Harry Potter and the Magical Tours

Harry's last school year together with Cho was racing toward its end, and even with the Quidditch cup done, there were still some issues to be settled. Exams, for starters, although these were the least of his worries.

McGonagall welcomed him with a smile. "Harry, that's supposed to be a Potions exam, but since you've been so busy with other things during the last weeks - er, well, if you promise not to tell anyone, I mean ..."

Deeply shocked, Harry stared at his Head of House. "Prof - I've been coached for the last three weeks, and I paid for that - should this have been for nothing?"

"Really?" The witch looked guilty for an instant, as if caught at something totally inappropriate, however recovered quickly.

"I guess I know who's been coaching you, but how did you pay her?"

"I promised to be her business agent - between here and Haiti, assuming that we find a few werewolves as test candidates."

McGonagall rolled her eyes, although with some relief, apparently grateful for having found at least one irregularity. "Somehow I missed the news - about the Apparition license no longer a prerequisite."

"Oh - erm ..." Harry hadn't expected this particular topic in his Potions exam. And to tell the truth, he didn't think it was an issue here. So he said, "Well, I guess I can settle that during vacation."

"Settle - oh yes, and Sirius Black will hold the quill for your registration."

Harry's expression showed little guilt. "Even so - I'd pass any exam."

The witch nodded. "Which brings us back to our own topic. So you've worked hard, and want to be squeezed under all circumstances. In this case - what do you want to talk about?"

"Hmm ... I might know a topic, Prof, the only problem is, it hasn't been taught yet, I'm not even sure it's a regular lesson in Hogwarts."

McGonagall's lips were twisting. "That's pretty much what I should have expected after such an invitation. Anyway - what is it, Harry?"

"One of the death traps around Sirius' prison was armed with poison balls - those yellow-fuming things. I'm pretty sure Voldemort used the same type in the Battle of Hogwarts."

The joy was gone from both faces.

"No," said McGonagall, "it's not part of the regular program. To be honest - I wouldn't know how to make them, they might even exceed Severus' skill. Would this be a topic of your interest for the next year?"

"Yes, Prof ... mainly how to fight them, but I guess creating them is a prerequisite for that."

"This would be a project, Harry, of an uncertain outcome, and with very restrictive safety rules. No" - McGonagall smiled - "let's call them precautions; rules have such a hard life with you."

And for ten more minutes, they discussed the possibilities of such a project, of course after Harry had described in some more detail which nasty traps had separated Sirius from freedom. And this was his Potions exam.

For Social Ethics, Binns opened the discussion with a question about ethical conflicts. This was all Harry needed - a minute later, the ghost was listening to an exciting story how far Goblins could go, for example with the money of a former customer, if higher priorities came into play.

Then Binns asked, "Mr Potter, how much of that is true?"

"Well - with respect to some people involved, I can only say it's entirely speculation. But reality has a tricky way - in a month or two, you might look out for a Rita Skeeter Award, mark my words, Prof."

And with that, his second and last traphole in his end-of-year exams was closed.

Of course, there were some more exams: with Lupin, Harry had a nice chat about Transfiguration, in which he promised to give it a try next year. With Snape, Harry had a discussion about when, and how, Voldemort would reveal the first traces of his new activities. Calling the conversation nice was certainly wrong, while otherwise the atmosphere couldn't have been better. The most strenuous exam - naturally so - consisted of a breathtaking performance with Kenzo, in which sennin and sensei went through Harry's complete repertoire of aikido and kenjutsu.

Best of all was Harry's Charms exam, a little contest. Student and teacher were apparating to a tree, across a distance of two hundred yards, with the goal to come as close as possible without banging into the tree, five tries for each of them.

Madam Hooch, chanceless, stopped the contest after the third jump.

