That night the remaining Hogwart students who didn't leave to go spend time with their families were having a feast for the returned new comers. Ron piled his plate a mile high with all the goodies he can manage and gulfing them down. Hermione looked at Ron in disgust and she wouldn't eat anything that was made from house elves. Meanwhile Harry was still upset about what happened this morning.
*tink tink tink* "Attention everyone" said Professor Dumbledore." Please welcome back the Beaubuxtons and Durmstrang." There came a measly cheer from the audience since there are about 40 of them. "There will be a couple of announcements before you can continue eating... ahem.. the Durmstrang and Beaubuxtons will be staying with us for some time so make them feel comfortable welcome. When the rest of the students return, inform them on what has happened. Thank you."
Harry and Ron went to the boy's dormitory while Hermione went to hers. "Whoa what happened here?" asked Ron. Their room was wet and cold and someone left the window open. "I guess the storm blew in the snow and it melted." Harry said.
"But I didn't leave the window open"
"Neither did I"
"Strange..."
"Oh w...w.ell lets get some rest," Ron said yawning.
"I guess your right, I wonder what other strange surprises are going to happen."
Ron crawled into to his pajama and soon crawled into his bed. Harry fell fast asleep soon after he laid his head down. What the boys don't know is that someone opened the window and was now inside the boy's dormitory.
Harry can feel an eerily presence looming up next to him... he opened his eyes and found a dark human figure next to his bed. Harry gave a loud yelp of shock,
"AAHHHH!" soon the sound was muffled by the figure's hand over his mouth.
"SHHHHH! Do u want to wake everyone up?" He whispered fiercely that almost sounded like a hiss.
Harry looked more closely trying to pierce the gloom to see the person next to his bed. The face looked gaunt and stretched, the hair was long, wild and messy.
"Sirius?"
"It's me alright."
"What's going on?" Ron said sleepily and who was rubbing sand from his eyes.
"Sirius is here."
"Hmmm.. That's nice.. " Barely stifling his yawn. Ahh! WHAT?!" exclaimed Ron. He was instantly awake, "What are you doing here? You could get caught and sent back to Azkaban"
"I know but I have to come here... It's about Durmstrang's new headmaster."
"What about?" Harry said.
"Well, I'll tell you when Hermione is here."
Hermione stepped into her dormitory and looked around. Nobody was there. It was damp, quiet and creepy in there. She went toward her bed and pick up the clothes from the floor. As she was putting the clothes back on her chair, she heard footsteps from the other girl's dormitory. She jumped into her bed and covered herself with the blanket.
"Hmmph. where could it be?" the stranger growled in frustration as he turned the handle to the door and stepped in.
He picked up some of Angela's clothes, looked under and inside and tossed it away.
Hermione's eyes widened and she tried her best to be silent as the strange man made his way closer and closer to her bed.
"Grr.. Well, this isn't the last time; it'll be here. It HAS to be in here... I know it is. I better be going before they come from the feast." The man muttered and crept out of the window and climbed out of the dorm.
Hermione gave a sigh of relief and went silently to the common room, hoping to see someone there.
It was empty so she went up to the boys' dorm expecting to see Harry and Ron.
But the boy's dorm was also empty. She waited a while in the quiet common room but no one came.
"This is weird, it's late at night already. Everyone should already be here but where are they??" she mumbled to herself.
She sat down on the couch and thought. From behind, three dark shadows approached her.
Hermione's heart beat faster and her eyes widened as she realized there were people behind her.
She turned around trying very hard not to scream.
"HI Hermione! You looked like you've seen a ghost," Ron said.
Hermione wasn't paying attention to what Ron said she was too busy looking at the new person in the common room.
"Harry...what's going on?"
"Sirius is here to tell us something about Durmstrang's new headmaster."
"BBbRRRrrr, there's a chill in the room," Ron piled the fireplace with logs and said a swift fire spell, more convieniet than matches, the chill from the room was fading into the corners where the heat of the fire could not reach.
"Oh... did u guys see someone here early that just went into the girls dorm?"
"Why? You saw something?" said Ron
"Yeah... he was looking for something."
"Well whatever he is he's long gone by now," Harry said.
"I guess so but be on alert." Warned Sirius.
They walked up to the girl's dorm to look around and find clues to which the mysterious person was. As the walked along, Harry hung back and talked to Hermione.
"So.. Who do you think that person was?" he asked.
"I don't know but it seemed like he was looking for something or someone."
Harry stared at the ceiling and then looked at Hermione, giving her a sharp look.
"Do you know how they got in?" he whispered.
"Through my window, why?" she looked confused.
"Nothing, it's just.. nevermind." he replied.
They went up to her dorm and looked at the open window. Harry walked to Hermione's bed and lifted up her blanket.
"What are you doing?" she said.
"Looking for clues." Harry stopped to look at them, "Well, don't just stand there staring into space, help look for clues."
Ron looked at Hermione who looked at Sirius.
Sirius shrugged and started looking along the windowsill.
