Chapter Text
[Emergency broadcast tone]
This is an official announcement from Her Majesty's Government.
The United Kingdom, alongside nations and communities across the world, is currently facing an unprecedented series of events affecting public health, essential services, and national infrastructure.
Following an assessment of the information available to the Government and its security partners, the United Kingdom is taking immediate precautionary measures in response to a developing national security emergency.
The Government, acting on advice from the Defence Council, the Chief of the Defence Staff, and the national security authorities, has authorised an increase in the readiness status of the United Kingdom.
The Government has no confirmed information indicating an immediate threat to the wider public at this time. However, the measures announced today are necessary to ensure that the United Kingdom is prepared for any further developments.
All Regular Armed Forces personnel are to prepare for potential deployment. Units across the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Marines are to undertake immediate readiness measures, including the preparation of personnel, equipment, facilities, and operational capabilities.
With immediate effect, mobilisation of the United Kingdom Reserve Forces has commenced.
All members of the Army Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve, and Royal Auxiliary Air Force are instructed to report to their designated Reserve Centres or assigned mobilisation locations without delay.
Reservists should carry military identification, required documentation, and any issued personal equipment currently in their possession.
Further instructions will be provided upon reporting.
This mobilisation applies to all Reserve personnel. Individuals unable to establish contact with their unit are instructed to remain available for further orders and await additional government guidance.
Emergency services across the United Kingdom have been placed on an enhanced operational footing.
Police, fire and rescue services, ambulance services, and other critical response organisations are now implementing contingency procedures to ensure the continued protection and support of communities across the United Kingdom.
Police services have been authorised to increase operational readiness.
Specialist firearms units have been placed on heightened alert, and arrangements are being implemented to expand armed response capability where required.
Additional police personnel may be required to undertake additional training and preparedness measures in support of national emergency response operations.
Members of the public should not be alarmed by any increased visible presence of armed police officers. These measures are intended to ensure that emergency services are prepared to respond to any emerging threat.
Fire and rescue services are implementing enhanced emergency response procedures.
Personnel, equipment, and facilities are being prepared for increased operational demand, including major incident response, infrastructure emergencies, hazardous incidents, and large-scale rescue operations.
Fire and rescue services may adjust normal operations in order to prioritise incidents involving immediate threats to life and public safety.
Ambulance services and healthcare providers are implementing emergency continuity measures.
Medical services are preparing additional capacity to respond to increased demand, support affected communities, and respond to potential large-scale incidents.
Members of the public are asked to use emergency medical services responsibly and only seek urgent assistance where required.
Further guidance regarding healthcare services will be issued through official channels and local health authorities.
Critical infrastructure operators across the United Kingdom have been instructed to implement enhanced security measures.
Organisations responsible for energy, water, telecommunications, transport, financial services, and other essential systems are undertaking contingency preparations to maintain continuity of service.
The public is advised that some services may experience disruption during this period.
The Government is also issuing precautionary advice to members of the public. Further guidance is available through official government websites, emergency information services, and government telephone support lines. Citizens are advised to prepare to remain within their homes or other suitably secure locations should further emergency measures become necessary.
Members of the public should ensure they have access to essential supplies, including food, water, necessary medications, battery-powered lighting, and reliable means of receiving official information.
Citizens are reminded that unnecessary stockpiling of essential goods may prevent vulnerable members of the community from accessing supplies. Additional supplies are being prepared and distributed through existing supply networks and will become available as soon as possible.
The Government and local authorities have established Designated Emergency Support Areas across the United Kingdom.
These facilities have been prepared to provide essential services, emergency supplies, medical assistance, and community support should further measures become necessary.
Essential supplies and support services will be distributed through Designated Emergency Support Areas in coordination with local authorities and emergency services.
Citizens should not travel to or attempt to enter Designated Emergency Support Areas unless instructed to do so by emergency services or local authorities.
Individuals who are elderly, medically vulnerable, disabled, or otherwise require additional support should contact local authorities or designated support services for assistance.
The Government advises all persons that restrictions affecting international travel may be introduced at short notice.
Individuals currently outside the United Kingdom who intend to return are advised to make arrangements to do so while commercial travel remains available.
Foreign nationals currently present in the United Kingdom who wish to return to their country of citizenship are advised to make arrangements to do so where possible.
The public is advised that international transport services may be subject to disruption, suspension, or additional controls should further emergency measures become necessary.
Unnecessary international travel should be avoided.
Individuals employed in critical services should await guidance from their employers and relevant authorities regarding emergency working arrangements.
Members of the public should not attempt to assist emergency services, military personnel, or government operations unless requested to do so.
