Status Unknown, Therefore Dead

If their fate was unknown, then they were dead.

"Hagrid," Vivi called.

Hagrid turned around, the old pink umbrella propped against his shoulder in a slightly comical way.

"You should go rest."

Hagrid grinned.

"I don't trust anyone else to drive. Every time your carriage flies back, I check the axles and reins, and I mix the Thestrals' feed myself. The feed at the Confederation Stables has too many additives. Thestrals get diarrhea from it."

Vivi did not go on.

She turned and walked into the workshop. Harry was standing by the kitchen sink, washing his hands.

He draped the towel over the rack, took his phone from his pocket, and glanced at it.

"Kingsley says the Advance Team is all here. The Ancient Magic Analyzer brought from Egypt has been loaded into the carriage too. Cassandra says that instrument can run continuously for at least forty-eight hours in Node Seven's temperature and pressure environment."

"Are you nervous?" Vivi asked.

"What's there to be nervous about?" Harry smiled. "The tunnel in Aldeburgh was much deeper than the caves in the Jordan Valley, and we made it out. Node Seven is just another cave, only far older than Aldeburgh."

"You're not afraid Node Seven will speak to you in someone's voice?"

"Before it speaks to me in anyone's voice, it has to get past you first," Harry said with a smile.

Vivi did not smile, but her eyes brightened for a moment.

An hour later, the cast-iron gates of Grimmauld Place, Number 13 were pushed open again.

Kingsley stood on the stone path outside, his robes snapping in the morning wind.

Behind him were six fully armed Advance Team members, each carrying a standard Confederation dark-blue backpack, with a wand and an emergency treatment kit hanging at their waist.

Cassandra sat