Harry Potter and the Staff of Merlin

HARRY POTTER AND THE STAFF OF MERLIN

PART 7

Back in the hospital wing, Sean Granger was just waking up. The first thing he saw was a gigantic man with a huge beard standing over him. Letting out a quick yelp, he tried to get up and run away but was restrained by a huge hand.

"Just 'old on there, little buddy. You ain't supposed to be getting up out off bed. I'll go get Madame Pomfrey."

Lying back down, it took Sean a little while to figure out just where he was, and why he had a huge lump on his head. Apparently his scheme hadn't worked, as he was still surrounded by giants and weird people in long cloaks. Taking a deep breath, he lay back down on his pillow and tried to drift back to sleep.

Just then, the giant walked back in another women in a long black robe.

"Who the hell are you? Where the bloody hell is my little cousin? Where the fricken' hell am I?"

"I am Madame Pomfrey, the nurse here at Hogwarts. You will lay back down right now and drink this. It will take away your headache."

"What is it? Vodka?"

"Um, yes, it is. Why don't you drink it now and go back to sleep." Madame Pomfrey said this very slowly, raising an eyebrow at Sean. Sean drank it, then started yelling at her.

"You lying bastard, you said this vodka! What the hell did you give me! Why I ought to float on pink elephants banana..." Sean drifted off to sleep.

Madame Pomfrey tutted about 'what kids are coming to these days', then left to go back to her work.

At the same time in another part of the castle, two more people were waking up. Harry and Hermione woke up at the same time from the same nightmare, both unaware that the other had the same one. Both stared at each other awkwardly for a minute, then Hermione spoke up.

"Sorry for falling asleep on you, Harry."

"That's okay." Both of them wanted to carefully avoid the subject of the dream, but Hermione couldn't put it out of her mind.

"How did you sleep Harry?"

"Fine," he replied, giving her a suspicious glance.

"You didn't have any dreams or anything?"

Harry turned away sheepishly. "No."

"Liar."

"WHAT?"

"Liar. You had another dream, didn't you?"

"Maybe you should mind your own business!" Harry was starting to get mad.

"Harry, there's no way you can make them stop unless you let other people help you!"

Harry looked down at his shoes, not saying anything, so Hermione continued.

"Let me tell you what my dream was about. There was a little boy, maybe ten years old; who was doing some yardwork. He was so tired that he passed out, then his uncle came out and dragged him inside, yelled at him, then beat the shit out of him! And you know who that little boy was? You! Now what the hell aren't you telling me!"

Harry didn't answer for a minute, then finally looked up at her and spoke up. "That's the exact same dream I had." He just sat there and stared at Hermione for a moment, not doing anything.

"Oh, Harry, you stupid bastard. Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"Who could I have told? I was ten years old! Ten! No friends, parents dead, who the hell was I going to tell!"

"But still Harry, it isn't right!"

"I would hope it's not right!" None of them anything for a while, just sitting there, staring into the fire. Finally, both of them fell asleep once again.

"BANZAI!"

A very excited and hyper looking Sean, who was wearing black wizard robes, blasted Harry and Hermione out of sleep.

"Wake up, you lazy sloth. Can you believe that they're letting me roam the castle all by my self!"

"What were they smoking?"

"Beats me! I found the kitchens, and these weird looking midgets that reminded me of Hermione attacked me and gave lots of food, and then I went down into this dungeon place and called some ugly guy with greasy hair an asshole because he yelled at me, and then..."

"Sean! Will you please shut up!"

"Oh, sorry Midget. I forgot that you were busy shagging poor ole' Harry over there."

"God Dammit Muff, I'm going to kill you!"

"Have to catch me first, which will be a challenge with those little midget legs you have!"

The next half-hour gave view to the scene of a very angry Hermione chasing a very hyper Sean, with a very scared Harry looking on.

"Get back here!"

"What's the matter, to slow to catch poor old Sean?"

"I swear to God Sean, when I catch you I'm gonna-"

"Swearing isn't good, Midget, what would your mommy think?"

"She's going to think that she's glad I killed you and rid the family of the evil cousin!"

"First degree murder, that's just what you need on your permanent record."

"How would they know about my permanent record?"

"They could check it?"

"No they couldn't, because some jackass, Sean, got drunk with some of his friends and burnt down my old school!"

"I know, that was fun!"

"Hey, Sean, do you know where Abu Dhabi is?"

"Why the hell should I know that?"

"Because that's where I'm gonna mail your head once I cut it off!"

"My, somebody is in a pissy mood today." Hermione flipped.

