True to his words Arcturus started to recover his full strength over the 5 days to the start of the competition. To prove to Walburga, who was trying to stop him from travelling so soon after his illness, that he was fit and able he did a modified obstacle course of her making. It was impressive to see a 92-year-old man hurdling and running with the spryness of a 30-year-old.
"See, Walburga, I am perfectly fit and well to travel so could you please stop your nagging?" Lord Black asked the woman while catching his breath after he finished the course.
"I see that your breathing is a bit shallow, however, you are fit enough to travel and I have no actual right to stop you. I just worry for you." She replied before heading off back to where she was experimenting with muggle technology.
She had made great strides recently, managing to use the magic of the two-way mirror to create a larger version for group conversations. This wasn't her actual goal, but it had been a happy accident. Normally a two-way mirror would only link two mirrors but the larger versions could link up to 8 mirrors.
She had tried to make it so she could create something similar to muggle broadcasts on the TV so that Quidditch or other events could be shared with more people. She has been struggling with linking more than 8 mirrors and has been spending large amounts of time in the library searching for magic spells that could be helpful.
It didn't take long for Arcturus to pack a small travel bag and come to get Erik. "Erik, we shall be heading to the ministry to visit the Department of Magical Transportation to get our portkey to Rouen. It shouldn't take too long since we have all our documents in order and Madam Edgecombe is a friend."
I nod to him and pick up my bag before standing by him for us to apparate to the ministry. There is an apparition point inside the ministry for certain families, Black is one of them, which is in the form of a large lounge area with stylish chairs and loungers.
When we left the lounge we were greeted by the iconic Ministry atrium with the large fountain and glass windows, there were not many people walking through the atrium since the workday rush had finished a while ago so we attracted a minimum of attention.
We walked calmly up to the elevator security desk where the security guard behind the desk looked up from his paper towards us before standing straighter when he saw who was approaching. "Lord Black, good afternoon. May I ask what your business is here today?" The nervous guard asked while looking at Lord Black.
"We are here to acquire an international portkey," Arcturus said briefly without any more preamble before presenting his wand for inspection while looking critically at the security guard. The guard carefully took the wand and quickly scanned it before handing it back, "12 inches, dragon heartstring made of blackthorn?"
After receiving a nod from lord black he placed the piece of paper that he read the information from onto a spike before looking at me. "May I check your wand in." The guard asked while holding his hand out towards me. Handing over the wand caused the guard to flinch when the wand touched his hand before he quickly scanned it and handed it back.
"14 inches, Dragon heartstring made of Yew and Hawthorn?" Asked while looking at the note in his hand. "Correct" was my response even though my wand doesn't have a dragon heartstring neither did Lord Black's. This is because the tester has been charmed to give a response of Dragon heartstring for any core that isn't normal or authorised.
After checking us in and allowing us into the elevator, inside we were alone and Arcturus pressed the button to the floor we needed, the sixth level. "So has that charm been around from the start or is it a recent addition?" I asked while we waited for the elevator to arrive.
"It has always had the charm as the Lord Black of that time who designed and made the scanner decided that it wasn't right to spill all the secrets of the sacred 28 families." He answered just before we arrived.
When the lift doors opened, we saw a smaller office area with desks and workers who were writing, filing and signing paperwork. Lord Black led me to a specific desk where he asked for the international portkey while providing the necessary paperwork that he had acquired ahead of time.
After a few moments the worker, who had been reading through the provided paperwork, took out a stamp and approved the portkey before leading us to a separate room where a small table sat along with a large box full of junk. "This portkey shall deliver you to the French Ministry of Magic where you shall have to go through check-in before being allowed to move around the country."
The worker said while taking a piece of junk and stamping a small mark onto it causing it to suck ambient magic into the object causing it to shake while turning into the portkey. The reason this is required is due to the ministry workers do not have enough magical reserves to cast the spell needed to travel internationally.
"The portkey will activate in 30 seconds, please get ready. Additional charges may be charged for any missed portkeys." The worker said as we touched the portkey while securing our belongings. 30 seconds passed quickly and we felt the tug at our navels before being forced into a small pipe.
Unlike portkeys I had taken before, this international one lasted longer and gave a larger amount of discomfort when we arrived at the other side. This prompted lord black to sit down on one of the waiting chairs. "Good afternoon, welcome to France."