Disclaimer – I solemnly swear that JKR owns everything Harry Potter. Whether or not I am up to no good with her characters is for you to decide.

-oOoOo-

A/N – Not dead, nor abandoned, simply caught up with real life. I'll endeavour to do better.

-oOoOo-

The Fourth School

Chapter 13

"We'll need to pick the flowers and fruit of the rue bush within the next couple of days," Neville was saying as he walked into the dining room.

Beside him, Jaxom, the stocky house elf in charge of the greenhouses, nodded sagely. "The day after tomorrow would be best, but it can probably wait until Tuesday. It can be the lesson for the day."

As Neville pulled out his chair to sit, Jaxom gave a brief nod to the room before popping away.

"Morning, Neville," Harry greeted. "I thought you were still in bed."

"Nah, been out with Jaxom in Greenhouse One the last couple of hours," Neville replied. "That elf sure knows his plants."

"That's why I hired him," Harry smiled.

Movement from the head of the table drew Harry's eye and he turned to see Headmistress McGonagall standing at her place, her hands resting on the tabletop.

"Now that you are all here," she began, "I have an announcement to make."

Harry straightened slightly in his chair even as he shared a look with those around him. Neville and Colin only looked slightly interested, while Hermione, Daphne and Fiona all looked to be intensely staring at their Headmistress. Luna, on the other hand, seemed to find something outside the window of more interest.

"Yesterday, I received an invitation for our school to attend the TriWizard Tournament," Headmistress McGonagall announced.

"The TriWizard Tournament," she continued, "is a contest held between the three largest magic schools in Europe: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academie of Magic and The Durmstrang Institute. Each school is represented by a single Champion who competes in three tasks which test their bravery, courage, ingenuity, intelligence, and of course, their magical ability. The winner is generally awarded a trophy and a sum of money and the winning school gains significant notoriety."

Neville's hand rose uncertainly and, at the Headmistress' nod, he nervously voiced the question that had his face so puzzled.

"I didn't think the TriWizard Tournament happened anymore."

"You're correct, Mister Longbottom, in that the TriWizard Tournament hasn't been held for quite a number of centuries," Headmistress McGonagall replied. "However, traditionally, it was held every six years."

"If it's for the three largest schools, then why were we invited?" Susan asked.

"We've been invited to watch," Headmistress McGonagall replied. "None of you need have any fear that any of you will be competing. The Ministry has added a new rule with this revival of the Tournament – that only those of legal age, that is to say, at least the age of seventeen, will be permitted to even enter their names, let alone compete. Our involvement will strictly be as part of the audience."

Harry's eyes narrowed slightly. The instant that Minerva had mentioned Hogwarts, the hairs on the back of his neck had risen and he'd felt his body tense as though either ready to fight or to flee.

"So we'd only be going to watch three events?" he clarified.

Headmistress McGonagall nodded. "Yes, along with the Choosing of the Champions and the Yule Ball, which you should all enjoy."

At the mention of a ball, the girls around the table all began grinning while several of them quickly bent their heads together causing a susurration to break out around the room.

Ignoring the girls, Harry kept his narrowed eyes focussed on Minerva. "And where will this Tournament be happening?"

"The Tournament is being hosted by Hogwarts," she said, confirming the dreaded feeling that had already settled into the pit of his stomach.

A sharp rap of her knuckles on the tabletop brought everyone's attention back onto her.

"The first event that we will be attending will be the Choosing, scheduled for Halloween," Headmistress McGonagall announced. "We will arrive at Hogwarts on the Sunday, the day before Halloween and come home on the first."

Once again, excited murmuring broke out around the table, this time over the idea of getting to see friends who were still at Hogwarts, like Fred and George and Su Li, Justin, Ernie and the rest of the fourth years' old study group. Harry, though, simply sat back in his chair, staring at his Headmistress who had resumed her seat. He had a bad feeling about this.

-oOoOo-

"Hey, Remus, can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked as he poked his head into his honorary uncle's bedroom.

Remus looked up from the book that he was reading. "Sure, Harry, come on in."

