30th July 1993
Los Angeles
The morning sun hung bright and lazy over Los Angeles as Sirius Black grinned down at us, his hands tucked in the pockets of a leather jacket that probably hadn't been properly dusted in years.
"Right then, you lot," he said, sunglasses glinting. "Welcome to The City of Angels, and more importantly, to the best kept secret on the West Coast."
Next to him, Remus Lupin smiled softly, adjusting the worn messenger bag slung across his chest. Mum and dad came next, dressed in comfortable casual attire, alongwith Mr and Mrs Granger. And finally Xenophilius Lovegood, dressed in a khaki safari tourist outfit, comically turning his head this way and that, with a pair of binoculars hanging down his neck.
The youngsters on the scene included myself, Harry, Neville, Hermione, Rachel and Luna. All of us were dressed in light shirts and jeans, eager to explore the city's largest magical shopping centre.
At the beginning of summer, Sirius decided that the best way to spend the sizeable payday he had scored from the Ministry (300000 galleons) was to take a months-long trip across the pond. Of course, a vacation taken alone was no fun, so he set about trying to gather as many people as he could.
And so, here we were. The only reason the others were absent was because they had their own thing. Daphne, Tracey and Astoria were visiting their relatives in some Chateau in France, while Ginny was dropping in to see her brother, Bill.
The Weasleys had won the Grand Prize Galleon Draw held by the DailyProphet, earning 700 galleons. They decided to celebrate by taking a trip to the ancient city of Cairo while visiting their eldest son. Most people would deride this decision to spend so much money on a sightseeing trip, but not me. Money comes and goes, but time spent with your family is forever.
Our trip began a month ago when we arrived in New York. The City that Never Sleeps was aptly named, a hive of millions of people and cars, all hustling and bustling which way in their important lives. Skyscrapers towered above us, vying to be the biggest, the tallest, the most ostentatious.
In 1993, the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were still standing proudly, looking down on everything and everyone in The Big Apple. The Empire State Building was clearly one of the most impressive, even if it was no longer the tallest. The Chrysler Building was a sight to behold, the defining symbol of Art deco architecture. And then there were the older buildings, ones built with more charm than glass.
Once we had our fill of the big city, we made our way to Salem, Massachusetts - the site of one of the most famous historical events of the Magical World in America. It was only a three-and-a-half hour drive from New York City. We stayed there for the weekend in a quaint little B&B, located in a two-storied house that could have been dropped out of 17th or 18th century England.
The tour of the Witch House was a bit of a let-down, really. It was an authentic 17th century house, decorated with period furniture and with mannequins strategically placed to simulate what life would have been like back then. But after living in a big old castle, with frequent visits to Diagon Alley and the Leaky Cauldron, it felt incredibly mundane.
The Salem Witch Museum, on the other hand, was much more interesting. It was filled with realistic sets and exhibits that detailed the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 as accurately as possible. We were slightly startled when the first of the signs we were reading blurred slightly and a second sign appeared directly beside it. This one gave a magical accounting of the scene in question - the death by crushing of a man accused of witchcraft.
Now knowing what to look for, we spent the next couple of hours examining everything, looking out for more magical signs. I think I learnt more about the true events of the Salem Witch Trials in that brief period of time than I would have had in a couple of years' worth of Binns' lectures.
The next day we moved on to the magical side of Salem. Our first stop - the Salem Witches Institute of Magic. From what I knew, all muggles saw of the sprawling campus was a huge farm, complete with cows and a windmill. While it was interesting, I found it unimpressive. I guess after living in a humongous castle, most places would feel that way.
From there, we headed back into town searching for the magical district. We found it easily enough, thanks to a magical sign giving directions near the Salem Witch Museum. Stepping into old Salem town was like stepping back in time. I shook my head at how much this historical site reminded me of Diagon Alley. It really drove home how behind the times magical Britain was.
After making a stop at the local bookstore where Hermione and I bought a basketfull of books, we browsed through the other shops, buying a few knick-knacks and souvenirs. It was an engaging experience but nothing eye-opening.
Leaving Salem behind, we travelled to the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Located at the highest peak of Mount Greylock in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, it is hidden from muggles by powerful enchantments, making it appear as a dense, impassible forest. Mr and Mrs Granger needed countercharms in order to view the magical school in its full glory.
Originally a humble stone cottage, the 17th century-founded school had evolved into a large granite castle, blending European-style stone architecture with Native-American influences. The school overlooked a vast forested landscape, rich in magical flora and fauna.
