Zatara Penthouse, New York - July 27th, 1991
Harry Potter woke to the sound of what could only be described as a controlled magical explosion coming from the kitchen, followed by Zatanna's voice shouting, "It's supposed to be blue, not purple! And it definitely shouldn't be moving like that!"
He padded out to find Zatanna standing over a cauldron that was producing purple smoke shaped like tiny dancing elephants, while her father watched with the resigned expression of a man who had learned to pick his battles.
"Farewell breakfast," Zatanna said with determination. "I wanted to make something special for your last week here, but the recipe for color-changing pancakes requires more precision than I anticipated."
"The pancakes are moving," Giovanni pointed out mildly as one of them attempted to crawl out of the pan.
"That's... probably not supposed to happen," Zatanna admitted, then brightened. "But look how happy they seem!"
Indeed, the escaped pancake appeared to be exploring the counter with obvious joy, leaving a trail of syrup that sparkled with rainbow colors.
"Right," Harry said, rolling up his sleeves with the practical efficiency John had taught him. "Emergency breakfast protocol. Zatanna, stop adding ingredients to anything. Mr. Zatara, could you contain the dancing elephants? I'll handle the pancake situation."
Twenty minutes later, they were eating perfectly normal pancakes while the purple elephants performed what appeared to be a synchronized swimming routine in a bowl of water Giovanni had provided for the purpose.
"Much better," Zatanna said with satisfaction. "Though I still think the moving pancakes had potential."
"For what?" Harry asked.
"Pet food?" she suggested hopefully.
"Zatanna," her father said seriously, "promise me you won't try to cook anything else while Harry's still here. I'd prefer he survive long enough to actually attend Hogwarts."
The week that followed was a blur of increasingly ridiculous farewell activities, each one more elaborate than the last as Harry's American friends threw themselves into creating memorable last moments.
Nathan showed up with a carefully prepared presentation titled "Statistical Analysis of International Magical Education: A Comparative Study," complete with charts and graphs that somehow made Hogwarts' traditional approach look both antiquated and amusing.
"According to my research," Nathan announced with academic seriousness, "British magical education operates on principles that would be considered outdated by most modern educational systems. For instance, their house system appears designed to promote tribal rivalry rather than collaborative learning."
"Shocking," Serena said dryly, munching on magically-enhanced popcorn. "British institutions promoting class conflict. Who could have predicted such a thing?"
Mason arrived the next day with what he claimed was "essential cultural preparation" for Harry's return to Britain—a collection of British magical newspapers and magazines that painted a picture of wizarding society that was both familiar and deeply strange.
"It's like they're trapped in the 18th century," Harry observed, reading an article that seriously discussed whether allowing Muggle-born wizards to own property was 'appropriate to their station.'
"At least the 18th century had the excuse of not knowing better," Serena said with disgust. "These people have access to modern ideas and are choosing to ignore them."
"Which brings us to Operation Educational Revolution," Zatanna announced dramatically, producing a scroll that unrolled to reveal what appeared to be a detailed battle plan.
"Operation what now?" Harry asked, though he was grinning.
"We've been planning," Nathan said seriously. "Ways to help you introduce American magical concepts to Hogwarts without getting yourself expelled or arrested."
"Or turned into a newt," Mason added. "Apparently that's still legal in Britain under certain circumstances."
The plan they'd developed was both brilliant and completely insane. Disguised as innocent correspondence, they would send Harry regular letters containing coded instructions for collaborative magic exercises, theoretical problems, and what Serena cheerfully called "subversive friendship techniques."
"Ways to build genuine collaborative relationships in an environment designed to promote competition and hierarchy," Serena explained. "Basically, how to make real friends when everyone's been taught to see each other as either allies or enemies."
"That's... actually quite useful," Harry admitted.
"Plus," Zatanna added with obvious excitement, "we've prepared emergency care packages for when British magical education gets too depressing." She produced a series of packages that looked innocuous but radiated subtle magical energy, filled with American magical sweets, books on innovative theory, and a complete guide to advanced collaborative spellcasting disguised as a boring history of magical legislation.
"You've thought of everything," Harry said with genuine appreciation.
"We've tried," Kent Nelson said, appearing from the balcony where he'd been having one of his mysterious conversations with cosmic entities. "Though I suspect Hogwarts will provide surprises none of us have anticipated."
The rest of the week passed in a blur of preparation, practice, and increasingly ridiculous attempts to create memorable farewell moments. Zatanna tried to teach Harry advanced illusion magic that resulted in the apartment being filled with miniature dragons (actually enchanted soap bubbles). Nathan challenged him to solve progressively more complex theoretical problems that always ended up relating to friendship and collaboration. Mason shared stories about American magical culture, and Serena focused on practical preparations, presenting Harry with innocuous-looking items like healing draughts disguised as cough medicine and communication devices that British authorities wouldn't recognize.
On their final evening, they gathered on the apartment's balcony to watch the sun set over Manhattan. The city below them was a glittering map of possibilities, and Harry found himself trying to memorize every detail.
