A/N: This is another spin on the core ideas in my story Extradition Challenges. But this time properly fleshed out into a full-length story. The start is the similar, but the rest isn't.
Chapter 01
Only one champion for each school, that's what Dumbledore had said.
He didn't understand.
He didn't know.
Didn't know how.
How his name had found its way in there, into the cup.
From what Hermione had said, and she at least had believed him, it could only choose one name from one school.
Cedric from Hogwarts, Fleur from Beauxbatons and Krum from Durmstrang.
Which left him. What school had he been chosen from? And who had put his name into the cup?
More importantly, what was he going to do now? He'd decided to start wandering the castle's corridors, anything to keep him away from the tower, the only place he'd felt safe, now it was just a space to sleep, and he wasn't sure he was safe even doing that.
The dangers were real, and had been real over the past few years, and now he felt the eyes and wands of everyone in the school, and especially everyone in his house on him.
—/ — \\—
He'd arrived early for the wand weighing, and fortunately, or not, Cedric Diggory was also there, the older boy eyeing him curiously.
He hadn't thought about it before, even last night, when he'd been wandering the halls of the castle, wondering what to do, he hadn't considered what to do.
But now, faced with the pre-beginning of the Tournament he knew he had to ask to help, and why not, from the person who was, or soon would be his competitor?
"I didn't put my name in the cup," Harry blurted out in a hushed tone.
Cedric gestured at a gap between two cabinets that would shield them from anyone entering the room. "I know."
Harry exhaled in relief as Diggory cast a spell around them. He had been moved to almost destruction between last night and now, he'd felt all the eyes of the school on him, that he, Harry Potter had some how magicked the cup. That somehow he wanted this, any of this.
"The school thinks that Hufflepuffs don't notice anything, that we're the house you go to when you're not any of the others," he paused looking down to Harry. "But we're the ones that see Potter."
Harry smiled nervously. "I want to get away."
"Away?" Diggory seemed startled by Harry's sudden demand. Then realisation dawned on his face. "It's a magically binding contract Potter."
Harry shook his head, trying to remember what he and Hermione had talked about late, late last night when he'd finally returned to the tower, she was the only one in there. Still doing homework, so she claimed. They'd just started talking about it, about everything, and got onto the 'nitty gritty' as Hermione called it, about the law and regular 'muggle' contracts, how you could break them it just resulted in jail or stuff like that.
He had money to fight this, if it was like a muggle contract, his uncle had commented about people in 'his business' paying people off to get things done out of contracts. But Harry wasn't sure if he could, fight this sort of contract with money. He also wasn't sure why he was telling Diggory this. But if there was someone he could talk to it was his opponent, from his school. If anything his going would mean Diggory would have a better chance at the Tournament.
"Then I'll run," Harry said. But then admitted. "I don't know where." He looked around. The room was still empty, they had both seemingly arrived quite early.
Cedric's eyes went wide, seemingly more aware than he was of something.
"Look what's happened the last three years. Do you think I wanted this?" Harry said almost pleading.
"Why tell me?" Cedric asked reasonably.
Harry laughed a sarcastic short laugh, one he'd learnt from the teachers ignoring his pleas about what Dudley and his 'gang' used to do. "Ron and most of the school want my guts for garters," Harry paused and gave him a look. "Plus if I'm gone you're a step closer to winning it."
"A Slytherin attitude," Cedric surmised but looked softly at Harry. "If you're determined about this I might be able to help you," he said and looked around them, despite the fact they were alone and could see the door. "But if you do this I…" Cedric trailed off caught in thought, "don't think...I think the consequences are grave," he finally said.
"From what I hear this Tournament could land me in an early one," Harry joked nervously.
—/ — \\—
It was the weekend before the tournament would begin properly.
Classes, in fact, life had become to be almost worse than living with the Dursleys. At least with them he'd known who would target him and usually when.
Now, here the cutting comments, the snide remarks…the general insults came from people he'd never even spoken to. The physical bumps, pushing past him in the corridors, they hurt sometimes.
But the worst, the worst were the words from those he'd trusted the most.
He'd taken to sitting alone at the front of the classroom. Hermione had sat with him, then he'd found out she was getting stick from Ron about it, about him. He'd told her she didn't have to, he didn't want to make her life worse, because of him.
She had informed Ron he couldn't tell her who her friends were.
Cedric had passed him a piece of parchment when they'd passed one another in the hallways.
He'd kept it with him until he could go to the toilets. He'd have liked to go to Myrtle's bathroom to ensure no one watched him, but he wanted, no needed to read the note, so went to the nearest one.
The note was simple enough, tomorrow, at the station in Hogsmeade there would be a work friend of Cedric's father, checking for an infestation of doxies. He'd be there to transport him away from Hogsmeade, from there to elsewhere. The note warned that there'd be no going back once he left the confines of the castle and Hogsmeade. Then it turned to ash; falling through his fingers onto the cold floor of the bathroom.
The next day, Hermione was the only one in the tower when he'd taken his invisibility cloak. She hadn't said anything, but had given him look of warning and worry as he'd left. He didn't say anything, didn't want to say anything to her, just in case.