Unlike Hogwarts' Houses, which were named after the founders, Ilvermorny's Houses were named after magical creatures that their founders favoured - Thunderbird, Wampus, Horned Serpent and Pukwudgie. Likewise the school did not use quills or parchment as strictly as its European counterparts, as modern practices led to more liberal use of pens and other tools.
Our tour of the magical school complete, we rented an RV, made a few modifications for extra room and speed, and set off on a cross-country trip across the States. We took our time, visiting various magical communities and hotspots as well as muggle tourist attractions, such as the rides at Universal Studios and the famous 'Hollywood sign'. After a month, we were standing in the Old Plaza of Los Angeles.
"Now," Sirius began, "the guidebook we bought in Salem says that the entrance to the city's biggest magical shopping district is around here somewhere. All we have to do is to find the right 'tree'."
Just like back home, and indeed the world over, witches and wizards were adept at keeping the entrances to their magical places, districts and sights hidden from muggles. In this case, the entrance was glamoured to look like a tree. Which in itself wouldn't be a problem, unless the old Plaza had hundreds of them placed artfully to blend in with dozens of statues and plaques.
"The glamour should fade when we enter a radius of about 12 feet from the entrance," Sirius explained, his eyes searching through the surrounding foliage. "I suggest we split up. It might take a few minutes to..."
"Found it," I announced, looking at a particularly gnarled Oak tree about 150 feet away.
"What?" Sirius came near me and looked at the spot I was pointing to. "How did you..."
"Smart glasses. Come on." Tapping my Magesight enabled spectacles, I led the team to the hidden entrance.
The trunk of the giant Oak tree twisted upon itself, split in two and spread apart to form an arch, capable of allowing entry to someone even Hagrid's size. Tapping each side of the arch with a wand formed a glowing green portal. On top of the arch appeared the words:
Verdant Gate - Entrance to El Mercado Escondido
Stepping through the arch, we entered a kaleidoscope of colour and magic. The sight that opened before our eyes as we exited the portal had our jaws dropping in awe. Where Diagon Alley felt closed in and old and grimy, the Hidden Market pulsed with energy. Signs floated everywhere like holograms of neon lights, suitcases hopped on merrily after their wandering owners, enchanted umbrellas dance overhead to shield shoppers from the Californian sun.
The walkway was wide enough to allow small stalls to be set up in the very middle and still allow shoppers to walk a dozen or so abreast. And the fact that the floor was made of immaculate white marble with hints of pink and green running through it, told us that the witches and wizards of Los Angeles took great pride and care of their district.
The shops here seemed to be the same as the ones in Diagon Alley, there just seemed to be more of them and the quality of the merchandise appeared to be much higher. There were dozens of clothing stores catering to both magical and muggle attire. The wizarding garments had a plethora of charms woven into them - everything from self-cleaning to temperature-regulation charms. Pet shops showcased crups and kneazles, niffler cubs under glass domes and even talking lizards. Dozens of shops were filled with trinkets of all manners, such as hoverboards enchanted with Windrider spells.
My feet dragged me to a store that sold exotic magical foci - wands carved from lightning-struck sequoia and staffs tipped with Obsidian and Pearl. Hermione vanished into LibrosLumen, the largest magical bookstore in the Western Hemisphere, while Harry tried on a pair of Invisibility-flickering sunglasses that Sirius insisted were "absolutelyuselessbutverycool."
"You could fill an entire castle with just souvenirs from this place," Neville said, curiously examining a shelf of self-dusting cauldrons.
As we were browsing the bookstore, putting the occasional book into our baskets, we overheard a conversation about a nearby magical wildlife preserve, where a herd of Abraxan had recently arrived. Luna and her dad were not the only ones excited at this unexpected opportunity. Grabbing an early lunch in one of the many restaurants, our entourage made a beeline towards the place.
The Scamandar Beast Reserve was a 200 acre wildlife preserve tucked away in the hills above Malibu. The entire area was warded in a similar way to Hogwarts, layered with muggle-repelling wards, notice-me-not charms, confusion spells and whole host of others that were all designed to cause muggles to either forget the area, get distracted by something else whenever they get close or simply made their technology behave erratically. Again Mr and Mrs Granger needed special care so that they didn't get lost in the part forest, part mountain, part jungle illusions.
"Why would rabbits need antlers?" Hermione mused.
Jackalopes had to be one of the odder animals that I have ever laid eyes on. They were the same size as rabbits and looked identical to jackrabbits, but with the minor added detail of a pair of small antlers that glowed faintly between their large rabbit ears.
