"I guess we have time," Frank agreed. It wasn't hard to convince himself that they needn't hustle to send an owl both to school and back home.  Surely they were missed on the train by now, but few more minutes to bolster their constitution wouldn't hurt anything.

Feeling his trunk was too ungainly and wet to push around the shop, Frank rolled it behind the outside sandwich board advertising, well, sandwiches. He held the door open for Eirene and they went on in.

The warmth of the little restaurant stung at first, a shock to his pinked cheeks, but Frank was grateful anyway. He stood back a little from the counter, reading over the menu and inspecting the pastries behind the glass. His parents had given him some sickles for the food cart, so he had plenty for a cup of tea and scone.

He approached the counter and placed his order.

"Cup of tea with milk and a strawberry basil scone, please."

The wizard at the till had on an apron covered in flour on - must have come up from the kitchen to cover the front. He looked at Frank and then Eirene a little funny. Frank knew they must look a little strange. Frank, not interested in attempting to lie again, just smiled and presented his sickles. He had money, he was happy, all was well.

The wizard rang him up, Frank paid, and with a word to Eirene went to find a table.

"Just over here, Eirene," he said.  He sat down in a plush booth in the back by a pot-belly stove, and just ... sank in. As hungry as he was, he was even more tired.

Eirene ordered black tea with honey and pointed at one of the scones, not caring which she got. She set Xanthe on the booth bench across from Frank and excused herself to run to the loo.

She touched her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror, horrified. Red nose, puffy cheeks, sallow skin. Her hair was tangled, her ivory cloak stained. She took a minute to scrub at the stains, and to fret over her soggy feet in her wet shoes.

Thank Merlin for Frank, but how was Frank so happy? Calm? Nice? Shaking her head, she took several paper towels out of the loo and went to the mister at the counter, asking for a few cubes of ice.

He looked at her even more strangely than before.

She looked back, letting out a sigh of aggravation.

Eirene sat down at the booth, presenting the makeshift ice-pack to Frank, with instructions to hold it against his nose. Better late than never.

"Once we finish eating, we'll find someone nice to help us," she nodded, just to say something, just to pretend to have a plan. A yawn escaped, and she covered her mouth and blinked sleepily. Eirene felt a little better, sitting nearby the warm stove.

She took a few sips of tea, tried the scone - strawberry flavored - and offered a piece to her cat. Eirene rested her head against the window. Rain began to fall outside, turning the sky darker.

"Frank, I saw an owlery office too," she yawned once more, the thought slipping away.

Minutes passed. She sank into her cloak, and slid further down onto the booth, not meaning to fall asleep but falling asleep anyway, lulled by the warmth of the shop and the rain against the window. Her cat curled up in the only spot available - next to her soggy shoes.

It would make a funny picture. A pointed little girl with windswept black hair slumped down in a booth, chin on her chest, lightly snoring. The boy with her, messy blonde head tipped back against the window, sleeping with his mouth slightly open. The children had both taken off their shoes. A cat slept in the girl's lap. They each had a half-cup of tea in front of them with half-eaten pastry. And this is how they remained for nearly an hour in that booth by the warm stove in that little cafe in Slandermouth. They were so quiet back there that they went unnoticed by the other patrons, that is until Mrs. Early came around.

"I'm sorry, but there's a Hogwarts trunk just sitting outside," Mrs. Early said to Mr. Hobb at the front. "It's going to get rained on. You know, I"m just going to roll it on in here before the jarveys get to it. No one believes me, but I think they've learned to write. Not many words, but you only need a few. Hold on."

Good to her word, the tiny middle-aged witch collected the trunk without any assistance from Mr. Hobb. He did at least, nod in the direction of the trunk's owner, where he'd last seen them. Mrs. Early who was always interested in completing a puzzle, rolled it over and came then upon that pretty picture. Two little ones, all conked out.

"Frank and Eirene! Bless my knickers, what are you doing in Slandermouth?" she exclaimed when she saw them. Her daughter Cosima was in Ravenclaw with them.

