The Portkey
The next morning everyone seemed to be in a rush to reach the chamber to continue reading. They were all excited to read about the World Cup. Even those that had been there, were anticipating hearing about it from Harry's perspective. Harry, however, was more worried about what happened after the World Cup. He didn't want to even think how everyone would react to the death eater attack.
Harry felt as though he had barely lain down... It was still dark outside.
Sirius was almost giddy with excitement. Finally something good was happening.
Ron muttered indistinctly... headed downstairs into the kitchen.
The children in the chamber were struggling to sit still. They wanted the action to begin. This was excrutiating.
Mrs. Weasley was stirring... do I look like a Muggle, Harry?"
"Better than most of the wix I saw at the world cup," Harry said with a small smile, remembering the man that had worn a woman's nightdress.
"Yeah," said Harry... "So they can have a bit of a lie-in."
Kingsley tutted. Just one off age wizard? That was unacceptable. Did no one appreciate just how much danger Harry Potter could be in?
Harry knew that Apparating meant disappearing... "Why can't we Apparate too?"
Some of the adults chuckled.
"Because you're not of age... pass a test to Apparate?" Harry asked.
Several people gaped at Harry. It was so easy to forget how little he had actually known about there world.
"Oh yes," said Mr. Weasley... "Er - splinched?" said Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes. It really sucked that he always had to ask for information. Especially because he absolutely hated asking questions. He hated the way everyone just assumed that he already knew all this stuff.
"They left half of themselves behind," ... Muggles who spotted the body parts they'd left behind... "
Hermione huffed. What he hadn't said was just how dangerous it could be. How you could seriously hurt yourself.
"That sounds very dangerous," Mr Granger said.
"It's usually nothing serious," Arthur said with a shrug, "but yes, it can be. It really depends what you leave behind."
Harry had a sudden vision of a pair of legs... Prefer brooms - slower, but safer. "
"Don't blame them," Ron said with a shudder. He'd been splinched. He knew exactly how bad it could be.
"But Bill and Charlie and Percy can all do it?"... poor old dear doing her shopping, remember?"
That got a few laughs.
"Yes, well, he passed the second time," ... amid hearty sniggers.
Young Harry wondered why she felt the need to defend Charlie. It sounded a lot like getting a muggle driving license. Sometimes you failed at that the first time too.
"Percy only passed two weeks ago," ... just to prove he can."
Percy blushed.
There were footsteps... "What, are we walking to the World Cup?"
More people laughed this time.
"No, no, that's miles away,"... huge occasion like the Quidditch World Cup. . . "
Remus frowned. Surely, they'd say a bit more than that. This was a good opportunity for Harry to learn about magical transportation.
"George!" ... "What is that in your pocket?"
Everyone sighed. They really hoped they weren't going to see a repeat of the previous chapter.
"Nothing!"... "Accio!"
George glared at his mother.
Several small, brightly colored objects... Empty your pockets, go on, both of you!"
"Destroy them?" Severus asked. "Are you mad?"
"What?" Mrs Weasley asked.
"Your sons have invented something," Severus said with a grimace, "and you want them to destroy it? That would be a waste."
Severus wasn't sure why he was defending the Weasley twins. But if his mother had destroyed his notes on the various spells he'd created as a teen, he'd have lost his head.
"Do you have any idea how much time and dedication those inventions must have taken?" Severus asked, his voice dripping disdain. "Charm work, potioneering, transfiguration... Not to mention, probably some spell creation. You should be proud of your sons. They're clearly very talented. You might even call them geniuses if everything I've heard in this chamber is true."
"Personally, I'd love to hear more about their fake wands," Ollivander said. "Fake wands are not easy to craft. In fact, it requires a deep understanding of Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. It might not equate to academic success, but not everything can be measured in grades."
It was an unpleasant scene... the turn-ups of Fred's jeans.
George was almost shaking with rage. This had really upset him and Fred.
"We spent six months developing those!" ... "No wonder you didn't get more O. W. L. s!"
George looked ready to shout at his mother, but held his tongue. It wasn't worth it. "It wasn't a waste of time," he said coolly. "We learned loads during our experiments and I'll have you know Weasleys Wizard Wheezes is very profitable."
All in all, the atmosphere was not very friendly... walked out without a word to her.
"Can't really blame them," Sirius muttered.
