The Great Regatta

Chapter Two

'...And this is how we began sleuthing.' Blaise finished.

'Well, that's...unusual,' Justin said.

'You bet!' Blaise said. 'And now I'm a first mate as well. I say, Trev, come look at our ship, will you?'

'Well, if Mr. Finch is agree...'

'Absolutely,' Justin said.

'It will be my pleasure, then.'

'And now I'll show you some interesting places. You didn't see much of Edinburgh, I think, Trevor?' Blaise said.

'I'm afraid not,' Trevor said.

'Justin didn't either,' Blaise said. 'Edinburgh is a very interesting, beautiful city. I know it very well and will tell you everything about it. Waiter, the bill, please!'

After Blaise has paid the bill, he led his friends out of the restaurant.

'Good afternoon, Malcolm.'

'Guid forenicht, Professor,' Malcolm smiled. 'Ah will bet ten sickles on yer victory!'

'We'll win, Malcolm!' Blaise said.

Justin looked uncertain.

'Tails up, Finch!' Blaise said. 'You're the best captain there is, and I am happy to be your mate!'

'Thanks, Blay, old man,' Justin said.

They left the inn, and Blaise led them to a small Chinese restaurant.

'And this,' he said, 'is the favorite place of one of my favorite authors, a fantasy writer named J. K. Rowling. It's amazing how she describes many things, as if she were clairvoyant, verily. Not to mention she's got excellent style and sense of humor.'

'Indeed?' Trevor asked.

'Really?' Justin said.

Then Blaise showed them the Edinburgh Castle, the Holyrood Palace, the University, the Canongate Street or 'the Royal Mile' - the main street of Old Edinburgh, the Arthur's Seat and other places. Then two bemused and awed wizards, a very enthusiastic one and a Kneazle came to the Wizard Yacht Club of Edinburgh. A proud Justin guided Trevor to Helga.

'Isn't she a beauty?' he asked.

'Oh, yes,' Trevor said. 'Oh, yes, indeed.'

'I say, Trevor,' Blaise suddenly said. 'Why won't you sail with us?'

Justin looked bewildered, and Trevor said shyly:

'But as what, Blaise?'

'Easily,' Blaise said. 'As an apothecary. I can whip up a potion, but surely you can better?'

'I suppose I do,' Trevor said nervously. 'I will.'

'Excellent!' Blaise said. 'Let's go and inform Mr. Scott that our crew is now three people!'

'Alright,' Justin said. 'I'll ask him of the route, too.'

They entered the Yacht Club building, and went to Mr. Scott's office.

'Good evening, Mr. Scott,' Justin said. 'I want to let you know that my crew is now one person more - Mr. Trevor Entwhistle here will go with us as an apothecary.'

'Very well, I'll register him,' Mr. Scott said.

'And Mr. Scott, what is the route of the race?'

'Let me see,' Mr. Scott said. 'Yes, Bordeaux, A Coruna, Lisbon, Marceilles, Naples, Athens, Nicosia, Cairo, Algiers, and Edinburgh, of course.'

'Thank you, Mr. Scott, and good night.'

'Good night, dear Mr. Finch,' Mr. Scott smiled.

As they left the office, Blaise said:

'I think we've got an excellent route! Some of the most beautiful cities of the world.'

'But I bet Avery will spoil us the delight,' Justin said reasonably.

'Oh, this is such a trifle!' Blaise said.

'I think I'll go to the inn to take my things, gentlemen,' Trevor said. 'When do we sail?'

'Tomorrow morning,' Justin said.

'Oh. Good evening, then.'

'Good evening,' Blaise and Justin said.

Trevor returned some time later with a trunk and a cage with a screech owl.

'Oh, you have an owl? I didn't know,' Blaise said.

'I acquired him recently,' Trevor said. 'His name is Agrippa.'

'A fine name for a very fine owl,' Blaise said. 'And now we can send letters right from the ship! I have a cat, as you know, and Justin has a mouse.'

'Quite a Noah's Ark,' Trevor said.

'Yes.' Blaise smiled. 'Now let's retreat.'

'Right you are,' Justin said.

They climbed the gangplank, and Justin pulled the gangplank in. Then they retired to their cabins.

Next morning all the yachts lined up along the quays. Justin said, looking at one, very beautiful, yacht with a radiant gold star on her blue mainmast sail:

'That's Stella Maris, 'The Star of the Seas', Algie Wymondham's yacht. I didn't know he was in the running. He's an old friend of mine, a real sportsman, unlike that Avery. Hi Algie!'

'Hi Justin!' a powerfully-built young man on the neighbor yacht answered.

'Meet Blaise Zabini, my mate, and Trevor Entwhistle, our apothecary,' Justin said.

