(June 16)
Ted found that a couple weeks away from his wife left him with excessive amounts of free time. Normally this would be okay, but after a week and a half he was getting bored. He solved this by reading tour guides and books on the culture of the indigenous people. In turn, this lead to Ted solving one of Sirius' problems and brought the whole group to Australia's magical district.
Mutitgroote, named after Aboriginal communities, was accessible from every major city in Australia and, while it catered primarily to the European style of magic, large sections of the shopping district were devoted to Aboriginal Shaman-ism.
"Ooo, let's go in there!" Tonks said brightly and pointed at a nearby store.
"Um, Nym, that's a clothes store." Harry said gently.
"I know." Tonks nodded and tugged on Harry's arm. "Come on."
"Did you forget to pack something?" Harry asked without moving.
"No." Tonks frowned.
"Then why do you want to go clothes shopping? We're in Australia after all, we should do something interesting." The adults were a few feet behind the children and they all knew that was a mistake as soon as he said it.
"Actually I need Harry's help with something. Why don't the rest of you go ahead and we'll catch up." Ted jumped in before the girls had a chance to respond and pulled Harry a few steps away.
"Really? What?" Tonks asked skeptically.
"I'm afraid it is a surprise." Ted smiled.
"That's right, from all of us to all you ladies." Sirius nodded when he remembered what Ted had suggested to him and moved over to join him. "I think I had better go with them too, I can't allow my godson to walk around a foreign country without proper supervision."
"Padfoot needs a babysitter." Remus said quickly and stepped over too.
"I'm not good at quickly coming up with excuses." Dan added and moved while the women turned to glare at him. "What? Did you really think I would want to be left alone with five of you in there?"
Dan shuddered violently and the tension broke, Hestia, Gwenog and Emma started laughing while Hermione rolled her eyes. Emma made a shooing motion with her hands. "Go on boys. We'll manage without you."
As the boys left hearing range Gwenog turned to a disappointed Tonks and smirked. "If you want Harry to go clothes shopping with you there has to be a perk for him. Let's get the two of you each something cute and, when he sees you in them, let him know that there were other things he might have liked more but you couldn't ask for his opinion."
Tonks giggled and Hermione looked to her mother to see her reaction. Emma shrugged, smiling lightly. "It's what I'm about to do for your father."
HPCOC
"So what's up?" Harry asked after they walked a few blocks down the road.
"Well, one of my books said that we could get in contact with aboriginal tribesmen here somewhere." Ted said and looked around. "We might be a bit lost right now but we'll find them and hopefully we'll be able to talk them into allowing us to observe their solstice ceremonies at Ayers Rock."
"Oh, wow." Harry nodded.
"The only reason I think they'll agree is because traditionally this solstice is used for their version of the animagus transformation." Ted withdrew and opened a small book. "It says here that most of the time they end up as dingos. That's neither here nor there though. I'm going to suggest that they allow us to observe their process and in return they can observe ours."
"Cool. Why do you need my help?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"I don't, I was just trying to avoid an awkward...um...let's say 'conflict'." Ted shrugged.
"Ooo, a didgeridoo store!" Sirius exclaimed then turned to Harry. "That reminds me, can you replicate Gwen's hands for a minute?"
"What?" Harry asked, stumped by the non sequitur.
HPCOC
"I can't believe you didn't do that at home." Harry grumbled as he and Sirius left the store. "I'm going to have to get revenge at some point you know."
"Oh, shut up and be happy for me." Sirius laughed and ruffled Harry's hair.
"How did didgeridoos remind you of that anyway?" Harry demanded.
"Do you really want to know the details of my love life?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"Never mind." Harry said quickly. "Eww."
"I'm kidding." Sirius laughed. "It's really just an inside joke. I asked her Gwen how to spell 'didgeridoo' and we spent most of an hour laughing about it."
"Gotcha." Harry said relieved.
