Harry Potter and The Guild Of Avada

by Elderron Emerindyl

Harry Potter is expelled from Hogwarts when he internationally disgraces Severus Snape. Dumbldore whom is no longer the headmaster at Hogwarts uses his links through powerful wizards to find Harry a Place in an overseas school where he'll be safe from Vol

4. Harry Potter & The Guild of Avada Cont

CHAPTER SIXTEEN WHAT?

"Stairs?" Mezentius looked down the staircase, "You were expecting an escalator?" Hyperion made fun, "Don't be stupid," Mezentius inched closer but never touched the steps or the stone rat mouth surrounding the entrance, "Where do you think it goes?" Brydie stepped towards it, "Don't!" Mezentius grabbed her, "Stay out of there, you don't know what's in there," "Neither do you," Brydie stared him up and down, "Exactly!" Mezentius spoke a little louder then Harry thought he should have been, "Who's down there?" a voice rang out, "It's a Ruberagon," Harry hissed, "We're done for," Brydie looked at Mezentius "Quick!" Mezentius grabbed them all and backed up against the wall, "What are we doing, they're coming!" Brydie shuffled trying to get Mezentius to let her go, "Shut up," he hissed at her, The voices they heard up the corridor were growing louder, and soon enough Malvado Nino and a group of other Ruberagons had arrived on the scene. Harry shut his eyes, knowing that any minute Malvado was going to grab them and then drag them up to a teacher to be punished. But that didn't happen. Harry looked over at Mezentius, whom just held his finger to his mouth. "There's nothing down here Roberts," Malvado hissed at one of the smaller Ruberagons, "Lets get out of here before we're caught," The Ruberagons escorted by Malvado headed back up the corridor, Harry listened silently as their voices faded away until they were once again in pitch silence. "Ok . how did that just happen?" Brydie said as they all stepped forward again, "The doors gone," Harry noticed the rat-faced portal had disappeared and the corridor just extended downward again. "Did anyone else hear Malvado say that the Ruberagons had better get out of here before they are caught?" Hyperion spoke up, "If they aren't aloud down here, and it is Ruberagon tower, then doesn't that mean that we have even less permission to be here?" "Hyperion's right, we had better get moving," Mezentius started, "But that door?" Harry asked, "Class will end soon and it looks like we'll need to set aside a full day to find out what's down there," Mezentius looked back down the long corridor "This weekend?" Harry asked, "No," Mezentius sighed, "Professor ConDoin gets a rostered weekend away from the AWDF each month - and I daresay with all that's going on, he'll want to stay here and enjoy it, we best not aggravate him," "Is anyone going to tell me what just happened? How did those wretched Ruberagons not see us?" Brydie looked up the corridor, "A simple charm," Mezentius winked and started up the corridor, "Now lets make haste, we have to get to the Golden Hall before recess or someone might question where we were," Brydie, Hyperion and Harry nodded, but Harry thought this was strange, they were always late to recess, even during their free periods,

Divination was after recess, which means it was just Harry and good old Professor Solosi, whom had a warm cup of tea waiting for him when he arrived. "Professor," Harry just burst out twenty minutes into the lesson while he was working on a catalogue of good fortune omens, "Harry?" she looked up from a novel she was reading, "I know in Divination you believe that trances, and dreams tell the future?" Harry spoke, "Yes its possible," Professor Solosi lowered her glasses onto the end of her nose and placed her novel open-face-down on her desk, "Well, during the match on Saturday ." Harry began, watching Professor Solosi's eyes as they watched him intently, "Well during the match, just before I caught the snitch in fact, I think I had a vision," Harry couldn't believe how stupid he sounded at the moment but Professor Solosi seemed to be listening as if he were about to announce the numbers in the future lottery, "Well it is entirely possible Harry - can you remember what you saw? In detail, everything counts," she kept staring at him in a way he wished she wouldn't, but he began to tell her what he saw. Everything from the dragon in the lake to the explosion of Gryffindor tower, he told it all, and by the end of it, Professor Solosi's face looked livid with horror. "Have you spoken of this to anyone, Harry?" Professor Solosi asked him, "No," Harry shook his head, "Good," she smiled and lifted her wand, "Pardon?" Harry looked at her face, twisted with confusion, "Obliviate!" the spell rang in Harry's ears and he blacked out,

"Excellent work, Harry" Professor Solosi's voice rang in Harry's ears, he looked up at her, he had no idea why he was in Divination, "You have catalogued all the good omens in their right species, and chronological order of their first appearance, ten points for Emerindyl," Professor Solosi was beaming at Harry's chart, "Er . Professor?" Harry looked at her in confusion, "What ." "You might need to lay off this tea," Professor Solosi picked up the basket full of tea leaves, "Perhaps I picked them too early and they are medalling with your thoughts, yes?" Harry nodded; not understanding what she meant but it seemed to please her that he was in agreement with her, "Well, there is still five minutes to the bell but I think you deserve an early-mark," she beamed at him, "Once again, great job with that cataloguing," "Thanks," Harry stood, a little dazed and headed out of the room, first walking up the wrong corridor he turned and doubled back, past the Divination room and down to the Golden Hall to lunch. * "Ok team, final match of the year, we have made it this far and now we are going up against Ruberagon, I want to win, I need to win," Mike was giving the Emerindyl Quidditch team orders at their practice session on Wednesday morning, "Harry, you will play back up seeker - so don't mess up Hyperion or I'll bench you - James, Allison, Amada - you'll play chaser - I want to play keeper, these Ruberagons play dirty and I will protect the goal posts," "Anderson, Collins - you play beaters as always," Mike continued, "Now I want this to be the most spectacular game you've ever played, if we lose . I'll cry, I really will, so don't have me embarrass myself before I graduate," "There'll be nothing to be embarrassed about Mike, we'll win," Hyperion grinned, "And when I catch the Snitch in perfect time, I hope you consider my application to replace you as captain next year," Anderson and Collins grunted a cheer, Harry laughed at how much these two looked like Crabbe and Goyle, but were still able to fly so fast. "Harry!" Mezentius and Brydie had walked down to the pitch to walk him back for breakfast, "Ah . Fumbleknot, will you be backing us at the upcoming game or will you Ameraid's stand by your Ruberagons?" Mike laughed, "I'll be backing no one, I'm just here to watch," Mezentius grinned, "Come on Harry; lets get some breakfast before Charms," Harry looked back at Mike who winked at him, "See you" "What'd he mean Ameraid's standing by your Ruberagons?" Harry asked as they reached the entrance courtyard and headed across to the massive entrance doors, "Its all that Amberly loving Rubeus crap," Mezentius said as they walked into breakfast, "What classes do we have today?" Brydie asked, "We have an easy day today," Mezentius held up his timetable, "Charms first, then Duels," "Is that all?" Harry looked at his timetable; "No we have Care of Magical Creatures after lunch," "No, Professor Madbury has gone to the National Convention on protecting the Australian Demiguise, foreigners want to come into Australia and hunt it," Brydie told him, "Don't you remember, she has only been telling us everyday for the last three weeks," "Yes, I remember now," Harry screwed is face up, "How could I forget something like that," The room slowly filled until every student was seated eating, it had been almost half a year that Harry had been there, and now everyone had seemed to take his, Hyperion's, Brydies and Mezentius' lead and were all disregarding who was meant to sit at what table, and all sat anywhere they pleased, and the Headmaster didn't seem to mind at all, "So charms first?" Brydie looked at Mezentius, there was a sudden clatter of plates and goblets, "What was that?" Brydie asked as they all looked up at the chandeliers hanging from the roof, all of them were still shaking slightly, "Can you feel that?" Mezentius spoke quietly to Harry, Brydie and Hyperion as the hall fell silent. There seemed to be a low rumbling and Harry could feel his body tingling slightly. Professor Emerindyl stood and seemed to be looking around at the walls, as the rumbling grew louder. The rumbling grew louder and louder still, and the chandeliers were heard to cling as the diamonds clashed with each other, "Earthquake . Everyone under your tables!" The Headmaster yelled, Harry and the others dived underneath their table immediately as the rumbling grew to thunderous proportions and the room shook more madly then ever. Harry watched as a thousand students scrambled underneath the long house tables and the teachers ran down onto the floor near the table, "Wands up!" the Headmaster shouted over the noise as all the teachers took their positions, Professor Emerindyl was now holding his to-metre-long staff again. The Emerald orb atop it was glowing a malicious green, "REPOUSSENT!!" The teachers roared together and what looked like a greenhouse dome began at Professor Emerindyl's wand and spread to cover all the tables. Harry's ears were filled with screaming as the rumbling noise fell and stopped. The screaming died down as they all discovered that this dome the teachers had created had blocked the noise of the earthquake out. Harry looked and saw the teachers all looked to be in considerable pain. The Headmaster was standing sturdy, but one by one the other teachers started falling to the ground, until at last it was only Professor ConDoin and the Headmaster standing, "Come on, lets help them," Mezentius, Harry, Hyperion and Brydie clambered out from under the table, but before they could do anything they looked up to see that the earthquake had at last stopped, and things had stopped falling on the force field. The Headmaster held the force field up for a few moments before finally releasing it, it disappeared and everyone could now see the full impact of the earthquake. All of the tapestries on the walls had fallen, paintings had ripped apart when they fell and the chandeliers were now seen shattered all over the floor outside of where the force field had been. "No body move," The Headmaster sounded, he held up his wand lightning shot out of it and the next thing everyone knew, they were all sprawled out on the lawns out in the garden. "Professor ConDoin please go and see if you can find the rest of the staff?" Professor Emerindyl was looking at the castle, towers had crumbled, rooves had caved in, and the distinct smell of smoke in the air meant that there was a fire somewhere. "Yes sir," Professor ConDoin disappeared, "Stay here, no body is to move," Professor Emerindyl said to everyone before disappearing himself, Harry looked around, no one seemed to have the nerve to move; they were all frozen in terror, even Malvado looked to be holding onto another Ruberagon in fear. A moment later Professor Emerindyl arrived back, his cloak slightly burnt, he had returned with the house elves, "Everyone accounted for?" he asked and the house elves all nodded, Professor ConDoin arrived back shortly accompanied by a small group of adults, the school nurse included, she bustled off immediately around all of the unconscious teachers, "That's everyone then - Professor ConDoin I am sure your needed elsewhere, everything is under control now," The Headmaster spoke to Professor ConDoin, whom nodded and vanished,