Care of Magical Creatures marked Harry's last exam. Basically it was easy play, only that Grubbly-Plank had some strange remarks Harry couldn't place properly. For example, she mentioned that they might see each other more often in the future, probably at very interesting places, and how nice it was that Harry had mastered Apparition - this would simplify things considerably.

Then she recognized his puzzled look. "Oops - sorry, Mr Potter, I thought ... well, never mind - my mistake."

And this was the most mysterious remark, giving him a riddle without any clue how to solve it.

* * *

Whatever had been in Grubbly-Plank's mind, Harry forgot the scene quickly because now, with his exams done, he could concentrate on the other two issues. One was his burning desire to find out about Cho's plans, the other was the news about his Gringotts account.

With Cho, he would combine both topics in one conversation, had planned to do that at a pleasant evening, after reaching this particular place at the lake, maybe after some swimming, maybe before some other sports ... But of course, as soon as he was again master of his evening time, the weather brought a lot of rain, enough to stay inside.

Harry decided to break the news first to his own family, meaning Ron and Ginny. For that, he had to wait until their own exams were done, and until the weather was dry enough to sit outside, near Hagrid's grave - impossible the thought some other student might hear his words, or some shout of surprise from the native Weasleys.

"Okay, Harry," said Ron, "we had something to eat, we're here, and we can talk. It must be awfully mysterious that we have to do it here - it's not exactly winter, but I've been sitting warmer than this."

"Yeah ... I would have invited you for a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks, except - "

"Excellent idea! Let's go!"

"No - later, after we've ... I don't want anybody around, except you, that is."

Ginny watched him with astonishment. "Harry, what's up? I've never seen you so ..." She let her sentence trail off in a giggling, then continued, "With anybody else, I'd say he's scared, but this can't be the reason with you, can it?"

"Erm - well, not really, only ..."

Ginny exchanged a glance with Ron, then looked back at Harry. "Does it have to do with family?"

"Yes, in a way."

"Something with Cho?"

"Er - yes, with her too."

Ginny nodded. "I know what it is. You want to live with her, to move out of The Burrow - right?"

"Wha? ... Nonsense - yeah, sure, certainly in the future, but so far, I don't even know what she's planning. She doesn't tell me a word, unbelievable, really."

Ron, the assistant administrator, knew what to do. "Why don't you start where the story begins - whatever it is. I'm nearly dying of curiosity - I simply can't think of anything that would make you as embarrassed as that."

Ginny giggled. "That's true."

Harry sighed. "Okay, then ... Do you remember what I told you about this trap in Nassau, how I got an address from the Magical Tours manager and went there with Lupin, except we never reached that office? ... Well, the name of that guy's Crownshield, and from Voldemort I heard that this Crownshield is somehow working for him, or did so in the past. And he must have been the one who sent this mole wizard, this Graham Millar, to Mr Chang. And of course, Mr Chang was trying to find out who did this to him - to his family."

Ron asked, "This Millar - what happened to him?"

"Don't ask me - and don't ask Mr Chang, if you know what I mean."

"Aah - yes, okay."

"So with this Crownshield, I thought before paying him a visit, it's better to find out - I mean, to synchronize with Mr Chang. So I went to the Changs and told him about that man. And it was exactly as I expected - he said I should leave that to him."

Ron nodded. "And now he's dead - er, I mean, he was sent to find Mr Millar."

"No, not at all."

"And that's your problem? Then - " Ron stopped just in time, however too late for avoiding a reproachful glance from Ginny.

Harry could grin. "No, that's not my problem. Mr Chang found another method to settle the issue, and he's quite happy about that. He had a lot of fun when I met him the other day."

Ginny, receiver of five hundred galleons almost a year ago, hadn't forgotten this kind of alternative. "He got some compensation, right?"

"Er - yes."

"Some money."

An interview was a good method of confession. "Yes."

"After a nice conversation that this little misunderstanding was certainly by accident, and before bad would come to worse, it might be reasonable, and just a sign of goodwill, and so on, and so on."

