Catcher
A/N; Hopefully this chapter will answer some questions for you all. Some Draco Bashing for you. One last point is that when the speech is telepathic it will appear in between //'s, so it is not confusing.
Chapter 11; Muggle Power.
[Sea Dragon]
The ships crew stared in silence at the debris of the Pirate Ship. There wasn't really any point looking for survivors amongst it as even if by some miracle anyone had survived you would surely see them in the match stick size remains.
A tear streaked Alandria slowly allowed herself to be pulled up to the Helm by her partner. Once there, she lent against the rear railing and tried to collect herself.
It wasn't long before her sullen mood was abruptly interrupted by a shout from the mast tops.
"Unidentified objects astern!"
Tom, Valice and Alandria flung themselves around to see three small black shapes skimming the waves towards them.
"What are they?" she asked Valice as he knew more about the planet then her.
"Demon Aleia, Demon Skaters!" He went very pale as he continued to watch them, before turning to the Captain. "Set your sails, we need to go, Now!" He shouted across the deck and called for the Order members to get to the back of the ship to fire at them before asking the captain how far it was to the nearest safe point where they could leave the Kristoshia.
"What about Harry?" It was easy to hear the pain in Alandria's voice.
"The dark forces must have picked up that blast. They'll send reinforcements. If Harry is still alive he'll be able to sort himself out."
Tom interrupted, "We can leave now from here, its clear and we'll appear only a mile from the base but our Caster's haven't enough energy to cast it."
Alandria and Valice quickly resigned to setting up the Portal, they were powerful enough to create one, while the Order members shot at the Demons in a vain hope to kill them or at least slow them enough to make an escape.
By the time Valice and his partner had finished the portal the sails were set and the Demons were only just behind them. Alandria had never seen one except in pictures. She knew they looked like a species of water crawlers from her own planet. Great black predators that hunted flesh, and could sense magic across miles. They were also almost sentient and clever. They were most dark-forces navy. They had eight enormous legs with large flat feet that aloud them to almost fly across the water, a lot faster then any ship. To people like Harry they would look like deformed Earth Water Skaters. But you wouldn't want to try to squash it.
Valice realised the problem too late. "They'll try to follow us through, Captain send a message ahead on the situation."
The message barely got to Atlanta before the Sea Dragon passed through the Portal in a swirl of Silver and Orange light. When they appeared the Captain quickly turned the ship to starboard to give the dome a clear firing line.
One of the Demons got through the Portal behind them but the second was unlucky enough that the Portal closed when it was half way through, successfully cutting it in two, the halves quickly sunk to the bottom.
The first demon barely paused before lurching at the Sea Dragon. A mile to the left they barely heard the Alarms of the Domes before three Beams of red light flew from the tips of the domes and struck the creature on its side. The Demon roared in pain and was quickly struck three more times. It settled in the water briefly to regain its breath before starting towards the Sea Dragon again.
To the surprise of the watchers the second defence of Atlanta leapt out of the water from beneath the Demon in the form of a real Sea Dragon. It great jaws closing around the Demon before pulling it under the surface. Even without riders to control the Light creatures that were Sea Dragons they would defend anything under attack around Atlanta.
"The Maesters are not going to be thrilled!" Valice muttered and as if they had heard him, a Zalot appeared on his shoulder with a note that read.
"Mr. Aurta, Miss. Quintis, please report to the Maesters Chambers."
They still gulped even with the knowledge that there was no way they could be blamed for losing Harry and the Prince.
* * *
[Hogsmead; August 31st]
Ron and Hermione hadn't bothered with visiting Hogsmead, as it would only be a reminder of Harry. Ron was researching spells to avenge Hermione's parents and Hermione had arranged for her grandmother to visit the school to spend the day.
In Hogsmead the students were unusually quiet, the presence of the Muggle Army Guards acted to build up the tension in the air. None of the Students were stupid enough to prank or argue with the Guards and were quick to get out of the way of a passing armed man.
This was only because at that moment Draco Malfoy and his two bodyguards were not in the village, they were trying to approach the Muggle Base from the trees to the south of the Town. Ducking under bushes and trees when a plane flew overhead, their roars shaking the trees and even Draco was slightly nervous at the size of the bombs hung skilfully under their wings.
