Pack!

               Chapter Twenty-Four

               Thanking Somley for keeping an eye on the inbounds, they headed up. It wouldn’t have been much of an exaggeration to describe their trip as dragging themselves up to the seventh floor, where they knocked on the wall and Taddy let them, in his gazed fixed in a thousand yard stare, his jaw clenched, and his eyes begging for someone to just kill him now.

               A madhouse. Chaos incarnate. A lawless wasteland of anarchy. All completely appropriate to describe the scene they saw. Einstein’s pickup truck was backed up to one exterior door with two people shoving what looked like dozens of file cabinets from the truck bed into the room. A team of several people received them and just pushed them into a corner, keeping the way clear for more. Five other doors had people on brooms zooming in and out, most with cargo, a few with people, and dozens more lined up in either direction waiting for a chance to enter the pattern. Children were reacting to the nearly visible stress levels by running wild in all directions and at high volumes. There were several young adults in a loose cluster with glazed eyes, one clutching a backpack, another an small rolling bag, a one just standing in a daze, two huddled in the corner with an anxious adult trying to sooth them. Two dogs chased the children, first one direction then another, barking happily. Harry laid the most sympathetic gaze he could muster on Taddy, placing a hand on his shoulder in silent support, sending him a magical boost while he was at it.

               Remus had altered his desk into a table that sat eight, and Harry was both surprised and not to see that The Queen and Mrs. Waters had a seat there, as well as Jenever Ogden, Stepan Morozov, and three more he didn’t recognize. It was obvious they were in a privacy or silenced bubble, busily updating lists as scraps of paper were passed in by Seamus and Bill Weasley, as well as cross checking against new lists still being generated and passed back out, where Seamus would make a note on his clipboard, then yell for a volunteer who knew were to find commodity xyz. Linmy and Charlie, with his team of half a dozen Patronus capable adults, were also inside a silencing bubble. They were receiving constant Patronii, each assisting in listening to ensure updates didn’t get missed due to the three or four Patronii passing messages at the same time.

               Major Smythe was running his group through what appeared to be a checklist, he’d call out an item and they’d respond with a yes or no as the case may be. Behind them, what looked like, and most probably were, standard military footlockers were neatly stacked and labeled.

               Large amounts of the floor were absolutely covered in luggage, and a few adults who must have been completely exhausted lay draped over the more comfortable piles.

               Turning in a circle, he saw Neville sitting near Luna on the opposite side of the room. Towing Sirius along, because he still wasn’t ready to let him out of his sight, the two made their way through the pandemonium. “Luna, I missed talking to you last night, how are you doing?”

               “Hello Harry Potter, Hello Stubby Boardman. Father and I are well. Let me introduce you to Rolf Scamander and his grandfather Newt. They’ve chosen to accompany us, and both have a case of magical animals, although they lack the storage capacity bring more than a few. I understand you may be in a position to assist?”

               Harry had learned that Luna just knew things, and although he may not always understand what she was saying, she very much had a point she was making, he just had to figure out... Oh. OH! “Yes, yes, I definitely do. I have four portable and stasis controlled barns, they’re too small in size for horses, and they can’t keep animals in differing environments, but for travel? Yes, absolutely. I have other barns that are not portable, they’re just a barn, but I imagine we could figure out how to adapt a habitat inside them, once we have time. And nice to meet you both, sorry for the rudeness.”

               Rolf’s eyes lit up and he scrambled to his feet holding out his hand to Luna. “Rudeness excused and returned; I need two of thouse four barns, and I need them now. I know of a Snidget colony and a magical petting zoo, as well as several owl species that still need to be collected. It’s… hard… knowing so many have to be left behind, and not just for reasons of space. We’re concentrating on those that should have minimal impact to a new environment, as well as having the best probable chance to integrate with what is already there. Luna, would you please accompany me?” She graciously accepted his offered hand.

“Yes, let’s go. And we should visit the Snowdon Aviary, as well,” she offered. Harry asked Sirius to open their building storage trunk, where he rummaged for a moment before pulling up the four small barns, then handed them off to Rolf.