"Yes - except it was a letter."

Ron looked uncomprehending. "Great. Fine. Excellent - and what's wrong with that?"

"Mr Chang didn't want that money."

Ginny was again quicker. "So he gave it to you."

"Yes."

Seeing Harry's expression, Ron had a guess. "Under a condition."

"No - none whatsoever. The name Chang doesn't appear in that transaction - remember when I got that letter from Gringotts? That was when I heard about it - Mr Chang confirmed only afterwards."

Ron was at a loss to find another reason for Harry's unhappy face, but Ginny had an idea. "How much, Harry?"

When Harry swallowed, unable to answer, she asked, "Fifty thousand?"

Harry shook his head. "More."

"Hundred."

"More."

Ron's eyes were widening. "Two hundred."

Slowly, Harry's head went from side to side.

"Two hundred-and-fifty?"

His voice choked, Harry said, "Half a million ... I saw it, in a new vault: bags and bags and bags, there was no end. And Mr Moroney says, the interest per year is twenty-thousand at the minimum."

Now Ron and Ginny were swallowing.

"I just didn't know how to come and tell you. Cho doesn't know yet. Can you tell me what to do with so much money?"

Ron found his voice. "Sure."

"Okay - I'm listening."

Ron opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again. "No - I can't."

Harry looked at Ginny. "And you?"

"No."

Ron said, "Give me a day or so, I'm sure I can think of a method how to - "

Harry laughed. "You'll be surprised! For example - my first idea was to buy Firebolts Two for the rest of the team. Next moment, I remembered how Draco's father did exactly the same for the Slytherins - and the remarks about that."

For an instant, there had been a sparkling in Ron's eyes. Now he looked miserable. "Yeah ... Little by little, I see the problem."

"Then I thought about a new family car. That's still my idea - I hope you can tell me how to do it." Harry looked at Ron. "We lost the old one together - shouldn't be a question, should it? But can you imagine yourself - you come home, it's suppertime, and you say, 'By the way, Dad, see that car under the tree? That's your's - if you find some time, please make it fly'."

Ginny protested. "But it can't be that difficult - the idea is good, just go and do it!"

Harry grinned. "Not difficult, huh? Ginny, do you want ten-thousand galleons?"

She laughed, but stopped quickly. "I see what you mean. No, thanks."

"Twenty? ... Fifty?"

Ginny's head was shaking. "Stop it!" Then she blushed. "Although - for thousand, I wouldn't say no."

Harry nodded. "Yes, of course. Now you see my problem. I'd guess - if I say please, you and Ron will both accept five thousand - each year, mind you. Together, that's about a quarter of the interest Mr Moroney expects to manage."

Ron grinned wryly. "C'mon, let's have a butterbeer. Suddenly, my mouth is so dry."

* * *

After this conversation, Harry felt better. In the butterbeer conference that followed, both Ron and Ginny accepted the five grand per year, and promised to talk with Harry if they knew something reasonable that could be achieved simply by paying some money - whether for themselves or for their parents. Now Harry's mind was free to concentrate on a meeting with Cho.

But, strangely, inexplicably, he failed time and again.

When he talked with her at the Ravenclaw table, Cho refused to discuss matters as important as their future - not here in public, she said. When he tried to arrange a meeting - a date, so to speak, she side-stepped his attempt with references to her own exams, to final activities, with the mysterious explanation that end-of-school required more conferences than end-of-year.

Harry could have accepted the explanation, if not for an obvious difference. Almyra, about to finish school together with Cho, had lots of time in the evenings, while any attempt to find Cho for an unplanned conversation failed miserably.

Someone else asked him for a short conversation in her office - Fleur.

Harry agreed, and promised to meet there in a few minutes. Not knowing exactly why, he fetched Nagini before walking to the office, raising a surprised look from Fleur.

"I was trying to talk with you and Cho together," she said, "but currently it's impossible to find her. Why did you come with your snake?"

