Chapter 37

25 April 2025

-oOo-

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

-oOo-

March 15, 1994

Saffron Bay, Isla Matanceros, Costa Rica

Stepping out of the cabinet large enough for someone three times her height and width, Lex still marvelled that she could travel almost a hundred and forty miles in the time it took to close the door, have the latch hook and then open it again. By helicopter this would have been over an hour to from Isla Nublar to Saffron Bay.

She was here to go with Harry on one of his adventures. She knew she wasn't at his level, but she could cast a stunner, a cutting hex, a banisher, a dozen other simple spells and had proven she could shoot, even if she didn't like it. In the hot tropical heat, she was already sweating in her sleeveless top, thick pants and boots. She had a light backpack with supplies for a few days and was holding all her new winter gear that she had had to get.

She hadn't realized that she had grown just enough from last year that her older winter clothes from living in the states were a little too tight now.

There was a certain giddy anticipation as she opened the door. The cabinet room had been one of the first building the goblins had rushed to complete. The building was a large hexagonal design with a high roof and twelve alcoves that could hold cabinets. It was half the size of the gymnasium in her old high school. All but one vanishing cabinet on Isla Nublar had been moved here.

Above each was a sign in English, German and goblin. They could now travel thousands of miles in seconds to Rothsnarg, Beauxbatons and Karlsburg. She knew Harry wanted to have one to Durmstrang and Hogwarts soon. Why they needed an individual cabinet for each location, she didn't fully understand when they were making the chamber that could link numerous places. There had to be a way to link the cabinets in an equivalent way.

She closed the door behind her and stepped to the side. Sirius came through next, followed by her mother, Tim, Susan and Mrs Bones. The Greengrasses were all staying behind to keep an eye on the others and it wouldn't take them long to get back. Besides this was only for a few days.

Lex had convinced her mother to let her go.

Harry had been invited to talk with the Knight of Walpurgis, while Sirius, her mother and Mrs Bones were going to talk with the council. They had established a council here and had been voted to represent them.

Lex wanted to see the city under the glacier. Tim wanted to come when he found out she was going. Susan was much the same. If everything went well this time, then everyone else could start visiting Karlsburg.

After this, Harry had to take her to Beauxbatons and Rothsnarg. She wanted to see the city under the mountain and meet the half-giants. So far, none of them had come here, and that cabinet had only been delivered yesterday.

"Is everyone here?" her mother asked the excited crowd.

"Where's Harry," Tim asked. He wasn't hounding Harry anymore, but she knew Tim looked up to him. He had even worn their mother down to start learning how to use a wooden practice sword.

"I told him to meet us here by ten. He was working with Rrunlung," Sirius said.

Mrs Bones looked to her watch. "He still has a few minutes. Are you sure you have everything you need? A few changes of clothes? All your toiletries? Enough warm clothes?"

"Yes, mum. I'm looking forward to seeing snow again," Susan said.

Lex shivered. "I've gotten to like it around here."

"That's only because I always beat you in a snowball fight," Tim said. He was getting older, almost thirteen but still annoying. Thinking on that, she grinned. In a month she would be seventeen.

In a way, Harry was just about that too, but he had decided to keep his original birthday.

"Please don't start that before we go. You two aren't six anymore," her mother said.

Sirius chuckled. "Just don't use rocks or ice pellets in the snowballs."

They looked to him. "Do I want to know?" her mother asked.

Sirius shook his head. "Wands, snowballs and wizards can make for some interesting times in the winter." He rubbed his arm. "Also, lots of bruises when things get out of hand."

"How do you make snowballs and throw them with your wand?" Tim asked excitedly.

"It's a simple transfiguration or charm, then you use a banishing hex… Oi! It's all innocent," Sirius said, backing away from her glaring mother.

She grinned. She would have to have Harry teach her how to do it and then get Tim… she may be almost seventeen, but that didn't mean she couldn't get her brother.

Susan sidled over. "Will Harry teach us how to do that?"

She looked to the girl. Susan had a mischievous streak to her, even if she was a little shy at times.

"I'm sure he will," she assured the fourteen-year-old.

The doors to the outside opened. Harry walked in. The cargo pants, sleeveless shirt and the way he moved always caught her attention. Even so, she could tell he was tense. The building muscles on his arms were all taught. His shoulders were held back. He took purposeful steps that echoed around the room with his big boots on. He held his winter jacket and pack in his left hand while tapping his body to ensure he had two pouches on his belt, a large knife she hadn't seen before, his disillusioned wand and his sword.

She moved to him, sensing something was off.

"You alright there, pup?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah. Just not looking forward to this," Harry said.

He wrapped his right around her when she put hers around him. "It will be fine," she told him.

He took in a whiff of her hair. "I know."

"I know what you and Sirius have told us, but we haven't seen any thing to worry about," Mrs Bones said.

"I know, Missus Bones. It just brings up bad memories," he said.

"You know that John hasn't been able to find anything on the Gaunts or Dumbledore, and the Riddles died out more than a hundred years ago," Sirius said.

"I know. Let's get going," Harry replied.

"Where did you get the knife?" she asked, moving to take his hand.

