(Princess grins)This Chapter is my baby, and therefore not very Harry-centric, sorry. (sheepish look) It started as a filler and turned into this... so i dedicate it to Bladeknight, our cool as critic! (Wolfmoon glares at poor defenceless Princess, "There WILL be more Harry)
Chapter Seven: Veritaserum, House Elves and General Horniness
"What's wrong Sevie?" Justine asked her uncle, sitting opposite him in his dungeon quarters.
"Justine," he said with a pained expression, "do not use that insufferable nickname. The Gryffindors claimed you have … kidnapped … one of their house members," Severus said delicately.
"Which one?" Justine asked flippantly, "We seem to have four with us at present."
"Ginny Weasley," Severus replied. "They are also claiming that you physically abused Ron Weasley, though I saw no sign of it, that you threatened to kill them all, and that you threatened to set the McEwan dragon, as a dangerous beast, upon Ginny Weasley unless they did what you wanted them to. And worst of all, that you broke into their private tower without leave," here he rolled his eyes in evident disgust.
"THOSE LITTLE SHITS!" Justine yelled, and then thought about it, "Actually, they do have something of a point … but they have all the facts twisted."
"Be that as it may, in five minutes you are expected in Dumbledore's office for a formal enquiry into the matter. Our Head Boy, Draco Malfoy, the Head Girl, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter will be there … is there anyone who you wish to be there also?"
"Kris," Justine replied immediately, without thinking about it at all, "and Tanya, since she's quite involved in this … being my evidence and all."
Severus looked a little worried at the first name, but relaxed when she requested someone else to join them. "Very well, I shall send for them to join us in the Headmasters office. Come," he stood up and led her from the room. He did not see her grab the small vial labelled 'Veritaserum', thinking 'this could come in handy.'
Draco was pacing around the Headmasters office, wondering where everyone else was. He almost wished that Seamus hadn't told McGonagall what had gone on in the Gryffindor common room not long before.
"Where are they?" he wondered, inadvertently speaking aloud.
"They will come," Dumbledore replied calmly.
Suddenly there was a knock on his door, which quickly opened. Severus and Justine Snape swept into the room, Justine somehow managing to pull of the threatening stalk in mimicry of her uncle, despite the fact that she was wearing a skimpy, wet swimsuit and a cloak, in the chilling English weather.
"Ah, Severus," Dumbledore greeted, "Lemon drop?"
The Headmaster had offered Draco one of those as well; Draco had declined, as did Justine and Severus. Dumbledore sighed, and took two for himself.
There was a second knock on the door, and then Harry, Hermione, Kris and the girl who looked like Ginny, he thought her name was Tanya. All of them were looking similar to Justine, with Kris in wet board shorts and t-shirt, Tanya in sparkling blue swimmers, also with a t-shirt thrown on over the top, and Harry and Hermione with some of their school clothes on, but also wearing swimmers.
"Lemon drop?" Dumbledore offered.
"Sure," Kris replied, walking over to take one cheerfully. Tanya followed his example.
"You know, I think that's the first time anyone has ever accepted a lemon drop," Dumbledore remarked thoughtfully. "It's always nice to see old traditions discarded."
"Yeah, how nice," Kris agreed, somehow managing to make it sound polite.
"If we can get off the subject of sweets, Headmaster, I would like to see who is the actual guilty party in this equation," Severus spoke up coolly. Draco noted that there were wet patches on the Potion Masters robes also. What the hell was going on here?
"Ah yes … well, I'm sure you've told Justine what she's been accused of, but the fact is we can hardly determine who is right simply from stories," Dumbledore murmured.
"What exactly is going on here?" Tanya enquired politely.
"They accused us of kidnapping Ginny, threatening to kill people, physical assault, breaking and entering … um, did I miss something?" Justine asked.
"Threatening a dragon on them," Severus put in helpfully.
"Oh yes, that too," Justine agreed.
"Right, gotcha," Tanya nodded. "And they actually think we did this? I mean, you guys kinda did some of it … but not without provocation."
"Exactly," Justine replied.
"See, she's admitted it," Draco jumped in, hoping to get this over and done with so that he didn't have to look at her in a swimsuit that still wrecked havoc with his body, however much he told himself he hated her.
"She just said we did some of it," Kris yelled immediately, "And it was under provocation!"
"She still admitted it," Draco snapped. "As far as I'm concerned anyway."
"Kris, he isn't worth the breath," Justine interrupted the argument, "Besides, there is a simple solution to this. I was present while all of this was occurring, therefore, I think this will clear things up nicely," she held up the bottle labelled Veritaserum, holding it so that everyone could read it. "Hope you don't mind, Severus, but I borrowed this from your chambers," she added, smiling benignly at her uncle. "Since you are here, I will be happy to take a designated amount of this potion and answer those questions that you might have – that way we can prove the guilty party once and for all."
"Very well, as a family member of Justine Snape, Severus, will you authorize the use of Veritaserum on your niece?"
"He doesn't have to," Kris broke in, "In Australia, wizards come of age at sixteen. Justine is fully allowed to make her own decision in this situation, without any parental influence."
"I would prefer it if only my uncle asks me questions, as while under the influence of this potion, I am not in control of what I wish to reveal and what I do not," Justine put in calmly. "I fail to see any reason for me to trust most of you in this room, for various reasons."
"Very well," Dumbledore said calmly. Draco was worried – what would Justine say, anyway? The truth would hurt Hogwarts more than her, since Seamus had sort of lied when he told McGonagall what was going on… Oh well, it was too late to stop it now.
Severus called for a goblet of fruit juice, letting three drops of Veritaserum fall into it. "Justine, three sips, no more."
Justine nodded, and took three sips of the drink. Draco watched as her face relaxed a little, and her eyes lost their focus completely. "What is your name?" Severus asked the standard beginning question.
"Justine Elizabeth Selene Snape," she replied in a flat monotone.
"Did you, today, kidnap the person of Ginevra Weasley, Hogwarts student?" he asked.
"No," Justine replied. "She was brought aboard our cruiser when it was discovered that our Seeker, Tanya Bussa, had been taken by the Hogwarts students. She was held on the cruiser until we got our Seeker back – the McEwan dragon would not have allowed her to leave until Tanya was returned to us."
"Well, I think that fairly well justifies the actions of my niece in regard to the first offence," Severus spoke out calmly.
"Ask her about the rest of the offences please, Severus," Dumbledore replied.
"Justine, did you enter the Gryffindor Tower without permission today?"
"No," Justine replied. "Ginny told me the password so that I could go and get Tanya. And as I was once a Gryffindor student, so in some respects, that place in Hogwarts is still mine."
