Beaten and Blown By the Wind

Chapter Twelve: Second Time's the Charm

"Honestly Ginny, would you hurry up? We can't start every morning like this! I swear if something weird happens because you're taking too long again, I'm never going to let anyone invite you along again!" Ron yelled up the stairs bright and early the next morning.

The scene was much the same as the previous morning, everyone had stacked their things by the door but Ginny who was running around upstairs making sure she wasn't leaving anything behind, and everyone waiting was staring into space in attempts to wake up except for Ron, who was shouting at Ginny, and Hermione, who was rolling her eyes at Ron. A few hours after their second attempt to sort out Lynn's explosion, Snape and Hermione had figured out what from her potions had harmed her and Madame Pomfrey was then more than quick to heal Lynn's back. Like she had said, none of the potions alone would have harmed her, but Lynn had added one to another backwards in her haste to find something to perhaps reverse the horrible effects her new potion had on Remus. Like adding water to acid, the potions didn't stop to explain before exploding, and true to her reflexive response, Lynn had turned away from the explosion as it happened covering her face, unfortunately in the same direction she had turned from a very wolfy Remus several minutes earlier leaving an open gash exposed to the explosion. Now her shoulder was back to normal and she had promised them all not to mess with the potion that had caused them all so much trouble ever again. Harry was still rubbing his eyes and Remus looked as if he were trying very hard not to fall asleep while leaning against the front door waiting for Ginny, but no one looked as sleep deprived as they had the day before. Lynn's eyes were still red and bleary, the circles beneath them distinctly signaling little sleep, but she wasn't quite falling asleep in her chair as she had the previous morning.

"Ron, you don't plan on starting every day with this kind of attitude, do you?" Hermione questioned, looking rather annoyed by his yelling.

"I will if she won't start hurrying up!" he shot back, his voice rising to a scream with the last few words. Lynn chuckled, Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed, Harry smiled nondescriptly, and Remus stood up straighter as if suddenly woken by Ron's screaming.

"Oh sod off, Ron! I want to be sure I haven't forgotten anything!" Ginny yelled down.

"Lynn can send you anything you forget! You're going to London and then Hogwarts, not the moon!" Ron yelled up the stairs, looking ready to go up and drag her down.

"Calm down, Ron, you're turning purple," Lynn said, standing. "I'll go help her have one last look around and then we'll leave. We've got more than enough time to get to London before we're expected, your worrying really is unnecessary," she assured him and started up the stairs, not waiting for a response. Remus smiled at Ron's simmering anger, Hermione had a smug look on her face, and it was Harry's turn to chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Sorry, mate," Harry chuckled. "But your face is just about purple! Maybe you should calm down a little - take a look at yourself, you may be inspired to do as much," Harry told him, vaguely gesturing to a mirror on the wall next to the door Remus was dozing against.

"Bloody hell," Ron said, starting to laugh. "How do you suppose my genetics made room for my face to clash with my hair so horribly?" he questioned, causing Harry and Hermione to laugh and Remus to jolt awake again.

"Why are you so tired this morning, Remus?" Hermione asked, noticing his dozing, remembering that he had slept several hours yesterday afternoon and had been one of the first of them to go to bed that night.

"Hmm?" he asked, as if he hadn't heard and then shook his head, as if shaking the sleep away. "Oh, tired, yes," he mumbled. "Nothing really, I just didn't sleep much."

"What do you mean you didn't sleep much? You went to bed before any of us but Lynn!" Ron said back, dumbfounded. "What were you doing that you didn't sleep much?"

"Babysitting," Remus said before immediately deciding it wasn't a good answer. He waved his hand as if dismissing his immediate response and hurried to rephrase it. "Nothing really interesting. Plus I didn't use the wolfsbane potion this time around. I get rather tired and sick from transforming without it, you know."

"Oh, sorry, I didn't think of that," Ron said, forgetting Remus' accidental response in his embarrassment in forgetting about the full moon.

"Don't worry about it."

"Alright, everyone find their things," Lynn said as she came down the stairs followed by Ginny's trunk and then Ginny holding her wand out and directing the trunk in front of her. "Now everyone take out their wands, point them at their trunks, and say 'locomotor trunk'. You can carry your pets there, but I figure it may be easier for us all to move the trunks this way," she said cheerfully. Hermione hesitated as Harry and Ron opened their trunks to pull out their wands.