It wasn't long before parents were pouring into the school and squabbling over their children 'are you alright?' 'I was so scared' 'are you ok?' Harry had never seen such a site in his life. Professor Emerindyl had forced them all to wrap themselves in very big and rather hot blankets. "Its for shock," The nurse had announced, "Your all best to keep warm," Professor Emerindyl had transfigured the Quidditch pitch into a small, but big enough, Hospital building. House elves were tended to their burns and the unconscious teachers had to be looked after by some of the most peculiar creature Harry had ever seen, they seemed to be large and rather round creature with hardly any legs but arms that stretched and multiplied as they were needed. "What would I do without them," The school nurse, Madame Pierson was wandering around, assisting the creatures whom were doing quite a good job. "I'll have to be going now, Professor," The Headmaster was talking to Professor McGonagall, "I have to go and make a visit to ." "I understand," Professor McGonagall smiled, "We need to find out why this happened," "I agree," The Headmaster said as he walked off back towards the castle, Harry, Mezentius, Hyperion and Brydie had overheard the headmaster speaking to the school nurse, "How do you suppose he'll find out how this happened?" Brydie looked at Mezentius, "There's only one way to find out isn't there," Hyperion stood while the others were still seated on the ground, "Well come on, before he gets too far ahead of us," "We can't just go following him into the castle - there are guards stopping kids from going in," Mezentius pointed out a group of Goblins standing at the doorway, "There's no way you'll get past them," "Goblins like money don't they?" Harry looked over at the goblins, "Well looking after it for other people anyway," "Yeah so?" Hyperion gave Harry a quizzical look, "Follow me," Harry walked over towards the Goblins, "Hello," Harry greeted them with a smile, they gave him a very suspicious look, "I'm sorry," spoke the smallest of the goblins, "But you're not to go in there - by order of the headmaster," "No, no, no," Harry spoke fast, "Well - its just that, I am really worried about my money is all, with all that's going on at the moment, the Guild of Avada could break in here and steal my gold," Harry pulled out a very large pouch full of the galleons he got from Gringotts when he was last there, "That's" the goblins all gulped, "British Galleons then?" Harry nodded, "At least one hundred galleons in this pouch alone - I am really worried about it you see, and I need someone strong to protect them for me," "Of course!" the small goblin held out his hands, Harry started to hand the bag over and he winked at Mezentius, whom finally caught on to what Harry was doing, "Diffindo!" Mezentius whispered. Harry's pouch split as it reached the goblins hand and Harry's hundred galleons fell out all over the ground and some started rolling away, "Catch them!" the little goblin shrieked and some of the goblins started running off chasing the lost money while the rest scattered all over the ground to pick up the rest of the money, Harry gestured towards the castle and they all ran in before any of the goblins had noticed them, As they ran, Hyperion, laughing madly, said, "That was the best trick I have ever seen!" "And the most expensive," Harry said as he continued running, "Do you think I'll get that money back?" "Who knows," Hyperion laughed, "Ok, stop" Mezentius stopped in his tracks, "Where do you think he went? He can't be too far ahead," There was the sound of something breaking ahead of them, "Its worth a try I guess," Mezentius said as the hopped-skipped-jumped over a mass of paintings and broken vases which littered the ground, "Don't you think he'd clean up on his way through?" Brydie said as she put her foot through a painting of Fredric the Flatulent, whom retorted with what he did best, "Disgusting painting," Brydie said as she continued along with them, They rounded on the next corner and stopped dead as they saw a figure walking ahead of them down the corridor, "Found him, but where do you suppose he's going?" Harry asked Mezentius, "Well he's heading towards Emerindyl Lake by the looks of it," Hyperion answered, "Have you ever gone down this corridor further then Emerindyl Lake"? Mezentius asked, "Well sure I . I must have," Hyperion rubbed his forehead, "I think I have," "Well then you haven't," Mezentius gave a silent groan, "Well I . that's so strange, I guess I just never realised it before, but Professor Emerindyl is always going down there," Hyperion screwed his face up, "His quarters?" Harry looked at Mezentius, "No I doubt it, his office is on the second floor of the teachers corridor, right at the very end behind the portrait of the four founders," Mezentius told them. "His bedroom?" Hyperion asked, "Or a rejuvenation room?" "A what?" Mezentius looked at him, "Well there has to be some reason he has lived for two-thousand years," Hyperion shrugged, "He's two-thousand years old?" Harry nearly fell over, "Yeah," Mezentius, Hyperion, and Brydie said at the same time, "Have you not read any Australian history?" Harry frowned embarrassingly, "A philosophers stone?" Harry asked, "You call it a philosophers stone too?" Hyperion smiled, "Darn yanks, just because they don't know what a philosopher is," "No, he doesn't use a philosophers stone," Mezentius told him, "Professor Emerindyl has a rather interesting history of his own, you see, he as immortal as the earth, well . he'll live as long as it does anyway," "Oh?" Harry seemed thoroughly confused, "You really should read his autobiography, its fascinating," Mezentius smiled, "Come on guys, lets go he's already around the next corner," Brydie said as she grabbed Mezentius and dragged him off down the corridor, once they reached the end they peered around the next, and jumped back as fast as they could, covering their hands over their mouths so as not to alert Professor Emerindyl of their presents. "He's right there," Brydie mouthed to them, They slowly peered around the corner and watched Professor Emerindyl, his hands were out in front of him, and were touching a mirror, "What is he doing?" Brydie mouthed to the other, after the headmaster hadn't moved for an hour, "I'll go check," Mezentius stepped around the corner, "Professor?" There was no answer so Mezentius continued forward, "Sorry to bother you professor but we were wondering . he's dead!" "WHAT?" Brydie, Hyperion and Harry burst around the corner, "That's not possible!" "Oh my god, he is!" Brydie looked at the professor's pupils, which looked as if they had exploded,



CHAPTER SEVENTEEN BENEATH THE SURFACE

"What are you four doing in here?" the four of the spun around and who should be standing right behind them but Professor ConDoin, whom, with his sword drawn looked ready for murder, "Um" "Er." "We were just ." "I didn't do it" all four of the blurted out at once, "Outside all three of you, now" Professor ConDoin spat, "But . Professor Emerindyl, he's ." Brydie started, "Not your concern, is what he is" Professor ConDoin was looking livid, "Now get out before I consider expelling the lot of you," "Is something the matter, Arutha?" Professor McGonagall had arrived on the scene, "Professor McGonagall, please take these four back out of the castle," Professor Emerindyl was now looking at them all, "I believe your instructions were to stay outdoors?" "Sorry Professor," the four of them apologised in shame. Harry felt the back of his neck burning, Professor Emerindyl's voice was full of disappointment, and Harry felt guilty, "Not to worry, Harry," Professor Emerindyl smiled, "Human nature makes us all a little curious - but I must ask you all, this time, please stay outside," "Yes Professor," the four of them said once again as Professor McGonagall lead them away. Harry looked up at her, and for a fleeting moment, he saw something that looked like suspicion on her face, "I'm quite disappointed in you three," she said as they walked, "Four, Professor, there are four of us," Hyperion spoke up, "Yes there are, but I expect this behaviour from Mr Potter - I have more faith in you three," she stared Hyperion, Brydie and Mezentius to the point where they all looked to the ground, "But of course, Mr Potter, I won't tolerate this behaviour in the future, your getting into the Emerindyl house was an honour on your part, now honour the house group back by earning back the great amount of points you have lost them," "Harry has never lost more then ten points from Emerindyl," Mezentius spoke up, "Oh yes he has, fifty points will be taken, each," she proclaimed as they reached the entrance courtyard and walked back onto the lawn, "EACH? But that's one hundred points from Emerindyl!" Hyperion looked scandalised, "How could you, and you call yourself the Emerindyl head teacher," Hyperion stormed off, "Let this be a lesson to you, you were all in very real danger just now - teachers don't give you orders because they like being bossy, they do it for very good reasons, remember that," and with that she walked off with a sweep of her green Emerindyl robes,

The re-building of the castle hadn't taken a very long time at all, although a week after the earthquake house elves were still seen scuttling about the castle hanging up painting that had arrived back from being mended. "Argh!" Brydie screamed at breakfast on a very sunny Saturday morning in November, "What's wrong?" Hyperion, Harry, and Mezentius stared at her, "There are only fifty-three more shopping days until Christmas!" she almost fell off her seat, "One would think you'd be more worried about the school exams coming up - you do know our first exam is on the December fifth?" Mezentius had repeated this many times since the earthquake, taking the focus away from what they had witnessed Professor Emerindyl doing, "What's to be worried about?" Brydie looked at Mezentius as if to say he was being silly, "They are only our half-yearly's, and besides, I'll sit next to you so I can copy," Mezentius stared at Brydie as if to say 'fat-chance' Harry wasn't worried about the half-yearly's either, his focus was more on the final Quidditch match of the season, he knew although it was only the half-year for himself and the other fifth years, for the rest of the school and for the Quidditch, the year was nearly over. "Can we go into Koaltumut today and do some Christmas shopping? Please?" Brydie begged, "Of course!" Mezentius said in a bright and chirpy mood, this change immediately, "But I won't be accompanying you - I have a lot of study to be getting on with," "Harry?" Brydie looked at him hopefully, "Er ." Harry knew what Brydie was like when shopping and he wasn't to keen to repeat his earlier experiences, "We have Quidditch practice today don't we Hyperion?" "Yep," Hyperion replied, "But the match is only two weekends from now, and as you can see I am in tip-top shape, you won't be playing, so you have no need to come to practice," "Great - its settled," Brydie grinned as she stood from the breakfast table, Harry kicked Mezentius as he stood, "All those brains and you couldn't think up a reason to help me out?" "Well you wouldn't honestly want to spend the day in the library studying would you?" Mezentius grinned, "Thanks a lot guys," Harry turned to catch up to Brydie, whom was now standing at the entrance to the Golden Hall waving her arms at him to tell him to hurry up.

