Part 2
The Gala
For Harry, there were few things more lovely than looking out his window and seeing New York in the evening. The endless buildings and twinkling lights, the slow-moving boats going across the harbour and the smell of the sea air filling his lungs as he breathed it in. And yet when his door opened at exactly 5PM and Hermione walked through it. He would never feel the same way again than in the moment he set eyes on her.
"Wow," Was all he could say.
Hermione Granger stood in the doorway of his room wearing a silver dress that had a sparkling beaded, sequin bodice with scooped neck that was sleeveless and had a chiffon A line that fell straight to the floor allowing only one leg to be seen. Her hair was curled up in the loveliest bun, with silver ribbons to hold it in place and a warm smile on her lips when Harry looked upon her truly lovely, she looked.
"Really?" She asked him, biting on her bottom lip nervously.
"Yeah," He breathed. He couldn't quite think of the appropriate word to describe how she looked or how even felt right now, but he knew nothing was bad.
"You looked very handsome," She told him. She swept into the room as he stepped away from the window. Harry felt a blush on his cheeks as she reached out to the fix the bow he was wearing. Harry had been given dress robes that Sirius himself picked out. They were a bottle green colour and fitted him nicely, his mother had commented her approval that it would go well with Harry's eye and colouring, which meant it was alright for him to wear them tonight. Hermione fixed the tie and dusted his shoulders, letting that same hand fall and feel the lump in his chest, "Do you really think you'll need your wand tonight?" He asked him, giggling.
"Remember that time you told me Hogwarts was an impenetrable fortress?" He said, grinning when she rolled her eyes and leaned closer to him, "Besides, where are you hiding yours?"
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Replied Hermione. Her hands moved up his chest to rest on his shoulders and she leaned towards him, "Harry, I'm worried,"
"What about?" He asked her, ready to make her worries disappear at a moment's notice.
"I don't know," She said, laughing at herself, "I just feel like something bad will happen if we leave this apartment."
"Say the word and I'll put a charm on that door so powerful they'd need Dumbledore to get us out of this room,"
"I…" She smiled and looked down shyly, "Harry, I don't think you know how much I care about you,"
"Want to take bets on if it's more than I care about you?"
"You'd lose," She promised.
"If it makes you feel any better, I won't leave your side all night," He offered. He was willing to sacrifice any opportunity or amount of time if it meant make Hermione feel safe tonight. This night was for her and he would see it through no matter what.
"Even if I don't want to go to the duelling exhibition?" She asked him.
"Ooo, I think we should see other people," He joked.
"Charming," She giggled. A troubled look caught her face, dimming the beauty that she was presenting to him, in a soft tone she uttered, "Harry…"
It was impulse and nothing more than made him kiss her. He was too young to know if he could relay all he wanted to in that kiss, but he hoped beyond all things that when she felt his lips caressing against hers and she returned the kiss in kind, that she would know he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Harry was promising that beyond anything else tonight with that one kiss, nothing was going to ruin their night together.
"That was…" Hermione breathed, feeling a little dizzy when Harry finally released her from their embrace.
"Good? Bad? Over the top?"
"Makes me want to go even less now," She whispered, blessing him with a small kiss to the nose, "Do you think we could…"
"ALL TEENAGERS TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IN TEN SECONDS OR YOU'LL SPEND THE REST OF THE TRIP LOCKED IN A DARK ROOM!"
Sirius's use of the Sonorus charm made it so his voice not only echoed through the whole apartment, but, beyond the walls of the building and across the bay. Any muggle that might have heard the barking echo of an impatient godfather, would look up at the sky in fear and come the morning, there would be a story in the muggle newspapers about god being angry with today's youth. Later, it would spark a parental uprising and all under 18's would be forced to buck up their ideas and start praising the lord. For Harry and Hermione however, it was simply a mood killer.
"No, I really don't," Harry grinned. Hermione eventually put aside her fears and when Harry offered it, she took his arm and let him lead her out into the corridor.
"Well, don't you two look a treat," Hestia said. She was wearing her own set of dress robes, a nice light brown that went with her short hair and toned skin, "Ready for the off?"
"More than ready," Harry beamed.
