Darkness Rising: The Unicorn Hunt

by Three Craaaaaaaazy Aussies

In Harry’s seventh year, the Unicorn Hunt is to be held at Hogwarts, and the eight great schools of the Western Magisphere are called together to participate. With the darkness rising, nothing will go to plan.

11. Old Grudges Die Hard

Chapter dedicated to BladeKnight for creating Leon and remembering to review - although if he doesn't this time as well, he'll be TROUBLE.

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Chapter Eleven: Old Grudges Die Hard

Kris, Ax and Tegan approached a large hole in the ground with a flight of wide earthen stairs leading down. Kris was still carrying Alyson.

"I don't like the look of this." Tegan said nervously.

"I agree, but this is the last leg of the quest. We get through this and we' re home free." Kris said.

"Be careful guys, I don't have any more useful information on this part, and we don't know what's down there," Jacques said sounding a little worried.

"Well we might as well get it over and done with." Ax said.

They all walk into the gloom using their wands for light. Ahead of them was a long dark tunnel. Ax pulled his sword out; ready for anything that might burst out of the darkness.

Ax went first along the tunnel, his sword glowing, lighting the way, next came Kris with Alyson and Tegan brought up the rear. So far they had encountered nothing but they were all on alert. Soon they had lost sight of the pale patch of daylight that was the entrance as they went around turns and corners. Tegan was highly strung; she had the constant feeling that she was being watched, hunted.

"Are…alright?" Jacques voice came suddenly. Tegan gave a yelp and jumped about a foot in the air.

"Don't ever do that again!" Tegan said fiercely.

"… Can't… properly…static" Jacque replied.

"We must be too far underground for her to hear us properly." Kris said

"Jacque, we're fine, I repeat, we're fine." Ax said.

"Under… repeat…understood." Came Jacques reply.

"Come let's keep going." Ax said as he turned and kept walking.

Tegan suddenly stopped, "Wait a sec guys." She said.

"What is it?" Kris asked.

"Shh." Tegan walked over to the wall and placed a hand on it.

They all felt the slight rumble.

"There! Did you feel that?" she whispered, the boys nodded.

Tegan strained to hear something, she had a feeling that there was a cavalcade of sounds but they were just out of her range of hearing. Another rumble, this time more audible.

"Run." Tegan suddenly whispered, a feeling of sick premonition, "Run! Now" she yelled.

They all took off down the tunnel running at top speed. Behind them they all heard the rumbling as something huge followed right behind them. Tegan sneaked a peek behind her and caught a glimpse of massive jaws and flashing teeth. This was all she needed to see as she increased her speed catching up with Kris. Together they came level with Ax.

"Ax, catch Alyson!" Kris yelled as he passed her off. Ax caught her; as soon as he did Kris stopped and turned around, his wand out.

"LUMOS MAXIMUS" he yelled.

A bright flash of light burst from his wand. The creature gave a scream and dove into the ground. Under the bright light they all managed to get a good look at it. It was like a huge snake with spikes and spines all around it's head. When it burrowed into the ground, it spun, becoming a living drill. Its eyes were small and black, with four-inch triangular teeth filling it's entire mouth.

A shiver ran up Tegans spine, "Let's go, I really want to get out of here."

"Here." Ax said handing Alyson back over to Kris.

They all moved off at a jog in the same order as before. After five minutes of jogging the rumbles started up again.

"It's back!" Tegan yelled a little panicked.

"I know!" Ax yelled back.

They kept running but were keenly aware that the creature was right there next to them. Suddenly it burst from the wall on their right going straight for Kris. Kris dove sidewards landing on his back to prevent injury to Alyson. The creature reared as high as the tunnel would allow it and lunged for Kris with jaws wide open. Kris couldn't get up fast enough to move out of the way.

Suddenly Tegan was there, she had jumped in front of the creature and grabbed its top jaw. Using all of her werewolf strength she held the monster at bay, giving Kris enough time to get himself and Alyson out of harms way. The creature growled and closed its jaws. One of Tegans hands slipped and the creature caught it in its slowly closing jaws.

Tegan swore as she saw a cool malicious intelligence in the creatures black beady eyes as it slowly continued to close its jaws. Tegan couldn't get her hand free, and as one of the teeth started to pierce her hand she gave an animal scream of pain.

Ax swung his head around, he had been helping Kris move Alyson to safety, and saw Tegan banging one hand against the creature head whilst the other hand was trapped in the jaws. Without hesitation Ax jumped up and yelled the stunning spell. The creatures' rocky hide repelled it, so Ax ran towards it his sword raised. Reaching it he slashed leaving behind a deep gash along the back of the creature's neck.

With a roar the creature released Tegans hand and she fell to her knees curled around it. It swung its massive head around and lunged for Ax. Ax ducked to the side and swung his sword again leaving another gash.

"Guys…alright? What's…screaming" Jacque said sounding worried.

"We're alright! Ax is all over it like a rash." Kris yelled as Ax left another red line along the creatures hide.

Kris pulled his wand out again and set off another of the bright flashes of light. This time the creature didn't dive into the ground but simply backed off out of range of the light source. Ax ran back to Kris grabbing Tegan and, pulling her to her feet, dragged her over.

"Are you right to run?" Ax asked Tegan.

"Yes, hang on one sec." Tegan replied.

"Hurry," Kris said as he scooped up Alyson, "This light is about to go out."

Tegan grabbed the bottom of her shirt and ripped a strip off, she quickly wrapped it around her hand and tucked the loose end in. "I'm right to go." She said.

"Good. You go first, Kris your next. Now go!" Ax screamed as the light on Kris' wand went out and the creature advanced again.

"Lumos" Tegan said as she started running. Her wand lit up and she kept running.

Ax stabbed his sword into the wall, muttering a spell under his breath. From the point where his sword entered the wall, ice began to radiate, spreading all over the tunnel walls. Pulling his sword from the wall Ax turned and bolted after the others, his sword dragging along the walls, ice sprouting and spreading from where the sword touched. Ax preyed that his ice wall, that he blocked the tunnel with behind them, would hold.

Ax caught up with the others and over took them, allowing the ice to go ahead and secure their way out.

"I can see a light." Ax yelled.

With an extra burst of speed they kept going.

"It's coming!" Tegan yelled.

"Keep going, we're almost there." Ax said.

The patch of light seemed to never get closer. Then suddenly it was right in front of them. Ax took his sword off the wall to stop the ice covering the steps and ran up. Kris and Tegan were right behind him. Tegan could swear she felt the rancid breath of the creature on her neck before she burst into the sunlight.

"Guys, guys, can you hear me?" Jacque said.

"Loud and clear." Kris said from his place on the grass. They had all collapsed on the ground as soon as they were safe.

"What happened down there? Is anyone seriously hurt?"

"Tegan is injured but not badly and as for the rest we'll tell you once we get to the finish line." Ax replied.

Moving over to Tegan, Ax took her hand, "Gimme a look." He said.

Ax peeled back the makeshift bandage. Tegan gave a hiss of pain as the cloth tugged at her wound.

"Holy Shit Tegan! You have a hole clean through your hand!" Ax exclaimed.

They all heard the faint screech of "WHAT!" through their earpieces.

"It's not that bad!" Tegan said in exasperation.

"Give me a look at the hole." Kris said as he moved over for closer inspection.

"Guys get your arses to the finish line already," Jacque yelled.

"We're on our way." Tegan said grabbing back her makeshift bandage and wrapping it around her still bleeding hand.

With reluctance they all got up. Kris scooped up Alyson and moved off.

---

Justine watched as the three dragons attacked the British Quest'ians with fervour. They seemed to be giving them a really hard time, but because the only other school she had seen was the Kallaix student's she really didn't have a clue.

Ron now sported a bleeding burn down one leg and Draco was on his knee's trying to hold up a Magai shield over himself and Hermione. The Ridgeback was snapping towards Hermione and Steelwell threw his blizzard breath at Draco's shield. Unfortunately, because Draco's shield was holding out against heat, the sudden onset of the sub-zero stream caused it to fracture and break.

Wentworth reared his head back and roared at the sky, before letting loose an enormous stream of sparkling red flame at Harry, who was trying to get across to Ron.

Harry ducked and rolled under the stream, frustrating the massive dragon that bore down on Ron, who tried to run away. He ran straight for the lurking black Ridgeback that turned towards him with a snarl.

"Norbert?" Ron suddenly asked, causing it to back off, although it was still snarling.

I do not remember where I know these humans from but I know them… He said looking to Justine for guidance.

"Back off then and let the Kallaix Dragons deal with them." Justine said.

Ron had taken this opportunity to get behind Draco, who had put up another, stronger shield. He wished desperately that Harry and Draco hadn't obliterated all knowledge of this event.

"What on earth was that all about, was she talking to that fucking dragon?" Draco said, with a hard edge to his voice.

"Yeah… and the Dragon was Norbert, in first year Hagrid had him…"

"Oh no, I remember that. Shit. How the hell is she controlling the dragons!" Draco was fast losing his temper, but Ron was distracted when Harry suddenly went shooting past on the broom he had used for the air part of the Quest.