It had scared him slightly, Moody seeing through his cloak and telling him to see him later in the forest. A meeting he knew he wouldn't keep.
Once he was out of view of everyone and the castle he pulled the cloak off, slipping it into the bag he'd brought with him. Along with his wand and the money bag he had in his trunk it was the only things he'd taken. His beloved broom he'd left behind along with the full contents of his trunk.
The wizarding world had been unbending in its decision to force him into the Tournament. Between then and now he'd been to see Dumbledore who informed him what he already knew, that the contract was binding. Dumbledore had assured him he was doing everything to try and find out who placed his name in there. But with no parchment and the cup inactive until the next tournament there was nothing much he could do.
Harry would have to do his best, as 'I know you will Harry' Dumbledore had smiled at him warmly without offering any further options.
Harry remembered the noise the door to his office had made, signalling the end of the conversation, even though the headmaster hadn't really answered any of his questions or addressed any of his worries he had.
=/
"You Potter?" Harry almost jumped, but didn't. Over the past few weeks he had become hardened against the stares, looks, asides, comments and insults from his fellow schoolmates and Malfoy.
"Yes," he simply answered.
"Alright, take me hand, you ever done side along before?" The man asked. Harry noted the man's hands were calloused, much like his were. Harry's were that way from years of tending the gardens of the Dursleys, the man's probably from picking various creatures that had nested in people's chimneys.
What happened next was totally unlike anything, but sort of like using a portkey. But not.
And then, swaying slightly he was standing on a small pier and opposite him was a man he'd met briefly before.
"Boss," the man said tipping his non-existent cap before disappearing with a pop.
The man who was left before him stood awkwardly for a moment and then thrust out his hand. "Amos Diggory."
"Harry Potter," Harry said shaking the man's hand.
"Yes," he chuckled to himself. "just by shaking your hand we've committed more offences than I could comfortably count."
"Thank you for-" Harry was cut off by Amos.
"You reached out to my son. I know his judgement and trust it Mr Potter, and I know that if Cedric were in your impossible situation I would do anything to help him. And," he paused for a moment. "You're Harry Potter, you've gone through enough young man."
"Contracts be damned?" Harry asked lightly.
The man took his glasses off, polishing them. "Not lightly Mr Potter, though I'm not an expert regarding the cup. Contracts my department deals with can be paid off" he said in an annoyed tone. "Can be broken with a fine, can be enacted, or they can be manoeuvred around or ignored all together." He looked out to what Harry assumed was the sea. "Ah, I can see they're coming now."
Harry looked around and put his hand above his glasses to shade them. He could see a medium-sized sailing ship sailing towards the pier.
"Magical contracts, Mr Potter are not gotten around easily," Amos Diggory continued in slightly darker tone. "It is not something anyone just runs away from. But outside the Ministry's reach and away from any trade and political agreements they have little power. They might think they've got the power, but it is limited, if only they'd ask the people who have to enforce their laws," he said slightly to himself.
"Thank you Mr Diggory for..." Harry dug around in his pockets for his money bag.
"No, Harry," Diggory pushed the money away. "Keep it. My associates will help, but you'll still need everything. I'm sorry I couldn't risk taking you to Diagon Alley," he paused. "You may have to begin anew Mr Potter, it is not a simple thing, and you'll need everything," he reiterated, seemingly waiting, perhaps hoping Harry would call this a bad idea and back out.
Instead Harry shook his head smiling softly. He had had nothing with the Dursleys. Each year at Hogwarts they had threatened to leave him with nothing, not even his life of magic nor his freedom. So returning to nothing would be something he could manage.
He didn't say any of this to Mr Diggory only stating "It is something I'm familiar with." The older man just looked at him, reading something beyond this and nodded.
They stood making idle, if that was the word, talk while the ship approached. Mr Diggory explained about the trace on his wand, and how it would nullify when he passed into international waters, it had something to do with the path that was taken, an ancient path that crossed several ley lines but meant for a swifter passage of travel for the ship.
They stood in silence as the ship docked and cargo and goods was magically unloaded; floating off the ship.
Then it seemed it was time to go.
"Tell Cedric, good luck, do Hogwarts proud," Harry said as he embraced Amos Diggory in a hug.
"Well...yes...of course..." The man blustered, somewhat startled by his hug.
-/
As the ship sailed away Amos wondered if he had done the right thing. He had just assisted the saviour of the wizarding world to leave the protections of not just wizarding England but wizarding Europe. Not just that, but also assisted the underage wizard to run from a magically binding contract. One that he had deliberately not researched, he did not want to know the particulars of it.
The ones he had to deal with in the department were difficult and worrying enough.
But his son had been persuasive in his letters and his son was a Hufflepuff through and through and knew the character of a person, and one thing that Cedric had said was that Harry Potter was scared of what might befall him in the Tournament. Much more so than the Ministry of Magic and what they might do to him.
-/
After the view of Britain had disappeared behind the ship a man introduced himself as being a friend of Amos'.
He explained that Harry had just committed several crimes, but was fortunately outside the reach of the Ministry, and where they were going the Ministry's reach was extremely limited to the point of non-existence.
"But, you've chosen a hard way to escape Harry," the man, wizard; Hubert explained.