"That covers that offence," Severus pointed out.
"Ask her why Ginny gave her the password," Draco demanded, "I can't imagine she would do that of her own free will."
Severus dutifully repeated the question. "The McEwan dragon was distressed at the loss of one of those she regards as her children, and when she saw Ginny, she assumed that Ginny had something to do with her disappearance. The dragon attempted to take charge of the situation, but the Kallaix students intervened, and Kris presented an alternative: for us to go and collect Tanya. To keep the dragon calm, Ginny gave up the password, and was left as an assurance that our wishes would be carried out, and Tanya would be returned to us."
"I fail to see how the Kallaix students were in the wrong in any way," Severus stated.
"I am finding myself in agreement with you Severus. However, the idea that your niece may have threatened to kill someone at Hogwarts concerns me greatly. I would certainly like that matter to be cleared up before we let Justine leave to wait out the potion's effects in the comfort of your office."
"Justine, at any point today did you threaten a Hogwarts student with death?"
"Yes."
"Were these threats serious?" Severus asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"As the Head Girl of Kallaix Academy, the students' welfare is my responsibility while away from the school. Tanya was kidnapped. Fearing harm to her person, I threatened anyone who attempted to get in my way and prevent me from fulfilling my duty with death. I also sent a Bludger at Draco Malfoy with the intent to harm. I do not like him. Also, while playing a game in the pool on the Kallaix cruiser, I told Harry Potter that unless he and Hermione Granger got out of my way, I would run them down and send them to hell."
"Well, that's just fulfilling her duty, as she said," Kris put in, "it's what's expected of our Head students when in a hostile environment."
"I fail to see how a pool could be described as a hostile environment," Dumbledore remarked.
"You've never played wrestle wars," Justine returned in flat monotone.
"Well, she certainly seems to be telling the truth, but the potion could be wearing off, so if you would proceed to the charge of physical abuse, Severus?"
"Justine, at any point today, not including any form of recreational sport, did you harm a Hogwarts student?"
"Yes," Justine replied.
"Who did you harm, how, and why?"
"Ron Weasley. I punched him in the eye. He was annoying me. I fixed it later."
"She did," Harry put in calmly.
"How did you fix the injury?" Severus inquired at Dumbledore's urging.
"With a spell," Justine replied calmly.
"What spell?"
"A healing one."
"What incantation did you use?"
"Heal," she replied.
"What spell is this?"
"I do not know its name. It is something only Magai's can do, I think."
"You are a Magai?"
"Yes."
Harry and Draco looked at each other. This was not a good thing. They had counted on being the only Magai's present – now they had a rival Magai and a sword mage to deal with. Not to mention a werewolf and a unicorn – this was shaping out to be more than they had bargained for. No wonder so many newspapers were backing Kallaix.
"I think my niece has answered all the questions to your satisfaction," Severus remarked, "If you don't mind, I'll take her down to my office now, and send her out to the cruiser when she has recovered from the potion."
"She'll be fine with us!" Kris cried out.
"I would prefer she came with me, there are some people who suffer from adverse effects upon recovery after the use of Veritaserum," Severus stated.
"Fine," Kris spat, and left the room. Tanya glanced at the other occupants, then followed him, along with Hermione, who left at a nod from Dumbledore.
"She's recovering from the potion, Severus," Dumbledore remarked.
"Yes," Severus agreed.
"That dose should have knocked her out for an hour."
"I know."
"She really is a Magai," Dumbledore mused.
"She might be recovering, but she could not have lied," Severus pointed out. "If you don't mind, we shall take our leave, Headmaster."
"Very well. Harry, Draco, remain please."
Draco knew that Harry would contemplate leaving anyway, and shook his head slightly at his brother in-law. Harry hesitated, still on the brink of defiance, then nodded slightly, and stayed where he was.
"Harry, Draco, I want you to talk to Justine whenever possible, about being a Magai – she seems to be dealing with this fine on her own, but all the same, it would be good to ensure that she is loyal to our side."
"With all due respect," Harry started, "Now is not a good time to be talking to Justine at all. We are opposing teams in a competition that we both want to win. Anything we ask her she may not want to answer, as it could be used against her in the upcoming events."
"So it's not a good idea to talk to her, but it's fine to swim in her swimming pool? And wrestle with her?" Dumbledore enquired. "This point of this entire event is to strive for unity between schools, I'm happy to say you seem to be working with this admirably."
"Completely different concept," Harry replied, "That was just a bit of fun – actually asking questions about powers is a sure fire way to lose her trust entirely."
"She won't answer until the hunt is over and there is no way this can be used against her," Draco put in. "I know Justine, however much I may wish I didn't. While Justine's loyalties to others may falter, her loyalty to her uncle, her country and the right side will not…. Her loyalty to that Kristopher fellow probably won't either," this last sounded more than a little spiteful.
Severus opened the door to his rooms, and sat Justine down in front of his desk. "Is the potion still working?" he asked her.
"Yes," she replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Is Draco Malfoy handsome?"
"He's a right royal little spunk," Justine clapped her hands over her mouth and glared at Severus spitefully.
"Do you love Kristopher Crompton?"
"Yes, he is my brother in heart," Justine replied. "We dated once for a week, but it didn't work out. He was too over protective and we work far better as friends."
"Are you in love with Ax?"
"HELL NO!" Justine replied. "He is my brother also. The idea of being anything more is just weird."
"Are you still in love with Draco Malfoy?"
Justine clapped her hands over her mouth again, and gave some indistinguishable mumble in response. Suddenly, she let her hands fall and stated clearly, "I am a chicken. Hey, cool it's gone!"
Severus sighed.
"Did you have to ask me that?" Justine demanded with a hurt expression.
"Yes," he replied. "I had to find out if it was safe to allow either of those two boys into my confidences – I wouldn't want to let them get a little close then have to kill them."
"I wasn't talking about that question and you know it," Justine told him.
"Oh, the Draco Malfoy thing – I thought it might be dangerous for you if you were," Severus replied. "I remember how much he hurt you last time, and if he tried to get close to you again, to break your heart once more..."
"Oh fine," she sighed. "Still, please don't ask me questions like that again, I don't really like it."
"I won't," Severus promised. "You may as well join your school mates, it's getting close to dinner time now, you may wish to change into something more … socially acceptable."
Justine looked down at her swimsuit, "What's wrong with this? We wear it to dinner most of the time in Kallaix, especially in summer."
"This is Britain," Severus pointed out, "Quite apart from it being significantly cooler, we tend to stand more on formality. And the first round of the United Youth Conference starts immediately after dinner, you won't have time to change between the two events."