'Glad to meet you,' Algie Wymondham said. 'I thought you missed the race, and was sorry for you. When did you arrive?'

'Yesterday evening,' Justin said. 'I traveled when I heard of the race, was lying at anchor outside La Rochelle. Blaise was a passenger on board my ship, and he kindly agreed to be my mate. And when we arrived to Edinburgh, we met this gentleman, Blaise's old friend, and Blaise persuaded him to go with us.'

'Enticed is more like it,' Blaise smiled. 'Good morning, Mr. Wymondham.'

'Good morning, Mr. Zabini,' Algie said.

'Professor Zabini, Algie,' Justin said.

'Oh! The Hogwarts master?' Algie said.

'Yes, I am, but call me Blaise, please.' Blaise smiled.

'Blaise.' Algie smiled. 'I see Avery is here too.'

'Yes, the viper!' Justin said.

'Viper is right,' Algie said. 'See how his Manticore stands!'

'At least, you won't cut off corners or bump me, Algie,' Justin said.

'No way, old man.' Algie smiled.

'And who's with you, Algie?' Justin asked.

'Sylvester, my cousin,' Algie said.

Mr. Scott, as the Secretary of the Club, blew a whistle, and the yachts darted away presently. Stella Maris was the first, Helga the second and Manticore only third. Justin gave the full speed ahead, and Blaise focused on them leaving Stella Maris behind. Helga shot ahead of Stella Maris.

'Good job, Justin!' Algie shouted.

'Thanks old man!' Justin answered.

Helga crossed the North Sea and plunged into the English Channel. Stella Maris was nearing. Justin picked up speed. As they were approaching Saint Malo, Blaise saw Lord Avery passing his hand over his ship.

'Sacrebleu!' Blaise said.

Justin looked at him, just in time to see Manticore take off from the surface of the sea and head off to the land.

'Dash it!' Justin said.

'Oh dear me!' Trevor said.

'Hold out, Cap!' Blaise said.

They skirted Brittany, going at the flank speed, Algie trying to outrun them all the time. As they were passing La Rochelle, Lord Avery alighted on water far ahead of them.

'And we were lying at anchor here just yesterday, blast it!' Justin said.

He concentrated, and Helga gained speed. She rushed into the Gironde in Manticore's trail, approached Manticore, came alongside her, passed her and headed to Bordeaux between the green, wooded plains of Aquitaine. Algie kept pace with Justin, but then Lord Avery bumped into Stella Maris aggressively and sped away. Algie couldn't outrun him, however he tried. The three leading yachts sailed into a quiet bay just outside Bordeaux, with lots of yachts and quays and a classic building like a young Greek temple under lovely chestnut trees. There was a crowd of people in robes on the quays. Justin stopped first.

'And the first is Helga, the captain Mr. Justin Finch-Fletchley!' a man on the shore announced in French. 'Manticore, the captain milord Avery, is the second, and Stella Maris, the captain Mr. Algernon Wymondham, is the third!'

'Algernon bally Wymondham all right,' Algie said, as he was dropping anchor. 'Gulping Gargoyles!'

'Don't worry, mon cher Algie,' Blaise said. 'He will get his bidding, as we say in the Isle of Man.'

'The Isle of Man?' Algie looked blank. 'I thought you were French.'

'I am,' Blaise laughed softly. 'But I have a small patrimony on the Isle of Man. Got it from a cousin.'

'Oh, I see,' Algie said.

By that time Lord Avery came ashore proudly.

'The bloody Slytherin!' Algie said. Justin shifted, but Blaise remained calm.

'I say, come to look at the city of Bordeaux and dine somewhere,' he suggested.

'That's a good idea,' Algie said.

Justin, Blaise, Trevor, Algie, and a young man looking very like Algie, came ashore.

'My second cousin, Mr. Sylvester Wymondham,' Algie said. 'Mr. Justin Finch-Fletchley, Mr. Trevor Entwhistle and Professor Blaise Zabini.'

'Glad to meet you,' Cousin Sylvester said.

'Glad to meet you,' Blaise and Trevor said.

As they found a small inn called Fleur-de-Lis and seated themselves at one of the tables, Blaise asked:

'Algie, I think you were a Gryffindor? And Sylvester too?'

'Yes,' Algie said, puzzled. 'Why?'

'I just thought so by your manners,' Blaise said. 'Well, then we have four Houses dining together, just as back in Hogwarts.'

'Oh,' Algie said, blushing. 'You are a Slytherin.'

'I am,' Blaise said. 'And I consider Avery and those like him blot on the escutcheon.'

'I beg your pardon, Blaise,' Algie said.

'Don't mention it.' Blaise answered. 'Now what about escargots Bourguignonne? It's a local dainty.'

'Sure,' Algie, Justin and Cousin Sylvester said.