"They may be his clan, but they don't have to like him, or any of you," Atox said, the snakes in his hair slithering around his shoulders. "Giants are fickle. You must take them something impressive."

"We have magic," Hermione. "The giants in our world seem to like that."

"They like it because they lost it. Our giants are still magic-users," Atox waved her off. "They are also shape-shifters, if you didn't know."

"How will we find them after we have tribute?" Nicolai asked.

"They live weeks from here—"

"Weeks?" Nyssa exclaimed.

"We stay here that long and we'll have two weddings." Mikhail snorted. Nicolai smacked him on the back of the head. "I'm being serious! How long were you planning your courtship? Where will you live?"

"We will live in a new enclave where the Amazons and the Mystic Brotherhood will share information and projects. Did you not hear the discussion about the Colosseum?" Nicolai said hotly.

"I never agreed to testing," Harry interjected.

"You should, though," Ron said as he reached for a small blue boiled egg. When he cracked it, black slime oozed out. He made a disgusted noise. Asta's mother took his plate from him and shook her head at him as if he should have known better. "The Ministry has nothing like the Colosseum. They're better prepared."

"We'll have time for that later," Ginny said firmly.

"Will we?" Nicolai asked. "We have no idea how long we will be here or if we'll be able to get back."

"I will not sit around," Hermione blurted out. "I have to get back home. I have a husband! I have parents! Who will look after them?"

She looked around. The only people in the room that weren't with their partners were her and Ron, and he had other siblings to look out for his parents.

"Severus can take care of himself, and he will take care of your parents," Harry reassured her. "They're family. Your mother-in-law has pestered them half to death by now. The Delacours are wondering what they did to deserve it."

Hermione huffed out a breath, knowing he was right. "I hope they aren't too much bother—"

"If they are Fleur's parents can chuck them out and I'm sure your in-laws would be thrilled to have them."

Hermione nodded.

"You've got to keep your eye on the prize," Ron said knowingly. "Keep a level head."

0

"You are not going anywhere!" Severus blasted.

"I'd like to see you try to stop me." Anastasia Snape was dressed in a red jumpsuit and goggles and had a large pack strapped to her back. She was staring down her son and the Jotun, Cynna, was trying not to laugh. "I have clearance from the French government. Let me go."

"No!" Severus exclaimed, outraged. "Where is Father? He's noticeably absent from your send-off."

"He is otherwise detained," she said coolly.

"Did you lock him in the pottery shed again?" Severus fumed.

"And it will take him at hours to get out without his wand," she countered.

"Oh, for the love of—"

"I'm the only one who knows what object is the portkey!" She nodded triumphantly.

Severus cast his gaze around the Parisian apartment.

His eyes lit on something. "Accio rubber duck!" He grabbed Cynna by the wrist as his hand caught the bath toy. They disappeared.

0

"We can give you a wagon," Asta's father insisted. He put his arm around his daughter. She looked uncomfortable and she and Mikhail said volumes with their eyes.

"I will come back," Mikhail said seriously. He ran a hand through his brown hair nervously.

"I know you will," she said reassuringly. "I will wait for you."

He hesitated for a moment before he kissed her. Atox grumbled, but said nothing.

Helga gave Mikhail a kiss on the cheek. "I packed things for you. Take care with them."

"Thank you, for everything," Harry said as everyone else said their thanks and goodbyes as the wagon was loaded with people and sacks of supplies.

The wagon looked more like a sled than a proper wagon and was both floating and self-propelling, like a low-flying carpet with sides. Canvas was rolled along the interior walls, and Asta's mother told them how to assemble them into a tent for shelter at night.

"If you were looking for Curse-Breakers your best choice is in the North. The shamans may have something for you," Atox said gruffly. His wife gave him a sharp look.

"Thank you, truly," Ginny said. "We don't know how to make it up to you."

"Give us a new story to sing," Atox told her. "That will be thanks enough."

Finally, the Golden Trio, Ginny, an Amazon and two Mystics began their quest into the wilds of Jotunheim in search of a cure for a curse and a blessing for a marriage.