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HP403- Mexico
🕑 Added 2025-04-02 22:08:20 +0000 UTCThey shuffled out of the plane once the passengers started moving, blending into the stream of people heading toward customs. The airport buzzed with noise—families reuniting, tired travelers dragging bags, security staff eyeing the crowds. Goshawk took the lead, cutting through the chaos.
Customs wasn’t as much of a hassle as Harry had expected. They handed over their travel permits, and the bored-looking officer barely spared them a glance before stamping their papers and waving them through. The Muggle part was done, but they still needed to check in with the local magical authorities. Mexico didn’t mess around with wand regulations—foreign wizards were closely monitored.
The air was thick with heat and humidity, nothing like the early summer back in Britain. It was the rainy season here in Mexico, and even though the sun was out, it felt like the world was wrapped in a damp, sticky blanket.
Miranda moved ahead, casually maneuvering through the crowd like she’d done this a hundred times. Selena gave Harry a nudge and nodded toward a side exit. They followed, keeping close behind Miranda as she led them out to a quieter street.
Miranda led them down a winding alley and tapped her wand against a rusty old drainpipe. A faint ripple passed over the wall next to it, revealing a narrow archway that hadn’t been there before. She glanced back and motioned for them to follow.
“This way. Local Ministry checkpoint,” Miranda said.
The archway led into a courtyard that looked nothing like the busy street they’d left behind. A few wizards in colorful robes were chatting near a fountain, and a small kiosk sat at the far end, manned by a bored-looking wizard in a poncho.
Miranda approached him with a polite nod. “Travel documentation,” she said, passing over their stamped permits.
The wizard glanced at them, his eyes barely flicking up from the paperwork. He waved his wand over each document, and the papers glowed faintly. Without saying a word, he handed them back and gave a lazy wave toward a narrow passage at the side of the courtyard.
“Welcome to Mexico,” he mumbled, yawning.
Miranda didn’t bother responding and led them through the passage.
They walked out onto a side street that fed into a bustling plaza. Vendors shouted over each other, trying to sell enchanted trinkets and charmed amulets. The air smelled like roasted corn and something spicy. Harry spotted a group of kids chasing each other around a statue of a jaguar, and the chatter of people mixed with bursts of laughter and snippets of music from a nearby street band.
Miranda checked her pocket watch. “We’ll head to the hotel first,” she said. “Drop our bags and regroup. Then we’ll get the rune kit from Vargas’ shop. He’s reliable, but not particularly patient.”
Harry just nodded, following her lead as they cut through the crowd. They ended up at a narrow, three-story inn tucked between a potion shop and what looked like an enchanted tattoo parlor. A sign above the door read La Posada Encantada in faded gold letters.
Inside, the place was cool and smelled faintly of herbs. The innkeeper, a wiry old man with dark eyes and a head full of silver hair, greeted them with a nod. Miranda handled the check-in without fuss, and they were led upstairs.
Rooms were modest but clean. After entering his, Harry cast a few detection spells to make sure there was nothing out of the ordinary. Satisfied that the place was clear, he waved his wand to freshen the air and clean the surfaces, just in case. He leaned against the windowsill, letting the noise from the street below seep through the thin glass.
The room wasn’t much—just a narrow bed, a small wooden desk, and a wardrobe that looked like it had seen better days. The streets pulsed with color and sound—vendors hawking charms, children darting through gaps, the air thick with spice and humidity. It wasn’t homey, but it was fine for a few nights. He didn’t plan on sticking around long, anyway.
He heard a soft knock, and Selena entered, looking far too composed despite the long flight. She had freshened up already, her hair neatly tied back, and gave him a nod.
"Professor Goshawk wants us to head out soon," she said. "She’s just sorting out some local currency."
Harry nodded, slipping his wand into his sleeve. "Anything on our itinerary for the day?"
"Just picking up the runescript kit from Vargas," Selena replied. "Apparently, the man’s a bit of a recluse. Doesn’t like strangers poking around his shop."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Sounds charming."
She gave a faint smile. "His work is good, though. Miranda wouldn’t go through the trouble if it wasn’t worth it."
"Fair enough," Harry said. They didn’t linger. Miranda led the way out, Selena falling into step with Harry. The streets were still crowded, and the humid air didn’t do them any favors. Harry pushed his sleeves up, already casting a few cooling charms.
Miranda kept the pace without slowing down, guiding them through a maze of narrow alleyways and past colorful market stalls where vendors tried to hawk everything from dried herbs to enchanted trinkets. A group of kids dashed by, laughing and throwing water at each other.
Then they aimed at Harry, who instinctively cast a shield. The water splashed against the barrier and dripped to the ground. The children bemoaned in Spanish, but Harry caught half of what they were whining about—something about him being a spoilsport. With a flick of his wand, he cast Aguamenti, sending a stream of water to soak them. They shrieked in surprise, then started laughing when he followed it up with an Invisibility Charm to disappear from sight. The kids looked around in confusion, clearly impressed and a bit spooked. One of the older boys muttered about ghosts, making the younger ones cling to his side.
Selena gave him a reproachful look, though there was a faint hint of amusement in her eyes. "Really, Harry? Scaring children now?"
He smirked, appearing next to her with a lazy shrug. "They started it."