Amos had called in a few favours to get him onto this ship, officially it wasn't carrying any passengers. Hubert was on here as part of the Ministry's programme of monitoring the transport XXX through to X classified magical creatures, some of them bred in Britain and transported south for sale in the Middle East and Africa.
"Did Amos say why?" Harry asked.
Hubert nodded. "I understand, don't get me wrong, but you probably don't know some things, couldn't know I'd guess."
So Hubert explained to him, as they descended below the deck into his cabin, where he fixed both of them a sandwich 'while we've got fresh salad'.
When, and not if, the Ministry discovered he'd done a dash, they'd force the goblins to freeze his accounts.
Harry had expected that, for all Hermione's exasperation about his and Ron's attention spans in History of Magic he had actually found himself flipping ahead through his textbooks when they'd been studying. The goblins were afforded great amount of freedom to trade, but like everything and his current predicament; under the Ministry's gaze.
"You'll have what you've got with you, and not much more," Hubert explained between bites of a large roll.
Harry nodded. "I expected that."
Hubert looked to him. "Other wizards would be worried."
Harry didn't want to explain everything about the Dursleys but said simply "I lived with muggle relatives, they didn't much like me, so going without…"
Hubert nodded. "Right you are, say no more."
They continued on in silence as they each finished eating.
Hubert broke the silence. "You were smart, bringing only a bag, clothes on your back, still, you will struggle Harry, especially as you can't apparate or I assume, speak another language?"
Harry admitted he didn't even understand what the process of apparition even was.
To this admission Hubert let out a slow whistle and a nervous laugh.
-/
Then, after barely a week at sea, they were approaching Alexandria, and Harry stood out on the deck of the ship watching the city come into view.
Hubert had explained when the ship docked Harry should leave as fast as he could. Magical customs, import and export went at a different pace here, and no one would notice a child going off the ship.
He was armed with a few phrases and map of some of the wizarding shops where he might find work.
And that was it.
Hubert tried to soften the blow, but had said that running away from anything wasn't easy 'otherwise everyone would do it'.
Most witches and wizards took a 'break' in countries like Australia, Canada or the USA. Far enough from Britain to be unusual, but with the comforts of home.
Harry recalled Ron and his family visiting Egypt, but stayed around Cairo and the pyramids. The capitol being a draw for tourists both muggle and wizards.
Venturing outside of the capital or even into the less frequented places without someone in the know, or a guide was not something many wizards attempted. Preferring the comforts of the familiar and the protections they afforded.
Harry looked up at the sky and then back to the ship that had brought him here, it was the last connection to expectations he'd escaped.
Even now as he walked away into the crowds with the bustling smells and sands of this new country he suspected he'd made a bad decision, but, it was a less worse one than what might have happened, had he remained, especially as everyone (bar one or two people) had turned their backs on him.
-/
Hermione Granger bit her bottom lip, she had just lied to a teacher.
No one had noticed for a few days that Harry had been missing. If Ron and the other boys in their house had noticed, they hadn't said anything over the weekend.
It was only once Harry had missed three days' worth of classes that an investigation began.
From what she'd heard from Fred and George, who were some of the very few people in their house who'd tried to argue that Harry hadn't put his name in the cup; the headmaster and the professors were working to establish when Harry disappeared.
It was shortly after Fred and George had had their conversation with her that Professor McGonagall had requested she come to her office.
"I'm sure you're aware Ms Granger of the seriousness of this," the Professor began.
Hermione nodded.
"Are you aware of where Mr Potter is?" The professor watched her through her glasses, a serious expression on her face.
Hermione shook her head.
"You're sure Ms Granger, according to the portraits Mr Potter entered the Gryffindor tower on the weekend while it was practically empty. You were inside when he entered."
Hermione looked at the front of the Professor's desk. "I must have been concentrating on my work Professor," she paused, now to look a the Professor "Harry could have left wearing his invisibility cloak."
Professor McGonagall made a noise. "Yes, his possession of that item has been raised."
The door behind her began to open.
"Thank you Ms Granger," the Professor dismissed her.
-/
Harry had, through accident or luck managed to interpret the map he had been given and found himself to a wizarding area of the sprawling city.
It had been a bit of both, the former included nearly being run over several times as he crossed the road, the angry drivers of the dirty cars seemingly impatient to move less than a couple of cars' lengths through the traffic.
He had constantly thought that this had been, not just a bad idea, but the wrong idea.
But then, he just thought back to Dumbledore's casual statement that it was a contract, and that he'd do his best. With no acknowledgement of the dangers he'd faced in the past few years, no questioning this contract, or mentioning the dangers, he himself had outlined when the Tournament had started.
And then there were his so-called friends and housemates, only Hermione had remained loyal, believing him in his raw honesty. The twins, he'd heard on the periphery, defending him, but always were drowned out when he'd actually been nearby them, mostly by the others within Gryffindor.
Harry rubbed his eyes, in part in his frustration and in part because of the dust and dirt here.
He sat himself against a sick looking palm tree so he could look around the mostly octagonally shaped area he was in. There were small shops and sellers around, but it didn't appear to be solely a wizarding area. There was nothing defined, not like Diagon Alley, but he recognised witches and wizards as they passed through, not through their dress, but by their wands. Some held in their hands; visible, some more concealed.
