I looked up at the sky. No clouds. 'Now what?' I asked watching the Dursley's finally pulling out of the drive way. 'I can't be seen. It will take to long to find Harry if they ever stop. Well, there is one thing...but I've never been able to hold it for very long.'
I saw looked down as the car passed Number Three. I thought of the first time I tried this out...
* * * * *
"I can't do it!" I cried out looking at Merlin who had an amused smile across his face. "This is the like hundredth time I've tried! I've thought about what I want to do for a very long time. I've said the words tens of thousands of times. Why isn't it working?"
"Now how can you say the words tens of thousands when you've only tried a hundred times?" he said still smiling.
"Oh you think this is funny?" I said glaring back but couldn't hold it for long. We've been friends for 200 years now. Besides, how can you glare at a smiling friend? "Come on Merlin. You know what I'm doing wrong. So do I have to make a fool out of myself a hundred more times or will you give me a clue?"
His face turned more serious and he stepped off the tree he was sitting on. He walked until he was just inches away from me. He put of his hand and put it to my head with a finger on my temple. "You can think anything up here," then he put the small finger on my lips; "You can say anything from here," he lowered his hand to my crystal; "But real magic. Strong magic is here."
"My crystal?" I asked a little puzzled and awed at the same time. He was looking me straight in the eye and it gave me a little chill.
"Not exactly," he said stepping back to his tree. "Your crystal is only a symbol."
"A symbol?" Now I was even more confused. I actually had no idea what he was talking about. I never knew what it stood for. Why does he?
"Yes," he said as he pushed up to his spot on the giant tree. "It symbolizes your body and soul becoming one. That's why you are immortal, because the soul cannot die and you are melded with it in body. Your soul has more magic than you can ever imagine. And once you combine body, soul, and mind you can do anything. You won't need a staff or a wand."
I stood there awe struck. But didn't go farther into the conversation. But I needed to know one thing. "How do you know this?"
"I can't tell you," he said looking a little more mischievous.
"Fine," I said sighing. "Body, mind and soul, huh? I can do that."
"We'll see," he said with the laughter back in his eyes as if nothing had happened.
* * * * *
"I'll do it perfectly this time," I said as the memory passed through my mind in an instant. Looked at the Dursley's car now passing Number Two. I floated up a little and started turning around with my eyes closed.
"What the eye can't see
I will be
Caught in the world
Of invisibility"
I Looked down and saw nothing change. I floated down and walked up to Mr. Garinson of Number Three.
"Hello sir!" I said happily.
"Hello? Where are you? Hello?" he looked puzzled and stared straight at me but yet not at me.
I smiled. He couldn't see me. Good. I floated up to follow the car that was now rounding the corner.
I floated just above it and went with the cars quick turns and hasty decisions to change lanes. 'He's trying to shake me off. He's trying to lose me. Tough chance on that happening."
I smiled as they stopped at a hotel. I followed them up to Room 17 and then stopped as they closed the door. I apparated back to the forest and it was night. Hagrid gave a quick gasp of shock and then calmed as he realized who it is.
"What yeh doin' comin' so late?" he asked looking as I fell straight into a pile of leaves. It took a lot of my energy to hold up that invisibility. I'm drained. "Did yeh get it to him or not?"
"Not," I said weakly. "But they can't go far now."
"Go far?" he asked puzzled. "They're moving?"
"Yes," I said getting a little happier. "Running scared."
"Scared?" he asked even more puzzled. "What he scared o'? Doesn' he want Harry to go ter Hogwarts?"
"Hardly," I said gathering energy again. "He's a big muggle. Anyway I'm sending the rest of the letters to them at the hotel they're in. If Harry still doesn't get it I'll come back and we'll just get him head on. Ok?"
"Ok," he said looking a little disappointed. "I jus' don' understand why they are makin' this so hard. They really mus' be some muggles."
"They are," I said falling a sleep a little. "Believe me, they are."
I woke up a little later than I thought I would, the sun was just coming up. I grabbed my bag of letters that was by my side where I dropped it and apparated to the register.
"May I help you?" the lady at the desk said kindly.
"Yes," I said happily. "I need these letters delivered to Harry Potter."
I put my hand in the bag and said a letter change charm 'adrisoria' And muttered "Harry Potter-Room 17-Railview Hotel-Cokeworth" under my breath. Then I handed on to the lady. "The post man gave me these to give to you." I dumped the rest on her desk.
"Oh," she said with a tinge of anger in her voice that I just dumped about a hundred letters all over her desk. "Thank you."
"Your welcome," I said happily like nothing happened. "Have a good day."
And with that I walked out of the door and apparated just outside the window to room 17. I looked in and saw the Dursleys and Harry eating what didn't exactly look very delicious. Then the lady came in and showed the letter. I watched Harry and Vernon both go for it be Vernon got there first. "Darn! Well, time for plan B then."
I watched them pack back in the car and turned invisible once again sighing. I followed Mr. Dursley's insane driving and it got cloudy, extremely cloudy. I watched him stop and leave the car. It started to rain and I dropped down to the top of the car, still holding the invisibility. He came back from wherever he went with a box and a smile. I didn't listen much. All you could hear was Dudley whining and then they got in a ridiculous looking boat that looked like it was about to sink. I wasn't going to let my best friend sink in such and unworthy boat.
"Unsicobale," I said with my hand out stretched to the boat as I put the unsinkable charm on it. Dudley looked around in the area I was in. I floated still and stiff not making a sound as he looked straight at me. Then he turned back to the boat. I sighed and floated behind them as they reached a pathetic excuse for a hut and went in. I saw Harry's expression thought the same thing.
"Time to get Hagrid," I said as they closed the door to the Hut on a Rock. "I'll get some cake on the way. Harry's birthday is tomorrow. But now my fun is over and Harry will know tonight, Dursley."
22) Secret Revealed~
I went straight to the forest and looked around. Hagrid isn't here! Where is he? Then, as if on call, the half-giant appears from no where holding a cake. I smiled.
"Hagrid we have to go," I told him as he walked in the moonlight that was just coming out. "The other letters didn't work. There on a rock in a hut, now. They won't be leaving any time soon. I can take us there now and we should reach them around midnight."
"Al'ight then," He said cheerily. "All this fuss o'er one letter. That Dursley is a pain, I'd say."
"I agree," I said smiling. "He's the biggest muggle I've met in a long time."
"Well, let's go," he said putting the cake in his giant coat. I quickly did the incantation and flew off pulling the now light Hagrid towards the hut.
The winds were fierce and I had to hold Hagrid's hand with all my might to stop him from blowing out of my hand and falling hard. I was soaking by the time we reached the rock. Suddenly the rained poured even harder and slipped my hand so much that Hagrid fell the last five feet to the ground with a slap. "Sorry," I said but he just shock it off and started walking, despite the rushing rain and bursting wind, towards the hut. I followed with a little more difficulty considering I'm much lighter than he was.
"Who's there?" a frightened man shouted from inside. "I warn you. I'm armed!"
Hagrid looked at me with a shrug and then banged the door again. Though with the many bangings, the door broke off the hinges that held it and flew inside.
I watched Hagrid squeeze inside, for the doorway was much to small, and then I followed after, dripping on the floor. I watched Mr. Dursley soundlessly as Hagrid put the door back up and then looked at Harry who was staring at Hagrid. He looked at me and stared even more as his gaze hit the floor under me and back up to my eyes. I winked.
"Couldn't make us a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey...." Hagrid said looking at them. 'You're telling me,' I thought rubbing my now sore hand.
