Chapter 4
Christmas Break
Disclaimer: Everything in Harry Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling. I got nothing out of this except for enjoyment.
Over the next few days, Harry and Hermione were excited about the new school they are going to attend.
"I once thought that Hogwarts was a good school, only now I realised that it is really not that good," commented Hermione.
"Yeah," agreed Harry.
Five days later, Professor Boady arrived at the Hotel that Harry and Hermione lived in early in the morning, and he placed two letters on the table.
"Potter, Granger," he announced. "I've got both your list of books and equipments with me, if you want to buy them from the shops in Sternford Alley, I can accompany you two, if you want to order them from the school, you can fill in the form enclosed in the letter."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"We will buy them," said Harry.
"You both will also be needing uniforms," stated Professor Boady. "Navy Blue robes."
Harry and Hermione opened their envelopes, and they examined the contents inside it, it included their team badges, and their list of uniforms, books and equipments that are needed for school, and also an order form. They just discovered that the school will start on the eighth of January. There was also bus ticket and train ticket, plus a note that says all students need to arrive at Friddish Train Station at no later than five past three in the afternoon.
"I am in team three," said Harry.
"So am I," Hermione said.
Harry glanced at the bus ticket and train ticket, and he was perplexed.
"Why is there a bus ticket and a train ticket in here?" he asked.
"Students may choose to ignore both of these tickets, depends on how far away this school is from their home, some may need to catch a bus to go to Strectoll, some of them may need to catch a train to get there, some of them can just walk there. Nevertheless, whatever transportation methods they use, they need to arrive at Friddish Train Station, and a professor from Strectoll will be waiting for them, and lead them in once everyone has arrived," Professor Boady answered.
"There's so much to buy," asserted Hermione.
"Your book list appears different than the other fifth year students in Strectoll," explained Professor Boady. "Since you two did not attend Strectoll from your first year, you both will need to buy additional books, the books that the Strectoll students had already obtained prior to their first year."
"We have time, shall we go now?" asked Harry.
"It would be best if you have your parents or guardians to come with us," answered Professor Boady.
/Scene Break/
Dan and Emma agreed to accompany Harry and Hermione to Sternford Alley to buy their books, uniforms and equipments in the afternoon.
One hour after lunchtime, they set off.
They made their way to the bus station, and waited for about ten minutes, and the bus arrived.
They hopped onto the bus, and they took their seats.
"When are we going to get off?" asked Emma.
"I'll tell you," answered Professor Boady.
Twenty minutes later, Professor Boady hit the stop button, then the bus driver stopped the bus, and opened the door.
"Let's go," urged Professor Boady.
They got down from the bus, and Professor Boady led them to a place.
A wall made out of rafters appeared in front of them.
"Here is Sternford Alley," he told them.
He pulled out his wand, and waved at it.
The wall started to split itself apart, forming an entrance, and they entered through it.
They continued to walk along the pathway for a moment.
"Do you have any money, Potter?" asked Professor Boady.
"I have already transferred all of my money from Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Britain," answered Harry. "Right now they should be in my vault of the Wizarding Nation Bank."
"There are several Wizarding banks in this country," explained Professor Boady. "Wizarding Nation Bank is not too far away from here, but it would still take twenty five minutes to walk from here to Wizarding Nation Bank. It would be easier if I can just apparate you both."
"I'd rather walk, or else I may not know where to go if I am going to walk from here to the bank the next time I need to get money," said Harry.
"Very well," agreed Professor Boady.
They arrived at the bank about twenty five minutes later, and they entered into the reception area.
"How can I help you, dears?" the receptionist asked.
"I would like to visit my vault, vault 8864," answered Harry, after he double checked his vault information that Gringotts had given him.
"We would like to exchange these US dollars to Wizard's currency," Emma requested.
"If you want to get money out of your vault, go to the Withdraw Center to get your key, which is on your right. If you want to exchange currencies between Muggle money and Wizard money, go to the Exchange Center, which is on the left side of the Withdraw Center."
