Chapter Twenty Six - Homeward

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. Me, I'm just a PR professional. I don't profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world. However, its her sandbox and she's left the gate unlatched so we can go in and play a bit. Which, I've done.

Chapter Twenty Six - Homeward

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Professor McGonagall had just set aside the last of her OWL Year students' submitted assignments and was thinking of moving on to the First Year assignments when her wards alerted her to her friend and colleague, Filius Flitwick, standing at her door.

She rose from her seat, walked over to the door and saw him standing there.

He had his small, shrunken crate she knew he carried his portable pensieve within under one arm, while he carried a bottle of Ogden's Finest in the other. He was also sporting a large grin.

"Filius?" she asked.

"I thought, tonight, I'd supply both the entertainment and the libations, dear Minerva," he said.

"This is about Mister Potter and Miss Greengrass being summoned by Albus again?"

With his grin widening even further, the small professor simply nodded.

With a grin of her own, something very few people ever see, she said, "Then, you'd best come in."

About half an hour later, she snatched her face out of the pensieve with a burst of laughter. Though he had lived the experience, it still made Professor Flitwick laugh along with her.

While Professor McGonagall was trying to calm herself down, the little professor was shakily trying to pour two glasses of Old Ogden's Finest into the glasses earlier provided by her. Neither cared that he'd managed to spill some onto the desk as he was pouring.

The two then sat back just after Professor Flitwick vanished the spilled mess. A glass in each's hand.

"Oh, Merlin!" said Professor McGonagall, still trying to stifle her laughter. "I don't know why Albus keeps trying. That boy has him on the back foot as soon as he steps into the room."

"And Miss Greengrass is now also taking an active part in keeping him there!" said Professor Flitwick.

"But, what was with the spectacles?" she asked.

"They're charmed," he replied. "I suspect they both know the Headmaster and Severus are Legilimencers and they're charmed to repel that sort of intrusion."

"Did you see the expression on Severus's face when Miss Greengrass made that comment about Albus's announcement?" she asked. "It looked like he couldn't have been prouder of her, one moment, and annoyed about it the next. The poor man was conflicted!"

Nodding, he replied, "But when they started into describing the various traps, I thought our beloved Headmaster was going to either faint or soil himself, or both."

"And then to mention the possibility of a betting pool among the students?" she asked. "I believe I shall be speaking with a matching pair of my young lions tomorrow. If there's anyone who'll know of it's existence or not, it's those two."

"You think he may have lied?" he asked.

"Certainly not," she said. "All he said was, 'I think there may be...', nothing more that that. He let Albus jump to his own conclusions."

"Still, it is concerning he was able to describe the traps in detail," he said. "That means the students know more than enough to be worrisome."

"Agreed," she replied with a small sigh. "I believe it's time Albus returned that little trinket back to it's rightful owner. It is clear it provides too great a risk to the students to be kept here any longer."

"I agree," he said. "Those traps need to be dismantled, post haste."

Not too long later Professor Flitwick had just finished packing away his pensieve and chuckling a little to himself when Professor McGonagall asked in a sweet, girly voice, "Dear professor, has some miscreant hit you with a Tickling Jinx?"

That set both of them off again.

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A week later, Harry was again summoned to the Headmaster's office. Again, he was accompanied by both Daphne and Professor Flitwick.

Just as with the last time they ascended the spiral staircase beyond the gargoyle, both pre-teens donned their spectacles. Professor Flitwick watched them with amusement. Harry just grinned and winked at him.

As they entered, Harry said, "Now, I'm not too fond of the decor, mind. After all, I'll have to put up with all the portraits of past Headmasters hanging on the walls..."

"Ah, Harry; Miss Greengrass;" interrupted Dumbledore. "Welcome."

Turning to look at Dumbledore, as they were walking towards him, Harry mock-exclaimed, "Albus! Fancy meeting you here! This is a pleasant surprise!" Turning to Snape, as always perched on a stool in the corner, "And Potions Master Snape. You're looking good, my man. Have you been exercising? It looks good on you."

Harry watched as Snape's expression passed through shock to anger to annoyance while he heard Professor Flitwick lightly snicker behind them.