Harry relaxed a little. "Rrunlung didn't want me to go off to the dwarves without some protection. She said that it was once her son's, and I have been given permission to use it for my life."

Sirius rose a brow. He understood the significance, but didn't say anything. She had a feeling she missed something and would ask Harry about it later.

"If we are all ready, I'm sure that dear old Gellert and everyone are waiting for us," Sirius said.

"I still think we should have dressed more formally," Mrs Bones said.

"You are dressed fine, Wendy. There isn't a lot of pomp and circus there, and as for formal wear, there are a few shops, but everyone was more practical. There are some restaurants and such, but most are more worried about surviving than going for a night out on the town," Sirius told them.

"And this place is really under a glacier?" Susan enquired.

"You'll see when we get there. We can go by twos. I'll go first. Lynne, you and Tim should be second. Then Wendy and Susan. Pup, you don't mind bringing up the rear?" Sirius asked.

"It's not like I don't protect your arse most of the time anyways," Harry snarkily remarked.

Sirius gave a barking laugh while her mother didn't look impressed. "I need you two to be on your best behaviour," she told the teen and the man-child.

Harry grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

Her mother narrowed her eyes. Sirius grinned behind her back. Mrs Bones shook her head.

When they were the last ones in the Hall of Cabinets, she pulled Harry to a stop. He turned to look into her eyes. GOD! She loved his green eyes. "Are you alright with this?"

Harry let out a long sigh. "I'll be fine." She pursed her lips. He leaned down to peck her. "Really, luv. I can tell this is not like back where I came from. It's just hard to let that go. You know how and why Sirius and I are here."

She did now. In the last few weeks, Harry hadn't held anything back. Frankly, it scared the shit out of her to understand what his life had really been like and what it was like from where he came from. She understood, as best she could, that Sirius and him were weary of all this.

She went up on her toes to kiss the side of his mouth. "I'll be right beside you."

"Thanks," he said.

Stepping into the cabinet, she held his hand tight as his whole body stiffened. He felt ready to pounce. When the door opened, the chill air of the place struck her skin, causing goose pimples to raise up. She shivered as Sirius was shaking Mr Grindelwald's hand. Susan was rushing to get her sweater on.

Lex was quick to follow. Why she didn't do this before, she didn't know.

Harry waited for her to get herself situated before he handed her his sword. She had held it a few times before and still wondered at the weight of it when in the scabbard. It wasn't as heavy as she expected, but it was still a good weight. He took it back, slinging the strap back over his head and shoulder.

The fact he looked a mix between Indiana Jones and a knight from am Arthurian legend only enhanced his appeal. Never mind the fact that her magic, and her hormones, screamed for him most of the time.

The cabinet to Saffron Bay was in a large chamber. It looked to be only half built with a huge mosaic opposite them. To the right of the door was a partially completed one of a huge round table with a dozen people around it. She recognized Harry and Sirius. Mr Greengrass was only half completed and the top of the mosaic where the goblins would be was still blank.

A dozen people were in the room to meet them.

"Gellert, I'm sure you remember my daughter, Alexis?" her mum was saying to the congenial old man.

His German accent could be heard through his clear English. "I could never forget such a radiant young woman."

She found herself blushing at the way he took her hand and kissed the back of it. He had greeted her that way when he been introduced a few weeks ago. There was just something so old fashioned and debonair about it.

He then moved to Harry. "Harry, I'm pleased to see you took us up on our offer to visit. I hope you enjoy your time here and I know there are many here that would like to meet you. They would like to meet all of you."

The man shook Harry's hand and put then put his other hand over the two clasped hands. It was a warm gesture. It was so contrary to the stories that Sirius had told them, though she had said the Grindelwald from their time had been said to be a great orator.

"Thank you, Councillor Grindelwald. I'm really interested in seeing the towns and talking with the dwarves more. I see Borin is here," Harry said, dipping his head toward the dwarf. "And you too, Councillor Jesibel."

The little brownie beamed at him.

"Yes, Knight Potter. I look forward to testing your skill on the practice grounds," Borin said.

Harry reached for her. "Lex wants to see how you manage all the electronics around the magic while shielding everything from others."

She smiled. Borin stroked his shield. "I will have our ward masters and architects made available."

"I'm sure Harry would love to talk with the ward masters too," Lex said.

"We'll organize all that. Not that it all must be done at once. I hope that you will visit often. I know I look forward to see how Saffron Bay grows and finally see this great library that you are building," Mr Grindelwald said.

Harry grinned. "Well, if Lex has anything to do with it, that should all be on computers soon."

"I'm still working on the translation program. There are still some languages or rune sets I don't have any references for," she told him. So far, they had only been able to scan in about thirty percent of everything and her program could only transcribe about half of that. It was much harder than the dinosaur recognition program, even with her using that as a base.

"Well, when you do figure it out, there are many that look forward to using it," the man said. "I'm being a poor host. If you would, let me introduce you to the others?"

She had to look up, taking a step back as she suddenly realized the giant white furry thing along the wall wasn't part of the building mosaic. She was sure she let out a small 'eep' as she took a step behind Harry. She had seen Susan have much the same reaction or Tim grin and say 'Wicked'.

