Late June, southern Germany. A quiet forest.
Skoll and Moody were walking through the woods. Overhead, thick foliage blocked out nearly all sunlight. When they reached a massive oak tree, so large it would take three people to wrap their arms around it, Skoll spoke.
"Moody, wait here. Just stay put."
Moody's magical eye spun restlessly as he adjusted the basket in his hand and gave a nod.
Skoll walked a few paces farther, weaving past a few unremarkable trees, until a small wooden cabin suddenly appeared among the greenery.
He stepped forward and knocked.
It took quite a while before the door creaked open. A scrawny goblin answered. He looked far less grumpy than the last time Skoll had seen him, at least he didn't start yelling right away.
Still, his tone wasn't exactly friendly. "What took you so long? Any later, I'd have thought you bailed like that old geezer. I was about to move, "
"Sorry, Mr. Aigudo," Skoll said politely. "I was held up by something."
Aigudo waved him off. "Save the excuses." He turned, grabbed four sets of armor, and shoved them into Skoll's arms. "Four sets. It took more work than expected. Add 20,000 Galleons. These can block anything up to Unforgivable Curses, and even dampen those a bit. But don't get any ideas about testing that theory with the Killing Curse. That depends on who casts it... And if you get hit somewhere unprotected, don't come blaming the armor."
"Understood," Skoll replied.
Aigudo held out his hand. "Money. Now get lost."
Skoll took off the backpack on his back, pulled out parchment and a quill, and wrote a bearer withdrawal slip from Gringotts, for 30,000 Galleons.
Aigudo snatched the check, glanced at it, then gave Skoll a suspicious look. "What's this? What are you playing at?"
Skoll pulled out a small wooden cask and offered it respectfully with both hands. "Mr. Aigudo, I'd like to propose a business collaboration."
"Collaboration? Hah!" Aigudo scoffed but still took the cask. "You wand-wielders and your, "
As he pulled out the cork, a rich aroma of alcohol flooded the cabin.
He fell silent, his brows knitting as he took a deep sniff, then another. Skoll quickly offered him a glass.
Aigudo snatched the glass, and Skoll filled it halfway with the clear liquid from the cask.
"What is this? Booze?" For the first time, Aigudo sounded uncertain. He sniffed it again. "Clear… but not vodka." He took a cautious sip. "Never tasted anything like it."
He smacked his lips and barked, "Hey, kid! What is this stuff?"
"Baijiu," Skoll replied. "From the Far East."
"Baijiu?" Aigudo swirled the glass. "Strong finish."
"There's a saying: 'Share a glass of baijiu, make a new friend.' I'd like to be your friend, Mr. Aigudo, and discuss working together."
"Hmph!" Aigudo snorted. "You gave that money willingly, call it a conversation fee! I'm keeping the booze, but don't think you can buy me off. Now scram!"
BANG, the door slammed shut, nearly hitting Skoll in the face.
He took a step back, touched his nose, and smiled faintly. Then he turned and walked back to where Moody was waiting.
"Moody, hand me the basket."
Carrying the basket back to the cabin, Skoll set it down at the door and knocked again. Before any angry voice could erupt from inside, he raised his voice.
"Mr. Aigudo, I'm not here to discuss business. I just have one favor to ask, something only you can do. Thank you. I'll be on my way."
As soon as Skoll disappeared into the woods, the cabin door creaked open again. Aigudo frowned down at the basket, covered in a blue cloth. On top was a sheet of parchment, filled with writing.
He picked it up.
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To Mr. Aigudo:
Hello. Inside this basket is a young goblin infant, just recently born. His parents were killed during the attack on Gringotts in London. The Order of the Phoenix managed to rescue him, but we have no safe place to care for him. We hope you might take him in.
Enclosed is a 10,000 Galleon bearer check to support his upbringing. His name is Teddy. Thank you, for everything you've done, and everything that's happened.
If you need anything, help going into hiding, relocating, acquiring rare materials, or even more good alcohol, you can send a letter by owl to the address below:
13 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 5th arrondissement, Paris, France.
Please mark the envelope with your name and return address. I'll contact you as soon as I can.
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Aigudo snorted with an unreadable expression and pulled back the blue cloth. Inside, a tiny goblin baby was sleeping soundly, sucking his thumb. Beside him lay the 10,000-Galleon check.
Aigudo picked up the slip, then BANG!, slammed the door shut.
The noise startled the baby, who immediately began crying at the top of his lungs.
Moments later, the door swung open again. Aigudo looked around with a scowl. "Trouble!" he muttered and carried the basket inside. SLAM!, the door shut again.
Hiding behind a large tree, Skoll grinned, then turned and walked back toward Moody.
"All done," he said. "Let's head back."
"Went well?" Moody asked in his gruff voice.
"Well enough."
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As July rolled on, the patch of wild grass in the center of Grimmauld Place grew taller under the summer sun. House Number 12 remained unnoticed by the neighboring Muggles, who had long since accepted the oddity of Number 11 standing right beside Number 13.
A summer thunderstorm rolled in and out quickly. That evening, the sun broke through the clouds, casting the sky in vivid orange against the remaining dark clouds.
