Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket.
A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid.
Chapter 10: Operation Grand Meeting.
I don't own the Harry Potter verse. Just playing.
Summary: A twist at the end of Harry's first trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid. As they approach the Leaky Cauldron to leave Diagon Alley, Hagrid decides to present Harry with his gold ticket to the Hogwarts Express, while Harry was really expecting to go directly to Hogwarts with Hagrid now. Harry asks a different question.
And that changes everything. HHr NLLL T for Characters deaths.
21/02/22 Beta by alix33. Thank you.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
After the situation with Frank and Alice had stabilized, and they were well on the way to a complete recovery, Gran found the time to review Harry's knowledge of his family and the magical world. She wasn't surprised that Harry was completely ignorant of the Magical World, given that Dumbledore was involved and had hidden him away in the Muggle World. But she was shocked and angry that the Manipulative Old Fool had kept Harry totally ignorant of his family heritage. That was criminally negligent of the Leader of the Light and totally unforgivable. What on earth was he thinking? That error was compounded by the fact the headmaster had made use of the Proxy of House Potter in the Wizengamot for his own political advantage. That would change now that she was the Guardian of Harry Potter and Harry appointed her the Regent of House Potter and could now appoint to herself the Wizengamot Proxy of House Potter.
So Gran would spend two hours each morning of the first week educating Harry about his family heritage and position in the Magical World including all of his magical relatives. In the afternoon, Gran would educate Neville, Luna and Harry in Magical Traditions and etiquette. She emphasized how important it was to learn this type of diplomacy as it helped you to understand what was expected of an heir to a Noble and Most Ancient House. It showed what you could do and how to do it politely. She explained it as a life size 4D chess match that helped you understand and discover who were your friends, and who were your enemies, and your enemies' friends and their motives in a game of power and control that Hogwarts had become with Dumbledore at the center of his web of intrigue. It also helped you to understand how to properly redeem potential enemies and turn them into potential friends before they could be used against you.
Gran spoke. "You see Harry, your actions to redeem and forgive Severus Snape with suitable punishments have allowed you to redeem a potential enemy that the headmaster could use against you and you have turned him to a potential resourceful friend."
"Yes, Sev explained what he had been like at Hogwarts to maintain his cover as a spy on the headmaster's instructions, and how damaging and divisive that has been to Hogwarts and the students. The headmaster has been using his hatred of my father to fuel his actions and I fear what would have happened at Hogwarts if I had not removed the headmaster's charms." Harry explained.
Gran continued. "It would have set up a confrontation that only the headmaster would benefit from, Harry. I am so proud of you, and pleased that you were able to do that with Severus. But there are many who have been caught up in the headmaster's web of intrigue and may be able to be redeemed if given the opportunity."
"I will try to help in any way I can, Gran." Harry replied.
Harry took to these studies and quickly caught up to Neville and Luna. He in turn taught Neville and Luna what Sev had taught him about the introduction to potions which was a great help to Neville as he was certain that the old Professor Snape would have singled him out. But having Luna living with them for the last year had brought him out of his shell, and really boosted his confidence and unlocked his intelligence and abilities that kept him active and he had lost a lot of weight. In the same way Neville had helped Luna to come out of her shell and recover from the lost of practically both her parents. Luna was more confident and knew she was loved by her Godbrother.
Sirius was feeling devastated and having problems after discovering the betrayal of the rat that had killed so many of his friends. He would spark up when he was with Harry but was soon exhausted and needed dreamless sleep potion to get through the night. Working with Croaker and dealing with Pettigrew was a step in the right direction as the treatment plan from Andromeda slowly helped him to recover his strength and mind.
At night in their shared bedroom, Harry soon discovered the joy of having a Godbrother as Neville had so many pillows that they could build forts and have pillow fights with his Godsister Luna. It was exhausting but so much fun. It also highlighted how special Luna was as neither Harry nor Neville could land a pillow on her as she danced around the room. All the while Luna was devastating and able to land pillows on them without missing once. It was if she knew where to be and where not to be.
These pillow fights were even more fun when Tonks stayed for a sleepover and taught them advanced magic that would come in handy once they were at Hogwarts. Harry would carefully use his ancient wand while Neville got good results from Harry's Holly and Phoenix feather wand, and Luna used her mother's wand.
