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

6. Harry Potter and The Guild of Avada Cont

Harry looked at them both, "I had this offer last time I was at Hogwarts, and I didn't take you up on it then - I want to remain here to see things through," "But Harry," Hermione pleaded with him, "We have heard all that's been happening here, Harry, you don't fool us for a second, its dangerous at Koalingo," "And when has it ever been sae at Hogwarts?" Harry rebutted, "In four years I have not been safe once, the basilisk for example, if we had turned our backs on trying to figure out what it was and resorted to fleeing from it like everyone else, more people could be dead and Hogwarts would be shut down now - if we turned our backs on Sirius he'd be dead - if we never went to the mirror of Erised Voldemort would have been alive four years ago" Hermione stared back at him defiantly, she opened her mouth to say something but the next sound was to come from Ron, "Stop, Hermione," Ron seemed to be considering Harry, "Harry's right, this Australian school took him in when Hogwarts would not, even after all the courageous things he had done for Hogwarts - these people befriended him when he had no other friends, in our stupidity we allowed him to come to Australia alone," "No, Ron" Harry placed his hand on Ron's shoulder but Ron cut him off before he could say anything, "We're here for a brief few days, until we go, you have my help," Hermione turned and folded her arms, "I cant believe you are condoning this, Ron, we have been speaking about this ever since we heard someone died at Koalingo, you promised me we wouldn't leave him here," "Yes but listen to him, Hermione, he's going to stay regardless, now we have a few days to ensure he survives until we see him next - whether or not you want to see him alive again is your choice," Ron winked to Harry Hermione swung around in one swift moment with a contorted look on her face, "Of course I want him alive and home safe, don't be silly!" "Well help me," Harry gazed at her, "Please," Hermione nodded although it was easy to see she was fighting mixed feelings,

By the time the sun rose over the mountain that Professor Emerindyl's home was built in, Harry had told Hermione and Ron, just about everything that had happened that year, including the death of the Ameraid seventh year and the mysterious trance Professor Emerindyl was in after the earthquake. "Australian wizards for you." Ron said raising his eyebrows, "Well look at the bright side, Harry, you don't have to worry about Voldemort while you're here," Hermione scolded Ron, "Sounds to me like it could be many people at your school," Hermione spoke up for the first time all night, "What about the night you all passed out from that Butterbeer, could the tavern owner have poisoned it?" "Its possible. But I dunno, she was at Koalingo for the end of term carnival and I don't think anyone got sick," Harry informed her, "Still I wouldn't set her aside, If I were you Harry," Hermione continued thinking, "You definitely have some Tebo's, but how do you think you could find them out? This Guild has been around for years, as you say, what makes you think you can bring them down, Harry?" "Well now whose being Miss Optimistic." Ron looked at Hermione utterly perplexed, "All I am saying, Ron, is that with Emerindyl in Australia for two thousand years, they weren't able to take down the Guild of Avada, even with General ConDoin and the Australian Wizardry Defence Force on it," Hermione explained, "My aim is to get out any that are in Koalingo right now," Harry told her, "Too many people have died, "Its just two." Ron muttered, "Two too much, Ron" Harry stood, There was a noise at the door then a sound of someone clearing their throat and they all looked to see a house elf standing at the floor, "Sirs, Miss" it looked at them, they all stood to address the elf, "My Lord wishes you a Merry Christmas and that you make your way to the sitting room," "Thank you," Harry said and before the elf disappeared he wished him a Merry Christmas, "Lets go shall we?" The left the room wrapped in their nightgowns they walked along the royal green carpet with its red trimmings, the pattern of mistletoe as they walked on. Upon reaching the sitting room they saw everyone was already there, wide eyed and beaming, "Come on sleepy heads, we've been waiting for you," Fred said to them by way of Christmas greeting, "Sleepy heads." Ron grumbled, "We didn't sleep a wink," "Well let's cure that sleepiness," Elwyn spoke up, as he gathered up the first gift and handed it to Godric, then one to Harry, then Dumbledore, Hermione, and each of the Weasley's, Mrs Weasley flustered red as she unwrapped an expensive bottle of Never- Emptying-Perfume, and put some on while she repeated again and again that Elwyn "really shouldn't have" Hermione had been given a very large book, and her eyes grew larger then Galleons when she saw it, "You can't get these in Britain, thank you!" Elwyn's eyes were now on Harry whom had just unwrapped the most peculiar gift, it was a model dragon with a little golden whistle on a chain, "Oh, Harry," Mrs Weasley gasped as she leaner over the box it was in, Harry lifted the dragon out and placed it in front of him, it was small and green, and had a huge smile on its face, its wings were up, as if preparing for flight, "Thank you Elwyn," Harry smiled, although at the time he had no idea what the whistle was for, After all the gifts had been unwrapped and the room was full of Christmas wrapping Harry was in the highest spirits he had ever been in, not that Ron was incredibly Happy. Fred and George had given him a cream cake that blew up in his face, covering him in cream, Mrs Weasley gave them a good telling off, and Harry couldn't help but laugh. "Please come now," Elwyn stood sweeping through the wrapping paper, "Breakfast is being served in the dining room for anyone who would like some breakfast," Everyone forwarded off to the dining room but Harry, Ron and Hermione stayed back by the enormous Christmas tree, Hermione was deeply immersed in the book Professor Emerindyl had given her, while Harry and Ron were inspecting the dragon model, "Did you see your mum, when I opened it?" Harry said to Ron as they both lay on their stomachs on the ground looking at the model, "Yeah, maybe this is one of those, more-then-it-seems, kinda things huh?" Ron ran his finger down the Dragons wing, "Its feels like clay to me," "I wonder what this is for?" Harry held up the whistle, it was on a chain, gold like the whistle, it was small and looked something like a muggle dog whistle. The kind Aunt Marge used to call her dogs at feeding time. He lifted the whistle to his lips and blew as hard as he could, but no sound came out, "Maybe it is a dog whistle?" Ron screwed his face up at Harry but Harry wasn't looking back at him, "Where's my dragon?" Harry said looking around, it was no longer on the ground in front of him, he and Ron stood, Hermione was so deeply immersed in her book that she payed them no attention. "It was just here." Ron looked and then suddenly he screamed, "HARRY DUCK!!" He and Ron hit the ground as the space where their heads were filled with fire. Looking up, a little object shot quickly through the air and around behind the Christmas tree, "What was that?" Hermione spoke up, finally being drawn away from her book, which she was now clutching tightly in her hand, They all slowly rose and looked around again. An object came flying out from behind the Christmas tree and flew straight into Ron's face, this time Ron hit the ground, he had been knocked out, "Ron?" Harry said stirring him but he didn't move. The thing that hit him was no where to be seen, but Harry was sure he could hear something snickering, Hermione was turning slowly when something caught Harry's eye, a small red glow, then Hermione shrieked as a flame shot towards her, she lifted her book to shield her as Harry hit the carpet again. She squealed again and through the book to the ground stomping on it so as not to allow the wrapping paper to burn also, "My book," she said with a teardrop as she leant down looking at the charred pages of her gift, it had been completely ruined, "Hermione, look out its coming back!" Harry shouted, This time Hermione glanced up, "You'll pay for that!" she said swinging up an oversized candy cane and impacting with the object sending it flying backwards it hit the wall and fell to the ground, Hermione dropped the candy cane, which was now broken and walked slowly to the object. Harry came up behind her, hearing her gasp, "Is that a." Hermione trailed off, behind them was a groan and Ron stumbled up behind them. Harry starred at the creature; it sat up and started rubbing its eyes, "Whoa!" Harry heard Ron say behind him, and the creature on the ground suddenly became aware of their presence, it stood on all fours and the reared up on its hind legs and spread its wings roaring, "Its alive?" Hermione looked at Harry. "Yes, and if you ever make that noise again I'll do more then burn a book," the little dragon spoke. Harry couldn't believe what he was seeing or hearing, "What sound?" Harry said, as the dragon flew up and rested on the coffee table rubbing its ears. Harry Ron and Hermione sat on the long lounge and leant towards it, "What noise?" Harry repeated himself, The dragon walked over to Harry and grabbed the whistle from his hand; "You only need light pressure, like so," the dragon placed the whistle in its mouth and blew slightly. Harry heard nothing, but what he saw explained a few things; the dragon turned to stone, back in the position it was in when Harry first saw it, Harry and Ron stared at the Dragon and both said at the same time, "Cool,"
* A week later the Weasley's, and Hermione were still in Australia, Dumbledore had returned to Hogwarts as the new Term had begun, Mrs Weasley wasn't too pleased about allowing her children to miss the first week of the first term, but Dumbledore had insisted. And it wasn't until Ron, Ginny and the twins promised to work extra hard when they did return to school, that Mrs Weasley smiled and allowed it.

