WELCOME ALL NEW READERS! And a Big thanks goes out to Old-Crow for leading you to our little story.

For those interested in such a thing, I will be having a small surgery next week to repair some other ligament damage I did to myself. So the next chapter will be delayed as well, probably a week or so. Doing both stories is difficult with only one hand.

Anyway enough about me now some answers to a few questions.

Hawkswernch: Yes that was my fault.

FotoDI: It will be addressed, just not at the moment. The laws within the wizarding world would allow for such a thing to happen, and once the international implications were known they backed off. As for Scrimgower, Harry never told anyone what he did, but he wont get off scot-free.

APMom: Things are defiantly being shaken about in their world. As for Lockheart, I could say that they were caricatures, people playing a part, and I did think about it, but in the end… I forgot about them and didn't plan ahead…. Oops. So I guess he did something different… The knee brace, that is something from the SERRAted Edge books, I plan on talking about it later in a conversation with someone so hold on a chapter or two for the answer.

OK! On with the show!

A thanks to the Amazing Pazed for the editing help!

READ! RENJOY! REVIEW! Remember that is the only form of payment that any who write these stories expect!

As always I own nothing!

Chapter 40

They had just passed the ward line when Hagrid noticed their approach. "Headmas…" His eyes moved quickly to Minerva, then Albus and back. "Sorry, still getting used to tha'." He gestured to the short, broad shouldered, barrel chested man standing next to him. "Headmaster McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, this is Threson of the Stonecrafter Clan."

The man turned toward them. "Call me Theo," he said presenting his callused hand to Minerva, then Albus. "Got a delivery for Hogwarts." He gestured back toward the tracks and the large yellow and black monster of a train sitting just beyond the station, as he looked over the paperwork in his clip board. "One mobile classroom with lounge area, one mobile Crafting area (two thousand square feet), two large generators, and fuel…" He flipped a page, "Propane for the classroom and Craft area… two large tanks five hundred gallons each, and two diesel for the generators… 500 gallons each… Please remind them to contact us when the tanks reach one quarter full, for any refills they feel necessary."

They looked at him confused as he flipped another few pages. "We have also been informed that you employ… House Elves?" He looked at them, they nodded slowly. "Strange you call them that… we always called them Imps… Anyway any object or building with either of these symbols," he indicated the Fairgrove logo and another with a stylized stone hand holding a mason's square, "is to be off limits. They are not to enter, move or have any form of interaction with them or anything they are connected to or contain. Failure to abide by this may result in serious injury to them or others. Is this understood?"

Again they nodded slowly. "Excellent!" He flipped a further page. "They have left the placement of the buildings up to you. They do request, however, that the Craft building be further away, as it can become quite loud when in use. I would suggest that as well. As for the classroom it should be near the main building as they plan to take meals with your students."

He flipped another page, and began again without looking at the confused group. "Now! We have a separate delivery for Hogwarts as well, one that must be signed for by the Headmaster as once this school year is complete it will be given as a gift to Hogwarts." He passed the clipboard to her along with a ball point pen. "Please sign next to the X at the bottom to confirm delivery, one of my men will then follow you to the school and discuss where you would like it to be placed."

Minerva's hand reached unsteadily toward the dwarf's outstretched hand. "Classroom? Crafting area? Generators? I-I don't understand."

The dwarf harrumphed. "They are the things requested delivered by Chinthliss! What else do you need to understand? These are the things he believes are necessary for his school to be here for this. Now! Please sign so we may be about our work."

Minerva glanced at Albus unsure what to do, he gestured at the papers so she signed. "Very good!" the dwarf said taking back the clipboard, and pulling several pages away. "Here are your receipts, please keep them for your records. We will place the new classroom first."

He put his fingers to his lips giving birth to a piercing whistle that came in four blasts. Three dwarves soon appeared at their sides, each saying, "Boss!"

"Phill? Is the classroom unloaded?" he asked.

"Aye, both sections be down. They be hookin' up the tractors now. Where ye be want'n it?"

He looked expectantly at Minerva. "Ah… Next to the Greenhouses would be best. The path has been charmed to protect against most weather, and snow…" She glanced at Albus and he nodded slightly. "Yes that would be best… Mr. Filch the man by the gate will lead you there."