"I'm not sure. When you asked me, it was something ..."

Fleur's cheeks turned a bit pinkish.

Nagini hissed - and what she said made Harry's eyes widen, then beam.

"Hey, Fleur, super - and so fast. Congratulations!"

The pink colour deepened. "Wha? ... 'arry, it's awful to spy out other people that way! I had prepared a nice speech, and then you come with your snake, and of course she's spoiling the surprise first thing."

Harry grinned. "Sorry. At least, I guess I know what made me come with her. My haragei isn't quite as accurate as her senses, but something was different in your wa. And now it's clear - it's no longer yours alone, there's another one growing. Great, Fleur, really."

"Er - yes, that's one of the things I wanted to tell you. And that's why I'm going to leave Hogwarts. Dumbledore knows - I promised him to find another dance teacher."

"Well - that's no longer my concern. Without Cho ..."

"Of course. But then you're the perfect candidate for an assistant - I mean, if the new teacher is a woman, but for me there's little doubt."

Harry grinned. "It depends - first I have to see her."

Fleur looked indignant. "Don't you trust my taste?"

"Basically I do. Still - it might turn out a balance of priorities, if you get my bearing."

"I guess I do, but anyway, this won't be my problem then." Fleur hesitated. "Around the end of the year, 'arry, we'll need a godfather. Bill and I were discussing it, and we both agree upon our first candidate for that task - guess whom?"

Harry smiled. "I feel honoured - but think again."

Now Fleur looked disappointed. "Why? We hoped you'd say yes; to be honest, we were sure about that."

"Wait a second! I didn't say no, why should I? I'd like to do it, but you should consider another candidate first. If you insist - "

"Whom?"

As always, people didn't see the obvious. "A Goblin of course! Maybe Wynor the Whistler, I don't know."

"Why? Because he's richer than you?"

Harry hadn't known that Bill's best man could be called rich, felt no surprise either, while he grabbed at once the opportunity in this topic.

"No," he said, "that's pretty unlikely, a few days ago, I got some money, quite a lot, to be honest. No, I was thinking of your promise to raise your children in the spirit of different races - in this sense, a Goblin beats me any time."

Fleur nodded. "Yes, you're right, and of course we were thinking about that. Only we'd like you better - I mean, if you were a Goblin, it'd be perfect."

An interesting thought, although Harry preferred himself just the way he was. He said, "Tell you what - think it over, and if you insist, then it'll be as I said - I'll be honoured."

Fleur smiled archly. "Say, don't you count as good as a Goblin, with that bond of yours?"

"Good thinking, Fleur." Without returning the smile, Harry said, "Whatever's your decision, you'll never hear a reproach from them, that's why you have to be so careful with Goblins. At any rate, with a Goblin godfather, that child's future is settled - definitely so."

Fleur looked at Nagini, then at Harry. "I was wondering ... 'arry - could you ask her whether she can recognize the sex?"

After a short exchange of hissing, Harry grinned. "It's exactly what to expect from a Veela - a girl, what else?"

And only now, Fleur found the time to ask him about his money, listened to his explanation, beamed when he told her the sum, and couldn't find anything wrong with that, or difficult - quite naturally so for someone raised in a large French castle.

* * *

Resuming his fruitless attempts to tell Cho some exciting news, Harry asked Almyra for a talk outside, near Hagrid's grave. Almyra accepted, although the weather was less than inviting. Having reached the place, Harry asked, "What's going on, Al?"

"Nothing specific ... As Cho said - she's preparing for the time after school."

Almyra knew more, no question. She wasn't supposed to tell him, no question either. So Harry could save his breath and Almyra's embarrassment. He nodded.

"Well, then ... What are you going to do afterwards?"

Almyra beamed. "I have a job."

