Thanks again to my hardworking beta Dragyn at SIYE, and to everyone who's reviewed. It's the only kind of pay we get, so keep them coming!

May 27, 1998
The Burrow

When Mrs. Weasley found out about Harry's new inheritance, she decided it was as good a reason as any to have an even better dinner than usual. Ever since the battle, Mrs. Weasley had taken it upon herself to feed Harry, Ron and Hermione with as much food as they could all eat - perhaps to make up for several months spent largely on a diet of mushrooms.

Inside, however, Harry was a bit conflicted about what others would call his good fortune. He never had much money at Privet Drive, and he hadn't touched his Gringotts vault beyond his own modest needs. Most of the mountain of galleons had lain there, untouched by any hands.

Just as importantly, Harry knew the Weasleys had never had much money. He would have been more than happy to give most of his gold to them, but he knew that would never work. Merlin knew they needed it more than he ever did. On the other hand, he thought, they would never turn down gold from one of their own, would they? And the only people that know the whole story are Hestia, George, and me. He'd tell Ron and Ginny eventually, but for now it would be a secret.

He was anxious to see the house he had inherited. He couldn't impose on the Weasleys forever, and while he had agreed to stay there until he could return to Hogwarts that was an arrangement that Harry didn't want to keep for very long. He owned Grimmauld Place as well, but he had no intention of living in there either. Maybe, now, there was a place that he could call a home of his very own.

Two days later, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all playing a game of Exploding Snap in the sitting room while waiting for Hestia to arrive. Like Hogwarts, Harry's new house was protected by powerful wards that meant one could not fly, Floo, or Apparate into it. Hestia could not remove the wards because only a Potter - either by blood or marriage - could modify them.

Because of this, she was picking them up in her own enchanted car - similar to the ones the Ministry itself had - and would drive them there herself. It would not be a long drive not just because of the enchantments the vehicle had, but because it wasn't too far from the Burrow. It would have been possible to fly to it from the Burrow, but the only broomstick in the Weasley family broomshed that would have survived the trip was Ron's Cleansweep Eleven.

Harry wondered what he would find inside. He had very little to remember his parents by, except for the photo album Hagrid had given him years ago and the letter and picture he had taken from Grimmauld Place. Would he find more of the same there, or would his parents have taken the items that meant the most to them to Godric's Hollow? Harry didn't know which outcome he wanted more.

Suddenly, Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen. "Hermione, it's Arthur. He's calling via Floo from the Ministry - I think it's about your parents, dear."

Hermione gave a sudden gasp and ran towards the open door, pulling Ron with her. Harry and Ginny followed the pair and soon they were all in front of the fireplace.

"Hermione," Mr. Weasley's head said, "we just got word from the Australian Ministry of Magic. It's best if we discuss this matter here in my office. I've sent word to have someone escort you from the atrium to my office. I think the rest of you," he added, turning to Harry, Ron and Ginny, "will all want to hear it as well."

"We'll be there as soon as possible, Mr. Weasley," Hermione replied, a little unsteadily. The head in the fireplace vanished with a pop.

"What about Hestia, though? Isn't she supposed to arrive soon?" Ginny asked.

"Don't worry about that, dears," Mrs. Weasley said, "I'll let her know once she gets here."

"I have a better idea," Harry said. He pulled out his wand and flicked it in the air; a silver stag shot out from it and sped out the open door.

Mrs. Weasley nodded in approval. "Alright, everyone, let's not keep Arthur waiting." One by one, they Flooed to the Ministry of Magic's atrium. The trio all noted with satisfaction that the hideous statue fromwhen they stole the locket from Umbridge was gone, although there was still nothing in its place.

They were soon in Mr. Weasley's office on the first floor of the Ministry. It was far more spacious than the old office Harry had been in years ago. Mr. Weasley had been examining one of the many rolls of parchment on his desk, but he stopped when he saw the group enter. Ginny, the last person to enter, shut the door behind her.

"Ah, yes. Hermione, we just got word from the Australian Minister of Magic. They've succeeded in finding your parents. They've established a successful dental practice in... Sydney, I think. The Ministry there is keeping an eye on them, just to make sure any Death Eaters or sympathizers don't harm them."

Hermione was visibly relieved. Mr. Weasley went on. "The Obliviators there say it would be best if you were there when their memories are restored. I consulted with ours, and they told me the same thing. You want to go to Australia as soon as possible, correct?"

"Of... of course," she said, nodding.

Mr. Weasley sighed. "I thought you would. There's just a small problem - I'm not sure when we can get you out of the country."

Hermione looked crestfallen, not understanding why that was the case.

"The international Portkeys are very problematic at the moment. It could take two weeks or more - and that's even with Kingsley clearing as much of the bureaucratic paperwork as he can."

"What if we don't go by magic, Mr. Weasley? What if we go by Muggle transport - you know, airplanes?" Harry asked.

