Chapter 12: Dirigible Things

"Harry, what do you think a Crumple-Horned Snorkak looks like?"

Hermione's feet propelled themselves back and forth as both she and Harry sat at the edge of Mr. Scamander's wagon, watching the road pass under them as a gentle, yet warm breeze tossed their hair, "do you think it's...real?"

"Maybe," Harry shrugged, throwing a pebble which had been in his pocket down the road a ways, "Mr. Scamander thinks it exists,"

Turning, Hermione lifted a brow at the odd, lanky man. He didn't seem at all dangerous, but he didn't seem in too much of a haste either, piloting his mule with calm expertise, "though he could just be mental,"

"Harry," Hermione reached out and slapped him lightly across the shoulder, "that's not a very nice thing to say about someone,"

"You're right, Hermione. I'm sorry,"

Harry adjusted his crooked glasses as Hermione smiled. I wonder how different he would look without his glasses? Kicking her feet back and forth again, Snuffles gave a loud yawn from somewhere in the back of the wagon. Hermione wished her life were that simple sometimes. Sighing slightly, she tucked a loose ringlet back into her bun and side glanced at Harry. It didn't seem like that long since their adventure began, but he had already changed so much. Especially his scar. It was just an unnoticeable pink line when they had met, now, it was bright red and slightly swollen,

"Harry," Hermione asked nervously, "are you feeling ok? Your scar I mean, does it hurt?"

"Huh?"

"Your scar Harry," Hermione reached out carefully, using her fingers to brush away her best friends dark bangs, "is it hurting you?"

"It stung really bad last night, now that you mention it," Harry mumbled, "it's just kinda sore now. Why, does it look bad?"

"A bit. It's all red and swollen. You may have been scratching at it while you were sleeping last night,"

"Huh. Hermione, how is it you know what to do in every situation?"

"I do a lot of reading, Harry. That's how," Hermione explained, pulling out her wand and pointing it at her best friends face, "for example. I know how to fix those silly glasses of yours. Occulous Reparo,'

There was a slight zap and a flash as Harry's glasses fixed themselves, causing the boy to blink and remove the lenses to observe them,

"Brilliant. You'll have to teach me that one,"

Giggling slightly, Hermione looked up as Snuffles forced himself between them, staring about expectantly with his tongue hanging out as Hermione gave him a scratch behind the ears. She always wondered why Snuffles had come to Harry. Sure he was a docile dog, but no doubt he was a stray with no owner. Curious, Hermione reached for her backpack and pulled out Wizarding 101.

"Whats up, 'Mione?"

"Hmm? Oh, I'm just going to do a little reading to pass the time. I'm curious about Familiars,"

"What's a familiar?" Harry asked, lifting a brow as Hermione narrowed her eyes at the table of contents. Flipping to the right page in the book, she tapped the words with a finger,

"A familiar is usually some sort of animal which is magically bonded with a witch or wizard. These creatures have greater intelligence then the average household pet, and can share traits with their owners. That's what the book says,"

"So, you think Snuffles and Crookshanks are familiars?"

Harry gave his dog a loving scratch on the head as Hermione hummed to herself,

"Maybe, maybe not. Snuffles here seems to have a mind of his own,"

Both children giggled again as the cart jostled, pulling off to the right slightly. Looking over her shoulder, Hermione gasped quietly. There was a tall, odd looking house on the horizon. Shaking Harry's arm, he shifted to look at the house too. It was similar to the burrow, as it was tall instead of wide, and looked ready to fall over any minute. But in the air, strung from the upstairs windows, were many colorful kites. And the entire front entrance of the house was covered in a thick green ivy dotted with orange,

"I don't think they have regular houses in the Wizarding World, do they Hermione?"

Hermione could only shrug as Mr. Scamander pulled his mule to a slow halt and jumped down from his wagon to address the children,

"This is where I leave you lot. For I still have a Snorkak to find!"

"Thanks for bringing us this far, Mr. Scamander," Harry stated, grabbing hold of their bicycle, while Hermione plopped down beside him, "we appreciate it,"

"Of course. Anything for you, Mr. Potter,"

At the mention of his name, Hermione felt an unease twist in her gut as Harry blanched, "no worries, no worries. It's not my job to tell Dumbledore anything," Mr. Scamander stated, "these are my friends, the Lovegoods. They should be able to help you out, maybe even point you in the right direction of wherever you're headed, hmm? But now I must journey forth! To find my lost creature!"

Hopping back into his wagon, Mr. Scamander waved a hand as Hermione and Harry glanced at one another. Hermione was getting used to all the strange people they were meeting, and she had a feeling that the Lovegoods weren't any different. Turning and looking up at the house, Hermione clutched Harry's cloak sleeve,

"Should we just keep going? I can't imagine our string of good fortune lasting for much longer,"

"We need directions to the ocean," Harry insisted, throwing up his hood to cover his scar, "if Mr. Scamander trusts these people, how bad can they be?"

"That's what I'm worried about," Hermione mumbled, standing back on the crooked stoop as Harry reached up and knocked loudly. There was a moment of silence before someone approached the door, and a pair of large grey eyes peeked out. Before Harry or Hermione could greet anything, the door opened fully, revealing a bleach blonde girl with skin the same shade as the moon,

"Ooo, guests!"

