Free The Vault of Destinies (James Potter #3) by G. Norman Lippert

chimneys and the streets were wet, their cobbles shining dully. The group tramped their way single file down the curving, stony path until it met the street. An old man with a grizzled white beard was seated on a stool nearby, stooped beneath the awning of a fish shop. He pushed the brim of his cap up with a horny thumb as the group filed past.
    "Good morning," Harry Potter said cheerfully.
    "Lovely day for a stroll, isn't it then?" Ginny added, bringing up the rear.
    "Nice town you've got here," Albus cried, turning around and walking backwards, smiling at the man. "Smells a bit funny, but we won't hold it against you!"
    Ginny grabbed him by the arm, spinning him around.
    The narrow street descended in a series of sharp switchbacks, passing crowded houses and shops, and eventually emptying out at the seashore. Wharves, docks, and piers festooned the coastline, making a haphazard silhouette against the steely sky. Some of the slips were occupied with rusting fishing boats, others with immaculate touring yachts, still others with enormous, looming cargo ships. Green waves smacked at the hulls, lifting and dropping them monotonously. Merlin whistled as he walked, leading the group along a warped boardwalk, passing ship after ship. Workers in heavy coats and dark woolen caps barely looked up as the group passed by, ogling and wide-eyed.
    "What kind of ship will we be going in?" Izzy asked, her voice full of wonder. "Will it be one of the big ones?"
    "Probably not one of the big ones," Petra answered with a smile in her voice.
    "Is it a cruise ship?" Ralph mused hopefully. "They have buffets on cruise ships."
    The crew walked on and on. The sun finally began to burn away the dense clouds and became a hard white ball on the horizon, casting its reflection onto the ocean in a long blinding stripe.
    "Here we are," Merlin finally announced. They had reached the end of the boardwalk. It was virtually deserted, overshadowed by a rocky promontory decked with a very antiquated lighthouse. James was surprised to see his grandfather's old Ford Anglia parked near the end of the boardwalk, its engine idling smoothly.
    Albus frowned quizzically. "What's Granddad's car doing here?"
    Ginny replied distractedly. "Go help your father unload now. Hurry, all of you."
    "Unload what?" Ralph asked as she herded them forward.
    Merlin produced his staff, which always seemed to be with him, hidden somewhere just out of sight despite its rather impressive size. He tapped it on the boardwalk and the Anglia's boot popped open.
    "Ah," Ralph said, answering his own question. "Manual labor."
    "Cool!" Albus crowed, running forward. "It's got all of our trunks in it. Did you send it ahead all by itself? Can it drive on its own?"
    "It was your grandfather who taught it that particular skill," Merlin replied, smiling. "The more I learn about him, the more impressed I become. Put the trunks right here on the boardwalk, if you please. I will alert the portmaster of our arrival."
    "But where's the ship?" James asked, glancing around the deserted pier below.
    Merlin either didn't hear him or chose not to answer. He strolled ponderously up the crooked, curving staircase that led to the door of the lighthouse.
    "Hop to it, men," Harry cried heartily, reaching into the boot and heaving out one of the trunks. As with many wizard spaces, the boot was rather larger inside than would have seemed possible from without. Eventually, James, Albus, and Ralph stood next to a precariously stacked tower of trunks, cases, crates, and bags.
    "Good thing I had that biscuit," Ralph breathed, wiping his brow. "Merlin was right. Traveling is hard work."
    James glanced up at the lighthouse, looking to see what the Headmaster was up to. As he watched, the small door in the side of the lighthouse opened. Merlin strode out, his head lowered as he traversed the narrow, leaning stairway.
    "Hold tight, everyone," he announced. "Prepare to board."
    Behind him, a loud, low note suddenly sounded,