"Yes, it should be fascinating," Hermione said, removing her arm from Harry when Hestia took her by the shoulders to lead her down the hall, "I'd would like to start with the ancient runes exhibition, it's likely to be packed,"
"Cute girl that Hermione, but so misguided," Said Draco, appearing from his room in a set of blue dress robes and his long hair tied back, "That Ancient Runes thing is going to be a snooze fest,"
"You're just jealous because she's prettier than you," Harry teased.
"For once, I quite agree," Draco chuckled, putting his arm around Harry's shoulders as the two of them walked down the corridor behind Hestia and Hermione, who were talking in deep detail about Runes. Harry was pleased that Hestia would be there, she was just as enthusiastic about some of Hermione's fewer exciting hobbies as Hermione was herself, "Just remember that you don't deserve her and have to spend every day trying to,"
"Gee thanks," Harry chuckled. He knew this to be true, but didn't pay much attention to it, he'd happily spend every day of his life earning the right to be on Hermione's arm.
"So, I read through that book she gave me," Draco said, lowering his voice and his tone changing to something that Harry recognising all too well now.
"And?" Harry prompted.
"I think I know why Dumbledore is in New York." Draco suddenly slowed the pace they were moving and let Hestia and Hermione reach the lounge before them, he came to a full stop, which Harry knew was risking Sirius' wrath and whispered, "Grindelwald's escaped."
"As shocking and not entirely unexpected as that is," Harry told him. He'd been waiting for this news ever since Erica Black disappeared. He knew it was going to be her main goal to free Grindelwald from his prison in Nurmengard, "But how did this book tell you that?"
"It didn't, Sirius left a letter on his desk when I was getting a book out of his study," Draco explained,
"Nice," Harry approved.
"but there is a good chance, a particularly good one," Draco said, pulling around away from the lounge room door and acting exceptionally shifty, "That Grindelwald will be at the Gala tonight,"
"Go on," Harry said, thinking that this was going down a road that would truly ruin his evening and make him highly paranoid the entire time he was at the Gala this evening.
"Charles Swan," Whispered Draco, "there is a reason I remember him, and it has nothing to do with the Death Eater body count he wracked up, he was one of Grindelwald's followers,"
"It's a bit of a stretch, the bloke would have to be about 100 years old now, he doesn't look any older than Sirius,"
"Not the first-time you moron, the second time, when Grindelwald helped to fight against Voldemort, back when he recruited Erica,"
"How though?" Harry asked, seeing a minor flaw, "Charles would have been in New York, fighting the Death Eaters here, there wouldn't have been a means for Grindelwald to stretch his influence that far, unless he sent Erica or someone to go and recruit him,"
"Well, I didn't a little digging and checked my father's diaries, Charles is in it,"
"TO THE FRONT DOOR, NOW!" Sirius' voice boomed through the house with the use of the spell.
"SIRIUS STOP USING THAT SPELL!" Lily shouted, her voice booming without any aid of a spell.
"He was undercover in the UK at the time, trying to track down a few Death Eaters who had escaped from America to aid Voldemort," Draco whispered, continuing his story as they made their way to the front of the apartment, "Charles was against Grindelwald going back to Nurmengard, he even tried to get Grindelwald transferred to the American prison, but the Albanians refused him,"
"And if Grindelwald is free and looking for a place to hide, what better place than where his old follower, who is now President and able to hide anyone easily,"
"Exactly," Nodded Draco, "I'd guess that Dumbledore is trying to catch Grindelwald before he has to return to Hogwarts,"
"Maybe, but I've never known Dumbledore to chase anything, normally things come to him,"
"Would you go towards the man who defeated you in a duel?"
"Yes," Harry grinned, "but only after I figured out how to beat him,"
"Well, some people have more sense than you," Draco chuckled, giving Harry a pat on the back.
"What are two conspiring about?" Lily asked them when they appeared in the main hall.
"Draco was going on about Lucy Feign,"
"His name, is Luca Reign and he's the most…"
"Successful young model in the wizarding world of all time!" Harry, Hermione, Neville, Hestia, Sirius and even Lily said, all rolling their eyes and laughing when Draco fumed at them.
"Alright everyone, file out, I want Hestia, Hermione and Lily with me in the first carriage, it's bigger for the dresses" Sirius announced, leading all the woman out of the room. Harry caught one brief glimpse of Hermione, who smiled at him, before she left.