Harry took her hand. "It's all right, Lex."

The giant white thing was twelve feet tall with biceps almost as large as she was, long arms, trashcan sized hands and a face that had a huge nose and even larger black eyes. Mr Grindelwald chuckled. "Don't mind Ichmea. He may look fierce but wouldn't harm a fly."

The thing grunted and made noises like the Wookies on Star Wars.

"Alright, he's not that harmless. Ichmae and the residents of Karlsburg Preserve vow to do you no harm and protect you like all those he's vowed to protect. Ichmea is one of our guard captains. Ichmea Stormbrow, may I introduce Knight Harry Potter and his intended, Alexis Murphy," Mr Grindelwald said.

If she wasn't still trying to decide if the giant thing was going to be friendly or not, she might have caught what the man said.

Harry reached out a hand. "It is nice to meet you. Once we can get the translation medallions working for your language, I look forward to talking with you."

The thing let out a low growl and gruff barking sounds. Harry's upper arm disappeared into the things hand. How he could be so calm about this, she didn't know. She had handled meeting the goblins, dwarves and brownies with no issues.

Taking in a deep breath, she set her shoulders back. She would not be afraid.

Holding her own hand out after stepping next to Harry, she looked up to the thing's eyes. After a second, it gave her an approving nod before reaching over and touching her forehead. It was a very gentle tap. It had a leather pad on its finger that was rather soft. She felt confused.

"The Eireich do not normally shake people's hands. They understand how strong they are. To be touched on the forehead is a sign they respect your position," Mr Grindelwald explained.

The others were still being introduced by Sirius's cousin.

Next, Mr Grindelwald turned to a dark hair woman of such beauty that Lex was momentarily stunned. There was also a presence from the woman that she wasn't sure to be stunned with or turned on.

"This is Councillor Earin Norberg of the veela conclave. Earin, Knight Harry Potter and Alexis Murphy."

Harry kissed the woman's extended hand. Lex had an insane amount of jealously surge through her. "A pleasure, Councillor Norberg."

When the woman spoke, it oozed a sensuality that Lex was even more confused with. Was she French? "The pleasure is all mine, Knight Harry." Her brow was raised. "You are not influenced by my powers, are you?"

Harry shook his head. "Never have been. I was told I was too strong willed. I just refuse to be manipulated like that."

The woman looked to Lex. "I suspect it is more than that."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe now, but veela have never effected me."

As he said that, it suddenly clicked. Sirius and Harry had told them about veela and their powers. They were supposed to be the embodiment of sex, or something like that. This feeling in her that she was confused with made a little more sense, but she knew she had never looked at woman that way. It also helped with her jealousy she was feeling to know that Harry wasn't affected.

Tim must have still been too young as he wasn't paying attention to her, instead talking with two kids about their age. Susan was with him.

"Not many can say that without building up a tolerance," Councillor Norberg said.

"I would like to discuss that more later. There are still a few more introductions to be made. This is Zacharia Wilmont, our chief archivist and the one that will be examining the wands to determine how to make more," Grindelwald said.

The man was in his middle years with a balding head, hazel eyes and was slightly pudgy. He had a thick accent. "Pleasure," the man said, shaking Harry's hand. "I look forward to seeing what you have. Do you have the wands with you? To use one…" The man had a wistful expression. "There are old stories of what we might be able to do…"

Harry looked a little weary. "Sirius and I will keep our word. We don't have an unlimited supply," Harry said.

"Of course not. But to have a wand… and books. Are you the one that is getting us a new library?" the man said, turning to her.

She didn't like him. Harry didn't seem too either. "I'm doing my best," she said.

He said something in German before saying, "Excellent. When do we get the books? I can't wait to put my fingers on the pages. It must feel so different. And the knowledge in them…"

"Mister Wilmont, none of the books and scrolls are leaving us. Our agreement is to provide electronic copies of what we can," Harry said.

The man pursed his lips. He turned to Mr Grindelwald. They had a quick, rushed conversation. The man huffed. Grindelwald turned back to them. "I apologize. Zacharia thought the library was going to be moved here, even though he was told of the agreement. I'm sure he would love to visit Saffron Bay once the library is available."

"I don't know," Harry said. "I think most of the books and scrolls will be put into storage." He looked to her. "Many of them are in bad condition."

"That's why we are scanning them. We've already had a few that were falling apart and had to learn to be more careful with them," she said.

The other man choked. "Falling apart? You didn't damage them, did you?"

"I'm sure they were gentle with them. Zacharia, we will visit the archive in the next day or two. Perhaps you can go back and prepare a few of our choice texts that you might have questions on. Harry and Sirius are rather knowledgeable," Grindelwald said.

The man looked torn, before giving the older man a quick nod and then turning away.

"Our chief Archivist is a bibliophile. He has dedicated himself to preserving our knowledge and expanding it. The opportunity that you present to us has caused a bit of a stir here and the Archivists are all eager to see what knowledge you can give us and explain some things that we know we have forgotten and can't figure out. I suspect some of that is because of the power amplification of wands over our rods," Grindelwald explained.

