The boys and Cassandra emerge into a forest transformed by the weather into a wonderland. The air is now clear, cold, and crisp. The branches glimmer with ice which falls, glittering, to the ground. They follow Cassandra to an area where the mistletoe grows.
Neville spots his quarry and Harry flies up to retrieve a small portion of one for the potion and a berry from several others for propagation at Hogwarts as Professor Sprout instructed. As they watch Harry, Cassandra says. "I can sense that you are a powerful young wizard. In a few years, you should return. I have things to teach you."
Neville's stomach drops. "Wh…wha…what things?"
"About plants, animals, healing…life."
Neville nods nervously.
Cassandra smiles warmly. "Good. When you return…we'll share my bed." Neville doesn't know why exactly, but he turns crimson and is no longer cold. Cassandra giggles. "When you are older…" She puts an arm around him and pulls him close. "Your friend is also powerful and welcome, but I sense that his path goes another way."
Harry returns to the ground.
"Thank you so much. We should be leaving now. They didn't expect us to stay overnight. They will be worried… at least one of them will be." Harry informs Cassandra.
"I'll walk you out." Cassandra counters. "We will also wrap that in some damp moss."
As Adam and Hermione drive along, Hermione asks "What if I didn't like the coffee?"
Adam shrugs. "Then we would know that you don't like coffee." Hermione nods. "Life is about change…learning new things."
"I like learning new things." Hermione says and Adam nods. "Did you really see Jesus, but weren't paying attention?"
"I wasn't paying attention that time."
"But you were another time?"
Adam nods in response. "You don't think I'd give Dumbledore all of what I have at the beginning do you?"
Hermione ponders. "Why not?"
Adam grins. "Always leave them wanting more."
Hearing voices in the kitchen, Ginny bounds down the stairs. She greets Michelle and Alex Raven with a huge grin. "Can I go for that ride now?"
"Your parents didn't say 'yes' to that." Alex cautions.
"They didn't say 'no' either." Michelle observes.
"No, they didn't… Do you know where one of the most dangerous places in the world is located?" Michelle shakes her head as Ginny watches in fascination and hope. "In between a mother and her offspring… I didn't live this long by being stupid." Ginny's face falls. "But there is no harm in showing her the bike."
As Michelle hunts through the kitchen for food, Alex takes Ginny out to explain her bike. It is all very new to Ginny and she pays close attention as Alex explains its workings.
"Amanda is going to take Michelle to Diagon Alley." Ginny observes. "Why?"
"There is a place where she can get her first sword."
"I know, but why is it there? Is magic used? Do goblins make them?"
"It was there before the rest of the area was built up. It used to be a smithy of unusually high quality. No magic is used. No goblins. Now the owner trades in swords and doesn't make them. The trade is now exclusively with people like me, and we're no longer welcome there."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I suppose because the wizarding world doesn't like others being around."
"Why? I like you and the others."
"I'm glad you do… I like you too."
"But why don't others?"
"Maybe because we aren't the same so they want us to go away. My people aren't too friendly to them either. Different isn't good or bad, it is just different. My people, your people, muggles…need to be more accepting. I've seen things…" Alex grows sad and grim, but it passes. "You give me hope small one." Ginny beams. Growing dark again Alex concludes "I've been guilty of some of it myself."
Returning inside with Ginny, Alex takes her leave saying "I'm going to take a look to see if that Watcher or the witch has returned."
Harry and Neville are spotted by the professors as they emerge from the forest. "Oh, thank goodness." Minerva says to herself.
As they arrive, Snape says "You are… tardy. Fifty points from Gryffindor."
Harry hands Professor McGonagall the mistletoe. Minerva says "Well done. Fifty points to Gryffindor."
The four take off to fly back.