Harry also told Tonks, Neville and Luna about his adventures with Sev, flying with Hedwig and Louis, learning to swim in the Irish Sea as an Orca and saving a Blue Whale. And their trip to the Natural History Museum in London where they ran around as a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Triceratops for an hour, and met a young witch their age who was dressed as Indiana Jones.
Luna and Neville could see by the way Harry talked about Indiana Jones, that she was special to him, and Luna knew she would be a great friend to her, Neville and Tonks.
While Tonks found it hard to believe that Professor Severus Snape could change that much so quickly. But even she learnt a thing or two from the introduction to Potions lessons that Harry gave. For Harry's sake, and being a Hufflepuff, she would give the new and improved Professor Snape a chance.
Harry also uncovered Neville and Luna's secret plans. For Luna had missed the cutoff date for Hogwarts that year by one day, and would normally start the following year. But that meant that she would be alone at Longbottom Manor. So Neville and Luna were developing a cunningly devised plan to sneak Luna into Hogwarts this year. The return of the Longbottom Cloak of Invisibility gave that plan a far more cunning alternative method of getting Luna into the castle other than hiding in Neville's trunk. Neville knew that if the Sorting Hat accepted Luna and sorted her, then she would be in. Despite what a certain manipulative headmaster might say and do.
Tonks and Harry agreed to help and not to tell Gran.
This of course didn't mean that You-Know-Who didn't know You-Know-What. Even though she would miss Luna, she knew that she was more than ready for Hogwarts and would keep Neville on his toes.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Longbottom Manor soon got into a routine with the care of Frank and Alice, with Gran sharing an afternoon nap on the couch in the master bedroom as she watched over her son and daughter-in-law as they slept.
And Gran's afternoon nap presented an opportunity for some who needed to be surreptitious away from Longbottom Manor without You-Know-Who knowing.
For Princess, Hedwig and Louis had a need to get Harry into Diagon Alley and into Flourish and Blotts particularly, so they could orchestrate a meeting with Indiana Jones, AKA Hermione.
For Luna, she needed her wand and a cat for Hogwarts. She had decided to use her mother's old school trunk because it was her mother's, and she had already added a lot of handy features like shrinking to a matchbox, and the Ancient Runes for feather-light and indestructibility. She had used the willing services of Hedwig and Louis to Owl Order all the items on Neville's list of things needed including her fitting size for her school robes, plus the extra books in the introduction to Potions that Sev had got Harry. She just needed her wand and cat.
For Neville, he needed his own wand.
For Harry, he needed a break and couldn't work out why Princess, Hedwig and Louis were disappearing during the day and were acting strangely. And he wanted to visit that Ice Cream Parlor.
Harry was able to finance the expedition from the gold he had collected from his vault with Hagrid. As the vault bags of Gringotts were charmed with Ancient Runes to be bottomless and feather-light, and Hagrid's hands were so large that two scoops was a lot of gold that Hagrid wouldn't let Harry spend because of the orders of the headmaster. Not even for an ice cream.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Meanwhile.
On an odd day Mundungus "Dung" Fletcher, a half-blood wizard of ill repute, and who was involved in many illegal activities, and having a notoriously disreputable reputation arrived at Gringotts with a tiny gold key that he had 'found' in Diagon Alley, and instead of doing the right thing and handing the lost key in for the ten galleon finders reward, he decided to check out whichever vault it opened. The Goblins happily accommodated his request to be taken to the said vault and cheerfully put him in the small cart and sent him on his way, alone. Mundungus realised something was wrong when the small cart went deep inside Gringotts and ejected him into the dragon pens.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
On an afternoon when Sirius was away with Croaker and the rat, and Tonks was visiting, the Trio decided to act. Tonks understood what they were trying to do and agreed to help on the condition that Princess watched over the Trio in Diagon Alley while she and Betsy pretended that the Trio was still at Longbottom Manor during Gran's two hour afternoon nap. Tonks had really wanted to go to Diagon Alley instead of them but Neville had to be there for his wand to choose him, and Luna had to be there for her wand and her cat to choose her. Plus Princess could pop the Trio directly in and out of Diagon Alley and keep Overwatch for any danger while there.
