December 22nd — 3:47 PM
The scarlet steam engine's whistle echoed across the Scottish Highlands like a victory cry, and honestly, Harry Potter thought it was about time. After surviving his first term at Hogwarts without accidentally destroying more than three bathrooms (okay, four if you counted the Peeves incident, but that was totally not his fault), he figured he'd earned the right to a little celebration.
Harry—son of Loki and Artemis, legendary Monkey King, Troll Slayer Extraordinaire, and current owner of one very pleased-with-himself magical cloud—settled back into his compartment seat with the satisfied air of someone who'd just pulled off the greatest magic trick in history: making it through four months of school without revealing his true identity to anyone except his closest friends.
Well, that and the small matter of housing one of the most powerful magical artifacts in existence in what everyone assumed was a perfectly normal leather bracelet.
*"FREEDOM!"* Jim's voice exploded in Harry's mind like a one-man celebration parade that had somehow gotten into a fight with a fireworks factory and won. *"Sweet, beautiful, temporarily-away-from-suspicious-professors FREEDOM! No more hiding my magnificent commentary during class! No more pretending to be a normal magical focus instead of the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang! No more listening to Snape drone on about potions when I could be providing MUCH more entertaining educational content!"*
Harry tried not to grin too widely as he mentally replied, "Jim, you realize we're going to Camp Half-Blood, right? Where everyone knows exactly what you are and several people are probably going to want to challenge you to a duel just to see what happens?"
*"EVEN BETTER!"* Jim shrieked with delight that probably registered on several magical seismographs across Scotland. *"I haven't had a proper duel in DECADES! Do you think any of them can shapeshift? Or do that thing where they multiply into seventeen different versions of themselves? Because I've been working on some new techniques that I'm absolutely DYING to show off! There's this one move where I split into forty-seven different staffs and create a whirlwind of righteous fury that—"*
"Jim," Harry interrupted mentally, "maybe save the technique explanations for when we're not surrounded by people who might ask uncomfortable questions about why I'm staring into space with that expression on my face."
*"Oh, right! Good point! Very strategically minded! Your father would be SO proud of your developing paranoia and tactical awareness!"*
Aether, currently sprawled across Harry's lap in his favorite cloud-dog form, wagged his misty tail and let out a contented puff that smelled faintly of winter air and adventure. The loyal cumulus had been in an excellent mood ever since they'd boarded the train, probably because he could sense they were heading toward the kind of holiday that would involve lots of outdoor activities and minimal indoor confinement.
On Harry's other side, Hedwig maintained her dignified perch with the regal bearing of someone who considered herself far too sophisticated for the general chaos surrounding her person but was willing to tolerate it because she'd grown fond of the entertainment value.
"So," Tracey Davis said, leaning back in her seat with that lazy smile that made her look like she found the entire universe personally amusing, "anyone want to explain why Harry's cloud is humming what sounds suspiciously like 'Jingle Bells' in a language that probably doesn't exist?"
All eyes turned to Aether, who was indeed humming—or at least making musical noises that could generously be called humming if you were feeling charitable about cloud-based vocalizations. The melody was definitely recognizable, even if the language sounded like it might have been invented by someone who'd never actually heard human speech but had been given a very enthusiastic description of it by a particularly creative parrot.
"He's excited about Christmas," Harry explained with the patient tone of someone who'd grown accustomed to explaining the inexplicable. "He likes the snow. Makes him feel... atmospherically relevant."
*"Atmospherically relevant!"* Jim cackled with appreciation that felt like being hit with a wave of pure joy mixed with caffeine. *"Oh, that's GOOD! Very poetic! Very meteorologically accurate! I'm definitely stealing that phrase for future use! It's going straight into my collection of 'Phrases That Sound Smart But Are Actually Just Silly Nonsense That Makes People Smile'!"*
Aether puffed up with pride and performed what could only be described as a seated bow, which was impressive considering he didn't actually have a conventional anatomy to work with. Somehow he managed to make it look dignified rather than ridiculous, which was probably a skill that came with being a magical cloud rather than a regular weather phenomenon.
"Right," Ron said, unwrapping what appeared to be his seventh chocolate frog of the journey, "because that explanation makes perfect sense and isn't weird at all." He paused to catch the frog before it could hop away, then bit off its head with the satisfaction of someone who'd finally mastered the art of chocolate frog consumption. "I mean, at this point I'm just impressed when you give us an explanation that doesn't involve ancient mythology or things that shouldn't exist but do anyway."
