Four Humans, two Canines, and an ape walked into a tavern.
No one looked at them.
"Really, this is how you enter the Shopping District from…" Sergeant Alexander looked around.
"It's also the primary transport hub for the Floo Transport System. Everyone who is going to the Alley, comes through here." To prove Harry's words, a Witch exited the Floo-Hearth in a bloom of green flame, stepped to the side, and wiped the ash from her robes, hair, and vanish it.
"And why we didn't go that way?" the Silver glared at him.
"If you don't speak the destination clearly, you can get diverted. With Trogg's speech… I don't think we want what happened the first time I Floo'd anywhere. I ended up in the Dark side of the Alley." Everyone raised an eyebrow at him. "If he is separated from us… he is likely to be driven to a Rampage. Considering that I am the only thing that has a chance to overpower him and you know the kind of damage I can rock."
"Dear Merlin!" Ted gasped. "I watched him practice his spells before he left to go to School… and if he has improved…"
"If you want a Muggle equivalent…" Hermione smiled and patted Trogg on the muzzle between the tusks. He just grinned at her. "Trogg is King Kong… Harry is Ghidorah."
Ted blinked. "Not Godzilla?"
Hermione smiled at the man.
"Oh."
Hermione led the way into the back yard, opened the wall, and stepped out into the Alley.
Into an almost empty Alley.
"Hmm… that's an interesting turn of events." Harry looked about.
"That's because we have only been here during the Summer Rush." Hermione answered over her shoulder. "Now where to go first?"
"Olivander." Harry Stepped past her. "I need to introduce him to Maggie and see if something is wrong with Holly."
Hermione stroked the battle wand at her side. "Okay."
"Did you name all of your Foci?" Tonks asked.
"Not yet. The staff has yet to awaken, and Hermione's baby is not mine to name." Harry strolled up to the porch of the shop with a sign that read ' Olivander's, Wands since 382 BC'. "I am still waiting for the Instructor for the Heartstone Magics to get in, she was setting a new node to divert a couple of leylines… and then I had my little episode." He opened the Door to the shop. "Trogg. I hate to do this, but I need you to hold Toto. I don't want to know what he would do to the unbound wands within. The only reason I am limiting you, is the size of the shop inside. I will show you the delights of Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream. The Females really enjoy the delicious delights. We will have Hermione select their gallons."
"Gallons?" Hermione turned to look at the Lad. "That's a lot of…"
"For a human, yes… but they are not Human." Harry turned back to Trogg. "If a wizard decides to try to pick a fight, only use your gauntlets if he casts first. Until he draws his wand, he's just a sand flea."
The Grunn grunted and sat, pulling the 'dog' into his chest, and gently started scratching behind the ears.
Harry followed the rest inside.
It was two minutes before Garrick Olivander exited the backroom wiping his hands on a cotton rag. "Hmm. Vine wood and Dragon heartstring." He frowned. "Granger, Hermione." He cocked his head. "Holly and phoenix Feather… Potter… but" His eyes snapped up to the white haired Wizard. "What did you do to her?"
"Tried to cast a spell through her after my Core had been inbound… knowing that she was traced. Should have asked Hermione to do it." He set Holly on the counter. "I accidentally caused the Destruction of the Wand that Albus was using… and I have been crafting Foci for a few friends and claimed as a Craft Master's apprentice. While Smythe is good… I need to know your opinion on my Work."
"Smythe." Garrick sneered. "Snow Point. The only reason he is ranked above me… he is not limited to just wands. That Dwarf!"
"And yet… I still need to get your reading on my Crafting Skill and whatnot."
He drew out the cane Maggie and laid her beside Holly. "My Primary Focus. Maggie."
Olivander ran his fingers along the varnished shaft. "Black Thorn… Forty and a quarter inches. Heartstring and Feather bound by Cavetoad tongue… and it's alive!" He tried to pick her up.
And failed.
He looked at the Lad, "Did you…"
"Cast a spell, no. Only Hermione and myself can lift her. Maggie. This is the man I will be bringing you to if I need to get you a check up. Please allow him to hold you in my presence."
