Harry's need to use the toilet was getting more urgent and it interrupted his brooding. He didn't want to talk to Mr. Burbage again. He wanted to ignore him for the rest of the training if he could.
He heard Tony stand up and leave the area and he wondered if he was in the same predicament. He thought for a moment, then stood up and shook out his staff. He'd follow Tony. At the very least, he could ask Tony to lead him to Healer Jordan.
Someone stood up near him and touched him gently on his arm. Gemma. He turned a smile toward her and she squeezed his arm.
He put his palm out so that she could write in it if she wanted and she drew a question mark across his palm.
He said softly, "Do you know where the toilet is?"
She tapped once, "No."
"Can you lead me to Healer Jordan so I can ask?" Harry asked.
She tapped twice, "Yes," and he took her arm. "Thank you, Gemma," he said.
"Is the storm almost over?" he asked as she started walking along the narrow passage guiding him around people's legs and chairs. When she didn't respond with a squeeze or a tapping of fingers on his hand, it dawned on him that she probably couldn't see his question.
"Yes, it's nearly over. I think we'll be headed back soon," said someone nearby.
"Thanks," Harry said as they passed; Gemma didn't pause, unaware of the side conversation.
As they walked through the crowded room, Harry was trying to guess how many people were in there—sixteen residents and how many people were nonresidents? Plus Healer Jordan, Mr. Burbage, and Lieutenant Holman—twenty or so? It was a pretty small space for so many people. Probably smaller than the living room at Privet Drive.
Ugh. Why did I think of that? Why not my dormitory in Gryffindor tower?
And the stone walls and four-poster beds with their velvet red and gold drapes rose in his memory, colored by how happy and safe he'd felt there.
Gemma had stopped and Harry could hear Tony talking to Healer Jordan nearby. Harry could feel Gemma signing and let go of her arm so that she'd have full use of her arms for talking.
"Harry, Gemma says you're looking for the toilet," Healer Jordan addressed him.
"Yes, is there one?"
"Yes, I was just telling Tony—it isn't very obvious in this room—I must have announced the location of it before your group reached the shelter. It is just past me, three yards straight ahead and then turn left and you'll find the door. Tony's using it now and it serves one person at a time. The storm is nearly over, and we'll go back to the ship as soon as I have set up the Egress. Everyone is really tired and there is too much debris from the storm to walk back safely. I'll have it set up so that we travel directly to the deck of the ship. I was just about to tell the group," Healer Jordan explained.
"What?! Why did we have to hike down the mountain and then climb up the gangplank if there was an easy way to get to the deck of the ship?"
The question burst out of Harry before he could stop it. He flinched, putting his hand over his mouth, and took a step back, expecting to be hit for his impudence.
"Oh, Harry," Healer Jordan's response was calming, though he could tell she was surprised. "You sound really angry."
He gulped in a breath and hung his head, embarrassed that he hadn't been able to control the outburst. "I'm sorry, Healer Jordan, I… " he started to say, but she interrupted him.
"There's no need to apologize. Can you tell me what's going on?" she asked.
"It's just that it was so hard to go down that mountainside and the gangplank was even worse… why would you do that when there was an easier way… I mean, Mei couldn't even do it and both Tony and I fell and got hurt."
Harry's anger was simmering as he remembered the injuries, both physical and to his pride. It was so humiliating to have to admit that he didn't want to go down the gangplank. Angry tears were pricking at his eyes and he blinked in an attempt to get rid of them.
"It's true, you and Tony chose the scenic and more challenging path. I thought you did that because you wanted the challenge. I didn't realize that you thought it was the only way to get to the deck. Didn't your staff give you the options?"
"There were other ways down? No, my staff didn't give me any options," Harry said, trying to tamp down his anger.
"Listen, Harry. I apologize. I think there are some big gaps in the information you've received from the Center. I had hoped that your guardians had gone over it with you… it's clear that wasn't the case. I'll schedule some time tomorrow for us to go over it in more detail and also give you a lesson on how to use your staff to its fullest." She touched his shoulder and he jumped in surprise.
