With Winky's help, Hermione scoured the French and English wizarding marketplace for books on becoming an animagus. She even sent a letter to Professor McGonagall. It was from the Professor that she found the first good reference – Finding the Animal Within by Grimjaw Knuts. As she started her classes at Beauxbatons, she also approached her transfiguration professor there to obtain her second reference – Letting the Wild Side Loose and How to Get There by Jacques Kissletoe. Between the two, she was able to cobble together a "brief" treatise on how to become an animagus. She sent one copy via Dobby Express to Evan, spelled "for his eyes only", and kept one for herself. Since Evan knew he had already transformed into a Harpy Eagle twice before, he knew he was capable of the transfiguration – he just needed to learn to consciously control the transformation. Toward this end, he added another 20-30 minutes training each night and each morning (outside regular military training). He was getting a bit tired, getting only 5 hours sleep a night when he was not on guard duty. There were many instances during regular military training, when he had 5 to 15 minutes break, where he was able to exercise his other (magical and ninja) abilities.
January 21, 1996. Minister Fudge's office. 1600 (4pm) Madam Bones, Head Auror Scrimgeour, Albus Dumbledore and Minister Fudge once again met in the Minister's office to discuss the upcoming deadline. The atmosphere was very tense. "Minister. We only have four days until the deadline. We MUST make a decision before one is made for us." Madam Bones began. "Amelia, " began Dumbledore, "what can they really do? Vacate the Magna Carta? And then what? Do you really think they can come into the magical world and take over? Surely you can't believe we would be unable to defend ourselves?" said Dumbledore. Madam Bones looked at him in shock and abhorrence. Minister Fudge humming along with Dumbledore's diatribe. "Do you hear yourself Headmaster? Are you really advocating the dismantlement of the Magna Carta? That entails the dismantlement of the Ministry of Magic? Do you want their military to declare martial law in Magical Britain?" she responded. "And wouldn't this just play into the hands of Vvv…..the Dark Lord?" added Scrimgeour. The Minister responded "I think we have to do something! I am getting more and more howlers every day! How can we buy more time?", he asked. "Maybe if you either authorize me to really deal with the Death Eaters, or find He –whose-name-is-hyphenated, we would have grounds to ask for an extension, otherwise, why would they?" Madam Bones huffed. "On the one hand you are tying my hands, but on the other you say my office is responsible. You can't have it both ways, Minister!" she exclaimed as she left the office.
January 23, 1996, 9:30pm – Hermione's dorm, Beauxbaton. Hermione had just finished talking with Evan over her communicator. His team had just transitioned to the Highlands of Scotland for Cold Weather Mountain Training where they were getting advanced training in cold-weather combat, combat in mountainous terrain and cave combat. (Ironically, much of Britain was hit that day with sub-zero temperatures and snowstorms.) Hermione told him of her first two weeks at Beauxbatons. While she had already experienced some 'local' pureblood nonsense, the atmosphere at the school was much better than at Hogwarts. Hermione was lucky enough to reacquaint herself with some of the girls who came to Hogwarts last year as part of the Triwiz. The History of Magic teacher was soooooo much better than Bins, not to mention potions! Woah! After her first class in potions she talked with the professor who recommended two basic reference books that were recommended to all Beauxbaton students (but not Hogwarts students): Basic Origins and Principles of Potion Making by Msr. Flamel, and Slice, Dice, Twirl-Ingredient Interactions and Counteractions in Potions by Mdm. Lupin-Bovarie (she wondered if there was any relation to Prof. Lupin from her Third year).
January 24, 1996 – CTCRM Commander's Office, 0800 (8:00am). General Black and the Commander were meeting to finalize "potential" plans for the following day. Madam Bones had called the Commander the evening before venting about the buffoonery of men and ministers. The Commander replied that he would forward her request for a "stay" to the Prime Minister, but there likely would be a price. What price, would be relayed on January 25th. Unbeknownst to Madam Bones and magical Britain, the military had had Malfoy Manor under surveillance since January 1st. The plan was relatively simple: a high-altitude flight dropping a cellulose–wrapped laser-guided block-buster bomb. The Readiness Unit would be marking the target and ensuring they got everybody. They had alerted the local authorities of the, then potential, action a week ago, asking them to put together some safety and evacuation plans. While the Wiltshire area was not necessarily heavily populated, they wanted to make sure all civilians were safe. The local authorities put out flyers notifying local residents that, on January 25 a test flight of a supersonic plane was going to fly over their area. They recommended placing heavy curtains or blankets over outside windows, and that all residents should stay inside away from any windows if they could.
January 24, 1996 – Ministry of Magic, Minister Fudge's office. Fudge was meeting with Dumbledore, Madam Bones and Scrimgeour to discuss their options this last day before their deadline. Madam Bones told them she was trying to buy some time through back channels until the Minister got off his ass and made a decision. Then she left the office….again.
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