HPCOC
(June 17)
"I got fourth!" Daphne exclaimed happily as she and Blaise joined Fred and George in the Great Hall just before the leaving feast and just after seeing the year's class rankings.
"Congratulations!" George cheered and gave her a quick hug.
"Harry, Hermione and Tonks got the top three spots again." Blaise remarked sardonically. "Surprise surprise."
Fred laughed. "Of course they did."
"You two should go back to where you came from." Ron interjected snottily. "The feast is about to start."
"Ugh, I can't believe you're related to him." Daphne told George and made a face at Ron. "He's so uncouth."
"Like that means anything coming from a slimy snake!" Ron spat back.
"You don't even know what it means, do you?" Blaise chuckled. "So sad."
"Indeed." Daphne looked up at the head table. "But he does have a point, we should go."
"I doubt they would notice." George said hopefully.
"Snape is already looking at us." Blaise said with a shrug.
"Damn." Fred said.
"It's okay, we have the whole train ride to..." Daphne pause and flicked her eyes towards Ron, then back, before smiling mischievously. "Spend together." She winked flirtatiously at George and sauntered off with a very noticeable swing in her hips leaving Ron staring in disbelief. Blaise smirked and quickly followed her.
"What was that supposed to mean?" Ron demanded as George watched them go.
"Nothing Ron, she was just messing with your head." Fred laughed.
"It better not have." Ron frowned. "It's bad enough that you talk to them."
George rolled his eyes and looked to the front of the Hall as Dumbledore took the podium. "Once again the school year has come to an end." Dumbledore paused for applause. "It has been a trying year and we continue to mourn our loses." Dumbledore fell silent for a moment. "I would like to give thanks to Healer Tonks and Professor Croaker for sacrificing their time to help us in our need."
"Now before we go and start the process of replacing the year's worth of learning with food we must announce the results of the house cup. In fourth place with a record low is Ravenclaw with fifty-eight points." Ravenclaw burst into applause. "Yes, congratulations. Professor Flitwick has informed me that almost 90% of the house has stopped accepting points. Gryffindor has come in third with 247 points."
"We'll beat you next year!" Fred shouted and pointed at the Ravenclaws, the rest of the Gryffindors agreed emphatically.
"I don't think the school could handle that Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said calmly as the other professors attempted to restrain their looks of abject horror. "Moving on, second place goes to Hufflepuff with 315 points while Slytherin takes first with 538 points." The Slytherins clapped while their banners dropped into place throughout the hall. "Congratulations. Now without further ado, tuck in."
HPCOC
(June 18)
"MONSTERS!" Lavender shrieked as she and Parvati ran back through the entrance hall, startling those who were waiting to head out to the carriages.
"Show me where." Croaker ordered as he walked over, wand drawn.
"B-b-by the c-carriages." Parvati stuttered. Together the three of them walked back outside until Parvati stopped and pointed. "See, right there."
Croaker took one look and started laughing. "Those aren't monsters, they're called threstrals. I'll leave a note for next year's Defense professor and have him tell everyone about them." Croaker led the girls back inside. "Attention please! There are no monsters, the carriages have always been pulled by horse like creatures that are normally invisible. I'll let your defense professor next year give you all the details but the threstrals will not hurt anyone. Do not be fooled by their appearance."
After that there were no interruptions in the normal procession of students, even though tension was high. Within an hour the train was loaded and on its way towards London allowing the staff of Hogwart's to let out a collective sigh of relief.
HPCOC
At King's Cross station the Twins were the first to split off from the group, having spotted Ron talking adamantly to their mother. Daphne waited until Ron looked over at them and pulled George into a long hug before letting them leave.
Tracey, having not left the Court alone, spotted her parents next and turned to Blaise, Daphne, Hannah and Susan. "Um...so I don't really have any friends right now." She shifted anxiously. "Do you, um, think I could write you guys, maybe?"
"Of course you can." Hannah replied with a comforting smile while the others chimed in with their confirmations.
"Thanks!" Tracey said relieved with a huge grin. "I can't tell you how much that means."