               “Make sure Linmy knows where you are at all times, we’re getting close to the anticipated time the Calais warning might go. Don’t get more than an hour of transport time away, stay in Patronus range and be careful,” he said, giving a hug to Luna. Rolf turned and set an old fashioned suitcase on top of the one next to his grandfather, patting his shoulder before he and Luna headed to the floo.

               Sirius was about to close his trunk back up when Harry stopped him. “Neville, I have a greenhouse stuffed full of… stuff, from the Carrow Estate. No idea what’s in it, and we had to Pack! it with the plants inside, so fingers crossed we didn’t kill it all. We also picked up a greenhouse and potting shed from Balmoral, you might want to check in with the Queen to see what she has at some point.”

               Neville looked over Harry, who was a short step from gibbering in stress induced panic, rose and pulled him in for a hug. “It’s going to be all right, Harry. Each of us here is taking some of the weight off, and we’ll all pitch in to figure things out. Go see if Seamus needs to send you on any last minute errands, and just be a regular immigrant for a while, yeah?” Harry heaved a shuddering sigh on Nev’s shoulder, then stood back, with a gratefully wry smile at his friend, knowing that Neville understood.

               “Oh, Longbottom Manor! Did anyone tell you to go see if you could Pack! it? If you want it, that is.” With an arrested look in his eyes, Neville nodded thoughtfully. “Not sure I do, to be honest, but I know Gran didn’t clear out the attics, there may be something useful there, apart from what I already grabbed. Might as well,” he said, marching determinedly to the floo.

               Twisting, he spotted Ollie animatedly discussing Quidditch maneuvers with a few of his teammates, if his hand gestures were any indication. Harry headed that way, sending Sirius to Seamus to see if there was something they should be doing, but still keeping him in line of sight. When Oliver saw him approaching, he reached out a long arm to snag him and pull him into the conversation. “Tell them, Harry. Tell them that yes, it’s perfectly possible to dive full speed and pull out of it less than three feet from the turf. Matthew here swears it can’t be done, but I’m thinking you have a slightly different perspective.” He gave a knowing grin to Harry.

               Harry relaxed, this was a subject he was completely comfortable with and for these moments, it would take him away from the pressure and strain of having to think about things he didn’t know how to handle or accomplish, hoping his best would be enough and fearing that it wouldn’t. But Quidditch? Yeah, Quidditch he could do. “Perfectly possible, did it at eleven, first game ever.” He said in a purposely boastful tone and puffing his chest out, making the factual statement sound like he was telling a tall tale with a wink and a nod. He did, in fact, send a wink at Ollie, inviting him into the joke. Ollie was completely on board with the tongue in cheek recitation, chiming in with “Kid couldn’t have weighed more than eighty pounds, and there he was, pulling out of a sixty foot dive, then standing up to surf on his broom like it’s nothing. Prodigy, this one, I tell you. Prodigy. Brought a tear to my eye.”

               Matthew Spriggins, the newest member of the Puddlemere team and designated seeker, was sure his leg was being pulled, “Sorry Oliver, not buying that bit of fiction, you’re going to have to try harder than that. Can’t be done, you just can’t pull up that fast or that low without eating turf.”

               Oliver just laughed pulling Harry into his traditional headlock and rubbing his knuckles gently across his disheveled hair. “Well, we’ll have to put that to the test soon, won’t we? I’m thinking Harry here will surprise you all. We’ll have to get our business set up, the League sorted, figure out how to fund the team asap, then we can recruit him. I’m warning every player in the room, I have first dibs. And Matt, I hope you were serious about preferring to play chaser!”

               “Aaaaaand speaking of your business, Ollie…,” Harry hesitated, Oliver looking at him with a cocked eyebrow once he released Harry. “Um, Sirius and I found a bunch of Abraxan. And a bunch of barns. And a training ring, some more feed, a full tack shed. You know, horse stuff. Oh, and some amazing statues, you’ll love them. But anyway, with the Abraxans, we can teach those who can’t ride a broom to fly, and I want to help do that. Can I work for you?”

               Oliver’s eyes had grown huge. “Abraxans, Harry? How many?”

               Harry hummed in thought. “Somewhere north of fifty, less than sixty. We filled forty stalls, but some had a mare and foal, and I think there were a couple sets of twins. Pretty colors, though.”

