Chapter 6
The Many Staircases of Hogwarts
Katie's POV
When I woke up I found myself alone in a large room. There were large windows reaching from the ceiling but red curtains draped over them blocking out the sunlight.
Where am I? Could this actually really be the school? I decided to answer my own questions and quickly got dressed and left the room. Now I was in a long corridor, the walls lined with pictures and paintings.
" Astonished?" someone asked. When I turned around Professor Dumbledore was standing in front of me. I nodded as I turned back to look at all of the paintings. Before I could finish his arms gripped my shoulders and turned me the other way. " Come along Kaitlyn. We don't want to keep the others waiting."
Others? I know him and my uncle were here, but who else? Maybe all of the teachers…oh boy. This is going to be interesting. We walked for what seemed like forever until we finally came to a large set of doors.
Suddenly they flew open and laughter filled the room. When I looked around the room there was a table filled with all different kinds of food and in the middle was a cake with nine candles shining on it. I smiled brightly at the group of people and hugged my uncle who was also smiling.
A While Later…
This after noon had been the funest birthday party I've ever had. I met all my teachers and had a great time! I couldn't believe what my uncle got me, and owl! It's the most fascinating creature I've ever seen. I haven't decided what to name him yet, not that I would be able to call him anyway. Slightly saddened by my sudden acknowledgement I sighed sadly and walked out of my room.
My uncle said he would be with the other adults in the lounge so I walked down several hallways trying to find where they were. Soon I found a single staircase going down so I slowly opened the door and walked down the stairs. It was almost completely dark except for a single candle that was burning on a table.
When I held up the candle I found myself in a large room that was filled with old books and papers. Out of all of them a single book caught my attention. I ran over to the case it was on and read the title. " Wizard Profiles: Harry Potter, the Boy who Lived."
Wow…I've never seen this book before. Or any book all on my daddy. This may not be the lounge but it has some neat things. I flipped to the first page and found an old picture of my dad taken at the Triwizard Tournament while h was in school. As I continued looking through the books I found out things that I never knew about him, and his teachers. Then, when I was in the middle I stopped at one specific line. " In his fifth year at Hogwarts he, Professor Albus Dumbledore, and Professor Severus Snape devised a plan to defeat the dark lord. Since it is known that Severus Snape was an old death eater, he played the part of a double agent."
All I could do was stare at the single few lines on the page. My uncle…was a death eater? How is that possible? I thought death eaters were supposed to be mean and cruel. He's not any of those things. Not wanting to think about it anymore I moved on to other parts of the book.
I wasn't sure exactly how long I've been down here but it's been at least 2 hours and I should get going. I turned around to go back up the stairs but stared in shock all around me. Now there was not only one staircase, but lots, hundreds, even millions! Oh no…this is bad. This is very, very bad! Which one did I come from?
I ran up the first set of stairs and tried to open the doors, but it was looked. Instead of trying to open it I banged and banged on the door. Not having any luck I tried the next one. One after another they were all locked and no one answered the banging. Finally, I just sighed and sat down to wait. Time passed and I laid down to fall asleep.
Severus's POV
I tried to hide my concern with little success. It's been house since I've seen Katie and we haven't been able to find her anywhere. She wouldn't just wonder off like that and not tell anyone where she was going, I know her better than that.
We've been looking for house non-stop. I haven't been able to shake off the possibility that the person who threatened her got to her. All I can do is hope that's not the case. As I continued walking down the hall I stopped at a single door that I don't think I'd passed before. I turned the knob and pulled it open. What I found in front of me made me happier than ever. Now laying in front of me was my niece fast asleep. In her arms was a book about her father. I frowned in disgust but picked up the book along with her knowing that he was still her father.
" Katie, Katie wake up," I whispered into her ear. I watched was her eyes slowly opened. As soon as they did she clung to me tightly. I smiled and returned the hug. " God I was so worried about you. What happened?"
I watched as she pointed down the stairs and before I stepped off the last step I realized where she had been, the Staircase Maze. I couldn't help but laugh a bit as I held her tighter. " You were stuck there weren't you? I'm dory I didn't find you here sooner."
Although I could tell she was a bit frustrated she still smiled and shook her head as if to tell me it was okay. After that I stayed with her the rest of the day. There are many secrets at Hogwarts, many of which I'm sure she'll discover. School is getting closer and closer and I know it will be a very interesting year.
