{12 Grimmauld Place}
{4th July 1991}
{Rigel's POV}
I wake to the gentle tapping at my window—deliberate, rhythmic, insistent. Rubbing sleep out of my eyes, I slip from beneath the covers and look at the window in confusion. Not able to see anything behind the thick drapes, I crept across the floorboards. I pushed the curtain aside only to look at the world beyond my window, which was pale and silent, but two owls perched on the sill as if they'd been waiting for me: a dignified barn owl with speckled feathers, and a tawny owl whose amber gaze gleamed in the pre-dawn light.
I open the window, and each owl drops a letter into my outstretched hands. I tried to guide them inside, but the brown owl just shook its feathers and took off. I softly shut the window against the morning chill and set the letters on my desk. The barn owl's soft, curious hoots were pushed to the back of my mind as I broke the first seal—a swirling lotus entwined with green vines, which I'm assuming is the Patil's family house crest.
Unrolling the parchment, a soft fragrance of sweetness hit me as I read:
''' Parvati Patil
London, 2nd July
Hey Rigel!
I'm so thrilled you and your crew are coming to India this summer. I know we talked about it, but I wasn't really certain that you would come. I can hardly wait to show you around! My dad, Sanjay Patil, has already had a quiet word with the folks at the New Delhi Ministry of Magic, so all your travel permissions are in the works. You'll step through the Portkey at Mumbai with a VIP welcome, and we've got a little welcome party planned right on the beach to kick things off.
You'll be staying with us in Fort Kochi—picture white-washed walls, swaying palms, and ocean breezes. We've set aside private rooms for everyone and even a little study wing so you can compare British spells with some of our local charms. Mrs. D'Souza, our family steward, will keep everything running smoothly, from breakfast dosas to late-night chai.
Here's what we've sketched out so far:
Day 1: Portkey arrival, beachside lunch, sunset boat ride on the backwaters. Want to visit the lagoons? It is beautiful down there, though it is mostly a Muggle tourist spot.
Day 2: Morning visit to the magical markets around Delhi, afternoon visit to our family's workshop, if you want. Our family owns a monopoly in the enchantress business in India.
Day 3: Festival tour in Mysore—dancing, fireworks, and palace magic.
Day 4: ???
But I want this to be your trip, so please send me any ideas or must-see spots you've got in mind. Love ancient temples? Potion ingredients? Want to meet local spellsmiths or try a Colloquium at the university? Let me know, and I'll weave it into the schedule, but do let me know in advance in case we need to apply for special permissions.
I'll list out some options of Muggle and magical sights you might love:
Gateway of India & Marine Drive (Muggle): A scenic promenade perfect for sunset strolls—Mrs. Menon assures me you'll adore the sea breeze and local street‐food stalls.
Elephanta Caves (Muggle & magical): Carved rock temples with ancient warding runes. Some say the inner sanctum still echoes with residual elemental charms.
Hidden Scriptorium beneath the Spice Temple (Magical): Our family's library has secret tunnels that descend to a vault of Sanskrit spell scrolls. I can arrange a private viewing, though I need to talk to Dad about it.
Great Banyan Ward (Magical): A centuries‐old tree in Varkala whose natural wards soothe magical exhaustion—perfect for a mid‐trip recharge.
Chandni Chowk Bazaar (Muggle & magical): Alleyways packed with enchanted textiles, living spice vines, and flying lanterns that carry wishes for good luck. Hidden in the alley is one of the biggest wizarding markets in Asia.
Ellora's Secret Wing (Magical): Beyond the UNESCO caves, there's a hidden grotto ringed with elemental glyphs. Only a few know how to open it, and the tours are timed and need to be booked in advance.
Tea Terraces of Munnar (Muggle): Rolling green hills scented with jasmine—ideal for a morning Apparition and some invigorating chara‐brews.
Can't wait to hear what you think.
With love and excitement,
Parvati
P.S. If you need daylight Apparition in restricted zones, simply show this letter at any Regional Enforcement Office—they'll give you a temporary travel permit.'''
I pause, savoring the Patils' foresight: private suites, study chambers, a cultural liaison, even the astrologer's auspicious timing. Everything is falling into place, though she seems quite excited about this, a lot more than I expected. I looked at the date written in the letter
Next, I turn to the second letter—sleeker, stamped with the seal of the Ministry of Magic. I read the address as I break the seal:
Ministry of Magic
International Travel Department
London, 3rd July
To:
Mr. Rigel Black
12 Grimmauld Place, London
Opening up the letter, I read through it. Its tone was quite formal as it was an official correspondence:
''' Mr. Black,
On behalf of the International Travel Department, I would like to extend a formal welcome and acknowledge receipt of your request for permission to travel to India. Please find below the detailed requirements and procedures necessary to secure all official authorizations:
I. Documentation Requirements:
Form ITD-23a: Traveler Information Form
Obtainable in person at floor 5, Office of International Travel Department, or by Owl Post request.
Must be completed in triplicate, bearing your full magical signature and that of your Head of Delegation, Mr. Sirius Black.
Form HS-17c: Health & Safety Endorsement
Issued by St. Mungo's International Health Bureau.
Requires medical screening for contagious Magical Anomalies and confirmation of non-infectious status for all type-III Mugglesanomolies.
Appointment slots are available at 10:00 and 15:00 daily. Please reserve in advance.
Cultural Conduct Agreement
Provided and signed by Padma Patil.
Submission of the signed agreement satisfies the cultural liaison requirement. All procedures have already been completed, but need to be signed by your Head of Delegation, Mr. Sirius Black.
II. Portkey Registration
Form ITD-23b: Portkey Application
Register at the Portkey Office, Ministry of Magic (2nd Sub-Basement, New Wing).
Required information:
Full names of all travelers
Designated Portkey route (Ministry of Magic, London → Mumbai International Plaza)
Date and time of intended activation (scheduled: 09:30, 12th July)
Contingency return Portkey details (Mumbai International Plaza → Ministry of Magic, London)
Portkey Activation Fee
5 galleons per traveler, payable at the 5th floor, Office of the International Travel Department.
Retain official receipt for final clearance.
Registrar Interview
Mandatory brief interview with a Portkey Registrar.
Appointments must be booked in person or via Owl Post. Early booking is strongly advised.
III. Final Authorization
Return all completed forms, receipts, and endorsements to the International Travel Department (5th Floor) by 16:00 on July 7th.
Late submissions will incur the standard 14-day processing period.
Upon verification, you will be issued an Official Seal of Departure and a Portkey Authorization Note, granting you full legal authority to depart via the designated Portkey.
Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please get in touch with me directly at office Room 417 or via Owl Post.
We appreciate your cooperation and wish you a safe and successful journey.
Yours sincerely,
M. Arbuthnot
Head, International Travel Department
Ministry of Magic'''
I smile as I close the letter. The official work will be pushed to Sirius. I should give him this letter. A soft hoot from the owl brought my attention back to the Barn owl.
'Right, I should get some food for it and then draft a letter to Parvati that it could take. I wonder if I should ask about Parseltongue, hopefully the topic is not as much of a taboo as it is here...'
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AN: Summer travel begins in the next chapter. A lot of turbulence in my IRL.
P.S- 50+ chapters on P.atreon!