Chapter 10

All the exams completed, so hopefully there'll be more updates.

Hi dad!

I already miss you and all the guys – say hi to them from me. Hogwarts is going rather well. I and Eric got into the Gryffindor house. I also met many interesting people, but Eric is hard to catch without that annoying Weasley brat. I spend a lot of time with Hermione – she's enthusiastic and a bit bossy when it comes to learning, but we get along. Then there's Neville – he's nice and really more sufferable than most of the kids (Would you believe that some of the girls were able to spend hours of chatting about clothes? I was freaking out). He's also incredibly shy and clumsy. The last one worth mentioning is Draco Malfoy, quite snobbish brat, but he has some wits and he's almost as much fun teasing as Hawk-eyes.

Does have the nobles here some sort of swordsman lessons? They seem so traditional that I would be surprised if they don't. I must ask professor McGonagall.

Anyway, the reason I am writing to you in the first place is that I went to a tea to Hagrid and he had a piece of newspapers about robbery at Gringotts. The thief got away and Hagrid wouldn't speak about it. Maybe Dumbledore is hiding something in the castle? Do you have any idea what that may be? Which reminds me – in the third floor there is restricted area and the headmaster announced that nobody should enter unless he'll suffer painful death. Does ministry know what is Dumbledore doing here? Could Sirius know more?

Love, Adrienne.

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It was Wednesday and this afternoon was the first flying lesson. Mione was incredibly nervous and when she found out that neither Adri or Nev doesn't have any experience with flying, she tried to learn it by hearth in books. Nev was almost as nervous as Mione and he listened to every advice she read. Adri only laughed at the two, she figured out that it will come out somehow and she knew well that only experience and talent matters here. However, she was pissed at her brother, because he was boasting about his flying skills so loudly that even owls in a tower have to hear it. He still wanted to help Adri with flying and talked to her about it a lot, so she didn't say a word about it to him. They even agreed to have a try-out outside together.

Madame Hooch walked to the grounds where were the students waiting. Adri's eyes widened in surprise, professor's eyes! They were almost the same hawk-like like certain swordsman. She couldn't suppress a grin, beginning to like her even without real reason. Madame Hooch was certainly decisive woman, sharply ordering the class to stand beside their brooms and giving them the instructions. "Stick out your right hand over your broom," called Madam Hooch at the front, "and say 'Up!'" Only few managed to do so, on the first try. Between them were Eric, Draco and Adri. Could the brooms sense the fear of a person it's supposed to answer to?

"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle — three — two —" But Neville, nervous and jumpy and frightened of being left behind on the ground, pushed off hard before the whistle had touched Madam Hooch's lips. "Come back, boy!" she shouted, but Neville was rising straight up, his broom shaking just as was the boy's frightened face. Adri didn't wait for anything else and took off the ground, riding the broom to the Neville by mere instinct.

"Neville!" They circled around a tower then Adri grabbed Neville's cloak. Her broom was taken horribly off balance with the extra weight and Neville hanging limply on her wasn't much help either. Startled class was simply watching them with dropped jaws as Adri with Nev were going down only a bit slower than falling stone. Adri was desperately trying to maneuver better, but with the ground rapidly approaching and Nev panicking, she only managed to position herself to take more of the damage.

Madame Hooch hurried to them with white face. "Foolish girl!" She leaned to examine them for injuries. Adri slightly groaned. Not the best landing, but still better than many of the ones Luffy had got her into with his rubber powers. Not to mention the last one when they fell off a cliff straight to a lake full of crocodiles.

"I am alright." Hawk-eyed professor flashed at her an angry look nevertheless.

"What were you thinking, miss Potter? Do you want to get yourself killed along with Mr. Longbottom? Ten points from Gryffindor for such recklessness!" Madame Hooch became slightly more relaxed when she made sure that even Neville isn't hurt. Though he was still sickly white and shaking.

"Go to the infirmary, Mr. Longbottom, I doubt you'll be of any use today while in shock. We will continue the lesson, but I warn you, disobey me again and you'll get landed detention to the end of this school year, Miss Potter, before you can spell Quidditch."

Ron Weasley made sure Madame Hooch wasn't listening and dramatically whispered: "In such need of attention, Adrienne? Or maybe hitting a position in Quidditch team?" But stopped when Eric shot him a dirty look.

