Pack!

               Chapter Ten

               He appeared back in the Room shortly before Remus entered, returning from his his improptu trip to Calais. He looked at Harry, who had a self satisfied grin on his face, and just shook his head. “Tracking charms placed, and I’m able to monitor them without difficulty. Do I want to ask what you did this time?”

               “Probably not,” Harry said cheerfully, “but that said, you’re now our official planning committee.” He pulled Remus over to his desk, and into his chair, setting Hat, a stack of parchment and a few quills in front of him. He moved board #2 over so it was in his direct line of sight. Your job, with Hat’s assistance, and I’m going to head out to find you some more help, is to start making lists based on this board. Things we need to consider as a group before we go, things we need to acquire before we go, things you think we should do before we go, things we’ll need to do immediately once we get there, that kind of thing. For instance, communication, like we discussed earlier. If you think mirrors are our best option, let’s assume we won’t have access to supplies on the other side. I’m sure we’ll find some of what we need, but we won’t know what might not be available. So we’ll need the components for glass, or a supply of suitable glass, the skills to make glass, a silvering substance for them, and what you remember of the research. Same for the other items. If you think we need a particular thing, put it in terms of not only the thing itself, but what we need to make more of that particular thing, and then on to what do I need to learn to make that particular thing. I’m really good with the ‘go get me this’ kind of stuff, and I’m pretty good at identifying needs, but I’m not good at figuring out how to see those needs and find multiple solutions. I focus on the first solution I think of, and it might not be best for everyone. You see things from a bigger variety of viewpoints than I do, so if multiple solutions exist, let’s cover ‘em all. We can pick the one we like best later. I’m off out to sort out the help thing. He exited the room, leaving Remus to discover his surprise.

               *-*-*-*-*-

               Stepping outside, he called Bodrey, asking him to please tell Madam Rosmerta in Hogsmeade that he’d be by in an hour or so, and that if Bodrey had the time, he was free to sit and chat with her a bit about any questions she might have. He understood that Bodrey might not have all the answers, but he’s free to give her any information she asks for and that Harry would be in touch soon. He thanked Bodrey and sent him off. He then called Vabry, asking if Vabry could please get him a thermos of hot chocolate, he was going to need it. He waited until Vabry popped back with one, thanked him, then moved to a secluded spot off to the side of the castle and blowing out a breath, he cracked open the lock on a small door holding back deep emotions and began.

               “Patronus message to Oliver Wood….

               “Patronus message to Seamus Finnigan…

               “Patronus message to Dean Thomas…

               “Patronus message to Katie Bell…(fizzle)

               “Patronus message to Luna Lovegood…

               “Patronus message to Cedric Diggory…(fizzle)

               Harry chugged half the chocolate and continued

               “Patronus message to Angelina Johnson…

               “Patronus message to Lee Jordan…

               “Patronus message to Padma Patil…

               “Patronus message to Parvati Patil…

               “Patronus message to Alicia Spinnet…

               “Patronus message to Viktor Krum…

               He chugged the other half of the chocolate, and crossed his fingers:

               “Patronus message to Sirius Black,” and he stopped, looking at the tiny stag that sat waiting patiently. Harry was briefly lightheaded and thumped his arse to the ground, overwhelmed with relief. “Sirius Black, where have you been, you miserable numpty! We’ve been trying to reach you for ages. Me’n Remus are at Hogwarts, in the Room of Requirement. Up on the 7^th floor, go to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy and knock on the opposite wall. Send me a Patronus immediately if you can. If you don’t, I’m going to assume you’re in trouble and call out the guard. You have fifteen minutes. Love you, Padfoot.” He dispatched the Patronus and wasn’t ashamed to admit he spent a few minutes sobbing into his knees.

               It wasn’t long before patronii started coming in. Fortunately, none arrived at the same time, for which he was grateful.

               First was Luna’s hare, “I’ve been waiting for you to ask, Harry. Father and I will be delighted to join you, we’ll each be bringing a plus one.”

               Second was Victor Krum’s borzoi, and in Viktor’s unmistakable voice, “Yes, we will discuss with you. Have brought boat from Durmstrang, we are on lake.”

               Third was Alicia Spinnet’s hummingbird, “I’m sorry Harry, we’re scheduled to go through the portal in 20 minutes. My grandparents have already gone through, and I can’t leave my family. All my love and good luck!”

               Seamus Finnigan’s badger, “Mum and I had a sodding great row, she won’t leave me da, and he won’t be going. I’m in, send me details.”

               Dean Thomas’ pine marten, “Sorry Harry, me’n my mates have business ideas on the hob, and aren’t in a position to take chances on a maybe. Best of luck and hope things work out for us all.”