"Is Christmas a big deal in Britain?" Brydie asked as they stepped from the carriage and walked away from the Koaltumut-Koalingo platform, "I don't reckon it would be - being in the middle of your school year and all, do you still get six weeks off? We do," Harry nodded and shook his head as appropriate, "Oh, I just found a problem, I cant be shopping with you while you purchase your Christmas gifts, Mezentius may read my min and he'll know what you got him," "I already thought about that," Brydie smiled, "I already asked him in advance, what he wanted," Brydie gave Harry a huge grin at this point, "And as for you its ok, I will send you off sometime during the day to do something while I sneak off and get you something," Harry gave a silent exasperated groan at this point, but smiled when Brydie looked at him, "Ok, Hyperion. he'll want something Quidditch so lets go to Quality Quidditch Supplies," Brydie ran off towards the shop as if she were on her way to a police station to report she had seen a wanted man, When they entered Brydie strolled off to the very back of the shop - as she always did when shopping, Harry remembered the very first time he had entered a wizardry shop with Harry, she told him that the shop keepers always keep the best things at the very back of the store. As he walked around he wondered how much gold he had in his pouch (he had gotten his money back from the goblins) and how much of it he dared to spend. "Harry, back again? You're restocking your broomstick care kit?" a familiar voice sounded and the matching face appeared, "Mike?" Harry looked amazed, "You work here now?" "Yep," Mike grinned, "Getting a head-start on my career before I graduate," "You're . going to work here for a living?" Harry tried not to sound like he thought this was a non-ambitious venture, Mike laughed, "Not quite, you see, Potter, my parents sent me to live here with my uncle, and he owns this store, he was never married so naturally, he is training me to inherit the store once he . well when he wants me to take over," "Mike? But I thought . that little sneak!" Brydie said, and Harry remembered that Hyperion had used Quidditch practice as his excuse for not coming with them. Brydie put down the Quidditch servicing kit she had chosen for Hyperion and picked up an ordinary muggle key ring of a broomstick, mumbling, "He doesn't even deserve this," as she slammed it onto the counter, "What are you doing here anyway?" After Mike finished telling Brydie everything he had just told Harry, Brydie asked, "So you'll be able to give us discounts hey," she nudged him in the side and winked a couple times, Mike laughed, "Er. no," He laughed again, "But I can give you sneak previews of new products." he winked at them and headed for a store room, Harry heard Mike mumble 'Wingardium Leviosa' and next thing Mike was walking back out to them with a broomstick in a glass case floating in front of him, "The new Lightspeed Four Thousand," Mike spoke as Harry marvelled at the broomstick, "Excellent cornering, amazing speed, there is nothing that this broom does not out-class with other models, Firebolt's are nothing but floating twigs compared to these babies," "You've flown this?" Harry asked, "Well, don't tell anyone but ." Mike lowered his voice, "I have purchased one for the end of year Quidditch match against Ruberagon," "Scandalous," Brydie was grinning at Mike, "Would you like a go, Harry? I have mine in the storeroom," Mike smiled, "Sure," Harry grinned from ear to ear, "But what if I scratch it?" Mike laughed, "You wont, it has an amazing anti-accident charm on it - all of them do," The three of them walked out onto the village square and a few students watched as Mike walked into the centre and placed his broom on the ground, "I' sure you know how to get the broom to hover for you?" Harry nodded and went and stood by the broom, he placed his hand over it, but before he could say anything the broom shot up into his hand, "Oh, I forgot, one thing about the Lightspeed Four-Thousand, it work all on mind control, none of the old tipping nonsense, if you can imagine what you want it to do, then it will happen," Harry stepped cautiously onto the broom and looked at Mike, "Well, go ahead," Mike nodded, motivating Harry, "Ok, er ." Harry was about to tell it to lift but before he could it shot into the sky at amazing speeds, "Wow," Harry said to himself as he looked down onto the village, of which he now had a birds-eye-view of. And then as if he were born to do it he lowered his chest to the broom and it shot forward at amazing speeds, over the mountains he soared, tears streaming from his eyes at the impact of the wind against his face, he soared on, he lowered close down to the ground to see how it steered but he easily dodged branches from spooky looking trees and actually flew straight through the middle of a heard of wild brumbies, without a single one reacting to his incredibly brief presence. He soared onward and upward until finally he came in for a close flight over a large water whole. He stopped, hovering over it he used his legs to hold onto his broom while he turned upside down to splash some water on his face. The coolness of the water rejuvenated his eyes from the pain of the flight - Harry made a mental note that he should buy some goggles or something if he ever bought a Lightspeed for himself. "What the ." Harry stared down into the water, and something with two small black eyes, that were only visible because of its green face, were staring straight back at him. It seemed to be mocking Harry as he turned his face left, and then right. And then without warning two hands with long thin claws reached above the surface and started pulling Harry off his broom, "No!" Harry screamed, trying to make the broom lift him higher but it wasn't working, "Let go!" Harry screamed as the, now visible, Grindylow was pulling harder at him trying to drag him under. Harry reached to the Grindylows fingers and remembered what Professor Lupin had told him about Grindylows having extremely brittle fingers, and so Harry punched at one of the hands, and its claws snapped like puff pastry, "Ouch!" The Grindylow cried as it transformed into. "Hyperion?" Harry swung himself back up on the broom, Hyperion swam over to the side of the water hole nursing his hand, that appeared to have lost all of his fingernails, "I'm so sorry, Hyperion, but what were you doing here?" Harry floated over to Hyperion, and dismounted from the broom, "You should have known it was me, there are no real Grindylows in these water-wholes - there never is," Hyperion nursed his wounds, A sudden splash of water announced the arrival of a merman, whom transformed while in mid-jump, into Mezentius, "Serves you right," Mezentius pulled his wand out of his robes and performed a healing charm, which reattached all of Hyperion's fingernails. "If you had been helping me find Gillyweed as you promised then it wouldn't have happened," Mezentius snapped, "I thought you were studying?" Harry asked, looking slightly confused, Mezentius was always true to his word, as far as Harry knew him, "We are, Professor Gardiner wants us to be able to point out the components of Gillyweed, we've been searching for it for a little while now," Mezentius told him, "And what have we found?" Hyperion pouted, "Nothing," "You just have to be more patient and keep you mind on the task at hand." Mezentius snapped, "Mad broom, Harry" Hyperion stared at the broom Harry had fast forgotten about, "Oh yes," Harry remembered whom it belonged to, "I have to get it back to Mike," "Lightspeed four-thousand, but Mike told me they wouldn't be in until the holidays - fathers buying me one for Christmas, not that I am supposed to know about it of course," Hyperion said smugly, "Well I have to get this back, see you later, ok?" Harry mounted the broom, "What did Brydie get me for Christmas? I have been dropping hints that I want her to get me a broomstick servicing kit, whether she was bright enough to understand me is another matter - their heads are in the clouds those Saphricorn's, always," "Well, I'm sure you'll be surprised at Christmas time," Harry smiled, At this point Mezentius laughed, Harry knew why. "Ok, Harry, see you later then - we had better get looking for this gillyweed," Mezentius dived again, Hyperion followed. Harry looked back into the sky and took flight again, when he reached a very high altitude he looked around, he could see Koalingo Manor in the distance, it was incredibly far away, "Step on it," Harry said to himself, lowering his chest to the broom handle he soared off again, and it wasn't long at all before he was landing back in the courtyard at Koaltumut, "How'd you find her?" Mike said as he took the broom from Harry, and immediately began searching the broom for scratches, this was obvious to Harry, "It was excellent, handles perfectly - a bit fast, but there's no reason it can't be used for long distance travel," Harry smiled, "Travel? Harry, this baby's going to win Emerindyl the Quidditch shield," Mike carried it back into the shop, "Ok, that's Hyperion and you out of the way, now for Mezentius," Brydie smiled, "You didn't think I would wait until you got back from your test flight to get your gift, did you?" she poked her tongue out at him,

They strolled on through the village until they reached a store Harry had been into before, "Mezentius and books," Brydie muttered as she walked to the counter, "You're a member of the Guild of Avada," The woman behind the counter gasped and dropped her teacup, which smashed, on the floor, "I beg your pardon?" The woman cried in a half angered - half shocked tone - "How dare you!" "No, no, no!" Brydie calmed the woman, "It's a book title I have been asked to purchase for a friend for Christmas - do you happen to have it?" The woman calmed down and thought for a moment, "And so it is," she half- smiled, "Who would want such a beastly book? We mainly sell them only to ministry officials and Auror's," "Need you ask?" Brydie spoke in a half exasperated tone, "Oh," the woman's face returned to normal, "Could you also take these to Mr Fumbleknot?" she handed Harry a stack of books, "All just came in - Mezentius has been waiting for them for at least a month," Harry glanced at some of the book titles, 'Amberly Ameraid - the scholar - the vision Written by Magmata Moray' 'Another Ameraid, Written by Sandra Salway' and 'Koalingo's founders and their secrets, Written by Elwyn Emerindyl' "Hey, the Headmaster wrote this book," Harry pointed out, "He wrote a great many books, Mr Potter," The woman smiled and handed Brydie the book Mezentius wanted for Christmas, The rest of the day was spent buying gift after gift, Harry soon ran out of room to carry things and resorted to using the levitation charm to float the items along with them as they went. Until at last. "And that ones for my second cousin's-stepbrother's-girlfriend's-little sister - wow, all done," Brydie smiled as she wandered back to the Three Broomsticks, "I'll buy you dinner," "No, that's ok, Brydie, I really think they wouldn't have room for all this," Harry looked at the long line of packages that went halfway down the street, people were all staring at Harry, Harry didn't find it very amusing. "Ok, but I really want to do something for you for helping me today," Brydie looked around at the shops, "Hey I know - you go ahead to the platform and wait for the dragon, I got the best idea for a thank you present," Brydie ran off towards the post office. "Wingardium Leviosa" Harry levitated all of the gifts and walked on towards the platform.