Citizens are advised that misinformation, false reports, and misleading communications may be circulated during this period. The public should rely only on information provided through official government channels, emergency services, and recognised broadcasters.
Citizens are advised to keep access to official communications channels and ensure mobile devices are charged where possible.
Members of the public who observe suspicious activity, unusual incidents, or information relevant to national security are advised to report this through official channels. Individuals should not attempt to investigate matters themselves.
Citizens should avoid unnecessary domestic travel and remain attentive to instructions issued by emergency services, local authorities, and official government channels.
The Government is taking these steps based on information available to it and in order to protect the people of the United Kingdom.
Further details cannot be provided at this time.
Further information will be provided through official government channels and emergency broadcasts.
The Government asks the public to remain calm, remain vigilant, and support one another during this period.
This is not a drill.
God Save The Queen
And The United Kingdom
This message will now repeat.
Number 4 Privet Drive Surrey
Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Harry Potter was exhausted as he once again chased bits of dirt and muck around the front hall of the Dursley residence. Mud and dirt his cousin Dudley and his friends had tromped in without a thought earlier that afternoon. He paused in the monotonous work long enough to chase some shoes back into some kind of order on the mat by the door.
It’s just so…pointless, and boring. Yet another task, done far more often than it needs to be done. Supposedly it was his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s way of ‘keeping him out of trouble’ and ‘making sure he earned his keep’.
His Aunt and Uncle seemed to alternate randomly between telling any and all that he was either a trouble making savant or a dim witted idiot who had to cheat to get through school.
Harry wasn’t an idiot. He knew that the way the Dursleys treated him, spoke about him, worked him to the bone with often pointless tasks or with cooking dinner…that it wasn’t normal. That it wasn’t fair. Other children his age didn’t live like Harry did.
Harry had long ago learned that life wasn’t fair.
He stuck the dirty mop in the bucket, toeing the spinner a few times and pulled the lever to clean the muck and dirty water off the mop now that he’d finished.
He had lived with his Aunt and Uncle for as long as he could recall. Having no memories of his parents beyond small snatches of laughter, smiling faces and sometimes—when he had a nightmare—a scream and a flash of cold green light. Supposedly, they had died in a drunken car crash after his parents had overindulged. Leaving Harry with a lightning like scar across his forehead and nothing else.
Of course, the one time he’d asked, and the only time Petunia had answered, the retelling hadn’t been that clinical. Petunia had been vicious in her criticism of his parents and their characters. He hadn’t known Petunia even knew half those words!
The sheer pettiness of it alone had been enough on its own to tell him that his Aunt and Uncle were lying through their teeth or at least were so incredibly bitter as to be skewing the facts beyond recognition. Or maybe they were just being cruel. It wasn’t a secret that they hated him.
Either way, he had no real answers about how he’d lost his parents.
He emptied the mop bucket down the drain and was in the midst of sorting the bucket and mop into the cupboard under the stairs. He had to share space with the cleaning supplies. When he heard it.
All evening long prior to this, he’d heard the rugby match on the telly in the background, occasionally punctuated by cheering or cursing by his Uncle. Suddenly that noise cut off and after a brief angry noise from his Uncle, which sent a small shiver down Harry’s spine—was replaced by a tone Harry recognized from emergency alert system tests. Annoying things, loud as they were, but…
Then the broadcast began. Everyone in the house paused what they were doing and listened. It was…rather a lot, and Harry couldn’t say he understood all of it. At least not on the first hearing.
Further official updates will follow at regular intervals.
If you are caring for vulnerable friends, neighbours, or relatives, please ensure they are not left alone.
Do not rely upon rumours or unverified information shared by others.
It all rather passed in a blur. Even upon the second hearing he didn’t immediately pick up more. Still, it was rather a shock.
Harry didn’t hear it a third time, as Vernon shut off the tv. “Well. Isn’t that just perfect.” The large man spat, slapping the remote down sharply on the coffee table. Causing Harry to give a small jump.
—————
It was a short while later, Harry was doing his best to stay out of the way as Vernon stormed around the house and Petunia fluttered about him unhappily. They were discussing what to make of the broadcast. He didn't think they were even noticing him right then.
“We’ll be heading to Marge’s then. Out in the country, away from the worst of the trouble I’d wager. Plenty of room to stock up on food. Plenty of room for Dudley to gad about and burn off that boyish energy…” Vernon said, smiling at the thought of his son’s ‘boyish energy’. Harry winced. He’d often been on the receiving end of that ‘boyish energy’.
They discussed, for a while, what supplies they should bring. Petunia murmured that she was sure they could find some space to squirrel away some of Dudley’s favourite toys and his playstation.
