I ended up bouncing around Europe for the next month and change without any real goal in mind besides just enjoying myself, both just flying, and just doing the usual rubbernecking in some of the most beautiful cities in the world. I skipped over Russia and Germany because things were still bad over there since Grindelwald's fall; with tensions being even higher on the magical side then it was between the Allied forces and Russia, who were still growling at one another across the Berlin Wall.
I did pass through France and Beauxbaton. I swear to god, Disney ripped of their logo from the school. It was pretty much a replica with its white stone buildings and towers and blue roofs. It even had a damn river running through it. it was so Disney that I wouldn't have been surprised if an impromptu song and dance number were to start up as I approached. That would be horrible… I couldn't sing for shit. It sounded like someone was strangling a bear while stuffing a crazy roosted up its butt, backwards. I bet a wizard had tried that at some point, all in the name of sci- magic! And what a picture that was.
I made sure to buzz the school good! Full speed, straight through the tunnel!
I like to think I broke several windows.
And made whoever was left in the place over the summer do a brown note.
After that, I didn't really have much of a plan. I did kip over to Italy and took a stroll through the Vatican, feeling like a boss all the while. Not every day you can tweak your nose at the biggest faith in the world just by walking around. I admit, it was fun imagining the Cardinals and Pop having a meltdown at the thought of an actual wizard strolling through their most holy of holy places outside of Jerusalem. Though, it made me wonder if they were aware of the wizarding world at all. I couldn't recall if the muggle governments were aware, if they were then the Vatican most likely knew as well. Not that I cared overly much, it wasn't like I was hurting anybody and it was fun to wave at passing clergy and give them sinister smiles.
Yes, I'm petty.
After that, I was a bit at a loss. I didn't really know where to go next. I was tempted to head further down into Africa to visit Uagadou, the school of magic that tended to the African continent and where they exclusively practiced wandless magic. Uagadou was generally thought to be the oldest magic school in the world, though it was being contested by Mahoutokoro who held that it was by far the oldest. Unfortunately, they refused to state exactly how old and allow anyone to review their records, making their claim somewhat suspect.
However, after some thought, I felt like it was time to head back towards Hogwarts. Sure, it was more than a month and a half left of the summer vacation, but I was frankly at a loss at what to do. Most of my summers before this were spent at Hogwart's working and studying, with the occasional pit stop in the normal world for certain materials and equipment that wasn't readily available in the wizarding world, or just prohibitively expensive to buy "In house" in the long run. Most wizards might not be all that bright, but they were still human so they naturally tried to fleece you every chance they got.
I fished out the Resurrection Stone from its resting place in my mokeskin pocket and held it up against the light. Besides, I had some people I wanted to have a chat with.
---
I landed on the lawn facing the Forbidden Forest outside Hogwarts a day later, but in lieu of going in I instead walked over to where Hagrids house lay snuggly against the border to the woods. I didn't see him outside, but the lights were on, as it were, so he was probably inside. It was about time for dinner anyway. It would have to be a short stay then. No offense to Hagrid, but as it turns out, not even magic can improve that man's cooking. Not that its necessarily bad tasting, but what Hagrid called texture I would call leather, and crispy… like gravel.
I laughed quietly to myself before banging roughly on the door. "Hagrid! You in there you big oaf! Come out say HI you rude ass!" I roared.
There was a brief pause then a familiar booming laugh was heard from inside before rapid heavy steps, that made the porch tremble dangerously, approached the door. Moments later the door flew open to reveal a widely grinning Hagrid who immediately reached down and scooped me up in the mother of all bear hugs.
"Drew!" He shouted happily and laughed loud enough to deafen me before he bent over and gave me a big hug. Not that he was capable of giving a small one.. "Yah dirty little scamp! I thought ye weren't to be back befo' school was in!"
I laughed and hugged him back as best I was able. "Got bored! And I couldn't find anyone that was half as good company as you are!"
Hagrid patted me lightly on the back, which was still hard enough to almost drive the air from my lungs, before letting me down. "That's wha' I like ta hear!" He proclaimed boisterously. "But yeh shouldn't be lying to me to make me feel good, I know yah met some good people up there in Sweden."
