A.N. I've made some minor updates to Chapter 4 after a reviewer pointed some problems. They don't change the plot but they make the story a bit better, I hope.
5. Landing
June 19, 1998
With the excitement of the flight subsiding, Harry was finally able to think about what they intended to do. "How are we going to find your parents?" he asked.
Hermione thought a bit before she answered. "When I sent them to Australia, I also gave them an urge to move constantly. If they didn't stay anywhere for more than a few days it would make it harder for Death-Eaters to find them. I knew this would also make it very difficult for me to find them, once I wanted to, so I asked the Goblins to put tracking charms on their credit cards, under oath to never reveal their whereabouts to anybody but me. When we visited the bank I got their most recent locations based on both their use of the cards and the tracking charms. That parchment will update itself as they move. We shall have to check it regularly once we start searching for them."
"And how shall we move around?" he asked.
"I can drive and there are many flights within the continent, if the distance gets too long. We can also use apparition in some cases, but I'd rather use only muggle transportation."
"I can't drive," he noted sadly.
"You can learn. I'm not sure, but I think I've read that the Australian law is quite lax about driving licenses. We shall be able to check it after landing."
It was getting late. They were served dinner, which Harry found quite bland, despite the seeming luxury of first class.
"Is the food always that bad during flights?" he asked Hermione.
"Mostly. It has to be prepared at least a few hours before the flight, packed and stored in refrigerators, and then re-heated before being served. Not even the best tasting food can survive this process without losing some of its taste. This is actually the best meal I've had on flight, since we're flying first class, but this is still British cooking," she explained with a smile.
"How long do we still have to stay here? It looks like eternity!" he complained.
"We're only flying less than five hours, really, and the flight takes more than twenty. You can read something or watch a film," she pointed at the folded personal display screen, "or just try to sleep. These seats can be turned into very comfortable beds, I've read."
She was right. They stretched them into their reclining position, making them almost as flat as a bed and quite comfortable as well. The stewardess brought them pillows and blankets. They removed their shoes and lay down, holding hands. They were soon asleep.
Harry woke a few hours later, when a ray of sunlight hit his face. He turned around and found Hermione's smiling eyes looking at him. "Slept well?" she asked.
"Fine. How long do we still have?"
She pointed at the screen which was unfolded in front of her. "We shall land in Singapore in about two hours, according to the flight data display. We then have a few hours to tour the city before we need to board again for the other leg of this flight."
"I thought it was a direct flight," he complained.
"No, and it was clearly stated when we booked the flight. You weren't paying attention, I believe."
"Well, finding out that I'm married to the smartest and most beautiful witch alive is a bit distracting, you know."
She hit his arm playfully. "You don't need to flatter me, you know."
"It's not flattery; it's just the truth," Harry said with a bit of indignation,
Hermione smiled warmly at him. "You are so lovely! Don't ever change!" She added a fluttering kiss as emphasis, making Harry blush.
She then turned serious again. "Anyhow, we can take a shuttle to town and visit the magical quarter and be back again before boarding time. I've heard there are some very good healers there. We may just find one to repair your eyesight and rid you of your glasses altogether."
"Couldn't we do it back home?" Harry wondered.
"Haven't you noticed that many English wizards wear glasses? That healing is either unknown or unpracticed there, but most eastern wizards never wear glasses. Only muggles use them."
"Well, fine," he said.
They were served a light breakfast on board and then buckled up for the landing. Harry was looking excitedly through the window once again after they descended below the clouds. He enjoyed seeing a foreign land for the first time in his life and was fascinated by the views. He was also surprised when looking back and seeing the wing change in preparation for the landing.
Hermione waited patiently until they landed, knowing that Harry was fully absorbed in this new experience. She was even a bit amused at this.
Like all first-class transfer travelers, they could wait in the very elegant lobby for first-class passengers, yet most preferred to visit the city, as they had almost a full day before boarding the next flight. They reached the center of town about mid-morning and used the map Hermione had taken from the tourist bureau at the airport to find their way around. Not knowing where the magical quarter was, they just strolled around, hoping to find some tell-tale sign to help them.
Harry was actually the first to spot it. "Look at that shop!" he told Hermione excitedly.
