In the Crosshairs
Dragon Voldemort
Chapter 39: Skiing
"Come on," Harry said, Thursday morning in the suite.
Ron followed; Richard and Gia went next.
"Hermione, can I talk with you?" Jen asked, "Bit more…personal."
"Of course," Hermione replied.
"Does he always have nightmares?" Jen asked, "I mean Harry?"
Hermione nodded. "One or two a night, sometimes more."
"I don't want to pry, but he's got mental problems," Jen said, "I'm concerned that he's unstable."
"Harry is completely safe to be around," Hermione said, "It's—" she thought about it, leveraged what her parents would likely say. "It's post traumatic stress disorder. He's okay—lets go and get breakfast."
Hermione and Jen left the room, headed for the elevators. The elevator stopped at the lobby level; they took the left, into the small nook with a fireplace to one side, buffet tables around them. In the middle, however, were Richard on one side, Ron to the other, with a chess board in between them. Ron moved his queen.
"Check and mate," Ron said, "Got a better board too."
"We'll use it for the rematch," Richard said.
Harry gave a small clap as he stood there, Gia stood next to him.
"Breakfast?" Ron asked as he stood.
"Thought you would've already gone at it," Hermione said.
"Manners," Ron said, "We waited."
Hermione watched Ron go over to the table. Ron piled eggs and bacon onto his plate, while Gia worked the waffle maker. Harry stood by, watched from a short ways, before he went and placed fruit onto a plate. Ron came back first and sat while putting his plate and cup down on the table. Harry returned, shoved the plate in his hands before Hermione.
"What about you?" Ron asked Harry.
"Ladies first," Harry quipped.
"Ta," Hermione said as she took the first of the grapes.
"Harry," Ron said.
Hermione caught Ron's blue eyes focused intensely at Harry's.
"Alright, alright!" Harry stammered, before he went over to the buffet.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked Ron as he sat down.
"Same debate we've been having for a while," Ron said.
Harry and Ron walked out of the side door of the lodge into the snow later that morning. Their eyes, beneath the cap and goggles on top of their heads, took a moment to adjust to the brightness of the sun reflecting off the snow. Their boots tread in the snow as Hermione waved to them.
"Over here!" Hermione shouted.
Ron's and Harry's gear matched Hermione's and Gia's. All dressed in white, only the color of their racing stripes were different; Ron's stripes being red, Harry's were black, Gia's were blue, while Hermione's were brown. Richard wore dark blue wool trousers and jacket, while Jen had pink wool.
"Hey," Richard said.
"Lessons," Gia said.
"Is this them?" asked a seasoned man dressed in yellow with blue and green skis.
Ron glanced at the eyes, understood the man to be breaking the ice, as the matching Thermamax gloves, among other gear, hinted at the four way group. Only Richard and Jen stood out.
"Yes," Hermione said.
"Good—late morning," said the brown haired man, "I'm Gary Turner. I understand this is your first time on the slopes?"
"Yes," Gia said.
"You're in the right place," Gary said, "Over the next few hours, we'll cover the basics—to conclude with some downhill skiing. After which, you will have the necessary skills, though you may want to hone them before you attempt the black diamond—expert trails. We will begin with falling—"
"Falling?" Harry asked.
"Falling properly is crucial to avoiding serious injuries," Gary said, "And yes, you will likely fall on the slope today, or you were lying about this being your first time."
"No," Ron said.
"If you need a chance to warm up inside, speak up," Gary said, "Ready?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
"This way," Gary said, "I'll show you how to put on those skis, later."
They followed Gary a bit further, to a more isolated bank of snow.
They entered the classroom and it was crowded. More than their sixth years, the first years were also in it.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for being tardy," said Professor Snape, "Have a seat."
While Finnigan made his own way, Neville took the only other seat, next to Ash, sat down.
"Sixth years, greet the first year to your right," Professor Snape said, "You will be tutoring this person for the next week, your mark will depend on their success as we cover basic defensive spells."
Neville sighed, he knew Ash well enough, and the trouble wasn't in learning, it was going to be getting Ash to speak loud enough to be heard.
