A God's Apprenticeship

Flute and Marek overnighted in the clearing they had been working in. Marek received a lesson in divine-level conjuration. It was far more powerful than wizarding conjuration. He immediately recognized that he had been operating somewhere between divine and mortal on that score.

They ended up with something like a wizard's tent. It was comfortable and allowed them to rest and bathe. Technically, they could go without sleep for a while. Marek actually wasn't certain he truly needed it. He knew that Flute did though. At least she was much happier when she had restful sleep.

Flute wanted to have a slumber party. Marek was mildly amused and went along with it. As a result they ended up on furs in an empty room rather than on beds. Marek was not amused by being woken up by a little girl landing on his chest. Flute was unapologetic.

Finally, however, they were on their way. Their first stop was the check in on the players. Harry and Hermione were both much happier. However, Harry was still extremely upset about his life being controlled.

Hedwig had returned after delivering his note back with the Owl candy. He had immediately taken the feline one. They watched as Harry spent a while learning from Hedwig what she had seen. She explained how the red-haired ones had kept her and why.

The gods asked Hedwig not to tell him they were there or who had made the candies – she was reluctant but agreed if they promised he could eventually be told.

With what Harry now knew, he asked Hermione for her opinion about what he should do.

They then checked in at the Burrow and found that Hedwig's disappearance had been noticed – but the two Weasley children were keeping it hush hush. Neither of them had been comfortable keeping her in the face of Voldemort having been killed already.

The two gods grinned at each other – Dumbledore had no warning yet.

Either one of them could have done something to affect the minds of the Weasleys, but the whole point of this exercise was to teach Marek the skills of a divine being and to further the cause of free will. The Weasley children chose of their own free will to not tell Dumbledore. In this case, Marek's choices followed the locals and Flute was just along for the ride – and to have fun.

The two gods made their way to Gringotts. They were scouting out the information having to do with Harry Potter's accounts.

Flute and Marek stood within the office of the goblins in charge of the accounts, out of sight of the locals. Marek asked Flute, "So, is there anything special that I have to remember about magical beings like Goblins instead of Wizards?"

Flute replied, "No. If you keep yourself hidden, they won't notice. However, you have to remember they don't think like humans. You'd be better off practicing on someone else to make certain you have something to compare it to."

Marek shrugged and they made their way to a cart which was being taken down into the tunnels. The cart driver paid them no attention and the two got within the cart. "Okay," Flute said. "Eat his mind!" Marek looked over and saw Flute had an impudent look.

Nevertheless, Marek concentrated and captured the mind of the cart driver. The two sat within the back of the cart as the driver went around doing some job which required he go to various vaults and Marek sorted through the information. Marek admitted to Flute that the Goblins had almost a rocklike feel to their thoughts despite it being fairly complex.

One thing Marek learned which amused him: There was more than one speed on the Gringotts carts. The Goblins only employed a slower speed when there was a delicate treasure. Otherwise, they kept it the speed it was so that passengers could not learn of the various paths by marking noticeable rock formations. They kept them fast as a result of one particular invention: The Pensieve. They did not want to allow a magical a smooth memory or enough time to have a memory that was sufficiently clear to study details.

With a clear memory, a wizard could fly a broom through the tunnels to a particular vault if they had been there before. Marek could understand the reasons why they did it.

One thing that he did not expect was for the standing order from one of the account managers that any trips by the Potter heir was to be immediately reported to him. Such orders were used if there were a particular customer of interest. It wasn't unusual. However, it was troubling.

The two gods traveled to the manager who had sent the order. Marek did his mind capture and then they reviewed what Marek had learned. The manager's client was not, in fact, Harry Potter but Albus Dumbledore. Because Harry was not legally an adult, it was possible for Dumbledore to monitor him.

There was no complicity, per se, in the account manager to defraud a customer. However, the information regarding the fraud that Dumbledore had committed was to be had if the Goblins were asked to look properly.

The Goblins were bankers only. While in many worlds the Goblins were, by treaty, given the responsibility of verifying all manner of inheritance, in this case there was no agreement as to that as such. The Goblins could determine a particular wizard was the proper recipient of a stated bequest but they could not, by treaty, involve themselves in informing their clients of anything unless they were specifically asked.