"Oh fine," Justine sighed, "You'll be eating at our table?"
"Of course," Severus replied.
"I'll see you at dinner Sevie," she told him, and left before he could admonish her for using the nickname.
Dinner progressed without incident, and soon enough everyone was shooed from the hall so it could be set up for the conference. Five minutes later the doors opened on a completely different room. There were eight raised daises, each one with a banner above it showing the school it was set aside for.
Kallaix's dais was set up beside Beauxbatons, at the farthest end of the hall, opposite from Hogwarts. "Well, the Frenchies ain't gonna like us after this afternoon," Saul muttered, "We thrashed them."
"If they have a problem with that, it's just really poor sportsmanship … although being Australian, we aren't necessarily ones to talk …" Justine remarked.
"All depends on age groups too," Jeffery put in, "We are young, and like to be dominating … all the testosterone flying around."
"So how do you explain the chicks?" Jacque demanded playfully.
"Excess from us guys," Adam put in, since Jeffery seemed a little at loss.
"Riiiight," Justine remarked. "You are so influential, after all … next thing you know, we'll be sprouting moustaches to follow in your oh so glorious footsteps."
"Hey, guys, if I'm speaking tonight, then I'd better be the first speaker," Tegan put in, "I have only an hour till moonrise and I really don't want to change into a fully fledged monster in the middle of a debate …"
"It would be great for morale … everyone would be cheering, or screaming … either way, there would be noise," Justine told her cousin cheerfully.
"Oh shut up," Tegan smiled back.
"Make me," Justine said.
"Just wait until moonrise and I will!" Tegan bantered happily.
Charlie and Hagrid stood up and called for the Schools to come and take their seats. The Kallaix students hurried down the Hall to their seats; Hogwarts were already there.
"So, Hagrid and Charlie are in charge," Ax remarked, "This should be interesting to say the least – you have two other dragon obsessed people in attendance. My only question is … why Hagrid?"
"They probably need someone to break up any physical abuses," Jacque remarked.
"Probably," agreed Adam, "Hagrid would be good at that."
"And we seem to have a few guests as well," Justine remarked, "The Hogwarts teachers all look pretty interested in this, and we seem to have interested the British Ministry as well … Pity Greg couldn't take a break from work and join us."
"Oh, he'll get here eventually," Kris shrugged, "I know my dad, he wouldn't miss the final Quidditch match even if it meant forfeiting his place as Minister, especially considering we'll be in it."
"Cocksure aren't you?" Tanya remarked.
"Well you have to admit that these guys don't have a clue how to deal with us – we were taught by the best and most violent Quidditch teams of our time," Kris pointed out.
"We are playing the Spanish tomorrow – shouldn't we take it seriously?" Jacque asked.
"We'll trash 'em," Kris said firmly.
"No, we will obliterate then, annihilate them, destroy them," Adam said in a fake Snape voice.
The whole Australian contingent broke down laughing in their seats, earning glares from Charlie and Hagrid, who were trying to call everyone to order – and the Australians were not helping.
"Ok you lot, quiet down, quiet down," the half-giant stood up and bellowed over the hall. This achieved their goal as everyone fell silent beneath the bombardment of sound. Charlie quickly took over, as he was far better at making speeches than his predecessor ever would be.
"The first round to the United Youth Conference is about to begin. Could each school please nominate three speakers?"
Without any discussion Tegan stood up and went to the first speaker's seat, shortly followed by Saul, since he was in McEwan after all, and then, after some debate, Jeffery.
Soon after this the rest of the schools had their own speakers, and Charlie took centre stage once more. "Rules and regulations are as follows: one, you may not speak unless the orb in front of you is glowing." In front of the speakers' chairs was a long desk, with a large clear globe of glass positioned in front of each speaker, as Charlie spoke, all of the globes flashed gold simultaneously, then died out. "Each school when only be able to speak when myself or Hagrid has given them leave, at which point, the orbs will glow. Two; points will be deducted from your overall score for each infringement of the rules, or for threatening physical behaviour towards any other person in this hall." At this he looked towards the Australians - clearly he knew what had transpired in Dumbledore's office earlier that day.
He continued "Three, no student from any school who is not one of the designated speakers may contribute to any discussion at any time over the evening. Four, no wands are to be used in any fashion unless myself or Hagrid have been prior notified, and have given approval for said use. Five, to bring a discussion to the desk, write it on the piece of parchment found on the top right hand corner of your desk, and say 'submit', the parchments will then come to the front desk, and be chosen or discarded at myself or Hagrid's discretion and no student who is not a speaker may contribute a point of discussion. Six, to indicate your wish to take part in any discussion, one speaker from the school has only to raise a hand. Rule seven is if myself or Hagrid calls for silence at any point over the evening, any schools speaking after that moment will have points deducted from their overall score. For those of you who are yet to receive any points, you will be reduced to minuses, which you will have to make up through participation in other events."
Charlie took a deep breath, having said most of this in the space of a breath, "Finally, rule eight applies only to Hogwarts – as the host school, they are the only school with more than the designated ten students allowed in the competition … they are required to submit ten names now for the debating team," Charlie took his seat calmly. "Would all of you with an idea for discussion now write and submit it, so the Conference may begin."
Saul immediately grabbed his piece of paper and scribbled something on it swiftly. Before submitting it, he held it up so that the Kallaix students could read what it said – as his writing was very large, it was easy to see that it said, "All schools should supply disgruntled students with candy."
Tegan and Jeffery both also apparently had topics for discussion, though theirs would probably be a little more … mature, and actually be likely to be accepted by the teachers. When the last of the pieces of parchment had flown into Charlie's hand he began to read through the pieces. After he had read quickly about half of the paper, he came across one that made his eyebrows shoot up and a sort of fleeting half scowl fly across his face.
He coughed and said in a loud voice, "Proposal for the destruction of the Australian Dragon colonies." Tegan's hand shot up so fast that Justine and Tanya never saw it move between stationary and straight up.
"The speaker for Hogwarts Daphne Greengrass was the suggestee, so she will commence the argument, to be further discussed by Maritha LeCourt of Beauxbatons then Tegan Hall of ..." Charlie never got to finish as the doors of the great hall were thrown open and a tiny bronze dragon the size of a mini fox terrier strutted into the room.
Rhiannon had made her entrance.
Whispers erupted around the room as she slowly looked around the crowds, golden eyes glinting in dying sunshine. Spotting the Aussie area she began to walk over to them with an echoing clicking noise as her nails hit the marble floor.
Every eye had turned to watch the arrival of the dragon. Most students were gawking and many looked a little scared, although they would never admit to being scared of such a small dragon. The creature strutted up to the desk which Tegan was seated behind, spread perfect bronze wings, and flew up, catching hold of a copper bar that ran along the length of the desk.
