Chapter 10

What Silvina did not know was that Krait had recorded her work using a clockwork gramophone recording device, hardly different to the early Victorian recording devices only with goblin made brass masters and goblin steel needles. Krait thought it would be valuable for Silvina to hear the results in a few months' time when she had more skill and might fill in the holes and deficiencies in her work. And the child was far too uncertain and low in self esteem to consider that yet; enough that the basic talent of her work should give her applause from the relatively un-knowledgeable who missed the mistakes and the highly trained who could see where she might improve them with more experience. And quite right of Severus, approved Krait, to tell her now that she should not over-work it when she came to improve on it. Approbation of one's peers was sweet and it was what Silvina needed for the nonce.

In point of fact, Krait had recorded the entire concert so that Prince Peak might have a record of it for years to come; it was part of their history. She had asked Albus to similarly record highlights of any Hogwarts concerts – Lilith and her reprobate friends in the first and second had already had one – so that in time Krait might release a 'highlights of school concerts' album, the sales of which would boost the various scholarship funds. Doting parents were, at least, likely to pay for a recording that had their little angels on; though they might not be so keen to discover that their little angel featured mainly on fartorgan!

Silvina was euphoric; and that combined with the excitement of the end of term looming led to her carelessness with the shrinking solution she was brewing which started to give off most horrid smelling purple fumes.

"Miss Brewer" said Severus "Allowing for a musician's mind being apt to wander, do TRY to concentrate in my class or you'll find yourself in a cauldron full of hot strong detention. THAT was almost a Hubble moment; get rid of it. You just have time to start again and get a grade for the class."

"Yes sir; sorry sir" said Silvina taking her cauldron carefully over to the drain "Is it safe to tip down here sir?"

"Yes it is; and I must say probably wise of you to check" said Severus "Though generally if I tell you to get rid of something, until you've been formally taught the vanishing spell it is all right. You can use scourgify to clean the cauldron rather than wasting time scrubbing it."

Silvina's second attempt was much better and ready just as the bell went; everyone else had decanted.

"Good girl" said Severus "You HAVE got the determination to stay with it."

"Sir, for being allowed music I'll put all I have into even the things I can't easily do" said Silvina earnestly.

Severus ruffled her hair.

"Good kid" he said.

From Professor Snape that was praise worth having; he was never fulsome in any praise, though he did not fail to give it when it was due; it was his rich scathing cadences of vituperation that he was most famous for, sending many a curious child running for a dictionary to check exactly what he meant.

Few children in the school were now ignorant as to what 'cacaceous' 'effluvium' and 'concatenation' meant!

The end of term brought the blooded of Prince Peak together to go to a blooding ceremony at Durmstrang; those children expecting to go home for the holiday who were involved staying on an extra day by arrangement with their parents, the reason being left a little nebulous and with a suggestion of 'cross school good will' involved. This only really meant Julian and AHHa since the Muggle Marauders generally stayed for Easter anyway – and Randolph certainly would for HIS troubles – and all other Marauders and blooded were more or less residents anyway. Justin Finch-Fletchly was collecting his cousin and partook of the school's hospitality for an extra day; and Angelica normally saw her brothers home but they were to stay on this holiday with her while she revised with the rest of the NEWT students. BaHH suggesed that he and AHHa could take the train for themselves but Angelica had shuddered over that suggestion and their parents agreed! BaHH was more or less resigned; he knew there was something else afoot. Angelica knew more or less about the Blood Group and was herself equivocal about whether she wanted to join or not. BaHH had not yet established himself as a Marauder; which was all he knew about it, that AHHa was a Marauder and it was Marauder business.

The Prince Peak crew arrived smoothly in a dungeon room at five am Durmstrang time; at the same time as large contingents from both Hogwarts and retired Marauders such as Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy and most of the staff of the free school in London. There were several huggings and reunions.

It got rather cramped.

"Dad did you bring EVERYONE?" demanded Jade "It feels like it!"

"It seemed, that if this was the new branch, the prognosis would be more favourable with an eclectic selection of a moderately universal nature to give them the most advantageous mix" said Severus.

"That's dad-speak for he thought you'd have a better deal with everyone here" translated Jade.

"He's only logorrhoeac when he's in an unanticipated social situation" said Krait.

"She said dad gets wordy when there's a lot of people he doesn't know" said Jade.

"No wonder you're a bit inclined to the same yourself!" said one of the new Durmstrang ones.

