(A/N: Sorry for the delay, working on an actual book takes a lot of my free time.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my mistakes.
Chapter 6: The Artic Gale
Lunch had just begun when Harry and Hermione were summoned to the Deans office. When they arrived, they found Sirius and violet waiting for them. A moment later Sharra followed them in. She looked at all of them with concern. "What's going on?"
"You've read about that tournament that they're having in England?" Sirius asked solemnly.
"The death tournament?" Harry asked with a sinking feeling. Their last history class had been devoted to the tournament, it's similarities to ancient gladiator contests and high death toll.
"Tri Wizard." Sirius corrected. "Your name came out of the Goblet of fire."
"But… wait why does it matter? They can't force me into it, can they?" Harry asked.
"We aren't sure yet." Sirius admitted.
"That's insane!" Hermione shouted. "Harry didn't enter so by law he doesn't have to compete, and even if he had entered without your permission, he wouldn't be able to anyways."
"Normally yes. But the Goblet of fire was apparently tampered with. We won't know if it bound Harry to a contract until we go to Hogwarts and check." Sirius said.
"But I don't want to compete!" Panic surged in Harry's voice. "They can't really force me to risk my life, can they?"
Sirius sighed; worry for his son had all but crushed him. "No. But if the Goblet did establish a contract with you then there will be a penalty if you don't compete. There is a slim chance that penalty would be your magic. But the choice would be yours. I'm rather have you alive without magic than as a dead wizard."
Both Hermione and Sharra latched onto Harry, at that moment they were the only thing keeping him on his feet. Hermione turned towards the adults with a pleading look. "That has to be illegal, and why can't they just void his entry if it did make a contract?"
"Anything that can steal the magic from another person is illegal. Banned by a dozen treaties. Apparently, the Goblet of Fire slipped through the cracks because no one ever considered someone could be entered against their will." Violet said.
"We don't know that they can't, but after everything else I'm not going to hold my breath that they thought that far ahead." Sirius added. He desperately wished for some way to fix this, to trade places with Harry. "Hermione, your parents gave you permission to stay with Violet and Sharra until we know what's happening."
Hermione nodded. When she had first come to Wandwood the thought of skipping classes for any reason would have driven her mad, well except for flying, now it barely registered. "How long will it take to find out?"
"A representative from Gringotts will meet us at Hogwarts and should be able to confirm any contracts in just a few minutes. We'll leave in about an hour. Watson is getting some guards incase this is another trap." Sirius said. They didn't think it was though, no matter how you looked at it this was an international incident that England would suffer for.
0-Q-0
Harry rubbed his arm as they arrived in outside the Hogwarts gates. He was sure that Hermione had snapped something with her last hug. A dozen guards stood around him and Sirius, their red uniforms stood out brightly in the dark. But Tonks had let slip that the unforms could turn into a patch work of dark colors with a quick command.
Watson dusted himself off. "Well let's get this over with."
Three Goblins were waiting in front of the gates for them. One of them carried a crude spear and inclined his head towards them. "Greetings, I am Spleanslayer. These are Sacktwister and Jewelbreaker. I will establish if a contract with one Harry Black was created and provide legal advice."
"And by legal advice you mean?" Watson asked.
"Any way that will screw over Dumbledore and the British ministry." Spleaslayer replied.
"I like this fellow." Sirius said as the group marched towards the school. As they drew closer, they could see the faces of dozens of students pressed against the upper windows.
Dumbledore stood on the front steps and frowned at the large group. "Surely there is no need for all this. We are after all at a school full of children."
"That didn't stop you from trying to arrest the Blacks the last time you begged them to come here." Watson replied sourly. "You'll have to forgive us if we don't exactly trust you. Now that you're basically threatening them again."
"I assure you that is not what is happening at all." Dumbledore said irritated at the implications Watson was making against him. Never mind how correct they might be.
"Sure, it's not, let's go see how badly you've screwed things up." Watson said. They followed the headmaster into the great hall where the other champions, school heads and the Potters were waiting.
