The Great Regatta

Chapter Four

Justin saw an impressive tower on the shore nearby.

'What a splendid lighthouse!' Justin said. Blaise smiled.

'Yes. It is a Roman lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules, they call it. Though now it is lit only one day in all the year, and this day happens to be tomorrow.'

'Why tomorrow?' Justin asked.

'The Midsummer Night, Justin.' Blaise smiled.

'Oh, of course!' Justin said.

'Only the locals call it Fogueiras de San Xoan,' Blaise said. 'They make bonfires on the Riazor beach, and the friends and families sit around the bonfires and eat kippers and baked potatoes.'

'Sounds grand,' Justin said.

'Yes, it is,' Blaise said. 'And as it's nightfall now, and they always give us a free time in each city, we sail only the day after tomorrow. And tomorrow we shall take a stroll about the town and take part in the celebration.'

'A very good idea,' Justin said.

'Yaaow!' said Macavity, appearing as always from thin air in all his cheetah-like glory.

'Naturally we'll take you with us, Macavity.' Blaise smiled.

'And Fonsie,' Justin said. 'He'll be hiding in my pocket all the time, but he loves to see new places.'

'And I love to see him.' Blaise smiled. 'How about some real French apple pie, Justin? It's made with lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter and flour.'

'Great,' Justin said.

And so Justin and Trevor went to the saloon and Blaise to the kitchen. Some considerable time later Blaise entered the saloon, carrying a tray with tableware and a great covered dish. Macavity followed him, tail up.

'The French Apple Pie, gentlemen!' Blaise announced. Justin and Trevor, who were playing Rithmomachia again, gave him a place instantly.

'You're becoming a real addict of Rithmomachia, Justin.' Blaise smiled.

'Yeah, it's very absorbing,' Justin said.

They started at the apple pie.

'This is delicious, Blaise!' Justin said halfway through the pie.

'Thank you Justin, I try my best.' Blaise smiled.

Then they went to sleep.

The next morning they came ashore - Blaise with Macavity in tow, Justin with Fonsie in his pocket, and Trevor, who obviously left Agrippa on board the yacht. Blaise went to show his friends all the ancient churches and abbeys of La Coruna, the Fortress of San Antan, the Tower of Hercules and the memorial to Sir John Moore, the hero of the Muggle Peninsular War. As they were going across the garden in which Sir John's memorial was, Justin felt his pocket for the zillionth time and exclaimed:

'Oh great Merlin, Fonsie's disappeared!'

'Disappeared?' Blaise asked with concern.

'Disappeared!?' Trevor blurted.

'I cannot think when he got lost,' Justin said, miserable.

'Don't panic, Justin,' Blaise said promptly. 'We'll find him. Macavity, seek!'

'Yaaow!' the Kneazle said and darted forwards. The three wizards followed him.

They meandered through the maze of the narrow winding streets of La Coruna, when Macavity stopped before a passer-by and said, 'Yaow!'

Blaise looked at the passer-by and asked politely:

'Excuse me, sir; have you by any chance seen a white mouse?'

The passer-by looked at Blaise and reached into his pocket.

'Nae this ane?' he asked with a broad grin.

'Fonsie!' Justin said and clasped the white mouse in his hands. 'Thank you very much, sir!'

The passer-by grinned again. He was a tall, well-built young man, with copper-red hair in a braid, amber eyes, large uneven white teeth and a yellow and red tartan plaid pinned with a silver dragon-shaped badge to the left shoulder of his red robes.

'Ye're weelcom,' he said. 'Ah'm Angus MacFusty o' Spanzedell. Ye can ca' me jus' Spanzedell. Ah'm glad tae meet sameane frae th' auld countrie!'

'Glad to meet you too,' Blaise said. 'I'm Professor Blaise Zabini, from Hogwarts, and my friends are Justin Finch-Fletchley and Trevor Entwhistle, an alchemist.'

'Justin Finch?' Angus asked. 'Th' ane that runs i' th' Regatta?'

'The one and only.' Blaise smiled.

'Ah'm verra pleased tae meet ye!' Angus exclaimed.

'Spanzedell, we're sightseeing,' Blaise said. 'Will you join us?'

