Chapter Two: A New Threat
Harry and Hermione stood on the platform at Hogsmeade Station to watch their friend Ron depart. The three had not spoken much after they received their letters. In all their excitement, Harry and Hermione did not think about how Ron would take it until they reached the platform. They said their good byes but Ron could hardly look at them.
"Ron, don't be so upset. It's not like this is going to be one big celebration all summer. It will be non-stop class and work. I doubt I'll be getting much sleep with all the reading Harry and I will have to do."
"Uh, Hermione, you're not helping." Harry said as his stomach began to lurch at the thought of a workload that would be challenging for even Hermione.
"I'm just saying, while we're working, you'll be relaxing at home."
"I know," Ron sighed. "But I can't help feeling like I'm being left out. I'm just as smart as you, Hermione. I just choose not to flaunt my intellect, so I don't make others look bad." He said, unable to keep from giving a small smile.
"That's the old Ron we know and care about." Hermione smiled as she gave him a quick hug. "We'll write you all the time."
Ron nodded and turned to get on the train with the rest of the students.
"All aboard!" Hagrid yelled as he motioned for students to finish saying their good byes and get on the train.
Moments later, Ron had taken a seat in a box with Neville, Seamus and Dean. He open the window and waved.
"If you want anything from Honeydukes, just send an owl!" Harry said, waving back as the train whistled and slowly began to move away.
Other students whom were selected to stay for the summer term littered the platform, some waving, some running to keep up with the train and a few crying into their robes. Harry and Hermione turned to leave but were stopped by Prof. McGonagall who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere with Prof. Snape and Prof. Flitwick.
"I would like all remaining students to stay on the platform to meet our guest who will be staying at Hogwarts for the holiday. Please collect yourselves and greet her like you would any guest with respect and kindness." McGonagall instructed as she walked over to a fifth year Hufflepuff and handed her a handkerchief.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught the disgruntled scowl of Snape but choose to ignore it. He was too preoccupied with the sound of hooves that was progressively getting louder. The students turned from the tracks to see a small carriage being pulled along by two extremely large, very shaggy, white horses trotting quickly down the dirt road. By the speed it seemed to travel, the small carriage must have been no trouble for the creatures. Hagrid moved to the edge of the platform to flag down the driver, a tiny, dusty old man with a wide grin across his face.
"Good evenin' Charlie! How's the wife an' kids?" Hagrid greeted the driver.
"Doing quite well, thank you Hagrid, sir." The driver said as he tipped his hat and stopped the carriage. He jumped from his seat with a vigor that didn't suit his age and opened the door.
From the darkness of the carriage can a dainty, white-gloved hand. Charlie took it and helped a woman down the tiny steps. There were a few gasps and a few faint whispers from the students. Even Harry found himself starring. The woman was young, looked to be in her late twenties. She wore a long white robe with white fur trimming the edges. The fur collar around her neck was adorned with a large white bow. On her head a white fur Cossack hat sat on long wavy tresses of platinum blonde hair that seemed to glow white. The only thing that wasn't white was her large, illuminated purple eyes that were half hidden by bangs that brushed her long lashes. Her pale, curious face looked about at the students and teachers.
"Miss Margerite Adler." Prof. McGonagall said walking over to her. "Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts."
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, Prof. McGonagall."
The woman's voice seemed to float on the air for a moment as they shook hands. They way she spoke was very formal and sterile. Everything about her seemed cold and rigid, yet she moved with an ease and grace that was hard to match.
"May I introduce Prof. Snape and Prof. Flitwick. They are our potions and charms teachers here at Hogwarts. We have been instructed by Headmaster Dumbledore to help you get situated so you may begin your work immediately."
Harry was quite shocked at the formality in McGonagall's speech. Harry had never heard her call him "Headmaster Dumbledore" before.
Margerite shook hands with both Snape and Flitwick with the same distant feeling as with McGonagall. Hagrid walked over and instructed that her things would be taken to her room ahead of her if she would like to stay and talk with the teachers. She nodded in agreement and Hagrid left.
"These," McGonagall gestured toward the students. "Are the students who will be attending our summer term."
Margerite turned to look at the students. Her eyes stopped at each one of their faces. When her eyes got to Harry's, he felt a cold breeze wash over him. Suddenly, her eyes continued on back to Prof. McGonagall.
"She didn't even look at my scar." Harry thought as all the students were instructed to group together and take a carriage back to school.
Hermione and Harry took an empty carriage and thought they would be alone until the door suddenly swung open and Snape stepped inside, taking the seat opposite where Harry and Hermione sat. Harry's stomach seemed to have finally twisted into a knot as the carriage began to swiftly bring them back to Hogwarts. For several minutes, the three of them just sat there staring. It was Snape who broke the silence.
"If you are wondering who that young lady is Potter, then let me be the first to enlighten you about her presence. Miss Adler is here strictly on business for Azkaban. She has been instructed to find Sirius and bring him back, dead or alive."
Just as he finished, the carriage jerked to a stop and Snape quickly left.
"Harry, what are we going to do?" She whispered as they climbed the steps to the large front doors of Hogwarts.
"I don't know Hermione. But what Snape said, was it suppose to be a warning... or a threat?"