"That's IT! I give it up!" That said, she reached into her bag on the table and pulled out her wand. "Stupefy," she yelled, intending to just stop Sean. However, she chose a bad time to do it, as Sean attempted to jump over the couch as she said it, and he landed on his head.

"I think I killed him. Good."

Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore was arguing with Sirius and Remus up in his office.

"Albus, there is no way that we can even think about sending them out of the school, let alone out of the country!"

"Easy, Sirius. I agree that it may not be wise to send them to Murmansk, but in light of recent events what choice do we have."

Professor Lupin now spoke up. "We can't even begin to make assumptions as to what this is about. We don't know for certain that these people aren't Death Eaters. What if we get over there and get attacked?"

"These people have my complete confidence. As to the motive of the request, I do believe that all three of us are well aware of what that is, seeing as we have each received one."

"But Professor, we can't be sure. Hogwarts hasn't been involved in this since we personally withdrew eighteen years ago. The world is diplomatically no longer similar to what it was back then, and we can't even be sure that this organization still exists."

"True, Sirius, we can't be sure that this organization still exists, but we equally can't be sure that they no longer exist."

"Are we willing to take that chance with Harry and Hermione's lives?"

"What choice do we have, Sirius? Our resources are in disarray. There is no cooperation between the ministers, and if this continues we will have no chance to put a stop to this crises."

"Muggles are still on the lookout for you. If you tried to get through a muggle airport, then they would have you in no time. Besides, Remus is perfectly capable of looking after the two of them for a few days." Sirius grunted, but didn't say anything. "Good. Now that that's settled, you can leave tomorrow, Remus. I will have everything ready for you."

Back up in the Gryffindor common room, Harry and Hermione were kneeling over an unconscious Sean.

"What did you do Hermione?"

"All I did was stun him. It's not my fault that he happened to be in the air and happened to fall on his head."

"And who was the one issuing death threats to him right before they did that?"

"You better not be insinuating anything Harry, or you could be next!" Harry was hoping that she was only joking.

"Trust me Hermione, there is nothing I would enjoy less than incurring the wrath of the deadly female."

"You're asking for it Harry."

"No, please, spare this innocent little being, he has done nothing. I grovel at the majesty of your highness."

After having said that, he ducked out of the way of a blow from Hermione, then she leapt at him. Before he knew it, he was lying on his back with Hermione sitting on his stomach with a huge grin on her face.

"And you call yourself a Quidditch player."

Just then, Sirius came into the room closely followed by Professor Dumbledore and Professor Lupin.

"What the hell do you two think your doing? Harry, don't you remember anything that I talked to you about?"

Hermione jumped up off of him quickly and stood up, looking sheepish. Harry pulled himself off the floor massaging his aching stomach.

"Don't blame me for this one, Sirius. She's the crazed psycho that attacked me."

Hermione looked incredulous. "I have no clue what you're talking about. He just all of a sudden came at me, and I just had to protect myself. It was only self defense."

Sirius gave Harry a piercing glare. "Harry, it's bad enough that you go after a girl, but then you get beaten by her. That's absolutely horrible." Hermione looked over at Harry with a triumphant smile on her face.

"That's right, exactly how it happened."

Professor Dumbledore now spoke up. "This is all lovely, but I have some important news for you two. Both of you have been summoned to the Russian school of Magic in Murmansk for an important meeting. You will both leave tomorrow morning and take a muggle plane to Murmansk. You will be accompanied by Professor Lupin." He stopped a minute for this to sink in. Harry and Hermione were looking at him with confused looks.

"So what's this meeting going to be about?" Harry asked.

"We don't know. We just know that it is important."

"So we're going all the way to Russia to a school we've never heard of to a meeting about who knows what?"

"Yep."

"Cool."

"Now we must go back to Hermione's house and retrieve your materials. Both of you will be staying here for the rest of the holidays. Hermione's parents have already been notified, and we will bring home Sean as well. By the way, where is Sean."

"He's-" Harry started, but was elbowed in the stomach by Hermione.

"He's up in the dormitory sleeping. He was really tired," Hermione cut in.

"Well, I guess I'll have to take him back tomorrow. Come on, we should go."

As they were leaving, Harry whispered in Hermione's ear "Shouldn't we do something about Sean".

Hermione just gave him an evil smile and shook her head no.

They used floo powder to get to Hermione's house, but once they arrived there they were amazed by what they saw. Instead of the elegant setting of the living room, which they expected, they saw the burnt shell of a room that looked like it had been looted.

"I guess the Death Eaters didn't leave when we did," said a solemn Sirius.

