Hello, dears! Miss me?
I am SOOOO sorry for the long wait. I lost my muse with this story for a long time- which is really just an excuse for 'I didn't feel like working on this'.
But (hopefully) I'm back and will be working on finishing this.
Remember- I need prank ideas! The sky is the limit- there isn't much magic can't do! (Except create food- Gawrp's Third Law of Experimental Transfiguration, or whatever. So sue me! I'm not good at Transfig!)
Thank you for sticking with me through this and I hope you enjoy!
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The eight and angels stepped off the train and began walking to the carriages, which- to them- were being pulled by air. Aileen could see differently. The vague, wavering forms made her pause as she saw the horselike creatures. Harry didn't even notice the horses, and as Thaddeus shot her a worried look, he could see them as well.
They made their way up to the castle in two separate carriages, rattling over the slippery cobblestone road. Aileen sat on the top of the carriage containing Harry and watched happily as their second home drew closer.
They all exited the carriages at the front of the Great Hall and went inside. Aileen drifted behind Harry, watching idly for any ghosts. None were to be seen, though Thaddeus could pass for a poltergeist.
She sat down next to Harry at the Ravenclaw table and watched as he waited expectantly for the Sorting to begin. The first years, huddled together into a knot of people, moved as one from the Entrance Hall to the Great Hall. McGonagall produced the Sorting Hat from thin air and placed it on a conjured stool.
The Sorting Hat opened it's brim and the world dimmed. Harry twisted around, looking for Aileen. She tapped him on the shoulder and laughed as he hugged her.
"Hello, sweetie, how are you?" she asked in delight.
"Good! I'm so glad to see you!" he said.
"And me too. Listen, Harry, I don't have much time. The Song is shorter this year. The darkness is wakening, for the second time in 10 years. You need to look out for your friends, and let me take care of your safety, ok? I need you to trust me."
Harry looked at her, confused. She looked him in the eye and said again, "Trust me."
He nodded.
Aileen smiled and hugged him again. "I'll be there tonight when you meet with Dumbledore. You'll have me. Request for Hermione to go with you. It's always good to have a friend to back you up. Or ask for a Professor to accompany you. Better yet, ask for both."
"And if Professor Dumbledore says no?"
"I'll be there. Remember, Harry. I'll always be at your side."
She faded away as she had last year and watched as Harry started and began applauding.
The first years began the Sorting with a "Alexson, Emily!" She became the first "GRYFFINDOR!" of the year. Harry and Hermione applauded politely.
The Sorting continued, with "Greengrass, Astoria!" becoming a "SLYTHERIN!" The two Ravenclaws applauded extra hard for their friend's sister.
Finally "Weasley, Ginevra!" was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!" and the Hat and stool vanished.
Dumbledore rose to his feet as McGonagall tapped her goblet for quiet. "Welcome!" he said, voice carrying over the quieting crowd. "Welcome, one and all, back to Hogwarts. I trust you have had a pleasant summer vacation?"
Aileen giggled. "Oh, you have no idea," she said to the man, even though he couldn't hear her.
At the murmured acknowledgement, Dumbledore continued. "There are many things I wish to say, but they can wait. Tuck in!"
Harry leaned over to Hermione and whispered in her ear, "Will you accompany me to the Headmaster's office? Aileen would like you to come with me."
"Just Aileen?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I- I mean I'd like it too," Harry stammered.
Hermione laughed. "I'll go with you," she said.
"Thank you," he said in relief as they dug in.
Thaddeus caught her attention over their charge's heads and wriggled his eyebrows at her. She rolled her eyes and paid no mind to him.
They ate in silence as Aileen drifted around the Hall. She missed dessert being served, but caught the remains of the food vanishing and returned to Harry's side.
Dumbledore rose once again and waited for quiet. "Thank you! I hope that you enjoyed your first meal back?"
Again the Hall murmured consent.
"Good, good. I am pleased to announce that our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!"
The Hall erupted in applause. Most of it, Aileen noticed, was from the girls. The boys were... less than thrilled with the new arrangement. Hermione, she was pleased to see, was hardly applauding. Harry was slow clapping, and Thaddeus was blowing raspberries. She looked askance of the heavens for patience with the immature angel.
She smiled as they quieted down and Dumbledore went through the announcements. She noticed that Harry looked to be falling asleep over his plate and gently poked him awake, only for her hand to go right through him.
The school song jolted him awake and he sang along tunelessly, as Hermione sang along to the tune of "God Save the Queen."
Then they were finished, and away they went.
Professor McGonagall intercepted them and gestured for Harry to follow her. He grabbed Hermione's hand and towed her along quickly as he followed the Professor. Thaddeus caught up with her and drifted in silence besides Aileen.
They climbed all the way to the top of the large tower with the moving staircases. A large eagle statue was standing in their way as they arrived and Harry quickly spoke. "Professor, will you please accompany us?"
"Actually, Mr. Potter, the Headmaster requests that I do not attend this meeting. He also wishes that Miss Granger not attend," the Professor said crisply.
"Then can you please contact Professor Flitwick? I would like a responsible adult to make sure nothing happens."
Professor McGonagall bristled at the implications. "Are you saying that you do not trust the Headmaster, Mr. Potter?"
"I don't believe he has my best interests at heart," Harry said delicately.
Professor McGonagall sighed. "Very well. I shall accompany you."
"Thank you- Blood Pops," Harry said to the statue, and the five went up.
Aileen didn't know what she had been expecting of the Headmaster's office. Perhaps a cold, frigid, impersonal office, as she remembered Harry's old school's Headmaster having, or maybe a monument to his ego, with portraits of himself everywhere.
Instead, a warm, welcoming place greeted the five as they stepped out of the spiral staircase. To any Ravenclaw, it was heaven- three walls were covered with bookcases and books. With a glance at Hermione, Aileen confirmed her guess. She was itching to go and grab a book off the shelves, plop herself down into one of the few comfy reading chairs, and dig in. Harry didn't look like he disagreed one bit.
There were tables and chairs scattered around the office, though there were relatively few of each. The walls were a warm golden color- reminding everyone who entered of Dumbledore's old house, still favored by himself.
There was an elevated dais with a few stairs leading up to the Headmaster's desk. Scattered against the floor-to-ceiling windows were tables covered with delicate looking instruments, some spinning, some sending out puffs of white smoke. Behind Dumbledore's wingbacked chair were portraits- all asleep- of former headmasters.
"Well, don't dawdle," McGonagall said snappishly. "Find a seat and wait for the Headmaster to arrive."
"Yes, Professor," the two chorused, and wandered off to walk around.
Aileen drifted behind Harry, following close behind him as he slowly examined the books. Harry looked entranced by the wide selection of titles arrayed before him, but Aileen could see the calculations running behind his eyes.
She was worried- worried that Dumbledore would attempt to influence him. It was a legitimate concern, she felt. Auntie Amelia, as Harry had called Amelia Bones, had warned the two of the Imperious curse, and even though Aileen knew it was illegal to control another's actions, she couldn't help but worry that Dumbledore would try something nasty.
A door, hidden by the bookcases, swung open on the dais and Harry had to stop himself from jumping. He forced himself to look calm and turned around to see who it was.
Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts, was standing on the dais, looking down at the three with a genial smile and twinkling eyes.
And Aileen felt a cold shiver run up her spine.