"Neville and Draco, go and make sure the second carriage is suitable for your needs," Sirius ordered, the two boys leaving as Sirius doubled back to stop Harry following, "I want a word with you,"
"We were talking about…
"Grindelwald?" Sirius interrupted. Harry was sure that Sirius had bugged the entire apartment because he seemed to know everything that was going on in it, "You'll have to go a long way before you can stop me from hearing anything that goes on, your mother and Hestia might have normal ears, but these old lugs of mine can hear the birds in the bay outside,"
"Since when did being an Animagus give you super hearing?" Harry asked, hoping to avoid getting in trouble twice in one day.
"Never you mind that," Sirius said, "What's Draco figured out already, I left that letter on my desk for a reason,"
"Typical," Harry said, smiling at the grin on Sirius' face, "So far, Draco thinks that Dumbledore is in New York to try and catch Grindelwald and that Grindelwald will be at the Gala,"
"So far so good," Sirius nodded, "We thought the same thing, but I can assure, Dumbledore doesn't intend to catch his old friend, he's truly in New York for the Gala, but he may or may not think that Grindelwald will show up this evening, the question we're all trying to get answered, is why?"
"Draco went through his dad's diary, there are comments about Charles, and we know that Charles followed Grindelwald,"
"Yes, but the President hasn't heard from Grindelwald or Erica," Sirius sighed and looked back at the door before turning back to Harry, "I need you to try and get in touch with Erica, She was keeping in contact through a specific way with myself and your mother, but two days ago she dropped off the map,"
"She didn't break Grindelwald out of prison, did she?"
"No," Sirius sighed, "She was using my place in Ottery St Catchpole to hide out, she arrived the day we left to shield her presence,"
"She was there?!" Harry couldn't help feeling annoyed that he'd been so close to seeing her again and didn't know about it.
"Harry, it was for her protection!" Sirius told him, "Only Lily, Hestia, Augusts and Dumbledore knew about it, we told Augusta so that Erica would have back-up if she needed it,"
"Right, sorry."
"It's alright, I knew you miss her," Sirius smiled, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder, "I know you miss her, but so do I and as soon as I can clear her name, I will."
"Right," Harry nodded, drawing in a breath and raising his brow slightly, "You needed me to do something?"
"The order is dealing with a bigger threat back home; Dumbledore can only spare his time until the new term begins. Remus and Tonks are coming to join us in Boston when we leave New York, but other than me, your mother and Hestia, we're alone out here trying to make sure we have a presence everywhere."
"You think Voldemort is going to take advantage?"
"Yes," Replied Sirius, "Right now, Grindelwald's escape isn't public, but every Ministry in the world is looking for him, now would be the perfect time for something to go wrong, but we can't stretch our resources any further, we can't look for Grindelwald, Erica and keep an eye out for any activity from Voldemort, we're outnumbered."
"If all this is going on, why are we doing this exchange thing now?" Harry asked. He felt it was odd to be doing something like this when it made more sense for everyone to remain in their own schools.
"Draco figured out Grindelwald was out, and you realised that someone else is responsible for freeing Grindelwald, but you can't see that the exchange is more than what it seems?"
"You want us in Ilvermorny?" Harry asked in surprise.
"Luckily, you, Hermione, Draco and Neville just happen to be the brightest students at Hogwarts. So, getting you four as part of the transfer was easy, but Dumbledore wants you all at the school for another reason,"
"Which is?" Asked Harry.
"We don't know," Sirius replied, then chuckled at the expression on Harry's face, "The Exchange was always going to happen, you four were originally supposed to go to France, but when Dumbledore fought to get you all sent to Ilvermorny, Lily naturally kicked up a fuss. When asked why, he simply said that you four would benefit from visiting there than you would Beauxbaton's school,"
"Try telling Draco that, his model goes to that school," Harry chuckled. He then took on a more serious thought process and asked, "Do you have any idea what we're supposed to be looking out for?"