The next four weeks, in Harry's mind, were as slow as they could possibly be. The whole time Harry secretly hoped that something might happen to Hyperion and Harry might end up playing for Emerindyl on the Final Quidditch match of the year, which was now, only two days away, "This match is will be the most important for the season, you guys - I don't want any foul ups, "Mike was talking to them all after their practice session on Thursday night. Harry thought it had been an especially good practice session, as he had beaten Hyperion to the snitch more times then Hyperion had to him. But of course this made no difference as Mike had spent most of his time paying attention to the chasers, whom had all yelled at him for shouting at them over their technique. "Well, at least I'll know that if I cant play on Saturday, someone good will be there to take my place," Hyperion told Harry, whether or not he had meant to, Harry found a distinct smug attitude in Hyperion's voice. "Hyperion, could you stay back for a moment please, good job, Harry, you can go," Mike had said at the end of practice, Harry hung up his Quidditch robes in the change rooms and started back towards the entrance courtyard with his broom over his shoulder, "No Mike!" Harry spun around on the spot as he heard Hyperion's voice, "I will not, I don't care what they want, I am going to play on Saturday," "Look Hyperion - I am just repeating a request - you must let Harry play on Saturday," Mike said as Harry jumped behind one of the castle pillars in case he was seen, "If Harry is going to be on the Quidditch team next year, we have to prove his worth or they wont allow it, everything has to look believable," Mike said as they continued past Harry and on, into the castle.

That night at dinner, Hyperion had chosen to sit with the Quidditch team, away from Harry, Mezentius, and Brydie, "I cant believe you brought those books to dinner with you," Brydie said half exasperated as she ate, "Well I have no time any other time, the exams begin after this weekend and the last thing I want to do is fail," Mezentius continued reading, "They are the books we collected for you when Brydie did her Christmas haul?" Harry looked at the book titles and his question was answered, "Koalingo's founders and their secrets - happens to be a very good book, it might explain what the headmaster was doing in that trance in front of that mirror before - or have you, two, totally forgotten about it?" Mezentius continued reading while eating, a sausage he had on a fork, between paragraphs, "Anything we had ought to know in there?" Harry asked, trying to get Mezentius talking, "Not really, this is all stuff I already knew, but I don't understand, there is something missing from the part of the book on Rubeus Ruberagon, almost like something was purposely left out, something that only the totally skilled would know was missing," Mezentius seemed to be looking further into the book then the pages, "And of course you are the totally skilled that has discovered this?" Brydie giggled, "Why don't you ask Professor Emerindyl?" Harry suggested - seeing the face Mezentius was pulling at Brydie's comment, "Seeing how he wrote the book and all," "No, he'd ask too many questions, and then he'd know what we're up to - ouch" Mezentius bit the fork - there was now no sausage left on it, "What exactly are we up to?" Brydie said as she continued wolfing down her meal, "I mean - we were trying to figure out who killed Terry, and then we were trying to figure out what happened to Hyperion during that Quidditch match ." "We were?" Harry had missed this, Brydie nodded, "And now we are trying to figure out what Emerindyl was doing with that mirror - now what has Lord Ruberagon and missing pieces got to do with that - or are we now trying to figure out something else?" "Its all tied in - I just know it," Mezentius had forked another sausage and continued eating, "How? How does it all tie in?" Harry asked, wondering if it was a wise thing to do, "Well - Terry was murdered at Hogwarts - we know this was the Guild of Avada - what happened to Hyperion at that match was nothing ordinary - and no student would pull a trick like that to win a Quidditch match." Mezentius stopped as Brydie mumbled, "Which proves that no Ameraid's have done anything wrong," she seemed unconvinced, "No - I am not trying to cover up for anyone - merely trying to rule out what is far fetched," Mezentius defended himself, "Clearly we have a Tebo in our midst," Brydie looked concerned, "A Tebo?" Harry looked at Brydie, "A Tebo is a invisible creature - very dangerous, and its hide is highly prized by bounty hunters," Brydie grinned, "So its an animal running around the castle - following us to Hogwarts and doing all these attacks?" Harry looked at both of them in confusion; he thought they were talking about the Guild of Avada, Brydie and Mezentius both started laughing, "No, Harry," Mezentius laughed, "That's what we call it when we have a spy from the Guild of Avada in the school," "After all they are evasive, which is kind of invisible, they are dangerous, and their hides are highly valued by the Auror's and AWDF Wizards of Australia," Brydie grinned evilly, "A spy from the Guild of Avada? In the school?" Harry stared in disbelief, but with all these Ameraid's walking around here listening to other peoples thought how could they keep it secret?" "Well, it is possible that the Tebo or Tebo's could be Ameraid's," Brydie suggested,

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN FLYING FINALE

"No, that's not possible," Mezentius sat back in his seat, "Well, yes, of course it is possible, but I would know, wouldn't I?" "Tebo's are sneaky, Mezentius," Brydie spoke calmly, seeing Mezentius's not so welcoming reaction, "What if they've been trained against the mind reading powers of the true Ameraid, after all, everyone knows you come to Koalingo, Mezentius, and so far you are the only one who can use this special ability," "No, I have the blood of the great Amberly herself, no one can fool my ability," Mezentius stood,

The next day was Friday and the last day of learning before the half yearly exams. All of Harry's teachers seemed to be working them harder then usual, although this must have been normal for Koalingo, as he seemed to b the only one in the class that seemed to notice that the classes were silent and their ink wells were emptying faster then usual. "I wrote ten feet of parchment worth of writing just then," Brydie said as they exited charms, the headmaster hadn't done a practical lesson with them today, which was usually the case, instead he seemed to try and get all the theory work done that they may have unknowingly abandoned for the rest of the semester. "I only wrote fifteen," Mezentius looked as if he was about to die, Harry stayed silent and tried to scrunch his mere half foot of writing into his bag unnoticed. "What next?" Brydie asked Mezentius, "Arithmancy," Mezentius replied, Professor Nuit is going to run us ragged all lesson," "Divination." Harry muttered to himself, "I'll see you after then, I guess," Harry said as he headed off in the direction of the Divination classroom. There was no teacher when Harry arrived at Divination, just a bottle of potion and a note:

Dear Harry, Today we will be doing dream Divination, this bottle of sleeping potion will help you sleep. I shall wake you at the end of the period, Professor Solosi

Harry put the note down and then lifted the bottle; it had a little label on it that had a face that was snoring away happily. Harry tapped the glass bottle and the face opened its eyes looking at Harry. "Sleeping potion, one serving only - drink in a single gulp, be sure not to dribble. oh, and keep out of reach of children." The little face piped up and then returned to sleep, Harry lifted the bottle off the counter and pulled the cork off. The little face opened its eyes again and giggled as Harry slurped down the entire contents of the bottle. Harry fell asleep immediately, the last two words he heard, having come from the label, squeaking, "That tickled" As Harry drifted off to sleep he felt a sensation he had never felt before, kind of like he was forcing himself to have a dream. Harry landed on the ground, to his surprise he was back at Hogwarts, he walked along as many faces past him, none looking at him at all, which was normal for Koalingo, but not at all normal for Hogwarts. Harry was beginning to seriously worry until he saw Colin and Dennis Creevey. Harry put his hand over his face which didn't usually work anyway, but when the Creevey brothers walked straight past Harry without even looking up, Harry was beginning to think something was wrong, he turned on his heel, "Colin," he called, Colin Creevey turned and looked at Harry, "What?" he asked, with no usual rise of admiration in his voice, "No camera?" Harry asked, seeing that the camera, Harry thought, might actually be part of Colin's body was no where in sight, "No," Colin laughed emptily, "What's around here that would be of any interest to me?" "But ." Harry begun but Colin and Dennis were now both looking at Harry with smiles of malice on their faces, "You thought we'd want photo's of you?" Colin spoke first in a drawling voice Harry had only ever heard on Slytherin's, Dennis laughed at his brother's comment, "As if, after all the time it took us to burn the old photo's I don't think so," the laughter of the two boys rang in Harry's ears, "Oh poor Harry Potter," said a voice Harry thought was Draco Malfoy, But after turning what Harry saw horrified him, "Ron?" "My name is Ronald Weasley, and you'd do well to say it properly," Ron said as Malfoy joined him and wrapped one of his arms over Ron's shoulders, Hermione joined them and Malfoy put his other arm over her shoulders, "How does it feel, Harry?" Hermione's voice, too, seemed like she had been taking speaking lessons from Malfoy, "To one day be as famous as Merlin, and the next day . well, lets just say." she cut off as Malfoy's voice broke in, "Your not famous anymore, Harry Potter" he laughed evilly, "No body likes you, The Dark Lord is alive and you ran off, overseas to escape his wrath," "How noble of you, Harry?" Hermione smiled, "But your . you two are my friends," Harry pleaded with Ron and Hermione, "Friends?" the two of them screwed their faces up, "There's no such thing as friends when your famous, Harry, just the smart people like us who'll use the fame of others to our advantage," "This is not you, Ron, Hermione, you are not like this," Harry screamed "Hey wait," Colin sounded, "There is one photo I would like to keep," Colin held up a picture of a woman, her face contorted in pain, she was screaming, it was Harry's mother, "Oh happy memories," Harry covered his ears as they filled with the laughter of the surrounding students, the screams of his mother were filling his ears and suddenly, he was there. "Give me the child, Lily, and I shall spare you," Voldemort was standing over Harry's mother, she was on the ground concealing a bundle of blankets in her arms, she was looking up at Voldemort with tears of pain in her eyes, "I wouldn't trade my sons life for anything," Lily said as she stood fast shielding the bundle of blankets behind her, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort screamed green light filled the room, and SMACK Harry's face fell onto the grass. Looking up Harry could see that he was back on Privet Drive, standing, Harry saw he was wearing some gardening gloves and some old clothes of Dudley's, Aunt Petunia was digging in the front garden and Dudley was playing marbles with his rat-faced friend Piers Polkiss. No car in the driveway meant that Uncle Vernon couldn't be there. Harry remembered this day, and knew what was about to happen, this dream was a memory, soon some people would come down the street smiling and waving at Harry, but that's not what happened, a woman in messy clothes came screaming down the street, she jumped the Dursley's garden fence and ran up to Harry, bowling him over, her eyes pouring with tears she shrieked, "He's back, he killed my family, you have to save me, kill him again Harry, put him in his grave for the last time," Harry fell back and fainted, thinking to himself he thought, 'fainting in a dream . is that even possible'. Many faces appeared before his eyes, sad crying faces, "Save us, Harry" "Kill the Dark Lord," "Put him back in his grave" "Do away with him once and for all" and then a strange face of a woman Harry didn't expect to see in his dream, it was Professor Solosi, "Obliviate!" she screamed and all went white. Harry woke with a gasp and looked up at Professor Solosi, she was seated behind her desk reading, she looked at Harry when he opened his eyes, "Perfect timing, Harry" she smiled, "Now I know you have exams over the next week, but Divination is not a subject that you can do an exam for, not in Australia anyway, so instead I would like you to write me a report on what you think your dream had to do with Divination," Professor Solosi smiled, "Now the bell should ring soon, so I'll let you go now, good luck in your exams," she smiled as Harry stood still dazed, half not realising what was going on, stumbled out of the classroom and down the hall to dinner.