The ceremony was counted down by Hermione – who liked to do the job – and palms were slit. Most old hands used diffindo; others used silver knives. And then the dungeon filled with the throbbing of a great drum like noise that was the combined heartbeats of more than a hundred hearts; and the new members gasped as the knowledge of their blood kin hit them; and the knowledge that all these people WERE kin, were closer than kin including the two juvenile goblins that Jade had acquired from somewhere.

And then they were drinking hot sweet cocoa; Severus had decided that crumpets were going to be too much bother in a cramped dungeon and the minimal blood sugar replenishment would do.

"You older ones will get to meet us more properly perhaps in the long holiday" said Severus "We have a ceremony on a grand scale; a kid was forced by his weirdo parents to commit suicide for being a wizard; he became a ghost. We're planning on putting him back in his body."

"Can that then be done?" gasped a tall girl her new sibkin now knew was called Cacilia.

"They did it for me and I'd been dead fifty years" said Myrtle laconically. "My Abraxus gave his hand; Professor Dumbledore's giving his hand for this kid Seth and is going to be his new father. Anyone who cares to give blood for him is always welcome."

"Were – were these parents then muggles?" asked a girl called Traudl.

"Muggles with a strange belief and religion" said Lydia "And the two little girls ran away; so we're faking up a murder and getting the parents blamed by the muggle authorities. Nice piece of transfiguration; we did it with chanting. The little girls are safe now and Seth at least is a ghost in a friendly place if it doesn't work. But it will" she added "Dad's running the ritual; and nobody does ritual like dad does."

"He's so good in a group" purred Dione, snuggling. As Sirri and Krait were also snuggling her inference was quite clear.

"Grown ups can be very embarrassing; I do apologise for them" said Lilith and promptly got clipped across the back of the head by several pairs of fingers.

And then the English contingent were leaving; for a brief visit to England for Severus and his family, and then back to his charges in Austria, for not all went home for the short Easter holiday, and the exam students were expected to stay and use the time for revision too!

Severus was happy to leave Lilith in Lydia's care in England; David and Ellie Fraser were spending the holiday in Orme Court with their younger adopted child – Vasilica was busy revising for her OWLs in Hogwarts – and the New Marauders and associates were around. He had enough to do keeping his upper sixth and fifth form calm and insisting that they took leisure and exercise as well as frowsting in the library. How many of the original Cackle girls in the fifth would stay on to take NEWTs he was not sure; it had not been a common thing to do save for those considered outstandingly clever in the days before he had taken over the school; and somehow he suspected that Deborah Puisel, Ruth Blaise, and Gloria Cantripp might well be leaving. None of them were scholars, though Gloria had worked harder than she might otherwise have done out of the gall of having her younger brother work for a remove into her class and then out-perform her. However, the allure of being a debutant and escaping learning would, Severus suspected, be greater than a desire to win higher qualifications.

Well, such girls would in future go to Hellibore's; and as Hellibore was making noises about having his sixth form more a finishing school than terribly academic, Severus intended mentioning this to the parents of those girls who did not want to go on. Those of Hellibores who wanted to take NEWTs would either take one or two in almost private classes with their professors – which would enhance their achievement anyway – or transfer to Prince Peak for the chance to do more exams. It would work out very nicely.

And for the sort of girls for whom marriage to a respectable man in public life was the pinnacle of ambition, classes in charms to lay tables for dinner parties and spells to fold napkins were probably more use than a NEWT in DADA say. The worst dark arts they were likely to encounter were social solecisms; and providing they could deal with a boggart and recognise cursed items, that, really, was probably sufficient.

The call from Jade to come because Odessa was moving against the ministry in Strasburg was annoying.

"HOW like Gerhardt to move early!" sighed Severus.

"Yes; I had hoped that with Riddle dead and gone we shouldn't have quite such frenetic holidays as we used to have" said Krait "I vote we disturb David and Ellie's holiday; David's a tactical genius."

David was irritated; but resigned.

"At least he didn't disturb the exams" he said.

"Practical as ever, Fido!" laughed Severus!

The ministry in Strasburg was set in its own park on the outskirts and the muggle conurbation unaware of its existence. One might apparate to the outer limits of the park but none were supposed to be able to apparate within.

Severus and Seagh made a feyspace reconnaissance; and Severus opened a link to tell his daughter that Gerhardt and his men were arriving in droves just outside the non-apparating zone and the werewolves are being side-alonged. Severus added,

"It's full moon tonight I'd say they were hurried into changing a little early; it's not difficult. We have AKs; if you take over the wolves, you and Wulf and Irmi; your new ones and Agata and the rest of us can mop up the rest; they have got Slavic troops. Von Frettchen lost sight of him briefly I'd say. I'll give the word and you bring people in; as soon as the ministry fools have actually really started to panic. Are you ready?"