Draco had received a letter from his father, unsigned and unclear, but clearly saying to show the Muggle Base what power was and that Wizards were truly superior. His father had been released by Voldemort shortly before the Ministers death and had started a life as a fugitive. Draco planned to show the Muggles what he thought three Wizards could do to Muggles.
"Are you sure about this Draco? It seems dangerous. What about those Gons they have?"
"They're Guns, Greg, Gun's. Now shut up! If weak Potter can destroy a base, I am sure we can show one a bit of humility!"
A light chuckle followed these words by his companions as they had been trained to.
They paused by the edge of trees. The cleared trees in front of them were now just stumps still standing in the ground. Disturbed soil filled the gaps. The clearing ended in a high wire fence. Two sand placements stood before the fence and two perimeter-towers loomed above it. Draco could see the hangers and bunkers on the other side of a long runway. "Too easy he whispered to himself."
Not being completely stupid he quickly cast a simple invisibility charm, assuming that the Muggles were too stupid to see the glistening and warping of the light instead of their bodies. He wasn't powerful enough to cast complete invisibility charms. He confidently stepped out of the trees with the forms of Crabbe and Goyle with him.
Across the field and runway, an alarm instantly rang in the War Room. As soon as they had stepped out of the trees they had been seen, not that they knew that.
The senior officer on watch who happened to be the General in charge of the base, General Granger, instantly called the defenders to change to heat seeing goggles and alerted the snipers to stand by. He wanted to see what the intruders, clearly Wizards, were going to try. He watched there red bodies through the Heat Seeing cameras, and watched the alarms blink as they detected their motion. He had an agreement with the Wizarding School. Having a daughter due to start the next day and his niece Hermione already there had been the main reasons he had got this placement. He would fire if fired upon. If the kids died it was their own stupidity. They were now about halfway through the perimeter minefield, which he had purposely shut off. He could have it armed in two second if he wanted.
"Tell the Guards to engage." He said to his aid. They were briefed on what to do.
On the minefield, Draco was getting more confident, now only thirty metres from the fence he could see the gun emplacements. The idiot Muggles were looking straight at him, and couldn't see him. He had to stop himself from laughing. Then he froze, as the men moved.
The two sharp clicks that signalled the loading of the two Machine Guns behind the Sandbags almost made him cry out for help. Still he pulled himself together and ignored the sounds. "They had probably seen a rabbit or something! Stupid Muggles. His father had always told him how daft these people were." He told himself. He took another step towards the fence.
"Hold!" The shout froze him still. They had been seen, no matter they could probably not hit a dragon with those guns. "Identify yourselves."
Draco feeling more confident then he should have been let the invisibility charm drop and lowered his wand. He didn't know of the two snipers aiming at them or the potential minefield.
"Leave or you will be shot!" This time the sound came from a speaker on the fence.
Foolishly, wanting to avoid failing his father's wraith if he failed, he raised his wand. He threw a Reducto Curse at the right Machine gun as Crabbe and Goyle flung wild banishing charms, which tore apart a section of the fence.
In the War Room the General watched as three of his gunners were injured by the curse and a part of his fence was torn down. He'd never hold it against the entire Wizarding World, but orders were orders. He turned to a Technician in front of him.
"Arm the Mine Field! Order the Snipers to open fire at the two outer attackers. Tell the gunners that if that idiot in the middle moves his wand, kill him!" He did that because he recognised the centre as a school kid called Draco Malfoy as the Headmaster had predicted this might happen.
Two sharp cracks sounded from in front of Draco and before he could even think of moving, his companions were thrown backwards in a spray of blood as a bullet passed into their heads. In horror at their sudden deaths he turned to the remaining Machine Gun emplacement, he staggered back in shock as he saw the barrel looking back at him. He didn't care what his father thought, he had underestimated them. As soon as his foot landed behind him, he felt pain as the ground exploded under him and his world went up in dirt and flames.
In the War Room General Granger got the reports back from the Field. One of his men dead and two injured. He sighed, at least the enemy would think again. Two of the wizards killed by their snipers the other blown apart from the mine. He would go to the school with the bodies himself at least to assure the headmaster that they hadn't just opened fire on sight. He dreaded the thought of the look on his niece's face especially after her parents.
* * *
[The Magic Realm]
Harry and the Prince arrived on a circular platform. There was no one around so they took the chance to talk while they looked around. Their blades still out.