The shaft allowed the Wandcrafter to lift her… the eye looked at the man.
:Ooh… Elder. That explains the sign over the door. They were Ancient in my Youth.:
"Elder?" Harry looked at the 'man' holding his cane. "She likes you…" Harry Grinned at him. "And we will not be talking about this again, Sir."
Garrick raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh… I don't know, but have you been able to get the Basilisk Heartstring?" Harry asked the man.
"Oh…I was able to get two kilos of the material. I heard that you are responsible for the opportunity." He ran his fingers over the shaft. "She has a feather…but having trouble identifying it… and the Heartstring… I am getting an echo…"
"Occamy feather and Hydra Heartstring. The feather allows her to be a wand, cane, or Staff. She also has a Thunderbird Eye in the Head. She also has a 'Mjölnir' Enchantment, but I don't know where that came from. Maggie can control hers… this one can't." He drew out the Battle Staff and laid it on the counter. "Oh, about Holly…"
Garrick sneered as he handed Maggie back, for Harry to return her to the front Pouch. "She is still tied to you. She is both deeper tied and unbalanced…"
"The Basilisk bit me and broke off her tooth in my arm." He tapped the scar. "Because her tooth passed through the arm, I didn't receive the full dose of venom. Before I succumbed to the venom, Fawkes cried into my wounds. I have had the venom burning through my veins, and countered by the tears…"
Garrick raised the Holly. "I will see if she take the Heartstring."
"Send the invoice to Barchoke."
Garrick set Holly under the counter. He then ran his finger across the Staff… "Iron wood, Eighty and a half inches… Star Core Rubies… two feathers… Cavetoad tongue and you are correct, it's sleeping. She is also not… complete… what are her feathers?"
"Thunderbird and Coatl. Crossed at the nib and bound by the tongue. They were then laid along the Staff while the rubies were balanced on the ends and I used Maggie to bind them. It also turned my hair white."
"This is a Weapon Class…and you…"
I am a registered Battle Mage and War Wizard, Sorcerer Adept ranked. Under Contract." He slung the Staff into the back pouch. "And collared by three Witches."
Garrick sneered. "Stupid Humans, you think …"
"Please check over Hermione's Foci." Harry turned from the Crafter, but didn't leave the shop.
The old man glared at the lad, before turning to the lass, and inspected the Vine wood. "Good… a little wax build up… but she is happy with the way you treat her." Hermione smiled as she returned the Vine wood to her boot. Then she drew out her Baby, pulled the clip, and emptied the chamber, before setting it on the counter. "What was that?"
"My father is a muggle warrior. He trained me to defend myself in the Muggle World. There are times for muggle force and times for Arcane. I have one of each…and decided that for Snow Point Academy, I would need both… then I asked him for help. More magic than brains here, did something to it… and…"
"First, Her. He did something to Her. She is sleeping deeply." He picked her up and swung her about. "Ash…but distorted. Hair of a Lion… no… big cat… but bigger than a Lion…" his eyes locked onto hers. "Sphinx Mane! A balance stone set with a platinum wire cage… that captures the ambient mana and channels it into the…"
"Firing Chamber." Hermione's ears popped up in surprise. "That's why her bullets are so powerful and explosive. They are being super charged."
"All said… not bad Focus Craft, but I will not be making anything similar. Is there anything else?"
"Three deluxe Care Kits… better make it five and two hit wizard class cuffs." Harry turned back to the shopkeeper. "They might be sweet Craft, but Maggie is as demanding as any Witch.
SPRB
Under the Bank, Barchoke and Ashraq huddled around the small table. Speaking in their native tongue.
"At least he didn't craft Armour for the Director." Ashraq sneered. "How are the books coming along?"
"I put a rush on them, but I fear that another has put a hold on them as well." Barchoke sneered back. "House Malfoy has been trying to undermine House Potter and has offered a share of House Potter to his Manager. Not profits, actually items that are part of House Potter."