When the dwarves had revamped the manor's bedrooms, they'd put a little extra effort into the two designated for Remus and Minerva. Instead of a single room with its own private bathroom like all of the other rooms had been given, those two had been enhanced with extra space charms, turning the single room into two good sized rooms.

The bedroom and its connecting bathroom, Harry knew, were through the sliding wooden door to the right. This part of Remus' room was a combination sitting room and office. A large mahogany desk, piled high with reams of parchment and folders and books, quills and ink bottles was set under the window, while closer to the door, a small three piece lounge suite done in dark brown leather, was placed, a coffee table set in between them on the thick red and white rug.

At Remus' gesture, Harry took the remaining single chair. The rich upholstery and soft cushions had him sinking back in the chair, only for him to immediately slide forward again and his left leg to begin a slight jig at the thought of what had brought him here.

"What can I do for you, Harry?" Remus asked, laying his book aside.

"It's … it's this TriWizard business," he began hesitantly.

"What about it?" Remus asked.

"Do we have to go?" Harry blurted.

Remus' eyebrows nearly disappeared under his thinning brown hair. "Don't you want to go, Harry? You'd get to see all of your Hogwarts friends again, not to mention meeting some witches and wizards from other countries and getting to see something that hasn't been seen in hundreds of years."

"When you put it like that, sure I'd love to go," Harry replied.

"Then what's the problem?" Remus asked.

"It's … it's," Harry sighed, dropped his gaze and finished in a near-whisper. "It's Dumbledore."

"Ah," Remus said, sitting back in the chair from where he'd crept forward to. "I think I understand. You're afraid of being too close to the Headmaster after your last encounters."

Harry nodded. "The last time I saw him, he tried to dictate where and how I should be learning. He even tried to manipulate me into re-enrolling in Hogwarts. And the time before that he tried to kidnap me and send me back to the Dursleys!"

"You don't think that we've already thought of this, Harry?" Remus asked, but Harry wasn't listening, instead continuing on the rant that he was finally allowing himself to vent.

"He spent an entire year trying to find me! Do you have any idea of the number of letters that I found in my Postal Box last year from him with notes on them telling me of the charms, enchantments and portkeys that had been found on them? One student leaves his school and it seems as though all he can fixate on is that one instead of the other four hundred! And don't think I don't know that he's been behind all of the Ministry's interference since Diricawl started being set up, especially with how often we've been asked to tell exactly where the manor is!"

"Harry, Harry, calm down!" Remus said, leaning forward to place his hands on Harry's knees, his sharp brown eyes fixating on the emerald ones across from him.

Slowly, Harry's breathing changed from short sharp breathes to longer, calmer ones. With Remus' calming tones and caring eyes, he allowed himself to relax backwards into the chair.

Keeping his hands resting on Harry's knees, Remus began speaking in a firm but reassuring voice.

"Every single thing that you've brought up, we've thought about. Yes, Albus Dumbledore seems rather fixated upon you and for the life of us, we can't work out why. Not even Minerva knows and she's worked with him for longer than I've been alive. We know that you won't want to get anywhere near the old man and, quite frankly, we won't let him get anywhere near you.

"Yes, this whole invitation is most likely a ploy for him to get close to you, but it is not going to work. We simply will not allow it. Minerva, Sirius and I will be there. Most likely Augusta as well, not to mention Dobby and Jaxom. Every single one of us will be watching him like a hawk and if there's the slightest inkling that something's going awry, then we'll pull all of you out of Hogwarts so fast, it'd make a diricawl's reflexes seem slow.

"But saying all that, we really think that the positives outweigh the negatives here. You all have been invited to watch something amazing, something historic and we don't want you missing out simply because of one old man."

Slowly, Remus sat back, watching him.

Harry's mind was buzzing with the forcefulness of what Remus had said. It was kinda nice to know that he and Minerva and Sirius had been thinking the same things that he had. And not just thinking about them, but weighing up the pros and cons. It was also really different, strange even. For so long he'd had no one to rely on, and especially not adults that cared. Slowly he began nodding to the man across from him. If they'd thought that much about it and his safety, then he was willing to trust him.

