Dragon Attack
A few days later with Hermione now trusting Fig, but not enough to tell him about her time travel Hermione went to meet Professor Fig on the carriage with their supplies.
"Ah, it appears we are almost ready to depart." He said. "It's a pity we didn't have a bit more time to spend on spellcasting. I presume you've been practicing the spells we worked on?"
"I even looked ahead in the books and practiced those spells as well." Hermione said.
"Well, aren't you studious. I'm quite sure I've never seen anyone take so quickly to a second hand wand then." Professor Fig said. "Especially if you got them to work. You'll be a force to be reckoned with when you get your own."
"Thank you Professor Fig." Hermione said. "I appreciate you working with me before the term begi-"
It was at that moment someone apparated in.
"Oh! Eleazor!" He called after looking around.
"George." Professor Fig said shaking his hand. "Glad my rather cryptic description of our location did not thwart you finding us."
"I've separated to more vaguely defined destinations then this." George chuckled. "Though. I admit I may have miscalculated slightly on my first try. Gave quite the fright to some theater-goers in the West End."
"It's been much too long." Professor Fig said. "When I recieved your owl, I must say I-"
"Best not speak here, Eleazor. Hmm?" George shushed.
"Of course." Professor Fig agreed. "Why don't we speak en route to Hogwarts? We have a start-of-term feast and a Sorting Ceremony to get to."
"Wonderful idea." George said, "As long as your young charge here doesn't mind me tagging along."
"Not at all sir." Hermione agreed not getting any bad vibes from him.
"After you." Professor Fig said as he and Hermione climbed into the carriage.
"It's been ages since I've been to the castle." George said climbing in behind them. "Would be good to see the old pile of rocks."
With that the carriage driver drove them away Hermione thought they would be ride to the train station to ride the Hogwarts Express but shivered when the carriage took into the sky instead. She quickly focused on the others instead as they soared above the clouds.
"Glad I caught you before you left for Scotland." George said.
"Just barely." Fig said.
"And who is your traveling companion?" George asked.
"A new student." Professor Fig said.
"New?" George asked.
"Yes sir." Hermione said careful to keep her status as a time traveler secret. "I'm starting school as a fifth year."
"How extraordinary." George said.
"It is indeed." Professor Fig said. "None of the faculty has ever heard of anyone being admitted to Hogwarts so late."
"Nor have I." George said as Hermione grimaced she hadn't either and she really hoped that was okay.
"Of course, as the other fifth years will have been honing their magic skills for four years now the headmaster asked if I could get our new student up to speed a bit before the term begins."
"Well, you couldn't have asked for a better mentor." George said. "Professor Fig is not only an exceptional teacher, he is also a remarkably intuitive - and gifted - wizard."
"Mr. Osric is prone to flattery." Professor Fig chuckled. "I dare say it's one of the reasons he's risen so far at the ministry."
"Have you seen this?" George asked taking out a paper talking about saying: Ranrok's goblin rebellion, truth? or Gobbledegook?
"I have." Professor Fig said. "Opinions differ in how great a threat Ranrok really is."
Hermione then shivered when she looked outside to see how close they were and not only saw how high they were but saw something big fly below before she refocused on the conversation.
"Although I've yet to convince my colleagues at the ministry I believe he is a significant threat." George said. "And it was your wife, Eleazar, who alerted me to his activities months ago."
"Miriam?" Professor Fig asked. "How?"
"She wrote to me about Ranrok before she died - wondering what the ministry knew about his activities." He sighed taking out an ornate cylindrical container. "Before I could respond, I recieved this. It was the last thing she sent me, Eleazar. It came via her owl - but with no correspondence, I can only assume -"
"- That she had to get rid of it quickly to keep it safe." Professor Fig asked.
"Presumably from Ranrok." George said. "Whatever magic protects this is powerful indeed."
"It looks like Goblin Metal. That symbol -" Professor Fig said pointing to a swirling flame like symbol on it.
"Professor? What's that glow?" Hermione asked having never seen the symbol before and wondering why it was glowing a glow she had also seen on the artifact that brought her back in time.
"I don't see a glow." Fig said looking at it.
"Nor do I." George said as Fig handed the container to Hermione where it opened revealing a key.
"Merlin's beard!" George said. "How did you - ?"
"Wait." Professor Fig said taking the container back as Hermione went to grab the key. "We do not know what -"
Suddenly he was interrupted by a dragon biting the back half of the carriage off with George still in it.
"Hang on!" Fig shouted as Hermione tried to control her fear of being above the clouds in half a carriage as a dragon attacked.
Hermione then grimaced as the Dragon chomped down and looked away through the front carriage window just in time to see the Threstrals become visible, and she knew what that meant.
"Jump!" Fig said as they jumped out right before the carriage was incinerated by dragon fire.
"The key! Give me your hand!" Fig said as Hermione screamed as they fell through the air and as soon as he, grabbed her, still screaming, hand as he cast a wandless spell. "Accio!"
Once the key touched Professor Fig's hand they were whisked away right before becoming dragon food by what Hermione recognized as a Portkey.