The next day Eragon began preparations for departure. He couldn't leave until the next day, for a storm was expected to hit about the same time he would be ready to leave. But he could still do some preparations, like getting the amount of food needed on the journey packed, and making sure that he had plenty of water. He wanted to reach the forest of Du Waldenvarden as fast as possible.

During lunch break, the Golden Trio helped Eragon get the saddlebags ready. While working, they talked about various things. One was how they were going to keep in touch, should anything happen on either end that would need to be reported.

"I have an owl. I could send her with a message," Harry said.

"It'd take too long. It'll take Saphira a couple days or more to get to the vast forests of Du Waldenvarden. Aren't there other ways to communicate?" Eragon asked.

"There are, but those are advanced spells. We're not ready for those yet," Hermione said. "It will have to be by owl. And Hedwig is faster than you think."

"That only solves the problem of you getting a message to me, though," Eragon pointed out. "I may be good at the magic of my world, but as the distance widens between starting point and destination, accuracy decreases. Besides that, there are spells around the castle that would prevent my message getting to you by those means."

"You could get an owl," Ron said, forgetting that Eragon had none of the currency of the wizarding world, let alone knew where to get an owl.

"Right, with what? The only money I have is what's left over from my journey to the Varden, and I don't think any of the shops here take gold crowns," Eragon said. "Besides, how would it know where to go?"

"Messenger owls always know where to go," Harry said. "I remember the summer before my first year here. No matter where we'd go, the owls always found us. My Muggle aunt and uncle were upset by that."

"I still don't have the right kind of money," Eragon said.

"I could loan you some," Harry said. "My parents had left me with a small fortune."

"I'd rather not. How could I pay you back?" Eragon said.

"You wouldn't have to," Harry said.

"No, I'm not going to take anything without a way to pay back what I owe," Eragon replied.

I say take him up on his offer, Saphira said. Eragon stared at her for a moment. It would help us keep in contact with them, was all she would say.

"Saphira says to take the offer. But, I'll pay you back, somehow," Eragon said. "Only problem is how am I going to get an owl, even if I do have the money? I don't know where to get one."

"You can probably wait for one. Until summer, when school lets out. I'm sure nothing too important will happen on your end that we can't find out by other means," Hermione said.

"What do you mean?" Eragon asked, momentarily confused.

"There are witches and wizards of our world who live where Alagaesia mixed in. They can send news to those here, and the news will be spread," Hermione explained.

"Oh, right. I forgot about that. I'll be living in some seclusion, so…. Anyway, I thank you all for your kindness. Not just for the owl, Harry, but for the lessons on your world as well. I'll be leaving first light tomorrow," Eragon said as they finished up packing.

"That early?" Ron asked. He liked Eragon, even though it had meant extra work to be around him. There was something about the Rider that was likable.

"Yes. I was going to leave today, but Saphira would have a hard time taking off when the storm hits," Eragon said. Saphira snorted audibly. Then she looked at the sky.

You better go inside, little one. Tell your friends the storm will hit very soon. I'll be fine, she said.

Looking at the sky, Eragon saw the thick clouds rolling in. "The storm will hit very soon. We'd better get inside," he said. "Saphira, you sure you'll be alright?"

Of course. Now go, the blue dragon replied.

The Golden Trio and Eragon hurried into the castle, and only seconds after Ron had set foot inside did the rains start. The wind howled through the open door, and they closed the door quickly.

"Tell Saphira thanks for telling us to get into the castle. She will be fine, won't she?" Ron asked.

"She said she will be. She'll probably weather the storm in the forest. Despite her reassurances that she could take the storm, I doubt she'll want the full effects on her for more than five minutes," Eragon replied.

They walked about the castle, it still being lunch break, until it was time for classes again. Eragon loitered around the ground floor. He spoke to Saphira through their mental link, and chuckled when he finally found out if she was in the forest, which she was.

When classes were finally let out, Eragon headed towards the dining hall. He wondered if Hagrid was going to eat in his hut tonight, due to the heavy storm. If the storm forced the dragon into the forest, Eragon doubted that the half-giant was going to do any better.

"Enjoying your stay, Rider?" a voice said behind him with scorn. Eragon spun around, to face Snape. This guy looks greasier than Sloan was a pig, Eragon thought to himself. He remembered that name bitterly.

"For the most part, I am. Except for one instance, it has been rather pleasant," Eragon replied, using courtesy as a weapon.

"What one instance? The one where your dragon threatened a promising student?" Snape asked, cold anger in his voice.

"No, I mean the sludge that got upended on her nose. Do you know how powerful dragon smell is? Much more powerful than any human's. More powerful than a dog's even. That student is lucky Saphira didn't exact revenge. She didn't threaten him. She merely explained what would happen to anything under her breath for a few minutes," Eragon explained, as politely as possible. With that, Eragon turned and walked away.

Dinner that night was pleasant, except that Snape kept glaring at Eragon. Eragon ignored the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. Eragon had heard the stories, of course. He hoped for Snape's sake that the position wasn't really cursed.

Eragon sat at the High Table, in pleasant conversation with Professor McGonagall. The Transfiguration professor was interesting. She explained some of the basics of Transfiguration to Eragon. Eragon related to his one experience using his magic to try to turn dirt into water.

"I'll never do that again, even though I'm much stronger now. Trying to change something using the same magic I use takes too much energy," Eragon said.

"Oh, our magic doesn't take any energy at all," McGonagall said. "But I'm sure you've been told that."

"Yes, I have. But it is interesting what you can do with your magic. Half the stuff you can do with your wands would kill me if I tried to do it using the Ancient Language," Eragon said. "I can do enough with magic, though."