"He's repeating the Tri-wizard tournament, equalizing the odds so to speak. We have to keep one of the dragons occupied!" Ron yelled as he took a flying leap behind a boulder, grabbing Steelwell's attention.

Harry was flying as fast as he could on his broom, but it had nearly been not fast enough several times now. Streaming through the air he cast a spell on himself and sent a quick mind link to Ron. "We have to get Hermione out of here, that's all that is required."

"Draco! Get Hermione out of here!" he heard Ron yell.

Harry saw Justine move forward out of the corner of his eye and had a sudden brain wave, swinging the broom around he flew straight for her.

"Harry! Get your team out of here already!" Justine yelled.

Harry narrowed his eyes, his senses paid off as he felt the flame behind his reside and not touch him when he was in the vicinity of Justine and the other unconscious students.

Get away from my human and die like a man! Wentworth screamed. Justine's head whipped around. 'Oh no!' she thought

"HOLD IT!" she yelled as loud as she could. The three Dragons all stopped what they were doing. "Aren't you being a bit… enthusiastic?"

Mistress, you told us to eliminate the Humans, and we are doing so, although they are making it hard as they have stolen one of our slumbering one's, Steelwell said plainly.

Justine cringed and grimaced. "Dammit, I'm sorry guy's I just meant I wanted you to go in fighting to protect the Sleeper, not to literally kill them…"

"You told THREE full grown dragons to KILL US?" Draco bellowed incredulously! "How dare you!"

Wentworth snarled and shut him up in a hurry, although he couldn't stop the glares Draco began to shoot at Justine.

"I'm sorry guys, take Hermione and move on now, I never meant for you to get hurt."

"No, just DEAD," Draco yelled as he picked Hermione up and stalked out of the clearing.

"Yes Draco, it's always exactly the way you think it is," Justine muttered coldly, watching as the only man she'd ever truly loved walked away, and remembering all too well the last time.

---

With the flags of the stands in sight, Kris, Tegan and Ax broke out into a jog. "We are so making good time," Kris told himself.

Ax took the lead as they moved around to the front of the stands, causing the students gathered around to break out in applause, and the ministers on the far podium to stand.

With a wave of his wand Dumbledore created a ribbon of light across their path and when Ax ran through it streamers broke into the air and Adam, Jeffery, Saul and Tanya rushed forward to give them Hugs.

"We just got the most amazing time!" Saul yelled. "Of course you are the first back but damn you did well!"

"With a precedent like that we can hope we'll get the time bonus!" Adam yelled over the din.

"Kallaix Students!" Dumbledore's voice came over the sea of voices. "Please come to me and bring your bag and sleeper for judging."

Tegan, who was holding the bag held it high above her head and grinned.

Up on the podium, Dumbledore opened it and poured the contents out on a tasselled cloth set on a stone podium. "We have the feather, the pearl, the diamond, all stars and the scale and the flower. Also, Miss Deveréaux Enervate, Alyson opened her eyes and smiled up at Kris who was still holding her.

"Hey how'd we do?" She asked him.

"It's so in the bag," he grinned down at her.

---

The Kallaix students were standing around in a small group, all of them looking rather bored. It was three in the afternoon and they hadn't been allowed to go and join their friends until the final school had crossed the line and the scores had been counted and announced.

Tegan, Ax, Kris and Alyson were muttering rebelliously to one another, and didn't have anyone else to talk to – the Hogwarts students were apparently annoyed with them and weren't talking, despite the fact that they had been getting on rather well before.

The Egyptians had been pretty badly hurt during the Underground section, and were secured in the medi-tent. Tegan had spent a few seconds in there, before telling the medi-witches that they could bandage her wound and put some salve on it to make it heal faster, and then they could let her go, as the smell of disinfectant was making her a little woozy.

"Finally," Tegan muttered, watching the last school cross the line. This school hadn't even gotten a chance to enter the maze until their allotted time, which had been a good two hours after Kallaix had gotten out of the Underground, which was a little … annoying, time wise.

"Ladies and gentlemen, could I have the school teams over with me at the podium, and the rest of you gathered around please?" Dumbledore's voice came wafting over the grounds, magically enhanced.

"We can do something!" Ax said exuberantly, bounding into movement now that he actually had something that he could do, rather than sit or stand around and talk of meaningless things while they were waiting for the rest of the schools to finish.

Rolling their eyes, and knowing that Ax disliked enforced time wasting almost as much as Alyson disliked being forced to stay still – she had been pacing back and forth ever since she'd been woken up.

"The positions stand as thus," Dumbledore began, and the Kallaix team were hoping for a mention straight off, but no such luck, as seemed to be the custom in such circumstances, the Hogwarts Headmaster began with the school coming last. The Kallaix group tuned out the sound of his voice, not really caring what the last points were.

"In third place," Dumbledore said, and everyone paid attention again, to gauge the competition, "Durmstrang," he paused for the cheering to come, and then die down again, "In second place, Hogwarts," there was a roar of triumph, outdoing everyone else, since the Hogwarts students were present in the most numbers. "And in first place, Kallaix Academy!"

Despite the fact that the rest of the competitors had merely nodded or gestured slightly when their positions were called, the Quest team couldn't allow the opportunity to pass. Ax stepped forwards and thrust his fists into the air, smiling charmingly at the ladies, who all started screaming and cheering wildly, Kris clenched one fist and smiled winningly, though it didn't produce half the effect of Ax's pose. Tegan looked about to scowl rebelliously, but Alyson pushed her forward, so she smiled, holding her hurt arm close to her chest, and nodded firmly. Alyson smiled sweetly.

"Miss Snape, you can come out now," Dumbledore's voice murmured behind them, and obviously he was using a spell to project his voice to the clearing where Justine was probably still sleeping off the night before.

---

Hearing this, Justine leapt up from where she'd been sitting on a rock, scratching Steelwell with one hand and Wentworth with the other. The dragon she now knew was called 'Norbert', of all things, was sulking around in the background, with no job to do, he was getting angry, she could feel it.

"Yes! We're free!" Justine cried delightedly.

Norbert trumpeted loudly at the sky, lifting his huge black head and shooting a burst of fire into the air before taking off heavily.

"Oh shit," Justine said, "I'm so gonna get blamed for this," she vaulted onto Wentworth's back, "Chase the annoying black one!" she commanded, "Or he'll hurt people."

Why should we care? Steelwell demanded.

"Because some of those people are from Kallaix."

At that, Wentworth jumped skywards and Steelwell fanned his wings open, thinking for a moment, then bounding gracefully into the sky, purple wings fanned and powerfully beating them.

Back at the podium, everyone had seen the burst of flame, and assumed this was Justine's way of saying that she had the message and was coming. Suddenly a huge black dragon burst out of the canopy, fire darting from its jaws.

"That's not Justine," Kris said.

"Duh, that's trouble," Ax replied. "That's dragon's not one of ours – I don't think she can control it very well."

Kris nodded. "Real trouble," he said, "What can we do?"

Just then, a second dragon came out of the clearing, sparkling green with a small black figure clinging to it's neck.

All over the place, everyone was yelling, asking what was going on. Dumbledore looked nervous – he seemed to have guessed something of what was happening.

"Justine's after him," Kris said, as Steelwell, as well, came up into the air and flew over to them. High above, the black dragon was turning towards the ground. Wentworth, along with Justine, was hanging around nearer to the ground, and the moment the other began to dive, they flew to get in it's way.

Wentworth tried to catch Norbert's neck in his large, powerful front claws, but the smaller, more agile dragon swerved out of the way and headed back into the sky, gaining height rapidly.

Jacque was already running, though no one was paying much attention to her, all eyes were fixed on the three dragons above.

Steelwell swirled down in a spiral to land, and trumpeted angrily to make everyone move. "I'm on it!" Kris yelled, as Jeffery turned, ready to move toward the dragon. Kris bolted for Steelwell and scrambled onto it's back. Everyone backed away as the purple dragon spread its wings, ready to take off again.

Jeffery looked up at them, then gave Dumbledore a message, "Steelwell says that he and Kris are going to try and engage Norbert while Kris and Justine try to bring Norbert down into the forest … Justine and Wentworth will keep him away from the students by blocking the way down. Who's Norbert?"

"Norby," Hagrid said, looking up at the dragon in the sky with a strange sort of protective longing.

"When I suggested this dragon, I thought he would be alright with the environment, considering that he was born here," Charlie said. "He's been with me for years, he shouldn't have a problem with humans."

"Well he's obviously developed one," Jeffery remarked darkly.

Kris and Justine were now herding Norbert towards the forest, and the dragon was slowly sinking to the ground under the combined force of Justine and Kris's wills. Kris was yelling something that sounded strangely like 'YEE-HA!"

Jeffery turned to Charlie, "Get to the dragon clearing," he told the dragon tamer, "Take Hagrid too – Justine and Kris might be able to get Norbert to the ground, but they can't do much more than that, you'll have to stun it, or calm it down, or whatever."

