The platform of the Hogsmead railway station was a cold place for James Bond to wait in the chill morning air but it wasn't long after he arrived, the overnight express from London pulled into the station. He looked eagerly at the passengers getting of the train.
"Moneypenny!" He said smiling as the women of his most earnest desires stepped down onto the platform.
"James," she replied as coyly as a sixteen year old at the sight of him. He gave her a hug feeling the warmth of her body against his and kissed her tenderly. There was a silence between them that meant more than a thousand shouted greetings.
Finally he asked her the important question. "Did you bring it?"
"Well, there is one slight hitch." Miss Moneypenny replied.
"Ah!, there you are 007. Here, make yourself useful and take my bag while I see to the unloading." The quartermaster said in his usual gruff way as he shoved his carry bag at James Bond and without waiting for a reply walked down the train towards the luggage carriage.
"What the hell is he doing here?" James Bond exclaimed aghast.
"Well, James. He insisted and he is responsible until you sign for it officially." Miss Moneypenny said trying to maintain a straight face. "Besides M thought he could test out a few other items he has been working on. He's really very good at developing new equipment. Look at those comlinks he sent you. They worked perfectly from all reports."
"But Moneypenny, here of all places. I mean I thought we were trying to limit the number of people who know about this place and its inhabitants." James replied.
"He is cleared for it, James. I assure you." Miss Moneypenny told him as she dragged him towards the far end of the platform were a delicate operation of unloading was underway under the careful direction of the Quartermaster.
The few students staying over at Hogwarts for the holidays had wandered out of the entrance hall to have a snow fight in the fresh layer of white snow that had fallen overnight. The snow-covered castle looked a fairy tale picture in the bright sunlight of the early morning.
At first they didn't hear it or dismissed the distant sound as nothing but it was quickly getting louder and by the sound of it closer. The snow fight was forgotten when it had registered on them that something was rapidly approaching.
Justin Finch-Fletchley said "It can't be… That sounds like a…"
He never finished as in though the Hogwarts gates flew a blur of silver. Driving up to the castle at considerable speed was a sleek sports car. It positively threw the snow into high plumes of white as its wide tires cut though to the road beneath. At the last second the car spun around and now in a long sideways slide looked like it was going to end up in the entrance hall but it eventually slid to a stop right at the bottom of the castle's stairs.
"That's a muggle car" one of the students said.
"That's not just a car" Justin Finch-Fletchley replied, "It's a Aston Martin V12 Vanquish!" He walked up to the car just in time to see the driver get out. "Professor Bond, is this your car?"
"Yes Justin, its mine." Professor Bond replied as all the students gathered for a closer inspection. Many of the students from wizarding families had never been close to a muggle car before. The only one they were familiar with was the wild Ford anglia that could be seen wandering in the forbidden forest sometimes. This car was very different, sleek and mean looking.
Justin Finch Fletcher turned out to be very knowledgeable about it. "It has a 6.0 litre V12 engine delivering up to 460 horse power giving a top speed of 190mph and acceleration to 60mph in 4.7 seconds." He told the other students as he walked around the car. "This one seems to have been modified."
"Very good Justin, you know your cars, take 10 points for Ravenclaw." Professor Bond said. "My car does indeed have a few non standard features."
"I couldn't have a drive of it Professor, just around the grounds?" Justin asked hopefully.
"Lend a hand with the luggage and we'll see." Professor Bond replied.
Professor Bond had moved around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. He helped Miss Moneypenny out. The students were taken aback by the muttered comments from the car as a man climbed out of the small back seats in the rear. He didn't sound very happy although he looked oddly familiar.
"Really 007, I asked you to drive carefully." He said straightening up. "I have delicate equipment with me and I will remind you that if you destroy this car like you have all the others, IT WILL NOT BE REPLACED. I can't understand why M insisted you have it. After all you are only at a boy's school. And you can forget about letting any spotty faced teenagers drive a million pound piece of government property. So this is Hogwarts is it?" The quartermaster said looking up at the castle's entrance. Justin Finch-Flelcthley face had fallen at the mans comment about not letting him drive but Professor Bond had given him a sly wink while the man was looking up at the castle and Justin knew he was going to get his chance to drive this fabulous car.
A cat had walked out of the door and sat looking down at the people with disdain. The Quartermaster walked up to it and reached down to pet its head. "I wouldn't do that if I was you!" Professor Bond said. He knew from experience just how unfriendly Mrs. Norris had acted whenever he got close but the Quartermaster's petting was accepted by the cat with a purr of pleasure.
