longbottom.
Hermione walked up to Sir Evan, who was sitting upright with a Bluetooth-enabled headset in one ear and a handgun holstered on the side of his wheelchair. "Now you promise to call us the second you realize that you need back-up here?"
"Don't worry about us, Dame Hermione," the knight replied. "Between Wally's men and your young wizard friends we'll be in fine shape."
Harry walked up to Tonks and Remus, who were also dressed for Ascot. Lupin looked rather uncomfortable in his suit coat.
"Remus, you clean up good," Harry said. "If I didn't know better I'd think you were ready to see Tonks walking down the aisle."
Remus laughed as Tonks's cheeks turned a shade that clashed with her hair.
"You just watch yourselves along the way, and we'll see you there."
Harry then walked over his fellow Gryffindors. "Want to say again how grateful we are that you all have helped keep watch these past few days."
"We'd have been hurt if you hadn't asked us," Lee replied.
"Well, with any luck things will continue to be quiet here, but if it does get hairy…stick with Fred and George, they know the neighborhood, and trust the muggle support…they're not as helpless as you may have been led to believe."
Neville clicked his heals at attention and gave a smiling salute. "Aye aye, Clan Chief."
"Oh, stop that," Harry scolded.
Wally approached Harry's side. "Neighborhood evac starts in five minutes, Sir Harry, we should go."
"What?" Seamus said with amazement, "First it's Clan Chief, then it's Sir Harry…when do we start saying 'Your Lordship?'"
Harry shook his head and snorted out a rueful grin. "Oh, about an hour from now."
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They made the trip in two cars; Harry and Hermione rode in the back of her Bentley, driven by Wally, while Ron and Luna rode in the back of the black Bentley with Steve up front. There'd been some talk about the four riding together, but their security detail insisted on driving, saying that even it were perfectly safe that as guests of the Queen they should arrive in style.
"It's not fair," Harry mock-whined, as he reached an arm around Hermione's shoulder and pulled her close. "Their Bentley has blackened windows and that screen between the seats."
Hermione jabbed an elbow into his side. "Harry, honestly…at a time like this." She paused, then waggled her eyebrows. "Then again, what better time than this?" She then grabbed his chin and kissed him full on the lips.
"A bit of an exhibitionist, are we?" Harry asked, when their lips finally parted.
"Nothing wrong with a bit of snogging is there?" Hermione replied. "Besides," she said in a raised voice as she turned towards the front seat, "the Royal Household's staff is famous for its discretion, right?"
"My apologies, Dame Hermione, did you say something?" Wally replied, with a grin that was reflected in the rear view mirror. "My eyes and ears were focused on the road."
"There you go," Harry said with a Cheshire Cat's grin.
"Just keep it PG13, Potter," Hermione replied, as she leaned forward and wrapped both hands around Harry's neck. "Wouldn't want to corrupt the morals of any kiddies looking in."
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As Little Wizarding was located in the western suburbs of London, very near Windsor, (and Ascot, for that matter), it took all of thirty minutes for the two cars to arrive at the Castle. After passing through the main gates the cars bypassed the front entrance and drove around the perimeter of the grounds, finally stopping outside a large wooden outbuilding. Wally and Steve ducked into the building, only to return a few moments later carrying several pairs of Wellington boots.
"You'll be more comfortable wearing these," Wally said, as he opened the rear door. Hermione stepped out of the car whilst making some adjustments to her dress, then slipped out of her fancy new low-heeled shoes. She looked over at the other car and noticed that Luna was pulling up on the front of her sleeveless dress.
Hermione decided to tease. "Wardrobe malfunction, Luna?"
Luna looked a little puzzled. "No, I don't think so," she replied. "The fabric went exactly where Ronald's hands wanted it to go."
Harry and Hermione laughed as Ron tried to stammer out an explanation. With raised dress hems the four were led through puddles of water and mud and into the royal stables, where they came upon the Queen of England, who was presently nuzzling a thoroughbred's nose with her own.
Wally cleared his throat and introduced the four to the Queen, whose own pair of Wellies contrasted with her blue hat and dress just as sharply as Hermione and Luna's.
"We are pleased to see you again, Sir Harry and Dame Hermione," she said, with both hands still grasping the horse's bridle, "and delighted to meet you, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Lovegood."
"Is that really a horse?" Luna asked incredulously. "I've never seen one before."
The queen laughed. "Yes my dear, this is a real live horse. Perhaps not as colorful as some of your more magical creatures, but the way she runs is magical in and of itself." She patted the side of the horse's head and turned back towards the four. "One of mine," she said proudly, "and odds-on favorite for tomorrow's last race." Raising her hand towards the far side of the stable she said, "You should meet my grandson…he is around here someplace with his young lady friend."
The four followed her as she walked down the stable pathway. "We do hope that Brian has made your summer a little more comfortable than in year's past, Sir Harry?"
"He's been absolutely brilliant," Harry replied, "I can't thank you enough for what you did."
"We have no doubt that we will be the one thanking you for what you've done in far too soon a time," the Queen replied. "By the way, we will be spending all of next month at Balmoral, and would be pleased if you and your friends could visit for at least a portion of that time."
Harry and Hermione exchanged quick looks of concern and calculation. "We are honored by your invitation, Your Majesty," Hermione replied, "and would very much enjoy just such a visit."
