Pack!

               Chapter Nineteen

• I’m futzing around with the dates of a certain family in this, don’t expect chronological accuracy.

               A disillusioned Harry and Sirius set down on the #10 Downing Street roof. Sirius had been sent there to make a report for a high profile case involving a handful of muggles involved in a warding mishap, and he vaguely remembered a rooftop door that was used for the very infrequent magical emissaries that needed to speak to the non-magical government. Sirius thought he remembered which door it was, so he and Harry faded back into sight while knocking on a steel door fitted with a combination lock, a camera, and a speaker.

               A very nervous sounding voice answered, with Sirius explaining he was a magical emissary that needed an few minutes of time. There is a very tight deadline they’re under and they need someone who could take action immediately, the Prime Minister would be preferred if he could spare a moment.

               “We’re sending you an escort, sir. We’re checking availability of staff, and you will be required to surrender your wands prior to entry.” With that, the intercom cut off, and Sirius and Harry exchanged glances. Harry’s was nervous, Sirius’s was reassuring.

               “It’ll be fine, pup. We’ll notify the Prime Minister, find if there are any more muggleborns that are known about and get someone from the room on handling that if so. Then we’ll get moving again, this won’t throw off our scheduling by much.”

               Famous last words. Harry was realizing that even taking Hofstadter’s Law into account, he could feel time sands running through his fingers like water. Within a few moments of talking to one of Tony Blair’s assistants, it was understood that yes, they really did need to speak to the Prime Minister, and it really was crucial. Two sentences into Sirius’s conversation, the Prime Minister grabbed a sheet of paper and started barking questions while writing notes at a furious pace. “How long before people must be at your location? How do you plan to get them there? What supplies do they need to ensure they have? Can you offer financial or practical assistance? How many can you accommodate?”

               He pressed a button on his desk, asking for the responding official to notify Major Smythe to activate his unit, the entire unit, and report immediately. Picking up a phone on his desk, he spoke a memorized code, asking for a meeting of an emergency nature, and to please contact him as soon as possible.

               Facing back to Sirius and Harry, he said, “We know of several children that are probably magicals and are unlikely to have heard of this. We’re sending notifications to their families now, asking for an immediate reply of yes, they require assistance or no they do not. A non-answer will be assumed to have been previously handled. We currently know of only a few within the London area, how do we contact you if we find more?”

               Harry stepped forward. “Sir, if I may have my wand back, I’ll ask for a liaison to station themselves with you for several hours, to coordinate the magical assistance side of things. I can have them here within moments, if I can locate someone familiar with Downing Street.”

               “Permission granted, bring whomever you need. I’ll have a room dedicated to this issue set aside, you can use that as an interim office.”

               After receiving his wand back from their escort, who handed Sirius his as well, Harry spoke. “Patronus Message to Charlie Weasley, Charlie, I need someone who knows Downing Street well enough to apparate here, that’s willing to coordinate assistance for muggleborns or others that were missed. Actually, find and send several people who know Downing Street and can get here right away. One person needs to stay as long as possible, the others can come in and out as needed. Let me know the liaison name as soon as you have someone.”

               Within a few seconds, a reply came from a completely unexpected source. “Hello Harry, Percy and I will arrive to the front door momentarily, we’re flooing to Diagon and will apparate over.” Harry gave a wide eyed look at Sirius, who returned it. A corner of Harry’s mouth ticked up in the start of a smile. “Sir, a Mr. Arthur Weasley and his son Percy will be arriving at your front door. One or both will be your acting liaison, and you couldn’t have a better one for the world.

