Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, except the one I created myself. All others belong to J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. I have only borrowed them for my amusement and hopefully yours as well.
Chapter 6
The departure day had finally arrived. Everyone in the family was more determined than ever to keep the mood light. They shared breakfast and discussed when Jolicia should come back for her first visit- Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Jolicia exclaimed, "I'm not even gone yet and already you've got me coming back! I can't make any promises; I'll just have to wait and see how things go, okay?"
No one could argue with that.
Finally, Jo said, "I had better get going. Headmaster Dumbledore is expecting me for a staff meeting this afternoon. I want to settle in a little bit before then. I trust you're all coming to the Portkey with me?"
"Dumb question, Miss DADA Professor," quipped Robert.
With that, they gathered up Jolicia's belongings and apparated to the Portkey.
The Portkey in question was an empty pop can in an abandoned field on the western edge of the Island of Montreal. The field was well hidden and there was no chance of being spotted by Muggles. The fellow in charge checked her booking and decided everything was in order.
"Your departure time is coming up within two minutes, Miss," announced the Portkey keeper.
They all hugged, kissed, told each other how much they loved them, how much they would be missed. Miraculously, no one cried, although there were moist eyes. At the proper time, Jolicia grabbed onto pop can and was gone. It was then that Éliane broke down, having only her husband and her son to console her.
Within seconds, Jolicia appeared with the pop can in her hand. She looked around. Something wasn't right. This didn't look like England. Slowly turning around to survey the area, she saw a beach and some palm trees.
"Where in the name of Merlin am I?" wondered Jo. She walked over a dune in search of the Portkey keeper. She found a lanky fellow asleep under a tree.
"Excuse me, sir?" she asked. The chap continued to snore.
"EXCUSE ME, SIR?" she tried with a little more force and a little prod for good measure.
"Huh?" the sleepy fellow mumbled.
"Sir, are you the Portkey keeper?" inquired Jo.
"I most certainly am, Missy. Wilbur Picklemouse, at your service. Y'all aren't from around these parts, are y'all?" he answered.
When Jolicia heard the term "y'all" she knew she wasn't in Hogsmeade.
"This may sound like a dumb question, but where am I?" Jo wanted to know.
"This here is Hogsmine, South Carolina. Where did y'all think?" eyeing her a little suspiciously.
"I was on my way to Hogsmeade, England. You know, to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. How did I end up here?" Jo replied.
"Well now, I guess somebody sure messed up the connection; messed it up real good, too." He answered, scratching his head as he pondered.
Jolicia wanted to say 'duh', but refrained. No sense antagonizing the man.
She smiled at him sweetly and said, "Do you think you will be able to re-route me to my destination? I have a very important appointment and I can't be late. I'd be ever so grateful, Mr. Picklemouse."
Wilbur blushed as he answered, "I sure enough can, but it'll take about an hour. I have another party comin' through here in about 30 minutes. I should have everythin' set up for y'all by then, Missy."
"Thanks so much. I'll wait under that tree over there. Will you let me know when you are ready for me?" Jo replied and gave him one of her killer smiles. Wilbur was red as a beet.
Jolicia levitated her belongs over to the tree and plopped herself down. An extra hour was cutting it close. The last thing she wanted to do was to be late on her first day.
Finally, after an hour, Wilbur beckoned her over to the Portkey. This time it was a deflated beach ball. She took hold and was off to Hogsmeade, or so she thought.
This time she looked around. It certainly seemed to be the right place. Just to be sure, she asked a young lady who was standing nearby, no doubt waiting her turn at the Portkey. Jolicia gasped when the woman replied, with a thick Irish brogue, that she was in Hogsmany, Ireland. Jolicia couldn't understand. Someone must have hexed her; that had to be the answer, but whom? She now had thirty minutes to get herself to Hogwarts on time. She would have to apparate. This would be the longest distance she had ever traveled in this fashion, but she was in too much of a hurry to worry about it. She pulled out her wand and crossed her fingers, hoping she would finally see Hogsmeade. When she opened her eyes, she would have jumped for joy, if there had been time. There, before her, was a signpost indicating the way to Hogwarts! She hurried along the path as fast as she could, with her trunk floating along behind her.