August 30, 2009
After a whirlwind of an emotional week, Harriette and Naos finally faced their last hours at Ilvermorny and in America. Today would still be quite emotional for both of them. Naos grew up at this castle. It was all he knew and saying goodbye was going to be hard on them both. Still, her bedside clock faithfully chimed at six thirty that morning and Harriette woke from her cottage bed for the last time.
She decided to let Naos sleep a little while longer. After all, their appointment with the Floo Network Migration Administration wasn't until that evening. He didn't have many belongings to pack and she wanted to take in her surroundings by herself while it was still quiet.
Harriette tiptoed from their sleeping area to the front door. She opened it as quietly as she could, but the groaning hinges betrayed her. She paused to listen for Naos, worried she disturbed his sleep. When she didn't hear him she tried opening it slower, as if it would muffle the obnoxious criiiiiiick. It did not. She finally gave up on opening the door quietly and walked out of the house and onto the rickety porch. The floorboards creaked just as loudly as the door. She sighed, shaking her head in defeat.
She sat on an old, dusty rocking chair and looked to the clearing between the mountain peaks just as a beautiful, pink hue started to form signaling the start of the day. It had been quite a few years since she watched a sunrise. She used to get up every morning before her alarm to do this very thing but before long she found herself more and more tired as the years went on. Ten years ago she had the energy a twenty year old should. Now that she was nearly thirty, it was harder to do that. Especially with the shift she had as an Ilvermorny mediwitch.
The atmosphere of the early morning was so peaceful compared to the rest of any given day. The slight chill in the air was like breathing in life, and hearing the birds chirp was like listening to a symphony orchestra. All the different birds singing combined created a wonderful harmonic melody and it always brought Harriette a sense of peace. She was definitely going to miss this little cottage.
Harriette and Naos spent the morning packing. It wouldn't have taken so long, however, they both found a way to stall while putting each item into their trunks. It was especially difficult to shut her books away. She was ever so proud of her miniature library. Perhaps one day she would have a grand one of her own. She noticed Naos had a hard time with his trinkets and toys, particularly a wooden flute that was hand carved from a red spruce tree by one of the Puckwudgies at the castle.
She remembered the day he received it. Barely a year old and stumbling, he had fallen near the treeline of the forest. A beautiful tune had caught his attention and he made his way toward the sound. Harriette not far behind watched closely, but didn't interfere. She believed in being there for him, but only if he needed and wanted her help. She wanted him to learn a sense of independence but never to be without help if he asked. The small boy picked himself back up and shakily walked toward the Pukwudgie who sat on a tree stump playing a flute. Naos had reached for the creature's instrument and Harriette held her breath but still didn't intervene. The magical beast withdrew his flute but stared at the babe curiously. After a moment's pause he smiled at Naos. She watched the Puckie, as her son called them, break off a limb growing from the stump. He pulled out his knife and whittled away at the stick. Within minutes the creature fashioned a small flute from the wood and handed it to Naos. He has kept it in almost perfect condition ever since.
They begrudgingly packed away the rest of their items. At just after two in the afternoon, she couldn't believe they were saying goodbye to their rickety, old home. They stood in silence side by side with one hand on their trunks, and the other around each other. King hooted softly in his cage, and Krishna purred in her crate. Harriette had a feeling that they could sense what was happening. After a moment they turned and left the cottage to go say goodbye to the people they loved at the castle. As Harriette shut the door, silent tears rolled down her face.
Up at the castle Harriette and Naos said goodbye to many people. Most were impersonal farewells but a few ended with big hugs and many tears. Naos even stopped to say goodbye to every Pukwudgie they came across. Most nodded with respect, but one Pukwudgie tousled her son's unruly hair. Harriette had a feeling it was the same one that gave him his flute so long ago. She smiled at him in kind.
They decided to walk to the castle courtyard where a magnificent Snakewood tree stood. This tree had a long history with the school. It was rumored to have grown from Salazar Slytherin's wand and it produced leaves that contained magical healing properties. One leaf could be used to create a hundred bottles of the potion Essence of Sanitatem. Harriette found herself studying her magical journals under this tree many times. She was sad to never see it again.
They continued on their trek through the castle. They said goodbye to the castle steward, and even the Deputy Headmistress managed an unexpected nod in her direction. Harriette hugged the librarian and Naos high-fived the groundskeeper and they made their way to the infirmary. They saved the best for last. Or was it the worst?