               “To get back to your questions, we would like to have everyone in Northern Scotland by two-thirty today, although we’ll continue to assist for as long as we have knowledge of those needing help and so long as we have the ability to give it. Our first deadline is tentatively set for 3 PM, which is when we think the mainland will be affected, but it honestly could kick off at any time. If you’re aware of anyone still on the mainland, it’s critical they leave immediately. If no other option can be found to get them out, we can ask for a volunteer to assist in retrieval, but I can’t emphasize the danger of that enough. After 3 PM we absolutely will not send anyone outside the UK borders, although anyone still able to escape is welcome to make their way here if there’s time. Once our warning at Calais is tripped, regardless of the time at which that happens, it’s too late. From that point, we wait for the warning at Dover to go, and once that happens, we have an estimated 10 minutes. Obviously we want everyone we can get to in place well before either alarm goes off, with only emergency runs going on. If we have sufficient notice and are able to reach them in a timely manner, we have a spell that can Pack! their possessions and house, although there’s a bit of a condition attached to that, and depending on their location we can get them to our castle with some magical help. If they’ve no time to gather supplies, that’s understandable, we’re undertaking to keep everyone fed and housed at our expense for at least a year, and looking after each other is just how it is going to be going forward. I’m willing to float no-interest loans to those who need it on this side of the issue, and if they have a business they own, we can ensure they keep it if they like, or potentially sell it on later. We’ll accommodate as many people as you can find, we have about 300 currently and I’ll ask Mr. Weasley to keep our planners up to date on revised numbers as things are worked out. Options are for muggle transport if it’s fast enough and if you could coordinate their arrival points with Mr. Weasley, we’ll see if we have options to help. If anyone has access to a floo they can go straight through to Hogwarts, which is our staging area. The floo address is Sanctuary. I’ll have someone watching for arrivals until the point we leave. If they can get to Inverness, I’ll have someone in a red hat stationed at the market cross for as long as we can.”

               Casting a Patronus to Charlie, he asked for someone to wear a bright red hat and stand at the market cross in Inverness, rotating people in and out as needed, but always with a red hat. They were to watch for anyone looking for magical help, they were likely to be non-magicals with magical children who had no background for the wizarding world. Not sure how many will come through that direction, but if even one needs help, it’s worth it.”

               The minister pulled over another assistant, “David, you run to the head of the Foreign Office immediately, he’s working with JoAnne in our budget office, and and fill him in. He’s to immediately call either his counterparts or the Heads of State for all European countries, and European countries only, it’s too late for anywhere else. You make sure he starts dialing while you’re still talking; he’s to find out if they’ve the means to identify children or adults who are magical and still in place. They’re to get them to London by the fastest means possible, and ensure you detail out Mr. Potters options, if they want to save their lives. If there are family members readily at hand and willing to go, they’re permitted to accompany them.” He raised a brow at Arthur, who nodded firmly. “Downing Street has a magical liaison in place who can possibly, and I stress possibly help, but that is not to be relied on outside of the UK. They need to get to London before three PM today, GMT. I’ve no time to hand hold for anyone on this, nor is there time to satisfy any demands for information. They either act or not as their conscience dictates. Go.” David skidded out the door, grabbing the frame to swing round the exit.

               A brisk knock on the door had an assistant opening it to reveal an impeccably uniformed military man who had to be Major Smythe, with Mr. Weasley and Percy behind him. “Major, come in, and you must be Percy Weasley. Arthur, good to see you again, but I do wish it were under different circumstances. Thank you for your help, we’ll be setting you up in a nearby room and passing you information on children or other magicals as we make contact with them. I personally know of one that I would expect to hear back from, and word is going out to anyone capable of identifying more, both here and across Europe. Mr. Potter and Mr. Black have offered up whatever magical help can be provided, and I’m very much afraid we’re going to have to take you up on every bit of it, the timeline doesn’t allow for a thoroughly planned operation.”

               Harry reached out and hugged Mr. Weasley, extending a hand to Percy at the same time. “Did not expect this but thank you both. I don’t know how you’ve managed it, and we’ll talk soon, but time is moving, and we have less than we did a minute ago. Ask Charlie to send one or more of the elves down here to help, they have the whole story so far and are aware of who to approach for loans or who’s handling business related items, or who can assist with Pack!ing up homes, etc... Use anyone who you need, and I’d recommend getting a bunch of people to the Leaky then bringing them by cab to Downing Street so you have more who will then be able to apparate in and out directly. Please work to get whomever you find to Hogwarts as best you can, but it’d be appreciated if you could apply pressure, gently, to ensure there’s no avoidable delays. Once the Calais warning goes, get everyone not immediately necessary back to Hogwarts. The only warning we have left at that point, Dover, gives us just ten minutes before Hogwarts closes the wards.” He handed Percy a large stack of bundled hundred dollar bills. “Use this as needed, it’s primarily for community based supplies if you have an opportunity that pops up. If someone needs a loan, just write down who and how much then either use this cash to fund, or ask Dobby to take care of it. If they need assistance gathering personal supplies for a business or the like, send them out with a magical to facilitate as much as possible. Can do?”

               “Can do, Harry. We’re good, you get going on what you need to do, Percy and I can be going on with things here.” Pulling Harry in for another hug, he patted him on the shoulder and sent him off to Sirius.