"Are you done giving them a hard time?" Melania asked.

Harry brightened to see her. He had taken to the woman when she had visited the islands, and it was obvious that Sirius liked her. Lex liked her too.

Grindelwald gave the woman a gentle smile. "That was never my intention. I was only trying to introduce them, though I know many will want to meet them all."

The woman shook her head. She moved in and hugged Harry. "I'm glad you came. Lex, you look wonderful in that sweater."

"I still say they are jumpers," Harry muttered.

She shook her head. Most of the time she liked his Briticisms. "Jumpers are completely different."

"I'm still not convinced."

The woman ignored them as though used to teens. "You must meet my son and daughter, then we will take you to our house to get you settled."

"Melenia, we do have plans to give them a tour this afternoon," Grindelwald said.

"After they are settled and have lunch," she replied.

Sirius, her mum and Mrs Bones were talking with Borin, Jesibel and the veela woman. She was still unsure what to think. Every time she looked to the unnaturally attractive woman, she was between attracted and disgusted with jealousy.

Harry must have caught her staring. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "Luv, she has nothing on you. You are the hottest girl I've ever seen. And that knit jumper is really cute on you."

She leaned her head into her shoulder at the tickling on her ear. She heard his sincerity, and he told her that often. She felt a little better.

Melania pulled a boy of about sixteen over. He was tall and gangly, as though he had gone through a growth spurt lately. He had the characteristic black hair that seemed prevalent with anyone related to Sirius. He even looked a little like Sirius. His grey eyes looked her up and down for a second. She was used to it, but Harry's hand tightened on hers in a possessive way.

The slight thrill to know that she wasn't the only one that could be jealous was enough to break the hold the beautiful woman had on her.

"This is my eldest, Matthew," she said.

Harry held out a hand. "Nice to meet you."

The boy looked to Harry. She thought he looked a little intimidated. She was getting used to that reaction to her boyfriend. "Nice to meet you," Matthew said, reaching out to shake Harry's hand.

"And this is my daughter, Wendy."

The girl was maybe thirteen? Her long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She was developing into an attractive girl that would look a lot like her mother with light brown eyes.

When they left the room, they were led through a long, vaulted corridor before walking out into the huge dome of Nurmengard. The descriptions that Sirius and Mr Greengrass had given of the place didn't do it justice.

Overhead the dark mass of ice and rocks could be seen through thick glass. There were some scratches here and there where a boulder had been dragged across it. The mile wide area was full of people, dwarves, brownies and the yetis.

Knowing she could do magic…

Knowing things like this existed…

Knowing there were dragons, trolls and half-giants…

None of that really prepared her for seeing something like this.

Harry had a huge grin on his face. "Wicked," he said with some awe.

"Holy shit!" she muttered.

Harry chuckled. "Come on, we can't lose the others."

She shook her head as he pulled her along. "Fuck, Harry? Is this real?"

He laughed at her this time. "Yeah. Though, this is one of the best things I've seen, and doubt they want you climbing on me here."

She hit his arm. "Behave. What about Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons and all the other places? Are they anything like this?"

"I like them too, but I've never seen anything like this," he said.

Her head was swivelling around to take it all in as he made sure they didn't get lost. "Will you take me to them all?"

"Yes," he promised.

She now understood why he so loved to go exploring. If there were places like this all over the world, she wanted to see them all.

-oOo-

That night….

Nurmengard, Switzerland

The light that had been coming from overhead had gone out like the setting sun. The enormous arches and the glacier above were lost in shadows and darkness. The lamps around the boulevard and along the paths of the park were more an orange colour, making it feel like night back in the states.

Lex wasn't really noticing all that. Her head was spinning with everything they had seen today.

Nurmengard was the largest of the domes under the glacier. Thousands of people of all different races lived here. Harry was looking just as thunderstruck at times as they had been led through a series of passages, domes and buildings.

After being shown back to the Orville's, which was a small apartment building in one of the other domes, they had been allowed to go off and wander. No one seemed that concerned about them getting lost and Sirius's younger cousins were with Susan and Tim, while the adults had still been talking when they left.

They sat at a small table outside a small café. The street around the edge of Nurmengard was the primary business area that attracted almost everyone at one point or another. This time of the evening only a hand full of stores were open, as were two restaurants and this café.

She was picking at a decadent chocolate cake and sipping a small latte. Harry was leaning back in his chair, looking at the dark roof and occasionally at those walking by.

He reached over to pick up his cup of tea. "You know, I think this is the first date we've been on since last summer," he said.

She smiled at him. They had found ways to be together, but not like this. Not since moving to Isla Nublar. She reached over for his hand. He put his tea down and took it.

"I didn't really get dressed up for a date though," she told him.

Harry threaded his fingers into hers. "There are two nice restaurants. What if I take you out to one tomorrow night?"

Her smile grew. "I would like that."

He leaned over, pulled her hand up and kissed the back of it. "It's a real date then."

She pulled his hand over and did the same. "I still can't believe this place is real and there are so many witches and wizards."

"I know," Harry said, looking very pensive.

After a moment, she asked, "What are you thinking?"

