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: High Mind Speech:

SPRB

Nine beings landed on the pier.

A trio of High Elves. (The Tide-riders)

A Kree and two humans, with braided hair with beads and feathers. (Wind-riders)

And a trio of Orge-mages.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. You arrived just after the strike of Noon." The Headmistress appeared over themIf you can walk to the Dining Hall, I will overlook your tardiness due to the skill and or the power you and your team got you here." She smiled evilly, "But you have to move now."

:On your feet!: the Kree nuzzled her humans to their feet. : You're not going to let the Elves beat us to Glory!:

The two humans leaned on each other as the 'dog' herded them into the Academy.

The Three Elves stood slowly, but refused to help or receive help from others. They staggered in the wake of the others.

The Male Orge, larger and stronger than the two females, but not as smart or skilled. He had the strength to catapult them across the finish line, but that was the limit of his skill, knuckled up, so that he was standing on all fours.

The two females grunted as they resettled their packs and followed him into the Academy.

Ogre-mages are a breed of Demi humans from the mountains between what the English call China and India. They look like a tusked Gorilla, usually shades of gray and white. The males are bigger and have longer tusks, but are raised to believe that Females are superior. Some males even knuckle under to human Females if she has proven that she has what is needed to Command.

SPRB

The Bell struck the first toll of Noon.

Harry sat up, as he looked to the Dais and Podium. As did everyone else…

The Doors were shouldered open as a massive Black Gorilla with three inch tusks, wearing a pack and a long vest. Two grey females followed in his wake.

Behind them, two humans with beaded braids were being herded by a wolf. Verra sprung from her nest and rushed to their side. Harry, passing Crookshanks to Hermione, rolled to his feet and joined her and using his wand, lifted them off their feet and carried them back to where Kyra was sprawled.

Soran had grabbed the leg bone and drug to his spot as he was now curled around two bones that he was licking like lollipops.

: Good Afternoon.: a voice echoed in his head. He could tell by her reaction that Hermione was hearing it too. :I am Tish. A pleasure to meet you all.:

The 'Dog' cocked her head.

Harry knew that she was more than a dog… too much time with Padfoot.

"I take it that the 'not dog' is the one using Telepathy?" Hermione asked

:Mind Speech Gift. Telepathy is different. Like 'Gift' is different from Magic.: The voice had a jingle bell texture to it. The 'dog' wagged her tail.

"Think of her as a Cat in wolf's clothing." The Male chuckled. "That includes her claws. But she never forgets."

"Soo, like my dog and wife in one." Harry blurted out.

"Can't you be serious?" the Female asked.

"No!" Hermione Commanded. As everyone looked at her, she sighed. "Okay, they need to know."

Harry chuckled. "No I can't. My Godfather is Sirius, I'm just Harry."

The Females just looked at him.

The two males snorted in amusement.

The new Female nodded "You were Correct, he should not have." She struggled upright. "I am Steel-lotus. Now that I have rested, I need some water and fruit. Are there any nuts?"

"Dobby." Harry Called as he sat beside Hermione.

A plate of a selection of fruits and nuts appeared by her legs as a golden goblet appeared at her knee.

:Roast chicken. And a bowl of water?:

Nothing happened.

"Dobby?"

"Master Harry?" The Elf appeared in front of him.

The three newcomers perked up.

"Did you hear the request for the chicken?" Harry asked.

Dobby pulled his ear. "No, Master Harry."

"That just means that she needs to see you to speak to you." Hermione reached out to rub his head.

:See you or know your mind if you are in range." The 'Dog' leaned forward and licked Dobby's face. :I now see you and know you, so you will know when I want you to hear me. I had requested a roast chicken and a bowl of water.:

Dobby popped away.

"What…" the male asked.

