In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 38: Les Pierre
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked quickly that Wednesday evening, made it to 26 Oak fifteen minutes after having left Hermione's house. They entered.
Thump! Thump!
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" came Andy's voice as she yelled upstairs.
"You're not ready?" Jen asked, already with a jumper on.
"Just be a moment," Harry said.
Harry climbed up the stairs, Kristen already at the top facing Andy's bedroom.
"Richard has behaved himself," Kristen said, in her police uniform, "You might try it too."
Harry walked behind Kristen, entered Gia's bedroom.
Hoot!
Harry glanced at the bird, Hedwig on the perch watched as he put the backpack onto the bed. Hermione followed. Richard entered as Harry grabbed a pair of skis. Richard shut the door and watched as Harry shoved the skis into the backpack.
"Cool," Richard said, "How much can those carry?"
"Dunno." Harry shrugged as he stuffed in another pair of skis.
"I don't think they've emptied them, ever," Hermione said, "Likely a mold convention in there."
"Just a few more moments," Harry said.
Harry grabbed a tub from beneath Gia's bed, pulled it out, and dumped the contents into his backpack. Harry added in the school–bags and shoved in his Firebolt.
"Ready?" Hermione asked.
"Just about," Harry said as he stepped next to the shelf. He stroked Hedwig's feathers, and she nibbled at his fingers. "It's a muggle place I'm going to, and I doubt you'd go unnoticed. I'll be back in a week." Harry filled up her food dish, placed a couple of treats on top, and cracked the window open.
"Ready!" Richard announced as he left the bedroom.
Harry carried his leather backpack as he followed, Hermione behind him.
"Andrea," Kristen said, "I am trusting you, on your own, for a short while—do not squander it."
Harry went down the steps.
"This way," said Kurt.
Harry went out the front door, to the blue sedan that was waiting with Ron and Gia, entered. Kurt got in, started the engine. Hermione, Jen, and Richard got into the police cruiser with Kristen.
"Little holiday?" Kurt asked.
"Yeah," Harry replied, "Won't go into the details, but it'll be fun."
"Have you skied before?" Kurt asked.
"Nope," Harry said.
"Best advice is to take it easy," Kurt said, "Sign up for lessons, learn the ropes so you don't injure yourself."
…
Ron leaned back as the blue sedan crossed the rumble strip, the marker that they were now past the fence around Noigate Regional Airport. They followed the police cruiser to stop next to the small hanger with a large number 23 painted on its doors. It was already 6:12 in the evening. Richard jumped out of the police cruiser, went over to pull the door back. Ron got out. Harry had both backpacks slung around his shoulders. Gia, Hermione, and Jen all had purses hanging from their shoulders.
"Be careful," Kristen said as the small plane was starting to be revealed.
"We'll be fine!" Richard assured as he finished opening the hangar door. He flipped a switch, fluorescent lights turned on overhead.
"Come here," Kristen said.
Richard walked over to her, and she hugged him.
"Fly safe and call when you get there," Kristen said, "Now, I'm already late for Ian's farewell dinner as he accepted a transfer to the Cornwall Police Service."
"I'll stay until they take off," Kurt said as she went for her cruiser.
"Thank you dear," Kristen said before she got in. Kristen drove away.
Ron walked with Harry to the plane. It was about twenty eight feet long with a thirty six foot span on the low wing, and about nine feet tall. It had a white top side, red belly, and a four bladed propeller. Richard walked right, started around the plane, when he opened a small door to the rear of the ten foot long cabin.
"We don't have too many bags—they go in here," Richard said.
Jen hauled in the suitcase with her and Richard's gear. Harry lowered in the two backpacks.
"Traveling light?" Jen asked.
"Something like that," Harry said.
Richard closed the small door, started back around the plane.
"This is a Piper Saratoga II TC that Trevor picked up, used, several years ago," Richard said, "The engine was shot, so he crammed in a Pratt Whitney 450—" He grabbed the propeller "—and with this, this can cruise at 260 knots."