"It's okay, we understand." Susan said.
"Thanks, see you." Tracey waved and walked away. Over the next few minutes the remaining four found their families and took their leave.
HPCOC
(June 19)
The sun was setting on the beach where everyone was relaxing after Andromeda joined them. She sat with Ted on a beach towel as they shared the events of the last couple weeks with each other, blissfully ignoring the others.
"Let's go swimming." Tonks suggested and stood up.
"Okay." Hermione agreed as Tonks removed her outer wear, revealing her bright pink two piece underneath.
"Harry?" Tonks asked as he stared dumbly. "Oh, do you like my suit? I just got it the other day." She twirled around to show it off.
"It fits her well, don't you think?" Hermione continued as she revealed her own emerald green two piece.
"It doesn't look as good as yours though." Tonks smiled at Hermione.
"Thanks Nym, but I still think the blue one might have been better." Hermione blushed.
"I thought you said that one was too skimpy." Tonks crossed her arms under her bust and shifter her weight to one leg, causing that hip to stick out.
"I thought that, but I'm not so sure anymore." Hermione gave an exaggerated shrug. "I really could have used another opinion." She took a deep breath and let it out in a quick sigh. "Too bad it was just us girls."
"Well," Tonks turned to Harry. "What do you think?"
"..." Harry blushed then shook his head violently. "You both look amazing."
"Thank you." Hermione and Tonks chorused while smiling prettily.
"Come on!" Tonks added and bent over to grab Harry's hand and drag him to his feet.
"They're so cute." Gwenog sighed as she leaned back against Sirius' chest and watched the girls drag a stumbling Harry down to the water line.
Sirius chuckled when Tonks shoved Harry while he was in the process of removing his shirt, thereby causing him to fall directly into the surf. His head popped back above the waves and he glared indignantly at Tonks while Hermione came to his aid are helped him remove the offending garment. "That they are." Sirius said quietly and kissed the top of Gwenog's head.
The two of them watched the kids splash for a few minutes before Sirius silently reached down and picked up Gwenog's left hand and held it up near his face. Remus had been waiting for that signal and innocently levitated a small box over and set it next to Sirius' right hip. Sirius slowly and deliberately examined every inch of Gwenog's hand, turning it gently to see both sides.
"What are you doing?" Gwenog asked softly.
"Just wondering something." Sirius replied.
"What's that?" Gwenog asked.
"If you'd be my wife." Sirius grabbed the small box and moved it in front of her while opening it and revealing the ring inside, all in one smooth motion.
Gwenog screamed and turned around quickly then kissed Sirius hard enough to knock them both over. "Yes, yes, yes, yes!" She declared punctuating each yes with a small kiss. She sat up so she was straddling his waist and held out her left hand so he could place the ring. It slipped perfectly into place and no one mentioned the awkward time at the jewelers where Harry had confirmed the size.
Hestia was the first of the ladies to reach them and was examining the ring as the other caught up. Hermione and Tonks were the last to get there with Harry close behind and they left him speechless again as they jumped up and down in excitement. He was brought out of his stupor when Dan cleared his throat from a few feet away and Ted fixed him with a stern look.
"Sorry." Harry muttered just loud enough for the fathers to hear.
"We should celebrate. Did anyone bring fireworks by any chance?" Remus suggested.
"No, but I have something almost as good." Harry said grateful for the end of that moment and moved over to his towel and picked up his wand. One flick later and a small pile of pebbles started gathering at his feet. "I picked this charm up from an American, he called it 'The Gambit'."
Harry picked up a stone and tapped it with his wand. "Tardus Manu Grenade." The stone flashed white and he quickly tossed it into the air and banished it. When it reached it zenith the stone exploded in a bright flash.
"Oooo." Tonks said.
"Aaahhh." Hermione replied and Harry set off another.
"Teach me." Tonks sighed and Hermione nodded vigorously. The three of them spent the rest of the evening blowing things up.