"I'll have Gripsaq weigh in on the matter. Only the Board and Gutripper are immune to his sneer. And the Board want the boy distracting the Chief, but not offending him." Ashraq sighed. "House Greengrass has reached out. They want to take their commission global."
"Let them." Barchoke drank from his tankard. "About this new leather…"
"We test it of course." Ashraq sneered at his younger associate. "If they absorb spells, we start hunting these Wrysa. We keep them below as a new level of security and to harvest the hides for armour for the Warriors. If they are about the same as dragonhide… we will offer them as an alternative… but they have to hunt their own."
Barchoke nodded as he looked at his pocket watch. "Well, I got to go. My junior applicants are reporting to my office."
"Beware of Slipp-rott. He lives up to his name. He has a slip of paper, sign it, and send him to Dodgy Deals."
They finished their ales and parted for their separate offices.
SPRB
After their shopping in Diagon Alley, Harry had the Bright Idea of buying Trogg a Chopper. Once he understood that the Bike was a Status Symbol, he chose one that spoke to the beast within.
Ted, having to get back to work, left them at the Dealership, and vanished… after stroking a two seater. Harry bought it too, and had it sent to the Wizard's House.
The party took the Tube to the Eurostar, to Paris, to the Store that had crafted the Togs. Harry explained what he wanted, handed over the five rolls of Wrysa leather, and told them that he would be back in a month.
Using Maggie, Harry Summoned 'Prongs'... Only to have the Stag-Hart explode in a burst of white light and reform into a winged serpent with the head of a lion.
Harry blinked, shook his head, grinned evilly. "Message to Commander Windstar: Heading back to The Academy via Rio. Taking Alex as Watcher. See you on the Pier. Deliver." The snake thing swung about and crawled into thin air.
"Okay… that's creepy."
Harry shrugged, and opened a Gate directly to the Beach where he became a Marauder. Hermione stepped through, as did Toto. Trogg grunted and knuckled through the opening.
"How did you…" Alexander asked.
"I just watched you and the others open them. I have no idea how it works, but I don't need to know. I just need to know how to do it. The rest I leave to my Witches. Now, are you coming?" He stepped through.
The Silver followed.
On the beach, Hermione led the way to the Gate, and up the stairs. At the Ground floor of the house, she let out a sharp whistle like her mum.
A black dog still clipped, but growing out came charging around a corner… being chased by a tufted eared Siamese.
Toto bounded into their path…
"Pack!" Harry yelled. :Elder: he sent the image of Smythe shambling about.
Padfoot tried to stop, turn around, and protect the cat at the same time.
The cat just used the dog, the lizard-dog, and the Wolf as stepping stones in her attack on the White Haired Wizard. Harry caught her under the forelegs and she blurred into a little girl. "Kitty!"
Padfoot picked himself up and up. "Damn it Pup! First you arrive unannounced, and then you spring this on me!"
"Okay. So next time I am Summoned to London for legal questions about whatever, I should just ignore Rio on my way back to school. I understand." Harry nodded. "Okay. Sorry Daphne…"
"Woah! I never said that you were not welcome! I am just asking for a little heads-up." Sirius smiled just as Toto stuck his nose somewhere sensitive and pulled on the man's Magic. "Hey! And what was That!"
"That's Toto. He was getting your scent." Hermione sighed. "I take it that Moony is at School." She looked around, "Where are Mom, Dad, And Tasha?"
"Tasha and Emma are shopping at the market, while Dan is talking to his hunting club buddies." Sirius frowned. "He calls it hunting, but he seems to only hunt others of the Club…"
"Oh… Paintball." Hermione smiled. "Combat training in the form of a game, and vice versa. Mom doesn't like it but she doesn't have a leg to stand on with her vices."
"So… they left you to watch over each other?" Harry had shifted Daphne to his hip, and between speaking was sniffing her head.
"Not exactly." Sirius pouted. "Winky, Blinky, and Nod are watching us. Basically the common rooms and the Courtyard are open to us to run around and the like, then we take our nap… and then we are going to the beach tonight when Tasha gets back." His eyes washed over the Assembled group. "Who and what do we have here?"
