"Goodbye!"
"You're really not taking the train with us?"
"I have a more convenient way."
"All right, that does sound like you. Keep in touch." Lee Jordan dragged his leather case toward the carriages, preparing to take a Thestral-drawn carriage to the station with several acquaintances.
"We're not taking the train out of school?"
After seeing off several friends, Katrina followed Albert back into the castle.
By now, most of the students had taken carriages to the station, leaving the once-lively castle deathly quiet.
"No, Dobby will send us off."
Albert led Katrina to an empty classroom they had arranged to meet in, where the house-elf Dobby was already waiting for them.
When Katrina saw the familiar leather case, she guessed what was going on. Tilting her head toward Albert, she asked in confusion, "You seem to like having house-elves Apparate you around?"
"Because it's safer. House-elves can Apparate into places wizards can't, such as areas warded against Apparition. That means other wizards can't trace them." Albert stepped into the leather case and explained to Katrina, "Besides, even the Ministry of Magic wouldn't pay attention to a house-elf's movements. They—no, wizards—always look down on these hardworking little fellows."
"Just admit you're afraid of dying!" Katrina could understand it, but she was not used to Albert being overly cautious.
"Yes, I really don't want to die." Albert spoke with complete seriousness, leaving Katrina beside him utterly speechless.
The two waited briefly at the entrance, for the journey was even shorter than expected. The house-elf moved through several areas warded against Apparition.
Then they arrived at their temporary new home: Nicolas Flamel's safe house in Devon.
The two elderly people were nearing the end of their lives, so they had given Albert their safe house in England.
"This..."
Katrina looked at the