Harry and Hermione stood on the platform at Hogsmeade Station to watch their friend Ron depart. The three had not spoken much after they received their letters. In all their excitement, Harry and Hermione did not think about how Ron would take it until they reached the platform. They said their good byes but Ron could hardly look at them.
"Ron, don't be so upset. It's not like this is going to be one big celebration all summer. It will be non-stop class and work. I doubt I'll be getting much sleep with all the reading Harry and I will have to do."
"Uh, Hermione, you're not helping." Harry said as his stomach began to lurch at the thought of a workload that would be challenging for even Hermione.
"I'm just saying, while we're working, you'll be relaxing at home."
"I know," Ron sighed. "But I can't help feeling like I'm being left out. I'm just as smart as you, Hermione. I just choose not to flaunt my intellect, so I don't make others look bad." He said, unable to keep from giving a small smile.
"That's the old Ron we know and care about." Hermione smiled as she gave him a quick hug. "We'll write you all the time."
Ron nodded and turned to get on the train with the rest of the students.
"All aboard!" Hagrid yelled as he motioned for students to finish saying their good byes and get on the train.
Moments later, Ron had taken a seat in a box with Neville, Seamus and Dean. He open the window and waved.
"If you want anything from Honeydukes, just send an owl!" Harry said, waving back as the train whistled and slowly began to move away.
Other students whom were selected to stay for the summer term littered the platform, some waving, some running to keep up with the train and a few crying into their robes. Harry and Hermione turned to leave but were stopped by Prof. McGonagall who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere with Prof. Snape and Prof. Flitwick.
"I would like all remaining students to stay on the platform to meet our guest who will be staying at Hogwarts for the holiday. Please collect yourselves and greet her like you would any guest with respect and kindness." McGonagall instructed as she walked over to a fifth year Hufflepuff and handed her a handkerchief.
Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught the disgruntled scowl of Snape but choose to ignore it. He was too preoccupied with the sound of hooves that was progressively getting louder. The students turned from the tracks to see a small carriage being pulled along by two extremely large, very shaggy, white horses trotting quickly down the dirt road. By the speed it seemed to travel, the small carriage must have been no trouble for the creatures. Hagrid moved to the edge of the platform to flag down the driver, a tiny, dusty old man with a wide grin across his face.
"Good evenin' Charlie! How's the wife an' kids?" Hagrid greeted the driver.
"Doing quite well, thank you Hagrid, sir." The driver said as he tipped his hat and stopped the carriage. He jumped from his seat with a vigor that didn't suit his age and opened the door.
From the darkness of the carriage can a dainty, white-gloved hand. Charlie took it and helped a woman down the tiny steps. There were a few gasps and a few faint whispers from the students. Even Harry found himself starring. The woman was young, looked to be in her late twenties. She wore a long white robe with white fur trimming the edges. The fur collar around her neck was adorned with a large white bow. On her head a white fur Cossack hat sat on long wavy tresses of platinum blonde hair that seemed to glow white. The only thing that wasn't white was her large, illuminated purple eyes that were half hidden by bangs that brushed her long lashes. Her pale, curious face looked about at the students and teachers.
"Miss Margerite Adler." Prof. McGonagall said walking over to her. "Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts."
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, Prof. McGonagall."
The woman's voice seemed to float on the air for a moment as they shook hands. They way she spoke was very formal and sterile. Everything about her seemed cold and rigid, yet she moved with an ease and grace that was hard to match.
"May I introduce Prof. Snape and Prof. Flitwick. They are our potions and charms teachers here at Hogwarts. We have been instructed by Headmaster Dumbledore to help you get situated so you may begin your work immediately."
Harry was quite shocked at the formality in McGonagall's speech. Harry had never heard her call him "Headmaster Dumbledore" before.
Margerite shook hands with both Snape and Flitwick with the same distant feeling as with McGonagall. Hagrid walked over and instructed that her things would be taken to her room ahead of her if she would like to stay and talk with the teachers. She nodded in agreement and Hagrid left.
"These," McGonagall gestured toward the students. "Are the students who will be attending our summer term."
Margerite turned to look at the students. Her eyes stopped at each one of their faces. When her eyes got to Harry's, he felt a cold breeze wash over him. Suddenly, her eyes continued on back to Prof. McGonagall.
"She didn't even look at my scar." Harry thought as all the students were instructed to group together and take a carriage back to school.
Hermione and Harry took an empty carriage and thought they would be alone until the door suddenly swung open and Snape stepped inside, taking the seat opposite where Harry and Hermione sat. Harry's stomach seemed to have finally twisted into a knot as the carriage began to swiftly bring them back to Hogwarts. For several minutes, the three of them just sat there staring. It was Snape who broke the silence.
"If you are wondering who that young lady is Potter, then let me be the first to enlighten you about her presence. Miss Adler is here strictly on business for Azkaban. She has been instructed to find Sirius and bring him back, dead or alive."
Just as he finished, the carriage jerked to a stop and Snape quickly left.
"Harry, what are we going to do?" She whispered as they climbed the steps to the large front doors of Hogwarts.
"I don't know Hermione. But what Snape said, was it suppose to be a warning... or a threat?"