"We're not supposed to do magic away from school, Lynn. Ron and I will get in trouble and Harry would surely be expelled," she warned, causing Ginny to gasp and lower her wand. Her trunk unfortunately landed on Lynn's foot, who cried out immediately in surprise and pain. Despite her previous arguments, Hermione was quick to act, pulling her wand from her robes and pointing it and the trunk.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" she said, causing the trunk to immediately levitate and allowing Lynn to pull out her crushed foot.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Lynn!" Ginny gasped, hurrying over her trunk to see if the woman was alright. "I didn't mean to let it drop on your foot, but when Hermione reminded me of the underage magic thing...oh, I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. My foot's just smarting a bit," Lynn said, wincing a little, but then looking up to see two owls swoop through the fireplace, drop letters on Hermione and Ginny's heads, and swoop out again.

"Oh no! I told you this would happen!" Hermione accused, tears in her voice at the idea of being in trouble with the ministry. She and Ginny opened their letters with shaking hands as Lynn rolled her eyes. Hermione started reading aloud. "Dear Miss Granger, We have received intelligence that you performed a levitation charm at forty-three minutes past eight this morning in North Whales. This is to serve as official warning that any other actions of yours that would violate the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery would result in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Yours sincerely, Mafalda Hopkirk, Improper Use of Magic Office, Ministry of Magic."

"My letter is just about identical, but it was a locomotor charm at forty minutes past eight," Ginny told them grimly.

"If I had a knut for every one of those I received while I was at Hogwarts, and before, I'd have more than enough to buy the supplies on all four of your lists, every meal for all six of us this next week, rent the rooms for us at the Leaky Cauldron, and have more than enough to come home and host a party," Lynn told them, rolling her eyes at Hermione, who looked as if she believed herself Judas, betraying Christ with a kiss.

"But I did magic more than once and they expelled me straightaway," Harry argued. "If Dumbledore hadn't immediately hurried to the ministry and pleaded my case, they never would have given me the chance to explain myself; they would have just expelled me."

"Yes, well, that's nice and all, but those silly letters never stopped me and I graduated top of my year. I had been getting those letters since the age of three and they didn't stop me from going my full seven years to Hogwarts, did they?" she questioned. The four looked to Remus who shook his head.

"Lynn, you were under special circumstances. Besides, Fudge wouldn't stand for it, and you know that. He was always jealous of the way you got away with things because of all your father's shenanigans and you know he's cracked down on this underage sorcery issue harder than any other Minister of Magic ever has because of the leverage your father's shenanigans gave you and your siblings - especially you. Out of the lot of you, he'd be angriest at your shenanigans, Lynn," Remus tried to reason with her, not realizing he was using the wrong word entirely. Hermione and Ron looked puzzled at Lynn's sudden anger that caused her face to go as white as Ron's had been purple, but remembering what they had seen the day before, Harry and Ginny held their breath and waited for the explosion. Lynn, however, was too angry to scream and hissed her response back at almost a whisper, sounding more like an overly angry Snape then Harry would've liked, her eyes flashing in anger that had been accidentally brought to mind too recently.

"Fudge will deal with my shenanigans if I say he will. The restriction is pointless in this situation. There are no muggles anywhere near us, there aren't even any wizards. None of them are attempting magic far beyond their skill, and they are doing it under my command," she hissed. "Now all of you point at your trunks and say 'locomotor trunk'. Then if you would be as kind as to move for us all, Remus, we will head to the gates and catch the bus," she continued, her eyes not moving from the now silent werewolf, who moved accordingly.

Everyone was too frightened of her sudden transformation to try and argue and, after a moment of unease, Harry resolutely said the charm and followed her, the other three students and Remus following. The bus was quick to arrive; leaving Harry with no doubt that Lynn had spoken to her pal Ernie and asked him to be in the area a bit before nine that morning. When they had all charmed their things on board and stowed them away, Lynn smiled brightly at Stan and Ernie, back to her cheerful self, paid the fare, and started chatting with them. Everyone else had slowly come back to life, their fear of Lynn's anger dissipating, and joined in or had made their own conversation. Hermione was stewing over her illegal use of magic, claiming she would kill Lynn if she got expelled. Harry just laughed and said that if anyone would be expelled for underage magic, it would be him, and she stopped her verbal protest to being forced into using illegal magic. They all thought that they had a nice bus ride in front of them and that the ministry would wait to bother them until they got to London, but about fifteen minutes after their journey began, the bus stopped and a few ministry officials came on, flashing badges to avoid the fare, and headed towards the students.