Charlie nodded quickly and hurried Hagrid along toward the forest, though the giant didn't take much convincing to go to 'Norby'.

---

"I'm sorry," Justine said, standing before Dumbledore half an hour later, Steelwell and Wentworth at her shoulders, looking mighty pleased with themselves for managing to force the interloper down to the ground. "I heard you say we could leave and said, Yay, we're free … Norbert took it literally. I was tired, OK?"

"Oh, so first you tell dragons to kill us, and then you let one you can't control loose on the school grounds. You're on a roll this morning," Draco said.

Wentworth and Steelwell turned, hissing, towards him. A slight hand gesture from Justine, mainly to show she was doing it, and a mental command brought them back under control. "Yeah, I couldn't control them at all," Justine said, "That's why you're not dragon-chow right now."

"I think that Miss Snape did a remarkable job this morning," Dumbledore said, "Perhaps, Miss Snape, you would like to get some sleep?"

"Hell yeah," Justine replied. "I'm going back to the boat."

---

Justine looked around the Great Hall of Hogwarts; it was once more set up for the United Youth Conference. "I want to speak tonight," she announced.

"Any particular reason for that?" Jeffery asked, "You didn't seem too interested last round."

"I can get full marks for one topic," Justine replied, "And I can't get full marks two days running, or I'll be disqualified from the Head's Debate – I want to speak once with the rest of the schools. This is the only chance I have … I didn't realise those were the rules last round," she looked beseechingly at the group and pouted, "Please?"

"Fine, who else is speaking?"

"Well, I can't," Tegan said, "And it doesn't matter so much points wise against Hogwarts today – Hermione's out of the running by the same rule Justine just quoted for us. We can put whoever feels like speaking up."

"I'd like to actually speak this time," Jeffery said.

"So Jeffery and …"

"Well, I don't want to," Alyson said.

"Neither," Kris agreed, "I'm not much of a speaker – I might have to speak in the Heads Debate, but apart from that, I'm out of it."

"Couldn't be bothered," Saul remarked.

"I'll go next round," Jacque said, "I have a topic I'd be interested in … but I have to think about arguments about it first."

"I'll go then as well," Adam said immediately, "I'm not in the mood today."

"Don't even look at me," Ax warned.

"So that leaves me," Tanya shrugged. "Fine, whatever."

Jeffery, Justine and Tanya made their way to the desk. The moment they sat down, Justine looked over at the Hogwarts table and stood up hurriedly. Draco Malfoy was sitting at the Hogwarts table, and, on seeing Justine, did exactly the same thing.

"That's it, I'm not talking," Justine said.

"Justine, you can't," Jeffery told her gently, "Once you've stood up, that's it – you can't leave, and no one else can take your place."

"So much for fine print," Justine muttered rebelliously, taking her seat again, as Draco did the same on the other side.

Tanya, seeing Pansy on the Hogwarts side, narrowed her eyes dangerously. Though she usually content to let things lie, this chick had caused way too many of Tanya's friends pain. Tanya stood up.

"Tanya, what are you doing?" Jeffery demanded. Tanya ignored him, tapping her finger on the orb in front of her.

"Yes?" Charlie asked.

"Kallaix Academy has a contestation in relation to the appointment of one of the Hogwarts speakers," she said, voice harsh and angry, ringing in the silent hall.

"What is that you wish to contest?" Charlie asked, with interest.

"I feel it necessary to point out the infringement on the rules which you informed us of during the first round," Tanya replied, flicking through a booklet which outlined the rules, which was on the desk in front of them, and exaggerated searching through it, "Rule number eight, in application to the host school – the host school is required to submit ten names only for the debating team," one hand balancing her on the desk, she leant forward and raised her other hand, her index finger, pointing straight at Pansy Parkinson, was dangerously steady, "That girl is not on the Hogwarts list of students."

Charlie flipped through a book that listed both the rules of the debating as well as the list of Hogwarts students. "You know, you're right," he said, "Pansy, I'm afraid you aren't permitted to be on the table and I'm afraid I'm going to have to remove five points from Hogwart's overall score from today's events. Please leave the table and appoint a replacement."

Tanya was laughing like a woman possessed when Pansy's replacement was chosen – Leon! She hoped she'd have a chance to go up against him today! Leon looked over at the Kallaix table and saw her, his next words were audible to the entire hall, "Oh shit."

"The first point raised is 'European school conscription is a bad thing', raised by Leon Necrose of Hogwarts," Charlie said, now that kafuffle had died down and the points had been raised.

"I'm speaking for this one," Jeffery said immediately.

"You'd better – you've had personal experience," Justine agreed, and Tanya nodded.

"I hope another dragon argument turns up," she remarked, "I could actually make a good argument there."

"With Charlie and Hagrid in control of the event, I'm sure there will be plenty of dragon arguments," Justine assured her friend, "You'll get your chance to shine."

Tanya sat back with a slight smile, Aiden and Rhiannon came over and curled up on her lap, demanding attention, which she was happy to give – like she'd be able to make intelligent comments on 'European School Conscription' after all.

Jeffery held up his hand to offer himself as Kallaix's speaker for this topic, and over the hall, a student from each of the other schools put themselves forward as well. Leon was invited to speak first, as the suggestee.

"As I'm sure most of you are aware," Leon began, looking around the hall, "I'm an Australian – kind of obvious I guess. Anyway, my father was British, and I was born here before I moved to Australia when I was a toddler – that's around two-three. Because of my father, and the fact that I was born here, I was required to attend Hogwarts, as I was put down to attend when I was born. When I found out that I had to come to Britain to attend school, I was pretty put out… But of course, I didn't stand much of a chance at getting into Kallaix – as I'm sure you're aware, it's very exclusive so I would have ended up in some out of the way place, half way across the continent with second rate teaching anyway… but this is a life story … not an argument … I'm not very good at speaking … someone else can now."

Jeffery immediately lunged for the orb, touching it and receiving permission to speak. "I was in the same figurative boat," he said as a beginning statement, "As a British born and raised, I was required to attend Hogwarts. Then I got an invitation from Kallaix Academy, this created a loop-hole, which I jumped at immediately. The invitation to Kallaix overrode my enrolment in Hogwarts, and I can say now that I'm glad it did. The Ministry tried to make me stay in the country, they didn't want me joining a school in another hemisphere, but my parents were happy for me and we moved to Australia. My entire family had to up and move because the Ministry wouldn't let me leave the country to attend a different school. We already owned a house in Australia, but my mum and dad still had to move their business base, and give up most of their social life in Britain to restart in Australia.

"More problems arose when I went for my Apparating license. In Australia we can get our license at sixteen, when we come of age, but as I was still a British citizen, I was supposed to wait until I was seventeen – a full year after the rest of my friends had theirs. I would have had to have stayed behind when they all went partying half way across the continent in places that didn't have floo! My parents, and Ax's, both had to go the Ministry to get special permission for us to get our licenses!

"As should be clear by now, this is completely unreasonable! Why can't students have a choice in which school they attend? Why can't we chose our schools, and our countries, and get the same treatment as the rest of the people in the schools we chose? The answer – some Ministry's are just unreasonable, conservative. The Australian Ministry has tried to work around this before, but was met with open hostility … this was two years ago, just before I wanted to get my Aparating license."

The Kallaix students all clapped, as did Leon, which started most of the Hogwarts students, the Egyptians, also, were happy to give their support to the school which Justine belonged to. Justine had, after all, offered her friendship to Electra, their Head Girl. Most of the rest of the schools could appreciate Jeffery's arguments, and gave him a round of applause.

Tanya watched as a few more arguments went on, Justine and Jeffery both contributing a comment here or there, but none of them were anything she was particularly interested in, or that she knew much about. She beginning to feel a little stupid, but was happy to note that, like her, Leon was keeping out of the talking as well.

Finally, however, the break she was waiting for came along. "Dragons are a dangerous species," Charlie read out. Justine lazily reached for the orb, obviously having a few things to say on the topic, Tanya, however, lunched forward, slapped her friends hand out of the way and put her hand on the orb.

Justine smiled slightly – she knew when she wasn't wanted – and sat back. On the Hogwarts table, Leon had been pushed into speaking by Harry and Draco, both of whom where too pissed off about the mornings dragon fiasco to comment on the breed at present.

Tanya quickly realised that if anyone managed to get the Norbert thing out in the open, she'd never be able to convince the rest of the gathering that dragons weren't dangerous – that was just a one off occasion.

Beauxbatons had raised the point, and a young slip of a girl came forward to take over the speaking, raising a few points, but mostly just on the fact that Norbert, that morning, had been fairly dangerous, in her estimation.

Leon went to speak next, but Tanya glared across at him, warning him not to try anything. "Tanya Bussa," Charlie said, when Leon stepped back from the orb rather than try to challenge his friend.

"First off, this morning we were dealing with a dragon that has been held in captivity for most of it's life. Norbert was given the opportunity of going free, free to be himself, be a dragon and do what dragons were born to do, and he took it. Dragons were never meant to be domesticated, as such. How would you feel if you were caged for your entire life, and then given the opportunity to go free? Norbert saw that opportunity, and he tried to take it. You will also notice that the student body was only protected earlier today through the actions of two other dragons, Wentworth and Steelwell, two of the dragons who have long protected my school.