"Excellent," the Queen replied. She stopped in front of a seemingly empty stall and, in a voice eerily similar to Dolores Umbridge's, cleared her throat.
"Hem, hem."
After a moment, the stall door opened and a handsome young man in his early twenties appeared. He wore a top hat, tails, and a guilty-looking grin as he led a demure young lady dressed in pink out of the stall.
The Queen said, "May I present my grandson, Prince Harold, and his friend, Lady Penelope."
"Good morning, grandmum," the young prince replied. "I was just showing Penny around the stables."
"Yes, that is quite evident," the Queen replied, as she pulled a piece of straw away from the back of the young woman's dress.
The young prince smirked as he looked towards the four. "Ah, you must be the bright young students from up North that father's been talking about."
"I imagine so, Prince Harold," Hermione replied with the kind of saucer eyes she last wore at Buckingham Palace. "It's an honor to meet you."
"Please, call me Harry," the young prince said, "although that might get confusing, right Sir Harry?"
Harry frowned a bit at the star-struck attention Hermione was paying to the most eligible bachelor in Britain (well, muggle Britain, at least).
"Yes, well that little problem will be resolvable soon enough, won't it?" suggested the Queen.
"Erm, yes, Your Highness," Harry replied modestly.
The Queen looked out the stable's doorway. "It is nearly time for lunch. Would you go find your father, dear…tell him that we need his presence here in the stable house?"
"Sure, grandmum," Prince Harry replied. He led his girlfriend out of the stable.
The Queen sighed. "So spirited…just like his mother. Has us wrapped around his little finger, he does."
A few minutes later a Rolls Royce pulled up outside the stable and discharged the Prince of Wales. "Hullo, Sir Harry, so good to see you again," he said. "And this must be Dame Hermione, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Lovegood."
"Your hats are quite amazing," the Prince continued, "and a most fashionable placement of your badge, Dame Hermione. I understand you had the opportunity to test drive them over the weekend."
"We did indeed," Hermione replied.
"Did you bring the necessary instruments, Charles?" the Queen asked.
"Yes, mum," the Prince replied. He then opened his coat jacket and pulled out a piece of parchment and a large round object that was hidden under red silk.
"Sir Harry," the Queen said, "in the interest of time and secrecy we thought it best to take care of this here. However, we must insist that this be considered a field appointment, and that there will be a time to do this properly at Westminster."
"Understood, Your Majesty." Harry said, as he pulled Gryffindor's sword from its hidden scabbard and placed it in the Queen's gloved hand. He then took a knee in front of her.
"Oh, Sir Harry that really wasn't necessary," the Queen said, "now you've gone and got some mud on your trouser leg. Remind us to have that cleaned up at the Castle…can't have the Royal Wizard looking off when he's presented to the Commonwealth, can we?"
Harry smiled. "No, Your Majesty, certainly not."
The Queen nodded. "Dame Hermione, I believe that there was need of an official witness?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Hermione replied. She slipped behind a stall door and disappeared with a small "pop." Fifteen seconds later, she returned in a bright display of light accompanied by the Head Auror.
"Your Majesty," Hermione said, "may I present to you Gawain Robards, Head of Magical Law Enforcement's Auror Department, and a member of the Minister of Magic's cabinet."
"It is our understanding that you are aware of these proceedings and have the authority to act as official witness for the wizarding world?"
The Head Auror bowed stiffly. "I do indeed."
The Queen then began to read from the parchment, with the Prince and Head Auror by her sides, and Hermione, Ron and Luna standing behind Harry.
"Sir Harry Potter, do you swear fealty to the Crown and promise to use all of your powers, be they physical, mental or magical, to defend it and its citizenry, both muggle and wizard, against all enemies?"
"I do."
"Then let it be known that under terms agreed upon in the Treaty of Carlisle that I, Elizabeth, Monarch of the British Isles, do hereby claim the right to appoint a Royal Wizard, and do bestow that title upon Sir Harry Potter, along with all associated rights and responsibilities."
She nodded towards the Prince, who unwrapped the silk-covered object, revealing a heavy gold-chained necklace that he hung on Harry's bowed head. Hanging at the end of this chain was a fist-sized pearl, guarded on each side of its mount by golden upright lions. When the Queen placed the tip of Harry's sword against the pearl it lit up with an amber glow that filled the entire stable with warm light. As she drew the sword tip away, arcs of fairy lightning briefly held the connection between sword and emblem.
The Queen seemed nonplussed as she continued. "At this time we also proclaim restoration of the honor and position of the House of Gryffindor within our Royal Court, and do confer upon he who leads that house by birthright the honor and title of Lord."
The Queen then touched Harry's shoulders three times with the sword's blade.
"Rise, Lord Gryffindor."
Harry looked rather embarrassed by all of the pomp as he stood and sheathed his sword. That didn't keep him from smiling widely as he accepted the handshakes, hugs and backslaps from those few witnesses to the event. He was rather pleasantly surprised by the vigor of the Head Auror's handshake.
"Is everything set on your end?" Harry asked quietly.
"It is indeed, Lord Gryffindor," the Auror replied with a smile.
"Please, you don't need to use that title."
"So how should I address you, my Clan Chief?" Robards asked with a wink.
Harry shook his head with resignation. "Harry…just Harry is fine."