"Miss, you must go soon." Tom, the Innkeeper gently shook me awake and handed me a cup of tea. I realized I was still fully dressed with my Transfiguration book lying open on my stomach. It wasn't until early in the morning that I had actually fallen asleep. I was already half way through the 10th chapter and I couldn't wait to get started with the actual spell work, but I knew I wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school. I dragged myself off the bed and shuffled to the window. I pulled the flowered curtains back and a faint rosy light filled the room. I figured it must be around 6ish and groaned. I brushed my teeth and attempted to make myself look human. I was brushing my hair in front of an old silver mirror,
"Smile, my dear. There's nothing to worry about." I jumped five feet in the air and looked around wildly for the source of the voice. There was no one there. I scratched my head in confusion and then laughed to myself when I realized it had to come from an adjoining room. I grinned, thinking of how jumpy my nerves were and continued to brush out the tangles.
"There. You look so much prettier when you smile." The voice continued. My hand froze in midair and my eyes widened to the size of saucers. The mirror was talking to me! Was I supposed to talk back?
"Uh. Thanks." I mumbled.
"No problem, dear. Just don't forget." I nodded and kept brushing my hair, pretending this happened everyday. I stuffed my suitcase with my textbooks, uniform, scrolls, cauldron and even those old fashioned quill and ink. I had to sit on my bag to get the zipper closed. Not knowing what I was to do next, I patted Tuala and talked to her absent mindedly. A few minutes later, Hagrid called through the door,
"Hannah, are yeh awake? We should be goin'." I put Tuala back in her cage and picked up my suitcase and backpack. It seemed strange to go to school with a suitcase. I lugged it down the narrow, curving staircase. The room was empty except for Hagrid sitting at the bar, talking with Tom, where some buttered toast waited. "Morning." I said as I dug in.
"It's probably a good thing you are leaving straight away. I'm not looking forward to dealing with my other guests if the rumors turn out to be true." Tom was shaking his head.
"But surely they can't come in ter here?"
"I have no authority to stop them. But it's bad for business, I'll tell you that."
"Not surprised." Hagrid muttered darkly.
"Who are you talking about?" My curiosity was piqued.
"Not who, but what." Tom replied.
"Dementors." Something about Hagrid's voice chilled me to the bone. "Azkaban guards." I remembered that he had been sent to the wizard's prison just the last month and touched his arm in sympathy, he gave me a weak smile in return. "They're crawlin' all over the place nowadays with Black on the lose. Searchin' the Alley every chance they get. I even hear talk about Fudge puttin' em up at the school. But Dumbledore won't allow it, that's fer sure."
"Enough of this talk. You will be long gone before they get here." He put down a glass he had been polishing and to my surprise, shook my hand, "It was nice to meet you. You are always welcome here." He said formally. After a last gulp of tea, Hagrid pick up my book laden suitcase as if it was no more than a hand purse and walked back out into the muggle world.