A/N: This is going to be a relatively short chapter - I mean, compared to
my previous ones. But, mind you, this is a VERY MEANINGFUL chapter. Oh, and
before you move on to Chapter 7, may I suggest that you listen to Stephen
Speaks' song, "Out Of My League"? Just get a feel of the beat and the
message of the song. It's going to carry the whole essence of Chapter 7
across. It's available for listening at mp3.com.
Thanks for the wonderful reviews, everyone!
DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters.
CHAPTER 6:
/Hogwarts hasn't changed a bit./
I gingerly stepped out of the horseless carriage that had carried me toward the castle after leaving the Hogwarts Express that morning. The castle stood as magnificent and as grand as ever, with its tall towers with red, green, yellow and blue flags waving from their turrets. Sunlight shone on dappled windows, reflecting a rainbow of colors. Off to the side, I could clearly see the Quidditch Pitch. I've watched Harry and Ron play there many times, watched them fall as well then end up at the hospital wing. I've always wanted to ask Madam Pomfrey if the two of them broke the record for most number of times to be delivered to the hospital wing. They certainly spent enough time there when we attended Hogwarts.
I slowly climbed up the stone steps of the castle, remembering the way I had rushed down them so quickly four years ago. To escape Harry.
/Stop it. I forbid you to think of Harry today./
Speaking of Harry...
I dreaded Saturday. I didn't want it to come. What the heck was going on in David's mind to make him ask Harry and Ron to dinner? I wasn't aware that they'd become buddies all of a sudden.
A part of me argued that David was only trying to be nice, and I appreciate that. I really do. But David usually don't get along that quickly with most guys. He's got lots of female friends, that's for sure. But I've never seen him actually hang out with the guys, like, well, like most guys do. He has colleagues, of course, but they're colleagues. Workmates. They don't even count as friends.
Maybe he thinks he can get along well with Harry and Ron because they *are* my best friends and all.
No time to ponder more on that - Professor Dumbledore met me at the Front Hall.
"Miss Granger," he said slowly, smiling under that white beard. "It's a pleasure to see you again. Milos owled me more than once about your performance in Cambridge. I congratulate you on finishing, once again, at the top of your class."
I shook his hand. The same hand that had fought Voldemort and defeated him once and for all. "It's great to see you, too, Professor. Thank you for your congratulations, but I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to prove myself in the real world."
He smiled at me as he graciously offered his arm for me to take. "Come, we shall tour the castle a bit before we are called to lunch. I dare say, you would like to see Gryffindor Tower once again, and perhaps meet our Head Boy and Head Girl."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Professor Dumbledore treated me like I was Minister of Magic, and even moreso. He allowed me to sit in on one of Professor McGonagall's 7th-year Transfiguration classes, where I was invited to turn into an Animagus - an eagle. In Professor Binns' History class, I broke the stupor by being heartily introduced as a fully-qualified diplomat, which earned a round of questions from the students. Out in the greenhouses, Neville had become an assistant professor to Professor Sprout, who was about to retire next year. He had hugged me instantly when I walked in, earning catcalls and hoots from the students. I didn't bother going down to the dungeons for Potions, or the Astronomy Tower for Divination. There are just some things better left alone.
We strode into the Great Hall, still arm in arm, Professor Dumbledore and I, until we seated ourselves at the staff table. At the next moment, I could feel something brush against my robes and realized that it was Dobby, brandishing a platter of roast turkey and gravy.
"Dobby!" I squealed.
"Miss!" he cried back, balancing the platter precariously on one arm and hugging my leg with the other arm. "You is come back to Hogwarts! You is come back!"
"Only for a visit, though, but I'm awfully glad to see you. How are you doing, Dobby?"
Dobby set down the platter in front of us and stationed himself between our seats. "Very, very well, Miss. Headmaster is giving Dobby a raise now - five whole galleons!" He looked sheepishly at Professor Dumbledore, who was pretending not to listen as he sipped wine from his goblet. "Headmaster is also offering Dobby a paid holiday, but Dobby says no, Miss. It's too much kindness already. But Dobby can buy more socks now, Miss. Look!" and proceeds to display a bright yellow sock with Bludgers hitting each other knitted on them on his left foot and a rainbow-colored, striped sock on his right.
