Before setting foot on French soil, Orli had never experienced wizarding international travel firsthand. She had no idea what method Snape would choose to transport her there.
Her experience with magical transportation was limited to a precious few options:
The somewhat nauseating Apparition, the rather uncomfortable Floo Powder, the extremely unpleasant flying broomstick, the highly unstable Thestral-drawn carriage, and the only method that actually agreed with her—the Hogwarts Express.
There were several other modes of transport she knew about: Portkeys, the Knight Bus, Hippogriffs—none of which looked particularly inviting.
Before departure, she'd braced herself for some form of ultra-long-distance teleportation or Apparition, even taking preventative potions to ease the inevitable discomfort. What she hadn't expected was for Snape to lead her to a passenger terminal—a Muggle passenger terminal, no less.
"Professor, we're taking a boat?"
Orli was utterly bewildered. This was far too ordinary, which somehow made it seem extraordinary. The dock appeared completely mundane: small boats and yachts dotted the bay like scattered stars, while two massive white cruise ships gleamed in the distance, though neither showed signs of departure.
"Indeed, we are taking a boat. But not one of these boats."
Snape surveyed the dock, noting several Muggles glancing in their direction, and cast a Notice-Me-Not Charm over both of them.
"We have our own wizarding methods, rather like—"
"Rather like the Hogwarts Express."
Understanding dawned on Orli immediately, and she exhaled in relief. Compared to the magical transportation methods wizards had concocted, their enhanced Muggle vehicles were infinitely more civilized.
She followed Snape past an entire row of ticket booths. The first few still had scattered Muggles queuing, but as they progressed, the crowds thinned until even the ticket sellers had vanished entirely.
They walked to the very last booth. The small structure looked abandoned for decades—its awning had bleached colorless under relentless sun, spider webs beneath it draped with dead leaves and accumulated grime. A small, dark mat lay before the booth, perhaps once red but now faded to dingy gray. The ticket window was thick with dust, its glass spider-webbed with cracks and sealed with yellowing tape. A small placard clung to the far side of the glass: "Out of Service."
Orli studied the derelict booth with fascination. Perhaps Snape would lead her through some hidden wall, like Platform Nine and Three-Quarters? Or maybe he'd tap a sequence of bricks with his wand, as he had during their first visit to Diagon Alley... Her mind wandered through possibilities as she watched his movements, only to discover her guesses were entirely wrong.
Snape glanced about, ensuring they were truly alone, then drew his wand and inserted it directly into a small aperture in the wall. He produced three Galleons and fed them through a narrow slot below.
A sharp crack made Orli jump—for a terrifying moment, she thought Snape's wand had snapped in two. But his expression remained perfectly composed. Dust billowed as a small brass horn emerged from beneath the faded awning. After a burst of electrical static, a crisp, bureaucratic voice announced:
"Thank you for choosing English Channel Wizarding Ferry Services. Two passengers, five Sickles change. We wish you a pleasant voyage."
As Snape withdrew his wand, another crack echoed, and the brass horn retracted. Five silver Sickles tumbled from the coin slot, chiming as they fell into Snape's waiting palm.
Before Orli could puzzle out how they would actually board their mysterious vessel, the ground vanished beneath her feet. The faded mat had somehow disappeared, revealing a yawning black void. She plummeted into darkness, a scream building in her throat—but before it could escape, a steady arm encircled her shoulders, pulling her against familiar black robes.
Author's Note:Ticket pricing referenced the Knight Bus fare structure. Standard Knight Bus tickets cost 11 Sickles, with chocolate included for 14 Sickles, or hot water bottle and toothbrush for 15 Sickles.
The Knight Bus advertises service to "anywhere on land"—interpreting this as comprehensive UK coverage. Cross-channel ferry service warranted a premium: 23 Sickles per passenger, 46 Sickles total.
Exchange rate: 1 Galleon = 17 Sickles. Snape's payment of 3 Galleons (51 Sickles) minus 46 Sickles fare equals 5 Sickles change.
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