Stepping up to the twin wooden chairs, Harry - who had been practicing quite a bit for these meetings - reconfigured them into a higher love seat, replete with the Crest of House Potter centred high in the velvet upholstery of the back rest. He was actually quite pleased with how it turned out.

"Now, Albus, I'm glad you're here," said Harry. "I've been looking forward to our little chat about the property of House Potter you've still not returned, you naughty man."

While guiding Daphne to a seat upon the loveseat he carefully glanced at Dumbledore and saw the look of shock on his face at the advanced transfiguration he'd performed. Taking seat himself, he said, "I must say, Albus, I've charged the goblins at Gringotts with immediately contacting me as my property is returned so we can put this horrid business behind us. And, yet..."

Harry immediately gazed upon Dumbledore, and gave a big dramatic sigh with a slight slow shake of his head. "I'm quite disappointed in you, Albus, that not one item has yet been returned." *Tsk, tsk, tsk* "Honestly! I thought better of you than this. I may not like you but I thought better of you than to find you resorting to common thievery."

Stuttering, the old man replied, "Now, Harry, there were a few items loaned to me by your father. Clearly, he wanted me to have those items..."

"And, after my father was killed," interrupted Harry, "It behooved you to immediately return those items. You have yet to do that. And my patience with you is wearing quite thin, on this matter."

"It - would help me if you were to make clear to me just which items I'm supposed to have borrowed..." the old man tried.

"All of them, Albus," said Harry; again, cutting him off.

"All property in your possession that rightfully belongs to House Potter, including all property you may have given to others for whatever reason in the meantime, is to be returned," Harry stated firmly. "I shall be generous and allow you until Christmas Day to carry out this small task."

"And if I am unable to determine what I hold that, as you put it, rightfully belongs to House Potter?" asked Dumbledore carefully.

"As you're a master Occlumens, I suggest you review your memories. From them I have confidence you will recall what you have. I do not wish to take steps to see you forced to return them, or have them taken from you," replied Harry matter-of-factly. "I've been more than generous with you in the time I'm giving you to comply, Albus."

With another attempt of his own disappointed grandfather look, Dumbledore said, "There are items your father gave to me for safekeeping, Harry. I believe your father would be disappointed with you if you continue with this behaviour towards me."

With his own disappointed sigh, Harry replied, "Alas, we will never know, as he is dead. And, as he is dead, his - loan - of items to you has ended. I may have been willing to continue to loan you certain items, Albus, if you hadn't dumped me on the doorstep of the Dursleys and actually placed me with my rightful guardians. However," he sighed, "I instead find myself actually hating you. So, why on earth would I even be willing to consider loaning you even so much as a bookmark of my personal property?"

"Come now, Headmaster," said Daphne, cutting in. "You know the law is on Harry's side here. There's no need for you to be so recalcitrant. It avails you nothing and will only see you in further difficulties with the goblins and the DMLE."

Instead of arguing further, Dumbledore gestured a wave-off motion towards them, while his mind was obviously on other matters, and quietly said, "Very well. Thank you. You may go."

"Why, thank you, Albus," said Harry. "I guess I can make use of this extra time I'm graciously providing you in writing the article for the Daily Prophet I foresee I may need post Christmas Day."

As he rose and offered his arm to Daphne, he said to her, "What do you think of the headline 'Headmaster Steals from Boy-Who-Lived', my love?"

"I think 'Dumbledore Steals from Hero of Magical Britain' sounds better, darling," replied Daphne.

With a bit of a shrug, Harry took her arm in his elbow and began to escort her from the room; calm as you please. Just before he passed through the door he said, "I look forward to our next meeting, Albus, when you'll be informing me you've finally dutifully returned my property. I'd hate to up our agreed upon timetable."

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"What was that about property belonging to House Potter?" asked Professor McGonagall.

As with the previous week, she found the Charms Master at her door with his pensieve and a bottle of Old Ogden's Finest. She had quickly ushered him inside.

"I believe Dumbledore may have in his possession items that he really shouldn't have," said the little professor carefully. "I noticed, once, that the pensieve he has bears the Potter Crest."

"Yes," she said. "James loaned it to him - Oh, of course. It should have been returned on James's death, and wasn't."

