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Author: St Margarets Story: The New Zealand Chronicles Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-DH Status: Completed Reviews: 21 Words: 170,671
After a house-elf brought the fourth message of the evening, the captain cleared his throat and told them the problem. "We're in for a storm, I'm afraid." He shook his head in resignation. "It's too large to go around, but it is fast moving." Michael was frowning with concern, while Melinda looked merely annoyed. "What does that mean for us?" Harry asked. "I've had to decide whether to press forward or to anchor tonight and wait for it to pass," the captain replied. "We should press forward!" Melinda blurted. "I have to meet my guides in Dunedin first thing in the morning! The Fortitude Fungus hunt will start the next day and I have to prepare." "I'm sorry, Miss," the captain said gently, but firmly. "But I've decided to wait out the storm. We'll arrive early in the morning on September first. The good news for you is that Bobby Bea has a dory that can Apparate as far as Erehwon." He looked at Michael. "You could probably stowaway." Melinda made a derisive noise in her throat. "I'm sure Mr. Bea would only have room for me and my guides." "That's all right, Captain," Michael said unsmiling. "I can make my way to Erehwon on my own." He looked pointedly at Melinda. "I don't need guides." She tossed her head and looked away. "What about you?" the captain asked Harry. "I understand you need to be somewhere on September first?" "Um. We have to be at St. Kilda's at nine o'clock for our physicals." This was the first Ginny had heard about physicals. "You'll have no problem keeping that appointment," the captain assured him. "The Tiki Tour Bus can get you there in under a half hour." He looked around the quiet table. "Well, that settles that." * "What do you think happened?" Ginny asked Harry when they were back in their cabin. "Well, a low pressure system meets a trough of warm or cold air…." Harry began. She swatted him. "Not the weather, silly! With Melinda and Michael." Harry frowned. "I don't know. They had a lot going against them in the first place." "But…" She felt unaccountably disappointed – not only in Melinda and Michael, but in herself for being so naïve to think that love could overcome business rivalries. "What?" "Nothing," she sighed. He put a comforting arm around her, and she put her head on his shoulder. They sat on the edge of the bed in silence for a few moments. "I suppose I deserve to be disappointed," she finally admitted. "What?" Harry turned to look into her face. "You don't deserve to be disappointed." Her eyes filled with unexpected tears at his caring tone. "Maybe I should grow up," she said. "You know, stop being the hopeless romantic." Harry tightened his hold on her. "You're a hopeful romantic – not hopeless." "Stupid of me." "I like that about you." She pulled back and stared to make sure he wasn't joking. "You do?" He was serious. "You told me once that you never really gave up on me." "Right," she whispered as her throat closed up with emotion. That horrible, horrible day. "Only a hopeful romantic would have waited for me." Wordlessly, she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "You don't deserve to be disappointed," he repeated as he stroked her hair. * Ginny was able to talk to Melinda the next evening as they left the dining room together. Harry, Michael and the captain were still at the table, listening to Healer Jones tell a joke that wasn't for a witch's ears. Judging by their laughter, it was a good one. "I suppose you're wondering what happened with Michael and me," Melinda began. "He found out you lied," Ginny snapped, unable to conceal her irritation with Melinda's game-playing. Melinda winced. "I told him." "Oh." Maybe she had been a little harsh, Ginny thought uneasily. Melinda was looking unusually pale. Melinda drew a deep breath. "I told him the truth because I wanted to cut my losses. I told him the truth because we have to be competitors on Erehwon Island." Her voice was shaking now. "I told him because…" "He was falling for you," Ginny said softly. Melinda closed her eyes briefly. "I didn't think that would happen. I didn't think a man would care much beyond the bedroom…" Ginny didn't say anything. It didn't say much for the men Melinda had been around if she thought they were all heartless cads. "He said I used him." Melinda gave Ginny a questioning glance as if she wanted Ginny to refute this. "Did you?" Ginny asked, crossing her arms in front of herself. "If I had, I wouldn't be feeling so bad, now would I?" Melinda's face was a calm mask. "But I'm getting over the guilt," she said firmly. "He said some pretty unforgivable things." "Melinda –" "He compared me to disa atricapilla – you know, that orchid we showed you? It