He nodded, looking over at the man and headed back toward the train. "Jack?" Theo asked.

"I'll start unloading the Crafting room as soon as they are out of the way, the first two sections will be in place by noon, we'll finish up and test everything in the afternoon, say about four or so."

He nodded, and turned to Minerva. "And where would you want it? Be warned it may be loud."

"Albus?" she asked directly.

He took over at her prompt. "What will they be 'crafting' in this room?"

Theo shook his head. "Not my concern. It was packed and labeled when we picked it up, all we do is assemble the building, they will arrange what was shipped inside."

Albus nodded. "Hmmm… In this case then, Minerva, might I suggest it be placed near Hagrid's? As long as he does not believe the noise would be a problem. Just for safety's sake." Knowing that the large man's curiosity and jovial attitude would have him over quite often, he would let him know what was going on inside.

Hagrid smiled. "It won't be a problem Professor, I'd be 'appy to help."

Minerva nodded. "Hagrid will show you the way when ready."

The dwarf known as Jack turned on his heel. "Best come with me then, might even put you to work. You look like you may be able to keep up with me boys."

The last dwarf stood quietly waiting till Theo spoke again. "Reba, you see to the last."

The female dwarf looked surprised for a moment. "Are you sure?" she asked.

He smiled at her. "I am daughter," He placed a hand on her shoulder, "but I will be watching."

She smiled back at him, turning to the headmaster. "Where would you like the portal placed?"

Minerva looked more confused than ever. "Portal? What's a portal?"

That conversation had gone poorly, the elderly man remembered later, an entirely new conveyance introduced in such a fashion. Though in the end it had been unloaded and moved to the castle, they had put it in the anteroom just off the Great Hall as it could be locked and wards placed on the doors easily.

He sighed as he sat at the head table to begin his breakfast, which he dipped up absently as he thought about all that they had seen in the last twenty four hours. The buildings that had been moved onto the grounds were, in a word, ugly. Large boxy things with a skin made of something called aluminum, that had been painted white… he hoped the new fallen snow would soften their appearance somewhat.

Then came the activation of the 'portal' that was rather less exciting than he had expected. Once it had been erected in the room the female dwarf… Rata… Raba… something like that… had placed a stone device in a slot, it had glowed and it was finished. Not exciting at all.

He had insisted on testing it, however, first one of the dwarves then himself. The portal itself impressed him, one moment he stood in Hogwarts the next in a well appointed home in London where he had met Sirius, and had a short discussion about why the method of transport was necessary.

What he had heard did not please him, he had hoped that Harry's return would see him beginning to develop ties with the other students, even see him attending classes with them.

He was not prepared for what he had heard, that he and the two girls that had left Hogwarts would be studying muggle subjects as well as magical. And while visitors, both students and professors were welcome, they would be asked to leave if they became disruptive.

He took another bite of his breakfast as his attention was drawn to the side door where the portal was as Harry and the two girls entered, laughing at something unheard.

Each had a bag draped over one shoulder, presumably filled with school work, and wore… muggle clothing. Trainers, blue jeans, and coats (leather in Harry's case, some form of cloth in the girls. No ties, nothing to identify their school, no form of unity he could see. It was disappointing to say the least.

Minerva entered soon after along with Headmaster Chinthliss, discussing something on a stack of papers between them, then finally a man he did not know. He was not overly tall and wore a blue three piece suit. His eyes seemed to miss nothing as they passed over the room before landing on him at the head table. Albus could almost see the fire begin to burn in them as he approached.

He placed his briefcase on the floor and offered Albus a card. "Mr. Dumbledore? My Name is J. Noble Dagget, I am a solicitor. I have been retained to pursue the matter of a vehicle you vanished, one belonging to a Mr. Silverhair and his company Fairgrove Industries. I believe that this would be something you may wish to speak about in private?"

Albus looked down at the card, he had forgotten about that… miscalculation. He sighed, best he deal with this now, but he still did not think that a such a thing could be worth anything close to what had been reported. He stood. "Please follow me Mr…"

"Dagget."

"Dagget. There is an office we can use this direction." He moved toward the side door.

Just as he was about to open the door it swung open allowing a number of others to enter, led by a pair of women speaking together, Lady Ako and… "Maria Malden? My, it is good to see you my dear."