"We are here for Mr. Harry Potter, Miss Hermione Granger, and Miss Virginia Weasley," one of the men said. "And which one of you is Mr. Ronald Weasley?"

"I am," Ron choked out.

"This is for you. You've had your warning," the man said, handing Ron a letter exactly like the ones Ginny and Hermione had gotten back at the house.

"Excuse me gentlemen, what is your business with Mr. Potter and Misses Granger and Weasley?" Lynn asked, striding up between the ministry officials and the offending students.

"Aislynn McGarret," one of the other two men, and oldest of the three, sneered. "I thought you were back in Ireland hiding away from the world waiting for your criminal boyfriend to come and save you from your humiliation," he said in a positively revolting tone.

"I was on holiday in Ireland for quite some time, yes, but I returned years ago on business for the Ministry. Seeing as you're no one special, I wouldn't doubt no one even thought to tell you about it," she said back with more dignity than even Snape could ever muster, demanding his respect that just wasn't going to be extended to her.

"And what business do you have interrupting our business with these three?" he asked, sneering even more at her insult.

"As I'm sure you may remember, Harry Potter is fully and legally within my care and the other three have spent the summer with Harry and I in my house in Whales. Their parents trust me with their care as well. I am the rightful guardian of these students and anything you have to say to them, you have to say to me," she reasoned, never dropping her dignity despite her short stature causing her to have to look upwards to stare the men down.

"They are accused of breaching the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. Misses Granger and Weasley are as such suspended from Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, due to new revisions on the decree, and will be allowed to return next year to continue their learning where they had left off. Mr. Potter, however, is to be expelled from said school, and his wand is to be destroyed. That's what they are here for," the first man said, gesturing towards the two behind him.

"Yes, I know, I've seen them enough," Lynn said, entirely unimpressed. The students and Remus looked a bit uneasy and grim at their fates, but Lynn didn't feel like following the aforementioned decree. "These students broke that decree at my demand and will not be punished for it."

"Oh yeah?" the second man retorted. Lynn raised an eyebrow, fully amused.

"Why yes," she said, as if surprised to have to answer a question like that. A smile had made its way on to her face and inwardly Harry and Remus groaned, knowing that she'd be more than happy to have to argue, and if at all possible, fight out her point. These men were instigating a battle that would cause way more trouble than a broken underage sorcery decree ever could.

"And what do you plan on doin' about it?" the third man spoke up for the first time.

"Ah, Mr. Anders, I was rather hoping someone had cut out that insolent tongue of yours by now. Nice of you to join the conversation," Lynn said amiably, as if speaking with an old friend. "How many times did you come and tell my father off, itching to snap my wand in half? I've far since lost count, and I'd hate to forget any of those lovely conversations," Lynn questioned, leaving the students to truly wonder at the "shenanigans" her and her father caused.

"Just answer my question," the man shot back, angry now.

"Well, I'm not quite sure on my plan, what is it you were planning to do to stop me?"

"What were we planning to do to stop you?" the second man asked, shocked at her very clear defiance of ministry officials. "We're going to carry out our duties as surely as we were told! Some half aged witch isn't going to stop us!"

"I wouldn't claim things that are never going to happen," Lynn warned, her interest now waning, as she started picking at her fingernails. "It'll just be easier for me to make a plan if I knew what you were going to do," she continued casually, as if asking about the weather. Harry was wondering if he should worry about this, and tried to relax, but Remus' tense form looking ready for a fight didn't help nor provide confidence in a peaceful outcome.

"Mr. Harry Potter, if you would please come here and hand us your wand," the first man said, far from amused, but trying to avoid conflict. Harry started forward before Lynn spoke up.

"No, Harry, stay where you are," she said, looking up from her nails. "Harry isn't going to be turning in his wand today, sir. I apologize for any inconvenience, but I'm not about to let you destroy that wand. It's more important than you think," she said, becoming very serious, leaving Harry to remember for the first time what was so special about his wand.