"Where's Tonks?" Finnigan asked.
"Ten points taken," Professor Snape said, "That's not really your concern, is it? Suffice it to say, your Defense of Dark Arts instructors are currently indisposed, and until the Potions classroom is restored, this arrangement will be…practical."
"Where are they?" Macmillan asked, "Are they guarding Potter?"
"What are the rates for…say, a month?" asked Lupin, in the lobby of the lodge at Les Pierre.
"When would this be for?" asked the young man as he thumbed at a calendar.
Tonks, meanwhile, crouched as she ran through the rolodex, grabbed the sheet for Room 409, paid for by Harry Potter. A wave of the wand, transferred the contents to a new sheet of paper, and put this new sheet back, while shoving the first copy into a binder before the seal of Gringotts Wizarding Bank flashed across it.
"Sometime in the next month," Lupin said.
"Can you be a bit more specific?" the man said, "Winter holiday is a pretty popular time."
Lupin jumped over the desk, crouched.
"Excuse me!" the man said.
"Has my ex gone?" Lupin asked.
"Pardon?" the man asked.
Tonks peeked over the edge. Harry laughed as he crossed the lobby; Ron, Hermione, Gia, Richard, and Jen followed.
"We're going to be sore," Gia commented.
Jen, in her pink wool, came over to the desk.
"Bit famished, but we also need to clean up. So, could you have a dozen grilled cheese sandwiches sent up?" Jen asked, "Six with ham and bacon. A liter of cola, some mineral water, and chips?"
"Room 409?" the clerk asked.
"Thanks," Jen said, "Interesting dog."
Jen ran to the elevators, vanished.
"She wasn't your ex, was she?" the clerk asked.
"No, too young," Lupin remarked as he stood back up.
Tonks snuck back out, she saw the familiar black dog laying beneath the fireplace.
"Nymphadora!" came the call.
Gary Turner walked over.
"You know him?" Lupin asked.
"Yes," Tonks said.
"I've got a half–hour before they come back, the breakfast buffet should still be open," Gary said.
They went past the elevators, entered the room. Snuffles followed. Lupin walked over, glanced at the chess board.
"So you definitely know him," Lupin said.
"A couple of dates back in the academy," Tonks said.
"Not everybody is cut out to be an Auror," Gary said, "It was not to be my profession."
"So you ski," Lupin said as he poured himself a cup of coffee.
"You know, Hogwarts should open a culinary school for muggles," Gary said as he piled a couple of pancakes onto his plate, "I remember their cauldron cakes fondly."
"Fancy meeting you here," Lupin said as he sipped, "Down boy."
Snuffles whimpered.
"I could say the same," Gary said, "Two instructors from Hogwarts, here, when Harry Potter is visiting."
"So, you met him," Lupin said.
"I asked him to," Tonks said, "Make it appear coincidental to Potter, of course."
"There are more than enough private instructors floating around here," Gary said, "A little caffeine and I can teach here and Aspen in the same day."
Harry sat in the hot tub. He let the heat loosen his sore and aching shoulders, muscles.
"What'd you think?" Jen asked Ron, nearby.
"I, dunno, ski?" Ron stammered as he sank his feet into the water.
"You actually ordered room service?" Hermione asked as she brought over a tray of grilled cheese sandwiches.
"Rule one of skiing," Jen said as she grabbed one, "Do not squander your instructor's time. So, a quick lunch seemed the best."
"Soup would've been good," Richard said.
"There's a phone to order," Jen said.
"No," Harry said, not wanting to press the money issue in front of Ron.
"Try this," Hermione said as she spun the knob, the jet of bubbles came to life.
"Yes, we're all going back," Richard said.
"I…" Jen started.
"At least learn to ski," Harry said, not wanting to know how much the lesson was going to cost, before his eyes went to Hermione, "That includes you."
"Boys," Hermione muttered.
"Harry," Ron said as he munched on his sandwich, glared at Harry.
Harry avoided it, studied Hermione's curves.
"Gia!" Ron said, pointed to Harry.