Spleanslayer stepped towards the Goblet of Fire while his own guards moved to either side. "Old and powerful… indeed… shoddy care though… Very well let us see who has an active competitors' contract with the goblet."
"Check Daniel first." James ordered.
"I will get to your son when I get to him." Spleanslayer said before he began to speak in a growling language. Colors danced around the goblet, swirling into interact patterns before Spleanslayer waved his hand and scattered them.
Harry breath hitched as he watched and prayed that he wouldn't be forced to compete in the tournament. His history class had gone over in great detail how past champions had died. A tongue of flame leapt from the goblet and curled into a small ball of fire. It hovered over the Goblet for a moment before it floated over to the stunning girl in a blue uniform. Another ball appeared and moved to the angry looking boy who Harry realized was Victor Krum. A third ball moved to the older boy in Hogwarts robes. Spleanslayer nodded. "Those are the original three champions, now to see if there are more."
Several more growls and the Goblet of fire spit out two more balls, one floats to Daniel, the other to Harry. He had to lean against Sirius to keep from falling over. Sirius growled at Dumbledore. "Fix. This. Now."
"I am sorry but there is nothing I can do." Dumbledore said.
"Just cancel it!" Sirius shouted.
"He can not." Spleanslayer pulled a roll of parchment from his coat. "As a matter of security, the official tournament contract was submitted to Gringotts. There is no cancelation clause."
"This is impossible." The giant woman said. "I saw it within the contract myself."
"It may well have been in an earlier version, but the copy submitted to Gringotts does not contain it. I can however check the actual rules submitted to the goblet." At the numerous nods Spleanslayer set another stack of parchment by the goblet and spoke again in his growling language. A tongue of flame swirled from the top of the goblet and touched the parchment. Letters began to burn themselves into it.
Spleanslayer picked up the parchment and compared it to the contract that he ahd brought. "No, our copy was accurate. There is no way to cancel the tournament without incurring the penalties."
"This is unacceptable!" The giant woman glared at Dumbledore. "I will be taking my students away from whatever you are attempting."
"I'd advise against that." Spleanslayer said. "If you violate the contract, you'll forfeit your own magic."
"What!" The cry was repeated several times.
"That is enough of your lies goblin!" Crouch shouted. "There is nothing in the rules that could strip any of the school heads of their magic."
Spleanslayer sighed and spoke slowly, as if dealing with a particularly stupid child. "Do you see where each of them, as well as you, signed the contract to endorse the rules? Well, this is a magical contract, everyone who signed is bound to uphold the rules just as those chosen are bound to compete."
This touched off a powder keg as everyone began yelling at once. Spleanslayer stepped back and hid his smile, this was wonderful. Goblins hated wizards; this was an accepted fact among the goblins just as was the knowledge that they needed to breath.
The only reason it had been so long since the last rebellion was because there just weren't enough goblins left. Their last rebellion had decimated the goblin clans of Great Brittan and they had yet to recover. If they hadn't followed the example of the clans from other lands and taken an integral role as guardians of the wizard's treasure, they would surely have been wiped out.
So, they had stored their blade and moved to a different kind of battle. One of minds and money. A contributing factor to their last failure was a lack of funds, their raids had produced little gold and they had suffered for it. Now one of their clans' goals was to amass enough gold that any future rebellion would be properly funded for however long it ran.
Embarrassing the Ministry and certain powerful wizards was also fairly high up on their list. Which was why Gringotts was lending a bit of help to Mr. Black. Though him they could weaken the Ministry and embarrass them. And collect a fee for it as well.
Currently their biggest problem was if they even wanted another rebellion, the few remaining goblins were decedents of those smart enough to survive the past rebellions and it showed. They were turning a profit nearly double of what they had ever attained raiding wizarding establishments with little personal loss.
The year before when Mr. Black had sold so much Gringotts had been able to maneuver certain assets and turn a larger profit than expected.
