A/N: All right, guys, this is a bit of a ramble, even for me. Not very much on the romance side, but we'll get back to that SOON. I almost made a big mistake there, and started something I wasn't ready to finish.
Anyway, mostly here we're "setting the stage" for events to come. Trust me, we'll all have fun in the end.Please excuse the small slide into Brittany-dom. I was going to take it out but was begged to leave it in..
A galleon to anyone who can correctly tell where the title for this chapter came from. Let's just say it goes WAY back, in rock & roll history.
Special thanks & cheers to Ani! Without her, Paris 2 & 3 would never have gotten posted, since my browser on FF.N decided to take a holiday. And I was driving everyone nuts!
Happy readings!
Paris Four
"Shapes - of Things Before My Eyes"
When they arrived in the suite, Harry could see why the Grangers had hoped to get this particular suite of rooms. There were huge windows that overlooked a river. A long couch filled the center of the room,with pillows lining it. Comfortable armchairs were positioned around the couch and there was a beautiful shining wooden table with chairs pulled up to it, A large basket of fruit and other foods rested in the center.Flowers filled the other tables, and the room was flooded with a very unusual light.
"Oh, this is lovely, " Harry heard Ivy exclaim, from another room."Hermione, Harry, look at your rooms to see whether you have everything you need."
Harry looked over at Hermione who was peering out the window, and felt he had everything he needed, as long as she was there. She left the window and pulled him along to check their rooms though First they went into a very girlish room that had blue printed material on the bed,walls and curtains, and light colored furniture. He'd never seen so many pillows on one bed and told her so.
" This hotel prides itself on its comfort. I guess they think if you want to lie in bed, reading and eating Chocolate Frogs, you should have the pillows to do it on. I think we'll be a bit too busy for that though.Let's check your room."
Harry had no objection to this, and when they went into the room he'd be sleeping in, it was just as comfortable. It also looked as if it had been furnished with someone from Gryffindor in mind, since almost everything there was scarlet and gold, and the bed had a red coverlet folded at the end. Harry picked it up, and under it found a thick red robe, also trimmed in gold.
"Look Harry, I think someone's just given you an early birthday gift! "Hermione exclaimed excitedly. "Look at the pocket and the center of the quilt!"
Harry shook out the coverlet and the robe, and sure enough, there were gold Gryffindor lions on both, and the word "Seeker" was embroidered on the pocket of the robe, and on the coverlet in several spots. He checked the pocket, and was relieved to find a note.
Dear Harry:
I hope to be in Paris for your birthday celebration. Ivy seems to have some things planned that you'll enjoy. Use these during your stay in Paris and when you return to Hogwarts. They are identical to the ones your father always used, at school and after. James and Lily would be very proud of you, Harry, and so pleased to see you with Ivy and her family. Enjoy your holiday! It's been a long time in coming.
Hoping to see you on the 31st!
~ Sirius~
"Cool!" said Harry."I was wondering how I'd feel in that old robe of Dudley's, In this place I'd look pretty out of place. And that quilt! Bet even Malfoy doesn't have that, the Slytherin version I mean. Maybe I should put the robe in the bathroom. We haven't checked that out yet.Maybe this is it." He went over and opened one of the doors, but found only a closet. Opening the next door, Hermione and Harry both gasped.
"Wow, Hermione, that looks almost like the one I told you about - that prefects bathroom. The tub isn't quite as large, but this is really nice!"
" I hope I have one like this! I'm going to check!" and she ran from the room,leaving Harry to check out the rest.
Nice warm towels, all kinds of small bottles and jars of liquids he couldn't identify. Sniffing a few, he was relieved to find that they weren't all flowery smelling, and thankfully nothing smelled in the least like the stuff Hagrid had used the year before.
As Harry was screwing the top back on a bottle of some blue liquid, he heard Ivy calling for him and Hermione to come out into the lounge.
After asking whether everything was in order in their rooms, she began giving them some ideas about ways the rest of the day could be spent.
" Chris and I would like the four of us to stay together today. Tomorrow you two can begin exploring on your own."
"Are we going back to check on Aunt Marge?" Harry asked. He wasn't especially eager to see Marge again, yet, he thought he could be pretty funny, seeing Ripper become meek and mild.
"Maybe we'll do that while the women shop, Harry. Unless you want to sit around and wait." Chris answered.
Harry was surprised at this, since he'd never seen Hermione spend very much time shopping. She seemed to quickly find what she wanted, and be ready to move on. Still, this was Paris, this was a different Hermione, and he sure didn't want to rush her. The clothes he'd seen her in recently were.......
