Alexander and Hermione slept for 16 hours straight, their magic was exhausted and also changing to meld with the weapons that were still connected to them; neither Dobby nor Severus had been able to remove them. When they finally woke, the demigods were energised and ready to have a holiday they deserved. First thing they noticed was that they were unable to remove the sheathes, they weren't fused to their bodies but even when they showered, they wouldn't be removed, they simply vanished for enough time to wash before returning. It wasn't that the demigods minded, it was just something that they needed to get used to. All four were grateful that they seemed to be invisible whilst the weapons were sheathed, even in the magical districts that would have been deemed odd.
Whilst in Rome, the group visited the large shopping districts, both Muggle and Magical; Lex had been bombarded upon during their first visit into the major magical shopping area, Harry Potter truly was a worldwide celebrity. Things were better after they left Rome, stopping every couple hours or when they passed through a location that had potential potion ingredients or an interesting attraction. Monsters didn't bother them at all in their journeys, though they were sensed and the two demigods were purposefully steered from the various temples that were around.
From Italy they barely stopped in France on their way through to Spain. Once in Spain, potion ingredients were replaced by sampling the local cuisine and sinking deep into the rich culture, all thoughts of danger far from their minds. They watched the running with the bulls, and the bullfighting, even partaking in a steak from one of the bulls that fought valiantly; Hermione had found the entire event fascinating. None of the quartet wished to leave but knew that they had to return to the real world.
The day before Harry Potter's birthday, despite it not being his true one, the group was celebrating it as Alexander's birthday; Severus drove them all to Paris. They were only staying 2 nights, and the older wizard wanted it to be a great end of their holiday, so had booked two rooms at The Hotel Londres Eiffel; a hotel that gave them a view of the Eiffel Tower from their rooms. He had gotten Lex's permission to do so, and used the Harry Potter name to get two of the best rooms the hotel had; the owners were a well-off French wizard/witch couple.
When they arrived it was dark, and the hotel staff were all pleasant, not many knew what Lex was famous for, just that he was a celebrity who the owners personally entered into the system for their best rooms. Everyone was tired after a long day and fell asleep without looking much about their newest accommodations.
The next morning, Lex was woken as he had been every birthday since first meeting Mia, with her pouncing onto him, only this time she added in a loving kiss to her waking him up. When they pulled apart, the wizard sighed happily, "Good morning to you too."
"Always is when I'm with my best friend," the brunette replied, "Happy Harry Potter birthday Alexander."
The demigod groaned at the awful joke, as he had the previous year, "Mia, it's still my birthday in all but factuality, just like yours will always be September 19th. Hell, the calendars from when we were actually born were so different to the ones these days that it would be useless trying to work it all out. Now, what's for breakfast?"
"Dobby cooked," Hermione replied as she got comfortable, "But I don't think I want to get up."
"Oh yeah?" Lex happily began tickling his girlfriend's sides, making her squirm furiously.
They went on like that, though the tickling soon turned into caressing and screams were now kisses. Severus walked in on them, wondering why the screeches had gone quiet without Hermione needing to proclaim something at the top of her lungs, and cleared his throat loudly at the sight of the pair, "Care to explain?"
The two teens' faces went bright red at being caught, "Umm, I was saying 'Happy Birthday' to Lex?"
"Nuh-uh, come on, you're only 13 in body and in my care; be grateful because had it been Wade, you'd both be killed on the spot," Severus laughed lightly at their fear and embarrassment.
Lex got dressed hastily and raced out to see his usual breakfast awaiting him, as well as a couple gifts, "Thanks Dobby."
"Dobby has gotten gifts from Drs Granger, rest of gifts are waiting at Hogwarts to open," the elf explained as he dished out the rest of the food, "Dobby is heading to school today to get Mia and Lex's quarters ready."
"Thanks Dobby," the trio of humans chimed out between bites, smiles on their faces at the light red that crossed the house elf's face at the praise.
After breakfast, the house elf packed away everything that wasn't necessary to return to the school before heading off, and the trio left the hotel also, unsure of if they would be coming back that night or simply heading straight to Hogwarts. Their first stop was, of course, the Eiffel Tower, which was so close that they simply walked there.
When they arrived to the line, all three were surprised when they saw 4 large men standing off to one side, each wore a uniform of sorts. What surprised them wasn't their presence, military was usually around the tower, but on their uniforms were crossed wands and no one else around seemed to notice them.