"Red five, standing by" said Jade in her head.

Several German ministers screamed as the Prince Peak contingent and Jade's people arrived simultaneously; Seagh and Severus stepping out of fey space to look as though they had arrived with the rest.

"We're not here, Agata" said Severus pleasantly "But while we weren't here we thought a hand might not go amiss."

"Very civil of you Severus" said Agata "I'll ask you as the most experienced person not here to direct operations."

Seagh was busy telling a German Minister

"We're Luke Skywalker; we're here to rescue you."

"Thank heavens for another voice of insanity" said Jade "Take care of my friends; we'we hunting Gerhardt"

"The idea of a wolf looking like Elmer Fudd is quite boggling" said Seagh. "Bite his fat arse for us."

"Only after I've turned him into a fwuffy white wabbit" said Jade.

"Two films in one quote? That's going it even for you" said Seagh. Jade could be relied upon to carry through the job. THEIR job was to defend the ministry from infiltration; and deal with any who looked like they wanted to be infiltrated.

Dementors rose from the magical circles of energy whence they had been brought; and at the direction of their summoners headed for the handsome, but not very defensible ministry building.

Irmi quickly sent thoughts of a new spell she had developed, that Jade had asked her to test on dementors; a bolt of electrical energy that disrupted beings made of pure magic as well as electricity disrupted the use of magic.

Bolts of energy shot from wands as the new spell of Irmi's leaped upon them and a horrid smell not entirely unlike burned flesh floated horridly onto the air.

The ministry officials were trying to flee of course; and various Prince Peak people dropped binding curses on them.

The two groups linked up, took hands of those not blood-joined, and apparated outside.

"There aren't many of them; attack!" Gerhardt was heard to cry. "And the lands and title of Von Frettchen to whoever kills him for me!" as he recognised his erstwhile lieutenant.

"DURMSTRANG DEFENDS!" shouted one of the new bloodkin, using a sonorous spell.

"Posey, but a good sentiment brother" said Seagh. He thought the boy was called Ritter.

The storm wizards advanced behind the diminishing dementors; who died faster than with the laughter curse. Wolves were pouring out of the pens; Jade was radiating satisfaction, so one might assume this was her doing, not that of the enemy. She had a mind smugness very like Krait's when things were going well, reflected Severus.

"I did not order the wolves released yet!" shouted Gerhardt as the werewolves poured out when the barriers of energy went down.

There was a lot of sound and fury and the odd howl from the command area; Wulf and Irmi were leading werewolves against the rear of the storm wizards and Jade had doubtless taken Seagh at his word.

Jade contacted Seagh and said

"He said 'do something Muttley'" there was a pause. "THREE film references" she sent the thought to Seagh showing a picture of Gerhart being briefly a six foot tall white rabbit before being a small fluffy domestic rabbit; then Bugs Bunny; then himself. Seagh chuckled; Harvey as well! Shortly there was a thin scream that ended on a gurgle

The Prince Peak contingent – Severus, Krait, Dione, Sirri, Beloc, Ron, Hermione, Percy, Harmony, David, Ellie, Victor, Seagh, Anett, Lydia and Viktor, Helga, Hester Figg, Angelica, Tala, Erich and assorted ex werewolves – raised their products of Tovarich Kalashnikov and opened fire.

Under a hail of lead, storm wizards fell as though walking into a wall of death. A few werewolves fell too, having got ahead of themselves; but got up. The force of the impact knocked them flying but ordinary lead did little but bruise them; which was the idea of using ordinary bullets.

The Durmstrang contingent focused with their wands and poured such spells as they knew into those still standing; visibly shocked by the hail of death from their Prince Peak counterparts. Severus was chanting, holding a shield over all so that that was one less thing to concentrate on; old hands like Krait, David and Hermione were using spells as well as firing, one finger on wands for better focusing, showering the enemy with blue fire in Hermione's case, a very practical disarming spell from David, who could be relied on to be sensible; and locusts in Krait's because it was funnier.

It was over before the contingents of Odessa even knew they were beaten. These Russian wizards had never come across such carnage before; at least, not unless they were causing it.

And one of the ministers died too in the hail of lead because Seag saw him creeping up behind Von Frettchen with his wand readied and apported him right out into the killing ground.