"You ought to be halfway to Hadrian's Wall by now, what's happened?" She slid into the booth next to Frank. She was already beginning to put the pieces together. "You've missed the train, haven't you. This is a Homeward Bound scenario in the making isn't it? Thought you could weather it, but look the both of you are not cut out for it. Where's the other trunk?"

Frank fully woke up sometime round about Hadrian's wall. He was still trying to sort out who the woman was. He pushed himself up and wiped his chin.

"Mrs. Early?"

Eirene woke up with a snort. She sat up slowly, feeling a warm furry lump on her legs, and moved Xanthe beside her. Rubbing her aching forehead, she blinked blearily at the woman in the booth across from her.

Who was she? Where were they?

The tea shop!

She glanced at Frank and then at Frank's trunk near their table. Mrs. Early - Mrs. Early! - was asking where the other trunk was. Why, her trunk was safe on the train, of course. It was... oh.

"It's-" her voice sounded like death. She cleared her throat and took a sip of cold tea.

"It's in the sea!"
 
Her features pinched, looking at the familiar, comforting, kind Mrs. Early who had magically appeared in Slandermouth.

Eirene burst into tears.

"I lost everything! My clothes, my books," she sobbed, grabbing a napkin to hide her face, "My books and my clothes, and my planner!"

Mrs. Early reached across the table to pat her shoulder.

"What do you mean it's in the sea?" Mrs. Early started to say, then changed tacks when it only made Eirene cry harder. "Look, dear, you still have your familiar, Xena."

"Xanthe," Eirene corrected, latching on to the logic she so kindly offered. "I still have Xanthe, and my wand, and Frank."

How Frank felt about being lumped into the same category as her wand and her cat, Eirene didn't know, hiding behind her napkin. Mrs. Early stood and gave her a light hug. Eirene took a minute to calm down, turning to the window to blow her nose into the napkins. Ugh and ew!

"Start from the beginning," Mrs. Early suggested, taking a seat next to Frank again, and peering worriedly at his face. "How did you two miss the train?"

Frank didn't feel better after their nap; instead he felt worse. Much worse. His head was splitting and now he was properly starving. He grunted a little, still trying to arrange reality. They were in the tea shop. Cosima Early's mother had come upon them, and she was going to help. A real adult, a nice one. Not a jarvey-murdering ghoul. And Eirene had reached her limit and was sobbing across the table.

Frank murmured some ill-prepared comforts to his friend, but Mrs. Early was in much better shape to make her feel better. Well, in theory. The telling of it seemed to make Eirene feel worse. At least she counted him among her assets. Like a wheelbarrow, maybe. The thing was, Eirene hadn't got around to the worst of it and Mrs. Early came to him for answers.

He sat up straighter to reveal the truth.

"We've lost all magical capabilities, ma'am."

"Call me, Torry, dear, then ... come again?" Mrs. Early asked patiently.

Frank sighed and tried to spell it out as precisely as he could.

"I wasn't able to pass through the barrier at 9 ³/₄ - it was just a solid wall. And later in the bathroom, neither of us could cast a spell. Eirene tried to fix my nose, actually, and I tried a simple light spell. Nothing happened at all. Eirene said its an epidemic. It's called praecantatio deliquus, actually, and there's no cure. You lose all magical abilities just like muggles."

He looked to Eirene for confirmation.

"We tried to think of a way to contact someone, but when we calculated our options, taking the Floo to Hogsmeade sounded the most expedient, safest way to get to school on time."

Frank wanted to make sure Mrs Early understood that he and Eirene were trying to do the right thing - they weren't truants. He did, though, opted to skip over their triumphant window-breaking.

"But the Floo spat us out on the beach. At first we thought we were in Finland. But um, context clues."

It seemed prudent to Frank not to worry Mrs. Early with the jarvey-murderer. Frank swallowed and relaxed again. A flat smile seemed to say, 'and here we are.'

Mrs. Early could tell there was more to the story, but she could also see they were absolutely harrowed by details both known and unknown. "Well, it's all over now, alright there? Alright, Eirene? You'll come with me, you can have a bath, have a real meal, and we'll get you to Hogwarts, good? Good. Up you get."

