The wedding was amazing. Going back to Chicago is always great.
This is more of a transitional chapter. Ron and Hermione get a little help from an unexpected assistant.

"How are we going to find this place?" Hermione asked Ron as they wandered the streets of New Orleans. "We don't even know where we are."

Ron shrugged. He didn't have any idea. They had been walking up and down Bourbon Street for about an hour now. "It has to be on this street. They wouldn't call it Bourbon Street Academy if it wasn't. We're just missing something."

"Maybe we should split up." Hermione suggested. "We could always find each other." She tapped her head, reminding Ron of their new mental connection.

The thought of splitting up had crossed Ron's mind earlier. But he had taken one look at some of the shady characters around them and blocked that idea. Bourbon Street was swarming with weird people. He didn't want to leave Hermione alone. "No, we have to stay together." A shirtless, obese man walked by them as if it were completely normal. "And I thought London was strange."

"Ron, look!" Hermione said, pointing. A brown eagle was flying through air above them. The bird circled a building and then disappeared through one of the windows.

"Do you think that was a messenger bird?" Ron asked, staring at the building thoughtfully.

"Maybe. We should check it out."

Ron nodded and walked towards the building. It looked like an old apartment. It was slightly run down and the steps leading up to the door were rotten.

"Stay behind me." Ron said to Hermione. She protested, but Ron waited until she moved in behind him before knocking on the door.

After a few moments, a dry, high-pitched voice yelled, "Who is it?"

Ron looked around at the passing crowds and waited until everyone was out of range before he said, "Would you open up, please?"

"No! Now go away!"

Ron leaned up next to the door and whispered, "We're wizards. We need some help."

There was a slight pause before the voice cackled, "Wizards! Sure you are!" the voice said sarcastically. "I here that one every day. Go away!"

Ron looked around to make sure no one could hear him before muttering, "Dumbledore sent us."

It was a lie, but Ron knew that Dumbledore's name carried a lot of weight in the wizarding community.

The cracked open. Ron could see a very old and wrinkled nose poke out. "Dumbledore? The great Dumbledore?"

Ron nodded. "Yes. He sent us here from England. We're to take of some business for him. But we need some help."

The door flung open. Smiling in the doorway was a very old man. He was almost completely bald. He was dressed in Muggle clothing, but there was a eagle perched on his shoulder. "Help? Why didn't you say so? Come in. Come in."

Ron opened his mouth to say that he had said so, but Hermione stepped on his foot and gave him a sever look. (Don't blow it.) The old man looked back at them as if he had heard something, but then turned back into the building. Hermione turned to the old man and followed him into the building.

Ron sighed and followed after her. The interior of the apartment wasn't nearly as shabby as the outside. It was neatly organized. Ron had never seen such a complete integration of Muggle and wizard culture. There were Muggle appliances and furniture scattered throughout the room, but within the same space, Ron could see a broom pushing itself along the floor and a television that waddled around on four stubby legs. He got the impression that the old man wasn't all-together sane.

The old man took the eagle from his shoulder and set him a on a perch in the corner of the room. The bird nipped him affectionately on the finger and then began cleaning itself.

The old man sat down on one of the chairs. The cushions seem to come alive and conform exactly to the old man's body. "Sit down. Sit down."

Ron and Hermione tried to find a seat near the old man, but the only seats were a couch on the opposite side of the room. When they sat down , the old man gave them a disapproving look. "Well, that's no good." he mumbled. He pursed his lips and gave a short whistle. The couch beneath Ron and Hermione groaned and then began to walk towards the old man. When Ron and the old man's knees were inches apart, the couch came to a halt.

The old man smiled widely and said, "Dumbledore sent you, did he? Great man. Great man. Absolutely brilliant, that one. How can I help you youngsters?"

Hermione leaned forward. "Well, we were looking for some of our friends."

The old man shrugged his wiry shoulders. "I'm afraid I don't know your friends." he muttered. He stood up and began pacing the room. "Kids these days...Friends! How on earth would I know where your friends are?"

Ron could tell they were dealing with a madman, but he was determined to find out what they needed to know. "Look, old man-"

"Old man?!" the man burst out. "It's Mathias Crowe, to you. How would you like it if I called you 'Little tyke'? It's not really fair is it?"

Ron felt flustered. He could barely keep up with this man. "I'm sorry, Mr. Crowe. There was no offense intended, sir."

Mathias smoothed out his Muggle shirt and slid back down into his seat. "Good." he said snobbishly.

Hermione decided to take over this conversation. "Mr. Crowe, we're looking for our friends. They-"

Mathias cut her off. "I've already explained that I don't know where your friends are. You would think the great Dumbledore would choose more attentive representatives."

Ron put his face into his palm. He didn't know what to do: laugh at the old man or strangle him. "Mathias, our friends have disappeared and-"

"How did they pull that off? It takes a wizard of extreme talent to use an Invisibility Charm."

Ron continued as if Mathias hadn't spoken. "And they're being held by some unsavory people."

"Who is unsavory?"

"Members of the Bourbon Street Academy." Hermione said.

Mathias' eyed widened comically. "Your friends are members of the Bourbon Street Academy?" he asked scandalously. "Get out of here, you evil heathens!" He pushed himself out of the chair and ignored Ron and Hermione's arguments. He pointed to the eagle that sat in the corner. "Attack them, Figg!"

The bird opened his eyes and looked at the scene before him. He must have understood the situation better than Mathias, because he ignored the old man's screaming and closed his eyes again.