HPCOC
(June 21)
"Where are we going?" Hermione asked as the group formed around a plank of wood that was their portkey. "Shouldn't we be taking our potions?"
"You'll be doing that there." Ted said dismissively.
"And where is there?" Hermione asked tersely.
"Ayers Rock." Ted smiled and reached for the portkey.
"Oh." Hermione smiled and placed her hand on the board very deliberately as to hook her pinky around Harry's. Ted checked his watch and gave a quick count down before it activated.
The sun was already setting behind the monolith giving the impression of being on fire. Drums and chanting drifted through the air drawing their attention to the group of Aborigines a few dozen meters away. The smell of burning wood filled them as Ted drew their attention.
"We have been granted the chance to observe an Aboriginal ritual tonight and while we're here we're the guests of the Anangu tribe. You will not cause problems." He said sternly and glared at Sirius. "Understood?"
"Yes, sir." Sirius said meekly and dropped his head.
"Good, let's go." Ted said and led them towards the tribe. As they walked one of the tribesmen moved towards them.
"Hello." The man said in a thick accent. "Good greetings. I am Keurong."
They shared his greeting and introduced themselves and allowed Ted to act as they spokesperson. "When would you like our children to perform their ritual Keurong?"
"Ours will take all night." Keurong replied. "Yours could go now."
"Wait, we're going to change in front of all these people?" Hermione gasped. "What if we did something wrong?"
"I already looked this morning." Harry said and held up the heavily charmed case that held their potions. "Everything looks perfect."
"Don't worry Hermione. We'll be right there with you." Tonks said and took her hand in comfort.
"Okay." Hermione said and took a fortifying breath as they reached the fires.
Keurong moved away from them and spoke rapidly in his native tongue. Within a minute a large place had been cleared in the middle of the camp. Keurong returned and led them into the center positioning Harry and the girls in a perfect triangle. He conferred with a few other older tribesmen and Ted then motioned Sirius and Gwenog to move behind Harry, The Grangers behind Hermione, and The Tonks' behind Tonks. The tribe itself formed a very curious ring around them with Remus and Hestia.
Harry nodded to the girls and opened the box, taking his vial and passing it to Hermione. After she and Tonks took their vials Remus stepped forward and took the box from them. They silently reached into their pockets for the pieces of their chosen animals. Hermione tipped a dead fly out of a glass vial and watched her potion turn dark gray. Harry's turned yellow after he poured in the venom and they both turned to Tonks as she dropped two pristine white feathers into hers. They all hesitated.
"Whenever you're ready." Sirius said calmingly and the three shared a look. "Don't forget how to turn back, just visualize yourself as human again."
"Three, two, one." Harry counted and they drank their potions simultaneously.
HPCOC
"Welcome to the first faculty meeting of the summer." Dumbledore said as a dicta-quote quill scratched on a parchment in front of him. "Does anyone have any issues to bring forth before we start working on next year's schedule?"
"I do." Flitwick announced and stood on his chair. "Two of my students have signed up for the full course load next year. Both of them are fantastic students and I believe they could handle the stress of the additional work."
"Which students?" Dumbledore asked casually.
"Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger." Flitwick replied. "I recommend that we allow them to take the courses and we should follow our protocol for these situations and issue them with the school's time-turner."
"NO!" McGonagall and Snape shouted as they jumped to their feet.
"Do you realize how difficult it is to keep track of that boy as it stands?" McGonagall gasped.
"Can you imagine how much trouble he'll cause if he can make himself an alibi?" Snape demanded at the same time.
Sprout looked at them for a moment and burst into laughter. McGonagall and Snape turned to her angrily and McGonagall spoke up. "Do you think this is funny?"
Sprout couldn't stop laughing and after a few moments Flitwick chuckled and spoke up again. "I think she's just happy that the two of you have finally agreed on something."
