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: High Mind Speech:

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The night of the third day, found them sleeping at the foot of a massive cliff.

After a hot soak, Hermione settled into a kitty cuddle and accepted the simple comfort of her Tom covering her back, his rumbling purring rocking her to sleep.

But the morning was a different matter.

Harry took one look at her face, ordered Dobby to leave her all the chocolate they had in store, not to speak to her unless she requires a verbal answer, and to hide as quickly as possible.

He ordered the Drakon out, blew her a kiss, and slid out before sealing the door flap, and shrinking the tent.

"Why did you trap her in the tent?" Soran frowned.

"Because it's that time of the month. Do ever notice a time each month where Kyra bites you more often than usual?"

The dragon kin thought about it, before nodding.

"Well, Hermione is going through that time right now. She is not going to want to move more than necessary. So I left them in there and we get to climb."

"Why climb when we can fly?"

"Because we have to stay on course. I can climb, while you hunt. That and Hermione is going to need the day before she feels better. Let's take the time she needs."

"And Kyra?"

"Her climbing ability is going to be limited, and Hermione is going to need a female to keep her company." That said, Harry adjusted his pack, the wand and dagger resting on his chest, and mounted the mountain side cliff face.

Soran snorted, as he turned to hunt the surrounding area.

SPRB

Hermione smiled as Harry dove out of the tent. It shook as he packed it up and and then settled.

"What was that about?" Kyra frowned at the kitty girl.

"Harry is going to carry us today. He saw that I was not feeling well. He ordered the dumb boys out, and offered up all the chocolate. With the Hot Tub and library…"

"And me?" The blonde turned to glare at the flap."

"They are either flying, which could take him off course, or climbing the cliff face…"

"And he knew that I would prefer to ride in comfort then either of those choices." She nodded. "You trained him well."

"I took on a 'broken to harness' brute and put him back together. He does act now and again, but a few gentle words and he calms down quickly. Now it's just a question of timing if I get to him before he rips off someone's head… or more often, hand."

"Good to know." Kyra relaxed into her hybrid state. "By the way, where did you get these tops?"

"The Shop on the Ship made them." Hermione relaxed into her Mau form, her fluffy, rather than bushy, tail lashing softly behind her. "And yes, they have a shop in Paris. I have the info. These were yoga togs, but they double as sports bras very easily."

"I am going to keep borrowing this one as long as you will let me." Kyra ran finger under the edge. "My only complaint is that this is not my colour."

"Harry chose Norwegian Ridgeback for me. Mom got Opaleye. Dad was given Ironbelly." Hermione smiled as she sat on a stool at the bar. "Dobby. I will need a towel, the weapons I collected from the thugs in the alley, and the red kit Dad bought me in Rio." In the next breath the six handguns, a towel and her red kit appeared before her.

"Miss Grangy, Dobby was cleaning the Muggle Broomsticks… found things Dobby didn't recognise." Dobby was pulling on his ear.

"Put them 'as is' in a basket, and we as the full group will inspect and decide tonight." Hermione had spread out the towel. I am feeling the need for a nougat and nut."

"Pure Dark for me." Kyra smiled at the little guy. "I don't think he is a sub breed of Hertasi."

"Don't think so." Hermione frowned at her new girlfriend. "They are the descendants of the quote common Brownie of English Legend. They started out as a parasite race that grew to become a symbiotic race. And like their Ancestors, they have two sides. When not cared for properly, they become Bogarts. Now you become a threat to the Family, the Brownie taps into the Bogart and they become your deepest fear… before you die."

"So… he is dangerous?" Kyra looked at the small creature across from the bar.

"No more than you are. I am safe by the core set of principles that holds society to a certain level of peace." The gun in her hands fell apart. She then set them into place before her. "He won't attack you because you are a guest of House Potter. You won't attack because it is not to your advantage to sit back and wait if for no other reason."

"You are pretty cocky for a little human."