"Sounds fast," Hermione said.
"Compared to a Firebolt?" Ron asked.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"In case you didn't see it on the way in," Richard said, "There is a portable loo several doors down—I suggest you use it as there isn't one at nine thousand feet."
Jen moved fast for it, Hermione and Gia followed.
"Now there's a queue," Ron moaned.
"We won't leave without you," Harry said.
Harry and Ron went over to portable loo as Jen left and Hermione entered. Ron caught those bottle green eyes as they flickered.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Harry said.
Ron glanced at those eyes, caught two notions, shiny and being watched.
"Dumbledore knows our itinerary," Harry said.
"What's up?" Harry asked.
Ron stood next to Harry as they watched Richard walk about the plane. Richard moved the ailerons, the elevators, and the vertical stabilizer, his eyes fixed as he surveyed the mechanisms.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"It's a preflight check. I have to be be certain it's flightworthy—it's standard procedure." Richard took out a glass cup, poked its spigot into the right wing, where a small bit of liquid filled the cup. "This is fuel and it's clear—which is good."
Harry started to rub a horizontal gray tube under the wing.
"Don't!" Richard said, "That's the pitot tube, it measures the air speed, and I need it."
Harry's hand had already flinched back. Richard kicked a tire, reached in, flipped a switch; red and green lights on the wingtips lit up.
"Fascinating," Ron said, "Dad would love to see this Muggle plane work."
"There you go again with that word Muggle'," Richard said.
"Just means you've got no magical abilities," Harry said.
Jen, Hermione, and Gia returned. All three had their purses strapped over their shoulders, by their sides.
"Ready to go?" Jen asked.
"Just a moment," Richard said, waved. Harry and Ron followed to the portable loo. They came back a few moments later. "Yep."
Richard removed the wheel chocks, attached a handle to the front wheel, and started to pull.
"Why don't we just walk there?" Ron asked.
"I want to close the hangar door before we started her up," Richard said, ignoring Ron's comment, as the plane came to a stop outside the hangar.
"I'll get it," Kurt said.
"Front has the most head room," Richard said, "You're up there."
"Why?" Hermione said, "It's not like he actually uses his head."
"Mione!" Ron returned her glare.
"Shortest in the back," Harry said to Hermione.
Harry stepped onto the wing, climbed in, and scrambled into the far back left–side seat. Hermione groaned, followed to the back right.
"Ladies first," Ron said, pointed.
Gia and Jen climbed into the middle seats. Ron stepped onto the wing, and sat in the left front seat. Richard climbed in, sat.
"Shut—" Jen started, shivered a bit.
"We won't bother with the canopy, not yet," Richard said, "Everybody, grab a headset so we can talk in flight—too noisy otherwise."
Richard handed a headset to Ron, demonstrated how to put it on, and Ron put it on.
"Hello?" Hermione asked into the headset.
"CLEAR!" Richard yelled out of the canopy.
CHUG! CHUG! WHIRL!
Ron tensed up for a moment, thought of his wand in his backpack as the blades of the propeller spun as the engine came to life with its roar.
"Never flown before?" Jen asked.
"Not like this," Ron said, "Now the car—that's different."
Harry's snorts came through the crackle of the headset.
"You remember what became of that!" Hermione said.
"Painting at school," Harry said.
Hermione groaned.
"Stop off for gas," Richard said, as they taxied across the open, from the hangar over to the gas pump.
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Unless you're planning to hocus pocus," Richard said, "Plane requires fuel to fly."
"Suppose we could just find a broom for Hermione," Ron said.
"Ron!" Jen snapped, "To imply that your girlfriend is a witch—that's poor taste indeed. Why do you put up with this bloke?"
"Good question," Hermione said, "I still do."
"Everybody out while we pump," Richard said as he climbed out.
Ron climbed out, and hopped onto the concrete.