"No and it's going to be even harder this year because I know for a fact you won't all be in the same house," Sirius told him, "I wouldn't be shocked if you and Draco both ended up in Thunderbird,"
"Nah, I want to be in Wampus, I'll just do what I did with the sorting hat and…"
"You'll, BOTH," Sirius said through gritted teeth, emphasising the word 'Both,' and gripping onto Harry's shoulder so tightly that it was starting to hurt him, "Get into Thunderbird, understood?"
"Not really," Harry winced, pushing Sirius's hand off him and punching his godfather on the arm as hard as he could, making Sirius groan and chuckle, "But I'll do what I can and make sure Draco does the same thing, what about Hermione and Neville,"
"Pfft, I don't even need to force them into where they'll end up, but I need them both where they're going to be," Sirius told him, turning for the door, "I don't know what Dumbledore wants from this, but I'd start with Isabella Swan, she's head of the Thunderbird Duelling club and being friends with the President's daughter isn't going to hurt,"
"I told you about the last member of Ministries daughter that wanted to be my friend, right?" Harry chuckled, "you know, the one that took over an entire school just to try and make it happen,"
Once Harry and Sirius had parted ways and Harry had joined Draco and Neville in their carriage – a great large thing that was being pulled by large horse like creatures with wings – he relayed all that was said between him and Sirius to the two of them. Harry also discovered that Draco had filled in Neville on what he knew already.
"So, someone else broke Grindelwald out of jail and now they all think he's going to be at the Gala tonight?" Neville asked. Neville had been less troubled and more concerned about Grindelwald escaping in the way that Harry had not expected. Neville looked as though he was worried for Grindelwald's safety, more than he was worried that a former dark lord was now on the loose, "Why though?"
"It would seem like an odd move," Draco pondered. Draco was what Harry felt was the right amount of concerned about Grindelwald's freedom, "Then again, he's adept at disguising himself, during his time, he'd posed as several different people without the aid of Polyjuice potion,"
"I've seen ways that kind of magic can be detected, they're bound to be using it at the Gala tonight," Said Harry, "But I'm less concerned about that and more concerned with the reason we're going to Ilvermorny,"
"Why?" Neville asked, "It makes sense if Isabella Swan knows anything about her dad's connection to Grindelwald, it could help us find him faster."
"Why do I get the feeling you want to find him and pick his brain, and not send him back to Nurmengard?" Draco asked, eying his friend closely.
"I don't want to do pick his brain, I want to make sure he's not being hunted for standing up to Voldemort, there will be Death Eaters out there wanting to kill him,"
"And?" Asked Draco, "Grindelwald is just as worse as Voldemort,"
"He helped turn the tide of the war against Voldemort!"
"Enough!" Harry ordered the pair of them. He had no time for their bickering and couldn't afford to have them falling out right now, "I don't care that Grindelwald is out and yes, if he shows up tonight I'll be first in line to get at him because he'll know if Erica is safe or not, but we've got a bigger problem,"
"Bigger than Grindelwald?" Draco asked?
"Yes," Harry nodded.
"Bigger than Voldemort?" Asked Neville.
"Way bigger,"
"What?" They both asked Harry together.
"It's only going to be the four of us," Harry told them, "Severus won't be at Ilvermorny to help us, Dumbledore won't be there to bail us out of trouble, it will be us in a school of hundreds of students and teachers we don't know. We have no idea how connected Isabella Swan is, for all we know, the reason we're being sent there is because she's running her own Grindelwald fan club. Not to mention there will be students of former American Death Eaters, which means Voldemort might have a presence there as well."
"No," Neville said, "I've been reading more on the politics of the school, it's the most democratic, they have a zero tolerance for bullying and pureblood mania at Ilvermorny. They have it in place because their sorting ceremony doesn't define character, but it focuses on true nature,"
"That's all well and good Neville," Said Draco, "but you're forgetting that a Slytherin doesn't have to mean Death Eater,"
"Or that a Gryffindor means you're automatically good," Harry added, thinking of Peter Pettigrew who was currently locked in Azkaban for betraying Harry's parents to Voldemort.
"It's possible that Voldemort's followers here are just as secretive as the ones back home," Said Draco. He sighed and shook his head, "We're really going to be alone in this,"
"No back-up?" Neville said, staring ahead of him, his face a paler than it was before.
"We'll have each other," Harry told them, "For whatever reason, Dumbledore wants us in Ilvermorny, and we'll find out why,"
"I think I'll try and get into Thunderbird, that way we're together," said Neville.