"Quidditch Final Tomorrow!" Hyperion was singing to himself as he sat down next to Harry at dinner, "It's going to be mad, we're going to win, I can feel it," Hyperion was nearly bouncing around in his seat, "Eager, are you?" Brydie smirked as she took a big bite out of her Shepard's pie, "Mike, wait up!" Hyperion near shouted as Mike went and took a seat for dinner, "He's really excited" Brydies laughed, "Don't blame him, Emerindyl easily have the best Quidditch team, this year," Mezentius said without a hint of shame in his voice, "Even better then the Ameraid team?" Brydie winked to Harry, but surprisingly enough Mezentius agreed, "We wouldn't have lost to them if they weren't," Mezentius didn't show any sign of emotion as he continued his reading. "Are you going to read all weekend? That's not right, this is Quidditch final weekend," Brydie looked scandalised, "Its also the final weekend before the exams, priorities, Brydie, priorities," Mezentius turned the page on his book, "Hey Harry, we're going for a pre-victory party on the lake, all invited. except the Ruberagons. you coming?" Hyperion shouted across the hall, "Lets go, nothing happening here," Brydie gave a disgusted look to Mezentius.

"A bit hopeful, this," Brydie said watching Hyperion gargle down Butterbeer after Butterbeer, "I would have thought they would want sleep before the big game, I know the Ruberagon team went off to bed as soon as they finished eating, the rest of the Ruberagon students have agreed to stay back as long as possible so as not to wake them," "My Quidditch captain at Hogwarts made sure we were all in bed early, too" Harry proclaimed, "But I have never seen more Aussie spirit since I have been here then what I have seen in the Emerindyl Quidditch team, they're sure to win. Their skill is amazing," "But have you seen the Ruberagon Quidditch team?" Brydie said to Harry and grinned when Harry didn't answer. "Hey you two!" Hyperion stumbled over, "This is a party, not a chat zone, com on!" Hyperion shot twelve huge balls of light into the sky and let the hover just above the lake, keeping the lake bright, "CANON BALL!!" Hyperion splashed into the lake to a tumultuous applause and was followed by the rest of the Quidditch team and then most everyone else, Harry looked around taking note of the many Saphricorn's and a small number of Ameraid's, "Have the Ruberagons ever seen Emerindyl Lake?" "I don't think they have ever been invited." Brydie screwed her face up, "Not that anyone would want them here anyway, and they never invite anyone to their common room," "So far I have seen the inside of two Koalingo House common areas, Ameraid and Emerindyl, and there like really. er. well different to the ones at Hogwarts," Harry said in a fascinated tone, "What's the Saphricorn one like?" "Oh, its an open plain, green green grass for as far as the eye can see, mountains, caves, and in the very centre small island, with the Sapphire village on it," Brydie smiled, "Sapphire?" Harry wondered, "Its just a name, but we all have these big sapphire door knobs, a weird place for gem stone, I guess," Brydie screwed her face up, "But we have stables, and chickens running around everywhere, but on the plains we have wild pig cave, mountain goat ridge, platypus pool, crocodile lake, the most vast array of creatures found anywhere in Australia, right there on the Saphricorn plains," "And Unicorns?" Harry wondered "Well, I personally have never seen them, but every year on the eve of Lady Saphricorn's death, the Headmaster comes onto the plains and wanders off to the forbidden valley, we're not aloud there." Brydie screwed her face up, "It's the only time the Headmaster comes anywhere near the Saphricorn common room," "Oh." Harry stood wondering if he'd seem nosey to ask where the entrance of the Saphricorn common room was, but he didn't need to, Brydie answered before he could ask, "The entrance to the Saphricorn plain is at the very top of the central tower, if you were a Saphricorn, once you got to the top of the tower, you'd automatically know where the portal was," Brydie explained Harry looked around the Emerindyl common room and remembered how he thought it was large, but the Saphricorn common seemed like a whole new dimension of its own. "Are you two coming in or what?" Hyperion splashed them with water, "I'm going to drown you!" Brydie grinned as she ran and jumped into the water, Harry joined them,