This answer, together with her shining face, together with the signal from his haragei, gave him more information than Almyra might have intended, and Harry's mind was drawing conclusions rapidly. Her beaming - couldn't be the job alone, had to be a job near Remus. That meant, either Almyra's job was here in Hogwarts, or both together had found something else, somewhere far away - reason enough to press a bit harder.

"Will Remus still be a Hogwarts teacher, after vacation?"

Almyra blushed a bit. "You're too damn clever, Harry. If I told you more about my plans, it would reveal too much about Cho's - sorry, but you still have to wait."

Something in her answer told Harry - Remus would be found here when returning to Hogwarts. So the only possible conclusion left - Almyra had a job in Hogwarts. Of course, it might be something as boring as a liaison officer, but Harry didn't believe it for a second. Which meant, Almyra had a job as a teacher. For what?

There wasn't any position vacant, meaning some other teacher would retire. Of course - Fleur. Except that Harry couldn't imagine Almyra as a dance teacher. But when in doubt, ask.

"Al - how's your dancing skill?"

Almyra looked blank. "What can I say? You danced with me often enough, why don't you answer your own question?"

So she wasn't the replacement for Fleur. Suddenly, Harry remembered Grubbly-Plank's strange remarks. Was the witch going to retire? And if so, did it explain anything in this complex pattern of current states and future plannings?

Harry decided to ask no more in that direction; interrogating Almyra about Cho was simply unfair. But another issue was still open. "What are your plans for the vacation, Almyra?"

She blushed again. "Vacation? What makes you think this time counts as vacation for me?"

"Sorry - I didn't mean to squeeze you more. No - if, say, you'd be found in Jamaica, then maybe we could arrange a trip to Haiti. Did Hermione talk with you about that?"

Hermione hadn't, but her name was enough to tell Almyra this trip would be in search for werewolves, and she found the idea wonderful. "Of course together with Remus - who'll be better suited to find a werewolf than a werewolf?"

They agreed to talk with Hermione - together. They also agreed that Hermione wasn't necessarily required in Haiti, might even be counter-productive - getting a Haitian werewolf to join the test program wasn't simpler with someone as pushy as her.

* * *

What Harry would never have dreamed of became true - the end-of-year feast was starting, and he still didn't know what Cho was going to do, while Cho still didn't know about his new fortune.

It came as no surprise to him that the decorations were neutral. Even so, Harry felt more expectant to hear about changes in the Hogwarts staff than last-minute changes in the point scores of the four houses.

To his dismay, Dumbledore only mentioned "some changes, the details of which cannot be announced before the beginning of the new year, since not all of them are settled yet." Then the Headmaster addressed the topic of the Hogwarts House Cup, currently held by Ravenclaw.

Without additional points, Ravenclaw would have won again, since they were in the lead with four hundred and thirty-six points, before Hufflepuff with four hundred and twenty-one. In contrast, the Slytherins, who had won school-internal contests for many years, scored only third with four hundred and seven. As so often, Gryffindor came last with three hundred and ninety-nine. Still, the four houses were closer together than ever before.

Dumbledore first awarded several projects and graduate works. A Slytherin got fifty, two Hufflepuffs got fifty each for their projects, making Hufflepuff the current leader with five hundred and twenty-one. However, Harry had no doubt that the final contest was going to run between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

"Next - to Miss Hermione Granger, for her project about the Wolfsbane Potion, I award twenty points - it will be more once this project is showing results, so this is an encouragement rather than a reward."

Hermione was happy even with that, while for the Gryffindor score, this added just some make-up to move them over the four hundred points line.

"Next - to Miss Almyra Benedict, for her Werewolf Mastery project, which has been completed successfully and which will change the fate of many people suffering from that illness, I award hundred points!"

Roaring applause, a beaming Almyra, and Ravenclaw had climbed the top again, Hufflepuff now fifteen points behind, both of them far ahead of Gryffindor.