Harry could ask – if he thought to, but only if he thought to. Otherwise, the bank would assume that transactions were proper. Dumbledore's authority was based on the bank having been informed by the Ministry that Dumbledore was the boy's legal regent.

Dumbledore had used his authority as the Chief Warlock to state that this was so.

Marek looked at Flute. "The Wizengamot Administrative Offices."

Flute said with some intelligence, "What?"

Marek chuckled. "What I mean is that Dumbledore was attempting to keep Harry hidden from everyone. The more papers filed and easily found the more scrutiny he could be under."

Flute sighed. "I remember when we were in Matherion, Mother and the others had to go through the files of the Interior Ministry bit by bit to find the proof of who were the traitors. Do you know how hard it is to find proper records if you don't know the system being used? It's a nightmare!"

Marek nodded. "This will be easier. Remember that I already captured Albus's memories. I just have to sort through them for where he put what records. They will be easier to find. There is a reason that Wizards use parchment rather than paper. It's a lot easier to enchant. It's also a lot easier to process using magic. Paper is cheaper but it doesn't have the permanency that parchment has. Every food animal in the magical world provides parchment. Cheap parchment is made much like paper – there is no guarantee that a particular piece of parchment is from one particular animal and it definitely isn't one contiguous sheet. Legal parchment is never made of anything other than a single sheet of skin. As a result, it can much more easily be enchanted – or have certain spells placed on it to make it easier to locate." He smirked. "And since I already captured Albus' mind, I know how he marked particular records."

The two gods made their way to the Ministry and Marek retrieved all of the records that had been legally filed. He even put a record in that they were being searched for. Within the records, he found the items deliberately made obscure in their placement: The wills of Lily Potter, James Potter, and Sirius Black.

According to the records, the wills were marked as probated. That means that legally they were of the public record. The staff at the Wizengamot Administrative Service would never have been able to find them – they were placed in places that would never be reviewed. They could claim them lost if asked. If Dumbledore had needed them, however, they could be found.

All Marek did was to ensure they were properly placed and that a legal request had been filed for copies – at least as far as the records went. If anyone looked, there would be a record of the request being made.

Marek then went and found a copy of the published rules for asking for certain services. It included the rules on audits being requesting. He placed the folded copies of the wills right at the page which had the procedures listed.

He also dog-eared the page to make certain that it would be noticed rather than ignored.

Considering the wills listed the amounts that had been within the accounts when the Potters and when Sirius had died there was sufficient justification for requesting an audit. Once an audit found the irregularities, Gringotts would push for restitution.

He also included two or three more items which might be of interest to Harry.

Marek included a letter.

Mr. Harry Potter

Enclosed are legal copies of certain documents that were filed with the Wizengamot Administrative Services. Please note the information within the book that they were placed in.

I would also recommend that you employ you newly understood friend to inform you when it is clear for you to make your way to the Ministry to get your Apparition testing out of the way. This will allow you to start going anywhere you like as of July 31 of this year – as you will be legally of age.

Also included is a pamphlet for a non-Magical attraction which might be of interest to you. Considering it opened in 1992 and you were concerned with other things, you might not have known about it. Can you imagine anyone who was not born in the non-magical world knowing about this resort? I can't imagine your Headmaster being aware either.

I would remind you that Gringotts can exchange money for a small fee. They can also direct you to where you can obtain the necessary legal records to allow you to travel.

I would also remind you that your scar is no longer magically hard to conceal. Ask a non-magically raised female friend to explain concealer to you.

I understand that your legal guardians might not be aware of your options. If you can get them to sign a letter giving you permission to go where you like and with whomever you like without requiring additional permission from them, you could legally not require returning to your wonderful abode.

As far as your trunk goes, it might be easier if you cleaned it out thoroughly, got rid of anything that you no longer needed. It might then be left at a friends house – or you can pay to have it stored. You might want to stop in the alley and find out if there is a more Muggle-Friendly trunk you can buy.