Putting a hand into his bag he pulled out a fig from a bag of fruits he had bought when he'd passed through a market in his wanderings.
On the ship he had traded his wizarding money with the crew at Hubert's suggestion. He didn't know if he was getting a good exchange for the wizarding cash, but he now had a variety of denominations ranging from Egyptian and Lebanese pounds, American dollars, Libyan and Jordanian dinar, he'd also retained several sickles, just in case, he'd only needed to use very small denominations of the Egyptian currency so far to buy the fruit and a bottle of water.
Finishing the fig he felt around in his bag again for the book.
It was one of the few books he'd found on the ship, and it had been well used when he'd found it.
It was also something he'd stolen from the ship when he'd left.
He felt bad, stealing from friends of Mr Diggory, but…it seemed too useful.
It was a English to Arabic dictionary, which presumedly one of the wizards on board had written notes in for his fellow sailors and travellers.
The notes were throughout the small book.
Harry wasn't sure how much it would help him, but he felt he had to take every chance and explore any option, after all, Hubert had given him that piece of advice.
-/
The sun had started to slip down over the buildings and the shops begun to close before he felt ready to explore them. Despite no one paying him any attention he still felt…out of place here.
He could still feel the sun on the back of his neck, the sweat on his back and arms, neither his neck or arms had begun to burn, he fancied it was all the months spent in the garden under Aunt Petunia's warden-like gaze.
Now that it was beginning to get quieter he could roam around the shops, his book in hand to try and find…what? Harry wasn't sure, he hadn't seen anything like the Leaky Cauldron in his wanderings throughout the day, and without access to his bank account or his 'fame' he doubted he would be able to get a room anywhere like it.
Any luck, fortune or life would be up to him, it was a feeling, if not a situation that he had felt for most of his life, especially before Hogwarts. His relatives had always said that they would do nothing for him, the fact that he had a roof over his head was something he should have been plenty grateful for enough, so they said.
Now, as Harry began towards the first closed shop with all its notices around its doors he knew, even if he could go back to the Dursleys he would choose not to, even though he knew it would mean not even having a roof over his head.
Fortunately it was still oppressively warm.
-/
Harry woke with a shudder and a cough.
After doing several passes of all of the wizarding shops, and then later some of the ones he wasn't sure of, he'd found a quiet alcove of a building. Casting a few spells around himself to maintain his seclusion and tried to rest, or even sleep.
Extracting from his bag some dates and a squashed fig he sipped some more of his now very warm water.
It was still very early, but the shop he had decided on was not, in fact the square, or octagon or whatever shape it was, and it wasn't busy at all.
His clothes were crumpled, not that he'd thought to grab any extras when he'd left Hogwarts, but he walked towards the shop as confidently as he could.
The shop was the only one he'd found that had the words 'wanted' and 'shop' on it. He assumed that given where it was placed they were looking for some sort of helper, rather than seeking a criminal, although as Hubert had explained; just for having left Britain he was a criminal; escaping the Ministry's tendrils. Going somewhere that the Ministry couldn't extradite him from was another thorn into the Ministry, even though (he hoped) they hadn't noticed he'd done so yet.
Walking into the shop was an assault on his sense of smell. It was like the potion supply and apothecary shops in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade, but it was so much more intense, much more…present, it almost felt like a wave assaulting him.
Someone said something, but Harry didn't identify the noise and looked around.
There was an imposing figure standing behind the counter, he had a trimmed beard and was looking down at him imperiously.
"I um…there's a note on the window, for someone to…" Harry trailed off.
"You boy?" The man asked as he stepped out from behind the counter. "You were outside last night?" He asked with a sniff.
Harry nodded, remaining standing up straight he didn't try to offer him his hand or anything like that.
"English?" The man asked.
Harry nodded.
"Wand," he requested.
Harry put his hand into his pocket and then paused, it was the most valuable thing he had with him, or the most useful. The invisibility cloak Dumbledore had implied was valuable, but Harry wasn't sure how much he should have trusted Dumbledore, if he would have forced him to compete in the Triwizard. "Why?"
The man laughed. "Cautious of course," he paused looking to him. "Not in British…" he paused again searching for the word "education?"
Harry shook his head.
"But you have some magical education enough boy?" He asked.
Harry nodded again. "I can work, anything," he said, trying not to sound worried or desperate.
The man looked down at him for a moment, seemingly deliberating in his mind and then walked back to the counter lifting a portion of it up. "Through here boy," he gestured.
Harry followed him and saw more jars of ingredients behind the counter. All of the writing was in Arabic, so he couldn't discern much, only by sight.
"In here, clean. No magic," he said and gestured a side corridor where there were some pegs. "Put your bag here boy."
"Harry," Harry interjected. Being called boy made him think of his relatives too much.
"We shall see," was all the man said as he left the room, pausing on the threshold. "No magic, you should be aware of the consequences should you use it on these."
Then he was gone and Harry was left alone in the room that he could only now see properly that the man wasn't blocking the light.
There were four big sinks, all with potion making equipment in it. Beside these there were even more piled up. Cups of stirrers and other things.
