Taming The Beast
Chapter 23
Muggles and Maple Leafs
Six days before the next full moon
Harry looked down as the plane approached Ottawa. The flight had been bumpy over Lake Ontario, but the skies were now a clear blue. While Washington had been designed foremost as a nation's capital, with Ottawa, the seat of national government almost seemed an afterthought. Washington seemed staid and monolithic with it's marble monuments an obvious bow to the influence of ancient Greece. Ottawa showed itself to be strongly influenced by both France and Britain, with the government buildings, showing a more than passing resemblance to the Notre Dame cathedral in France.
At least that's what Hermione said.
Upon landing, they were greeted by a blonde-haired woman next to a small limousine.
"Good evening, Mister Blair!," she said, and then turned to the PM's guests. "Good evening, and welcome to Canada. I am Diane Marleau, Minister for International Cooperation. As it is already late, I shall be taking you to the hotel, and you will meet with Jean in the morning. Driving beside the buildings of Canada's Parliament they were dropped off at a hotel that looked a lot like Hogwarts, but they could see that the Chateau Laurier was designed with all the modern conveniences.....
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FROM: Mionehogwarts.uk.edu
TO: Two4teethoxford.uk.edu
SUBJECT: Our "Honeymoon"
Hi Mum, Hi Dad!!
We just got into Ottawa about half an hour ago. Sorry I haven't been in touch, but ah...well...the life of a diplomat, you know?
Dad, if you ever have the means, I suggest the first thing you do is get one of these business jets, they are so incredibly brill. Even Ron was impressed after he was finished being scared I was NOT scared, just unfamiliar...Hi Mom, Hi dad!! :-D
We didn't sleep well the night before we left, for reasons I'm SURE you can figure out for yourself. So...we fly into DC, groggy, take a big helicopter to...you won't believe it...the ruddy WHITE HOUSE : -0...and we meet the President of the United States....and HE wants to know what WE think!! Ron: Some guy named "Newt" was also curious Harry and Professor Dumbledore did a pretty good job of convincing him that all of us were in trouble. Meanwhile, Ron and I were right on the verge of falling asleep and drooling all over the Oval Office furniture. The next day, CHELSEA picks us up and gives us a driving tour of Washington...yes, the girl with the red hair (I think she fancies Harry) Ron: Don't tell Ginny that!!.
I might have made a mistake though when I told her I was a werewolf :-(
Ron: Still can't believe she said that...and then bared her fangs
Well, not really BARE, just....indicated them to Chelsea. I'm kind of hoping that she won't tell her father, but she gave us her addresses at home and school, so I guess it's not a problem. (Yes, I do have fangs now, I don't know if that is just the pregnancy or permanent (YIKES!!!!!!!)..and there have been other changes...Ron is taking great care of me, so I'm not THAT scared).
Like I said, we just got into Ottawa. We are meeting the Canadian Prime Minister tomorrow. Harry has just invited us into his room for room service and a movie or two...or three....er, yes, we WILL get some sleep this time!!
Tony says (well, he says that we can call him "Tony" for one thing!?!?) that we will be coming into Heathrow the morning after well, not tomorrow, but the next day. I really REALLY want you to meet us there to go to Hogwarts. It's probably going to be the last time you see me as a human being for a year :- (sniff). But after its done, you'll have grandkids.
Your Loving Children,
Hermione and Ron
Five Minutes Later, Harry's Room
"Oh come on Harry...we KNOW how it ends, the bloody ship SINKS!!," Ron says, exasperated
They were looking at pay-per-view movie list, in case you were wondering
Harry thought a moment. "How about American Werewolf in Paris?," he said grinning. He was rewarded with playful swats from both Ron and Hermione.
"The Full Monty then?" Harry asked.
"We're on another continent, and you want to watch a movie about male strippers in SHEFFIELD??" Hermione mumbled. "Hope Ginny doesn't find out about that."