"All right, Remus, I'll go," he said with a half-smile.

"Good, Harry, good," Remus smiled back. "Now, put the old man out of your mind for now and allow us to worry about him. Now, off you scoot."

"Thanks, Remus," Harry said, pushing himself to his feet. "I'll see you at dinner."

-oOoOo-

The Ministry delegation had been stuck in the small room for close to half an hour already. Of the three men, two looked irate and ready to kill the next person to come through the only door. The other, though, looked resigned and perhaps even a touch chagrined.

They had been ordered there by no less a person than the Minister of Magic himself. His orders had been clear: they were to bring the upstart school to heel. Hogwarts, and by extension, the Ministry, had been made to look like a fool long enough. The school had had the audacity to not only challenge Hogwarts standing in the magical world, but publically point out its many perceived failings.

And to add insult to injury, the instant that it was known that The-Boy-Who-Lived-Again had completely withdrawn from Hogwarts, the Ministry had been inundated with others wishing to withdraw from Hogwarts in favour of Diricawl Academy. And not just one or two either, but dozens of letters and howlers had been sent to the Ministry's Department of Magical Education.

Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, sat forward in his chair, wringing his hands together between his knees. To be honest, while he completely disagreed with his being sent here for what he perceived as a colossal waste of time – the nerve of the Ministry, trying to interfere with a privately run 'business' – he was glad to be there. His wife, Molly, had been making a right nuisance of herself, despite him telling her to leave it be. Perhaps, just perhaps, he could get a chance to apologise?

The door opening snapped Arthur's head up and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly. He knew the two people who stepped into the room. Minerva McGonagall and Remus Lupin were fair-minded people who cared a lot about children. Certainly, they could be tough and strict as well, but that's exactly the type of person that you'd want in charge of a school full of teenagers.

"Gentlemen," Minerva stated, "I'd apologise for keeping you waiting, but as it stands, I'm not sorry in the slightest. This is a school. We have children to teach and that must come before any 'Ministry delegation' that suddenly appears unannounced."

"I don't think you realise exactly who you're speaking to!" the oldest of the three men bristled.

"Tiberius Sheppardton, Head of the Department of Magical Education," Minerva shot back before nodding at each of the other two men. "Walden MacNair, Head of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures; Arthur Weasley, Head of Department for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts."

"What is it we can do for you, gentlemen?" Remus Lupin asked, his face set, hard.

"We're here to inspect your school," Tiberius spat.

"And what makes you think that you'll even be allowed through that door?" Headmistress McGonagall asked, one eyebrow cocked.

"We're from the Ministry!" Tiberius spluttered, as though that was all the justification they needed.

Behind them, still seated, Arthur supressed a sigh and shook his head.

"This is a privately funded and run school," Headmistress McGonagall retorted. "You have absolutely no business here. In fact, the only reason I let you through the FLOO in the first place was so that I could tell you to your face; none of you seem to understand the written word anymore."

"Gentlemen," Remus continued, "you aren't going to get what you came for. Go back to the Ministry and let us teach in peace."

"There will be repercussions for this affront!" Tiberius vowed before storming for the FLOO, throwing the powder into the flames and disappearing.

Arthur waited until MacNair had also gone before rising.

"For what it's worth," he said quietly, "I think you're right. And I'd like to apologise."

Minerva's raised eyebrow had him continuing in a rush. "Not just for the Ministry trying to interfere, but also for Molly. She's had no right to be pestering you about taking our four into your school. Fred and George were offered a place and she refused. That should have been the end of the matter. I promise to do my best to keep her from bugging you, even if I have to start taking our owl to work with me."

"Thank you, Arthur, I appreciate it," Minerva replied with a nod.

With a nod of his own, Arthur stepped up to the fire and FLOOed away.

-oOoOo-

Sirius flopped into one of the rich brown leather couches in the Grangers' den, snagging the top magazine from the pile on the coffee table as he did so.