"Heat?" Jen asked.
"I'll crank it up once we're in the air," Richard promised as he watched Gia, Hermione, and Harry get off.
"You referred to your girlfriend as a witch, very poor taste," Jen said.
Ron ignored Jen, focused on Richard.
"What's that?" Ron asked as Richard clamped a wire to the plane.
"Keeps static electricity from building up," Richard said as he opened the caps, "Always a chance of catching fire while fueling—best to be safe."
"Fire?" Ron asked.
"No, we don't want that," Harry replied.
Richard slid a credit card through the reader on the pump. He inserted the nozzle, began to pump into the tanks. Ron glanced at Harry's eyes flickering over to the other side of the airport.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Nothing," Harry said.
Ron muttered beneath his breath as he stared at those bottle greens. He could see it through Harry's eyes, the glint of glass and pink hair within a shrub.
"You're the best seeker in a century," Ron said.
Hermione's eyes betrayed her befuddlement as she studied Harry and Ron.
"Do not assume we're alone," Harry said.
"All aboard!" Richard said as he pulled the receipt out of the pump.
They climbed back in, Richard last.
"CLEAR!" Richard shouted out as he turned the key.
This time, Ron knew what to expect, the blades of the propeller spun up. Richard closed the canopy. Richard worked the controls, and the plane taxied toward the end of the runway.
"—proceeding to take off," Richard said.
"That's?" Ron asked.
"It's technically uncontrolled," Richard said, "But still advise anybody listening we're about to take off."
"Look forward," Jen advised Ron as they came to a stop at the end of the runway, aligned with it.
"Please remain silent," Richard said, "I need to focus."
Richard breathed deeply, pulled on the throttle to full. Ron felt the roar, the vibrations. Ron watched Richard; eyes forward, hands on the controls, and they accelerated rapidly down the runway.
"Ron!" Hermione said.
Ron turned forward as they reached ninety three knots; Richard pulled back on the stick. Back of the plane dropped as the front end moved upward; Ron sank in the seat as the plane soared into the evening sky, the light of the waxing moon repelled the darkness, basked the countryside below in its glow. Richard turned the wheel, and they banked to the right for a bit, before climbing upward in the east–south–east direction. After ten minutes, Richard relaxed, and they leveled off.
"We're now at nine thousand feet," Richard said, "At two hundred sixty knots, and we have several hours until we arrive."
"It's not funny!" Jen said, bringing the topic back up, "It's highly insensitive to keep referring to Hermione as a witch."
"Ta," Hermione said, "But seriously, I don't mind."
"That does not make it right," Jen stated.
"Just like my school suspension," Harry said.
"So, that's how you were planning on being excused from classes?" Gia asked.
"Ancient history," Harry said, "It was minor—"
"Attempted murder is major—" Hermione stated.
"Harry's dangerous—" Jen protested.
"You misunderstood," Hermione said, "They tried to kill Harry—"
"That is rough," Jen said, "It should be investigated—"
"You wouldn't understand if I took the whole time to explain," Harry said, "I want to forget it and have fun."
"Still—" Jen started.
"I'm fine—nothing is chasing or trying to kill us," Harry said, "So, life is good."[1]
Ron watched the lit land below turn to darkness of water.
"The English Channel," Richard said, "You've got a barmy way of looking at things."
"I also have a girl to my right AND two in front of me," Harry said.
"One of them is mine," Richard said.
Ron's stomach growled.
"I'm hungry!" Ron complained.
"At nine thousand feet?!" Richard said, "I thought you had ate—"
"Bit busy," Hermione said.
"I may have something in my backpack," Harry said.
Ron glanced back, could see the stretched curled cord of the headset as Harry began to dive into the open top of the backpack now between the seats.
"Oh," Richard said, his hand to Ron's shoulder, "Can you keep an eye out for clouds?"
"We'll float on them?" Ron asked.