"No," Harry told him. He would preferred Neville was with them, but he knew it wasn't going to be as simple as that, "Sirius said that you and Hermione had to be wherever you end up, it was only Draco and I that are meant to be in Thunderbird,"
"Right," Neville nodded, "we should tell Hermione all of this as soon as possible."
"I'll tell her tomorrow," Said Harry, "I don't want to ruin her night with this, if we tell her all about it, she'll just want to go home and start investigating, this might be the last fun night we have together for a while,"
"And you really think I'm going to spend it with you?" Draco snorted.
Unfortunately for Draco, he wasn't going to be able to ditch everyone right away. When the carriage landed on the edge of Central Park and everyone climbed out to greet each other, they were escorted by Aurors to the bow bridge that sat over the water by invitation of the President himself.
"Are you alright?" Aske Hermione the moment she was able to. They were walking through the park together, with Neville and Draco whispering behind them and Sirius, who was arm and arm with Hestia and Lily, walking ahead of them.
"Yes, I'm just…How did they make all this happen without the muggles seeing it?"
Central park was a sceptical to behold this evening with large tents built up in every direction, each of them a different colour and all having large signs in big sparkling letters floating in mid-air. Harry caught a glimpse a blue tent with the words 'Duelling Hall' written across it in red sparkling letters and felt an urge to break away from the group. All around them were people from different countries, dressed in robes of magnificent styles and colours. Children ran around excitedly with their parents trying to get them to behave, Aurors flooded every part of the park's entrances and there were creatures of all kinds, running, charging and flying around.
"It takes a great deal of magic," Hermione told him, "Any muggles here are bewitched into think it's a circus, and there charms all around to prevent people from wandering into the tens by accident, it's really impressive how they can hold it here and no raise suspicion. Their record isn't perfect though, they've had to wipe a few memories along the way,"
"Potters, Evans', Blacks, Jones' Malfoys, Grangers and Longbottom's, welcome, welcome!" Harry hadn't expected the enthusiasm from President Swan that he gave when the small group came towards them, "My honoured guests!" And to Harry's greater surprise, The President stepped forward to hug Sirius and lead the group away from the other Gala goers who all looked on in jealousy, "Come, I'll take you to my private booth, best view of the parade is there,"
"Since when was Sirius best friends with the President?" Neville asked, leaning forward to whisper the question into Harry and Hermione's ears.
"No idea," Replied Harry, "But look at mum," He said, taking a close look at the way Lily was staring so coldly at Charles.
"She only ever looks like that when…" Neville began to say.
"When she's mad at us," Hermione whispered, giggling into Harry's shoulder.
"You're in a better mood," Whispered Harry, smiling at the glowing look on Hermione's face.
"I'm here with you," She told him, sending a ray of warmth through his body that he couldn't explain, "I wish we could spend all night together,"
"Only say the word," He promised.
"As if I deprive you of the chance to show off in front of hundreds of foreign wizards,"
"Show off?" Draco and Neville both asked, having clearly been listening in on the somewhat romantic moment and ruining it with their presence.
"It's not just an exhibition, you can enter in a duelling gauntlet," Hermione explained, rolling her eyes and wiping the drool from Harry's gaping mouth as he looked at her in amazement, "Someone steps in and begins, opponents keep entering until that person is defeated, who ever wins stands until they're defeated, once there are no more challengers, the last person standing wins,"
"Forget the fashion," Draco said, giving Harry a pat on the back, Harry grinned at him, "What's the prize?"
"100.000 Galleon prize, Mr Malfoy!" Charles called out, stopping at the entrance of a tall tower that stuck out high over the trees, "But I warn you, it's not as simple as stepping into a circle and throwing a few moves, why I would go as far to say that Sirius here would struggle with it,"
"Wasn't so hard the last time I won it," Sirius said, much to the awe and surprise of Draco and Harry, "That was a good weekend, Remus is still recovering from that hang over," He chuckled.
"James was in such a state, I kicked him out," Lily said, her expression softening at the memory the two were sharing.
"My dad entered it?" Ask Harry, eagerly.
"Came second," Sirius chuckled, "He would have been first he was sober,"
"Ah to be young and stupid," Hestia teased.