So Gran shooed the children off to play with Tonks in Neville's bedroom while she went to have her afternoon nap with Frank and Alice.
Operation Luna Ascent was a go.
While for another trio, Operation Grand Meeting was a go and Princess popped away to deliver a message and returned.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Meanwhile, Hermione was in her bedroom reading her favourite book, Hogwarts, A History, for the third time when she heard a pop behind her. She turns to see a piece of parchment had appeared out of thin air and was slowly floating to the floor. She caught it and read the message.
'Go to Flourish and Blotts, now!'
'P'.
The mysterious message was signed by a more mysterious capital 'P'.
Hermione quickly got dress and ran to to her mother. "Mum, I need another book from Flourish and Blotts!"
"Again?" Emma Granger questioned as she saw the piece of parchment in her hand and read it.
"Pleeeease! Mum! It is very important!"
"Oh, okay. We can try that Ice Cream place afterwards." Emma replied and chuckled to see her daughter dressed as Indiana Jones and ready for another adventure. She smirked as she put on her own brown leather flight jacket, leather satchel and a cute white fedora hat.
The game was afoot.
While a certain snowy owl whose name starts with the letter 'L', watched them leave and did a wing-pump as he barked a 'Yes!'
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Princess popped into Neville's bedroom and popped the trio to Diagon Alley, and then went invisible while she watched over them. She hoped Indiana would respond to her message.
The trio started with Mr Ollivander to obtain wands for Neville and Luna, while Harry waited hidden under the Longbottom Cloak of Invisibility.
A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a front counter and a single, spindly chair that the invisible Harry sat on to wait. Harry still felt a little strange as he looked at the hundreds of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. Having so many magical wands in the one room seemed to cause the back of his neck to prickle. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
Mr Ollivander didn't seem to detect Harry's presence as he launched his spiel of Wand Lore and stressed the importance of the Wand choosing the Wizard.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Neville jumped.
An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello," said Neville awkwardly but took confidence from Luna holding his hand.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you sooner than this. Mr Longbottom." It wasn't a question. "You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Eleven and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of oak and unicorn hair. Nice wand for transfiguration work."
Mr Ollivander moved closer to Neville. Neville wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
"Your father, on the other hand, favored a willow wand with heartstrings of dragons. Ten inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for charms. Well, I say your father favored it — it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
He shook his head and then, to Neville's relief, spotted Luna standing next to him.
"Miss Lovegood! How nice to see you again. I am most sorry for the loss of your mother. She was a brilliant witch, and I miss her." He spoke comfortingly. "And your father, still away?"
Tears formed in Luna's eyes as Neville hugged her while Mr Ollivander focused on something else.
"Hmm," said Mr Ollivander, giving Neville a piercing look. "Well, now — Mr Longbottom. Let me see." He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er — right," said Neville.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Neville from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round his head. As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Mr Longbottom. We use unicorn hairs, the heartstrings of dragons and very rarely, phoenix tail feathers. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Luna suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between Neville's nostrils, was doing this on its own.
"Naughty tape!" She said as she slapped it away and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor.
Mr Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"Right then, Mr Longbottom. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Eight inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Neville took the wand and waved it around a bit, but Mr Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try —"
Neville tried — but he had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr Ollivander.
"No, no — here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Neville tried. And tried. And was losing confidence as he knew what Mr Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the front counter, but the more wands Mr Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere — I wonder, now — yes, why not — unusual combination — cherry and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Neville took the wand. He felt a sudden warmth in his fingers. He raised the wand above his head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of red and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls.
The invisible Harry fist-pumped a yes and was very happy for his Godbrother.
The invisible Princess was happy to see Louis arrive and give her a wink. Indiana was on her way.
While Luna cheered and clapped and Mr Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious..."
The hairs on the back of Harry's neck rose up as history seemed to repeat.
"Sorry," said Neville, "but what's curious?"
Mr Ollivander fixed Neville with his pale stare.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr Longbottom. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix tail feather that is in your wand, was very long and I only needed half to fill the core of your wand. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — the other half of the tail feather went into the wand of Mr Potter. I understand that he is your Godbrother?"
Harry, Neville and Luna swallowed.
"Yes, holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember... I think we must expect great things from you, Mr Longbottom. After all, the Boy-Who-Lived did great things."