"In Australia, dragons have been treated with utmost respect for time out of memory. When the first Aboriginals appeared on our land, they learned to live in harmony with the dragons, and that relationship was continued when white wizards turned up.

"Dragons will not harm one who gives them respect and friendship, unless there are extenuating circumstances. Observe," she held her hands out to either side, and Aiden and Rhiannon both seized her wrists in their jaws and growled softly.

"Oh, I'm dying. They're killing me, I'm bleeding!" She said boredly, "Someone, save me!"

Jeffery and Justine were looking as if they were desperately trying not to laugh. The idea that Aiden or Rhiannon could actually hurt something was, to one who'd been to a school with the two little dragons, completely ludicrous.

Aiden and Rhiannon let go of Tanya's wrists, which weren't even dented, and Rhiannon jumped down from the table to join Tegan. Settling on Tegan's lap, she looked over at the Beauxbatons table, "Grr-rar," she said, then buried her head in Tegan's dangling sleeve.

"As you will have noticed, I was completely unharmed," Tanya pointed out.

"Well duh," Justine muttered quietly.

Tanya offered a couple more arguments, all of which were completely solid and on the behalf of the dragons, and revolving around the fact that it was humans causing the problems, not the dragons themselves. Her final argument was, "To other species apart from dragons and humans, a dragon would not be perceived as being dangerous. It is only human perception."

Charlie looked at Tanya and nodded, letting her know that he appreciated her arguments to defend poor Norbert. Hagrid was beaming at her.

"The next topic, raised by Grendwell, is 'Should teenagers be able to marry at sixteen, as the magical law dictates, or should the legal age be upped to eighteen, when they are out of school'. Grendwell, would you begin the discussion?"

A boy came forward, confident and presented a detailed and well thought out argument, outlining many of the problems with younger marriages, many revolving around maturity levels. When he sat down, there was another round of applause for a very good argument, but the topic was not yet closed, as he had only eight arguments, when to close a topic, there had to be ten.

Draco was the next to speak, "When people are young they haven't settled down yet, and haven't fully discovered what they think they want from life. Unfaithfulness would run high, and the divorce rate would sky-rocket. What's the point in getting married when you'll divorce three weeks later?" he sat back.

Justine came forward with the next point, "And we all know that teenage boys have such a high level of maturity that they get jealousy attacks at the drop of a hat … many of which are unfounded, causing the female in the situation to believe her only option is divorce because her husband doesn't trust her."

Draco immediately came to the orb again, though this wasn't strictly allowed in the rules, as he wasn't invited to speak, "That's where proof comes in," he said coolly, "If the spouse were to present their dear little wifies with undeniable proof, doesn't that, in fact, merit the husbands distrust?" he didn't take his hand off his orb, which stayed lit up, but Justine came forward and put her hand on the orb as well, so that they were both lit up.

"It is often a case that the so called 'undeniable proof' is, in fact, not undeniable, but false, and a matter of perception from the husband. It misleads the husbands mind, feasting on their doubts and fears, escalating them into full-blown paranoia. This causes the husband to explode at the wife, often resulting in physical violence."

"People! Bring it back to marriage!" Charlie tried to intervene. Justine and Draco both sat back a little sulkily and Nhi-Lon Fohs came forward to speak.

"There is also the issue of Inter-House Rivalries and relationships," the speaker said, "Most schools are not comfortable with Inter-House friendships, let alone relationships."

Justine immediately slammed a hand down on the orb, just as Draco did, and both started talking without waiting for permission again.

"There's no problem with that at Kallaix, the only place we have any Inter-House rivalry is on the sports ground," Justine said.

"If the people involved are really serious, they can overcome that," Draco said at the same time, "Just most of the time they don't seem to have the stamina."

They both glared at each other, then Draco continued, rebutting Justine's comment. "Have you forgotten that you used to be a Hogwarts student yourself? This is where you began, can you really think that Kallaix is so different? You always seemed to think Inter-House relationships could work in the past."

"I still do," Justine said coldly, "At Kallaix such relationships are accepted and embraced. In fact, it seems that most relationships are, in fact, Inter-House. I'm even dating someone from another house."

Kris, just taking a sip from a drink of water, choked and spat out the offending mouthful. "What, him?" he asked, nodding to Kris, "He's the Head Boy, it doesn't count."

"No, you dick, his name is James, and he actually has class, he's in the same house as Kristopher, Steelwell, the Australian equivalent of Slytherin. I, on the other hand, am in Wentworth, or to use your little 'Hogwarts terms', I'm in Gryffindor, as usual. Note that we don't have a Hufflepuff – try calling Petersen that and you're asking to get bitch-slapped."

"So if I was at Kallaix everything would be dandy, and I'd get to wear pretty purple," Draco said, starting to yell, obviously getting angry.

Justine looked at him, "Purple is so not your colour," she replied. "And besides, Kallaix would never let you in, it's very exclusive. We have something you could never achieve, we're at a higher level. We don't actually accept supercilious, pure-blooded, antagonistic bastards!" she yelled the last word back at him.

"I'm surprised they took you," Draco sneered at her.

"Not only did they take me, baby, they made me freaking leader! … one of them," she calmed down a little on the last sentence.

"Our beautiful deity, our luxurious leader, our musical muse, and our idealistic idol our … what starts with 'P'?" Kris was stage whispering from somewhere behind Justine.

Charlie glared at him, "You, shut up, you two, stop it," he said, finally managing to but in, as he had been trying to do ever since the comment from Nhi-Lon Fohs.

Draco came straight in over the top of him, "I suppose you've got the little perfect life then, do you?"

"Yeah, you too … Head Boy I see … or is that just the money talking?"

"Yeah, my money … what was it for you? Your skirt? Or lack thereof?"

"Kallaix appreciates feminine beauty and the ability to voice it! We have perfectly good uniforms. The girls at your school look so dowdy it makes me wonder if they're trying to hide their unsightly legs!"

Draco's eyes slitted dangerously, he was leaning forward, standing at the desk, on hand on the desk, one on the glowing orb. "Your school and I use the term loosely, doesn't come close to the sense of decorum or class that Hogwarts achieves."

Justine was standing, one hand on her hip, one hand on the orb, head high, "No, your little school still likes to use archaic terms like 'mud blood' and 'pure blood'. The fact that your students use these bloody terms and think they make you better than other people is just sad."

Draco was frankly shocked. "How DARE you! If I caught a single student calling another student a mud-blood in my school…"

"RIGH' THEN!" Hagrid, who had finally come to the understanding that this fight went beyond the conference, stood and held up his arms. "Both Miss Snape and Mr Malfoy have finished this argument pretty well."

"Yes, and I think that will be the end then thanks. Thankyou to all of today's participants, I'll post all the marks on the scoring sheet that all schools may view tomorrow afternoon on the wall in the entrance hall. Mr Malfoy and Miss Snape, could I see you please?" Charlie was obviously frazzled, calling an end to all of the proceedings before the designated time.

---

Charlie Weasley say with his forehead resting on his fingers tips, elbows braced on the edge of the table in his new office. He took a deep breath and looked up at the two students waiting for him to speak. Two of the most influential, and well, temperamental students present at the unicorn Hunt. Damn. Justine Snape stood with her arms gracefully crossed across her chest, one foot tapping impatiently. She was looking out the window and a look of annoyance flickered across her carefully blank face when she couldn't suppress it. Draco Malfoy sat reclining in the chair opposite one arm hanging back over the chair. He was scrutinizing Charlie; he hadn't even had to look at the boy to know he was.

This was going to be bad. He could already see it. Two of the most powerful people in Britain and Australia respectively, and he had to discipline them in some fashion. How the hell did that work? He was a Weasley, and while he never listened to all of the crap about his family not being as good as other Purebloods, he still felt very nervous in the presence of those who were his social superiors ... even if that wasn't supposed to come into things at school. Well, he had to say something. He took a deep breath, then began, "Now, I'm sure you know what we're hear to discuss," he tried to make his voice seem at least a little bit stern.

"He-

"She started it!" both teens cried at once.

Charlie saw Justine's eyes widen and she turned from the window, pointing one finger at Draco. "You definitely stated it with your whole at school marriage crap- "

" -No you did with your incessant bitching and arguing you know- "

" -You just had to bring it up didn't you-"

" -You wanted to fight me and you know it you crazy-"

" -YOU STARTED IT MALFOY!- "

Charlie closed his eyes. This was not happening. This was so definitely NOT happening. How could the two most powerful people here be reduced to five year olds bickering over getting into trouble? He watched, growing more and more disbelieving as they screamed back and forth. It was worse than watching Percy and the Twins, when Percy had been seven and the Twins five. Charlie stopped himself from reminiscing on his past, and tried to think what in the world he could do in this situation. It was just ... mind-blowing that two intelligent people could be so childish.