//Hey kid// Harry ignored the mental growl, //since I won our bet, can I ask your name, maybe then I'll stop calling you kid.//
//It's Matsue Solem, but I hate that name or 'My Prince' so if you call me anything but Matt, I'll run you through with this here blade!//
Harry couldn't help but laugh and moved to look over the side, to anyone else they looked as if they were ignoring each other. //Well Matt, my names Harry Potter, as I'm in the Order of the Zalot it's supposed to be Sir Harry Potter but again I'll set my cat side on you if you call me anything but Harry!// This got a laugh from Matt, and they were instantly friends. It was hard not to be once you had fought together against pirates and linked so that your true feelings were passed between you. They could sense the trust towards each other.
//That wouldn't be Harry Potter, as in The-Boy-Who-Lived would it.// At this he was stunned as Harry walked to the edge and banged his head on one of the surrounding six pillars.
//Another name I hate, along with the fame that comes with it.//
//Well, I'd stay away from my world then, if there is anything left of it. Our Seers have seen a lot of your world, 'Earth,' especially your Dark Lord's activities.//
Harry interrupted, //He's not our Dark Lord, he's a pompous idiot. Lets talk of this latter, Matt, we need to sort out what's happening. All I remember is grabbing your hand and being encased in light and then brought here.//
Matt nodded his agreement. Harry walked back to the edge and peered down a steep cliff. They were on a stone circle with a stone roof held up by stone pillars. At the bottom of the cliff a river ran, powerful and strong as it cut under the two cliffs on either side. The other cliff opposite them was taller and they realised that they were only half the way up their cliff. A Path led off into the cliff behind them and weaved in and out of the wall as it moved upstream to meet what looked like a wall and lots of massive water falls.
Harry tried his active crysti. //It's block, I can't sense a thing!//
//What?//
//Crysti.//
//Huh?// he sounded confused, and Harry realised he had forgotten how little Matt knew about him.
//Sorry, lets walk and I'll tell you.// They walked along the path together, they sheathed their swords and Harry found his two knives that he had thrown, clean and replaced in their rightful places.
After about half an hour where Harry and Matt had shared what they knew of the Prophecy they came to the Wall. The road disappeared into it.
With a shrug Harry stepped through it, and gasped at the sight. He heard Matt gasp as he came through behind him.
A city lay before him. The waterfalls and the wall had been an illusion. The City was built on the cliff sides as they met at a single powerful waterfall. Waterfalls flowed under and around the buildings casting a rainbow across the City. The City was never silent, always with water flowing through it. Birds flew from building to building. To Harry's amazement, there were Griffins, Phoenixes and even a Lepra that he noticed, there were also strange black panthers with slick feathered wings on their backs. They seemed to walk with the Leprano and looked strangely similar. The City was made of bright stone and marble. Tall towers and square halls covered the city. Markets and Barracks ranged.
Quickly Matt realised where they were from his Mythology lessons.
//The City of Elves.//
//Huh?// Harry was too amazed as he saw the Magic ebbing off the place, it seemed that his Crysti ability wasn't blocked here. //The City of Magic.//
//Yeah,// Matt replied, //how did you know that?//
"I don't know, but there is more Magic here then anywhere else I've been. Even your world." He didn't realise he had spoken aloud.
"That's true," came a flowing voice from his right, an old elf stood in long white robes, "This is The City of Magic though it hasn't been called that for thousands of years. Now it is known as The City of Elves or The City of Light. Welcome to the Realm of Magic, created by the Creator of Magic." He turned to Harry, "You are his heir."
* * *
Does that confuse anyone, explanations next chapter! Tell me what you think of the Draco/Granger fight!
Just a point, if you read this but are not a user, you can still write a review as I have left the setting off. Please Review!
Athenakitty; I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
ROG1039; Trust me, I look forward to that as well.
Jenni Miller; I can't really write soppy love stories, so there wont be much details, I liked your review and I would love to hear anything you have to say on it. The bright lights tend to be when Harry is pulled somewhere else against his will, its sort of his magic fighting against him being forced somewhere he doesn't want to go to.
Priss, gual1, SilverKnight7; Thanks for your reviews. I look forward to your next Reviews!
Sorry this chapter took so long but I live in England and am at college so I have loads of exams coming up.