Alex and Arthur, Harry soon discovered, were Godric two best friends, and they also hung about for the days after Christmas, "New Years parties are even more fun then Christmas," Godric was saying as he led his two friends, along with Harry Ron and Hermione down the side of the mountain, Elwyn's house was on, "New years always arrives with a bang," Godric grinned, Arthur stopped just ahead of them and slumped all the gear he had been carrying onto the ground, "Brooms?" Hermione saw Arthur had dropped three brooms, "I didn't know we were supposed to bring a broom," Hermione looked at Harry and Ron, whom were both carrying brooms of their own, "Er. sorry," Harry apologised, "Godric came and told us this morning and I guess I kinda forgot to tell you," Hermione pulled a face of disgust, and turned crossing her arms, Harry smiled and turned to Ron, "Brydie, Hyperion and Mezentius should be here soon," "What?" Harry turned looking annoyed, "What did you invite them for?" he looked positively pissed off, "What?" Harry replied, "Ahoy!" came a shout from above they looked up to see Hyperion, Mezentius and Brydie hovering above them on brooms, Brydie was holding a long package under her arm, and was beaming down at Harry,
The three landed and Brydie walked over to Harry, Harry saw Hyperion had gotten his new Lightspeed 3000 and had a little air freshener tree dangling from the front of it. Harry grinned, "Hermione didn't bring a broom, we're going to have to go back and get her one," Harry said to them, glancing seeing Mezentius was riding a Nimbus 2000. "Oh no, you wont need to," Brydie said as she handed Harry a long package, "I was going to mail it, but seeing I was going to see you today I thought, why not," Harry held the page. Large and long as it was it weighed nothing, he glanced down and saw Brydie was also riding a Lightspeed 3000 and a smile crossed his face, he unwrapped the broom and fell over in shock, "I cant take this, these cost a fortune," Harry stared at the broom, Brydie had given him a Lightspeed 3000, "Look, call it a loan, my father told me that these are illegal in Britain, I'll have to leave mine at school when I got home for the rest of the Holidays, my parents are here with the rest of the family for now, but we'll be going back soon," Brydie smiled, "So its not really a Christmas present as such, just on loan until you return to Hogwarts, "Sure bribe him with fancy gifts," Ron muttered under his breath, everyone gave him a sidewards glance, Harry looked down at his Firebolt, a gift from his god-father, he felt bad about trading it in for a Lightspeed, but seeing that it was just on loan, he thought, 'why not' and handed his Firebolt to Hermione. Again Rom stared in protest, "Ok," Godric finally spoke up, "We're playing Energy Ball - you know the rules?" Harry, Brydie, Hyperion, Mezentius, Arthur, and Alex all nodded, Hermione and Ron shook their heads, "Good," Godric smiled, not having seen Ron and Hermione, "We'll go three to a team," Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and nodded, "We'll be green, Brydie you lot be blue, Harry do you mind being red?" "As long as its Gryffindor red," Harry winked and smiled back at Hermione and Ron, "No worries," Godric smiled as he Alex and Arthur boarded their brooms and zoomed out of site, Brydie, Hyperion, and Mezentius did the same, "What do we do?" Ron looked at Harry, "Ok," Harry smiled, "We have to shoot them with red energy balls, here put these on," Harry gave them some vests, "If your going to be hit try to get hit on your vest, other wise the hit will burn. a little. Of course the aim is not to get hit," Harry winked as he boarded his broom, "Now follow me," he shouted and the three of them took off,

They flew along through the air, Harry having to pull his broom back so Hermione and Ron could keep up, "What do we do?" Hermione shouted forward, "Keep and eye out, if they see us first they'll duck up from behind and shoot you," Harry said but no sound came to him, turning he saw Hermione and Ron both on the ground over one hundred feet below. "Oh no," Harry zoomed down to the ground and shook them, "What happened?" the two of them stood rather dazed, "Are you ok, you fell from pretty high," "I didn't feel the ground at all when I landed," Hermione said standing, both she and Ron had blue energy ball marks on their vests, "Come on, they're around here somewhere," Harry said as the three mounted their brooms and zoomed up again, "Keep close to the ground," Ron shouted forward, "I see one," Ron grinned as he shot around to the right away from Harry, Harry suddenly had an idea, "Hermione, come up the end," Hermione winked, she now understood what they were about to do. Harry shot around to the left; the three from the blue team were ahead of them and were stupidly bunched together. Hermione shot up behind them and Harry finally made sound as they closed in, "Now!" Harry shouted and the three started pelting red energy balls at Brydie Hyperion and Mezentius, whom laughed and screamed as they attempted to cover themselves, the three fell of their brooms, their vests looking to have become red with dye. Harry watched, the ground liquefied as the three landed, and they looked up at Harry, Ron and Hermione laughing. "You sneaky little," Brydie said as she laughed staring up at the sky, "Ok you got us," she said checking her vest for any part that did not have red on it, "Nope, I'm dead, she looked at the other two. Harry was happy to see that Hyperion wasn't at all pleased about loosing to three novice players. Mezentius grinned up at them and winked at Harry, "Have you seen the green team?" Harry asked down to them, The three on the ground shook their heads, "Ok, thanks," Harry said as he turned and the three of them shot off again, "Where could they be?" Hermione shouted forward, "They wont be very easy to find, they're wearing green,"

Ron shouted to her, Harry glanced around as he was flying, he knew that Godric and his two friends all had the same broom as Harry, and could be flying around them now at such a speed so they were not seen, Suddenly the three of them stopped, each having been hit in the stomachs by a green energy ball, this pushed them all backwards on their brooms but they all kept grip. They all stayed where they were and looked around slowly. And then Harry was hit again in the back; he spun around, but could see nothing, "Come on," Harry shouted and the three were off, "Heighten your speed," he shouted and the three of them pulled their bodies in as close to their brooms as possible as they zoomed around at the highest speed the Nimbus would allow them, "Split up!" Ron said, "You can go faster without me," Hermione looked at Ron then forwards at Harry, and they all split. Harry shot around until Hermione and Ron were no where in slight, he zoomed back to where the blue team had been shot down, they weren't there anymore, shooting down close to the ground Harry zoomed along the surface and headed into the bush, zooming slowly through the trees he looked up and saw Ron. Harry was about t shout up at him until Ron was hit in the back with a green energy ball. Harry's eyes focused straight onto the origin of the energy ball. Godric friend Alex was off his broom on the ground, shooting through a gap in the bushes he was hiding behind, snickering as Ron turned around in the air trying to see what was shooting at him.

Harry grinned and floated slowly up behind Alex, "Hey there," Harry grinned and fired a huge energy ball which covered Alex's vest in red markings, "Hey, that's cheating," Alex, whined, seeing he had been killed with one shot, "So is getting off your broom," a voice came from behind them; Arthur was floating there, "Alex, your out, Harry, if you'd like a head start I suggest you leave. ten seconds ago," Arthur rose his wand but fell forward off his broom as Hermione appeared behind them, "Gotcha," she grinned at Harry as she floated there idly, Harry smiled down at Arthur, his face down into the ground, but his vest only marked with one small shot, he'd be up again soon. Ron landed behind Harry; he looked down at the red covered Alex, who was pouting, "Excuse me Alex?" Hermione asked the grumpy child, "In this game, are we allowed to take living hostages?" Alex nodded slowly, and a grin spread across Hermione's face, "I have a plan,"