He shook his head. "I don't know yet. I know we must have seen more than a hundred wizards today. Grindelwald said there were a few hundred here. That is still so few. I could have seen that many on a busy day in the atrium of the Ministry for Magic, never mind the students in the great hall of Hogwarts, or the tens of thousands when I went to the Quidditch World Cup. We were shown the school. Lex, there were more than forty students in my year alone, and I was told that was a small year because of the war. By the time I was in my fifth year, the first-year class was double that. Sirius said there were more than a hundred in his year, and that was a small year at the time. There were only forty total in the school here. There are just so few of us."

She squeezed his hand before moving her chair closer. "I know you'll help and there will be more again. Your Aunt Melania said that there were more students now than they have had before."

Harry sighed. "I'm sorry to be so down. I should be thrilled to be here. I mean, look at this place. It's amazing. I would say even more impressive than Hogwarts. I didn't even know you could use magic to keep a bloody glacier from ripping this place apart."

She lifted his hand to her lips again. "I didn't even know about magic until I met you. This is all new to me. I'm still having a hard time believing this is real."

He turned his head towards her, then shifted his chair so that he was right next to her. He leaned his head down and she touched her forehead to his. "This is all real. As real as you are," he said, as though trying to convince himself of something.

She pecked his nose. "Of course I'm real. Why would you think otherwise?"

He pecked her lips. "I still have nightmares at times."

She knew he did, but he hadn't said anything about them for a while. "About what?"

He let out a long breath. "I fear this will all just be a dream. That one day I'll wake up and the dinosaurs will be gone. I'll be back at Hogwarts. I don't know if it's scarier to wake up and think the near death of magic is real, or that you and everything I know now is fake?"

She could feel his turmoil. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She was trying to understand his fears. She was trying to understand what he must be going through at times. She could partially relate as she had been torn away from the world she knew back in Washington, D.C. She hadn't even talked with any of her friends lately. Harry and all this was now her life, but there were times she still missed her old life.

The difference was, she could go back to her old life if she wanted.

Harry was stuck here… or so she secretly hoped.

"Do you want to go back?" she questioned. She found herself asking that of him every once in a while. It was one of her nightmares.

"No," he said rather resolutely. "Doesn't mean I don't miss some things."

"Then let's make them real here," she said.

He chuckled, pulling back to look into her eyes. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," she said.

"Merlin, Lex, I love you," he told her.

That declaration always had her heart fluttering. "And don't you forget that."

He gave a soft laugh before kissing her.

They sat for a few, oblivious to the people around them, his forehead on hers, her arms around his neck and his eyes closed as he worked through whatever else was going through his head. "Darling, what else is bothering you?"

His intense green eyes opened. Her heart fluttered more. "Darling?"

She felt her cheeks warm a little. "You're always calling me 'luv'. I feel I should have my own. You don't like darling?"

He grinned, causing a pleasant heat in her core. "It's bril, luv."

She moved to give him a soft, lingering kiss. "What else is bothering you, my love?"

"No more darling?"

She huffed. "You are a pain, you know that, right?"

"No more than you at times."

"I'm cute, not a pain," Lex retorted.

"We'll go with that," Harry said in a teasing tone.

"I'm going to call you an ass soon," she playfully warned.

"That's more the girl I love," he said. He pecked her, then let out another long sigh. "I don't want to bring back where I grew up. It was a marvellous place, but also horrible. We have a chance to make something new. I mean, look at this place?"

She moved her head to look around. She felt she was missing something. "What about it?"

"It's brilliant," he said. She heard the adoration in his voice.

"How so?"

"There are tables where dwarves are sitting and talking with normal people. The Eireich walk around like it's completely normal. House elves are free and looked on as equals to everyone else. I don't think Sirius and I have really made it clear how bigoted, backwards and unequal magical society was. Hell, I even get respect from goblins, and they would have sooner gutted a wizard than give a wizard a name and equal status in the clans. I could never go back to where we came from," he said.

He turned back to her to kiss her cheek. "I could never leave you."

She had a huge smile. The type of smile only someone completely in love, and usually for the first time, could have. She clasped her hands together on the back of his neck. "Good, because I'm not letting you go."

"Does that mean you want me around for a while?"

She looked intently into his eyes. She felt there was so much more to that question. She wasn't even sure if he meant it the way she was taking it, but she would be damned if she let this go. "I want you around forever and for always," she told him.

He smiled. "Then I'll be around that long."

There was a pulse to their magics at those words. She didn't know what it meant. Harry looked slightly surprised too. "What was that?"

"No bloody clue," he said.

"Was it bad?"

He pondered it for a long moment. "I don't think so. I don't feel any different. You?"

"No," she said after a moment. There was still something bothering him. "Harry, darling, what is really bothering you?"

"I don't know," he said. "I just have this feeling."

She frowned. He had been saying that on and off for weeks now. "About here?"

"I don't think so. It's just like there is this annoying itch in the centre of my back. I really like it here," he said.

"I do too. We'll figure it out."

He nodded. "Are you about done?"

"Nearly. Are you thinking of going back already?"