Madam Pomfrey reads up one more time on the applications of the elixir and the curing potion. She steels her nerve for what is to come. She is curious to see how muggle doctors work with their mysterious devices, but she has never gone so deep into the muggle world. She draws some comfort that she will have compatriots who are muggles, yet is in its own way beyond her comfort zone. She knows that once Grace removes the breathing tube, she will have only a moment to get Alexa to swallow the elixir. Grace had considered the possibility of using Alexa's 'feeding tube', whatever that was, but she had nixed the plan because nobody knew if that would cause a problem with the effectiveness of the elixir upon which everything depended. She was going to need to work both quickly and accurately in an unfamiliar environment under threat of discovery.
"Troubled?" Dumbledore asks, shocking Poppy who had not heard him enter.
Poppy nods. "I want to be ready."
"You will be."
Sir Nicholas has the caretaker of the owlery unwrap the message that has come for him. As a ghost, he is unable to perform such actions. He looks at the message with joy, and then disappointment. It is an invitation to the Wild Hunt which is to start that evening at Wistman's Wood. "Could you have this framed and hung in the Gryffindor Common Room?"
The caretaker nods. "Is this as good as the headless ghost hunt?"
"It is better. But I can't go. The man who got this for me needs my help. I fear that by turning it down, I will offend the one who granted it… There won't be another." Sir Nicholas observes sadly.
"Perhaps…" The caretaker says as there is a disturbance among the owls. He turns to see a raven has landed and is observing. "But he does honor loyalty…"
The raven turns its head following the conversation.
"I've been waiting for an opportunity like this for centuries, but I shall not betray the man who made it possible…even if it means I won't ever get another chance. But I can treasure the invitation. It is settled."
"Shall we send a response?"
"Yes. I'll leave you to write it." Nicholas drifts away.
The raven cocks its head. "You heard?" The caretaker says to the raven. The raven nods and flies away followed by the owl without the unnecessary return note. The caretaker watches the two birds disappear into the distance.
As they near their destination, Hermione notices they are taking a different route. She looks to Adam in confusion. "The police may be questioning those who pass by looking for potential witnesses. We don't need to be on that list." Hermione nods.
Molly arrives in the kitchen. "I thought I heard Alex."
Michelle lowers her head. But Ginny says excitedly "She's looking around outside."
Molly is concerned. "What is she looking for?"
"Spies…"
Before Molly can try to magically drag Alex back, Alex returns on her own. "All is clear." Molly breathes a sigh of relief. The last thing she needs is a battle between an Old One and an Auror near the Borrow.
Arthur enters and takes a quick cup of tea. "I'm off. No time for breakfast. Has Errol returned with a message?"
"Not yet dear."
"I'll ask when I get to work." Arthur puts down his empty cup, grabs some floo powder, and is off in a burst of green flames. Michelle examines the fireplace carefully.
"How does it work?" Michelle asks.
"Magic dear." Molly explains. "How do you like your eggs?"
"Huh?"
"Soft boil, scrambled, poached…?"
"She'll have them sunny side on toast." Amanda says as she reaches the bottom step.
"Sunny…?"
"Sunny side up. Fried without being flipped… leave the yolk liquid and the whites just a little bit runny." Amanda explains. Molly looks a bit queasy at the prospect. "I'll show you." Amanda breaks two eggs into the skillet as Molly watches. Ginny places two pieces of toast on a plate.
Amanda transfers the eggs to the top of the toast.
"Mommy, can I try that?" Ginny asks. Molly nods reluctantly and Amanda deftly starts two more eggs. Soon, the entire group is enjoying the breakfast of their choosing.
"Can I take Ginny for a ride?" Alex asks. Ginny grins broadly, bouncing with excitement.
"All right. But take care."
Ginny is suited up in protective gear and the unlucky pair head out.
"Faster! Faster!" Ginny yells. Alex drops it a gear and throttles up, quickly regaining the gear and then another. Ginny peers around Alex as they pass traffic.
Ceirdwyn asks "What type of sword do you have in mind Michelle?" Michelle nervously shakes her head.
"I heard Rebecca's sword is there." Amanda answers.
Ceirdwyn is startled. "Rebecca… Your teacher?"