"They're very, er, bright, Dobby. And Winky? How is she?"
"Winky is getting raise from Headmaster as well, Miss. Two galleons, she has now! Winky cried when she had one galleon. Now, she wails at two galleons."
"But she's happy?"
"Yes, Miss. She is getting over her Master Barty long ago. She knows she serves Headmaster now." His big, saucer-shaped eyes brightened. "Has Miss been to see Harry Potter?"
I nodded, and I noticed that Professor Dumbledore's ears perked up a little at hearing his name. "I have. He met me when I first came home."
"Sir was crying when you went away, Miss."
"Crying? Harry was...crying?"
Dobby nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, Miss. I sees him in your old room when you left. Sir was looking for you and didn't see you, then he cried." He jerked so suddenly that I jumped a little, and before I could ask what was wrong, Dobby began to hit himself on the head with the spare platter he had grabbed from the table. "Bad Dobby, spying on Harry Potter! Bad, bad, bad Dobby!"
Someone ought to teach the elves not to hit themselves.
I pulled the platter out of his hands before he could hit himself again. "I'm sure you weren't spying. You just...walked in on him, didn't you? I'm sure you didn't mean it."
From the corner of my eye, I could see Professor Dumbledore's lips curl up into a smile.
"Did - did he say anything?" I pressed, careful not to make Dobby feel as if I'm forcing him to tell on Harry.
"No, Miss. But Sir pulled out a scarf from behind the bed before leaving."
A scarf? I don't recall missing a scarf.
"There's nothing else?"
Dobby shook his head. Well, I got more information than I needed anyway. "Thanks, Dobby. Say hello to Winky for me."
"Yes, Miss." He stares at me with happiness in his eyes before walking away. "Sir must be very happy now that Miss is back," he said before leaving.
I turn back to my original position and stare down at my plate. Harry *cried* when I left? He actually *cried*? As in, with tears falling down his cheeks and everything?
"Harry was very surprised and a little hurt when you decided to leave without saying goodbye, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore said quietly, still holding his goblet. I looked up and glanced at the wise, old wizard beside me, wondering how he knew what I was thinking.
He set his goblet down and turned to face me. "Was it your intention to ask me to leave Hogwarts early for you to escape him, or for him to look for you?"
I returned my gaze to my plate, unable to speak.
Professor Dumbledore seemed to notice my brain's tumbled state because he sat upright again. "I understand that you are engaged, Miss Granger. Milos informed me of the good news and tells me that your fiancée is quite a handsome and intelligent young man."
/Familiar ground,/ I thought, feeling relief.
"Yes, sir. His name is David Callaway."
"I imagine that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were a bit surprised at your news," he continued, smiling.
Surprised? Shocked was a better way to put it.
"And how did Mr. Callaway react when he found out you were a witch?"
Dead end. "I - I haven't exactly told him yet, sir."
I think he knew the answer to that question even before he asked it. Then...
"Are you sure that you want to marry him?"
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"What do you see when you look into his eyes, Miss Granger? Do you see yourself, reflected as you are now? Or do you see yourself as who you want to be five, ten years from now?"
Professor Dumbledore looks into my eyes. "Do you see love in his eyes? Love, passion, desire and anger? Or do you see only his eyes?"
"If you do, his eyes will tell you nothing."
I don't understand what he is trying to say. But then again, it's not easy trying to figure out what a wise, old wizard is saying.
But what did he mean by that? Do I see love in David's eyes? Well, of course, I do. I mean, there must be something there for me to agree to marry him, right?
Right?
**********
A/N: Just a reminder. You'll appreciate Chapter 7 even more if you listen to Stephen Speaks' "Out Of My League." There's a part in Chapter 7 that I've custom-fit to this song, so if you have an MP3, download it and listen to it as you're reading the next chapter.
