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CHAPTER FOUR: Family Reunion

It was certainly an unusual sight, Harry had to admit. The Hogwarts Express pulling into the station in the middle of term was not something he'd ever seen in over forty years of being connected with the school. Even more extraordinary, for the first time that he'd known, the train's destination was not Kings Cross but the continent, via a special railway line through the Channel Tunnel which only those with magic could see.

Hermione, James and Emily were all on the platform with him. "Been a while since we've been on a Hogwarts trip together,"James remarked to Emily.

Emily nodded. "It'll be a nice change of scene."

James suddenly caught sight of a familiar face among the students heading towards the train. "Wait a minute. Tracey, what are you doing there?"

His daughter looked as though she'd been caught in a spotlight. "I was…just saying goodbye to everyone."

"Then why have you got a train ticket?"

Tracey looked awkwardly at Susan Green, one of the seventh year Gryffindors. "I said she could have mine,"Susan admitted.

James and Emily looked at Tracey, suspecting there was more to the story. "I said she could use my free pass at your courier company while I was away,"Tracey explained.

"That's very enterprising,"Emily told her. "But it's seventh years only." Susan and Emily swapped pass and ticket, with Susan heading onto the train while Tracey headed back towards the castle.

"I think we're going to have our hands full with this lot,"Hermione observed.

"Dad did say he'd arranged two other chaperones,"Emily recalled. "He didn't say who though."

"Hi, Dad!"called a voice behind them. Harry looked round and saw his daughter Lily and her…new boyfriend, Martin Longbottom. Lily's gaze went over the rest of the group. "Mum, James, Emily. Looks like the family's all here."

"Neville sent you two?"Harry asked.

Martin nodded. "He thought it would be a good idea."

A good way of avoiding attention, Harry suspected. Martin and Lily leaving their respective spouses for each other was the biggest gossip the tabloids had had since…well, since Hermione had left Ron for him, really. He didn't say any of that though. Instead, he decided to keep it as businesslike as possible. "Well, I guess we'd better get on then."

There were fewer carriages than usual, but then there were fewer students riding in them than usual. Nymphadora, Bradley, Gemini, Beverley, Maxwell and Amanda had had no trouble finding a compartment to themselves. Nymphadora shot a look at Gemini and Amanda, still adjusting to them acting as a couple, before looking around. "So what does anyone know about Durmstrung?"

"Just the basics,"Bradley admitted. "Biggest wizarding school in Eastern Europe."

Maxwell nodded in agreement. "They take students from all over."

"Even my dad had an offer from them,"Gemini noted.

Amanda looked at her in surprise. "I didn't know that."

"I think they thought someone with the name Malfoy might be more comfortable away from Hogwarts."

"I heard they didn't allow muggleborns,"Beverley noted nervously.

"They've relaxed that,"Bradley promised her.

Nymphadora had heard the stories from her mother, usually said with an air of distaste. "Muggleborn witches and wizards have to take a special test in order to be accepted. Of course, most of the purebloods they accept wouldn't be able to pass it."

"Didn't they have a former Death Eater as their headmaster around the time of You-Know-Who's return?"Maxwell asked.

"So did Hogwarts,"Gemini reminded him.

Nymphadora nodded slowly. "Well, I guess this is what cultural exchange is all about."

It had been a long journey, and would have taken even longer without magic, but the Hogwarts Express had pulled into a siding eventually. No-one had been there to greet them, leaving Harry, Hermione, James, Emily, Martin and Lily leading a group of disgruntled students up the hillside towards the sprawling grounds of Durmstrung. "Could have at least given us some brooms,"Lily complained.

"Bit of exercise won't hurt,"James teased his sister.

"How would you know?"she retorted.

"Not the relaxing time away we were hoping for,"Hermione commented to Harry.

"Maybe it'll get better,"Harry remarked. "Anyway, at least Angela's doing my admin." Angela Macmillan, Ernie's wife and the school's flying mistress, was substituting as Head of Gryffindor in his absence.

"Welcome to Durmstrung!"declared an impressive voice.

Hermione looked over at the figure silhouetted in the dim light outside the castle and quickly recognised him. "Viktor!" She threw her arms around the teacher, then composed herself. "Professor Krum,"she said more formally.

"Hermeeownee,"Viktor replied, with a twinkle in his eye that suggested he knew how her name was really pronounced. His gaze went over the rest of the group and rested on Harry. "Potter."

"Krum,"Harry returned.

For a moment, there was a tension in the air, then Viktor smiled. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on, come on. The greatest magic school awaits."