"Everything about Harry makes perfect sense if you just accept that normal rules don't apply to him," Neville pointed out with the philosophical wisdom that came from months of friendship with various legendary figures disguised as first-year students. His round face had gained a confidence over the term that made him look less like a terrified boy and more like someone who'd discovered he could be brave when it mattered. "I've given up trying to understand it. Now I just enjoy the show."
*"SMART BOY!"* Jim approved enthusiastically, his mental voice somehow managing to sound like applause mixed with the crash of cymbals. *"He's learned the fundamental secret of successfully interacting with agents of beautiful chaos: don't overthink it, just hold on tight and try to enjoy the ride! That boy is going places! Probably dangerous places that involve monsters and explosions, but definitely going places!"*
Hermione looked up from the book she'd been reading—something thick and probably educational about ancient Greek military strategy, because apparently even her holiday reading had to be academically enriching. Her bushy hair was even more unruly than usual, probably because she'd been running her hands through it while concentrating, and there was that sharp, focused look in her brown eyes that meant she was thinking about seventeen different things at once and connecting dots that other people hadn't even noticed existed.
"Speaking of shows," she said with that particular tone that suggested she was about to share information that would be either very interesting or very concerning, "has everyone finalized their holiday plans?"
"Burrow," Ron said immediately, as if this required no further explanation. He was already on his eighth chocolate frog, which Harry was pretty sure qualified as impressive even by Ron's standards. "Mum's making her special Christmas pudding, Dad's probably going to blow something up in the shed again, and the twins are definitely planning something that'll give Mum gray hair and possibly violate several laws of magical physics."
*"I LOVE YOUR FAMILY ALREADY!"* Jim announced with explosive enthusiasm that felt like being hugged by a very excitable tornado. *"They sound like my kind of people! Chaos-positive! Explosion-friendly! Very advanced in their understanding of creative property damage as a legitimate form of artistic expression! I bet they'd appreciate my collection of 'Innovative Ways to Solve Problems That Technically Work But Might Alarm the Neighbors'!"*
"Susan and I are staying with my Aunt Amelia," Hannah Abbott said, her cheeks pink with excitement. Her blonde hair was braided back neatly, but there were little wisps escaping that made her look younger and more eager than usual. "She's promised to teach us some advanced defensive charms, and there's a whole library of books about magical creatures that I've been wanting to read."
"Books about magical creatures?" Harry asked with genuine interest, because you never knew when information about magical creatures might come in handy, especially when you were the type of person who seemed to attract unusual magical situations like a magnet attracted iron filings—enthusiastically and with potentially dangerous results.
"Oh yes," Susan Bones nodded enthusiastically, her red hair catching the afternoon light streaming through the compartment window. She had that eager expression that came from having access to potentially dangerous knowledge and being very excited about it. "Everything from household spirits to dragons to things that probably shouldn't exist but do anyway because magic is weird like that. Aunt Amelia says half the books are restricted by the Ministry because they contain information that could be 'misused by persons of questionable intent,' which honestly just makes them sound more interesting."
*"EXCELLENT research material!"* Jim approved with scholarly enthusiasm that somehow managed to sound like a library explosion. *"Very important to understand your potential opponents, allies, and things that might try to eat you during routine adventures! Always good to be prepared! Though I have to say, the Ministry's definition of 'questionable intent' is usually just 'more creative than they're comfortable with.'"*
"What about you two?" Neville asked, turning to look at the Slytherin contingent with the kind of casual acceptance that would have shocked their parents and probably caused several pureblood families to have collective heart attacks.
Daphne Greengrass examined her perfect manicure with the air of someone discussing the weather rather than potentially dangerous holiday activities. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves that somehow never seemed to get messed up no matter what was happening, and she had that cool, collected expression that made everything sound like it might be either completely innocent or a carefully planned international incident.
"Father has some... business associates visiting from various international locations," she said with the kind of diplomatic vagueness that suggested said business associates were probably either very important, very dangerous, or very likely to be wanted by multiple magical governments. "So Tracey and I will be spending most of the holiday at Greengrass Manor, practicing advanced magic and trying not to accidentally overhear anything that might get us kidnapped by foreign intelligence agencies."