"Which makes me wonder what else the Headmaster has that should have been returned," he said. "Clearly, Mister Potter is well aware of at least some of what was - borrowed."

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Coming down the stairs from his dorm, Harry noticed a number of students clustered around the notice board.

'Clearly something new has arisen,' he thought to himself. "What's going on?" he asked in general.

One of the Second Years, Eddie Carmichael, turned about and said, "The notice requesting a list of all those staying in the castle over Christmas has just been posted. Personally, I much prefer to be home with family during this time."

"People actually want to stay here over Christmas?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, there's always a few," replied Carmichael. "Some people don't have the best home life, you know?" He immediately blushed and looked down. "Sorry, Potter," he muttered.

"That's quite alright, Mister Carmichael," replied Harry. "I, at least, have a new home to go to now. That part of my life is done with."

No one, now, was unaware of Harry's life with the Dursleys. Everyone knew what he meant by 'that'.

"Soooo, where are you planning on staying?" the Second Year asked, hoping to quickly change the subject.

"I'll be spending some time at Greengrass Estate with Miss Greengrass and her family," he replied. "But I also want to be staying, or visiting, with a few other people dear to my family for short periods of time.

"Then, there's also a bit of family business I need to take care of at Gringotts that I cannot put off, so I'll probably stay that night at my Mum's old place. It's pretty much up in the air, at the moment."

"Well, don't forget there's Christmas shopping to get out of the way," the boy said. "What is it? Only two weeks until the Hogwarts Express. And then, only one full day between when we arrive at Kings Cross Station and Christmas Day?"

"Urrgh!" groaned Harry. "Don't remind me! Diagon Alley is going to be packed on that day."

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On the Wednesday afternoon before leaving the castle for Christmas, Dumbledore asked Harry to remain after DADA class. Daphne and Tracey also remained.

"Ah, Harry, I only needed to speak with you about this matter," said Dumbledore. "Your two lady companions may leave."

"Thank you, Albus," Harry simply replied, doing nothing else.

Neither Tracey nor Daphne so much as moved in their seats.

Dumbledore appeared to be waiting for them to leave, looking a little pleased. However, when neither girl moved, his face dropped into a frown.

"Ladies, you may go," he said.

"Thank you, Headmaster," they both said. And neither moved.

With his frown deepening, he said, "I am not accustomed to my instructions being ignored, ladies."

When neither said anything, he asked, "Why are you not leaving?"

"I, for one, Professor, am waiting for my betrothed," said Daphne.

"And, I am waiting for my friend," said Tracey.

"I wish to speak with Mister Potter in private, ladies," he scowled.

"That will never happen, Professor," replied Daphne flatly. "Either I will be present at all times, Professor Flitwick will be present as his Head of House, or we both will."

Still scowling, he turned to Harry and asked, "Do you wish others to be present when I am discussing with you private matters, Harry?"

"Always, Albus," replied Harry.

Scowling for a moment later, the old man tried his disappointed grandfather routine. "Very well," he said.

Looking back up at Harry he said, "I was surprised to discover you will not be staying in the castle over Christmas, Harry."

As it wasn't a question, just as with the girls before him, Harry didn't respond. He just adopted a mien of curiosity.

When Harry clearly wasn't going to respond, Dumbledore said, "I take it, then, you will be returning to stay with your family over the Christmas break?"

"Yes, Professor," he replied.

Surprised, Dumbledore said, "I find myself surprised, but quite pleased, you have forgiven your aunt enough to return to - her home."

Harry didn't bother to correct the old man. If he believed that, that was his problem.

When he realised he'd hear no further, Dumbledore sighed and said, "Very well, you may go."

Outside in the hallway, Tracey asked, "Why didn't you tell him you're not going back to that place?"

"He didn't ask if I was," replied Harry. "He assumed a falsehood. That's his problem."

"And it is not the business of the staff of Hogwarts where the students spend their Christmas break," said Daphne. "They only need to be aware that a student has left on the Express at the beginning of it, and returned on it when the break has concluded."

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Harry stood waiting in the Entrance Hall with Hermione and Neville. They were waiting for Daphne, Tracey, Susan and Neville to join them from out of the dungeons.