Mr. Filch arrived seconds later. "So you've arrived have you?"
"Yes," Professor Bond replied, "And I am afraid we have an unexpected guest. So if you could prepare another guest room I would be grateful." James expected Mr. Filch's usual disdainful comments about being obliged to do extra work in preparing the room but was surprised.
"It will be my pleasure Professor to prepare our finest guest room for such a distinguished visitor" Mr. Filch said bowing slightly in the Quartermasters direction.
"You are too kind, Brother Argus." The quartermaster replied as he bowed to Mr. Filch.
"Not at all Brother Reginald," Mr. Filch replied as he and the quartermaster shook hands. Professor Bond was observant enough to notice the odd handshake they gave each other. Not a mason's handshake but similar. They obviously knew each other much to James's surprise.
"He'll be wanting to see you, you know." Mr. Filch muttered to the quartermaster.
"He'll have to wait, won't he." The quartermaster replied to Mr. Filch's delight as they entered the castle together.
"What was that all about?" James asked.
"I believe that we have witnessed the meeting of old friends." Dumbledore said from just behind James and Miss Moneypenny
James turned and said, "I wish you would stop doing that, its very unsettling having you appear just behind me all the time."
"I will try to remember that James." Dumbledore replied but James Bond could see the merriment in his eyes and knew he was in for more of the same in the future. "Ah Miss Moneypenny so nice to see you back again. I trust James is seeing to your… every need?"
"Yes thank you Professor, James has been most attentive." Miss Moneypenny replied enjoying the double meanings of their words. James just rolled his eye's at the comments.
"I suppose we had better catch up to the quartermaster, headmaster before he falls fowl of the hazards of this place." James said wanting an excuse to get Miss Moneypenny to himself.
"I believe James, that the quartermaster will be just fine in the company of Mr. Filch." Professor Dumbledore replied. "Argus and he are old friends and in fact are both in the SSL."
"SSL?" James asked puzzled.
"That's the squib support league." Dumbledore replied.
"Squib?" James asked even more puzzled.
"A squib is the term for an individual who has little or no magical abilities, born into a magical family." Dumbledore explained.
"The Quartermaster? The Quartermaster is from a magical family?" James was surprised. He had never associated the stuffy straight-laced quartermaster with anything out of the ordinary before.
"You would be surprised James just how many members of magical families live quite normally in your muggle world." Dumbledore said as he offered his arm to Miss Moneypenny. "Come my dear, I would like your opinion on the Great Hall's Christmas decorations while we eat breakfast. Miss Moneypenny took the old headmaster's arm and they walked into the castle with James left to organize the students to take the luggage up to the guest rooms.
In the Great Hall Professor James Bond sat at the staff table for breakfast with Miss Moneypenny seated between him and the headmaster. The other staff members were there at the table. Snape looked dower even this early in the morning although James thought he saw a slight amusement in his expression at the frustration his fellow female staff members seemed to be having with Moneypenny's presence.
The other guest at the castle was escorted by Mr. Finch to the staff table. He sat beside James and was about to begin eating when he was interrupted by the arrival of Nearly Headless Nick.
"So you have finally come to apologize have you?" Nick said loudly at the quartermaster.
"I don't see why I should be the one to apologize!" the Quartermaster replied hotly. "Your the one who ruined my twelveth birthday party."
"I would have thought you would have been please to see your old great uncle Nick take the trouble to come to your party." Nick shot back, "I wasn't to know you had invited a number of muggle children."
James and Moneypenny just sat there taking it all in. It should have occurred to James before how much family resemblance there was between the Quartermaster and Sir Nick. Just like there was between Valentin and Hagrid. James wondered how many other people he knew had family links into the magical world. He looked back towards the others at the staff table. Moneypenny, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, Trelawny. James had the impression he was missing something important. He gave up trying to figure it out and turned back to the argument between Nearly Headless Nick and the Quartermaster.
"I don't see what my lack of so called magical abilities have to do with anything. In fact I believe muggle technology is on the verge of surpassing magic in a number of areas. And in that world I am the expert. Even Bond here will vouch for that." The quartermaster was telling Sir Nick.
"Yes I suppose I can." James replied not wishing to be dragged into this family argument.