It was a chemist shop and it looked quite normal at first glance, yet a sign pasted in the window, close to the door, stated, "We also supply healing potions by prescription. Apply inside to Chu-Li."
Hermione shrugged. This was not what she was really looking for, but it was a step forward. The sign, if visible by muggles, could be interpreted as innocent advertisement for prescription-brewed medicines, yet it could also indicate magical potions. It was worth a try.
The sales person they asked showed them to a side door, leading to what looked like a chemistry lab, where a mature Chinese man, wearing white lab-robes over normal clothes, greeted them.
"Welcome Lord Potter, Miss Granger," he said, bowing slightly.
"How do you know our names?" Harry inquired, a bit alarmed.
"You two are famous all over the magical world. Anybody who keeps current with the news should be able to recognize you," he answered, "although I must admit that I never thought I would have the honor of meeting you personally. What may I do for you?"
Harry relaxed a bit and Hermione answered. "We were just looking for the magical quarter when we spotted your sign. Can you direct us there?"
"There's no magical quarter as such in this city. Magical businesses are spread throughout, mingled with non-magical ones, or just being part of them, like this place. I may help you better if you tell me what you're looking for."
"We would like to treat Harry's eyes, so he won't need to wear glasses anymore. Can you recommend a healer for that?"
"There's a good eye-clinic a few blocks down the road. It also has a magical section where some of the best healers work. Just ask for the 'M' section."
Hermione gave him her map and he marked the exact address. He then glance at Harry again. "Don't you like to remove that scar?" he asked.
"It is a curse scar that could not be removed before," Harry told him.
"Well, that may have been true, but now the curse is gone and there should be no problem in making your scar fade and become almost invisible, if you want it."
"Do you have any suggestion?" Hermione asked.
He smiled at her. "I have a special ointment that can remove scars with just a few applications. It uses some very rare ingredients, making it quite expensive. Then there are cheaper ones which can be almost as effective. They need many more applications for longer time and there may be a residual sign, but the difference, once you finish the treatment, would be hard to detect."
"Will any of them remove this scar?" Hermione lifted her sleeve to show the scar Belatrix had given her.
The man blanched at the sight. "This must have hurt terribly," he noted while his admiration for the young lady mounted higher. "I would recommend the more expensive one. It would rid you of this in only five applications, just as it would do for your friend's scar."
"We'll take it," Harry said. "How much does it cost?"
"I would have given it as a gift of appreciation for your deeds, but unfortunately, I can't afford it. I'll give you the highest discount possible though..."
Harry just waved the apology away. He paid for two tubes of ointment and got them along with the instructions for a sum which he didn't even need to think about. 'Their concept of prices is quite different than the British,' he thought.
They also signed the guest book as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger-Potter, which made the man gasp.
It only took a few more minutes to reach the eye clinic. It was divided into several sections, each concerned with different problems of the eye, except for section A and section M, which were general.
There was nobody waiting in queue at section M, yet the receptionist told them they needed an appointment and she had no vacancy for the day.
"Just tell the healer that Chu-Li sent us here and the name is Harry Potter," Hermione insisted.
The receptionist, who was clearly a muggle, didn't recognize his name, yet Chu-Li was a familiar name to her. She used the intercom to inform the healer of the unscheduled visitor. She listened to the answer and then turned back to them. "The healer will see you in about ten minutes, once he finishes with his current patient."
It took a bit longer, though, before the healer's door opened and an elderly woman came out, heavily leaning on her cane. The healer was standing at the door, keeping it open for the lady and then beckoning Harry in.
"It's a great honor to see you here, Lord and Lady Potter. How can I help you?"
They were both surprised at the greeting. "Why do you call me Lady Potter?" Hermione asked.
"Have I trespassed your privacy? If so, I'm sorry. It's just natural to assume you're a couple when one sees so well matched auras," the healer explained.
"It's not official yet, but we are married," Harry confirmed, "and my dear wife suggested we check for the possibility of correcting my eyesight and rid me of these glasses."
The healer was back into his professional mode. He checked Harry thoroughly, using both regular instruments and magical ones before feeding his finds into a computer and examining the results.