The Headmaster smiled. "So far the points for performances which really have to do with wizarding skills as taught in Hogwarts. However, as in the previous year, there were quite some events outside our school which have to be rewarded nonetheless - because Hogwarts students were involved and because they provided services for the entire wizarding community. And please" - the Headmaster grinned - "forgive me if I can't reveal all details."

This would be the real contest - between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

"For a daring task, which solved the mystery of the disappearing owls and ended this terrible state, I award fifty points each to the students Almyra Benedict, Cho Chang, and Harry Potter."

While the others applauded, Harry was groaning. Ravenclaw had extended its lead and was now hundred and sixty-seven points ahead.

"For a similar task, in which an assault against the wizard prison was defeated, I award fifty points each to the students Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."

Better. Ravenclaw leading by sixty-nine points, and Harry felt confident the action at Plana Cays would yield that much.

"For a very special task, in which key information about a murder and a kidnapping was gathered, I award fifty points each to the students Almyra Benedict and Harry Potter."

Of course, the Warrington interrogation. Harry was surprised that Dumbledore counted this separately - at any rate, it changed nothing between the two houses.

"For his brilliant performance in the rescuing of the Law Enforcement Squad leader from his kidnapper Voldemort, I award Mr Harry Potter fifty points."

Applause, and faces filled with consternation. Only fifty? It left Ravenclaw ahead by seventeen points, while a year before, Almyra had received seventy-five points for her part in rescuing Lupin.

Still, Harry didn't feel cheated. Yes, a little disappointment, however negligible, considering some faces around him. Dumbledore had awarded him two hundred points, exactly as much as Almyra, and this was a very pleasing thought. And Almyra's task a year before - Harry knew better than anyone else that his powers were inheritances from Voldemort, while Almyra had fought with nothing but her own skill - seen in this light, he could only agree with his Headmaster.

Well, yes, only they were seventeen points short ... Looking over to the Ravenclaw table, Harry could see many faces waiting expectantly for the decoration that would change any moment now.

"After all these events outside Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, "let me finish my list with two more performances which took place in our school, although not related to classes."

What was that? Something else, in Hogwarts but -

"For their splendid presentation of the Grass Dance during the Hogwarts Ball, I award twenty points each to the students Rahewa Lightfoot and Damon Harker."

Harry was applauding wildly, certainly louder than he really felt. Once more, this hadn't changed anything between the two houses.

"And for her fearless courage, demonstrated during an event at the same evening, I award Miss Rahewa Lightfoot another twenty points."

And now hell broke loose at the Gryffindor table, drowning the Headmaster's words, while the decoration changed to the scarlet and gold of the Gryffindor colours. Seven hundred and nine versus seven hundred and six - far below last year's record, but they had beaten Ravenclaw by three points!

Harry saw Cho coming over and expected to receive her congratulations, but she only grinned at him and walked farther down the table, pushing aside some other students who blocked her path toward a girl whose eyes were shining in dark fire. Cho said, "You've thrashed our victory in the last instant, which is some boldness, really, although I remember something similar just a few days ago ..."

The other students stared at Cho, who was grinning into Rahewa's face, a face which hadn't moved yet at these words.

"... but you've won these points for protecting Harry, and that's why you deserve them, and the winning. I'm proud of you."

Harry watched as one black-haired girl was hugging the other, receiving another applause from the surrounding Gryffindors. A moment later, the older of the two girls came to him, and now it was his turn to be hugged.

He held her. "Thank you. Although - a house cup is nice, but I'd like to discuss a few things with you that are more important. For quite a while already, I'm trying - "

Cho smiled. "Fine with me - it's all settled now, so we can talk. If you invite us to the Gryffindor party ... Don't worry, with all those students celebrating the house cup around us, there's enough privacy."

She was right. They found a corner, were talking mostly mouth to ear, which was only natural in the deafening noise around them.

"I met Fleur," Harry started. "She's pregnant, that's why she's going to drop her job here and go to Paris. Nagini found out before she could tell me - and the gender, too. A girl."