Gia returned from the shower, wrapped in a towel came over to Harry, knelt.
"What?" Gia asked.
Harry glared at Ron, who returned the muttered incantation.
"I'm trying to ignore the spending," Ron implied, "You're trying to be nice about it. Return the damn favor, eat something, half a sandwich?"
"I'm not that hungry," Harry retorted.
"Do I need to talk to Madam Pomfrey?" Ron thought, "Maybe she missed something in her last examination?"
"No," Harry stated.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, her eyes flickered between the two.
"Nothing," Harry said as Gia brought a sandwich to his lips. Harry ate.
"We promised a half hour," Richard said, "Best to get back down there and get that coffee you wanted Jen."
They left the room, got onto the elevator. It stopped at the third floor; the tall and blond teenage boy from the previous night had stepped on. This time, the boy had winter camouflage T–shirt and similarly patterned ski–pants.
"Hurry," the boy said, pressing the button to close the door.
"Seth!" came the female voice, but the door already closed, and the elevator moved down.
"Here on vacation?" asked Seth, "You're having fun?"
Remus Lupin poured another cup and dipped a danish.
"I admit I didn't expect to be teaching Harry Potter," Gary Turner said.
"What do you think?" asked Lupin.
"Eager to learn," Gary replied.
"It has that edge of danger," Lupin said, "He'll do fine."
"We need at least an hour," Tonks said.
"Actually it'll be hours," said Gary, "They're learning to ski, that takes time."
"Stall a bit more," Tonks said as she took out a camera, "A few pictures of him—you know."
"That too," said Lupin said.
"I told them to take thirty minutes, tops," Gary said, "I move along as the student does."
Yip!
Snuffles darted beneath the table skirts. Jen entered, carried a travel mug over to the coffee pot, filled it.
"Jen," said Richard, as he entered, "You sure—oh, you!" His eyes landed on Gary. "Your friends?"
"Something like that," Lupin said.
"Richard?" came Harry's voice.
"Go," Tonks whispered to Gary.
Gary got up, walked out with Richard and Jen.
"Of all the ridiculous conditions!" Tonks exclaimed.
"You know perfectly well, Harry's to remain unaware," Lupin said.
Snuffles followed as Tonks and Lupin boarded the elevator.
"Four please," Tonks said.
"Like this," Lupin said, pressing the button for four.
"Oh," Tonks said.
Yip!
Snuffles went fast down the fourth floor corridor, sat down at the door for 409.
"Will this help?" Tonks asked, showing a maid card.
Lupin took it, unlocked the door, and they entered. Snuffles closed the door, transformed.
"If there's any doubt," Sirius said, as they studied the clutter, "This most definitely is their room."
Tonks brought the camera, with the seal of Gringotts Wizarding Bank on it, took pictures of the room. Backpacks on the floor, two Firebolts propped in the corner.
"Find that receipt for the gas," Lupin said, "But do not disturb anything."
Sirius took a moment, walked directly for Richard's wallet laying on the floor next to Jen's knickers, opened it, and pulled it out.
"It's still silly," Tonks said.
"Dumbledore is expecting something, isn't he?" Sirius asked.
"Their doubles are trapped by the students' short memories, they must perform to keep up the illusion," Lupin said, "Which is why we must document Harry's whereabouts without burden upon him. And ditch that hair!"
Tonks shook her head, the pink turned to ginger red.
"Try harder," Lupin said, "And get back out there with that camera."
Harry left the awning from the lobby, and walked onto the snow.
"Ready?" asked Gary as he came out of the lodge; Richard and Jen with him.
"Now we ski, right?" Harry asked.
"Close," Gary said as he took out some paper maps. "These are your guide to the slopes, always have a map to tell you which slopes are for you."
Harry opened his, shared it with Hermione.
"Green is for beginners, that's you," Gary said, "Blue is more advanced, which you might get to this stay. Black is for experts; one, two, or even three diamonds, don't plan on those this time."
"Don't even think about it," Hermione said to Harry.
"Not planning to," Harry replied.