Harry and Neville shivered. They weren't sure if they liked Mr Ollivander too much.
While Mr Ollivander was busy fussing with Neville's wand, Luna used her Seer ability to feel for the wand that would be her perfect match. She stepped forward and pointed to a small bright yellow box high on a shelf.
"Miss Lovegood?" Mr Ollivander smiled and chuckled. "Your mother was rather early for her wand and she saved me a lot of time by pointing out her perfect match."
Mr Ollivander didn't bother to ask any more questions, nor talk about her parents, nor take her measurements as he moved the ladder and climbed up to get the yellow box and returned. He carefully opened the yellow box and made a grand show of presenting the beautiful Oak and Unicorn hair wand to Luna.
Luna looked at Neville who nodded encouragement as she slowly took the wand. She felt a sudden warmth in her fingers. She raised the wand above her head, brought it swishing down through the dusty air and a stream of silver, purple and gold sparks shot from the end like a firework, throwing dancing spots of light on to the walls as bright as the smile on her face. Neville whooped and clapped as Harry fist-pumped a, 'Yes!'
Mr Ollivander cried, "Oh, bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well... how curious... how very curious..."
The hairs on the back of Harry, Neville and Luna's neck rose up as history seemed to repeat or did Mr Ollivander just do this for all of his customers and give them a history of their wand?
"Sorry," said Luna, "but what's curious?"
Mr Ollivander fixed Luna with his pale stare.
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss Lovegood. Every single wand. It so happens that the Unicorn hair that is in your wand, came from the Unicorn that is the matriarch of the Forbidden Forest, who gave another hair — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its sister chose to your mother."
Luna gasped and Neville hugged her in support.
"We must expect great things from you, Miss Lovegood, for your mother was a brilliant and great witch."
Luna smiled and felt honoured to have this wand.
Neville spoke. "Er, could we have two…"
Luna held up three fingers.
"Er, make that three wand holsters, please." Neville asked.
Mr Ollivander reached under the counter and brought out one plain wizard wand holster and two beautiful matching witch wand holsters as Luna nodded.
Neville paid twenty gold Galleons for the two wands and holsters. They helped each other to fit the wand holster to their wand arm, but Luna liked to store her wand behind her ear as her mother had done. Luna put the third holster in her pocket.
Mr Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
"How curious... how very curious." The old man said to himself as he watched them go. He had felt the presence of another wizard with those children. So he had not mentioned the other brother wand, the evil twin to Mr Potter's wand. Phoenix tail feathers were rather long. Long enough for two wands. Garrick Ollivander was not one to waste any magical core material. Except for the left over half of the long Phoenix tail feather used in Tom Riddle's wand. He had destroyed that feather for he feared that it would make another evil twin wand.
He had expected a visit from the manipulative headmaster after Mr Potter's wand had chosen him, but he never came. He didn't know what game the headmaster was playing but he had felt the Winds of Magic were changing and he would not be informing the old fool of this new development with Mr Longbottom and Miss Lovegood.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
The trio continued around Diagon Alley and totally ignored the display posters for the Boy-Who-Lived books, even the latest edition, Harry Potter and the Lost Gold Ticket. That had a magically moving picture on the cover of Hagrid giving the old look Harry, his Gold Hogwarts Express Ticket that must have been taken during his previous trip to Diagon Alley with Hagrid.
They visited Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor and discovered the new Ice Cream treats and that the Parlor now did takeaway and Owl Orders. As they were short on time, Harry ordered enough Emma's Knickerbocker Glory in chocolate, dark chocolate, and Rum and Raisin for everyone including Tonks, and gave the takeaway order of delicious frozen packages tied up with string to Hedwig and Louis to fly home to Longbottom Manor.
Luna's seer senses were tingling as she led Harry and Neville to the Magical Menagerie. They entered the store looking for a certain Kneazle as Luna would like a cat to take to Hogwarts. Moments after they entered a large beautiful pure white Kneazle leaped into Luna's arms. Her name was Moonlight for her bright silver eyes, and she was almost as big as Luna.
So Luna immediately fell in love with her as they hugged and snuggled noses.
