So, another chapter….
Someone suggested that I list my stories under crossovers. I'm not going to do that, mainly because to many people will then skip over a story because they a) Haven't read the crossover, therefore believe they won't know what's going on. b) Feel like they have missed something or c) not like the crossover story, and because of that they will not give my story a chance.
As for the short chapters…. I put out my stories every other week. If they were longer I would take more time. I am not a prolific writer and am working on problems in my writing at the same time. This is the schedule and length goal I felt I could make on a bi-weekly basis.
I love hearing theories on what people think will happen, and hearing from people in general. If you have questions please feel free to ask, I will answer them if they do not relate to future plot.
Once again, I own nothing!
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Chapter 30
Minerva glanced at Hagrid then back to their guest, it took several moments for him to regain his composure. "He-he! I'm sorry… I like your school motto…" he chuckled, again. "A… useful warning…"
McGonagall's eyebrows rose. "Indeed." She fell in step with him as they continued.
Chinthliss cleared his throat. "Yes… well… First things first," he said reaching into his jacket and pulling out a stack of letters. "I find myself playing postman as well as headmaster on this trip. Would it be possible for me to meet with...' he read each name in turn. "Susan Bones, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, and… Fleur Delacour? For a few moments? I find myself in possession of letters for each, and I must admit I am a little curious about the recipients as well," he said with a wide smile.
Minerva nodded, "I do not see that as a problem, I will send word to Madam Maxime about your request to speak with Miss Delacour as she is a student from Beauxbatons. You may use my office, this way please."
They walked in silence for a time. "You have seen Mr. Potter then?" she asked.
"A few days ago. I was invited to attend a small celebration at his employer's, Mr. Silverhair," he said. "I believe it was to celebrate the end of a successful season."
Minerva looked pensive a moment. "I do believe I heard him say something about that, but I am afraid that I do not understand the sport he plays," she said as they entered her small office. "Please have a seat, Hagrid should have easily found everyone in the Great Hall so they should be here momentarily."
He smiled and chose a chair, but waited for her to sit behind the desk before he sat. "Unfortunately I know little of SERRA Racing myself, but evidently young Harry is exceptionally talented. He was the youngest driver to receive his SERRA Unlimited license by over a year, and he almost won the championship in this, only his second year."
Minerva quirked an eyebrow. "License? How many teams compete in this SERRA?"
"From what I understand, it varies slightly week to week depending on the track, but most weeks it is at least thirty teams." Her eyes widened. "You are able to win points toward the championship each week depending on how you finish."
A knock came from the door, McGonagall answered automatically. "Yes?"
The door swung open, and three girls walked in. As they did Chinthliss stood and McGonagall spoke. "Ladies, this is Headmaster Chinthliss, of Stanfield Primary, the school Mr. Potter will be representing." She gestured to the man across the desk from her.
He looked at each of them in turn. The first had a mane of dark hair, wild curls spilled untamed down her shoulders, and her deep brown eyes sparked with a fierce intelligence.
The second was slight with light blond hair done up in a loose bun, her wand sat behind her left ear, but it was her eyes he noticed the most; deep pools of silver, that gave her a surreal almost ethereal quality. They somehow seemed to bore into him as if trying to figure out some puzzle.
The last he identified by the strawberry blond locks, and a large genuine smile.
He smiled, "Good morning Ladies." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a stack of letters. "Harry sends his greetings. You must be Hermione," he said handing her a pair of envelopes and shaking her hand.
Moving to his right, he continued, "and you must be Luna," as he held out her letters, but she didn't move till Hermione elbowed her into motion a few moments later.
Finishing up he moved on to the last. "And finally we have Ms. Bones, Susan correct?" he asked.
"Yes sir," she replied taking her letter.
He smiled again as he stepped back toward his chair. "Now I'm sure that you are chomping at the bit to read those but before you go I will be in the castle till after your noon meal, if you wish to send a reply or talk to me about anything," - he looked at Hermione, "please feel free. Now off you lot go!"
Just outside Hermione almost ran over someone as she opened her first letter. "Fleur!" she said in surprise as she looked up. "I'm sorry!"
The blond smiled, "Not at all, why such a rush?"
The red head answered. "Letters! From Harry!"
Hermione had one of hers open and was reading it quickly. She suddenly grabbed Luna's hand and started dragging her down the hall pulling the stunned girl behind her. "We've got to go! Sorry to run off Susan! Sorry again Fleur!" she said as they turned down a hallway."
"What do you think that was about?" asked Susan.
Fleur shrugged, then knocked on the door. "I have no idea."
She entered after hearing a reply, leaving Susan standing outside.
Hermione was still pulling on Luna's arm as they entered her dorm room in the Ravenclaw tower. When she slacked her grip releasing her friend, Luna started rubbing her arm looking at her confused, as Hermione paced the length of the room. She was muttering something she couldn't hear. "Hermione?..."
