Chapter Twenty
Perspicacity
Robert Russell, M.D., D.D.S, F.A.C.S., was not a man with a dearth of intelligence. It was the opposite, in fact, since one simply did not complete the magical and mundane education that he did without it. The fact that he'd known from an early age that he wanted to make sick people better just gave him the focus he needed. It had helped as he had studied in programs on three continents, in order to learn more to apply in making people well. His focus in oral and maxillofacial surgery was his current focus as it was challenging, but he wasn't adverse to picking up knowledge in something else in the medical field. He read voraciously. The magical ability that he possessed helped a lot, since the Occlumency he unfailingly practiced ordered his mind's library. His physical library was large, too.
That said, the focus he possessed was a bit in abeyance as he stared at the parchment that lay on his nightstand, gently chiming away every so often. His wife was right behind him, wondering why he was standing in the doorway and not moving. She couldn't see past his body but could hear the slight chimes.
"Dear? Is something wrong?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. Something unexpected, that's for sure."
"What?" Her voice was calm among the puzzlement. Félicité Russell watched as he stepped into the room and her eyes fell upon the folded parchment.
"Robbie?"
He withdrew his wand and tapped it on the parchment, which stopped chiming and opened up. He could see the Hogwarts seal at the top.
"It's something from Hogwarts." Puzzlement was in his voice. "But why? I didn't think they did alumni fundraisers."
"Your other school?"
"Yes, dear. Can you see it?" He held the parchment up.
She was a muggle with no magic at all, but to her surprise the seal was visible to her.
"Yes! Wait, I thought I couldn't see magical things if you wasn't touching me at the same time."
"I thought so, too. This is odd. I could sense the magic on the parchment, and it seems familiar…" he took it back and ran his eyes over it. "Oh. Well, that's why."
"Oh?"
"It's from Professor Flitwick."
"Your Head of House?" She knew this much. "What's it say?"
"Hold on, I'm reading it. I'm wondering just as much as you, since he's not in habit of sending a lot of letters out."
"Well, he's probably very busy."
"Quite," the surgeon snorted. It was true. Between teaching, leading the choir, dueling practice, and who knew what else, Flitwick stayed busy.
She was silent then, waiting for him to read the letter. It wasn't often that she saw his surprise, but she saw it there now. He took a moment to re-read the letter and handed it to her.
"Dan and Emma Granger are at Hogwarts and need help with something."
"Danny? And Emma, too? How?"
"I have no clue. The letter doesn't say yet."
She looked at the letter, noting that the script on the letter was firm and precise. She remembered that he'd told her once that this Professor was a jolly sort, always laughing and happy but was able to tear someone down verbally. 'Flay them with words' was the phrase he'd used, and wouldn't answer her amused question about whether he'd found that out for himself. He did look embarrassed, no matter how much he tried to hide it from her.
Félicité read the letter again, just as her husband had, before looking up.
"Do you need to go?"
Her question was interrupted by another chime from the parchment and she looked down to see a raven perched on a branch. It was moving!
"Huh," said her husband. "He's tried something else. But yes, I think I do. He wouldn't ask for something like this if he didn't think it was important."
She nodded at his evaluation, even though she didn't really know the Professor herself. Her mind was on the 'something else,' however. "What? Tried what?"
"It looks like he's got a postscript magically hidden here. We once had a conversation long ago about charms to pass hidden messages and apparently he didn't forget it. I did and it took me a moment to recall that. Let me see that."
She handed it back and he tapped the raven with his wand. More of the precise script rolled down, pushing the edge of the parchment and making it grow. Eyebrows rose.
"Show-off," he chuckled.
Together they read the additional script.
Robert-
Mrs. Granger is a delightful conversationalist and very inquisitive about the things we take for granted as wielders of Magic, and while there are any number of Muggleborn students there that could share their experience, by necessity the students are here to study and learn. Being students, they tend to find new ways to find more interesting things to do than study of course, and you can probably figure out where I'm going with this.
As such, I would think this would be a wonderful opportunity to bring your delightful wife – from the way you talk about her in your letters, I believe that to be absolutely the case – and support the Grangers in their time here, as I believe she shares the same wonder. They are known to you, as I understand your occupation and the similarities to their area of influence.