Harry thought he saw a hint of satisfaction in Mr. Weasley's eyes at the mention of airplanes. "I've thought about it. However, neither Kingsley or I think it is a good idea. Harry, Voldemort and many of his supporters are dead, but that does not mean the risk has vanished.

"It's one thing to have you lot out in Diagon Alley, where if anyone tried to harm you they'd be hexed before they even got their wands out. If you're on a Muggle plane, you cannot perform magic, and there will be hundreds of people on board - any one of which could be Imperiused to do you harm. Let's not even mention the thousands of people at the airport. It would be too dangerous."

There was a solution somewhere out there, Harry knew. He didn't know what it was yet - and then it hit him. Not everyone flew with hundreds of people on the same plane, did they? He vaguely remembered something he'd seen back at Privet Drive - how millionaires flew about the world in their own private planes. He was one of those millionaires now, wasn't he?

"What about... private planes, I think, they call them? It'd be just the four of us and the two pilots. That would be safer, wouldn't it?"

This was a point that had been debated in the Burrow several times already. Everyone knew that eventually Hermione would have to make the trip to Australia, but who else was going had been an open question. Harry, Ron and Ginny all wanted to go, but Mrs. Weasley had taken some convincing before finally allowing Ginny to go. Only Mr. Weasley's assurance that they would be perfectly safe in Australia - under guard at all times by Aurors - had reassured her.

Hermione realized what Harry was thinking. "Harry, you can't do that, it'd cost too much-"

"It's the least I can do, Hermione," Harry replied. "What good is that money if all it does is sit in Gringotts or some Muggle bank? At least this way, it can do something useful."

"All, alright Harry," Hermione conceded.

Harry knew that she wasn't completely comfortable with the idea of him spending a pile of Galleons on her, but she could see the gesture for what it was, and would accept it.

Meanwhile, Mr. Weasley was clearly thinking it over. "Alright," he finally said after much contemplation. "I'll tell Kingsley. Harry, I suppose it'll be Hestia Jones who'll arrange all this?"

"Yes," Harry replied with a nod. "Could I borrow your fireplace to call her, Mr. Weasley?"

"Of course, Harry. Wait a moment, though." He pointed his wand at the fireplace, and a thin jet of emerald light shot from it and vanished into the mantelpiece. "There. The Floo Regulator should give you access now."

Harry walked over to the fireplace, tossed in the Floo Powder and soon felt the familiar, if never comfortable, sensation of his head traveling over the Floo network. Eventually, he ended up looking into the same waiting room he had been in a few days earlier.

"Lauren," he said to the welcome witch, "is Hestia there? Please tell her it's urgent."

"Of course," she replied, half-walking, half-running to the door. In under a minute Lauren had returned with Hestia right behind her.

"Harry," Hestia said, "I got your Patronus just before I left. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, yes it is, but we do need something arranged." Harry explained what he needed. "Of course, Harry. I'll send you an owl when everything is ready. With luck, it should be ready by tomorrow."

Harry pulled his head back and fell a little awkwardly as he returned to Mr. Weasley's office. I will never get the hang of the bloody thing, Harry thought glumly. Why don't they make a fireplace that you don't have to kneel into to make a Floo call? There's a thought.

Hestia was as good as Mrs. Weasley said, Harry thought after reading the letter that had been owled to the Burrow before breakfast the next day. The solicitor had arranged for a private jet to take the foursome from a smaller airport on the outskirts of London. They would leave early in the morning, but they would have to spend almost an entire day in the air before they could arrive in Sydney.

Once Hermione knew when they would leave, she began preparing with such fervor that Harry was half-tempted to spike her food with a good amount of Calming Draught. Fortunately, that proved unnecessary as Ron and Mrs. Weasley were able to settle her down by midday. After that, Harry and Ginny took over the preparations.

They didn't know how long they would be in Australia, so they were taking enough clothes to stay there for at least a week. This mostly consisted of jeans, shirts, and Mrs. Weasley's hand-knitted sweaters. They would also carry some things to entertain themselves on the long trip - two wizard chess sets, some books that would qualify as "light reading" by Hermione's standards, and some Exploding Snap cards. All this was going in Hermione's beaded bag and three rucksacks - one each for Harry, Ginny and Ron. The three rucksacks now also featured Undetectable Extension Charms that Harry, following instructions from Hermione, had placed on all of them.

Mrs. Weasley was also making them some "light snacks" for the trip - which, in this case, included plenty of treacle tart and trifle, among the other snacks. Harry had also sent for some Cauldron Cakes, Chocolate Frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans by owl order. They were taking enough food that in between what they were bringing and the food that was part of the airplane charter, Harry was sure even Ron would be completely stuffed.