"Sorry, I should have told you I was about to touch you," she said as she removed her hand. She did sound sorry.
"It's okay," Harry mumbled.
"I think I owe an apology to Tony as well. It seems he missed some key information, too. I'll talk to him when he's back."
"Thank you," Harry sighed.
"Yes, lunch will be ready for us when we get back," Healer Jordan said.
"Thanks, Healer Jordan," Harry said.
oO0OooO0OooO0OooO0Oo
Harry and Gemma were waiting for their turns to travel through the portal back to the deck of the HMS Eden that was anchored in Fernando Po. Healer Jordan had explained to the whole group that they had a similar portal on the deck of the sister ship anchored in Lac Blanc that would return them to the hallway outside the dining hall. Harry was really glad he didn't have to climb up or down the gangplank again or hike through the French Alps to get to the meal—though he was still peeved that he didn't have to go through that in the first place. He'd spent so much energy just getting to the beach to listen to Lieutenant Holman, that when he was actually there, he was almost too tired to really take in what he had to offer. He wondered if they'd get another chance to talk to the Lieutenant after they left the island.
He could hear Lieutenant Holman at the head of the line speaking to each person as they left the shelter.
Gemma took a step forward and Harry moved with her. He tapped her hand to get her attention.
"Did you know that there was more than one way to get to the ship when we started this afternoon?" he asked.
She tapped his hand twice, "Yes."
"Oh," he said, feeling irritated that he hadn't known.
She picked up his hand and drew a question mark on his palm.
"I didn't know that we had choices. It wasn't clear from the message that Healer Jordan had at the beginning of the trail," he said.
He could hear the refrain looping in his head—maybe there was a visual cue, but Tony missed it, too. What about Adam and Fitz? Did they think they had choices? Harry realized that most of the people got to the deck faster than they did. They must have chosen the alternate route. Why didn't he question it?
I did question it. On the deck—when I didn't want to go down the gangplank… why didn't Healer Jordan explain that I could get to shore without having to go down the gangplank?
His anger simmering, he couldn't help stamping his foot.
Maybe the rest of the day would be quiet and uneventful where he could learn how to use his staff properly and maybe get started on learning braille.
Harry could tell that they were nearly to the Egress as Tony and Aminah were talking to Lieutenant Holman, and there was just one other person between them. He wondered how Lieutenant Holman was speaking so personally to each person as if he knew them each and actually cared about them.
He was speaking to the woman in front of them. Lieutenant Holman was asking her about one of her children and she was quite emotional as she spoke. Harry felt uncomfortable overhearing it and tried not to pay attention.
Gemma stepped forward and now it was their turn to talk to Lieutenant Holman. Now, in the moment, Harry wished he had spent more of his time in line thinking about what he'd say to the Lieutenant.
"Miss Boot and Mr. Potter!" Lieutenant Holman exclaimed as he reached out and found them.
"Thank you, Miss Boot. I assure you that the pleasure was all mine. My, but if you and Mr. Potter don't put me in mind of my dear friend Mr. Colebrook! If there are folks who are tempted to ridicule you because of your curious friendship, please do not give them one ounce of attention. You know best what you need from friendship—who cares what the world thinks!" Lieutenant Holman clapped Harry on the shoulder. Harry yelped.
"Oh, so sorry, my man. I didn't mean to startle you. I could hear you shuffling your feet as you stood there," Lieutenant Holman said.
"Will we get to come study with you again, do you think?" Harry asked a bit more plaintively than he intended.
"I expect so, Mr. Potter! Let us not let time, distance, or even tropical storms keep us apart. I feel that I have a great deal to learn from you, young man."
Gemma touched the back of his hand with hers and Harry found the crook of her elbow. She stepped away from the Lieutenant and Harry followed.
"Good-bye, sir. Thank you!" Harry said as they moved away.
As they strode through the Egress this time, he did feel the small tug on his navel that Tony had described. A shiver went down his spine as he stepped onto the deck of the HMS Eden.