Toppers Wallow

It was Friday. It was pouring with rain. It was testing time for the remaining fourth-years and all the fifth-years. The three tutors had now settled into a routine and so were more efficient. The fifth year groups were smaller because they were divided into three sections. This was deliberate as the more intricate defence spells required more time to teach, and most of the students were mature enough to be allowed to experiment. Thus they required closer supervision so as not to harm themselves or others. There was time enough at the end to have a chat with them, concerning their OWL’s at the end of the year, and the standards Harry would be expecting.



At half-past-five an excited group of first-years gathered in the entrance hall. Because Albus Severus was to be used only by selected screened people, Harry and Draco walked their charges to just outside the gates, holding a water-repellent screen over their heads.



“I hope you remember the words?” asked Harry looking at the excited crowd.



“YES PROFESSOR POTTER,” they chorused back.



“Good! Once Professor Malfoy, Professor Holderness and I have linked hands, each one of you must hold on to some part of us firmly.” - - - - - - “Are you all holding?”



“YES PROFESSOR POTTER.”



“Right…! One … Two … Three!”



“APPAREMUS TOTALIS DISCIPULUM”



The circle of students revolved round their three professors, feeling dizzy as they flew towards Toppers Wallow. Within three minutes they had arrived and were sitting on the surface of Harry’s Apparating area recovering. In Godric’s Hollow the sun was shining and the ground warm. Seamus and Dean were there to welcome the party.



Harry stood up, still slightly wobbly. “Bobby, Dochart and Monach, please remember you are not at home; you are here to take part in the student activities. I would be most pleased if, for this weekend, you stay with your elfin colleagues in the upper elfin dormitories. Please conduct your friends there and then meet us on the patio. Gregorian and Probert, if you and your friends would go with Dean he will show you the three bunk rooms assigned for your use. Likewise, the rest of you please go with Seamus he has another three bunk rooms for your use. I’ll see you all on the patio in quarter of an hour.”



“YES PROFESSOR POTTER.”



The horde departed chattering excitedly and questioning their guides.



“We have a reasonable single room for you, Hamish. Minerva uses it when she manages to have time off. I’ll show you where it is,” Draco offered.



“Thanks. Perhaps afterwards I might see the range?”



“Of course. Gregory and Murdoch will be here for the briefing, they’ll be the ones organising the battles royal tomorrow with you.”



“Thanks again.”



“No Probs!”



Harry had been taken by Kreacher to see the new glasswork covering the patio. He said that Dean and Seamus had spelled it so that it reacted to light and that it was double glazed. What caught Harry’s eyes, however, was the screen that separated the pool from the patio. It had six Moorish arches supporting a triangular filler of coloured glass. Harry thought the inset decoration was of red rimmed suns two of which were either rising or setting. Below the triangle, the middle four arches were filled with the same light blue glass that made a background for the suns, the other two archways were doors. The interstices between the arches had emerald roundels backed by small triangles of ruby glass. Whilst he was staring in admiration at the delicate work, its two perpetrators returned.



“I say, you two, this is stunning. I hadn’t imagined anything as beautiful as this. Thank you very much.”



“You can blame the design on Billy; it was intricate work, we only just finished as you Apparated in. Billy thinks we could continue the Moorish motif all round the pool if you want. We could disguise the outside into something plainer if you like. Come outside and see the new doors, then you’ll see what we mean.”



Seamus grabbed Harry and dragged him through the front door. - - - - - - The three pairs of barn doors had been scraped and varnished. The dark shining wood had the ancient cast iron hinges and fittings picked out in a deep orange. At first Harry thought it was rust, and then admired the clever disguising of the scheme. The rustic nature of the doors was totally in keeping with the outer ambience of the building. The end pillars and the two ones in between had potted shrubs placed and the beds separating them were bright with flowers. There was no evidence of the four windows piercing the screen.



“You did all this by yourselves in two days?”



“Billy and the boys helped as well, and then the various elves constructed things inside. It was a team effort really. We’re looking forward to building the pool covering.”



“You’ve done a fine job here. When do I get the bill?”



“Never! You helped us get together. Me mum kept on throwing fits when we went ter share a room, and Dean’s mum is even worse.” Seamus gave a grim smile. “If you hadn’t offered us a haven we’d be skulking in dark alleys, or some such.”



“So you’re looking for somewhere to live then?”



“We had our eye on the old cottage where Bathilde Bagshott lived, but Ginny and Daphne have taken that over.” Dean continued, “Seems that the Weasley family was related to her in some way.”



“I though you two had some NEWT’s in mind?” asked Harry.



