72 the first of them (1/2)

While the five of then sneak out the great hall, Fudge was becoming apoplectic, Dumbledore was dead, House Potter was just declared extinct, and they lost alongside two old powerful House, the day was a disaster.

”What are you waiting for?! Go arrest the boy!” scream Fudge at Amelia. Before anyone could move, another delegation enters the hall.

”I fear that will not be possible, Minister.”

”You are you to tell me what I can do, I have the Minister of Magic!”

”I know, but, like any country members, you also fall under the supervision of the ICW, Witch I represent. I originally came for a criminal, but as he is already dead, we will simply dispose of the corpse.”At his word, two wizards came forth, magicking the body in a white cloth.

”The headmaster had wished to rest in the ground of Hogwarts, you can't take is body away!” Says McGonagall.

”Not only I can but I will do it. Albus Brian Dumbledore is or was a wanted criminal from the ICW. Criminals don't choose their resting place, he will be incinerated and his cinders dispersed in the Mediterranean sea.”

”Criminal?” It was only now that they register the fact.

”Quite so, Mr.Dumbledore has housed a wanted criminal for the last 50 years after faking its death and willfully accept the monetary reward for the head of one Gelert Grindelwald. It was only this morning that the head of says man was delivered by Alexander Evans (One of his elves while bearing his crest on its uniform.). As Mr. Dumbledore is now dead, the ICW is unable to recover the price of the bounty from the British bank of Gringotts, as Mr.Dumbledore have been reintegrated to his office as a chief warlock by your Minister, it incumbent the Ministry to pay for the initial bounty as well as a fine of 1% of the total bounty, for each year. As the bounty was 10,000,000.00G, and with the past 49 years, the Ministry of magic is to pay in full the 14,900,000.00G or 15,000,000.00G before the end of the 31 December 1995.”

While the rest of the British community makes head around those last crushing blow to Dumble's image and the enormous debt he left them with, Alex has taken the girls to the outside of the castle wards, unwilling to let them know about the elves for the moment. They had left the tree brooms he creates, to bring them to the territory.

Before they could ride, Alex calls on the little bird that had followed them.

”Miss Delacour, we are about to go somewhere else and won't be back for a long time, if you have something to say, says it now.”

Surprised and a little ashamed to have been caught, she cast off her disillusionment charm and looks at him. Seeing her faint blush and that she didn't seems willing to speaks, he sighs while Susan and Hermione were confused at the act of the older girl, leaving only Luna with a knowing smirk on her face.

”Alright, come with us, but you must know that I will ask for you a secrecy oath on what you will see, is that alright with you?”

Nodding again without a word, he takes them out of the bushes they had been hidden. Their sight draws quite the reaction.

”Alex is that...?”

”Nimbus 2000?” Ask him to Susan, making her nod.” No, they are not, they're too slow it would take us a few hours to go there otherwise, those are mine. A put as much security on them as possible but I will take Hermione with me, the three of you will need to share the two others.”

Hearing this, Hermione feels relief, she wasn't one for brooms and would have drag everyone behind. While she takes place behind him and clutches tightly on him, Susan and Luna share one, leaving Fleur one for herself.

”Try to follow, Hermione close your eyes.”

Following his instruction, she feels nothing different and until he asks her to open them, she was still thinking that they hadn't moved. When she cracks one open, she saw their surrounding blur under a speed she is sure to still unreached by modern automobile. The four girls couldn't belive themselves, no sound, no wind, and perfectly stable brooms bring them to a tall wall in the middle of large plains in less than ten minutes. Looking back, they could see the faint outline of the castle.

Passing the gates, who close after them, they mount the broom again and fly to the two lone standing buildings. Contrary to their through, he made his way to the midnight blue house, leaving open the door behind him. When they enter, even Hermione was awed by the futurist design of an interior coming straight from a 2020 art Deco revue. White pieces of furniture with simple and stylized lines with beige and taupe walls, giving the large unique open room a homely feeling.

leading them to the living room, the girls sat in large comfy couches made for easily four people each, positioned in a wide arc with a coffee table each and facing a large crystal screen on the wall. They couldn't help but look all around at those unknown sights.

Ignorant their inquisitive gaze he looks at fleur.

”I think it is time for you to tell why you have followed us till their miss Delacour.”

”Fleur, please.”

”Alright, Fleur, so?”

Taking a long breath to calm and steel herself before looking at him straight in the eyes and taking a serious expression.

”What do you know about Veela?”

”Not enough to hazard a guess and became offending without knowing, but it has something to do with it, doesn't it?”

”Mates.” Whisper Luna while her eyes widen as if she understands what it was about.