"Please, be careful," Gary said, "I've had to remove corpses of those that have underestimated the challenge of their chosen trails, fortunately none of my past students have been that foolish."
"I'll remind them," Hermione said to Harry.
"Now we ski!" Richard exclaimed.
"Not quite," Gary said, "We'll continue with your ski gear, simple moving, before we add in actual hills."
"Nymphadora," said Lupin, crouched behind the snow covered bush
"What?" Tonks asked, working the telephoto lens of the camera.
Click!
"If I were to inspect your pictures?" Lupin asked.
Tonks zoomed out a bit, caught the contest Harry was having with Ron.
Click!
"I thought the whole point of this adventure is to give Harry a credible alibis for whatever Albus thinks is about to happen, right?" Tonks asked.
"True," Lupin said, "Make sure you capture all of the participants, but you don't have to detail it all."
"But, not only do we want to show them as being here," Tonks said, "We also ought to show they wouldn't have reason to leave, which I'm getting." She watched as Gia teased Harry.
Click!
"Heh, you alright?" came the voice.
Seth, tall and blond, had his eyes upon the two.
"Yes," Lupin said.
"Who's in trouble?" Seth asked.
"Why'd you say that?" asked Tonks.
"Lemme guess," Seth said, "Husband cheating on their wife?"
"Something like that," Lupin said.
"Cool," Seth said as he left.
"You insisted this was a good location," Tonks said, "You're sticking out."
"I need to get a few more statements," Lupin said before he left.
Tonks watched as Harry began to push forward to skate on his skis.
After a well earned break, Harry put his boots into the skis, put on his gloves, and grabbed his poles. Ron, with his unzipped ski jacket, went ahead along with Richard.
"Now, the slope," Gary Turner said as they approached, "This way to the lift."
Gary led them and they followed, over to the queue, where Harry and Hermione were behind the others. Harry glanced at Hermione, nearly panting.
"Alright?" Harry asked.
"Why wouldn't I?" Hermione replied.
"All you need to do," Gary said, "Watch them."
They got closer, watched as the pair of ladies moved into place, sat as the chair came through. Ron and Richard went first, sat. Gia and Jen were next, before it came to Hermione and Harry.
"Just sit and don't forget the retaining bar," Gary said.
"Want to try a broom?" Harry whispered to Hermione.
A chair came through, behind them, and the instinctively sat.
…
Ron wobbled on the skis as he left the lift, fifty feet in elevation above the lodge, but several hundred yards away. Ron drifted toward the post, held on as the cold air went through his T–shirt.
"Guess we wait," Richard said.
"Firebolt would've been easier," Ron said.
"Remember, you're trying to blend in," Richard said, "Pretend you're not…gifted."
"It's not…" Ron drifted off as Jen and Gia came over.
Gia fumbled, held onto Ron's shoulder to keep herself up, snow dust went down his shirt.
"Your wand's showing," Gia whispered.
Ron, though, glanced, and the handle to his walnut wand was showing from his inside jacket pocket. He pushed it down, double checked that zipper, while leaving the jacket open.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted.
Hermione began to tumble. Harry moved fast, wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her back upright.
"You enjoyed that!" Hermione quipped.
"You were about to fall," Harry said, "Like there was a better way."
A quick glance, Ron knew Hermione's answer, a quick and discreet wand action would have worked, if Harry's wand wasn't up in their suite.
"Where's..?" Richard started.
Gary came out from behind a maintenance shed, next to the starts of several other lifts, skied over.
"Here," Gary said, "You see that we have more lifts to take you even higher up to longer and more challenging runs. However, this run—" he pointed to the green ring around the green circle "—is considered a novice course. However, don't let the designation fool you, novice courses are both fun and can certainly be faster than the others."
"What's the most dangerous course you've skied?" Jen asked.
"I'll pass because it'd just encourage the boys," Gary said, "Lets have fun and get started. Harry, want to take the first try?"