               Parvati Patil’s peacock, “Father was present when your Patronus arrived, and our family would like to discuss this in person. Please send reply.”

               Lee Jordan’s puli, “I’m on my own, Harry, and intend to follow Fred and George. Let me know which group they’re in, and that’s the group I’m in.”

               Oliver Wood’s snidget almost beat him about the head and shoulders in excitement. “Harry! I’m hearing there’ll be no quidditch league where they’re going, so if you have one, I’m in. If you don’t have one, I’m still in and I’ll start one. Can I bring some friends?”

               Angelina Johnson’s eagle, “You caught us just in time, we’re supposed to be in the next group. I’m not losing my favorite seeker, and bonus: Adventure! I have my parents and my older sister, if they can come, and that’s not a request, they’re coming, we’re in.”

               And finally, the reply that Harry had hoped the most for, Sirius’s black german shepard. “I’m, here, pup. A bit tired, I probably need some sleep, but I’m okay and- stop that Remus, I’m fine, go check on Charlie, he’s bleeding. I picked up Charlie in Romania on my way back, he was stranded and sending up wand flares. I was on my broom, but we were able to- OW! Don’t poke at it Remus, it’s fine. Charlie’s over there. We rode tandem until we could get to Gringotts in Bucharest, but you’d have thought World War Three had kicked off there and we couldn’t get to the floo, so we had to keep going to- it’s not broken, Remus, stop fussing- to Istanbul. And I don’t ever want to ride a broom again because- dammit Remus stop touching!- the chafing is awful. Anyway, we’re here, and… Harry it’s Remus. Sirius is going to go lay down, oh yes you are, stop acting like a two year old. He’s here, the rest can wait for you to get back. And oh, we are SO going to talk about your recent acquisitions.” Sirius’ voice again, “Love you, Prongslet!”

               Harry sniffled, rubbing his sleeve across his eyes and under his nose.

               “Patronus message to Fred and George Weasley, Charlie’s here, he’s in the Room of Requirement, came in with Sirius. No further information at this time, message from Lee Jordan says he intends to follow whichever group you choose to go with. Message from Oliver Wood says no quidditch in Dumbledore’s group, he’s not going to be stopped from starting a league with mine.”

“Patronus message to Seamus Finnigan, really, really glad to have you, mate. Get to Hogwarts, we’re meeting in the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor opposite the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry. Knock on the wall, someone will let you in.”

               “Patronus message to Luna Lovegood, sounds good. Meet us when you can, but no later than 9 PM today in the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor opposite the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry. Knock on the wall, someone will let you in.”

               “Patronus message to Oliver Wood, Ollie, how I’ve missed you. Bring whomever you like, just try not to alert Dumbledore, we’re keeping a relatively low profile. Head to Hogwarts if you’re not already here, go to the Room of Requirement on the seventh floor opposite the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry. Knock on the wall, someone will let you in.”

               “Patronus message to Parvati Patil, I can meet with you and your family at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade in an hour. Let Madam Rosmerta know you’re meeting with me. She intends to accompany us, although I haven’t had a chance to brief her yet.”

               “Patronus message to Victor Krum, meeting at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade in one hour for anyone on your boat interested. Good to hear from you, Victor.”

               “Patronus message to Angelina Johnson, you and yours are welcome. You can either go to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade where I’m briefing a few people in an hour, or you can go directly to Room of Requirement on the seventh floor opposite the Barnabas the Barmy tapestry. Knock on the wall, someone will let you in. Suggest the second option as you’ll get the same information in either place, and the Room is the final destination for those going. Briefing in Hogsmeade is for some maybes.”

               “Patronus message to Lee Jordan, have advised twins of your plans, I’ll ask them to let you know when they decide. Just in case I miss you for any reason, best of luck to you whichever way it goes.”

               He finished his messages and sat with his head spinning from the multiple patronii in so short a period. He lay back and waited for the sky to stop shifting. After about 20 minutes, He wobbled to his feet and called for Tadpy. “Hey Tadpy, thanks for coming. Can you let Taddy know there’s gonna be a bunch of people incoming, ask the room to set up bedrooms for them as they arrive, and if Remus has any tasking to assign, put them to work. If Oliver Wood and any friends he’s bringing arrive before I get back, leave him to me, I could use his help. Let Taddy and Remus know I’ll be back in about two hours, might have a few more with me. Tell Charlie I let the twins know he was here, so they may be in touch. Oh, and remind Remus to send somebody out for lunch, I’ll grab something at the Three Broomsticks, I think I overdid it.”