After her third try Luna stepped in front of her. "Hermione! Stop! What's happening?"
She glanced at Luna then down to the unopened letters Luna still held in her hand. "The letters Luna… look at them."
Sighing Luna did as she was asked, the first was exactly what Headmaster Chinthliss had said it was, a letter from Harry; but the second… it was addressed to her… in her father's handwriting.
She tore it open and began to read.
Luna,
I hope that this letter finds you well. I wish to thank you for the article you submitted for the forthcoming issue of the Quibbler. Your insight into events as they transpired is much appreciated.
As for the way this missive was delivered, I was visited by a Mr. Higgins and Mr. Johnson, and they spoke to me about the situation as they understood it. They also spoke with me about your friend Hermione and her difficulties as well.
They have offered you and your friend a place in a new school of magic. To accomplish this however you would need to activate something called dual citizenship, in effect you would be a citizen of both Briton and Canada thus eligible for immediate transfer.
If you and your friend wish to do this Mr. Chinthliss has the appropriate paperwork and something called a passport that has been arranged for you.
If you do this you will be required to accompany Mr. Chinthliss when he departs the castle as he will be your new headmaster. You will also be under the care of the Grangers for any decisions or emergencies as they are easier to contact via muggle means.
I have included your vault key with the appropriate paperwork that was given to the Granger family.
If you wish to continue your yearly expeditions, please contact me at least a month before the end of term so I may make arrangements for your employment and payment. The Quibbler will be willing to pay for the story of your expeditions on a per story basis.
Xenophilius Lovegood
Luna sat down hard on the bed, tears streaming down her face, she never felt the page being tugged free of her hand. Moments later she felt herself wrapped in Hermione's arms. "I'm sorry Luna… So sorry."
Minutes passed as Hermione rocked her, finally Luna spoke softly. "So what are we going to do?"
Hermione was silent for a time, but she knew that they had already made that decision. She broke the hug and looked at the young girl that was now her sister in all but name. "We pack, and take the offer... Do you think the house elves would help us get our things downstairs?"
"Thank you for your invitation to lunch, Professor," Chinthliss said sitting at the head table.
"I assume you saw everything you wished Headmaster?" she asked sipping her drink.
"I did."
She waited for him to continue, but when he did not she asked. "And what did you think of your tour?"
He smiled broadly as he looked at her. "The tour proved very interesting, the castle is really quite something."
She relaxed then. "I am glad we have met with your approv-" Her train of thought was disrupted as she noticed Hermione and Luna approach the faculty table and stop across from her.
"Ms. Granger? Ms. Lovegood? Do you need something?"
Hermione nodded. "Headmaster Chinthliss?"
He stepped around the table and approached the pair. "Yes?"
She took a deep breath, then said, "I accept."
He looked at Luna. "I accept as well," she said quietly.
He smiled and reached into his jacket pulling out two manila envelopes and handing one to each girl. "Welcome to Stanfield."
They each opened their envelopes and withdrew a stack of papers and a small black book. With a flourish he presented them each with a bronze colored pen. "All you need to do is sign the passport, it will be magically recorded." He pointed out the little black book. "There is a post-it just below where you need to sign. Then follow the instructions on the post-it, and you can keep the pens as well."
Hermione nodded and showed Luna where to sign. Then following the instructions she found the set of papers marked Transfer: for Hogwarts in each package and they handed them to McGonagall.
The confused Deputy Headmistress looked at the papers in puzzlement, then her head snapped up as she heard a small pop and a pair of trunks appeared next to the girls.
"These will be yours I take it?" Chinthliss asked.
"Yes Headmaster," they replied.
"Right then." He placed a hand on each trunk and they winked out of existence. "Remind me to retrieve them when we get you two home. Your mother said something about if I got you there early enough you were all going out for dinner…"
"They can not leave!" McGonagall almost yelled.
"Oh but you will find they can," said Chinthliss. "You, as acting Head of Hogwarts have accepted their transfer papers and they, as dual citizens of the United Kingdom and Canada, are free to choose another school. As of this moment they are the newest students of Stanfield Primary, and next year when their studies are caught up they will be free to transfer to any school of their choice in Canada or the United States."
McGonagall looked as if she had been struck. "B-but if they leave without their -"
"If your government tries anything, then they will be causing an international incident!" he almost yelled. "This is their choice! And there is nothing you can do about it!"
She stammered as she looked down at the pages. "I-I… I need to inform the Headmaster." She almost ran out the side door.
"You do that. Girls let's get you home," he said walking past the stunned people in the Great Hall and out of the door.
Chinthliss was almost to the castle gates when a number of popping sounds began coming from just beyond them as people materialized. His smile was almost feral when he saw the person leading them. "And so the man appears from behind his emerald curtain." He spoke with the two girls quickly. "Whatever happens, do not stray from my side. I will handle this."