The Headmaster is aware of this invitation and seconds it. Due to some very intriguing happenings lately, the timetables have been adjusted to take advantage of a new method of instruction. You would find it simply amazing. Professor McGonagall has been almost singing the praises of this method. Between you, the walls, and myself, it's amusing to see. I've been debating on whether I want to ask her to actually sing.
If you are able to arrive for lunch, there will be places for you here. If you can be here by eleven there will be time for a tour of the grounds. Should you be able to come immediately, you can see this new lecture which starts at half past nine.
I have enclosed fine link anklets similar to the unobtrusive ones that the Grangers are wearing to allow them past the anti-Muggle enchantments. Please guard them well.
Filius Flitwick
"You talk about me, huh?"
"Well, dearest, of course I do. You're the best part of anything I talk about."
She smiled at him. For his part, he looked at his watch.
"We have a lunch dinner invitation for noon. There's just enough time for you to look your loveliest, although to me that's everyday."
She kissed him on the cheek. "Flatterer. But this is in Scotland. How will we get there in time? I admit that the tour sounds like a nice idea."
"Magic, my dear, magic."
Félicité sighed.
"You've been waiting for years to say that, haven't you?"
"Well, of course. Can you blame me?"
"No, I suppose not. We both know you want to find out more and go right now."
"You know me well. Are you ready?"
"Of course. Shall we, husband?"
"We shall, wife."
|:-:|
Steelarse walked up and down the ranks of the group that he had prepared.
"We have been called out to support the Potter. Doctor Granger, his wife, and his daughter are there as well, and they have been gracious hosts to me. I will repay them for their kindness by protecting them in the battles to come. No, not a physical battle this time, but we can hope, eh?"
The clanging of armor on shields answered him, along with snorts of amusement. Steelarse's tone changed, and sounded more important and solemn. They all knew different, since the expression on his face was anything but 'solemn.'
"Also, as Doctor Granger's daughter is 'Lady Potter,' he will need copious amounts of Grog to cope with that."
Laughter answered his use of the nickname. They all knew the truth and those with daughters were sympathetic to the dentist. A few were thinking of ways to use the nickname in his hearing and then offer the Grog. A few others were plotting tag-teams and yet others were thinking about organizing bets.
"But be very aware that the Mother Eminence will be watching us all. The Potter's welfare is paramount to her and from what I hear, the other dragons have taken a shine to him as well! Be on your best behavior!"
The ranks stiffened to attention. The news about the choices made by the dragons at Hogwarts had astounded the Goblins but after a short period of stupefaction at this news, they had found their balance. Several very curious Goblins had taken the opportunity to attend the dragon lectures to find out more, and while the news hadn't always been received well, on the whole Gringotts had adjusted more or less well to the idea.
Each Goblin stooped to pick up a portkeyed rope that had been threaded throughout their ranks. Steelarse stepped closer to grab the end.
"We go in 3… 2… 1!"
A moment later, the space was empty.
|:-:|
Tessaies was feeling a bit grumpy, but the voice outside her Quarters was welcome.
"Hello, Mother Eminence!"
"Finally," she muttered to herself. "Come in, Philo!" She felt a bit ashamed at her grumbling, since the man honestly tried his best and didn't need her tetchiness. His job was hard enough, thanks to her decision to accept Harry.
The man stepped in and looked around warily. Tessaies had forgotten for the moment that the darkness of her nest made her blend in and Philo wouldn't have been able to actually see her.
Maybe I really should ask that funny little Professor for his thoughts on something to light up some this space for my human visitors, she pondered.
"Find a seat, Philo. I'll be right there."
The relieved voice answered.
"Thank you, Tess."
They had agreed on the informality, but for the first address of the day, Philo McClemont always called her 'Mother Eminence' in deference for her title. It had taken a while, but she realized she actually liked the man and didn't mind the shortening of her name.
She walked out, being sure to make a little more noise than usual. Tessaies found that he was flipping through a folder of something.
"It's just us for the moment. What have you got?"
He sighed.
"I don't have much. There's not much for Harry's muggle medical records. There was more from Poppy Pomfrey in his Hogwarts first year than the time period between his parents' deaths to the time he first stepped off the Hogwarts Express."