just happens to be an orchid that pollinates by deception. Insects confuse it for another plant." Two patches of color stained her cheeks. The comparison seemed apt to Ginny, but she wasn't going to heap any more guilt on to Melinda. "I loved finding that orchid in the wild." Melinda hugged herself. "And he made it sound as ugly and common as a weed– but it's not common, it's rare." She looked at Ginny, her soft brown eyes pleading. "It was beautiful, wasn't it?" "It was beautiful," Ginny said, quickly hugging her. Melinda was clearly hurting. "I've never seen anything like it." "I wish you could pick wildflowers and take them home," Melinda said sadly. "But you can't – they never last." * The captain was sorry that they were sailing past New Zealand's western shore in the dark. They would miss that first view of the land meeting the sea in the form of sandy beaches, towering cliffs, and enticing mist-filled fjords that begged to be explored. After seeing nothing but water for days, Ginny thought that seeing any land would be a welcome change. So when the first hints of misty light shone through their porthole, Ginny eagerly looked out for her first sight of New Zealand. All she saw, however, were light strands of fog floating over the calm gray water. Maybe there had been another delay, she thought with a sinking heart. But then she heard the sound of gulls and knew they couldn't be too far from shore. "Harry!" She shook his shoulder. "Wake up! We're close! I think we're finally here!" Harry sat up and looked out the porthole. "I don't see land." "Maybe we're on the wrong side of the ship," Ginny said. "Let's get dressed and go out on deck." "Breakfast first," Harry said firmly. Once they finished the toast a house-elf brought them, they left their cabin for their first glimpse of New Zealand. Before they could reach the railing, they had to dodge sailors doing last-minute tasks like shortening the sails and pulling ropes and carrying crates and trunks from the hold. Ginny looked to the other side of the ship and saw nothing but ocean there, too. "Look ahead," Harry said. Ahead was a black bank of fog and beyond that Ginny was able to see the first rays of the rising sun touching the high hills surrounding the sprawling city of Dunedin. As they sailed closer, Ginny could see distant houses and churches cradled between long arms of land that reached out to the sea. Incredibly, hovering over one of the peninsulas, was a castle-in-the-air. Ginny laughed and pointed it out to Harry. "I remember reading about that castle. A homesick English wizard wanted to build a replica of Hogwarts, but he didn't want to disturb the albatross colony – so he built it in the air." Harry shook his head. "That's some magic." "He made his fortune in sheep or Floo powder or something," Ginny said vaguely. She hadn't paid much attention to it in the guidebook, but now that they were here she wanted to see it and learn more. "We'll have time to sightsee once we're settled," Harry assured her. The ship plunged into the bank of fog to enter the harbor and they could see nothing but each other. Ginny shivered; the early-morning mist was cold. Harry put his arms around her in the same manner as he had done when they left Portsmouth. Melinda, and then Michael, joined them at the railing. "Looks like this is good-bye," Michael said, holding his hand out to Harry. Harry shook it. "Thanks for your help with the reporters and the Strengthening Pellets for Hedwig," he said. "You, too, Melinda." "No problem," Michael said breezily, not looking at or acknowledging Melinda. "You're welcome," Melinda said quietly. The silence that followed was awkward. Melinda fidgeted with her purse and Michael intently watched two sailors stacking trunks. Harry took Ginny's hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. This wasn't the introduction to New Zealand she had envisioned – standing in the fog with two people so at odds. The ship gently bumped against the pilings of the wharf and the sailors started shouting at and over each other. "Tie off!" "Drop anchor!" "Gangplank!" Through the mist Ginny saw several groups of people waiting on the wharf. She had completely forgotten about the possibility of reporters. Now she wished she had done more for her appearance than run a comb through her hair. "I don't see any cameras," Harry murmured in her ear. Ginny didn't either, although everyone was indistinguishable in the fog except for a wizard holding a sign that said, "Melinda Bobbin." Michael jabbed his thumb toward the sign and looked at Melinda for the first time all morning. "I see no one really knows you." Then he turned and stalked off the gangplank. Melinda stiffened and watched him walk away. Then she squared her shoulders and went alone to meet her guide. * The fog and Melinda and Michael's farewell dampened Ginny's