But then to his complete astonishment, they seemed to rapidly reduce in age yet again when Draco stood to use his over six foot tall height over Justine, yelling down at her, and in response, Justine narrowed her eyes and stamped down with as much force as she could muster on his foot in her lethal looking stiletto's. Then shoved him hard in the chest.

Draco fell back into his chair yelping and holding his foot and seemed now to notice that Charlie was even in the room, yelling "Sir! You saw what she did!"

Charlie looked at Justine who had resumed her stance by the window and blithely said "He started it."

Charlie took a deep breath. Now he really had to do something. If he didn't, they would soon be putting on nappies and crying at each other, each attempting to drown out the other's cries with their own. Despite the amusing mental picture that made, Charlie felt that he would surely cry himself if it actually happened.

"You two will sit down and shut up, right now," Charlie said, speaking at a normal level. Surprising him, both Justine and Draco did as he requested. "Whoever started this notwithstanding, you both require discipline for acting as you did."

"But it wasn't my fault!" both of them cried simultaneously.

Charlie was now seeing dramatic parallels with his own family life - first from arguments between Bill and Percy, and then those between the Twins and everyone bar him and Bill. Then the brainwave came - the perfect solution to bickering teens. "You two will go to your rooms, right now, and you will remain there until you are able to act as mature adults. If I see you out of your rooms and acting with the childishness that you are currently displaying, I will send you straight back, and lock the doors until I am convinced that you can behave in a manner that better reflects your schools. You will leave now, go straight there, and talk to no one on your way. Is that clear, both of you?"

---

Alyson Deveréaux sat in the white lounge room of the Kallaix Starstream at sunrisecradling the cup of hot chocolate brought to her by the house elf Winky.

"Ahh" she said to herself, sinking back into the couch. "I hate sleeping on the boat, it sends the Unicorn in me nut's."

From a nearby windowsill Ax responded, "If you ever want to get out of this place, I'm here for you. Okay hunny?"

Alyson smiled up at him, he had always been so protective of her, it was kind of nice when she had come out to find him also emerging from his room. They would get some alone time. "So, tell me already…" She said sensing Ax had something he wanted to get off his chest.

"Alyson, would you say I'm a bad person?" He asked frowning.

Alyson raised an eyebrow. "Are you growing a conscience Ax? Who told you that you were a bad person?"

"No-one, it's just… I think I'm treating someone badly, but don't know how or why or even how to stop."

Alyson smiled. "Ah Tanya."

Ax grimaced, "Yeah. When she told me she used to love me, I came to the assumption I was having these weird feeling as a pride thing, you know the old 'wanting what you can't have' cliché, but its not going away Ally, Its just getting worse, and two nights ago I felt… jealousy."

"You were jealous of her?"

"No. Every other bloody guy she even looked at."

Alyson had no idea how to tell Ax this. "Have you considered that maybe you… like this girl?"

"Considered, I've come to the conclusion… hell that's the only bloody conclusion. Ally, I've never felt this before how the hell do I get rid of it!"

Alyson went to him and wrapped her arms around him. "Ax, don't take this wrong, but over the years a lot of girls have been rejected or used by you, now maybe its your turn to feel that pain."

"Yeah, well it sucks."

"Welcome to angst town, my little brother, population you."

"I wanna go home."

---

The Kallaix team entered the dining room promptly at seven to have breakfast before heading down to the hunt arena to prepare themselves for the days hunt. Justine had that scary looking her eye she got when she was solely focused on winning something. Alyson and Jacque were going over some last minute landscape and terrain issues, Tegan just looked hungry as usual. The boys were all coming along for support, and Tanya was hoping for breakfast with Leon.

"Morning Red," said his familiar voice somewhere to her left, and she turned to find Leon standing with Seamus and Malcolm.

"Morning boys how are we this morning?"

"Alright Red, how about you?" Seamus teased her by using Leon's nickname. She whacked him round the head as Leon remarked, "I'm the only one that gets away with calling her that, and that's only because she decided that after trying to kill me like ten hundred times that it wasn't worth having to apologise so I'd talk again."

"I never apologised," Tanya said, "You ignored me, I ignored you, and you ended up running around after me trying to apologise to me … as I recall it."

Seamus and Malcolm both snorted with laughter, and Leon managed to ignore them. "That Japanese training really paid off," Tanya remarked, linking arms with Leon.

"Something like that," Leon agreed. "Wanna do breakfast?"

"Where?" Tanya asked, smiling up at him.

"Hogwarts table? Unfortunately we aren't allowed to leave the Hogwarts grounds," Leon said, "So there isn't anywhere particularly exciting we can go …"

"Hogwarts table sounds fine," Tanya replied. "Guys! I'm eating at the Hogwarts table this morning," she called over to her friends.

Ax gave a cool look at Leon, and Alyson smiled slightly – well, it seemed her 'little brother' would be coming to talk to her soon. Tanya and Leon wondered off together, chatting. Seamus walked over to join Saul and Ax, engaging them in conversation. Malcolm gave a slight snort of disgust and slouched off on his own.

"So, what have you been doing?" Leon asked.

"How's that for a lame start to a conversation?" Tanya replied, "'So, how have you been?' – Leon, you spent all of yesterday standing with me! Not that much has happened since then!"

Leon laughed, "I'm just a little … out of it – everyone seems to think that we're dating or something."

"Why?" Tanya demanded, laughing.

"I think the general reason is that we are both from Australia," Leon replied, smiling, "And the fact that I spent most of the day with you yesterday … the fact that I'm asking you to breakfast seems to have made them sure. They aren't listening when I'm trying to tell them that we are just good friends."

Tanya rolled her eyes. "Idiots," she remarked. "I'm single, and always have been …"

"What about Ax?" Leon asked. "Isn't he the bloke you told me you had a crush on?"

"I'm over him," Tanya replied, a little unconvincingly, "I have since decided that he is unfeeling womaniser and I can do better."

"And?"

"He's trying to get me to go out with him," Tanya replied, "Ever since I changed my looks and told him I was over him." She sounded honestly confused.

"That's the worst thing to tell a playboy," Leon said, "I've seen it happen before – a girl tells a guy she's over him before he's slept with her, and he can't think of anything else but sleeping with her."

Tanya frowned, "Why?" she asked.

"You want what you can't have," Leon replied. "But I don't think that's all, is it?"

"I think I'm starting to break," Tanya admitted. "He's just been so nice all the time, and courteous … if he manages to keep up much longer … I don't think I can keep telling him to eff off."

Leon smiled, "I can tell him for you, if you like?"

"And he'd listen to you any more?" Tanya demanded. "I was considering asking Justine to, but I don't think I will … maybe he has changed."

Leon shook his head. He'd seen this before – this Ax would break her heart … "So, what do you want for breakfast?"

"Something," Tanya replied.

"Well, that really narrows it down," Leon joked as they walked into the hall. "Something … well done – such a big decision."

"I know, maybe something … edible." Tanya replied. Leon guided her to the Hogwarts table, where most of the students looked at her with wariness and some with open dislike. Leon scowled at most of the table and Harry and Draco moved over to give them a seat.

"Really?" Leon asked. "Wow, you're on a roll this morning."

"Brought your girlfriend?" Daphne sneered, "We don't want Australians at this table!"

"Oh, so now you don't want me?" Leon demanded, starting to look dangerous. Despite the fact that he was obviously no match for Ax when it came to swordsmanship, he was one of the better ones at Hogwarts, and very few people would risk getting him mad. As he was generally easy going, this usually wasn't something that anyone ran the risk of very often.

"Of course we want you here," Harry said soothingly, "And Tanya too," he and Draco both also turned to glare at Daphne. Leon was surprised that Draco was helping out, and wondered if there was some alternate motive in the Hogwarts Head Boys actions.

"So, Tanya," Draco greeted her.

"Hi Draco," she greeted him pleasantly.

"So, Justine has a boyfriend back home?" Draco asked.

"Who, James?" Tanya said, "No, she was just saying that to piss you off … she was with him for … what was it? Three days and one date before he got clingy and turned into 'Mr. Slytherin Stalker Guy' in Kris's words … oh wait, you're in Slyth – I shouldn't have said that. I'm not allowed to talk to you."

Draco arched one eyebrow, "Why ever not?" he asked.

"Tegan forbade me to talk to you about Justine because at the party I blabbed while I was drunk and I never think before I speak," Tanya replied, then thought for a moment, "In retrospect, I probably shouldn't have told you that either."

Back at the Kallaix table, Justine was munching on some toast when her 'little man', a scary looking huge grey owl, landed in front of her carrying letters from home.

I have helped the owl Nahnook to bring all of the mail Rhiannon said proudly as she too landed and began to stalk the bacon on the edge of Tegan's plate.

Tegan grinned, "And you did the best job!" She knocked the bacon onto the table for Rhiannon.

Justine was flipping through the envelopes. "Jacque, from your mum. Tegan, one each from Mark and your parents. Mine. Kris. Adam…" She broke off and swore, dropping a blue envelope on her pile.

"What's the matter?"

"James again… How can I just get him to move on?"

