CHAPTER 5: BACK AT HOGWART'S
Harry, Madeline, and Ron sat staring at one another in silence and disbelief. Hermione, however, had a wild look on her face.
All of a sudden, Madeline and Ron began talking at the same time:
"Harry, you're not safe anywhere anymore, and now we're all going to die!"
"'Arry! 'Arry! Do you seenk Voldemort knows about our books?"
"I wonder if he's going to chase you forever!"
Hermione spoke so quietly that, although everyone heard her, they wondered if perhaps she really hadn't said anything at all.
"Voldemort isn't after Harry."
"What?!" Ron shrieked at Hermione, a look of disgust across his face.
"He isn't." Since everyone was looking at Hermione oddly, she decided to explain herself. "Hypothetically speaking, what if Voldemort was seeking the same thing as Harry, but for a different reason? What if… what if there's some sort of power source at Hogwart's and-and Voldemort's looking for it, and Harry needs to find it too, so he can destroy him there. I'd be willing to bet on three things I think I know for sure. One, Voldemort's weak. He needs power more than anything else to survive. Two, Harry shouldn't go looking for Voldemort. The clues will lead him there. And Three, Harry and Voldemort seek a similar goal: destroy the other."
Madeline considered these comments thoughtfully. "Yays," she said, "You know, Airmione, I seenk pair'aps you are correct. Indeed, you know, when I saw the second clue, it was in a coal scuttle. The coal scuttle was in a 'ouse. I 'ad to sneak in… plees don't look at me like zat, I am no seef, I seemply needed to get zee clue. Zee house belonged to Monsieur Malfoy, Draco's fazzer. He was speaking to a man in a different room while I got zee crystal. Zay were talking about 'ow to find the garden to truth… do you seenk zat could be een 'Ogwarts?"
"Perhaps…" Hermione mumbled. "What did you hear them say about it?"
"Zay were saying seengs like, 'zee road is beyond zee door' and… and… 'zee dementors will 'elp," and 'suck zee life right out of 'er.'"
Ron looked uneasy. "Er… Madeline?" He asked, "Is that all you heard? Did they mention where the road or the door was?"
"No," she answered, "I 'eard nuzzing else. Draco was coming down zee 'all so I 'urried out zee fireplace."
"I know what I must do, then," Harry piped up, tapping his fingers on the surface of the table. All that could be heard was the sound of the train's wheels on the tracks and, in the distance, the murmur of children's voices farther down the train. "We've got to ride it out. Open the books once a week or so. I don't think Voldemort plans on attacking us, Madeline. I think Hermione's right. He's too weak. We've just got to solve the puzzle, that's all."
The rest of the way to Hogwart's, as the sun set and the lamps on the train turned on, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Madeline sat in silence. When at last, the Hogwart's castle came into view, the students noiselessly gathered up their things and headed for the door. Harry waved to Hagrid across the crowded platform. Hagrid was holding a lantern and leading the first-years to the boats which would take them up to the castle.
The rest of the students trucked up the road to the castle, through the corridors, and into the Great Hall. The bewitched ceiling above showed rain clouds. Harry wondered if it showed rain, would raindrops really fall down? Harry did notice something about the students that wasn't there last year. The Slytherins and Ravenclaws were pointing and laughing at the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors, who jeered right back at them.
"Harry," Ron whispered, "Be careful with the book, okay?" He looked apprehensively into Harry's eyes. "I don't want anything bad to happen."
"I'm afraid something bad just may be inevitable, Ron."
Hermione turned to look at Ron. She smiled. "It's going to be okay, Ron. You're in no immediate danger."
"You are, though, Granger," an oily voice drawled. Hermione, Harry, and Ron whirled around to see Draco Malfoy grinning at them gruesomely. "Haven't you heard?"
"No, Malfoy, and we don't want to hear it from you, either. Besides, what are you doing over here?" Harry narrowed his eyes at Malfoy.
"Shut up, Potter," Malfoy sneered, "This doesn't concern you." Malfoy turned to Hermione and said, "You haven't heard, then? The Mudbloods are going to be eliminated."
"Eliminated?" Hermione sounded worried.
"Mmm hmm… too bad you three always sit alone on the train… you miss out on the gossip." Malfoy scoffed maliciously. "There's a feud. A war. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff versus Slytherin and Ravenclaw."
"And-and what's going to happen with this war?" Ron asked apprehensively.
"Don't know yet. Something bad, I expect, Granger. I'd watch out if I were you. Potter, you'd better protect her… You never know what - what terrible things people will think up to do to the Mudbloods." Malfoy sniggered at the three Gryffindors, who looked at one another in bewilderment. "By the way," he laughed, "Where's your French friend, Potter?"
Ron, Hermione, and Harry looked around anxiously. "She's up there!" Hermione pointed at the staff table. "Talking to Dumbledore!"
Indeed, Madeline was speaking to Professor Dumbledore, waiting to be sorted along with the first-years.
Just then, Parvati Patil walked by them, tears streaming down her face.
"Parvati!" Hermione exclaimed, "What ever is the matter?"
"It's - it's my sister! She's a Ravenclaw! And there's a big argument! I don't even know why we're all fighting. Now she won't talk to me."
Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands, and the talking immediately ceased.
"Welcome," he said pleasantly. "I have several announcements to make before the Sorting Ceremony. First, there is to be absolutely no prejudiced remarks or actions against those of Muggle descent. Anything of the sort will result instantaneously in expulsion. Also, I would like to deeply encourage to you all, respect those of the other houses. There shall be no 'feuding' or 'fighting' amongst houses. We are all Hogwart's students together. And now, without further ado, the Sorting Ceremony. First of all, before the first-years, we have a new student at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She is a fifth-year transfer student from Beauxbatons Academy in France. Please give her a warm welcome, Miss Madeline Lecour." There was scattered applause, most of it coming from Hermione, Harry, and Ron. The Slytherins scowled at Madeline.
Dumbledore gestured to the Sorting Hat, and Madeline sat on the stool where the hat stood. Professor McGonagall, a stiff old woman, gently placed the hat on Madeline's head. No sooner than she had put the hat upon her, the hat screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted with applause and cheering. The Hufflepuffs also clapped politely.
The Slytherins jeered and several, including Malfoy, even booed. The Ravenclaws completely ignored the Gryffindors as if they weren't even sitting in the Great Hall.
One by one, the first-year students, reluctant and frightened, approached the hat and were sorted into the various houses. Each house clapped loudly for their new arrivals. When the Sorting Ceremony was complete, Dumbledore waved his hand again and sumptuous food appeared majestically upon the plates in front of the students.
Harry talked warmly with his friends, Seamus Finnegan, Neville Longbottom, and of course, Hermione, Ron, and Madeline. When the dinner food disappeared, the students continued to talk to one another until Dumbledore spoke up,
"I would also like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mr. Sirius Black. Thank you all for coming back this year, and welcome to our new students. Now, to bed, all of you."
It was as if Dumbledore had sped up Sirius' introduction to avoid comments from the students. Harry waved at Sirius, who smiled back. Harry trudged up the stairs with Ron to the boys' dormitories and waved goodnight to Hermione and Madeline.
As Harry climbed into his four-post bed, Harry thought about Voldemort, Sirius, Madeline, and everything else troubling his mind. Eventually, Harry drifted off to sleep, thinking about tomorrow's lessons.