The man seemed peeved as he closed the file and placed it on a rock close to the mother Horntail.
"I wish there was a way to actually show you the things I can read here, but it would really upset you more if you even could understand the medical terminology. I'm having to struggle a lot to get the gist of it."
"Wildness of Mane's parents are muggle healers of a sort. They might be able to decipher it. I know a good bit of it from the mental link Annika forged, but I'm aware that the healing his body did during those trials of body wasn't complete."
Philo sighed. "And it may not be at this point in his life. I briefly met James Potter, years ago, and he was taller than Harry is now. Not the same ages, but even with that in mind it's noticeable."
Tessaies was interested. She didn't know this.
"You met his sire? What was he like?"
"I didn't like him much then. He was a bit of a berk. I think he was supposed to have gotten better as he got older but that one time I met him, well…"
"What of his nest-mother?"
"Lily? No, I never met her. She was supposed to be pretty fiery. Excuse the phrase, but a real 'dragon' if she was riled up."
Tessaies snorted in amusement. Smoke shot out of her nostrils and curled up to the ceiling as she chuckled.
"And I'm a real dragon. I don't have to be riled up."
They chuckled for a moment, appreciating the found humor.
"I'm glad you're comfortable enough with me and the others to do this, Philo."
He looked at her.
"I admit, there's plenty of times that I forget the things that have happened and I want to run gibbering in fear. It helps a lot that our interactions are just like any others."
"It does. Lángoló haj says it shocks him, too."
"Who – oh, you mean Charlie Weasley. Yes, I can see that. Say, did you hear about Kirsa?"
"No, what has she done now?"
Tessaies was a bit worried to find out. Her guest didn't notice.
"She's found someone that wants to find out more about him. I don't know who she is – Kirsa won't say – but I think she's matchmaking for him. He doesn't know about it yet."
Tessaies' eyes went wide. This could be good or bad. This time, Philo noticed.
"Oh, relax. Remember where his mug came from? She'll find him a good mate. I think, anyway."
"True, but Kirsa… well, sometimes, I think Annika is sober and solemn compared to her."
Philo snorted in amusement, but didn't say anything. Dragon culture sometimes still confused him for all that he was rushing to catch up. Tessaies lumbered over and deftly flipped the file's cover open and quickly realized that the strange script in the file did not lend itself to quick comprehension. She squinted at it and decided that she would have to find a different way to read it.
Tessaies flipped it closed and started to say something, when she heard a knock on the post outside. Someone was there.
"Um… Mother Eminence? Are you there?"
The voice was a bit familiar and sounded like one of the students. There were too many for her to remember all of them quickly.
"Come in!"
The students had found out that she was welcoming to all of them, although she was strict about her eggs and the tending that she and the other mother dragons did. None of them bothered the eggs, having taken her warning to heart. Tessaies watched as a pair of identical boys walked in carefully.
These two. Harry is friends with them. What was their names again? Devil twins? No, that's not it.
She was thinking about this when both bowed in her direction. She dipped her head in return.
"Mother Eminence, I'm Fred Weasley and this is my brother George. Our father gave us permission to talk to you about something troubling. We wanted to talk to you about Harry and some things about his home life that's bothered us a lot. We consider him a sort-of little brother, but there's not much we've been able to do before now."
George picked up seamlessly.
"And we felt that you needed to know, as his 'big dragon mama.' Maybe you can do something that we can't, despite our efforts."
They hadn't seen Philo, and he stood up.
"This sounds like a serious discussion. I can come back later."
She waved him down with a talon, having picked up the habit from watching the interactions between the students.
"No, Philo. Stay. I may need your help. Boys, sit down. I want to hear this."
They gulped, seeing that her golden eyes had fixated on them and more smoke was rising to the ceiling. The translation charm had rendered the sultry voice as it always had, but now it was obvious that there was a hard edge under the words.
|:-:|
Félicité's first experience with Side-Along Apparition was less than fun, but she held up a lot better than others. That didn't mean that she spared her husband a speaking glance.
"How do you handle that?" She clutched her stomach as she groaned out the question.
"It takes practice. I threw up the first few times."