She gave a soft, self-satisfied trill, evidently well pleased with herself, then suddenly began to tilt backwards, scraping noises filled the air as she scrabbled to get a purchase on the metal. The attempt failed, and she tumbled backwards, hit the floor with a flump.
At almost exactly the same moment, another of the creatures flew through the air. This one was almost twice the size of the new arrival, and pitch black. Had anyone been watching Tanya Bussa of Australia, rather than the dragons, they would have seen an expression on her face similar to the dog that is ordered 'stay' just as a ball has been thrown.
As often happened in the case of the dog, instinct wins over vocal command. Tanya bounced to her feet, forearm horizontally raised above her head. The black dragon landed on her arm, and she hastily sat down again. The little creature curled up in her lap and demanded scratches, which he got.
The smaller bronze had righted itself and now took off, flying to land on Tegan's shoulder, trilling quietly. In the silence that prevailed across the hall, Tegan could be heard saying, "There there baby, it's not that bad. Let mummy stroke it better."
The dragon immediately dropped from shoulder to lap, and trilled happily while Tegan stroked it's apparently bruised back.
"I've never heard of this breed of dragon," Charlie said, with the proverbial dog and ball situation of dragons over duty.
"It's called the Antipodean Miniature, they're really rare and Australia keeps them fairly secret, you can imagine the trouble we would have with people trying to hide them and keep them as pets," Justine Snape spoke up from Tanya's side, also stroking the black. Hagrid was looking interested when she said that they could be kept hidden ... and the allusion to the fact that they could also be kept as pets.
"This is Aiden," Tanya put in happily, "The male of the breed is larger than the female, and generally darker."
"Rhiannon is a near perfect example of a female of the breed," Tegan put in, and the bronze trilled angrily, "You're a little smaller than most, honey, and no one is perfect, not even you. These dragons are one of the reasons that the Australian Dragon Colonies need to be protected not ... destroyed," this was said with a sneer in Daphne's direction.
"Well, since you're third speaker, we really have to hear from the earlier speakers, starting with Daphne Greengrass of Hogwarts," Charlie said, obviously wanting to ask more about the dragons - there are always those few occasions when the dog stays as commanded, after all.
The light in front of Daphne lit up, and she immediately said, "All dragons are dangerous, the only reason they haven't taken over the world is that the world knows exactly where they are - except in Australia..."
Tegan appeared completely uninterested in the arguments presented, playing with Rhiannon, who was now on the table top, rolling about, with tiny flashes of yellow fire playing occasionally at her muzzle. Daphne sat down, having repeated the fact that dragons were dangerous twice now. The second speaker, Maritha of Beauxbatons, waited until her globe was alight then, said, "The Australians can use mind control on their dragons. They'll command them to come and attack us eventually, to try and take over the world - an invincible army!"
"No, we'll just show you a Quaffle near a goalpost and you'll fall to pieces," Adam muttered mockingly, in reference to the French's shocking performance in the Quidditich earlier that day.
Maritha went white about the lips, and glared at him, then said, "That is my only argument, Professor Weasley," she said stiffly, and took her seat again.
"Tegan Hall of Kallaix," Charlie and Hagrid both sat forward, knowing this girl was going to flip, and defend their favourite creatures - the dragons.
"The only time and place that an Australian may 'command' a dragon is within the borders of Kallaix Academy, and that's only the school dragons, sworn to the protection of the school. We can request their aid, never demand it. Except for Justine, they like her and do whatever she wants ... whether she asks or not. The dragons are also a vital part of the Australian ecology, being integral to the food chain, and the land itself, as they regularly set the fires that must come to renew the land. They were there long before we wear - the land belongs to them and they allow us to live there through the goodness of their hearts ... well, most of them do..." she was speaking almost too fast to follow, just to make sure she got in as many points as possible. After all, her father was the Minister for the protection of said colonies. She was just launching into her eleventh point, something about Muggle relations (though how this could be a positive point, not even the Kallaix students were sure) when Charlie held up a hand.
"You have provided ten valid arguments for the preservation of the Australian Dragon Colonies, and I declare this topic closed. The next topic will be..." he started shuffling through papers again, having been too caught up in the arguments for this debate to chose the topic for the next one.
While the other schools waited, Justine and Alyson stood up and went over to Tegan, standing her up and walking her from the room. "Where are you going?" Daphne demanded, "This event isn't over yet - though you might wish it was."
"Why? We just kicked your ass!" Tegan snarled.
"Our team mate is sick," Justine replied calmly, "We have already spoken to the Headmaster - Tegan wished to be present at least for a little while, but has decided that she is now too ill to continue." Tegan did indeed look rather haggard at present.
"That's right," Hagrid boomed cheerfully across the hall, "You go and have a nice rest lass, we'll hope to see ye back next round!" He apparently liked her for her arguments for the preservation of dragon kind.
Justine, Tegan and Alyson left the hall without further incident and descended into the dungeons. Severus was waiting for them, just a little way into the dungeon corridor. He handed Tegan a steaming goblet of Wolfsbane Potion, "I heard you used a cushion charm for your friend in Australia," he directed this to Justine, "I cast one in the dungeon I set up for your friend, there are pillows everywhere, and I left a roasted steak as well..."
"Oh Sevie, that's so sweet - I forgive you for being such a butthead earlier," Justine smiled at her uncle while Tegan drank the potion down quickly. "How did you find out about the charm?"
"I talked to your friend ... is it Tanya? Small child, red hair - she came with you on the first day," Severus replied.
"That's Tanya alright," Alyson smiled.
Justine headed back to the cruiser a short time later with Alyson - neither of them could really be bothered to return to the conference - they'd be trashing any opposition anyway, and some of those first arguments about dragons had just been sad. No reason to go back to that. "Was it just me, or as we were leaving the hall, did I hear Saul mention he would be discussing Mandatory Magical Education?"
"It wasn't just you ... I pity the poor souls remaining in that hall," Alyson replied. "I'm sure we'll be told the details anyway - do you mind if we have some sort of soothing drink first?" Justine knew her friend was only teasing - she and Saul were very fond of each other ... she thought they might have dated at one point... maybe they still were ... Alyson wasn't one to speak of her relationships, and for some reason, Saul didn't usually brag.
On deck Justine noticed that the glasses from the Pina Coladas had all been cleared up, and the deck was now spotless, newspapers folded neatly on the coffee table upstairs. "Wow!" she said looking at Alyson, "It looks like the guys have actually tried to clean up this time."