It was stuck to a splinter. The fabric was black and coarse and it smelled like motor oil. That was all that they could find from the windowpane and sill. Though there were some orange furs scattered around the room. Suddenly Hermione exclaimed,
"Where's Crookshanks?!" She wailed and was frantically searching the room.
"What if the person who broke in was after Crookshanks?" asked Ron.
"Why? Besides he didn't find Crookshanks," her fear of the stranger was quickly turning into panic.
"Maybe you should tell us about Durmstrang's new Headmaster, you've stalled long enough." Said Harry.
"Oh right., about the Headmaster of Durmstrang. He's staying at the school for the time being because he was an auror that used to work with Moody." Sirius told them.
"Auror?! Moody?!" they all exclaimed.
"Yes.," he grinned then, "he got discovered working for Voldemort and he got sacked for it."
"What happened then?" Ron asked.
"Well, he was in Azkaban for awhile but he said he'd learned his wrongs and would like to help search for Voldemort again so he was released."
"Do you really think he learned his wrong doings?" Hermione asked.
"I highly doubt it. I don't think he would ever learn his wrong doings... Being what he is." Sirius scowled.
"What is he?" Harry asked.
"A death eater, if I'm not much mistaken, a second generation one. That means not a REAL one but one that came after the original group."
"Does Dumbledore or anyone else know?"
"Dumbledore and some other teachers know.. But they believe he's come to our side, Dumbledore too."
"Could he have been the one that came in my dorm?" Hermione guessed.
"Likely, but I'm not sure that's his way, it's too mysterious and dangerous. Under Dumbledore's nose, I doubt that was him."
"So who could it have been??" they all asked.
"I think I have a guess." Sirius mumbled.
"Well, I'll tell you kids tomorrow, you guys need some rest." said Sirius.
"Aren't you hungry or something? Here," as Ron pulled out some Bertie Botts Every flavor Beans from nowhere and handed it to Sirius.
"Uh no thanks, I need something more substantial."
"Ok then we'll sneak you some food after breakfast okay" Hermione said.
"You can sleep in the boy's dorm we have some extra beds since Neville and the others went away for the Christmas vacation." offered Harry.
"Sure I bet sleeping in comfy beds is a lot better than sleeping in a cave with hay for a mattress... I can see it now.." as he drifted towards the boy's dorm getting a proper night's sleep. Harry and Ron followed Sirius while Hermione went the other way.
"Meow, PpUUuuRrrR…." Hermione looked down and saw the ginger-orange colored cat.
"Crookshanks! I've been really worried about you!" Hermione cried as she bent down to pick him up and give him a hug.
She went back to her dormitory and closed the door.
*tink tink tink* "Attention everyone" said Professor Dumbledore." Please welcome back the Beaubuxtons and Durmstrang." There came a measly cheer from the audience since there are about 40 of them. "There will be a couple of announcements before you can continue eating... ahem.. the Durmstrang and Beaubuxtons will be staying with us for some time so make them feel comfortable welcome. When the rest of the students return, inform them on what has happened. Thank you."
Harry and Ron went to the boy's dormitory while Hermione went to hers. "Whoa what happened here?" asked Ron. Their room was wet and cold and someone left the window open. "I guess the storm blew in the snow and it melted." Harry said.
"But I didn't leave the window open"
"Neither did I"
"Strange..."
"Oh w...w.ell lets get some rest," Ron said yawning.
"I guess your right, I wonder what other strange surprises are going to happen."
Ron crawled into to his pajama and soon crawled into his bed. Harry fell fast asleep soon after he laid his head down. What the boys don't know is that someone opened the window and was now inside the boy's dormitory.
Harry can feel an eerily presence looming up next to him... he opened his eyes and found a dark human figure next to his bed. Harry gave a loud yelp of shock,
"AAHHHH!" soon the sound was muffled by the figure's hand over his mouth.
"SHHHHH! Do u want to wake everyone up?" He whispered fiercely that almost sounded like a hiss.
Harry looked more closely trying to pierce the gloom to see the person next to his bed. The face looked gaunt and stretched, the hair was long, wild and messy.
"Sirius?"
"It's me alright."
"What's going on?" Ron said sleepily and who was rubbing sand from his eyes.
"Sirius is here."
"Hmmm.. That's nice.. " Barely stifling his yawn. Ahh! WHAT?!" exclaimed Ron. He was instantly awake, "What are you doing here? You could get caught and sent back to Azkaban"
"I know but I have to come here... It's about Durmstrang's new headmaster."
"What about?" Harry said.
"Well, I'll tell you when Hermione is here."
Hermione stepped into her dormitory and looked around. Nobody was there. It was damp, quiet and creepy in there. She went toward her bed and pick up the clothes from the floor. As she was putting the clothes back on her chair, she heard footsteps from the other girl's dormitory. She jumped into her bed and covered herself with the blanket.
"Hmmph. where could it be?" the stranger growled in frustration as he turned the handle to the door and stepped in.