"I'm sure." The mention of his original problems didn't help with her problems now. He grimaced to himself.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I forgot the ginger sweets for your stomach."
"I'll live. Which way do we go?"
The gates were open and they walked through. She could see students of all ages, talking about who knew what, studying, playing at various games and eating. Most were gathered around the large lake. Robbie looked around, obviously looking for someone. Félicité jumped a bit when he whistled through his fingers and waved at someone.
"What was that for?"
"You'll see. Hagrid's coming."
"Who?"
The answer was apparently in a few minutes. Félicité gaped up at the sheer size of the groundskeeper and stared at her husband's action of striding forward for a handshake.
"Robbie! It's good to see yeh! It's been a few years. You're not going to try to ride one of the hippogriffs again, are yeh? Sable might have summat to say about that!"
Félicité was treated to the sight of her husband blushing furiously. There was a story here, she was sure of it. She was very sure of it and judging from the twinkle in the huge man's eye, she was going to have to get it out of him somehow.
"Er… no, Hagrid, I didn't come to do that."
"Shame, that is. She'd be disappointed. Sable likes to wind people up and you made her day for a few days. 'Specially when she dumped you in that mudhole."
"I was hoping to avoid that, too."
"I'm not ashamed to tell yeh now, that was one of the funniest things I've ever seen." His eyes found her. "Oh, and who's this fine young lady peeking around from behind you?"
"Oh," Robbie Russell said with a smile, glad to divert the attention away from his school misadventures. "This is my wife, Félicité Russell. Félicité, this is Rubeus Hagrid."
Hagrid gently took her hand and shook it. She gave him a tentative smile for his obvious care.
"Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, Groundkeeper, and Keeper of the Keys. A pleasure, madam, 'specially with this rapscallion."
"Oh, Hagrid, surely it's not that bad!" he moaned. "And Professor? Finally?"
"Somebody's gotta teach Care of Magical Creatures, right? Don' listen to him, lass. He was a character. Come by later and I'll tell you stories. I've got plenty to tell."
She was amused. Félicité had her own embarrassing stories of things she'd done in her school years, but those involved weren't here… and Hagrid was.
"I'd love to," she beamed up at the half-giant.
Robbie groaned to himself, not noticing the snickers that the other two directed his way.
"Hagrid, I got a letter from Professor Flitwick inviting us here to help him with something. Is his office still in the same place?"
"Yeh, never changed. In fact..."
There was a distant flame in the air behind them, and Hagrid jumped in surprise. He whirled around faster than either of the other two would have thought possible.
"Uh-oh. Tha' isn't good."
The eyes above the bushy beard were wide.
"What was that?" she stuttered.
"Big mama dragon. The bigges' one. She's right unhappy about something. I hope nobody tried to prank her. Might be th' last thing they did. Excuse me."
"Dragons? Multiple?" Robbie was awed and afraid for the response.
There wasn't any answer to be given, as Hagrid had taken off at a run. The pounding vibrations of his steps could be felt even as he rushed away.
"Félicité, we need to get inside the castle! Come on!"
|:-:|
Springing any pranks was the very last thing on the minds of Fred and George Weasley. What had been on their minds for some time now was what they'd heard in the Family Meeting and what they'd witnessed. The Twins had finally broken down and asked their father for permission to talk to Tessaies about the things that they'd heard in the Meeting.
Arthur had pinned both of them with a considering look and saw that neither of them was making any humorous remarks at all. In fact, George was standing with tears in his eyes and Fred wasn't far off.
Permission hadn't been far from being given after that.
Now, they stared after the mother dragon and wondered if they had made a huge mistake culminating in them being squished. Luckily for them, she charged out of her Quarters without comment and flamed straight up. The column of fire was larger than any of the flames the others could produce, as befitting her position.
"George, do we stay or do we follow?"
The question was as uncertain as anything the pair had ever asked each other. George looked around at the encroaching stone walls, then at the open air outside.
"I don't think I'd like to be in here with an angry mama dragon. At least outside I might find a rock to hide behind or a hole to jump in."
"Or for that matter the Black Lake. Good point. Out we go."
They did wait a minute to give Tessaies time to move away from the Quarters. Neither of the Twins wanted to be close to her nest in the mood she was obviously in and they scooted out as soon as they judged it was safe.
