B"SD

Neither Assassin's Creed, nor Harry Potter belong to me.

Chapter Eight

The rest of the day's journey was blessedly boring. Most of the occupants of the wagon bed fell asleep, leaning awkwardly over crates, or slouching in their seats. Rebecca fell asleep on Shaun's shoulder, causing the man to turn nearly purple in embarrassment, something which amused Desmond and Lucy to no end.

The sun gradually crept across the sky as the wagon and all its contents rattled on through the mountainous roads. Near sunset, Ezio directed the horses off the road. The wagon's rattling increased exponentially, waking most of the occupants.

"Wha-?" Ron asked blearily, looking up over the sideboard of the wagon. "What's going on?"

"It's getting dark," Ezio answered, "We need time to set up a camp." Ron grunted in response and slouched back down again. After a few hundred yards of bumpy road, the wagon came to a stop. At once, Ezio leaped down from the driver's seat, stretching and cracking his joints.

"Come," he said, clapping his hands together, "We need to get to work." Rebecca jumped down from the wagon in relief and set off to care for the horses. The rest of the group clambered down as more slowly.

Leonardo leaned over into one of the crates, digging around. With a cry of triumph, he pulled out what looked like a bundle of cloth.

"Wassat?" Lucy said around a yawn.

"It's a tent." The artist said, "It is similar to the kind the Eastern Bedouins use, but I have made a few adjustments in the design."

"Oh!" Hermione's cry rang out, startling them all. Ezio's hand flew to the sword on his back while Harry and Ron whipped out their wands, all of them looking around for the threat. Nothing was there.

"What is it?" Harry asked, turning back to the girl.

"The tent!" she said, completely oblivious to the reaction she had caused. "The tent!"

Harry frowned in confusion, then comprehension dawned. "What? You have it with you?" Hermione ignored him, instead rummaging in her robes and pulling out a small beaded purse.

"You had that the whole time?" Ron roared indignantly. "We've been packed into that ruddy wagon like sardines and you've had the bag the whole time?"

"I forgot about it didn't I?" Hermione said defensively. "There was quite a bit going on, if you hadn't noticed."

"Aren't you supposed to be the smart one around here?"

"Wait, what's up?" Lucy asked, confused, looking between the angry red-head and his girlfriend.

"This bag is enchanted to hold anything without losing space." Hermione said, her entire arm dug into the bag as she groped for the tent inside. Leonardo's face brightened in interest.

"Indeed?" he said, leaping forward. "Might I examine it?"

"No," Hermione said, burying her head in the bag, looking for the elusive tent. "Aha!" she said, popping her head back up, dragging a bundle of poles and red cloth out of the tiny bag.

"Please?" Leonardo reached uncontrollably for the bag. Hermione frowned and held it out of reach.

"No," she repeated, speaking as if she was talking to a toddler. Ezio clapped his hands to get everyone's attention before the artist could make another grab for the bag.

"Come on," he said, "It's getting dark and we're losing light. Unless you wizards are capable of producing light out of thin air," he added with a scornful laugh.

"You mean like this?" Harry asked, lighting his wand with a simple Lumos charm.

Ezio scowled. "Just get started, bastardo" he said, "I'm tired and-"

"Okay, okay," Harry smirked, but let the assassin toss a bundle his way and carried it over to where Shaun and Desmond were preparing the campground, wand light shining in the gathering darkness. Working quickly, the camp- which consisted of the two tents- was set up. Hermione managed to put together a meal in the magical tent's fully equipped kitchen. The rest of the evening was spent inside said tent, trying to explain all the modern amenities to a nearly apoplectic Leonardo.

As night fell, Lucy insisted that they should all get some sleep, cutting across Hermione's explanation of the icemaker. "We're going to want to start out early tomorrow." So, with Leonardo looking somewhat crestfallen, they divided up the nightshift watches and bedded down. Ezio and Desmond had volunteered almost at the same time. Ron raised an eyebrow.

"It's not that I have anything against you people," Ezio explained, holding his hands up defensively, "I just have better vision than you."

"What makes you say that?" Harry asked skeptically.

"No, he's referring to Eagle Vision," Desmond sighed, "we both have it."

"What is it?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Eagle Vision grants one the ability to see one's intentions," Ezio grumbled, "People who seek to do us harm will appear red, allies blue, targets gold, information white."

"The Eagle's eye is also not affected by night or daylight," Desmond elaborated, "So it makes sense for Ezio and I to go on watch."

"How come you have it, but Shaun, Rebecca and Lucy don't?" Hermione inquired further.

"It's something unique to my bloodline," Desmond muttered, "My ancestor Altair had it too."

"You know of Altair?" Ezio's eyes widened, his surprised face turning to his descendant.

"Well this sounds interesting," Ron yawned and flipped up the entrance to the tent, "I hope you don't mind if I just turn in for the night here…"

Harry and Hermione followed suit, and bade the two Assassins goodnight. Desmond and Ezio stayed out for quite a while discussing the Codex written by the great Master Assassin of whom they were both descendants.

While the tent had many rooms, sleeping space for nine people was still a bit squishy. Lucy tried to divide it appropriately, but there were still only three women and six men. That meant some of them would have to share space.

"Okay, there's no reason we can't be grown up about this." Lucy frowned at Ron's amused face as she brought the matter to Harry's attention.

"Of course, signora!" Ezio grinned, "If one of us has to sleep in the girl's room-"

"Stop that right now or YOU'RE sleeping outside!" Hermione flared, face flushed.

"It's his personality," Shaun gritted, "he can't help it. I'm just glad this is one trait Desmond DIDN'T inherit."

"Please, Shaun," Desmond drawled slyly from the tent's entrance, "You're just jealous because you've never gotten a girl in your life."

"Shut up!" Shaun snapped, whirling to the tent's flap angrily.

"So Shaun, Harry, Ron, and Leonardo will share one room-" Lucy attempted.

"No way!" Ron looked horrified, "I'm not sleeping in the same room with that nutter! Who knows what he does at night!"

Leonardo looked as though he had just lost a dear friend.

"You…don't like me?" The sandy-haired inventor whimpered, blue eyes brimming with tears.

"Well…er…" Ron stuttered, suddenly sorry for his outburst, "I…I didn't mean it like that…"

At that moment Ezio re-entered the tent from checking a few things outside and face palmed at Leo's expression.

"Come now, ragazzi," he sighed tiredly, "what have you done to poor Leonardo?"

"I haven't done anything to him," Ron mumbled, "he's just a bit sensitive is all."

"He doesn't like me." Leonardo said simply, giving Ezio his pest kicked-puppy looked.

"Oooohhh…" Rebecca cooed sweetly, "he looks like he needs a hug!"

"No hugging!" Ezio glared.

There was a decisive silence, interrupted only by Leonardo's slight whimperings.

"Okay fine…" Ron finally gave in, "he can sleep with us."

"Oh wonderful!" Leonardo clapped his hands, "does this mean I can study your futuristic sleeping clothes!"

As they climbed in Harry leaned in to Ron, whispering, "Do you think he did that on purpose?" Ron threw a suspicious look at the delighted artist, who had climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin.

"Wouldn't put it past him," he muttered darkly. Then he shrugged and yawned. "Night, Harry."

A/N: Italian Translation

Bastardo: Bastard

Ragazzo/Ragazzi: Kid/ Kids