Harry came back to the present with a start, when he heard Chris saying," Hermione, there's been a mail delivery for you and Harry." obviously trying to act as if strange birds beating against the windows, demanding to be let in was nothing unusual to him.
"Oh!" said Hermione, in a worried tone. "Who'd be sending separate owls to us? Our friends know we're in the same place, they'd just send one owl with messages for both."
Harry had to agree with her worried tone. "Dunno. These look official, and in my summer experience, that isn't good." He felt his heart begin to sink as he saw the seal from the Ministry of Magic Why were they contacting him? He'd known this was too good to last.
Hermione had already torn open her envelope and he heard her gasp.Harry quickly opened his, eyes scanning the thick piece of parchment, stamped with the Ministry of Magic seal:
Dear Mr. Potter:
As you are aware, underage wizards are not permitted to perform spells outside school
(see Decree for Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, 1875,
Paragraph C )
However, due to the events of the past year (I.E. the Triwizard Tournament)
we are waiving this decree in your case. Please note, we expect Spellwork and Charms to be used when necessary,and that you will avoid any activityt that risks detection by the non-magical (muggle) community. Again this waiver is for safety and NOT amusement..
Enjoy your Paris holiday!
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
"Wow, Hermione!" Harry said, feeling less than happy." I don't know what yours says, but this is pretty amazing. I'm not sure it's good or bad though"
"Bad, I'd say. They wouldn't have sent these to us, if they weren't halfway expecting some trouble." Harry nodded wordlessly, he and Hermione exchanged parchment, and Harry saw that her letter was similar to his, though a bit more flattering.
Dear Miss Granger:
Due to your friendship and close asssciation with Mr. Harry Potter, and your continued standing as head of your class at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, we are granting you special permission to practice Spellwork and Charms outside of school. This is for your safety and that of Mr. Potter.
We trust we may count on your sensible attitude to prevent unnecessary (just for fun) Charms or Spellwork. Naturally, we expect you to practice descretion to avois detection by the non-magical (muggle) community.
Enjoy your holiday, and give my best to your mother!
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
"She makes me sound like a total bore!" exclaimed Hermione angrily."Count on my sensible attitude, will they? Maybe I need to show them a......"
" So, you'd rather be treated the way they do me? As if I didn't have the brains to know the difference, almost. Just because I've stepped outside the line a couple of times. Besides Hermione, if they knew...."
Before he could continue, he felt Hermione's foot come down hard on his, and she looked meaningfully toward her parents. Fortunately, Chris and Ivy were now studying the letters from the Ministry. Harry silently mouthed to Hermione "you're not that innocent" and nearly choked when Hermione mouthed back at him "oh, baby, baby, I'm NOT that innocent"
They grinned at each othe,r and Hermione quickly put on a serious look saying" Well, Mom, this should at least make you feel better about us doing our own exploring. You won't have to be with us every moment. Luckily, I packed my wand. How about you, Harry?"
"Yeah, I've kept my wand close by since the Triwzard Tournament" Harry patted his pocket smugly and went on." Even if I'd been expelled for using it, I felt a bit safer with it in my pocket."
"These letters seem to be authentic. I didn't realize Mafalda was now with the Ministry. And in that office of all the ones she could have wound up in!! Mafalda was never such a stickler for rules when she was at school. I'llcertainly give her some teasing soon!"
Harry and Hermione looked delightedly at each other, and Harry thought 'If only I'd known that a couple of years ago!'
" Now, is everyone ready to go out and have some food. I'd like to check a few of the shops nearby." Harry could tell by the looks on Ivy's and Hermione's faces, they were more than ready to to hit the shops.
" Harry, you'll be wanting to give us a few ideas for birthday gifts , in case anyone who hasn't shopped asks what you'd like."
" I, er, haven't really thought much about what I'd like. Not too many people have been nearby on my birthdays in the past. Hermione, Ron and Hagrid , you know, sent things by owl post."
Harry hated it when he had to say these things, the last thing he wanted to sound was self - pitying. " Those packages were GREAT though," he continued enthusiastically. "Ater eleven years of getting things Dudley had gotten for HIS birthday, and gotten tired of or broken."
'Oops,' he thought. 'I'm making it worse!' as he saw Ivy's face change into a look he felt didn't bode well for the happiness and comfort of the Dursleys.
So, to be continued. Can't wait to see what they find to buy, and why the Ministry anticipates trouble. That waiver can't have come from FUDGE!!
More soon, Harry willing !