I watched Hagrid with eyes of laughter as he scared Dudley off the couch and said hi to Harry who looked to dumb struck to talk.
"I demand you leave at once sir!" I saw Vernon yell. "You are breaking and entering! And you," he said glaring at me. "I told you never to come near us again!"
I forced the gun out of Vernon's hands and over to Hagrid with a new trick of the mind. (I decided to use all the kinds of magic I knew before the allowance was out. I hadn't given Harry his letter yet.) I did this as Hagrid replied to Vernon's rude remark; "Ah, shut up, Dursley, yeh great prune."
He twisted the gun as I a giggled a little at Dursley face of terror. I didn't say much as Hagrid gave Harry his birthday cake. Harry was looking from me to him in astonishment. I watched him open the cake box and sighed a little. He was happy and stuck for words to say it.
"Who are you?" I heard him finally say.
I had to stop my own chuckle as Hagrid did. "True, I haven't introduced meself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. And I'm sure you know Liz."
I smiled as Hagrid took Harry's whole arm in with his hand shake.
"What about that tea the, eh? I'd not say no ter summat stronger if yeh've got it, mind," I saw Hagrid saying as he rubbed his hands together.
"Hagrid," I finally said looking at him and pointing to the empty fireplace with shriveled chip bags lying in it. He looked at me then at the fireplace and snorted. I went towards the fire and concentrated on heat. The fire came blazing and strong. I watched as Hagrid took some remains of what he'd been eating these last days; sausage and coffee. He gave me the sausages and a poker, which I put the sausages on. Then the kettle and the coffee and I started cooking dinner. I heard Vernon behind my back tell the fidgety Dudley to take anything and Hagrid saying he didn't need to. I just finished roasting the sausages and handed them to Harry and Hagrid keeping one to myself to restore some of the energy I lost.
"I'm sorry, but I still don't really know who you are?" I heard Harry say though he looked at me with almost the same expression. "I don't think I know who you are either."
Before I could answer Hagrid did. "Call me Hagrid, everyone does. An' like I told yeh, I'm the Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts-yeh'll know all about Hogwarts, o' course."
I saw Harry hesitate and then say; "Er-no,"
Hagrid looked shocked and I just put a hand over my head like a hand ache was coming. It seemed to though as Hagrid's face shocked then angered. I didn't say a thing as I watched Hagrid yell at the Dursleys. I only became animate when I heard Hagrid try to tell Harry about who he really is.
"STOP! I FORBID YOU!" I heard Mr. Dursley yell and Mrs. Dursley gasp in horror.
'Ah, go boil yer heads, both of yeh," Hagrid said looking like he would do it with pleasure himself.
"Harry," I said calmly looking him straight in the eye. "You're a wizard."
"I'm a what?" he gasped but not looking away from my eyes till Hagrid answered.
"A wizard, o' course. An' a thumpin' good'un, I'd say, once yeh've been trained up a bit. With a mum an' dad like yours, what else would yeh be? An' I reckon it's about time yeh read yer letter. Liz?"
On call I reached in the pocket of my water proof bag and handed Harry the letter he'd tried so hard this whole week to get. I watched his eyes fill with amazement though all he could say is; "What does it mean, they await my owl?"
"Gallopin' Gorgons, that remins me," he said reaching for an owl he must have picked up when he got the cake. I watched Harry with his mouth open and eyes wide as Hagrid wrote a note and sent it by owl. "Where was I?"
"He's not going," I turned to Vernon who said this and smirked as Hagrid grunted; "I'd like ter see a great muggle like you stop him."
"A what?" Harry asked curiously. I smiled at how little he knew right now.
"A muggle, "I answered smiling as Hagrid still glared at the Dursleys. "It's what we call nonmagical folk like them. And it's your bad luck that you grew up in a family of the biggest muggles I've ever met."
"We swore when we took him in we'd put a stop to that rubbish. Swore we'd stamp it out of him! Wizard indeed!"
"You don't have to tell me," I glared back. "I was there!"
"You knew? I saw Harry looking shocked at the aunt and uncle, and then at me in even more amazement. "You knew I'm a-a wizard?"
"Oh they knew all right!" I said glaring. "I was told not to tell you until now. It was their choice until now and it shouldn't have been at all!
Mrs. Dursley finally showed her courage and let out a mighty speech on Lily and her stupid husband. Hagrid was actually holding my shoulder very tightly so I wouldn't kill her. But I had to hold him when he found out that Harry was told Lily and James were killed in a 'car crash.'
"I never expected this," he said looking at me. "You and Dumbledore never mentioned how much," he looked at Harry. "how much yeh didn't know. Ah. Harry, I don' know if I'm the right person ter tell yeh. Yeh can't go off ter Hogwarts not knowing."
I watched him glare at the Dursley and then took over. "Well, I guess it's best if Hagrid and I tell you at least all we know. Though," I stopped remembering the whole scene that horrible night. "parts are still mysteries."
"It begins, I suppose with-with a person called-but it's incredible you don't know his name, everyone in our world knows-" I saw Hagrid murmuring.
"Who?" Harry asked interested and curious.
"Voldemort," I said watching Hagrid shake a little. He hated when I said that name. "Most people in our world don't say the name, only a few like me."
"Anyway," Hagrid went on glancing at me a little for saying the name. "this wizard, about twenty years ago now, started looking fer followers. Got 'em too-some were afraid, some just wanted a bit o; power, 'cause he was gettin himself power, all right."
"Dark days, Harry," I said stepping in. "Didn't know who to trust, didn't dare get friendly with strange wizards and witches....terrible things happened. He was taking over. Some fought him but he killed them. One of the only safe places left was Hogwarts. I mean, Dumbledore was said to be the only one Voldemort was afraid of, so he never tried taking the school. Well, not anytime soon."
"Now, yer mum an' dad were as good a witch an' wizard as I ever knew. Head boy an' girl at Hogwarts in their day! Suppose the mystery is why You-Know-Who never tried to get em' on his side before...probably knew they were too close ter Dumbledore ter want anythin' ter do with the Dark Side.
"Maybe he thought he could persuade 'em...maybe he just wanted 'em outta the way. All anyone knows is, he turned up in the village where you was all living, on Halloween ten years ago. You were just a year old. He came ter yer house an'-an'"
I saw him take out a dirty spotted handkerchief and decided for one of the first times I was actually going to talk about that terrible night.
"Voldemort killed them," I said in a sadden yet angry tone. "I tried to hold them back. I really tried! But he killed them. Then he tried to kill you and he-he couldn't. You didn't get that scar from a car crash. That's no ordinary cut. That's what happens when you get an evil curse touching you. The curse took out your mom, dad, and house-but not you. That's why you're famous Harry. No one, and I mean no one ever lived after he decided to kill them, no one except you. He killed some of the best witches and wizards of the age, and so of my good friends as well-the McKinnons, the Bones, the Prewetts-you were only a baby and you lived."
By now a whole flash back of everything that happened came over my thoughts. I was talking in an almost blank tone by the time I stopped and just watched as Hagrid and Vernon went at it again. Hagrid explained more about Voldemort being almost immortal himself. I watched Harry look more and more confused and curious and thoughtful at the same time. I wish I could inter the conversation again but I was caught in my thoughts. 'James...Lily...Sirius...Peter...Lupin...Voldemort...Harry'
I finally got knocked out of my thoughts by Mr.Dursley yelling again about not paying for anything. I had to stop myself from yelling about Harry's volt waiting for him at Gringotts, the wizard bank. I finally giggled when Mr. Dursley made fun of Dumbledore and Hagrid lost all sense and gave Dudley a tail.