Turning around there looked to be some mops and buckets and other cleaning items.
Hanging up his bag, pausing only to extract his water bottle he sighed, and looked around for the soap and cleaning materials. His relatives and Snape's classes were two things that had prepared him for work like this. He wouldn't have even thought to use magic, seeing Mrs Weasley ordering things around was the first time he had ever considered that magic could be used for such tasks.
Since he'd found out about magic, it had been…magical, fantastical, and dangerous. But since he'd been at Hogwarts, it had been danger he'd got himself into, not like the Tournament, all he'd wanted was to watch, see people who actually wanted to adventure and challenge themselves.
As he moved the small cauldrons out of the mostly empty sink and started to run water, he reflected, despite being in a country without any friends or support, and not speaking the language and having no idea what the next day might bring, at least he was in control of that, and that fact made him feel much more safe than where he had been at Hogwarts.
—/ — \\—
The Tournament had been delayed a week while it was decided what to do concerning the contract and Harry Potter's disappearance.
What Hermione had heard from the gossip around the tower from the more senior students was that they couldn't put off the first task much more than that because of the wording in the contract. So a week it was, so they could find Harry.
She felt more isolated in the tower than ever before, Ron had implied more than once that she had helped Harry abandon the school and their house.
She'd countered that they had all abandoned him when he'd found out his name was in the cup.
Ron had then said some very nasty things to her, and they hadn't spoken since, she wasn't sure if she would ever speak to him again after what he'd said.
Then she was summoned to the headmaster's office.
-/
She refused the tea he'd offered.
"I have had some rather concerning reports delivered to me Ms Granger," the headmaster began.
Hermione looked from the floor up to the top of his desk where the tea set was laid out, then to the floor and then back to the front of the desk. "A…About professor?" She asked in as innocent tone as she thought she could achieve.
The headmaster looked at her over the tea set on the desk. "Mr Potter of course Ms Granger. He is the participant of a wizarding contract, the responsibilities of which are grave and binding."
"But it's just a game, a tournament that's what-" Hermione tried but the headmaster silenced her with a look.
"Mr Potter has abandoned the protections that Hogwarts offers Ms Granger, and those that the Ministry provided, as part of the Tournament's wizarding contract," he paused and offered a smile to her.
Hermione, not for the first time in this conversation became worried. The level of tension and concern had been building in her housemates since Harry had disappeared, she'd thought it was them, but the headmaster seemed really quite pressuring. Hermione nodded to his smile but didn't say anything.
"I…I don't know anything headmaster, I told Professor McGonagall that earlier in the week," she explained.
The Headmaster nodded. "Indeed Ms Granger," he paused. "Unfortunately, I have several in-depth reports that say Mr Potter was seen, entering and exiting your house's common room," he paused "not wearing his invisibility cloak."
Hermione felt the temperature in the room slide down as a weight like a bag of lead shot dropped into her stomach.
"But, perhaps you were mistaken when you spoke to Professor McGonagall?" He asked brightly.
Hermione found herself nodding.
"I also have it on good authority from Mr Filch that Mr Potter has left his owl with instructions to only respond to you."
Hermione bit the side of her mouth hard, hard enough that she tasted blood in her mouth, but it was enough to stop the surprise showing on her face. She hadn't thought to check, she hadn't even really thought about Hedwig at all in Harry's disappearance.
"This is a very serious situation Ms Granger. Mr Potter was a charge of this school and his presence," he paused, watching her "like all students, under my purview," he paused again and caught her gaze. "Therefore, I must instruct you to contact Mr Potter and order him to return to Hogwarts, his safety and participation in the contract is required."
"I don't think I can-" Hermione was cut off again by the Headmaster.
"Ms Granger, I do not think you appreciate the seriousness of this situation," the Headmaster's tone had changed. "Mr Potter's safety and security is of paramount importance. If you fail to contact Mr Potter, ordering him to return, I will have no option but to expel you from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for impeding a Ministry sanctioned event and wizarding contract."
Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes, she wasn't sure if she could breathe for several moments. Then she was coughing and gulping for breath.
"Are you alright Ms Granger?" The Headmaster asked.
"I, yes. But, headmaster I…" she coughed.
"I do not take these actions lightly Ms Granger, Mr Potter should have known this, he is a participant in a wizarding contract, it is a grave situation, which we must all address," the Headmaster finished as Hermione heard the door at the back of his office swing open.
As she stumbled to get up the Headmaster spoke again. "You have a week to provide proof of receipt of contact Ms Granger, I know you will do what is right for yourself, and for Mr Potter, we do not want him in any undue duress," he finished as she walked out.
-/
Hermione stumbled down the stairs of the Headmaster's office. She couldn't quite process what had just happened.
But she knew where she had to go, even if it was just to investigate what the Headmaster had told her.
In the owlery she did not have to wait long before a snowy white owl flew down from high up in the rafters to her.
"Hedwig," she said, her voice cracking, she wiped away tears on her cheek that had been running since she had exited the Headmaster's office.
Hedwig landed on a perch, offering her her leg. Attached was a rough envelope with an equally roughly written letter.
Hermione,
I've told Hedwig I'm leaving. That she can't come.
