Chapter 35: Albania

The easiest way they could find to smuggle Sirius Black back in to London was as a service dog. At first, Sirius wasn't sure it would work at all, but once he realized the alternative would be to sit in a crate the whole flight he decided the first option was preferred.

Calamity took them to the muggle airport and opened the car door. Sirius leaped out startling a passing German passenger who said what Calamity assumed were some four letter words in German. Sirius paid no mind and put his paws on Calamity excitedly. He tried to hop and lick her face, but she dodged his tongue.

"Service dogs are much more tame," Calamity scolded. Remus knelt to straighten Sirius' vest, also dodging a sloppy tongue.

"We know you're excited, but do try to play the part," Remus said. He turned to Calamity. Sirius began sniffing the ground curiously. "Walk us in? I think our friend will miss you."

"Who wouldn't," Calamity teased. She looked at her watch. "Better get your things checked in. Looks like it's right over-OOF!"

A large woman ran into Calamity's shoulder, knocking her a few steps back. The woman continued on as if she hadn't even noticed Calamity at all. Sirius growled, but Remus gave him a warning look as a security guard approached.

"¿Necesitas ayuda?"

"No,no, gracias," Calamity said. She rubbed her shoulder. It'd be sore tomorrow she was sure. Another service dog walked by, head held high as if concentrating on a mission for the Queen herself. Sirius watched the dog carefully. He shook his fur and mimicked the dog, bringign hsi feet up high off the ground as if he were prancing, more like a pony than a service dog.

"Good boy," teased Remus as they entered the airpot. Sirius let his tongue lull out as if he were in on the joke. They arrived at the counter.

"Good morning," Remus said cheerfully.

"Good morning," the flight attendant said with a slight accent. "Boarding pass?"

Calamity dug into her pocket pulling out the boarding pass and handing it over the counter.

"And is this your service dog Mr... my apologies! Ms. Erza-Mahoney?"

They froze.

"Pardon," asked Calamity.

"Ms. Clara Erza-Mahoney, no? These tickets have your name on them. Looks like you're headed to London then on to Albania. Not our most popular flight but certainly a good trip."

"May I," Remus asked. The flight attendant handed the tickets back and Calamity looked at them. Sure enough the tickets in the packet were for Calamity. She could feel the flight attendant getting nervous.

"Honey," Remus said gently. "Did you pack the tickets for the rest of us? Perhaps in the other pocket?" He looked kindly at the flight attendant, a warm smile breaking across his face. "Been a bit hectic at the hospital recently."

The flight attendant looked a bit relieved, but she wasn't fully relaxed until Calamity pulled another ticket from her pocket and handed it over.

"Oh, yes here we are. Mr. Remus Lupin and one service dog. Lovely. And will you need anything else?"

"No, thank you for all your help," Calamity said.

They walked through the gate without any other issues and hurried to an isolated corner in a restaurant, ordering drinks before leaning in close. Remus muttered a muffling charm, twitching his wand in his pocket, and Calamity could hear a soft buzzing as it circled around them.

"Let's see them," Remus said firmly. Calamity took out the tickets again. They seemed as ordinary as any others she'd seen. Remus looked around to make sure no one was watching, then he pulled his wand out and tapped them, muttering. Nothing happened. He tried again, still nothing. Sirius sniffed them curiously.

"Who is in Albania," Calamity asked.

"I was going to ask you," Remus said. He glanced over at Sirius, who looked at him. They seemed to be communicating silently.

"Come on, secrets secrets are no fun. Secrets are for everyone," snapped Calamity. They both laughed, Sirius letting out a bark as his tail wagged happily back and forth.

"Whoever is in Albania wanted you to get there as soon as possible," Remus said. "You don't remember picking these up this morning?"

"No, the only thing I picked up were the tickets for you," insisted Calamity. She rubbed her shoulder in thought. Her eyes widened. "You don't think..."

"The woman who knocked you over," finished Remus. "But I can't tell what she would want you to do in Albania. Course, there is one way to find out..."

Sirius growled, nudging Remus as if the idea was not one he liked.

"Sirius is right," Calamity said. "If all these rumors are true I can't go to Albania. Isn't that where they said You Know Who went after he disappeared?"

Remus put the tickets on the table and crossed his arms. "Well, then you'll have to decide. I'll be headed to London to help Sirius get settled then I have to head to Scotland for some business."

"I'll walk you to your gate," Calamity said determinedly.

"And write to Dumbledore," Remus suggested.

Calamity gave him a sideways glance. "I'd rather not."

"I think you should," Remus said. Calamity said nothing in response, simply scratched Sirius behind the ear. In response he licked the tip of her nose.