Ron watched as Harry bent forward, pushed off. Harry's black racing stripes as Harry moved down the hill. Harry's glove moved up, dabbed snow on his forehead, before he began to dive; Harry cartwheeled until he tumbled face first into the snow around fifty feet from the bottom. Ron crouched, pushed, and he began to move.
"Ron!" Hermione snapped.
"Fly, dammit!" Ron exclaimed as his skis grew closer on his wobbling knees.
Ron's skis crossed themselves and he lost his balance, threw his momentum sideways, slid on his side. Ron rammed his skis downward, he rolled over, and his face planted into a bank of fluffy snow. Ron raised his head, crawled over to Harry, nearby.
"Harry?" Ron asked.
"Alive, regretfully," Harry said, his voice garbled by the snow.
"Injured?" Ron asked.
"Voldemort," Harry said, "Pushing on—missed the face. Wants me found, at Hogwarts."
"We're a bit away from there," Ron said as he raised his eyebrows, "Want to try again?"
"Alright," Harry said as he groaned.
A tug of his feet, Ron's boots came free of the skis; he pressed them against Harry's. Ron's hands gripped Harry's, and they pulled together, brought themselves back to standing up on the snow. Harry stepped his boots back onto his skis.
"Where's our poles?" Ron asked as he brushed the snow off his shoulders, and pressed his boots onto the skis.
"Right behind you," Hermione said, as she came over with two extra sets of ski poles.
"Ta," Ron said before he leaned over and kissed her.
Harry grabbed his black ski poles, while Ron grabbed his red. Jen and Richard went past.
"Are you alright?" asked Gary Turner as he came to a stop near them.
"Everything's in the right place," Harry said.
"Of all your talents, you're bound to suck at something the first time," Gia said.
Ron caught Harry's glare at Gia, the one that was slightly annoyed as the scar had triggered it.
"Everybody tumbles in the beginning," Gary Turner said, "An occasional bruised ego isn't a bad thing."
"We're going again," Harry stated.
"That's the spirit," Gary replied.
Harry and Ron propelled themselves for the lift, waited in the queue for a moment, before setting themselves up. Again, the seat moved them forward.
"What do you think of this?" Harry asked.
"These ought to fly!" Ron said as he raised his feet with the skis attached, pointed.
"It's about as close to flying as muggles will get," Harry said.
"I pity them," Ron said.
"There are other sports," Harry said, "Like jumping out of planes."
"Blimey!" Ron said, "Jumping, without brooms?"
"Yep," Harry said.
They skated off the lift. Neither of them stopped, simply crouched as they skated toward the sign of the green ring around the green circle. They went over the edge.
"There," Harry said.
Ron glanced down the hill, caught another glint of glass.
"Yeah," Ron said.
Ron's legs wobbled, but he kept the skis apart and parallel. Ron figured out the glass as they came to the bottom, as Gary Turner removed the binoculars from his face.
"You're getting better," Gary said, "One more try, if you want."
"Hermione?" Harry asked.
"We're watching," Hermione said.
A quick glance to her eyes, Ron understood. She'd rather watch them ski. Harry skated for the lift. Ron followed. Again, the seat of the lift moved them upward.
"Summon my Firebolt?" Ron asked, gripped the hilt of his wand inside his still open jacket.
"Maybe tonight," Harry said, "Wanna try the next lift?"
"They're waiting," Ron said, "After that."
"Agreed," Harry said.
They skated off the lift, did the turn, and moved faster down the slope. Ron found his legs were now accustomed to this, moved, though Harry went a bit faster.
"Hey!" Ron said.
"Race!" Harry quipped as he crouched a bit more.
Ron could merely watch as Harry outpaced, came back to the bottom.
"Congratulations," Gary Turner said as he clapped, "You've learned the fundamentals. It's now a matter of practice. If you need further assistance or more advanced lessons, don't hesitate to sign up for them."
Gary Turner skied for the lift.
"Another round?" Harry asked.
"Richard and I are a bit cold," Jen said, "He already went in."
"Whatever," Gia said as Jen began to skate on her skis toward the lodge.
"Can we bang as we ski?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, "You're so demented!"
