Can I Come In?
1 Epilogue
The following morning, the puzzling events of the last few days came into a clearer light. The disappearance of Albus Filch, now known to have died, whether at the hands of vampires or Death Eaters. Professor Mundanus had apparently been working with the Death Eaters, and had taken steps to try and keep Dumbledore from taking an active role in the night. The driver of the Hogwarts train and Harry's aunt Petunia had been killed and made into vampires. These was not the only mysteries to be cleared up, however, and so an assembly of the school was held after breakfast. Whispers had passed at feverish length, although there was a subdued feel in the air as people looked nervously at the Slytherin table, now completely empty. It had been draped with black as a mark of respect. Marie Neardrop was now seated at the Gryffindor table, and was making friends quickly despite her timid nature. She hadn't been reassigned officially to a house, although she seemed firmly settled. She had taken the news of the deaths of all her friends and colleagues as well as might be expected, and she had received a lot of sympathy.
Dumbledore tapped a spoon against his goblet of water. The sound carried clearly.
'I would like to have some silence please, I have a few things to say.'
It won't have escaped anyone's notice that Slytherin house is no longer with us. All but one of the house died in unfortunate circumstances, as a result of Lord Voldemort's plans. The surviving pupil will be moved to another house. I would like to ask students to treat her with the utmost kindness. I will be very displeased if I hear about any bullying.'
Professor Snape naturally will not be needed to act as the head of Slytherin. However, I am sure he is not without consolation.'
Indeed, Snape did seem to be smiling slightly, although there was no doubt that there was pain in his eyes. He had lost a lot of students, including some of his favourites.
Dumbledore continued, 'Indeed, we are all with consolation. In rather strange circumstances, related in no small way to our large cleaning bill, Lord Voldemort appears to have perished. Of course, we have seen him return before, so perhaps we should not celebrate this early.
This also leads onto an enquiry on my part. The tea Lord Voldemort was slain by' (muffled laughter broke out among several tables) 'smelled rather peculiar. Imagine my surprise when Madame Trewlawney told me how it made her giggly and sleepy? Naturally my surprise deepened when Professor Sprout told me that the tea must have been drugged, and when I thought I could not be surprised further, behold! It appears that an enterprising student had placed marijuana in her tea. This led to her falling asleep and knocking over her enchanted tea cup. While I should perhaps punish the individual, I have been reminded that wizard law does not ban marijuana, and further that the circumstances might be considered unusual. It occurs to me that perhaps we have not drafted a definition of 'usual' circumstances at Hogwarts, but I suspect the issue will not arise anytime soon. So, would the rascal responsible please stand up so that we can applaud him or her?'
James Vurtis stood uneasily at the Hufflepuff table. Clapping began uneasily, and then developed.
'Yes, well done,' said Dumbledore, 'never let it be said that random stupidity does not have its place at this school.'
Continuing on, Professor Aconite will be leaving us at the end of this term. She sustained some injuries during the fighting that occurred last night. She wishes to take a holiday before she resumes her normal duties as an Augor. I hope you will take time to tell her how much you appreciated her lessons. I am told that they have been quite, umm, interesting. In her place, Professor Snape will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.'
Many people groaned, especially at the Gryffindor table.
'Now, now, I would like you to give him a chance. I have been assured that he will be the model of patience in the classroom.'
Melissa, who was wearing an arm cast, smirked. She was sitting next to McGonagall at the teacher's table, and both were mouthing warnings at Snape.
'I would like the following students to come see me in my office after lunch today: Harry Potter, Marie Neardrop, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Points will be given out next week. You may go about your day's business now, good day.'
Dumbledore sat back down, and the children filed out of the dining hall.
***
When Harry and the others turned up to Dumbledore's office, the door was open. Dumbledore and Melissa were sitting down and drinking tea, while the gargoyle from the night before was leaning against the wall, still without legs.
'Harry, Marie, Ron, Hermione…please, take a seat. Now, I have news that may concern you all.'
Marie, it has been decided that you should be placed in Gryffindor, since you seem to have made friends there easily. Unfortunately, I do not think you will be returning home. Your father and your mother have gone into hiding. It would seem that they were Death Eaters, or supporters of them. I cannot guess when they might appear again, or under what circumstances. Do you have any relatives that might take you in? Muggles may be the safest option.'
Marie nodded timidly, pale as milk.