Harry, Ron and Hermione were waiting behind a bush not far from Arthur, they stayed on their brooms so Godric couldn't disqualify them and they watched silently, they had locked Arthur in a cage made entirely of energy. Arthur was stretching through the best he could trying to reach his wand; Hermione had placed his wand just out of reach on the ground, "Strange that they already have their wands," Hermione said to Harry while they waited, "These kids are what? Ten years old?" "They're all eleven," Harry informed her, "Still, their term doesn't start for what. five more weeks, and they already have their wands, and by the wearing on Arthur's they have had them for quite a while," Hermione glanced out, watching Arthur still stretching for his wand, "I think there's more to these kids then we realise," The sun was far in the west and was beginning to disappear behind some mountains at least twenty or more kilometres to the west. Ron groaned as he got off his broom, "Ron don't," Hermione sat up on hers and looked at him, "If Godric sees you, you're disqualified," "I don't care, its painful sitting on a broom all day you know," Ron said as he stood and stretched his back, "You could have done that on your broom," Harry said as he stood while still on his broom and stretched, being careful to keep the broom balanced, "Harry, its late, if Godric hasn't come for us by now then he obviously gave up," Ron told him, he walked out to Arthur, Arthur stood immediately, "Your disqualified," "What?" Ron said staring back, "The game is over, your friend is not coming for you," "The game still plays until only one team is left standing," Arthur said as he sat back down and stared at Ron, "You're disqualified," Harry and Hermione floated out from the trees and hovered next to Ron, "Told ya," Harry grinned, Ron growled and kicked the cage, and turned to Harry, but whatever he was about to say didn't happen as a green; light filled the air. Out of force of Habit, Harry hit the ground, but when he opened his eyes he saw a very green Harry and Ron pulling him up, their hair, skin, and clothing was covered in green. Harry looked up and saw Godric with his arms folded standing by Arthur, "We won," they smiled.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
INFERNO

That evening Ron was very sore towards Godric and his friends, however Hermione was bent on figuring out why they already had wands, and could obviously use them when they were under aged for even owning a wand, "So that was some fancy wand work today" Hermione said to Godric as she, Harry, Godric, and Mezentius sat on the back balcony overlooking a huge garden, there was a pool not far from the back steps and Arthur, Alex, Brydie, Hyperion and Ron had resorted to a water fight to decide the real winners of the days competition, "What fancy wand work? It was only energy ball." Godric smiled watching his friends, "More like a blast, you covered us in one shot," she protested, "Well I've had practice," Godric smiled and looked at her, "Energy ball is a common game in Australia, we play it all the time, you just get good at it as time goes by," "But, why do you have your wands anyway, granted you have school this year, but not for another month, how long have you had your wand for?" Hermione inquired, Godric looked to be thinking calculating in his head and then he answered, "Nine years," Godric smiled as he shouted forward, "Drown him Alex," and ran down the steps and dived into the pool to join the water fight, "Nine years?" Hermione looked at Harry, "He's had his wand longer then us," Mezentius appeared to be watching without wishing to say a word, Harry noticed this but turned to him for an answer and then stood, "You two can talk about it, Ron's getting creamed," Harry laughed looking down seeing Alex and Godric dive into Ron and push him under the water, "See ya's" he wandered off toward the pool and jumped in,
Harry thought it was fun, his two friends from home were getting along with his Australian friends ad for once he really enjoyed himself without having to worry about something that was really of no importance at all.
* As promised, New Years was amazing, more fireworks then the Quidditch final, and more cheerful then Christmas had ever been everyone was quite cheery on New Years eve, Harry suspected this was greatly due to the fact that just about everyone (children under eighteen years excluded) had consumed too much of Elwyn's specially made Wizard spritzers, and most all of them were telling each other how much they were absolutely smitten with them, before eleven o'clock.