"Be grateful if yeh didn't mention that ter anyone at Hogwarts. I'm-er-nt suppose ter do magic, strictly speaking. We was allowed ter do a bit ter follow yeh an' get yer letters to yeh an' stuff-one o' the reasons I was so keen ter take on the job-"
"Why aren't you two supposed to do magic?" Harry asked. Then looking at me curiously; "You used magic with all those pranks, didn't you?"
"I did," I said finally snapping fully out of the trance I was in before. "And I got in a load of trouble for it. But it was worth it," I said with the mischievous look back in my eye. "We're both sort of-er-a banned."
"I was at Hogwarts meself but I-er-got expelled, ter tell yeh the truth. In me third year. They snapped me wand in half an' everything. But Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper. Great man, Dumbledore."
"Why were you both expelled?" Harry asked a little more curious.
"It's getting late and we've got lots ter do tomorrow. Gotta get up ter town, get all yer books an' that," He said changing the subject. I didn't blame him. We both were kicked out for big reasons and only a few believe we were framed. He took off his coat. "You can kip under that. Don't mind if it wriggles a bit, I think I still got a couple o' dormice in one o' the pockets."
I laid myself down in the air feeling the soft feather feeling. Hagrid went straight to sleep and Harry just looked up at me. "Why did you stay with me all these last years, Liz? I mean you didn't have to, right?"
"Yes. I did Harry," I said smiling. "I couldn't watch you get bullied around by your cousin, could I?"
"No, I guess not."
"Go to sleep Harry. Tomorrow is going to be a blast."
I almost fell asleep when I heard Harry whisper, "Thank you, Liz."
"Your welcome, my dear Harry," I said so soft I was sure he didn't hear me.
23) Diagon Alley~
I woke up to the sound of Harry telling something not to do something.
"Hagrid!" Harry said raising his voice that made me open my eyes to slits. "There's an owl-"
"Pay him," Hagrid grunted still tired.
"What?"
"He wants payin' fer deliverin' the paper. Look in the pockets."
I watched amusingly as Harry made disgusted faces at some of the things he found *in* those pockets. I finally sat up in the air. Harry didn't notice though, for he had finally struck gold, literally.
"Give him five Knuts," Hagrid said with his eyes now open in slits.
"Knuts?"
"The little bronze ones," I answered, smiling as he jumped a little at the new voice behind him. He looked at me a second remembering I was here and then counted out five pieces and gave it to the owl.
"I'm going out to see what we have to work with to get back," I said looking out side. It was beautiful outside and I wanted to examine that boat before I had to get in it. Hagrid nodded in agreement and sat up on the couch as Harry stared down at the coins in his hands mesmerized a little. I smiled and went out the door. I heard a snore and turned to the other side of the house to a window that looked inside to the room the Dursleys were in. They were quiet asleep and all huddled in a corner on the other side of the room. I smiled as I saw a little pink....Oh yes! Dudley's tail! I had to hold a laugh. Hagrid had gotten so made at Mr. Dursley that he tried to turn Dudley into a pig. Unfortunately, Dudley s too much like a pig so it only gave him a tail.
'You could remove it,' a little voice said slowly. 'but what's the fun in that?'
'Exactly," I agreed and left the window to where Harry and Hagrid were now by the boat.
"How did you get here?" I heard Harry ask.
"Flew," I answered acknowledging my presence. Harry turned and smiled as he looked down to the ground below me and than back up not doubting that I could fly, but I could see as he looked at Hagrid disbelievingly that he wasn't so sure about Hagrid flying.
"We'll get back on this. Not s'pposed ter use magic now we've got yeh," Hagrid was saying getting into the boat. As Harry got in I realized there just wasn't enough space.
"I'll be waiting at the other side," I started. "There's not enough room and I'm not sitting on anyone's lap."
"But yer not allow-" Hagrid started but I stopped him.
"No one will see me and I seriously doubt Lucius's spies are watching."
And with that I apparated to the wall and looked around. No one even noticed. I sighed deeply. I didn't feel up to doing a memory charm. For some reason I'm drained. I watched as a boat finally came in sight (actually Hagrid was the first thing in sight, then the boat). I smiled and waved and Harry waved back, as Hagrid's back was to me so he didn't notice. They reached the wall and got off. As we started walking out I remembered the Dursleys.
'You arn't just gonna leave them there!' a voice said. 'They may be bad but not that bad.'
'You're right,' I said to myself and then I said aloud, "I'll be back in a minute. I have to do something. Go ahead. I'll catch up."
I ran to the boat and concentrated hard. It seemed if I concentrated hard enough I could generate enough power as a wand for a spell. "Reversa."
I watched the boat go motoring back to the rock. I looked around to see if anyone noticed an unmanned boat go shooting off but everyone there was staring at the still walking along Hagrid. I smiled and ran off to catch up to the two of them.
We finally reached Leaky Cauldron in no time. As we came in the door I saw Tom talking to Dedalus Diggle, a friend of mine and a real prankster. I smiled as Tom looked over not recognizing Harry or me.
"The usual, Hagrid?" he said smiling.
"Can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," Hagrid said a little proudly putting his hand on Harry's shoulder. I thought my poor friend as going to crumble. I looked over at Tom's face as it went under shock and excitement at the same time.
"Good Lord, is this-can this be-?" he started looking more and more convinced as he whispered; "Bless my soul, Harry Potter. What an honor."
He came around the bar quicker than I'd ever seen him do and I noticed a his eyes watery like he was going to cry for joy. "Welcome back, Mr. Potter, welcome."
He shook Harry's hand and then came off to look at me as everyone else in the room raced over to Harry. I looked at Harry and smiled as he tried to hide his amazement at this sudden crowd. No one had ever done that at school. This was really something to him. I noticed Tom looking at me and turned to face him as he stopped staring.
"Good to see you again, Tom," I said happily as I put my hand up to my chest bringing back my crystal. "Though I have gotten a little short."
"So it's true then," he said amazed. "I heard from Hagrid a couple times that you changed your size to match Harry's. Though I also heard a few Ministry wizards..."
"Anything in the paper?" I asked a little curious. If Ministry wizards were complaining a little or saying anything...well news travels fast in this realm, and Tom was probably my best source of the paper since I didn't want to spend the few money I had on the paper.
"A couple," he answered, but I knew he was lying.
"And how much is a couple these days?" I asked as he sighed.
"About 20 or so," he said a little unwillingly.
"Only 20 huh?" I said smiling at his shocked face that I wasn't mad. "Don't be shocked my friend. If that's all then news didn't go on to everything I did...considering went there so much that I lost count after 236 and that was 3 years ago."
"And you haven't gotten banned for your duties or any banishment at all?" he asked with a more shocked look than I've ever seen on him.
"Them? able to do anything? Ha, I doubt they know anything anyway."
"Come on, Liz, they've done lots of things to help make our world whole again after those Dark Times."
"Well, they've caused me nothing but wasted time. I know you hold your respects to them. I mean they did help you keep this place in shape after the times."
"Well, I think you and Mr. Potter have shopping to do," he said looking back over at Hagrid who was now hurrying Doris Crockford, a very enthusiastic witch, away from Harry trying to reach the back.
"Well, I'll talk to you some other time," I said smiling and waving back as I floated up and over to Hagrid and Harry flinging off the looks of awe as most realized who I was. Some gave an angry look and others smiled and waved a little, one of them being Doris Crockford, as I closed the down behind us.