"Severus, why are there wizards guarding just that one portion of the tower?" Mia asked softly.
"It must be the entrance to the Ministry for France, though I must say they don't exactly hide their presence do they?"
It seemed that they were spotted looking at the men, as one of them left ranks and head towards them in the line. His eyes were hard and took them all in, looking to see if they were a threat or just curious. When the steel black eyes drifted over Lex's forehead though, he seemed to slightly relax, only enough to be perceptible to those who were studying him just as hard as he was them.
When he was close enough, he spoke, his voice thick and deep but still in English, "Monsieur Potter, is there a problem?"
"No sir, my friends and I were just waiting to go up the tower and noticed you and your comrades there. We meant no trouble and apologise," Lex said politely.
"It is no problem but perhaps you would like to visit our Ministry as well. You shall have the chance to still appreciate our tower," the man explained.
Looking at his friends, Lex nodded to the man, "Very well sir. May I enquire as to you name though? My friends are Hermione Granger and Severus Snape."
The wizard nodded, "I have heard of you both also. My name is Pierre Benoit, an Auror for the French Ministry."
"Nice to meet you Mr Benoit," the demigods said while Severus nodded.
The trio followed the French Auror towards the other Aurors, who barely recognised their presence. Pierre pressed a badge against a rune on one of the tower's legs, revealing an elevator door that opened up. All four entered and the lift shuddered before dropping down quickly, startling Severus but exciting the teens.
When the doors opened, they revealed a busy atrium, like that at the British Ministry, only it seemed much more organised. Everyone was checked over, even Pierre and the other Aurors, with an instrument like a Muggle metal scanner. The teens were done together, and the scanners went haywire when they drift over where their weapons were, all Aurors in the area drawing wands, as well as a few other the others that weren't.
Mia and Lex were stock-still, knowing that if they were react the French would not hold back. Severus was forced to watch on in utter terror as this all happened, unable to do anything to assist his wards and friends. Hermione calmly spoke, "We will remove the items that caused the sounds but only in privacy. You may restrain us until then if you deem it necessary."
Pierre seemed to be higher in rank than the others and answered, "Very well; Dubois, Martin, Vincent, and Garcia, assist them into the nearest room."
3 women and another man grabbed an arm each of the teens, and all but carried them out of the atrium, into an empty room that looked as though it was a break room. Once they were inside, Severus stuck outside, the door was locked and warded, and 5 wands were pointed at the teens again. Alexander warned the quintet, "What we're about to remove are weapons but we will not use them, should we then do whatever you deem necessary force."
Pierre nodded curtly and motioned for them to get started. Lex reached back, grasping the handle of his labrys and drew it, placing it carefully on the bench. Mia did the same with her sais, drawing them from her waist, much slower than she was used to, and rest them beside the axe.
The 5 adults were amazed at what was drawn, they had truly only been expecting another wand or perhaps a pocketknife. The witch Dubois questioned, "What are you doing with these weapons?"
"They are gifts; we cannot and will not go into further details, for everyone's safety"
They could see that two of those present were visibly insulted by what they said and seemed to want to strike them, but Pierre was looking closely at the weapons, "You may keep them on your person."
"But sir…" Martin, the other man, started.
"Non," the Frenchman snapped, "Back to your posts."
The quartet left quickly, having just pissed their superior off enough, and Severus entered, gathering the teens into his hold, "Are you okay?"
"We're fine Severus, just a false alarm," Mia calmed the man's fears, sheathing her sais.
"Though I think that our Ministry could learn a thing or two from the French; not one bit hesitant about drawing on a child, and the use of those scanners to find weapons, ingenious."
"They pick up more than weapons," Pierre explained as he led them from the room, "They were created during the last war against, well, him, by a French Muggleborne witch. Seeing the many people over in the UK who were claiming being under the Imperius Curse, she set forth to find a way to disprove it once and for all. It was perfected 4 years ago and many western European Ministries use them, as do the United States and Oceania countries, but the UK has consistently refused to use them."
All the Brits muttered, "Dumbledore."
The man nodded, "As well as your Minister, Cornelius Fudge. He seems to believe anything that is whispered into his ear and paid for with blood money."
"Perhaps we should talk to Amelia when we get home," Lex suggested to his girlfriend before asking Pierre, "Mr Benoit, where are you taking us now?"
"To see the French Minister for Magic of course"