The adults all chuckled and together they walked through a white door that led into a wide room. Harry and Hermione held back and let Draco and Neville go first, then once they were in the room started to vibrate as it moved up the way. When it stopped, a set of double doors on the other side opened to reveal a large room with a huge window that looked out straight across the park.
"I think we'll head upstairs," Charles said, giving Sirius, Lily and Hestia a knowing look, "Once the parade is over, you youngins feel free to head down to the exhibitions, there is plenty to get your teeth stuck into, try not to show any of our Ilvermorny students up," He added, chuckling loudly as he swung an arm around Sirius, leading up a staircase, "Ah, there's Remus Lupin, the old wolf!"
"Remus?" Harry asked as Hermione, Draco and Neville all went to the window for a look. Lily instantly stopped her approach to the stairs and turned to face her son, coming back and putting her hands on his shoulders.
"Sirius spoke to you before we left?" She asked him.
"Yes," He nodded, "I take it you're about to tell me to ignore him?"
"Quite the opposite," She told him, much to her own amusement when Harry's jaw dropped a little, "I don't agree with it, but unfortunately you four are who you are, and we'll be close at all times,"
"I'm still not sure what I'm supposed to do here," Said Harry, keeping his voice low, "I'm used to just winging it, I've never had a set mission before,"
"I think that's primarily why it's you lot that are going, you work better under pressure," She told him, giving his robes a quick tidy, "But Sirius isn't wrong, I'd say Isabella is the best shot."
"Why do you not like Charles?" Harry asked her, "I saw the way you were looking at him,"
"Let's just say I don't agree with some of his choices," She answered, stiffly. She brushed her fingers across the front of his hair and sighed, "You need haircut,"
"Hermione likes my hair long," He said, grinning when Lily rolled her eyes at him.
"If Hermione liked you with one leg, would you cut if off?"
"Well…"
"Don't answer that," She chuckled, pressing her lips to his forehead, "Try not to worry about saving the world tonight,"
"I will," He promised.
"And try to stay out of trouble,"
"I will," He promised, with a sigh.
"And don't show off too much, I already know you're going to enter that duelling gauntlet,"
"I can't make promises I can't keep," He chuckled.
"That's my boy," She kissed his forehead again and Harry watched her ascend the stairs. Just then, the double doors opened again and out stepped a familiar face from today.
"Oh look," Isabella Swan said, giving Harry a playful smile, "It's my saviour. Dad said he was inviting your family up to see the parade."
"The famous, Isabella Swan," Harry chuckled, watching as she stepped out of the elevator with two of her friends behind her. In her silk blue dress that wasn't unlike Hermione's in style, Isabella had curled her hair and looked quite pretty. Though Harry felt that Hermione looked better, but he wouldn't have said it out loud.
"Bella, please," Said Bella, walking towards Harry and introducing her two friends, "This is Jessica and Angela," She said. She indicated a blonde girl who looked older than 14, she was very pretty and wore a violet dress. The other was dark haired, shy looking, tall and skinny with glasses in a white dress that clashed nicely with dark skin.
"It's nice to meet you, Harry, Bella's told us everything about you," Giggled Jessica, suddenly making Harry blush, "Is it true you fought a mountain troll in your first year?"
"Um," Harry stuttered awkwardly.
"I'm interested to ask you about the Philosopher's stone," Angela muttered, eagerly stepping towards Harry and blushing shyly.
"Well, that's not really my…"
"Ladies, look, he brought boys with him, go entertain them," Bella cut in, before Jessica and Angela could swamp Harry any further. The two girls walked over to Neville and Draco, which made Hermione look for Harry and instantly walk towards them, "Sorry about them, every student in Ilvermorny was given a short biography on everything you four have done, really puts today in perspective,"
"Well, when you fake a kidnapping, it only takes one Harry to ruin it," Hermione said, catching the last part of what Bella was saying, "And you might want to warn your friend that she's not going to get far with Draco," She chuckled.
