This place, Harry soon realized, had as many secrets as Hogwarts. The staircase actually wasn't that long, but lack of much-needed sleep made it seem huge. The base really wasn't more than six stories high, though each floor certainly had it's adventures.
The official tour began at noon the first day. The Angels took them to the front of the base, which Harry could only tell was the front by the "Angels" marked over a double-door made of mahogany. Inside here was a circular room with six tunnels leading out of it, lit by torches. Three were to the left of another set of double-doors, the other three to the right. Inside the next set of double-doors was a larger room with a single table about a quarter of the size of the house tables at Hogwarts. Six chairs were seated around it, and a whole breakfast waiting for them.
After breakfast, they split up, Katie's words being, "That was the official tour. Now go figure out the rest of this place by yourself!" Harry and Ron decided to try and find their way back to their room, Elyse and Heather said they wanted to prep, and Katie and Hermione were going to have another argument over house-elves and Hayla, who had yet to be seen that morning.
Harry and Ron went down six wrong corridors on their floor, the third, and into the field twice. After exiting the staircase on the fifth floor accidentally, they backtracked and found their way back to their room about three hours later. After a closer examination of their room, Harry and Ron were pleased. There was floo powder in a cup hanging by the fireplace, so they could contact the Weasley's if they wanted to. The top of the fireplace was unknown because it was too high, even when Ron tried to climb it. They also discovered that there was no light switch and they had to ask Alex for any lights on or off, and the same with the fire. They were slightly annoyed when they found that if they jumped on the rug three times in a row, the rug dropped and led through a series of tunnels that reached the room where they had their meals, affectionately named by Elyse as the "Food Room". To top it off, there was another series of tunnels from their room, these of which they could travel by foot. If they knocked on top of the fireplace, the fireplace itself lifted up to reveal a darkened room lit only by torches that had a staircase and two tunnels. They had yet to explore these.
The base itself was full of mysteries and surprises. While Harry and Ron had been examining some of the training items on the field, Ron had touched a silvery-blue object shaped like a small dragon and had nearly had his arm chopped off. When they asked the Angels about this, none would say a thing. This severely worried Harry and Ron, but refrained from mentioning this to Hermione, who was already agitated over her ongoing arguments about Hayla. Twists and tunnels could easily lose Harry and Ron, and they had to frequently watch where they tread. Heather had warned them not to go down the sixth tunnel, though had not been specific about which was the sixth tunnel and where it was located before she had to return to prepping. Apparently the sixth tunnel was where Harry and Ron had gotten lost on the fourth floor. A series of obstacles nearly killed them before Harry miraculously made them stop just before the ax of the monkey sliced Ron in half. Harry and Ron decided that venturing throughout the base was a very unsafe thing after this.
But naturally, that didn't stop them.
A week after their arrival, on a gorgeous, cloudless Tuesday morning, Katie announced that the next morning they would start training, and that would mean getting up at five o'clock. Going through the morning routine, she explained that would go on for the rest of the summer except for possibly the week before their return to Hogwarts. Training would be vigorous and would probably go on until seven at night, the only scheduled breaks being meals. They would have free time until eight, then they would need to return to their rooms. What they did after that was their choice, as she obviously could not force them to sleep. She had given a mischievous glance to Harry and Ron at these words, at which time the imaginary halo's in Harry's brain sprang up. To Harry's horror some actually did, though they were immediately broken by horns. Katie laughed and said, "So, Harry, where do you stash that pitchfork?"
Harry and Ron enjoyed their last free day, though they found it was coming to a close all too soon. Before they knew it, eight o'clock had approached and was upon them, Katie's voice of "Break it up, eight o'clock" entering the common room. The common room was large and could keep them busy for the entire day. Harry and Ron were sorry that hadn't discovered it until Sunday, even though it's presence had been made known to them on their first day of arrival. Every electronic device Harry had ever heard of was there, ping pong, a pool table, a huge pool, and comfortable chairs and couches made this room quickly the favorite of all.
"Night, all," Elyse said. "I'm hitting the sack."
"Yeah, me, too," Heather agreed. "See ya tomorrow, bright and early."
"Unfortunately," Ron agreed.
"Night, Ron," Hermione said, kissing him as she now usually did.
"Night, Hermione," Ron said as Hermione left the room.
"Harry," Katie said, as though finishing a previous sentence. She kissed him and smiled.
"Kate," Harry said in the same tone.
Katie followed Harry and Ron out, shutting the lights off and closing the door.
"See you two in the morning."
"See you then," Ron said, opening the door to their room.
"Oh, Hayla!" Katie suddenly exclaimed as the house-elf left her room.
"Yes, Miss Katie?" Hayla asked.
"Tomorrow morning… you've been doing an excellent job waking the boys up, but I think Jacob should do it tomorrow. Will you inform him?"
"Yes, Miss," Hayla said, and headed off down the opposite way.
"Who's Jacob?" Harry asked before he stepped into their room.
"You'll see," Katie said with a mischievous smirk. "Night, Alex."
"Goodnight, Katie," Alex replied.
Harry paused before entering their room. "Goodnight Alex?"
"Goodnight, Harry," Alex said.
"Goodnight Alex!" Ron said happily.
"Goodnight Ron!" Alex said in the same tone.
Ron glanced at Harry, then quickly shut the door. "That was creepy."
Harry stifled a chuckle. He walked over to his bed, which was closest to the window. Ron, besides his suitcase already being there, demanded the bed closest to the bathroom. Harry quickly changed into the red pajamas that had been set out for him, he assumed by Hayla. Harry quickly got into his bed and laid down as Ron did the same next to him.
"Fire out, Alex," Harry said.
The fire vanquished itself.
"Whatever you wish," Alex said.
"A glass of butterbeer would be fantastic, Alex!" Ron exclaimed, his smile visible only through the moonlight of the open window.
Hayla immediately walked in, carrying two bottles of butterbeer and a plate of cookies on a tray.
Ron raised his eyebrows at Harry. "That's quick service."
Harry laughed. "Thanks, Hayla."
"Whatever Misters wish," Hayla said. She bowed low and exited.
Harry and Ron talked for ten minutes while they drank the butterbeer and ate fresh chocolate chip cookies, as though they were straight from the oven. When they were finished, Harry asked for the remains to be removed, and Hayla walked in again, grabbed the tray, plate, and empty bottles, bowed, and left. Harry and Ron exchanged another glance, said goodnight, and fell asleep.