Harry had retreated from the adults with all the other people his age that had parents wining and dining with Elwyn Emerindyl. Harry discovered that half the students at Koalingo had parents that were in Elwyn's circle of friends, which wasn't surprising, Harry had known him to be someone who would easily get along with many people, and knew his circle of friends would be more of a spherical world of them.
Harry was happy to be able to introduce Ron and Hermione to as many people as he could. Although Hermione had managed to become quite uncomfortable with a Ruberagon that had introduced himself as one very good looking young man, Ron had decked him before the night was over. And Harry's Emerindyl friends saw Ron as some king of hero, and had decided that 'Pom's' weren't all that bad, in fact a few actually told Ron and Hermione that they would come and visit them some day, this was probably more due to the amount of Butterbeer they had consumed, Australia's own brew. When the week had ended it seemed all to soon for Harry, he knew if he really wanted to he could go back to Hogwarts, but he didn't want to, Koalingo had enchanted him, he knew something was going on and he wanted to figure it out. Hermione and Ron knew this, but it didn't stop them from reminding him about being able to come back to Hogwarts with them, "It might not be very safe at this Australian school now, with the Headmaster retiring and all," Hermione reminded him, giving him back her autograph book, she had added more autograph's to it in her few weeks in Australia, then Harry had in all his six months stay. "Nah, ConDoin runs the AWDF so we really cant be any less safe," Harry replied to her, she wrapped her arms around him and whispered, "I'll miss you Harry," before walking on to the carriage sobbing madly, "Women." Ron screwed his face up; "I'll see you in six months, yes?" "Sure," Harry grinned although he wasn't quite sure his statement was actually going to become true, not at the moment anyway.
Ron walked up to the carriage and jumped in, Mrs Weasley had grabbed Harry in a hug he was quite unready for, he coughed and spluttered flailing his hands as she planted, what seemed like, at least a hundred kisses on his face before wandering off sobbing like Hermione. Mr Weasley, and all the remaining Weasley's said there good bye's and the only person left to say good bye to, was Dumbledore, he beamed at Harry with his usual twinkle in his eye. Harry wasn't sure what he had done that caused Dumbledore to look so happy with him, but he grinned and bared it ass Dumbledore shook his hand and boarded the carriage, Elwyn and Godric joined Harry as they waved the carriage good bye, "He's very proud of you, Harry" Elwyn spoke as the carriage disappeared above the clouds, "Oh?" Harry turned to the professor, not completely understanding, "Who is, sir?" "Albus of course, it takes a lot of courage to go to another country, and school there, especially with all that has happened this year - but to stay on, when you could go home, even with everything that has happened, that is quite courageous of you," Harry looked up into the sky to where he had last seen the carriage, and then turned to say something to Elwyn, but Harry saw he had already made for the house, and was walking through the doorway.
Harry was walking slowly back towards the house, kicking the small stones on the pebbled pathway as he went, he was a little worried of his choice to stay behind, but he knew he had done the right thing, either way, he had made a promise to himself to stay on and see the year through. "Hey Harry, me and the guys are going hiking tomorrow, did you want to join us?" Godric was standing by the doorway as Harry approached, Harry smiled. "Sure,"
* "G'morning Harry," Harry eyes opened to see three boys, Godric, Alex, and Arthur all standing at the end of his bed in hiking gear, all equipped with large backpacks, an by the looks of the fourth sitting on a chair next to Harry's bed, he knew the boys must have stalled as long as they could before having woken him, "It's seven o'clock Harry, we best get started," Godric smiled and led the other two out of the room, Harry sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes, his jet-black hair messier then ever. He climbed out of his bed and pulled his clothes on, followed by the backpack. It was when he exited his room that he saw how impatient the three boys were, "Ok let's go," Alex pushed Harry along the hallways in the direction of the back door, "Can't be too late, must get a wriggle on," "Going to be hot, you better hope the water we packed is enough," Harry heard Arthur say to Godric, whom smiled and replied, "We have plenty," Godric held up his wand and winked, The day was horridly hot already, the sun was high in the blue sky and there wasn't a cloud in sight, "Hope everyone remembered a hat?" Godric pulled a cap out of his backpack and slipped it onto his head, Arthur and Alex followed suit. Harry's face went a slight shade of red, he hadn't thought about needing a hat at all. "Er. might I enquire as to where we'll be going?" Harry spoke up after about an hours clear hiking around and around what didn't appear to be a very big mountain, although with England being as flat as a snooker-table, it was mountain enough. "You'll see when we get there," Godric grinned, and Harry felt slightly annoyed, Their hiking continued for a while more, it seemed weird to Harry but he was positive that they had just been circling and circling the mountain, gradually getting Higher each time, it wasn't until another minute passed that Harry's suspicions were proved truths, "Ok, I'm sick of hiking, shall we just carry on up?" Alex asked in a weird, childish sort of voice. The whole party suddenly turned to face the mountaintop and marched in a straight line towards its bushy summit. Harry didn't dare ask why they had spent half the morning walking in circles around and around the mountain, and with the current mood the three younger Australians appeared to be in, he decided he didn't really want to know. "You'll really like this place Harry, this will be one of the rarer more amazing things to see in Australia - something you might have wished to have had a camera for," Godric informed him as they finally made the summit. The three boys stopped in their tracks, but Harry was interested in the view, it really was magnificent. He had looked halfway around the mountain when suddenly a harsh sound met Harry's ears, "Well stop moving, wont you," Alex snapped suddenly at Harry as if he were doing something he clearly knew he shouldn't be doing. Harry froze of course looking as Alex turned his head back. They stood for a moment, Harry was about to say something to them when he found he couldn't, he couldn't move, speak or hear at all - all he really could do, was stand silent and wonder what was going on, and ten it happened. In a blur the surroundings around him stretched as if he were being sucked into the mountain. Blackness over came Harry as he know realised he could no longer see, what was to happen next came to Harry as quite a shock. SMACK! Harry fell to the ground hardly and looked up to see he was no longer on the mountain, he looked up top see the three boys standing, they each turned to Harry, Arthur helped him up saying, "You get used to it," they each turned and walked into another chamber, "What a brilliant day!" Alex flopped down into something Harry soon discovered to be a three seater lounge, Arthur retreated into an area that looked strangely like a weird sort of kitchen with a wall covered in nothing but taps, he started immediately filling a large glass jug with many different liquids from several of the taps. Harry watched him curiously, but it was Godric, who spoke next, "This is what you needed a camera for," Godric smiled as he stood by a wall that looked to be one large circular window with the cover closed. Godric placed his hand on a sensor pad beside it and it and the window magically became see-through but what a sight it was. Below the mountain, across the small creek past the many paddocks of a local farm and up into the air and there it was, "The Australian Ministry Of Magic," Godric smiled impressively as he walked away from the window and collected a glass of whatever it was Arthur had been brewing up. Harry gazed upon a ghost white castle with lapis-lazuli corner stones, windowsills and rooftops, it was floating on an island in the sky, a mass of land like a cone, it came to a point lower below, the point itself stood on the chimney of one of the houses, many ministry wizards on broomsticks were flying all around the huge castle, coming and going as the pleased Harry watched as a group of no less then a dozen flew from the castle straight for Elwyn's home, another dozen wearing strange red uniforms flying towards the window Harry was at and flying on by. It then hit Harry that they were inside the castle, "Your dad has visitors, Godric - from the ministry," Harry spoke as he gazed in awe that all that was before him, "That's nothing out of the ordinary," Godric smiled walking back to the window and handing Harry a glass of whatever Arthur had concocted, "This window, is made from the same glass used in the making of magical eyes, looking through it we can see anything - even the ministry of magic itself - which has had so many spells put on it for national secrecy that its actually quite hard to tune into, "We've been coming up here since we were young, we used this window to spy on the ministry," Arthur said to Harry as he joined them at the window, "Very peculiar, you appeared around July? August?" Alex said as he climbed off the lounge where he had been laying like some exalted majesty and approached Harry and the other two, "Around that time, the ministry went berserk," "What with all these Guild of Avada attacks and all," Arthur spoke up, "And it all happened around the time, you arrived," "Lay off you two," Harry heard Godric say and turned to see him looking at the other two very sternly, "Its not Harry's fault," Harry now felt very awkward, were these two boys trying to pin Harry for all that had happened, it was true, and he knew that the Guild of Avada had been dormant for quite some time, why exactly had they chosen the moment Harry arrived in the country