               Harry stole a piece of the Ministers paper, scrawling a quick sale document to one Tony Blair. “Mr. Prime Minister, if anyone is able to get through to the Leaky Cauldron after we’ve all moved to Hogwarts, they can still floo through so long as magic permits. The address for the Leaky Cauldron is on this paper, but only a magical can currently see the building. Our leaving it behind might give a few more people a chance. However, ten minutes after the Dover warning goes, we’re raising the Hogwarts wards and beginning the process to leave. You now own the Leaky Cauldron, and the charms hiding it from the public will fade once magic dies. You’ll be able to do with the property what you will.”

               Harry turned aside, “Patronus message to Charlie Weasley, Executive decision, I’m going to leave the Leaky Cauldron behind, it’s going to stay, floo locked open. Please have someone monitoring the incoming floo at all times until we leave, there could be unexpected arrivals at any time. Thanks, Charlie.”

               Sirius asked the Prime Minister if they personally were needed for anything else, and got a surprising “Yes, most definitely. We have a meeting at Buckingham Palace, and Major Smythe and his unit are to accompany us. We have a convoy ready to leave and we can’t keep her waiting. Follow me, please.” Quickly designating one of his assistants to continue the project, he patted Mr. Weasley on the shoulder with a silent nod and an uspoken thank you, then turned for the door.

               Harry and Sirius gave a startled look at each other, then shrugged and fell into line, quickly walking to the front door and into the indicated vehicle. Fifteen minutes later they were inside the palace, following a page to a room where they were ushered inside, coming face to face with a seated Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Harry, Sirius, the Prime Minister and Major Smythe all bowed, the remainder of the Major’s unit staying outside the room.

               “Your Majesty, thank you for making time for me. I’ve just been advised of an extremely urgent issue that I believe might affect a member of the Royal Family.” He paused a moment to gather his thoughts before forging ahead, with the queen calmly waiting for him to continue. “The former minister had advised me, upon my receiving an initial magical briefing, that the House of Hanover was known from time to time to produce a magical child. Would I be correct in assuming you are one of those children, ma’am? Are there currently any others that you’re aware of?”

               Harry and Sirius gave a goggle eyed look at each other, jaws dropping. The Queen of England might be a magical? They’d never heard so much as a whisper of that, why not?

               The queen infinitesimally leaned back, posture still perfect, face calm and composed. She gave a small head tilt in response. “We are, as you say, one of those magical children. To Our knowledge, We are the only one, and within Our immediate family, We are quite certain of that. Throughout the extended family, word has always been handed down to advise the Sovereign of children with certain behaviors as assistance may be required for educational reasons. No such advice has been received throughout Our reign, nor was any such passed to Us on Our assumption of the throne. We believe We are the only current Hanoverian descendent possessing magical ability. What is the current issue, and how does it affect Us, Prime Minister?”

               The Prime Minister’s shoulders dropped, his face troubled and anxious. “I’d hoped for a different response, Your Majesty, for the sake of the realm, but for your personal safety, I am glad we were able to discover this in time. I’d like Mr. Black and Mr. Potter to explain further, as they’re deeply involved in the issue and are able to provide more complete information.” With that, he bowed again and stepped back, indicating for Sirius and Harry to take over.

               Sirius gave a small hand wave to Harry, deferring to him, but still cocking a brow to ask if Harry’d prefer Sirius take point. Harry shook his head and stepped forward. Offering another bow, he started to retell the story, necessity forcing him to keep it brief. After a brief explanation, he summed up with, “In short, Your Majesty, we admit we don’t know for certain what will happen when magic dies, but in the absence of other facts, we have to operate under the supposition that we are magical beings and our bodies rely on that to at least some degree. The current assumption is that it’s likely a magical person would die. We won’t take chances with the children, they absolutely must go, but you’re an adult, and have a right to choose. We hope you will accompany us in any capacity you prefer, from Queen to anonymous. We hadn’t actually considered the governmental setup on the other side as yet, you would be able to provide invaluable insight into that, but we recognize the complications of your life and how difficult it would be to extract yourself. We would be honored to render all assistance available to you if you accept.”

               The Queen remained calm, clearly considering the problem. Her blue eyes were diamond bright and sharp as she looked among the four of them. Her hands were loosely clasped in her lap, but one finger began a rhythmical tap, tap, tap. Finally, her brow smoothed out, and her lips pursed slightly. She looked at the Major, who serenely looked back. “Major, what are your thoughts on this? We expect you to be honest in your opinion.”