"I am the Brains of a duo of Titan Slayers. That means that little guy you have been eyeing is tapped into the raw power of a raging storm. I am the closest thing to his Mistress. That means that his eye is on me, and any potential threats to me." She looked at the blonde. "And as my friend…"

Kyra looked at her before laughing. "That's why you two were so accommodating with the two of us." Kyra turned towards the bookshelves. "Wish you had a wine…" she was interrupted by the appearance of a glass goblet of a deep red merlot. "I see why your brownie is better than a Hertasi."

Dobby puffed up his chest as he returned to the duties of a Potter Elf.

Kyra coiled up with a book on the Mind Arts from the English perspective as Hermione purred to herself as she cleaned the guns.

SPRB

The sun was directly overhead when Harry pulled himself onto a ledge. It looked like a cave or tunnel that would cut hours off their trip, and put an end to the climbing.

Using his Quidditch whistle, he called out to Soran. A few minutes later, the bright blue glide winged lizard dropped from the sky, a bird twice the size of Harry's owl form in his teeth. He snapped his wings tight and landed in a skid inside the mouth.

No sooner than he passed Harry, the bird vanished.

"Nice landing… and threat acknowledged."

The Drake shimmered to human. "Threat?"

"The bird. It was twice the size of Stormryder." Harry grinned. "You just proved that you can take me if I can't get to my magic."

Soran grinned at the compliment. "So… what is that smell?"

"My sniffer is not as strong as yours." Harry smiled at him.

"Well I think I have a current of salt water… but it passes over something dead… but not rotting." He wandered off into the depths.

Harry drew his wand. [Expecto Patronum] "Message to Hermione. "Found a cave. Smelling salt wind. Investigating. Deliver." The ghostly puma faded as it lunged at the pouches he was carrying.

A double flick motion and he had an orb the size of a snitch hovering over his head. Shining light on the surrounding area.

An hour later they stopped to rest, and Dobby delivered two sandwiches and two bottles of Butterbeer… chilled.

"What's this?" Soran held up the sweating bottle.

"Butterbeer." Harry took a sip. "Think Ginger beer only with butterscotch."

"Any alcohol?"

"Not really. Your kidneys would filter it out before you even got buzzed. Or rather a human's system. I do know that Elves can get drunk on it. No one has ever given any to dragons before." Harry sipped again before setting it to the side. "There is an adult liquor… fire-whiskey. It allows us to breathe flame for a bit. Experienced drinkers can channel the flames or suppress them."

"And do you have any?"

"Yes. Hermione and I are going to have a shot, each, on the night before we go home." Harry unwrapped his sandwich. "Of course our friends are invited to join us for a shot."

Soran nodded as he continued to eat his gravy covered meat sandwich.

Harry's watch was flashing nine pm when he stopped and unpacked the tent and set it up in an alcove.

Hermione smiled as she kissed his cheek. "Harry did good today. Good Harry."

"I feel like I should object, but that's a trap." He kissed the spot between her kitty ears. "So I will just say, I missed you and I hope your day was as productive as I feel ours was."

"Well… I cleaned the guns, designed a leather vest to carry them…and finished the homework for Hogwarts."

"Good…can't wait to see it… and only you, my pussy." Harry grinned.

Hermione began to Purr.

"What is that noise?" Soran looked around.

"And why do I always hear it when you two get mushy?"

"It's a cat thing." Harry smiled at the Dragon man.

"Master Potter ready to see what Dobby found?" Dobby popped in.

Harry looked at Hermione.

"He was cleaning the bikes and found some items in the touring cases. I told him to box it and we will inspect it together."

So the five of them sat beside the fire circle and looked into the basket.

Five kilos of heroin, six of cocaine. There were also three boxes of 50 rounds of .380 caliber… the handgun that he had on him. And travel papers, and cash. Lots of cash.

"I say, drop the drugs… but … how?" Harry pushed the ammo towards Hermione. "The cash, if no objections, should go to the Bank, aka me."

"And those boxes you are pushing towards her?" Kyra smiled and winked.

"She is our gunner. Like you are our poison and venom expert." Harry set the basket of drugs aside. "And he is our hunter. I am the Bank. Cash Bank… power bank."

