A Mission Like No Other

"Look, if you just talk to Dumbledore about your parents, think of all the good it will do," Ginny told him hopefully. "It might be really helpful in the fight against You-Know-Who. Think of all the lives it might save."

"That's not my concern," Midgarth responded coolly. "It's your world, not mine."

"Well, isn't that kind of selfish?" Ginny asked. "Besides, he won't limit himself to killing wizards. He'll kill Muggles ... his followers do it just for fun. There'll be mass Muggle killings, where he'll kill thousands of Muggles. How would you feel if one of your Muggle friends was killed by him?" Midgarth was already shaking his head.

"Your Lord Voldemort's been back a year and there haven't been any mass Muggle killings," he told them. Both Ron and Ginny flinched.

"You said the name," Ron told him.

"Yes, I did," Midgarth said, sounding annoyed. "Is old Voldie going to swoop down and kill us all now?" It was quite shocking to hear the name of someone so dangerous treated in such a flippant manner, but Ginny recovered herself.

"You wouldn't know if there had been a mass Muggle killing," she told him. "The Ministry would cover it up."

"Have there been any?" Midgarth asked slyly.

"Well, no," Ginny answered sheepishly. "But it's probably only a matter of time!" Midgarth smiled and shook his head.

"It's always the same arguments over and over," Midgarth said in exasperation. "Why don't you people try being serious for once? What's the chance Lord Voldemort's going to kill an average living in Surrey?" Midgarth asked smugly.

"So you live in Surrey?" Ginny asked immediately.

"I'm sorry, is that supposed to be some kind of secret or something?" Midgarth asked corrosively.

"Well, it's just that Professor Lupin told us they don't know where you live," Ginny said timidly.

"All right then," Midgarth said, "I'll tell you. I live in Brockdale."

"Where's that?" Ron asked.

"It's a town in Surrey just south Little Whinging," Midgarth responded.

"Little Whinging," Ginny repeated. "That's where Harry lives."

"Memorized his address, have you?" Ron asked her snidely. Ginny didn't answer.

"In fact, I'll take you there myself," Midgarth told them. "Then you'll see I have nothing to hide. Will that make you happy?" Ron and Ginny looked at each other.

And Midgarth did indeed drive them to Brockdale in his old car. Ron and Ginny sat silently in the back of the car for most of the journey. After passing over a suspension bridge, which was both very large and very busy, Midgarth drove down to a small out-of-the-way house Ginny wouldn't have noticed unless it was pointed out to her. He parked his car in the nondescript gravel driveway and they alighted.

"This is where you live?" Ron asked, making no effort to hide his opinion of the place.

"Yes, this place is perfect," Midgarth said cheerfully. "A little house, a beautiful view of the Brockdale Bridge, no dangerous wizard-people flying around and, best of all, a wonderful wife." Ron and Ginny rolled their eyes at each other.

"Now, no one in my family knows about your world," he told them seriously, "And I don't want you to break the news to them, understand?"

"Yeah, but ..."

"Never mind, they wouldn't believe you anyway," Midgarth said as he pushed open the door to his house. The three of them stepped into a very nicely furnished living room. Ginny had never been in a Muggle home before, but Ron had.

"This looks just like Harry's house," he commented. Midgarth didn't seem to be listening.

"Eliza!" he shouted. "I'm home!" A plain woman dressed in very drab clothes walked out into the room. She was holding a mop and looked extremely stressed. Ginny suspected she had been cleaning all day ... it must be very hard without magic.

"Welcome home, Ernie!" the woman called Eliza said buoyantly as though oblivious to her appearance. "I see you brought guests."

"This is Ron and Ginny," Midgarth explained. "They're, uh, they're ... Ron, Ginny, this is my wife Eliza."

"Do you have any children?" Ginny asked casually. Eliza smiled.

"A daughter," she answered cheerfully. "Her name's Irene."

"Uh, Ron and I were going to be talking to your husband," Ginny said politely.

"Well, don't let me disturb you," Eliza said graciously. "I'll be downstairs ironing your shirts, dear," she added to her husband before turning to walk out the door.

"Where did you find her and where can I get one?" Ron asked Midgarth as soon as Eliza was out of earshot.