Alyson looked back worriedly. "No, myself and Saul were the last off the cruiser, it was a royal mess."
Justine walked into the wheelhouse, which was gleaming and dashed down the stairs. "Oh. God, I'm so embarrassed, whoever it was has even had to clean up the mini bar."
"It was an honour!" squeaked a small voice form the lounge room. Winky was standing there, wearing her dirty little dress, which looked like she had made a valiant effort to clean it. "Winky is where little miss told her to wait. And good Winky has cleaned little miss's boat."
Justine looked down at the little elf, "Oh my god that is so cute! But how are you feeling? Do you hurt anywhere? Have you had anything to eat?"
"Winky is not sure why little miss would ask her this, Winky has been a bad house elf, she was given clothes."
"Why wouldn't I ask you, I was worried about you, it's polite to ask, not just throw food at you!" Justine smiled down at the elf."
Winky began to sniff copiously and muttered, "Winky understands Dobby's love of Harry Potter now miss, you is a good little miss."
Alyson went over and asked Winky to show her where all of her cuts were and checked her temperature. "She's fine to go now. She made the perfect recovery. Kris is going to be so cocky about his healing charm."
"Oh NO! Little miss don't send Winky away, I will be good I can look after you and other misses and sirs!" Winky began to bawl at the top of her lungs, a sound that intensified when Alyson gave her a hug.
Alyson's kinder nature shone through in the end. "Can we keep her?"
Justine was worried. What would Dumbledore say when he found out they were kidnapping, after the scene in his office today? "We can't steal Dumbledore's house elf."
"But look at her she wants to be in the Aussie contingent! You let Severus, and Ginny join us, why not her?"
"I have an idea. Winky do you want to be with us?"
"Yes miss, Winky be good house-elf, you'll see."
"You're going to have to do me a favour though and wear a uniform. Not rags." Justine said firmly.
"Winky is not sure what little miss means." Winky looked up at Justine and Alyson through her tears.
"I am going to expect you to stay clean, and no drinking at all, ever, of anythingremotely alcoholic without permission." Justine walked over to the elf, who was shaking her head so fast Justine thought it might fall clean off. She laid a hand on Winky's shoulder, and her soiled yellow dress turned into a perfect replica of the Kallaix uniform, with robes and blazer, (in emerald green for Wentworth of course) in Winky's size.
"Oh miss, I is so beautiful," Winky sounded completely rapt by the new uniform.
Alyson smiled, "Yes Winky, you are beautiful," she agreed kindly. "Now, we need you to go and get some rest – Justine will take care of everything to do with your ties to Hogwarts, and you must be tired from all that cleaning you did."
"Winky is not tired at all!" the house elf cried immediately, though her eyes were sinking closed as she spoke.
"Winky should go and get some sleep now," Justine repeated Alyson's message. "You've done a very good job on the boat, and there isn't anything else left to do right now, so you may as well rest."
"Yes little miss, Winky will go right now and rest," the house elf said immediately, then paused, "Where shall Winky sleep?"
"You take the couch tonight, that's where you woke up. We'll find you a better place tomorrow when everyone is around to help out," Justine decided.
"Winky is not wanting to be a problem for anyone. Winky could just sleep under the kitchen table, out of the way," Winky said.
"No! Definitely not! You will have a proper bed," Alyson said immediately, "We can set up a cot in my room if you like, but you are not sleeping on the floor!"
"But Winky doesn't want to be a problem!" The elf looked most distressed.
"Winky, just breath, you'll be fine. Now, go to bed and we can talk all of this over in the morning, alright?" Justine said firmly. "No arguments."
"Yes little miss," Winky said immediately and retreated to the lounge.
Tanya lay back against her seat, still absently scratching just behind Aidan's head – one of the few positions the dragon couldn't reach himself. She was completely bored now - Saul was rambling on about Mandatory Magical Education being a bad thing. Yeah sure, some of his arguments were good, and his speaking voice near perfect, but he kept throwing in unnecessary points or just bringing up utterly stupid reasons why this was a bad thing.
Sure, the guy was her friend, but didn't he know where to stop? Mandatory Education rots the brain? Right. Though his point about people being able to learn on their own was a good one, in her point of view.
Oh well, Tanya's eyes drifted closed, then snapped open, then drifted closed again. "Is Tanya tired?" Aiden asked her.
"Tanya is very tired," she murmured back. "Tanya wants to sleep. Tanya caught Snitch, and did all that was necessary for her to do today."
"Tanya is sounding like house elf," Kris put in.
"Kris is also sounding like house-elf, and Tanya advises that Kris leave Tanya alone," Tanya mumbled. "Wanna sleep."
"So sleep," Kris shrugged.
"Wouldn't that be rude?"
"Take a look at the Hogwarts students," Kris remarked. Tanya dutifully looked, and immediately noted that half of the students seemed to be dozing – including Ron and, to a lesser extent, Leon.
Tanya smiled. "Wake me up if anything interesting happens then," she told Kris, her eyes closing and staying that way. Kris smiled slightly as Aidan half uncurled, obviously going to protect his sleeping friend from anyone who tried to disturb her rest.
"Some lovely arguments from Saul Thorpe-Townsend of Kallaix Academy on Mandatory Magical Education … rots the brain, eh? Anyway, the next topic will be House Elf Rights, or Lack Thereof, from Hermione Granger of Hogwarts," Charlie said carefully, sounding amused, but as though he was trying to hide it.
No one moved to offer an opinion on this for a moment, then someone from Durmstrang raised a hand. "Hermione Granger, you will be first speaker, then Ivan Ekish…Ekisha… Um, Ivan of Durmstrang shall speak second."
Hermione waited impatiently for her globe to light up, and then started speaking so fast it was difficult to follow what she was saying. Tanya slept through the whole thing. Kris shook her awake a short time later – Hermione had finished her eleventh point before anyone had realized that she had reached ten.
"What happened?" Tanya slurred, half slumping against Kris's shoulder. Ax came up on her other side, snaking an arm under her shoulders to help support her. Hardly seeming to notice – and definitely beyond the point of caring, Tanya slumped the other way, and allowed him to escort her out, eyes drooping half closed again, she completely lost track of the conversation.
"Justine would have probably liked that speech … well, parts of it anyway," Kris remarked to Ax, over Tanya's sleeping head. "She would have found the wording fairly dull, but she would have loved some of the points that were made – you know how she dotes on the elves at school."
"Man, that speech was hell. If I'd tried to give that to Mr. Hohnen last year, he would have docked about half the marks for lack of interesting language and flair."
"There was no sophistication," Adam loomed up behind them in a very good imitation of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher of Kallaix Academy. Mr. Hohnen loved giving out oral assessments and essays to all of his students, right from first to final year.
