With the villa they would rent now settled, the next task was to write everyone and tell them the address, then ask whether they could come after the second week ended.
Hermione wrote the letters to Harry and Ron; since she wasn't sure Ron had actually collected Harry on the second day of the holiday, she sent one letter to each of them.
Lynn took charge of writing to Maranhao, Marietta, and Penelope; because neither she nor Hermione had an Owl, they simply rented five Owls from the Owl Post and dispatched the letters the morning after the villa was confirmed.
Just after the letters were sent, Mr. and Mrs. Granger—who had received word they were free for the day—collected the two girls and went to the agency to sign the lease with the owner.
At the agency the Grangers and Lynn met the villa's owner.
Lynn stared at the man with hollow eyes; he was strongly built, a broad, uncomplicated smile on his face.
He looked warm, open, and easy to get along with.
Of course Lynn felt none of that, but she still ran a quick profile on him based on his expression, clothes, and posture.
Male, thirty-five to forty, heavily muscled—not gym-built—most likely a farmer or stock breeder; facial muscles natural, no deception; trustworthy.
After the automatic analysis she greeted him expressionlessly but politely, then, accompanied by the agent, skimmed the contract with a professionalism that startled everyone in the room.
Once she was certain nothing was wrong, she signed and swiped her card.
When she paid, her "odd" bank card stunned everyone present except Hermione.
The agent and the owner gaped: they had assumed the parents were footing the bill for a children's gathering—only to discover the big-spender was the kid herself.
Still, as long as the money was good, who cared who signed? Contract signed and payment made, the owner handed over both the gate and villa keys to Lynn.
'Just bring your personal things; I run a farm, so I'll stock the cold room with food before you arrive,' he said cheerfully.
'Thank you,' Lynn answered evenly, her flat tone and unchanging face leaving the agent and owner dumbfounded again.
Lease done, she left with the Grangers. In the car home Hermione finally couldn't contain her curiosity and turned to Lynn.
'You studied the laws of the Y Country Muggle World as well?'
Lynn turned stiffly and nodded as though it were obvious. 'Every rule, no matter where, should be memorised and followed; that's what good students do. I know the laws of every country on Earth.'
Hermione blinked, then gaped. Lynn had just said she had memorised the legal codes of every country on Earth.
After a term of studying with her Hermione knew that "memorised" to Lynn did not mean "roughly remembered."
It meant she could reproduce every statute verbatim, right down to the punctuation.
With so many nations' statutes—complex enough that most people barely master their own—Lynn had mastered them all. Hermime marvelled and, remembering her computer-like reading speed in the Hogwarts Library, thought: Well… I suppose it makes sense.
When they arrived home, replies to all five letters were already waiting.
Maranhao and Marietta had learnt of the plan on the hogwarts express ride home, had told their parents in advance, and received their blessing.
Their note thanked Lynn again and said they could reach the villa on the Sunday of the second week.
Penelope only discovered the invitation when Lynn's letter arrived, but fortunately she had no plans for the rest of the summer.
Her parents took a "free-range" approach: as long as she stayed safe and legal, she could do as she pleased.
Permission easily granted, she wrote to say she would arrive on the Sunday of the second week.
Harry and Ron sent a single joint reply.
Ron answered Hermione's question: the Weasleys had indeed collected Harry the day after he arrived at the Dursleys'.
The Dursleys, Ron fumed, hadn't wanted Harry to enjoy his holiday.
But with almost the entire Weasley family present—and being Wizards whom the Dursleys feared—they had extracted Harry and taken him home.
At the end Ron added that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had approved the plan and they would arrive on time.
Reading all the replies, Hermione beamed. 'Great—everyone can make it.'
'Mm.' Lynn nodded calmly, but inside a tightly stretched cord suddenly loosened.
She even felt her breathing come easier. If everyone was coming… she could protect them.
She blinked mechanically and watched Hermione fold the letters away.
Hermione tucked them into a pile, turned, and poked Lynn's arm. 'Promise me: once we're at the villa, no studying. When Harry and Ron ask for help with homework, you ignore them; I'll handle it.'
She narrowed her eyes in mock threat. 'Not until the new Hogwarts book list arrives and we've bought the books can you start studying—previewing next year's courses. Deal?'
Lynn's face stayed blank while her mind raced.
No studying meant standing still, being overtaken, slipping in rank—possibly being destroyed.
But seeing Hermione's earnest expression, Lynn obeyed the voice deep in her head.
'All right. I promise.'
Hermione exhaled, feeling both happy and helpless as she looked at Lynn.
The girl—after being ordered to rest—had still finished all her holiday homework in a week, and even that hadn't satisfied her.
When Hermione suggested she take the rest of the holiday off, Lynn actually paused before answering; Hermione had no doubt that, had she not been there, Lynn would have 'speed-run' the vacation homework and spent the entire break studying on her own.
Merlin only knew how high her magical and academic level had climbed; Hermione reckoned that after spending the previous year practically living in the Hogwarts Library and reading nearly half of it, Lynn was already a match for a fifth- or even sixth-year student.
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