"Och, Von Ferret, yon mannie's nae verra friendly t'wards ye; ye'd better watch yer back lest there's a few mair sich gaumless sumpfs tryin' tae spell ye in the back" said Seagh,

"He said that the one who just appeared three feet off the ground was trying to spell you" translated Victor, whose German was now very good "And wondered if you had any other enemies in the ministry here."

Von Frettchen looked startled.

"My thanks for the timely intervention" he said "Er, does he understand more German than he speaks?"

"My German is impeccable" said Seagh impeccably "My manners however are excruciating."

"True" said Victor.

Severus clipped Seagh across the back of the head in the time honoured fashion.

"Ignore my son, Von Frettchen" he said. "Pass the word, use the full body bind on the werewolves; Von Frettchen if you and Agata and your contingent would care to take the ministry we'll mop up out here and be on our way. If you want to play with prophesies, my daughter has been named as the Jade Wolf. You may have to talk very fast to get her to play ball; she despises prophesy. Have fun; actually YOU probably will. I believe Lucius did when we took OUR ministry. The rest of us endured."

"Use Jade to legilimens all the ministry types and weed out the Odessa supporters" said Krait "She's really quite good considering how young she is."

Since Von Frettchen had never met a legilimens as good as Jade before he seethed once more inwardly at the laconic litotes of the English; and his seething was obvious enough to amuse Severus; who liked to keep still uncertain allies like Von Frettchen off his guard.

Severus was most concerned with getting the antidote into the werewolves; those who hated the disease would then be free of it; those who liked being werewolves and enjoyed the pain and horror they caused would then be neutralised.

Von Frettchen paused.

"Bertolf Hochbesen is grateful for the cure" he said "He is part of my bodyguard now; and is on his way here with other of my troops. They will be surprised to find it essentially over."

"Let us hope he will not assume we are the enemy" said Severus dryly "I will be aware they come."

"That is them now" Von Frettchen pointed to a heavy carriage drawn by six flying horses, from which storm wizards leaped, wands ready, before it even touched down. Von Frettchen waved.

The ex werewolf Hochbesen ran over and clicked his heels.

"Herr Herzog; you have had aid from the Herr Professor; I am glad that two men I admire are now allies" he said "You will aid these other werewolves? They are not all dead?"

"They should none of them be dead" said Severus "We worked on not killing them."

"You are a great man and a compassionate one Professor; as well as profoundly ruthless and with a well developed sense of humour" said Hochbesen. "Excuse me; the duke wants me" and he clicked his heels again before following Von Frettchen.

"A man who can earn that loyalty is a man worth working with" said Severus. "Well, let us get busy with serum."

"Yes, and Ellie and I will mop up the bullets with accio" said David "Let's keep these foreigners in the dark yet; if Von Frettchen knows I doubt HE'LL want it too widely known either."

"Good thought" said Severus.

They started injecting bound werewolves; it would be easier to transport rational beings. Those who did not like the cure could just be left to make their own way wherever they wanted to be; the rest would go to one of the large estates belonging to Friedolf Nachtigall, enough established now that his brother Ritter had been banished from the lands he has seized. Friedolf had granted him some lands so long as he never came near him or his family again; to be magnanimous in victory was easy enough and gave Ritter Nachtigall less to complain of.

Most ex werewolves were more in a state of shock than anything else. Wulf and Friedolf and Gunnar Schiff were passing among them, reassuring them, explaining that they were cured. For most this was a shock; for some glad news for others news that was impossible to assimilate. Those who had been werewolves most of their lives, some of whom had been born werewolves, could not understand nor easily come to terms with what this news really meant. There were but few who greeted the revelation that they were no longer werewolves with howls of anguish and horror; only the few had been wantonly cruel. Some had learned cruelty; but it was a cruelty to avenge themselves on wizards who had not treated them well, assuming that the hand of all the world was against them. Finding friendly wizards extending kindly helping hands to them was almost incomprehensible.

That those of their own were here, the other ex werewolves of Prince Peak, helped a great deal; these were comrades, and as such would not lie. If they said trust, the majority of the werewolves were prepared to do just that.

And then the Prince Peak contingent were organising them into groups and apparating them to the big manor where Rahel Nachtigall, Friedolf's wife, was making comfortable rooms for them, and was ready to receive refugees with kindness.

What they needed was rest, good food, and a place of safety; few had received much if any education but that was an issue to be addressed in the future, together with getting them wands. Such they would be told; but meantime they were to find themselves and adapt to no longer fearing the full moon. Von Frettchen had promised proper papers for them and Severus also held out for compensation to be paid out of Gerhardt's personal wealth.