"This is the first time I have my girlfriend out on a date in months. I'll take all the blame with your mum for being late," he said. He then affectively said with an eye roll, "Oh, no. We got lost."

She shook her head while giggling at his antics. "She'll get over it. What did you want to do?"

"Check out that bookstore and then walk around? Maybe find a nice place in the park to snog?" he suggested.

She looked at her half-eaten cake. She wanted it, but having Harry's tongue in her mouth sounded better right now. "Make out first. Bookstore second."

He stood up and held a hand out for her. "Merlin, I love you."

-oOo-

March 16, 1994

Strausgard, Karlsburg Preserve, Switzerland

The large Eireich, Ichmea Stormbrow, leaned against the wall of the headquarters of the Knights of Walpurgis. He was watching the two dozen or so guards that were practicing with knives and close hand-to-hand combat.

Harry and Lex had wandered to the smaller chamber of Strausgard after getting a letter requesting him to be here about nine. Lex had wandered with him, not having much else to do at the moment and not wanting to go to the library on her own. Harry didn't blame her. He wasn't looking forward to seeing Mr Wilmot again.

As he approached the training ground, the large Eireich made a gruffing noise and nodded to them. An old man that had been teaching the others looked towards Harry. The man broke away from the group.

He was of average height, well-muscled with greying hair, a short, trimmed beard and dark blue eyes. The man moved with the grace of a gorilla ready to strike. He was dangerous and strong, but he didn't seem as quick or nimble as someone like Yvonne.

"Mister Potter?" the man asked.

Harry stuck out his hand. "Harry Potter. Mister Verne?"

"Knight Verne, if you please. It's a title that is earned after hard work," the man told him. Harry could hear the slight animosity that Harry had been 'gifted' the same title at his age. Harry had never asked for it, but Grindelwald had insisted on using it, and Borin had agreed.

"Knight Verne. This is Alexis Murphy. She wants to come see what you do, if you don't mind?" Harry asked, having no intention of her going off on her own at the moment.

"Glad to meet you, Miss Murphy. Are you here for your test as well?" the man asked.

Lex gave a look to Harry as she held out her hand. "Test? I wasn't aware of any test," she said as the man took her hand and kissed the back of it. That seemed to be the standard response to females here.

"The invitation was extended to Mister Potter," the man said, stressing 'mister', "at the request of Councillor Grindelwald to train with the Knights of Walpurgis. If he is to do that, then he must be evaluated. You are free to apply, like all free people of the preserve."

"No thank you," Lex said, stepping back to be closer to Harry.

Harry had a feeling this would be coming. He moved to undo the clasps on the robes that he had been given to wear. The man rose a brow. "Don't you want to see the facilities first?"

"If we are going to do this, let's get it done," Harry told the man.

"Be careful, Harry," she said.

Harry nodded. "How do you want to do this?"

The man gave a mirthful snort of disbelief. "Alright, if that is how you want it. Do you know how to handle that blade?" Verne asked, nodding towards the Sword of Gryffindor.

"Well enough. I have my knife too, but I'm not as good with that," he said. Not that he was that bad anymore with how Yvonne and others where training him, but he was still better with the sword.

"Use whatever blade or magic you want. You will be assessed over five rounds. One point for each hit. You must get three points to win a round or incapacitate your opponent. If you win three rounds, we'll go onto target practice," the man said.

He handed the cloak to Lex. After swinging his arms a few times, he undid the clasp on the sword. The metallic ring brought the practice to a stop. "Guard the blade or bare?"

The man gave him a curious look. "What do you mean guard the blade?"

"You can cast an air shield over the edge of the blade. It will hurt when hit and you can still break bones, but it won't cut you," Harry said.

"That could be interesting. We usually use wooden practice knives and swords. If you can guard the blades, then let's see what you do with your preferred weapons," Verne said.

Harry shrugged. His wand jumped to his hand. "Who am I fighting?"

Harry ran the tip of his wand over the edge of his sword, then did the same with his knife. He stuck the knife into his belt as he couldn't sheath it again until it tasted blood. He respected goblin traditions that way.

Verne called a dozen people over. "The first three rounds will be single combat. Then you face three and then five attackers."

"Sure," Harry told him. He had faced worse odds. Lex gave him a slightly worried look before nodding. After guarding the knives and two other swords of his opponents, he walked out into the middle of the field. He switched his wand to his other hand for a moment to put up a fencing shield on his left arm, then moved into a standard fighting stance.

A few of the guards shared apprehensive looks while others didn't look impressed.

Verne barked out something in German. A tall man with reddish hair stepped out into the area. He had a knife and a rod. Harry assessed him as he had been taught by Simmons. The man held himself loosely. He had a confidence to him that Harry wasn't sure if he could use against the man or not.

There was another barked command, and the man moved. He let out a guttural scream and charged Harry. He felt like the man's moves where being broadcast from a mile away. The rod swiped across the man's body. The man barked out something and a white arc of magic shot out towards Harry.