"I'm soooo looking forward to seeing my parents, again," said Hermione. Looking at Harry, she asked, "I told you my parents and I are visiting Greengrass Estate, right?"

"Yes, Hermione; you did," replied Harry.

"Boxing Day," she said, as if she didn't hear. "We're coming over for a little while before we head to my grandma's place.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of your family, Harry," she said. "My parents say Cygnus and Isabel are wonderful people."

"Yes, they are," he replied.

Turning to Neville she asked, "Are you visiting too, Neville?"

"I would say so," he calmly replied.

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A week earlier:

Ever since Neville was taken to Diagon Alley to purchase his own wand, the boy was coming out of his self-imposed shell of meekness. Having a wand that matched him - twelve inches of cherry wood with a unicorn hair core - had done wonders for his self-esteem. It also didn't hurt that the girls thought his new wand was 'gorgeous'.

Soon after returning, he met the others in the library where he showed it to them.

Harry said, "You've got me by an inch, Neville. Mine's holly with a phoenix feather core."

Hermione huffed, "Honestly! Boys and their wands!"

That had both boys blushing and sniggering, while the other four girls squealed with laughter. It took Hermione a few moments to realise the implications of what she said.

When she realised, she blushed profusely and covered her face with her hands. "Oh, sorry!" she said, mortified.

In an effort to rescue Hermione, Susan said, "Well, I've heard from a friend that's friends with one of the boys in the Gryffindor First Year boy's dorm, who said Neville's supposed to be - and I quote here - 'hung like a hippogriff'!"

That had all the girls laughing.

Neville, blushing profusely, calmly replied, "Well, I am a Longbottom."

That had everyone laughing.

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"I'm going to be running around madly tomorrow purchasing Christmas presents," said Hermione. "Honestly, the Christmas break should start at least a week earlier. I have no idea how I'm going to get everything done in time."

"I'm sure you'll manage," said Neville.

"Ah!" exclaimed Harry. "Here they are."

Looking in the same direction as Harry, Hermione and Neville saw the four girls walking up the stairs. Entering the Entrance Hall, they calmly walked over.

Stepping over to Daphne, Harry gently placed a kiss on her cheek. "I was getting worried you were going to be late," he said to her.

"Never going to happen, Potter," she said with a smile.

"Well, now that we're all here," said Neville, "How about we head out to find a carriage?"

"Lets!" said Tracey, talking him by the arm.

A little surprised, Neville dutifully cocked his elbow for her and escorted her outside and down the steps to where students were lined up waiting for carriages.

Harry offered his own elbow to Daphne who naturally placed her hand in it and chased after Neville. The three other girls followed behind.

Disembarking at the station they only had to wait a few moments for their trunks and pet carriers to appear before they collected them and found a compartment on the train. Harry had sent Hedwig to Greengrass Estate earlier so her cage was empty.

Finding a suitable compartment, Harry and Neville manhandled, with the use of Featherweight Charms and levitation, the trunks into the overhead racks. The pet carriers went on the floor under the seats.

With the compartment now considered full, Harry stepped outside and, using a Sticking Charm, stuck a large note to the outside of the door. Stepping back in he closed the door, locked it and cast the Colloportus Charm on the compartment door. "There. Now we shouldn't be bothered."

"What was that?" asked Daphne. "A Notice-Me-Not?"

"No; the Door Sealing Charm, Colloportus," replied Harry. "The squelching sound you heard was the wood of the door binding with the wood of the frame. No First Year Unlock Door Charm is going to open that."

"That's quite an advanced Charm, Harry," said Hermione. "What if one of us needs to go to the toilet?"

"Just let me know," he said. "I want it there, for now, so we don't get any rude gits trying to get in here without knocking first."

"I doubt Malfoy will try anything, this trip," said Daphne, from where she was curled up on the seat snuggled into him. "Or Weasley."

"And the note you stuck to the outside of the door?" asked Tracey.

"It says, 'Try Knocking'," said Harry with a smirk.

The ride back was uneventful. If you don't count someone trying to wrench the door open no less than four times. At least for three of them the person then knocked.