"They better not have touched my Firebolt!" Harry raced up to his room and saw, much to his relief, that his trunk was untouched in the closet. His wand, Firebolt, and other schools things were untouched. He carried it back out into the hallway and handed it to Sirius, then went into Hermione's room to find her looking teary eyed at the wall. Somebody had written in big red letters 'MUDBLOODS WILL DIE'.

Harry walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't pay any attention to that, Hermione. It's just some Death Eaters that had nothing better to do. They can't hurt you."

"What kind of people would do this?"

"Hermione, it's okay. At least they didn't hurt you or anyone you care about."

Hermione looked relieved for a minute, but then got a look of terror on her face. Harry looked at her, confused.

"What is it?"

"Where's Crookshanks?"

Two hours later, they were all still looking for the elusive cat. They had checked the entire house and all of the grounds and everyone but Hermione was starting to get fed up with the hunt. However, nobody could convince Hermione to leave.

"Hermione, he's not anywhere on the grounds either. He probably just ran off to a friend's house when the Death Eaters came and is staying there," Sirius tried.

"Hermione, have you ever heard of a place called 'Kitty Heaven'? It's where all the great cats in the world go when then die. It's the best place in the world, there's fish and yarn and cat food and lots of other lady cats for Crookshanks to look at."

"Nice try, Professor Lupin, keep looking. My Crookshanks is to smart to be dead!"

"Ms. Granger, we do not have much more time. We must go now!"

"But Professor Dumbledore, what if my baby is still out here! We can't leave him!"

"I know Ms. Granger, but-"

Just then, a shout came from Harry across the yard.

"I found him, I found him!"

Everybody rushed over to him, to find him pointing up into a medium sized maple tree that had a very disgruntled looking Crookshanks sitting on a branch half way up the tree.

"Crooky Shanks, Crooky Shanks, come on down boy!" The cat didn't move, just looking at them disdainfully.

"Oh, the poor cat, he's so scared he doesn't even want to come down. One of you climb up and get him," she said, looking at the four of them.

"Harry," was the instant response of Sirius, Remus, and Professor Dumbledore.

"Oh no, there is no way that I'm going up that tree!"

However, five minutes later Harry was climbing the tree. After a few minutes he reached the branch and called out to Crookshanks, but the cat wouldn't budge. Cursing, he went closer and started out onto the branch. Crookshanks gave a dangerous hiss, and moved out farther onto the branch.

"Fricken' cat! Get over here!" This elicited no response from the cat, which still sat looking at him malignantly.

He moved farther out on to the branch, took his hands off, and got ready to grab the cat. Suddenly Crookshanks leapt at him with claws off. The claws dug into his face and stayed there as Harry fell off the limb and plummeted down to earth, landing hard on his back.

Hermione rushed over. "Oh, are you all right. I'm so sorry, he shouldn't have come after you like that. Are you okay?"

Harry looked up, gladdened that Hermione cared about him. But instead of seeing a concerned Hermione leaning over him he saw her over talking to Crookshanks.

"Fricken' cat!"

CHAPTER 8

"Professor, could you please drive like a normal person!"

Harry and Hermione were in a blue Ford Taurus currently being driven by Professor Lupin, who looked as if he hadn't driven in years.

"Sorry, but this transmission is just so jumpy I can't help it."

"Ya, sure, it has nothing to do with the fact that you're a horrible driver?"

"Would you rather be with Sirius," Remus asked. "He drives like a crazed maniac! I've never been in a car with him that's been going under fifty. And when he drives his motorcycle!" As he said this, he was looking back at Harry and Hermione in the back seat.

"Dog!" Remus had to swerve of the side of the road to avoid hitting a dog in the middle of the road.

"Dammit! What kind of moron would let their dog run wild through the streets?"

"Maybe the same kind of moron that would have a mailbox next to their driveway?"

"Okay, that's enough Harry. Who's going to win the Quidditch World Cup this year?"

Harry and Professor Lupin started talking about quidditch, and Hermione phased out at once. Being around Harry and Ron so much had trained her well. She started thinking about the trip that they would be on. All she really knew was that they were going to Murmansk for some kind of meeting at a Russian school of magic. She had the distinct feeling that there was something that Professor Dumbledore wasn't telling them, but she had kept her suspicions to herself. If Professor Dumbledore thought it was best that they were in the dark, then he was probably right.

What she didn't quite understand was why they had to go disguised as muggles. Sure, Voldemort was after them, but what else was new? She didn't see how it would be any different than just taking floo powder or teaching them how to apparate.

"Earth to Hermione, anyone home?"

"Shut up Harry, I was thinking. Something that you should try once in a while."

"Personally, I don't really see the point. Its really a lot more fun not thinking, and if I need something done then you're always around to think for me."