*"INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE!"* Jim perked up with the enthusiasm of someone who'd just discovered their favorite genre of entertainment was being performed live in their vicinity. *"Oh, that sounds absolutely FASCINATING! Very dangerous, very educational, very spy-novel-ish! Do either of them know how to pick locks? Because that's a surprisingly useful skill during international incidents! Also lock-picking! And maybe some basic code-breaking! Never know when you might need to—"*
"We're hoping to get some advanced Potions instruction," Tracey added with a grin that belonged in a horror movie but somehow made her look more cheerful rather than threatening. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail that made her look deceptively innocent, which was probably exactly the effect she was going for. "Daphne's uncle is a certified Potions Master, and he's promised to teach us some... creative applications of standard brewing techniques."
Hermione looked up from her book with the expression of someone who'd just heard something that was simultaneously fascinating and deeply concerning from an academic safety perspective. "What kind of creative applications?"
"The kind that are perfectly legal as long as you don't get caught using them on people who deserve it," Daphne replied with perfect calm and absolutely no reassurance whatsoever.
Harry felt Jim practically bouncing with glee inside his mind. *"I DEFINITELY love these girls! They understand the fundamental importance of creative problem-solving and the flexible interpretation of legal boundaries! Your father would immediately recruit them for his Department of Advanced Chaos Theory and Questionable Life Choices! Which, by the way, is a real department. I've seen the paperwork."*
"Right," Hermione said slowly, making what Harry suspected were mental notes about keeping an eye on potentially dangerous potion experiments. Her expression suggested she was already composing a list of safety precautions and possibly researching antidotes, just in case. "Well. I'm going to Camp Half-Blood for some training."
This caused a general brightening of interest throughout the compartment, because Camp Half-Blood was the kind of place where interesting things happened on a regular basis and everyone came back with excellent stories and occasionally new scars that came with even better stories about how they'd gotten them.
"Advanced combat training?" Ron asked hopefully, because Ron had developed a keen interest in learning how to not die during the various adventures that seemed to follow Harry around like a pack of loyal and potentially explosive puppies.
"Among other things," Hermione nodded, and there was something in her expression that suggested she was looking forward to more than just the academic aspects of the experience. There was a sharpness in her eyes that reminded Harry that she was the daughter of Athena, goddess of wisdom and warfare, and that sometimes those two things went together in ways that were both brilliant and slightly terrifying. "Chiron's arranged for some specialized instruction in strategic warfare, and there are some new campers arriving who apparently have some very interesting abilities."
*"CAMP HALF-BLOOD!"* Jim practically bounced with excitement that felt like being inside a very enthusiastic earthquake. *"Oh, I LOVE that place! Such a wonderful combination of educational opportunities and creative violence! And the food is EXCELLENT! Plus, they have that lovely dragon that they're raising to guard the boundary, and I haven't had a proper conversation with a dragon in AGES! Dragons have such interesting perspectives on things like treasure hoarding and the proper etiquette for territorial disputes!"*
"What about you, Harry?" Susan asked with the kind of innocent curiosity that somehow managed to sound like she expected his answer to be either very exciting or very illegal, possibly both.
Harry grinned with the confidence of someone who had excellent holiday plans and absolutely no intention of having a boring Christmas break. "Well, first Zoe and Atalanta are picking me up at King's Cross."
"The Huntresses?" Hannah's eyes went wide with the kind of impressed awe usually reserved for meeting actual celebrities or particularly impressive magical creatures.
"My self-appointed big sisters," Harry confirmed with fond exasperation, because that's exactly what they were, even if they'd never officially acknowledged the relationship. The two Huntresses of Artemis had basically adopted him the moment they'd discovered he was their Lady's son, and they'd been treating him like a beloved but slightly reckless younger brother ever since. "They want to check on my training progress and probably lecture me about reckless behavior and the importance of strategic thinking."
*"HUNTRESSES OF ARTEMIS!"* Jim's voice hit frequencies that probably caused several dogs in the surrounding countryside to prick up their ears and wonder what all the excitement was about. *"Oh, they're absolutely MAGNIFICENT! Terrifying and beautiful and deadly accurate with their bows! And they have such lovely, creative approaches to dealing with people who annoy them! You're going to have SUCH an educational time! Plus, they know all the best techniques for turning everyday objects into improvised weapons!"*
"After that," Harry continued, scratching Aether behind what might have been his ears, "we're going to check on Fluffy."
The reaction to this announcement was immediate and varied. Ron choked on his chocolate frog and had to pound his chest to clear his airway. Neville made a small noise that might have been excitement or terror, possibly both. Hermione looked up from her book with sharp attention that suggested she was already calculating the logistics of visiting a three-headed dog the size of a small building.
"Fluffy's doing well?" she asked with genuine concern, because even though the three-headed dog was roughly the size of a small building and could probably eat a fully-grown troll without getting indigestion, he was still technically Harry's pet and therefore deserving of proper care and attention.