Frank scooted out of the booth after her. "Sure, but we really don't want to be late."

Mrs. Early shrugged. "It wouldn't be right for me to leave either of you looking the way you do. You're covered in sand and look like death."

Even though Frank trusted Cosima's mum, he still looked to Eirene for her reaction.

Eirene looked up from her napkin, sniffling loudly in warning when Frank spilled the beans. Not just a bean or two, but the whole can out on the table. Oh no! They'd never make it to Hogwarts now, not if Mrs. Early thought they were contagious.

But it seemed Mrs. Early didn't know what Praecantatio Deliquus was - of course she didn't! She wasn't a Healer! Frank knew! He even pronounced it correctly. Eirene lowered her napkin a little more and let out a proud sniffle.

As Frank continued the tale, Eirene found a sense of calm, or perhaps it was that her head hurt too much to think about it. Her nose was completely stuffed. She breathed through her mouth very slightly and carefully, aghast at the thought of people looking at her and thinking she was a mouth-breather.

She realized, when he was done, that he hadn't mentioned the scary wizard on the beach. Eirene finished her tea and rose from the table in silent agreement. It was just too disturbing to dwell on.

"A bath? Oh, I couldn't," Eirene protested. Oh she really could. The more that Mrs. Early talked, the better her plan sounded.

"Thank you, Mrs. Early," she piped up in her best 'fated to be a prefect' voice.

"It's true," Eirene told Frank solemnly. "We do look like death. You haven't seen your own reflection yet."

She had seen the knotted state of her hair and would never be able to unsee it.

She smiled a little, lowering her voice as she and Frank followed Cosima's mum out of the shop. "She's going to take us to Hogwarts." Not to St. Mungo's! Eirene couldn't believe their luck. "Even if we're," she swallowed, "late to the feast, we'll still make it to classes in the morning."

Her eyes shone with feverish devotion to the most sacred of Hogwarts traditions - class!

---

Mrs. Early lived in a lovely cottage on the edge of town furthest from the sea. Her house, like the others around it, were built on stilts up on the grassy hills of Slandermouth. Eirene resented every step that led up to the porch, wondering why the house was on stilts so far away from the water, until she glanced down and spotted the holes in hills. Holes large enough to house jarveys. At least they wouldn't poke up through the floor slats to sneer at her.

Inside, Mrs. Early left her a fluffy towel and one of Cosima's old Ravenclaw uniforms on the chair inside the bathroom. Eirene nearly fell asleep again in the warm bath, but started awake at her stomach growling.

Once out of the bath, she combed the tangles out of her hair, and managed to pull on the too-small uniform, and wrapped herself in the large cardigan that Mrs. Early had also left (bless her) and went to join Frank for dinner. He looked much less like a vagabond. Xanthe wound around the chair legs and nosed at his hand, smelling the supper in the air.

They had fish, and some potion to soothe their symptoms. Mrs. Early left them to their meal, and returned about ten minutes later to say that she'd owled Hogwarts to inform them of their whereabouts.

"Our Ravenclaw Head of House?" Eirene wondered.

"The school in general, dear. I'd expect that they're all at the staff table right now, wondering what could have happened to two of their brightest students," she smiled, gathering their empty dishes. "I offered to take you up to Hogsmeade, and meet one of the staff there."

Cosima's mum paused, looking at the fireplace in the living room before regarding them. "Do you feel well enough to apparate?"

Eirene looked at Frank. All she could think of was that time that Noriko had splinched Professor Storm. If it could happen to Storm...

"Yes?" Eirene tried. Yes she did feel well enough. Brave enough? No, wasn't a Gryffindor.

Frank had endured the mothering in a contented, compliant daze. It was nice to not be co-responsible for he and Eirene's survival. Better even was there wasn't sand itching everywhere anymore. He'd picked politely at the fish, he'd let Mrs. Early check his nose.

"Not broken, sweetheart," she'd told him. "You can get back to crushing hearts." He'd blushed.