Mathias squeaked in surprise. "Damn bird. No respect." He turned back to Ron and Hermione who were still sitting on the couch, surprised at Mathias' outbreak. "No matter" he mumbled. "I don't need the bird to take care of some saplings. I am a powerful wizard! Almost as powerful as Dumbledore, himself." he said triumphantly and began searching his pockets for something. "I know it's around here somewhere. Blasted wand."

He looked to Ron and Hermione and sneered. "Cursed Death Eaters. How dare you come into my house? I'll show you. Where is that bloody wand?"

Hermione stood up. "We're not members of the Bourbon Street Academy! Neither are our friends!"

Mathias froze. "You're not?"

"No, sir. Death Eaters have captured our friends. We want to get them free, but we can't find the Academy."

Comprehension settled on Mathias' face. "Well, why didn't you say that before?"

"She did!" Ron screamed.

Mathias ignored him and sat back down on the couch. "Yes, that makes more sense. I can usually sniff out a Death Eater. I never doubted you for a minute."

Ron highly doubted that but didn't want to excite the old man by saying so. "We need to find the Academy. Can you help us?"

Mathias snorted and waved his hand dismissively. "Of course, I can help you. Oh, by the way, what were your names again?"

Hermione smiled sweetly. "My name is Hermione and this is my friend Ron."

Mathias smiled back. "Are you and Ryan in love?" he asked.

Ron leaned forward. "Actually, my name is Ron. And yes, we are in love. How did you know."

Mathias snorted and turned back to Hermione. He smiled at her as if they were sharing some inside joke. Hermione shrugged at Ron.

Ron decided it was about time to leave. "Can you show us where the Academy is, Mathias?"

"Certainly." he said. "I'll even draw you a map. It's not far from here." He began searching the apartment for a quill. "Damn quill!" he yelled several times.

Ron turned to Hermione. (He's a loony.) he said mentally.

Mathias suddenly stopped searching. He turned back to Ron. "Did you say something, Rory?"

Ron shook his head. "No, sir. Not a thing. And it's Ron."

Mathias scratched his head absently. "Could have sworn I heard your voice." He looked down at the countertop that he had searched dozens of times and said, "Ah! Here it is!" He extended his hand above his head and Ron could see a quill in his fingers.

Mathias began drawing a map. He would constantly begin telling stories about the places he was drawing. Ron and Hermione would have to get him back on track.

Finally he finished the map and held it out to Hermione. "Do you want some help getting your friends free? I'm a great wizard! Almost as good as Dumbledore, himself!" he said loudly. "Have I said that already? Anyway, I just have to find my wand and we can get out of here."

Ron, who knew that Mathias would be more of a burden than a help said, "No thanks, Mathias. It'll will be dangerous. We might need someone to report back to Dumbledore in case we don't make it."

As Ron had hoped, Mathias' face brightened at the mention of Dumbledore. "Yes, of course. Dumbledore must be kept aware."

Mathias led them to the front door and said, "Well, good luck, both of you."

Hermione kissed him lightly on the cheek and said, "Thank you, Mathias." she said and exited the door, leaving Ron and Mathias alone in the hallway.

Ron held out his hand and said, "We'll take out some Death Eaters for you, Mr. Crowe."

"Death Eaters?! Where?!" Mathias screamed. He began looking through his robes. "Bloody wand!"

Ron snuck out the door before Mathias could do permanent damage to either of them.

***

Mathias saw Ron squeeze out the door and he smiled. Mr. Weasley has surely grown in the last few days, he thought. He turned around and began walking back towards the apartment. As he walked, his baldhead began to quickly sprout silver hair. His nose elongated and became slightly crooked, as if it had been broken before. His Muggles clothes shimmered and became a shabby, blue robe.

By the time he got back to the apartment, his silver hair fell halfway down his back. He reached into his robe and pulled out a pair of battered, half moon spectacles and placed them on his nose.

With an exhausted sigh, he sank down into a chair. He glanced over at the eagle perched in the corner and said, "They're gone, Arabella. You can relax."

The bird gave a dignified screech. All of the feathers on the bird's body shimmered. Within moments, a plumb witch sat in the corner. She had an annoyed look on her wrinkled face when she said, "Very funny, Albus."

Albus Dumbledore smiled in a pleased manner. "I thought that was one of my better performances."

Arabella Figg crossed her arms in front of her. "Attack them, Figg?" she asked dryly.

Dumbledore laughed loudly at this. "Why didn't you do it? It would have added another level of realism."

Arabella tried not to smile. "I almost fell off my perch when you said that, Albus."

"That would have been unfortunate, but very amusing." Dumbledore said. "You have to give yourself credit, you're the one that led them here. Very nice flying, if I may say so."

The smile disappeared from Arabella's face. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Albus? They're just children."

Dumbledore sighed heavily. "No, I'm not sure, Arabella. But these children are the future of our world. I've been relying on Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger for years now. They'll pull through."

"But this is so important. Harry Potter is captured. Without him, we're lost."

"That is why we gave Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger a push in the right direction." he smiled fondly at the plump witch. "You'll have to trust me, Arabella. I've kept a special eye on these three all these years, so they could be a help in the war against Voldemort."

Arabella nodded uncertainly. Suddenly she smiled mischievously. "How did you know they were in love?"

Dumbledore smiled. "I've known for years. Everyone knew. But even if I didn't know, I would have been able to tell. The magical aura around those two is extraordinary. Mr. Weasley has become the most powerful Sentinel alive."

Arabella shook her head in wonder. "He's so young."

"Yes, but if anyone can get Harry out of that Academy, it's Ronald Weasley."
I just had to throw Dumbledore into the mix. Review, Nammit!