"It wouldn't hurt to try once in a while, although in your case it probably would. Its okay Harry, we smart people understand that you have a limited capacity and it hurts you to think."

"At least I can ride a broomstick."

"Is that really something to be proud of?"

"Um, yeah, I think. Is it?"

"Oh, Harry, you get so funny looking when you attempt to think."

Professor Lupin had to jump in. "Hermione, that's enough picking on Harry just because he's not as bright as the rest of us."

"Hey!"

"But Professor, it's so much fun. Not to mention easy."

"Stop it!"

"Now Hermione, just because Harry isn't quite normal-"

"Tree!" Remus swerved the car back onto the road just in time to narrowly miss a large oak, just missing a pickup. The driver flipped him off, bringing a "Go back to New Jersey" from Remus.

"First of all, I'm not stupid. Second, at least I can stay on the road when I drive." Harry was starting to look frustrated.

"Were sorry Harry, were only joking," said Remus. This made Harry feel better, although he thought he heard Hermione mumbling over in her seat.

"So, Professor, can you tell us why we're going over to Russia yet?"

"Sorry Harry, don't know myself. However, you must remember that you two are the premier students at Hogwarts right now, both powerful and smart, although Harry may lack the common sense of the normal human," Remus was completely turned around now, not watching the road. "They may want you to-"

"CAR!" screamed Hermione. Professor Lupin had been driving on the wrong side of the road, and had to go over into a ditch to avoid hitting a large eighteen wheeler.

"God Dammit! Freakin' muggles can't make a car that drives itself!" was Remus' only response to that as he slowly got out of the car. "I mean, gosh darnit. Silly muggles can't make a car that drives it self. Help me get it out."

After much exertion by Harry and Remus, they finally pushed the car out of the ditch and back onto the road.

"Now, Professor, the key to driving is usually to keep your eyes on the road."

"Be quiet."

******************************

Two of the scariest hours of Hermione's life later, all three were ready to board flight 214 of British Airlines. Harry and Professor Remus had never seen an airport before and were taking in the sights. Hermione, having been in airports rather frequently, stood laughing at their antics as they watched a 747 taking off.

When they boarded they found that Professor Dumbledore hadn't exactly gone all out in getting them tickets, as they were in a very crowded coach section. Harry sat next to the window, with Hermione on his left and Professor Lupin on the aisle.

"Hermione, are you sure that this thing is safe?"

"It's perfectly fine Harry. They say that you're more likely to get killed on your way to the airport then when flying."

"Maybe with Professor Lupin driving, but I mean normally."

"Harry, I've been on planes plenty of times and I'm still sitting here next to you, aren't I?"

"Yes, but still-" Harry gave a jump as the plane started. "What the hell was that!"

"That would be the plane's engine starting. Honestly Harry, calm down. What do you want me to do, hold your hand?"

"YES!" Harry grabbed her hand and started squeezing it really hard. "Hermione, I don't like this."

"Easy Harry, we're only taxiing onto the runway. Wait until we take off, then you can be scared."

The plane started slowly down the runway, then picked up speed. Harry was squeezing Hermione's hand so hard it hurt. As they took off, he gave up and buried his head in her sweatshirt, sweating profusely.

"Who would have thought, Harry Potter, scared of flying. Wait until everyone at Hogwarts here's about this."

Harry took his head out of Hermione's sweatshirt long enough to tell her to shut up, then went back in.

"Joking Harry! I won't tell anyone that you're deadly afraid of flying, even though it is very funny. Get your hand away from there!"

It didn't seem as if Harry heard this last part, because he was too busy running towards the bathroom at the back of the plane.

***************************

Half an hour later, Harry was still in the bathroom and Hermione was starting to get worried about him.

"Professor, can you go check on Harry? He's been in there for more than half an hour now."

"Fine, I'll be right back."

A few minutes later he came back shaking his head.

"He says that he's fine except for the fact that he's puking his guts out. And he say's that it's not funny."

Another fifteen minutes went by, and still Harry hadn't returned from the bathroom. Hermione finally gave up and decided to head back and check on him.

Knocking on the door, she received no answer.

"Harry, are you all right?"

"Just fine and dandy, thank you very much. Oh, I wish I hadn't eaten that slice of pizza right about now."

"That's disgusting."

"Well excuse me, I'm a little too sick of my ass to think of a good joke right now."

"Are you sure you're okay."

"NO! How many times are we going to establish this fact?"'

"Open the door!"

"No!"

"Open it!"

"Why?"

"Because I said so!"

"That's not a good reason!"

"Oh yes it is, because I'll beat you if you don't."

"No."