“Well … Possibly … It’d only be DADA and Herbology for me,” replied Dean. “DADA and Magical Animals for my Irish mate here.”



“We’ve had a lot of fun doing up your cottage you know, even if we had to alter things a couple of times afterwards. We’ve had ter invent new spells ter do things, especially the disguises; I reckon Hogwarts ought ter have a department of applied magic.” Seamus grinned awkwardly. “We were looking forward ter doing up the old dear’s cottage for ourselves too.”



“Why not suggest to the girls that you could do the work for them.”



“Would you ask them for us?”



“If you like! So; what about Hogwarts?”



“We’ve got our schedules, Tuesdays with you or HermiRon, Wednesdays with Hagrid or in the glasshouses; then stay on for the duelling club. The rest of the time is ours, of course we’ll do the studying bit and there’s a paper to produce too. Though we’re not sure what subject to pick.”



“Why not go way out and follow your instincts about applied magic?”



“Never thought about that. Professor Flitwick is our tutor for the paper. Thanks Harry; we’ll put something together and ask Filius what he thinks.”



“You know you two are very welcome to stay here,” Harry offered. “However I quite understand if you want your own place.”



“What we really want is a job offer, for, after we’ve finished the course; if we have to go cap in hand to our families, then they’ll try to split us up.” Dean looked sombre.



By this time the horde had put away their things, and were gathering round the chatting group. At the same time Gregory, Murdoch and the Muggles arrived.



Harry called the students together. “As you may have realised this is Draco’s and my home. Tomorrow you are going to use the paintball range; it will give you an insight into what magical warfare is about, and, why we need to protect people. Professor Holderness, plus Tutors Goyle and Murdoch will tell you more of that at breakfast time. On Sunday morning we go to church, those of you who wish to come will be most welcome. These other four gentlemen are our Muggle friends, three of whom sing in the church choir. That brings me to the next point. Church is a Muggle environment, we humans and the goblins will pass un-remarked, for the elves you can learn a transformation charm from Elder Kreacher, or you can Apparate into the upper balcony. Transformation would be better, as we will then all go to the pub for our Sunday lunch, there you will definitely be mixing with unbeknowing Muggles. The Sunday afternoon programme has yet to be decided. Any questions?”



Complete silence greeted Harry’s query. He noticed surreptitious glances towards the pool.



“Okay, we have three-quarters-of-an-hour before dinner; those who wish may use the pool.”



Many of the students had hoped for that permission, and stripped there and then; revealing bathing costumes of all sizes, colours and patterns hidden beneath their scholarly garments. Hamish, Gregory and Murdoch, went off to view the wood, Billy and Co said they would watch the youngsters, so Harry and Draco went up to their room.



They sat in the bubble watching the splashing throng and being waved at, once they had been spotted.



“How did you fix the Farmers Arms lunch?” asked Draco.



“I asked Richard if he could accommodate the young hordes, and he said yes,” replied Harry.



“No, I meant with McGonagall and the Hogwarts-elves.”



“I didn’t. My little voice said that it would be a good thing for the students to mix with ordinary Muggles; most of our lot will not really have met any, and a meal helps to break the ice.”



“Oh …! I see! So who’s paying for it?”



“I am! I shan’t be spending much of my salary, so I thought I could afford it.”



“You must let me help.”



“Can you really afford it?”



“I doubt I shall spend much of my salary either.”



“Okay, but pro rata. I’m paid more than you are, so we’ll share on that principle.”



“Gryffindor generosity and Slytherin carefulness seem to say that that’s a fair deal. I accept … Now what have you in mind for the rest of Sunday afternoon?”



“How about getting Dean and Seamus to show them some practical uses of magic? A lot of what we do at Hogwarts is about combat, protection and changing things. They’ve done wonders here and, I bet, with a little thought, they could do things agricultural too.”



“Mmm … Good idea Lover … next thing is to get Dean and Seamus on board.”



“Well … I sort of suggested … Prompted by the little voice … That their NEWT’s papers could be about applied magic.”



“Exactly how many fishing lines do you have baited, Harry.”



“I’m not quite sure, but it’ll be fun reeling them in, won’t it?”



“Okay! Only when you do reel them in, just warn me, a hook behind the ear can be very painful.”



“No probs! Shall we shower before dinner?



The way Kreacher had arranged the dining area was that the students sat at four long tables in the patio, the Muggles had a long table by the pool-screen and the three pairs plus Hamish and Gregory had a long table in the dining area. Dishes were set on the sideboard and people from each table came to collect the necessary food for their tables. Round the indoor table the conversation was about things practical, fuelled by Harry’s suggestion to Dean and Seamus.