Thinking about it though, they weren't really the oddest animals, just that it was so unexpected to see tiny, antlered rabbits hopping about the specially warded field so they couldn't escape.
"Probably to discourage predators," I answered. "Even a wolf would think twice before messing with one of these little bunnies," I said, eyeing the rather sharp-looking tips of their horns.
"Do you think they evolved from common rabbits at some point?" she asked with a considering look.
"It's definitely possible," I nodded. "Given how magic works in this world, I wouldn't be surprised if one day a special rabbit wished really hard for some sort of protection and suddenly conjured a pair of glowing antlers on top of its head."
Jackalopes were one of the many different magical creatures that one could get up close and personal with - provided the animals let you, of course - at the Scamandar Beast Reserve. We spent most of the day wandering from one area to the next, interacting with animals when possible or simply observing them if they were reluctant to come to us.
The nifflers had been fun and cute. One of the cheeky little buggers nicked Harry's wristwatch, which I had to negotiate back with a gold galleon.
Crups, small dog-like creatures with forked tails and a very eager-to-please personality, were great fun. We spent ages throwing sticks for them to fetch before moving on. One of the little fellows constantly licked Neville's hands and refused to leave his side.
There were supposed to be a dozen porlocks in their habitat, but the sign erected near the entrance stated that they were very mistrustful of humans and tended to hide whenever one was around. Porlocks guarded horses and lived on grass. We spied them peering at us shyly from behind large hay bales.
Mokes, magical lizard critters scurried up and down tree trunks as we watched them. This interesting creature was devilishly hard to notice as mokes have the ability to shrink at will.
We stuck to the X-XXX class creatures first, saving the more exotic ones for later. Although, I am sure Hagrid would have been mightily disappointed with us for leaving the interesting creatures for last.
We observed a family of graphorns in a heavily warded enclosure. They were large, hump-backed with greyish-purple skin tougher than that of dragons. They sported two golden horns, large four-thumbed feet and a mouth made of tentacle-like appendages, that were used to grab food and put in their mouths.
In the final clearing, we watched a flight of abraxan - huge, winged horses - take to the sky, glittering in the evening sun.
"This is so fantastic," Mrs Granger said quietly, watching the abraxan soar majestically into the summer sky. "Today has been... utterly unbelievable. Thank you for bringing us on this trip, Sirius," she smiled.
"It was my pleasure, Emma," Sirius waved her off with a roguish grin.
All of us had taken copious amounts of pictures throughout the day. There were some I was even considering having enlarged and framed - Harry chasing after a mischievous niffler for his watch; Neville playing fetch with a forked tail puppy; Rachel indulging in hide-and-seek with a silver moke; Hermione sitting under a peach tree with a contented smile on her face and a small kneazle in her lap; Luna petting the shaggy haired head of a delighted porlock.
Before the day was over, there was one more surprise to be had. As the Sun dipped behind the hills and painted the sky orange and violet, Remus put down the picnic basket he had been lugging around all day. With a flick of his wand, it expanded into a full birthday spread.
"Happy Birthday, Neville and Harry!" We all chorused.
Two cakes sat in the center: one green and gold for Neville, shaped like a magical herb garden; and one red and silver for Harry, topped with a chocolate snitch.
"I hope you boys don't mind," smiled Remus, "but today turned out to be so wonderful, that we decided to celebrate your birthdays together, to make it even more memorable," he explained.
Both Harry and Neville were quick to assure him that they were very happy with this arrangement. As we sank our teeth in the delicious cakes, the gift-giving began. Sirius and Remus gave both the boys jackets made of dragonhide, resistant to both spells and fire. Mr and Mrs Granger gifted them sets of books on popular muggle fiction. Mum and dad presented them both with the latest Walkman audio players, complete with magic isolation runes.
"Wait!" Neville cried out in surprise, "Is that the puppy from earlier?"
"Yep," I smiled, holding up the cutely yipping little crup. "I saw how quickly you two bonded, so I went to the Reserve authorities. They took some convincing, but ultimately agreed that you could adopt this puppy if you promise to take good care of it," I explained. "That is, if you want it in the first place."
"Yes!" he yelled with a big smile. As he stepped forward, the little whelp eagerly jumped into Neville's arms and started nuzzling up against his chest.
Since he already had Hedwig, I gave Harry a pair of enchanted boots that will automatically arrest his fall if he were to ever plummet off his broom. Hermione gave Harry a miniature quidditch pitch, complete with spectral players and Neville, a miniature greenhouse with an everlight enchantment.