'I wonder what the Prophet put about me?' I wondered as Hagrid opened the entrance to Diagon Alley, the only wizarding market in London, by taping his wand three bricks up and to across above the trash can against the wall. I followed but Harry stopped right in front of me in amazement and excitement as we entered the alley. I had to float over his head and then float to the ground in front of him so we wouldn't collide. But I smiled as I saw wizard after witch and all the stores. It had been so long since I had been here.
As we walked on no one really noticed us. Everyone was caught up in what they were doing. As we reached Gringotts I stopped and looked almost wishing I could go further than the door to that place. I looked at Harry and Hagrid as they walked up to the door.
"Umm...I saw some potions I don't think I've seen before in Apothecary. I'm going to go check it out," I lied and then added. "You to go get Harry's money I'll meet you when I soon."
"But-" Harry started but then Hagrid cutted in understanding.
"Yea okay. Come on, Harry," he said happily and with some effort Harry finally gave up and let me go on. As they went in I walked down the street.
"Like I'm gonna tell Harry I'm banned from going in Gringotts because of some stupid rule," I said quietly to myself looking at the ground. "I'm not ruining Harry's day by talking about that Ministry crap."
I walked a little more still looking down thinking about what I'm doing my thoughts were stopped as I bumped into someone. I looked up and saw Lucius glaring down at me. I looked to his side and saw a curious look from a boy who I could only guess was his son. He looked almost exactly like his father when he was that age.
"And this son," Lucius started as if he were finishing a conversation. "Is that disgrace to the wizarding society?"
I glared back at him but there was no use arguing with him. "I don't need to hear it Death Eater," I sneered and started walking away. He stepped in front of my way.
"At least I don't need that muggle loving Dumbledore protecting me," he said sneering.
"No one needs to protect me," I said trying to pass him but backed a step or two and floated up to face him eye to eye only a half a foot away from his pointed nose. "I can take care of myself."
With that I floated up and over his head and landed on behind him walking away. I could feel Lucius's sneer and his son's gawk but I didn't look back.
"You don't fool me Lucius," I muttered. "So why is it that people like you and Wormtail are running free and Sirius is doing time?"
I looked behind me after a while and say Harry coming out and Lucius and his son no where to be seen. I sighed and started running up to Harry.
24) Shopping~
I smiled as I saw Hagrid walking out of Gringotts a little wobbly and green in the face. 'He really doesn't like those carts."
"Might as well get yer uniform," Hagrid said nodding towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. "Would yeh mind if I slipped off fer a pick-me-up in the Leaky Cauldron? I hate them Gringotts carts." I nodded remembering how very fast those carts go and with only one speed.
I walked with Harry to the Robe store and watched a squat looking with, Madam Malkin, take Harry in to get dressed and stood him next to-no way! I stared at the boy with the pale blonde hair and a bored expression. That's Lucius's son. And I thought they were done with their shopping. Man!
I looked at Harry and pointed to the book store where I would be. He nodded in agreement. I causally walked to the book store and went in looking at book after book. I really couldn't stand any of the Malfoy's. No doubt, Lucius's son is a 1st year too. I started staring at Gourds of Mystery by: Mira Forage. It had it's own little mesmerizing gourd in the middle that catches anyone's eye that looks into it. The swirls of greens and blues and purples all spinning in a circle... I was knocked out of the trance by a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and there was Harry.
"We were wondering where you were," he said with a relieved face. "It's been almost a half hour."
"Huh?" I said stupidly. "Was I caught that long?"
"Yeah," he said smiling. "What is that your looking at anyway?"
"No!" I said as he bent down to look. He looked at me funny. "It's a gourd. It hypnotizes anyone you looks at it till someone else snaps them out of it. I was foolish to look."
"Oh," he said. Then, losing interest and walking over to a curse book. Even without a gourd it made Harry look at it a long time. As I turned the gourd book over to it's other side though, Hagrid had taken him away from it saying something about not being able to do those yet.
We finally got all his books and headed towards the cauldron store. I stopped and saw Arnold and Silvia Moon with their daughter who was now Harry's age and looked like more like her mother now. Her hair was a darker brown like her mother, but still had the green tinge that came when the sun hit it. I smiled and waved at them as Arnold looked over. Harry and Hagrid stopped as they came over.
"Arnold, Silvia! It's so good to see you!" I said floated up to shake their hands and then floated down to Serena. She looked at me curiously.
"My name's Liz Magica," I said holding out my hand, which she accepted.
"Serena Moon," she said a little shyly. I turned to Harry.
"And this is my friend Harry," I said motioning towards Harry who was looking over at Serena and she him curiously. Arnold ruined the scene though as he went and took Harry's hand shaking happily as it broke Harry's contact with Serena.
"Harry Potter," he was saying, though I doubted Harry was listening. "It's an honor to meet you, really is."
Serena, observations confirm, let out a slight gasp of excitement and smiled shyly at Harry, as her father finally let Harry's hand go. Harry smiled too and Silvia just calmly said "Hello" like he was anyone else. She was always good at not getting over excited and controlling herself. Hufflepuffs always seemed to have some peace with them.
"Hi," Harry finally managed to say after his hand got over the shock.
"And of course you know Hagrid," said as Hagrid shook hands with Arnold and Silvia with their greetings.
"Wish we could stay but we must be off to Gringotts," Arnold was saying happily. He was beaming at Serena. "Serena's going in Hogwarts this year. We have to get her things."
"Bye Arnold, Silvia. See you at school then, Serena," I said as Arnold started turning towards Gringotts.
"Bye!" Harry and Hagrid said at the same time as Serena. We watched them head off and then did so ourselves with Hagrid saying how good it was to see good friends.
"How do you know them?" Harry asked as we headed towards the Cauldron Store.
"Oh Arnold and Silvia were at Hogwarts a while back. Arnold in Gryffindor and Silvia in Hufflepuff. Those are school houses," I said looking back to were they were.
"Hagrid told me about the houses, before," he said looking around the store now. "What do you think about the gold one?"
"Yeah right," I said looking at it. "It says Pewter size 12. Not Gold size 16."
"You're no fun," he said smiling. Hagrid found the pewter ones and we soon had a telescope and weights with it.
We finally came to one of my favorite stores. Apothecary. Since my wand was snapped I took it upon myself to know every single potion, charm, and mind spell that Merlin didn't teach me. I still didn't know them all. Harry stared at everything for a while, especially the silver unicorn horns in the back.
Hagrid started walking out and I followed, though slowly, trying to look at a label of some jar of green goo. It was pretty dim in the shop so I couldn't see it right. I came out and heard Hagrid saying; "Oh yeah, an' I still haven't got yeh a birthday present."
As Hagrid knocked off animals to get Harry, I looked towards Gringotts and saw someone run out of it and then disapparate. I stared.
'Who would be in such a hurry to get out of Gringotts?' I thought as Hagrid waved his hand in my face.
"We are goin' to Eeylops," he said as he made his decision. "Anythin' wrong?"
"No," I lied putting the figure in the back of my head. "So we're getting Harry an owl, great idea."
We walked on and Harry looked at me questioningly. I guess I didn't fool him, but I wasn't going to start anything about a funny man running around. It was probably nothing but a poor sick man racing to a bathroom or something.
We walked in and at once my ears ringed with owl hoots and chirps. I looked around at the cages that went to the ceiling and all the different kinds of owls. Harry's eyes fell on snowy owl. I watched him as he walked around to look at all the others. Every time though, his eyes went straight back to the snowy's cage. I floated over to it and looked it over.