"You can have your eyes corrected. It is a costly matter, though and you would need to spend a few days here. Can you afford it?"
"Money should pose no problem, but it's just by chance that we're here, as we have a long stopover in our flight. We may have the time on our way back, though," Harry said.
"When do you plan your flight back?"
Harry looked at Hermione questioningly. "We don't know yet," she told the healer. "How can we contact you once we know our schedule?"
The man gave her his business card. "You may phone here. My secretary would answer whenever I can't get the call, and we have an answering machine for calls out of working hours, so you may leave a message. You can also fax your message in or send an e-mail, if you have internet access wherever you intend to go."
"One of these ways will do. Can you tell us some more about the treatment you propose?"
"It has a similar effect to muggle Laser surgery, although done by magic. It changes the eye cavity, the lens or both to make the patient's eye focus correctly. It also requires some additional checkups during the week after the treatment, to make sure the body responds as expected. We rarely have to do any corrections, yet quite often there is a need for potions to help the body adjust."
Hermione nodded her understanding. "You also mentioned matching auras. Can you teach me how to see them?"
The healer smiled. "I was expecting this question since I mentioned your auras. Unfortunately, this is not something one can learn. It is an ability one can acquire through experience and attentive watching, and it is an in-born ability in some rare cases. There's a spell, though, which can make auras visible for a short while and can be used by all magical folks."
"Can you teach us?" she asked eagerly, making both males smile.
"It's a simple charm, really. You say 'Revellio Aura Personale' while drawing a circle with your wand, like this." He demonstrated, making Harry glow with a visible aura of fluctuating red and gold with some green and blue bands. Hermione couldn't see it, but the aura seemed to flare in her direction, as if attracted to her. It faded back to normal after a few seconds.
Hermione tried it immediately on herself. Her glow had more red in it and the blue bands were a bit more prominent. She now noticed that her aura flared in Harry's direction.
"There's a book about auras and their interpretation. I believe that you can still find a copy in the bookshop across the road, the one with the dragon over its door," the healer added.
They returned to the airport just in time, carrying the suggested book as well as some more souvenirs from their short visit. It was another long flight. They were served dinner shortly after take-off and then Hermione suggested they try to sleep, as landing was due early in the morning, making it difficult to rest soon after landing.
Sydney welcomed them with colder weather than they expected, yet Hermione was quick to point that "It's mid- winter here now. We should have expected it, actually. I'm sorry I just missed this fact."
It proved not to be a problem, really. The airport halls were quite comfortable and they passed passport control and customs in no time. A taxi took them to the hotel Hermione had booked in advance.
It was a small luxury hotel "fit for Lord Potter," as Hermione put it. Their room, more appropriately called their apartment, had a large living room, where ten people could sit comfortably and watch the large screen TV or listen to music on the state-of-the-art music system. It was decorated with original paintings and sculptures. It also included a small, well equipped bar and even a small kitchenette. The bedroom had one king-size bed with ample room around it. A make-up table, a dresser and a writing desk were present as well. A large bathroom, larger than the Dursley's living room, connected to the bedroom. This was Hermione's first destination.
"We need to refresh after such a long flight," she told Harry while removing her clothes and walking into the bathroom. Harry followed willingly. They soaked in the bath and let their bodies relax and get re-aquainted with each other. They didn't stay so relaxed once out of bath. Hermione wasn't patient enough for using towels. With a flick of her wand she dried them both and then dragged Harry to the bed. "Let's make love!" she demanded.
Several orgasms later, they showered together. It wasn't midday yet, so Hermione decided it was time for some additional shopping. A taxi took them to a posh shopping area, where they bought some clothes appropriate for the weather and some more traveling clothes. They also found a driving instructor there and Harry got his first driving lesson soon after.
Another taxi ride brought them near the magical quarter. Hermione made sure to get its address while in Singapore, not wanting to search blindly again. The entrance to that quarter was simply a charmed gate. It looked like a plain wall to muggles but a wide open gate to magical folks. The Gringotts branch, their first destination, looked very similar to the London main office, just on a smaller scale.