Unfortunately, Moonlight had a close personal friend who was not so keen to see her leave. A large ginger cat part Kneazle part saber-tooth tiger with a squashed flat face hidden by his thick and fluffy two-tone ginger fur, it was definitely a bit bowlegged and its face looked grumpy and oddly squashed, as though it had run headlong into a brick wall when he was younger, (Maybe a certain someone had been chasing him on a toy broom!) and a long bottlebrush tail that seemed to go on forever. He prowled out of the shadows and sized up Harry and Neville with an unusual intelligence as though he had an ability to identify suspicious characters. As Neville was fussing over Luna's cat, Moonlight, the ginger cat focused on Harry and recognised those unmistakable emerald green eyes of his late beloved Mistress Lily. He could see that the boy was a little rough around the edges and there was plenty of room for improvement. But he was family and that was enough for him and he jumped into the arms of the son of Mistress Lily. The witch at the front counter had never seen the ginger cat do that in all the years he had been in the shop, and knew Crookshanks would be most unhappy if he was left behind. So she made Luna and Harry an offer they couldn't refuse.
The trio walked out of the Magical Menagerie with Neville carrying a small wickerwork basket that was charmed to be bigger on the inside and feather-light, with Moonlight and Crookshanks snuggled up inside. Luna had decided if Moonlight accepted Neville, he could take Moonlight to Hogwarts for her, and leave Trevor the toad to guard the greenhouses at home.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Luna's Seer Senses were tingling again as she felt something was about to happen. While they slowly walked to meet Princess at the rendezvous point in the small side alley next to Flourish and Blotts.
Luna paused outside the Apothecary and then quickly led Harry and Neville across Diagon Alley and to a corner inside Flourish and Blotts where they were meant to be at that moment. As they didn't need any more books, the boys just went along with her. The store was mostly empty after the rush to buy school textbooks and the Boy-Who-Lived books.
After the note from the mysterious 'P', Hermione Granger was on a mission and this was her third trip to Diagon Alley under the pretext of buying more books but actually she was hoping to spot a cute boy her age with emerald green eyes and dark hair with red highlights who liked to hang out in museums as a dinosaur. She led her mother into Flourish and Blotts as she spoke about a book mentioned in Hogwarts, A History.
Then Harry heard a bossy sort of voice talking excitingly about some books behind him. He turned to see a white fedora hat, on a head with lots of bushy brown hair, enter Flourish and Blotts, and he whispered.
"Indiana!"
While an invisible Princess fist-pumped and whispered, 'Yes!'. She knew Love would find a way.
Hermione felt that feeling that someone was watching her and turned to a corner of the bookstore and saw those unmistakable emerald green eyes looking straight into her soul.
"Trex."
She whispered as she grabbed her mother's hand a led her over to the corner. The look of recognition and that lopsided grin caused her to leap on the cute boy and hug the stuffing out of him.
Luna saw the faint golden glow surround Harry and Indiana as Harry had found his soul mate.
Neville and Luna high-fived and Luna then raised her fists with a victory. "Yes!"
Being a seer, Luna knew that this would be the best moment for Harry to meet his special one.
While Princess danced a little jig. Getting these two to meet was a Labour of Love. She just wished Hedwig and Louis would hurry back to see that faint golden glow. A bark behind her indicated they had returned in time.
Luna took her new wand from behind her ear and used it to place the Muffliato Charm on the bookcases so it would fill the ears of any person in the vicinity of the caster with an unidentifiable buzzing sound that would encourage them to move away and allow for them to have an important conversation without being overheard. She had learnt the charm from Tonks when they had a sleepover the other night. Tonks had also taught Neville the Notice-Me-Not charm which he cheerfully cast with his new wand and then placed a small wickerwork basket on the floor.
Emma watched in wonder as the two children cast magic around them and noticed the few other witches and wizards in the shop totally ignore them and move away.
Luna smiled at Emma. "We cast some privacy charms so they wouldn't notice us nor overhear us."
"Oh?" Emma said as she turned her attention to her daughter.
"Hi, Indiana. Long time no see." Chuckled Harry.
"Hi Trex, I see that you have lost some weight." Hermione smiled back.
"Oh?" Hermione felt her mother's eyes on her.
"Hermione, do you know this boy?" Emma Granger asked after seeing the strange reaction of her daughter still hugging the boy with no intentions of releasing him.