Beautiful white snow wings that seemed to glow compared to the tawny's and even the other snowy owls. It was asleep right now. I picked up the cage and watched as Harry stopped looking at the others.
"I believe you like this one," I said smiling as he smiled back. "She's beautiful Harry, do you like her?"
"Y-y-yes," Harry stammered as Hagrid beamed and bought the owl. He stammered thanks and I looked towards Ollivanders. Hagrid looked that way as well and then back at Harry.
"Just Ollivanders left now - only place fer wands, Ollivanders, and yeh gotta have the best wand."
I nodded in agreement still looking at the store. We walked over and went in. A shiver went down my spine as I floated up to about 2 feet of the ground taking in the whole store. Wands in boxes along the walls, piled high. It was pretty dark but I saw Mr. Ollivander come up.
"Good afternoon," he said in a soft voice that made Harry and Hagrid jump. His pale shining eyes were smiling as Harry said an awkward "hello."
"Ah yes, "he started. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Harry Potter. You have your mother's eyes. It seems only yesterday she was her herself, buying her first wand. Ten a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work. Your father, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it- it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
I had to stop myself from giggling a little as Harry's unblinking, staring eyes and stiff body stood there amazed and scared at the same time as Mr. Ollivander touched his lightening scar saying; "And that's where.... I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it. Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands...well, if I had known what that wand was going into the world to do..."
He shook his head and looked a Hagrid.
"Rubeus! Rubeus Hagrid!" I smiled as Harry looked relieved and Hagrid started to tense, but it was hardly noticeable. " How nice to see you again...Oak, sixteen inches, rather bendy wasn't it?" Hagrid agreed and he went on. "Good wand, that one. But I suppose they snapped it in half when you got expelled?"
"Er- yes, they did, yes," Hagrid quickly answered. It was something to see the big man suddenly look like a small child talking to Ollivander. "I've still got the pieces though."
"But you don't use them?"
"Oh no sir."
"Hmmmm," Ollivander's eyes did a sideways glance at me. "Liz, haven't seen you in a long time. Long time. How are you?"
"Good," I said beginning to feel the way Hagrid did.
He didn't go further. "Well, now- Mr. Potter Let me see."
He went on to measure Harry with the measuring tape that seemed to just move around measuring pointless distances such as nose to chin and so forth. He finally started giving Harry wands. A nine inch beechwood and dragon heartstring, a seven inch maple and phoenix feather, an eight and a half ebony and unicorn hair, a ten inch redwood and griffin feather, etc. Many, many wands were tried and incompatible.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere, I wonder," he looked at me and pulled out another wand. "Yes, why not-unusual combination-holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
I jolted at this and stared at Ollivander. He gave it to Harry and I watched in wonderment as it shot sparks. As it connected with Harry. I stared but no one was watching me. Hagrid was beaming and Harry was staring amazed at what he just did. Ollivander looked at me and then at Harry.
"Oh bravo! Yes, indeed, oh, very good. Well, well, well...how curious..how very curious..."
He got Harry curious himself; "Sorry but what's curious?"
"I remember every wand I've ever sold, Mr. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather-just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when it's brother-why, it's brother gave you that scar..."
I couldn't hear anymore. I was stuck in thought. What did this mean? Why did that wand pick Harry? I'm not surprised he got a strong wand. It's one of the strongest ever really. I didn't bother me that it's the brother of Voldemort's or anything. It bothered me that it was my wand. The wand that should have been broken into a million pieces.
'I wander what he would have gotten if it was destroyed? I thought to myself as Harry was getting his wand wrapped.
"Let's go," I said as Harry got his wrapped box. Harry looked up and me and nodded. Hagrid was first out and too a deep sighing breath. We headed towards the Leaky Cauldron. Once we came out of the Cauldron I looked around. I felt a chill down my spine like someone was watching me. Something wasn't right. I looked around and thought I saw a cloak.
'I'm getting paranoid.' I told myself as I looked at Harry and Hagrid who had turned around to me as I started looking around.
"Are yeh ok?" Hagrid asked looking a little worried. "Yeh seemed out o' it since Ollivanders."
"I'm fine," I lied again, it was really becoming a habit. "I'm just tired. I think I'll leave you two, if that's ok."
"Ok," Harry said looking a little sad to see me go. "Will I see you before school?"
"Probably not, unfortunately," I answered. "I have to clean up the place and get the ministry off my back completely. Before I go, here's your train ticket, Harry."
I gave it to him and then hugged him good-bye. I looked around to see no eyes on me, then apparated out.
25-Forget Something?~
The bludger came straight at my face. It nearly hit me as I ducked swooping down to my bed. It bounced off my wall and straight back at me zigzagging. I spun in the air to the right and it hit my bed instead. It came back and dodged it again.
"Are you really that bored?" Peeves asked coming through my wall watching me dodge the bludger, I had sneaked out of Madam Hooch's office.
"Got any better ideas?" I asked ducking another speeding jolt from the bludger.
"Yeah like preparing for the brats when they come off the train," he gave a nasty look.
'Train. What am I forgetting?' I asked myself then stopped dead realizing something, "I forgot to tell Harry how to get on the platform!" I almost yelled. I heard a crack and my arm bursted in pain. The bludger had just hit my arm and probably broken a bone. Being immortal had an advantage though. Once the bludger starting leaving the arm it healed back to normal, but it still had a red circle bruise where it had hit me and hurt like heck. I bit my lip so I couldn't yell and glared at Peeves who started laughing and pointing at my stupidity.
"You forgot?!" he laughed out. "Boy are you gonna get it!"
He pulled out a clipping from a newspaper. He loved to read it just to make me mad at myself and him:
SUSPICIONS ARE HIGH
Written by: Castine Sylver
The Daily Prophet has been asking the Ministry of Magic about the break-in on 31 July. Suspicions have been cast on Liz Magica, the well-known immortal that has been accused of several Dark involvement's, who is now currently a resident at Hogwarts.
"She looked focused when I saw her at Diagon Alley that day," said an anonymous witness who saw Liz there that day. "She was in a dark mood and even threatened my son and I. Why we let someone like that hanging around children at school is beyond me. She's a threat to everyone."
We asked Liz about the subject as well. She made no comment and won't answer anyone's questions. This reporter has checked her records. Liz has had numerous rule-breakings in the past, enough to fill 20 pages! Amazingly though, almost all of them have been let off without punishment.
The Minister of Magic, Minister Fudge, has yet to comment on this issue. Liz has still not been proven innocent or guilty but I'd watch out.
I had finally strapped the bludger in its case as Peeves finished reading the stupid article. I didn't even listen. I had heard it a hundred times before. No doubt the anonymous witness was Lucius. She was a Slytherin and hated my guts for reasons beyond me. She hated me and this just showed how much.
Peeves laughed out of the room. I looked down at my sleeveless, white shirt I was wearing and my blue jeans. I turned around in midair and thought of the usual Hogwarts outfit. I was soon dressed in my red pointed hat and robes that matched the color of my eyes and crystal. The long sleeves covered my bruise, but it still felt like my arm was broken, even though it was fine now. I brushed off the pain and apparated to Hooch's office, putting the bludger back. I decided Hagrid could help me and apparated to his hut.
"Who's there?" Hagrid's voice came on the other side.
"It's me, Hagrid," I said and waited as he opened the door.
"Glad ter see ya," he said smiling. "What yeh up to?"
"Hagrid, I have a question," I started. "Did you happen to tell Harry how to get on the platform?"
