"All right, all you young adults. Pack your stuff in and let's head out."
Melanie led the way through the parking lot and to her apple red convertible, popping open the trunk with her remote. Sylvarus, Ron, Harry, and Hermione gathered at the trunk.
"Um, how are we supposed to fit all of our things in there?" Hermione asked, eyeing a space that looked like it could only hold one and a half of their trunks--maybe.
"Hermione's right," Ron said, also eyeing the space. "That does not look big enough."
"Oh, sorry," Melanie said, walking back to join them. "I emptied out the back and forgot about the divider." She smiled apologetically and pulled up the floor of the car trunk, instantly doubling trunk space. She set the false base against the back wall. "There you go."
"Blimey," Ron said in awe. "That's bloody brilliant!"
"I'm sure glad Fred and George aren't around to see this," Harry said, loading his trunk in. "They'd want a few trunks or boxes like that."
"Like what?" Melanie asked innocently. "That's just a normal trunk. And I'll deny anything different." She smiled again. "Come on, finish up. We got a long drive."
Once everyone had climbed in--Ron in front, Harry, Sylvarus, and Hermione in the back--Melanie pulled out and started down the road. The kids chatted until they were out of town. "So, what happened this year at school? Anything interesting?" Melanie asked. Everything went deathly quiet.
"You didn't hear?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"Hear what?" Melanie glanced at her in her rear-view mirror. "I'm sorry. I don't keep up with what's happening in the wizarding world..."
"Voldemort's back," Sylvarus said, "and he's already attacked Harry and killed one of the students from Hufflepuff--Cedric Diggory..."
Melanie frowned. "He's back? That's not possible. He died almost fifteen years ago."
"Well, he's back now," Harry said firmly, his eyes narrowing. "And he's already killed."
"All right, Harry. I believe you. Sylvarus, did you tell your parents yet? Or your aunt and uncle?"
Sylvarus cleared his throat. "No...not yet..."
"Wouldn't they have heard through the post?" Ron asked.
"They probably don't get owl post," Hermione said, rolling her eyes. "Because Sylvarus' family is like that. Haven't you noticed?"
"Y-yeah..." Ron, sputtered, starting to blush lightly.
Melanie chuckled. "Well, either way, Sylvarus, you really need to tell your parents. And your uncle. Tell him before you tell your aunt."
"Why?" Harry asked. "What difference does it make?"
"A lot, Harry." Melanie glanced in her mirror at him. "A lot. She has a bad temper when it comes to this stuff. It's best to have Adair prepared for it."
"What do you mean, 'this stuff,'" Hermione asked, concerned.
"Cheating death and threatening family."
Melanie turned off the main road and down a dirt path through the trees. The path was nothing more than two ruts worn in to the grass by car tires. The trees grew wild and green, letting in streaks of sunlight and hiding a multitude of singing birds and scurrying squirrels. Once inside, the trees seemed to go on for forever. Without warning, the peaceful shade of the trees gave way to open ground and bright sunlight. In front of them, a small herd of deer froze for an instant before dashing out of the huge open field and back into the forest. Ron, Hermione, and Harry let out gasps and crowded against the windows to watch them. Suddenly, Hermione's gaze snapped away from the deer.
"What was that?!"
"What was what?" Harry asked, crawling across the back seat to look out her window.
"I saw it, too," Ron said in slight horror, eyes fixed on the lake in the distance.
"It was probably Acidicra," Sylvarus said, maneuvering to look out the window as well. The lake water rippled as a large black scaly tail disappeared into it. "Yeah. That's her. You'll want to stay away from the lake. Acidicra doesn't like people going near it."
"What is Acidicra, though?" Harry asked.
Melanie smiled. "Welcome to the Liadon estate."
Kay, so my Muse cut out on me on this one....Apparently I'm on my own, and with a hectic life right now, so I''l post whenever I figure out the next section. Please bear with me.