"So he can save the world again?" the second man shot back sarcastically, still oozing his loathing of Harry's godmother through his words. She, however, looked directly at him and smiled the same way McGonagall did when Hermione performed a difficult transfiguration perfectly on her first try in class, a teacher proud of her pupil.

"Precisely," she said, causing all three men to laugh, though her smile never faltered.

"Some teenager isn't going to get rid of You-Know-Who for good, you half-wit loon!" the third man, Mr. Anders said through his laughter.

"I beg to differ, Mr. Anders. True, he cannot do as such yet, nor with that wand, but it's imperative that he keep hold of that wand until he is able to do as such," Lynn's smile was twinkling in her eyes, the smile that taunted 'I know something you don't know!' as clearly as children in a playground. "If I were you, I'd be more worried about his future and proper magical education than a silly little levitation charm."

"We have our orders, Miss McGarret," the first man said, trying to undo some of his associates' taunting with dignity and respect. "I'm sorry, but even you as his guardian cannot legally stop us."

"Oh, and I was just starting to like you," she said, still smiling and turning to the other two. "Perhaps the two of you should take a page from Mr...?

"Mr. Berman, Richard Berman, ma'am."

"Yes, a page from Mr. Berman's book. You get a lot farther with honey than vinegar, I'm sure you've heard," she said, much to the distaste and anger of the two offending men. "Now Mr. Berman, surely there's a dignified way for us all to resolve this that doesn't end in these two young ladies being suspended, Harry being expelled, and his wand being destroyed."

"Unfortunately, Miss McGarret, there isn't. Things would move along more efficiently and peacefully if you would just let us do our jobs. Now if you would come forward, Mr. Potter, and turn in your wand, we would be much obliged."

"No, he's not coming forward nor is he turning over his wand," Lynn said, her smile fading to leave a very serious expression upon her too-young face.

"Lynn, perhaps it's best if we just comply for now. You could always appeal to the Ministry later," Remus tried to reason, but she wasn't having it.

"No, Remus, I don't think that will be necessary. That wand will not be destroyed as long as I live and breathe. If Voldemort were to pop up somewhere and try to kill Harry, that would be his only defense. Voldemort cannot kill Harry in a duel as long as Harry holds that wand. Expelled or no, he will have that wand."

"Surely things can't be as serious as that," Mr. Berman said, looking exasperated at Lynn's stubbornness.

"Unfortunately, they are, Mr. Berman. Knowing that, you can see why it is so important that Harry not turn over that wand," she said, causing the second man to draw his wand and start to say the words to summon Harry's from his robes. Unfortunately for him, Lynn wasn't a guardian for nothing. She raised her hand towards him and looked towards him, eyes flashing, and his wand flew from his hand, clattering to the floor of the bus in some unseen corner, before he had even finished the spell.

"I don't think it wise for you to be challenging me," she told the angry official. Mr. Anders then moved to take out his wand and do something similar, but the same thing happened again. "Do you care for a try, Mr. Berman, or is our business here done?"

"This is an open act of rebellion and defiance of the Ministry of Magic, Miss McGarret," Mr. Berman told her, his wand already raised. "This is dark sorcery; you will go to Azkaban for this!"

"No, this is an act of defense and is hardly dark sorcery. Dark sorcery is far more advanced than all that. That was just a little talent I have, both Dumbledore and your Minister are aware of it, it won't send me to Azkaban any more than your arrogance will send you, it's just a part of who I am."

"It is dark sorcery! You remember her father! Killed his own son and got away with it! And all her brothers and sisters! Death eaters, the whole lot of em!" the second man called out, past angry, but frightened as well at her wandless magic.

"And she was the one tryin' to break Sirius Black free! Do you remember the stink Mr. Crouch raised about having to go to visit him in Azkaban on her demands? I'll bet you she's leading You-Know-Who right to Harry Potter! Maybe we should take him to the minister for protection instead of just taking his wand away! If we take his wand, he'll be defenseless against her!" Mr. Anders agreed, Harry's anger boiled to a heat he could hardly remember and he could see Lynn's face white with anger and defiance in front of him. Looking around, he saw Ron's face again purple with anger, Hermione's white-knuckled hands balled into fists, Ginny's mouth gaping open at a loss for words, and Remus looking positively dangerous for the first time Harry could remember.