               Oliver looked like he was going to faint. “Colored Abraxan? Not just black or white? Harry, if you’re bringing in that kind of a stake, you don’t work for me, I’d be happy to work for you! And yay for me, because the business will hopefully sponsor our team, we could put you on the Puddlemere roster without having to figure out how the League side of things will work, at least not just yet.” And suddenly, Ms. Anderson was there, folio in hand, flanked by two more Gnomes, pens at the ready.

               “We will negotiate business terms on your behalf, Mr. Potter. As I don’t believe we can trust you to adequately see to your own interests, you will leave this with us. Mr. Wood, our current information has you setting up a horse concern with your teammates from Puddlemere United, do we understand correctly?” At Olivers confused expression and nod, and with Harry despairingly saying, “Ollie, these are my Gnomes – please don’t ask, it would literally hurt to explain,” Ms. Anderson continued. “We would like to set up a meeting with all concerned parties; yourself, your teammates and Mr. Potter, to establish said business. We further extend an opportunity to discuss team funding, sponsorship or ownership options. Specifically for Puddlemere, as Mr. Potter has expressed an interest, but if there were a benefit, we believe we could locate additional resources to apply towards other teams that require assistance. Monty, make a note to investigate the current set of Quidditch regulations that the UK has been using, we will need to ensure they are not in conflict with Mr. Potter’s business holdings.” She directed that to the Gnome on her left, who promptly began writing. “Gentlemen, we’ll be in touch.” With that, they disappeared into the crowd as silently as they’d appeared.

               Harry just closed his eyes for a moment, and, speaking to a thoroughly befuddled Oliver, “I know it’s strange, but the phrase “I have Gnomes” seems to cover all manner of weirdness in my life today,” he mused. With a wave to Ollie after a “We’ll talk later,” Harry moved on, still keeping a weather eye on Sirius who was now in conversation with both Seamus and Moppy.

               Inserting himself into that group, he heard Sirius asking Moppy what pets had still been in Magical Menagerie. Moppy ran down the list, which was thankfully much smaller than Harry had feared. There were half a dozen kneazles, a dozen Puffskeins and three Pygmy Puffs, eight shimmering sprites, fifteen of some sort of cube-ish somethings (Harry made a note of those, because what?), and two Labracadabradors. Sirius asked if she had enough supplies for everything and when Moppy nodded enthusiastically, he gave an encouraging pat to the Puffskein still on her head, causing it to emit a low hum of contentment, and Moppy to give an ear to ear smile.

               Harry headed back to Lee, asking if anyone had picked up cats or kneazles, even if they hadn’t claimed the business. “Don’t think so, Harry, but things are happening so fast it’s hard to stay on top of things.” Nodding, Harry sidled over to Seamus.

               “Hey Seamus, did you get your dogs sorted out?”

               A pause while Seamus sent someone out for boot leather. “Yeah, Bill covered me for a couple hours this morning. I’m good. Got border collies, Bouvier des Flandres, along with some retrievers and terriers.”

               “You’re staying strictly working dogs then?” Harry inquired.

               “Yeah, training a working dog takes time, and companion dogs need time I wouldn’t have. Why, what are you thinking?”

               “I’m thinking we have a bunch of kids that will need something to be a friend when everything else around them is changing.” Reaching over to tug Sirius closer, he said “We have two more portable barns to fill, Sirius. Let’s go find a couple animal shelters.”

               The Scottish SPCA and a local cat rescue were a bit heart wrenching, but it ended with a stasis barn full of cats, kittens, hedgehogs, ferrets, chinchillas, puppies and adult dogs, including an indignant mule and two miniature horses. Sirius fell head over heels for a pair of Maltese puppies that were carried out of the building in his pockets, Harry needling him all the way about such a big bad Grim with the cutest kids ever. A stop at a pet supply house had them filling one of Harry’s remaining stasis trunk with the contents of the food aisles as well as over the counter medications, grooming supplies, toys, harnesses and leashes of all sizes, and any care books they had on hand. They hit three more pet supply houses to ensure they had enough food, keeping in touch with Linmy, as three PM had come and gone.