"Just that we're doing a nighttime VFR," Richard said, "It can be a tad dangerous—safe if we're careful, but that's why we need to be aware of them."
"Harry should be up here then," Ron said, "He's got good eyesight."
"Uses contacts," Jen said.
"He's also digging for food," Hermione said, "Speaking of which—thanks a lot for mentioning food!"
Ron, though, paid attention to Gia. She glanced, her eyes focused on the pair of shoes and ankles hovering about three inches above the opening of the backpack. Gia motioned to Hermione. Hermione removed one of the shoes tickled Harry's left foot.
"Stop it!" Harry pleaded, laughing.
"Bang in the plane?" Ron asked as the shoe was being tossed forward.
"Boys!" Hermione snapped.
"Hey," Ron said, "You're the one stripping—"
"I'm checking for athlete's foot," Hermione said, "We've got hours—"
"Then you also need a lice inspection—" Ron said.
"I do have a plane to fly," Richard said, "Please tone down the distractions."
"I'm still listening!" Harry said, "We've got chips, soda, juice, wine—hmm… hot dogs—"
"Soda—" Ron said.
"No loos for hours!" Hermione said.
"I saw the funnel and milk jug for that," Harry said.
"Not funny," Hermione replied.
Harry tossed up a bag of Cheetos and some juice cartons.
"Care for champagne?" Harry asked.
"Sorry, I'm flying," Richard said.
"Flying pissed can be fun," Ron said.
"What about those hot dogs?" Gia asked.
"Can you light the fire Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Fire?!" Richard said, "Do not light one."
"But, it's fireproof," Ron protested.
"That doesn't make sense," Jen said.
"Fire in a plane is lethal," Richard said.
"Don't tempt them," Hermione snapped.
Ron heard the snores, glanced over at Jen, asleep with her headphones off.
"You said you flew—a car?" Richard asked.
"Dad enchanted it years ago," Ron said, "Me and Harry, missed the train to school, so we took the car. Mum and Dad weren't happy about that."
"And you flew it?" Richard asked as they started to descend.
"Whoa!" Ron stammered.
"We're close," Richard said.
"Yep, flew it to school," Ron said, "Car still hangs out around school—some first year even made a painting of it."
Ron stuck his feet against the heat vent.
"Wake them," Richard said.
"HARRY!" Ron shouted.
"What?" Gia asked, groggily, fitting her headset back on.
"Wake them," Ron said, "HERMIONE!"
Ron glanced at Harry and Hermione, asleep in the back seat.
"What's going on?" Jen asked through her headset.
"Nearly there," Richard said, "Best to be—you know, return to your seats, buckle up, put away your tray tables, and put your seat back to its full upright position."
Jen and Gia shook Harry and Hermione.
"What?" Harry stammered as he put the headset on.
"Two minutes," Richard said.
"Oh, oh!" Hermione said.
Quickly, Harry and Hermione sorted themselves out into their seats.
"That was fast," Harry said, "Not."
"A tail wind helped," Richard said.
Ron watched the runway lights get larger and larger, plowed snow was piled on both sides of the landing strip.
"Too fast!" Ron said.
"You wanna fly?" Richard asked as he flared the wings, around 9:44 on the clock.
Thud!
A jolt through the aircraft, Richard slammed the brakes, and they slowed down.
"What…?" Harry muttered.
Ron turned around, glanced at those bottle green eyes.
"Will you stop snooping?" Harry complained.
"Sure, speak loudly for HERMIONE to hear you," Ron retorted, "You—"
"Nothing, just a flash," Harry said.
Ron spotted it in the mind, a flash from across the runway.
"Ready?" Richard said as they pulled into a covered parking stall, "Gotta love that complimentary parking."
"For planes?" Hermione asked.
"It's resort," Richard said, "Of course they want our business, with a shuttle."
Richard opened the canopy. Ron felt the cold night air rush in, stood up as goosebumps formed on him. Ron scrambled off, shivered.