Harry woke early the next morning to the noise of many people talking, after getting out of his bed, wondering how he got there as he did in fact fall asleep out under the stars on the grass the previous night . or was it early this morning, he had no idea, he walked out into his lounge-room seeing Brydie curled up under a blanket on Harry's big comfy couch, she seemed oblivious to the noise that was going on outside, "Come on, you lot, line up," someone was shouting, "You there straighten up," Harry couldn't believe his eyes, row after row of Emerindyl working together on banners, some strapping themselves together to make a human banner, others strapping enormous amounts of magical fireworks to themselves. Their faces painted with green and gold, almost like war paint. Harry wandered out; "Watch out, there Harry," someone walked past wrapping enormous streamers around a banner the size of a double-decker bus. "Morning Harry," someone bid, Harry, good morning, but his or her face was covered in so much decoration it wasn't possible to see who it was. "Make way!" another loud voice echoed as a team of grindylows came running out of the lake, "Ok, makeup!" fifteen Saphricorn girls dressed with what looked like tool belts rushed in on the grindylows and started splashing their faces with some kind of shiny make up that made them glow a shinier green. "Ok, come on now, we only have fifteen minutes," a loud voice shouted and everyone began working faster, Harry's cabin door opened behind him and out came Brydie, rubbing her eyes, "What's going on?" she asked Harry, whom was still standing in awe watching everything, "I don't know, their getting ready for the Quidditch final, I guess," Harry told her, "Oh my goodness, I plumb forgot! Come on Harry, we're on the fireworks line!" she grabbed Harry by the sleeve of his pyjama's and pulled him over to the line of people that had hundreds of fireworks strapped to them, "Put this on!" she shouted and threw him a vest covered in fireworks, and then some pants to follow, Harry dressed without a second question, although he did think it was a strange thing to be wearing enough explosives to put a dint in the countryside. "OK! Fire works! Move out!" the loud voice echoed in Harry's ears as the rows of people covered with fire works headed out of the entrance passage Brydie nearly having to drag Harry along too. Down through the hallway they marched, like a battalion on its way to war, in the distance Harry could see another army of people covered in fireworks heading for the Quidditch Pitch he assumed, giving the fact they were dressed in red, that they were the Ruberagon fireworks line. "This is going to be so cool," Brydie said as they marched down, reaching the Quidditch pitch the entered to booming applause not only other students, but also adults, Harry assumed, were parents. "Ok, you know the pattern and order we're supposed to release them Harry?" Brydie asked him, "No," Harry said, feeling a little dazed at how fast everything was happening. In the distance the Double-Decker-Bus-sized banner was being razed high above the stands behind the Emerindyl goal posts. "That's ok, see those tags on your side?" Brydie called, Harry glance the tags quickly as the Ruberagon firework army entered at the other end of the Quidditch pitch. "PULL THEM!" Brydie yelled, and Harry along with all the other people dressed in fireworks pulled their tags, Harry's whole body tingled as a mass of magical fireworks shot from their special slots in Harry's vest and pants. As the reached the sky they made a picture of the Emerindyl shield, the Ruberagon's followed in suit theirs making a Ruberagon shield beside the Emerindyl one. "Second fire, ready!" a loud voice announced, "Harry, hit the dirt," Brydie grabbed Harry as all the first lot dived for the ground, another lot of people strapped to fireworks lined up, "FIRE!" they shot another mass of fireworks at the shields just as the Ruberagons did, this fireworks clashed and there was a tumultuous explosion as the two lots joined. Harry dug his head below his hands and waited for the explosive sounds to stop. "Wahoo!" Harry heard Brydie cheer, the whole audience was also cheering, Harry stuck his head up to see that the two shields were now crisscrossed bye two more figures, two broomsticks. All the people on the ground of the pitch cheered as well as streamers were then shot from magical cannons high in the stands. Brydies face was glowing with glee as streamers covered the ground, as well as covering Harry and all the other people standing on the pitch, "MOVE OUT!" a loud voice shouted as the firework people scattered into the stands, Harry following Brydie as they ran up into the stands reserved for those cheering for Emerindyl to win. "Nice to see you didn't want to make too much of a spectacle of yourself," Mezentius said in the way of a greeting when Harry and Brydie joined him. "Did it look good?" Brydie was very hyped up for someone, whom had only been sleeping less the fifteen minutes ago, "It looked great, as always," Mezentius did the thumbs up sign to Brydie and Harry, "Emerindyl just have to win," Brydie said as she looked onto the pitch with excitement, "They clearly have the best team this year," "That will be proved true or false by the end of that match," Mezentius stayed calm and collected. The pitch, Harry thought, reminded him a lot of the Quidditch pitch at the world cup, as it was fully gold, which Harry new by now, was the Koalingo school colour. The flying professor, whom appeared to be refereeing today, stepped out onto the pitch in black robes, not her usual gold. Harry assumed this was so she did not distract the seekers from seeing the snitch. Although wondered what the point of that was considering the entire stands were gold. "And lets meet the Emerindyl mascots!" the Quidditch announcer, Victoria Sale of Emerindyl, shouted and out came the special polished grindylows came out in formation of the words 'Emerindyl Rules' this caused much booing from the Ruberagon side of the stands. This in turn caused the grindylows to use a very nasty finger sign to the Ruberagon stands, which in turned the Ruberagon stands into silence. "That's right!" Brydie shouted to the grindylows, "You give those Ruberagons what for!" There was much laughter from the Emerindyl side of the stands, "And now! The Ruberagon Mascot!" the voice over announced, "Mascot? They only have one?" Harry asked Brydie, "For the size of it,, they are only allowed one," Brydie looked towards the Ruberagon stands with Harry, as a huge door opened, and in marched, to Harry's horror, In marched a Chinese Fireball. "That's a dragon," Harry sat back in his seat, "No chains, isn't that illegal?" "You have seen the Headmasters pet dragon, haven't you? Well this one is as docile as that one," Mezentius explained Harry sat forward in his seat as one of the Grindylows ran over to the dragon, stopped in front of it, and did the nasty finger sign it had done to the Ruberagon stands, much to more laughter from the Emerindyl stands, until of course the Chinese Fireball stomped the Grindylow into the ground. The Emerindyl stands went silent and the Ruberagon stands erupted with laughter. Professor Puddlemeare pulled a silver whistle from her pocket as the announcer sounded the arrival of the two teams, "And here we have, EMERINDYL, captained by the foreign wonder Mike Peters!" the stands roared with cheers as the Emerindyl Quidditch team zoomed out onto the field. The grindylows had snuck across the pitch and gotten their flattened comrade back. "Yeah! Emerindyl! Go!" Brydie screamed, while Harry grinned and Mezentius sat back to watch the game. "And here we have RUBERAGON, captained by that slick, quick, and some would say a bit thick, Malvado Nino!" Victoria announced, This time there was many boo's from the Emerindyl supporters and a booming cheer from the Ruberagon supporters. "All right," Professor Puddlemeare's voice could be hear from across the field and echoing in the stands, "Now, this is the final match of the season, for some of you, the final school match you'll ever play. I want a clean game, we don't want anyone disgraced on the final game they may ever play," Professor Puddlemeare was clearly looking straight at Mike, "Why would Mike disgrace himself?" Harry asked Brydie and Mezentius, "Well this is his last game, he's desperate," Brydie grinned, "Players take your positions," Professor Puddlemeare called as she released the snitch and then them bludgers, "Three. two. one." Her whistles sounded and up went the quaffle. Like piranhas in a blood stained pool the movements were so fast Harry couldn't see who had the quaffle, but the shouts from Victoria, who must have had excellent eyesight, it sounded as if Emerindyl were in possession, "Excellent move by Peters there as he successfully pulls off the Wollongong Shimmy!" Victoria cheered into the loud speaker, "Wollongong Shimmy?" Harry asked, "Is that an Australian move?" "Yeah, but its known world-wide!" Brydie opened a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages she kept with her at all times, "Perfected by the Wollongong Warriors, you Poms spell Wollongong wrong of course, or maybe there is a lace called Woollongong. who knows. it's the zigzagging he's doing, see how he got the opposing chasers to fly into the towers," Brydie laughed, Harry watched as the two Ruberagon beaters flew up together, right in the way of an on coming bludger, they both swung the clubs back. Harry wondered if they were going to beat each other over the head but all came clear when the bludger reached them, both clubs came down and hit the bludger with full strength at the same time, the bludger hurtled down no slower then as if it had been shot from a canon and hit Mike in his left shoulder before he could move. "OH NO!" Victoria shouted into the speaker, "Peters is taken victim by the Dopplebeater Defence, no good," "Those two are deadly strong on their own, that would have been absolute murder," Brydie was clenching her fists "But this didn't deter Mike as he kept a strong hold of the quaffle with his right hand, soared to the Ruberagon guarded goal post and scored in marvellous glory!" Victoria shouted much to everyone's gratitude on the Emerindyl side, "What's he made of? Clay?" Harry overheard a Ruberagon parent moping about the Emerindyl goal, "Ok, Ruberagon take possession for the first time in the game, these faces are so blurry I don't know who's who, Ruberagon chaser throws to ." Brydie was tugging on Harry's arm sleeve pointing downward to the Emerindyl grindylows whom were looking rather mischievous sneaking into the stands, "What do you think they are up to?" Harry was more interested in another play he had never seen used before, all three Ruberagon chasers were upside down zooming in front of the Emerindyl chaser Annette Lee whom had just stolen the quaffle from them, they were spinning around and around in front of her, "That's another Aussie play, they'll spin around in front of her to the point where she doesn't know whether she is the right side up, or up side down its supposed disorientate her into crashing, or at least getting sick," Brydie explained, "Now come on," Brydie dragged Harry down through the stands, "Its not like them to leave the field at all they must be up to something," Brydie said as they reached the stands that the grindylows had run into, "There" Harry and Brydie ran along while the grindylows snuck through the Ruberagon stands, "What are they doing with those fire works?" Harry asked as they watched the grindylows pushing firework rockets bottom first into holes, "They are putting them in the wrong way, the fuses are sticking out the other side of the stands," Brydie screwed her face up, "Well your welcome to crawl along and pull them out," Harry looked at Brydie whom actually looked ready to do it, "Accio," she summoned the closest rocket to her, upon reading the label she burst out laughing, and quickly hid the rocket behind her as a bunch of adults looked straight at her, "You're a little far from your seat little girl," a man in jet black robes leant over them, Brydie and Harry backed away a little, "Oh don't be so harsh, Cyril" A smiling women with banana blonde hair and rosy red cheeks leant to them, "Hi there I thought you'd be watching the game?" "Oh, we are." Brydie started, "Your not wearing green?" the woman looked slightly shocked, "My sons in Emerindyl, you know? He's out their playing right now," "Your sons on the Emerindyl Quidditch team?" Harry just blurted out, "Oh dear and he's just abut to catch the snitch too." Cyril said in an emotionless drawling voice, "Where's Malvado?" "Oh there he is!" The woman was beaming, her face glowing, Harry and Brydie looked out to see Hyperion and Malvado Nino zooming around the pitch, Harry could see the snitch shooting through the air in front of them, glowing slightly, "So that's Hyperion's . mother?" Harry looked confused, "And that would be Malvado's father, so which of these two." "They must have different mothers, for sure, this woman is to nice to be Malvado's mum," Brydie said as the grindylows ran back past them with a wand in their hands, "What the ." Brydie and Harry leant over the edge of the stands watching the grindylows run onto the pitch and over to the dragon, "What do you think they are up to?" But Harry, whom was now extremely annoyed with Brydie for making him miss what was happening in the game was watching Hyperion and Malvado whom were at the point of shoving each other so excessively that the crowd gasped every few seconds as the two seekers seemed to be grabbing for the snitch like cats after fish in a fish bowl, just out of reach.. Suddenly Hyperion dropped back, "NO!" Harry found himself shouting, but so did the Emerindyl side of the pitch, Hyperion circled out of the pitch, Malvado was gaining and then like a king fish in a blink of an eye Hyperion soared in from the side, his left arm gripping the broom and his right hand covered by his sleeve he shot down in front of Malvado did what looked like a careless swerve with his sleeve and then grabbed at his sleeve as something appeared to be trying to escape from his cloak sleeve, "The snitch is up his sleeve!" The blonde lady cried with laughter, The two Ruberagon beaters soared in from the side and belted two bludgers at him; Hyperion did a sloth grip roll and soared away upside-down on his broomstick, hanging on only with his feet still trying to catch the snitch within his sleeve. Suddenly Hyperion just ripped the arm of his cloak and held tight around the snitch. "Emerindyl seeker Hyperion Douglas has the Snitch! This years Quidditch cup goes to . EMERINDYL!" Victoria was screaming into the voice over. "YES!" Mike screamed and nearly fell off his broom, The Emerindyl side of the stands burst with cheers and screams of joy, Brydie had wrapped her arms around Harry and was dancing around with him, although he felt like a rag doll, "God game don't you think Cyril?" The blonde woman said to the man with black hair that had snapped at Brydie earlier, "What are those creatures doing?" Cyril was looking down on the grindylows, one standing with a wand another standing with one of its fingers pointed at the dragon's bottom, Harry watched as a light shot from the wand and the grindylows hand and extended finger enlarged to the size of a lance, "Oh no," said Brydie as the grindylows spiked the dragon right into the left side f the dragons backside, the dragon reared up immediately on its hind legs, its wings flared open and an ear piercing roar bellowed from its mouth as well as a massive blast of fire that lit up the front of the stands right in front of where Harry and Brydie were standing, "Harry! Hit the dirt!" Brydie said as she grabbed Harry and they dived for the ground, explosions above Harry's head told him that the fireworks the grindylows had placed had exploded, Harry was waiting for flames to land but instead 'SPLAT' a sheet of some kind of liquid covered Harry's back, Brydie had burst out laughing and Harry looked up to see that the entire Ruberagon audience had been done by pant bombs, a cascade of green-paint- bombs, and were all coated in a thick coat of sopping wet green paint, Harry fell back on his back with Brydie and burst out laughing. "Hey Harry," she cried, "Hey what?" Harry laughed back, "Nice to see everyone in house colours," Brydie and Harry continued laughing, but if anyone had bothered to look across the pitch to the teachers stand they would have seen the face of Professor ConDoin, looking positively murderous.











CHAPTER NINETEEN NO MORE PENCILS NO MORE BOOKS. JUST CHRISTMAS TIME AND JOLLY LOOKS

The victory party for the Emerindyl Quidditch team was like nothing Harry had ever experienced in his life, he thought to himself as the clock struck midday the following day that these Australians had more energy then any other human being in the world, none had slept for at least twenty-eight hours and as day became night on Sunday evening Harry found that he could not keep up with the partying Australians and so he drifted off to sleep on the shore of Emerindyl lake at seven in the evening.