Miranda gave him a pointed look but didn’t comment, though there was the smallest hint of a smile on her lips. “Try not to draw too much attention,” she said mildly. “We’re supposed to be keeping a low profile.”
“Sure,” Harry replied, glancing back to see the kids still chattering about ghosts. One of them spotted him, and he gave a little wave, which set them off running again.
They continued down the narrow street, winding through the crowds until they reached a cramped little shop wedged between a bakery and an apothecary. The sign above the door was faded, but the faint symbols etched into the wood marked it as a rune shop.
Miranda knocked twice on the weathered wooden door before pushing it open. The bell above tinkled as they entered, and the scent of incense and old parchment filled the room. The interior was dimly lit, and shelves were stacked high with boxes of runestones, ink vials, and bundles of parchment. A counter at the far end was cluttered with more materials, and behind it stood a lean, dark-skinned man with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp eyes.
He looked up as they entered, clearly recognizing Miranda. "Señora Goshawk," he greeted with a nod, his voice deep and smooth. "You’re on time, as always."
Miranda offered a polite smile. "Good to see you again, Vargas. I trust everything is prepared?"
He nodded, reaching under the counter to pull out a small, ornate wooden box. "The kit is complete. You’ll find everything in order." His gaze flicked to Harry, sizing him up. "New apprentice?"
Miranda nodded. "Something like that."
Vargas huffed a quiet laugh, setting the box on the counter. "If you say so. Here’s the rune kit—everything’s labeled and marked for reference. Had to import a few of the rare elements from Peru. Cost a bit extra."
Miranda nodded, pulling out a small pouch and setting it on the counter. "As agreed."
He took it without checking, pocketing the gold casually. "Pleasure doing business with you. Just don’t bring trouble my way—got enough of that last month when some idiot tried smuggling cursed artifacts through my back door."
Harry glanced around the shop, noticing a few protective wards subtly integrated into the wooden beams. Neat work, too. Vargas clearly knew his craft.
As they turned to leave, Vargas called out, "Watch yourselves out there. The northern tribes are restless. They’ve been talking about something stirring in the jungle. Locals say the spirits are angry."
Miranda gave a curt nod. "We’ll be cautious. Thank you for the warning."
Once outside, Selena glanced back at the shop, a faint frown on her face. "Northern tribes causing trouble? Thought they usually kept to themselves."
Miranda’s brow furrowed briefly. "They do. If they’re restless, it could be something bigger than just a local squabble. Best not to get involved unless it directly affects us."
Harry didn’t bother to comment. He wasn’t interested in tribal politics unless it interfered with their work. He glanced at Selena, who still looked a bit curious but seemed content to let it go.
They made their way back through the market, with Miranda keeping a brisk pace. They passed a food stall where a woman was grilling corn over an open flame, and Selena paused, eyeing the food with interest.
Harry gave her a look. "Hungry already?"
She smiled lightly, a little more relaxed than earlier. "Haven’t eaten since the plane food. Can’t exactly call that proper."
Miranda gave a small nod. "We’ll take a short break. Might as well eat before heading back."
They got some grilled corn and soft tortillas filled with spicy meat, eating at a shaded spot by a fountain. Selena took a bite and gave an appreciative hum. "Better than anything we had on the flight."
Harry didn’t disagree. The seasoning was strong but good, and the corn was just the right blend of smoky and sweet.
As they finished up, Miranda dusted her hands off and stood. "We’ll head back to the inn. Rest up before tomorrow. We’ll be heading into the Chichen Itza early. Vargas wasn’t exaggerating—the tribes have been restless for a few weeks now. Better to move cautiously."
Nodding, they finished their food and made their way back to the inn to rest. The room was comfortably cool compared to the sticky heat outside, and Harry didn’t waste time casting a few privacy charms before stretching out on his bed. He let himself unwind, knowing that the real work would start tomorrow.
The next morning, Harry woke up just before sunrise. After a quick shower and a change into lightweight, durable clothes, he made his way downstairs. Miranda was already in the common room, sipping a cup of tea. Selena joined them a few minutes later, looking fresh despite the early hour.
“Morning,” Selena greeted, grabbing a Harina Chip from the breakfast spread and dipped it to guacamole.
Miranda gave them a once-over and nodded approvingly. “We’ll head to the travel point as soon as we finish. Don’t want to miss the portkey.”
They ate without much conversation, finishing up quickly before heading out. The streets were quieter at this hour, just a few early risers setting up stalls. The heat was already creeping in, making the air thick and muggy. Miranda threaded through winding alleys until they reached a small plaza near the edge of town, where a few other wizards and witches were gathered, waiting for the portkey to activate.
It was an old, battered walking stick stuck upright in a cracked stone slab. One of the wizards glanced over at their approach, giving a nod of acknowledgment. Miranda exchanged a few polite words with a middle-aged wizard who introduced himself as Felix Delgado. His casual demeanor couldn’t hide how he kept his wand within easy reach. A wiry woman with a shaved head adjusted the strap of her pack, her eyes never lifting.
Soon, the portkey activated, and Harry felt that familiar, unpleasant tug behind his navel. A split second later, he landed on solid ground, managing to keep his balance as the others stumbled a bit. Miranda adjusted her coat, brushing off some dust, while Selena straightened her robes with a calm, practiced motion.