We decided to camp near the Reserve for the night. After dinner, Harry, Hermione, Neville and I sat under the stars, roasting marshmallows over a campfire. We were surrounded by floating lanterns and the distant calls of magical creatures.
"This is the best birthday I've ever had," Neville said softly, reaching down and petting Phil, his new puppy.
"Yep, me too," smiled Harry. "You know, the Dursleys used to take my cousin to the zoo sometimes on his birthdays. It was nowhere near as fun as the Reserve was."
"Daphne will be so jealous when she comes to know what she missed," I smirked.
"I can't wait for school to begin. Wonder what kind of different animals we will see in Care of Magical Creatures," Hermione said with clear excitement in her voice. "It was so wonderful that we came on this trip. All the amazing things we saw! To read about it is one thing, but to witness it all firsthand! It was incredible. I'm sorry your grandmother missed it, Neville."
"Don't worry about it, Hermione," Neville shrugged it off. "In her own words, she is rather past the age for gallivanting about on some grand tour across the colonies," Neville said, imitating his gran's strict tone. "I am just glad she allowed me to come with you guys. I really didn't think she would," he added nervously.
"It might be her way of rewarding you for all the Outstandings you scored on your final exams," I commented.
"Which was thanks to you, by the way," he replied. "If you hadn't gotten me that wand, there is no way I would have scored so well in the Charms and Transfiguration Practicals." He took a sip from his butterbeer bottle. "Are you sure you have to leave tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately, yeah," I smiled wryly at my friends. "I ran some calculations, and if things are to go according to plan, then I'll have to set out tomorrow."
"Believe me, Neville, I want nothing more than to spend the rest of the holidays with you all," I said, surveying their downcast faces. "To go to Disneyland and spend the day going on rides, watching shows and launching fireworks. To go to the beach and swim under the sun without a care in the world." I shook my head. "Sadly, I can't wait for that."
"Why not?" Hermione said plaintively. "Why not just wait a few years? Wait till you finish school and then we can all go together," she said pleadingly. "Doesn't matter how bad it gets, we'll have each other's backs."
Harry and Neville nodded in unison at her words.
"Because you saw what's coming. A tidal wave of death, a million strong. If I wait until 7th year, it will be all too late," I explained patiently. "The rate at which I am progressing is not nearly enough. I have knowledge, but I don't have the power to apply it. That is why I have to go on this trip."
"Then, we could come with you," Hermione suggested again. "Professor Dumbledore will probably allow it if you talked to him."
I shook my head. "No. I've been studying since I was seven, Hermione. I already finished the coursework for 3rd year about a year ago, including all the practicals. You still need that."
Hermione sighed. "I can't make you change your mind, can I?" she said defeatedly.
"Not on this, I'm afraid," I said gently.
"Atleast tell us where you're going," she insisted.
"Why, that would ruin the surprise!" I chuckled. "I'll tell you all about it when I get back. Trust me, there's nothing to worry about," I smiled confidently. There was actually plenty to worry about. Which is why I didn't tell them that I was going to face a 6000 year old fire dragon.
"We trust you, mate," Harry spoke up. "It's just that, as your friends, we worry. Especially when you are going off to another world."
I smiled briefly. "I know. I'll be fine, I swear. And you guys should watch your backs too. Now that I won't be there for a few months, Malfoy might try something stupid, well stupider."
"Don't worry about those idiots, we will be okay," Neville declared, brimming with confidence. "Gotta say, with Snape gone and now you, this year just won't be the same."
At the end of the school year, Snape had handed in his resignation. Now that Voldemort was taken care of, there was no reason for him to stay and endure flocks of children with the attention span of sparrows; far more interested in gossiping and giggling than in keeping their cauldrons intact. The man had left for Southern Europe, where he planned to set up an Apothecary shop. To fill the vacant Potion master position, Professor Dumbledore had requested his friend Horace Slughorn to return to Hogwarts once more.
"Maybe not," I nodded. "But we'll get through it all the same." I raised my bottle. "Together."
They returned the toast. "Together."
[SCENE END]
Next Day
The air shimmered faintly as the Anywhere Door stood proudly at the edge of the hill, it's frame humming softly, already in sync with the timeline of Middle-Earth. I stood a few feet away, a travel cloak wrapped tightly around my shoulders. The storage satchel containing all the provisions that the Hogwarts elves had lovingly prepared hung securely by my side, while all the other essentials were packed in my storage ring.