Once you are seventeen, your choices become your own. I recommend that you seriously consider where you want to live and with whom you wish to associate. It will be entirely up to you.

Also, remember you have a house elf friend who would probably love to be hired by the Great Harry Potter if you need a bit of magical help.

A friend

He looked at Flute. "Now we just need to get this to Hedwig to deliver."

Flute nodded. "Can I ask you something?"

"Certainly."

"Is there any reason you aren't more directly intervening?"

Marek considered that. "I could go and fix a whole bunch of things, I am certain. But that leaves tomorrow for Harry to deal with after I'm gone. I can't make his life perfect. But I can arrange for him to learn things that he will need to know. I might still tell him everything that I learned about Dumbledore – but maybe he can figure it out for himself. He will be better off if I don't fix it all for him."

Flute smiled happily and jumped at Marek, kissing his face several times. She wanted to reward him. She moved back and said, "It's a hard thing to learn – you can't fix everything. If you did, then you have to keep watch over it and then limit what people can do so that they don't mess it up. It's a bit more painful to see them make mistakes, but they will be better off."

Marek nodded. "It's hard. At first I just tried to fix things. I still tend to make it easy to defeat Voldemort whenever I can because honestly I can't stand the idiot. The need for people to learn to deal with Horcruxes is minimal – they are only created by idiots and then only very rarely. At least in this world, there was only the one. I wonder where the various founders' items are in this world."

Flute said, "We could always have a treasure hunt."

Marek looked at the little girl and grinned. They would have some fun.

Hedwig, as though summoned, did show up. "*How is your Human doing?*" Marek asked.

"*Harry Human is happier. But still he is feeling caged within the horrible nest we live in.*"

"*I understand. This package will help him to leave the horrible nest. It requires that he do the actual work though – if you assist him. The Whiskered Elder has those of his parliament watching for Harry Human if he tried to leave the nest. Perhaps you could tell him when the Whiskered Elder's parliament is not watching so carefully?*"

Hedwig bobbed. "*I will tell him.*"

"*Good hunting,*" Marek said before watching Hedwig fly off toward Privet Drive.

Marek and Flute "kept an eye" on Harry as they traveled around to the various players. It required a small part of their mind to do so. Flute had toteach Marek how to do it. Being of a divine nature, they could keep an eye on quite a number of people. Flute, not being in her own world, was actually more limited than Marek who could more easily move from dimension to dimension.

As a result, Marek could watch Harry, Hermione, Luna, the Weasleys, the Goblin account manager, Dumbledore, the various guards that Dumbledore used, and a few others.

It required him to at least arrive in their vicinity to set up but eventually they had covered everyone they could see as involved. As they were finishing up Marek asked, "Why didn't you teach me this first? It would have saved some time."

Flute gave an impish smile. "Cause it's more fun to actually be involved."

Marek rolled his eyes. "Okay. First stop: Little Hangleton. I want to see if Riddle left anything in his mother's or father's houses."

They appeared in the graveyard which contained the Riddle family. Marek was familiar with it. "Okay. First let's check out the shack where the Gaunts lived."

Marek paused before he began walking. "Let me try something." He took Flute's hand and willed himself to lift off the ground.

Flute laughed. "I love to fly!" She pouted. "Sephrenia and Talen can't stand it and Father doesn't usually have the time. I don't get to do it much."

Marek laughed. "It also requires you to return to your 'natural' form which is quite distracting."

Flute rolled her eyes. "They always want to argue about covering myself."

"You know why." Marek said.

"Now that I'm actually married, I do. But it's still silly."

They quickly located the hut. Marek hovered over it. "I notice that most of the active spells are gone."

Flute shrugged as much as she could while holding Marek's hand. "He died and his spells died with him."

"True. Let's go down."

They lit down next to the hut. As divine beings they could remove much with just a thought. Marek led them to the area where a box was below the floor. He released the illusion and brought it up.

Aphrael looked at the ring which was in the box. "There is another divine influence on this. We can't claim it."

Marek nodded. "I know. It was a gift from an avatar of Death to a mortal as a trap. And while Death is eternal he has avatars in most dimensions."