'It will get easier Marie. You have been very brave, but I won't keep you here any longer than you wish.'
Marie got up and left quickly.
'Poor girl. Harry, and of course Ron and Hermione. You may be interested to know more about what has happened. After all, you have been involved in Voldemort's plots often recently.'
The Ministry of Magic has been forced to recognise that Voldemort did indeed return. There has been some embarrassment about this. Cornelius Fudge has resigned, and there is some debate about who will succeed him. Lucius Malfoy may be interested in the position according to rumour.'
'He can't get it!' said Harry, 'that'd be as bad as having Voldemort in!'
'Quite true,' said Melissa, taking control of the conversation. 'That's where I come in. I should be up and about properly next week. I heal very fast. Those students, however, are going to tell their parents that I'm out of it indefinitely. That will give me time to deal with Lucius and as many others of the Death Eaters as you can tell me of. I'll need names.'
'You're going to try and send them to Azkaban?' asked Ron, 'it won't work! Malfoy's got too many people in his pocket!'
'I'm not going to send them to Azkaban,' said Melissa quietly, 'I am going to kill them. That's what my job is really. The Augor thing just means I get paid for what I have to do anyway. I'm a Slayer. One of the Chosen Ones – we've lost track of how many of us there are supposed to be these days.'
There was a quiet silence. Dumbledore picked up from there.
'I have more news. Since your muggle family has died, Harry, and you aren't at threat from Lord Voldemort now, you may be free to live with Sirius Black now. I'm sure the new Minister for Magic will grant him a pardon. I believe Professor Sprout found the body of Wormtail this morning. And poor Filch. Your cousin, Duddeley is an orphan, now like yourself. I am aware of your feelings regarding him, but I still think you should speak with him when the school year is over. I think you may find a great many changes will have come over him under this trauma.'
Dumbledore was quiet for a moment. He appeared to brighten visibly then, and looked younger than he had of late. 'Still, despite the suffering that has been experienced by so many, Voldemort is gone. I suspect he will not return again, although there will always be dark wizards and witches I am afraid. Once people have mourned for a sufficiently long time, I think people will be rather more cheerful. The worst may be past yet.'
Harry and his friends stood up to leave the room. Melissa waved goodbye to them, as did Dumbledore, who had one last thing to say: 'Oh, if you are wandering past the library, would you be so good as to ask Madam Pince if she has found a spell to give our friend here some legs? He has been most down-hearted since we removed him from my door.'
Harry grinned, and said he would check. They left Dumbledore's office, feeling rather better, with a burden removed.
'To be young again,' sighed Melissa.
'Hmph,' said Dumbledore, 'there is much to be said for age's wisdom. I wonder if Madam Pince will be able to find that spell? I must say, I had thought that we at least used the Dewey system for the library. It does say something, I am afraid, when an entire castle of wizards and witches fail to notice a distinct lack of organisation. Hmmm… Still…that leaves just one thing. Do you think we have much to fear from Spike and Drusilla?'
'Not really,' said Melissa, 'it was a bit of a fluke they got involved in this to start with. And you can do a spell that'll stop them getting back in, it revokes the invitation. You can put up some crosses too, so they won't get near. But even if you didn't, I don't think they'd come back. They got what they wanted here. Spike still wants to kill me, but Drusilla will probably drag him somewhere else. She wears the trousers, I think, and she sounded bored with this place. So I guess they're looking for something new, and Spike is making empty threats. Possibly. Still, nothing I can't handle.'
'Well,' said Dumbledore, 'at least this business is over with. I do wonder what will become of us all, mind you. I suppose we'll manage as best we can. That tends to be the only option one has.'
***
Spike and Drusilla stood on the roof of a large tower block in London, over- looking the streets. Drusilla looked around with a startling clarity.
'I feel so different,' she said, 'it all seems so clear to me. A haze has gone from my eyes, and I can see so clearly. Everything is new, I can tell what everything is, and it's so sharp. I feel alive, for something dead!'
'The world is your oyster,' smiled Spike.
'I don't think I'd enjoy oysters very much. Let's go find something fun to do. There must be another adventure out there if we look. This time I make the plans.'
'Anything you want, Dru,' said Spike, 'anything.'
And they leaped off the roof of the tall building, and into the dark streets below, looking for the next source of excitement.
After all, you only live once.