"Lord Potter, Lady Potter, we were expecting you," they were greeted as soon as they entered. The goblin who greeted them took them immediately to a side office, where the branch's manager was sitting at the desk. He rose as soon as he identified them, greeted them officially and invited them to sit. He only sat back after they were seated.
"Is there anything Gringotts can do for you?" he asked them.
"I believe we may have some messages sent to us through you," Hermione replied.
"Indeed, there are," the goblin said, reaching into his drawer and taking out two envelopes. "This one is for you, Lady Potter, and this is for the Lord." He handed them the envelopes.
Harry found a letter from Arthur in his envelope.
"Dear Harry,
My resignation was accepted with no surprise, especially since the news about my ex-wife and her youngest children spread out. Everybody wished me good luck in my new job and some suggested I would now have much more influence than I could ever have in my old job.
I contacted Amos Diggory for the position you offered, but he isn't interested right now. His family has suffered great losses during the war and he is intent on rebuilding the family before he tackles any other job.
Percy was also reluctant at first, unsure about his ability to represent you correctly, especially since he hadn't been on best terms with you before the last battle. He then reconsidered and decided it was a way to help repair our society, the way you probably want it to be. He now needs your official letter, assigning him as your representative, just like the one you gave me. He was quite pleased to hear about the alliance between our houses and feels that the job you offered can help cement this alliance.
The nearest Wizengamot meeting will be next week, when all members will have to swear an oath to serve the magical populace to the best of their abilities and then new members will be sworn in as well. I believe there will be quite many, as many houses had lost their heads during the last year and some of the old members were disgraced during the war and replaced by other, worthier, new members.
It looks like the goblins have suggested to the interim minister to start using muggle technology (see, I finally mastered this word) in our society, pointing to the intensive use of it in their business. I believe you two will be very good at making this trend catch, while Percy and I may also benefit.
George is sending his best wishes as well.
Regards, Arthur."
Hermione was busy with her own letter by now. Her envelope included a detailed map of Australia with explanations of how to make the tracking charms of her parents' cards show their location on the map, and how to transfer the charm to other maps as needed.
She also found a small box there with the official Lady Potter ring. "We suggest you ask your husband for permission to wear it, yet we strongly recommend him to do so, as this ring gives its rightful wearer a boost of magical powers and very elaborate protection. We actually believe it was placed in Harry's crib during that fateful night, saving his life, as the ring returned to the vault, along with Lord Potter's ring, only the next morning, after the confirmation that both his parents were dead."
By this time, Harry was already reading it along with her. Without a word, he took the ring and slid it on her finger. The ring flashed once before adjusting in size to the finger. It was a very elegant ring, sporting three large diamonds and one ruby, surrounded by many smaller diamonds.
"This may attract some attention," she noted.
"I believe you may both make your rings invisible. You just have to direct your thought at them and wish them either visible or invisible. It works this way with most family rings," the goblin advised.
Hermione tried it. Her ring faded from view, yet she could still feel it. She wished it visible, and it reappeared in its full glory. Harry tried with his ring, getting similar results.
"I believe we should keep these invisible until we have our official wedding," she said, Harry just nodded as both rings faded again.
"Is there any way we can keep in touch while on the road?" Harry asked.
"We have some additional branches in the largest cities, but that may not be enough, I guess" The goblin thought for a moment. "Well, I think I have what you need." He took a parchment from his drawer. It was empty, except for the Gringotts emblem at the top. He waved his hands over it, making no visible change.
"This parchment can now be used for communication. Anything you write on it will appear on its twin on my desk and vice-verse. I'll inform you of any mail you receive. You may then use this parchment as a portkey by tapping the emblem twice with your wand. It will take you here at once and will take you back to wherever you were before when used again."
Once they finished their business at the bank, they visited a wand store to buy vanishing wand holsters. These could be worn on the wrist to keep the wands handy and could be made invisible to anybody but the wearer, making them useful for carrying the wands in muggle areas.
They then toured the city a bit. Hermione already knew where the most interesting attractions were and Harry would have enjoyed the tour anyhow, just being with Hermione, free of cares. They finished their tour by having dinner near the most famous tourist attraction – the Sydney opera house and the nearby bridge.
By the time they reached their hotel they were both quite groggy, so they only had one quick shag before falling asleep.
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