'Safe' being a relative term, of course.
Fred looked around. For a large dragon, she could move quickly.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but where did she go?"
"Somewhere we're not and hopefully away from us! Do you want to get flambéed? I know you have that rum hidden on you that we was going to spike tonight's pumpkin juice with."
"Another good point, uglier brother."
Behind them came a voice.
"What's rum? It sounds delicious."
They stiffened and slowly turned around. Annika stood there with Philo McClermont, who'd carefully followed them out of Tessaies' Quarters. Philo was still wary of a dragon's temper, but was amused a bit at the question. He raised an eyebrow at them.
"Give it to her. She can burn it off and help you dispose of something you shouldn't have. In fact, give me some first. I'm going to need it to deal with a… well, very, very, very stroppy dragon. Come to think about it, we have dragon handlers here, right?"
"That sounds like my cue!" came a voice. Fred and George looked in that direction to see their brother Charlie. "What the hell did you do to Tessaies, you nutcases?"
Annika jumped in with her own question, repeated from earlier.
"And what's this rum you have? You didn't answer."
Charlie stared at her, then at his brothers before holding an imperious hand out. Grudgingly, they slapped it into his calloused hand. He whistled when he saw the label.
"This is good stuff! How did you get it?"
"We knew a guy that knew a guy. There might have been a favor or two involved."
"Just two?" He knew his brothers, having taught them about favors in the first place.
"Well…"
Charlie snorted. Philo filled him in on what was going on.
"I have dibs on some of that before I try to get her calm. I'm going to need your help. There's an important meeting coming up involving Harry."
Charlie stared at him, then conjured two large glasses before filling them with rum from the quickly-uncorked bottle. He handed one to Philo before draining the second.
"Hey! What about us?" the younger two complained.
"Sorry, boys, you're on your own. Thank you for your contribution. I may need this to calm her down, if it even works."
"I'll try it and see!" Annika volunteered.
Charlie's stare transferred to her with a good bit of incredulity and some unspoken worry. Annika was being a bit more ditzy than usual today, and that always concerned him. He hadn't figured out what triggered it yet and it bugged him.
"In for a penny, in for a pound," the Ministry man murmured. "Might as well. She'll nark us until she finds out."
"And she'll probably sing until you do," Fred whispered in his ear.
The thought of Annika singing for rum was scary.
"Okay! Open up, Annika. I've got to save some for Tessaies and hope it works." Annika did just that and Charlie shuddered at the sight of all those teeth. He glared at his brothers. "I can't believe I'm doing this."
"Needs must, dragon brother."
"Oh, shut up."
He poured about half of what was left over Annika's rough tongue and got out of range of those teeth as fast as he could.
"Okay, Annika, that's all."
She sat up, swishing the tiny bit around her mouth with an inquisitive look on her face. They all could see her swallowing. Her eyes lit up.
"Oh, that's wonderful! I need to find more!"
Charlie glared at his brothers, who went pale.
"Thanks for making my job harder, you idiots."
"You? What about me?" Philo moaned. "If this works for Tessaies, she's going to make it a Treaty requirement to be supplied in bulk, just as soon as Annika tells her where it came from!"
Another glare was directed at the Twins, who shrunk from it. Philo McClermont was a very easygoing man but he definitely had an imposing glare when he needed it.
Annika didn't help. She bounded off after Tessaies.
"Hurry up and bring that wonderful elixir with you!"
They watched her go.
"Where did she learn the word 'elixir?'" Charlie wanted to know. "Please tell me it wasn't Snape."
Shrugs and grimaces were his only answer.
|:-:|
The surgeon finally managed to get into the Castle with his wife. He'd scooped her up and ran for all he was worth. Félicité managed to catch her breath, but it took a moment. She had felt the anklet buzz slightly at the gates but nothing after that. There had been a flash of something scarlet in the air, but she was being jostled around too much to get a clear view.
A stray thought had penetrated the obvious fear that her husband was throwing off even as she clung to him. If Félicité had known Robbie could run like this, she would have had made him run with her before. She knew what she was going to set up when they got home. He had no excuse, since he'd been looking around for something that they could do together. Now she had an excellent idea.