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Next day Adri with Mione were going through the Great Hall, where students were whispering and gossiping.

"Did you hear?"

"No way!"

"Eric Potter is the new Gryffindor seeker! He must be the youngest seeker in the century!"

"But first years can't be in a Quidditch team!"

When they made it to their usual seat at the table, Adri turned to her brother. "So, a seeker, eh?"

Eric blushed. "Yeah, I promised not to tell anybody... Mom talked to Dumbledore and he agreed that it would be waste of my talent, so he'll overlook the rule."

"Then how so the entire school knows?" joined Mione.

"I don't know, I told just Ron." The girls rolled their eyes. Of course. How can be Eric so oblivious?

Adri silently remembered the first flying lesson - Eric was surely talented, but Draco was almost as good as him and that she wasn't half bad either. Then she recalled how Sirius spoke about frequent visits of Dumbledore in Potter manor, but she kept her expression ignorant. "What does have the headmaster in common with it? I thought it was in competence of the head of the house." Adri asked with surprise written on her face.

Eric smiled at her and started telling her. "Well, Dumbledore is just brilliant! He is so important wizard with a lot of responsibilities, but he still manages to take his time and visit. He might be a bit crazy with his rainbow colored robes, but he also helped mom to get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup! ..."

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"Is anything the matter, headmaster?" Adri stood at the headmaster's office for the first time. She was confused why she was there in the first place, it's not like she has started any pranks yet or got into some sort of notable trouble. Or does this have anything to do with Eric being in Gryffindor Quidditch team?

"Sit, my dear. A lemon drop?" offered Dumbledore with twinkling eyes.

"No, thanks." Adrienne curiously looked around the office, but also to Dumbledore by a corner of her eye, she had bad feeling about the man, although she didn't know why. But she knew dad's guts were always right about bad stuff, so it's time to trust hers.

"Adrienne, my dear, I would be delighted to know where were you with your father those past ten years. We were all worried about you." He paused. "I also must say that you look remarkably like your father. Except your eyes, you have your mother's eyes."

"Don't talk about my mother!" Adri glared at Dumbledore angrily. Does he really expect the answer after being so friendly with THAT woman? This isn't good, Adri thought. She was suddenly very happy that she left her time-turner safely in her trunk. Who knows, the old man may notice and she would like to keep her secrets, thank you very much.

The headmaster noticed her anger and raised his hands in calming gesture. "My, my, I am sorry. Though you certainly have her temper. Can we get to the story?"

'Yeah, certainly, I am going to spill all my tears to you, sparkling old man.' "Well, wouldn't it be much better to ask dad? I can't remember all of the places; we always traveled as long as I can remember along with dad's friends. I was also home-schooled by one of them; it hasn't been possible to attend a school since we never stayed at one place for that long."

"You aren't very talkative, are you, my girl? Where were you for the last time? As important person as you are its incredulous how bad was yours contact with our wizarding world." Dumbledore watched her with interest.

'Does he thing I am all that stupid? Did he tried to track us?' "We were in Egypt and Japan recently. Is that all? Can I go?" Adrienne stood up; she didn't want to spend any more time here. Not with this sparkling old man.

"Off to bed with you, then, my dear." Dumbledore said goodbye with the same friendly smile he had the entire time plastered on his face.

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Hi there, little me.

Congratulation for the lucky house you got into! I am happy that you and Eric at least are trying to get along. And having your own personal know-it-all this soon? I may take Benny with me to visit you on some weekend just to see their flare love (for books I mean!).

Every noble house has their own swords master as a tutor. There are few competitions outside of school, but perhaps the headmaster or a head of a house could allow and ensure such club. Good luck with it!

I don't have any idea what was stolen, I was away for too long, you should ask Sirius, I am certain he knows more. Ministry has Hogwarts Board of Governors who should oversee the running of the school. As a parent I could request their investigation about such, but I am not certain if it would help. Dumbledore has a lot of influence and could weasel himself out of many things. Be careful of that man! He often hides behind his candies and twinkling eyes, but he's bloody manipulative and moreover most of wizards and witches trust him brainlessly. He's the supposed 'Leader of the Light', doing things for the 'greater good'. Creepy, isn't it?

Don't let the old man and his scheming ruin your time and enjoy yourself!

Love, dad.