Then the doorbell rang, and Vernon growled in aggravation, what little calm he’d regained after losing out on his rugby match evaporating. Harry watched from the kitchen doorway as Vernon stomped over to the door and pulled it open. Rudely barking a “What!” Before drawing up short when he saw the tableau before him.
A middle aged police officer, his partner leaning against the side of their patrol car behind him at the curb, and a cowed, slightly sullen looking Dudley held in place by a firm grip on his shirt collar.
“Mister and Missus Dursley,” The officer greeted, grim faced. “Your son here was caught after throwing a rock through a shopfront window.”
“No, it couldn’t have been our Dudders!” Petunia wailed dramatically, “It must be a mistake. He never—“
The Officer clearly had no time for this.
“He was witnessed by myself, my partner, and the shopkeepers. It was even caught on the shop’s CCTV and our patrol car’s dash cam,” He said sternly. “I assure you, it was certainly your son and his friends throwing the rocks. Your son’s was merely the first to take out a pane of glass.”
Vernon sputtered, his face turning that unfortunate shade of puce it did when he was angry and trying to figure his way out of a problem at the same time. Unsurprisingly, Vernon wheeled around and points a meaty finger at Harry when his eyes fix on him. “Boy! What have you been doing? Did you tell Dudley to throw that rock—“
Harry didn’t get the chance to even respond to that before the Officer was piping up again. “I have neither the time nor the inclination to indulge your family grievances right now Mister Dursley. We in Emergency Services now have rather a lot on our plate today.” The man barked, drawing Vernon up short and surprising Harry. “Get your son in hand. We will be filing a report at the station. There may be a follow up in the coming days.”
With that he released Dudley’s scruff and shoved Dudley, gently enough, into the house before giving a perfunctory nod and striding away from the Dursley residence. Harry saw the man’s head shaking in clear exasperation before the door was shut.
Petunia and Vernon circled their son a few times, his aunt fretting over her completely unharmed baby hippo of a son. Actually that was probably unfair to baby hippos, they almost certainly had a better disposition than Dudley.
Harry was surprised when they don’t immediately turn on him and shower blame and hateful words on him. He always took the blame for Dudley’s misbehaviour. And instead found himself absently sent to his cupboard for the night.
Even then he listened to the Dursleys as they began to plan in earnest for leaving to visit Vernon’s sister again. It wasn't until the house settled down for the night for the night, Dudley to his room. Vernon and Petunia to theirs, that it hit Harry. In none of their mutterings about plans, and discussions about supplies and space for people to stay had his name come up. Not once.
At first he thought, perhaps he’d missed it. But no, he realised as he went back over what he’d heard. Even in a time of trouble, and worry. The Dursleys paid him not one moment of consideration. Not one.
Summertown North Oxford, Oxford
Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Hermione Granger, was sitting at the kitchen table, one hand to the side scratching the top of the family West Highland Terrier, Oliver, behind the ears as the aging dog propped his front paws on the edge of her chair. Her other hand was waving expressively as she talked about her day at school on Friday. Her father, Daniel Granger, had just deposited a plate full of burger patties alongside the buns and condiments when she sat down.
Today had been her father’s turn to cook and he preferred to use the barbecue when it was his day. Hermione herself was sadly not a good enough cook yet to help routinely. But she was enthusiastic in her efforts to learn. Even if her experiments didn’t always turn out.
Hermione sighed, rolling her eyes a bit as she explained a particular frustration she’d faced earlier the day before. “So I told Thomas, that the asteroid that killed the Dinosaurs was ‘technically only an asteroid whilst in space. Then it became a meteor as soon as it entered the atmosphere. Any smaller objects that broke off in atmosphere before impact would be classified as ‘meteorites’,” She explained, before huffing “He and the others barely acknowledged me before moving on. It’s so frustrating! I like dinosaurs too you know?”
She didn’t see the fond look her parents shared. Dan merely smiled and shrugged with a chuckled. “Should have left the Dinosaurs out of it maybe.”
Her mother, Emma Granger snorted, but directed her answer at her daughter, “At the speeds the asteroid was moving at darling, it would have been a meteor for around a second at most before the thing blew a crater into the Yucatan Peninsula. Probably not enough time for bits to break off and become meteorites.”
Hermione had caught her father’s attempt at humour and smiled ruefully at him, before considering her mother’s response, chewing her lower lip a little as she thought. “I hadn’t thought of that…” She muttered, debating how much time under a specific heading a giant chunk of rock needed before it became relevant in a social conversation.