She didn't know that her husband was dreading the thought of it. He could see the gears turning in her head quite well. Félicité didn't notice since her mind was on something else.
"Robbie, did he say 'dragons?' They're real?"
He stepped over to a window and looked out.
"They're real, sweetheart. Look."
He pointed outward, and she peered out the large window at what he indicated. There was something green with broad wings spread wide approaching the Castle. It was approaching at a high rate of speed, but she could make out a long tail, a head and neck, and what could be claws or something.
"Where's it going?"
Another pillar of flame from the area Hagrid had seen flew skyward.
"There, possibly. Look over there. I see another one."
She looked and saw something silvery and a bit… chunkier was the only word she could come up with. It was similar to the more streamlined shape of the green one, and looked to be headed to the same general destination. There were a few humans chasing the silver shape and possibly screaming something inaudible but being outstripped by the airspeed of the dragon.
"I wonder what happened?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, and I have no clue."
A voice broke into their musings.
"It seems that something has disturbed the Mother Eminence and if I miss my guess, most likely that 'something' involves young Harry in some way."
They turned to see an old man with a long beard and wearing the brightest robes of anyone they had seen on the grounds so far. Félicité looked at her husband, uncertain, and saw the smile on his face.
"Headmaster! I didn't expect to see you so soon!"
"I was looking forward to seeing your return to this establishment, Robert, and hearing of your further studies. When the wards alerted me of your presence, I made my way here. Is this your lovely wife?"
"Yes, sir, this is my wife Félicité. Sweetheart, this is Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
"Enchanté, my dear," the old wizard said as he took her hand. She graced him with a smile.
"So, you were his professor while he was here?" He looked odd to her, and she'd seen some odd fashions before. Not like this, though!
"Not directly, as others conducted the classes. My role is strictly administrative, sadly. One does miss the classroom after spending this much time as an educator," he mused. "My time is limited in that respect."
She remembered that this old man also held other positions, but declined comment as it wasn't her affair.
"Robert, I understand we have some guests that have been looking for you? Do you remember the way to Professor Flitwick's office?"
"I do."
"Very good. He should be expecting you, assuming he hasn't gotten distracted with Mrs. Granger's questions. We can see where her daughter gets her inquisitiveness and he seems quite happy. If not to put off marking assignments for a while, of course."
The humor in the old man's voice was evident, and Félicité was confused. She looked at her husband who explained.
"Professor Flitwick is the Charms Professor. His subject can have odd results if someone isn't careful," Dumbledore snorted in agreement at their side, but he went on, "and some of the answers he finds on his students' assignments can be quite fanciful."
"By 'fanciful' you mean 'outright silly,' right?"
"Well, I was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I was hoping things had improved in the quality of students since I was admitted, went through classes, and left," he finished somewhat weakly. He was trying not to show his Ravenclaw colors.
"There have been quite a few stars in other houses since you left the ranks of the Eagles, Robert. Miss Granger is one of them and there isn't a day that passes that Filius laments the fact that she went to Minerva's House."
Dumbledore seemed amused, more than anything. Both of them put it down to his possible need to be impartial between the Houses, but for different reasons.
"Filius is waiting, and we stand here chatting. I will take my leave, as there is the never-ending pile of work on my desk. Please make sure to come by before you leave and tell me what your further education has been like, dear boy. I'm fond of peppermints currently. I daresay I could use the distraction, as I have to do some apologizing for certain things."
He nodded to the pair and left. Félicité looked up at her husband. They wondered what he had to apologize for, but decided that they didn't want to know.
"Peppermints? Was he obliquely asking that you bring him those disgusting things when you see him?"
Her husband grinned.
"No, he has a sweet tooth, yes, but that's not why. It's a running joke about the sweets in general, but he uses random sweets as his office gargoyle password and changes it often."
"Maybe we should've stopped by a candy shop to find something new for him."
Robbie couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"He probably would have already tried it, to be honest. I was very serious about his sweet tooth. The man really should have been a confectioner."
|:-:|
The rum had worked, at least to distract Tessaies. She thought it was awful and made her spit and sputter everywhere. Thankfully for the Weasleys and Philo, she hadn't been able to generate more flames since what she had on tap was used up in her fit of temper. They still had to dodge steaming hot dragon saliva being slung around, however. She hated the taste in her mouth.