It was a low powered cutting hex. It wouldn't do a lot of damage, but it would still hurt. If they thought this would scare him, these wankers were about to find out who they were dealing with. Harry spun the tip of his wand. He didn't want that hex getting behind him as that was where Lex was standing. The simple Protego shield absorbed the hex. Harry dodged the red spell, then closed the distance to the man with a few large steps. The man's knife was jabbing towards Harry's gut.

The sword easily deflected it, and he then jammed the small spell shield into the man's gut. The man let out a small grunt of surprise, then Harry brought he sword down, stopping just before it hit the man's neck. "Do you yield?" Harry demanded.

The man stumbled back, a hand to his stomach and the knife on the ground.

The man looked at him little surprised. There was a soft muttering among the other men and women.

Harry stepped forward, his arm pulled back and ready to thrust forward with the tip of his sword. "Do you yield?"

The man held up his hand. "Yield," he said in heavily accented English.

A woman with a long sword like his stepped up next. She didn't have a rod. By her stance, she was ready to use a more slashing style. The fact he could start to recognize the three distinctive styles that Simmons used was not lost on Harry.

Seeing this, Harry slid his wand back into his holster and let go of the magic that was maintaining his scutum shield. He put the tip of his sword towards the ground. She shifted just a bit. Verne barked out an order. She moved to feint, then pulled back.

Harry was having none of that. He took a few large steps towards her. She brought her sword down. Harry twisted, brought his blade parallel to his body and then deflected her blade. He grabbed his knife and brought the pommel down hard on her hand.

She let out a yelp of pain then he wacked her shoulder with the side of his blade. Her sword dropped. Within three moves, the fight was over. He knew that Simmons taught him to end a fight quickly, but this seemed like child's play. Verne was frowning. The woman was opening and closing her hand. Harry hoped he didn't break anything, but he was used to full contact training with the goblins and the others.

"More or do you yield?" Harry asked her.

He backed off two paces as she went for her sword. "Again," she said.

Harry nodded, getting into a stance to use both blades.

This time she feinted a lunge, then turned her blade up. Harry just managed to miss the blow to his shoulder before countering. They exchanged three quick blows before she was disarmed again. Her sword rung like a tuning fork as it flew through the air to land point first a few feet away.

"Two points to Mister Potter," Verne said.

"Do you yield?"

She was cradling her hand, having been hit by the sword this time. "I yield."

"I can heal that after this," he offered. She nodded her acceptance. He moved over to pull her sword out of the ground and hand it back to her.

A rather buff blonde man stepped forward next. He had a large knife and rod. Harry slid his knife back into his belt and his wand flew into his hand. He stood so that his wand was forward and his sword ready to come down.

Something told him that this was not going to be an easy fight.

The man didn't wait for Verne to tell them to start. He stepped forward, the rod doing a funny dance and the man muttering something Harry didn't recognize. He felt the magic though. Diving to the side, the roughly troll-sized dirt hands that exploded from the ground just missed grabbing his legs.

Harry rolled, his wand swiping across as he came up on a knee and cancelling out the magic as the hands grasped at him again. They collapsed into dirt piles. He then did a funny twist to his wand, picturing what he wanted. The man was muttering something again.

The small mounds of dirt turned into a snarling wolfs. "Attack," Harry commended. He was forced to jump and roll again as two blunted arrows just missed him. He had not seen transfiguration or conjuration yet in this world. He was sure it probably surprised most, but they were clumsy attempts compared to what Harry had faced before and what he could do.

The man backed up, his knife jamming into one of the wolf's chin. It exploded into a cloud of dust and dirt clods. The other wolf charged from the side.

Harry spun his wand around and jabbed it three time. Three red balls of light spat out. The exploding dirt cloud of the first wolf swallowed the first stunner. The second just missed the man's head and the third was barely dodged. The man grabbed the wolf by the throat and slammed it into the ground. The wolf disintegrated back into dirt.

Swiping his wand, Harry commended, "Terravino!"

Thick vines shot out of the ground. The man screamed something in German and a spray of fire shot out of his rod. It consumed the vines, but didn't stop the new volley of stunners Harry sent out. The flames were quite hot as they came within a few feet of Harry.

When the flames died, the man was on the ground.

The talk among those watching was growing. He couldn't tell if they were excited or upset as he focused on Verne. "Is that a win?"

Verne pursed his lips. "Win," he grudgingly said.

Harry nodded. He walked over to the downed man. Making a little swish, a white light shot from his want. The man's eyes opened wide. He rolled, as though expecting an attack. Harry held up his hands. "It's over," he said.

The man had rolled onto his knees. "How?"

"I can teach you," Harry offered.

The man nodded and got up. "Knight Sven Olafson."

"Harry Potter," he said, grasping the man's forearm.

The next group was two women and a man. The shorter brunette to the right had a rod. The man, who looked more like a body builder, had a broadsword, while the blonde had a long knife in both hands. Harry gave Lex a wry grin when she told him, "Harry, be careful."

"I will, luv," he said. He wasn't trying to be overconfident, but so far, he had felt more threatened by the velociraptors that the knights.

When the fight started, the big man charged him. Harry was more concerned with the woman with the rod as she made a movement he recognized for magical ropes. Not wanting to hurt them too much, Harry pulled his wand to his chest. "Accio clothes," he said, still having issues silently casting this spell at times.