'Certes!' Angus grinned.

'Thank you yet another time, Spanzedell,' Justin said, as they were roaming about La Coruna together. 'I'm very attached to Fonsie.'

'Fonsie?' Angus asked.

'Short for Alfonse.' Justin explained. Angus nodded.

'An' whit this excellent cat is ca'd?' he asked.

'Macavity.' Blaise smiled.

'Kneazle, noo is he?' Angus asked.

'Pure Kneazle.' Blaise nodded. 'He brought us straight to you.'

'Ah guessed.' Angus grinned.

'Blaise and Trevor are my crew,' Justin said. Angus nodded again.

They strolled around La Coruna till nightfall. Then Blaise looked at the Tower of Hercules. There was light in it.

'I think we ought to be going to the Riazor beach,' he said.

'You're right,' Justin said. They quickly filled Angus in on the subject.

'Soonds fun,' Angus said, and they steered to the Riazor beach.

When they got to the beach, there was a great crowd of people already, sitting around numerous bonfires, chatting and sharing the traditional meals. Blaise, Justin, Trevor and Angus found a quiet place a bit aside, brought some twigs, and Blaise fired the logs with an Incendio spell. Justin bought some potatoes and kippers from a peddler, and they made themselves cozy by the fire.

'I say, Spanzedell, will you go with us?' Blaise asked.

'Ah canna.' Angus smiled. 'Ah'm a bad sailor.'

Blaise fell silent delicately, but Justin said:

'It's nothing, Spanzedell, we'll teach you!'

'Ah meant Ah'm seasick.' Angus smiled.

'Oh, I see.' Justin blushed.

'Ah'm a Hielander,' Angus said. 'Ah haena been tae sea much.'

Justin was silent for a while.

'But Ah'm seeing th' Continent,' Angus said. 'Maybe we'll meet agin.'

'I hope so,' Blaise said.

They sat around the fire late into the night. At last Blaise, Justin and Trevor bade Angus goodnight.

'Ah'll wave ye guidbye the morn at the pier.' Angus promised.

'Thank you, Spanzedell,' Blaise said.

The next morning Helga was in full sail. Blaise saw Angus in the crowd on the shore; he was waving frantically. Blaise smiled and waved in answer.

Manticore gained speed; Avery was resolute to take revenge on them. But Justin pursued his course firmly, and Avery couldn't manage to pass him.

They were passing the beautiful plains of Portugal; Blaise thought he saw the famous Castle of Coimbra in the distance.

'Too bad Spanzedell is seasick,' Justin said, minding the steering-wheel. 'He'd made a good companion to us.'

'Yes,' Blaise said. 'And I'd not thought it; he's so fit. But it happens.'

'Is he of these MacFusties who tend their ancestral dragons?' Justin asked.

'I know of no other MacFusties,' Blaise said. 'I'd love to see the dragons.'

'The same old Blaise!' Justin laughed.

Suddenly they felt that the ship stood still.

'What the dickens!?' Justin said.

Blaise said with a gleam in his eyes:

'Justin, I have an idea. Let me dive under the ship.'

'Sure,' Justin said. 'But take care of yourself.'

Blaise disrobed and dived into the sea water. He sought all along the boards and the bottom of the ship, and at last he found it. He pointed at it with his wand and said, 'Petrificus Totalus!' Then he unstuck it from the bottom of the ship, emerged and showed it to Justin - a small fish resembling an eel; then he said, 'Finite Incantatem.' The fish plunged back into the water.

Blaise climbed on board and dressed.

'It was a remora,' he said. 'You know, a very powerful fish that can anchor ships.'

'Ohh,' Justin said. 'How grand to have an expert in Magizoology on board the ship!'

Blaise smiled demurely.

'But let's get sail!' Justin said. 'Or else Avery will be in Lisbon before us.'

'Yes, right,' Blaise said.

And they rushed forwards. Avery was ahead of them now, of course. But Justin gave the full speed. Blaise and Trevor were frantically wishing them to win. They saw the orchards of the suburbs of Lisbon, and a white crenellated tower ahead. Justin made a dash - and came ahead of Avery into the harbor.