Hermione sighed, giving up. She waited a minute in silence, then looked around to make sure that nobody was watching her. Taking out her wand, she pointed it at the door and whispered "Alohomora". The door swung open, and she went in and closed it again before Harry had a chance to move. She found him sitting on the floor with his shirt off, drenched in sweat.

"Why are you sitting on the floor?"

"Do you have a better place to sit?"

"Maybe you should stand, ever think of that one, Einstein?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm NOT EXACTLY IN THE BEST OF HEALTH RIGHT NOW!"

"Sorrrrrrry!"

"I'm sorry Hermione, it's just that I feel like shit."

"Its okay. Why do you have your shirt off?"

"Because it's burning up in here! How the hell can you be wearing a sweatshirt?"

"It's freezing in here!"

"Liar."

"I'm not a-"

She didn't get to finish, because she was knocked up against the wall by a sudden jolt from the plane. There were two more in quick succession, and then the intercom came on.

"Sorry for the interruption, but we seem to have hit a touch of turbulence. Please fasten your seat belts and we should be through this in a minute. That is all."

The plane jerked again.

"WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!"

"Shut up Harry, this is normal!"

"Yea, I've heard that one before."

The plane shook violently, knocking Hermione over and on top of Harry.

"Hermione, get off me!"

"Why," she asked, looking a little hurt.

"BECAUSE I'M GONNA PUKE."

"Oh, you could have just said something." Hermione reluctantly got off him and turned the other way while Harry retched into the toilet.

The turbulence halted finally, and Hermione slowly pulled herself up. Harry fell back and lay on the floor of the small bathroom.

"Harry, get up. That can't be very sanitary."

"Does it really look like I care?"

"You should! You get a free vacation to Russia and if you want to spend it sick all the time, then go ahead, keep laying on the floor."

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm already sick."

"Do you have any clue how many germs are on that floor?"

"Do you have any clue how much I DON'T CARE!"

"Get up. NOW!"

"Fine, I'm getting up." Very slowly Harry pulled himself up, and, looking worse for wear, stood up and leaned against the wall.

"Now follow me out back to the seats."

*****************************

Five hours later, the plane set down gently in Murmansk, to the delight of Harry. They went through customs as quickly as possible, then picked up their luggage. Not really knowing what to do next, they stood near the terminal and waited. Finally, a large man wearing a suit came up to them.

"Remus, is that really you?"

"Banan, how are you doing, you old dog?"

"Besides this horrible weather, just fine. Stupid Russia has to have cold summers. How about you?"

"I'm great, working on a new project for the group. Here, I'd like you to meet two of my former students, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

"Nice to meet you. I used to work with your Professor in Aragon, banishing hags. Hey, did he tell you about that time that he got fired for missing a banshee, so he went back in that night and put a curse on all the dishes so that-"

"No, actually they don't know that one, Banan." Remus gave him a sharp look, which Banan returned with a smile.

"Anyway, Professor Rostov wants me to escort you directly to the castle, so we shouldn't wait long. What's this visit for, anyway? He wouldn't tell me."

"Professor Dumbledore wouldn't tell us anything either, although I think that he really didn't know either."

"Oh well. Sorry, but we're going to have to take a cab, had my license revoked. Can you believe that if you drive on the wrong side of the road they call it reckless driving?"

"I can't believe it. Of course, I wouldn't know because I'm such a good driver." Harry had to stifle a laugh, and Hermione kicked him.

"That's all right. On the way I can tell you some stories about Remus. Did you know that when Sirius came to visit us once, they got bored and jetted off to Granada and-"

"Oh look, there's the cab. Let's go. NOW!" Professor Lupin cut in.

It was a quick car ride, only about fifteen minutes away from the airport. They went out of the city and in to the immediate countryside. Finally, they stopped in front of what looked like a construction site, with no trespassing signs everywhere. To Hermione and Harry's amazement, when they walked through the gate the construction site disappeared. In its place was a large, slightly run down looking castle.

"There you have it, the Russian School of Magic at Murmansk. We have three schools in Russia because we're such a large country, the most of any country in the world. Even the American upstarts only have two schools. The castle was built in the seventh century, and is believed to predate any other by three hundred years. It has been a school since the thirteenth century, when Russian wizards uprooted from the Mongol offensive hid out in the far north and decided to start a school."

Harry and Hermione let all this information sink in as they walked up to the main doors, two large oak constructions with a picture of bear eating a moose.

"Our school symbol," explained Banan. "It shows the resilience of the Russian wizards, even under extreme conditions, along with our ability to fight back."

They were at the doors now and very slowly they opened, revealing a tall, very white wizard with long black hair flanked on either side by a wizard in red robes.

"Hello, I am Professor Rostov."