Look at the last few years, every year, something dangerous, deadly… There was a smudge of ink where Harry had let his quill sit on the parchment for too long. Dumbledore said I'd have to do my best. After he said there was increased danger at this thing. I can't just hope that it all goes along fine. I don't want to be wondering every day if something's going to happen or someone's going to… there was another smudge of ink. like Ron was all she could read through the ink-soaked parchment. I don't feel safe, and all Dumbledore says is that I have to participate because it's a contract, which I didn't enter into! I'm going where the Ministry can't pursue me, I hope at least.
I hope…hope you do well Hermione.
Harry.
Hermione turned the parchment over in her hands and looked around the owlery, there was no one in here, but to be safe she shot a spell at the door, closing and locking it as she cast around in a wide arc a simple detection spell that was at least a year above what they were studying. Even with Professor Moody's accelerated programme.
Satisfied there was no one in the room she looked at Hedwig. "If I asked you to take a letter to Harry what would you do?"
Hedwig tried to bite her hand.
Hermione exclaimed with a shout "I'll take that as a no." Reaching it back in surprise and anguish.
Hermione reached into a pocket feeling for the leather cover of the parchment pad and miniature quill. It had been something of an impulse purchase the second time she'd been to Hogsmede, but it was something she had used often since then, often enough that she'd recently bought a new pad for interior of the leather pad.
Leaning on Hedwig's perch her hand hovered over the pad. She couldn't send a message to Harry, she wouldn't try, she decided as she wrote.
'If something's coming Hermione and you feel like you've got no control, do something and make sure you take control' her father had said that to her when she'd been bullied in school.
If she was going to be expelled for something she had no control over, then she would go. She agreed with Harry, Hogwarts no longer felt like a safe place.
She transfigured one of the pieces of parchment into an envelope.
"Take this to my parents' house Hedwig, stay for them to send a reply, as fast as you can," she moved closer to tie the letter to Hedwig, who didn't try to bite her, as she finished tying it she whispered to the owl. "I'm not sure how long we'll be here."
Hedwig chirped an acknowledgment and then took to the air, leaving through the open roof.
As she let out a nervous laugh, followed by "Oh no, what have I done?"
—/ — \\—
Robert Granger was at home finishing a cup of tea, he'd just seen off the boiler man and said goodbye to a couple of hundred pounds to get it fixed when an owl flew in through the conservatory window.
The odd way of the world that his daughter had found herself inducted into had quickly become normal, even if he knew, not just suspected that his daughter got up to a lot more things than she said at Hogwarts. There were small scars that she didn't have when she'd left for school. Bags under her eyes and a casual attitude to injury that he'd seen in himself when he'd been in the army, on his way to a quiet life. He'd had a talk with her each year about it. This year with this tournament would hopefully be a change.
The snowy white owl flew down and landed on a small perch that he and his wife had set aside for visiting birds from Hermione's magical school and knew it would wait for a reply.
Opening the envelope he knew immediately something was wrong.
Hermione always penned them letters using some of the finest paper stock, and her handwriting was always perfectly styled and calm. This letter had been hastily written and it was small notepad sized stock.
He read through it quickly, and then again, more slowly and then looked to the owl.
"Can you wait, I need to make a few phone calls."
Grabbing the phone off the wall, his first call was going to be to his wife, but he stopped himself. He needed a plan first to retrieve his daughter from that school.
"Lukas!" He said as one of his old mates from the army answered. "Yes, long time, I need to call in a favour," Robert said with a smile, despite what he'd just read. "Yes, it is unusual, do you know anyone with a steam train?" After the man on the other end of the phone laughed at such an odd request he asked why. "My daughter's at a special school in the highlands, hard to reach, I can't say more, and yes, by train is the only way, and it needs to be steam."
There was some silence before his friend asked where.
Robert stopped and thought for a second. "Just a mo' hang on." He said running to his office.
Hermione had said the castle was unplottable, but the town, which he'd given her permission to visit wasn't, wasn't as such, there still had to be a presence, and the castle 'looks like a ruin to non-magicals' Hermione had said. Before he'd signed the permission slip, he'd sat with her and an ordinance survey map, working out exactly where it was 'call it a challenge Hermione, just in case'.
Returning to the phone he described the location.
"Look Robert, it's an unusual request, but I owe you, hugely, and if your daughter's in trouble, really weird specific trouble, I've got some mates, train nuts, I think we can help. When do you need this?"
Robert cringed. "Next weekend is when she says she'll need to get out."
Lukas whistled through the phone. "Cutting it fine. I'll start the old network going now. We'll get something out there if we have to push. They love a challenge. Saturday afternoon, that's probably the earliest. I'll be in touch later."
Robert hung up the phone and grabbed some writing paper and started to write a quick, concise letter that lacked much information. Only saying that Hermione should be ready to leave by the station Saturday afternoon, and that dad and his old friends would be there to help. He wrote a second page, informing the Headmaster Hermione would be leaving Hogwarts.
Tying the note to the snowy owl he looked at it saying "This needs to go to only Hermione, you'll make sure of that won't you?"
The owl chirped in an almost annoyed way as it took off and out through the conservatory.
