Chapter Five
Slythern or Gryffindor?
I walk through the hole in the wall and into a room covered in red and gold, with lions covering every inch of the room. Two boys and two girls sit on a couch in front of the fire place, and talk.
"Who are you?" The red head boy asks, who sits on the floor.
"Ron!" The bushy haired brunette gasps. "But yes, who exactly are you?"
I sigh. "Danielle Exalias. And before you ask, yes, I'm from America."
"Why are you starting a four into classes? You should have been here four months ago." A boy with black hair and round glasses asks me. He stands up and walks over to me.
"I'm not a student here," I tell them. Then, I explain what happened and the other red headed girl laughs.
"Just keep using language with the toad. Bloody hell, she deserves it. And I'm Ginny by the way. This is Hermione, Harry and Ron." Ginny tells me.
"Nice to meet you," I say. "So what exactly are you guys doing here?"
"This is a school of witchcraft and wizardry. We practice and learn about magic here." Harry says.
"But we haven't been doing much of practicing lately. Umbridge is from the Ministry of Magic, which is like the magical government. She's changed the Defense Against Dark Arts classes so we're just learning the things we need. She's also taken away the clubs and Quiddich away, so we have nothing to do at night."
"That really blows."
"Yeah, the bloke doesn't know what she's in for when Voldemort comes back around," Harry growls. I turn to Ginny.
"Voldemort is the most dangerous dark wizard of all time. Last summer, he killed Cedric Diggory, then he came back to life. Before that, he killed Harry's parents. He turned on Harry, but he somehow he survived and has a scar on his forehead to show."
"How did he try to kill him?"
"The Killing Curse, or Avada Kedavra." I raise my eyebrow.
"Is that like illegal or something?"
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Cause last night, when Snape came around, he tried the curse. Then McGonagall stopped him and got really pissed off." I say. Ron scoffs.
"The bloody git. Maybe we should try it on him!" A taller boy comes down the steps and stops.
"Hey Neville," Ginny says.
"Hey guys. I had a question for the thing tonight." Neville says cautiously. He glances at me then back to Harry.
"She's safe. Don't worry."
"I think Umbride is watching the doorway. She's convinced that something's going on in there." He says.
"Yeah so?"
"How are we going to get in without her seeing us?"
"I can distract her. Ask her to fill me in on the magic and stuff while you guys do what you need to." I say.
"That could work."
"You guys just tell me what I need to do and I'll get it done." I tell Harry.
"American, you are brilliant!" He says.
"How do we know that she's not going to go and tell Umbridge instead?" Ron pipes up. "For all we know, she could be a bloody liar and could be a Slythern."
"I can see your point, but if you want to, go ask Hagrid. He led me here," I tell him.
"I think I bloody will!" He yells at me. Ron stops halfway through the hole and turns back around. "Well, anyone else coming?" Ginny sighs and gets up. I follow her with Hermione and Harry on my heels.
"Sorry about Ron, the bloke's nervous you really are a Slythern." Harry says to me. I shrug.
"Hey, I'm just glad to find someone who hasn't yelled at me for 'language.'" Harry laughs.
"Yeah, the toad is a bloody git. Everyone around here knows that."
"Yeah, I bet." I sigh. We follow Ron out onto a large lawn and over to a small hut on the other side. Ron knocks, well, bashes, on the door.
"Hagrid! Open up!" He yells. Hagrid opens the door and smiles.
"What can I do fer yer?" He aks.
"I got a question about the American," he spits. Hagrid ushers us and we sit down around a wooden table.
"He thinks I'm a Slytherin. You were there, tell him!"
"Ron, she is a Gryffindor, tried and true. That's what the Hat said. Is that what yer wanted to kno'?"
"Thanks, Hagrid," Ginny says in response. Hagrid smiles and the group of us leaves.