Spleanslayer turned his attention back towards the humans as it seemed their argument was dying down, with many promises that the respective governments would look into the matter and find a solution.
Sirius turned to Harry. "It's your choice son, I'll support your decision. But remember what I said."
"I…" Harry wanted to run, he wanted to hide, to go back to Wandwood and ignore all of this. But if he left and lost his magic, he would lose that. He wouldn't be able to have class with Hermione, or work on spells together. He loved his time with her too much. As he thought Harry decided that he could at least attempt it. "I'll try. I just need to survive right?"
Dumbledore insured his grandfatherly smile was in place as the representatives from the ministry and other schools left. He turned to Harry and Sirius. "Well, this is a bit of a mess but don't worry, it will be sorted soon enough. And speaking of, if you would come to my office we can have you sorted and-"
"Why would Harry need to be sorted?" Sirius asked in a challenging tone, his arms crossed as he staired down the headmaster. "He is not attending Hogwarts and won't be."
"I am sorry but the rules state all champions must reside at the hosting school. So, Harry's only choice is to transfer to Hogwarts." Dumbledore said in an apologetic tone. Of course as Harry had been a Wandwood students when his name came out they'd still be required to pay the fees.
Neither Harry nor Sirius believed for a moment that he was sorry.
Spleanslayer's mouth twitched. "My that is brave of you, giving up your magic so easily."
"What?" Dumbledore spun around to face the tiny goblin.
"Let's see." Spleanslayer flipped through the contract to find the correct section. "Here we are. The host school agrees to cover all monetary costs that result from their negligence. You clearly were negligent with the safety and security of the Goblet of Fire since two underage children were entered. That means that should Wandwood choose to establish accommodations for Mr. Black you are required to pay for them. Should you refuse, the contract will take it as a violation, and since it was filed with Gringotts we will still transfer the funds from the Hogwarts account."
"But-" Dumbledore began only to be cut off again.
"Should the Potters request it you will also be required to provide the necessary funds for Daniel Potter's own accommodations." Spleanslayer had purposely waited long enough to make the Potters seem to be nothing more than an afterthought.
"Pardon me." Sirius said before Dumbledore could say anything else. "But how long does Harry need to stay at Hogwarts to count as residing here?"
"Twenty days a month is the length stipulated in the contract." Spleanslayer answered with a quick glance down at the parchment.
"Then we'll be back in ten days if we haven't found a way out of this." Sirius led Harry out of Hogwarts, those who had accompanied them followed along, most had a bad taste in their mouths after seeing how poorly organized the entire event appeared to be.
0-Q-0
Dean Horswfeather looked over the small assembly of former Wandwood students, most were currently involved in one of the mentor programs learning a trade and studying under a master of their chosen profession. She had gathered them next to a large warehouse where the school stored a number of items not needed for the day-to-day functions of the school. "As I am sure many of you have heard one of our own, Harry Black, has been forced to compete in an English magical tournament or lose his magic. Part of the contract stipulate that each champion's school may have accommodations on the Hogwarts's grounds.
"Also, because it has been ruled that Hogwarts was negligent in their security, they will be footing the bill for Wandwoods accommodations. You are all here to prepare those accommodations. Because of the limited time your goal will first preparing it for transport and making any adjustments as we travel."
The Dean opened the large doors of the warehouse and led the group in. One of the master enchanters gasped. "Holy crap, where did you get that?"
"It was willed to Wandwood almost three decades ago, and I suspect sat neglected for at least that long before." The Dean said as the group approached what would become Wandwoods accommodations. A number of students had already made inquiries about joining the group going. So far that had been limited to of age students with the understanding that they would mostly be doing self-study.
"Tis' a piece of art." Another said.
"It was, as I said it has been neglected, it's enchantments and charms, while good have faded. A team of rune trained elves will arrive within the hour to assist you. You will have three days to make sure it can travel; comfort will come second and can be arranged once we are on our way or at Hogwarts.
