NB: J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and characters and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight and characters are theirs and theirs alone. They do not belong to me.
Read, review, bada-bing bada-boom ...
The gentle breeze caressed the grassy expanse of the front lawn and ruffled the sweeping black robes of the assembled crowd. It was almost ironic that on a shining, buttery day like so that they would be wearing long dark robes. Their pointy black hats obscured their faces in triangular shadows, but the sea of summit-like points were each defined as they bobbed in anticipation of Deauforth's arrival.
The last time another school was to visit, the headmaster was informed many weeks beforehand. But that was many a moon before.
Albus Dumbledore pursed his lips as he thought of Hogwarts' lack of preparation. He was trying to suppress an almost rueful smile, but a look of amusement still played on his face as he remembered the announcement he made only two days prior. He thought to let them become comfortable before unleashed an exciting surprise on the students – an American school of magic, Deauforth, had informed Hogwarts of their imminent arrival just days after sorting. It had been circulating that the academy wanted to cash in on another unrevealed event, the Triwizard Tournament, and include it as part of their 'Foreign Outreach' course. Dumbledore knew better. They were curious, seeking secrets, but Dumbledore himself was questioning their methods, what spells they used. So Hogwarts had hurriedly prepared – dusting, cleaning floors, and an etiquette class introduced to students in detention (and those listed as '...gorillas, despicable hygiene habits!' by teachers such as Slytherin's Crabbe and Goyle) – for this secretive school's much awaited appearance.
An unearthly hush fell over the black-clothed crowd as the tips of the forest trees whipped against the stillness of the afternoon.
The noise started as a fluttering, like a swarm of large butterflies haphazardly twisting through the assembly. But the sound grew louder and louder and there was the sound of snapping and stretching from the forest. Suddenly, before their questioning eyes, the forest gave an almighty lurch, and the trees bowed and broadened, reaching higher and higher with their fingers toward the sky. Then they curved through the middle, coming together at the top like an onion, and the branches wove together to create an impermeable shell against the unpredictable rural weather.
There was the sound of a wooden door creaking open, and someone stumbled out.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yeah, I thought so too ...*runs into the corner to cry*. Tell me what you think! I've already done the next couple of chapters, but do you want to see more? Hmm ...
Love you! If you review ... *shakes fist ruefully*
Yours hopefully,
- PhotosOfClouds