What was to happen to the widows and orphans of those Slavic forces who had died this day, Severus did not know; that was Von Frettchen's business since he had access to the files of Odessa. No-one could do everything. And Severus had pledged himself to aid the werewolves.

Remus Lupin was to call in and see them too; and if Odessa was now finished with and the few living leaders in it quiescent, they might perhaps manage to run intensive education courses in holidays.

Then they might get back to normality for a while.

In Zurich, Roseli Accola was in the muggle part of the city buying new shoes with her mother; and while her mother paid had gone to sit outside so she wasn't underfoot. There was another child sitting on the park bench, a little girl around Roseli's age, who stared at her.

Roseli was a friendly enough child if a little touchy at times about her half breed status so she went and plonked herself down next to the little girl; who somehow did not look very Swiss.

"Bonjour, Guten tag, Hello, buon'giorno or possibly Strastvoychey" said Roseli.

"Gosh, do you speak all those languages?" asked the child in English.

"Russian not well at all" said Roseli "Like, to the extent of asking where the toilet is and telling people I haven't a clue what they are saying. German is my native language but the school I go to is English and requires us to do lessons in each of the languages most people speak."

The child brightened.

"Like the Chalet School?"

"Rather; our head got the idea from it, well, his daughter did, and pestered him to have a uniform in brown and flame too" said Roseli.

"Gosh! I must ask Miss Percival to see about making enquiries!" said the child "I'm here because the last asthma attack half killed me; and she's going to look for a school that will make allowances for my health."

Roseli looked dubious.

"We've had sickly kids who needed the air but it's a specialist school for talented kids; different talents, but those who need special teaching" she said.

"Maybe I could get in on art then" said her companion. "My name's Sarah; Sarah Joyce Elliot."

"Roseli Accola" said Roseli. "May I ask why you were staring at me?"

Sarah coloured.

"Well…. I kinda thought you looked a bit like what the fairy folk ought to look like… of course if they existed" she added hastily.

"Have you ever seen fairies?" asked Roseli, intently "Tell me the absolute truth; it is important."

Sarah looked uncomfortable.

"I – Yes" she muttered "And I DID too, even if you laugh at me!" she burst out.

Roseli grinned.

"Then I reckon you might just be eligible for Prince Peak" she said "Because it's a school for witches and wizards and I'm half goblin."

"OOH!" said Sarah then added suspiciously "You're trying to wind me up, aren't you?"

"Excuse, 'wind up?' that is what one does with string?" said Roseli.

Sarah shook her head

"Your English is so good and colloquial I guess I forgot! It means take the piss out of, make fun of, have a game with."

"I do not so do" said Roseli.

"Show me magic then" said Sarah.

"Don't be daft; for one thing it's forbidden out of school under age; and for another the place is full of muggles!"

"Muggles?"

"People who can't do magic; that was why it was important to know if you saw fairies. They are attracted to those of magical skill; and if you aren't at least sensitive they look like bees because of the inherent confundment magic in them. Do you live near an electricity substation in England? Because if you do, that will upset magic and that's why you've not had an invitation to go to Hogwarts school in Scotland."

"I don't really LIVE anywhere" said Sarah. "We're always moving about."

"Oh!" said Roseli "Well, that's all right; we do have scholarships for people who can't afford the fees, if you're artistic as well AND need the air for your asthma."

Sarah flushed.

"Oh, you misunderstand; my parents can afford the fees, but daddy is a diplomat and so we move around a lot from one country to another; but it's spoiling my health always moving and being in cities so he has sent me with Miss Percival to live in a Gasthof somewhere in the mountains and to look for a school. She's my governess you see" she added.

"Crumbs, that's a bit cheerless!" said Roseli "We're actually in Austria; on top of a mountain called Prinzhorn not far from where the original Chalet School was supposed to be; we can see the Tiernjoch on a good day. Here's my mum" she waved "Mum, can you do a bit of magic to prove to Sarah that I'm not fooling?" she said "She can see fairies and she's an artist and asthmatic!"

Frau Accola raised her eyebrows.

"Whatever next!" she said. She regarded the child thoughtfully, and took out her wand surreptitiously "Let me test her first" she said. Bright lines appeared between Sarah and the wand. Frau Accola nodded. "Ja, the child has talent to be a witch" she said. "Magic you want? I am not so skilled as my daughter; there was no good school in my day. Here" she pulled a button off her coat and touched the wand to it.