"Think of him as a tailless Hertasi." Kyra smiled as she shifted about. "Now we Know Tish and Steel-lotus…"

He sighed as the plate of chicken … a whole chicken and a punchbowl water arrived before Tish. "I Started this journey as Bright-Star…"

Harry started laughing. "Been there. I doubt that you can find yourself in just a week. I think I will call you Star until you decide on your full name." Harry grinned. "I am Harry. This is Hermione. The Blonde is Kyra, the Griffin if you don't know, is Verra, and the bone licker over there is Soran." he thrust his thumb at the drake who was looking like Padfoot after a good day … or prank.

A throat clearing called all attention to the Podium.

"Good Afternoon. I am your Headmistress. That is how you will address me. Your professors will introduce themselves to you when you take their classes.

"This Snow Point. We won't hold your hand. You are here to learn what we have to teach you. You have arrived safely within the time limit. That presumes that you are mature enough to behave in our Society.

"There will be No Fighting in the Dorms or Common Rooms, the Dining Hall, The Library and Infirmary. You will be either expelled or killed, pending on who finds you. You start something in class… and the Professor will end you.

Tomorrow, you will have the whole day to choose your classes. Tonight you will settle into the Dorms. Take the week to learn the Layout of this Great School. This weekend we have our first workshop: Crafting your personal Focus.

"You will be needing to take six courses per year. Some classes you are going to need to be tested to see if you meet the minimum requirements. It's possible to see someone from every year in your classes. Testers will be around the Hall all day, tomorrow, for those who need to test into your classes. I turn you over to our Ward Master… Ward." She vanished into thin air.

The Healer shook his head as he took his place before the Podium. "Good Afternoon. I am Ward, the Ward Master and Combat Healer. For those who are interested… I do take apprentices in their second year." He looked at Harry. "Now, I see that some of you are in need of healing, minor as it is. Let me deal with the others and I will get to you. If your group wants to accompany you, that's up to them."

Harry turned to the Kree and Human trio. "I can offer you accommodation if you want. I have access to hot baths and a private room or two. Plus Dobby."

:Done!: Tish wagged her tail.

"No thanksss." Verra glared at the two new humans. "I like to sleep in silence."

"We make no apologies." Steel-lotus answered as Star puffed up his chest.

"Good thing our rooms are charmed silent." Hermione had trouble keeping her straight face, as Kyra just smirked.

The group followed Ward to the Common Room and Dorm rooms.

"Now, I notice that some of you are in family groups. Our dorms are paired around a fireplace. The Groups with a flyer in them, please wait in the centre of the room while I settle the Elves. Everyone else, pair up accordingly. Mated groups count as one."

Ward herded a trio of beings out of the common room.

"Well, that's not a good sign." Kyra huffed. "High Elves here means that Trouble is on the way. Something scared the Grove enough to send a trio last minute."

"Elves?" Hermione asked, looking at Harry.

"High Elves… as in the Fairy Court's Elves. Bloodthirsty Bastards, long lives, longer memories." Soran answered with a Frown. Hermione made him leave his bones. "The last time they came here… The Duke was shot in the car…"0"Two Pools, Three feet deep. Separated by a retractable wall." Kyra leered at the two. "Originally meant for his oß0hers, but …"

nough to mouth off to the Headmistress…"

: Steel-lotus and Star are what is known as Tale'edras. Their mating habits are… as flexible as they are. While they are Mated Lovers, they are open to allowing others in for a night or more.:

Harry blinked at the two of them. "I think I know a couple of people who would like to make your acquaintance. That said, you will have to keep the silence spells up. And keep your dressing robes at hand."

Star frowned.

"My Parents are Nudests." Hermione spoke up. "And while on Vacation, they are open with their marriage. This Summer Harry kidnapped the three of us… and found out that not all males are created equal. While he is in the upper twenty percent, he doesn't need to see them swinging in his face."

Harry just glared at her.

Verra nodded. "Yourrr Mate ssshould be able to sssatissfy all your needsss."

"We are not mates." Hermione smiled at the gryphon. "Yet."

"And… now I am afraid." Soran stepped away from Harry.

"The Tale'edras, I can Understand, but the Rest?" Ward had approached from behind Harry.

"Well…" Harry smiled at the Healer. "Four of us are Flyers, and the rest are more interested in the Hot Tub Baths and private Rooms and House Elf Service than the Academy Standard."