Harry looked back and instantly smirked when he saw Draco backing away slowly from Jessica, who, looked so pleased to be talking to him that she was keenly backing him into a corner. Harry then noticed Neville who was talking to Angela and was doing just about as well as he normally did when talking to other girls. The bonus for Neville is that Angela appeared to be having just as much trouble talking to him.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, Jess has a boyfriend," Bella told them, "Granted that rarely stops her,"
"Draco might be the lesson in self-control she needs," Hermione said, making Bella chuckle, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, turns out sickness caused from being thrown out of a car isn't life threatening,"
"Yeah," Said Harry, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, "Sorry about that, we didn't ruin any chance of you failing your course, did we?"
"No, Tony and Wayne explained what happened, but we'll need to find a different method to getting be past my last module," She explained, "I'd been waiting for them to kidnap me for a whole week,"
"And Harry trashed it in ten seconds," Said Hermione, looking at Harry's blushing face fondly.
"Hey, it's no sweat, really," Bella chuckled, gesturing towards the window and leading the way, "I just want to know what the heck it was you two were doing to fly, I've only ever seen Aurors and my dad do that,"
"Well, it was something we'd seen last year," Explained Hermione, "We noticed that Harry's mother and a few Death Eater's could do it, it's really just a form of apparation, but you've got to control it,"
"Fascinating, tell me more," Bella said, eagerly.
Harry took a moment to marvel at how easily Hermione and Bella were getting on, for some strange reason he suspected that Hermione had only come over to make sure Harry wasn't enjoy Bella's company too much. He'd shaken off the silly thought and for the fun of it, took to listening more than talking.
"Oh, well, the Stone was easy, it gives you immortality and Voldemort wanted it so he could get a new body and come back, but Harry's mum saved the day," Neville was saying. He appeared to forging a few of the details of that story, namely making it seem like Neville was something of a hero when really, he had been knocked out by a troll before reaching the stone.
"You know, I really like the way you do your hair, did it take long?" Jessica was asking Draco, her voice dreamy sounding. She was giggling without Draco speaking, curling a finger around her own blonde locks and looking up at him with soft, adoring eyes.
"I'm gay," Draco told her, thus making the conversation both awkward and so that they two of them were simply staring out the window for the parade to start.
"Do you think you'd be able to teach me?" Bella was asking Hermione when Harry returned his attention to them. Harry smiled in approval of the spark of intrigue on Bella's face, it was almost identical to the same one Hermione would have on her face when she found something fascinating.
"Sure, I'm suppose to learn from you, I can teach you something in return,"
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GRAB A SEAT, GET A VIEW AND GET READY!"
"Oh, that's the parade starting," Bella said with a wide smile, "Get your man, Hermione, this isn't something to be missed, speaking off, where is…"
The double doors opened again. Threw it stepped a tall boy with bronze hair that was styled eloquently in a way that Harry had never seen before. He had deep hazel eyes, a strong jawline, nice smile and was taller than Harry by a few inches. When he appeared, Bella ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, followed by a kiss on the lips.
"Cedric Diggory," Hermione whispered, "English, transferred to Ilvermorny when his father got a job working for the American Ministry, he's captain of Wampus and two years older than she is,"
"Is he evil?" Harry asked her, eying Cedric with a suspicion look.
"Maybe," She whispered, "His father is a former Death Eater,"
"Wonderful," Harry sighed.
"AND THERE HE IS FOLKS, NEWT SCAMANDER, LOOKING SURPRISINGLY GOOD FOR 99, SOME SAY HE WAS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH NICHOLAS FLAMMEL, THAT SHOULD TELL YOU WHAT HIS SECRET IS, BUT DON'T GET TOO EXCITED LADIES, THAT STONE IS LONG GONE, THANKS TO ALBUS DUMBLEDORE AND THERE HE IS AS WELL, UP THERE WITH THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, GIVE A WAVE ALBUS!"
Between staring at Bella and Cedric, thinking how ironic it was that one is the son of a former Death Eater and the other is the daughter of a possibly former Grindelwald fanatic, then knowing that Dumbledore, Remus and possibly more members of the Order of the Phoenix were having a meeting upstairs, Harry was beginning to see that the task ahead of him was getting more complicated by the second. He was suddenly wishing that he had asked Erica to come to Boston in his letter. However, as the parade started, and Harry saw the first glimpses of an orange haired Zouwu, he happily took Hermione's hand and let himself, if only briefly, forget the immense task he had ahead of him.