1 Epilogue
The following morning, the puzzling events of the last few days came into a clearer light. The disappearance of Albus Filch, now known to have died, whether at the hands of vampires or Death Eaters. Professor Mundanus had apparently been working with the Death Eaters, and had taken steps to try and keep Dumbledore from taking an active role in the night. The driver of the Hogwarts train and Harry's aunt Petunia had been killed and made into vampires. These was not the only mysteries to be cleared up, however, and so an assembly of the school was held after breakfast. Whispers had passed at feverish length, although there was a subdued feel in the air as people looked nervously at the Slytherin table, now completely empty. It had been draped with black as a mark of respect. Marie Neardrop was now seated at the Gryffindor table, and was making friends quickly despite her timid nature. She hadn't been reassigned officially to a house, although she seemed firmly settled. She had taken the news of the deaths of all her friends and colleagues as well as might be expected, and she had received a lot of sympathy.
Dumbledore tapped a spoon against his goblet of water. The sound carried clearly.
'I would like to have some silence please, I have a few things to say.'
It won't have escaped anyone's notice that Slytherin house is no longer with us. All but one of the house died in unfortunate circumstances, as a result of Lord Voldemort's plans. The surviving pupil will be moved to another house. I would like to ask students to treat her with the utmost kindness. I will be very displeased if I hear about any bullying.'
Professor Snape naturally will not be needed to act as the head of Slytherin. However, I am sure he is not without consolation.'
Indeed, Snape did seem to be smiling slightly, although there was no doubt that there was pain in his eyes. He had lost a lot of students, including some of his favourites.
Dumbledore continued, 'Indeed, we are all with consolation. In rather strange circumstances, related in no small way to our large cleaning bill, Lord Voldemort appears to have perished. Of course, we have seen him return before, so perhaps we should not celebrate this early.
This also leads onto an enquiry on my part. The tea Lord Voldemort was slain by' (muffled laughter broke out among several tables) 'smelled rather peculiar. Imagine my surprise when Madame Trewlawney told me how it made her giggly and sleepy? Naturally my surprise deepened when Professor Sprout told me that the tea must have been drugged, and when I thought I could not be surprised further, behold! It appears that an enterprising student had placed marijuana in her tea. This led to her falling asleep and knocking over her enchanted tea cup. While I should perhaps punish the individual, I have been reminded that wizard law does not ban marijuana, and further that the circumstances might be considered unusual. It occurs to me that perhaps we have not drafted a definition of 'usual' circumstances at Hogwarts, but I suspect the issue will not arise anytime soon. So, would the rascal responsible please stand up so that we can applaud him or her?'
James Vurtis stood uneasily at the Hufflepuff table. Clapping began uneasily, and then developed.
'Yes, well done,' said Dumbledore, 'never let it be said that random stupidity does not have its place at this school.'
Continuing on, Professor Aconite will be leaving us at the end of this term. She sustained some injuries during the fighting that occurred last night. She wishes to take a holiday before she resumes her normal duties as an Augor. I hope you will take time to tell her how much you appreciated her lessons. I am told that they have been quite, umm, interesting. In her place, Professor Snape will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts.'
Many people groaned, especially at the Gryffindor table.
'Now, now, I would like you to give him a chance. I have been assured that he will be the model of patience in the classroom.'
Melissa, who was wearing an arm cast, smirked. She was sitting next to McGonagall at the teacher's table, and both were mouthing warnings at Snape.
'I would like the following students to come see me in my office after lunch today: Harry Potter, Marie Neardrop, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
Points will be given out next week. You may go about your day's business now, good day.'
Dumbledore sat back down, and the children filed out of the dining hall.
***
When Harry and the others turned up to Dumbledore's office, the door was open. Dumbledore and Melissa were sitting down and drinking tea, while the gargoyle from the night before was leaning against the wall, still without legs.
'Harry, Marie, Ron, Hermione…please, take a seat. Now, I have news that may concern you all.'
Marie, it has been decided that you should be placed in Gryffindor, since you seem to have made friends there easily. Unfortunately, I do not think you will be returning home. Your father and your mother have gone into hiding. It would seem that they were Death Eaters, or supporters of them. I cannot guess when they might appear again, or under what circumstances. Do you have any relatives that might take you in? Muggles may be the safest option.'
Marie nodded timidly, pale as milk.