Cho grinned. "Quick work - and another Hogwarts teacher to be replaced."

"You mean Grubbly-Plank?"

Cho gasped. "Damn, Harry - how did you know?"

"I don't know anything, she only made some remark. What does it have to do with you, or your plans?"

"Everything." Cho beamed. "Grubbly-Plank and Hooch and I - we're going to start a company for spector movies."

After a moment of speechlessness, Harry nodded. "Ron says it's the business of the future."

"He isn't the only one. Harry, it was you who gave me the idea, with your wedding present for Fleur and Bill. I'm no technical expert, in contrast to Jesamine and Sylvie, but I know about business, and about money - in contrast to them. We're the perfect team."

Money was Harry's keyword, and he tried to deliver his own news, but there was no stopping Cho at this moment. She blurted, "We already have a name for that company - Groucho Spectrals Limited, isn't it a magnificent title?"

"Grudgo??"

"No, Groucho. It's the first name of a famous comedy actor - Groucho Marx. We came across this name when we tried to find something in which our names are all reflected - Grubbly-Plank at the beginning, mine at the end, and Hooch somehow in the middle." Cho looked sympathetic. "We'll have to travel a lot, which means the two of us won't see each other very often in the next months."

"Once you've learned to apparate - "

"Yes, yes, I know I'm late with that, and I'll do my best to finish it as quickly as possible. But more important for us is now to talk with people, to find contracts, and investors - "

His second chance, and Harry went for it. "Investors - for what in particular?"

Cho looked impatient. "Everything - projects, equipment, staff. Together we can muster about thirty grand. Just the equipment we have in mind is more expensive than that."

"How much do you need upfront?"

For a split second, Cho's glance was that of a businesswoman toward a schoolboy. "About hundred, meaning we're seventy short. The possible profits are gigantic, but - "

"It's venture capital, no matter how to look at it, right?"

The businesswoman looked perplexed. "Hey - since when do you know about investment and financing?"

Harry did something he didn't do often toward Cho - he looked challenging. "I've hidden qualities ... Assume I find an investor for you - how far would you go for that?"

She eyed him suspiciously. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, I've heard a bit about movie business. According to what I've heard, there are a lot of bedroom contracts. And just by coincidence, I know about an investor who'd be very interested to spend a night with you."

For a moment, Cho was speechless. Then she snapped, "You can't be serious!"

Harry tried to keep his expression, only next instant he was lost - laughed, laughed, laughed more when he saw Cho furious, stomping her feet, shaking him. "You damn fool! What do you think this is - a game?"

His chuckling faded. With the most solemn face he could muster, he said, "Miss Chang - if we could find a bedroom, I'd be able to make a very interesting offer."

"Stop joking! Your - " Cho stopped herself, watching his face, which of course was spreading in a new grin. "You've got some money!"

"Yes, ma-am."

"From whom? Magical Tours?"

"The answer is no - assuming the last question is the one to be answered - "

She was nearly strangling him. "FROM WHOM?"

"From your father."

Rarely having been as close to a beating as now, he hastened to explain. "But it wasn't his money - he made Crownshield pay a compensation, rather than - er, you know what."

Cho's fury was gone. She beamed. "Brilliant - that's my Dad, oh yes!" And then she remembered Harry's suggestion, suddenly considering the idea from a totally different perspective. "How much, Harry? What do I get for a night with you?"

"Which answer first this time?"

"Drop the second one - how much did he make him pay?"

"Five hundred grand."

Her eyes widening, Cho whistled. Then beamed. Then was up. "All right - let's go."

"Now? Where to?"

"How can one be so rich and stupid at the same time? To find a bedroom, of course."

