Alice Knows Best

Thoughts in italics.

Harry stared out of the window as the airplane took flight. While he'd often flown a broomstick-and, less often, animals-he'd never flown in a plane before. For one wild moment he wished to be on his Firebolt alongside the birds he could see in the distance, free of not only the claustrophobic noise of the metal craft but also of the pressure he felt from all sides. It was understandable, really-the past two weeks had been hectic, to say the least. After being taken from Privet Drive he'd been put into the Prince of Cornwall's official custody. That lasted long enough for a Healer to patch him up and the appropriate documentation fetched to make Harry an emancipated minor. Normally such a thing would take weeks if not months of court hearings and formal evaluations; the Potter luck held out and Harry was a free man within 36 hours.

From there he'd spent a week in political meetings learning how, exactly, he was 'encouraged' to represent his country. Apparently the U.K. needed an image change, and Harry Potter was in the perfect position to be their poster boy. The people in charge were worried that outsiders saw them as either incredibly prudish snobs or incredibly odd 'counter-culturalists'. Harry knew that the majority of his fellow Brits were somewhere in between, just normal people living normal lives. Unfortunately Harry also knew that preconceptions existed everywhere in the world and one teenager was not going to change that.

The airplane leveled off eventually and Harry was informed by a polite middle-aged stewardess that he was now free to roam about the cabin at his leisure. He did, poking his head into the loo and wondering why, exactly, an airplane would have a fax machine-sure, this plane was most commonly used to transport Ambassadors to foreign nations, but how did one send or receive a fax over the Atlantic Ocean? After a pleasant half hour of exploring Harry settled back into his seat with a sigh, falling back into his thoughts. His crash course in politics had included meetings with Ambassadors from around the globe and receiving Diplomatic Immunity in most countries, including the one to which he was traveling. He'd been given the private office number for the American President, as well as several Ambassadors to the United States. He'd gotten his travel documents and spent a pleasant afternoon with his friends and the Royal Family since he'd be in another country on his birthday.

Harry still wasn't sure who the idiot was that had allowed Hermione Granger and Diana, Princess of Cornwall, to plot uncontested. The result had been three days of shopping where one very disgruntled Harry Potter dragged one sulking and jealous Ronald Weasley across the Continent behind two very determined women. The results, Harry had to admit, were amazing beyond belief. Thank Merlin my inheritance was released when I got Emancipated. I already liked the Goblins, but for them to make sure I have a bank account already set up once I get there is just above and beyond!

That didn't mean he had to like it.

"I'll be preparing lunch soon, Sir. What would you like? We have several cuts of beef, chicken, fish, scallops, prawns, and tofu."

Harry gave the woman a startled look, uncertain how to respond. She seemed to understand because she smiled gently.

"If I might suggest seafood for lunch, and beef for supper?"

Harry just agreed with her thankfully as his thoughts took a new turn. He was still getting used to the idea of other people cooking while he was away from Hogwarts. Did Billy, whom he'd spoken to on the telephone once, and Jacob, who'd been grumbling in the background, like to cook? It was clear to Harry that Jacob did not want Harry to come live with them, but Billy had seemed excited. The man had prattled on for over an hour about taking Harry fishing, watching baseball with the Chief of Police, a group of teenage boys that called themselves werewolves (Harry thought they sounded suspiciously like Blood-Cursed Animagi) and their local Vampire frenemies. He was already planning weekend bar-b-ques and trips to the beach, and again he mentioned the Vampires...in fact, Harry frowned as he thought back over the conversation, Billy had mentioned the Vampires quite a bit. Did Billy want Harry to destroy this Coven? If so, that was so not cool. Although Harry had to admit that Billy had made it a point to tell Harry several times that he was really happy to have Harry join their family.

Join their family, now there's a really nice thought. Can I trust it, though? Things like that do not happen to Harry Potter.

**

Alice shook her head slightly as a smile took over her face. She spoke to the empty room, knowing that her family was spread throughout the house and would be able to hear her.

"Harry's plane lands in exactly eleven hours and twenty minutes!"

In various rooms smiles crossed the faces of the eternally beautiful beings as they went about their tasks. It was time to put their old feud behind them, and their idea of a good beginning was to make sure some of the bedrooms in their home could be used for actual sleeping by mortals.

"Oh, no.

Alice heard several voices ask her what was wrong as the entire family converged on the living room, where she'd been sketching.

"His quietly unnoticed entrance into the state of Washington is going to be interrupted by a personal greeting from the President. While they're still at the airport.