"Well, have a lovely time," ... they did not look back or answer.
Mrs Weasley sniffled. She hadn't meant to stifle their creativity. She just wanted them to succeed. Was that really so bad?
"I'll send Bill... without all the Muggles noticing?" he asked.
The adults all smiled to see Harry asking questions.
"It's been a massive organizational problem,"... big enough to accommodate them all.
Young Harry frowned at that. He looked to his older self and wondered if they could fix that. They needed more magical spaces. From what he'd heard so far there was really only Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. That really wasn't enough.
There are places Muggles can't penetrate... we have to stagger the arrivals.
Hermione was listening closely. She was surprised she'd missed this conversation.
People with cheaper tickets... the Apparition point.
Harry frowned. They really needed to find a way to create more magical spaces. Their society needed to be separate from the muggles but that didn't mean they should be completely isolated. If he had his way, there would be new magical villages and towns popping up all over Britain, all hidden from the muggles, of course.
For those who don't want to Apparate... stuff they'll just think is litter... "
"It doesn't seem very wise to just leave portkeys lying about though," Hermione said. "Wouldn't it have been better to allocate each portkey to a specific person who would be attending and make them responsible for arranging the travel of the people in their specific area. Surely, there are enough magicals that people could volunteer for such a task."
The ministry employees all blinked at Hermione. Why hadn't they thought of that? That would have simplified things significantly.
They trudged down the dark... his feet found level ground.
Poppy grimaced. That couldn't have been easy for Harry, considering his malnutrition.
"Whew," ... Come on. . . "
Hermione rolled her eyes. She really thought this was stupid. Imagine leaving a portkey just lying about at the top of a hill...
They spread out... we've got it. "
Amos grinned. That was him.
Two tall figures... extremely handsome boy of around seventeen.
Cedric blushed at being called extremely handsome. Luna smiled softly. Another crush...
He was Captain and Seeker ... first Quidditch match of the previous year.
George rolled his eyes. He didn't like losing.
"Long walk, Arthur?" ... "All these yours, Arthur?"
The Weasleys all laughed. There were a lot of them.
"Oh no, only the redheads," ... "Harry? Harry Potter?"
Harry grimaced.
"Er - yeah," said Harry.
Narcissa rolled her eyes. She'd teach the boy how to introduce himself properly. Of course, it didn't help that no one seemed to care about protocol when meeting Harry Potter. It was very disrespectful. She'd make sure Harry knew what was owed to him as Prince Myrrddin.
Harry was used to people looking curiously... made him feel uncomfortable.
"Don't blame you," Hermione said.
"It's downright creepy," Ron added, frowning. Why had he always been jealous of that? Especially when Harry clearly hated it.
"Ced's talked about you... You beat Harry Potter!"
Amos grimaced. He hadn't known about the dementors. He wasn't sure Cedric had ever told him. Or if he just hadn't listened.
Harry couldn't think of any reply to this... it was an accident. . . . "
George looked like he wanted to say something. Harry hadn't just fallen off his broom.
"Yes, but you didn't fall off... wouldn't you, eh?
Sirius growled, eyeing Amos with dislike.
One falls off his broom... the better flier!"
No one said anything, although Amos looked like he wanted to. Should he apologise? he wondered to himself.
"Must be nearly time," ... Fawcetts couldn't get tickets," said Mr. Diggory.
"That surprised me," Arthur said. "The Fawcetts are usually the first to get tickets."
"There aren't any more of us... a finger will do -"
Sirius and Remus both shook their head. That was not all.
"It's better to walk with the portkey during travel," Remus explained. "Otherwise, you're going to have a rough landing."
With difficulty, owing to their bulky backpacks.... a Muggle were to walk up here now...
The Grangers laughed. Yes, muggles would have found their behaviour very odd indeed.
nine people... magnetically onward and then -
"It's going to be a rough landing," Sirius groaned. He wondered if Arthur had taught his own kids how to properly use portkeys. In fairness, people rarely used them. They were expensive. And heavily regulated. But still, they should have at least had better instructions than 'a finger will do.'
His feet slammed into the ground... everybody else was on the ground.
Sirius rolled his eyes. So, Arthur hadn't taught any of his kids how to portkey. That seemed irresponsible and that was saying something coming from him.
"Seven past five from Stoatshead Hill," said a voice.
No one spoke. They were all too excited for what would come next.