Flute looked at Marek. "Have you ever considered making some avatars yourself?"

Marek was startled. "Can I do that?"

Flute shrugged. "You aren't tied to a particular dimension. Almost any entity that is transdimensional can kind of split off some of their nature to allow a local entity to act for them. Those of us who are dimensional tend to work through priests and priestesses. Sephrenia keeps an eye on things for me while I'm busy being Danae. But you could make your own god in any dimension you visit."

Marek looked dubious. "Sounds like an invitation for trouble."

Flute laughed. "Of course it is! That's part of the fun!" She then said, "There is one limitation on that."

"Oh?" he asked.

"You'll need to ensure your avatar gets worshipped."

"Huh?" he gave her a blank stare.

She sighed. "It isn't that hard to understand! You can lend a spark of divinity but do you know how hard it would be to actually keep an active link supplying divine power in dimension after dimension? Grandma can do it because she is worshipped on a huge number of worlds. So can Death. But it's much easier to tie them into the power generated by the worship of mortals." She pouted. "Technically, if I want to deal with Death I have to contact him through a local avatar. Same with Grandma."

Marek gave her a pointed look. "I've seen you with your Grandma."

She gave a smirk. "So I cheat some." Her face took on an angelic look. "I get away with it 'cause I'm so lovable."

Marek laughed. "That you are." He looked at the ring. "So what should I do with this?"

She shrugged. "Call the local avatar for Death. See what he or she wants you to do."

Marek shrugged and closed his eyes. Soon a figure in a suit appeared near him. He looked at the being and said, "You look just like that actor." He thought for a moment. "Pitt I think."

Death smirked. "You can thank the mortals. Enough people have seen the movie that they are making which casts that man as me. I could go with a more traditional look." He suddenly turned into the traditional cloak and scythe look.

"No. I'll stay with the Joe Black look." Death changed back to Joe Black. "Anyway, thanks for coming."

"You have something you want to ask me," Joe said.

"What do you want me to do with that?" Marek pointed at the ring.

Joe gave an uninterested look at it. "It was a gift. Until a mortal actually gives it back to me properly, it will stay within the world."

"It has to be a mortal?" he asked.

"Yes. It was made with certain rules and those rules must be followed. Until a mortal takes it who can abstain from being corrupted by its power, it will entrap those who continuously violate the natural order of things."

Marek looked at Flute who said, "His item, his rules. We don't have to like it, but we have to respect it."

Marek mused. "I'm left with two options: Leave it where it is or send it on. If I leave it where it is, I can either tell someone where to find it or keep it to myself. I've trapped Dumbledore with it."

Joe shrugged. "It is of no matter to me. If you leave it and tell no one, someone will eventually find it. In a year, a decade, a century, a millennium; it will eventually be found."

Marek considered what was said. "If I tell someone and warn them, would that violate the rules?"

Joe laughed a hollow laugh. "Many people have read the rules. The Wizards teach their children the story of my giving the items. Still they become corrupted. Do as you wish. I know that in other worlds you have put in safeguards in its use. In other worlds you have caused it and its brothers to be returned. You have even moved others from one dimension to another. As far as I am concerned, and the entity which I represent: It matters not. I lose or gain no power from leaving or retrieving it. It serves a purpose. Even gods are not immune from it. Your nature allows you to move to those who have passed as you will and so you do not feel its pull. But Aphrael here does."

Aphrael said with some severity. "I can use my own power to talk to those who have gone before. I don't need it. Even if I feel its pull it is nothing to me."

Joe Black shrugged. "You become corrupted or not. It matters not to me." He looked at Marek. "Do as you will." Joe turned and walked away, disappearing in his own way.

Aphrael looked in the direction Joe had walked off. "He can be, as the mortals in your world would say, a real arsehole."

Marek laughed. "That's just because he won't fall for your charms."

She snarked, "I'd probably get a disease if I kissed him anyway."

Marek rolled his eyes. Apparently even divinities had prejudices. "Anyway, what do you think I should do? I can have Dumbledore find it by leaving a clue or I can tell my local analogue or I can do nothing."