Calamity was still thinking about the tickets later that night. They were sitting on her bedside table as she curled in her bed, which seemed far too large now that Sirius had left. In the corner Buckbeak made some sounds of sleep, a few snorts almost like rolled over looking at the ceiling. She wondered where Sirius was going to hide in London. Had he packed enough food? He'd lasted in the forest for a year, but he had been a skeleton. She looked back at the tickets. She could check on him. Redeem the tickets and go to London.

"CLARA!"

Calamity sat up and looked around. Across the room her fireplace was suddenly crackling and a face was floating in it. Despite his age he looked almost identical to when she had last seen him before Voldemort's fall.

"Dad," she gasped so surprised she didn't have time to be annoyed. They hadn't talked since he left and went into hiding. Not even so much as an owl.

"You didn't get on the plane," he observed, though not annoyed. "I wondered if you'd trust the tickets. Well, can't say I blame you."

"They're from you," she gasped. "How did you-"

"Don't worry about how an old man does anything," her father snapped. "You have to come to Albania."

"I-" Calamity let her mouth gape open in sheer speechlessness.

"Don't do that it doesn't become a doctor. Make whatever excuse you need: to see an aging man, to reconnect with your father, to visit a lovely village. Just get here."

"I have a Hippogriff," Calamity said dumbly.

Her father turned his head seeing Buckbeak who was still asleep on the floor.

"Contact the ministry to have it transported."

"It's not exactly..." Calamity began trying to think of how to explain Buckbeak's status, but her father held up his hand.

"Say no more. Let me contact some friends. They'll be there to retrieve the beast in one week and I expect you to accompany them the whole journey. Probably boat- they love boats."

"Are they pirates," Calamity asked. She was half joking but also half trying to figure out where this was all going. Her father smiled and laughed, face wrinkling pleasantly.

"The less you know the better. I'll be waiting for you."

"Wait-" she snapped starting to regain herself. "Wait! Why should I even do this! Last time I saw you-"

"Yes,yes,yes," her father interrupted looking over his shoulder as if to make sure no one was around. "I know. You need to know some things I can't share."

"How will you tell me then," Calamity asked. She was starting to feel like she was at the Mad Hatter's tea party.

"I'm good at charades," her father said. He looked behind him again. "Got to go!"

His head vanished as quickly as it had arrived leaving Calamity still gaping at the fire.

A week later she was still unsure whether or not she wanted to go to Albania. She was even less convinced when she opened the door to see three tall men, including one with flaming red hair. He, at least, seemed the most normal because he smiled and held out his hand.

"Charlie Weasley," he said. "Excited to work with you!"

"Work with me," Calamity repeated. Charlie's face dropped slightly, but he recovered quickly.

"Dumbledore must have sent the letter to your dad's place since you're headed there."

"How does Dumbledore know where I'm going," asked Calamity. "And I haven't decided if I'm going with you or not."

The man behind Charlie put his hand on the red head's shoulder and moved him aside, looking her over. His face had a burn scar across the cheek.

"Don't mind Charlie," said the man. He had an American accent. "He's just excited. This is a pit stop for us. We have business near Albania before headed back to Hogwarts. But, I owe your dad a favor so here we are to retrieve you and the hippogriff."

The third man said nothing, just watched Calamity as if he were thinking of something far away from this conversation, a bored look on his face.

"Right," Calamity said. 'Well, I've thought about it and i'm not sure Albania is the place for me. If Dumbledore needs me he can find me here."

"What are you so nervous about," laughed the burned man. "Heard you fought in wars before, worked in a hospital, faced off deatheaters. You're not going to let this Ginger scare you, are you?"

Charlie smiled good-naturedly at her.

"At least let us have some tea for our trouble,"said the bored looking man.

Calamity looked them over again.

"Also to see the Hippogriff," Charlie said hurriedly.

"Yes,yes, the beast," agreed the burned man.

Calamity pushed the door open against her better judgement.

The men pushed their way in and made themselves right at home like a group of barbarians might. Calamity watched them drag mud in. She wasn't even sure where they had found mud to track in. It hadn't rained for two days! Charlie disappeared into the bedroom where he let out a low whistle and some explanations of pleasure at seeing Buckbeak. Calamity couldn't help but smile.

The bored man quickly acquainted himself with the kitchen and brought out four cups of tea. "Wealsey, Quahog, tea is ready."

"The men came traipsing back in and all sat down as if it were perfectly normal to be in someone's house to smuggle their hippogriff to Albania. Weasley handed Calamity her tea and motioned for her to sit. She did.

"So how'd you get your hands on him," asked Quahog curiously.

Weasley raised his eyebrow.

"We don't normally ask," Quahog added scratching his burned cheek with his free hand. "But I'm just curious since he's not native to Costa Rica."

"He showed up on my door step," Calamity said firmly.

"Funny how that happens," said the bored man. He didn't look so bored now. He was watching Calamity as if deciding what he thought of her. Well, it would probably be for the best if they thought she was a smuggler as well. She took a confident sip and met their eyes.

"And how did you all meet my father."