Chapter 7 to be posted right after this one (as long as I get favorable Chapter 6 reviews *hint hint*!).
Thanks for the wonderful reviews, everyone!
DISCLAIMER: J.K. Rowling owns the Harry Potter characters.
CHAPTER 6:
/Hogwarts hasn't changed a bit./
I gingerly stepped out of the horseless carriage that had carried me toward the castle after leaving the Hogwarts Express that morning. The castle stood as magnificent and as grand as ever, with its tall towers with red, green, yellow and blue flags waving from their turrets. Sunlight shone on dappled windows, reflecting a rainbow of colors. Off to the side, I could clearly see the Quidditch Pitch. I've watched Harry and Ron play there many times, watched them fall as well then end up at the hospital wing. I've always wanted to ask Madam Pomfrey if the two of them broke the record for most number of times to be delivered to the hospital wing. They certainly spent enough time there when we attended Hogwarts.
I slowly climbed up the stone steps of the castle, remembering the way I had rushed down them so quickly four years ago. To escape Harry.
/Stop it. I forbid you to think of Harry today./
Speaking of Harry...
I dreaded Saturday. I didn't want it to come. What the heck was going on in David's mind to make him ask Harry and Ron to dinner? I wasn't aware that they'd become buddies all of a sudden.
A part of me argued that David was only trying to be nice, and I appreciate that. I really do. But David usually don't get along that quickly with most guys. He's got lots of female friends, that's for sure. But I've never seen him actually hang out with the guys, like, well, like most guys do. He has colleagues, of course, but they're colleagues. Workmates. They don't even count as friends.
Maybe he thinks he can get along well with Harry and Ron because they *are* my best friends and all.
No time to ponder more on that - Professor Dumbledore met me at the Front Hall.
"Miss Granger," he said slowly, smiling under that white beard. "It's a pleasure to see you again. Milos owled me more than once about your performance in Cambridge. I congratulate you on finishing, once again, at the top of your class."
I shook his hand. The same hand that had fought Voldemort and defeated him once and for all. "It's great to see you, too, Professor. Thank you for your congratulations, but I must thank you for giving me the opportunity to prove myself in the real world."
He smiled at me as he graciously offered his arm for me to take. "Come, we shall tour the castle a bit before we are called to lunch. I dare say, you would like to see Gryffindor Tower once again, and perhaps meet our Head Boy and Head Girl."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Professor Dumbledore treated me like I was Minister of Magic, and even moreso. He allowed me to sit in on one of Professor McGonagall's 7th-year Transfiguration classes, where I was invited to turn into an Animagus - an eagle. In Professor Binns' History class, I broke the stupor by being heartily introduced as a fully-qualified diplomat, which earned a round of questions from the students. Out in the greenhouses, Neville had become an assistant professor to Professor Sprout, who was about to retire next year. He had hugged me instantly when I walked in, earning catcalls and hoots from the students. I didn't bother going down to the dungeons for Potions, or the Astronomy Tower for Divination. There are just some things better left alone.
We strode into the Great Hall, still arm in arm, Professor Dumbledore and I, until we seated ourselves at the staff table. At the next moment, I could feel something brush against my robes and realized that it was Dobby, brandishing a platter of roast turkey and gravy.
"Dobby!" I squealed.
"Miss!" he cried back, balancing the platter precariously on one arm and hugging my leg with the other arm. "You is come back to Hogwarts! You is come back!"
"Only for a visit, though, but I'm awfully glad to see you. How are you doing, Dobby?"
Dobby set down the platter in front of us and stationed himself between our seats. "Very, very well, Miss. Headmaster is giving Dobby a raise now - five whole galleons!" He looked sheepishly at Professor Dumbledore, who was pretending not to listen as he sipped wine from his goblet. "Headmaster is also offering Dobby a paid holiday, but Dobby says no, Miss. It's too much kindness already. But Dobby can buy more socks now, Miss. Look!" and proceeds to display a bright yellow sock with Bludgers hitting each other knitted on them on his left foot and a rainbow-colored, striped sock on his right.