spirits somewhat, but everything was so new and interesting that she soon felt her excitement rising again. Within minutes of disembarking, they met the captain's friend, Bob Bea. He was one of three middle-aged brothers who ran the Three B's Mercantile – Boats, Broomsticks and Broadlooms. It was a general store specializing in transport, but the brothers managed to carry just about anything a wizard could want for tramping, flying or boating. It was also an authorized stop for the Tiki Tour Bus. "Are you scheduled for appointments at St. Kilda's?" Bob Bea asked when they inquired about the Tiki Tour Bus. "They've pushed all the appointments back an hour because of the reporters." Ginny's heart sank. Reporters had found them already. Harry wouldn't need that extra pressure when he had to do his qualifying swim. Bert Bea, who was as bald and affable as his brother, joined in the conversation. "Marcus said in his owl that they're sending Sammie to clear everyone out." "Sammie?" "He's the giant who hangs around St. Kilda's. Healer Welby – Marcus – rescued him from an avalanche when he was just a lad." "His real name is Hothgar or some such nonsense," Bob chimed in. "But he's not the smartest –" "He's one sammie short of a picnic," Bert interrupted with a wink. By now, the third Bea brother, Bill, had joined the conversation. "Kiwis like nicknames," he explained. "That goes for place names as well – seems they change a lot." Harry frowned. "You'll get used to it," Bill assured him. Then he shrugged. "The mountains stay put, at least." "So," Bert said hopefully, "do you need to do some shopping before your appointments?" * Ginny spent the next half hour happily outfitting Harry with everything he would need for life as a search and rescue trainee. Most of the clothes were Muggle – right down to the wool bush shirt made by Swandri NZ Ltd. The "Swannie" was de rigueur for every man – wizard or Muggle – on the South Island, or so Bill informed her. It seemed, Ginny thought ruefully, as she picked out one in green, that she was never going to get away from swans. Ginny wasn't able to buy anything for herself since The Three B's Mercantile only catered to wizards. "Trixie – that's Bert's wife – tried to turn one corner of the selling floor into a boutique for tourists – but it never took off," Bill confided. The tourist boutique had several beautiful pieces of Greenstone jewelry, dusty bottles of honey, some thick sheepskin rugs, and several Buzzy Bees – a shiny wooden pull toy for toddlers. "We should buy this for Phillipe!" Ginny said when she saw how loudly it buzzed when it flew the length of its string. Any little boy would love it and Fleur would have to put up with the noise. "Do you ship to England?" Bill, who had never left Ginny's side during her spree, assured her that they did. Harry, who had quickly left Ginny's side as soon as the first pair of socks was produced for inspection, wasn't there to help her decide between the sheepskin rug or the toy. She found him in the broom section, marveling at the variety of models imported from all over the world. "Look at this," he said, pointing to a sign. Improve this crap broom from Australia for your chance to compete in the Strait Race. Ginny giggled. "I wonder what the Strait Race is?" "It's a broom race sponsored by Hold-On Broom Company." Bill was still at her elbow. "The course runs the length of the Cook Strait. You just missed it. It's always held at the end of August." "This Hold-On brand," Harry said, "I've never heard of it." Bill's eyes widened. "They don't have Hold-Ons in England?" He shook his head. "If you've never flown a Hold-On then you don't know about the joys of broom maintenance – broom break downs – or broom stalling –" Harry laughed. "I get the picture." "The thing is," Bill said, "the broom itself isn't that bad. It's the magic." He shuddered. "But the Cook Strait is long," Ginny said. "Isn't that a bit dangerous to fly if your broom is unreliable?" "That's why we encourage all the boy-racers to make modifications," Bill informed her. "Boy-racers?" Ginny asked sharply. "Aren't witches allowed in the race?" "That's just an expression. Witches compete in it, too," Bill said quickly. "Although most of the ladies like to enter the Perfect Witch contest, which is held at the same time." Ginny's jaw dropped and Harry snorted. They both knew what Hermione would say about such a contest. "Perfect Witch?" "It's a tribute to the early pioneer witches who helped settle the country. The contest shows off practical skills. You know – things like how to build a hut on the side of a mountain or how to frighten giants away or how to skin a Moa for the table or how to rid your house of a weta infestation." "Oh." Ginny had no idea about half the things he was talking about, but it didn't sound like a beauty contest. "And there