They said grace, and dug into their burgers, being about halfway through their meal when first one phone, Dan’s, then the others, Emma’s and Hermione’s, went off. Hermione was rather proud of her flip phone, even if it wasn’t as flashy as the smart phone other kids were glued to. Regardless, all three phones began to go off, one after the other, before the Emergency Alert tone began to play.
It was a tad discordant when they began to broadcast all at once. The message almost getting lost in the overlapping audio. Dan silenced his first, and Hermione did the same, leaving only Emma’s playing the message aloud.
It was…rather a lot, even for a brilliant young woman like Hermione. She was pleased when it stated “Further official updates will follow at regular intervals.” More information was generally good in her book.
"Do not rely upon rumours or unverified information shared by others.” Was met with a grimace, her parents had impressed upon her the importance of accurate and verifiable information from a young age. Then, to make the point more digestible for her, they'd sat her in front of a computer, booted up Youtube and had her watch an old Canadian PSA about misinformation, ‘House Hippos’. Point made.
"If you are caring for vulnerable friends, neighbours, or relatives, please ensure they are not left alone.” She saw the looks shared by her parents. Her remaining grandparents were in two separate nursing homes in North England and Paris, respectively. Checking on them in person would be hard, but…well they could keep an eye out for their neighbours. Like old Mister Henderson, a Veteran of the Falklands War and the conflict in Northern Ireland.
In the end they listened to the whole broadcast twice, before turning down the phone’s volume. Her father stood. “I’ll get the car and some jerry cans filled up before the lines at the station get too outrageous. Maybe by the time I get back they’ll have something to say on the TV?”
Her mum stood, ignoring the remnants of the burger on her plate. “Make sure to stop by Pets At Home on the way back, grab lots of dog food.” She instructed. Her dad hesitated, “How much is lots?” He asked.
“Dan.” Was his wife’s only verbal response, her eyes cutting to Oliver then to the phone still repeating the emergency announcement on the phone, albeit quietly.
He firmed his expression and nodded. “Right. LOTS.” He agreed and headed out grabbing his keys.
But another part of the broadcast was bouncing around Hermione’s head now. “Reservists,” she said looking to her mother. “Does that mean you will have to go in mum?”
Emma Granger, a veteran of the Afghanistan War, and had been part of an Army Medical unit nearer the end of her career, nodded solemnly, “When they call.”
Dan paused at the door, dressed for his quick trip. “I’ll be back shortly.” He said, pausing to kiss his wife on the cheek before heading outside.
Hermione got out of her seat, patting Oliver as she headed for her mum, hugging her tightly. “Are you scared?” Hermione asked. It seemed a relevant question. Her mum was notoriously rock solid under pressure.
“A little,” Her mother nodded.
“You don’t look scared.” Hermione noted, not letting go.
Her mother shrugged, “I don’t know what they’re worried about yet. And…I’ve been very frightened before darling.”
Hermione nodded sadly. Her mum avoided talking about her time in Afghanistan. But Hermione had heard stories about how ugly the war had been over there.
“Hug me?” She pled simply, and her mother got down a bit lower and drew her daughter into a hug herself.
“Of course Darling, always.”
Beneath Whitehall London
Saturday, October 1st, 2022
Ted Tonks was a solid man, that’s what people generally thought first, when they considered him. He wasn’t dull, or boring. He was solid. Dependable. It was, he was told, one of many qualities that had initially drawn Andromeda (his wife) to him, all those years ago. He was a stark contrast to the madness and chaos that was inherent in her home life when she was still part of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black.
It was also something which made him a great dad for someone as mercurial as his daughter Nymphadora. He never stifled her, or tried to lock away any part of her. He was an anchor, something to hold onto during her many and interesting moods.
Ted Tonks, had just arrived via the floo, stepping into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic. Patting himself down and checking the ‘precious cargo’ he had brought with him. To ensure it was still working. He could hear its muffled droning in his pocket, and the other device was intact. It was, fortunately, a quiet time at the Ministry. After the supper hour, most Ministry workers had returned home.
He ignored any looks directed his way as he headed straight for the atrium entrance into the offices of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Letting the door swing closed behind him before marching to the front desks.
He arrived at the desk, where the Auror on Desk Duty sat. He recognized Steven Proudfoot of course, they’d only been a few years apart at Hogwarts. Steven didn’t have the chance to ask what the problem might be before Ted pulled out his phone, deposited it on the desk and turned up the volume.
Proudfoot was fairly smart, he might have been a half-blood, but he knew something urgent when it was laid out in front of him and telling him to pay attention. That, and he knew his boss Amelia Bones, and one of her senior most Aurors, Rufus Scrimgeour were in a rather tense discussion with Dirk Cresswell, from the Goblin Liaison office about something sensitive. Something to do with the muggle world.