"How dare you insult me and my family like that?" Lynn seethed, once again dangerously angry. "My father never supported Voldemort and nor did I."

"Or her sister," Remus chimed in, his voice unusually full of steel. "Albus Dumbledore himself trusted Lynn to take good care of Harry and protect him from Voldemort; I don't see how any of you have the grounds to second guess his judgment."

"That does not hide the fact that she is openly rebelling against the Ministry, defying us and our orders, Mr. Lupin, and I don't see where this becomes your business," Mr. Berman retorted icily, not dropping his bare civility despite being threatened. "And dark magic warrants investigation and, most likely sentencing. That was undoubtedly dark magic and it's within my duty to report it."

"Report it all you want, see what comes of it! I'm using no dark magic here and I resent your accusing me of such! How dare you accuse me of supporting Voldemort when you know as well as anyone how I've suffered because of that creature? I must insist that you all leave the bus immediately if you do not wish to be harmed!"

"Not without taking these children from your care," Mr. Berman suddenly decided. "It seems you are as unfit to care for them now as you were fifteen years ago and being a Ministry official, I am forced to use my best judgment on this," he explained smugly, and Lynn's anger disappeared for a moment as a look of undiluted horror and misery washed over her face.

"You wouldn't take him from me again, you don't have the authority," she whispered, looking more frightened of that idea than all three men had at her wandless magic.

"Try me," Mr. Berman said, displaying the arrogance Lynn had previously accused him of.

"Don't let him scare you, Lynn, I'd never go with them," Harry told her, walking up behind her and putting his hand on her shoulder, a little surprised that his summer growth spurt had left him well more than tall enough to look over her head at the men.

"In that, Mr. Potter, you wouldn't have a choice. And I'm sure the rest of your parents would agree that this is for the best," Berman told him, looking more smug with every word.

"You lie! My mum is a good friend of Lynn's! So is my dad! She even said that it may be better for us to spend the summer with her, that we may be safer! She told me so! Lynn's been sending me Christmas and birthday cards forever; she's practically part of our family!" Ron piped up, coming to stand next to Harry. He wasn't about to be taken by the ministry nor let Harry be taken. At least his parents would be able to come and get him and Ginny and Hermione's would come for her, but poor Harry had no where to go and no one else to go with.

"He's right! She told me that too! I can promise you that she will take these accusations as personal insult, Mr. Berman, because Ron's right. Lynn's practically part of our family, so if you insult her, you're practically insulting us!" Ginny chimed in, standing as she argued as to emphasize her point. The three Ministry officials seemed to sputter on the air for a moment before Berman caught something no one else had noticed.

"Miss Granger, you seem awfully quiet," he said, making everyone else's breath catch in their throat. They knew Hermione wouldn't support this open defiance of Ministry officials. "Is there anything you'd like to say before we take the four of you back to the ministry?" Hermione sat there looking at her lap, considering for a moment.

"You're not taking us back to the ministry," she said quietly, but clearly. "Not Harry, not Ron and Ginny, and certainly not me," she raised her head to look at him and walked to the other side of Lynn, next to Remus, helping to make quite the formidable front for the officials to break. "My place is here with my friends. We're on our way to London to get our supplies for school, which I will be returning to this year. It certainly doesn't make the ministry look good to suspend the number one student in the sixth year, does it? Especially not when my actions were more than justified. If you did not suspend or expel us for breaking into the Department of Mysteries, I hardly think you have the right to do the same for us using levitation and locomotor charms to help us move our trunks."

"Do you find yourself above the rules and laws the rest of the wizarding world has to follow then, Miss Granger?"

"No sir, I simply don't see how levitating Ginny's trunk off Lynn's foot and moving my trunk from the foyer of the house to the bus warrants my getting suspended when I have done things that broke many more rules and was not faced with any consequences."

"You still cannot speak for your parents, and you're the only one whose guardians are not spoken for, Miss Granger. If you would come with me, please, we could be on our way and the Ministry will deal with the rest of you later," Berman said, indicating the door of the bus which had not moved since they set foot on, in accordance with the men's orders to Ernie. Hermione looked from Berman to Lynn in horror, realizing she was stuck going with him, until the last person she expected to spoke up in her defense.

"She can't, but I can," Remus said quietly, shocking everyone past their amazement at Hermione's protest.