His eyes grew wide and his mouth opened a little.
"That's what I feared," I said looking a little nervous. Poor Harry must be wondering around aimlessly. "What time is it?"
Hagrid looked just about his fire place at a crude clock on he wall. "Ten, forty-five."
"Great fifteen minutes," I sighed turning around preparing to leave. "Looks like I have a job to do. I'll be back in a few minutes..I have to make sure Harry gets on that train!"
I apparated to the platform and looked around hoping he figured it out somehow. I looked at the entrance and decided to look out in the station. Suddenly Harry came through the barrier and looked around. I floated up to him and gave him a big hug.
"What's that for?" he asked looking at my weird.
"I forgot to tell you about the barrier. How did you ever figure it out?" I asked as we walked to a door of an empty compartment to put his stuff in.
"A witch helped me find it," he said turning to a door and trying to push the trunk up. I pulled but we weren't doing much good.
"Want a hand?" a boy said looking about 13.
"Yes, please," Harry said panting.
"Oy, Fred! C-mere and help!" the boy was yelling to his twin.
'Fred, why do I think I should know them?'
The two boys helped us push it up.
"Thanks," Harry was saying as he wiped some sweat off his forehead. For the first time I realized that his scar showed and apparently so did the twins.
"What's that?" one asked.
"Blimey are you?" the other asked.
"He is" the first announced the added. "Aren't you?"
"What" Harry asked puzzled at what the two were trying to get at. I had to stop myself from laughing at their faces.
"Harry Potter" they asked in chorus.
"Oh, him," Harry said. "I mean, yes, I am."
They gawked and I started to laugh. It was too much to have poor Harry turning red while these two older boys stared at him. One looked at me.
"And who are you?" he asked.
"Liz. Liz Magica," I said floating up to his face and bowing in the air. Both looked from Harry to me to each other with surprised faces. It looked like they were about to say something when a voice came through the door.
"Fred? George? Are you there?"
"Coming, Mom."
They took a last look at Harry, sideways glanced at me, and then left. I heard the mother's voice again telling her son, Ron, he had something on his nose.
'I know that voice,' I thought looking out the window Harry was. It was Molly! I hadn't seen her in so long. Her husband, Arthur, worked in the Department of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. He and she were in Gryffindor and great people. But the last time I saw those twins were when they were 5 years old. A year before I left to watch over Harry in the Muggle world.
I watched the little girl whine to see Harry. That can't be the baby Ginny, she was 1 years old when I last saw her. And their brother Percy is Prefect, I thought he would be when I saw him at 7. 'So their son Ron would be Harry's age,' I thought looking at the boy with a smudge on his nose. I watched them with a smile as they all gathered on the train except for Ginny and said good-byes. I sat down next to Harry as Ron, the youngest of the brothers, came in the compartment.
"Anyone sitting here?" he asked pointing to a seat opposite of them. "Everywhere else is full."
"Sure sit," I said happy that I wouldn't be leaving Harry alone. I still had stuff to do at Hogwarts, though I wanted to stay.
"Got to go Harry," I said looking at him as Ron sat down.
"What? Why?" he asked.
"Unfortunately, I have work to do at school. I have to help prepare for the feast and stop a certain poltergeist from ruining it like he plans to. So I'll see you later, okay?" I said just thinking about everything I have to do next.
"Sure okay," he answered.
"See you at Hogwarts, then," I said smiling and apparated back to the front door at the school.
"Where have you been?" I heard a voice call as I entered the building. "I know walking around is not one of the things you should be doing."
"Leave me alone, Professor Snape," I said sick of hearing his orders. This last week the professors had come back and all I heard was how my conduct never improves and how I don't take things seriously. What a lecture I would have gotten if he had found out about the bludger game I was playing. "I know what I'm doing. Don't you have lesson plans to go over and speeches to scare your students to think up?"
Snape just sneered and almost yelled "Get back to work!" and walked off. I floated off towards the kitchens, that's where I'd start first.
26) Clean Up~
I apparated straight into the kitchen and was met by forty pairs of eyes turned towards my direction. A blue, short haired elf with blue-green eyes walked up to me. Secan, works at one of the many ovens.
"Liz, out for the final inspection?" he asked in his flowingly calm voice, no matter the situation he always stayed calm.
"Yeah," I answered looking around the place. "Where's Galina?"
"Galina is out for a while. Peeves is done it again. Myrtle is sobbed the whole corridor by the bathroom! Mr. Filch is steaming. I is not knowing when Galina will be back."
"Thanks Secan. I leave for 15 minutes and Peeves has already flooded a corridor! Is Ping here?"
"Yes, Ping is at the tables."
"Thanks again, Secan. I'll see you soon."
"Bye Liz!"
I floated over to the tables and spotted the faintly purple haired elf. His yellow eyes were glaring at a smaller house elf who was looking at the ground.
"I is not happy with your conduct, Flare," Ping was telling the small, bright, red haired elf in a dark tone. "You is a house elf. House elves obey their orders and do them to the best of their ability. You is not to juggle plates around when works to be done!"
"I-I-I didn't mean to drop them, Ping," the kid elf was saying to the supervisor. "I is only trying to have fun with work. I-I-I is sorry."
"Go then," Ping said with a sigh Flare. "Help Dabby with the food arrangement."
"Yes, sir," Flare said walking off to the other end of the kitchen where the fruits, breads, and vegetables are.
"Everything else running on time, Ping?" I asked as he looked up at me.
"Yes, I is sure it will be done soon. The frozen meats is to be cooked in an hour and the desserts are getting started a half-hour before the dinner's served."
"That's great. And no uncontrollable problems?" I asked looking back where Flare had gone.
"No," Ping sighed looking over there to. "Nothing a little training can help."
I smiled and then thought of my next job, the grounds. "Do you know if Guster's here?"
Guster is the supervisor for the grounds and Ping's brother. "Yes, Guster is helping with a problem on the Quidditch field," he answered and then in a whisper. "I is over hearing something about an injury with the Whomping Willow."
"Oh no," I whispered back. "I'm going there then. Bye Ping!"
"Bye!"
I apparated straight to see the Whomping Willow looking a little tired and Guster standing over an object laying on the ground. I raced over to Guster with his gray, dusty-looking hair partly covering his eyes from view.
"How many dots do you see now Dug?" Guster was asking the golden-brown haired elf with a gash on his forehead and bruises on his legs and arms.
"One green dot, 3 purple dots, a red dot on a girl with pretty yellow-red hair, two blue dots, to gray dots on your face above your nose, and a bunch of white stuff in the blue thing up there," he said this as if he were reading it off a piece of paper and pointed to the sky at the end.
"Good he's getting better," Guster mutter as he looked up at me. "At least he knows the sky's blue with white clouds and not orange with purple clouds."
"What happened here, Guster?"
"Dug, here tripped and somersaulted into the Willow. Luckily, Treg was with him and pulled him out as fast as he could."
As if called, the dark, brown haired elf came up. His hair covered a side of his face but the side you could see was covered with worry.
"Treg!" Guster yelled over to the elf waving to hurry. "Do you have the press from Rena?
"Yes," Treg said howling the damp towel in his right hand. "Rena is working hard in there. The Wing is spotless. Cathy didn't seem happy about the whole thing. She is worrying about Dug."
"He just needs something for his head," Guster said and then took the cloth from Treg and placed it of Dug's head.
"I'm fine, Headmaster Dumbledore, sir. You is not having to worry about me."