The man let out an exclamation of surprise. Harry had a feeling it was a rather colourful phrase in French. The man was pulled into the oncoming ropes. The look on his face as he was wrapped up was rather comical. Harry kept his cool demeanour as he stepped to the side and the man crashed to the ground next to him.

The woman behind him jumped over the man. Harry managed to block one knife with his sword, but hissed as the other slashed across his thigh. He didn't think about it to jab his wand up. His magic responded to his need and the banisher had her flying over the field to land about fifteen feet away.

He had to twist and was just nicked with a powerful stinging hex. Harry spun around, a stunner making sure the big man wasn't going to get up before his wand was coming up to blast out a few bludgeoning hexes.

He managed to dodge another set of ropes before his spells hit the woman in the shoulder, and then her side as she was violently knocked back. Harry limped as he got his footing after the cut to his leg. Looking down, the woman had sliced through his pants and into his thigh.

Harry bared his teeth as the blonde woman got up. She looked a little unsteady on her feet.

"I thought we were using guarded blades?" he asked.

She looked upset. "Blood or nothing."

Harry knew this game. He played it all the time with the goblins.

He tapped his sword with his wand to remove the protection, then his knife and finally slipped his wand into the holster. Grabbing the hand-and-a-half pommel, he lifted the hilt to his right shoulder. "Bring it on."

She was fast. His blade was moving to block the frantic swipes as she got inside his guard. She could give a goblin a run for their money. He almost took a few good hits. Harry got in the next three hits, ending it with a light slash to her arm. Moving back into the neutral fighting stance with his sword up, he looked to Verne. The blonde woman was in a heap after he had had to knock her out with a hit to the back of the head with the flat of his hilt when she had tried to charge him again after Harry had won.

"Is this how you fight? No honour?" Harry asked towards the others.

Verne was livid.

He stepped forward to challenge Harry when the white, furry giant Ichmea pushed off the wall. He made a few barking sounds and a low chuff. Everyone backed off while Harry was still ready to take them all on.

"You can't be serious? He's taken out some of our top knights," Verne said in English.

Ichmea growled and barked.

Verne huffed, then sheathed his knife. Looking back to Harry to reluctantly ask, "You can heal them?"

"It won't be pleasant, but I can. I don't know her name, but she will probably need to go to the hospital to get checked for a concussion. I'm sorry I didn't stun her," Harry said, still not relaxing.

A dwarf stepped forward. "You can stand down, young knight," the dwarf said.

Verne flashed the dwarf an angry look. The dwarf sent back a stern one. "You got your trial, Knight Verne. I have seen what I need to understand that Knight Potter has earned his title."

Verne took a moment to get hold of his anger before dipping his head. "Yes, Commander Axfell."

Harry lowered his sword. The first blonde he fought came forward still cradling her hand. Another rushed over to check on the one at his feet.

"How is Knight Garland?" Axfell enquired.

"Alive."

Harry knelt. He cast the quite simple diagnostics that Sirius had taught him. "I think she has a mild concussion but nothing else. Episky," he said, closing the small wound on her cheek.

"I hear you have wands?" the man asked. His rod was hanging at his side.

"We have some. I know that Councillor Grindelwald was going to figure out how to distribute them," Harry told him.

The man nodded. Harry closed the other two wounds before reviving her. She shook her head and looked a little dazed. After someone explained to her what happened, she looked a little sheepish that she had gotten carried away.

Harry did the same for the other woman. "I don't know your name," Harry said as he cast the diagnostic spell.

"Marishka Koslova. I was saved by the knights when little girl. I have not seen fighting like that," she said.

Harry shrugged, sensing that Lex had come up behind him. "I've had some good trainers."

"You fight like you have seen action," Commander Axfell said.

"Some," Harry admitted.

"Harry saved me from hunters, has killed some dinosaurs and even a Selma," Lex said proudly.

"I see. I understand why Councillor Grindelwald said you are a knight for your people," the commander said. He held out his hand after Harry had healed Marishka's hand. She took in only a hissing breath as the bones knitted back together.

Harry grasped the dwarf's forearm. Ichmea had come up to them at the same time. "I do what I have too," Harry said.

Axfell nodded. His dark eyes bored into Harry's. "I see you have seen much action. Come. Councillor Grindelwald has asked a select group of magical to the council chamber to see if we can match wands. I will give you a tour later."

Lex took his hand after he put his sword into its scabbard. He hoped they had enough wands, and he had a feeling that Sirius and him just became much busier. He wasn't sure how much more he could do without being overwhelmed.

Lex rubbed the back of his hand. As though guessing what he was thinking she said, "They will just have to learn like we are or come to our lessons to learn to use them."

Harry nodded. "Lex, I like teaching you and the others, but I don't want to be a professor," he confessed to her.

"Then don't. Teach a few and then they can teach the others," she whispered as she moved in close to his side. They followed Axfell and Ichmea into the large council building on the other side of the green.

-oOo-

Next time on The Magic of Amber: The soft opening of Jurassic Park and the Council of Preserves. Behind the scenes, the Order plans is final assault on the coven.