“I was chatting with Billy earlier,” Gregory said. “He was wondering if the was a way to plough using magic, if you know what I mean. With just the one tractor it’s going to take Grey years to get things going again.”



“Would Grey feel put out if magic were used?” asked Hamish.



“No! I don’t think so.”



“There are a number of goblin charms for digging earth; maybe we could adapt some of them,” Hamish suggested.



Kellie, who was helping with the serving, overheard their conversation. “We use digging spells in the garden, perhaps those would be useful. We haven’t yet thought about the fields, as the expanded kitchen garden is taking up most of our time. Billy has had some glasshouses given and Seamus and Dean have offered to help us re-erect them also.”



Draco smiled conspiratorially at Harry and whispered, “How are the fish biting today?”



Harry nudged his partner and smiled back. “How about a demonstration after lunch on Sunday? We might even be able to involve the students somehow.”



Dean understood. “Seamus and I are thinking of practical magic for our NEWT’s paper, would you mind if we join in too?”



Harry sat back and watched a new applied magic lesson take form, occasionally nudging the conversation, but quite happy to let Dean and Seamus organise things. A little horse trading took place wherein that pair would help monitor the paintball if Hamish, Kellie and Knox helped with the digging. The first half of the afternoon would be construction skills and the second half agricultural ones.



Once the meal was finished leisure activities took over, wizard chess and exploding snap games were played, goblin mah-jongg had its devotees as did elfin whist. Harry was pleased to see that the games were not particular to one race. The members of a study-quartet seemed, by and large, to be taking instruction from one of their members and playing a mixed game. Grey had one foursome learning dominoes whilst Wash and Cole were looking over Hamish’s shoulders as he explained the intricacies of the tiles in mah-jongg. Draco and Billy were tucked away in a corner with the chess board. There were two elves and two goblins spare, once they saw Harry they homed in on him and persuaded him to tell them about Quidditch. In the end all five took to broomsticks with a tennis ball and went to the practice area.



They were called to order at ten-thirty by Kreacher placing rows of steaming mugs of hot chocolate on the sideboard. There was also an amazing variety of coated biscuits. Drawn by the aromas, everyone crowded into the living area, sitting in the comfortable chairs, on their arms or on cushions on the floor, sipping their hot drinks.



“Harry! You said one day you would tell us about your snake adventure,” Wash stated. “Why not tell us now?”



It took a little coaxing but Harry gave in.



“This is a story based on a couple of my adventures with snakes,” he said. “A few years ago there was this little weedy boy called Garry. He had a bigger brother called Buddy; he was enormous and dense. Imagine Greg over there without any brains only four times as big.”



Greg stood and bulked up, trying to look menacing. The audience giggled.



“Buddy was always bullying Garry, pinching his food, and doing unspeakable things when their parents weren’t looking. Somehow, whenever Garry retaliated, he was caught in the act and blamed for bullying Buddy. When this happened Garry was locked in a small cupboard under the stairs, as a punishment. It seemed to Garry that he spent more time under the stairs than he did outside.”



Someone groaned, “It’s happened to me too!”



“You have my complete sympathy. Anyway; it was Buddy’s birthday treat,” Harry continued. “Garry’s father warned him to behave himself, so Garry looked meek and agreed that he would. At the zoo there were plenty of animals to see; lions and bears, growling and looking menacing; monkeys skipping round tree branches and throwing things, plus many others. Eventually they came to the reptile house, it was hot in there and most of the inmates were asleep, mostly being nocturnal animals.”



“I’ve been to one, they’re boring,” a young voice said.



“That’s what Buddy thought too. Whilst Garry was being quiet he noticed a beautiful big snake whose skin glistened. Garry thought it looked like a crown full of jewels and said so; not that anyone was listening. Well … That’s not quite true, because the snake looked up and seemed to say ‘thanks for the compliment’; not that Garry was quite sure he had heard correctly. The fact that the snake had moved attracted Buddy, he pushed Garry out of the way and commenced to bang on the window. Sitting on the ground Garry felt very aggrieved, wishing the glass would give way. Funny thing was though, he got his wish and Buddy fell through into the pool of water in which the snake had been washing. Sensing freedom the snake shot out.”



Draco, following the story, made an illusory snake, which shot out from behind Harry and seemed to be flying low over the audience’s heads. They ducked and some of them screamed; then giggled as they realised it was an illusion.



“Needless to say there was a big fuss. Buddy had to be rescued; of course Garry got the blame. The zoo keepers looked high and low for the snake, and then, when they couldn’t find it, sent a bill to the parents; it was enormous, so Garry was locked in the cupboard for two whole days.”