"HARRY! GET UP! YOUR FIRST EXAM STARTS IN FIVE MINUTES!" Harry woke the next morning to Brydie, leaning over him, due to her messy hair and bloodshot eyes Harry knew that she too had only just woken up and was as shocked as he was, "Come on help me, half the Emerindyl's are still asleep!"

As they reached their first class the exam had already begun, Mezentius and the other Ameraid's were seated at the front of the class working hard with their heads down and their quills going like mad. The Ruberagons were also all in attendance, heads down, their quills keeping good pace with the Ameraid's, but Harry and Brydie were the first Emerindyl and Saphricorn to arrive. "Nice to see some of you remembered today was a school day," Professor McGonagall said to the two of them as they entered, the rest of the class will now please put down their quills, your writing time is up, you'll now make your way to the next room for the practical part of your examination," The Ameraid's dropped their quills immediately, bundled their pages together and handed them to the professor as they walked past her to the next room, "Ruberagon," Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. One by one the Ruberagons lowered their quills, bundled their papers and walked through to the next room. "Now, seeing you two have decided to come to class thirty minutes late, I think I can commend you for being early," she finished and gave them their papers, Harry took a big breath, "Early?" Harry looked at Brydie, "We are allowed forty minutes because well your Emerindyl and we helped you with the Quidditch final and well. we just had to party, didn't we," Brydie grinned and took her seat. "You may begin, I guess I can give you two an extra ten minutes for being early," Professor McGonagall smiled and Harry and Brydie got to work immediately, by the time ten minutes had passed the rest of the Emerindyl and Saphricorn students had arrived and the sound of quills scratching across paper was filling Harry's ears, at the end of their time Professor McGonagall returned from the other room with a half smile and the arm of a crocodile, "Quills down please, gather your papers together and bring them to me, then forward on to the next room," Harry bundled his papers smiling, he knew he hadn't written nearly as much as the Ameraid's had, but he was more then happy with what he did write. He forwarded onto the next room and stopped in his tracks, he had absolutely no idea why they had been lead to the . "What are we doing in the duelling classroom?" Harry looked at Brydie, whom shrugged, "Ok, this part of your exam actually involves what you would have learned for your second half of the forth year which you wont learn until the end of next year, so really I'm testing you on something before you actually learn it, any questions?" Professor McGonagall grinned but just about everyone else in the class stood stunned and still. "But. what exactly are we doing?" Brydie sounded out, "Duelling Transfiguration," Professor McGonagall smiled, "Miss Morris, your first," "Right," Brydie grinned and stood in front of Professor McGonagall, "So?" "Hippolofulus!" Professor McGonagall shouted and a grey light shot from her wand at Brydie, Brydie screamed and jumped sideways before the spell hit her, "Hippolofulus?" Brydie asked McGonagall but she didn't look at all ready to reply, Brydie grinned and assumed the duelling stance; her and Professor McGonagall circled the floor a few times. "Come along Morris, the rest of the class will have their test as well," Professor McGonagall grinned and tried a second go, "Hippolofulus!" but again Brydie was too fast. Brydie however would be the first to make a mistake, as she circled she didn't pay attention to her surroundings and so tripped ob the uneven flooring, "Hippolofulus!" McGonagall shouted, and Brydie became a Hippopotamus, much to the classes gasps of shock, which very followed by laughing, until of course, it was their turn.

That night at dinner Brydie was especially bouncy for someone whom, Harry was sure, had failed every exam she had done that day, ".and then in Care of Magical Creatures, I had to feed lethifold but it grabbed hold of my arm and the teacher had to fight it off with a patronus," Brydie laughed, "How can you be so happy, you have probably failed every exam you've done today," Hyperion stood looking at her as if she were a total fool, "But I always get great marks," Brydie smiled and shook her head, Hyperion stood staring at her. "Well I think you should get some sleep unless you want to fail your exam tomorrow," Mezentius spoke over an Arithmancy book he was studying, "No way!" Brydie looked positively scandalised, "This will be my first night back on the Saphricorn plains for four nights, so excuse me if I want to stay up late. we're decorating the village for Christmas," Brydie grinned "Why bother?" Mezentius looked away from his book this time, "There are only four days until the end of term,"