A/N; Hopefully this chapter will answer some questions for you all. Some Draco Bashing for you. One last point is that when the speech is telepathic it will appear in between //'s, so it is not confusing.
Chapter 11; Muggle Power.
[Sea Dragon]
The ships crew stared in silence at the debris of the Pirate Ship. There wasn't really any point looking for survivors amongst it as even if by some miracle anyone had survived you would surely see them in the match stick size remains.
A tear streaked Alandria slowly allowed herself to be pulled up to the Helm by her partner. Once there, she lent against the rear railing and tried to collect herself.
It wasn't long before her sullen mood was abruptly interrupted by a shout from the mast tops.
"Unidentified objects astern!"
Tom, Valice and Alandria flung themselves around to see three small black shapes skimming the waves towards them.
"What are they?" she asked Valice as he knew more about the planet then her.
"Demon Aleia, Demon Skaters!" He went very pale as he continued to watch them, before turning to the Captain. "Set your sails, we need to go, Now!" He shouted across the deck and called for the Order members to get to the back of the ship to fire at them before asking the captain how far it was to the nearest safe point where they could leave the Kristoshia.
"What about Harry?" It was easy to hear the pain in Alandria's voice.
"The dark forces must have picked up that blast. They'll send reinforcements. If Harry is still alive he'll be able to sort himself out."
Tom interrupted, "We can leave now from here, its clear and we'll appear only a mile from the base but our Caster's haven't enough energy to cast it."
Alandria and Valice quickly resigned to setting up the Portal, they were powerful enough to create one, while the Order members shot at the Demons in a vain hope to kill them or at least slow them enough to make an escape.
By the time Valice and his partner had finished the portal the sails were set and the Demons were only just behind them. Alandria had never seen one except in pictures. She knew they looked like a species of water crawlers from her own planet. Great black predators that hunted flesh, and could sense magic across miles. They were also almost sentient and clever. They were most dark-forces navy. They had eight enormous legs with large flat feet that aloud them to almost fly across the water, a lot faster then any ship. To people like Harry they would look like deformed Earth Water Skaters. But you wouldn't want to try to squash it.
Valice realised the problem too late. "They'll try to follow us through, Captain send a message ahead on the situation."
The message barely got to Atlanta before the Sea Dragon passed through the Portal in a swirl of Silver and Orange light. When they appeared the Captain quickly turned the ship to starboard to give the dome a clear firing line.
One of the Demons got through the Portal behind them but the second was unlucky enough that the Portal closed when it was half way through, successfully cutting it in two, the halves quickly sunk to the bottom.
The first demon barely paused before lurching at the Sea Dragon. A mile to the left they barely heard the Alarms of the Domes before three Beams of red light flew from the tips of the domes and struck the creature on its side. The Demon roared in pain and was quickly struck three more times. It settled in the water briefly to regain its breath before starting towards the Sea Dragon again.
To the surprise of the watchers the second defence of Atlanta leapt out of the water from beneath the Demon in the form of a real Sea Dragon. It great jaws closing around the Demon before pulling it under the surface. Even without riders to control the Light creatures that were Sea Dragons they would defend anything under attack around Atlanta.
"The Maesters are not going to be thrilled!" Valice muttered and as if they had heard him, a Zalot appeared on his shoulder with a note that read.
"Mr. Aurta, Miss. Quintis, please report to the Maesters Chambers."
They still gulped even with the knowledge that there was no way they could be blamed for losing Harry and the Prince.
* * *
[Hogsmead; August 31st]
Ron and Hermione hadn't bothered with visiting Hogsmead, as it would only be a reminder of Harry. Ron was researching spells to avenge Hermione's parents and Hermione had arranged for her grandmother to visit the school to spend the day.
In Hogsmead the students were unusually quiet, the presence of the Muggle Army Guards acted to build up the tension in the air. None of the Students were stupid enough to prank or argue with the Guards and were quick to get out of the way of a passing armed man.
This was only because at that moment Draco Malfoy and his two bodyguards were not in the village, they were trying to approach the Muggle Base from the trees to the south of the Town. Ducking under bushes and trees when a plane flew overhead, their roars shaking the trees and even Draco was slightly nervous at the size of the bombs hung skilfully under their wings.