*"FLUFFY!"* Jim cooed with the kind of paternal affection usually reserved for particularly adorable puppies rather than mythological guard dogs capable of biting people in half. *"How is our magnificent three-headed baby? Is he getting enough exercise? Proper nutrition? Adequate socialization with other magical creatures who won't immediately flee in terror? I've been working on some new enrichment activities that I think he'd really enjoy!"*
"He's great," Harry said with genuine warmth, because Fluffy really was a good dog once you got past the whole 'three heads full of teeth the size of dinner plates' thing. "The Huntresses have been helping with his training, and he's learned some excellent new tricks. You should see what he can do with a full-grown oak tree."
"Do I want to know?" Hermione asked with the careful tone of someone who suspected the answer would be either very impressive or very concerning for local forestry management.
"Probably not," Harry admitted cheerfully. "But it's very impressive from an artistic standpoint. He's developed his own unique style of landscape architecture."
*"ARTISTIC TREE DESTRUCTION!"* Jim approved with explosive enthusiasm that felt like being caught in a very happy tornado. *"Very creative! Very environmentally... dynamic! Though I do hope he's not destroying anything historically significant or protected by magical preservation charms! Though knowing Fluffy, he probably has excellent taste in which trees deserve to be turned into abstract art!"*
"And after visiting Fluffy?" Tracey prompted with the kind of interested attention that suggested she found Harry's holiday plans personally entertaining and was already making mental notes for future reference.
"Then I'm meeting Hermione at Camp Half-Blood for some training and probably some light adventuring," Harry said with the casual tone of someone discussing plans to visit the library rather than a training facility for the children of ancient gods where the average day included combat practice, monster encounters, and educational explosions.
*"CAMP HALF-BLOOD AND THE HUNTRESSES OF ARTEMIS!"* Jim was practically singing with anticipation, his mental voice somehow managing to sound like a full orchestra having the best day of their collective life. *"Oh, this is going to be SPECTACULAR! Training with professional monster-hunters! Sparring with other legendary heroes! Learning advanced combat techniques! Probably some very educational explosions! Strategic planning sessions! Creative problem-solving workshops! This is the BEST Christmas vacation EVER!"*
"What kind of training?" Neville asked with the kind of eager curiosity that came from having recently discovered that he was much braver and more capable than he'd ever imagined, and was now actively looking for opportunities to test those newfound abilities.
"The kind that prepares you for things that try to eat you," Harry replied with perfect honesty. "Plus some advanced techniques for creative problem-solving and probably some instruction in the proper care and maintenance of legendary magical artifacts."
He gestured vaguely toward his wrist, where Jim was currently disguised as a perfectly normal leather bracelet that definitely didn't contain one of the most powerful magical weapons in existence and absolutely wasn't plotting seventeen different ways to turn the upcoming training sessions into the most educational chaos anyone had ever experienced.
*"PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE!"* Jim huffed with mock indignation that somehow managed to sound like wounded dignity mixed with barely contained excitement. *"I'll have you know that I am EXTREMELY low-maintenance! All I require is regular intellectual stimulation, occasional opportunities for creative violence, and maybe some philosophical discussions about the nature of chaos theory and applied mayhem! Plus regular exercise, which I get plenty of, and maybe some appreciation for my advanced sense of humor!"*
"Jim says he's low-maintenance," Harry translated with a straight face that wouldn't have fooled anyone who'd spent more than five minutes around them.
"Right," Ron said with the tone of someone who'd learned not to question the various impossible things that surrounded Harry on a regular basis. "Because nothing about your life is ever simple or low-maintenance."
*"HEY!"* Jim protested with wounded dignity that felt like being hit with a wave of pure indignation. *"I am a PERFECTLY reasonable magical artifact who provides excellent companionship, superior tactical advice, and only occasionally suggests solutions that might result in minor property damage or interdimensional incidents! And by occasionally, I mean only when it's absolutely necessary or would be really, really funny!"*
"Occasionally?" Hermione raised an eyebrow with the expression of someone who'd been keeping detailed notes about Jim's various suggestions over the past several months and had compiled quite an impressive list.
*"Frequently is such an ugly word,"* Jim replied with wounded dignity that somehow managed to sound both hurt and completely unrepentant. *"I prefer 'creatively consistent' or 'enthusiastically solution-oriented.' It sounds much more professional, don't you think?"*
Aether chose that moment to perform what could only be described as a sympathetic pat on Harry's arm, using his fluffy cloud-body to provide comfort and support during this moment of magical-artifact-related embarrassment. The loyal cumulus somehow managed to make the gesture feel both protective and slightly amused, as if he understood exactly what Harry was dealing with and wanted to offer moral support.
