"Whoosh, whoosh."
As the ground crew removed the weights hanging from the outside of the basket, the brightly colored hot-air balloon rose into the sky.
The hot air blasting from the burner overhead nearly set Pomona's hat on fire, and she immediately grabbed Severus's arm.
It was morning, and the sun was not yet too harsh. Against the brilliant blue sky, the vineyards stretching along the hills looked especially tranquil.
Now and then, they could see flocks of sheep below, as well as monasteries, churches, castles, and estates nestled among the mountains and forests. They seemed to bear witness to an epic of a different sort, played out by humanity on this land of Burgundy alongside its grapevines.
"Severus, look." Pomona pointed deep into the forest, where there was a Quidditch pitch.
"Don't go near that lake," said the Muggle piloting the balloon. "People say there's a witch there."
"A lake?" Pomona asked in surprise.
"Everyone who goes there loses their memory. They say some even grow donkey ears. Côte de Nuits has plenty of fun places. There's no need to risk going there."
Severus gave a malicious smile.
"Where's your camera?" the pilot asked.
"Camera? Oh, you have the camera!" Pomona immediately said to Severus.
Yet he showed no intention of taking it out.
"Take out the panoramic telescope."
Pomona immediately pulled out the brass telescope and handed it to him.
Holding the telescope, he began looking around.
Although Britain was separated from continental Europe by the English Channel, it was still highly vulnerable to air raids.
Before airplanes were invented, airships had been humanity's primary means of air travel. Germany's Zeppelins were enormous, like giants in the sky, yet the Germans had hoped to use them for tactical and strategic reconnaissance.
But the Zeppelins did not disappoint the