"Because of the age any pieces that need to be replaces should be simple to transfigure. A temporary solution but we are pressed for time." The dean looked over the group again. "Are you up to the task?"
A resounding cheer saw the Dean smile. School pride was on the line for them, and Wandwood was a bit stubborn on such matters.
As she turned to leave and attend to other matters the group was already sorting itself out. The apprentices would handle the more basic charms and enchantments needed while the master did the more detailed pieces.
By the time the elves arrived to help inscribe the needed runes the proper arrays had been agreed upon and a map of their placement was well underway. A few suggestions from the elves saw some minor tweaks in the rune's placement.
0-Q-0
The Prime Minister sat behind his desk with a worn frown. This was certainly a mess, one that could easily see a great deal more trouble arrive very shortly. He needed to get things straightened out as best he could. And unfortunately, that meant he needed to speak with Fudge.
Thankfully his last meeting had left a bit of green powder and explained how to use it. If it wasn't for everything else that he had seen the Prime Minister would have been sure this was some type of prank. He stood and walked towards his office's fireplace. As instructed, he took a pinch of the powder between his fingers and threw it into the fire.
The flames turned green. The Prime Minister said the address of the fireplace he wanted to reach, which he had been informed was also the only one this fireplace connected to, before he crouched down and tested the flames with his hand.
They were still warm but sticking his whole hand in produced nothing more than a tickling sensation and he remained unburned. With a deep breath the Prime Minister stuck his head into the fire and found himself looking out at another office.
He had expected to find Fudge still there since it wasn't too late, what he hadn't expected was to find the man drinking deeply from a bottle he was willing to bet wasn't juice. "Fudge!"
Fudge dropped the bottle and tipped back in his chair to roll across the floor. "What? What's happening?"
"That's what I want to know. You have one minute to get to my office and explain why I just had several countries threaten war over your administration's idiocy! Or I'll save them the trouble and come for you myself." The Prime Minister stepped back and smiled. It felt good to blow off a little steam.
Fudge had been shocked when the Muggle Minister had somehow used the floo to contact him, that wasn't how it was supposed to work. He was the Minister of Magic, he meets with his muggle counterpart on his schedule, he wasn't summoned like this.
No, he told himself that he would go, but only to calm the silly muggle down. He couldn't afford more trouble right now. Not after this latest debacle with the tournament. He'd go see what had the poor muggle's pants in a twist, tell him what he wanted to hear and be done with it.
He took a moment to adjust his suit before he stepped through the floo into the Prime Minister's office. "Now what has you in a tizzy?"
Fudge was used to people offering him respect because he was the minister, because he could make their lives very hard, because he had money and could get things done. He was not used to dealing with people who weren't willing to bow to him, or at least pretend to.
"I want to know why I just had half a dozen countries threaten war with us. I want to know why you thought it was a good idea to use a forbidden magical item for a school tournament, one banned by international treaty. I want to know how two people who were not eligible nor had their parents' permission are now being forced to compete. I want to know how a student from another country is being forced to participate. I want to know why the whole idiotic idea can't just be canceled. And I want to know how the bloody hell you plan to fix this!" The Prime Minister was sickened that a few shouts were enough to make Fudge cower. How had he ever become the Minister of Magic?
"Well, see now… that's a very complex question, eh, questions. Wouldn't expect a muggle like you to understand." Fudge began.
"Here is what I understand. You used a magical object that is illegal, for a school game. A boy from another country was entered without his or his parents' consent yet because of this, Goblet of Fire, he now has to compete or lose his magic. I understand why a dozen other countries are worried about this, what's to stop you from tossing in the names of every other Minister of Magic or whatever they call themselves?" The Prime Minister could actually understand that fear, he'd feel the same if he found outsiders had a way to basically kill him or anyone they liked without warning from anywhere in the world. The thought was frightening.
"I'd never do such a thing; it would be political suicide!" Fudge shot back.