'It will get easier Marie. You have been very brave, but I won't keep you here any longer than you wish.'
Marie got up and left quickly.
'Poor girl. Harry, and of course Ron and Hermione. You may be interested to know more about what has happened. After all, you have been involved in Voldemort's plots often recently.'
The Ministry of Magic has been forced to recognise that Voldemort did indeed return. There has been some embarrassment about this. Cornelius Fudge has resigned, and there is some debate about who will succeed him. Lucius Malfoy may be interested in the position according to rumour.'
'He can't get it!' said Harry, 'that'd be as bad as having Voldemort in!'
'Quite true,' said Melissa, taking control of the conversation. 'That's where I come in. I should be up and about properly next week. I heal very fast. Those students, however, are going to tell their parents that I'm out of it indefinitely. That will give me time to deal with Lucius and as many others of the Death Eaters as you can tell me of. I'll need names.'
'You're going to try and send them to Azkaban?' asked Ron, 'it won't work! Malfoy's got too many people in his pocket!'
'I'm not going to send them to Azkaban,' said Melissa quietly, 'I am going to kill them. That's what my job is really. The Augor thing just means I get paid for what I have to do anyway. I'm a Slayer. One of the Chosen Ones – we've lost track of how many of us there are supposed to be these days.'
There was a quiet silence. Dumbledore picked up from there.
'I have more news. Since your muggle family has died, Harry, and you aren't at threat from Lord Voldemort now, you may be free to live with Sirius Black now. I'm sure the new Minister for Magic will grant him a pardon. I believe Professor Sprout found the body of Wormtail this morning. And poor Filch. Your cousin, Duddeley is an orphan, now like yourself. I am aware of your feelings regarding him, but I still think you should speak with him when the school year is over. I think you may find a great many changes will have come over him under this trauma.'
Dumbledore was quiet for a moment. He appeared to brighten visibly then, and looked younger than he had of late. 'Still, despite the suffering that has been experienced by so many, Voldemort is gone. I suspect he will not return again, although there will always be dark wizards and witches I am afraid. Once people have mourned for a sufficiently long time, I think people will be rather more cheerful. The worst may be past yet.'
Harry and his friends stood up to leave the room. Melissa waved goodbye to them, as did Dumbledore, who had one last thing to say: 'Oh, if you are wandering past the library, would you be so good as to ask Madam Pince if she has found a spell to give our friend here some legs? He has been most down-hearted since we removed him from my door.'
Harry grinned, and said he would check. They left Dumbledore's office, feeling rather better, with a burden removed.
'To be young again,' sighed Melissa.
'Hmph,' said Dumbledore, 'there is much to be said for age's wisdom. I wonder if Madam Pince will be able to find that spell? I must say, I had thought that we at least used the Dewey system for the library. It does say something, I am afraid, when an entire castle of wizards and witches fail to notice a distinct lack of organisation. Hmmm… Still…that leaves just one thing. Do you think we have much to fear from Spike and Drusilla?'
'Not really,' said Melissa, 'it was a bit of a fluke they got involved in this to start with. And you can do a spell that'll stop them getting back in, it revokes the invitation. You can put up some crosses too, so they won't get near. But even if you didn't, I don't think they'd come back. They got what they wanted here. Spike still wants to kill me, but Drusilla will probably drag him somewhere else. She wears the trousers, I think, and she sounded bored with this place. So I guess they're looking for something new, and Spike is making empty threats. Possibly. Still, nothing I can't handle.'
'Well,' said Dumbledore, 'at least this business is over with. I do wonder what will become of us all, mind you. I suppose we'll manage as best we can. That tends to be the only option one has.'
***
Spike and Drusilla stood on the roof of a large tower block in London, over- looking the streets. Drusilla looked around with a startling clarity.
'I feel so different,' she said, 'it all seems so clear to me. A haze has gone from my eyes, and I can see so clearly. Everything is new, I can tell what everything is, and it's so sharp. I feel alive, for something dead!'
'The world is your oyster,' smiled Spike.
'I don't think I'd enjoy oysters very much. Let's go find something fun to do. There must be another adventure out there if we look. This time I make the plans.'
'Anything you want, Dru,' said Spike, 'anything.'
And they leaped off the roof of the tall building, and into the dark streets below, looking for the next source of excitement.
After all, you only live once.