are bonus points if you look good doing it." Bill winked and Harry laughed. "Are there bonus points for windswept hair in the Cook Strait race?" Ginny asked indignantly. Both men laughed at that and then Harry added that if she entered the race, her hair would certainly win for most attractively windswept. * Breakfast seemed a part of the distant past by the time they had finished shopping and wandered outside to summon the Tiki Tour Bus. Ginny didn't want to eat if the journey to St. Kilda's was like a trip on the Knight Bus, which was always better taken on an empty stomach. Harry held out his wand and in less than a minute a bus painted in colorful, psychedelic swirls silently appeared. The doors opened with a swish. A burly wizard in a checked Swannie shirt and a broad-brimmed hat was driving. "St. Kilda's, mate?" he asked before Harry could say anything. Harry nodded. "We have to stop in Christchurch for Linda's violin lesson and then we'll nip over Arthur's Pass so Reginald can visit his auntie. Poor dear has the Dreaded Lurgy." He held out his hand for the fare. Harry dropped two New Zealand Sickles in his hand and then led Ginny to a seat in the middle of the bus. Ginny was amazed that the bus driver knew so much about his passengers' affairs and found it secretly amusing that she could pick out Linda and Reginald based on the violin case and the bunch of flowers. Once they were seated, Ginny expected the bus to Disapparate with a loud bang, but the driver waited with the door open. "Get a move on, Howard!" a middle-aged witch called from the back. "You two didn't notice any celebrities, did you?" Howard the bus driver said, turning around to address Harry and Ginny. "No reporters swarming around one of the ships?" "No," Harry answered honestly. "We didn't see any reporters." Howard's face fell. "Ah, bugger. I wouldn't think he would stoop to take the Tiki Tour Bus." Several people chuckled and called out to the driver. "Bit of a tall poppy to be mates with the likes of you, Howard!" "Going to buy him a pint, are you?" "Ask for his autograph when you see him!" Howard's broad face turned red and he huffily slammed the door shut with a flick of his wand. Ginny couldn't believe it. The celebrity was on the bus and no one realized it. She glanced at Harry who grinned back at her. Maybe they couldn't get away with obscurity for very long, but she was going to enjoy it while it lasted. "We're going," Harry warned. Ginny hastily braced her feet on the floor. The bus shuddered and then silently glided forward so that the nose of the bus touched the hilltop that overlooked Dunedin. The sides of the bus rasped against several large ferns and then veered within inches of a house. Ginny couldn't believe how smoothly the bus traveled between cars and lorries on the Muggle highway and then scattered a few sheep in a field before it jumped a low mountain. "Calm down, Howard!" a witch called. "We're just razzing you." Howard grunted and hunched his shoulders. They splashed through a river, raced a across a broad plain covered in long brown grass and then came to a stop in front of white one-story house on a street with similar houses. Linda strode up the aisle with her violin case. "If my mum knew how recklessly you were driving, she wouldn't let me go on this bus." Harry raised his eyebrows and Ginny giggled. What would Linda have said about the Knight Bus? "I'll be back in a half hour," Howard growled. They crossed another vast grassy plain and then started to climb through the mountains. It was hard for Ginny to maintain her sense of direction as Howard negotiated his way through two deep gorges and then perched precariously on several narrow ledges before revving up a steep cliff. The journey was going well until the bus hit a patch of ice in a high valley. "Bugger!" Howard cried as the bus spun in a perfect circle. Ginny toppled into Harry's lap. He automatically put his arms around her. The tires spun uselessly. Howard flicked his wand in agitation and seconds later the bus left the high valley only to skid to a halt in front of a group of sleeping giants. "Bugger!" "Howard, you're not supposed to take Troll Pass anymore," someone admonished. The bus plunged into a dark cave and then reemerged in a forest. Rain clattered on the roof. "You passed my auntie's house, Howard!" "Bugger!" The bus reversed until they were in front of a small stone house. Reginald hurried off the bus with his bunch of flowers. One of the daisies was snapped in half. "I'll wait until your shift is over to summon the bus," the boy said stiffly. Howard scowled at him and slammed the door shut. Then he turned to Harry and Ginny. "What time do you have to be at St. Kilda's?" he asked. "Ten o'clock," Harry answered. Ginny glanced at his watch. They had five minutes. "Bugger!" Howard pointed the bus toward yet another