Chapter 209 - Arrival!

{Portkey Relay Station, International Travel Department, Mumbai}

{12th July 1991} 

{Rigel's POV}

The wind howled in my ears, colors blurring together in a wild, kaleidoscopic whirl as I felt like I was being rinsed in a washing machine. I grip the Portkey with all my strength, knuckles white as the magic pulls us forward. Traveling by Portkey felt like being flung through a chaotic storm of enchantments, and for a moment, I'm certain I'll lose my balance entirely.

My stomach flips dangerously as I spin faster, struggling to orient myself. Then, just as abruptly as it began, the spinning ceases. Gravity yanks sharply, and the ground rushes up beneath me. Before fear could well up in me, a burst of determination mixed with panic caused my descent to slow down as the Portkey's magic finally interacted with my own. The death drop turned into a glided descent as I managed to plant my feet firmly on the ground, staggering slightly before finding my balance.

I let out a relieved breath—just as a muffled "Oof!" comes from somewhere beside me.

Turning quickly, I spot Harry sprawled face-down, limbs tangled awkwardly in the soft earth. His hair is tousled wildly, dirt smudging his forehead as he raises his head slowly with an expression of resigned misery.

Fred doubles over, laughing uncontrollably as he and George land near the bespectacled boy, George cheerfully clapping, exclaimed, "Ten points to Gryffindor for the spectacular landing, Harry!"

Ron shakes his head sympathetically, barely holding back his own laughter as he reaches down to help Harry up. "You alright, mate? I mean, besides the dignity you just lost?"

Harry pushes himself to his knees, brushing dirt from his robes and groaning, "Why is magical travel always so awful?"

"Because you make it look so entertaining," George replies brightly.

Fred nods, grinning widely. "Honestly, Harry, we're thinking of charging tickets next time."

As Ron and I help Harry onto shaky legs, he squints blearily around, reaching instinctively for his glasses. His hands grasp at thin air.

"Er—my glasses?" Harry murmurs, blinking helplessly. "Did anyone see where—"

Fred waves them teasingly just out of Harry's reach. "Lost something, Harry?"

Harry scowls in the beginning, but in the end, he relents and says the magic word, "Come on, Fred—please?"

George laughs and tosses them gently. "Can't let you suffer too long. We have a whole trip ahead to do that."

I brush the remaining dust from Harry's shoulders, smiling sympathetically. "Don't worry, Harry. At least you're consistent."

Ginny, standing quietly off to the side, suddenly pipes up, her voice gentle yet confident, "It's not so bad, Harry. At least you missed landing in the flower bed. Don't want to explain that to the authorities."

Harry smiles at her gratefully, color rising slightly in his cheeks. "Thanks, Ginny."

Fred smirks, nudging George. "Look at that, George—Ginny's gone soft."

Ginny flushes faintly but lifts her chin defiantly. "Keep talking, Fred, and you'll be landing face-first next time."

"Right you are," George replies, swiftly changing the topic. "Can't risk it."

Harry finally puts his glasses on, blinking in surprise at our surroundings. Following his gaze, I glance around, truly noticing our arrival point for the first time.

We stand in an exquisite garden, bathed in warm sunlight, lush with vibrant flowers—hibiscus, jasmine, and a dozen others, shining with a plethora of colors, spilling across the grounds. Tall palm trees rustle softly, casting dappled shadows onto a pathway paved with gleaming marble. The air is rich with the mingled fragrance of blossoms and the smell of the sea.

A polite cough catches our attention, and I turn swiftly toward the sound. An elderly wizard stands before us, clad in deep saffron robes embroidered with intricate patterns of a darker shade. In one hand, he holds an arcane-looking staff carved from ebony, its tip glowing faintly. His serene eyes regard us warmly as he bows slightly in greeting, his hands joined in front, a sign of greeting in the local culture.

"Welcome to India," he says in a gentle, voice. "My name is Rajan, and it is my privilege to greet you on behalf of the Indian Ministry of Magic. You have arrived in the enchanted gardens of the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel—one of our nation's most historic establishments and home to the Ministry's concealed magical departments."