They finally settled on Wag the Dog, which wasn't the most inspiring movie to watch just before and just after asking a Head of State (or Government) to help you with a problem likely requiring military force. Feeling slightly depressed after the film was finished, Hermione gave Harry a hug goodnight and went back to join Ron in their own room
The Next Morning
Five days before the next full moon
After a breakfast of cereal, Canadian bacon (naturally), orange juice and toast, the five went a few hundred yards by limousine to the Langevin Building. Tony explained the reasoning behind the trip to Canada in that short time, "We can probably count on the Americans, but as you may have gathered, our American friend may be handicapped by an ongoing Congressional investigation. The official powers of the Canadian PM on the other hand are a bit stronger. He'll still have to answer to Parliament...but he'll be free to take action before he answers. The Canadian troops are among the finest, they will be an excellent insurance policy to oppose Voldemort with, to end a sentence with a preposition...which I haven't. Ah, here we are!"
"Good to see you, Jean." Blair said with a smile.
"Tony, mon ami! Glad to have you here at last. And how was our American counterpart?"
"Dear William is the same as always. Generous to a fault, but of course Congress will be, shall we say, curious..."
"Oui, they will question him extensivly, I should think. And Her Majesty?"
Tony chuckled at this. "Andrew flew us over, I think the Queen will be keen enough to recognize the threat. Speaking of which, I'd would like to introduce four key enemies of the threat. Professor Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, a young man who has defeated Voldemort several times before, and Hermione and Ron Weasley who have proven themselves invaluable assets in the fight."
The meeting with Chretien was very similar to the meeting with President Clinton, it just seemed a bit more formal and with a much stronger French accent. He agreed to offer whatever help was needed at a moment's notice, though he said there wasn't very much that they could do about the IRA in Boston.
That issue being settled, Jean focused his interest on the wizarding world itself. He explained that most Canadian witches and wizards went to the two Salem schools, one in Massachusetts, the other in Oregon. Some went to the three European wizarding schools, though hardly any had gone to Durmstrang recently. "Not that I wouldn't like Canada to have it's own wizarding school, but try explaining the funding of it to Parliament!!"
It was the early afternoon by the time they left Parliament Hill. The PM would go to the CBC for a series of interviews on television while Professor Dumbledore and the Golden Trio would be left on their own.
After an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing, Hermione decided to check her email.
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FROM: Two4teethoxford.uk.edu
TO: Mionehogwarts.uk.edu
RE: Our Honeymoon?
Dear Ron and Hermione,
Shocked, Stunned, Surprised, Scared, Proud. That's a pretty good summary of the emotions we felt reading your email, though not necessarily in that order. We guess by now you have finished your meeting with Jean Chretien, and hopefully weren't falling asleep this time.
We hope you are taking good care of your teeth, no matter how long and pointy they are. Chelsea, by what we have seen on the telly seems like a very sweet and bright girl whom you can probably trust, though we do hope you are being quite careful with whom you share your secret with.
We will be there to meet you at Heathrow, and we will go up to Hogwarts together. Dearest, while we love Ron, we would like to be at Hogwarts while you change. You are still our daughter, yes even if you do take the form of a wolf.
Hermione, we know that you want to go to a Wizarding University upon leaving Hogwarts. We do not wish to discourage you from doing so, yet still, you must face the reality that you will not be accepted. That being the case, we will be greeting you with a pile of GCSE and A level preparation material. No sense in letting the year go to waste. You are a bright girl, we're certain that you will figure out a way to use these books and notes, even if you just have paws.
Your Loving Parents
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Ron was astonished. "What, don't they think I can help you study?"
"I don't think it's that Ron. What they are probably worried about, and I am too, is how long that wolvesbane will last. Ron, think a minute. Suppose that we're in my little wolf room, eagerly pouring over British History or Maths or whatever when the wolvesbane that keeps me sane wears out, and the next thing you know, I'm not trying to learn British History, I'm trying to make you part of it. I'm not too keen on making myself a widow." Hermione sniffled with frustration. "We're probably thinking the same thing: I want to be with you as much as possible. You want to be with me as much as possible.You can only be with me as long as that wolvesbane is good. If you're in the room when it wears out, I will attack you and be fully conscious of doing so, even as I am screaming with anguish inside. If I take another draught of the 'bane when it is still active, the belladonna in it will probably kill me. First thing we need to do is work out a system of communication.
