Harry Does Hawaii

Chapter Two

They spun-and-spun-and-BAM!

Harry looked nervously around. The eighteen of them were standing in a secluded parking lot. No one was around but---aha! Two people were hurrying towards them. Wait---these couldn't be the PROFESSORS...could they?

"Hello!" one of the women called as the pair stopped in front of the students. "Hogwarts group, I presume. I'm Bailee Kalukahana, and this is Rachael Mai."

These are the professors, Harry realized dimly. But---they were---

"Bloody gorgeous," Dean mumbled to Harry and Ron. "They don't look a day over twenty-two."

Rachael Mai was petite and slender. She had very tan skin and straight, shoulder length hair, which was a buttered almond shade with blonde and auburn natural looking highlights. She wore clothes that looked hideously out of place in the drab landscape---jean Capris, navy blue flip-flops with textured red soles, and a navy blue tank top that left several inches of her bare stomach---with a PIERCED NAVEL---showing.

Bailee Kalukahana, the witch who'd spoken, was slightly taller. She was just as tan, with light blonde curls pulled into a high, tight ponytail. She too was dressed strangely---a knee-length, slitted blue cord skirt, an indigo ¾ length shirt with a sweetheart neckline and navy platform loafers.

"Bet they look killer in bikinis," added Fred.

Looking around, Harry saw every guy drooling and every girl staring. The women seemed oblivious.

"You can call us Rachael and Bailee," Rachael Mai continued, in an American accent much like Bailee's. She shivered slightly and smiled at their confused expressions. "When we get to Maui, you'll be sweltering."

"If you'll follow us, we'll take you to the terminal," finished Bailee, shouldering her rainbow-striped handbag. If he squinted, Harry could see a designer logo. Kate somebody.

The students hoisted their luggage and followed Bailee. Harry hung back to walk with Rachael.

"I'm Harry Potter," he introduced himself. "Um, Sirius and Remus were-"

"They're meeting us on the plane," Rachael cut in with a perfect pearly smile. "Nice to meet you, Harry, Mr. Godson-of-an-Ex-Felon."

"You know Sirius?'

"We met earlier this year." Harry saw a flash of something unreadable in Rachael's eyes, which up close were amazing---light, icy green eyes that contrasted perfectly with her tan.

"He and Remus had to stop by your Ministry of Magic. They'll be here."

Harry nodded and fell silent. After Sirius had been pardoned, the Ministry had offered him a foreign-relations job. Harry had been shocked that Sirius had actually wanted to work for the ministry, who had ruined his life. But Sirius had gotten the offer right about the same time the participants of the Hogwarts trip had been announced, and Harry realized Sirius had taken the job to be able to watch over him.

As the group made their way to the David Montrone Airport, a small hub that held mostly private jets, Harry's thoughts turned to flying.

He'd never been in a plane before, just seen them in movies. He knew Hermione, Dean, and Seamus had flown before and he recalled that the Patil twins had taken a plane to fly to their summer vacation in Muggle America---somewhere in California.

But if flying was like what he'd seen---cramped and crowded and lasting for ages---the eighteen hour flight would be quite un-enjoyable. He tried hard to keep up with Bailee as she led them around the airport and though a chain-link fence. She flashed a badge at a burly guard and led the students to a small, sleek silver jet.

"Isn't it a bit small?" asked Hermione, who like all of those who had flown before, was clearly wondering why they weren't waiting in a terminal to board a jumbo jet.

"Private plane," Rachael explained demurely, showing the students to a flight of air stairs that led to the inside of the plane. "Please pile all your luggage except your carry-ons' on this cart over here. They'll be loaded as we board."

The students did so and then followed Rachael up the stairs. Harry was last, even after Bailee. He heard exclamations of delight from everyone---well, not Malfoy---as he clutched his somewhat careworn green backpack.

Harry wasn't sure what to pack for a carry-on, so he'd added a little of everything.

The bag held his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages; today's Daily Prophet; the December issue of Which Broomstick; and a few Martin Miggs: The Mad Muggle comics. He'd bought a slab of almond Honeydukes chocolate, a container of Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, a few Sugar Quills, and some Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Then he'd tossed in a change of socks, his toothbrush, his pillow, and his coin bag. It was now filled with the amount of American dollars and cents Dumbledore had allotted all of them, along with some of his own money exchanged into Muggle money. Finally, he'd tucked in his Invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map for safekeeping, even though the map would be no use. Harry had been forced to put a bottomless charm on the bag when he tried to cram in his wand and two belated Christmas presents: a book Hermione had recommended for Remus and a dragon-hide cloak for Sirius.

Harry stepped inside the airplane, which was remarkably spacious. The floor had thick, luxurious pearl carpeting and the larger-than-usual windows sported wine-colored curtains. About twenty-five large rose-gray leather chairs were grouped in twos or threes around the cabin. Smoked-glass end tables were bolted near each row. A wide-screen TV was attached to a wall near the front, next to a door that presumably led to the cockpit, and two oak doors in the back appeared to lead to the bathrooms.

Harry, however, ignored the plush interior as soon as he spotted two familiar figures lounging in two spacious seats. He passed Alicia and Parvati and practically hurled himself at Sirius.

"Hey Harry!" Sirius greeted him with a wide grin. He looked healthy and happy. His shoulder-length hair was pulled into a short, clean black ponytail. His dark eyes shown and he looked less emancipated, more muscled. He wore jeans, combat boots, and a charcoal t-shirt that clung to his six pack.

"Sirius!" Harry gave his godfather a hug. Then turned to his comrade. "Remus!"

Remus's hair was still short, light brown, and laced with gray. He was still a bit pale, but his indigo-gray eyes were alert and bright. Harry gave him a hug too.

"How've you been?" asked Remus, who was outfitted in khaki slacks and a navy sweater.

"So-so," Harry answered truthfully. He had returned to Hogwarts incredibly excited at Sirius being pardoned, yet horribly nervous about facing everyone---especially Cho Chang---after Cedric Diggory's death. The rest of the past four months had consisted of highs and lows, ups and downs.

Harry sat in the seat next to Remus and gestured for Hermione and Ron to take the two seats in front of them.

As soon as Ron plopped down, he began to experiment with his seat. Five minutes later, Ron discovered he could spin his chair around to face Harry, Remus, and Sirius. Hermione did likewise.

"This is so awesome!" Ron announced, unzipping his bright orange C.C. backpack. He pulled out a chocolate frog, bit it in half, and stared at the card. "Bugger. Merlin again."

"Ron, it's 4:45 in the morning!" scolded Hermione, pulling a quill and parchment from her leather book bag.

"And I'm bloody starving," he mumbled around a mouthful of chocolate. "Want the card?"

Hermione took it, examined it, smiled, and tucked it into her bag. "Maybe I should start collecting..."

Ron grinned in disbelief.

"Mione, you feeling okay? Collecting cards isn't an educational activity-"

"Bugger off, Ron, and I could ask you the same. You've turned into a bookworm over the summer."

"Me? A bookworm?: Ron sounded outraged. "Yeah, right..."

Harry watched his friends bicker comfortably with a small smile. It was so normal, so familiar, so right, to listen to Ron and Hermione go at it over something as small as a chocolate frog.

Ah, thought Harry. Things are finally going back to normal.