"He is getting worse," Treg said looking at his partner. Guster muttered something under his breath that I couldn't catch.
"I'll take him to Rena and Cathy," I said. I looked around the field. "The field looks clean to me. I think you're done here. How's the green houses coming?"
"I guess you're right," Guster agreed then stopped and thought for a minute. "Everything is fine there. Peeves hasn't bothered any elf yet, though I is hearing about the corridor."
"I'll bring Dug to the Wing and then I'll catch him. Do you happen to know where Yin is?"
"No, sorry. Galina would know."
"Thanks Guster."
"Good Luck on catching Peeves!" he yelled as I floated off towards the castle.
I floated up the stairs straight to the Hospital Wing. As I reached the second floor Dug fell asleep. I quietly opened the door and saw Cathy at the sink re-cleaning pans. The orange towel she was using matched her hair color and her red-orange eyes showed worry.
"Cathy," I said laying Dug on a little bed made for a house-elf.
"Oh know!" she cried out looking at her friend. "Treg didn't say anything about a gash on his head. How could he leave out something so serious?" She had an annoyed look on her face and I was sure she was going to give her little brother a talking to about giving details.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," I said for no real reason.
"Well, he will but that gash needs to be healed," she said examining it. Then to mid air she softly said "Rena."
An elf with dirty-blonde hair came rushing in. Her blue eyes landing on the three of them. "You called Cathy?"
"Rena, we is in need of some healing alloy for a cut," Cathy answered. Rena walked back to where she had come and came back with a jar about 1/3 of her size floating in front of her.
"Thank you, Rena," Cathy said opening the jar and putting a new clothe that was on top of the jar in the orange liquid. She placed it over Dug's cut and pressed it down then she left it there and looked back at me. "We is taking it from here, Liz. Thank you."
"You're welcome," I said about to turn back when I thought of Dug's g/f for some reason. "Is Hidee on duty right now?"
"Oh yes, she is cleaning Madam's office right now," Cathy said in a low sweet but high voice looking a the door next to the storage room Rena was in. "We will tell her Dug is here when he is waking."
"Good," I said turning back towards the door. "I'm off Peeves hunting. Bye."
"See you soon, Liz."
I apparated to the where Myrtle's bathroom was. Half the floor was still wet and Filch as working away with a load dryer. I cupped my ears in my hands and floated over to him.
"Filch," I said. He ignored me and kept working.
"Filch!" I yelled even loader. Still no reaction. I floated straight up to his ear. "FILCH!!!!"
He jumped a good five feet and growled at me turning off the dryer. "What do you want?"
"I was wondering if you'd seen Galina recently," I said in a normal tone.
"That good for nothing elf? Yeah she came after Peeves-" he stopped and glared at me. "Who you were supposed to be watching."
"Whatever, do you know where Galina went?" I said beginning to get impatient.
"Yeah, inside," he said nodding his head towards the bathroom door. I went in and what a sight it was. There was water covering the whole floor and you could hear Galina calming Myrtle down as a to brunette haired elves were trying to dry the floor, but water just kept on coming to take the spot.
The two brunette's had their hair in, now messy, pony tails with hair sticking out their high squeaky voices came out in the sobs. "Liz!"
The one with green eyes, Tweek, came up to me. "Liz! You is here. I is happy to see you. Myrtle won't stop!"
"I--heard--that!" A sob came from the third stall. "No--one--likes--me!"
"That is not true Myrtle. Peeves is nothing, he is just laughing cause he makes you cry," Galina's voice came from the same open stall.
"H-h-he is?" she was beginning to calm down.
"She is been at it for an hour now. She is saying that same line every 10 minutes. It is almost working," the one with blue eyes whispered.
"Shhh, Gadget," the other said looking back at the stall. I floated over to the stall and saw Myrtle floating over the U-bend. Her transparent ghost body seemed even more so.
"L-L-Liz?" Myrtle said smiling a little.
"Yeah, I'm here. Come on, cheer up. I'm going to go punish Peeves right now."
Her face lite up a little and she stopped crying. "Really?"
"Yeah, don't worry. Now will you please stop crying so these elves can do their job?" I asked as nicely as possible.
'I-I-I'm sorry. I'm so much trouble," she looked like she was about to cry again. Brother!
"No, you aren't at all," I said cheerfully. "Come on, cheer up Myrtle. School's starting and that means the prefects will be back."
Her face seemed to redden as much as a ghost's could, and she smiled slyly. "I'm done."
"That's good." I said smiling. I looked at Galina. Her hair was hanging straight down totally soaked. Everything seemed thoroughly drenched. "Galina I need to speak with you."
"Ok, outside then."
I nodded and looked at Tweek and Gadget who were smiling their thanks and sighing. I smiled back and left the two with Galina right behind me. We walked through the corridor, ignoring Filch's mumbles that probably aren't even allowed.
When we reached a window facing the outside she turned to me and asked; "What do you want to talk to me about Liz?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me where Yin is."
"Hmm...." she glanced off into space but seemed to be looking and reading something. "He is in the Gryffindor Common Room with-" she stopped and gave a little snort. "Peeves. He seems to be destroying the common room."
"Oh man!" I said thinking about all the damage he could. "Thank you, Galina. I have to go."
"Better hurry!" she yelled after as I apparated away. "You is going to need it."
27) Sorting~
I landed in the Gryffindor Common Room and gasped at the sight. The chairs were flying in the air, some sort of liquid stained the walls and floor, and house elves were running around on the floor desperately trying to clean the stains and s type of dirt off the room. Nearly Headless Nick, Gryffindor's ghost, was dodging the chairs and trying to catch Peeves, who was invisible, and it wasn't going well. I could see him though. My brother, Hades, used to own a helmet that made the wearer invisible. So I trained myself to see the unseen (It took me 10 years to get it down).
I kicked off the ground and flew towards Peeves. He throw a chair at me and I leaped to the right, still advancing. "Peeves, stop it and let the elves clean the room!"
"You're not my boss!" he yelled back flinging another chair my way.
"He's gone mad," Nick was yelling to me. "He's in one of those 'effects.' He won't listen to reason at all!"
"Oh no! Not another effect!" I sighed now looking at Peeves' eyes. Yep, they were glowing yellow. Because Peeves was a poltergeist he experienced a glitch every once and a while that made him uncontrollable, even to the Baron and I! Nothing we could say would make him back down. That's why poltergeist are called destructive so much, they get glitches every now and again. I was about to try an untested freezing curse on him when he suddenly stopped, turned opaque, and began floating to the ground.
I floated over and carried his almost weightless body back to the ground. "How long has he been in this state?"
"Twenty minutes," a voice from behind me answered. I turned around to face a wild looking elf. His face was oriental looking cause he came from the China, when his master's family died he decided to leave the saddening place and find work here. His hair was black and, tough it was short, it was in a small pony tail at the back of his head. "We is been tracking him ever since his encounter with Myrtle."
"Well, no matter what mess he made before, the room's almost clean now," Nick said appreciatively. "Yin, I thank you and the other elves for your help."
"It is our job," the common room supervisor said back. He turned to me and looked at Peeves. "Is he under control now?"
"Yeah, he won't be doing trouble..well not for a while," I looked wearily at the exhausted Peeves. "I guess he thought it'd be funny to let himself go with the 'effect' this time. He's ran out of energy, for now. Anything I can do to help clean up?"
"No, no we is got it Liz," Yin said still looking at Peeves. "He needs to be watched."
I nodded getting the hint and looked at Nick, who was glaring at Peeves. "I'll see you later, Nick."