"He had a taste of Justine, how can he go back from that?" Saul asked with a wicked glint in his eye.

"He'll move on or he'll cop it," was Ax's immediate response, "And you'll not talk that way about Justine, or you'll cop it."

"You're just jealous." Justine retorted as she poured orange juice into her cup.

"Damn right."

The group laughed and began to read their letters from home. "Isaac says that Bathie had another near miss yesterday with dragons blood." Saul quipped, his letter obviously from his younger brother.

"Bathie has a near miss everyday." Tegan retorted, "Mark says he stayed in Hogsmede last night and we'll be seeing him today."

"Oh god, he thinks he's ready now to give 'us' another chance!" Justine spat. "I told him it wasn't working out after three dates and this is his response." Justine was totally absorbed in her letter.

Kris and the group exchanged guilty looks. They had conned Justine into going out with James, a seventh year Steelwell student. Justine had told them she wasn't interested in dating anyone but they had dared her. Now he was turning into a right royal stalker.

"What we had was special… What the hell is this guy on?" Justine let out in frustration.

Kris leaned over and plucked up the letter. Throwing it in the air he whipped out his wand and said "Incendio," and watched the letter go up in flames. "Stop thinking about him, you're in too much of an intense mood for James right now. Read the letter from your mum."

---

A quarter past eight o'clock found Justine, Tanya, Alyson and Tegan saddling the Llysanyins while Jacque cleaned the mini-mikes from the day before to be used again.

The boy's had already gone back to the ship to put their formal uniforms on, and Tanya and Jacque were going to dash up when all of the chores were done. The press were already beginning to assemble, all squabbling over who would get the better position for photography and rushed questions.

Alyson and Isis were going to do the dressage, but it had been a close call, Emmaline Greengrass having had called that Alyson had an unfair advantage due to her horses breed. Dumbledore and Maxime had over rode this by pointing out that in some ways it was actually harder for Alyson to do this event due to the known temperament of the Llysanyin race.

They didn't know Isis was the sweetest of them all.

Severus had also … bluntly reminded Mrs. Greengrass that the Kallaix students had, in fact, warned that they were bringing Llysanyins with them, and as no one had chosen to protest then, why was all this idiocy was going on now?

"Hey hun! Are you two ready to bring us home he big win!" Justine said to Alyson and Isis as she led Anubis out of the stables to put his saddle on.

"We're looking good huh?" Alyson asked gesturing to how shiny Isis was and how clean her riding uniform was looking. "Do you think you could put on my scarf pin though? I always get it crooked and skew my scarf."

"I'll do it," Tanya said as she walked in with Tegan and Loki, who was freshly saddled, "Then I'll help you lug that bloody saddle on to Nubie." She scratched the horse in question on the nose, wiped her hands on a cloth and set about working on Alyson's scarf and pin.

"I think they're going to throw a storm at us at some stage today, so we all need to pack our ponchos in the saddle bag. And make sure we bring plenty of water, Jacque said there are streams in the forest, but she can't guarantee the cleanliness of the water." Justine rattled off as she climbed up on the other side of Anubis and lugged his saddle blanket on to the massive horse.

"And we all remember what happened that time they threw the flash flood at us on the Byron Bay circuit…" Tegan said as she lugged the saddle up to Justine, who lifted it down over the other side and adjusted it to sit on Anubis's back straight.

"I still don't believe people pay hundreds of dollars to be covered in the sort of crap we were that day…" Tegan said.

"Yeah," Justine's voice came from somewhere under the horse as she adjusted his girth. "And we got gallons of skanky mud for free."

The four broke out laughing and even the horses looked amused. "Mud slide city baby!" Alyson giggled.

Suddenly the sound of a gong rang across the pitch followed by the voice of McGonnagal, which sounded like she was standing close by although she was probably down near the tents at the starting arena. "Could all Dressage contestants please make their way with their horses down to the Hunt Arena… thank you."

"Well I'm on." Alyson said.

"You'll do fine. You've got the most beautiful horse here," Justine and Tegan called after her as she walked away. Behind them, Loki snorted, and probably would have tried to bite if they'd been close enough.

---

Alyson loved doing dressage on Isis. Because Isis's breed's individual attributes include that of the understanding of humans and humanoids, Alyson could focus entirely on how well she was sitting on the horse, and how well she was performing and their overall time.

"And the next rider, Electra Williams of Thundreds…" The announcer called as the pretty dark haired girl rode out onto the pitch in fawn riding jacket and jodhpurs.

Alyson, who had yet to mount, took one last look over her horse and checked the saddle was still sitting straight and perfect. She had arrived two places after Electra to the riding arena and so it was to be her go soon … Electra put on a stunning display of riding, pulling her horse neatly and beautifully around the course, slipping in and out of trots and canters and saluting with elegance.

Daphne had gone first and Alyson had to admit she had performed well, it was obvious why someone as nasty as she was leading the Hogwarts riding team. She had the type of confidence and skill Alyson had only ever seen on a few people, those who had been riding since the cradle. Her chestnut mare she was riding had obeyed her every command and she had pulled in a beautiful 8.9, putting her into an early lead.

Electra rode neatly off the course and turned her horse in an efficient circle to receive her score. Alyson crossed her fingers that she would beat Daphne, but when the number 8.6 was shot into the air Alyson had to admit it was a decent score, and one she could be proud of.

The next rider was Nhi-Lon Fohs, and she did remarkably well, although, if one were to be picky, her arms were sloppy.

Alyson mounted…

The white horse and its blonde rider walked proudly to the middle of the arena. They were a striking pair, the horse ethereal, pure muscle and satiny coat, the rider holding her head high. Alyson moved in front of the judge's table and saluted, waiting for the indication for her to start her routine. When that time came she pulled into the arena and Isis took the command and pulled into a smooth trot, moving around the edge of the arena with perfect extension. When they had done a perfect trotting circle twice around, Alyson pulled Isis into a canter at point C.

Isis moved around the arena almost like a spectre, so light and rhythmic was her footfall.

Isis came down from the canter into a walk, cutting into the middle of the arena to point C and when she had reached the midpoint she stopped for a perfect four seconds.

Alyson smiled. This was so 'in the bag' to use Kris's language. She checked her posture and position in the saddle. Isis was pulling through the rest of the course on her own, doing a beautiful job. When she again approached point G she stopped Isis and again saluted, before turning and trotting off the course.

Alyson turned Isis, and held her breath as she waited for her score. Dumbledore turned to Maxime and both compared their marks, then Emmaline, who looked disgruntled. Dumbledore smiled and raised her score… 9.3.

As the event wore on none of the top three marks could even be touched.

Justine and Tegan, both of whom had been sitting in the stand during the event, launched themselves onto Alyson laughing merrily. Justine had yet to put on her scarf or even her jacket, and was only wearing her unbuttoned white blouse tied up under her breasts.

Justine grabbed Alyson by the shoulders and yelled "WE WILL CONQUER!"

The other two girls threw their fists in the air and screamed "Aussie Aussie Aussie!"

"Well," said the sadistic voice from behind them. "The slut's think they're going to beat us today."

Daphne and pansy stood there in the Hogwarts all black riding uniform. "Pansy, Daphne, as much as I love bitch fighting with you, I just don't care right now, if you'll excuse us, we have a hunt to go win."

Justine turned to walk away, but Daphne grabbed her arm. She looked Justine up and down. "You want to know the reason Draco didn't want you anymore? Because you're a tart. Look at you."

Justine threw off Daphne's touch and turned on the girl.

"Pansy, Daphne, you need to seriously take a look at yourselves, you're nothing more than hookers yourselves, always trying to win the popular boys attention, or just wanting them for what they can do for your social standing." Alyson shook her head and lead the way for the three Australian girls to walk away."

"Watch your back today freak, it's called the unicorn hunt after all" Daphne called after them.

---

Justine laughed, "Saul is that uniform actually clean and ironed?"

"Well if we happen to make it into the Australian press I don't want my adoring public to have to go without gorgeous pictures of my clean and ironed self."

Nearby Jacque rolled her eyes. "I caught some of the funniest footage I've ever taken with him trying to use the iron, he finally used the "perificus" curse on them while he held them stiff. Effective if not practical."

"Oi! Don't diss my methods and I won't be forced to diss yours."

"If you can find a single fault in how good Jacque looks in that outfit I will give you money." Jeffery said blandly.

"KALLAIX!" a woman screamed from somewhere, "get over here, you're up next."

Justine, Alyson and Tegan lead the group over to where they had set up a sort of Junket for the press to get a five-minute interview with the students and the minister from each country. As they reached the door Justine let out a delighted squawk and jumped at the tall man standing just inside the curtain. "GREG!"

"Hey shorty," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "we're on next."

"Hey dad." Kris said as he gave his dad one of those single-armed-manly hugs. "Remember that we just need to answer the basics and I'll handle all of the student matters."

Greg grinned and adjusted his son's tie, "I'll handle any ministry questions, and if a student question is directed straight at me and I don't know the answer you're looking for, I'll confer with you okay?"