She looked at Marek. "You wouldn't worry about your local analogue?"

Marek chuckled. "That, at least, you have to give Dumbledore his due for. The way we were brought up makes us almost immune to the type of corruption that Death's gifts create. Or maybe it's because we descend from the third brother. Either way, we can usually ignore the call of the stone to be used repeatedly."

Flute considered it for a long moment. "What if Dumbledore gets caught by it?"

Marek considered that. "Well, if Harry has already made a claim against him before he dies, then whatever the old goat leaves will be entailed until the matter is resolved. If he dies first, then the goat's will gets executed before Harry can get back what was stolen."

Flute said, "Then I suggest we leave this and ensure Harry gets the information – after he decides what steps to take. It gives him the most options."

The two returned the item to where it had been and then walked away. They even left the withering curse on it. Unlike the other curses in the area, it wasn't the type to dispel at the caster's death as it was tied into the item specifically.

"Was it just me or did it seem that the ring had been prepared to receive a Horcrux?" he asked Flute.

"No. It had been. Not on the stone, but on the band. Riddle must have changed his mind in this dimension."

"Or he read the information much more closely. From what we have gathered, he wasn't quite as insane in this world – though he just as much of a murderous fool."

Aphrael snarked, "He deserved whatever insanity he got for doing such a stupid thing as splitting his soul."

Marek said, "Let's check out Riddle Manor and see if he left anything there."

They spent a couple of days running down the items. While they had not been turned into Horcruxes in this world, they had been cursed so that no one else could own them. Marek was startled to find that there was a divine attachment on the tiara and the cup. The locket was a purely mortal creation.

Marek received permission from Arianrhod, a Welsh goddess of wisdom, to remove the curse from the Diadem. He received permission from Brighid to cleanse the Cup of Hufflepuff. He actually had woken the two as they had not recently been worshipped and were only sustained by Wiccans within the non-magical world who attempted to worship as their ancestors had. Even these were a very small number.

The price they asked for returning the items was to ensure that whoever received the items knew what deity was invoked when the items were used.

Harry had finally made his way to Gringotts and, referring to the wills he had copies of, asked for an audit. At the same time, he made arrangements to change some money over to Muggle funds.

As a result of his request, the order to tell Dumbledore if he visited was negated – as far as Gringotts was concerned, Dumbledore was under audit.

The two divinities were amused when Harry caught up to Hermione. He took the knight bus to her house. "Harry!" she cried when he showed up on her doorstep. She glomped him immediately.

"Hello, Hermione. You home along or are your parents here?"

"I'm by myself now. My parents are at work. They're getting ready to go on a vacation with me."

He asked curiously, "Aren't you normally back by this time? The last few years we were with the Weasleys the latter part of summer."

"I know. But this year I asked them to wait until August," she said with a smile.

"Why's that?" he asked curiously as he was led inside her house.

She gave him a smile. "Because I knew you'd be seventeen and could go with us if you were invited."

He was startled. "Really? You never mentioned."

She was a bit embarrassed. "At first I listened to the Headmaster and didn't say anything. We already had planned on waiting till later in the summer. But then I started to realize how silly it was to not send messages to you. When I was invited to the Burrow as usual, I told the Weasleys that I'll be spending most of my summer with my parents." She paused. "Even though I love the Weasleys, they tend to discount my needing to spend time with my Muggle parents – it's a little condescending even if they don't mean it that way."

Harry chuckled. "I understand. Usually I can't wait to go anywhere but Privet Drive but they always listen to the Headmaster about when I can come. I think this year I plan on doing something else."

"Oh?" she asked.

He pulled the brochure from his pocket. "This is where I'll be going."

She looked at the brochure and laughed. "We visited there the summer after second year when we went to France. At the time I was more interested in visiting the museums and things like that."

Harry was surprised. "A teenager not interested in Disneyland?"

She hit him on the shoulder playfully. "You know me. You know how much I like learning."

He gave a crooked smile. "Come on, Hermione. Sometimes you just have to have fun. We spend ten months of the year at school – don't you think you deserve a break?"