No one anticipated any trouble on the trip, but they weren't taking any chances. Along with the clothes and food were items from the joke shop that had proven useful in the past year for purposes other than mischief. Beside the Skiving Snackboxes and the Decoy Detonators was the newest prototype product: Extendable Ears Pro. It was essentially a cordless version of the Extendable Ears that George, with help from Ron, had only managed to get working the previous week. It wasn't perfect yet, but it was close enough and went into the pile of things that they would bring.

The following day, they all lined up beside the fireplace to head off to the Leaky Cauldron, where Hestia would meet them. From there, she'd drive them in her enchanted Land Rover to the airport from which they would depart. Bags packed and wands discreetly tucked away into their jeans, they all received hugs from Mrs. Weasley.

"Take care of yourselves, dears," she said. Her husband had assured her that this would be perfectly safe, that once in Australia they would be under the full protection of their Auror Office. Still, like any mother in the world, she worried. It was what mothers did, and she would not be completely reassured until they were all back at the Burrow.

One by one, they all took some Floo Powder, walked into the fireplace, and soon found themselves at the Leaky Cauldron. Hestia was waiting for them at the bar, where she had been chatting with Tom the barkeep. She helped them all to their feet and they were soon out on Charing Cross Road. The green Land Rover was waiting for them, and they were all piled inside. Hestia was in the front beside the gruff-looking man doing the driving, with Harry, Hermione and Ginny in the middle and Ron in the very back with all of their bags.

It was a short drive from the Leaky Cauldron to the small airport they were leaving from, and they drove right into the hangar, where their plane was waiting for them.

"Blimey," Ron said as the car stopped beside the plane. "Muggles can make come up with the most amazing stuff, can they?"

Harry nodded in agreement. The business jet shone in the early morning light. It looked like it belonged up in the air, not sitting on the ground. Even Ron and Ginny, who had the most limited exposure to Muggle technology, could not help but be impressed.

They all got out of the SUV. The pilots were standing beside the small stairway leading up to the plane's doorway, and Hestia introduced them to the quartet.

"You're the ones we're flying off to Australia, eh?" the taller one said. "Bob Clarkson. I'll be your captain for the flight. This here's Frank Hammond, co-pilot. It's a long flight, and we need to make a stop in Tokyo to refuel so we're bringing along a relief pilot. Name's Tony May. He's off filing the paperwork for our trip. While Frank here gets everything ready, let me show where you'll be staying for just about a whole day."

They all went up the stairway and turned right. "This is the galley - our kitchen in the skies. No real cooking of course, just reheating. Still, we've got plenty of snacks if you get peckish. We'll need to have lunch somewhere in the air, of course, so whoever's not flying the plane will be more than happy to help."

"Mr. Clarkson, you don't have to do that-" Hermione replied, but Bob cut him off.

"It's no big deal, Ms. Granger. We've got a microwave oven on board, so it's not that hard. And please don't call me Mr. Clarkson - the only people who call me that are my superiors when they're telling me off. Anyway, let me show you the passenger cabin."

All six of them went onwards into the passenger cabin. What they saw amazed them in its luxury. Closest to the galley were four seats, a pair on each side facing each other with a table between each. Beyond that was a larger table for four, with a credenza on the other side of the cabin. At the very back were two large couches facing each other. It was all finished in the finest wood and leather that made even the plush Gryffindor common room look downright plain.

"These seats here, they fold out into beds if you want to. Here's how," Bob said as he demonstrated the proper procedure to convert the seats into beds and back, as well as how to use the provided seat belts. "Head's there in the back - just for you. The three of us have our own up front. Luggage goes in that door there, but I see you're all traveling light. Now, I suppose the four of you and Ms. Jones here have some unfinished business. I'll see with Frank up front when we can leave." He left the cabin, leaving the four with Hestia.

"A cousin of mine moved to Australia himself a while back, and he's in the legal profession too. I've owled her, and he'll arrange your flight back. Arthur sent your travel arrangements to the Australian Ministry, so they'll have people to welcome you in Sydney. Good luck to all of you. Travel safe."

"Thank you, Hestia, for everything," Harry said.

"It's my job, Harry. But you're welcome," Hestia said as she left the cabin.

"You know, I always thought Dad's fascination with all that Muggle rubbish was nonsense. But this... this is not rubbish. Wow," Ginny said as she dropped herself into one of the chairs.

"Beats an old Ford Anglia to fly around, doesn't it?" Ron said. "Still, a full day in here? And I thought the Hogwarts Express was a long trip."

Soon, a voice came out of the overhead speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We've been given clearance to depart for Tokyo. Please take a seat and fasten your seat belts."

They all settled themselves in the couches in the very back. Ron and Ginny were all staring out of the round windows, Hermione looked nervous, and Harry was, oddly enough, the calmest of the lot.

The Gulfstream jet slowly taxied out to the runway. Once it reached the end of the runway, it paused briefly before beginning its takeoff run down the runway. Soon, it was soaring into the sky, leaving the lights of London behind in its trail.

Back in the Burrow, two hands turned to "Traveling" on the Weasley family clock.