Chapter 21
"Bad News from Dumbledore"
Turns out the Professor wasn't just going to dump them outside the door into the hall, no, he had a different plan. Snape intended to take them straight to the Headmaster of the school, Dumbledore.
Rory, wanting to provoke the teacher, started to chant in a singsong voice "Bein' draah-ged ah-long ah-gain, yeh-ah!" Rory said each word phonetically, emphasizing each annoyingly for effect.
Tabitha shot her a look that she hoped would make her quiet down, but Rory continued. Professor Snape snarled and sharply said "Shut up!" Rory only stopped momentarily, but soon she started humming it. And again Snape snapped "SHUT UP!"
Rory grinned, she was having fun at this, and decided that he deserved to be harassed since he insisted on dragging them around. She looked to Tabitha, "Ya know what this reminds me of?" she paused a split second, "When Wardwell gave us detention that one time.well 'cept not as greasy!" Rory finished by emphasizing the word 'greasy' and smirked. Snape obviously did not find it funny and he jerked her roughly upwards, Rory gagged and shut up immediately.
Tabitha rolled her eyes. Rory always had to go for the gusto, no matter what the consequences. Though her friend's antics made her giggle, Snape had been too busy reprimanding Rory that he hadn't noticed.
Professor Snape marched them directly to the Griffon door that led to Headmaster Dumbledore's office. He shoved them inside and followed after, Rory rubbed at her neck, muttering, "Jerk." Snape only growled in reply.
Soon the entrance turned and the teacher pushed them out. They had entered a circular room with moving pictures all about. There was a sleeping phoenix perched beside a large desk. Behind that desk sat Headmaster Dumbledore, a kindly looking wizard who had a long silver beard, crooked nose, and half-moon glasses. He looked up from the parchment he had been reading when Snape pushed them in, making them stand in front of Dumbledore himself.
"What seems to be the problem Severus?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked in a curious tone, resting his chin on folded hands. Rory and Tabitha got a brief feeling of déjà vu. Dumbledore had the same air as Headmistress Howe, gentle but powerful.
Snape frowned, "I found these two trouble makers in my class, trying to pass off as sixth years."
Dumbledore beamed, "Ah, but you girls are in year seven by now, aren't you?"
Rory looked down at her feet, and Tabitha gave a slow nod, murmuring, "Yes sir."
"Ah, I see, these two have been in trouble before" Snape said smirking.
Dumbledore interrupted, "Well, I assume at their own school, perhaps." He said, smiling at the girls.
Snape furrowed his brow in puzzlement, "Their school?"
"Yes, they're students, soon to graduate I think, of the Salem Witches Institute in America," Dumbledore explained.
Snape narrowed his eyes, "I mistook that one for Granger." he said nastily, gesturing towards Tabitha.
"Of course you did, their likeness is uncanny, since, they're cousins after all." Dumbledore continued. His smile was still kind, but his eyes had a sort of sadness to them. "You are free to leave now Severus."
Professor Snape growled and turned, leaving through the Griffon doorway, muttering to himself. Tabitha thought she had heard him mumble something about "bloody American brats" to himself.
"Well girls, it seems you have a lot of explaining to do." Dumbledore said as Professor Snape left.
"Yes sir," Rory said, "Well, you see, we -" she began.
But Dumbledore raised a hand, "I know why you're here."
"But you just said." Tabitha started.
Dumbledore smiled, "I was only saying that so that Professor Snape would not be sore that I had kept my discussion with Lyndia Howe a secret," he said.
"You mean you.she." Rory sputtered.
"Yes, yes," Dumbledore nodded, "Sit down, girls, please." Rory and Tabitha both took seats in chairs opposite from Dumbledore's desk and he continued, "Lyndia contacted me just after you left your campus," he said, "She knew that you two were distressed over the letter Hermione sent you and that there was nothing she could have done to prevent you from coming here, though we both agree that the decision was reckless."
"But we had to, Professor Dumbledore, sir," Tabitha said, trying to be polite as possible, "We couldn't just sit back and watch."
"I can sympathize with you, of course," Dumbledore said kindly, "But I'm afraid your journey may have been for naught. You may not be ready, but you have to hear it." He sighed, and looked from one girl to the other, both of whom were looking equally apprehensive. "Harry, Ron and Hermione have been missing for nearly a week now."
