A/N: Sorry it's been ages since I've uploaded! You see, I was working on my other story, and I just kind of got into that, and then I stopped and was like: dude, I totally need to finish this one first. But then of course, I fell asleep and two days later remembered what I was going to type. If this sounds confusing, than don't bother and just read on. :)
Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter.
Do you feel,
The weight of the world,
Singing sorrow,
Or to you,
Is it just not real?
-Do You Feel, The Rocket Summer
Chapter Nine: Of Dragons and Stupid Ideas
~oO0Oo~
I was running faster than I thought possible. My hair was flying loose behind me and my shoes made slapping sounds on the cold stone floor as I sprinted down the corridor to recover the map. I was positive I knew where it was, but then again, I'm terrible with these things, I've been known to misplace anything and everything.
I spotted it, lying still on the floor in front of the Great Hall. I snatched it up and turned to run back to Fred and George when the dragon behind me gave a great roar and breathed fire across the Hall to where I had been standing. I dived out of the way, barely escaping the line of fire.
The dragon gave another loud roar and began spraying fire everywhere. In attempt to shield myself, I searched my memory for the spell I had just been discussing with Fred and George.
"CONGELO!" I exclaimed, and a jet of periwinkle shot out of my wand and collided with the fire. It froze mid-air and fell to the floor with a loud clang.
Another ear-piercing roar rang out and I booked it down the corridor. When I reached Fred and George, I pulled them behind a torch and breathlessly handed Fred the map.
"Look. For. Teachers. Please," I managed to sputter out.
Fred quickly scanned the map. "I don't see any. We just need to get out of here."
"I second that," said George as he took the map from Fred.
"Well?" I asked, looking over George's shoulder.
He shook his head. "The only passage out of here is two floors up."
"Great, we'll take it." I took off running, yet again, in the direction of the Great Hall, before turning to go up the Grand Staircase, Fred and George at my heels. I climbed up 4 long flights of stairs before reaching the second floor and stopping to catch my breath.
Fred and George soon joined me. "Where is it?" I asked; I just wanted to get out of the castle. Coming in had been a stupid idea.
"Right here. Tap the knight's nose," said Fred, pointing to the suit of armor in front of me.
I hit the nose of the knight and to my surprise, he became animate and stepped aside.
I pushed past him and whispered an unsure, "Thanks," in his direction. The suit nodded.
The passage was a stone tunnel covered in cobwebs and dust. I had the urge to cough, but pushed against it, not wanting to upset the small pathway.
"Guys?" I called to Fred and George.
"Yeah?" They said together.
I squinted and tried to make out where the light of the door was coming from. "We never go into a castle that people are running out of without a good reason again, deal?"
I could hear Fred snicker. "Deal."
"It's not funny, you know, and next time, I'll just feed Greeny you."
Fred gave a full-out laugh this time. "Greeny? You named that thing?"
I could feel myself blush. "Yeah. Is there an issue with that?"
"Yeah," began George, "It's totally mental to name something that's trying to eat you."
"Touche," I mumbled. Did it ever occur to them maybe now wasn't the most appropriate time to joke?
After what seemed like years, I came to a door. I jiggled the handle, which didn't budge. "Alohomora!"
To my relief, the door clicked and I was able to throw it open, exposing the waiting outside world.
"Thank Merlin," I heard George say behind me.
~oO0Oo~
McGonagall wasn't upset. She wasn't mad. She wasn't angry. She was furious with a rage I had never seen. Fred, George and I were all being reprimanded for charging into the castle with a dragon on the loose. Standing in front of McGonagall's desk wasn't something I was unfamiliar with, but this was different.
"You three could have been killed! What ever gave you the idea to go inside the castle?" She tapped her foot impatiently, "Well?"
I saw Fred and George were now both pointing at me. "Thanks, guys," I mumbled.
"Miss Harrison? This was your idea?" McGonagall asked, frowning.
I sighed deeply. "Yes. Technically it was my brilliant idea."
"Miss Harrison, I hope you recognize the severity of the situation we have here. You three went freely into the castle even though you were strictly told not to do so!"
"To be fair professor," George said hesitantly.
"-you never told us there was a dragon in the castle," Fred finished, giving a small half-smile.
McGonagall was not amused. "Detention. Every night for two weeks."
The three of us all groaned at the prospect.
"You may go." And with a wave of her hand, McGonagall dismissed us from her office.
Fred and George quickly walked ahead of me; I purposely lagged behind. I wanted to speak with McGonagall about Professor Soben.
I strode up to her desk, and without thinking, I blurted, "I know about Professor Soben, Professor," out.
McGonagall looked up from her paperwork. "What?"
I gulped. "I'm going to be honest Professor, I know that he's my supposedly dead brother. I mean, I think I know I think he's my dead brother who's actually not dead but posing under a different name, which is an anagram, that I figured out today, and-!"
McGonagall stood. "Miss Harrison, please follow me."
I bit my lip nervously and did as I was told, praying this was a good thing. But knowing my life, something unnecessarily complicated would be most likely unfolding.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please Review!