"So these have all the different types of muggle transport available?" he asked.

Across from him, Dan spun his office chair around and raised an eyebrow at the wizard.

"Nowhere near it," he stated. "They do, however, have a fairly broad selection."

Sirius grunted before flipping through the magazine in his hand.

This one, at least, seemed to be filled with something that he was intimately familiar with, albeit in a more modern style. Fond memories of his old bike flooded his mind as his eyes roamed over chrome and leather creations. Those were the days. He was young and carefree then. More nights than he could count, there were either delicious hands wrapped around his waist or there was a girl in the sidecar. Sometimes both at once.

Idly, he wondered what had happened to his baby. He'd lent it to Hagrid that night but he never took the time to find out what Hagrid had done with it before he went to Romania. Maybe he should write a letter to the big fella and ask.

Knowing that motorbikes weren't what they were looking for, he threw the magazine back onto the table before snatching up the next in the pile.

"Exactly what are we looking for?" Dan asked from in front of the glowing box on his desk. "I know it's got to be pretty big to hold everyone, but what other requirements are there?"

Sirius' magazine lowered as he looked up at Dan.

"It's got to be big? Dan, don't you remember those cabins we stayed in at the World Cup?" he deadpanned.

Dan spun his chair around, a chagrined look on his face. "Yeah, I guess I kinda forgot what you wizardry types can do. So, size doesn't matter?"

"Now, I wouldn't say that," Sirius countered. "Again, think back to the World Cup. When we 'wizardry types' get together, we simply can't help showing off."

"Yeah, a two-storied tent with a chimney and a balcony proved that," Dan chuckled.

Sirius nodded. "What we're looking for is something with style. I can charm whatever we find with space expansion charms that'll give us enough rooms for all of the kids plus a bunch of us adults. Bathrooms and kitchens are a snap to add in as well. Heck, I could make the thing fly if we have enough time."

"Fly? Really?" Dan asked incredulously.

"Sure. I've done it before. I used to have a motorbike that flew and rumour has it that Arthur Weasley charmed a car to fly as well."

"So we're thinking of flying there?" Dan clarified.

"Well, maybe," Sirius allowed. "Although one of the other schools'll probably take that route and I'd rather that we did something different."

"So we'll go in by land then," Dan stated.

At that, Sirius shrugged. "The only problem there is that there're no roads that lead from the muggle world to either Hogsmeade or Hogwarts."

"But I thought that that bus, the, er … Knight Bus that the kids took to get to Potter Haven last year left from Hogsmeade," Dan said, sounding confused.

"They did," Sirius nodded, "but the usual rules don't apply to the Knight Bus. Actually, I don't think that any rules apply to that thing."

"So we're looking for something with style that can get us from Potter Haven to Hogwarts across land where there's no roads. Unless we decide to fly, that is," Dan stated.

"Got it in one!" Sirius beamed.

The next ten minutes or so passed in silence as Sirius perused magazine after magazine while Dan sat engrossed with his glowing box.

"I think I've got it!" Dan called suddenly, startling the old marauder.

"What?" he asked, bending to pick up the magazine from the floor where he dropped it.

"I think I've found what we're looking for, assuming that we can afford it, that is," Dan repeated.

"If it does the job, then the Black fortune can afford it," Sirius declared. "Now, show me what you've got."

"Come up here to the computer," Dan beckoned with a jerk of his head.

"What in the world is that?" Sirius asked as he stared at a picture of … something … on the tiny screen.

"That can carry us across any type of land, even without roads," Dan beamed. "Oh, and it also goes on water as well."

"It does?" Sirius asked, his eyes alight with the possibilities.

By the time that Dan had taken Sirius through a couple of dozen screens of pictures and information, the decision had been made.

"It'll need some charming, of course, but nothing that'll be too hard to handle," Sirius commented, clapping his partner on the shoulder. "You contact this place about buying one and I'll get the elves building us a shed of some kind for us to portkey it into. We wouldn't want to give away the surprise before it's ready, after all."