Chapter 6 The Nine Dragons

As Hermione entered the Showcase, she saw that pavilions for various countries were set up around a large lagoon. Surveying the skyline, she recognized a building that had to be the Temple of Heaven. Walking past Mexico and Canada, she came to China. With a glance at her wristwatch, she saw that she had about ten minutes to spare. She located the koi pond and came to rest on the bridge, where she could watch the graceful koi swim among the lotus plants. She was enjoying the meditative quality of her surrounding when a voice right next to her made her jump.

"Right on time. I do appreciate your punctuality, Ms. Granger."

"You startled me Professor..." Hermione began, only to be interrupted.

"Severus, remember."

"Right then, Severus, it's Hermione to you."

"I've already spoken with the hostess at the Nine Dragons, and she is securing us seating," Snape explained while indicating a pathway toward the restaurant. As they walked the short distance through a beautifully landscaped garden, Chinese lanterns were turned on to signal the approaching dusk. Hermione felt the Disney magic sweep over her again, and she felt as if she and Snape had been transported to China.

The Nine Dragons was the premiere restaurant in Epcot's Chinese Pavilion. The hostess led Hermione and Snape to a private seating area adjacent to the bar. Ornate screens gave total privacy to each table.

"I expect your boundless curiosity needs to make sense of these unusual circumstances," Snape began.

Hermione marvelled at how Snape could utter 'boundless curiosity' in such a manner that she was not sure whether he was insulting her or not. She felt the need to maintain her dignity in this situation, as she was no longer his student, and she had meant it earlier about not putting up with his typical attacks or insults. At the same time, she did not need to blow Snape's dry sarcasm out of proportion by being oversensitive. She could feel the tension rising and knew she had to stay on her toes.

"As I stated earlier today, I believe it is fortuitous that our paths have crossed, Hermione. Since you are a former member of the Order of the Phoenix, as well as a former student, I've had to rely on your discretion in the past. Therefore, the fact that I am still alive and here speaking to you demonstrates that you can be trusted, in some small measure. However, before I proceed with further information, I must ask you to perform a wand oath that the information I choose to divulge to you this evening will go no further."

Snape's eyes bore into Hermione's in a manner that made her feel that he was trying to invade her mind. As if on autopilot, Hermione felt herself blank everything from her mind. Snape's eyes spoke approval of her action. With a quick flick of his wrist, he cast a temporary shield that would prevent their servers from moving the privacy screen. Vine met ebony, and Hermione's wand gave off a soft glow as she promised her silence.

Almost the moment their wands were again out of sight, a waitress entered to take their order. She wore a traditional Chinese dress, known as a qupao, and her nametag denoted the Guangdong province of China. Snape ordered a Laphroaig neat, while Hermione ordered a margarita.

"You know that old adage, when in Rome..." Hermione ventured.

"Isn't a margarita a Mexican drink? I thought we were in Florida, or is it China? I find it quite confusing to remember where I'm supposed to be with all this make-believe," quipped Snape as he gestured around the room for emphasis.

"Well, a margarita is tropical," Hermione explained. "And I've found Disney World enchanting so far." She found she was avoiding using Snape's given name.

"Indeed!" Snape raised one eyebrow to this statement. Once the waitress had reappeared and left their order, he took out his wand again and uttered, "Muffliato," creating a barrier to eavesdroppers.

Snape took a long drink, then leaned back and closed his eyes. He sat this way for a moment or two, as if relishing the peace, and then with a sigh, he opened his eyes and began to tell Hermione his tale.

"Most likely you have grown up knowing all about Walt Disney, or at least you thought you did." Hermione nodded in agreement. "What is not widely known is that Walt Disney is in fact a wizard. Something I would never expect a Muggle-born, like yourself, to know. Indeed, due to his American birth, most half-bloods, and many purebloods, from our country would not know that he is in fact a distant cousin of Dumbledore's. Which is the only reason I am involved in this entire mess." Snape's voice had switched into perfect lecture mode.

"I'm rather confused. You're talking about Walt Disney in the present tense," pointed out Hermione, who was still avoiding the necessity of calling Snape Severus.

"Yes, well, have some patience, and I'll get to that. Walt Disney always was a true blue, dyed in the wool, Muggle-loving Wizard. Just like Arthur Weasley. It became his life's work to bring some of the wonder of magic to the Muggle world, and especially Muggle families. Of course, everything had to be accomplished without breaking any Wizarding laws related to Muggles and magic.

"It turned out that everything he touched turned to gold. From Steamboat Willie to these mega-amusement parks, everything was a complete success. It seems he filled an unmet need in the Muggle world. Eventually, like any true genius, Walt became bored with success. He desired to move on to new challenges. So he drew up a blueprint for the future of his dynasty and left his brother, Roy Disney, who is incidentally a Squib, in charge of implementation. Then he faked his death and left the identity of Walt Disney behind him."

"Are you telling me he's living under another identity?" Hermione asked in fascination.

"He'd become obsessed with magical plants and their healing properties. In order to pursue his new obsession, he moved to the Amazon rainforest, where he's been studying and cataloguing plants for years now. His research is published under the name Jose Raton. I've had the occasion to benefit from his research in my own work," Snape continued.

"Fascinating as this is, I still don't understand..." Hermione began.

"If you would allow me to finish," Snape interrupted. "I believe everything will become clear. Senor Raton has remained in isolation from civilization for many years. A situation I admit to finding enviable. Nevertheless, this past year he came in contact with some American tourists. Apparently, they were on some sort of extreme vacation adventure. During their interaction, they related how much their vacation was a welcome alternative to the highly commercialised, homogenized, and money-extorting world of Disney, where so many people went these days. Apparently, it was a bit of a shock to the old man. He is very concerned about what his brother Roy is up to and why he isn't sticking to the plan."

Snape paused in his story to take a drink, but Hermione decided to keep quiet. She didn't want to be chastised yet again for her impatience, and she was intrigued by the tale, especially as delivered in Snape's hypnotic voice.

"Senor Raton decided he should investigate. He did not want to confront his brother without some facts and evidence. All he really had was the report of potentially biased Muggles. He tried to get in touch with Albus and ended up reaching Minerva instead." With the mention of Dumbledore, Snape's face took on a shuttered look, as though he was willing himself to remain impassive, and he paused to drink again. Once he continued speaking, it was apparent that Snape would make no further reference to Albus' death.

"It seems that the former Walt Disney was quite fond of Minerva as a young girl," Snape added with the sly grin of one relishing the moment. "He had spent some time in England and is much closer to Minerva in age."

"Really!" Hermione interjected.

Snape overlooked this interruption and added in a conspiratorial voice. "It seems he gave her the pet name Minnie."

"Are you telling me that Minnie Mouse is named after Professor McGonagall?" Hermione could not contain herself at the incongruousness of it all.

"Apparently, and I don't mind sharing that bit of information in the least, for all the trouble she's putting me through," Snape uttered half to himself as he looked into the depths of his drink. "And that brings us to the heart of this entire matter. Minerva told Walt Disney she had just the wizard to help him. Then she contacted me in Paris, to remind me that I was still indebted to her for her testimony and she now expected me to repay her by helping Walt." It was clear to Hermione that Snape felt Minerva's transfer of her debt to Walt Disney was, at the very least, inappropriate.

"Walt went on to secure me letters of introduction from the American Ministry of Magic to Roy Disney. According to a contract, the Ministry provides an oversight function for Walt Disney, Inc. and its subsidiaries because of the ties to the magical community since its inception. It appears they are overdue for an audit," Snape offered with an evil smirk.