"Don't ask me to swallow that ever again! It's disgusting!" The large dragon spat her punctuation of the declaration, and people dodged again. Quickly.
Quiangya and Rhiain had wondered what it was. Annika was singing its praises, thankfully not literally, but her descriptions didn't help them at all. The nodding Charlie was doing in agreement did nothing but confuse them even more. On one talon, it was something he obviously enjoyed. On the other, it was something that she enjoyed. They traded glances and independently decided to find a way to try it when neither of them were around. It was obvious that Tessaies hated it with a passion.
"Okay. Okay. I'm calm now." She didn't look particularly calm, and spit out another glob that landed uncomfortably close to Charlie Weasley. "That stuff was terrible! How could you, lángoló haj?"
The look she gave him reminded all three brothers too much like Molly on the warpath for their comfort. It had come out in Annika's unthinking explanation that Charlie had thought it would help her mood before her meeting. It was almost time for it, anyway, the silver-scaled dragon had explained with a blithe expression. The rum had helped, just not in the way that they'd expected. It had directed Tessaies' ire away from hearing specifically about the Dursleys to the three Weasleys and Annika, although less her fellow mother dragon and more the humans caught in her gaze.
"Er…" Charlie started. Maybe an explanation would help.
"Zip it," Tessaies said, testily.
He did.
Philo was trying to decide if he could say something, when a gruff hail from across the field was heard.
"Hello, Mother Eminence! May we approach?"
She snorted smoke at Charlie and nudged him out of her way. He tripped over a root and if it hadn't been for Fred and George barely managing to catch him, he would have fallen over. By the time he was settled upright, Tessaies' horned tail with the evil-looking spikes was about to pass them. The furrow dragged in the grass stood out to all of them.
"Note to self, don't make her mad," George said to himself, staring at the spikes which were closer up than he'd ever though such things would ever be.
Fred was agreeing quickly. Charlie already knew. He'd seen the damage those spikes in particular could deal out and how quickly.
|:-:|
"She doesn't look very happy," Kurrast muttered to Steelarse, as Tessaies stalked closer.
"No, she doesn't. Hopefully she remembers the role I fill for The Potter."
"I hope so, too. She's one big bitch for sure and the others aren't tiny either."
Steelarse snorted despite himself.
"I wouldn't say that too loud if I were you. Here she comes."
"If she heard that anyway, today is a good day to die."
"True, but don't tempt fate."
|:-:|
The Horntail hadn't heard it, luckily for the Goblins, as she was still muttering to herself about demon rum and spitting out the remnants of that nastiness every few steps. Unfortunately for her, the Goblins had brought along a supply of Grog that they were going to use to toast the successful completion of their mission today. It wasn't made with human rum, but with Goblin rum, which was worse in terms of strength and effect.
Charlie had forgotten about the Grog Bill had shared with him, despite going blind as he coughed his lungs out. Bill had sipped it without problems and laughed at him.
Steelarse saluted the huge dragon as she drew near and spoke. He wasn't stupid and had paid proper respect.
"Good morning, Mother Eminence. We are here to provide security for your meeting."
Carefully left unsaid was that the dragons didn't exactly need 'security' for themselves.
"Good morning, Steelarse. Pardon my ill temper. Somebody tried to cheer me up after a bit of disturbing information and it didn't work."
From the glare she threw the Weasleys, Steelarse could make some guesses. He was a little confused, however. Wasn't the biggest one supposed to be her favorite? He traded glances with Kurrast, wondering what Charlie Weasley could have possibly done. They'd be sure to take him to the side and find out later, after the Grog was distributed, and try to avoid whatever it was.
After all, a happy dragon made for a happy (and alive) Goblin...right?
|:-:|
Tessaies saw that one of the Goblins said something to the other but she didn't hear it. She did see the slight wince on Steelarse but decided that it wasn't important. One last spit of the taste of rum left a patch of grass smoking, the blackened tendrils finding their release into the air. She nodded to the Goblin leader and waited to see what he had to say.
"Do you have a place in mind for the meeting, Mother Eminence?"
Tessaies jerked her head toward the currently unused Dragon's Lectern.