               “I’m missing the entire magical team, ma’am, and now I know why. The rest of us are sworn to you, and proud to have it so. We do not leave your service unless you dismiss us. We will not voluntarily resign. None of us.” He stood even taller with that statement, determination and pride fairly radiating from him.

               Her eyes fastened back on Harry, and she spoke directly to him on her own behalf, not as Monarch. “I am old, Mr. Potter, but my life has always been one of service. You have need of me in relation to the knowledge I possess, and I think I still have one more adventure in me.” She squared her shoulders and drew a deep breath. “Mr. Prime Minister, I believe it is time to enact London Bridge. There is no time to assemble the family, so I’m afraid I must rely on you to convey the appropriate information, and to use your discretion to do so. As there will be no further magic, perhaps it would be best if we enact London Bridge in full, The Queen is dead, long live the King. But I will defer to your judgement, and hope you follow whichever path forward that will lead to the best for our people. Mr. Potter, Major Smythe commands my personal guardsmen, and as such has indicated he and his will stay with me. Would you render what assistance you can in gathering any family they wish to take with them, and what belongings they have time to retrieve? As I cannot remain anonymous for long when accompanied so, I shall accept your offer to accompany you as Queen, but I suggest on the other side, we discuss the government that is wished for. a Monarchy, even if only titular in scope, is not always the best option, and I might find I quite enjoy not being Queen, who can say? Now, on to more practical business, there are items I would very much wish to take, however nearly all of them require collection from Balmoral.” She sighed, a bit sadly, “I will miss my home.” And still determined in demeanor, “Will my dogs be able to accompany us, do you know?”

               At that, Sirius chimed in with a sneaky sort of smile, his Marauder charm out in force. “Your Majesty, if you want Balmoral, we’ll take Balmoral. Not sure how the Prime Minister would explain it, but if you own it and you want it, we’ll take it.”

               Harry sent a quick Patronus to Arthur, “Mr. Weasley, we have another group of muggles that will be accompanying us, currently about a dozen, but there may well be additional family. They’re going to need to collect belongings as well. We’ll have them get in touch with you soonest. Sirius and I are assisting a muggleborn right now, we’re going to handle this one personally.” While Sirius was addressing the Queen, Harry pulled the Major aside. Have your people talk to Arthur Weasley at Downing Street, he’ll ensure they get Pack!ed up, as well as looking after family that intends to go. I understand that you’re a personal guard, as well as your men, but please, no firearms. None of us are interested in a modern lifestyle, although we’ve no intention of denying ourselves modern conveniences. We’re working on something roughly Tudor to Edwardian styled, and while we’re not asking anyone to live that lifestyle in full, we’ve all agreed to no internal combustion or mechanization. Please, we’re asking you leave the knowledge of advanced weapons behind.”

               Major Smythe considered the point. He and his were well trained in all forms of defense and he felt confident their skills could protect the Queen without resorting to firearms. He saw the lad’s objective and, at least in theory, agreed. “I’ll see that done,” he said, in promise.

               Turning back to Sirius, “So, how do we get the Queen,” he paused when the Major stepped closer, clearly not intending to be left behind, “and the Major, to Balmoral?”

               “Harry, you absolutely didn’t fool me, I know you have your broom with you. Your Majesty, can I interest you in a flying carpet ride?” Sirius spread his arms in invitation.

               “Sirius Black, you numpty, you can’t ask the Queen to sit on a carpet, are you out of your mind?” Harry was outraged at Sirius for just the thought.

               “Oh relax, Harry, I was gonna stick a chair to it for her, I’m not a complete savage, you know! Besides, you’re gonna have to find a way to keep up on that slowpoke broom of yours. Your Majesty, I’m going to suggest we side along apparate you to the nearest floo point, then we can take the carpet from Hogwarts to Balmoral. It’s actually quite close to our final destination. Major, would you consent to ride tandem with Harry? I only have the one carpet, and it’s rather small, I’m afraid.”

               “As to that, Mr. Black, although I’ve never used it, it is my understanding that the fireplace in my my personal library was used for transport during Queen Victoria’s time. I’ve records that indicate she used Balmoral as well, although I’ve no idea of which fireplace. It is noted as “Speak Home”, which I would assume to be some sort of code phrase. Perhaps you could advise if the fireplace here is still in working order, and how such transport is accomplished?”