Chapter 2 - The Nighttime Visitors





It had been eight days after all the strange events started happening at STCA, when Christine had a very awkward dream. It was that two people were outside her door whispering a conversation. She became still in her bed, pretending to be asleep.

"But she's thirteen, she should have started three years ago, she'll be behind," said a female voice that gave Christine the idea she would take no nonsense. A kind and caring male voice answered.

"I've seen her in school, at the top of her classes, she learns quick enough,"

"Are you sure," came the female voice.

"Of course I am, she excels even in her worst subject."

A jolt in Christine's stomach told her that she was awake. She pinched herself and felt pain. Intruders! That thought flashed across her mind but something told her that these people were not here to harm anyone. The male voice continued, and Christine continued to listen.

"She's very clever, too, I think she may have noticed me once."

A connection was made in Christine's brain. Eight days ago, when Jack mysteriously appeared in front of her, she had sensed someone watching her. Had it been him?

"But Dumbledore, how can we educate her only during the summer. If she goes that will be two people in third year; no one else signed up," said the female voice.

Third year? Third year? That term was used in the Harry Potter books. Was this somehow connected with Harry Potter? No, Christine thought, you're being stupid.

The person who was obviously Dumbledore whispered something back. "She can bring friends if she wants to, her class are at least the tiniest bit magical."

Huh? Magical? An exciting feeling spread through Christine. Could it be true? But the feeling was replaced by a tingling in her nose. "AH- AH-AHCHOO!"

The two figures nearly hidden in the shadows outside her room turned in horror, even with blurry vision threw Christine's eyes with no glasses. She jumped out of bed and put them on. She could she the two people much more clearly.

"H-h-hello?"Christine whispered.

The man sighed and said, "No sense keeping it from her any longer. May we come in?"

"We already are in, remember?' said the female voice very irritably.

"Uhhh, sure, sit down," Christine said quietly. These were strange people, visiting at two in the morning, and they were dressed in cloaks.

"First, let me introduce myself, I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. I will explain about that in a moment."

Christine lost the look of bewilderment on her face and said," It's a pleasure to meet you, um, Professor?"

The woman spoke. "And I am Minerva Mc Gonagall, Deputy Headmistress, and Transfiguration professor."

"It's nice to meet you, "Christine said," but what's Transfiguration, and what is Hogwarts?" Christine had the tiniest feeling of what they may be, but that was impossible.

"Well," Professor Dumbledore answered," Trans figuration is turning an object into something else. That is one of the many classes taught at Hogwarts, or Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"I assume you have no idea what I'm talking about, but let me explain. I, actually we, got here by-"

"Floo powder, right?" Christine interrupted. "Sorry," she added quickly.

"Oh, it's all right, this will all be shocking to you so...I see what you mean...she is clever!" Professor Mc Gonagall observed to Dumbledore.

Christine was piecing the whole scenario together and it made sense. These people must have taught Harry Potter and the others in the series. So Harry Potter was real, unless someone was playing a very cruel joke on her.

Dumbledore smiled at Christine. "Would you like to come to Hogwarts this summer and learn magic? You would be behind the other third years, excuse me, third year, but if you spend a little time at the library, I think you could catch up."

"Before I say 'yes,' could I ask a few questions?" Christine asked.

"Of course you may," Mc Gonagall answered.

"Well," Christine started," first of all, how can I go learn magic if I'm not a- a-"

Professor Dumbledore nodded and Professor Mc Gonagall smiled broadly.

Christine pondered on that for a minute. Her, go and learn magic? But the strange things at school and at home...had she done them? If she had it was an accident. When Jack said something mean to her and Marie, had Christine not gotten the chance to get her revenge? When she had forgotten her homework, had it not been completed? When the power went out, had Christine's project not gotten lost? Yes, all those things did happen, which meant one thing.

"So," Christine said breaking the silence," I'm a, I'm a-"

"Witch," Dumbledore filled in," a good one, not evil, like the one in that Muggle movie.. what was it? Oh, yes the Wizard of Ozzie?"

"You mean Wizard of Oz?" Christine corrected.

"Yes, thank you," Dumbledore replied.

"And what's a Muggle? A non-magical person, right?" Christine wondered aloud.

"Quite right," Mc Gonagall replied.

" Also, you're saying about going to Hogwarts for the summer. Shouldn't I be going for the regular school year?" Christine asked.

"Well, it should be, yes, but since you know so many Muggles, it would be suspicious if you left for the school year, while if you came in the summer, it would be just like a sleep-away camp." Dumbledore explained. "The rest of the teachers and I have decided to open Hogwarts all summer but as part of a summer program. Any students who would like to stay, can. It's sort of an advanced year you would have just finished, and a prelude to the year you would be starting in September. So far the entire school is going except for the third years. Only one third year is attending this summer. So, what do you think?"

Dumbledore asked Christine.

"It sounds great! When does it start?" Christine replied eagerly.

"June 18th," Dumbledore replied," and since their is now only two people in the third year, is there anyone you'd like to bring?"

" Um, yeah, my seventh grade class. Oh, and James, John's friend, and Marie's boyfriend, Andy, "Christine replied without thinking that long. When she finished, Professor Mc Gonagall gave Christine a look and then glanced at Dumbledore, who just shrugged his shoulders.

Christine ignored the funny looks between the professors. This is great, Christine thought, this will probably be the best summer of my life, spending it with such nice and funny people. But there was still something nagging Christine in the back of her mind.

"Um, one more thing, where exactly is Hogwarts and how would we get there?"

Dumbledore answered. " You would take an airplane to London and get your supplies in Diagon Alley, and then take the Kings Cross Station train to Hogwarts."

Christine's heart fell. She absolutely hated flying in airplanes. How could she fly across the Atlantic Ocean to London?

"Uh, there's one little problem, I hate flying!" Christine complained.

"Oh, I see, well, since someone will be guiding you on the journey, they could put a spell on the airplane so it's less like...flying, "Dumbledore answered.

Mc Gonagall then spoke. "Ok then, that's settled! Letters will be going out tomorrow explaining everything." She then glanced at the clock on Christine's night stand. It read 3:30 am. "Well I assume you're tired and we will be leaving now. Where is your fireplace again?"

"Here, I'll show you," Christine said as she crept out of her bed, down the hall, and down the stairs to the family room fireplace.

Mc Gonagall opened the little doors on the opening, then took out her wand, whispered "Incendio", and a blue fire appeared in the fireplace. Meanwhile Dumbledore was taking out a small jar labeled "Floo Powder". He held it out to Professor Mc Gonagall, who took some, turned to Christine and whispered, "Goodbye, I will be seeing you soon!" She then faced the fireplace and threw in the Floo Powder and said clearly "Hogwarts" and disappeared. Dumbledore took some himself, screwed the jar top back on, and put the jar back in his cloak. "Christine, if you have any questions, send them back with the owl that will bring your letter. See you soon." He winked and the threw the Floo Powder in the fireplace and said "Hogwarts!" and was too whisked away by the magical fire that extinguished the moment Dumbledore left.

Christine stood there for a few seconds, going over what she saw and heard. She couldn't ignore the growling of her stomach, so she got a bowl of pistachio ice cream, and went back up to her room. As she sat there, eating her ice cream, pondering the events that night, all she could do was was wonder what Hogwarts was like. Maybe I'm having a dream in which you can feel pain, Christine thought. But she was sure that you definitely can't feel brain freeze in a dream.