"Ladies and gentlemen," A voice boomed from the other side of the curtain. "I give you Kallaix Academy lead by Kristopher Crompton and Justine Snape, and the Australian Minister of magic Gregory Crompton."

Justine and Kris followed Greg out from behind the curtain and they found themselves to be in a large big-top tent erected in the arena, which had a few moments ago been used for the Dressage. They found themselves to be walking towards a table across the stage at which six chairs sat. Justine could see that it was to be a few sitting with the rest of the group standing behind them. The press were all standing in front of the desk and as the group had emerged the flash bulbs had gone nuts with voices calling from all sides "Mr Crompton over here!" "Miss Snape over next to Mr Crompton!" "All the students together please!"

Justine plastered on a smile and moved for the desk. She took one of the seats with Ax on one side of her and Kris on the other. Greg sat on the other side of his son and Alyson and Saul sat on the other side of him. The others stood around the back of the group and in true practised style they all smiled yet again now they were in a group and let the photo's be taken.

"Okay, any questions?" The voice, which turned out to be Lee Jordan again, boomed.

All the hands flew up, and Justine was surprised to recognise the amount of Australian media in the audience. "Melissa Stone." She said clearly watching the young "teen with weekly" reporter go crimson before composing herself and asking, "Miss Snape, are you enjoying your stay here at Hogwarts?"

Justine smiled. "I am having the best time here in England, I feel as if they've welcomed me back. Of course I do miss the homeland."

Melissa smiled and continued, "Rumour is that you held a massive party on your cruiser the other night."

"Well for once the rumours are entirely true." Justine smiled.

The press all started yelling but eventually a tartan wearing man with a heavy moustache stood and asked, "Is it true that the guest list for your party not only held all of the Australian contingent but also Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Oliver Wood and Mark Hall?"

Kris touched Justine's arm under the table, hidden from the eyes of the press, warning that this man was going to fish for comments on the supposed love triangle between Mark, Justine and Kris.

Saul's voice said from the other end of the table, "It wouldn't be very appropriate for us to say who was taking some time out at our party would it?" gaining himself laughs.

The questions continued for awhile, with quite a few directed at Greg and Kris about the conference so far. Finally, Lee called for the last question, and a blonde lady in fluoro yellow robes stood and said, "Rita Skeeter, tell me, Justine, rumour is that you were once attached to Draco Malfoy, a supposed guest at your party, is this one of those rumours that just happens to be true?"

Justine had a second of mental blanks before composing herself and saying, "If I did in fact have a past with Mr Malfoy, don't you think it would be in the papers like the rest of my life," she laughed and grinned. "And if indeed you say it was in the past, don't you think that's where I'd want to keep it?"

Lee stood up and gestured for the next school to be called as the Australians moved over in front of a wall, which was suddenly emblazoned with the Kallaix Academy emblem. "That was a low blow," Kris whispered in her ear.

"I noticed, how the hell did she find out, what paper was she from?" Justine whispered back heatedly as she grinned up at Kris.

Finally they all moved out into an antechamber of the tent and were able to watch as Shaklebolt lead the Hogwarts team into the room. Draco was among them.

---

The flash bulbs came to life as Draco, Harry and Hermione rounded the corner. Harry sighed as he walked into the tent, he was glad that Kingsley was with them – he hated the press. Draco, walking beside him, seemed to be completely in his element, but Hermione slipped her hand into his with an understanding expression on her face.

Harry looked around the room, hardly expecting to see anyone familiar. Reporters were always changing, he'd once tried to keep track of them, but it had failed miserably. Suddenly he did spot a familiar face.

"Oh shit," he muttered.

Draco looked over at him, and Harry nodded to a woman wearing lurid yellow robes who was rather hard to miss. "Rita Skeeter," Draco muttered.

"If she tries anything I'm so telling," Hermione muttered, more to reassure Harry than anything else.

"Thanks," Harry muttered, "But I think now that I actually have some experience with reporters that I'll be able to deal with her a little better than I did last time."

"Yeah, first rule of interviewing, never allow a quick quotes quill," Draco grinned back at him.

Harry rolled his eyes, "Yeah, now someone bothers to tell me this," he said, and Draco laughed. Hermione sighed – when it came to Harry and Draco, she often got left out of the conversation. Who'd ever have guessed that those two could get so close?

"Well, I would have told you … if you'd asked," Draco shrugged.

"No, you'd have told me I was an idiot and acting like a stuck-up Gryffindor who didn't know anything," Harry replied.

The questions came hard and fast with Hermione generally left out of it while the boys took the spotlight. The only questions she was ever asked were about possibly love triangles, which she took particular joy in denying all knowledge of.

As a parting question, Rita Skeeter stood up, having been silent for the rest of the interview, which had almost had Harry believing that he could get away without having to hear her annoyingly simpering voice.

"Master Malfoy," she said, smilingly sweetly, "Would you possibly be able to tell us about the former … flair you had with Miss Justine Snape?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said shortly.

"But, Master Malfoy, she has already confirmed-"

"She wouldn't comment, but there was, perhaps, a suggestion," Lee interrupted.

Rita glared at him, "As I said, Miss Snape has already suggested, in not denying the fact, that was a former relationship between the two of you."

"Well then, I suppose Miss Snape must have been referring to a dream," Draco said and turned his back on the press in disgust. He refused to turn around until Harry tugged him over to get photos taken in front of the Hogwarts crest. Even this was only done on the assurance that Rita would not be involved in any way. Kingsley Shacklebolt asked her to vacate the tent, which she did with an annoying, 'I'm up to no good' look on her face.

---

Justine left the tent in a hurry, not caring where she went. She finally settled on the stands, which were steadily filling with people. Taking a seat on the topmost rail she tried in vain to emerge herself in the Hunt, to get some focus.

Looking out over the forest she saw some of the teachers wearing orange iridescent jackets heading in to play security for the hunt. Justine smiled, the girls in the hunt were heavily armed, she could see why they had bloody security.

"Hey stranger, you look melancholy."

Justine head whipped around to see Mark sitting casually five foot away munching on some crackers. He was wearing the formal wear that was expected at these events. "OH MY GOD!" she yelled and threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and trying hard not to cry. "I've had the worst morning, and I'm about to compete and I'm so glad to see you."

He brushed a hair back and secured it under her hair tie that was holding her hair high on the back of her head. "Look at me, I was told what went down. Rita Skeeter is a piece of work, when I made my first movie she was a bitch to me at this junket and I've never forgiven her, she wrote that Harry Potter article about you-know-who. You are worth fifteen times that chick, it wasn't all your fault."

"Really?" Justine asked.

"Really. Now come on, I've got to get you down to the stable, Jacque wants to put a thing in your ear and Tegan's stressing out that your not going to ride."

Justine grinned. "Like they could stop me."

"That's my girl."

---

At nine twenty Tegan sat in Loki's saddle giving her horse a last minute run down on how much trouble she was in if she so much as put a hoof out of line. "And lastly. If you have even an inclination of not crossing the ruddy finish line, you're finished. I'm not kidding."

Loki gave the most remorseful look she was capable of and whinnied.

"Don't beg with me, you'll get no-where." Tegan said and turned when she felt Anubis's heavy footfall approaching.

"Oh thank god…" she muttered seeing Justine laughing along with Alyson. Her poor cousin didn't deal with Negative emotion, in fact it was the worst thing for her.

"Hola sexy," she drawled in a fake Spanish accent, "We are reporting for duty."

"I could say the same boss." Tegan quipped, grinning back.

"Dumbledore just gave the mighty, "Don't cheat!" speech over in the stables, you missed it, and I think he's currently addressing the public. Champagne isn't being served until noon with the lunch, but they can watch all of the initial action on the big screens." Justine adjusted her jacket and pulled Anubis around, "We'll meet you over at the Kallaix tent, I want to say goodbye to everyone, and we have to put on our mini-mikes."

Alyson cringed. "Has she heated up the little silicone thing? Last time it was like cold play dough being put in my ear."

Justine giggled, "You come up with the weirdest things, play dough my ass!" She kicked Anubis into a quick trot.

Tegan and Alyson quickly matched her pace and they all dismounted at the tent and let Jacque fit them out with their communicators. They also had magic tabs attached to the undersides of their collars so they could be located on radar.

---

It took Jacque all of five minutes to run checks on all her equipment and make sure that her equipment covered all the participating teams, so that she would be able to find any of the other teams, and to make sure that all the headsets were working properly.

The three riders mounted and bid farewell to their friends, who wished them the best of luck, and assured them that they'd be watching in the stands with Mark.

When they arrived at the starting line, they had to pull in beside the Hogwarts students. Justine smiled at Ginny, sneered at Daphne, and peered with interest at the third member of their party, a blond girl with blue eyes and a slightly absent expression.

"This is Pansy's … replacement, shall we say. Harry kicked her off the Hunt team for cheating," Ginny said.

"Shut up Weasley," Daphne said as Dumbledore came over to explain to them how to find their first area. Though the Kallaix students couldn't actually hear what Dumbledore was saying, they guessed this, as Madam Maxime had come over to them to show them the same information.