Albus pushed open the gates leading the group up the hill toward the man and two girls. "Ms. Granger, Ms. Lovegood, please return to the castle, I have much to speak with Headmaster Chinthliss about."
Chinthliss stepped forward blocking his way. "Now Headmaster, let us not be deceitful. I gave you ample warning about my visit for you to be prepared to speak with me, and as for my two young charges I told Hermione's parents that I would have them both home in time to go out this evening for a family dinner. So we must be off."
"I am sorry for not being available but I am sure you understand how busy the life of a headmaster can be, and I must also shoulder other responsibilities as well," Albus replied, his eyes twinkling.
Chinthliss growled. "You try to read my mind one more time, and I will personally make sure you know what it is like to be a pig on a spit!" He stepped forward again as gasps came from the people that had accompanied Albus. "And the same warning goes for any of MY students!"
The woman in red looked at Albus shocked. "Albus if I find that you are using legilimens on any one I will drag you to the cells myself!" She turned back to Chinthliss. "My name is Amelia Bones head of the DMLE. May I ask who you are?"
His wide smile returned. "Ah Susan's aunt!" He clasped her hand. "A pleasure to meet you! Harry spoke highly of you and wished for me to tell you hello if I happened to see you. My name is Chinthliss, Headmaster of Stanfield Primary."
She was a little taken aback. "You have seen Harry?"
"Oh! Indeed! Recently!" He stepped back and put a hand on each young girl's shoulder, "And these are Harry's newest classmates! Hermione Granger, and Luna Lovegood. Harry spoke with them while he was here and passed along the stories of their time here, and... well one thing led to another and now they are the newest members of Stanfield Primary."
She looked at both girls stunned. Albus spoke up. "Ms. Granger, Ms. Lovegood, I am disappointed in-"
"Albus, be quiet!" Amelia said with a stern voice. "Ms. Granger, Ms. Lovegood. Why would you want to leave Hogwarts?"
Hermione looked at Dumbledore, then at Amelia. "After last Halloween I didn't want to stay in that place in the first place!"
Amelia looked confused. "And what happened last Halloween?"
"The TROLL!" Hermione cried. "The troll that got into the school!"
She smiled softly. "Ah, I understand that the idea that one of them could have entered-"
"Could have entered?" Hermione yelled. "It almost killed me!"
Amelia turned to Dumbledore, "What is she talking about?"
He spread his hands. "I assure you it was just a small matter. The sta-"
"SMALL MATTER!" Hermione screamed, "I was almost killed! I spent almost a month in the hospital wing!" She collapsed crying, "It hurt so bad…"
Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Albus, Is this true?"
Hermione's small voice continued, "Then they told me that if I left they would wipe my and my family's memories… I can't…" She broke down as Luna gathered her in her arms.
Albus sighed. "Yes, it is true… But she has fully recovered, and seemed reasonably happy in her new house."
"Reasonably HAPPY!" Hermione cried. "How can you even say that? I'm looking over my shoulder everyday! For everything from Professor Snape's foul temper to Malfoy's wand! Not to mention the Weasley twins, or Cho and her bunch. We spend so much time looking out for things that we are nervous wrecks!"
Chinthliss stepped in between them. "Enough of this! I will not have you upsetting my students any further! They have given you the necessary transfer paperwork and are now my students! They will accompany me to Ms. Granger's parents. Luna, please help Hermione, we need to be going and as for you and your wish to speak to me Headmaster, I will be having breakfast tomorrow morning in London at the Langham, the name of the restaurant is Roux, at eight with Mr. Silverhair. You are welcome to join us at that time. In fact I believe Mr. Silverhair is looking forward to speaking with you as you have been ignoring his communication attempts as well. " He turned to Amelia. "We would be pleased for you to join us as well Ms. Bones. Now if we may?" He gestured toward the gate.
Albus shook his head. "I am afraid that is quite impossible. Ms Granger was correct, if she does choose to leave, her magic will need to be bound, her wand destroyed and her memory of the magical world removed."
Chinthliss's smile turned feral again. "First they are students of the same British magical school as Harry. One that was created by this… tournament. Second, as of today they have dual citizenship in the UK and Canada, putting them under Canadian laws. If you so much as look at the pair of them wrong you can be sure that the full weight of the Magical UN, and the Canadian government will be brought to bear. They are no longer your students, understood?"
Albus looked struck, and it took a moment for Amelia to speak. "I am sorry but I will need some form of proof." Hermione and Luna handed her their new passports. "These seem to be in order…" She smiled down at the pair. "Please have a safe trip home and I hope you enjoy your visit." She turned to Dumbledore. "I believe we need to have a talk headmaster… A very long talk."