Draco had received a letter from his father, unsigned and unclear, but clearly saying to show the Muggle Base what power was and that Wizards were truly superior. His father had been released by Voldemort shortly before the Ministers death and had started a life as a fugitive. Draco planned to show the Muggles what he thought three Wizards could do to Muggles.
"Are you sure about this Draco? It seems dangerous. What about those Gons they have?"
"They're Guns, Greg, Gun's. Now shut up! If weak Potter can destroy a base, I am sure we can show one a bit of humility!"
A light chuckle followed these words by his companions as they had been trained to.
They paused by the edge of trees. The cleared trees in front of them were now just stumps still standing in the ground. Disturbed soil filled the gaps. The clearing ended in a high wire fence. Two sand placements stood before the fence and two perimeter-towers loomed above it. Draco could see the hangers and bunkers on the other side of a long runway. "Too easy he whispered to himself."
Not being completely stupid he quickly cast a simple invisibility charm, assuming that the Muggles were too stupid to see the glistening and warping of the light instead of their bodies. He wasn't powerful enough to cast complete invisibility charms. He confidently stepped out of the trees with the forms of Crabbe and Goyle with him.
Across the field and runway, an alarm instantly rang in the War Room. As soon as they had stepped out of the trees they had been seen, not that they knew that.
The senior officer on watch who happened to be the General in charge of the base, General Granger, instantly called the defenders to change to heat seeing goggles and alerted the snipers to stand by. He wanted to see what the intruders, clearly Wizards, were going to try. He watched there red bodies through the Heat Seeing cameras, and watched the alarms blink as they detected their motion. He had an agreement with the Wizarding School. Having a daughter due to start the next day and his niece Hermione already there had been the main reasons he had got this placement. He would fire if fired upon. If the kids died it was their own stupidity. They were now about halfway through the perimeter minefield, which he had purposely shut off. He could have it armed in two second if he wanted.
"Tell the Guards to engage." He said to his aid. They were briefed on what to do.
On the minefield, Draco was getting more confident, now only thirty metres from the fence he could see the gun emplacements. The idiot Muggles were looking straight at him, and couldn't see him. He had to stop himself from laughing. Then he froze, as the men moved.
The two sharp clicks that signalled the loading of the two Machine Guns behind the Sandbags almost made him cry out for help. Still he pulled himself together and ignored the sounds. "They had probably seen a rabbit or something! Stupid Muggles. His father had always told him how daft these people were." He told himself. He took another step towards the fence.
"Hold!" The shout froze him still. They had been seen, no matter they could probably not hit a dragon with those guns. "Identify yourselves."
Draco feeling more confident then he should have been let the invisibility charm drop and lowered his wand. He didn't know of the two snipers aiming at them or the potential minefield.
"Leave or you will be shot!" This time the sound came from a speaker on the fence.
Foolishly, wanting to avoid failing his father's wraith if he failed, he raised his wand. He threw a Reducto Curse at the right Machine gun as Crabbe and Goyle flung wild banishing charms, which tore apart a section of the fence.
In the War Room the General watched as three of his gunners were injured by the curse and a part of his fence was torn down. He'd never hold it against the entire Wizarding World, but orders were orders. He turned to a Technician in front of him.
"Arm the Mine Field! Order the Snipers to open fire at the two outer attackers. Tell the gunners that if that idiot in the middle moves his wand, kill him!" He did that because he recognised the centre as a school kid called Draco Malfoy as the Headmaster had predicted this might happen.
Two sharp cracks sounded from in front of Draco and before he could even think of moving, his companions were thrown backwards in a spray of blood as a bullet passed into their heads. In horror at their sudden deaths he turned to the remaining Machine Gun emplacement, he staggered back in shock as he saw the barrel looking back at him. He didn't care what his father thought, he had underestimated them. As soon as his foot landed behind him, he felt pain as the ground exploded under him and his world went up in dirt and flames.
In the War Room General Granger got the reports back from the Field. One of his men dead and two injured. He sighed, at least the enemy would think again. Two of the wizards killed by their snipers the other blown apart from the mine. He would go to the school with the bodies himself at least to assure the headmaster that they hadn't just opened fire on sight. He dreaded the thought of the look on his niece's face especially after her parents.
* * *
[The Magic Realm]
Harry and the Prince arrived on a circular platform. There was no one around so they took the chance to talk while they looked around. Their blades still out.