"Oh there was plenty of sophistication, you heard some of them long words she was using," Saul pointed out, "There just wasn't any flair."
"Did anyone understand that speech?" Kris demanded, "Or was that just me? I mean, seriously?"
"I did," Saul protested.
"That's 'cos you're a smart ass who pretends to be stupid," Ax told him cheerfully, "I think Kris meant normal people."
"Then what was he doing talking to any of us?"
"I'm normal!" Adam protested.
"You haven't had a girlfriend for so long that I'm starting to think you lean that way," Jacque told Adam.
"Aw yeah, right," everyone laughed. Kris was probably the only one who noticed that Adam actually looked rather uncomfortable.
The group separated, and Ax guided Tanya downstairs, sat her down on the bed and stripped off most of her bulky outer uniform – surprisingly, he didn't even try to take off her shirt – then pulled back the covers and tucked Tanya into bed, before retreating to the doorway to just stare at her for a moment.
After a short time had passed, he turned and padded away to his own room. Unnoticed by him, Justine watched him walk away from the shadows near the stairway down. She had noticed him with Tanya, and had followed to make sure he wouldn't do anything naughty when Tanya was too tired to know what was going on.
"If you break her heart, I'll kill you. You'd best just stay away from her," Justine muttered, then went back to her own room, convinced that Tanya was, for the moment, safe.
Justine sat upright in her bed. Something was wrong. She wasn't sure what. It was something that seemed to be the air all around her. She felt … she felt horny, and that just wasn't like her. She was over love.
Deciding that a drink would cure it all, she stood up and made her way down to the lounge, which had a water dispenser. When she reached it, however, she discovered that she wasn't the only one awake now, seeing Ax, Kris, Tanya and Alyson where in the room already.
"Wow, it's," Kris checked his watch, "one in the morning and half of us are up already – if some of the guys back in Aussieland saw us … they would not believe their eyes."
"Yeah that's right, Mr. 'I wake up at one in the afternoon and wonder why I get called a truant,' " Justine muttered, feeling very on edge.
Tanya muttered something sleepily, but Justine wasn't sure what. "Are you awake?" she wondered.
"I don't know," Tanya replied, slurring her words dramatically.
Suddenly the air was split with a howl. "Is that Tegan?" Justine demanded, instantly on the alert.
"Wolf, definitely a wolf," Alyson said, "Sounds like Tegan, but she hasn't howled like that since…"
"Since last year!" Ax said. "When she was …"
"In heat!" Justine replied. "So that's why I'm feeling so … hormonal right now."
"I don't feel any different," Ax remarked.
"Yeah, that's because you're a man-whore," Kris pointed out.
"Oh, leave him alone," Alyson remarked.
"Why? I am," Ax replied.
"And you're proud of it?"
"You should see my 'souvenir' collection," Ax replied cheekily.
"Why wouldn't he be proud? If I had had as many girls as he had, I would be too," Kris put in.
"So you're finally admitting that I've had more girls than you have?"
"There was any competition?" Justine demanded.
"That's what I thought," Alyson put in.
"Oh fine, you've had more girls than me," Kris muttered sullenly.
The howl split the air again. "Is she going to be doing that all night?" Tanya muttered blearily.
Another howl came, more masculine that time. "That was so not Tegan," Justine said.
"Isn't one of the Professors here a werewolf too?" Tanya asked, opening her eyes again. "Older fellow, graying hair."
"Yeah, a guy …" Kris said. "To be more to the point, there is a male werewolf also locked in the castle."
Tanya didn't get it.
"Female in heat, male near by? Surely you can't be in that much of a dark age concerning the human reproductive cycle," Ax teased Tanya quietly.
"Oh shit!" Justine yelled, and the group took off at a dead run for the castle.
"Tanya, we need to know what the other guy is doing – his name is Lupin, and he was a good teacher …and you didn't need to know that," Ax said.
Tanya nodded, and, with a low popping sound, she was replaced by a large bird, and took off into the air, flapping quickly to gain height.
"I so should have tried to learn that with you," Ax remarked, looking after her.
Justine replied, "We stuffed it up anyway. Becoming Animagi to keep Tegan company was a great idea, but doing the spell with someone who already is an Animagus, a werewolf, and with a caster who didn't use a wand … it went a little wonky."
"Still, would have been pretty cool," Kris put in. "I mean, you were only fifteen when you did the spell – that's pretty neat."
"There was a precedent," Justine said.
"There was? Oh yeah, The Book," Ax said. "You guys went a long way to help your friend."
"That's what friends are for," Alyson said. She had been an Animagus since birth, so it wasn't nearly such a big thing for her.
"And like you'd toss up the chance to become an animal," Justine added.
"Yeah, I asked … but someone wouldn't let me," Ax muttered.
"Think how wonky it would have gone if we'd had a sword mage as well," Justine said, "My bitch fight with you that day probably saved all our lives."
"Oh shut up," Ax muttered, as they turned down into the dungeons.
"She wasn't like this last night," Severus Snape was waiting for them, having guessed that they would turn up eventually … that, or he had been coming to get them.
"Yeah, she just went into heat," Justine told her uncle.
"Lupin's here!" Severus said, freaking out slightly in his own stoic way.
"Mmhm," Justine said, "We've sent out a scout, we'll know where he is very soon."
"He's breaking down the office door, Tanya doesn't think it's going to last much longer," Alyson reported. One of the after-effects of the Animagus spell gone wrong was the fact that while in their animal forms, the friends could communicate with one another telepathically. Being a natural Animagus, Alyson could hear them whichever form she was in.
"You sent a human to check on a werewolf?" Severus said, now really starting to lose his cool.
"No, we sent Tanya – she's fine," Ax replied.
"Tanya is a human," Severus said, thinking perhaps the Aussies were missing his point entirely.
"Not right now," Kris replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Severus demanded.
Suddenly a large, pure white bird flew through the front door and dove straight for them. Severus shouted and went to try and pull Justine back, but the bird pulled up, and, just before it would have slammed into the floor, changed into Tanya.
Ax dove forward just before she changed, and ended up on the ground as she landed heavily on his chest, managing to cushion her fall.
"Nice catch," Kris offered.
"Thanks," Ax wheezed.
"We have a problem," Tanya panted, "Lupin just broke through the door."
"You're an Animagus?" Severus demanded, "Have you got any idea how dangerous that transformation is?"
"No, it just tickles the first few times, Sevie, don't worry," Justine told him cheerfully.
"Wait, you're an Animagus as well?"
"I think he's catching on," Kris remarked dryly.
