JAMES POTTER AND THE VAULT OF DESTINIES

       James peered around Neville's shoulder and grinned. 'It is! And look who's with him!'

       'James!' a voice cried out over the noise of the throng. 'Ralph! Hey, over here!'

       James and Ralph pushed through the crowd, laughing with delight. James leapt up the stairs, taking them two at a time to the nearest landing, where a small group of people stood watching. 'Zane!' he called. 'I didn't know you were coming!'

       'Are you kidding?' Zane said, matching James' grin. 'I was planning to stow away in the baggage compartment if Chancellor Franklyn wasn't going to let me come. How are you doing, you guys? Good to see you!'

       James reached to shake Zane's hand, but Zane grabbed James around the shoulder and pulled him into a rough half-embrace.

       'Oof,' James said, laughing. 'I forget how touchy-feely you lot are. We're good. Glad to finally be here.'

       'Hey Zane!' Ralph smiled, huffing up the last of the stairs to the landing. 'Nice country you got here.'

'You just wait,' Zane said, approaching Ralph and throwing an arm around the bigger boy's shoulders. 'I'm going to show you all around. You'll love it. But first, intros…' He turned aside, gesturing toward the people standing nearby. 'That's Chancellor Franklyn, of course, who you already know.'

       Franklyn nodded at James and Ralph. 'Boys,' he said, smiling. 'It's good to see you both again, and rather grown-up, I daresay. I trust you've been practicing up on your defensive techniques. It looks like I may be overseeing your education again this year, if I am not mistaken.'

       James nodded, but Zane went on, interrupting him before he could reply. 'Next to him, that's Professor Georgia Burke. She teaches Mug-Occ and Magizoology. You might have her this year if you're lucky. She lets us pet the tufted rattlebacks, even though it's technically a violation of the health code. The rest of these mugs are just T.A.s and admin, here to take a few pictures of the big city. Like me,' Zane finished, grinning. 'Which reminds me, here, what's your name?'

       Lucy blinked at Zane as she reached the landing. 'I'm Lucy Weasley,' she replied. 'Who are you?'

       'Pleased to meet you, Lucy. I'm Zane. You know these two? Troublemakers, aren't they? Here, would you mind taking a picture of the three of us?'

       James stifled a grin as Zane shoved a large camera into Lucy's hands.

       'Just push the red button on the top right,' he said, backing away and throwing an arm each around James and Ralph. 'But you have to hold it down for a second so the flash will work.'

       'I know how to operate a camera,' Lucy commented, rolling her eyes. She raised the camera and peered through the viewfinder.

       'Say 'cheese'!' Zane announced, showing all his teeth to the camera.

       The camera flashed as Ralph and James both said 'cheese'.

       'Speaking of which,' Albus said, climbing the stairs next to his parents, 'here's our cheesy American friend.'

       'Good to see you, Zane' Harry said, patting Zane roughly on the shoulder. 'Still tearing it up on the Quidditch pitch?'

       'I wish,' Zane replied, shaking his head. 'These guys don't have any respect for the game over here. Here, it's all Quodpot and Clutch. We have a team, but it's nothing like when I played with the Ravenclaws.' He sighed, and then brightened. 'Hi Petra! I didn't know you were coming.'

       Petra beamed at Zane, walking with Izzy at her side. 'I don't think anybody knew for sure until we were underway,' she answered, shrugging.

       'Harry,' Benjamin Franklyn said warmly, reaching to shake hands. 'So good to see you again. I only wish it were under better circumstances. And this must be the lovely Ginevra?'

       'Pleased to meet you, Chancellor,' James' mum said, smiling.

       'Do call me Benjamin,' Franklyn said, showing her his most charming smile.

       'Chancellor,' Percy said, sidling between them and reaching for Franklyn's hand. 'A pleasure, as always. You've met my wife, Audrey, of course. And this is Denniston Dolohov, Neville Longbottom, and finally, last but not least…'

       'Merlinus Ambrosius,' Franklyn interjected, looking up at the tall wizard. 'Yes, of course. We barely had the chance to speak when last we met. Things were rather hectic, of course. I look forward to a more relaxed interview this time, although I am certain it won't be as long as I might hope.'

       'Chancellor,' Merlin nodded in greeting. 'I assure you, this will likely be the first of many visits. I wish to know much about this country of yours. But we will make the best use of what time we have.'

       Greetings and introductions continued all around, but James grew bored with them and stopped paying attention. Finally, Neville spoke up.

       'Begging everyone's pardon, but I, for one, am anxious to reach our final destination. Might we continue our conversation as we move on?'

       'Certainly, Mr. Longbottom,' Franklyn agreed. 'We are only awaiting one more person. Well, in a manner of speaking.'

       Harry looked around at everyone in his troop. 'I believe we are all present and accounted for, Chancellor. Are you quite sure?'

       'Indeed I am,' Franklyn nodded. 'Pardon the confusion. She is one of our own, in fact. Just now returning, by happenstance, from a summer trip abroad with some of her students.'

       'Here she comes now,' Zane said, sighing in annoyance. 'Don't tell me you guys had to travel with her.'

       James turned, frowning quizzically, just in time to see Persephone Remora climbing the steps to the landing, her long black cloak flowing dramatically around her, creating a wake through the moving crowd.

       'Ah,' she sighed. 'Returned so soon. It seems as if we barely just left. Greetings, Chancellor, Georgia. Forgive me if we seem less than enthused to see you. It is always rather a strain to come back from our land of origin. Pray, don't take it personally.'

       'Welcome home, Professor Remora,' Franklyn announced. 'No offense taken whatsoever. We, too, know what it is like to be away from our homeland. As do our European friends here. I take it most of you have already met?'

       'Professor Remora?' James said incredulously, turning back to Zane and Ralph.

       'Yeah,' Zane said under his breath. 'Forbidden Practices and Cursology. Don't get me started. She's a real treat.'

'Huh,' Ralph said, peering aside at the woman and her pasty-faced students. 'I wouldn't have guessed that.'

       James shook his head. 'He's being sarcastic, Ralph. It's an American thing. Remember?'

       'Oh yeah,' Ralph said, nodding. 'That makes more sense, then.'

       'Friends,' Franklyn announced, gesturing toward the bank of doors behind him, 'let us be off!'