mountain. "She'll be right. We'll take the high road." The high road consisted of Apparating from one jagged snowy peak to the next. "Do be careful, Howard," said one of the witches as Howard slammed on the brakes in front of shimmering wall of magic. "You almost got us in a trap." "Must be an Apparition trap," Harry murmured. "It's like the wall we saw in South Africa," Ginny said. "These mountains are the Remarkables," Howard said a few summits later. "Lake Wakatipu is below and over on that shore is St. Kilda's Hospital for Magical Maladies." Ginny looked down to see a long blue lake with a Muggle town at one end. They slid down a snowy slope, just missing some sort of hanging bench that was going up the mountain. Then they screeched to a halt in front of a tall brick building flanked by two leafless Beech trees. "St. Kilda's," Howard said triumphantly. "And you're only five minutes late." "Bugger!" Harry said. Everyone laughed – including Howard. * "You're late," breathed the plump receptionist when Harry gave his name. "Healer Welby won't be very happy with you." The receptionist, however, looked happy with Harry as she batted her heavily made-up eyelashes at him. "I wrote an essay about you for my Current Magical Affairs class." Harry stared at her. "That was three years ago, though," she added. "Before you defeated Lord Voldormert." "Er–" Harry was obviously toying with correcting her. "I got an O on it," she continued. "I'm hoping to earn a NEWT in that class this year." Harry frowned. "Why aren't you in school now?" "Because it's winter break," she answered. "This is usually Mum's job, but they let me man the desk today because they knew I was a big Harry Potter fan. I'm Nora Patterson, by the way." A white-haired, pleasant looking wizard entered the lobby. "Harry Potter?" He held out his hand. "I'm Healer Welby." He peered myopically through his bifocals at Harry. "You're late." "Um. Howard was driving." Healer Welby's face cleared. "Oh, well, that explains it. Come along now. We're behind already what with all of those reporters and our new celebrity." "Um." Harry stopped. "What about Ginny?" "Ginny?" "Potter. My wife." Even though it was a stupid time to blush, Ginny did. It was the first time Harry had ever called her that in public. "I didn't know you were married!" Nora squeaked from the desk. "Er. Just two weeks ago," Harry said. "August fourteenth." "Then your paperwork must be under your maiden name," Healer Welby said to Ginny with a reassuring smile. He spoke into the crossed wand and bone badge on his lapel. "Hezzie, can you come to the reception desk?" Ginny didn't hear an answer, but Healer Welby seemed to think this Hezzie person would appear, since he clapped Harry on the back and turned toward an open door leading to a corridor. "Hezzie will sort you out, Mrs. Potter." Even though Ginny didn't like being left on her own, she still felt a distinct thrill at being called 'Mrs. Potter.' * "Heather Elizabeth," Hezzie explained fifteen minutes later as they were waiting for their tea to be served in the hospital teashop. "When I came here five years ago for training, Healer Jones took one look at my name and dubbed me Hezzie." Her warm brown eyes shone with amusement from behind her little pointed glasses. "And it stuck." Ginny laughed. "I can't imagine how he would shorten Harry's name or my name." Hezzie smiled, showing two dimples. "No, both your names end with that 'e' sound the Aussies and the Kiwis like so well." "Where are you from?" The tea had arrived and with the first sip, Ginny was transported back to St. Mungo's where the tea was just as foul. "Iowa," Hezzie answered. "Tea not to your liking?" "Just reminds me of St. Mungo's, that's all." Ginny didn't want to think about the two weeks she had spent there as a patient in the spring. Hezzie nodded in understanding. "I think hospital tea is the same the world over." They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. "So when is my appointment?" Ginny felt a little churlish getting down to business after Hezzie had been so kind, but she was impatient to start her qualifying swimming and flying trials. Hezzie hesitated for the briefest of seconds almost as if she was withholding something. "You're the last one, I'm afraid." She ducked her head. "You see, we didn't know you and Harry Potter were married – otherwise we would have scheduled you together and then there is the celebrity we've had to work around –" "Wait a minute." Even though she was disappointed that she had to wait until the end of the day, Ginny couldn't help but notice that everyone was missing the point that Harry was the celebrity. "Is there another celebrity besides Harry?" Hezzie nodded and pressed her lips together as she if were afraid she would betray a wonderful secret. "Who is this celebrity?" Hezzie grinned and then