Chapter 17: Back to Hogwarts
Harry, Terran, and Ginny's return to Hogwarts was enthusiastic. Strider was, understandably, a bit nervous about interacting with the other students. Unlike the others, he had never attended a formal school before. Headquarters had a unique feel to it, and while competition ran high, so many people came and went, that there weren't that many permanent residents at Headquarters.
As they climbed off-board in Hogsmeade, the masters watched their charges, who were, at present, bickering over who got to sit on the right side of the carriage. Amused, Snape finally asked, "You're quite missing something," the teens immediately stopped, confused, and looked around. Seeing nothing amiss at the train station, Snape released a heavy sigh. "We aren't taking the carriages."
Harry didn't look phased, though he appeared to recognize Snape's intent. "That's why you had me wear my trainers," Harry muttered. "Oh, don't be daft, guys," he turned to the other teens, still confused. "They intend for us to run to the school. It can't be more than… five kilometers?" he guessed.
Snape waved his wand, putting him in more comfortable clothes, and his robe disappearing entirely. The other masters did the same.
As they began to run, Harry noticed that Atwater seemed mildly uncomfortable with the pace, and purposefully made an attempt to slow. Atwater nodded gratefully at him, and Ginny seemed relieved also.
As they arrived at the Hogwarts entrance, about half an hour later, Harry was surprised that Hermione, Ron, and Neville had all been waiting for their arrival on the steps. "Harry! Ginny!" Hermione grinned as she launched herself at each of them in turn. "Hey, Terran!" She turned to Strider, unsure of what to say, not knowing the boy's name, and settled for an awkward, "hello!"
Harry, not fully able to hold back his laughter, wondered how he could have introduced the other boy sooner. "Hermione, Ron, Neville, this is Strider," Harry introduced as Hermione cut him off.
"King of Gondor?" Hermione asked. Seeing Strider's nod, she grinned. "Oh! Wizards don't seem to read much Tolkien here, tell me your favorite Tolkien works!"
Ginny looked affronted. "I have very much read The Lord of the Rings, Hermione! They're just too long!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, finally deciding to ignore her friend's complaints. "What's on the agenda for today? The Junior Guard has continued training with Fletcher while you were gone. We're meant to meet him at three for the next session."
The four masters glanced at one another. Snape finally announced, "After lunch, I'd be happy to give you a tour, Ty, Strider."
Saldor sighed. "Fine, Sev, leave Reg and I to meet with your barmy Headmaster."
Snape, never an expressive man, allowed the corners of his lips to turn upward a small amount. "Excellent. Thank you for volunteering," he drawled, leading everybody into the Great Hall, and seating them all at one of the round tables that sat empty near the door. "Miss Granger, Mister Weasley, Mister Longbottom, I trust you have used the extra time on your Potions essays wisely with the extension received?"
Both Ron and Neville looked slightly guilty, though Hermione seemed eager. "Oh, yes, Sir, you'll find that I've incorporated my earlier hypothesis about layering potions and charms-"
Ginny stared at the girl. "Blimey, Hermione, I love you, but it is a Saturday and you want to talk about your Potions essay?"
Harry snorted, but sensed a terse response from Hermione. Before she could do so, he jumped in. "Guys, this is Master Atwater and Apprentice Strider. Master Atwater is a Healing Master, and will be here for a little while. Neville, Strider will be working closely with your team on planning some strategies for recognizing and responding to mental trauma. Master Atwater, Strider, these are my friends, Ron Weasely, Hermione Granger, and Neville Longbottom."
As they exchanged greetings, Harry sat back, glad to be at Hogwarts. As students walked past the table to leave the Great Hall, the bravest greeted the teens, though most merely waved without stopping. Harry was sure that Snape's glare had something to do with that. As the table began clearing, Fletcher stopped by the table.
"Ah! Ty! It is good to see you again!" Fletcher greeted enthusiastically. Harry made a mental note to ask the man how he seemed to know all of the masters without being one himself. "Is this your apprentice?"
As yet another set of introductions were made, Harry glanced around the room. It was nearly empty, and Ron and Neville both began to look slightly bored with the conversation. Hermione, Terran, and Ginny were engrossed in an argument about the merits of The Lord of the Rings. Harry shook his head and waited.
Finally, the conversation broke up, and Fletcher turned his attention to Snape. "The Headmaster would like to see all four of you, actually. If Strider is staying with us for awhile, I would like to test him before our session at three?"
Atwater agreed, as he rose alongside the other three masters. Harry made to follow Fletcher and Strider out of the hall, but was stopped. "No, I believe I just asked for Strider for now. Three o'clock, for the rest of you."
Harry nodded, wishing Strider good luck, and turning back to his own mentor. "Sir, may we have permission to speak with our friends?"
Saldor and Silverwood had already led Atwater out of the hall as Snape answered. "You may. Do not be late for Fletcher. Terran and Pandora have the same restrictions."
Harry and Terran both bowed, accepting the command with a quick, "Yes, milord." Harry noted that Ginny did not offer the customary acknowledgement, and was unsurprised to see that Snape's eyes had narrowed at her, in recognition of her refusal. She made eye contact, and almost imperceptibly, allowed her eyes to shift toward her brother, and nodded to the man, a small substitute for the bow she withheld.