Sirius steps forward, nodding respectfully as he offers his hand. "Sirius Black. Thank you for welcoming us."

Rajan inclines his head gracefully, shaking Sirius's hand. "Of course. I must request your entry clearance papers to finalize your arrival."

Sirius smoothly reaches into his robes, pulling out a stack of meticulously prepared documents. "I have them right here."

As Sirius moves aside with Rajan to handle the formalities, I turn back toward Harry, who still appears slightly dazed.

Ron pats Harry's shoulder comfortingly. "You think you'll ever get used to magical travel, Harry?"

Harry groans softly, adjusting his glasses once again. "I'd settle for not eating dirt every time."

Fred chuckles, brushing dirt from Harry's sleeve. "You have a gift, Harry—a true natural."

George grins wickedly. "Maybe we'll invent a charm for landing upright—call it the Potter Plummet Protector."

Harry narrows his eyes playfully. "You two aren't helping."

Ginny, her confidence shining, smiles gently at Harry. "Don't worry, Harry. At least you're giving us all a good laugh."

Harry looks at her and opens his mouth to respond, but quickly shuts it, turning slightly red again as Ginny pretends not to notice. Ron's brows furrowed slightly as he noticed their interaction for the first time.

Fred nudges George again, whispering conspiratorially, "Five sickles says Harry blushes every time Ginny speaks to him on this trip."

"You're on," George whispers back, shaking Fred's hand quickly.

Before Harry can respond, Rajan returns, nodding with satisfaction. "All appears to be in order. If you'll follow me, I'll escort you to your quarters within the magical wing of the hotel. Your accommodations have been arranged by the Patil family, who have ensured your stay will be comfortable and memorable for a moment if you want to rest. The eldest daughter of the Patils would soon arrive to greet you, due to some unexpected circumstances, she has been slightly delayed..."

As we follow Rajan through the ornate gardens, I step closer to Sirius, speaking quietly. "This place looks incredible. Did you know the Ministry operated here? I didn't manage to find much about it from the travel guide?"

Sirius smiles faintly, eyes glinting with intrigue. "Only rumors. It seems the Indian magical community prefers elegance and secrecy in equal measure. Though from what I have heard, the corruption and the class divide were the primary reasons for the Ministry's establishment in the posh area."

We enter a shaded courtyard adorned with carved stone fountains, delicate mosaics, and elegant arches intertwined with enchanted vines. I glance toward Ginny, whose eyes widen in amazement. Even Fred and George are momentarily speechless, captivated by the quiet grandeur around us.

"Well, at least they certainly know how to make a first impression," Ron whispers, visibly awed.

Ginny nods, looking around thoughtfully. "I could definitely get used to this."

Harry smiles tentatively at her. "Agreed."

Fred leans toward Harry conspiratorially. "Just wait until dinner, Harry. The cuisine might finally distract you from your travel woes. Though careful with eating it too much, don't want you slouched over the toilet for the whole trip."

Harry sighs, though a small grin crosses his face as he completely ignores the last part of the sentence. "That would be a nice change."

Rajan gestures toward an arched doorway adorned with intricate carvings. "Through here is your suite. Please rest and refresh yourselves. The Patils will join you shortly for a traditional welcome feast beneath the stars."

We exchange excited glances. Harry looks around at each of us, managing a genuine smile. "Well, we made it. Mostly intact."

Fred grins broadly. "And mostly upright."

I chuckle softly, looking forward to what kind of new magic I could experience in this distant land.

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AN: Doing a lot of research for this part of the holiday, will probably include runes based on Sanskrit, apparently it's one of the oldest languages in the world, like Latin.

Also, as many of you may have noticed, I have slowed down the pace of the story a little bit. It will stay like this for a while as I would try to not only see how writing interactions with other characters feel, but also try my hand at world building with more elements of magic not canon appearing. I promise not to get lost in the sauce though...hopefully!