With that I apparated to my room and laid Peeves on the bed. He didn't move, and I looked out the window. It was almost dark. I heard hooves on the ground below and then voices. 'They're here!' I thought looking down at the Second through Seventh years. 'Good thing Peeves is out cold!'
I looked toward the lake and saw boats coming towards the castle. I flew out of the window to meet the boats halfway. Most were looking at Hogwarts itself and didn't notice me, but I saw a pair of familiar green eyes connect to me first thing.
I floated over to Harry. He looked to me, to the castle, and then to the window I came out of. I looked over his boating partners. A girl with bushy brown hair, a boy that looked a little chubby and held a toad in his hand, and the boy that had joined us on the train, Ron. I smiled at gawking faces as the other three noticed I was standing on air. We just kept silent the whole time as the boats went across the water.
"Hands down!" Hagrid yelled breaking the silence. I turned to him and he smiled a little. We entered the dark tunnel leading the entrance hall. Once we reached the door Harry moved a little closer to me getting nervous about what was going to come next.
A tall, black haired woman in green robes, appeared from the other side of the door. By now I was standing next to Harry who seemed to get a little tense as he looked at the Transfiguration professor's stern face.She gave me a glance as Hagrid said; "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you Hagrid," she said looking over the students. "I will take them from here."
We walked into the huge entrance hall that could put a house in. Though it was lit by torches you still couldn't really make out where the ceiling was. We followed to an empty chamber off the hall. I listened as the professor recited the welcome and the all about the four houses, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, and about gaining points for your house.
"I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly," Professor McGonagall concluded as she left the chamber.
I looked around and heard Harry ask, "How exactly do they sort us into houses?"
"Some sort of test, I think," Ron answered before I could. "Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
"Hurts?" I asked myself as I thought of the old Sorting Hat, crumpled and patched, trying to do anything but sit on a child's head and tell what house the kid belongs to. Suddenly an image of the Hat floating around in a battle with Harry flew into my mind. I couldn't stop myself and started giggling at the thought.
"What's so funny?" Harry asked looking at me, but before I could answer Nick and some other ghosts floated in. "What the?—"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves?" Nick was saying. None of them noticed all the children under them. "He gives us all a bad name and you, know he's not really a ghost-"
Brother! "Hey Nick!" I yelled up to them, interrupting their discussion of Peeves. It always got so old! Nick looked down, finally noticing the children.
"I say, what are you all doing here?" his nobel look in his ruff and tights went into a state of thinking.
"I thought that answer was obvious."
"New students!" the Fat Friar said getting it. "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
I sighed at the stupid question as other students nodded to the ghost quietly.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know."
"Move along now," Professor McGonagall said returning. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Now, form a line and follow me."
I watched the ghosts leave through another wall and caught Professor McGonagall's eye. She nodded her head back a little. I gave a sigh and turned to Harry. "Gotta go. I'll be in the Great Hall watching."
"What? Why?" Harry said softly back.
"Cause I'm no first year," I said half smiling. He gave a half smile back and nodded slightly. "I will be able to talk to you soon?"
"Sure, after the Sorting," I said apparating out to the Great Hall beside Dumbeldore's seat.
"Just on time," Dumbledore muttered as the ghosts came through the walls behind their certain houses. "The Sorting's about to start."
"I was with the students. Some think it's going to be a test that involves some sort of pain," I whispered smiling.
"And why would they think that?" he whispered back giving me a sideway glance. I raised my hands a little.
"I didn't do it," I defended, then thinking a little as the students walked in and I looked at Ron. "But two red haired boys you know well, helped with the idea."
Dumbledore chuckled a little and nodded slightly. I watched Professor McGonagall take the stool that held the Sorting Hat on top. The Hat began it's song.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge by what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
So keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
I clapped with the rest of the school as it ended. He always had a good way with words. I watched a flow a relief on some kids' faces, and anger on poor Ron's. He must be feeling stupid. I looked over at the two twins at the Gryffindor table. Their eyes were laughing joyfully as they saw their brother's face.
Professor McGonagall began to read off the list of names, "Abbott, Hannah!"
A girl with blonde pigtails and a pink face walked up and put on the hat over her eyes.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted. She took off the hat and raced over to the Hufflepuff table as the school cheered.
"Bones, Susan!"
A black-haired girl came out of the line.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
A tan haired boy with freckles stepped up to the hat.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
A girl with her dark hair in a pony hair looked away from the magic ceiling, that held the image of the outside sky, and walked up.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
A long brown haired girl came up.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
I frowned. I knew that last name. Ralph Millicent....I shook off the memory and watched as the big girl walked to the hat.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Figures," I said so quietly I could barely hear it.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
A small boy came out of the line.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus!"
I looked at the sandy-haired boy for a minute. He looked like a girl from Gryffindor some time back, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Granger, Hermione!"
That bushy brown-haired girl who was with Harry on the boat ride stepped up.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Longbottom, Neville!"
I jerked a little as I heard 'Longbottom.' I stared at the round-faced boy remembering the auror, Frank Longbottom. He and his wife were tortured by what's called the Cruciatus Curse. It makes your whole body go in pain in a slow torture. It's a forbidden curse but the Death Eaters, Voldemort's followers, used it often. After Voldemort disappeared they thought Frank knew something. They're still alive but they don't know who they are, where they are, or anything. I heard they had a son, but could this be him?
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I frowned as the poor boy, still wearing the hat, went towards the Gryffindor table. He ran back and put it back but laughter followed him. People hardly noticed "MacDougal, Morag" got to Hufflepuff.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
I glared as the platinum blonde swaggered over to the hat. No doubt which house he's in...
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Moon, Serena!"
I smiled as the dark-haired girl came. Her green tinge shined a little as she reached the hat.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Looks like Silvia will be beaming once she hears the news...
"Nott, Gary!"
A strong looking boy came out of the small line.
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Parkinson, Pansy!"
A rather shrewd looking girl came up.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Patil, Padma!"
A girl in braided pigtails came out. She looked back at her twin sister and then put on the hat.
"RAVENCLAW!"
She raced over the Ravenclaw table and watched for her sister.
"Patil, Parvati!"
The other twin walked up.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
What? Different houses?
"Perks, Sally-Anne!"
A girl with red, braided pig tails came out.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Then it was Harry's turn.
"Potter, Harry!"
I felt myself tense up. 'Gryffindor! Please let him be in Gryffindor!' It had taken a while for some people but this was the longest. Everyone was silent and staring and waiting. Suddenly "GRYFFINDOR!" broke the silence. I jumped high in the air clapping. Yes, I heard the twins chant, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
Harry looked at me as he took his place at the Gryffindor table. I beamed at him and clapped even loader. He seemed to go a little red.
Only a few people were left now.
"Thomas, Dean!"
A tall, dark skinned boy went up to the hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Turpin, Lisa!"
A girl with her light, brown hair in a bun walked up.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Only two people were left now and one of them was Ron, who was now sickly green with nervousness.
"Weasley, Ron!"
He walked up slowly.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I had been holding. I cheered with the Gryffindor table as Ron walked over to it.
"Zabini, Blaise!"
This boy looked the most nervous. He was the only one left and looked like he felt a bit awkward because of that.
"SLYTHERIN!"
I sighed as yet another Slytherin came to his table. Professor McGonagall walked away with the, now rolled up, scroll and stool. I moved back a little as Dumbledore got out of his seat to start his welcome.
"Welcome!" he started beaming at the students. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat back down and everyone clapped. The food appeared on the table as the feast began.