"You have four?"

"Well… five if you count both Hermione and Hedwig." Harry grinned at his friend. "She has a problem with heights unless she is in a muggle plane."

"And when you say Flyers…"

Harry turned into his Griffin form. He was half the size of Verra… and with Mynx half as big as him…

He returned to his human form.

The four Vale folk blinked at him.

"That's new." Steel-lotus had a look about the eyes. "Can anyone learn that?"

"We will see." Harry smiled. "It depends on your magic control system."

"What control system?" Hermione asked.

"I noticed that Soran's Magic is different… mostly because he is a dragon. Both of us are 4born human, and don't even get me started on Verra. Kyra might be able to take on the full serpent with the full art, but I don't know anything about the Tale'edras, but I don't think they have the same system. But I think Padfoot and Moony are better to answer any questions…"

"Well I put the mated pair of Griffins and the Kree pair in number Eight." Ward turned to lead the group off. "I am going to put you in number Nine. I will need everyone who wants to fly on the left side for a minute. The rest can stand on the right for the minute."

Harry Stepped out on the patio. A sharp whistle and Hedwig landed on his raised arm. He transferred her to his left shoulder.

As Ward ran his wand over the others, Verra stared at the white owl. Ward was quick to include Harry and Hedwig to the Wards.

As the Healer left, Verra let out a war cry… causing Hedwig to hiss and flare her wings.

Steel-lotus and Star followed Tish into the room.

: Is that a Bond Bird?: Tish cocked her head.

"I think it is…" Steel-lotus reached out her hand, before she stepped back. "She is of the stock… but she is bonded to the boy… by her choice." Then she smiled. "She wants me to teach him Mind Speech."

"Yes Hermione. You can join me in the lessons." Harry sighed. "Now, as the other room is smaller… The tent is going there. Now… I am declaring right here and now… the people in this room are welcome to join me and mine in the tent. If you are going to be… enjoying others …enjoy them elsewhere. Dobby will enforce this."

"Just what is Dobby?" Steel-lotus asked.

Hearing his name spoken, the Elf appeared at Harry's knee.

"Do you know of the Lore on the Brownie of English Lore?" Hermione asked, before she switched to lecture mode. "They were a parasite race that grew to serve the House they were leeching off. Over centuries of this service, they are symbiotic… and dangerous when angered. They are very eager to serve and will do almost anything. And if they are released to defend the Family…"

Harry sighed. "A man was arrested for attacking the girl who has since become my Heir… when he was handed to the Policia of Rio. That night… he was murdered in the most inhuman way, after being pinned to the wall and flayed out of his skin… whole. The morning after the whole skin was stretched out and displayed in the most graphic manner possible. While I have no proof… I believe that Dobby had a hand in it."

"And you don't ask him about it… because?" Steel-lotus asked.

"Because he would tell me." Harry rubbed Dobby's head. "I don't want him to confirm it. It gives me a feeling that I am protected from almost everything, while not giving me the fear of my little Friend. My Friends and Family share that same protection." His fingers dropped to scratch behind the Elf's ear.

"Would he attack someone else?" Star squatted down to peer at the small creature before him.

"If I asked him to… but they might have a house Elf of their own. I would need to believe that they were a Direct Threat to House Potter and his actions were the only way to protect the House… at the Cost of my Elf… my Friend." Harry drew on his Power… causing everyone but Dobby, Hermione, and Hedwig to take a step back. "You ask, you are no longer a friend…"

"No!" Hermione whacked the back of his head from his right just before Hedwig did it from his left.

Soran snorted. "I have been watching this comedy act for the last week and it has yet to get old."

Kyra shook her head. "It's not an act. They both have a hold on him." She stretched. "Well I am going for a hot bath." She shoulder bumped Steel-lotus. "Join me if you want to… males optional."

The two Tale'edras watched her walk into the other room.

"Shit!" Harry jumped to follow, "I still need to set up the tent. Dobby, everyone in these two rooms are Guests!"

TBC