"Er?" Hermione embarrassingly answered.
As Harry had his arms full, Neville did the introductions.
"May I introduce myself, I am Heir Neville Longbottom, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom." Neville said quietly as his kissed the back of Emma's hand, as he practiced his Magical Traditions etiquette. "These are my friends, Luna Lovegood, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Lovegood, and the one holding your daughter is Harry Potter, of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Potter."
Harry unwrapped his right arm from around Hermione and reached out to kiss Emma's hand as Luna curtsied.
Hermione unwrapped her arms as she introduced. "This is my mother, Emma Granger and I am Hermione." As they followed Luna's example and curtsied as Harry then Neville kissed the back of her hand.
"Hi Hermione." Luna hugged her. "So, you're Indiana Jones? Harry has told us all about you."
Emma twigged to what was going on and those emerald green eyes were unmistakable. "Indiana? Trex? You wouldn't happened to know anything about a Tyrannosaurus Rex that happened to be running around at the Natural History Museum in London, would you?"
Harry went blank for a moment. "Oh? What? No, no, no, absolutely not!"
Emma tilted her head to the side and raised a questioning eyebrow, as Luna whispered to Neville.
"The Dubious Naysayers are strong with this one."
Neville snorted. He loved Luna's magical creatures. It gave them their own imaginative language as Luna stuck it to the man!
While Emma smiled as she was most amused and had worked out what Luna had meant, while Hermione wondered what a Dubious Naysayer was.
Harry had learnt Luna speak and smiled as he surrendered and put his hands up.
"Well, okay, okay, maybe just a little bit."
He made the little bit hand gesture with his fingers.
"Well thank you for saving my daughter and not eating her." Emma said as she hugged the stuffing out of Harry and inadvertently got a magical buzz that made her a little light-headed. "We thought those dinosaurs were movie props until you saved Hermione, and then you blew that raspberry. That was so funny."
Emma released Harry and Hermione took her place and hugged him again. Emma gave her daughter that 'we will talk about this later' look.
Crookshanks managed to unlock the small wickerwork basket and opened the door for Moonlight and she came out and jumped into Luna's arms. Emma was surprised to see such a large cat come out of such a small wickerwork basket. Then an even bigger ginger tiger cat came out and walked around Harry so he could use his unusual intelligence to identify the character of the witch next to him. Crookshanks could see the witch was marked with an extraordinary intelligence and a unique brilliance that would make her equal to his beloved Mistress Lily. So Crookshanks chose his witch and jumped up into Hermione's arms.
Harry explained to Emma's questioning look. "It's bigger on the inside. This is Luna's cat, Moonlight, and that is Crookshanks, Moonlight's close personal friend."
"Isn't he gorgeous mum? He looks so intelligent." Hermione said as she tried to pass the ginger cat to Harry but Crookshanks had other ideas as he climbed up and wrapped himself around the back of her neck and across her shoulders.
"Is this your cat?" Emma asked Harry. "He is enormous."
"Crookshanks was, but he has chosen Hermione now." Harry replied. "The Cat chooses their witch."
"Can I keep him, mum? Pleeeease?" Hermione pleaded with the little ginger tiger precariously balanced on her shoulders and smiling like a Cheshire cat.
"We will ask your father." Emma judiciously replied as Hermione smiled. Her father would never refuse her.
Hermione could tell that Harry was surprised to see her, so the mysterious 'P' on the piece of parchment wasn't Potter. So she silently thanked her Guardian Angel and then explained that they were looking for more books and Harry suggested that she purchased the extra introduction to potions books that Sev had given him.
Hedwig and Louis had returned quickly as they didn't want to miss this meeting, and had landed on the low bookcase. Hermione recognised them from her strange dreams. She was about to say something when the larger owl held up her wingtip feather to her beak and winked.
"Oh?" She said as the beautiful snowy owl had just asked her not to say anything and to go along with it.
While Crookshanks let out a soft growl.
Then the eyes of the larger owl went wide when she saw who was perched on Hermione's shoulders. As Harry was standing right next to Hermione, Hedwig flew up to land on his shoulder and greeted the cat of beloved Mistress Lily, Crookshanks. They rubbed noses as she hugged him with a wing and the cat wrapped a paw around the owl and purred.