"What'd you expect?" Hermione asked while she also shivered, "The Mediterranean?"
"Another moment," Richard said as he put blocks beneath the plane's wheels. He closed the canopy, used a key to secure it. "Trust Trevor to actually install good locks."
Harry handed Ron one of the leather backpacks, before putting his own over his shoulder. Richard pulled his mobile out, punched in numbers as he started to walk, dragged the suitcase along on its wheels.
"Jen," Richard said, his breath created steam before him, "Call for the shuttle."
"What'd you think?" Harry asked Ron as they walked.
"Drats," Richard said, "Hi Mum, we made it, about to hit customs now. Love you."
"Love you!" Ron quipped.
"She let us come," Richard said, "Love you is a small price to pay."
They approached the small green building.
"Got your passports?" Jen asked.
"Um…" Ron muttered.
"We've got them," Hermione took out three from her purse, handed Harry's and Ron's over to them.
They entered the building, the still air gave a bit of warmth. Black hair, the agent behind the counter studied them funny as he compared their pictures to their faces. A raised eyebrow before the stamp was pushed down onto their passports. Richard dragged his suitcase through to the other side, through the automatic door, back into the cool night around Les Pierre.
"There it is," Richard said as he pointed at the small van parked in front of the passenger terminal.
Hermione shivered.
"Let's go," Harry said as he marched, the others followed.
They reached and climbed into the waiting van with sideways benchs against the walls. The elderly male driver nodded and put the bus into motion. Harry sat down across from Ron, while Gia sat on Ron's left.
"Wait a minute," Ron said, his eyes on the dash of the van, "It can't be 11:08 pm."
"Time zones," Hermione said, "France is an hour ahead."
"Don't you know anything?" Jen asked Ron.
"Why bother when we've got a walking encyclopedia?" Harry asked.
"Boys!" Hermione exclaimed.
"It's true," Ron said, "Nothing like breaking school rules and knowing about it."
"Don't understand why you put up with them, Hermione," Jen said.
"Some things are better left unanswered," Hermione replied.
City lights to the right as the van moved along the highway, flirting with the small city center, before it headed toward the outskirts. Moonlight cast shadows onto the surrounding hills of the valley as the van drove the weaving road up the valley to a parking lot next to a tall red structure, with a shorter one to the right of the big red one.
"Here it is," said Richard as they pulled up beneath the awning.
Ron waited, got off last, behind Hermione. An itch, he stopped.
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Go ahead," Ron said, "Be just a moment."
"It's cold," Hermione said.
"Go," Ron said.
Hermione entered through the sliding doors. Ron, however, stepped to the side, before he reached into his backpack and removed his Firebolt. One leg over, and he flew upward, over the roof, and along the trees.
…
Harry took his debit card back from the clerk, before he finished signing the one form. A nod and a fist full of card keys, Harry turned around.
"Richard," Harry said, handing one over.
"Ta," Richard said.
Harry handed cards over to Gia, Jen, and Hermione—the later had Ron's backpack on her back, before he counted two in his hands.
"Ron?" Harry asked.
"He wanted to look at something," Hermione said, vaguely.
"He'll find us," Harry said as he reached to grab the six lift tickets.
Harry walked across the lobby into the hallway, pressed the button to the elevator, and they got on. Harry pressed the button for the fourth floor, and the elevator moved upward. Metal doors opened, and they walked along the fourth floor. Harry inserted his card into the slot for room 409, turned the handle, and opened the door.
"Welcome to the honeymoon suite," Richard said as they entered the large room.
Harry went past the large king–sized bed to the french doors as the only break in the floor to ceiling windows that allowed the in–suite hot tub a good view, opened them and stepped out onto the small balcony. Snow crunched beneath his feet, his breath steamed up, and shivered as goosebumps crossed his skin. Below, the dimly lit slopes already raked over, only a couple people on skis from the trails converging on the lodge, and the lifts running to either side.