Dinner ended, and Eragon checked with Saphira. The rain had stopped, as did the winds. He bid his dinner mates goodnight, and went to Hagrid's hut. He planned on resting as much as possible before the morning. He never really did sleep since his transformation, but he still needed rest.

Eragon got up right before dawn. He grabbed the saddlebags, and went out the front door of Hagrid's little hut. Saphira greeted him silently. Together they scanned the sky, and Eragon saddled Saphira. Eragon had left a note on Hagrid's table conveying thanks. All that was left was to leave.

Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried out of the castle to give the Rider one last farewell. Eragon waved to them as they ran up to him. Then the biggest surprise of all was that Dumbledore himself came out to wish Eragon safe flight.

"We'll miss you, Eragon. I know at least Hagrid will, if only because of Saphira," Dumbledore said.

"I know," Eragon replied. "I'll miss this place too. It grew on me."

"Eragon, be careful on your flight. If the Muggles see you—" Hermione started.

"I'm going for speed. I don't have time to try to find a route where Muggles won't see me. I'll be okay," Eragon said. "Besides, I just realized, I only know the general direction I need to go. I don't know exactly where the Du Waldenvarden is, anymore."

"That's one reason I came down this morning. I have contacts all over, and a map of the affected areas of the mix up was compiled at my request. Here, it's yours now," Dumbledore said.

"I don't know how I can repay your kindness. Thank you, everyone. Tell Hagrid that he was a good host," Eragon said. He then mounted his waiting dragon.

Eragon looked at the map. Go east and a tad south, Saphira, he said through their mental link. He would be heading straight towards his destination, no matter what lay below him.

Saphira took off, the wind from her wings buffeting the onlookers. Then, she was circling for altitude, and headed off towards the east. The Golden Trio and Dumbledore waved final farewell, then headed in for some breakfast.

Saphira flew fast and hard. Looking down below, she noticed that many humans were out and about, as well as many strange things that she'd never seen before. Nor had Eragon seen any of it. These must be the Muggles Hermione was warning about.

Wow. The non-magical folk here are strange. What are those things? Saphira wondered.

I wouldn't know. But it would be unwise to land and ask, don't you think? Besides, we don't have the time, Eragon replied.

You're right, was all Saphira would say to that.

Saphira flew high, into the clouds, and above the low-lying clouds. Hearing a strange noise, Eragon looked about. Ahead of them was a strange, flying device. It was made of metal, and it flew on the same level as Saphira. Saphira veered to slightly to the right, as it seemed the strange thing wasn't going to move off of its course. Looking left as it flew by, Eragon thought he saw the bewildered looks of children and adults through the windows of the flying machine.

That was odd, Saphira said. Eragon agreed. It would be interesting to see Oromis's reaction to the story. Well, the world was different now.

They pushed on, stopping only when it was full dark. Eragon ate some of the food he had packed, while Saphira hunted in the night. They would get a night's rest and then head further east. As soon as Saphira came back from hunting, Eragon curled up next to her warm scaly side, and closed his eyes. It was the same dreamless rest he's had ever since his transformation. He did sometimes miss having dreams.

Morning came, and Eragon checked the map again. They were in Alagaesia, or at least the mix of it and Europe. The spot they chose to land for the night was deserted plains. Eragon wondered vaguely what happened to all the displaced people of Europe. Then he thought he wouldn't rather know. The next few days were going to be very interesting in Alagaesia. Riots and revolts were bound to happen, and Eragon had learned enough about Muggles to know that they had more efficient ways of killing than using just a sword or even a bow. It would be interesting to see if the newly oppressed could withstand the magical power of Galbatorix. Eragon doubted it.

Eragon and Saphira flew all day long, only stopping once to take a half hour rest. Nothing of importance happened that day.

It was the next day that they finally reached the vast forestry of Du Waldenvarden. This part of Alagaesia, at least, was untouched by the mixing. They flew on over the vast forest.

They reached Osilon at dusk, and the elves, once they knew it was he, greeted him warmly. Eragon stayed the night, and after having breakfast, they flew off again. Messages were sent to Ellesmera that Eragon was on his way.

Once they reached the elves' Capitol, he was greeted by none other than the Queen, Islanzadi. Once formalities were done, Eragon took his leave, dropped his stuff off at the house that was assigned to him last time, and headed with Saphira to see his master, Oromis.

When they reached Oromis's home, they were greeted warmly by the Cripple Who Is Whole. Saphira dipped her head respectfully to both Oromis and his dragon, Glaedr. Eragon bowed to each in turn, as well.

"I was beginning to worry that you'd been captured, Eragon. When we received word that you were on your way here for further training, and never came, we thought the worst had happened," Oromis said.

"It's a long story that would best be told while we were both sitting, master," Eragon replied. "It will be hard to believe everything I have to say." They spoke in the Ancient Language. Eragon related everything that had happened to him since the last time he was there.

"This isn't good. The melding of the two worlds will only cause problems. Magic was hidden in that world? Sooner or later, the 'Muggles' as the wizarding folk called them, are going to realize that magic existed in their world too," Oromis said once Eragon was finished.

"I know. I told that to those who would listen. They want to keep hidden, as long as possible. I told them that it probably wouldn't be a good idea, but will they listen? No, not the most important people. Not the ones who will have to make the decision," Eragon said.

"It's a problem that will have to wait its turn," Oromis said.

"I was just thinking the same thing. The last thing we need is complete distrust of magic, especially by the larger population," Eragon said.

Oromis nodded. "Tomorrow we'll resume your training, Eragon. You haven't mentioned this to anyone yet? No? Good. Let us hope that Murtagh doesn't escape anytime soon," Oromis said.

Eragon then returned to the house that was assigned to him. He couldn't wait until his training resumed. Saphira couldn't wait either, they had so much left to learn.