"I'll accompany you, Harry," said Professor Boady.
He and Harry went to the Withdraw Center, and he asked the teller for the vault key of 8864.
"I'll fetch it for you," responded the teller.
Harry noticed that there were many hangers on the teller's left side, and each hanger had a key suspended to it, some of the keys are silver, and some of them are gold, and the keys all had a chain attached to it.
"Here it is," the teller notified him, holding out a key in gold colour. "Do you need someone to lead you to vault 8864?"
"Yes," answered Harry.
It was an honest answer, since he had no familiarity with this bank, and thus he does not know where his vault is.
Professor Boady didn't object, since he was also not familiar with the location of the vault.
"I'll lead you there," said the teller.
They walked past numerous vaults, and about ten minutes later, they arrived at Harry's vault.
He opened the vault with the key.
Harry entered his vault, and started to collect his money and putting them into a container. As soon as the container is full, Harry closed the lid, and he walked out of his vault.
"You seemed to be so wealthy, Potter," marvelled Professor Boady quietly.
"My parents left them for me," explained Harry.
Then the teller closed the vault, and locked it.
After they got back to the reception area, they saw Hermione and her parents waiting for them, they happily walked out of the bank together.
They stopped at a shop called Books and Equipments for Wizarding Schools.
"How many Wizarding schools are in this country?" Hermione asked curiously.
"More than one," replied Professor Boady. "But Strectoll is by far the best Wizarding school in this country."
They brought the necessary books, and equipments, and then it was time for them to buy robes.
They went into a robe shop called Sir Johnson's All Purpose Robe Shop to buy their robes.
"Strectoll?" asked Sir Johnson.
Harry and Hermione both nodded.
"Now, come here, you two," called Professor Boady.
They walked for a few moments, and then Professor Boady stopped.
"This," he clarified, pointing to the navy blue robes, "is the robe that students attending Strectoll are supposed to wear."
As soon as Harry picked his robes, he went to the fitting room to try it out. After he found the robes that fits him, he paid for the robes, and he waited until Hermione finished trying out her robes, then they went to the counter to pay for it.
Professor Boady then invited them to go to his home from Christmas Day to the day that the school begins.
"Can't thank you enough," said Emma. "We will be looking for a place to live as soon as Harry and Hermione start their new school."
/Scene Break/
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was annoyed.
He was still wondering about the mysterious disappearance of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, and it made him tremble when the thought came into his mind that they may be together. He knew that Harry had to die, and then defeat Voldemort. He also knew that Hermione was too smart, and she could easily disrupt his plan for Harry.
Unheeding the things that the Daily Prophet had mentioned about Harry, it was important for Harry to remain at Hogwarts, or else Dumbledore could not carry on with his plan.
Severus did not help much in this matter, he did not find Harry in either Durmstrang or Beauxbatons. It was much too unlikely for Harry and Hermione to go to a Wizarding school that he didn't know about.
Dumbledore also could not take Severus's word to leave Harry be, since he need to direct Harry.
Perhaps writing a letter to Harry would work. But will he come back?
/Scene Break/
Harry and Hermione were preparing for their first Christmas in USA. They were putting up Christmas decorations.
"This is lovely," Hermione observed, after they finished decorating the Christmas tree. "This Christmas is going to be wonderful."
Before Harry could say anything, he saw Fawkes landing beside them, carrying a letter.
Harry took the letter, and opened the envelope.
It said:
Dear Harry
Where are you right now?
You need to come back to Hogwarts, since your friends are in danger.
Regards
Albus Dumbledore
"That manipulative bastard!" shouted Harry, he felt disdained about the content of the letter. His exciting moment had just been interrupted. "He hadn't been speaking to me, or even looked at me ever since I got back to Hogwarts for my fifth year, why would he bother to write me a letter telling me to go back? If my friends are in danger, why couldn't he deal with it? Who did he think I am?"
"I am not in any danger, Harry," said Hermione.
"I know, I mean my friends in Hogwarts," Harry said calmly.
