CHAPTER 6
~Kasender's Office~
Harry, though he told Professor Kasender that he was going to the Hospital Wing, headed the other way—to the Gryffindor Common Room. After a few minutes of walking, unbelieving his luck of running into no one, Harry found himself in front of the Fat Lady, who was apparently having a snooze.
"Peachypear," Harry said dully, looking at the ground, lost in his own, troubled thoughts. He looked up at the portrait—she was still asleep. "Peachypear!" Harry yelled.
The Fat Lady just merely snored on.
"PEACHYPEAR!" Harry bellowed and this time it worked, though the Fat Lady seemed irritated having woken her up. He entered in the Common Room and sat down on one of the large armchairs by the fire.
This was now the second time he had heard the pleasant, heavenly song. This was also the second time his scar hurt after hearing the song. Why? Why was it only Harry that had been hearing the voice and the high pitched laugh? Harry abruptly stood up and walked to his dormitory. He knew what he had to do. Sirius had told Harry to inform him if ever anything unusual happens and he definitely counted this time unusual.
He sat down on his bed and began to write:
Dear Sirius-
How are you? First day has been okay but I have to say…it has been well…different and interesting…
And so Harry continued his letter, pausing once in a while to think of ways to explain what had happened, so as not to make Sirius too worried. At last, satisfied, he finished his letter, sealed it and went out of the Common Room again to head for the Owlery where Hedwig was sleeping, her snowy head tucked under her wing. Harry poked her awake.
For a moment Harry thought that she, too, would be angry or frustrated at him just like the way the Fat Lady had been. But Hedwig nipped his finger as though she was saying hello and hooted softly. When she realised he had a letter, she stuck out her foot still hooting.
"Thanks Hedwig," Harry said, giving her a gentle pat. She nipped his finger again and soared out through the window. Harry watched her flying, until he couldn't see his snowy owl any more.
He dashed back down the stairs again and became aware that it was now lunchtime. So he headed to the Great Hall where he spotted Ron and Hermione having lunch. But before he had even reached them, a cold, drawling voice behind him called his name in an unpleasant way.
"Oy! Potter! How's your head? Are you feeling a bit sleepy?" Harry whipped around to find Draco Malfoy and other fifth year Slytherins around him laughing heartedly at Harry. Draco looked past Harry's shoulder and said, "Hey Mudblood, Weasel! You two had better watch out for your little friend here, he might drop dead any moment!" he yelled, sniggering. "Not that any of us will be disappointed," he added smirking.
Harry's hand automatically reached inside his robes and he pulled out his wand. He was ready to take on Malfoy, infront of Slytherins or not.
Harry was just deciding what type of hex was the best and was on the point of cursing Malfoy when a shrill voice sounded behind him. At first he thought it was Professor McGonagall and he froze, his stomach lurching. He was in deep trouble now. He looked behind him and saw that he was wrong. It was Professor Kasender.
"Harry!" she cried running at his side. "What do you think you're doing?" she whispered fiercely in his ears.
"Malfoy called my friend som—" Harry started but Professor Kasender interrupted him.
"No magic between classes!" she said harshly, surprising Harry. He had been so sure when he saw her the first time that she was the nice, not-so-strict type. However, he was clearly wrong. Hermione and Ron were beside Harry now.
"Professor, please Professor, Malfoy was saying bad things about us and he was teasing Harry about what ha—" Hermione said in a rush. Harry stopped her from saying anymore.
"Shut up!" he whispered. Last thing he wanted was giving Malfoy the satisfaction of knowing he had gotten Harry. Ron mouthed silently beside him, apparently shocked to see Professor Kasender yelling.
To make matters even worse, Professor Snape came around the corner, and, seeing Harry, he smiled coldly.
"Well, well, well," he said spotting Harry, Ron, Hermione and Professor Kasender. "What have we here?" he glanced at Harry's hand which was still clutching his wand tightly. "Magic between classes, Potter? I thought you would have learnt by now the consequences…" he said in a greasy voice that matched his oily hair. He was evidently finding this amusing. Then Snape looked at Kasender. "I would give him detention if I were you, my dear Professor…" he walked away, Harry glaring at him.
"Come with me Potter," Kasender ordered, breaking off Harry's thoughts of how he could poison Snape without anybody noticing.
Professor Kasender and Harry walked through several corridors, many stairs and at last, they stopped in front of a door with a fancy gold handle. Professor Kasender opened it.
Harry's jaw dropped.
Inside, were at least fifty cages…fifty silver, bronze and gold cages which each held a bird. All different kinds of birds, in fact. Every colour possible. Some of them were squealing and squawking at each other and some were asleep, how they could sleep in this racket, Harry had no idea.
All around the walls, pictures of birds were framed…birds sleeping, birds flying, birds eating, birds looking at you, blinking innocently. Harry figured that Professor Kasender must have been a great bird lover.
"You like my birds?" she asked observing the awed look on Harry's face.
"Yeah…so many of them…" Harry replied looking around for the second time. Then his eyes fell upon a framed picture of a rainbow-coloured bird. Not just any bird. It was a phoenix—the exact same phoenix he saw on the Hogwarts Express. Harry's eyes widened but his thoughts were once again broken, not by Professor Kasender, but by the same…unearthly singing…Harry's head immediately became clear again…wonderfully clear…nothing mattered any more…the song was dying…then the words…kill him.
Harry jerked awake.
Professor Kasender was looking down at him, her face extremely worried. But Harry tried to act as though nothing happened…as though he didn't fall unconscious…
"Harry are you sure you're alright?" she asked.
"Yeah…yeah, I'm fine. Um…" he said. "What did you bring me here for?" he asked trying to sound politely puzzled.
"What?" then, "Oh! Yes…um…I was just saying Potter, that…" her voice trailed and she looked like she was thinking hard. "Just don't let Draco get to you Harry…ok?"
Harry stared at her.
"Um..that's all," she said looking slightly embarrassed. Harry walked out of the room feeling confused. Why had he heard the song again? Why had he heard the voice again? And why did Kasender want him in her office just to say that he shouldn't worry about Malfoy? Perhaps she wanted to show him her birds? Harry didn't think so somehow…