“That wasn’t fair,” shouted a voice from the back.



“That’s what Garry thought, too. However he soon forgot the incident as he was told he was soon to be starting at Hogwarts. And we all know how exciting that is, don’t we?”



“OOH YES!” breathed his audience.



“A few years later Garry was on the rostrum at the duelling club. Just like the one you saw on Wednesday evening. Only this wasn’t a sporting event, this was for real and very nasty.



“Gasps.”



“Yes … Garry’s enemy, Damien, was out to get him good and proper. Garry seemed to be the better magician and had managed to blast Damien, but Damien was sly and cast a serpent calling hex. It just so happened that the snake was passing by and he was caught in the summoning. He was furious, hissing and spitting at everyone in the room.”



Draco caused another snake to appear. This time the audience giggled, even when it started hissing at them.



“Damien had cast his spell hoping that the snake would bite Garry. The snake reared up preparing to strike.”



Draco’s image followed suit.



“Then it recognised his liberator, so it turned on Damien and bit him instead.”



The image seemed to split into many and strike at the audience, who ducked.



“Funny thing though. Damien didn’t die from the bite; it affected him differently. Once the injection had worked its way through his system he became very close friends with Garry. Damien and Garry learnt a lot from their friendship and became exceptionally strong in magic.”



His audience clapped.



“Okay,” said Cole as the ovation died down, “we understand Garry was you, Harry. Don’t tell us Damien was Draco, was he?”



“The names I disguised slightly, some of the story was absolutely true, and some of it was pure fiction. I’ll let you all work out which was which. However, Draco and I are very close friends, and he does cast a very realistic snake, doesn’t he? Then again I can speak to snakes, so maybe it was me being the nasty one. Or … Is that the fictional bit?”



The party buzzed as they discussed the story, Billy, Cole and Grey managed to get the students moving bed-wards. The other young Muggle wandered over to Harry looking sheepish.



“Erm … Harry?”



“Yes Wash?”



Do you mind if we use the upstairs four bunk room tonight? It’s started raining and it is quite a long walk.”



“Have you asked Kreacher?”



“Yes! He says we have to ask you, but he’s happy to accommodate us.”



“Right! If my butler says yes, then so do I.”



“Erm … Thanks … Erm!”



“I take it that there’s more?”



“Yes … Well … We’d like to help out with the paintball, if you don’t mind.”



“What does Greg say?”



“Much the same as Kreacher.”



“Okay! Clear it with Hamish as well.”



“We have done, and it’s a yes from him too.”



“Anything more?” Harry pretended to be anxious. “I suspect you’ve drawn the short straw.”



“Well … Yes … Grey says you can use the ten acre field if you want to train the students in digging spells. He also suggests hedge layering too.”



“I bet you have some dry-stone walling and greenhouse restoration work in mind a well?”



“Oh … Yes … Dean and Seamus did sort of mention it, also.”



Draco, who had been listening to this conversation, fell about laughing. “Look out for flying hooks.” He managed between guffaws.



Wash looked at him curiously.



“It’s all right, Wash,” Harry put in quickly, “My partner has a peculiar sense of humour sometimes. Just ignore him, it’ll wear off. I’m quite happy with all the plans. I think the students will enjoy their stay here, and get something out of it.”



“There’s on thing more, though.”



“Go on, tell me.” Harry tried to look menacing.



“We have a pile of old newspapers at Milkwood. Billy says you can turn them into overalls.”



“When? Tonight or in the morning.”



“In the morning. Dean says you could make it into a lesson. Could you?”



“Good idea, of course I will.” Harry looked dangerously at Wash. “Do you have any more things to tell me?”



“No thanks Harry.” Wash gave him a big wet kiss and then wished both of them goodnight.



“Where’s my kiss then?” opined Draco.



“You weren’t asked to do anything, were you? … Still … Just to keep the peace.” Wash gave Draco a luscious one too and received a pat on the bum in return.



As they were climbing the stairs, Harry heard.



“Well, did he make a fuss?”



“No! I told you he wouldn’t. That’s a galleon you owe me.”



Draco burst out in another fit of giggling. “You know, Harry. You organise people like our great headmaster used to. Not quite the same style, but close enough.”



“I hope that’s a compliment. I suppose it must be, ’cause you didn’t call me Potter.”



Draco and Harry were rather pleased that they were in their own bed in Magnet Cottage that night, otherwise there would have been a long drawn out symphony of squeaks. They knew they could indulge longer, because breakfast was at nine on Saturday morning.