Emma chuckled. "The Owl and the pussy cat must know each other?"
Hedwig barked at Harry.
"Crookshanks was my mother's cat?" Harry translated. "Wow!"
"Your family is coming back together, Harry." Luna cheered.
Harry smiled and wondered who else of his family was still alive and missing. So far he had gathered three uncles, Sev, Sirius and Moony. A Godmother, Alice and Gran, two aunts; Princess and Andromeda, and a cousin, Tonks, plus Hedwig, Louis, Neville and Luna.
But Hermione felt a little uncomfortable knowing. "But Harry, Crookshanks was your mother's cat. Don't you want to keep him?"
Harry thought for a moment and looked at Crookshanks who shook his head and snuggled closer into Hermione's neck. "It's okay. Crookshanks chose you. My mother was a brilliant witch, so Crookshanks must have a thing for brilliant witches."
Hermione and Emma chuckled at the smooth move while Crookshanks gave a Cheshire grin and Hedwig barked to get attention.
"Oh, sorry. Hedwig and Louis. This is Hermione and her mum, Emma." Harry did the introductions.
The owls barked a hello and played along as they had been watching over Hermione.
"Could you fly her parcels to her home, please?"
Hedwig barked, and they flew Hermione's extra books to her home along with a second small wickerwork basket containing a rather large ginger cat and delivered them directly to Hermione's bedroom. Where Crookshanks made himself at home only to discover that the Grangers had a neighbour who had one of those annoying little dogs that wouldn't stop barking. Not to worry, Crookshanks will soon sort that out.
Luna smiled as she hatched a cunningly devised plan to meet Hermione again before Hogwarts. "Hermione? Would you and your parents like to come to a Surprise Birthday Party for Harry and me?"
Hermione and Emma thought for a moment.
Neville spoke. "Luna, one doesn't normally organize their own Surprise Birthday Party."
"Oh, the surprise is not for me. It is for Gran." Luna explained. "A sort of going-away party."
Emma smiled at Luna's delightful logic. "When will it be?"
"Oh, on Thursday the twenty-ninth of August at five o'clock." Luna thought up.
"That sounds okay."
"Good, would you like to stay for the weekend? We could magically travel to King's Cross station together on the first of September." Luna extended the invitation. "You could see a magical home and garden."
"That will be lovely." Emma replied.
As Neville stepped forward. "Good, we will send an official invitation by Owl. Do you have a Floo connection?"
Hermione and Emma shook their heads.
"Okay, not a problem, we will send you a Portkey." Neville replied as Luna showed Hermione a book on Magical Transportation. Hermione smiled as she accepted it.
Luna took out the third wand holster and fitted it to Hermione's wand arm. She showed her how to use the finger trigger to store and launch her wand into her hand. Hermione thanked her with a hug as she practiced with her wand.
The invisible Princess coughed and that was the signal to return to Longbottom Manor.
A final hug and they returned home. Hermione and Emma left the corner of the store where they had been with Harry, Luna and Neville, and now didn't notice as the trio popped away, while they headed back to the Leaky Cauldron and to their car. The charms Luna and Neville had placed would fade away in another hour.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Once they returned to Neville's bedroom at Longbottom Manor, Tonks could see they had a very successful mission from the smiles on their faces. She would get all the details tonight. But there had been a little issue at Longbottom Manor, and pointed out a little problem or two.
"Oh, great you have returned. Gran woke up early and your mother needed you, Neville. I told her we were playing Hide and Seek, and would send you along as soon as I found you." Tonks explained.
Neville hugged her. "You're the best, Tonks!" And ran off to see his mother.
Tonks continued. "Harry? How did you get all that delicious ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, if you hadn't left the Manor this afternoon?"
"You're right, Tonks." Luna said as she turned to Harry. "You must give all the ice cream to Tonks, and she can give it to Betsy for desert tonight."
"Okay, good idea." Harry agreed and gave Tonks all the ice cream and a Takeaway and Owl Order menu.
That night they had a delicious tea and Betsy brought in the scrumptious ice creams that Tonks had given her. Gran loved the Rum and Raisin Emma's Knickerbocker Glory, and asked Tonks how she discovered it. Tonks coyly passed her the Takeaway and Owl Order menu. While Harry, Neville and Luna hid their smirks. All for one and one for all.