Dumbledore reeled off the usual set of rules, which the Kallaix students were more than familiar with, having participated in so many Hunting events in the past.

"Like anyone wouldn't realise that shooting at other teams was against the rules," Tegan muttered irritably. She just wanted to get started, dammit.

Dumbledore smiled slightly, apparently having overheard the comment, and raised his wand. A light rose into the air and began to pulsate, then, all of a sudden it exploded. Twenty-four horses galloped for the woods, each heading for its designated first area.

As soon as the Kallaix team had cleared the tree line Jacque's voice came over the intercom. "Hey all, this is the sound check, repeat."

Justine smiled "This is the sound check that Jacque insists on even though she knows her damn equipment is perfect."

Alyson giggled, "Repeat, Perfect."

Tegan shook her head. "What they said."

"Well I was just checking, You're drifting kind of east, correct your heading about five degrees west and it will bring you into to bottom corner of your first zone."

Justine touched her instep lightly to Anubis's side and he pulled slightly into the new course, and when he was in place, Justine lifted her foot back off. "Two hundred meters people, let's get ready, I want sweeping pattern Omega…"

Alyson and Tegan swapped sides and switched to free-reign, where the rider loops the reigns and tucks them loosely under her legs, freeing her arms and making her able to use her bow and arrow. Justine had switched just past the tree line and now held her armed bow.

"Jacque, a little music if you will," Justine said as she saw the boundary approaching.

Through their headsets music filled their ears, quiet enough to not be heard by the foxes.

They burst through the boundary, Alyson sweeping left and firing at the foxes who scattered, Tegan right, Justine chasing them straight down the middle. They held the record in Australia for clearing an area by using the Omega pattern, Alyson moved faster than the others, making the foxes think they can slip in behind her and get out of Justine's way, but they didn't realise that Alyson had turned around and was firing from a backwards position on her horse.

With this method they could do one area in only four passes.

Tegan was ruthless and Justine was a dead shot, and the team reached the other boundary in only about fifteen minutes, swinging alongside the boundary and doing the same pattern back down the course similarly, Alyson having had swapped sides.

They cleared the area in an hour. Justine and Alyson were trotting along side one another, they were confidant they had cleaned up this area, they were just investigating one last spot that Tegan sensed. Tegan had scouted a little ahead. "What's the time?" Alyson asked Justine looking perplexed.

"A few minutes to eleven, why?" Justine asked, knowing Alyson didn't ask questions unless she had bloody good reason.

"Well, we haven't encountered a single obstacle, we should have by now."

Alyson had a good point. "You spoke too soon!" said Tegan as she cantered up to the group pointing at the sky.

Justine looked up towards the sky. Dark storm clouds were forming out of thin air. "Jacque?" she asked.

"Your weather conditions are about to change as a challenge, expect rain, hail, even a thunder storm."

Justine grimaced, "Thanks, I'll call if we need you, or if we get bogged."

"Which is highly likely!" Alyson and Tegan said in unison. "Look at our track record!"

Jacque laughed, "I'll valiantly bring the winch to get you out."

"Of course you will. We'll be the one's bitching about how crazy people pay for bloody mud."

The heavens opened and the rain poured down on them. "Great." Justine said as she raised a hand to block the rain while she reached around behind her for her water-repelling cloak. Seeing Alyson and Tegan cast quick charms to do the same.

Swinging the black velvety material around her shoulders, she pulled Anubis around to face Alyson and Tegan. "Let's keep going, I think we're done with this area."

"I can feel a concentration of magic over this way; I think we'll find a fox den. This storm is starting to mess with my senses." Tegan said

"Well, the forest is denser over there, it's probably a good thing." Alyson said, looking on the bright side, flipping up her hood.

Justine nodded. "Jacque, we're heading east."

"Be careful, you're still not near any other team, but I don't like that we're in the zone next to Hogwarts."

"Any other schools close?"

"Not really, Thundreds are about a kilometre to the north east."

"I'd rather them than the Hogwarts skanks." Tegan growled.

Thunder rippled through the sky as they moved into deeper forest. Suddenly Justine spotted a white flash and adjusted herself to be riding free-reign and strung an arrow. She lifted the bow and shot into the trees and was rewarded by the pinging sound of a magical fox being shot. She laughed delightedly and watched as the others did the same, a rush of foxes coming at them from the trees, all scattering, but eventually being gotten by the trio. When the rush had finished, Justine glanced down at her watch, 11:30 and the weather wasn't giving up.

"I think we've got this area down, but the closest area, and by rights the one we have to move into next is the bloody Hogwarts area." Tegan said

"I don't like it at all." Alyson said.

Justine touched her mike. "Jacque, first area cleared, but we need to know where Hogwarts are in area F currently, because that's where we're bound.

"They're on the far boarder, and they're not moving, I think they took cover from some hail, wimps… how do they expect to get points?"

"So we can move into the area without confrontation?" Alyson asked.

"I can't be sure, they've only done the middle. Sloppy work really."

"We're going in. Cover our backs," Justine said as she nudged Anubis over the magical boundary, bow armed and on hand.

---

They had been working like Trojans to get this area cleared before they had a run in with the Hogwarts riders.

It had just gone noon and Justine was sure they had almost cleared this area. "Guys, we only have one more concentration on the 'Tegan Radar' to check out"

"Keep an eye out for Christ's sake; Hogwarts are just over the northern border."

Justine looked at Alyson and Tegan and they all smiled malevolently. "Let them come." Justine said clearly.

The three moved towards the border and slowly hunted out every den of foxes. Not being the smartest of species, magical foxes, they all moved for group cover from the rain. Justine grinned as she took out two with one blow and they 'pinged'.

"This gives the saying 'pop goes the weasel' a whole new bloody meaning." She said.

Alyson and Tegan laughed merrily and began to sine the song with fervour.

Justine lightly touched her head-set. "Jacque area two clear. We're going to three."

"You guys are kickin it; I'm going to boppier music for some added motivation!" Jacques voice said through the three headsets. So far they had been listening to just a top forty type CD, but now the music, when it returned, was more punk rock type music.

Justine bopped her head and moved for the boundary. With a touch to her earpiece the music died to a whisper and she focused on her environs. They were in denser forest than the last area, with a lot of ground cover. From her high vantage point on Anubis, Justine could see that another school had passed this exact way, not to long ago, they had left clear tracks in the mossy ground.

"AGH!" Tegan suddenly let out.

Justine whipped around, Bow raised, to see Tegan wrapped in what looked like a massive spider web wrapped around Tegan's arm and bow. "Oh ew, what the hell is it?"

Justine walked over and cast a simple non stick spell, something Justine had to have learned in her mothers kitchen. Tegan squawked and pulled the webbing off. "That's just nasty…"

"Don't forget, you are in the Acromantula part of the forest. Keep your bloody eyes open."

"Is it just me, or is it starting to get darker?" Justine asked, looking around, half an hour later during one of the few lulls in foxes.

"Oh! I remember these! It's a simulated night time, remember how I made us spend hours training at night? I heard they did it in the second round of the semi-finals in Canada last year," Alyson said.

"What do you do, read hunting magazines?" Justine demanded.

"Yeah," Alyson said, "You got a problem with that? I prepared us for this, didn't I?"

"Where exactly is Hogwarts?" Tegan asked, a short time later as true night descended.

"Right next to you. Get the hell out of there," Jacque replied.

"Get out? We haven't finished this section yet!" Justine said.

Suddenly a group of riders came out of the gloom beside them, and the Kallaix riders pulled in, grouping together and glaring warily at the approaching riders. Anubis was snorting and pawing the ground, coming out ahead of his two mares.

Electra beamed at them and waved cheerfully.

"Jacque, I think your equipment is going a little nuts," Tegan said bluntly. "It's just Electra."

"No, that's Thundreds. Hogwarts are on the other side," Jacque drawled, pissed off, as she always was when anyone tried to diss her equipment.

The Kallaix group turned to see Daphne out ahead of Ginny and Luna, who she'd forced back, and who weren't looking happy. "Hi," Daphne smirked, and raised her bow, "I told you to stay out of my way, freaks." She fired straight at Alyson.

"NO!" Tegan snarled, forcing Loki straight into Isis, and sending Alyson shying out of harms way. The arrow met flesh in the nasty silence that had overtaken, and Tegan staggered back, her face screwed up in pain.

---

Well, Princess has informed me that it is well and truly time for me to do the thanks so here we go:

Dark627: It's been H/Hr since the beginning ... if you read the Sorting Ceremony in Chapter One, they are dating.

Aytheria: Name spelt right, anything else you wanted? More Harry bits are coming... and yes, the Norwegian Ridgeback is Norbert. He rocks.

Queenie: Good to see a healthy hatred of Draco Malfoy!

BladeKnight: -goes hunting for you- you better review this chapter to, or you'll be in trouble! Ax IS teaching me how to use a sword!

Moonshadow: We'll get back and change the Quezacoaltals ASAP.

GoDDark: Good to see some people on Gaia! You go girl!