Kyra looked at him, before turning to the witch beside her. "Is he really that cocky?"

"Only when flying… but I think his Animagus talents are bleeding through." Hermione stacked the ammo boxes beside her.

Kyra nodded. "Soo… now what?"

"Have you got your three questions?" Harry asked.

[Flashback]

As everyone settled in for the night at the foot of the cliff face, Dobby served up a teriyaki grill over rice that had Soran whimpering as he leaned on the wall of air Dobby had erected around the kitchen.

The two girls had rushed to the Bath as the Drakon was licking the air… literally.

Harry sat in the alcove under the shaped wood, as if the tree that was the inside of the tent had been bent and twisted as it grew. In the Alcove, Harry had set up a workbench. He worked the sheath into a pair of straps that were for the harness that held the pouches on his shoulders and back, and under his wings.

Once he was finished fitting the sheath into place, he turned his attention to the blade. Hermione had called it 'a Kris… or rather a modified version of one." The D hilt with spikes was shaped into a 'pistol' type grip, allowing for better thrust and slash movements, but from the hilt to tip, the blade was "Thirteen Inches of Damascus Steel, in a serpentine recurve." Thanks Hermione.

He wiped the blade, found it rather dull, before he looked at Dobby, Teasing Soran by reglazing the meat under his nose. "Dobby. A task for tonight. Needs to be done by dawn… but no hurry. This Blade needs to be cleaned, sharpened, and protected."

He then raised his hand and [Accio Soran's vest] The drake shrugged out of it… never even breaking contact with the barrier keeping him from the meat. Harry smiled as he altered the decal design on the back panel.

An hour later, after everyone had eaten, the two Brits sighed.

"Hermione will fill in some details after the story." Harry held his cup of tea. "We have not shared this story because I… we value your friendship. That and it is not a completely good story." He sipped. "Dobby is the only bright point in this story. It all began when I had not heard from my friends from Hogwarts. But then I only got my mail from Hedwig… and she was as locked up as I was…"

Over the Next two hours, he told his story, Hermione answering the technical questions like 'what is the Floo?'

"Then She rared up, and drove her multi-fanged mouth at me to swallow me whole. Like the Brave Warrior of yore, I held up the sword…"

"No!" Kyra cried. "And you survived?"

"I was small enough for the sword to get her before she smashed or swallowed me." Harry tapped the white round scar on his wind burned and sun kissed arm. "But her fang got caught in my arm… pierced right through, right between the bones. As I rolled out of her maw, Ghost Tom was snickering as I drug myself to the witchling's side. He thought I was crawling to die with her…"

"So… did you die?" Soran asked, Enraptured by the story.

They just looked at him.

They started laughing.

"The Venom was burning in my veins," Harry continued as he regained his composure, "But I crawled to her side…pulled the dairy out of her grasp… pulled the fang fragment from my arm and stabbed the book… destroying the Ghosts anchor. He died screaming."

"Yes!" The Americans yelled, but for different reasons.

"As I was succumbing to the venom and the girl was waking up, the Phoenix returned to me and cried into my wounds. The tears, freely given, also burned through my veins and I collapsed. Once I had recovered enough to collect the wands, the book, the Sword, and Witch, I started back."

"You just left her there?" Kyra hissed. "Have you no Honour in your kill?"

"Please forgive us." Hermione spoke up. "We are not trained to respect Death in this matter. We are city breed mundanes. I know that if you kill prey, you eat it or trade it to be eaten."

"Dobby." Harry turned to the little guy. "My lap desk and the Mail…"

Bark!

"Set the mail box on the Counter. Hedwig will handle putting my letter in the box, and bringing me the response." Harry grinned at the owl.

The owl huffed as she turned away from him.

Harry began to write a letter to Barchoke.

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[Scandalous Inferno] lounged in the sun, the Slave-Kitten, [Treasured Dynamic] was curled up beside him in kitten form. When [Book Hunter] first brought 'it' in, he was not pleased. But like the little tic it was, it had burrowed into his chest fur.

He liked its forehead as he purred.

He could not wait for [Snowfall Death] to call…

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TBC