"They're very, er, bright, Dobby. And Winky? How is she?"
"Winky is getting raise from Headmaster as well, Miss. Two galleons, she has now! Winky cried when she had one galleon. Now, she wails at two galleons."
"But she's happy?"
"Yes, Miss. She is getting over her Master Barty long ago. She knows she serves Headmaster now." His big, saucer-shaped eyes brightened. "Has Miss been to see Harry Potter?"
I nodded, and I noticed that Professor Dumbledore's ears perked up a little at hearing his name. "I have. He met me when I first came home."
"Sir was crying when you went away, Miss."
"Crying? Harry was...crying?"
Dobby nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, Miss. I sees him in your old room when you left. Sir was looking for you and didn't see you, then he cried." He jerked so suddenly that I jumped a little, and before I could ask what was wrong, Dobby began to hit himself on the head with the spare platter he had grabbed from the table. "Bad Dobby, spying on Harry Potter! Bad, bad, bad Dobby!"
Someone ought to teach the elves not to hit themselves.
I pulled the platter out of his hands before he could hit himself again. "I'm sure you weren't spying. You just...walked in on him, didn't you? I'm sure you didn't mean it."
From the corner of my eye, I could see Professor Dumbledore's lips curl up into a smile.
"Did - did he say anything?" I pressed, careful not to make Dobby feel as if I'm forcing him to tell on Harry.
"No, Miss. But Sir pulled out a scarf from behind the bed before leaving."
A scarf? I don't recall missing a scarf.
"There's nothing else?"
Dobby shook his head. Well, I got more information than I needed anyway. "Thanks, Dobby. Say hello to Winky for me."
"Yes, Miss." He stares at me with happiness in his eyes before walking away. "Sir must be very happy now that Miss is back," he said before leaving.
I turn back to my original position and stare down at my plate. Harry *cried* when I left? He actually *cried*? As in, with tears falling down his cheeks and everything?
"Harry was very surprised and a little hurt when you decided to leave without saying goodbye, Miss Granger," Professor Dumbledore said quietly, still holding his goblet. I looked up and glanced at the wise, old wizard beside me, wondering how he knew what I was thinking.
He set his goblet down and turned to face me. "Was it your intention to ask me to leave Hogwarts early for you to escape him, or for him to look for you?"
I returned my gaze to my plate, unable to speak.
Professor Dumbledore seemed to notice my brain's tumbled state because he sat upright again. "I understand that you are engaged, Miss Granger. Milos informed me of the good news and tells me that your fiancée is quite a handsome and intelligent young man."
/Familiar ground,/ I thought, feeling relief.
"Yes, sir. His name is David Callaway."
"I imagine that Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley were a bit surprised at your news," he continued, smiling.
Surprised? Shocked was a better way to put it.
"And how did Mr. Callaway react when he found out you were a witch?"
Dead end. "I - I haven't exactly told him yet, sir."
I think he knew the answer to that question even before he asked it. Then...
"Are you sure that you want to marry him?"
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"What do you see when you look into his eyes, Miss Granger? Do you see yourself, reflected as you are now? Or do you see yourself as who you want to be five, ten years from now?"
Professor Dumbledore looks into my eyes. "Do you see love in his eyes? Love, passion, desire and anger? Or do you see only his eyes?"
"If you do, his eyes will tell you nothing."
I don't understand what he is trying to say. But then again, it's not easy trying to figure out what a wise, old wizard is saying.
But what did he mean by that? Do I see love in David's eyes? Well, of course, I do. I mean, there must be something there for me to agree to marry him, right?
Right?
**********
A/N: Just a reminder. You'll appreciate Chapter 7 even more if you listen to Stephen Speaks' "Out Of My League." There's a part in Chapter 7 that I've custom-fit to this song, so if you have an MP3, download it and listen to it as you're reading the next chapter.
Chapter 7 to be posted right after this one (as long as I get favorable Chapter 6 reviews *hint hint*!).