The rain spilled over the rooftop and landed, forming muddy puddles on the street. Two feet walked through, splashing the water outwards. The feet continued to the door and waited while the hand knocked sharply against the wet wood. The door opened, with a creak, and the person quickly stepped inside. Another man's head peered past him, examining the empty street outside. After a few seconds, he nodded, satisfied. He turned and followed the other man into the house.
Tritza knelt behind a trash can, trying not to make a noise. She waited for a minute and then released her held breath as she heard the slam of a door being closed. She climbed to her feet, wincing in pain, and softly muttered several words in Latin under her breath. Then, she was gone.
***
Minerva McGonagall entered the building and immediately wanted to leave it. The combination of garish lights, crashing explosions, and a strong smell of foot fungus, was too great an assault on her senses for her to bear. She made her way to the countertop, wrinkling her nose at the many shoes piled on top of it.
Excuse me, she said, weakly, trying to catch the clerk's attention. He didn't look up. She cleared her throat.
Excuse me! she called, louder. The clerk started and looked up at her.
Can I help you... he trailed off. He stared at her with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
Halloween came kind of early this year, huh? he laughed, gesturing to her scarlet robes. Her face colored with embarrassment, then anger.
Never mind that! I'm looking for Al Dumbell. Is he here? she demanded.
he said, and gestured behind her, He's over in Lane 6.
Thank you, Minerva said, tersely. She turned around and made her way through the bowling alley, over to the lanes. She gritted her teeth as she tried to ignore the people pointing and staring at her strange attire.
Lane 6 was occupied by two people. A young, dark haired man in a suit and tie and an older man, with silver hair, who was wearing Bermuda shorts and a leather jacket.
There you are, Al, she said, approaching them, We've been looking for you everywhere.
Hello, Minnie, said Albus Dumbledore, warmly, Would you like to join Sebastian and I in a game?
We don't have time for that now, said Minerva, impatiently, We have a situation. You need to come to Hogwarts straight away.
Dumbledore nodded, sighing as if a great burden had resettled upon his shoulders. He turned, gravely, to Severus Snape, beside him. Severus nodded, as well. The three of them quickly made their way to the exit and walked outside.
In the dark street a man lay dozing against the wall. He jumped and looked over intently at the entrance to the bowling alley across the street. Three people in strange clothes had walked outside, and it looked as though they'd vanished. He scratched his head puzzled. They had told him to report in with anything suspicious looking. He decided disappearing people was suspicious enough for him. Goyle pulled a small stone out of his pocket and started whispering to it.
***
It was an accepted fact that she was extremely smart. In fact, Tritza mused to herself, you could call the girl a genius. So why was Hermione Granger standing alone on a London street at 2:30 in the morning. She sighed. She really did need to be at Hogwarts as soon as possible. But she couldn't leave a fifteen year old girl standing on a dark street in only her nightgown. Mind made up, she cautiously approached the girl.
Hermione Granger? she asked. Hermione didn't respond. She remained standing, with a placid look on her face. Tritza began to get worried.
she asked again, this time giving her a small shove. Hermione jerked and her eyes opened wide. She looked around, panicked.
Where am I? she cried, Mum, Dad! Tritza quickly moved forward and clasped her hand over Hermione's mouth. Hermione turned to look at her and tried to scream. She started to struggle, evidently thinking Tritza was the one who'd brought her there. Tritza was starting to get frustrated. She didn't have the time to take her back home. She needed to give Dumbledore the information right away.
I'll have to take you home later, she told Hermione, not feeling very happy with the idea, In the meantime you'll have to come with me to Hogwarts. She muttered a spell under her breath and they both disappeared.
Seconds later, a man in a long black cloak rounded the corner. He scanned the street quickly and cursed to himself. He shook his ice blond hair out of his eyes. Then, to the great interest of a small boy digging through a trash can nearby, Lucius Malfoy also disappeared.
Disclaimer: All Harry Potter characters and words associated (Quidditch, Portkey, etc.) are the property of JK Rowling. I own all original characters, but nothing else.