"But doing so to an American child isn't? And as I understand it one of your greatest heroes, a boy named Daniel Potter is also in the same boat, forced to compete. Now I need to know what you intend to do about this."
"It is a magical matter and none of your concern." Fudge said firmly as he reminded himself that this person was just a muggle.
"It is my concern, I have to have something to tell them when they return, something that is good enough to convince them not to go to war with us." The Prime Minister insisted.
"Why would they come to you? This is a magical matter, as I said none of your concern." Fudge tried to mimic Dumbledore's grandfatherly tone and failed miserably.
"Because that organization your side belongs to, what was it, the International Confederacy of Wizards-"
"Warlocks." Fudge corrected.
"Warlocks, only allows a single person from a country outside of it to deal with all of those inside. But there is nothing about extra ambassadors dealing with the non-magical side." The Prime Minister informed his counterpart. Personally, he thought it was a clever little work around. "Now I'm not, as much as I might like too, going to throw you to the wolves as it were. I can help you if you help me."
"How?" Fudge couldn't imagen a way in which a muggle could help him.
"As I understand it your government is in a bit of a financial hole at the moment."
"How do you know that?" Fudge was shocked that a muggle knew anything about his government. The idea that the people he meet with before might have told him never crossed fudge's mind.
"I have my ways, besides nearly 15% of your budget comes from my side to help keep the peace." He could tell from Fudge's look that the Minister of Magic had no idea about that, though he doubted Fudge knew where most of his budget came from either. "I might be able to swing a bit more funding for you, if…"
"If?"
"If you tell me exactly what is going on and what you're going to do about it and submit all financial records for an audit." The Prime Minister finished.
Fudge didn't like it, but if it could help dig them out of the hole left from Black and the Quidditch world Cup than he'd chat with a muggle for a few hours.
0-Q-0
By the time Fudge left the Prime Minister was more convinced than ever that the man was an idiot. He had someone else to blame for everything but couldn't even do that well. Fudge seemed to think if he told someone that someone else was at fault everyone should just believe him. Even if the entire story he told made no sense.
But Fudge had confirmed a good deal of what the Prime Minister had been told. Not that this did anything to settle the man. It would take a good deal of political skill, and more than a bit of luck to fix the current set of problems and keep more from springing up. Just one more thing he didn't need.
He would have to look into that idea about using those non magical people born to magical parents to help manage things. Apparently other countries had some success with that method.
0-Q-0
"You did what?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"I asked my parents to let me come with you to Hogwarts. I can only imagen the kind of trouble you'd get up to without me around." Hermione said.
"But, I mean you'd really go back there? After all that stuff that happened?" Harry was surprised she'd even consider it. If he'd been attacked by a troll, he'd do everything he could to steer clear of where ever it happened.
"Not without a very good reason, you just happen to be a very good reason." Hermione said from her seat next to Harry on the roof. They'd climbed up to watch the sun set and enjoy some time together before Harry was forced to travel to Scotland.
"What did they say?" Harry was torn on what he hoped the answer would be. Yes, he'd love to have Hermione with him, spending so long away from her was not a prospect that he had been looking forward to. But he also didn't want Hermione to have to return to Hogwarts, she'd never mentioned a good memory from that place and he didn't want her to have to deal with returning.
"They were against it, but I finally got them to agree to speak with your dad about it." Hermione said as she shifted her position to lean against Harry. They stayed there, wrapped in each other's arms until Sharra climbed onto the roof with a huff.
"Finally, I've been looking everywhere for you two. Everyone's waiting for you in the kitchen. can you guys give me a lift down? The trellis is a pain to climb." Sharra asked as she pulled herself over the gutter.
The three of them entered the kitchen to find both sets of parents waiting for them. Cordelia was asleep, cradled in her mother's arms. "Hermione, we've talked it over, and you can go to Hogwarts-"
Hermione threw her arms around her parents, careful of her little sister. "Thank you!"
Sirius smiled at the young couple as Hermione turned back to Harry and informed him that she was going to keep him out of more trouble anyway she could. "Don't worry you'll have help keeping my son safe since we're all going too."