Laughing each time, the Seven waited for the knocking. Each time they heard it, Harry removed the Door Sealing Charm and Neville opened it.

It was only during a period while Susan and Hannah disappeared together to go to the toilet did the door get wrenched open while the Sealing Charm was not in place. At that time it was a female Ravenclaw Prefect looking in to make sure everyone was okay.

"Alright," she began, "Who put that super-strong Locking Charm on the door when I came by earlier to check in?"

"I did," said Harry. "And it was a Door Sealing Charm, Colloportus to be exact."

Frowning at him she asked, "And how, in Merlin's name, does a First Year know how to cast the Door Sealing Charm?"

"Hey," said Harry, slightly offended. "Ravenclaw here, remember? I read about it and practiced it."

"And just why would a First Year, even if they are a Ravenclaw, want to practice the Door Sealing Charm?" she asked suspiciously.

"So we don't get bothered while riding the Hogwarts Express, is one reason," he calmly replied.

She looked at him for a while more before she said, "Well, Prefects need to be able to check on the students while they're doing their patrols."

Daphne, getting a little miffed with the girl, snarkily asked, "See the note on the door?"

The girl pulled her head out for a moment and read the note before turning to look back in again. Understanding writ upon her face.

"Try that!" snapped Daphne.

"Watch your tongue," the girl, a little haughtily, said. "I'm still a Prefect."

As Harry was enjoying watching Daphne cut the girl down, Susan and Hannah returned from the loo.

"Excuse us!" said Susan, butting in.

The Prefect, only just then noticing the two girls trying to get in, backed off to let them pass.

"Just leave the door unlocked so we can check on you if we need to," said the girl, sticking her head back in.

No one bothered to say anything back, just hoping she'd go away.

She did a few moments later with an angry scowl.

As soon as she was gone, Neville pulled the door shut and locked it. And Harry cast the Door Sealing Charm on it.

"I thought she'd never leave," said Tracey.

That caused the others, including herself, to laugh in response.

As mid-afternoon approached and the countryside outside the window gave way to suburbs, the Seven began to get ready to disembark the train.

By the time the announcement of 'Five minutes to Kings Cross' was heard, they were all ready well beforehand.

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As Neville and Harry lifted the trunks down off the overheads, ladies first, the girls were dragging them outside.

When both boys had theirs down Neville led Harry out of the compartment. As he passed through the door, Harry let go of his trunk and cancelled the Sticking Charm on the note. As it fell away, he grabbed it and stuffed it into his pocket.

Dragging his trunk off the train he levitated it and was about to walk away when the same female Prefect from earlier stopped him.

"I thought I told you to leave that compartment door open," she glared.

"You did," he replied. "I remember it quite well."

"Then why didn't you?" she scowled.

"Because we decided to ignore your - request," he replied.

"I could deduct points off you, you know," she said.

"Of course, you can!" he calmly replied. "But, from which House? All four Houses were represented in that compartment. If you decided to take points off all four Houses, which you would have been obliged to do, then you really wouldn't have accomplished anything, would you?"

She continued to scowl at him while he watched her try to parse that one out.

After a few moments he saw her scowl deepen before she spun about and stormed off. Harry just grinned after her.

Trailing his trunk behind him, Harry walked apart from the train. His friends and family were waiting for him against the back wall of the platform.

"What was that about?" asked Cygnus with a flick of his chin towards the Ravenclaw Prefect, while Harry was getting a hug from Sirius and Isabel.

"She's a Prefect and wanted to have a go at me for sealing the door of the compartment after she told me not to," he replied. "However, she was overstepping her authority when she did it, so we chose to ignore her - request.

"She threatened me with taking House points off us for having the door sealed after her telling us not to. When I told her we represented all four Houses, and that taking points off us all would have been pointless, if you'll pardon the pun, she left a little upset."

Cygnus grinned and said, "That must have been hard for her to take."

"She's a Ravenclaw," said Harry with a shrug. "She's going to be trying to work that one out right through Christmas."

"Now why didn't we think of having mixed compartments when we rode the Express?" asked Sirius, musing.

"Because you would never have sat with a Slytherin," replied Isabel in a matter-of-fact voice.

Sirius just grinned.