Hermione became kind of quiet. "Well, I never really had friends to go to those places with. It's not as fun by yourself."

He looked at her. "Do you think your parents would mind going there instead of wherever you're planning? I've never been to anything like it and would love to visit with a friend."

Hermione threw her arms around Harry. "I'll call them and ask!" She jumped up and went over to the phone. "When would you like to go?"

Harry said, "As soon as you want. With the assistance of an Auror who isn't part of the Order I got my apparition test done so that I can start apparating on my birthday. I've got a Muggle card from Barclays with money I converted from my vault. I got a Muggle identification card and passport after Gringotts told me where Witches and Wizards go when they need them – the Ministry is fairly useless when it comes to the Muggle world. I've gotten a letter signed by the Dursleys which effectively gives me permission to go where I like without bothering them. For all intents and purposes: I've freed myself. And I can't think of a Death Eater or pureblood sympathizer who would be able to navigate Disneyland – I think they're allergic to Muggle places like that."

Hermione gave a long look at Harry. She then asked, "So you can stay where you want?"

Harry gave his grin again. "I'm thinking about booking a hotel room."

She bit her lip and then said, "You could stay here! We have room."

Harry considered that. "You know? I've stayed at the Weasleys and you're as much my friend as Ron – usually better actually. If it's alright with your parents I'd love to stay."

Hermione squealed and ran over to glomp him again. "I've never had a friend stay over before! I'm calling my parents now!"

Hermione got permission (grudging on her father's part) and Harry was invited. She asked him, "What about your things?"

He smirked. "Dobby!"

The small elf arrived. "The Great Harry Pottter calls for Dobby?"

"Hermione has invited me over to stay. Can you get my things from Privet Drive? Please make certain that no one sees you – the Dursleys are ignoring me but the Order might be watching."

"Dobby will not be seen!" Dobby disappeared.

Hermione asked, "What's that?"

"I've hired Dobby for the summer. He's going to help me with things. Not much to do at Hogwarts during the summer."

As Dobby had been hired she didn't have much of an objection.

Marek and Flute actually helped without Harry knowing. Whenever an Order member went to check on him, Marek took his place and made it seem like Harry was still at home.

Finally, when the Order went to retrieve Harry, Dobby was asked to clear out everything that was Harry's and leave the room completely bare.

Mad-Eye and the Order were quite startled to find a note on the wall, "Sorry, Folks. I'm of Age on 31 July and I have places I plan on being. I'll be back on September 1. Maybe. If I haven't got somewhere better to be. See you in a month."

Albus Dumbledore was aghast to find that Harry had slipped the leash. When he sent an Order member to check at the Grangers, no one was home. Dobby, however, made certain that no one saw Harry's things.

Dumbledore went to check at Gringotts if Harry had showed up but finally learned that the Potter accounts were under audit regarding the distribution of the Potter and Black estates.

No one would tell him anything as to what business Harry might have done.

The Dursleys were finally questioned and they were fairly open with Harry haven gotten permission to go where he liked and not return.

Dumbledore tried to send Fawkes but he was uncooperative.

Finally, on Harry's birthday Dumbledore went to the Weasleys. He wondered if Harry's Owl could find him. When he arrived, he found out that the Owl had escaped two weeks earlier. Neither Weasley was very impressed when he chided them for not informing him.

Ron said it the most clearly. "It's not our owl. Hedwig wasn't happy about being caged up and we really didn't want to keep her. Merlin knows upset Harry got two years ago when we kept her from him – Harry doesn't have any other friends to talk to when you won't let us message him. We thought she didn't like being caged and deserved to go where she liked. Besides, it's not as if the guards you say you had saw her."

Dumbledore had to admit that was true – no one had reported seeing the white owl in Surrey.

Mrs. Weasley was a bit upset with her children but had to admit that they were right: Harry was now seventeen.

Dumbledore tried to go to the Ministry to get Auror help to find Harry but they refused on the basis that he was legally able to do magic as he liked.