"What are you saying, Mr. Lupin? I thought we already established that this was not your business."

"I said that she cannot speak for her parents, but I can," he said, gaining curious looks from everyone but Lynn, who looked amused. "My mother's maiden name was Granger, Mr. Berman. Hermione's parents are second cousins of mine. She was not under the care of Aislynn this summer, but me. I am still in correspondence with her parents and they knew I was staying with Lynn this summer. They asked me to keep watch of Hermione this summer. You cannot take her on grounds of taking her from Lynn's care because Lynn was never responsible for her, she is in my care and she is not going anywhere," Remus told him, gaining several surprised looks from everyone but Lynn, who looked disappointed. "This is my business, Mr. Berman. You will not suspend her and you will not take her back to the ministry. If there are any problems with that, you can have the ministry contact me later. As for now, we would like to continue our journey, if you would be as kind as to simply leave and report to your superiors that your mission is through."

"Fine," Mr. Berman said, looking livid. "But we will make sure the minister knows who is causing us problems. Good day, then," he said, the three men leaving the bus in a huff.

"Accio wands," Lynn said, and the two lost wands zipped to her hand. "Gentlemen," she called out the door, "Your wands?" she held out the wands. The two officials who had lost them came to collect them. "Until next time, gentlemen."

"There won't be a next time," one of them grumbled back.

"If you think so," she said, an eyebrow rose, and then returned to her seat. "If you would be so kind, Ernie, I believe we are now behind schedule."

"Of course, Lynn," he said, and the bus once again took off at its insane speed.

"Are you saying that you're my third cousin, Remus?" Hermione asked, suddenly interested in her wizarding ties.

"Something like that," he said, looking as if he desperately wanted to drop the subject.

"Something like that indeed," Lynn said, her eyebrow once again rising in amusement. As Hermione took Remus' hint and turned to discuss an article in Witch Weekly with Ginny, Harry saw Lynn shift in her seat so that she was a bit closer to Remus and could have sworn he heard her mutter under her sigh. "Chicken," she whispered and Remus just grunted at her, turning away to look out the window with a troubled look on his face. She glanced over to Harry, who was watching her.

"Looks like you're stuck with me a bit longer," she smiled at him. "Can't get rid of me that easily. Tough break," she joked, Harry smiled along with her. "Sorry, kiddo, better luck next time," she said and winked at Harry before curling into a ball in the chair to sleep.

"Yeah, until I come up with a nickname of my own to drive you mad and you send me away," Harry joked back. She just looked up and smiled at him.

"Do you really think that would work? Try as he might, Sirius couldn't use that to get rid of me. Sorry, you really are out of luck this time buddy."

"Damn, I guess that means I'll have to let you hang around a little longer," Harry swore with a smile.

"Looks like."

"Are you sure sleeping on the bus is a good idea?"

"Why not?"

"I heard you last night. Aren't you afraid whatever you saw would come back?"

"It always comes back, there's no stopping it."

"Wouldn't you screaming in your sleep be dangerous for our current position with my staying with you?"

"I laugh in the face of danger," she said, adding in some mock laughter for Harry's benefit and smiles. "I'm a big girl now, Harry. I can take care of myself, I promise."

"You lie. I say the same thing and you still need to take care of me."

"Eh, maybe we both need to take care of each other without him here to be all psycho-protective of the two of us," she mused, smiling a little. "He would have planned revenge for a comment like that."

"Like what?"

"I dunno, but it would probably lead to my being woken up every time I was about to drift off to sleep. He was cruel like that. He'd sit there, acting innocent and trying not to laugh," she laughed and shook her head. "Eh, if I start talking a little too much or tossing and turning a lot, just wake me up. Screaming doesn't usually come first," she warned Harry, completely unconcerned herself. She looked up at him once more, smiling. "Wake me up when we get there, we'll have visitors I'll have to speak with."

"Alright. Sleep well," Harry said, watching her for a moment, considering asking a million more questions that always came to his mind when he wasn't talking to her, before turning away to play exploding snap with Ron.

When they approached London, Harry woke up Lynn and Remus, who had both fallen asleep as everyone else started pulling their things to the aisle, preparing to get off at the Leaky Cauldron. It was quite a feat to move the heavy trunks and keep their balance at the same time with Ernie's wild driving. Harry stopped his poking at Lynn's shoulder for a moment to catch Hedwig as her cage fell from a shelf, leaving the owl hooting incessantly.