Robert watched it go as he returned inside to call his wife, who would be he had no doubt confident in her daughter's abilities to manage her situation. It was something they almost always had confidence in their daughter to manage her situation with calm and grace.
-/
Hermione had left her housemates under the pretence of studying in the library. At least, that's what she'd thought when she'd left the common room, and would have said if she'd been asked.
But no one had asked, in fact no one had spoken to her all that much.
Ron hadn't even asked for help with his homework at all, instead he'd started to gravitate towards Parvati and Lavender.
She walked towards the library, then took a calm detour down one of the lesser used side corridors and outside towards the two visiting schools' conveyances.
Knocking on the door of the carriage one of the Beauxbaton students seemed surprised when she'd asked to see Madame Maxime, but hadn't questioned further.
Hermione was shown into a large space for the carriage which seemed a combination of office and bedroom. It seemed the carriage was like the wizarding tent that she had stayed in at the Quidditch World Cup.
"Ms Granger, this is and unexpected visitation…" Madame Maxime said as she came into the room, moving around it with ease as she took a seat at the desk opposite her.
"I…I'm not sure where to start, only to say my French isn't amazing," Hermione laughed nervously.
Madame Maxime watched her.
"I…I think I will be leaving Hogwarts at the end of this week…expelled," Hermione found herself saying, her voice cracking.
Madame Maxime looked to her "Why dear child, you are, so Professor McGonagall tells me one of her most excellent pupils, an 'excelling student'."
Hermione sat into the chair, surprised. "That's very nice Madame Maxime, but…the Headmaster gave me an ultimatum…one that I cannot fulfil." Hermione felt tears come to her face again.
"Dear child, don't cry, here," a tissue box floated over to her. "Tell me, and perhaps we can find a solution, everything has one," she paused and smiled. "And I think, that you are here, is because you have already thought of one to your troubles."
-/
A week came and went, Hermione Granger had received a letter shortly after she had sent one.
But she had not approached the Headmaster with what it said.
As Saturday began and her housemates left the Gryfffindor tower Hermione packed her trunk with everything she had and looked around the room. Crookshanks was pacing up and down the room, seemingly eager to depart. Emotions cascading through her, Crookshanks bounded over, rubbing against her legs she let out a sigh and looked down at him, shrunk her trunk and left the room with him beside her.
She was confronted at the exit to the castle by Professor McGonagall who looked disappointed and annoyed and the Headmaster. Neither paid Croookshanks any attention.
"Ms Ganger, I had hoped you would bring your correspondence to me regarding Harry," he said as he stepped aside to let her into the courtyard.
"I didn't contact Harry, Hedwig wouldn't," she said as she walked past them outside.
The headmaster shook his head. "Ms Granger, did I not make myself clear, this was your only option. You understand what your expulsion will mean."
"Headmaster! You cannot be serious, Ms Granger is under my charge and my house she cannot-" The Professor began.
"Minerva, Harry's return and security is my primary concern," he said with an anger and gravity Hermione had not heard before.
Hermione reached into her pocket, withdrawing the short note her father had written. "I am withdrawing from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," she handed the Headmaster the note who handed it over to Professor McGonagall.
"It's his hand Headmaster," McGonagall said to the headmaster, then she looked directly at Hermione. "We'll put you up in Hogsmeade until transport can be arranged Ms Granger."
"I need to be going Professor, I have transport," Hermione said and forced herself to turn away from her…now former teachers.
"Ms Granger, wait, I want you to contact Harry, tell him-" the Headmaster called out.
But Hermione forced herself to keep walking down the path and out the school gates.
She continued to walk, without looking back toward the station. Along the way she was intercepted, by Fred and George.
"Saw you getting told off by the Headmaster," said Fred.
"And our head of house, anything serious?" Asked George.
Hermione smiled, and then laughed. "Just…."she trailed off. "Just."
"Fit of hysterics George," Fred said.
"Must be the weather," George commented.
"Just them trying to expel me," Hermione finished as she approached the station. "I withdrew."
"What?!" They both exclaimed.
"They tried to force me to contact Harry, I didn't know where he was," Hermione said as she spelled open the gates to the station, not breaking her stride as she did so.
"And the Headmaster threatened to expel you?" George whistled.
"And now what? There's no trains until next month Hermione, I bet we can get dad get a floo opened to your house," Fred offered.
Hermione smiled. "My dad said he'd sort something, I just have to wait till the afternoon."
Fred and George exchanged looks. "We'll wait with you, gotta show you some Gryffindors are still loyal to those who are true Gryffindors," Fred said.
"Even if they're no longer at Hogwarts," George smiled at her "they're some of the best kind of Gryffindors."
The afternoon wore on and Fred disappeared, saying he was heading back up to the castle for 'some supplies'. Returning with a huge picnic basket full of food.
She knew where the food had come from without asking and lamented one of the things in her 'to do list' was for an organisation to protect elvish welfare. One of the many things she wouldn't get to do at Hogwarts.
Afternoon slowly slipped away as the sun went down.
"Do you want me to sort out a room with Madam Rosmerta, she can probably do you a good deal and then you can floo to London?" George asked.
Hermione shook her head, she suspected, or perhaps it was her paranoia, that the Headmaster would be expecting that.