Hedwig and Crookshanks were both at Luna Lovegood's house. When they had been asked by their humans where they wanted to go, both named the girl as their preferred caretaker. They could hunt as they needed and Luna was fun to spend time with.

Both had been surprised to find out that the two animals had picked her as the other human to learn how to understand them.

When they had decided to leave them with her Harry and Hermione had Dobby's assistance in locating the place. "Hermione? Luna? Do we know who sent the candies?"

Luna shrugged. "I was told that a friend helped. I thought it was one of you."

Hermione said, "I've never heard of it – I thought it was something that only certain people knew about."

Luna shook her head. "Daddy would have heard of it and he never had. I asked him after I already took the candies. It was very fun to talk to the various owls and cats we ran into later though."

Hermione said, "I wonder how they were made."

Harry shrugged. "I'm just happy someone did." He smiled at Hedwig who was flying around. "Talking to Hedwig has made my life much easier."

Hermione said, "Crookshanks just treats me like I belong to him. But he does have the most amusing observations."

Harry looked at her. "I just think it's good you have something to keep you from getting too caught up in books." He grinned. "It's actually funny to watch." He turned to Luna. Harry asked, "You sure you don't mind watching over them?"

"Of course not! You're both my friends." Both were invited to see the painting that Luna had done after her fourth year of the six who had gone to the Ministry. Harry and Hermione both complimented her and gave her big hugs over that one.

"Any word on your OWLs?" Hermione asked.

"We'll be getting them soon. I'll send Hedwig when I find out," Luna said.

Harry said. "Can you also send a message to Ginny asking her how she did when you get your results?"

"I'll floo the Burrow when they come and tell them directly. I won't send Hedwig in case someone tries to keep her caged up again."

"We already got a letter via Pig, Ron's owl, telling me that the Headmaster already knew that Hedwig was free and that they hadn't been happy about keeping her in a cage. I don't think they will try again. Mrs. Weasley tried to find out where I was but I refused to tell them. I asked Ron and Ginny to tell her that I was safe but that's it."

"You probably should make certain you stay on the continent for at least two weeks – the Hogwarts letters won't address out of Britain. I think it's the blimmering humdingers which prevent it. The owls will still find you though."

Harry laughed. "Well, Merlin bless blimmering humdingers then."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said, "It's probably got something to do with Hogwarts being part of the magic of the British Isles."

Harry looked at her and said, "I'd rather believe it's the humdingers. It's more fun that way. And you can't prove that they don't exist."

Hermione threw her hands up and said, "You can't prove a negative."

"Exactly right!" Harry said. "As far as we know, the humdingers, nargles, and whatnot are all real." He paused and then said thoughtfully, "I think I'd really like to see a crumple-horn snorcack. I think they'd be fun." He grinned and said, "At least they would be fun to look for."

Luna had a happy smile at that. Finally Hermione chuckled ruefully and agreed. "Even if I think they're silly, it would be fun to find them."

Finally, Marek and Flute left a letter for Harry when he returned. It would be delivered on August 31.

Marek and Flute were watching as the plane carrying the two teens and the Grangers flew off. "There's so much I could tell him. So much I could direct him to do."

Flute nodded. "He'll either figure out the rest or he won't. How far will you take it? You could make it all perfect. Or you could let it go."

She looked at him with old eyes. "This is the trap of being a god. You want the mortals you associate with to be happy and how they could be happy is so obvious to you. At a certain point you have to decide between making them puppets or letting them be their own people. He's going to have to make a decision when he receives the different items. He's going to have to decide what to do about what to do about the Resurrection Stone. He's either going to let Dumbledore control him more or he's going to stay free.

"You made certain he learned about Dumbledore's depredations. You made certain he could make his own choices. He'll either make it or won't. It was fun giving Hedwig and Crookshanks the gift of being understood. You even gave Harry the chance to profit off of learning how to make the language candies. It was fun tweaking the Centaurs' noses. It was fun to have the treasure hunt. But now you have to let them live their lives."

Marek signed and nodded. He looked at Flute. "So: Want to go home yet or come with me to another world? Maybe pull a few more obvious pranks?"

She considered it. "Well …."