My friends and family were gathered around, waiting to say goodbye. Mum was the first to speak. Her voice cracked despite her practiced poise.
"You've packed all the healing potions and salves I gave you, yes?" she asked, absentmindedly fiddling with the clasp of my cloak. "And the woolen socks - don't want you catching a cold."
I smiled. "Yes, mum. I've got everything. Even the woolen socks."
She pulled me into a hug, long and trembling. "Are you sure your dad and I can't come with you?" she asked again.
"I need to do this on my own, mum," I gently told her. If something went horribly wrong, I was confident in being able to escape. No way was I going to endanger my parents' lives for my sake.
Dad clapped me on the shoulder with a firm hand, but his voice was low. "Are you sure about this?"
I nodded. "I am."
"Then stay sharp, son. And remember, always have an escape plan."
I chuckled. "Understood, dad."
Rachel, teary-eyed, threw her arms around me.
"It's alright, Rach," I said, patting her in the back. "Hey, I need you to do something for me."
She sniffled, then looked at me questioningly.
I handed her a notebook. "This contains all the spells that I was going to teach you guys this year. I have written down everything you need to know - what to do, what not to do and when to do it. Think you can take care of this for me?"
Rachel nodded and took the book from me. "Come back safe," she said.
I smiled and kissed the top of her head. "I promise."
Harry gave me a short reassuring hug. "I'll see you soon, mate."
I chuckled. "You will."
Next came Neville. "Good luck," he said, breaking the hug.
I smiled. "You too, pal. Here." I handed him a couple sheafs of paper.
Neville looked at the pages, the front one marked Soul Heal. "What this?"
"Something for your parents," I said, watching realisation dawn on his face. He looked at the papers again, his grip on them tightening, then looked at me. "Practice it well, and when I come back, we're going to wake them up."
Neville hugged me again, this time so tight it nearly hurt. When he released me, I could see gratitude clear in his eyes.
Hermione was last. She didn't speak at first. Her eyes were full, her lips pressed tight. Then finally:
"You're brilliant. No one can deny that. I have known it from the first day we met. But I don't know where you're going, or what kind of dangers you'll face." She reached out and straightened the clasp of my cloak, blinking quickly. "So, please be careful." She looked into my eyes. "I can't lose my best friend."
I pulled her into a hug. "You won't. Promise."
She nodded and stepped back. I smiled and gestured to Sirius, who came forward with a litter box.
"Before I go, there's one more thing. Happy birthday, Hermione." I held out the litter box to her.
"My birthday isn't till September," she reminded me.
"I know. But I'm not gonna be here then. So, early birthday present for you," I shrugged.
Hermione took the box and opened the lid. Out poked a squashed face, amber eyes gleaming with feline disdain.
Hermione gasped. Hesitantly, she took the half-kneazle in her arms. The car grumbled, but settled instantly against her, purring in satisfaction.
"His name is Crookshanks," I informed her. "The shopkeeper said that he's a grump, but he listens. Usually."
Hermione removed her eyes from the feline and narrowed them at me. "Future knowledge?" she asked.
"Maybe," I shrugged nonchalantly. "Do you like him?"
Hermione gave a watery laugh, clutching Crookshanks tighter. "Of course. Thank you. It means a lot to me."
"You're welcome. Just, every now and then, remember the poor fellow who gave him to you," I smiled.
Hermione gave me a mischievous wink. "I'll try. But if this poor fellow takes too long, then who knows, my memory might get fuzzy."
"Well then, this poor fellow will try to be back before then," I chuckled. "Goodbye, Hermione."
"Goodbye, Ben." Her voice was a whisper, almost lost in the wind.
I turned to them all and gave a final wave, before turning to the Anywhere Door. It shimmered open with a gentle hum, revealing a scene so idyllic it could've been stitched from a dream.
Beyond the glowing frame lay the rolling green hills of the Shire—sunlight draped lazily across fields, birds chirped in cheerful chorus, and the scent of fresh earth and pipe smoke drifted faintly on the breeze. Just below, nestled into the slope of Bagshot Row, was Bag End, with its familiar round green door and a garden bursting with flowers, herbs, and unnaturally fat pumpkins.
I grinned, wide-eyed. "Well...hello, Middle earth."
I adjusted my satchel, squared my shoulders and stepped confidently through the door—
—and immediately plummeted two feet straight down, landing with a loud thud in a bed of marigolds and lavender.