//Hey kid// Harry ignored the mental growl, //since I won our bet, can I ask your name, maybe then I'll stop calling you kid.//
//It's Matsue Solem, but I hate that name or 'My Prince' so if you call me anything but Matt, I'll run you through with this here blade!//
Harry couldn't help but laugh and moved to look over the side, to anyone else they looked as if they were ignoring each other. //Well Matt, my names Harry Potter, as I'm in the Order of the Zalot it's supposed to be Sir Harry Potter but again I'll set my cat side on you if you call me anything but Harry!// This got a laugh from Matt, and they were instantly friends. It was hard not to be once you had fought together against pirates and linked so that your true feelings were passed between you. They could sense the trust towards each other.
//That wouldn't be Harry Potter, as in The-Boy-Who-Lived would it.// At this he was stunned as Harry walked to the edge and banged his head on one of the surrounding six pillars.
//Another name I hate, along with the fame that comes with it.//
//Well, I'd stay away from my world then, if there is anything left of it. Our Seers have seen a lot of your world, 'Earth,' especially your Dark Lord's activities.//
Harry interrupted, //He's not our Dark Lord, he's a pompous idiot. Lets talk of this latter, Matt, we need to sort out what's happening. All I remember is grabbing your hand and being encased in light and then brought here.//
Matt nodded his agreement. Harry walked back to the edge and peered down a steep cliff. They were on a stone circle with a stone roof held up by stone pillars. At the bottom of the cliff a river ran, powerful and strong as it cut under the two cliffs on either side. The other cliff opposite them was taller and they realised that they were only half the way up their cliff. A Path led off into the cliff behind them and weaved in and out of the wall as it moved upstream to meet what looked like a wall and lots of massive water falls.
Harry tried his active crysti. //It's block, I can't sense a thing!//
//What?//
//Crysti.//
//Huh?// he sounded confused, and Harry realised he had forgotten how little Matt knew about him.
//Sorry, lets walk and I'll tell you.// They walked along the path together, they sheathed their swords and Harry found his two knives that he had thrown, clean and replaced in their rightful places.
After about half an hour where Harry and Matt had shared what they knew of the Prophecy they came to the Wall. The road disappeared into it.
With a shrug Harry stepped through it, and gasped at the sight. He heard Matt gasp as he came through behind him.
A city lay before him. The waterfalls and the wall had been an illusion. The City was built on the cliff sides as they met at a single powerful waterfall. Waterfalls flowed under and around the buildings casting a rainbow across the City. The City was never silent, always with water flowing through it. Birds flew from building to building. To Harry's amazement, there were Griffins, Phoenixes and even a Lepra that he noticed, there were also strange black panthers with slick feathered wings on their backs. They seemed to walk with the Leprano and looked strangely similar. The City was made of bright stone and marble. Tall towers and square halls covered the city. Markets and Barracks ranged.
Quickly Matt realised where they were from his Mythology lessons.
//The City of Elves.//
//Huh?// Harry was too amazed as he saw the Magic ebbing off the place, it seemed that his Crysti ability wasn't blocked here. //The City of Magic.//
//Yeah,// Matt replied, //how did you know that?//
"I don't know, but there is more Magic here then anywhere else I've been. Even your world." He didn't realise he had spoken aloud.
"That's true," came a flowing voice from his right, an old elf stood in long white robes, "This is The City of Magic though it hasn't been called that for thousands of years. Now it is known as The City of Elves or The City of Light. Welcome to the Realm of Magic, created by the Creator of Magic." He turned to Harry, "You are his heir."
* * *
Does that confuse anyone, explanations next chapter! Tell me what you think of the Draco/Granger fight!
Just a point, if you read this but are not a user, you can still write a review as I have left the setting off. Please Review!
Athenakitty; I hope you enjoy the rest of the story.
ROG1039; Trust me, I look forward to that as well.
Jenni Miller; I can't really write soppy love stories, so there wont be much details, I liked your review and I would love to hear anything you have to say on it. The bright lights tend to be when Harry is pulled somewhere else against his will, its sort of his magic fighting against him being forced somewhere he doesn't want to go to.
Priss, gual1, SilverKnight7; Thanks for your reviews. I look forward to your next Reviews!
Sorry this chapter took so long but I live in England and am at college so I have loads of exams coming up.