"Ah your father," said Quahog with a laugh. He glanced at the bored man. "Good man, eh, Smiths?"

"Shady past," said Smith. "'Course you know that. But behind him now. People, right?"

"Not as simple as dragons," Quahog agreed.

"You smuggle dragons," Calamity said taking another sip.

"No, Weasley and I work with them. We just offer our service when someone has mis-estimated their interest in a magical creature, dragon or otherwise," said Quahog. "We did smuggle a baby dragon once."

"From Hogwarts," agreed Weasley.

"Reckless," Smith said, but he seemed pleased by the memory. "Cute as a button."

"Vicious button," Quahog replied touching his cheek again, though his eyes shone with fondness.

Calamity yawned despite the conversation.

"So, why don't you want to see your dad," asked Quahog.

"Bad business," said Calamity. "He's always bad business."

"Sounds like him," agreed Smith. "He seems to think it's a matter of life and death. He was quite insistent. Made me think that perhaps there was more to it. Someone after you?"

"Not that I know of," Calamity said again. She yawned again. The tea was making her sleepy despite the fact that it was hours before sunset. No one else was yawning.

"Was very insistent," continued Smith. "Said you were to come with Buckbeak to Albania by any means necessary."

There was a soft nagging in the back of her brain, but it was too soft and too far away for her groggy brain to fully grasp it. Charlie was watching her hesitantly. He moved slightly closer.

"He thought you'd probably be leaning towards no," added Quahog.

"He did," agreed Smith. He took another sip of tea. "He's a good judge of character."

Calamity wasn't able to respond before she fell sideways into Charlie's ready arms, fast asleep in an almost deathlike state.

When Calamity sat up again she wasn't in her house in Costa Rica and the three smugglers were nowhere to be seen. Instead, she was in a large dimly lit room with a bubbling cauldron near by. The air smelled like Flobberworm goo. She smacked her lips. She could still taste the Wiggenweld Potion.

"Which was better: This method or having Bellatrix grab you on your way to St. Mungo's? Remember you had to save Regulus the first time, so don't let the newness of this experience weigh too heavily against it."

Calamity turned to see her father, a bit smaller and grayer than before, but still looking almost identical to his previous self. Calamity scowled at him.

"Your manners are terrible."

"Well, I have a stubborn daughter," he conceded. "Besides, Americans aren't known for their manners. Why do you think we sent you to England."

"You," snapped Calamity getting up and dusting herself off. "Did not send me anywhere."

"True," conceded her father. "You have mail."

He motioned to a table across the room with two letters sitting on it. Calamity moved towards them. The first was form Sirius and the second- Calamity groaned.

"Dumbledore is a man who knows more than I appreciate," conceded her father.

Calamity ignored him and opened the letter from Sirius first.

Calamity,

Hope this letter gets to you in a timely manner, I had to borrow this owl from a bloke in London before heading North. Remus is headed off to Scotland but not before filling me with so much food i think I might explode. I've figured out a way to store a bit, so don;t worry because I know you worry. Harry sent me another letter saying I shouldn't worry because he was half asleep. It seems like something you or James would do: realize I might be in danger if I came to check on you and try to stop me with some half arsed excuse. Of course, I know better. Especially because I know if the roles were reversed you, James, or Harry would be at my door in a moment.

I've been thinking about the airport a lot. I think you should go to Albania. I know it's up to you and I've told Remus to check on the word form you after he's done in Scotland, but if there is anything your dad might know than we need to know about it. I don't trust any deatheater, but I know he'd never hurt you so the fact that he risked so much getting in contact with you at the airport means ti must be important.

Whatever you decide, take Buckbeak, but I recommend a saddle. My journey was a bit brutal.

Love you and stay safe!

-Sirius

Calamity glanced at her father. He was innocently inspecting the cauldron and pouring extra Wiggenweld Potion into vials. The envelopes had both been sealed, but that didn't mean he had so idea what they said. She rolled her eyes and turned to Dumbledore's.

Clara,

I'm sure by now Remus has informed you that the Triwizard tournament will be hosted at Hogwarts this year. Though there are safety procautions this year, it's always helpful to have more medics about than necessary. The first task is November 24th I hope you will send word by Halloween whether or not you will be able to assist.

Always best to keep friends close in times of trouble.

Send my regards to your father.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Calamity folded both letters and tucked them away for later. She turned to her father.

"Well, I'm here. What is it you needed to tell me?"

Her father looked surprised. "No catching up for your old man? I anticipated to be caught up the first night on your many adventures over the last thirteen years. I heard you got married. I cried like a baby when I saw the pictures. Of course, I had hoped it would be that Sirius Black, but things happen."

"I suppose they do," said Calamity.

"But all is well now," her father said. "Or rather," he gave her a significant look. "All is coming full circle."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow," he insisted and he refused to discuss the topic any further for the rest of the night.

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