At a certain point, he'd just had to stop checking the clock.  They hadn't beat the train, or got to the castle early, and now they were missing dinner. It stressed him out, but he'd just had to willfully let Mrs. Early take care of it. She'd even helped dry out his things and put his trunk back to rights.

"Do you feel well enough to Apparate?", she asked. Frank stopped his first reaction which was that he didn't know how to Apparate; obviously she meant Side-Along and Eirene knew right away.

"As long as its not the floo," Frank said. "Next time we might actually end up in Finland."

They all moved into place.

"Which staff member?" he asked her.

Mrs. Early gave their hands a squeeze and shrugged them all in close. "Professor Onuris," she said. "Deep breath. And ...!"

Crack!

---

A witch, two kids, a cat, and one drunk appeared at the Hogsmeade train station at about 7:30pm. It was dark but for the lantern light, and the Hogwarts Express could been seen resting and cold. There wasn't anyone aboard. Frank had never seen the train like this; it looked dead. Magic-less, like he and Eirene.

He had one or two other concerns, though. He'd gone pink at the mention of the intriguing and mysterious Professor Onuris, and now his stomach homed a butterfly or two from the Apparition.

Mrs. Early released their hands and had a look at them both. "Did we make it in one piece? Your teacher should be here soon. Now when you get up to the castle, find time to write your mums. This request straight from the national mothers' council. Chin up. You've had an adventure. Adventures are always worth it in the long run."

"Thank you, Mrs. Early," Frank said standing up straighter. "We will."

"Thank you, Mrs. Early," Eirene echoed Frank, warm in the cloak that Mrs. Early had cleaned for her, full from the supper that Mrs. Early had made for her, and calmed by her kindness. It was easier to stand tall when her face was clean and her feet were dry. She could almost forget that her wand held no spark.

Her stomach flipped queasily, and she pressed a hand to her mouth to cover a burp. Ugh and ew! Someone needed to invent a better way to apparate. She'd have to add it to her list of things to accomplish before she turned twenty.

Eirene scanned the train platform and sniffed in distaste at the sight of the drunk loitering near a bench. Professor Onuris was coming to fetch them! She hoped he didn't hate her for the bee incident that was definitely Mairead's fault! Surely he was just too handsome to hold a grudge.

Cradling her cat to her, she smoothed out her hair (thank Merlin for the bath earlier!) and gave a nervous sniffle. For lack of something to do, she plucked a piece of cat hair off of Frank's sleeve and smiled at him in anticipation. Professor Onuris!

He had been at the welcome dinner when they received notice of the two wayward students. Sylvain volunteered to go - it seemed right in his capacity as groundskeeper, and he would always prefer being outdoors to sitting at a table; even one as grand as the one in the Great Hall. Besides, he knew this pair.

Wearing a dark wool coat over a flannel shirt and corduroys, the wizard also took the precaution of wrapping a scarf around his face. He was lucky not to have caught the magicless illness but wasn't taking chances.

"Bonsoir!" Sylvain called out as he walked down the Hogsmeade platform, waving at them. "What is it we have here? You are well, Mademoiselle Antonopoulos? Monsieur Sellaphix?"

Marcel, his border collie, followed closely on his heels and suddenly darted ahead to circle the students cheerfully. Sylvain came to a halt and smiled at them, though only his crinkled eyes showed above the scarf.

Mrs. Early called out to Sylvain in greeting. "Hallo, there!"

Frank had a worry that he and Eirene were in trouble, but he had to believe they couldn't be told off for just doing their best. (Although this wasn't the first time since they'd done it that the broken window gave him a lump in his throat. No one had to know about that, right?) But more than anything, he felt relieved and happy to have arrived at Hogwarts. Their beds were so close. As much as he wanted to see all his friends again and babble about the holidays, the pull to sleep was strong.

He waved at Professor Onuris as he approached. He was all bundled up and Frank could barely see him! Since the Glumbumble disaster, Care of Magical Creatures couldn't have gotten much worse - in fact, things had steadied out. No further detentions or humiliating freak-outs.