* * *

The Entrance Hall was full of students and luggage, waiting for a cart to the Hogwarts Express platform, or for the service van of the Hogsmeade linkport. The latter was true for Katie and Alica, to whom Harry had already said goodbye, receiving hugs, seeing some eyes blink rapidly. The former was true for Rahewa, who looked up as Harry reached her and asked, "Can we have a short talk outside?"

She nodded, stood up, and followed him.

What he had in mind was a last and desperate attempt to do the impossible. He saw little chances, but then, you never knew. "Rahewa," he began, "do you remember what I told you about the Triwizard Tournament?"

"Sure."

"The price I won - I didn't want that money, so I gave it to the Weasley twins, for starting their business in the Diagon Alley."

Rahewa kept silent.

"And now they paid back, and I have the same problem again. I'm trying to find someone who's ready to take it, and I thought you'd be the right one."

"No." Flatly.

"I wasn't necessarily thinking of a present. Maybe as a scholarship - once you're finished with Hogwarts ..."

Rahewa tried to stare reproachful at him, but failed. "That's nonsense, Harry - I just happen to know that the twins are re-investing every sickle into their business, and that money wasn't a loan. Shame on you, to tell me such lies" - Rahewa pointed at Nagini - "and on that snake, not hissing because the lies are yours."

Harry was dumbstruck. "How did you know?"

"From Ginny. Have a nice vacation time."

And she turned to walk back into the building. Too embarrassed to follow, Harry watched her reaching the stairs, nodding to someone else coming out. This someone quickly gained the shape of Cho, who reached him, grinning.

"Let me guess, Harry - you tried to feed some money into Rahewa, only she stopped you cold and hard - am I right?"

He felt baffled. "Did she tell you?"

"No - but I saw something in her face." Cho had fun, watching him. "You know - especially since I know about that fortune of yours, for me it was never a question if you would try - only when."

Harry nodded sadly. "It's ridiculous how much money I have, while for her - I know how it feels, from Ron and from myself ..."

Cho was grinning madly.

"It's not funny! Poor and proud together - "

"That's the stone to carve heroes, I know." Cho laughed into his face.

"Damn! Your parents are too rich - "

"Hey - stop it!" Cho came closer. "Remember - I know well how it is; my father made his fortune after coming to England. Aside from that, I wouldn't worry too much."

"What do you mean?"

"First - Rahewa has something to play with, because the two of us switched our Firebolts. For me it makes no difference any longer, while for her - now that her broomstick's state of the art, I want to see the Seeker who's going to beat her."

Harry smiled, and kissed her. "That's very kind of you. But - "

"Wait, wait. Before you think too good of me - it's not as unselfish as it looks." Cho grinned diabolically. "It saves money - yours of course, and you know what I mean. But what's more important, for the next years, people will say, 'That's Rahewa - the Seeker who's been beaten last by Cho Chang'."

Harry laughed. "Tricky Cho! Very good, but even so - it makes Rahewa a poor girl with an expensive broomstick."

"I said, 'Wait,' but of course, you can't. So for the sake of your mind - I already signed a contract with Rahewa, that she and the others will do their Grass Dance for one of our first recordings - a piece for entertainment, and for do-it-yourself dance teaching - "

"What - and you didn't ask me?"

A businesswoman stared at Harry, quite challenging. "What for? We'll do it in real prairie grass, of course."

"Ah, yes, of course. And to hell with copyright, huh?"

"Copyright? Don't tell me about copyright - because that was my second deal with her, so rest assured, Rahewa has some money to spend in vacation."

"And for what?"

Cho looked malicious. "For the Hogwarts Quidditch Cup Final - that'll be our very first movie. I settled already with all Ravenclaw players, and with most of the Gryffindors, to buy the rights."

"You didn't buy mine yet."

"How right you are - you're the only one missing," grinned Cho, "after I told all the others not to say a word to you."

"Aha! Well then, what's your offer?"

"Oh - I'm not offering money; would be nonsense, wouldn't it?"

"Then what else?"

She smiled archly. "I guess we'll find something."