Clapping her hands slightly, the strange girl motioned quickly with her hand, "come in, come in. I'll put on tea. Oh look and you have animals, how cute!"

Shrugging slightly, Harry and Hermione followed the girl inside, while Crookshanks followed Snuffles in their first go through of the house. As the door closed behind them, the girl smiled and skipped towards the staircase,

"Daddy! We have guests!"

Turning back, she smiled and once more skipped into the kitchen, followed closely by Harry and Hermione who cautiously sat down at the table just beyond, "oh we haven't had guests in so long. Hopefully I still remember how to make tea."

Hermione lifted a brow slightly. This girl was completely loony. Well, a bit more so then everyone else they had come across on their travels so far. Glancing up from her staring as someone descended the stairs, Hermione was met with a very odd looking man. His long silvery robes were soft, and his grey hair lay flat against the sides of his face as his eyes gleamed happily,

"Harry Potter," he announced immediately, "a pleasure to meet you at last,"

"You...you must be mistaking sir," Harry stuttered, only to squeak as his hood was gently pulled off by the man in silver to reveal his scar,

"I know you well, Harry. No need to worry, I won't tell anyone you are here. Especially a certain bearded wizard. And neither will my daughter, of course. Luna!"

"I was just making tea, daddy," the odd girl, Luna, said, appearing with a tray of things and small sweets,

"Yes. My daughter Luna, and I am Xenophelious," the man introduced, pulling the blonde girl closer to him with a smile as Harry wrapped an unconscious hand around Hermione's waist,

"Harry, and my friend, Hermione,"

Hermione noticed how Harry narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and how he held on to her just a bit tighter as Xenophelious chuckled,

"Well it is a pleasure to have you both in our home. I does get a bit quiet around here, being just the two of us,"

Sitting down at the table, Luna happily poured the tea before sitting down in the last empty spot. Taking a sip of the steaming liquid, Hermione couldn't help but lift a brow. The liquid in her cup was unlike anything she had ever tasted before. It was sweet like forest berries, yet tangy like fruits she had at home. Glancing at Harry, Hermione smiled as his nose lifted ever so slightly, and he set his cup down. Just another thing to know about Harry Potter, Hermione thought to herself, he doesn't have a very strong sweet tooth.

"I don't mean to pry, Harry, but where are you both off too? Dumbledore has his Order up in a tizzy trying to locate you. And yet here you are, out in the middle of nowhere?"

"We were going to the ocean sir," Hermione answered, "we've always wanted to see it."

"I love the ocean," Luna breathed happily, "there are no Nargles there, you know. Everything is always so clear!"

Nargles? Hermione glanced at Harry, who merely snickered at her expense as he turned back to the light haired father and daughter before them,

"I hate to ask, sir, but what do you mean Dumbledore has his Order looking for us?"

Xenophelious set down his cup of tea, a look of bewilderment crossing his already bewildered looking features,

"Don't you know, my boy? Why, it's called the Order of the Phoenix, and is comprised of the most powerful witches and wizards to ever wield wands. Its...a bit shabbier now days thanks to the Ministry of course,"

"Why would I know that, sir?" Harry asked, squeezing Hermione's hand out of habit as she ran a finger about her teacup, listening intently to the conversation,

"Well, I knew Dumbledore was keeping you with Muggles, but I didn't think you knew nothing about what is going on? Tell me, Harry, how much do you know about yourself?"

Harry scoffed irritably as Hermione blinked slightly. She had never known Harry to be rude to anyone, except her parents and his own relatives of course,

"Enough to know that I'm just Harry, and not the 'boy-who-lived' rubbish everyone claims I am. How can you even write a life story about me when I'm only 12?"

Hermione found herself giggling at that. I think I may be rubbing off on Harry, poor boy. Smiling as well, Xenophelious nodded,

"I see. We, of course, never believe anything until we see it for ourselves," the white haired man motioned to himself and Luna as Harry narrowed his eyes. Once more, Hermione felt her eyebrows raise. How could you live by a 'see it to believe it policy' if you were a believer in Snorkaks and Nargles (whatever those were?), "as I said, you're welcome here for as long as you like."

"Daddy, can they come to classes too?" Luna asked, grey eyes sparkling as Harry and Hermione glanced at one another worriedly,

"I suppose," Xenophelious stated, turning to smile at both Harry and Hermione, "I have a sense you do not know much about magic. As I am already so honored to have guests here at my home, Luna and I wound be glad to teach you both in a bit of...mmm, spellwork? If you decided to stay of course,"

Hermione turned to Harry and leaned to his ear, this is a good chance for us to get some proper education in magic. She whispered. What about the ocean, and Dumbledore? What if these people rat us out? Harry whispered nervously back. Hermione merely leaned on her best friends shoulder and smiled. We leave at the first sign of trouble. Ok? Harry screwed up his lip in thought and soon relented with a small nod, allowing both to turn back and face the eagerly awaiting Lovegoods.

"We'd like to stay, if its alright with you," Hermione stated, tucking some hair behind her ear again as Luna's face illuminated and she began bouncing up and down with elation,

"I've never had real friends before," she insisted, grabbing Hermione's hand and practically pulling her out of her chair, "have you ever had a Dirigible Plum? They are delicious and keep the Nargles away."

Looking over her shoulder at Harry, who was trying hard to contain his laughter, Hermione groaned slightly. This was going to be a long stay indeed.