Chapter 4:
Her mom walked in and said, "It's time to go. Dumbledore got the tickets." Then she walked back out.
"Okay," Amethyst her book bag on and carried her suitcase out to the car where Dumbledore and her mom already sat. She stuffed her suitcase into the trunk and slid into the backseat. Amethyst didn't speak until she and Dumbledore said goodbye to her mom at Platform 4 at King's Cross Station. "Don't get hurt, Mom. I love you," Amethyst said hugging her mom. They waited until her train left and then walked to Platform 9 ¾. "Thank you for doing this… um… what should I call you?" Amethyst asked as they entered their compartment on the train.
"Professor Dumbledore, if you wish. And you're very welcome." Dumbledore replied.
"Could you tell me what I'll be doing at Hogwarts?" Amethyst asked opening her book bag.
"Well, you can't follow Eulinda around all the time, because she has outdoor classrooms. After a day or two, you should choose one or two teachers to spend the day with. You'll be able to divide the time between a number of willing teachers, or just spend all day with one. If you become a nuisance, though, I'm afraid you'll have to work in the library with Madam Pince."
"I won't be a nuisance, sir. I'm not quite sure I'd know how. I was a bit of a teacher's pet back in Georgia. My teachers loved me. Of course, that had nothing to do with my grades. I worked my tail off for those. I'm babbling aren't I? I'm just a little nervous I guess. I'll just work on some math problems." Amethyst said pulling out her math notebook.
"Why must you work on a problem?" Dumbledore asked.
"It helps me focus on the thing that's bothering me. I work on something else and that thing becomes clear." Amethyst paused to check her calculations before moving on to the next problem.
"I have always detested math." Dumbledore said glancing at the book.
"So do I. I'm one for languages. I took four years of French and two years of Latin before we moved to Little Hangleton." Amethyst put her pen down. "This is not helping."
"What's that?" Dumbledore asked pointing to the stuffed animal that had tumbled out of her book bag.
"It's the first Christmas present I ever got. My dad gave it to me. He died the year I turned five. I like to have it near because even though it's not my father, it's close enough. My one comfort and his arms won't even stay on."
"May I see him?" Dumbledore asked. Amethyst shrugged and handed him the bear. He pointed his wand at the bear and said, "Ursus repairum." Instantly the bear looked as good as new. Dumbledore smiled and gave the bear back to Amethyst.
"Thank you." Amethyst smiled.
"Well, I think I shall take a nap. We should be arriving at Hogwarts within an hour. When the cart comes around, use this to buy three chocolate frogs. That should hold us until dinner." Dumbledore said giving her a gold coin. He then leaned his head back and fell asleep. Amethyst set the coin beside her and watched the scenery go by.