to carry on with their work? "Well all I said is its pretty weird." Alex said as the four looked back out the window and again another dozen men in red cloaks flew towards and past them on broomsticks, "That's two now," Harry spoke up in an attempt to break the silence, "Two what?" Godric looked at him confused, Alex and Arthur bore the same looks upon their face, sort of puzzled, concerned, yet wondering if Harry was totally bonkers. "Two dozen of those red ministry wizards," Harry spoke out and watched as a third dozen flew their way and carried on passed them. "Thirty-six fire patrol wizards." Arthur started, "Flying in our direction." Alex continued, "Fire," Godric said suddenly as he slapped his hand on the sensor and it closed quickly, "There is a muggle town and then a beach on the other side of the mountain, so the fire brigades wouldn't fly this way unless the fire was close," "I don't understand we didn't see any fires when we walked around the mountain," Harry pulled a befuddled look, "Exactly - and the ministry wouldn't be involved unless it was magical," Godric spoke as Harry found the three boys and himself standing in the room they had arrived in, "Hold on to your stomach," was Godric's last bit of advice before they zoomed out of the little chamber. Appearing back on the top of the mountain smoke was thick and Harry found himself coughing madly almost immediately, "Now we wouldn't have missed this before, we haven't been here very long," Alex choked as he pulled a branch off of the nearest tree and attempted the blow the smoke out of his face, "That's not going to work," Godric drew his wand, "Perflo!" he chanted and a gust of wind shot from his wand twirling around the area sucking up all the smoke before disappearing with a pop. This spell didn't give much relief as the smoke started infiltrating the newly refreshed air quite fast. But it seemed good enough for Godric and Arthur, whom both stood ready with their wands and cast a levitating charm on one another, both lifting off the ground, holding each others wand perfectly aimed they raised above the trees, "Oh my god." is all that came from Godric's mouth as the two landed immediately, "All of the bush along the beach is alight, and the flames lick the mountain even as we speak," "We've got to get out of here," Alex turned and started in the direction of Elwyn's house, "Is that so." spoke a deep and heart piercing voice, "Well forgive me, but that might not happen," The four of them jumped, Harry admittedly more so then the others, a wizard in a blood red cloak, his face shrouded by a hood was standing before them, Godric and Arthur looked ready to draw their wands upon him, Harry made for his wand but with a swift, "Impugnatio!" Harry was unarmed and smashing into the nearest tree, "IMPEDIMENTA!" Arthur and Godric's voices filled Harry's ears, but in the pain of the spell performed on him hadn't seen what happened, he laid his face on the ground looking into the bush, at something far off, like a single red eye. "Are you alright Harry?" Alex kneeled down beside Harry, but Harry had his eyes locked on the red eye not far off, "What's that?" he said dreamily, the after affect of the spell finally hitting him, "What?" Alex turned and looked in the direction Harry was gazing upon, "It's fire," Alex spoke as if he had expected it, "Godric, Arthur, time to go," Harry was still rather dopey as Alex lifted him up supporting him on one side while Godric joined him on the other side, leaving Arthur to levitate the frozen man. "How fast is it approaching," Godric asked Alex as he draped Harry's arm over his shoulders and used it to lift him, "Pretty damn fast, let's move!" Alex told them urgently. Harry felt his feet leave the ground as they each began running down the mountain at full speed towards Elwyn's home, supporting him quite easily for two so much smaller then him. As they ran, Harry started to come through more clearly, things were racing around him, but he soon came to realise that Godric and Alex were the reason everything were racing, they were running much faster then Harry would have expected possible. The fire was beginning to race them as they ran, it wasn't long before the flames were overtaking them and closing in, in front of them. "We're not going to make it out before the trees give way," Alex shouted at Godric, Harry squinted, he was now almost fully returned to his senses, "Like hell we're not," Godric spoke as they stopped, he looked at Arthur, Arthur looked back, Harry would have thought this was a might confusing had he not spent an entire year around telekinetic Ameraid's, both boys pointed their wands at the ground, "Lubrico!" they shouted as they pushed the wizard frozen in his red cloak to the ground and sat on him, the ground suddenly became as slippery as an ice skating rink Arthur in the front they began zooming down the mountain as if they were riding a bobsled down a very wet race track. Harry was sitting up groggily the pain of the spell he was attacked with finally disappearing completely. On they flew down the mountain, overtaking the flames and sliding onward down the green-yellow grass. When they arrived at Elwyn's home it was no less chaotic, they attempted to slow the sliding of their human-craft by casting repelling charms at the nearest landmark, they ended up going into a spin, the four of them shouting for help, no one more then Alex as they ploughed into the wall of an old dairy, causing a large imprint in the wall and quite a few of the boards splintered and shattered like glass, "Boys, there you are!" Professor Arutha ConDoin came striding up the hill towards them; Elwyn's house was a little further down, "What's that you're sitting on?" "It's a Guild of Avada person," Alex said as he jumped off of the figure excitedly and levitated it into a standing position. Arthur leant up against the broken wall silently and Godric was helping Harry to his feet. "You stupid boy, that is not a member of the Guild of Avada," Arutha approached the figure, "Finite Incantatem," The figure suddenly flopped into Arutha's arm, he caught the person before they fell and drew back the hood, revealing the fainted face of a woman, "This is a fire fighter, thanks to you four, we've one less on that mountain preventing this entire mountain from going up in smoke," Harry was now standing on his own two feet and taking this in rather shocked, he had nothing to do with the woman's misfortune, Godric must have heard Harry's thought as h said, "But she attacked Harry first, before we did anything to her," "But Harry did draw out his wand," Arthur spoke, still leaning on the wall of the damaged building, "She may have thought we were Avada," Arthur didn't move nor did he change his mood in the slightest, Godric exchanged looks with Arthur, Harry could see that if the two were speaking telepathically then Godric was most definitely telling Arthur off, not that Arthur appeared to exchange any care for it, "Well. its not important for now, I'll take her place," Arutha tapped the witch in the red cloak on the head and she disappeared, "Now, I believe Godric's father is looking for the four of you, go there immediately and don't get sidetracked," Arutha's eyes fell upon Godric and Alex in particular. Arutha then disappeared with a small pop. "Come on, before Elwyn chews us out too," Arthur lead the way down the mountain, "As if he would," Alex trotted along beside them, When they reached Elwyn's home there were house elves running everywhere along with many wizards and witches Harry didn't know, Godric stopped the nearest one, "What's going on?" he asked the person, but an answer came from somewhere else, "We're evacuating," Elwyn was walking towards them in his usual large green and gold robes, "Evacuating? But you could stop this with a click of your fingers," Alex spoke to him utterly befuddled, "No, not quite, Harry your things have been collected if you'd like to go check through it all and make sure nothing has been forgotten. Harry took this as a request for Elwyn and the three boys to have some privacy; he nodded and walked ff in the direction pointed. Of course all of his things had been brought from his room, all of his Christmas gifts as well as the large array of clothing Elwyn had placed in his room. Hedwig was going berserk in her cage when she saw Harry, "Its ok," he whispered soothingly and petted her through the cage, fishing through his things he found a pouch of owl treats and slipped a few through the cage to her, A roar came from the mountain, Harry looked up to see Arutha was floating at least 50 feet above the ground, without the support of a broom, shooting blasts of blue energy from his sword, it must have held some kind of water quality as the fire would retreat from wherever it hit, "Quickly everyone the fire approaches," Elwyn spoke and Harry looked back in his direction, the three boys were gone and a carriage arrived. Harry's things suddenly disappeared from beside him; he turned to see house elves loading it all onto the carriage that had just arrived. Elwyn was standing at the door of the carriage, beckoning Harry towards it, "Time for us to leave, I think" Elwyn said as Harry took one more glance at the mountain and stepped onto the carriage, and with the usual pounding sensation as the carriage took to the air, it wasn't long before it became apparent to Harry that they were being pulled by Melinda, Elwyn's Romanian Longhorn. Harry looked out of the window of the carriage; the earth below was devastated much of the surrounding land around the mountain was charred black and the top of the mountain was still burning ragingly blue beams of energy blasting here and there, "Where are we going?" Harry asked Elwyn curiously, "Mr Fumbleknot's parents have offered to have you stay with them for the remainder of the holidays, do you mind?" Elwyn looked slightly embarrassed, like he had made a decision for Harry that he wasn't sure he'd be pleased with, "Oh, of course not," Harry answered him feeling slightly pleased to tell the truth, "They are muggles, but as are most of the muggles I know, they are also quite friendly - I'm sure your stay with them will be a good one," Elwyn told him sitting back in his seat and closing his eyes, "It will be a long flight, best sleep it away,"