Hermione moved closer to see what the letter was about, as soon as she finished reading, a scornful expression appeared on her face.
Before she could say a word, Dan and Emma arrived.
"What's wrong?" Dan asked, seeing Hermione's expression.
"Harry just received a letter from Dumbledore," explained Hermione.
"What did he want?" asked Emma.
"He want me to go back to Hogwarts, according to his letter, my friends are in danger," answered Harry, handing the letter to Emma. "But I am not going back. I don't want to go back to a dark, bigoted, prejudiced world again. He can deal with the danger that my friends are in."
Dan couldn't resist the feeling, according to what he heard from James and Lily, he knew what Dumbledore truly is.
"Should I write back?" asked Harry.
"Don't write back, Harry," responded Hermione. "If Dumbledore hadn't been speaking to you since you got back to Hogwarts, why would he want you to go back now? It appears that he didn't really care about you, that he want to use you instead. If you go back and faced difficult situation again, and if he still keeps on ignoring you, it would do you no good."
"Yes, don't write back to scams, Harry," agreed Dan.
"I don't know what scam means," stated Harry blankly.
"Scams are dishonest plans or actions, they are designed to trick you, and if you fall for them, you may experience loss, and sometimes it can put you in danger," explained Emma, putting the letter down.
Harry nodded. He knew what Dan meant, this letter is likely a scamming letter.
/Scene Break/
Forest Boady arrived at the hotel on the morning of Christmas Day, and he side-alonged Harry and the Grangers to his home.
"This would make your Christmas better," he surmised.
"Thank you," said Harry.
He glanced at Forest's house, it was not as cluttered as the Burrow, there were a few portraits on the wall, and the wall was creamy white, and the floor was a light yellow colour. A black dining table was situated in the dining room, and around it there were six chairs.
"There're no light switches," commented Emma, as she examined the room.
"I know," affirmed Professor Boady. "This is a Wizarding residence, Wizarding residence generally don't have light switch, they have other ways of turning on the light."
"You must be at least a Half Blood," surmised Harry.
"You guessed right, Potter, I am a Half Blood," agreed Professor Boady.
He paused for a moment.
"So Potter, what has got into you lately?" he asked.
Harry told him about Dumbledore's letter, as soon as he finished, Professor Boady was not very happy.
"Incredible," he responded. "Don't know what has got into him."
They talked until twelve o'clock.
Professor Boady summoned some sandwitches, and one flask of pumpkin juice. After they had eaten, Professor Boady gave Harry and Hermione a present each.
"Merry Christmas," he greeted.
"Thanks," said Harry.
/Scene Break/
On the day after Christmas day, Harry and Hermione opened their presents, and they discovered that Professor Boady have given them each a mirror."
"You can contact each other using these mirrors," stated Professor Boady. "Just say each other's name, and your partner will appear."
"How do we know that someone is calling me through this mirror?" asked Harry.
"When someone calls you through this mirror, it will beep," answered Professor Boady. "You can try it."
"How?" asked Harry.
"Potter, you go to your bedroom, and Granger, you stay here," ordered Professor Boady.
About ten seconds after Harry went into his bedroom, there was a beep. Harry immediately held up the mirror, and Hermione's face appeared.
"Hello Harry," she greeted.
"Hello Hermione," Harry greeted back.
Then Harry raced out of his room, until he was in the same room as Hermione.
Then something happened.
Hermione's face vanished from the mirror, and his face appeared. He called Hermione's name in the mirror, but he didn't hear Hermione's mirror beeping.
"I assume you have some questions, Potter, don't you?" asked Professor Boady.
"Does this mirror only act like a normal mirror if I am in the same room as the other person who have this mirror?" asked Harry.
Professor Boady nodded.
"Yes, if you and your recipient are in the same room, the mirror will function as a normal mirror, even if you tried to call their names, if you are in one room and your recipient is in another room, your recipient's mirror will beep as soon as you call their name, and vice versa."
"This mirror is amazing," commented Harry.
"I am glad that you like it," simpered Professor Boady.