September 2, 12:30 AM
The black-haired boy ran barefoot down Hogwart's halls. Clad only in his nightshirt, he stumbled mindlessly from one corridor after another. Peeves the Poltergeist spotted the wayward boy, a newcomer, fresh to Ravenclaw. He swooped down ready for mischief, when the child collapsed. Peeves stopped. This was not a good thing. Then he smiled to himself. He could use this to harass a teacher, to harass anyone. He knew just the place, a room near by, an important meeting.
Peeves rushed through the wall, making sure he had gotten the Headmaster's attention. "Student out of bed, Student out of bed," he shouted, annoying everyone in the room. Everyone but Dumbledore.
"Take me there, Now," he told Peeves.
"No need, no need," laughed Peeves, "Open the door, look to your right." Laughing at the irritation he caused, Peeves fled the room, searching for more nighttime mischief.
It was Hagrid, closest to the door, who jumped up. He threw open the door, and looked down. The boy was crawling as fast as he could to get away from something, but there was nothing there. His face was white and panicked, tears blocking his sight. Hagrid picked the boy up, and he started screaming, kicking and thrashing about in an effort to get away. The giant could think of nothing else to do, except hold on tight to the boy, hugging him close. He whispered to the boy over and over, "It's all right, your safe now."
After a few minutes, his struggling ceased and the boy began to calm down. Albus leaned close and softly asked what had happened. When the boy did not respond to this simple question, Albus tried a different tactic.
"Owen," he said in the same soft voice. He received no response. He gently put his hand on the boy's chin to raise his head.
The boy looked up in renewed shock. "The Tinker," he said with a note of horror in his voice.
"What about the Tinker, Owen. Please tell me."
Owen stared ahead in abject fear, mouthing incoherently." Having used the last of his strength, the boy collapsed. He was still unconscious when Madame Pomfrey arrived.
Dumbledore reentered the room, leaving Hagrid to carry the boy to the infirmary. He told the others what Owen had said. "I suppose we should continue this meeting tomorrow, or in view of the time, later today, after dinner.
Arthur Weasley stood up, saying, "that would be best, Molly can be here as well."
"You're right, dear, I will come up," said Molly's voice from the fireplace. "I'll bring the little lad with me as well. He'll enjoy a train ride through the country. Good night all."
Neville excused himself, saying he would have liked to have been in bed hours ago. Dumbledore bade him goodbye, assuring him that the first day back to school is always a rough one. The fifth-year was grinning at the headmaster's understatement as he left.
Dumbledore turned to the last member of the group, except for the Sorting Hat. "Mr. Olivander, what are your plans, if I may ask."
The wand maker answered firmly, "I was not sure of what to do, but after what has happened, I will definitely stay as long as I can. I will need an excuse for being here. Tomorrow is the first day of class, and thus a half day. At breakfast, tell the students that I will be holding classes, during the morning hours, on proper care of wands. No one may come, but then no one will wonder why I am here."
"I am glad you are part of our group," Albus said warmly. "Let me show you to the guest quarters, they are on my way."
As Albus went to pick up the Sorting Hat, it told him not to bother. "Being alone in a dark room suits me tonight. I need to sit and think for a while, about the newest member of our little group."