And Gran was really surprised by Luna's Surprise Birthday Party and she was happy to conclude all the arrangements with the addition of adding Neville to the birthday list as it would be only his second Birthday Party he had shared with his parents.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
So Operation Luna Ascent had successfully survived its first step.
While Operation Grand Meeting was a complete success.
And Princess, Hedwig and Louis could go back to being normal.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
While Hermione and Emma had that talk on the way home in the car.
Emma started. "Hermione, you knew the Tyrannosaurus Rex was a wizard?"
She nodded.
"And these trips for more books were a subterfuge to come to Flourish and Blotts to find Harry?"
She nodded shyly as she bit her bottom lip.
"Oh, Hermione, I am so proud of you!" Emma said as she wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "That was quite the adventure!"
"You're not angry?" Hermione asked.
"No, this has been so much fun, and we hoped you would find a friend and you found three!" Emma smiled. "And he is so cute!"
"Oh! Yeah! He is!" Hermione agreed. "And he has already saved me!"
"But he doesn't look like the Harry Potter in those books."
"No, I think he looks better!"
"Oh! Yeah!" Emma agreed. "Good for you, Hermione!"
They drove home in a happy buzz as Hermione asked how she and dad met, and they returned to a strangely very quiet neighbourhood.
They found her father, Dan, on the back porch sharing a beer with his new friend, Shere Khan, a certain familiar bowlegged ginger tiger cat who seemed to enjoying drinking beer out of an ashtray. Shere Khan looked at Dan and he topped up the ashtray and clinked it with his beer bottle as he told a strange story.
"I found Shere Khan, the tiger cat, inside the house when I came home and he prowled out when I opened the door. The neighbour's annoying dog was loudly disturbing the peace and quiet, and the cat just sauntered over to the fence, climbed up to the top and stared down the little nuisance. The dog, of course, went berserk, but then."
Dan paused as he tried to mimic Shere Khan's majestic tiger roar.
"RAAWWRR GRRAW RAAWWRR!"
"That cat let out a roar. It sounded like a giant tiger and the deep guttural growl sent shivers down my spine. The little nuisance just vanished as if by magic. We haven't heard a peep since."
While Shere Khan innocently sat there after Dan's rather poor imitation of his majestic roar, with a knowing smirk that said, 'what an idiot'. He winked at Hermione as she understood what he had said as he enjoyed his beer and the good company of his funny friend, Dan.
Hermione was surprised that she understood her familiar and started to explain where Shere Khan had come from. But her mother stopped her with a look. She led her inside and left the two males. She explains that this was a secret male bonding ritual.
Hermione returned to her room and found a gold gift wrapped dark chocolate Emma's Knickerbocker Glory on her table with a note that said.
'Enjoy, P'
And she did and gave half to Shere Khan who seems to have a sweet tooth.
It had been a great successful day, for Hermione had made three friends who accepted her for who she was and will love her forever.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Later that night when they were alone, Emma explained. "Dan, the cat had come from Hermione's new boyfriend."
Dan was half asleep as he replied. "Oh? Well, if the boy was anything like my friend, Shere Khan, I am okay with that, and I know my little princess will be safe in this new world that she was going to."
So, of course, Crookshanks, er, Shere Khan stayed.
Crookshanks was a rather unkind name while Shere Khan reflected his proud inner tiger heritage.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Later Dan woke up and asked. "Where did Hermione meet her boyfriend?"
A sleepy Emma replied. "At the Natural History Museum in London."
"Oh? Who was it? The only one to get close to Hermione was the…." Dan realised too late. "No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes, he was the Tyrannosaurus Rex that saved your little Princess from the Triceratops."
"Wizards can do that?"
"Mm-hmm."
"So, I can't give him the 'you better not hurt my Little Princess' speech."
"Not unless you want to be eaten."
"Damn!"
"And he is so cute and cuddly." Emma added with a wicked giggle.
"Double Damn!"
"And those emerald green eyes!" Emma added with a mischievous wicked giggle. She was enjoying this.
"Triple Damn!"
They didn't get much sleep after that!
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -
Thank you for reading.
- Harry Potter and the Unwanted Ticket. -