whispered. "I'm not supposed to tell, but I think word has leaked out somehow, anyway." She looked around the room to make sure no one was listening. Then she giggled and said, "Niall Dunbrack!" "Niall Dunbrack?" Ginny frowned. "I know! Can you believe he would come here?" "Who's Niall Dunbrack?" Hezzie was thunderstruck. "He's the second son – or should I say, the remaining son of the Minister for Magic of Australia." "Oh?" "The Dunbracks are the leading family in Australia – very posh, as they say here," Hezzie continued. "Niall Dunbrack has been in the tabloids since he was in diapers – I mean – nappies." Ginny still didn't understand the fascination with this Niall Dunbrack. "Has he done something heroic?" "He's still not married," Hezzie said flippantly. "What?" "Ginny, he's gorgeous. He's rich. He's the bad boy second son of one of the most powerful wizards down under." "Oh." She shook her head in bemusement. "It's just that Harry has been in the papers in Britain since – well – he was in nappies and it just seems strange that people are more interested in this Niall person than Harry." "Oh, everyone knows about Harry Potter," Hezzie assured her. "And there was a lot of excitement when we received his application – but a Dunbrack coming here is just…." Ginny giggled, feeling suddenly lighter. So what if Harry wasn't going to be the most famous person? He would be glad to be out of the limelight. "Maybe he'll marry a nice Kiwi girl." "Or one from Iowa," Hezzie said, waggling her eyebrows. * Harry looked tired, hungry and happy when he finally joined Ginny in the teashop. "You qualified!" she exclaimed as she leapt out her chair to hug him. "I did – even though the swimming almost killed me." "Congratulations," Hezzie said, standing up and holding out her hand to Harry. "I'm Hezzie, by the way. I'll be teaching some of the first-aid seminars." She looked at her watch. "I must run. Ni – er – there's another candidate due to arrive." Ginny smiled. "You look smashing." Hezzie winked and hurried out of the tearoom. "Why should she care how she looks for the next candidate?" Harry asked. "Long story," Ginny answered. * After Harry ate a huge meat pie and a luscious fruit and whipped cream pudding called pavlova, he was ready to go along with Ginny's suggestion and use the afternoon to find a place to live. After all, Ginny was a better swimmer and just as good of a flier, so Harry didn't think she would have any trouble qualifying. Hezzie had told Ginny to contact Bonnie Bea, a real estate agent who could help them find a bach to let for the year. There were a lot of these holiday homes around the Lake Wakapitu area since the mountains and lakes were quite popular with rich Australians and Kiwis from the North Island. "Is this Bonnie Bea related to the Bea brothers?" Harry asked as they waited in the lobby. "The youngest sister," Ginny informed him. "Divorced a few years ago. Is sweet on Howard the bus driver." "Howard? Bugger Howard?" Ginny giggled. "That's what Hezzie told me." "She's a regular font of information." "I know, I'm so glad I found her," Ginny said, feeling better and better about their new home. At that moment, Bonnie Bea Apparated soundlessly in front of them. "The Potters!" she cried, holding out both of her hands, which were covered in rings of all sizes and hues. "My brother, Bill, just popped over to tell me about seeing Niall Dunbrack's private yacht sail into Port Chalmers." When she smiled she looked just like her brothers – although, luckily for Bonnie, her head was covered in short, frizzy blonde hair. "When I told him I had an appointment with the Potters to view some bachs, he told me that he had already met you at the Mercantile." Bonnie looked so pleased with this coincidence that Ginny had to smile back. "Small world." "It is on the South Island," Bonnie agreed. "Now, I hope you don't mind if we side-along Apparate to the properties. I could direct you, of course, but it's so easy to get lost in a new place." Harry looked to Ginny for her consent. "That's fine," he said. Bonnie coiled her hand around Ginny's upper arm and within seconds they were at the front entrance of a modern, low-slung house with huge plate glass windows. "Look behind you," Bonnie said. There was a breathtaking view of a long blue lake sparkling in afternoon sunlight, bordered by snow-capped mountains. "Wow." The five bedroom house was fully furnished with a huge Model Quidditch set that played any match that was broadcast over the Wireless, and also included two house-elves to see to all of their needs. Ginny looked at Harry. She knew he would like the Model Quidditch set, but he would hate the idea of a house-elf waiting on them. She shook her head at Bonnie. She showed them another luxurious house, also on a high cliff, with similar amenities. It was situated close to the Dunbrack