"Going to miss this," he said quietly.
"All of it," Harry replied. "The view, the city, the feeling that magic can be anything you want it to be instead of just what tradition says it should be."
"You'll bring that feeling to Hogwarts," Zatanna said with confidence. "And you'll show other students that there are different ways to think about magic."
"Some of them will listen," Nathan added analytically. "Statistical probability suggests that at least twenty percent of any given population is open to new ideas when those ideas are presented persuasively."
"And the other eighty percent?" Harry asked.
"Will provide excellent practice in patience and diplomatic skill," Kent Nelson said with amusement. "Both of which are valuable abilities for someone planning to change the world."
They spent the evening engaging in the kind of collaborative magic that had become second nature over the past months. Harry created light butterflies, Zatanna wove illusions that made them appear to be different magical creatures, Nathan provided theoretical commentary on the spell modifications, and Mason and Serena offered practical suggestions for improving the effects.
"We'll keep doing this," Zatanna said suddenly. "Through letters, through the communication mirrors, through whatever magical connections we can maintain. Distance doesn't have to end collaboration."
"Agreed," Nathan said seriously. "We'll continue to work together on magical problems, even if we're separated by an ocean."
"More than that," Serena added, "we'll make sure you remember that magic can be joyful, even when you're surrounded by people who think it should be grim and serious and competitive."
As they finally prepared for bed, Harry felt a strange mixture of sadness and anticipation. Tomorrow would bring departure, separation from the best friends he had ever had, and a return to a magical culture that suddenly seemed restrictive and backward. But it would also bring the beginning of his mission to change that culture, to show British magical society that there were better ways to approach magic and power and education.
"Ready?" John asked as Harry settled into his room for the last time.
"Getting there," Harry replied honestly. "It's going to be strange, going from this to London and then to Hogwarts."
"Yeah, well," John said with a slight smile, "strange is our specialty. Besides, you're not the same kid who left Britain eight months ago. You've got tools now, perspectives, friends who'll support you no matter how far away they are."
"And plans to revolutionize British magical education," Harry added with a grin.
"That too," John agreed. "Should be interesting to watch."
JFK Airport - July 28th, 1991
The departure scene at JFK was more comedy than tragedy, largely due to Zatanna's determination to make their final moments memorable.
"Emergency farewell protocol!" she announced, producing a magical camera that definitely wasn't standard Muggle technology. "We need photographic evidence that this friendship really happened."
The next twenty minutes were filled with increasingly ridiculous group photos, including several where magical enhancements made them appear to be standing on the moon, underwater, or surrounded by friendly dragons. Harry found himself laughing harder than he had in weeks, which he suspected was exactly Zatanna's intention.
"There," she said with satisfaction as the camera produced a series of moving photographs that captured not just their images but the magical energy of their friendship. "Now you'll have proof that collaborative magic really works."
Nathan presented him with a final gift—a journal that looked perfectly ordinary but had been enhanced with what he called "analytical communication spells."
"Write in it," Nathan explained, "and it will automatically organize your thoughts, help you spot patterns in British magical education, and suggest ways to apply American techniques to local problems."
"Magical guilt trip technology?" Harry asked with amusement.
"The most effective kind," Nathan confirmed.
The actual goodbye was swift and decisive. Harry hugged his friends, promised to write, and headed toward the boarding gate with John.
"Don't let them make you ordinary," Serena called.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Harry called back, grinning as he touched the crystal butterfly pendant Zatanna had given him weeks earlier.
Heathrow Airport, London - July 29th, 1991
The contrast between JFK's chaotic energy and Heathrow's orderly efficiency struck Harry immediately. After months in America, British reserve felt almost alien—polite, careful, and somehow smaller than he remembered.
"Culture shock," John observed as they collected their luggage. "America spoiled you with all that freedom and innovation."
"Is it wrong that I already miss it?" Harry asked, looking around at the gray terminal that seemed designed to discourage enthusiasm.
"Perfectly natural," John assured him. "Though it means you'll appreciate it even more when you go back to visit."
"When, not if?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Kid, after the way those Americans adopted you, you think they're going to let you disappear from their lives? You can go back in New York for Christmas holidays."
The taxi ride to Privet Drive gave Harry time to adjust to being back in Britain. London looked smaller, more constrained, as if the city itself reflected the cultural tendency toward careful conformity that suddenly seemed so obvious after months of American openness.
"Different world," he murmured, watching the familiar streets slide past.
"Same world," John corrected. "Just a different way of living in it. The question is, are you going to adapt to their way, or are you going to show them alternatives?"
Harry smiled, thinking of the plans he and his American friends had made, the techniques he'd learned, the perspective he'd gained.
"Definitely showing them alternatives," he said with confidence.
"That's my boy," John said with pride. "Now let's go face the Dursleys and pretend you've spent all your life there."
"This should be interesting," Harry said with a grin that was pure Constantine mischief.
- End of Volume 1 -