It turned into a big fat beetle.

Sarah gasped.

"Oh that's simple stuff" said Roseli "You'll learn that as one of your firstest things in Transfiguration; except that Madam Malfoy doesn't like turning things back once they've been given awareness."

"Beetles don't have much awareness" said Frau Accola, turning the beetle back "And it's not going to have the chance because I'll never match this button again" she held it against her coat muttering reparo and thread appeared from nowhere sewing it back on.

"GOSH!" said Sarah, even more impressed than by the beetle "That's really useful!"

"Madam Malfoy says that it's best to learn to sew properly too because the spells were all devised by people too lazy to learn how to do it properly and well and so the magical sewing is clumsy" said Roseli. "Though she has refinements of the basic spell."

"Is that any relation to Mr Lucius Malfoy of Wiltshire?" asked Sarah.

"Yes; he's her uncle. Do you know him?" asked Roseli.

"No; but daddy does. How come she has to teach?"

"She doesn't HAVE to teach, she has chosen it as a vocation so that people like you who are muggleborn and people like me who are part – or all- goblin get an education!" said Roseli angrily "Because England is the only country to teach freely whatever the blood status; and her husband, Professor Snape, is the Headmaster and set up the school, only you couldn't have two Professors Snape so she uses her maiden name!"

"I am sorry" said Sarah. "Oh; here comes Miss Percival; and she'll be cross. She doesn't like me talking to all and sundry children."

"As though I were riff-raff?" said Roseli. "Permit me."

She rose and dropped a brief curtsey to Miss Percival and held out her hand.

"Miss Percival! I understand your charge is in need of a decent school; as she has both health problems and a talent in art, it is possible that she may, if she has sufficient academic expertise also, pass the entrance exam for the English school I attend in the Austrian Alps; it is called Prince Peak, and the Headmaster's wife, who is one of the Science Professors, is the niece of a man I understand Herr – no, I mean, MR Elliot knows; a Mr Malfoy, so you would be able to get a recommendation from Mr Malfoy. Would you like me to write immediately to the head and let him know, so that if Sarah has the capabilities she might enter the school for the summer term? It gets very hot in the summer and good mountain air would help her no end. She will not be the only asthmatic in the school."

Miss Percival had looked harassed.

"Why … yes, assuming her father agrees….. dear me, Sarah, I have been trying to find a Gasthof to stay near the top of a mountain and they are all full of climbers! Without your father's diplomatic passes it is really quite impossible to get these people to do anything but shrug!"

"There is a good Gasthof at the railhead of the rack railway that belongs to the school" said Roseli "It is run for railway enthusiasts who come to see our rackrail; it is steam powered. The proprietor is a nice gentleman; his children are in the school or on the waiting list and he will find room. If necessary his children will go up to the school to sleep; there are always staff there, because the head had several wards who live in the school and also there are those children who must, for health reasons, live in all year round."

Miss Perceval brightened even more.

"The school would keep her all year round? Obviously for a fee."

"For her keep, yes; and I believe jolly activities and games are arranged to amuse and occupy those who must stay" said Roseli "My sister and I come home by train because it is not so far to Zurich. Many children from England only go home for the long holiday."

"Well, if you will be kind enough to direct me which trains to use, I will take Sarah there without delay and hope you may be right" Miss Percival was at the end of her tether. Whenever she had travelled before, it had been with the whole family; and Mr Elliot's diplomatic status had cleared away all obstacles! A maiden lady with a small child was to be ignored; and Miss Percival did not like it much! Finding kindness from strangers – and at least a well-spoken child who did not LOOK like an urchin – was enough to break through her reserve.

Sarah started wheezing at this point; and Frau Accola absently waved her wand under her nose and cast apnoea on her. Sarah looked astonished as her breath came suddenly easily.

"You have an inhaler of such power?" said Miss Percival.

"Yes" said Frau Accola firmly. She promptly confunded Miss Percival; which was one thing she had been taught to do well in her position in the ministry. "Roseli will escort you and Fraulein Elliot to the Gasthof; you will come to our house for a meal and to sleep, because the child looks exhausted. Then Roseli and the little Fraulein will mount to the school on the cable car for the test and to see if Professor Snape has room; and if so, it would be well if she stays up there on the higher part of the mountain. I will contact Professor Snape and tell him to expect you all. Come; my husband is waiting in the car."

Miss Percival was whisked off without too much protest; Roseli's mother was like that!