"So we're close?" Lynn said, not opening her eyes, but surprising Harry, who had thought her asleep.

"Just about there, Miss McGarret," Stan said as he came back to help them with their things.

"And it looks like we have half the Ministry waiting," Hermione said dreadfully, looking out the window.

"Oh good," Lynn said, standing and glancing at the officials. "It looks like Fudge has decided to grace us with his presence, as has Dumbledore. Good good, this will be fun," she said, looking chipper as the bus stopped and Remus groaned, not looking forward to another argument. "Let's go in with style, shall we? I'd hate to disappoint. Remember, they think you horrid criminals now, you performed a couple standard charms," she joked, causing all four students to laugh. "Now everyone point their wands at their trunks, say 'locomotor trunk', and follow me," she said. This time everyone followed without hesitation.

"Miss McGarret," Fudge said coming forward as all six people made their way off the bus. "I was rather expecting a spectacle like this."

"Good morning, Mr. Fudge!" Lynn greeted cheerfully, much to the dismay of the three men behind Fudge who had accosted them earlier on the bus and must have been waiting for her to come out fighting. They didn't realize she was doing just that. "Stan, Ernie, it's been great. Sorry about the trouble earlier, I hope you won't hold that against us in the future."

"Of course not, Miss McGarret," said Stan, handing Crookshank's basket to Hermione and getting back to the bus.

"Lynn, Stan. That goes for you too, Ernie," she corrected them amiably. "Until next time then!"

"Until next time," Ernie said, and the two gave a wave as the doors shut and the bus disappeared.

"Now what about a spectacle, Minister?"

"This!" he said, gesturing to everyone leading their trunks into the Leaky Cauldron. "Telling these students that illegal magic is quite alright when it clearly is not!"

"Oh, calm down, Mr. Fudge, this isn't hurting anyone!" Lynn said, turning to Tom, who had come from behind the bar to greet them and see what was going on. "Ah, good morning, Tom! So sorry about the delay yesterday, it was unavoidable. Could you tell me which rooms you have us in this week?"

"Miss McGarret! There is serious business we must discuss if you would stop ignoring me!" Fudge interrupted.

"Oh yes, I'm sorry. I was just hoping to check in first," Lynn said, turning to him again.

"I can do that for you, Miss McGarret. No need for you to go causing troubles with the Minister here. I'll take all of your things right up," Tom said, smiling at her, looking amused as if this kind of thing was entertainment rather than trouble.

"Thank you so much, Tom," she said, smiling back, and then turning to the kids. "Harry, Ron, Ginny, go ahead into Diagon Alley if you'd like. We'll probably be here for a while. We're not due to meet Molly for lunch for another two hours, so you have time to kill before you're needed. It seems pointless for you to be stuck in your rooms while there's fun to be had," Lynn said, smiling at them. She reached into her robes and pulled out a handful of money, giving several sickles, a few knuts, and a galleon to each of the three kids in front of her. "Don't tell your mother," she muttered to Ron and Ginny as she handed them the money. "And I expect you all to be back by noon for lunch with Molly with at least one thing from Weasley Wizard Wheezes to show off to me and make your school year more interesting," she said, sounding very serious, but smiling brightly. "And maybe Remus will be kind enough to let Hermione go along with you as well," she continued, winking at the kids.

"Of course, of course. If you'd like to go, go right on ahead, Hermione. You're supposed to be on holiday," Remus said, smiling a little at the shade of purple Fudge's face was turning as Lynn handed Hermione some money as well.

"Have fun, be careful, be back on time...oh never mind, you know how to behave. Just remember to bring one of Fred and George's creations back for me to admire, won't you?" Lynn said, shooing the four kids to the door that led to the alley behind the Leaky Cauldron as the four kids nodded, looking thrilled to be escaping Fudge's fury. "Good good, see you at noon then!"

"Bye!" the kids called and hurried out.

"Well now, shall we have a seat to discuss this like dignified witches and wizards?" Lynn said as the Ministry officials, Minister of Magic, Albus Dumbledore, and Remus Lupin sat in the booth the had indicated. She followed suit and the discussions began.