"I am sure that everyone's talents will be required to oppose the threat we now all face, magical and non-magical alike." The headmaster interrupted and managed to quell the argument for now at least. "Now do try the eggs, they are excellent this morning."
In the Gryffindor Tower common room Ron was telling Hermione about the last few days. Hermione's eyes were wide with fright and she clasped her hands over her mouth to stop from screaming. When Ron told her of the attack of the Death Eaters at the Granger's family home and how Draco, Ron and her father and mother had faced them down, she could hold back no longer. She jumped at Ron so fast he didn't have time to react. He was caught him in a hug as she sobbed into his chest. "You could have all been killed!" she grasped out between the sobs.
"Now Herm, There's no need to be upset, We're all fine!" Ron gently wrapped his arms around Hermione, not really minding her attentions at all.
"God! Will you two get a room or something." Harry(Draco) complained from nearby. He had a very un-Harry look of disgust on his face.
Ron just said, "Ignore him Hermione, he's just in evil git mode again. He does that from time to time!" Ron gave Harry(Draco) a warning look but Hermione let go of Ron (much to his disappointment) and turned to face Harry(Draco). The look in her eye was of a very different sort than Draco had ever seen there before. She advanced on him as he scrambled to his feet. She lunged and grabbed him in a hug too and in a grateful voice said "Thank you for saving them all!"
"Get off me Granger!" Harry(Draco) said. "I am not a touchy, feelly, Gryffindor type of person thank you very much!" . Draco was still very uncomfortable with others gratitude for what he considered his act of shear stupidity. "I'll call you a mudblood again!" He threatened in the bear-hug Hermione had him in.
Hermione wasn't buying it. She knew her parents and Ron would have been killed except for Draco actions. Compared to that all the grief he had given her over the years at Hogwarts was nothing. She also had figured out that much of his bluster was a defensive measure when others came too close.
"You won't be calling her mudblood ever again or I will be sending you back to the Dursley's" Ron said threateningly.
"Leave it Ron. I know he doesn't really mean it." Hermione said still looking at the extremely uncomfortable boy who at the moment looked like Harry.
Trying to change the subject now he was free again Draco looked around the Gryffindor common room for the first time carefully. "What a dump!" he observed.
"Yeah and all that cold stone in the Slytherin common room is so great!" Ron replied.
"How do you know what the Slytherin common room looks like Weasley!" Draco replied with more surprise in his voice than he wanted.
"Oh me and Harry dropped in there one day, just for a look around." Ron said enjoying the outraged look on the other boys face.
"How on earth did you and Potter sneak in?" Draco fumed.
"We didn't sneak in, a Slytherin let us in, of course and we sat talking on those uncomfortable leather lounges near the fireplace." Ron continued. It was obvious Draco wanted to know who in Slytherin had let Potter and Weasley into the Slytherin common room. If he only knew it was him! Hermione was struggling to keep from laughing out loud.
Harry(Draco) opened his mouth but closed it again. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of asking who had let them into Sytherin House. He would find out himself and when he did, he would deal with the traitors betrayal.
"Come on, fair's fair! Let's give you the grand tour of Gryffindor." Ron said. "It'll be only be a couple more hours before the train arrives and the others get back. I hope Harry is all right."
"Are you sure we are doing the right thing not telling him what happened" Hermione asked. She didn't like the idea of lying to Harry.
"Don't ask me, it was his idea." Ron replied indicating Draco.
Draco sighed. How many times must he go over this! Why do these Gryffindor's insist on going over and over the same arguments. The decision had been made and it was the right one. Harry Potter would not be told of his family's treachery. Not yet at least. The headmaster would ensure he would never have to go back. It suddenly struck Draco why Ron and Hermione were having trouble with the decision. It was the lying to their friend they couldn't accept.
"Look!" Draco said, "We are just not going to tell him what happened, not yet. It's not that you have to lie to Potter really. Just don't say anything about the last few days. Potter will just assume that I was held here the whole time. Just let him keep thinking that for now."
Hermione seemed to be still struggling with the decision but as Dumbledore had agreed to it she nodded her head.
"So what about that tour?" Draco said. He was actually pretty curious about the tower and he guessed he was never going to get a second chance to see it. He only hoped the next few hours would pass quickly. And then what? He didn't know. The future terrified him but he would deal with it later. His old inner self smirked, it wasn't like a Malfoy to be without a plan. He must have been hanging around these Gryffindors too long!