Then she heard a collection of noises; a high-pitched whistle in the far distance and Ron's voice.
"I heard Dean say he saw them coming down here Professor," Ron's voice drifted towards them.
Both George and Fred leapt to their feet.
Hermione also had walked to the edge of the station to look off into the distance.
"Ron, you sneak, you're as bad as Percy," George said as they turned around and saw Ron walking onto the station, followed by the headmaster and Professor McGonagall.
"Ms Granger, fortunate that we have located you," the Headmaster said looking over at her and to Fred and George.
"What have you been doing with Hermione?" Ron asked in accusatory tone.
"Being good Gryffindors, to one of our own," Fred answered.
"As you should have," George finished.
"Ms Granger has resigned herself from Hogwarts, and should no longer have any allegiance," the Headmaster said, but Hermione felt his words were directed at her. She heard Crookshanks hiss.
Hermione wondered if this encounter might've been improved by the presence of another magical creature, but she doubted having Hedwig hoot would help, she had sent her ahead to her parents' house. Not turning around she heard another high pitched whistle.
"That however can be reversed Ms Granger," the Headmaster called over to her.
Hermione turned around to face the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall.
Ron was stood beside them, while Fred and George were positioned off to the side, in between them.
Crookshanks wandered between the empty space that no one was standing in to sit beside her.
"I was, perhaps, somewhat hasty in my-" Dumbledore began.
"Threat to expel me?" Hermione challenged.
"What?" Ron looked between her and the Headmaster.
"I withdrew before he could," Hermione said simply.
"Under Ministry education guidelines you are an underage Ms Granger, you will require formal education," the Headmaster drew his wand, surprising Professor McGonagall and everyone present.
Hermione felt Crookshanks move closer to her, she could feel him purring against her legs. It kept her calm as the Headmaster pointed his wand at her.
"They are guidelines Albus!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed and looked over to her. "And I am sure Ms Granger is not so stupid as to walk out of her education without a foundation to fall back on."
The Headmaster lowered, but did not put away his wand and looked to Professor McGonagall.
Hermione meanwhile was blissfully saved from answering anything further by the arrival of a small train, blowing its whistle as it came into Hogsmeade station towing a break van.
It came to a smooth halt in front of her and her father leapt out. "Hello Hermione," he said as he wrapped her in a hug and smiled a icy smile at the Headmaster.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I hear you tried to expel my daughter, from what your teachers told my wife and I was the 'premier and most professional school for magic'."
"Robert, is there a switch track around here?" Called someone from the train.
"We'll help, we know where it is," George offered grinning from ear to ear, like his brother as they ran towards the small train and started to gesture further up the station.
Hermione watched them and the train go and in part wanted to see it with them, even in the dwindling light.
"Mr Granger, I must warn you, bringing muggles to a magical-" Dumbledore started again.
"This line isn't private property, and as my daughter's informed me, we can't see the castle, so what's the problem?" her father asked. "And what of your threat?"
Her father held her tight, she only heard him speak like this on very infrequent occasions, dentistry required a calm steady hand, and anger was not something that came often to him.
"A simple misunderstanding Mr Granger, as I was explaining to Ms Granger, if she could simply comply with our investigations into Mr Potter's disappearance this situation could very easily be resolved," the Headmaster explained calmly, although he had not entirely lowered his wand.
Behind her she heard the train pass on the opposite side of track.
"We will be leaving now Headmaster Dumbledore," her father explained in a calm voice.
"And your daughter's education Mr Granger, as a witch she requires formal education in the magical arts," Dumbledore tried again as the train came back down and, Hermione assumed her father's friends connected it back up to the brake van.
Hermione felt Crookshanks jump over onto the brake van as the train's whistle blew. "I took the opportunity that the Triwizard afforded me Headmaster," she took a step back as her father led her to the break van and stepped aboard.
They both stood on the outside as the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall watched.
"Hermione! You can't just leave!" Ron called as he ran over to the brake van.
Hermione felt the train pull on the brake van and they began to move away.
Hermione wasn't sure what to say to him, that he shouldn't have done all the things that he'd done. Shouldn't have treated her and Harry as he'd done.
"Harry did," she said simply.
"And you've done it in much more style!" Fred called after her.
"Make sure you write Hermione, you are the best of the Gryffindors!" George called as both twins ran to keep up with the train as it pulled away from the station.
Then, Hogsmeade station was left with only the scent of coal burning from the tiny train that had departed as quickly as it had arrived.
Ron looked between his brothers and along the now empty piece of track where he could just see the light on the train as it moved slowly away.
"Come along Messers Weasley, it's getting late and we've all been out for far too long," Professor McGonagall said, looking over to the headmaster as she waved them through the station's gate and towards the school.
-/
A/N:
This is a story based on Extradition Challenges, except written with a length that I feel it deserves, properly exploring the bit in between Harry escaping and fighting Voldemort.
I've used the 'Hermione's father was in the army' idea a few times in different stories as both her parents are very boring, without much to go on if I include them I need something to hook their characters on.
And I've always liked the idea of slow, silly escape from Hogwarts by train, but this is the first time I've been able to work it into a story.
Thanks for reading.