Chapter Fourteen; Through The Portal
Thanks guys! It's really hard to believe it but we already passed the middle and there are only a few chapters left until Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts begins. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Snape carried Eve along the path while everyone else followed Sirius. "Listen Eve, I'm really sorry about what I said before, I really didn't mean it." Harry told her.
"It's alright Harry, I forgive you." She told him as they exchanged warm and loving smiles.
"Wow Harry, your sister does have a good side to her after all." Ron said as Eve giggled.
"I told you so." Harry said. "She really isn't that bad when you really get to know her." He told him.
"Maybe so, but I think I'll keep the one I've got." Ron said as he and Ginny exchanged glances and grins.
"Daddy?" Eve questioned while looking up at her father's face.
"Yes sweetheart?" he asked her back.
"Can you please put me down? I want to walk with Harry and everyone else." She said.
"Wow, what a day." Ron began. "First Snape calls Hermione by her first name, and now this." Ron said while Snape set his daughter down beside him and she quickly grabbed ahold of Harry's hand.
"Oh come on Weasley, you knew that it was bound to happen sooner or later. I mean, now that we're friends and everything." Snape told him with a grin.
"What?" Hermione asked him feeling her voice crack while she blinked away her tears.
"You heard me Granger and don't ask me to repeat it again. And don't start getting all emotional on me either." He told her with a roll of his eyes. "Because I already told you that I don't want the whole wizarding community finding out that I've gone soft! And furthermore_" he began but what came next Harry never found out because that's when Hermione threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you Professor." She whispered. "For everything." She told him as he smiled warmly at her.
"You're welcome." He told her as he hugged her back for a few moments before pushing her away. "Alright that's enough now get off of me!" he snapped while Ron grinned at him and shook his head while stifling a laugh. "And what are you laughing at?" he questioned him.
"Nothing. It's just that some things never change." He said before they continued on their way. "At least we have Snape on our side now though." He added when all of a sudden they came to a stop as Sirius led them to the clearing of the woods.
"What are we doing here?" Hermione wondered with a sniff as she rubbed her eyes and nose.
"He must be leading us to Hogsmeade." Harry said.
"No he's not." Snape began. "He's taking us to the graveyard." He finished as Ron gulped and looked nervously up at him.
"Graveyard?" he questioned him shakily.
"I didn't know there was a graveyard at Hogwarts." Hermione said.
"I don't like graveyards, Tobey says that's where all the evil spirits hangout." Eve said looking as if she might cry herself.
"Don't worry Evie, Tobey was just making that up to scare you. Good ghosts hangout there too." Harry reassured her.
"Oh yeah, bet that will make her feel loads better!" Ron exclaimed sarcastically with a roll of his eyes.
"Uh Professor," Hermione began as she looked up at Snape who glanced back down at her. "why is Sirius taking us to the graveyard?" she wondered.
"Because, he's taking us to Prince Arthur's grave." He replied.
"But why is he doing that for!?" Ginny inquired. "After all, we have a nine year old little girl with us!" she cried as Snape rolled his eyes.
"Do I really have to explain everything to you people!? Weren't you paying any attention at all during your history of magic class!? Arthur's gravesite is a portal!" he exclaimed.
"A portal?" Harry questioned him. "What's a portal?"
"It's like a portkey only it enchants an entire area and not a specific object." Hermione told him.
"Well done Granger, ten points to Gryffindor." Snape told her with a grin as she beamed proudly at him.
"So wait a minute, does that mean that Sirius is taking us to Saratopia?" Ron asked as Snape nodded at him.
"Indeed it does." He told him.
"Well I guess that explains how the princess got here then." Ron said.
"Yes apparently it does. I didn't know that witches and wizards from the past could travel through it without instantly turning into dust since they are considered dead in this world, but obviously they can." Snape said.
"Well, I guess if it means that I'm going to meet a real live princess, then I'll go." Eve said as Snape smiled down at his daughter.
"That's my brave little girl." He told her before they continued on their way. Eve clung to Harry's hand and stuck close to his side as they entered the graveyard.
"Harry I'm scared. I changed my mind. I don't think I want to go there after all." She said.
"It's alright Eve, I'm your big brother. And I won't let anything happen to you I promise." Harry assured her.
"Me neither." Hermione said.
"Neither will I." Ginny said while smiling warmly down at her.
"That's right, all of us have got your back." Ron told her with a grin when all of a sudden the scenery around them changed. Eve shut her eyes tightly shielding herself from the bright light trying to enter them.
"Am I dead yet?" she questioned nervously.
"Of course not! Far from it! Look!" Ron exclaimed as she slowly opened one eye before the other. All of them stood in amazement and wonder at the magical land they were now standing in. Harry couldn't remember ever seeing a more beautiful land in all of his life. He was surrounded by green grass with a clear bright blue sky above them. There was also a lake that reminded him of the Black Lake except for the fact that its waters where bright blue and shinning and shimmering with what appeared to be actual crystals in front of the castle.
All of them tilted their heads back and looked up at the sky as they heard a mighty and powerful screech. A phoenix was soaring above their heads and bursting into flames. That's when suddenly Sirius transformed back into a wizard and grinned at them. "Welcome to Saratopia." He told them.