0037, 2 May 1998, Quantico
“Well, something’s happening, that’s for damned sure,” Captain Marshall said, casting a sideways glance at Director Kensworth, “but no one in Foreign Affairs seems to be able to make out precisely what.”
Only a small twitch in Kensworth’s cheek betrayed her irritation with the Captain of Aurors. “Reliable information, as you and your team know full well, has been hard to come by. Our agent in Calais picked up a communique from their wireless. Their ‘River’ put out an all-call.” Kensworth paused, taking a breath. “A call for all able-bodied witches and wizards to gather to fight. If we’ve decoded it correctly, then there may be a battle on as we speak.” She paused again, hesitating not so much from a lack of surety but from the seeming-impossible severity of the situation. “We have reason to believe that this – this self-styled Dark Lord of theirs is on the site, along with his best lieutenants. If he’s come forth, it suggests… it suggests they mean to end it, today. One way or another.”
Captain Marshall looked out at his team: Artemis Reynolds, sitting forward on her seat, poised like a greyhound in the slip; Agents Pannikar and Dupont exchanging nervous glances; Grigory Filipov, with lines of concern written plainly on his face. They were used to odd hours, and long ones; being summoned in the dead of night was nothing unusual. But this stasis, this months-long question of whether they would act or hold in readiness – he knew it grated them.
Over three thousand miles away, the sun would be rising – and what scene it rose on might re-align their own fates along with Britain’s.
“So,” Marshall said. “We wait.”
Sorry it’s been so long guys. Stuff came up and I got hired on at an actual herbal shop. ... and... I fried my computer. That wasn’t fun and it cost me a pretty paycheck to replace. Going to have to come up regular job instead of the work I like most.
Anyway, to the history article.
I was little when this happened, so not much of it made sense to me. My parents didn’t tell me much in the aftermath, or about what was going on. Despite the issues we have here in the US, this hurt my family - we had family in Britain. Great Grandma Patti was one killed by the Death Eaters we think. The Ministry didn’t think so though, but we know she never had use for potions or potion-making, but that’s how she was found. Particularly nasty accident if I recall...
I can’t even imagine what the students had to go through, all around this Harry Potter person. Sure, he’s pretty famous, few people don’t know who he is, but that’s just... horrifying to think about. His memoir was a best-seller though.
History isn’t always fun and games. We need to learn from it. I’m just glad we haven’t had such things happen here.