He picked up some of Angela's clothes, looked under and inside and tossed it away.
Hermione's eyes widened and she tried her best to be silent as the strange man made his way closer and closer to her bed.
"Grr.. Well, this isn't the last time; it'll be here. It HAS to be in here... I know it is. I better be going before they come from the feast." The man muttered and crept out of the window and climbed out of the dorm.
Hermione gave a sigh of relief and went silently to the common room, hoping to see someone there.
It was empty so she went up to the boys' dorm expecting to see Harry and Ron.
But the boy's dorm was also empty. She waited a while in the quiet common room but no one came.
"This is weird, it's late at night already. Everyone should already be here but where are they??" she mumbled to herself.
She sat down on the couch and thought. From behind, three dark shadows approached her.
Hermione's heart beat faster and her eyes widened as she realized there were people behind her.
She turned around trying very hard not to scream.
"HI Hermione! You looked like you've seen a ghost," Ron said.
Hermione wasn't paying attention to what Ron said she was too busy looking at the new person in the common room.
"Harry...what's going on?"
"Sirius is here to tell us something about Durmstrang's new headmaster."
"BBbRRRrrr, there's a chill in the room," Ron piled the fireplace with logs and said a swift fire spell, more convieniet than matches, the chill from the room was fading into the corners where the heat of the fire could not reach.
"Oh... did u guys see someone here early that just went into the girls dorm?"
"Why? You saw something?" said Ron
"Yeah... he was looking for something."
"Well whatever he is he's long gone by now," Harry said.
"I guess so but be on alert." Warned Sirius.
They walked up to the girl's dorm to look around and find clues to which the mysterious person was. As the walked along, Harry hung back and talked to Hermione.
"So.. Who do you think that person was?" he asked.
"I don't know but it seemed like he was looking for something or someone."
Harry stared at the ceiling and then looked at Hermione, giving her a sharp look.
"Do you know how they got in?" he whispered.
"Through my window, why?" she looked confused.
"Nothing, it's just.. nevermind." he replied.
They went up to her dorm and looked at the open window. Harry walked to Hermione's bed and lifted up her blanket.
"What are you doing?" she said.
"Looking for clues." Harry stopped to look at them, "Well, don't just stand there staring into space, help look for clues."
Ron looked at Hermione who looked at Sirius.
Sirius shrugged and started looking along the windowsill.
It was stuck to a splinter. The fabric was black and coarse and it smelled like motor oil. That was all that they could find from the windowpane and sill. Though there were some orange furs scattered around the room. Suddenly Hermione exclaimed,
"Where's Crookshanks?!" She wailed and was frantically searching the room.
"What if the person who broke in was after Crookshanks?" asked Ron.
"Why? Besides he didn't find Crookshanks," her fear of the stranger was quickly turning into panic.
"Maybe you should tell us about Durmstrang's new Headmaster, you've stalled long enough." Said Harry.
"Oh right., about the Headmaster of Durmstrang. He's staying at the school for the time being because he was an auror that used to work with Moody." Sirius told them.
"Auror?! Moody?!" they all exclaimed.
"Yes.," he grinned then, "he got discovered working for Voldemort and he got sacked for it."
"What happened then?" Ron asked.
"Well, he was in Azkaban for awhile but he said he'd learned his wrongs and would like to help search for Voldemort again so he was released."
"Do you really think he learned his wrong doings?" Hermione asked.
"I highly doubt it. I don't think he would ever learn his wrong doings... Being what he is." Sirius scowled.
"What is he?" Harry asked.
"A death eater, if I'm not much mistaken, a second generation one. That means not a REAL one but one that came after the original group."
"Does Dumbledore or anyone else know?"
"Dumbledore and some other teachers know.. But they believe he's come to our side, Dumbledore too."
"Could he have been the one that came in my dorm?" Hermione guessed.
"Likely, but I'm not sure that's his way, it's too mysterious and dangerous. Under Dumbledore's nose, I doubt that was him."
"So who could it have been??" they all asked.
"I think I have a guess." Sirius mumbled.
"Well, I'll tell you kids tomorrow, you guys need some rest." said Sirius.
"Aren't you hungry or something? Here," as Ron pulled out some Bertie Botts Every flavor Beans from nowhere and handed it to Sirius.
"Uh no thanks, I need something more substantial."
"Ok then we'll sneak you some food after breakfast okay" Hermione said.
"You can sleep in the boy's dorm we have some extra beds since Neville and the others went away for the Christmas vacation." offered Harry.
"Sure I bet sleeping in comfy beds is a lot better than sleeping in a cave with hay for a mattress... I can see it now.." as he drifted towards the boy's dorm getting a proper night's sleep. Harry and Ron followed Sirius while Hermione went the other way.
"Meow, PpUUuuRrrR…." Hermione looked down and saw the ginger-orange colored cat.
"Crookshanks! I've been really worried about you!" Hermione cried as she bent down to pick him up and give him a hug.
She went back to her dormitory and closed the door.