"Can this conversation wait until later, morning, if possible?" Tanya asked, "Only, there's a sex crazy male werewolf roaming the halls of Hogwarts, and I'm thinking that if there are any students around… well, it could be quite nasty."
"You, that way, you, that way," Severus said, sending Kris running in one direction and Ax in another. He then turned to Tanya, Alyson and Justine. Before he could say anything, Tanya had transformed and flapped back outside. "Where's she going?"
"To see how far Lupin's gotten. When we are animals, I can hear projected thoughts from the others," Alyson replied.
"Very well, you two, go back to the boat, you'll be safe there, I won't let the werewolf get outside," Severus replied.
Justine gave him a slightly scathing look. "Oh yes, and how are you going to take on a werewolf? If you're going to try stunning, I know from experience that it doesn't work."
"Lupins taken his potion, I should be able to reason with him," Severus replied.
"Hello? Sex crazy male werewolf let lose in castle with female on heat? Not reasonable," Justine replied. "The air around him is probably driving him mad as we speak, all full pheromones and hormones and other nasty stuff."
"Well you couldn't either, I might stand a chance," Severus replied.
"Sorry Sevie, but why don't you go to your quarters and stay there, Alyson and I can handle the werewolf, we've done it before, last time she was on heat," Justine replied, and suddenly changed form, darting down in the dungeons.
"Where's she going?" Severus asked.
"To check on Tegan," Alyson replied.
Severus looked after the creature that his niece had turned into. "She really could do it, couldn't she? Take on a werewolf?"
"Yes, and she will. With my help, she will even win," Alyson replied, "Now why don't you do what Justine told you, and barricade yourself in your office – she'd kill me if anything happened to you."
With that, Alyson also took on the form of a unicorn and galloped up the stairs, no doubt following Tanya's instructions to find, and delay, the werewolf. A moment later, Justine raced past him, heading after the unicorn. Severus shook his head and followed them.
Kris and Ax met up a short time later on the third floor of the castle, Kris looking more than a little lost. Ax was looking slightly pissed off. "Are all Slytherins that fucking cocky … and that stupid? I'm all like 'Go back to your common room, you're about to die,' and he's like, 'I'm a big bad Slytherin, I can take anything on'. So I'm like, 'What about a giant sex-crazed werewolf?' and he's like 'huh?' … not my fault, had to curse the idiot."
"Did you leave him in the hallway?" Kris asked nervously.
"Do I look stupid? If it had been Malfoy, I probably would have, but I dragged this guy into a closet and locked the door."
"So tomorrow morning he's coming out of the closet?" Kris asked, and then started laughing at his own bad joke. Suddenly the window behind them exploded inwards as a white bird once again crashed into the floor, bleeding from the glass cuts.
The bird became Tanya. With her change back to human form, most of the smaller wounds healed, but there was a huge cut across her cheek. Ax and Kris both stepped forward in concern. "Are you alright? You could have screeched or something, and we'd have broken the window for you," Kris said.
" Werewolf at twelve o'clock," Tanya replied, pointing tiredly down the corridor. "I think we need a closet or something, Ax."
"There's one … this way!" he yelled and took off. Everyone could hear the giant footfalls of the werewolf running down the hall. Ax suddenly pulled them all to a stop and dragged them into a hidden room, which was a little small for three people, and closed the door behind him.
"Man, this is like, the perfect spot for snogging," Kris said, lighting his wand and looking around.
"Why do you think I know where it is?" Ax demanded.
"Oh my god – bad mental image," Tanya replied, and looked in repulsion at the surfaces of the room, backing towards the door. Then they heard the werewolf approaching, but there was something coming from the other side as well.
"Oh shit, Tegan didn't get out, did she?" Kris demanded.
"Those are hooves, idiot," Ax returned. "It's Alyson."
"Justine's with her, they were coming when I found you," Tanya put in, and at that moment, there was a roar from outside. "Big black panther meets big black werewolf … who will win?"
"Add big white unicorn to big black panther and it's not that hard to figure out," Ax replied.
He lit up his sword. "Is that really a good idea?" Tanya asked.
"You can't see the light from the hall, from outside, it's as if this room doesn't exist," Ax replied, "They can't hear us, or see anything. Now let me have a look at your face.
"No, let me have a look at it, I know how to heal, remember?" Kris said, "You may see me as big and dumb, but I know stuff – I was 'this' close to being in McEwen, but then the Steelwell dragon won their little bitchfight."
"Fine," Ax reluctantly shuffled aside, then around, then kind of backwards to give Kris better access to Tanya. Kris examined the wound, and then tapped his wand to it, and the flow of blood stopped and the remaining blood disappeared. A moment later dressings appeared to hold the wound closed.
"I'll leave the actual healing of it to Madam Pomfrey, she knows what she's doing more than I do. I might be willing to try a spell I don't know too well on a house elf, but I'm not going to try it one of my friends," Kris said.
"Better not let the Hogwarts Head Girl hear you say that," Ax remarked. "She started a group to try and get rights for House Elves – I remember, I was here. Good thing she didn't know me too well, otherwise I'd have to have joined as well."
Tanya smiled, "Something I missed from earlier tonight?" she asked.
"I wouldn't call it 'missing'," Kris replied. "If I could have slept, I would have – but it was too damn early."
"I feel for you," Ax replied.
"Dude – that's just sick when taken the wrong way," Kris replied.
"It's sick that you could take it another way," Ax replied.
Tanya looked towards the hallway. "God, it sounds nasty out there."
The conversation ceased as everyone listened. The sound of snarls and tearing flesh reached their ears all to easily. The sound of large, fleshy things striking the walls came twice, then the sound of hooves striking the ground loud and whinny of fear.
"Alyson," Ax hissed, almost ready to throw himself into the fight to protect the innocent girl who had found his heart and dug through all of the layers around it to reach it, and she had stuck there. Ax remembered the first time he had seen Alyson in Hogwarts. From that moment, and all the other ones since, he had felt that he really could be a better person – especially if he was near her.
He knew that it was not love – she was the only girl he had never wanted to have – but it was something equally powerful. Even more powerful than they were when they were together. If he was touching her, he had more power than he could have dreamed of to use. He had used it more than once to convince those who thought a unicorn would be easy prey that it wasn't a good idea. She was like his rechargable battery pack.
"No Ax – she had Justine, and it would be suicide to go out there now," Tanya said quickly. "Alyson can take care of herself. No werewolf would dare to harm a unicorn, even one as crazy as Lupin is now."
Ax relaxed and stepped back from the wall-door that would take him outside. "I know, but Justine's out there too," he said quietly, "I've been protecting her for years, it's hard to step back and leave someone else to do it for me."