Her warm brown eyes turned to ice in the blink of an eye. "Dumbledore."

What had he done to earn this from one of his former students? "I do hope you have been well?"

She glared at him for a moment. "THAT is no concern of yours Mr. Dumbledore!" she snapped and brushed past him and into the Great Hall.

As he pondered this turn of events several others emerged from the portal, passed him by without comment and Filius shut it down and secured it under the watchful eye of the young female dwarf Reba.

"Ah Filius, I'll see to securing the room. Mr. Dagget and I need a few moments to discuss… my mistake with the vehicle upon young Harry's arrival." He watched as the man pulled a very thick set of pages from within his briefcase and started arranging them in stacks on the table. "If you would be so good as to inform Minerva, and have her inform my classes… at least for the morning, I have a feeling I will not be available for some time…"

Filius nodded quickly and passed out of the doorway.

Harry nodded toward Victor Krum as he walked by, and again at Cedric. Dropping his bag on the floor he sat next to Susan as he waved at Fleur. "Suzie Q, good to see you!" he said helping himself to a plate.

"Harry!" Her eyes widened. "You're back!"

He quirked an eyebrow. "Nope, just your imagination. You're still sleeping." He wiggled his fingers in the air mimicking a cascade. "This is one of those dreams where you will suddenly realise you came to class and didn't wear anything."

She looked at him with a confused expression, as Luna smacked him on the head and Hermione said, "Never mind him, he's just fooling around… It's a muggle thing." She scrunched up her nose in distaste as she used the word. She looked at Harry. "There has to be a better word than that to refer to the… outside? world."

Harry shrugged as he dug into his backpack, and pulled out a jar full of something red… which Luna grabbed from his hand. "Good you brought some!"

Harry chuckled. "Please, Luna, feel free… You know you could have brought your own?"

She scowled at him, then broke into a smile. "I did…" She popped the top loose and started dipping large spoonfuls onto her eggs. "This way I have more later."

Harry looked at her with a lopsided grin. "I live to be your Sherpa, Miss Luna."

Her face broke into a wide grin. "Of course! Go forth my minion! Bring your Queen more Salsa!" She waved her hand dismissively.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Give me that!" He grabbed for the jar, only to miss as she moved it further away.

"No! It's mine now." She smirked, just as Hermione pulled it from her hands.

"Really! You two," she said in an exasperated voice. "Must we do this every morning?" She took a spoon and dipped some onto Harry's eggs, sealed the lid and placed it in her own bag.

Harry smiled as Luna stuck out her tongue then they looked at each other for a split second then back to Hermione and said as one, "Yes!"

She pursed her lips and shook her head. Susan looked on as the pair, Luna and Harry began to eat. "This happened every morning while you were gone?" she asked Hermione.

"Some form or another…" she said dipping up her own plate. "Yesterday it was the battle of the last scone…" She shook her head. "Luna ended up with strawberry jam in her hair before it was over..."

Harry interjected, "You were the one that threw it!"

Hermione looked sheepish, "You moved! Besides that was a family breakfast."

Luna chimed in, "So is this."

Hermione scowled at her, "We're in public!"

Luna just waved it away, and went back to her meal. A voice from behind them said, "Please come to the classroom as soon as you have finished your breakfast, we are already behind for the morning."

The trio of students answered, "Yes, professor.", "Yes, mam", "Yes, Miss Malden."

Turning back to their meals, Susan asked, "Behind? It's just passed 8:30 how can you be behind?"

Hermione answered as she buttered a slice of toast, "Our classes start at eight every weekday."

Harry nodded "Yeah, this will probably be one of the few breakfasts you see us at. We'll need to be in class by the time the hall normally opens, at eight."

"Why so early?" Susan asked.

Harry shrugged. "We need to keep to a schedule, my normal school starts at eight thirty, but because of the tournament things are a little messed up. And we didn't want a large gap in the mornings."

Hermione continued, "Harry's day starts much earlier, five am, we didn't want to disrupt it any more than necessary."

Susan looked stunned. "Five? In the morning? Why in Merlin's name?"

Harry smiled. "If you want something bad enough, you make sacrifices and work to achieve it. That's why." Then he went back to his breakfast.

"So Susan? How was your Christmas?" asked Hermione, after an awkward silent moment.