So, this is the longest chapter I've posted so far. To explain some things, I have up to chapter fourteen (or maybe thirteen if I ultimately decide to merge one of the shorter ones with another), and am working on the fifteenth. So, right now updates are quick, but they will become a lot less frequent when we get to the point where I actually have to write the chapter before posting it. On the subject of length, they will get longer when the nations get to Hogwarts, I promise.
(Also, I just realised that I spent an hour making sure that the last chapter was grammatically correct and everything was spelled right, and then I go and use the wrong 'too/to/two' in the Author's Note...)
A meeting made for... champions...?
England spent his Monday morning getting ready for the meeting he had scheduled. It wasn't as though he was nervous, he just didn't know exactly how to... explain all this. How do you tell people that they need to go to a magic school full of witches and wizards and protect one Harry Potter, while also watching out for the infamous dark wizard Voldemort? That's not something you can just dump on someone, yet that's exactly what England planned to do.
His meeting was at three in the afternoon, and it was currently ten in the morning, so he had quite some time to collect his thoughts. First, offer up the mission, see who accepts. There ought to be a few out of the six he was meeting. Then, for those who accept there were the matters of making them look younger (which was really the least of his concerns, as that was a simple spell for someone with his magic power), the wands (he had considered telling Ollivander that their wands are Gregorovitch creations, and thus would not be appreciated in Hogwarts, or simply that their school did not want their wands to be taken with them to Hogwarts), the robes and school supplies (he could just say he needed new robes fitted, and they haven't yet gotten school things, which was true), and the cover story (he had ultimately settled on saying they same from a small magic school in Germany that accepts people from all over Middle Europe, which would explain Hungary, that was in repair).
He had thought about all of these, and yet still found flaws in his stories, or bits that could be changed to make more sense. He also had to take into account that he wasn't supposed to be interfering, so if he were to help them get their necessities he would need to remain hidden in case someone could recognize him.
By the time he finally felt ready, he looked at the clock and it was...
It was only noon.
He had three hours left.
He really hoped that planning all this would take longer.
Darn.
Now he had nothing to do. He had finished the book he was reading, there was nothing even remotely interesting in the newspapers, magical or not, and there was nothing interesting on the tele. He was bored.
Deciding against sitting around and whining (like America whenever he's bored) England dug out some of his old magic games, including his favourites, exploding snap and wizard's chess (though wizard's chess wasn't as fun with only one player). He set an alarm for two forty-five, and he slowly, meticulously, carefully, started building an exploding snap card castle.
When that alarm rang, however, he was in the middle of setting up the third tower on what was to be a magnificent castle, complete with kings and queens and knights from his wizard's chess board, and unfortunately, his startled jump was enough to set it all off.
Quickly dusting himself off and sweeping up the ashes, he double and triple checked that everything was in order and made some tea while he waited for his guests to arrive.
It didn't take long for Switzerland and Liechtenstein to get there, and it was no surprise to England that they were first, considering Switzerland's tendency for punctuality. Of course, not long after they sat down, the doorbell rang again and Germany and Prussia entered. Prussia fascinated himself with the magic games currently on England's desk as they waited for the final pair. They didn't have to wait terribly long, however, as Hungary and Austria showed up five minutes later.
One main benefit to calling the Germanics and Hungary was that they tended to be on time for things. Unlike certain nations that always arrived fifteen minutes late with a bag of McDonald's or Starbucks.
Once they were all seated in a semi circle around the island nation's living room desk (which he himself sat at), he situated them all with some tea, and got to the point.
"I know you have a lot of questions, and I'll answer them all shortly. However, what I'm going to tell you is very important. Before I say anything, I'm telling you that you can chose to decline my offer if you want.
"As I'm sure some of you know, I'm a very... magical nation. I can control my magic power into making spells and the like. This is mainly because of my large wizard population, which is being threatened by a powerful dark wizard known as Voldemort, who has recently risen to power again. Our only hope at stopping him for good is a young boy by the name of Harry Potter, who is currently enrolled as a fifth year in Hogwarts, my magic school." England heard Prussia snicker, and decided to do the gentlemanly thing and ignore him. "As I have been forbidden to interfere and many other countries are caught up at the moment, I need at least one of you to agree to go to Hogwarts as students and watch over Harry."
He let this sink in for a minute. They all sat, looking at each other for about five minutes, until Liechtenstein spoke up and said,
"I would like to help."
"I will help also."
It was, unsurprisingly, Switzerland that spoke after his sister, though he didn't look very approving. Then Hungary offered her help, then Prussia (claiming that he would be stupid to miss such as awesome opportunity), then Germany and finally, Austria (who looked a bit unsure but didn't seem to want to be left out).
England was taken by surprise that all of them had agreed, as he had only expected one or two to come along with his possibly insane proposal. Recovering quickly, he began to continue.
"As I said Harry is in his fifth year, and typically fifth year student are sixteen, now, save Liechtenstein, none of you look sixteen. So I need to fix that, it's just a small spell, nothing major, you won't feel anything. We'll do that now then, if you could just stand in a circle here."
He ushered everyone except Liechtenstein into a circle, grabbed an old book, and started chanting what sounded like gibberish. A thin fire grew around the group, and with a bright light, England's chanting stopped.
As the light dimmed, Liechtenstein and England looked on in amusement as the new sixteen year olds sat back down. Switzerland hardly changed at all, which Prussia found amusing. Germany and Prussia got much shorter, much thinner, and much more young looking. Hungary just looked a bit rounder face-wise and Austria lost some height, but they weren't changed much.
"Now then, now that that's done, Liechtenstein, you can sit back down, you will all need certain... uh... supplies, yes, supplies, to start the year off. We'll be going off to Diagon Alley to get you those things, meanwhile, I'll tell you your cover story, and I'll get the headmaster to officially accept you lot as students. If you've got someone you can ask to take care of nation business, I'd ask them, if not just hope nothing big happens. I do believe that's it."
And with that final sentence, the group finished their tea and went their separate ways (though really they went to a hotel not to far away). England sat down at his desk, and started writing to the famous, or infamous, headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.