"I have to go out and find my parents," said Hermione, butting in. "If I don't see you folks over the Christmas break I look forward to seeing you back here on the eighth."

"Hold your horses, Miss Granger," said Isabel. "We're coming out through the barrier, too."

Meanwhile, Harry had managed to place his trunk on the top of one of the trolleys the adults had brought in. It was on top of someone else's trunk but he felt he could manoeuvre it on his own. Hedwig's cage went on top.

As Harry was finishing up loading things, Astoria came forward and softly said, "Hello Harry."

"Tori!" exclaimed Harry happily. "My, my..." he softly said towards her before turning to Cygnus.

He asked, "Cygnus? Why are you not carrying a big stick?"

A little confused, Cygnus asked, "And why would I do that?"

"Why, to beat off all the boys who would dare to come sniffing around this vision of loveliness, of course!" replied Harry, as if stating the obvious and gesturing towards Astoria.

He didn't see Daphne roll her eyes towards her mother, or Isabel trying to smother her giggles in response.

"Ooooh!" squealed Astoria before grapple-hugging him.

Cygnus chuckled whiled Sirius said, "Damn, pup! I think I'm going to need to take notes!" To which he received a smack on the arm from Isabel.

"Hush, you!" she tried to sternly say.

Sirius just impudently grinned back.

Susan and Hannah left with Hannah's mum while Tracey left with her father and Neville left with Gran. The first two via portkey and Neville via side-along apparating. They'd see them in a few days at most, so parting was not that much of a big deal.

"Alright," said Cygnus. "I guess we're what's left and we're all here. How about we head out?"

With physical and verbal nods the group made their way out through the magical barrier.

Not too far out the other side, Hermione almost immediately saw her parents and, with a squeal, she rapidly pushed her trolley towards them. Letting it go and ducking out from behind it, she dashed the last few steps to envelop both parents in one of her unpatented grapple-hugs.

That gave the others time to casually walk over.

Introductions were left to Isabel to start. "Dear," she said, making sure her husband was paying attention. "This is Doctor Wendell and Doctor Monica Granger, Hermione's parents. Wendell. Monica. This is my husband, Lord Cygnus Greengrass."

"Cygnus, will do," said Cygnus stepping forward to shake Wendell's hand, before leaning forward and lightly kissing the back of Monica's hand.

"And it's Wendell and Monica for us," said Wendell.

"Thank you," said Cygnus, stepping back. He then said, indicating each in turn, "And I introduce: my eldest, Daphne; her betrothed, Harry Potter; my youngest, Astoria; and Lord Sirius Black, Harry's godfather.

Harry stepped forward and copied Cygnus's actions, shaking Wendell's hand and lightly kissing the back of Monica's hand; followed by Sirius doing the same, also telling them to call him Sirius.

"Betrothed?" asked Monica.

"Yes - umm," tried Cygnus actually blushing a little, before Isabel lightly laughed and said, "Cygnus and his friend, James - Harry's father - managed to get themselves drunk soon after Harry's birth and - the next morning they found they had both signed a non-breakable betrothal contract between Daphne and Harry."

"It - can't be broken?" asked Monica, a little alarmed.

"No," replied Cygnus. "It's a magical contract and was signed in blood."

Monica looked a little horrified and Wendell showed concern.

"It's okay, Ma'am," said Harry, speaking up before things could get out of hand. "I think I speak for both Daphne and I when I say we're actually now quite happy with it."

Daphne nodded and gave Harry a kiss on the cheek.

"However," said Harry lowering his voice slightly. "My dear godfather, now that he has recovered from his recent troubles, is in deep trouble about it."

"Awww! Pup!" whined Sirius. "You're not really going to hold your dear godfather guilty about this, are you?"

"And I believe that's a long discussion best left until Boxing Day," said Isabel, cutting in. "It will take some explaining to fully understand."

The Grangers nodded.

"And, I think it's nigh time we went back through the barrier to portkey away from here," said Cygnus. "Wendell. Monica. Nice to finally meet you. And I look forward to you visiting us at Greengrass Estate in three days."

After words of parting the Grangers left to exit the station out the muggle entrance, while the Greengrasses returned through the barrier to the platform to portkey away.

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