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SUMMER'S END

"I got my own Quidditch Pitch with training sessions every holidays with the Wollongong Warriors," Hyperion was saying very smugly to a group of soon-to-be-sorted first years as they all waited at the train station at Corowa. "Muggles are so dim," Brydie sighed as she leaned on the yellow cream coloured brick wall of the station, "You think they'd notice a bunch of kids showing up all on one day, at a crabby old train station that would hold no fascination to any people our age," "Well it is a tourist information centre now. do you think it fazes them that a bunch of non-locals are crowding around it?" Mezentius looked at her and then back at his reading, Harry's summer with the Fumbleknot's had been a great time of winding down, he felt one with it all, the muggle ways of doing everything, and electricity, what a fascinating tool it was. "What time do you think ConDoin will show up?" Brydie looked across the green lawns surrounding the front of the station, "He'll miss the dragon wont he?" "Maybe he knows something we don't," Mezentius dropped his bag on the ground next to him and slid down the brick wall until he was sitting on the ground, Brydie looked at him confusedly, "Well nothing else is happening," he shrugged, "Usually they are herding everyone up around now and making sure there aren't any muggles around," Hyperion joined them, it seemed he, for once, was concerned about being late for school, Harry looked out onto the lawns where everyone else's attention seemed to have drifted to, "What are they looking for?" Harry whispered to Brydie "Well ConDoin lives in Corowa, its strange that he's not here already," she screwed her face up slightly, "Maybe he got fired, its common knowledge that no one likes him - maybe he got burned to death in that fire at HmE's" Brydie laughed, (HmE, sounding Hache-Em-Ee, Harry had discovered was the name that people seemed to use when regarding Headmaster Emerindyl in casual conversation) "You should never say things like that," Harry spoke up, remembering when he and Ron had been caught in their second year, saying such things about Snape. "Why?" Brydie screwed her nose up, "Well no one does like him," "You just shouldn't you never." Harry started "You never know who might be listening in," Arthur appeared from behind Harry, "Hey Harry," "Hey Arthur," Harry spoke, watching Brydie's eyes widened as she looked at the ground her eyes going no where else, "Professor ConDoin asked me to tell some of the older kids that the dragon has been delayed - you have at least two hours of free time," Arthur's eyes flashed in Brydie's direction as he turned, "See you later, Harry" he walked off slowly, "Now don't you feel stupid," Mezentius smirked at Brydie. Harry and Hyperion burst out laughing and Brydie gave Mezentius a look of distaste. The students began departing from the area immediately, Mezentius closed his book and stretched, his backbone crackling a few times, "Well I'm not hanging around, lets go to Diamond Alley and grab some lunch," "Diamond Alley?" Harry looked at Mezentius, whom laughed, "You'll see," he smiled Harry, Brydie, Mezentius, and Hyperion gathered their things and started walking slowly through the town, just about all of the muggles they saw were middle-aged and older, "This place is creepy, where are all the kids?" Brydie looked from side to side as they walked on, "Maybe ConDoin caught them all and turned them into adults," Hyperion joked, Harry couldn't help but smiled, and by the looks of it neither could Mezentius, They walked on about a kilometre before they came back to the train tracks, "I thought we were leaving the train tracks?" Harry wondered looking right and left along the tracks, there was a high wire fence in front of them that ran around an area the looked to be private property. "How do we get in?" Harry asked as he pulled on the gate, it merely rattled the sounds of metal and didn't budge, "Honestly Harry, have you never heard of the materialisation spell?" Brydie took her wand and tapped the fence a number of times before the fence shimmered, she walked straight through it, Harry had to look twice but then he remembered it must work exactly like the entrance to platform nine and three quarters, "Well hurry up its not going to stay open all day," Brydie spoke irritated, Harry seemed to come back to earth as he noticed Brydie, Mezentius, and Hyperion were already on the other side of the fence, he quickly followed and watched as the fence became solid again, turning around he saw the other three had started towards a small faded terracotta shack not far from them, hit had a rusted tin roof and looked to be more then a hundred years old, although it could have just had one hell of a beating in some sort of short life span, Harry wasn't sure. Mezentius got to the small shack first and opened the door, it looked boarded up but opened as smoothly as if it had been constantly oiled to keep it in good condition. Brydie, Mezentius and Hyperion walked into the small building and Harry watched them disappear into darkness, he guessed it must have been under the same spell as Brydie's house, and that when he stepped in he would enter a brilliant building like the muggle shopping centre he had gone to with Elwyn and Godric just before Christmas. He stepped forward bracing himself he stepped in with his eyes closed and opened them as he closed the door behind him, "Harry its dark enough in here with your eyes opened," Brydie poked him in the ribs, he opened his eyes t see nothing more then the inside of a tiny little shack type building, "Where's Diamond Alley?" Harry looked at them in the dark, thinking something must have gone wrong, but with the irritated look on Hyperion's face Harry knew he was just displaying his ignorance again, "Turn around and open the door, Harry," Mezentius told him. Harry thought this was a very peculiar request but as was most of the things he was asked to do in the wizardry world, Harry turned and opened the door he had just entered through, but then. was it the same door? It certainly didn't lead to the place Harry and the others had just come from. No sunlight shone in this area but many many glow-worms, just like the roof in the Golden Hall at Koalingo. And just like the Golden Hall at Koalingo, Harry now found himself standing in a cave, pieces of gold decorating the walls, there were sounds up ahead but the area looked like no more then a mine shaft, an old carnosine lantern was burning on a hook, "Whose holding up traffic," an angry voice came from behind the four, Harry turned to see Malvado and some other Ruberagons standing behind Brydie, Mezentius and Hyperion, "Sorry," Harry sank off to the side but it didn't stop Malvado from elbowing Harry on his way past, the other Ruberagons laughed as he did so and followed him along into the mine. "Never mind him, he's just grumpy because his father wants to take him out of Koalingo this year," Hyperion laughed, "Can you believe it? He is scared that Malvado will get hurt by the Guild of Avada, what a laugh, he seems to think the Guild is going to make a try for the castle," "My parents were saying that to," Brydie spoke as she started along the shaft Malvado and the other Ruberagons had disappeared down a moment before, "They didn't want me coming to Koalingo this year, they seem to think that without Elwyn the school is not safe," "Without who?" Hyperion called forward confused, seemingly interested, "Elwyn Emerindyl, you do know he's not returning to Koalingo this year?" Mezentius answered for her, "No." Hyperion spoke in an almost-whisper They walked on for a little bit until they arrived in another tunnel so cavernous, that the dark ceiling just made it look like the night-sky and no one, unless told, would have known it was actually a cave. All of the shops had lanterns hanging out front of them. If Harry ever ventured around Diagon Alley at night, this is what he would have pictured it as looking like. "Hot dogs?" Brydie pointed at a cart being pushed along by a young man with pale skin, "No, I want to get a pie," Hyperion complained, "Have you tasted an Aussie meat pie yet, Harry?" Harry shook his head, of course he had eaten meat pies before, but it had finally hit him that he hadn't had an Australian one, "Oh, poor lad, best damned muggle food you can get," Hyperion pointed at a bakery not far down, Mezentius shrugged, "I can get a salad roll I guess," "Ok, bakery it is," Brydie smiled and lead them on. Harry noticed that the shops here were nothing like the ones in Diagon Alley, there seemed to be a vaster array of goods about the place, and spacious, the pathways were not nearly as crowded as Diagon Alley would have been the morning before the students went back to school at the beginning of the year, although there were many more people about, then Harry had ever seen in Diagon Alley. The pathways here were much wider and upon a glance it wouldn't seem as if there were as many. There was much whispering going on when they entered the bakery, Harry strained but only heard a few words, "Avada" "AWDF" "attack" although this in itself was enough to tell him what they were talking about. Hyperion was the first of them to say something, "Everyone seems so bent on something happening this year, absolute and utter bull." "Can I get you anything dears?" a plump woman with very rosy cheeks appeared behind a glass display counter, cutting Hyperion's words short. The display counter in front of them was filled with all kinds of scrumptious looking cakes and pastries, Harry was tempted to order more then a pie, but Brydie seemed to be thinking ahead as she ordered a mass of white paper bagged packages and lead them away to a table in the middle of the bakery customer area. "There will be trouble, trouble I tell you, I didn't send my Audrey to Koalingo this year, she's going to the state wizardry school, not as good a reputation, mind you, but its never been attacked," an old man was squabbling to a group of his mates, they all looked very rough around the ears and were wearing overalls, looking more like muggles then like wizards, "Stupid adults," Hyperion mumbled to himself, "With more people thinking like that it will ruin Koalingo," "But that's exactly the way the Guild want people thinking," Mezentius spoke as he joined them, he hadn't entered the bakery with them, having gone to a vegetarian restaurant across the street for his lunch, he had turned off meat during the holidays when Harry had insisted on a tour around the muggle town Mezentius' family lived in and they found out how sausages were made, "The more people they turn away from the school the less they have to worry about when they have their ultimate attack," Mezentius' eyes flashed like someone whom had been telling a scary story, "That's crap, they are all just wimps, my father doesn't care a bit, " Hyperion spoke snobbishly, "He knows we are all perfectly safe and that the Guild of Avada is nothing more then a group pf primitive idiots," Harry caught Brydie's eye, she was giving Hyperion a scathing look, "Well whatever happens I suggest we're all on our feet this year, not only the Guild of Avada, but having ConDoin as Headmaster" Mezentius raised his eyebrows as he spoke, "Things are going to be very awkward at school this year, very awkward indeed," "Things will be even more awkward for you four if you miss the dragon," a deep dark voice spoke as they all turned looking up seeing a face that made Hyperion jump to his feet, "Father," Hyperion straightened his hands to his side, The man gazed straight faced across them all, "What are you doing here in Diamond Alley, Hyperion, the dragon should have left by now," "It's been delayed," Hyperion told his father, while Brydie looked straight at Harry and mouthed 'It's him'
It was in fact the same man that had been at the final Quidditch match at the end of last semester. He hadn't been very polite to them, then, either, "Delayed? The man runs a school one morning and already he is having problems, well I might give him a hand, collect your things I am escorting you all back to the train station," he stared around them, Brydie opened her mouth ready to say something, but by the look Mezentius was giving her, Harry was sure he was telepathically tell her to zip it, and she closed her mouth in silence, standing gathering up her white paper bags, "But father, Malvado and his friends." "Are not your concern, Hyperion, get moving" "Yes sir."
When they arrived back at the train station they were the only ones there, they all stood silently together making no noise and hoping, for the first time ever, that Professor ConDoin would arrive soon. When a crowd began to pick up, Harry, Mezentius, and Brydie were able to slip away from Hyperion and his father, leaving Hyperion were he was - standing stiff as a British Guard. "That man is so. Grrr." Brydie mock-growled in anger, "We could be on our way back now happily with more then we managed to get in that short visit, horrid man." "You lot came back early," Malvado sneered when he and his friends arrived back, last of course, "What happened, did you not behave yourself? Somebody dob you in for getting up to no good? That's a pity, we had a blast," Malvado grinned and walked off with his Ruberagon cronies, "Ok everyone, when you're ready," called a calm, friendly female voice no one had expected, Hyperion's father removed his hat to the Mrs ConDoin, whom, as Harry understood it, would be teaching under the name of Professor Gardiner, she was standing with the door open to the station, "Forward through to the platform everybody, single file don't rush," she smiled at them kindly as they all walked through casually, Harry watched as Arthur walked past his mother without even looking at her, she glanced at him, but it was a casual glance, no different to any she'd give any of the other students. "Time to go I guess," Mezentius spoke picking up the bundle of papers he had been scribbling on all morning and stuffing them into a black leather folio folder and pushed it under his armpit. "What about our trunks?" Harry asked turning just in time to see them seep into the wall of the old train station as if the wall was made of a liquid, Harry shrugged accepting this as he Mezentius, Brydie and Hyperion walked in, "Geez, sorry about that, guys, Malvado must have put him up to it," Hyperion apologised for his fathers actions. The four of them walked along the platform, Harry saw markings along the ground, and people walked across the markings disappearing into thin air. Harry assumed that their transport was invisible, but as he stepped onto the same area Brydie Mezentius and Hyperion had, he understood why. Dragon drawn carriages, at least three- hundred in all were hovering around the sky above Corowa, all invisible, Harry now understood that the windows of the carriage he was in must have been made of the same glass Godric, Arthur, and Alex had in their mountain club house. "What time do you expect we'll arrive?" Hyperion grumbled as he slouched into one of the carriage benches, Harry sat down beside Brydie surprised to see that benches that looked so uncomfortable could be so comfortable, he sat back into the bench, relieved to be sitting down after their two-kilometre walk to and from Diamond Alley, especially after Hyperion's father had literally marched them back. "In an hour maybe. shouldn't be much more," Mezentius spoke quietly, Harry realised Mezentius had his parchment out again and was scribbling madly as he looked out the windows, "I'm not looking forward to Defence Against Dark Arts this afternoon," Mezentius said as he closed his folio and pushed it back under his arm, "He'll have our marks for the half yearly's" "We have classes on the first day?" Harry looked at him surprised, "Well they aren't really classes, Harry" Hyperion pointed out, "More like class meetings with our teachers to find out our marks, or in the case of every other grade, they'll be the time is used to talk about their last year report cards, and for the first years to meet all of the teachers," "So we get our marks from the professors in class?" Harry was worried, he didn't fancy his chances of good marks, he had been surprised at the level of work the Australians were taught at, and found a lot of the work challenging, but not impossible. "Well, yeah - we should have gotten report cards in the holidays, but we don't get them mid year so we didn't get them, but the rest of the school would have," Mezentius smiled, "We don't get mid-year report cards so our parents don't freak if we're lagging, Professor Emerindyl always said they were reminders to us personally, it was up to us to better ourselves. like a wake up call if we're doing bad," "My dad was fuming, he was expecting a report card during the holidays, I tried to tell him that they had reorganised the year and that I'd get one half way through the year but he wouldn't believe me," Brydie grimaced, "My Dad didn't notice I didn't get a report card," Mezentius said slowly, "My father did, he wanted to compare Malvado and me, and wasn't very happy when we gave him the letter for Emerindyl about no report cards," Hyperion muttered, Brydie's eyes widened, "You got a letter? I didn't," "Oh wait." Hyperion jumped up, climbed down onto the floor pulling his trunk out from under his seat where he began rummaging through it, "Here ya go," he smiled and handed Brydie a perfectly pressed envelope, "Was supposed to give it to you at the end of term. last term." Brydie took the letter and then smiled stupidly, "Trust an Emerindyl."