Four days indeed and no four days of the year could have gone slower then any other, Harry had several exams everyday, some exams for things he had never studied, but he was sure that there was a good reason for it. And so it came that by the end of the week on the day everyone was leaving, that it finally hit Harry that he had no idea where he'd be going for Christmas, "No body stays at the castle for Christmas, Harry" Brydie was telling him as she heaved her school trunk onto the entrance steps, "Christmas is very important in Australia - time to spend time with the relo's," "Relo's?" Harry had been in Australia for six months, but Australian slang was still quite new to him, "Yeah, you know, relatives" Brydie poked her tongue out calling Harry silly, "But I don't." Harry paused "Merry Christmas everyone!" Hyperion said as he marched onto the steps in Christmas robe and n army of House elves walking behind him with Christmas gifts, "Harry, this is for you, Brydie, and. where's Mezentius?" Hyperion looked around after handing Harry and Brydie two very large packages, "But it's not Christmas yet?" Brydie looked at her gift, "Of corse its not, but this gives time for whoever didn't buy me a present to still get me one before Christmas day," Hyperion grinned, "Now my limo has arrived," Hyperion turned to the house elves, "Make sure they are all given to the correct people, and make sur they know these things are from me." "See ya's" Hyperion hopped, skipped, jumped, down the steps and got into a waiting limousine waiting at the bottom, it had no wheels, but when it shimmered and disappeared, Harry knew it didn't need wheels, "Does everyone get picked up by their parents?" Harry asked Brydie, "Most," she smiled and looked around as if she were waiting for someone, "My parents should be here," Over the next few hours Harry would see flying carriage after tamed dragon after hippogriff fly in to pick up students, by the end of the afternoon nearly everyone was gone, and when Brydie's limousine arrived to take her to the airport in Sydney, Brydie hugged Harry so tight he was sure some of his bones had broken, "I'd like to know where Mezentius is though." Brydie screwed her face up, "Well see you later then, Harry," she walked down the steps while her driver walked up the stairs to fetch her trunk, and carried it down to the limo, "Evening Thomas," "God evening Miss Morris," the driver said as he opened the door for her, "Merry Christmas," "And to you," she grinned as she stepped into the car and the door was shut, Harry stood on the steps watching the car fly away and within moment the rest of the people were gone, the teacher that had been marking the names off walked towards Harry, "Another year over, you counted. that's everyone gone for the holidays," the professor started back towards the castle doors, "Everyone. but Mezentius?" Harry wondered, he hadn't seen Mezentius all day and thought he hadn't left yet, "Mr Fumbleknot left last night, his exams were done and . well most Ameraid's leave the evening before the last day," "Oh . ok," Harry started back towards the castle, "Are you al ready, Harry?" Professor Emerindyl walked out the front doors pulling gloves onto his hands; he was wearing an emerald green travelling cloak, his staff resting on his suitcase behind him, "Er. yes sir," Harry was slightly confused, no one had informed him of where he'd be spending the Christmas holidays, "I think you'll enjoy the East coast, summertime . it's the best place to be," Headmaster Emerindyl stared down the steps, "Merry Christmas Professor," he bid to the other professor as he followed, "And to you, sir" the professor replied, "Excuse me sir, but . what's on the east coast?" Harry spoke up, The Headmaster looked slightly startled and turned to Harry, "Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, I never did get around to telling you, did I?" the headmaster screwed his face up, Harry thought he looked kind of funny, "I meant to tell you weeks ago, the British Ministry has asked me to have you at my summer home for the summer, I hoe you don't mind?" "No, not at all," Harry smiled although a gut feeling he had, told him that six weeks with a two thousand year old man had to have some difference in it compared to spending summer in England with the Dursley's, "I imagine you must have been in a mess of wonderment about what would be happening to you, this summer, Harry?" Professor Emerindyl voiced as they boarded a flying chariot bound to the Headmasters Dragon, Melinda, "Just a little," Harry laughed uneasily, The Dragon took flight immediately and Harry felt himself sinking into the seat as they gained altitude, "Now, I have organised with Mr Fumbleknot that you spend some time with his family towards the end of the holidays, of course this is entirely your choice, just see how you feel after new years," The Headmaster smiled, "Your also welcome to invite any friends you wish, to come and stay I don't mind, unfortunately the summer holidays for me, merely mean I have a different job, so I am terribly sorry but I don't think you'll see a great deal of me but when I have time I'll be at home," "Oh, and one last thing, we're no longer at school and wont be for six weeks, I urge you to call me Elwyn," Professor Emerindyl smiled, Harry nodded, For the remainder of the trip, Professor . Elwyn was sorting through a mass of papers while Harry fumbled with the gift he had gotten from Hyperion, he still hadn't opened it yet, but thought it would be best not to until Christmas and so sat continuously fumbling with the ribbons binding the paper to the package, "An early gift?" Elwyn asked smiling, "Yep, Hyperion gave it to me just before he left," Harry exclaimed, "How very kind of him," Elwyn smiled and went back to his papers, "Yeah. there's a motive behind it of course," Harry spoke without thinking and stopped silent not being able to believe what he said, "Ah yes, of course," Elwyn chuckled, as he gathered his papers and looked at his watch, "We should be nearing our destination quite soon," Harry didn't dare lift the flap on his window as he knew there was no glass behind it and he and Elwyn would probably be sucked out by the wind, The carriage came into land and the flaps over the windows drew up, the Headmasters summer home was large and beautiful, covered in Christmas lights, Harry had never seen a more beautiful building at Christmas time. The drive had little lights all up the side of it, in the front windows were two Christmas trees and on the lawn were millions of pixies floating above the grass and what looked like Christmas elves standing on ladders hanging magic icicles that glowed like they had the northern lights reflecting off of them. The front veranda must have been fifty metres long and as the carriage pulled to the front doors the carriage doors were opened by two of the Christmas elves, "Merry Christmas, sir," they both greeted Elwyn together and then glanced Harry, "Merry Christmas Master Potter," they then ran up to the house doors and opened them, "Dad!" someone shouted from inside and a little boy in green robes ran out and jumped into Elwyn's arms, knocking him over onto the grass, the fairies lighting the ground scattered while many cries were heard from the ones being squashed, Elwyn laughed as the boy jumped up and noted Harry's presence, "Hi," the boy smiled at Harry, "I'm Godric, Godric Emer. Grindylow," "Hi," Harry did a half-smile in the way of a greeting, "Arutha called, father - he, Galidan, and Arthur will be here at seven, everyone else will be here at eight" Godric said to Elwyn and then looked at Harry, "I helped design your room, I hope you like it, come on I'll show it to you," Godric wandered off into the house. "You might want to follow him, Harry, you might get lost otherwise," Elwyn chuckled as he turned to a house elf wearing a chef suit that had just run out from inside and started speaking in French, Harry walked into the house walking up corridor after corridor making sure to keep up with Godric as he walked swiftly through the house. "This is your room," Godric opened the door and wandered through the room; it was more like a hotel suite. Harry walked through to a large round room in the centre of the 'suite' in a split-level that went downwards there was a large circular lounge. Harry walked down and sat down, "The rest of your room is pretty much . well basic so I'm sure you'll find it, we had some dress robes brought in, all your size, you may wish to dress for dinner, we're having a Christmas ball, heaps of people will be here! All the professors of Koalingo," Godric grinned, "I finally start at Koalingo next year, I can't wait!" "Master . Godric, your father would like to see you in the parlour," a stout elf spoke in a voice Godric had never heard on an elf, it wasn't squeaky at all but deep and snobbish, "Sure," Godric smiled and headed out of the room, "Excited?" the house elf waddled down to Harry, "You'll get to meet the aristocracy of the Australian magical world," Harry pulled a weak smile at the elf, "Miss your family? That's ok, it is Christmas after all," the elf waddled to Harry's closet and waddled back with a bundle of cloaks, "No!" Harry said standing up, "No, its not my family I am missing, just a little disorientated is all," "Ah yes," The house elf laid down an array of cloaks, "Which one?" Harry surveyed the cloaks and then picked up a bottle-green one, immediately he was dragged into the memory of last ears Yule ball, he remembered he had gone with Parvati Patil and that he hadn't exactly been the perfect gentlemen, although he never liked dancing and had a feeling of impending doom for the days that lead up to the ball. But for some reason tonight's ball didn't seem to faze him in the slightest. Harry opened his eyes, realising that they were closed. He put the bottle-green cloak down and moved onto the next, it was blue, he past it straight to a jet black cloak, it was a dress robe much nicer then anything he had every warn before, but it reminded him a lot of his Hogwarts cloak and so he lifted it and smiled, "Excellent choice, sir" the House elf gathered the other cloaks and returned them to the cupboard, "Our guests will be arriving soon, my lord asks that you be present for their arrival," "Lord?" Harry said to himself quietly as the elf left, Harry dressed slowly thinking that he should be in higher spirits, after all it was Christmas, after dressing he walked back to his bedroom door and opened it slightly, there were elf maids and butlers walking up and down sweeping dusting and laying a long green carpet along the hallway, when Harry walked out of his bedroom they all paused and bowed until Harry smiled at them weakly and headed back towards the direction that he had come from earlier, "Ah Harry," Elwyn smiled when Harry arrived back at the foyer. Some guests had already arrived and almost starred at Harry while he walked towards Elwyn. "I'd like you to meet Forellius Crudge, he is the minister for magic here in Australia," Elwyn introduced Harry to a medium sized plump man in green and red Christmas patterned robes, he had a tinsel tie and mistletoe buttons. "Good evening Master Potter," the man extended his hand, Harry took it and shook it, "Good evening Mr Crudge," Harry smiled, "My wife, Penelope, and my son, Alex," Mr Crudge pushed forward a young man possibly the same age as Godric, whom looked a great deal like Godric, same height, same hair colour, "The names Alex, Alex Zander," the boy winked, "Its my secret agent name," the boy turned to Elwyn, "Pardon my lord, where is Godric?" "He informed me that you must find him if you wish to speak with him," Elwyn chuckled, Alex ran off immediately with a huge grin on his face, These were the first of many people Harry met that night, and by the time that Professor ConDoin arrived at eight o'clock, Harry was happy to hear that these were the last to arrive, "Merry Christmas Elwyn," a short stout woman with dark brown hair and round rosy cheeks and a tiny nose reached as high as she could to kiss Elwyn on his cheek, although Elwyn had to duck slightly for her to reach. "Merry Christmas, Galidan" Elwyn smiled and looked towards the door where a boy, Harry thought looked to be the same age as Godric, his black hair neatly spiked on his head he was leaning on the door frame looking slightly bored, "Merry Christmas, Arthur," Elwyn called, Arthur stood straight, "Merry Christmas, sir" Harry turned on his heel as two laughing boys showed up in the foyer; Alex had found Godric and by the look of it had tipped some kind of desert on his head, "Hey Arty!" Godric called, Arthur looked up at his father who nodded; Arthur went off with Godric and Alex, Professor ConDoin turned to Harry, "Merry Christmas, Potter" he said, managing to smile, Harry thought this looked quite out of place, "Your first Christmas abroad, I guess?" Harry nodded, wondering what Professor ConDoin was getting at, "Well let's hope it's a good one," Professor ConDoin put his arm over Elwyn's shoulder, "So what's on the agenda for this evening?" Elwyn walked off with Professor ConDoin and his wife, Elwyn calling back, "Hang about for a little, Harry, more guests have yet to arrive," Harry winced slightly, turning back to the door as the doorbell rang, he moved slowly towards it, wondering who could be coming that Elwyn thought he'd leave Harry to answer the door for. Surely Elwyn hadn't sent for Hermione and Ron, Dumbledore couldn't possibly be allowed to bring the students overseas, and Mr and Mrs Weasley couldn't afford to send Ron overseas anyway. But as Harry heard the knock on the door he closed his eyes momentarily. hoping. dreaming.. He reached for the door and turned the handle, and in came, "Oh Harry, thank you dear, I promised the Headmaster I wouldn't be late, but I did say I foresaw my tardiness," a woman in flowing magenta robes walked in and dropped her huge coat on Harry, "Professor Trelawney?" Harry said as he stepped back, "Nice to know you remember me," she smiled, "Oh, I have something for you!" she pulled two envelopes out of the pocket of the coat she just tossed to Harry, "From Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, no. where's the punch?" she giggled and wandered off into the ballroom, "Was that it?" Harry thought to himself as he dropped the coat onto the ground, a house elf ran up picked up the coat and backed away slowly, Harry opened the first envelope, it was a Christmas card from Ron, and he started to walk away from the door when the doorbell sounded, "That rotten Trelawney, she was holding my Christmas card to Harry," a voice sounded from outside, "Well never mind, you heard Professor Dumbledore, she'll be just inside," another voice sounded, "Hasn't somebody answered the door yet?" a third voice sounded and Harry swung the door open, and there they were, Ron, Hermione, and the entire Weasley family, as well as Professor Dumbledore, whom was sill walking down the pathway, "RON! HERMIONE!" Harry didn't know what he was doing, he didn't know why he was doing it, he just did, and he dived at them both and pulled them in to a tight hug, "Oh, so sweet," Bill grinned, "GROUP HUG!" He and Fred screamed as they basically jumped on top of Harry Ron and Hermione followed by Mrs Weasley and Ginny. Mr Weasley was inspecting a light switch, "Strange, eklectrisity in a magical house," he murmured to himself, "Happy to see us, huh?" Ron spoke squashily The twins piled off and everyone could breath again, "What are you doing here?" Harry grinned from ear to ear, "Well we couldn't not see you at Christmas" Mrs Weasley winked at him, and walked in, "What a beautiful house," "We got you a gift, Harry" Bill and George handed Harry a package wrapped in Christmas paper decorated with to red haired grinning faces wearing Santa hats, the faces were beginning to poke their tongues out at Harry and winking, "Here, Harry" Ron and Hermione both gave Harry a gift as well, "Now don't open it before Christmas day," Hermione winked at him, "This way, if you please" a house elf dressed in a butlers uniform lead the Weasley's and Dumbledore through to the rest of the guests, "Albus," Elwyn spoke out as he crossed the room to greet them, "What a pleasant surprise, I had no idea you'd be joining us tonight," Elwyn winked at Dumbledore and they both chuckled, "Come, the feast is soon to begin," Elwyn lead them all through a length of brightly decorated doorways. The walls were decked with the most amazing Christmas decorations, which included oversized pixies fluttering around, dressed as angels, on the ceiling. Harry felt something he hadn't in quite a while - he seems fascinated by magic - he also found it peculiar that the rooms were all so bright, yet there were no light bulbs or candles, or lanterns lighting them, it was almost as if the walls were keeping everything bright.

They entered the enormous dining room, seeing house elves flittering around placing jugs of Meade, Butterbeer, and bottles of sparkling wine around the enormous table.

Elwyn turned to Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and The Weasley's and issued for them to sit along the seats to his left. Godric came and sat on his right. The room slowly filled and by the time the last guest was seated, Harry only just realise how many people were actually present.

"Ladies, Gentlemen," Elwyn spoke up in his true style, "How fast does a year go - seems only yesterday I was celebrating Christmas at Koalingo with Sylvia, Rubeus, and Amberly, and toasting over our decision to open Koalingo Manor as a school, how odd that this all happened over two-hundred years ago - far before all of you were even foetuses. I think," Elwyn winked at Dumbledore, this made Harry laugh lightly. The room was silent. Harry could hear nothing but the odd sound from the kitchens, "I'm getting old - what am I talking about, I am old," Elwyn chuckled, no one else laughed but there were many admiring smiles, "The years grow shorter and shorter, and I have come to a decision." Harry didn't think it was at all possible but the room went quieter still, even all noise in the kitchen seemed to cease, "It is at last, my decision, after many many long months of thought, that, next year, I shall not be returning to Koalingo Academy as Headmaster, in fact I intend on not returning at all."