"Suppose I should get the skis out now," Harry said.
"No!" Hermione said, "You're taking lessons—even if you're brilliant at it, Ron needs them."
"Yeah," Harry said.
"Good," Jen said, "Better not to break your legs on the first day."
"Careful," Hermione said, "He'd take that as an invitation."
"Mind closing the door?" Jen said, "It's cold out there."
Hermione closed the with her and Harry outside. Harry, though, spotted the shadowy figure fly across the top of the Douglas Firs.
"Blimey!" Harry said as he pointed, "That dolt of an arse!"
Hermione strained her eyes, followed Harry's hand to the flying speck.
"What is—?" She asked.
"Your boyfriend," Harry said as he lowered his backpack and opened it, "Lemme get mine."
"Thought he was just going to clean it," Hermione said, "Harry—you're going to risk getting seen?"
"It's midnight," Harry said as he pulled his Firebolt out, "Nobody's up."
"Except us?" Hermione asked.
Leg over the handle and he flew. Despite the cold, he felt the bristles warming up his posterior. Harry caught up with Ron chasing up the lift. Hands to the handle, Harry and Ron glanced at each other, and accelerated up the slope to the top where the lift ended. They came to a halt next to each other.
"Having fun?" Harry asked.
"After hours cooped up—this is the proper way to fly!" Ron said, "Air—real air!"
Harry glanced at those blue eyes beneath the red hair, the ones that watched him with pleasure.
"You're doing it," Ron said, "It's a knack, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Harry said, "I don't mean to snoop, kinda just happens."
"Suppose the muggles will get worried?" Ron asked, "About us?"
"Likely," Harry said.
Harry started back down the slope, crossed over to the other side. Ron followed. Harry heard it, pulled right into the crowns of the trees, spotted the skier oblivious to the audience soaring down the slope.
"That's easy!" Ron said.
They flew down the mountain, before they pulled up high, sunk down into the shadow on top of the roof, and went along. He stopped just above the balcony, Gia and Hermione were on it. Ron hovered next to him.
"I can't see them," Hermione said, "You'd have to ask Harry—if he weren't flying."
"Yet, he needs contacts," Gia said.
"I know!" Hermione exclaimed.
Pfffpt!
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes now upon him.
"Got your skis yet?" Gia asked as she entered the room.
Harry landed on the balcony, watched Gia approach Jen.
"It's past midnight," Jen said.
"At least they've got selection," Richard said.
Gia followed Jen and Richard out of the suite.
"She bought you a cover for your little stunt!" Hermione said as Harry and Ron entered.
"Better to get a lay of the land," Harry said, thinking fast.
"Yeah," Ron replied.
"You could've been seen!" Hermione exclaimed.
"We needed the air," Harry said, moving over to the hot tub. His trousers dropped to the floor.
"Cool," Ron said as he removed his shirt.
Harry slipped into the hot water, let himself sink to the bench. Hermione spun the dials and the foam started yawned and it proved contagious.
…
Hermione studied those bottle green eyes, the ones that took in her beauty, and Harry smiled. She appreciated their heads above the foamy hot water. Unconstrained beneath the jets, Hermione understood the trust between them, the three of them.
"What is it?" Ron asked Harry.
"No—" Harry started.
"Don't lie," Ron replied.
Hermione wondered how Ron figured that out.
"It's Voldemort," Harry said.
"You're not—" Hermione started.
"He's not angry," Harry said, "No, they're discussing our suspension, planning a show of appreciation."
"Meaning?" Ron asked.
"What'd you think?" Harry replied.
"Need to warn Dumbledore," Ron said.
"How?" Harry asked.
"Owl…" Hermione started before she understood.
"I trust Dumbledore's got everything in place to avert a tragedy," Harry said, "We're cut off—deliberately so."
[1]: Line adapted from Wishweaver's Realizations See my Favorite Stories, it's listed there.