Proudfoot stood, and crooked a finger at Ted. Who grabbed up his phone. “Follow me,” he said before leading the way through the office and through the Auror ‘bullpen’ towards the conference room his boss had grabbed near the back. Steven waved absently to someone who called out to him before leading Ted right up to the door.
He didn’t bother knocking, pushing it open and shoving Ted ahead of him into the room, before closing the door behind him.
Ted stepped inside, took one look at the people before him. A harried looking Dirk Cresswell sitting across from an annoyed looking Rufus Scrimgeour and a pacing Amelia Bones.
Ted didn’t bother asking for permission before he set it on the table between them all and cranked the volume right up. Cresswell shot Ted a thankful look, whilst—initially at least—Scrimgeour looked confused.
Amelia Bones, director of the DMLE, for her part looked interested as soon as she heard the broadcast playing over Ted’s phone, then increasingly grim.
They let it play once in full before Amelia set out a parchment and dicta-quill to catch the whole message. After checking (following the third full recitation) to make sure the quill had got it all he turned off his phone. Only to drag out a small emergency radio his family kept. He set it on the table and turned it on. Sure enough the same broadcast was playing over its slightly tinny speakers.
“It’s going out to most mobile devices, all radios and all televisions,” Ted explained grimly He shrugged, “I didn’t check but I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sending it to personal computers too somehow.” He said after turning the radio down again.
Amelia stared at him piercingly for a moment, but he didn’t budge. “Ted Tonks, correct?” She asked, and he nodded. “Dirk was trying to make us understand but he didn’t have a recording with him. Am I correct to understand that this message is being sent out to every muggle in the UK?”
He nodded, his mouth a thin line, “Anyone within radio range could likely pick it up too. It’s being broadcast in the open. I suspect a similar message is being broadcast in every Commonwealth nation as well.”
Amelia frowned tightly, but nodded, waiting for him to continue.
“They also mentioned ‘international partners’…” He started.
“Meaning?” Rufus asked, finally looking less annoyed and skeptical, and looking more concerned and serious. Scrimgeour had a reputation for being a gruff and sometimes abrasive man, but a solid Auror in general.
“Meaning, they’re already talking like this beyond Britain. NATO countries at a minimum, I’d imagine. So that’d include the Americans for certain. Probably plenty others. They’ll all be reacting similarly I suspect.”
Amelia had stopped pacing and was facing him now directly. Her face could have been carved from stone. “You sound certain…”
Ted shrugged, not intimidated in the least. “I’m not. But I would be incredibly surprised if they weren’t. A crisis that’s got the muggle government of the entire United Kingdom this spooked? They’d be fools to ignore it.”
Amelia nodded, conceding his point. “Very well. For today, I’ll not ask why or how you have muggle devices that still somehow function in the heart of the Ministry.” She said pointedly. Ted said nothing about magic dampening runes that may or may not be inscribed on basically every spare bit of space inside the phone and radio. “But your timing is excellent. Dirk was trying to tell us, but as mentioned, he didn’t have a device playing the broadcast or even a transcript of the message.”
She shared a look with Scrimgeour. “We’ll have an emergency session of the Wizengamot in the morning. Rufus write up a message to Fudge and Albus. I need to meet with them immediately. Have one of the others see to sending the message off—“ She paused, looking at the still quietly broadcasting radio.
“Can I keep this?” She asked, pointing.
He nodded, “Battery should last forever—don’t ask—this knob here, turns the volume up and down. It’s being broadcast on pretty much all the channels this old thing can pick up. But I’d suggest not fiddling too much with this other knob.”
She hummed, frowning at the device. “Understood,” she looked to Dirk. “I hate to ask this Cresswell, but can you get Fudge’s secretary, if they’re still in, to check with the Portrait that has a duplicate in the PMs office? Find out if they’ve been trying to contact us that way.”
Dirk stood, brushing off his waistcoat. “I can handle that Amelia. I’ll get back to you soonest. I agree its odd we haven’t heard from the PMs office already.”
Dirk slid past Ted and exited the conference room. Amelia nodded to Ted, a genuinely grateful look on her face. “Thank you Ted, I may call you in for an official report in the morning. For now though, leave this with us,” She said indicating the radio. “And go spend time with your wife. Your daughter is still at Hogwarts, yes?”
He nodded.
“She should be fairly safe there, but maybe send her a letter too, hm?”
Ted bowed slightly, as befitting Amelia’s position and left the room, as he heard Amelia and Rufus begin to talk in low voices behind him. Not his business now, he’d done his duty as a concerned citizen. Now, he just wanted to be with his wife.