"I know, but we have to," Tanya replied. "I would rather be out there helping them too."
Then came the sound of running –human- footsteps. "Oh shit – I hope that's not a student," Kris remarked.
"No, I don't think it is," Tanya replied.
"The teachers probably," Ax offered his opinion.
"Stupefy!" several voices yelled as one.
"If there's enough of them casting the spell, it just might work," Ax remarked.
A loud, definitely not Justine snarl came from outside. "They don't have enough now," Tanya stated.
"We have to help," Ax said immediately.
"If we all cast the spell as well, will it work?" Kris asked.
"Yes," Ax replied. "We can do this."
"OK, let's try," Kris said.
They threw the door open as the werewolf passed them to head for the teachers. The first thing they noticed was that the huge black panther that was Justine was very badly hurt, the second was that there were ten teachers with a very angry werewolf heading towards them.
Ax held up one hand, three fingers visible, then took one down, then another, and one that last one, everyone present yelled, "Stupefy!" Including Justine, who had managed to resume human form, and Alyson, who had changed the moment that she had seen her friends come out of the wall.
Fifteen bolts of red light shot into the werewolf. Lupin tottered for a moment, then collapsed, the force of the spells irresistible, even for the werewolf within him.
"Justine!" Severus leapt over the werewolf to land beside her.
"Sevie," she murmured, then started to fall. He immediately reached out to catch her.
"Justine, look at me," he tried to keep her awake. "You have to stay lucid."
"Severus – it hurts. I faint when I get hurt – it's just a me thing. Sorry I wasn't strong enough," she closed her eyes and went limp.
"Severus, you should take your niece to the hospital wing now," Dumbledore advised.
"I know that!" Severus replied, already walking.
"We'll come too," Ax said immediately. "Alyson, do you want me to carry you?"
"Ax, my arm is bleeding, why would I need to be carried?" Alyson asked, gesturing to the open wound that was leaking silver blood down her clothes.
"Because he is chivalrous and manly," Kris replied, slipping a hand under Tanya's arm to guide her towards the hospital wing. Ax padding alongside Alyson, looking most put out that the only females who needed his help were already being helped by someone else. He shrugged and settled for watching Tanya's butt as she walked.
Before them all Severus walked, robes billowing around him, being stained red by the blood that was flowing from Justine's many wounds. His niece had taken on a werewolf and won, but at a cost. He just hoped he reached the hospital wing in time to make sure that the cost was not too high. She was the only light for a man like him.
The group burst into the hospital wing, and Madam Pomfrey emerged from her office, blinking tiredly, "What's going – my god Severus that girl is dying!"
"How positive," Kris remarked. "You'd make a really good counsellor."
"Put her on that bed now, Severus," Madam Pomfrey said, completely in her element. Severus went to set Justine down carefully down on the bed, while the nurse retreated to her office to get potions.
When she returned, she noticed the cut on Tanya's cheek, and waved her wand, muttering something. The cut was immediately healed. "Get her into a bed and let her rest," she ordered Kris, then turned to Justine.
Kris immediately led Tanya over to one of the beds and tucked her in, then lay down on top of the blankets and put his arms around her. Tanya was asleep almost immediately and didn't notice. Kris himself almost immediately started drifting off.
Ax watched jealously from Alyson's side, and waited until Madam Pomfrey had a moment free from trying to heal Justine, then pointed out Alyson's wound.
Madam Pomfrey tapped it once with her wand, healing it immediately, then noticed Kris and Tanya. "Kristopher Crompton what in the world do you think you're doing?" she demanded shrilly.
Kris opened a sleepy eye, "Shh, you'll wake Tanya," he replied. "And I thought she needed a hug – she's had a bit of a tough night you know."
"Fine," Madam Pomfrey turned away.
Ax looked at Justine, and immediately realised that he wasn't going to be sleeping in the same bed as her – not only was her uncle standing protectively beside the bed, there were potions all over the place to make sure she was fine.
"Aly?" he asked hopefully.
Alyson sighed and shuffled over, patting the bed with her good hand. Happily, Ax jumped over and settled on the bed beside her.
Madam Pomfrey looked on the verge of telling them off, but Severus Snape – surprisingly- shook his head in a negative. Well, if the Potions Master didn't mind, she wouldn't protest it. She walked over to tell him what he would need to do for his niece for the rest of the night, guessing correctly that he would have no intention of sleeping, or letting her care for Justine now that immediate crisis was over.
"I should like to speak with your niece in the morning," Dumbledore said quietly, "If she is recovered enough."
"I should like to speak with her too," Severus replied. "I will see you then."
Sorry again to all those looking forward to some more Harry, but next chapter is Wolfmoons and she'll shove him in loads for sure! Thankyou to all those who read this chapter, please review. I'll give you a cookie!
The Evil Percussionist - Your so Cool! Thankyou for everything you do to make our story readable!
The Evil Percussionist - You reveiwed this chapter twice - so um, twice the thanks!
Alaranth-88 - Hey, Thaks for reviewing. I think the breaking the bludger was a me thing, I break everything in sport, but I can play soccer in stilletto's so I dont care (impertinant glare). Its great to have an Aussir reader! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie – OI OI OI
Moonshadow 10 - HI! (HUGS) thankyou for reveiwing hun, glad you liked it (happyness)
Ava Munroe - Draco was a naughty naughty boy, and he hurt Justine good, thus the Aussies are after him. Don't worry, he gets his own back! Sorry about the lack of Harry, as I said, this started as a two page fuller and turned into this sooo, bear with us…
Dark672 - OOOOhHHHH yeah do they put some pain on us, 'specially Draco... (Princess shuts up before she gives stuff away...) And plus, it's a race to the end of the hunt to see who wins... (big grin)
Queen of the Jungle - Yeah, the end of that chapter was inspired by me watching way too much Monty Python and Drinking Syrupy goodness. Sugar rush - funny scene, the two go hand in hand. grin thankyou so much for reading hun!
Gabbie - (Grin) im glad your interested in Justine's past, that comes up again soon, big fun! Im so glad you like the Llysanyin's, we have pictures coming to the website, speaking of which – EVERYONE GO TO THE WEBSITE! Your Loki sounds so cute, I didn't think of changing the spelling… So you liked the winky scene? I loved writing that, I used the cactus line from a play I was in…And thanx for saying such nice things but the quiddich! The friendship thing was a bit fast, but I wanted to get it out of the way… Thankyou for reading though, and all your nice comments!
So again, i thank all who read and encourage you to go to the website, i wrote and illustrated tons of stuff like all the newspaper articles we mention... Love and Kisses - Princess