The Muggle War

Chapter 4 Pil-Seung

Nobody said anything as the wizards continued to fly. Harry wanted to talk to Ron and Hermione but he was afraid of Chang, who had just single handedly sent several men to their deaths.

Hermione looked the most frightened as she kept her eyes covered with her hands. Harry realized this was the first time he had ever seen Hermione fly, under any circumstances.

Harry could see the countryside below the clouds. He couldn't tell how much time had passed when the wizards landed at the last at a forest.

Chang released the children. The three were so shocked from the day's experience that they found it hard to stand straight.

"Take them to Colonel Kim," said the captain; eyeing the three suspiciously, "He'll decide what to do with them..."

Chang nodded and gestured to the children to follow him. He climbed into a particularly large tree, which had a dark hole in the middle. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were shaking a little bit, but they realized they had no choice but to follow.

Harry expected a tight fit, but the hole turned out to be an entrance to a secret base. The inside looked like a castle, only without decorations or windows. Chang silently led the children down along spiral step. Several wizards, all of non-European origin, passed them and gave curious glances.

Corridors appeared and Chang took them to the door at the end of the corridor. The door was marked 'WSF CO.' Chang knocked.

"Come," said an old voice from inside. Chang opened the door and motioned for the children to enter first. Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered obediently. Chang came in last and shut the door behind them.

The room was a shabby office with just a desk and some chairs. Harry noticed muggle maps with notes and diagrams scribbled on them on the walls, and a small cupboard.

An Asian man at his fifties was sitting at the desk. He was not as impressive as Chang, as he looked more like a pleasant desk clerk than a soldier. He had thick round-rimmed glasses and a narrow mustache over a smile on a slightly wrinkled face. When he stood up to greet them, Harry could see that the men was a head shorter than Chang, but Chang was a very tall man to begin with.

"I am Colonel Pil-Seung Kim of the Wildcard Strike Force."

"Pil-Sung?" asked Ron.

"Pil-Seung," corrected Kim, maintaining his smile.

"Pil-Seng?" tried Hermione, who seemed relieved to find that the 'colonel' was much more pleasant than she had expected.

"Pil-Seung," said Kim again, without the faintest sign of annoyance. "It's alright. You aren't the only native English speakers who have trouble pronouncing my native Korean first name. My friends call me Kennedy."

Ron was surprised indeed. "You are Kennedy Kim?" he blurted out, pointing. Hermione intercepted his hand with her own, not turning her face away from Kim.

"Well, I am glad that at least one of you is enthusiastic about seeing me. Now, would any of you mind telling me who you are and why you are here?" asked Kim, crossing his arms and smile fading at last.

"I'm Harry Potter, sir. These are my friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. We are Hogwarts students."

"As your uniforms tell me," Kim said. "So how did you wind up in Omaha Beach? Hogwarts students were ordered by the Ministry to stay at school, where it's safe."

"We...kind of got lost when we looked up this book about the-" Ron started to say, when Hermione jabbed his ribs with an elbow.

"Ouch! Why-"

"We looked up this book about muggle tactics and thought we could give you some help. The teachers wouldn't let us leave of course, so we crept away secretly," Hermione said quickly. Ron raised an eyebrow, but decided to keep quiet.

"Well, indeed," said Kim. Harry didn't think Kim was fooled, but Kim seemed to think their story didn't make any difference. "It's heartwarming to know that you kids risked your lives to help us here, but I am afraid we'll have to send you back. This place is much too dangerous for you, it is no place for children."

The three were not going to argue with that. This history lesson was becoming much more than they had bargained for. Harry wanted to discuss the situation with Ron and Hermione as soon as they found some privacy, if they ever did.

"Your parents must be worried sick about you!" said Kim, seeming slightly exasperated. He turned to Chang, who had been standing near the door, listening to the conversation with out a word. "Lieutenant Chang, how soon can we return them to Hogwarts?"

"We can't, sir," said Chang flatly. His voice sounded young but disciplined.

"What do you mean?" asked Kim, surprised.

"Well, sir, as you know, portkeys and the floo network leading to the muggle world has been all shut down for security reasons. For transportation from the muggle world, we apparate only when absolutely necessary. I am afraid these children are too young to know how to apparate," said Chang.

"Yes, but can't we fly them back on brooms or carpet on stealth mode?" suggested Kim.

"We could, sir, but we cannot spare an escort detail to take these children back at the moment. Not with Shnieder scanning the skies."

"Shnieder would love to get his hands on these children, yes," said Kim thoughtfully, rubbing his forehead. Ron gulped.

Kim looked at the children again. "Alright, it looks like we have no choice but to keep you three here for the time being. I will send out an owl with a coded message to the Ministry asking them to send a team from their end to take you three back to Hogwarts. Chang, I want you to put our guests where they will stay out of trouble. Teach them the house rules, too."

Chang looked taken back slightly, but recovered. "Yes, sir."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up and met eyes with Chang.