Turns out the Professor wasn't just going to dump them outside the door into the hall, no, he had a different plan. Snape intended to take them straight to the Headmaster of the school, Dumbledore.
Rory, wanting to provoke the teacher, started to chant in a singsong voice "Bein' draah-ged ah-long ah-gain, yeh-ah!" Rory said each word phonetically, emphasizing each annoyingly for effect.
Tabitha shot her a look that she hoped would make her quiet down, but Rory continued. Professor Snape snarled and sharply said "Shut up!" Rory only stopped momentarily, but soon she started humming it. And again Snape snapped "SHUT UP!"
Rory grinned, she was having fun at this, and decided that he deserved to be harassed since he insisted on dragging them around. She looked to Tabitha, "Ya know what this reminds me of?" she paused a split second, "When Wardwell gave us detention that one time.well 'cept not as greasy!" Rory finished by emphasizing the word 'greasy' and smirked. Snape obviously did not find it funny and he jerked her roughly upwards, Rory gagged and shut up immediately.
Tabitha rolled her eyes. Rory always had to go for the gusto, no matter what the consequences. Though her friend's antics made her giggle, Snape had been too busy reprimanding Rory that he hadn't noticed.
Professor Snape marched them directly to the Griffon door that led to Headmaster Dumbledore's office. He shoved them inside and followed after, Rory rubbed at her neck, muttering, "Jerk." Snape only growled in reply.
Soon the entrance turned and the teacher pushed them out. They had entered a circular room with moving pictures all about. There was a sleeping phoenix perched beside a large desk. Behind that desk sat Headmaster Dumbledore, a kindly looking wizard who had a long silver beard, crooked nose, and half-moon glasses. He looked up from the parchment he had been reading when Snape pushed them in, making them stand in front of Dumbledore himself.
"What seems to be the problem Severus?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked in a curious tone, resting his chin on folded hands. Rory and Tabitha got a brief feeling of déjà vu. Dumbledore had the same air as Headmistress Howe, gentle but powerful.
Snape frowned, "I found these two trouble makers in my class, trying to pass off as sixth years."
Dumbledore beamed, "Ah, but you girls are in year seven by now, aren't you?"
Rory looked down at her feet, and Tabitha gave a slow nod, murmuring, "Yes sir."
"Ah, I see, these two have been in trouble before" Snape said smirking.
Dumbledore interrupted, "Well, I assume at their own school, perhaps." He said, smiling at the girls.
Snape furrowed his brow in puzzlement, "Their school?"
"Yes, they're students, soon to graduate I think, of the Salem Witches Institute in America," Dumbledore explained.
Snape narrowed his eyes, "I mistook that one for Granger." he said nastily, gesturing towards Tabitha.
"Of course you did, their likeness is uncanny, since, they're cousins after all." Dumbledore continued. His smile was still kind, but his eyes had a sort of sadness to them. "You are free to leave now Severus."
Professor Snape growled and turned, leaving through the Griffon doorway, muttering to himself. Tabitha thought she had heard him mumble something about "bloody American brats" to himself.
"Well girls, it seems you have a lot of explaining to do." Dumbledore said as Professor Snape left.
"Yes sir," Rory said, "Well, you see, we -" she began.
But Dumbledore raised a hand, "I know why you're here."
"But you just said." Tabitha started.
Dumbledore smiled, "I was only saying that so that Professor Snape would not be sore that I had kept my discussion with Lyndia Howe a secret," he said.
"You mean you.she." Rory sputtered.
"Yes, yes," Dumbledore nodded, "Sit down, girls, please." Rory and Tabitha both took seats in chairs opposite from Dumbledore's desk and he continued, "Lyndia contacted me just after you left your campus," he said, "She knew that you two were distressed over the letter Hermione sent you and that there was nothing she could have done to prevent you from coming here, though we both agree that the decision was reckless."
"But we had to, Professor Dumbledore, sir," Tabitha said, trying to be polite as possible, "We couldn't just sit back and watch."
"I can sympathize with you, of course," Dumbledore said kindly, "But I'm afraid your journey may have been for naught. You may not be ready, but you have to hear it." He sighed, and looked from one girl to the other, both of whom were looking equally apprehensive. "Harry, Ron and Hermione have been missing for nearly a week now."