The committee members were not impressed. Dr Zaitseva had explained why the paper she had submitted was now being withdrawn. “You’re saying that the contents of your paper were wrong from beginning to end.”
“Yes, it’s a pity, but when the assumptions you have to make at the beginning of any set of theories is wrong then whole lot is wrong, isn’t it?”
The chairman was red faced angry; “This can’t be right; every theoretical physics research project for the last ten years has had the same set of assumptions.”
“Which is why nothing has ever come to a conclusion; we have run into dead ends with every theoretical development.”
The most junior committee member spoke up. “Your paper contained exactly the same conclusions as Professor Fischer’s, so you’re saying he is wrong as well.”
“He probably won’t agree, but yes, he is wrong. We have to come to some kind of agreement on what the assumptions should be. It looks like we lost sight of the fact that the assumptions were just that, assumptions. Nobody ever made enough progress to prove that the assumptions were right.”
The chairman’s appearance changed from angry red to pale nervous white. “What are you doing with your new project?”
“Well, I am doing what is always done in theoretical physics. I am writing a set of assumptions, only these will be different from what has been done before.”
The college administration representative put her hand up. “Before we finish, I have to get agreement on the date and time for the reception for the Viscount Pimlico. He is a major benefactor for the college and this department, and we have to make sure that the right kind of public perception is created.”
“Don’t invite Professor Fischer, when he finds out that I’ve withdrawn my paper he will be more than a bit upset with me.”
The workshop under the mews house was a safe place to complain. “Harry! I am not a society person. This reception will be crowded with all sorts of academic and business heavyweights. Why do I have to go?”
“You don’t have to go, Kenworthy will be sending a representative, but the minister and I want you to show up, you will be quite safe. The Pimlico team can judge when you can leave without insulting anyone.”
“What is this about really. We, and I mean the wizarding world ‘we’, don’t do this sort of thing. We don’t draw attention to ourselves.”
Harry thought for a second, “You are in both worlds, you have a right to be there, it is expected of you. You have been trained by me and your tutors on what to say and what not to say. Don’t be concerned. There is a reason for this. The whole ‘doorway’ incident has unnerved a lot of people. We need to be more involved in muggle business, so that we can be better prepared to plug any more gaps, if they open up.”
The suit was right for the occasion, but Leo was definitely a fish out of water. Anastasia met him at the door of the convention room. There were dozens of people there. “You look most civilized Leo. You do own a suit after all.”
“Ha! I own a room full of them, this is the second time I’ve worn one. Are those people over there reporters?”
“They have promised to be on their best behaviour. The college needs the right kind of press coverage. One donor like yourself will sometimes attract another.”
The speeches were embarrassing. Leo heard a couple of complimentary, and entirely untrue, stories about himself. He had managed to wriggle out of giving a reply. The reporters were actually quite polite. They seemed to want to confirm what was said in the packages they had been given, and that was about it. Leo was happy to be an earnest and dull working lad who somehow inherited a pile of money.
Someone turned up at the reception who was not expected. It was Professor Fischer. He had been invited, but only because he had been associated with the Imperial College before. No-one expected him to show up. Fischer insisted on giving Leo a ceremonial charm, “For good luck, I would also like to talk to you about sponsoring projects in California as well.”
The reception was closing down, people were leaving. Fischer had his back turned. Anastasia came up to Leo, took hold of his arm, silently pointed at Fischer, then put her finger in her open mouth and made the well-known gagging sounds. Leo stifled a laugh. Instantly, everything was dark and there was a horrible tug on his belly from behind. The charm was a portkey. Leo grabbed for his wand. He couldn’t move. There was a terrific sensation of rushing lights and cold air. Then he was dumped on a concrete floor. He was bound head to foot.
There were people in the room. A voice said, “He’s conscious, get the next portkey.”
A strong hand grabbed him, and the night rushed past him again. It was a long trip this time. Another portkey trip left Leo dizzy, disoriented and throwing up.
The night became lighter, it had been hours, Leo had been awake and then he must have been stunned. Now he was awake again, he was no longer tied up. His wand was gone, of course. The room was about the size of a small bedroom. There was no furniture, just a bucket in the corner. A window was boarded up, the door had no handle on his side.
Kidnapped, held for ransom, Leo never believed it was possible. What was he to do now? He would be able to think better if his head didn’t hurt so much. Lying on the bare wooden floor, Leo calmed his mind. It was a lot easier than he thought possible. Was there a Legilimens watching him? He didn’t sense anything, not even the slightest touch. Leo searched for another person. There were two outside the building. They were easy to touch, they were muggles. There was one person in a room next to him. It was Anastasia Zaitseva. Why was she there? Leo tried to connect with her by Legilimens. She was a muggle, even a beginner like Leo could touch her. She was frightened and confused. She was a prisoner like him.
The construction of the room was cheap and agricultural. It was a storeroom in a wooden barn. It was not new, and not more than fifty years old. The bucket was a cheap galvanized thing, stamped ‘Made in China’. That didn’t tell Leo anything. He had to wait until somebody did something.
176Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmsOD5g5hB