"That's as good as anything. We hold our meetings in the open air. More room to fight if something goes wrong."
Steelarse grinned to himself. He could see that, since it was something he'd said more than once.
"Do you know who will be in attendance?"
Beside him, the subordinate Goblin was taking notes. She looked at him for a moment before answering.
"I will, obviously. Possibly Harry, if needed. Annika will be there – well really, every 'Hogwarts dragon,' as we all have an investment in him at some level. Philo here, as the Ministry representative for the Dragonborne Treaties and Treatises section of his department. Amelia Bones as DMLE Head and an unknown guest."
Steelarse raised an eyebrow.
"Is this 'guest' a danger?"
The look she gave him said plainly that he was being an idiot. He grunted and slapped the chest of the chuckling Goblin next to him.
"Oh, how silly of me. Four dragons in attendance and on Hogwarts grounds to boot. Of course this mystery guest will not be a problem," he pronounced dryly.
"And two, maybe three others from this 'Magical Children's Welfare' office."
Steelarse sighed.
"They mean well, and do well often, but there are times they spectacularly screw up. I hope this isn't one of those times."
The look she gave him this time was one that he barely managed to contain a shiver in response to.
"I'm fairly sure that's all," she muttered.
"Of course, Mother Eminence. I will see to the positioning of my squad and remain here in my role as dherlec shakhacis, of course. By your leave?"
She nodded and waved a talon in dismissal, mind already on the imminent meeting.
Steelarse left to arrange his troops and leave specific orders. Upon getting acknowledgments from all, he returned to find a Hungarian Horntail pacing back and forth. She was muttering things that he didn't recognize, but he could tell it was a mix of languages. A snatch or two was something he could translate, but only that sliver. Oddly, part of it was something about measurements and cooking times for beings that displeased her?
He raised an eyebrow and hoped that there wasn't going to be trouble, even if his group could deal with it.
|:-:|
Philo McClermont had decided to meet the group at the gates. Professor McGonagall had gone with him as the Deputy Headmistress. In their conversation along the way, she'd related that there had been some worry about Harry and the situation he was in but now they had disappeared.
"I took the opportunity to have a few conversations with Tessaies, er, 'woman-to-woman,' as it were."
"I can imagine – well, no, I can't but I'd think you as a caring woman would want the best for him. Don't worry, Professor, I won't say anything to ruin your stern image," he winked at her.
For her part, she huffed at him but nodded in thanks.
Up ahead, they could see the group gathered at the gate. A couple were hooded to conceal their identity, with one of those being an Unspeakable. The other wore a baby blue cloak that wouldn't have looked out of place in a nursery but was obviously a man. Both were unexpected and aside from the mystery, she wondered what an Unspeakable was doing at this meeting?
"I wonder who the other one is?" he murmured to her. They could see that the hooded man remained close to Madam Amelia Bones' side, as if he didn't trust any of the others. Not even to keep from sneezing on him, even. The hood twitched often as he obviously cast many glances around and didn't let anyone get behind him.
"I'm sure we will find out, sooner or later."
Minerva McGonagall stepped forward to greet the group.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The Mother Eminence is awaiting you and looking forward to speaking with all of you. A word of warning first. All dragons have diplomatic immunity under the Treaty and Mister McClermont is there as the representative of that Treaty's actions. Do not provoke the dragons and should you be invited to view their nests, do not – I repeat, do not – touch their eggs. Is that understood?"
Everyone was speared with the McGonagall Stare Number Four and everyone nodded. Even the Unspeakable, who was also gifted with the McGonagall Stare Number Three for good measure. After a moment, she nodded.
"This way, please. No time to waste."
|:-:|
Almost totally forgotten by now, the draconic badges on the robes of Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Tracey, and Luna flared into life, as did the runes in Neville's hands. Some of them were in study groups together and some were pursuing other activities. All were confused and resolved to find one another to try to figure out what had happened. No one had any idea what was going on.
Author's Note:
The meeting with the Ministry types will be next chapter. Tessaies may want the rum after that, assuming she hasn't dug into some obscure dialect of dragon speech to express herself.
I'm sending this chapter out now instead of including that meeting, since I have to batten down the hatches for a strong incoming storm.