Anne appeared on the top step of Number 12, freshly Apparated in, soaked through. She wore no gray robes today, just a simple checkered shirt, cropped jeans, and canvas shoes. On her back, a black guitar case. Her black hair was no longer short, tied up now in a small ponytail.
From a hidden pocket in her guitar case, Anne pulled out her wand and tapped the lock. With a soft click, the door swung open and she stepped inside.
Just as she shut the front door and removed her mask, Hermione appeared with a dry towel in hand. She handed it to Anne and took the guitar case from her in exchange. Anne pulled off her glasses, wiped her face, then, smack!, planted a light kiss on Hermione's cheek.
Grinning, she darted off upstairs in the slippers left in the entryway.
Hermione laughed and followed her up, carrying the guitar case.
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After a shower, Anne came out in a simple white T-shirt and black cropped pants. Hermione was going through papers and letters from the guitar case.
Anne wrapped her arms around Hermione from behind and peered over her shoulder. Hermione was holding a magical photograph of her parents waving happily in front of a Gothic church.
"Wow, that's Sacred Heart Cathedral," Anne said. "Li Qing took them sightseeing. Not bad. I've been there, it's a nice area with lots of old architecture."
"They said they had a great time," Hermione smiled, waving a letter.
"That's wonderful," Anne said. "You should call them tonight to say you got their letter. Muggle mail's safe, but slow."
"Mhm..." Hermione nodded, then turned to pull Anne into a kiss.
"Hey, Hermione, I wanted to ask, "
A voice called from the stairs.
Hermione quickly pulled away, ears red. Anne raised an eyebrow in annoyance and looked over.
Harry stood there holding a map, looking awkward. It wasn't the first time he'd walked in on them, but this was clearly a new level of intrusion.
He stepped back a little. "I, I can come back later, "
"No need," Hermione said, grabbing Anne's hand.
"Go ahead," Anne added. "We've got a few letters for you too. Where's Ron? Call him down."
Ron soon arrived, yawning, and dropped onto the sofa. Harry had already started asking questions.
Anne narrowed her eyes and turned to Ron. "What were you up to last night?"
"Nothing," Ron said quickly. "Just didn't sleep well." He waved a parchment. "Spent the morning memorizing the schedule. Overslept in the afternoon."
Anne squinted at him, then shifted her focus to the maps and parchment on the table.
"The Ministry's gone into lockdown. Only senior staff can use the Floo Network. Everyone else has to walk in. It's going to get worse from here. We need to move fast."
Harry frowned. Hermione bit her lip in thought. Ron stared at the table, eyes vacant.
Anne noticed and frowned. She started to say something, but changed her mind.
"There's more," she added, pulling out a Daily Prophet from the guitar case. "Hogwarts is reopening early."
"What?!" the three of them exclaimed. Harry and Hermione stood up.
The front page showed a man with a hooked nose and greasy black hair, scowling at the camera. The headline read:
Severus Snape Appointed Headmaster of Hogwarts
"No way!" Harry and Hermione shouted in unison.
Hermione snatched the paper and read aloud:
"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has announced, under Ministry and Board of Governors approval, that the academic year will begin on August 1. Professor Severus Snape, longtime Potions Master, has been appointed Headmaster. Other staffing changes include the resignation of the former Muggle Studies teacher, replaced by Alecto Carrow. Her brother, Amycus, will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"'Preserving magical traditions and values', what, by murdering and cutting off ears?" Hermione shrieked. "Snape, headmaster?! Snape, sitting in Dumbledore's chair, Merlin's pants!"
She bolted up the stairs, yelling, "Be right back!"
"Merlin's pants?" Anne chuckled, rubbing her chin. "That's a new one."
"This is it!" Harry growled. "Hogwarts is completely theirs now. The Carrows are Death Eaters, Muggle Studies? Studying how to kill Muggles?"
"Will the other teachers tolerate this?" Ron asked.
"What choice do they have?" Harry snapped. "Stay and protect the students, or get sent to Azkaban, if they're lucky."
A shadow passed over Ron's face. "Oh."
"What's the Order doing?" Harry asked Anne.
"Nothing," Anne said plainly, glancing at Ron. "There's nothing they can do. Maintaining what little cover they have is hard enough."
Harry sighed and collapsed back into his seat.
Hermione came rushing back, breathless. Anne handed her a glass of water.
"I just remembered, Phineas Nigellus, the portrait in Harry's room."
"What about it?" Ron asked.
Harry and Anne understood immediately.
"Snape can use him to spy on us," Hermione explained. "But it's too late, he'll only see the dust in the attic now."
Anne gave her a proud smile.
"Anything else?" Hermione asked Anne.
"Nothing urgent," Anne said. "Can we go eat? I'm starving."
"Alright, let's eat."
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At dinner, Anne, Harry, and Hermione did most of the talking. Ron chimed in occasionally, but it was clear something was off.
This continued for days. Harry and Hermione both noticed, but Ron shrugged off their concern.
Then, the night before Harry's birthday, Anne knocked on his bedroom door.
Ron had moved to the fourth floor days ago.
Harry, still awake, opened the door, and looked surprised.
"What? Shocked?" Anne teased. "Expecting Ron instead?"
"Yes," Harry admitted honestly.
Anne smiled, raising the canned beers in her hand. "Want to talk?"