Though he did not break eye contact, and raised an eyebrow, he spoke. "If that is all, Miss Weasley, we will address that problem later. Do I make myself clear?"
Ginny gulped, in full recognition that, while Snape had accepted her decision to tell her brother in her own way, he did not appreciate the slight in refusing to acknowledge his authority. "Of course, Sir," she nodded again, slowly.
"Very well, I take my leave. Aeter, I suggest you use our quarters, should you desire privacy."
"Thank you, sir," Harry bowed again, as Snape swept out of the Hall. "Come on guys, there's lots to tell."
Halfway down to the dungeons, Ron stopped suddenly. Ignoring Hermione's concerned questions, he stared at Harry and Ginny. "Who is Pandora?"
Hermione resumed walking as she began explaining, "Pandora was the first woman, a gift from the gods to Epimetheus. Zeus wanted to punish Prometheus…"
As Hermione continued her lecture on Greek mythology, she ignored Ron's protests as he quickly ran after the others to catch up. Hermione, without taking a breath, caught Harry's eye and smiled. Harry beamed. Hermione had already realized parts of what had happened, and was putting Ron off until they could get to the safety, and quiet, of the dungeon quarters. How he had missed her genius.
Terran and Neville remained relatively quiet through the description of the events that had transpired at Headquarters.
Ron had been torn between jealousy and repugnance at the thought of apprenticing a man who made him run. Finally, he simply asked quietly, "What about quidditch?"
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione roared, hitting him with a throw pillow.
Ginny looked broken. "I can't play," she whispered quietly. "It's already been discussed."
Ron, though Harry knew he had been jealous of his sister's captaincy, looked upset. "I am so sorry, Gin. Harry still flies sometime, though, so all is not lost. Right, Harry? And, we'll definitely benefit from having your observant eyes, sometimes."
"Absolutely," Harry agreed.
Ginny, anxious to change the subject, decided it was time to throw her brother and friend off. "So, Ron, Hermione, Harry had been looking at the Marauder's Map the other day, and he saw the most interesting thing."
"You already told us about Pettigrew," Ron waved her off. "Sirus is going to be thrilled!"
"Oh, not Pettigrew at all," Ginny smirked. "How long were you going to wait to tell me?" Hermione's face began turning red as her eyes widened, though Ron still hadn't caught on. "It was a curiously long time that you were both in that broom closet last week. Was it that difficult to find a broom?"
Ron's face flushed quicker than Hermione's. "I- I don't know-"
"Oh, stuff it Ron," Terran declared. "While it's fun to watch, I feel like there are better fireworks in store-"
Ginny turned to glare at the boy. "Terran!"
Terran's smile widened at her. "Oh, I'm sorry, Pandora, did you want to be the one to tell your brother that you kissed his best mate?"
"YOU WHAT?" Ron shouted. His head bounced back and forth between Harry and Ginny, as though he wasn't sure who he should be yelling at. "How could you? And you-" he was definitely yelling at Harry, now.
Harry, anxious for an escape, glanced at his watch. "Oh look! We should probably head up for Fletcher. We don't want to be the last ones there!"
Hermione glared. "We'll be the only ones there. The rest of the teams don't come until four. And we still have twenty minutes for you to spill!"
The walk up to the training hall was absolutely awkward, as Ron studiously refused to speak to Harry and Ginny, but Hermione couldn't help asking them all sorts of questions. Terran and Neville, for their parts, began responding to Hermione's questions with obnoxious made-up answers.
"How did you know?" Hermione asked them both.
Neville lowered his voice in an uncanny imitation of Harry, "Oh, Ginny, my love, the sun shines from your face, and butterflies surround you…"
Terran, rather enjoying this facet of having actual friends at Hogwarts, grinned as he imitated Ginny, "Oh, Harry, my prince! You are my fairytale!"
Ginny, having heard enough, her face pink, finally punched Terran in the shoulder. Terran began rubbing his arm and muttering about barmy girls, even as he continued to grin.
Harry was finally grateful to walk in and greet Fletcher, who was studiously watching Strider at the framework. Harry stood next to the older man and watched for a moment. Strider was clearly uncomfortable with the exercise, and struggled to watch all of the angles from his peripheral vision. One of the beams struck him, and he sprawled on the floor with a THUD!
Reaching out his hand to help the boy up, Harry smiled. "Nice work, Strider. You're focusing too much on what's immediately before your eyes. Try to focus less on one or two beams, and the collective around you."
Strider accepted the bottle of water thrust into his hand by Ginny. "You are adept at this?" he asked Harry with disbelief.
Harry snorted. "I was once forced to do it with my ankles tied together. Though a memorable experience, not a punishment I recommend."
"I'll bear that in mind," the blonde said dryly. Turning to Fletcher, he spoke, "Well, thank you Fletcher, as your next charges are here-"
It was Harry who spoke. "If I am not mistaken, Strider, this is meant to be a session for my senior leadership as we will be expected to work more with the troops this afternoon. I believe, in your role with Neville, you will be considered among that leadership team."
Strider looked torn between pride and being crushed. "So, I can't leave?" he asked quietly, glancing between Harry and Fletcher, his face shrinking.
"Sorry, Mate," Harry shook his head. "You'll be sticking with us."
Strider sighed and followed the group across the room.