holiday home, which was one of the family's many properties that they never used. When Ginny shook her head over this house, Bonnie nodded. "Now that the black sheep is here, there will be some wild parties going on. You don't want to be living next to that." It was the first negative thing Ginny had heard about Niall Dunbrack. Bonnie, a true saleswitch, did not let Harry and Ginny's lack of enthusiasm for modern, expensive houses dampen hers. After looking at a dozen luxurious bachs, some with indoor swimming pools and saunas and Rooms of Requirement, Ginny finally spoke up. "Um. Bonnie? Don't you have something in your listings that is little more…?" She looked to Harry for help. "Small?" he supplied. "Small?" Bonnie's non-existent eyebrows rose. Obviously estate agents were not trained in "small." "You know, cozy," Ginny said. "For two people –" "With a spare bedroom," Harry interrupted. Ginny wondered why Harry cared about a spare bedroom, but she continued on with her requirements. "Something that I can keep clean without a house-elf." Harry grinned. "And isn't hanging off the edge of a cliff." Bonnie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Homey," Ginny said. "Like a home – not a holiday place." "I have one," Bonnie finally said after she conjured her address book out of thin air. "It's not in a fashionable area. It's between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. You'll have to Apparate to St. Kilda's each day, since it's a half-hour broom ride." "That's okay," Harry said. "We'd like to see it." The minute Ginny saw the whitewashed stone cottage with a round green door flanked by two paned windows; she knew this was the place she wanted to live. "It needs some updating," Bonnie warned before they entered. "It's owned by the Smith family of Dunedin. The lady who had it built eighty years ago used it to get away from her children. Ginny laughed. "Is that why it's called Contented Cottage?" "Must be," Bonnie replied. "Although, Confined Cottage would have been a better name." It was small. One large room functioned as the kitchen and living area. There were two small bedrooms – one on each side of the main room, and the tiny bathroom at the back of the house looked like it had been stuck on as an afterthought. Ginny loved it – right down to the old-fashioned brass beds and the cauldron that looked like the one her grandmother used to have. While the house was small, the garden was large with all sorts of neatly trimmed hedges and paths and flowerbeds, now lying fallow in late winter. There was a pine forest behind the garden and a view of the distant mountains from the front. "If this house was on higher ground, you could see the lakes from here," Bonnie fretted. "That's okay," Ginny said. "I love it!" Then she realized that Harry hadn't said a word. She glanced at him in question. He merely shrugged and grinned. Then Ginny realized. There wasn't room for a Model Quidditch set. "We could put a Model Quidditch set in the potting shed in the garden," Ginny suggested. "There's one at the pub if you want to listen to a match," Bonnie said before Harry could answer. "That is, if you don't mind mixing with the locals." "I don't mind." Harry sounded annoyed. Bonnie was all apologies. "I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that we're a quirky lot here on the Avalon Flat." "Your house is nearby?" Ginny asked. "Yes." Bonnie blushed. "I know what you mean about houses hanging off a cliff. I like the view from below just fine." Then she smiled and talked faster and faster about this part of her beloved Waikikamukau district. "The post office and dairy is a short walk down that lane. Jeremiah Dey is the postmaster and a real character. I know you'll love watching the phoenix that lives on top of Mt. Aspiring." "Phoenix?" "Her name is Lucy," answered Bonnie, as if phoenixes were as common as sparrows. "Now, there's an Apparition trap on the far shore of Lake Hawea – so remember that if you're feeling homesick or upset. You'd be amazed at how easy it is to accidentally Apparate in this atmosphere –" "Excuse me, Bonnie," Harry interrupted. "But we have to go since Ginny's appointment is in ten minutes." "Oh, heaven's yes!" Bonnie exclaimed. "We can sign the lease tomorrow. Do you want to stay here tonight? The beds are made up and I can have Bill send your trunks on the Tiki Tour Bus while you're at St. Kilda's." Ginny was pleased to think that their first night in New Zealand was going to be spent in their new home and not some hotel. This time she remembered to look to Harry before she said anything. He gave her another shrug and a smile. It was up to her. "That sounds perfect," Ginny said. * Ginny, unlike Harry, was not late for her appointment although she was starting to feel a little nervous about the swimming trial. She felt better when she