As they approached the castle the golden flags were flying high at the tips of each of the five towers, banners also hung along the colonnade that lead from the coaches to the Entrance Courtyard. Harry walked on with enormous warmth about him, the place was literally shining from the blazing sun above, but it wasn't hot even in the slightest. As they approached the huge steps, which were more like a large grand stand, they saw the professors, all smiling, standing in a group at the base of the steps, Professor ConDoin no where to be seen, "Holy." Hyperion swore as he raised a shaking hand to the door above the steps, "Look." he struggled but managed to say, "Professor ConDoin," Harry, Brydie and Mezentius turned looking to where Hyperion was pointing, and there was professor ConDoin, in a large cloak that must have been very hot. It was much different to his usual cloak, much like a red version of Professor Emerindyl's usual robes. Hyperion burst into laughter, Harry could see what he found funny, Professor ConDoin did not suit these robes, not even in the slightest, however he had no desire to laugh, seeing Brydie and Mezentius found nothing funny either. "What a try-hard, he looks so. ouch!" Hyperion suddenly grabbed his ribs as a small first year walked by him, elbowing him hard, but without looking obvious, "Hi Harry,"

"Hello Arthur" The four of them, Hyperion walking funnily, walked into the centre so they were sitting in their house groups, but still next to one another. They watched as Professor ConDoin walked down to the front. Harry heard some whispers of surprise and confusion, Professor ConDoin looked as if he were quite ready to cure this mystification. "Quiet," he said quietly, and everything died down slowly to the point where only the wind blowing the banners and through the poplars flanking the garden paths, could be heard, "Welcome to beginning of another year at Koalingo Academy," Professor ConDoin's lips curled into a smile, but no one shared this smile, Harry noted that Professor Gardiner was the furthest teacher away from Professor ConDoin, "For any of you whom don't have parents in the exclusive rings you will need to note that Lord Emerindyl will not be returning this year as Headmaster of Koalingo," There was a slight rise in conversation as people started gossiping about possible reasons as to why Elwyn wouldn't be back. "Quiet." Professor ConDoin spoke in a deep rumble, everything slowly came to silence again and Professor ConDoin continued, "This will not be the only change to Koalingo staff this year, we have a new Divination Professor, a new Flying Professor, and of course new professors to take the classes Professor Emerindyl once taught - I will leave it to you to introduce yourselves during class time, which begins." Professor ConDoin lifted a pocket watch in front of him looking at it with no emotion in his face he closed it and said, "Now - you may move off," The Professors all turned and headed slowly in different directions, the students following, them, "What first?" Brydie asked as they started up the large steps, "Shouldn't the first years be getting sorted?" Harry said as he watched the first years that had started off in the opposite direction, "No, to stop any professors from getting bias first opinions on the students they aren't sorted until after they meet all their teachers, Harry thought this might have been a good idea back when he begun, he knew Snape only hated Gryffindors because they were Gryffindors, "My name, is Professor Darkmoon, I will be your Charms Professor," a tall dark looking man was instructing them at the head of the Charms classroom, he had an American accent and a sinister appearance about him that made the hairs on Harry's neck stand on end, "I don't imagine you have done anything in the field of Charms that I will be teaching, however I will give you a fair chance and nothing more, I will not go into detail today seeing you have other teachers to meet, but I must tell you now, I do not appreciate tardy students and will not hesitate to punish those whom do not follow the rules," Harry couldn't help but feel this speech was aimed solely at the Emerindyl students, he was sure this was another Ruberagon Professor, ConDoin had obviously hired a full set of staff he liked, because they were like him. "Oh and Emerindyl's I have been asked to inform you that leniency on your latency to class has been shunned by the new Headmaster, your all to be out of bed at the same time as every other house, and not be late for anything," Professor Darkmoon was looking straight at Harry, "Also the class schedule has been changed, you will now class six periods a day, and must be out of bed and eaten breakfast by eight in the morning, when your first class will begin," "Pigs Ass!" Brydie burst out at Professor Darkmoon, Harry felt a jolt, he knew she was going to say something like this, and wasn't sure if she was hoping to be on good terms with this Professor, "You cant expect us to get used to that in a heart beat, the school has run on that timetable for all the four years we've been here," Harry was shocked, but saw Mezentius speak up as well, "It would seem your not happy with the decision, however you may wish to consider the consequences," Professor Darkmoon raised his wand and with a short blast little rolled up scrolls shot out at every student in the class, "This is a list of the new rules set in place, as long as you comply, I promise you we'll all get along just fine,"

"Ok, herbology! Who can tell me what its about," Professor Gardiner was standing at the front of the green house, with a large smile and rosy red cheeks, the students were all crowded around now all giving her blank looks. Harry guessed these were blank looks bout what they had just heard, not that they didn't know the answer, which Harry thought was so obvious it was ridiculous to answer, "Five points to anyone who says plants," Harry knew she was just trying to get them to become friendly with her, but they were now staring at her with looks of belittlement, "We are. fifth years, you know?" Malvado was the first to speak up, his mouth was half smirked and his eyebrows rose, giving him the look of a sceptic. Harry knew this was Malvado's scepticism as the whether or not this new professor was any good, "Oh I see - five points is not good enough for you?" Professor Gardiner smiled and proceeded in her attempt to teach, she was of course failing dismally, Harry knew she must have just been freezing up. "Er. Professor, we're all late for our next meeting?" Harry held up his wristwatch, "Oh, yes of course, how silly of me, I should have known that walking you all down to the greenhouse would take up a lot of your time," she backed towards the door, "I was going to show you this Tasmanian Tiger trap," she spoke opening the door to the green house, inside was a large plant with a huge looking flower at the top. At first it didn't seem all that amazing, but when a butterfly flew past it, its eyes opened and it snapped the butterfly up in one gulp, burping, whipping its lips with one of its petal hands, and then resuming its position, "Wow" someone said and the group of them bustled into the green house, everyone wanting to feed it something else, Malvado even suggested feeding it Hyperion, but was hit in the head a few moments later by a bouncing bulb.

The next Professor Harry had to meet was the new Divinations mistress, Professor Ngera, he discovered her name to be, she had long silver-white hair, with a flushing pale skin. Harry didn't want to make it obvious, but he thought, for an adult, that she was very beautiful. "My one and only fifth year student," she smiled as he walked to his desk right in front of hers and sat down, "I have your marks for the last semester, very impressive - It seems the Professor held you in high regard among her students of every grade," Harry took his report card from her and looked upon it, there were A's everywhere, and this would have been the best Divination report card he had ever received, "Now, enough with these desks," Professor Ngera stood and gestured for Harry to do the same, with a small sweep of her wand the desks in the room all vanished and now a heap of bean bags sat in there places. Professor Ngera sat into hers as once; Harry joined her on the one he was to use. 'This isn't half bad,' Harry thought to himself as the beautiful Professor Ngera started outlining the terms work,

"Welcome to history of magic," A tall bright faced man stood at the front of the history class he had a very cheerful disposition, with a face that simply glowed, he spoke as if he was on some kind of sugar high and every word he spoke just dripped with excitement, "We are going to have one fantastic year together - studying the ways of the ancient wizardry world," the Professors eyes closed a little as he finished speaking and licked hi lips, "Can you taste that? It's the flavour of knowledge," Harry noticed the Professors whole body appear to quiver as he said 'knowledge' Brydie pulled a weird face at Harry that said simply, 'what is this guy?' Harry made no reaction but looked straight back at the Professor. He started on about the things they would be studying over the semester positively bubbling with excitement, and by the end of the class the Professor still hadn't introduced himself, Harry was tempted to ask, but Brydie kicked him in the shin whispering, "He finally shut up, don't start him again,"