I chuckled. "Got a letter then?"
"Darn straight I did," Hagrid said emphatically. "Just about had me drowning in my cup of tea when I read it, it did Hah!"
"Breathing and drinking didn't mix too well?" I teased lightly.
Hagrid chuckled at my bad joke. "I'd say it don't."
"They make a good impression then?" I asked curiously.
"I'd like to think we did." A familiar female voice responded. And from behind Hagrid's big form stepped Sigrid. She was dressed differently from when I last saw her. In favor of her earlier, more elaborate outfit, she had gone with a simple white blouse and blue full length skirt combo. She still had her armbands and a great big golden necklace with a large locket nestled in her exposed cleavage. Her previously wild hair had been tamed and bound in a neat ponytail. As a whole it had transformed what had previously looked like a giant wild Viking woman ready to put an axe in your head for looking at her wrong into something far more modern girl. I couldn't help but goggle at her transformation, and her breast. Because DAMN!
"Sigrid? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked in Swedish when I found my voice again.
Sigrid rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you to 'Drew'." She responded in kind. "What's up with that anyway?"
"Have you ever heard an English try to say my name?" I whined in exasperation. "It's horrible, terrible. It's like they are mocking me!"
"Not like it's the only thing they have to mock you for." Sigrid mocked me lightly.
I blew her a raspberry. "You don't know me anywhere well enough to tell that."
"Woman's intuition." Was Sigrid's prompt reply.
"You should have it sent in for a checkup; it was on the fritz when I showed up at your house." I shot back and was pleased to see her look a bit guilty.
"Mind speaking so I can understand?" Hagrid asked plaintively.
"Sorry, Hagrid." I immediately apologized, switching back over to English. "Sigrid challenged me to a snark off and I had to respond, you know how it is."
Hagrid raised an eyebrow at me before poking me in the chest with a finger the size of a bratwurst. "Now don't go bein' rude to the womenfolk as yah do with that Tugwood girl." He admonished.
I snorted. "Totally different. I actually like Sigrid."
"I'm ever so flattered." Was Sigrid's snarky response.
"You see!" I exclaimed in mock affront. "You see that! How am I not to respond? How, I ask you? She's literally asking for it!"
Sigrid smirked languidly. "I wouldn't ask you for anything even if you were the last man on Earth."
"Oh, that was super weak, utterly cliché. It was bad and you should feel bad." I retorted, shamelessly ripping off an equally clichéd future saying.
Sigrid snorted. "I think I'll just ignore you instead."
"Be I ever so lucky." I shot back with a smile. "I din't know you knew English." I stoped and thought about it for a moment. "Which, now that I think about it, I should have checked before getting you into contact with this lug."
"Yes you should have." Sigrid said smugly. "And I don't just know English, I know Russian and German as well. Mom taught me that while Dad taught me English."
"And how did they learn?" I asked before a memory caught up with me. "No, wait. Don't tell me, Grandma, right?"
"Duh, obviously." Sigrid mocked lightly.
"Yeah, impressive woman, your gran, so unfortunate that it didn't carry over to you." I shot back.
"Alright, alright, tha's enough of that." Hagrid interrupted. "You two do anythin' besides snipping at each other?"
"She tried to strangle me once." I offered a tad gleefully.
"I was holding his shirt." Sigrid protested defensively.
"You would have punched my head clean off if Paddy hadn't threatened to put a brand new hole through your noggin." I tattled shamelessly.
Sigrid glared at me. "But I didn't!"
"Would have."
"Didn't!"
"Alright, that's enough!" Hagrid said and slapped a meaty hand down on my head. "You be nice now."
"Hey, why am I getting the hand?" I asked in mock indignation.
"Because she's a guest." Was Hagrid's simple response. "Besides, I know you 'ave a mouth on ya, bet you dererve it." He added with a hint of fond amusement.
"Hey, I'm a model of politeness!" I mock-complained
"More like stupid." Sigrid snarked.
"Now, don't you start, Sig." Hagrid admonished.
"Sorry." Sigrid apologized insincerely.
"Oh yeah, that was totally sincere," I muttered.
Hagrid just sighed.