saw that it was Hezzie ushering her down the corridor to the examination room. "Are you still working?" she asked, thinking it was a good thing she hadn't chosen to be a Healer. Hezzie smiled. "I'm officially off duty, but I wanted to be here for all of the appointments, since I'm involved with the training – and I don't want to miss the 'welcome to St. Kilda's' barbeque tonight." "Did you examine Niall Dunbrack yourself?" Ginny asked. Hezzie laughed. "Darlin', if professional ethics weren't an issue, I would have." She winked. "Photos don't do him justice. He's all that and a bag of chips." Ginny laughed at Hezzie's expression. She was going to be fun to get to know. Healer Welby was frowning at a folder when Ginny entered the examination room. There was another witch in Healer's robes present, who was also frowning and talking in low tones to Healer Welby. "Mrs. Potter," Healer Welby greeted her. "Hop up on the table, will you?" Ginny's heart started to pound. They looked so serious – even Hezzie, who slid the step stool over to Ginny so she could climb on to the padded table. "We're just going to look at that scar of yours," Healer Welby said. "Lie back." He ran his wand over her abdomen. Ginny caught sight of her face in the reflection of his glasses. She looked pale and wide-eyed. "Sylvia?" Healer Welby murmured. The other Healer ran her wand over Ginny's stomach and then looked sharply at Healer Welby. "Just as I thought." "Mrs. Potter, you can sit up now," Healer Welby said. "Let me help you." His hand was warm. Ginny's legs dangled from the high table and she fought to not swing them to and fro while she waited for Healer Welby to stop fussing with the papers in the folder. "Mrs. Potter," he finally said, looking into her eyes, "we only received this file from St. Mungo's a week ago. There must have been a problem with the post somewhere along the way." Ginny nodded, and swallowed nervously. "If we had known –" "What Healer Welby is trying to say," broke in the witch called Sylvia,"is that if we had known the extent of your injury, we would have told you not to come to New Zealand." "What?" "My dear, simply put, there is no way we can take you on as a trainee in the Search and Rescue program." End Part II
This was a difficult chapter to write because I had to include a lot of information about H/G's new home and introduce new characters. Since I've never been to New Zealand, I've had to rely on my Kiwi friends and the Internet to help me picture it in my mind. Hopefully my depiction of the real New Zealand is accurate enough to placate my Kiwi readers and my depiction of magical New Zealand is wondrous enough to transport all of my readers to a new and believable setting. Here is the separation of fact and fiction/ Muggle and magical: Dunedin is a real city on the east coast of the South Island. Port Chalmers, the main shipping port, is situated a few miles away. This is where The Three B's Mercantile is located. Larnach's Castle is not in the air, but is located on the Otago Pennisula near Dunedin. The Royal Albatross colony nests on Taiaroa Head (and not under Larnach's Castle). St. Kilda is an island in the Hebrides (in Scotland) and is the name of a beach in Dunedin. I liked the Scottish connection so I named the magical town and the hospital after it. The magical town of St. Kilda is close to the Muggle city of Queenstown. Christchurch and Arthur's Pass are real locations on the South Island. Lakes Wanaka, Hawea, and Wakatipu are real (and beautiful). The Remarkables, Mt. Aspiring and all those other mountains the Tiki Tour Bus jumped are part of the Southern Alps – a chain of mountains that runs the entire length of the South Island. Harry and Ginny's cottage is located close to Muggle Albert Town. Waikikamukau is a jokey Kiwi name for a place that is out in the sticks – or the wop-wops – or the back of Bourke – however you want to put it. I am using it as a district name. Wetas are huge UGLY ;-) insects. A Moa is a huge bird that is extinct. To take a tiki tour is to go the scenic, roundabout way. Swannie shirts are the real deal. On the Swandri website the company's philosophy is summed up this way: We have to make a good garment. Most of our customers have guns. Oh, that Kiwi sense of humor! Speaking of which, Howard was inspired by a commercial I found on YouTube. Now, before any Kiwis think I'm stereotyping them, I want to say that I picked New Zealand because of its wonderful combination of the familiar and the fabulous (which makes the Harry Potter books so delightful). I recognize this rural sensibility, having lived for twenty years in small towns. While the majority of the population lives in the North Island and most people probably live in cities, my magical South Island reflects rural, small-town life.
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