"Well, you met Toto. You should remember Tish, I was carrying her last time I was here." Harry waved at the two canines. "Trogg. My Padfoot to My Prongs. He has two females. This Alexandra Alexander, Sergeant of the Silver Griffins."
"Wait… two months ago, you had a wolf just a little larger than Padfoot… and now?" Sirius walked around the oversized Kyree.
"Samhain." Hermione smiled at Harry.
Sirius frowned… "The only thing…" Sirius turned to his Godson. "What did you do?"
"I will tell you everything when the 'Rents get back." Harry sat on the closed bench. "Hey Kitten. I want to introduce you to someone special. He swung out to stand between his knees. This is Toto. He is a kind of Dog. Toto." The young Wrysa pup pranced up. "Toto, this is Daphne." He locked eyes. :Pack. Litter Sister. Should I be Lost … she is Alpha.:
Toto dropped to his belly, with a whine, and licked her hand. :Play?:
Harry smiled. "Toto wants to play."
Daphne Squealed with laughter, and ran out of the courtyard into the house, blurring into her cat form.
"Wait." Hermione smiled as she sat across the courtyard from Harry. "Five, Four, three, two… Go!"
Toto vanished.
"How fast can he run?" Sirius asked.
:It is documented that they are faster than Horses: Tish yeawed.
Sirius accepted the simple comfort that his pup was here, as Toto would carry Daphne back to Hermione by the cat's harness, drop her, cover his face for Hermione to give a ten count for Daphne to run and hide, before he would track her down.
When the child has run herself out, Toto pinned her under his paw and gave her a tongue bath.
SPRB
When the Adults arrived, Hermione was quick to hug her folks, as Harry introduced Trogg to everyone, including the fact that Dan was a mundane Warrior and Emma kept him on a shorter leash than Hermione kept Harr.
"He puny." Trogg grunted in confusion.
"That's because over half his kills don't know that they are dead before they get buried. The rest died trying to kill him."
"That not possible." Trogg crossed his arms.
"He also taught Hermione to fight, and Emma taught her to Command a Male. They might be puny Compared to us, but Dragons are puny to you and I am your only threat… combat wise."
Trogg grunted, but was it in agreement or something else Harry didn't know.
A final goodbye, and Harry opened a Gate to the Windy Pier of Snow Point.
Looking over his Shoulder, "Wow. I was picturing something like Hogwarts but that…."
"Max student population of three hundred, with a rate of two out of five surviving the end of the School Year." Hermione shook her head.
"Forty Percent survival rate?" Emma was on her feet.
"Yeah. Three of the Classes deal with Magic that doesn't forgive small mistakes. Demonology, Advanced Necromancy, Advanced Blood Magic, and Heartstone Magics." Harry sighed.
"You named four." Emma frowned.
"Did I?" Harry looked at her. "Well I am only taking one of those and Hermione is not taking any."
Trogg grunted as he shouldered past the puny wizard. "Walking Heartstone not allowed on advance class. Harr Scare Demon."
"Yeah yeah, go hide under Chapas skirts!" Harry yelled after him.
"Harr good idea!" Trogg yelled back as he waved with only the one finger raised.
Hermione swatted his head as she and Alexander stepped across, with Tish following.
Toto pranced up, carrying his new favourite toy by its luggage handle.
"Daphne!" Tasha cried out.
:No. Drop Her. Her Bitch needs to train her to hunt first. When she can Hunt on her own, then we can take her with us.:
:Hunt?: Toto sent Kitten-Daphne down so he could look at Harry.
:Ask our Alpha-Bitch.: Harry Projected an image of Hermione.
Toto was through the Gate faster than Winky on a spill.
"Until later." He crossed over. He turned back to look at the shaggy wizard. "Oh, I am starting a Bike Club. Make sure you get yourself a new ride. Include a Hummer for the Ladies… and whatever Dan and Moony want."
He let the Gate close.
"And how is it possible for you to Gate here, Mister Potter?"
TBC