Hermione turned to her parents who nodded. "We're all going to official help chaperon, unofficially we'll all do what we can to support Harry."
"But Hogwarts has muggle repelling wards." Hermione pointed out. Not that she wouldn't love to spend more time with her parents but she didn't know of any way around that particular issue.
"That easily solved, those wards can be bypassed by invitation." Sirius explained. "Since Wandwood is now an invited school everyone that is part of the group they send is automatically past those wards. And to make sure we're all going to have bracelets with every type of protection I could find. They'd let your parents slip past the muggle repelling wards anyways."
Hermione gave Sirius a hug before she returned to her parents. It was late before the last of their plans were finalized. Things were made much easier as Sirius had hired a pair of house elves to help with packing. They would also be taking care of the Black and Granger homes while everyone was away.
0-Q-0
The group that would be traveling from Wandwood to Hogwarts stood outside a warehouse along the edge of campus. There were a number of students from various years who had secured their parents' permission to come along with the understanding that while Hogwarts would be offering them classes, they would have to do a fair bit of self-study to not fall behind.
Also present were a group of apprentices, including Wendy, who would be accompany them to continue to work on whatever they would be traveling in. They had all be tight lipped except to say that it was awesome. The apprentices would be using whatever they had done as part of their final project to achieve their mastery.
There was also a group of eight security guards from the Dark Moon security firm that had been hired to help protect them. As well as a few guards from the Ministry, among them Tonks. As far as the North American Ministry was concerned England was simi hostel territory at best.
At precisely ten in the morning the large doors of the warehouse were opened and the Dean walked out, followed by a large silver blimp. Harry could only compare it to the goodyear blimps that he'd see a few times before. Though it was clearly of a different design. The Artic Gale was clearly painted across the airships side.
Wendy had walked over to them as it was brought out. "Beautiful, isn't she?"
Harry glanced at Hermione. "Yeah, Hermione really is."
That earned him a smack from Wendy. "I meant the ship wise ass. We still have a lot to do to her but she'll get us to England no problem. Oh, the plans we have once were there, at least a dozen of us are going to receive our Mastery's for this thing."
Hermione immediately jumped Wendy with a dozen questions, only half of which the older girl was able to answer. Harry shook his head with mirth, he felt sorry for everyone who had worked on the airship as they'd receive the same treatment until Hermione had learned everything that she could about it.
Once The Artic Gale had been moved into the clearing set aside for it the Dean turned to speak to the crowd. "This airship was donated to Wandwood nearly three decades ago, and had been in storage for at least that long before. I am extremely pleased to have seen it resurrected within my lifetime, our own former students have done an amazing job seeing her sky worth again and will journey with us to continue to work on The Artic Gale. Now I would like to introduce our caption, Fingrip Skycutter."
There was polite applause as a goblin in an oversized captions jacket and hat moved forward. Harry wondered how he could see properly with his hat. Skycutter glanced over the crowd. "I will keep this short. I am told it is no longer permissible to throw people off a ship, so I shall write in my reports that you slipped and fell."
Sirius leaned forward as Skycutter marched onto the ship. "I like this fellow."
0-Q-0
The Artic Gale rose easily into the air. Most of its passengers had gathered in the formal dining room which had windows along both side walls and the front as well offering one of the best views from the airship. The only place that was better was the bridge located below them.
As they watched the trees grow smaller and blend into a sea of green Hermione leaned back against Harry and wrapped his arms around herself. He leaned forward and planted a kiss along her neck. "I thought you weren't afraid of heights anymore."
"I'm not, I just wanted you to hold me." Hermione replied.
Cordelia giggled in Emma's arms and clapped her tinny hands. She seemed to find any displays of affection between the two very amusing. Sharra insisted that Cordelia was just a little romantic at heart. Though Sharra was far too busy to pay attention to her siblings as she ran from one wall to the next in an attempt to see everything at once.
