Harry Potter and The Jade Dragon

Chapter 4 ~ Tian-Long Academy of the Magical Arts

The Portkey was a slim, upright stone pillar which had been placed just outside the Entrance Hall. Harry, Ron and Hermione were standing near it, together with their fellow Gryffindors who had come to see them off. Jeanne was standing nearby with Professor Lupin. She was wearing green robes, which had an oriental look to them, perhaps because of the narrow mandarin-style collar, and long, full sleeves. Harry had not been able to recognise her at first; she looked very Chinese in them.

Presently Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle came down the Entrance Hall steps, followed by the Slytherins in their class. Malfoy smiled slyly when he saw them.

"Stroke of luck for you, eh, Weasley," he drawled. "Getting a holiday abroad for free. Your father'd probably have to work an extra year or two to pay for a trip like this."

Ron started forward, but Harry and Hermione each grabbed one of his arms and held him back, because Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape were coming down the Entrance Hall steps.

"Eat dung, Malfoy," hissed Ron, in an undertone, shaking Harry and Hermione's hands off. Jeanne had come over, as well. As they gathered around, hands on the Portkey, Harry noticed that she was still looking at Lupin.

Dumbledore looked at them and said cheerfully, "I need not remind you to uphold the name of Hogwarts while you are there. And, don't forget to enjoy yourselves."

It was time. Parvati, Lavendar and the others were smiling and waving, while Neville, looking as if he wished he was going, called out, "Don't forget to write!" His hand on the Portkey, Harry felt that familiar jerking feeling somewhere behind his navel, and then they were all speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling colour.

He felt his feet slam into the ground. They had arrived. Letting go of the stone pillar, he and the others looked around with interest.

Evening was coming on, and they were standing on the slope of a high mountain. To their right, far down, they could see a city, rooftops shining golden in the setting sun. After the city, the land came to an end, and beyond that was a sea of swirling clouds in all sorts of fantastic shapes, stretching away in all directions, seemingly to the ends of the earth.

Hermione was the first to speak.

"We – we seem to be above the clouds!" she said, looking amazed.

"And you are," said an amused voice.

They turned around. A Chinese witch and wizard were standing nearby, watching them. The witch was dressed in yellow silk robes, with a pattern of phoenix in flight embroidered all over. Looking at her face, she seemed to Harry to be old, and yet young, at the same time. The wizard was old, with a sweeping white beard; his robes were a severe black, and unadorned. A long, slender sword was fastened to his belt.

Jeanne turned to the others.

"This is Lady Hsu Wen-Li, the Headmistress of Tian-Long," she said, "and Master Kung Xian-Wen, her deputy, and Master of Internal Magic."

The witch and wizard came forward, smiling. Jeanne proceeded to introduce each of the students.

"I welcome all of you to China," said Lady Wen-Li, kindly. "I hope that your experience at Tian-Long will be an interesting one, and that you will have an enjoyable time while you are here." She smiled. "Please follow me. It is a short walk to the school, which is at the summit of the mountain."

She, Jeanne and Master Kung began leading the way. Harry and the others let the Slytherins go first, and then followed, looking around.

Although they seemed quite high up, it was not cold, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Harry had that still and peaceful feeling that was associated with high places, as if one were removed from the ordinary world. As they climbed higher, the ground levelled out, and they saw the school in the distance for the first time.