"Good boy, Aether," Harry murmured, giving the loyal cloud a grateful scratch that made Aether puff up with pride and contentment. "At least you understand me."
Aether made a sound that might have been agreement or might have been his attempt at saying 'always,' which was both adorable and slightly concerning from a meteorological standpoint. The sound was accompanied by a gentle breeze that smelled like summer afternoons and adventure, which was probably Aether's way of saying that he'd always be there for Harry no matter how complicated things got.
"So," Daphne said with that cool smile that made everything sound like it might be either a compliment or a very polite threat, "it sounds like everyone's going to have a very... educational holiday."
"The best kind," Harry agreed with the kind of confidence that came from looking forward to several weeks of training, adventure, and absolutely no homework assignments or suspicious professors asking uncomfortable questions about recent bathroom-related property damage.
*"Half a year down,"* Jim reminded him with cheerful anticipation that felt like Christmas morning mixed with the excitement of planning something wonderfully chaotic, *"six and a half YEARS to go! And this is just the beginning! Wait until people see what the legendary Monkey King can accomplish with proper training and maybe some advanced instruction in creative destruction techniques! We're going to be LEGENDARY! More legendary! Legendarily legendary!"*
As the Hogwarts Express continued its journey toward London, carrying them toward Christmas holidays that promised to be anything but ordinary, Harry settled back to enjoy the last few hours of train ride companionship before they all scattered to their respective adventures.
The Scottish countryside flashed by outside the window, all rolling hills and ancient forests that probably contained their own share of magical secrets and adventures waiting to happen. The afternoon sun was starting to sink lower in the sky, painting everything in shades of gold and amber that made the whole world look like it was ready for something magical to happen.
Which, knowing his luck, it probably was.
"You know what?" Harry said, grinning at his friends with the kind of confidence that came from having the best possible combination of friends, magical artifacts, loyal clouds, and extremely interesting holiday plans, "I have a feeling that when we all come back to Hogwarts in January, we're going to have some very interesting stories to tell."
"Knowing you," Hermione said with fond exasperation and just a hint of excitement that suggested she was looking forward to being part of those stories, "those stories will probably involve at least a moderate amount of chaos, several educational explosions, and possibly some light international incidents."
*"Just the way I like it!"* Jim purred with satisfaction that felt like being wrapped in warm, slightly dangerous contentment. *"Chaotic, educational, and probably illegal in at least three different magical jurisdictions! This is going to be the BEST Christmas vacation in the history of Christmas vacations! And I should know—I've been around for a lot of Christmas vacations!"*
Harry leaned back in his seat and watched the countryside flash by, already looking forward to the adventures ahead. Aether settled more comfortably across his lap, radiating contentment and the promise of excellent flying weather. Hedwig ruffled her feathers once and then settled into dignified repose, apparently satisfied that her human was making appropriately adventurous plans for the holiday.
After all, what was the point of being the legendary Monkey King if you couldn't have a properly legendary Christmas holiday?
*"EXACTLY!"* Jim agreed with explosive enthusiasm. *"Life's too short for boring vacations! Especially when you're technically immortal and have access to some of the most interesting training facilities in the magical world! This is going to be EPIC!"*
And as the Hogwarts Express carried them toward London and the beginning of what was sure to be the most educational Christmas holiday in the history of educational Christmas holidays, Harry couldn't help but smile.
Because somehow, he suspected this was going to be even better than Jim was predicting.
And that was saying something.
---
Meanwhile, at King's Cross Station...
Zoe Nightshade stood with the patience of someone who had been alive for over two thousand years and had learned that most things worth waiting for were worth waiting for properly. Her dark hair was pulled back in its characteristic braid, and she wore modern jeans and a leather jacket that somehow managed to look both contemporary and timeless—probably because she'd been wearing variations of the same practical outfit for centuries.
"Remind me again why we couldn't simply meet the boy at Camp?" she asked, checking her silver watch with the kind of casual precision that came from having excellent time management skills and a deep appreciation for punctuality.
Atalanta, who was currently examining what appeared to be a very detailed map of London's magical transportation networks, looked up with the kind of grin that belonged on someone who was planning something either very educational or very illegal. "Because, my dear Zoe, Harry is our Lady's son, which makes him practically our little brother, and little brothers deserve proper family welcomes when they return from their first term at school."