As the airship climbed above the clouds their view of the world below was blocked and everyone began to spread out to explore. Harry and Hermione set out to join the others. They quickly found their rooms; Wendy had mentioned that when they started the rooms were barely big enough for a bunk and desk. Now they contained a large bed, desk and wardrobe without feeling crowded.
By dinner they had seen most of the airship. Even with expansion charms most of the space was taken up by the envelope. Wendy said they had other ideas for some of it but that wouldn't start until the required projects were done.
As the sun set behind the airship's tail it lit the northern edge of the Canadian prairie in vibrant colors. It was a spectacular backdrop to a wonderful meal. Skycutter made a point of walking between the tables and speaking with the passengers. When he reached their table Cordelia reached out and grabbed his nose.
Emma tried to apologize as she worked to move her youngest daughters' hands. Skycutter pulled a brass compass from his pocket and waved it Infront of Cordelia who immediately released his nose to snatch her new shinny toy. Skycutter gave a gruff chuckle. "Well, what do you know, works on pinguins and children. Fine grip this little one has. She ever wants to fly the skies just give me a call, can always use someone with a grip like that."
0-Q-0
By noon on the third day, they had passed over Newfoundland and out into the Atlantic Ocean. That was also the day that the classroom was finished and the students were required to begin studying again. That evening Harry and Hermione made their way up to what had once been the crow's nest. It had been expanded and turned into an observation deck. Though it was still rather crude Harry had brough a large comforter and spread it on the floor.
They lay down and Hermione moved so that Harrys arm rested around her shoulder. They watched the stars slowly pass over them late into the night.
0-Q-0
Flying over the ocean was less interesting than land as there wasn't much change to watch. Harry sat in the dining room, which now doubled as a study area along with the classroom and held Cordelia on his lap. He bounced the little girl on his knee as she giggled.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's my sister but she loves you more."
"That's not true is it, Delia? No, it's not, you love your big sister, don't you?" Harry set her in the chair between him and Hermione.
"Oh, I know, but she likes you more. She never tries to eat the book when you read to her." Hermione pointed out.
"That's cause I picked a picture book." Harry said smugly.
"Oh?" Hermione began to tickle Cordelia. "Is that what you like? Pictures? Handsome but no substance? Is that why you like Harry?"
"Hey!"
"Sorry Harry but she's spoken." Hermione informed her boyfriend.
0-Q-0
The following day as they approached Scotland the airship was forced the climb higher to avoid a nasty storm. Harry, Hermione and Sharra spent their free time playing cards in Hermione's room as the sway of the ship increased.
Once the broke through the clouds though it was a fairly smooth ride. Though more than once Harry pretended to stumble at imaginary turbulence so he could topple over and pull Hermione down onto her bed. They never managed to get backup without a few kisses exchanged.
Sharra would just cover her eyes and declared that they were traumatizing her.
0-Q-0
Seeing Scotland from the air was an amazing sight. Sharra had her camera out and spent the several hours before they reached Hogwarts snapping away. Harry was sure it would take her a month to develop them all.
Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione. "We're almost there, how do you feel?"
"A little apprehensive, but I don't regret coming." Hermione assured him with a tender kiss. She then pulled back and made sure that his vest was on properly. Both had been surprised to learn Wandwood have a formal uniform of sorts that was hardly ever used. A vest with slacks or a skirt, all bright green with gold trim.
"Good. So how do you think they'll react to us landing this thing next to Hogwarts?" Harry asked as The Artic Gale cut through a low cloud and their view was momentarily obscured.
"Well from what I remember if we arrived in something like a giant flying toaster, they'd think it was interesting. But since we are in something that was actually meant to fly, they'll probably be confused." Hermione said.
Their first sight of Hogwarts from the sky was breath taking and Harry could hear Sharra clicking away. The circled once and came around to land between the castle and the forest. They could see dozens of students pointing at them and running as they set down.
Wandwood had arrived at Hogwarts.
(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed.)