Harriette knew she was going to be heartbroken today, but as she walked through the doors of the medical wing, her heart completely shattered and she began to cry again. Marta Christine Prewitt immediately scooped her into a big hug. One that rivaled Molly Weasely's. Maybe that is why she was so fond of the stout woman. She cared for her in such a maternal way. They stood there crying in each other's arms for such a long moment that they forgot Naos was there until he cleared his throat. Marta released her and she grabbed Naos, pulling him close to her bosom. The woman began to cry again. She only released the embarrassed boy to blow her nose into her apron.
"We will miss you too, Marta. Thank you for everything."
"Oh, do not worry your pretty little head about it. Promise you will write often?"
"I promise." Harriette hugged her longtime friend once more before she and Naos left for the Headmaster's office. Professor Fontaine had agreed to let them use his fireplace to travel to the Floo Network Migration Administration. Their goodbye was short and curt but not one bit unemotional. The elderly man had always held a compassionate air about him just as Dumbledore did, but while she only ever briefly spoke to the man, he still had that grandfatherly personality.
The Albany F.N.M.A. wasn't as big as Harriette remembered. The last time she was there, she had just arrived in the United States of America and was transported from the South Hampton International Wizarding Transportation Center. Now she was here to fill out paperwork to go back to Europe. The Magical Transportation Clerk assigned to her case was rather chatty. As she shuffled through stacks of paper on her cluttered desk, she kept droning on about how she would love to visit London one day. After what seemed like forever, Harriette and Naos finally had their exit paperwork filled out, signed and stamped as well as their paperwork to become official citizens of the U.K.
"If you will just follow me to the bus station you will be on your way to the WizTrans Center, that's what we call the Wizarding Transportation Center. You know I heard that there was a cute tourist shop in Diagon Alley, something like Wheezing Wizards or something." Harriette smiled. She couldn't believe Fred and George were still running their joke shop. Maybe she would take Naos. "Alright, this bus will take you to your next destination. You go in, take a number and when you are called, show your tickets to the Floo Clerk and you will be on your way to London. If you want my advice, hold your breath. I hear that powder is awful if it gets in your lungs. You'll be spitting fire for a month! Okay, take care!"
Much like the Knight Bus, the charter that took them from Albany to South Hampton whizzed by the no-mag traffic but instead of beds, it looked quite like a normal bus. Naos pointed out the different landmarks and cool buildings as they zipped past. He had never been away from Ilvermorny so she could understand his excitement at seemingly mundane she was honest with herself, she was quite jubilant to see them too. After all, it had been ten years since she was in a bustling city.
They finally arrived at the South Hampton International Wizarding Center. The bus driver bid them farewell and in a blink of an eye they were gone. Harriette grabbed Naos' hand and together they stepped into the giant window-paned structure. Invisible to the no-mag eye, the main part of the commercial domicile stood almost as tall as a skyscraper. Two shorter buildings connected on either side of it. A handsome greeter directed them to the ticket counter and they stood in a relatively short line awaiting the announcement of their number. The pristine walls haven't changed from the first time Harriette stepped through the fireplace. They were almost clinical white. Marble tiles spread across the floor, shimmering from their fresh polish. Matching pillars towered over the busy patrons throughout the space. The travel center was definitely breathtaking. She could tell Naos agreed by his soft exclamations of "wow."
Every sixty seconds a number was called and each time everyone in the waiting line shuffled forward in unison. Seven people waited in front of them, and with every person leaving the line, another joined behind them. Six people left. It felt as if the air was being sucked from her home after being gone for so long was nerve-wracking. She couldn't help but hold Naos a little too tightly. Five people left. Four people… three… two…
Finally their number was called. She took Naos' hand and they stepped up to the counter. She handed over their passports, migration papers, and tickets. The sullen clerk barely looked at the items before he stamped them and handed them back.
"Follow the guide to your left and he will help you with the Floo." He said robotically while chewing gum. They nervously trailed behind the man to the left of the counter. She watched his black dress robes billow ever so slightly with each step he took. It only took a handful of steps to get to the large granite fireplace. The guide summoned an ornate urn from nowhere and held it out to her. She grabbed a handful of the powdered coal and they stepped into the sootless hearth.
"Just throw the floo powder down and say your destination clearly and earnestly, ma'am." Naos gripped her hand tightly and with one last shaky breath she tossed the powder down.
"London!" Emerald flames encased them and with a tugging sensation they were thrown into the abyss. Goodbye, America.
A/N: okayyyyyy so I was going to wait a few more days to post this chapter but I just finished the next chapter after this and I didn't want my dormant chapters to keep piling up. Plus, they need to be enjoyed by someone other than me! Like I mentioned before, I have another chapter already written and several more outlined and waiting to be written so I have quite a few more chapters coming your way! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think!
Thank you cares 1970 for your wonderful review! I promise all of your questioned WILL be answered eventually. ;)