The rest of Harry's teachers were the same ones he had last term, although he had heard a new Junior Defence Against Dark Arts Professor had been hired, although with Harry being classed as a senior it made no difference to his schedule. He guessed Professor ConDoin must have to offload some things, running the school and the Australian Wizardry Defence Force now.
The sorting seemed to be taking ages to happen that night; they had all been gathered into the Golden Hall for it, although nothing appeared to be happening. In fact there were only a few teachers in the seats behind the teacher's desk, which was peculiar considering it was customary to have every teacher present during the sorting. Harry didn't mind though, they had been so busy from the moment they arrived at the school it was a pleasure to be sitting doing nothing for the first time since they arrived.
Another thing that Harry discovered in this time of merrily talking and catching up with other students is that many parents had questioned sending their children to other schools. "My parents wanted me to go to Talsquash instead of Koalingo," Alex was telling Godric and Arthur. Harry, Brydie, Mezentius, and Hyperion were sitting behind them, "Talsquash?" Brydie leant forward, "I've never heard of it, where is it?" "Its here in Australia - I was given a brochure for it and everything, my parents were bent on sending me somewhere else, of course I chose to come to Koalingo, all my friends came here," Alex told her, Brydie sat back in her seat, "I didn't know there was an Aussie school called Talsquash," Mezentius looked up from his ledger that he was again scribbling away madly on, "You didn't look into all the Australian school before you picked one to attend?" Mezentius looked at her, "I read all the brochures for ever school in Australia, this is where I chose," Mezentius looked up around the walls, eyeing the windows that were the only ventilation for the cave- Golden Hall, and then started scribbling away madly in his ledger again. "Well whatever, I like it here anyway" Brydie looked around also, she seemed to be eager for something, it took a moment but Harry soon remembered that the swording ceremony was one of great joy to the students at Koalingo. He remembered his own sorting; it had been very entertaining. The door behind the teacher's desk creaked open and in marched all of the professors, taking their seats immediately. Professor ConDoin however did not come out with the Ruberagon stone and sword as he did on Harry's sorting. Instead he walked out with some of the Professors and took his place in the centre of the teacher's table without any hint of it being an unusual thing for him to do. As if he had done it a hundred times before, The first years were all standing awkwardly in a line along the front of the stage the swords were soon to be brought out on, they all seemed a little overwhelmed at everything, Harry wondered if they were all muggle- borns. "Um. Godric, shouldn't you be up there with the rest of the first years?" Harry leant forward and asked him, Alex and Arthur looked up at the line and then at Godric, the three of them quickly jumped up and joined the line of first years at the very end, all this to the sound of Brydie's laughing. "Silence," Professor ConDoin called and the noise in the hall slowed down until at last it was quiet all bar a few whispers here and there, "First years, in a moment the four sorting swords will be brought out here to sort you." Professor ConDoin went on telling the first years how the swords worked, Brydie was tugging Harry's sleeve he inched closer to her, "What do you think the swords will do this term?" "We'll be lucky if they do anything," Hyperion whispered butting in on the conversation, "You know they don't like doing more work then they should, and they already did a show for Harry," Mezentius of course did not get involved in the conversation, although he wasn't exactly giving everyone the best attention, Harry noticed Mezentius' eyes shooting this way and that as he scribbled more down into his notepad, Harry rolled his eyes at him and turned back shushing Brydie and Hyperion as Professor ConDoin finished and the ceremony begun,
It was Professor Gardiner that came out with the Ruberagon sword and stone; she was dressed in the female version of the clothes Professor ConDoin had warn to Harry's sorting. The four professors walked onto the stage, and just as they did at Harry's sorting they drove the swords into the stones and then took their places at the Professors table by Professor ConDoin. Harry noticed that unlike ConDoin with Elwyn, Professor Gardiner was not sitting on the right hand of Professor ConDoin, but two places down to the left,
When the sword started talking Harry noticed the first years all shivered, they had to be muggle-borns, either that or they hadn't ever seen a talking sword before, which Harry guessed was highly possible as he had never seen one before Koalingo either.
As the swords started singing, Harry, Brydie and the rest of the school started looking at each other, "It's the same chant," "Rip off" "I can't believe this!" "Cheap" Brydie shrugged it off and smiled, she and Harry turned back to watch it, "At least they like it," Brydie jerked her head towards the first years, Harry noticed the looks on the faces of the first years; they looked positively mesmerised, most of them with great shining smiles upon their faces, he understood what Brydie meant.
At last the singing was over and Professor Ngera, whom was on Professor ConDoin's left stood and walked to the students, standing just in front of them, in her flowing blue and gold robes, Harry thought she looked fantastic. Clearing her throat she drew out a scroll from a small bag at her waist, "Quiet everybody," she spoke, but Harry couldn't understand what people were talking about, all he could hear was her voice, "Ok, let us begin, Aurora Celeste," A pale girl with blonde purple-tipped-hair walked around the people in front of her and upon the stage, she ended up drawing the Ameraid sword only, much to Ameraid's cheers, Professor Ngera smiled as Aurora joined her house group and proceeded on with the sorting, "Lowra Lionheart" became a Ruberagon, "Alma Arrigton," became a Saphricorn, "Rubin Hennessy," became an Ameraid, "Liana Relic," became and Emerindyl, the sorting went on, sorting "Vlad Delv," "Ace Seneca", both into Ruberagon, "Emily Simmons" "Alex Zander", both into Emerindyl and then a name that caused Harry's ears to prickle, "Elouise Snape," Harry's eyes widened as he looked up, expecting to see a smaller, darker, greasy haired girl-version of Snape, but no, she was quite the opposite. A small pretty blonde haired girl walked up to the swords, after a moment she withdrew the Emerindyl sword, "No wonder he sent her to Koalingo." Harry muttered under his breath, no one hearing him he had his own private chuckle. The sorting drew to an end with only Godric standing in line, he knew where Godric would end up, it was no surprise at all, Godric walked onto the stage and walked along, drawing the Emerindyl sword, he smiled and placed the sword on the Professor's table - then walked onto the next. The Saphricorn sword, with absolutely no trouble at all it withdrew from its stone, he laced it on the Professors table by the Emerindyl sword and then forwarded onto the Ameraid sword, it wouldn't budge. Harry shifted in his seat; everyone in the hall appeared to not think anything of him removing two swords, even though he was the first of everyone tonight to do so. Now onto the Ruberagon sword, Brydie hissed, "He won't withdraw this sword, no way," she said and sat back into her seat grinning, There were a few gasps, and Harry's throat tightened as Godric withdrew the sword of Ruberagon. A pin could have dropped and it would have been heard through the entire hall. A few murmurs arose, Brydie and Hyperion both leaned in on Harry, while Mezentius sat in his seat not looking very impressed, "That's not supposed to happen" Brydie hissed, "How can he do that?" Harry asked them both, not expecting any answer, "No, something has to be faulty with the swords," Hyperion shook his head and glance up at Godric, whom was placing the Ruberagon sword by the other two on the Professors desk, "Well Mr. Grindylow," Professor ConDoin broke the chatter as everyone resumed their silence, "It would seem we are in a bit of a predicament," Godric stood with both of his hands at his side as he looked up at Professor ConDoin, "You have drawn three swords, this has never happened before." Harry looked up, Professor ConDoin's eyes were resting on the Ameraid sword, still within its stone, "You have a choice, you may choose which house you will become a member of, or you can have the house heads decide for you - one would wonder how a three-person sword duel might work," "I would consider Emerindyl or Saphricorn," Godric said silently, "But no, I would not wish to join Ruberagon under any circumstance," Brydie laughed at this as she looked across at the Ruberagons, "That's not going to make him very popular with that quarter of the school," Harry looked at Brydie and then across the room, it seemed Brydie was right, Malvado was looking furious, "Then we are to have a sword duel," Professor ConDoin grinned, "But beware, if the Ruberagon head teacher wins," he spoke slowly, "You will become one of them," "I highly doubt that will happen," Godric said to him and Professor ConDoin's grin disappeared immediately, All of the Professors stood and with a wave of Professor ConDoin's sword- wand the table vanished leaving the stage clear. All of the Professors vacated slowly with the exception of Professor ConDoin, the plump man in the Saphricorn robes, Harry had never had as a teacher but understood his name to be Professor Hovarsk, and the young looking woman whom Harry had spoken to in her many visits to the Emerindyl common room, seeing of course she was the head teacher for Emerindyl, Professor Girnoir. And to Harry's surprise, Professor ConDoin stayed where he was standing, "He kept his position as Ruberagon head teacher even though he became Headmaster. that's an odd thing to do," Hyperion spoke, no one else seemed to think anything of it, "Wait a minute." Harry said looking up at them, "So Professor Girnoir, Professor Hovarsk and Professor ConDoin are going to have a sword duel?" "Yes," Mezentius spoke for the first time in a while,