"Verily, thou speakest true," Zoe replied, slipping into the formal speech patterns that tended to emerge when she was feeling particularly fond or particularly exasperated. "Though methinks there be more to thy reasoning than simple familial affection."
"Well," Atalanta admitted with the kind of cheerful honesty that suggested she'd been caught but wasn't particularly concerned about it, "I may have also promised Lady Artemis that we'd do a preliminary assessment of his training progress before he gets to Camp. Just to make sure he hasn't picked up any bad habits from spending four months around wizards who think a proper combat stance involves pointing a stick and hoping for the best."
Zoe raised an eyebrow with the kind of expression that suggested she found this reasoning both completely logical and slightly concerning. "And how, pray tell, dost thou plan to conduct this assessment in the middle of a crowded Muggle train station?"
"Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something," Atalanta said with the confidence of someone who had been improvising educational opportunities for several centuries and had gotten very good at it. "Besides, you've seen the reports from his professors. The boy's been getting into exactly the kind of trouble that suggests he's learning proper creative problem-solving techniques."
"Indeed," Zoe nodded thoughtfully. "Though I confess myself somewhat concerned by Professor McGonagall's note regarding 'bathroom-related property damage' and 'incidents involving unusually cooperative trolls.'"
"That's not concerning," Atalanta corrected with obvious pride. "That's promising. Shows he's thinking outside conventional parameters and adapting his legendary abilities to new situations. Very advanced tactical thinking for someone his age."
Around them, King's Cross Station bustled with the usual chaos of holiday travel—families dragging oversized suitcases, children running in circles while their parents tried to maintain some semblance of order, and the general atmosphere of barely controlled pandemonium that seemed to surround major transportation hubs during peak travel seasons.
To most observers, Zoe and Atalanta probably looked like perfectly normal young women waiting for a train. This was, of course, completely inaccurate. They were actually immortal hunters with several thousand years of combined combat experience, reflexes that could probably stop time, and enough weapons concealed about their persons to outfit a small army.
But they blended in well.
"Speaking of adapting to new situations," Atalanta said, consulting her map again, "have you given any thought to how we're going to explain Fluffy to the Camp staff?"
Zoe's expression took on the slightly pained look of someone who had been trying very hard not to think about exactly that problem. "Prithee, remind me not to ask thee such questions when I am attempting to maintain a positive outlook regarding our upcoming responsibilities."
"He's a good dog," Atalanta pointed out reasonably. "Very well-trained. Excellent with children. Only occasionally tries to eat people who deserve it."
"He is a three-headed dog the size of a small building," Zoe replied dryly. "Methinks the Camp activities director may have some concerns regarding his integration into the standard recreational programming."
"Details," Atalanta waved dismissively. "I'm sure Chiron will figure something out. He's very good at accommodating unusual campers and their various... companions."
The announcement system crackled to life, informing everyone that the train from Scotland would be arriving shortly at Platform 9¾, which was the kind of announcement that would have caused significant confusion among the Muggle population if they'd been able to hear it.
"Ah," Zoe said with satisfaction, straightening slightly as her hunter instincts kicked into their standard 'mission preparation' mode. "Our wayward young hero approaches."
"Time to see what four months of magical education has done to our little Monkey King," Atalanta agreed, folding her map with the kind of precise efficiency that suggested she'd memorized every detail and was now ready for action.
Both Huntresses moved with the fluid grace of predators as they positioned themselves for optimal visual coverage of the platform, their enhanced senses already reaching out to track the familiar magical signature that belonged to Harry Potter—son of Loki and Artemis, legendary troublemaker, and the closest thing either of them had to a beloved younger sibling.
"I do hope he hasn't grown overconfident," Zoe murmured, her dark eyes scanning the crowd with the kind of professional attention that came from centuries of being responsible for keeping people alive in dangerous situations.
"And I hope he hasn't grown cautious," Atalanta countered with a grin. "Confidence can be trained out of someone. Caution is much harder to fix."
As the familiar red and gold of the Hogwarts Express began to emerge from the magical barrier between platforms, both Huntresses felt that particular combination of anticipation and fondness that came with preparing to see family after a long separation.
After all, Harry might be the legendary Monkey King, but he was also their little brother.
And little brothers, no matter how legendary, always needed proper big sisters to make sure they were taking care of themselves and not getting into more trouble than they could handle.
Though, knowing Harry, the trouble was probably the least of their concerns.
It was what he'd learned to do with the trouble that would really tell them how much he'd grown.
---
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