"No he's not," Harry quipped, "Maybe a bit of research—"
Hermione gave a light punch to Harry's stomach, her own growled.
"I am hungry," Gia said, "It'll be dark soon, and dinner time."
"I'm not," Harry said, "Go ahead, go in, we'll catch up."
Both girls went for the lodge as Harry and Ron went back to the lift.
"So, how would you bang on skis without falling?" Harry asked.
"Haven't thought that far," Ron replied.
Harry grimaced, before Ron's eyes bore down on the green.
"Alright!" Harry said, "Voldemort just asked somebody else to join in the search. Apparently, not knowing where I am disturbs him."
"Let me in next time," Ron said.
"You really want to use Legilimency, again?" Harry said, "Just use the Cruciatus Curse on yourself, you'll get the idea."
"Not on purpose," Ron said, "I just need to know, it's that simple. I can't understand it unless I feel it too."
"It hurts," Harry said, "That's all you need to know."
They skated off the first lift, went for the next one.
Harry and Ron kept up their fun, with Richard and Jen joining frequently. Gia and Hermione did so sparingly, but instead frequented the shops in the village.
Professor Lupin stirred in a bit more cream into his coffee, Friday morning, in the Antechamber behind the Great Hall.
"Wonderful," George said, "About to fill an order for Ginny—tomorrow's a Hogsmeade weekend? Normally it's in December."
"This had better be good," said Fred, "Time is money, so the Goblins say when they complained about Ministry interference."
"The Headmaster will be along shortly," said Professor McGonagall.
"You know, Harry should get involved," George said, "It is his area."
"Harry is involved," Professor Lupin said, "This matter involves him."
"Why not meet tonight?" Fred said, "Like we typically do?"
"And where's our brother?" George said, "Ginny said their suspension is over—what was the cause?"
"All day Potions lesson," Professor Lupin said.
"They only got a suspension?" Fred asked.
"We would've gotten expelled for it," George said.
"Amelia," said Professor McGonagall as Amelia Bones entered.
"Nice seeing you," said Amelia Bones, gave a quick hug, "Where is Nymphadora?"
"On assignment," said Professor Lupin.
"What is going on?" asked George.
"It might have something to do with the trial," Amelia Bones said.
"Trial?" Fred asked.
"Welcome," said Professor Dumbledore as the echo of his cane filled the room as he entered, "Please, have a seat."
They sat around the long round table.
"Nourishment," said Professor McGonagall as she waved her wand. Food appeared.
"Thank you Minerva," Professor Dumbledore said, bringing a spoon to the oatmeal before him, "Can you tell the House Elfs—a little sausage—"
"Do you want to discuss this with Poppy?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Breakfast is appreciated but not the reason we are here," said Kingsley Shacklebolt, "I need to get into the office before I am missed."
"Save your strength," Professor Lupin said to the Headmaster as he stood. "As you're already aware, the Death Eaters have an ongoing campaign to smear the name of Harry Potter. Killed today, and Harry would become a martyr, something that even Lord Voldemort would be unable to crush — mitigating that before murdering Harry is their most likely goal. Their campaign is proving successful, already the students of this school are organizing themselves, and those students have already attempted to aid in killing Harry during the … incident of their suspension."
"This incident is the subject of his trial for next Friday?" asked Shacklebolt.
"Unlikely," said Professor Lupin, "Tomorrow is another Hogsmeade visit by the students of Hogwarts. By your report Kingsley, we expect the Death Eaters to seize the opportunity. We need to prepare."
"Just cancel the visit," said Amelia, "That'd stop the expected assault."
"Maybe tomorrow, but not the day after," Professor Lupin said, "We need to do more than to just delay the assaults. To stop these assaults, we need proof to exonerate Harry. Ideally, a confession from the real culprits would show everybody that Harry has been setup the entire time."
"That is where we come in," said Professor Dumbledore, "We need to plan for tomorrow, because our fight against Voldemort rests upon Harry's shoulders, everything depends on this succeeding." He sipped his tea. "With his friends, of course."
Date: Sat Jan 20 15:08:48 2024