"Hi," he said flashing a smile. "Hey," he held his hand out for Marcel who only barely touched his cold nose to Frank's finger before continuing her herding habits. Wrangling children.

"We got stranded off the train," he explained. "We've got Magical Measles." He said it flatly with a disheartened but accepting little shrug.

Mrs. Early, from where she stood between the kids, she gave them a double squeeze. Then patted their shoulders.

"But you've made it, haven't you. Adventures for the clever," she said.

Bonsoir! Mademoiselle! Lovelier words had never been spoken! A lovelier voice had never spoken them!

"Professor!" Eirene gave an excitable little wave, completely forgetting about the dog trotting towards them until her cat squirmed against her. She held Xanthe to her and marveled at the friendly way the professor's eyes crinkled. He'd come prepared, wrapped in his scarf!

Her head bowed at Frank's unhappy announcement, and she shifted her feet, a little worried that they'd be scolded for lateness and illness.

Then Mrs. Early spoke up, and Eirene lifted her head again. Without Cosima's mum, they'd still be napping in the tea shop, abandoned by the civilized world.

"The proper term, of course, is Praecantatio Deliquus," she chirped knowingly (and nasally), not yet thinking ahead to explain just how she knew.

The lucky children had found a good helper in Mrs. Early, who was pleased to be delivering them to Hogwarts late. Sylvain smiled gratefully at her as he levelled his gaze at the two Ravenclaws. They did not look sick but he knew that this was the nature of what Eirene called Praecantatio Deliquus. He knew little of it himself, having been back in the country for so brief a time.

"Then you will need to go straight to the Infirmary, non?" he waved a finger at them, deciding not to bring up their tardy arrival. They had been through enough for today it seemed! "I am sure there will be a tray of supper ready for you two."

Glancing back up at the witch escorting them, Sylvain offered his hand to her. "Merci. You have been invaluable. I will take charge of les enfants now," he explained. "There is a coach waiting but maybe, I think, it is better if I ride in the front." It would not do for Professor Duerr to be right about the house elves having to care for the creatures, after all.

"I am very glad you are both safe." Sylvain added, because he was and because it might be what they needed to hear.

"The infirmary?"

Frank ought to have, but he hadn't thought of that. They had a mysterious magical disease, horrible sniffles, and Frank's nose probably needed a professional look.

"But don't we actually not have a nurse? Just Professor Greyf..." Frank trailed off, not wanting to be disrespectful. The Headmaster himself had been covering the simpler stuff, but as far as anyone knew he has as much healing experience as an owl carer. Frank had heard Professor Storm's wife, the St. Mungo's chief, had come for some tricky cases. But still. It would feel odd to have a tongue depressor held by the Headmaster.

Despite his initial protestations, Frank wouldn't put up a fuss. He lifted his trunk, adjusted his coat and made ready to follow Professor Sylvain to a carriage. Frank was grateful not to have to walk.

"No, it's alright," he told himself as much as Professor Sylvain. "Thanks for coming to fetch us."

"Thanks, again," Frank said to Mrs. Early. "Hope you don't get it."

Her heart melted at the professor's words. Safe and sound! Yes they were! And thank Merlin for that carriage!

"Has Hogwarts finally hired a Healer, professor?" Eirene tagged on with less tact than Frank, both excited and alarmed. The infirmary! She despised being sick, despised being a patient. But the infirmary! She could learn so much!

"Oh, goodbye, and thank you, Mrs. Early! You saved our lives!" She waved at the woman, feeling too grown-up at the moment to give her a hug, and mindful of Frank's worry. When they reached the castle, she'd have to tell Cosima what a wonderful mother she had. When they reached the castle, after the infimary...

Eirene took a moment to watch Frank's luggage being loaded in the back of the carriage, and then said in a small, resigned voice, "I've lost my luggage to the sea, sir."

Her eyebrows furrowed sorrowfully as she tilted her chin up. How dry-eyed she was! How brave! She stated the facts like a champ!

She'd gotten all her crying out earlier, on Mrs. Early's shoulder.