McGonagall and Snape looked at each other in surprise, which set the rest of the staff to laughing. "Very well, when they return from Australia I'll have someone go fetch them and we'll talk about other options." Dumbledore assured. "If there are no other issues at the moment why don't we move on to scheduling."
HPCOC
Hermione disappeared with a small whooshing noise and left a common housefly in her stead. After flying around for a couple seconds she noticed something wrong and took Sirius' instructions to heart and pictured herself as human again. She reappeared and looked to the other two. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Harry said and looked himself up and down to see if there was any change.
"Maybe it just doesn't work on metamorphma...aaaaa!" Tonks cut herself off and started wriggling around as she fiercely scratched at her scalp and arms.
"Thss ss umcommftble." Harry muttered as he clamped his hands over his mouth.
"What?" Sirius asked in worry, then shock as the color started leaving Tonks' face.
"Harry, you're turning yellow!" Hermione gasped.
Harry ignored the discomfort in his teeth and stared at his hands as he was forced into his natural form. It wasn't the same though. His nails thickened and sharpened to the claws he'd come to know and his skin took on a bronze hue. As he started glowing Harry noticed that his hands and arms were banded with dark brown stripes and he could now tell that his teeth were hooked and backwards facing, like a snake's fangs. Then pain subsided.
"I think it's over." Tonks said and he looked over to her, seeing her for the first time. Her skin, hair and eyes were perfectly white and flawless with only the shadows to show her features. White feathers sprouted up through her hair and down both arms.
"You're beautiful." Harry managed to say despite having foreign feeling teeth before his bones started aching. "Not done yet."
A moment later they both collapsed and transformed leaving a faint banded sea snake and a white snowy owl where before two teens sat. Thermal vision, I can't believe I forgot about that. Harry thought and looked at Tonks. Once he confirmed that she had taken the shape of Hedwig Harry looked himself over. Not wanting to waste time he focused and started growing, once he reached his maximum he looked to Sirius pointedly then to himself and back to Sirius.
"Right." Sirius nodded and lifted his wand to cast a measuring charm. "5.3 meters."
Harry looked back to Tonks, who was now sporting bright pink plumage on the top of her head, and slowly changed his colors. The tribesmen started shouting and pointing and a few dropped to their knees. This concerned Harry and he quickly transformed back to his regular shape, followed soon after by Tonks.
"Numereji." Keurong said reverently from his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground before rising. "You have been blessed."
"Er, what?" Harry asked stupidly.
"The Rainbow Serpent." Hermione said. "It is one of their gods and a protector of their people."
Keurong spoke loudly to his tribe in their native tongue and his people cheered loudly. Within moments Harry and the rest were swept up by the tribe and were presented with food and drink. One of the women came by and painted designs on Harry's face. The festival raged on into the night and at midnight the youths were sitting in a large circle around the biggest of the fires. Keurong chanted and tossed several bundles of plants into the fire. As the smoke curled up into the night sky it shone with many colors and Keurong's chant was taken up by the youths. After another ten minutes they all suddenly stopped and slumped forward before slowly transforming into Dingos.
The new dingos started to play and were joined by many of the adults, and Sirius. They portkeyed back to their hotel just after 3am and returned to England a few days later.
AN: This chapter was hard to write. I didn't like it enough that I completely started over twice, almost did so a third time too.
So I've gone on several vacations with my mother and sisters and every time we spend insane amounts of time in stores. Shopping is seriously the biggest waste of a vacation I can think of, other than getting a job.
Tardus Manu Grenade : Slow hand grenade
Ayers Rock was officially returned to the original name of Uluru in '95
The rainbow serpent is one of the Pan-Australian myths and it has a different name in each region. Numereji is just a guess as being the correct name for this group. It is believed to inhabit water holes and underground waterways and causes drownings in these places, but is the protector of the Aborigines apparently. Australian readers: tell me how wrong I am.
And yes, Tonks took feathers from Hedwig, a few chapters ago she talked to Hedwig about something that kind of had to do with Harry, if you remember.