Chapter 23
Muggles and Maple Leafs
Six days before the next full moon
Harry looked down as the plane approached Ottawa. The flight had been bumpy over Lake Ontario, but the skies were now a clear blue. While Washington had been designed foremost as a nation's capital, with Ottawa, the seat of national government almost seemed an afterthought. Washington seemed staid and monolithic with it's marble monuments an obvious bow to the influence of ancient Greece. Ottawa showed itself to be strongly influenced by both France and Britain, with the government buildings, showing a more than passing resemblance to the Notre Dame cathedral in France.
At least that's what Hermione said.
Upon landing, they were greeted by a blonde-haired woman next to a small limousine.
"Good evening, Mister Blair!," she said, and then turned to the PM's guests. "Good evening, and welcome to Canada. I am Diane Marleau, Minister for International Cooperation. As it is already late, I shall be taking you to the hotel, and you will meet with Jean in the morning. Driving beside the buildings of Canada's Parliament they were dropped off at a hotel that looked a lot like Hogwarts, but they could see that the Chateau Laurier was designed with all the modern conveniences.....
-
-
-
FROM: Mionehogwarts.uk.edu
TO: Two4teethoxford.uk.edu
SUBJECT: Our "Honeymoon"
Hi Mum, Hi Dad!!
We just got into Ottawa about half an hour ago. Sorry I haven't been in touch, but ah...well...the life of a diplomat, you know?
Dad, if you ever have the means, I suggest the first thing you do is get one of these business jets, they are so incredibly brill. Even Ron was impressed after he was finished being scared I was NOT scared, just unfamiliar...Hi Mom, Hi dad!! :-D
We didn't sleep well the night before we left, for reasons I'm SURE you can figure out for yourself. So...we fly into DC, groggy, take a big helicopter to...you won't believe it...the ruddy WHITE HOUSE : -0...and we meet the President of the United States....and HE wants to know what WE think!! Ron: Some guy named "Newt" was also curious Harry and Professor Dumbledore did a pretty good job of convincing him that all of us were in trouble. Meanwhile, Ron and I were right on the verge of falling asleep and drooling all over the Oval Office furniture. The next day, CHELSEA picks us up and gives us a driving tour of Washington...yes, the girl with the red hair (I think she fancies Harry) Ron: Don't tell Ginny that!!.
I might have made a mistake though when I told her I was a werewolf :-(
Ron: Still can't believe she said that...and then bared her fangs
Well, not really BARE, just....indicated them to Chelsea. I'm kind of hoping that she won't tell her father, but she gave us her addresses at home and school, so I guess it's not a problem. (Yes, I do have fangs now, I don't know if that is just the pregnancy or permanent (YIKES!!!!!!!)..and there have been other changes...Ron is taking great care of me, so I'm not THAT scared).
Like I said, we just got into Ottawa. We are meeting the Canadian Prime Minister tomorrow. Harry has just invited us into his room for room service and a movie or two...or three....er, yes, we WILL get some sleep this time!!
Tony says (well, he says that we can call him "Tony" for one thing!?!?) that we will be coming into Heathrow the morning after well, not tomorrow, but the next day. I really REALLY want you to meet us there to go to Hogwarts. It's probably going to be the last time you see me as a human being for a year :- (sniff). But after its done, you'll have grandkids.
Your Loving Children,
Hermione and Ron
Five Minutes Later, Harry's Room
"Oh come on Harry...we KNOW how it ends, the bloody ship SINKS!!," Ron says, exasperated
They were looking at pay-per-view movie list, in case you were wondering
Harry thought a moment. "How about American Werewolf in Paris?," he said grinning. He was rewarded with playful swats from both Ron and Hermione.
"The Full Monty then?" Harry asked.
"We're on another continent, and you want to watch a movie about male strippers in SHEFFIELD??" Hermione mumbled. "Hope Ginny doesn't find out about that."