               Tadpy looked at Harry, and scolded, “Harry Potter sir is needing to take better care of himself, yes he is! Tadpy will be passing messages because Tadpy is a good elf and is doing as he is politely asked to do, but Tadpy is then popping to Hogsmeade to make sure Harry Potter walks to Hogsmeade and is eating.” He wagged a finger at Harry, “You’s is not to be doing any more magic until then!” He popped out. Harry sighed and started walking.

               He felt better by the time he reached Hogsmeade, but his energy was definitely flagging. A glance at his watch showed 2 PM. By now, the portal had probably been open for an hour, and he wished all the best to those already heading through. He had his problems with certain people and some parts of magical society, but if others were willing to live with it, godspeed.

               He trudged into the tavern, to find Tadpy waiting with arms crossed, next to a table holding a sandwich and glass of juice. Rosmerta stood behind the elf, looking highly amused. Harry looked at the elf who sternly looked back, and promptly seated himself, digging in. Having practically inhaled the sandwich, he turned back to Rosmerta, finding her in conversation with an elderly wizard, who looked even more tired than Fred and George had this morning. Had it only been this morning?

               Rosmerta introduced Harry to Jenever Ogden. As Rosmerta explained, “I ordered a final supply yesterday from Ogden’s, and he’s just come to deliver it, but that, that… oooh! That munter Umbridge has been at him too. Poor soul had to sit up all night monitoring the wards on his business premises and warehouses to keep her away. Couldn’t leave until he got word that she marched on Hogwarts to get herself in line with the rest of the ministry.” She patted him on the shoulder. “I might have overstepped, but I wanted to know if you’d accept him as well?” She wrung her hands in her apron. “He’s good people, Harry and he shouldn’t have to put up with that nonsense.”

               “Hello Mister Ogden,” Harry said. “I’m very sorry for the trouble you’ve encountered, and of course you’re welcome to join us. I don’t know what’s wrong with people not setting Umbitch back on her heels, but good for both you and Madam Rosmerta. Although I don’t know if we’ll have the population to support a brewery of your size, always supposing you bring the brewery.”

               “It’s just Jenever, lad. I might be old, but I ain’t that formal. Me apprentices ran off yesterday, can’t blame ‘em, they got family to see to, so’s it’s going to be just me and what I can fit in me trunks, which all told ain’t much. Should be enough to sell off slowly and earn me keep, but I won’t be a burden, I got skills I can use. I’m a dab hand with overseeing me wheat and barley fields, so’s I suspect I can turn me hands to more general farming, wi’ some help.”

               “The help we can certainly give, and your knowledge of farming is going to be a grand bonus for us, we hadn’t tackled that part of things as yet. Our planning is well behind where it should be, though we’re working to bring that part of things along. Remus Lupin is heading up our planning committee, well to be honest, he is the planning committee, to get us going on supply lists and things we need to decide on sharpish. It would be extremely helpful if you could sit down with him. Seventh floor of the castle, opposite the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Knock on the wall, someone will let you in. I’ll send a message to Remus that you’re our go to for farming and agriculture, so he can wait on that to collaborate with you. If you’d like to start thinking about what might be needed for a smallish group that might keep growing? Right now we’re at about 30, I think, but we could easily pick up a few more. We also have a number of animal companions, but I don’t think we have any herbivores with us, so no worries about having to provide for them, or wait… do we need to take some? Later problem. Moving on. Oh, and if you want your brewery, we’ll bring your brewery. Your house and warehouses too. We can’t bring your fields, but buildings, yeah, we can do that. Same for you, Madame Rosmerta. If you want to take The Three Broomsticks, we can make that happen.

               “Does that apply to us, too, if we choose to accompany you?” Came a melodious light tenor voice with a Bengali accent from behind him.

               Harry spun around to find the tavern had filled while he’d been talking to Jenever and Rosmerta. He turned back to Jenever with a wide-eyed look, “Maybe planning for a lot more than 30 would be a really, really good idea.”

               Facing the crowd again, he smiled when he saw the Patil twins, and a sea of Durmstrang school uniforms behind her. Parvati spoke, “Father, mother, this is Harry Potter. Harry, these are my parents Borenya and Ranjini Patil. Father has questions for you about the opportunities that might be available.”

               “All right, we can discuss that among other things. Viktor, are you in there anywhere? I assume this is your group?”

               “Yes, Harry Potter,” came Viktor’s voice from somewhere in the back. “We have brought those from Durmstrang with nowhere else to go, and after hearing from you, we are thinking following in everyone else’s footsteps is not for us, we are hoping for new challenges, a chance to make new history. I am sometimes coach for school, and came with to help. We have four professors caring for twenty six students, all have no other family.”