They finally settled on Wag the Dog, which wasn't the most inspiring movie to watch just before and just after asking a Head of State (or Government) to help you with a problem likely requiring military force. Feeling slightly depressed after the film was finished, Hermione gave Harry a hug goodnight and went back to join Ron in their own room
The Next Morning
Five days before the next full moon
After a breakfast of cereal, Canadian bacon (naturally), orange juice and toast, the five went a few hundred yards by limousine to the Langevin Building. Tony explained the reasoning behind the trip to Canada in that short time, "We can probably count on the Americans, but as you may have gathered, our American friend may be handicapped by an ongoing Congressional investigation. The official powers of the Canadian PM on the other hand are a bit stronger. He'll still have to answer to Parliament...but he'll be free to take action before he answers. The Canadian troops are among the finest, they will be an excellent insurance policy to oppose Voldemort with, to end a sentence with a preposition...which I haven't. Ah, here we are!"
"Good to see you, Jean." Blair said with a smile.
"Tony, mon ami! Glad to have you here at last. And how was our American counterpart?"
"Dear William is the same as always. Generous to a fault, but of course Congress will be, shall we say, curious..."
"Oui, they will question him extensivly, I should think. And Her Majesty?"
Tony chuckled at this. "Andrew flew us over, I think the Queen will be keen enough to recognize the threat. Speaking of which, I'd would like to introduce four key enemies of the threat. Professor Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Harry Potter, a young man who has defeated Voldemort several times before, and Hermione and Ron Weasley who have proven themselves invaluable assets in the fight."
The meeting with Chretien was very similar to the meeting with President Clinton, it just seemed a bit more formal and with a much stronger French accent. He agreed to offer whatever help was needed at a moment's notice, though he said there wasn't very much that they could do about the IRA in Boston.
That issue being settled, Jean focused his interest on the wizarding world itself. He explained that most Canadian witches and wizards went to the two Salem schools, one in Massachusetts, the other in Oregon. Some went to the three European wizarding schools, though hardly any had gone to Durmstrang recently. "Not that I wouldn't like Canada to have it's own wizarding school, but try explaining the funding of it to Parliament!!"
It was the early afternoon by the time they left Parliament Hill. The PM would go to the CBC for a series of interviews on television while Professor Dumbledore and the Golden Trio would be left on their own.
After an afternoon of shopping and sightseeing, Hermione decided to check her email.
-
-
-
FROM: Two4teethoxford.uk.edu
TO: Mionehogwarts.uk.edu
RE: Our Honeymoon?
Dear Ron and Hermione,
Shocked, Stunned, Surprised, Scared, Proud. That's a pretty good summary of the emotions we felt reading your email, though not necessarily in that order. We guess by now you have finished your meeting with Jean Chretien, and hopefully weren't falling asleep this time.
We hope you are taking good care of your teeth, no matter how long and pointy they are. Chelsea, by what we have seen on the telly seems like a very sweet and bright girl whom you can probably trust, though we do hope you are being quite careful with whom you share your secret with.
We will be there to meet you at Heathrow, and we will go up to Hogwarts together. Dearest, while we love Ron, we would like to be at Hogwarts while you change. You are still our daughter, yes even if you do take the form of a wolf.
Hermione, we know that you want to go to a Wizarding University upon leaving Hogwarts. We do not wish to discourage you from doing so, yet still, you must face the reality that you will not be accepted. That being the case, we will be greeting you with a pile of GCSE and A level preparation material. No sense in letting the year go to waste. You are a bright girl, we're certain that you will figure out a way to use these books and notes, even if you just have paws.
Your Loving Parents
-
-
-
Ron was astonished. "What, don't they think I can help you study?"
"I don't think it's that Ron. What they are probably worried about, and I am too, is how long that wolvesbane will last. Ron, think a minute. Suppose that we're in my little wolf room, eagerly pouring over British History or Maths or whatever when the wolvesbane that keeps me sane wears out, and the next thing you know, I'm not trying to learn British History, I'm trying to make you part of it. I'm not too keen on making myself a widow." Hermione sniffled with frustration. "We're probably thinking the same thing: I want to be with you as much as possible. You want to be with me as much as possible.You can only be with me as long as that wolvesbane is good. If you're in the room when it wears out, I will attack you and be fully conscious of doing so, even as I am screaming with anguish inside. If I take another draught of the 'bane when it is still active, the belladonna in it will probably kill me. First thing we need to do is work out a system of communication.