               Oh boy, thought Harry. Yeah. Gonna be a lot more than 30. He blew out a breath. Okay, he could do this. He was originally primed for thousands, and this was going to be less than a hundred. Besides, he was about to have help.

               “Okay. To begin with, you all know that we’re forming a splinter group. All my life I’ve been shoved in all sorts of directions without being given much choice. When this situation came about, it included yet another bout of it, and I decided I’d had just about enough. No idea what I was going to do, but I knew exactly what I wasn’t going to do, and that was continue on in the same direction. A couple of people found themselves in a similar situation, and we grouped up. We were, and mostly still are, absolutely clueless about what to do, but have every intention of buckling down and figuring it out. A very weird and still slightly unbelievable set of events later, and for which the Hogwarts Sorting Hat bears a lot responsibility and maybe blame, still working on how I feel about some of that, we’re now up to a confirmed group of thirty. We don’t yet have a place to go, but we have a promise that once we work out what kind of a place we prefer, we’ll be matched to a destination. I don’t know how we’re going to get there, mostly because I haven’t had a chance to ask for details. Still, it’s on very good authority that it’ll happen. We’re not currently able to offer any absolutes. There’s too much we don’t know, and a lot that we’re taking on faith, and I’m asking you to take it on faith as well.”

               “What I anticipated for a possible place for our match up is no longer down to solely my original group’s preferences. As best as possible, each person attaching themselves to us will be given a say, and a consensus reached, so long as you understand we’re still under a time crunch. If you really want something, speak up when we get to that point, we’re hoping to hammer that out this evening. Please keep in mind that we’re working for the benefit of the group, so a group of wizards such as ourselves who are mostly used to small villages and rural areas are not likely to do well in a high technology environment. Or in an area where the majority of us don’t speak the language. In some areas we can adjust, for instance we can utilize translation charms, and while social growth is a good thing, we want to grow in ways that will help future generations remain secure, healthy and happy. Technology hasn’t always worked out for the best for muggles, so starting slow and working our way up to some goals may be the better path, but like I said, we’ll work it out together. I know we can reach a happy medium for us all, and you wouldn’t be here if you wanted things to stay the same as they’ve always been. We can be different, and we can do better. It’s childish, and simplistic, I know, but I want a place where we really do live by the Golden Rule, that it becomes the bedrock of our community.”

               “For business opportunities, bear in mind that our initial establishment is probably going to be limited to a small village, and we don’t know the local layout or population. I think, but don’t know, that we could ask for certain things, such as we would like a place that is peaceful, or we would like a place that has lots of land available for farming, or maybe we would like a place that knows what alcohol is and doesn’t think it’s the devil’s drink, he added with a smile at Rosmerta and Jenever. That knows what magic is and doesn’t burn people at the stake for it. But I don’t think we can ask for a world that will allow us to sell coal if we find ourselves living in Newcastle. I think we should be willing to try new things, but it doesn’t mean we change just because we can, instead we need to be open to change if it’s because we should. Keep what we’re good at, bring our current businesses along, but if it’s actively harming someone or something, we can definitely put together a think tank to spitball ideas on how to do that thing better.”

               “Moving on to what we can offer, and I’m asking you to please not pass this part on to anyone travelling with the main body of refugees, or at least not tell anyone until you’re on the other side, if you choose to go with them. Some years back, a spell was rediscovered. Only a few people knew about it, and we all just thought it was a fun spell for saving some effort. It wasn’t until yesterday that we learned it can change everything for us. Okay, not everything, but it really is going to be something of a game changer in what we can take with us. With this spell, if you own a building, we can bring it. If you have a metric buttload of stuff there’s no way you’d have time to pack yourself, and yes buttload absolutely is a technical term, we can bring it. If your belongings are in a building you own, they’ll stay there without issue. If you have stuff but don’t own the building, as long as you have the trunk space, and your belongings can be shrunk to a reasonable level, we can bring them. So far, and please don’t ask how it happened because it’s going to make my head hurt and I promise to tell the story later, we’ve acquired and will be bringing most of the shops on Diagon Alley from here in London, buildings only, no contents,” a pause to grumble internally about Puffskeins, “Our British based hospital, St. Mungo’s, the London Ministry of Magic building, the London branch of Gringotts,” a pause again, as the entire crowd gasped as one, “and as what might be the crown jewel, we’re bringing Hogwarts herself, with contents.” Questions and comments burst out of nearly everyone present, rising in volume to a wall of sound.