Dark World
CHAPTER EIGHT: APPROACH OF MIDNIGHT
I woke up in a cold sweat. I had watched as a plane surrounded in green had crashed into a castle at the foot of a mountain. Screams had mingled with the loud roar of the plane. I had seen my parents' faces as fire had enveloped them suddenly. I watched my friends cast spells against the plane but the green sucked in the magic and only made the large contraption speed up.
I looked around at the closed curtains of the girls' beds. My sheets lay in a tangled heap at the bottom of my bed. I looked around and a sudden chill sent uncommonly cold shivers down my back. I put a black robe over my purple pajamas and slipped on my black terrycloth slippers. I crept to the common room where no one dared be at this hour. The two old grandfather clocks at either side of the fire struck one scaring me out of my wits.
Breathing sharply I put a hand over my chest as if it would slow my hurried heartbeat. I slunk underneath the large, RavenClaw tapestry and hurried across the cold Room of Four to the largest tapestry bearing the Hogwarts Shield.
"Headmaster?" I whispered peeking my head into his office. My eyes squinted at the bright light of the roaring fire. I saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk with Harry in a robe and stripes red pajamas sitting in front of him.
"Ah! Here she is now. I thought you'd be coming along soon." I stepped through the portal and rubbed my sleepy eyes. The headmaster conjured up a steaming mug of hot chocolate and I took it gratefully. I sat in the plush seat next to Harry.
"Well, Harry why don't you go first?" The old wizard said. Harry nodded and took a long sip of his drink before starting.
"I had a dream about Voldemort," He looked at me and seemed rather surprised I didn't flinch, "again. He was in this room and he was talking to Lucius Malfoy. He kept talking about how he was making a new submitting curse and how much fun it'd be to try on Lucius," I shivered at the thought of submitting anyone to something like that, "Before he left he placed the 'Crucio' curse on him. And then I woke up and my scar was killing me." He said rubbing his lighting bolt shaped scar.
"Well, that seems to pose quiet a problem." Dumbledore said and then turned to me, "And you, Sari?"
"Well . . . I had a dream about Snowdem . . ." I paused and looked at the cup in my lap, "I was watching the destruction. A plane was hurtling towards the school and this green magic looking thing was surrounding it. All the students and teachers throwing spells at it were just sucked up by the green stuff and made the plane move faster. I watched as it crashed into the school . . ." I paused and looked into the fire as tears stung the corners of my eyes, "I saw my parents die." I whispered quickly before my voice cracked.
A tapping at the window broke the uneasy silence. Dumbledore opened the window to let in a tired owl. Dumbledore took the note attached and read it quickly.
"This certainly changed things." He said and looked at us. He walked over to the fire and threw a handful of powder into the fire. McGonagall's face appeared and she hid a yawn behind her hand, "Mervina, wake the perfects! Tell them to get their houses into the Great Hall immediately! I need to alert the teachers. Also, Mervina . . ."
"Yes, Albus."
"Tell Flinch to put up our barrier." A gasp came from the composed teacher, "We don't have time for questions. Just do it." The woman nodded and her face vanished from the flames.
"Sari, take Harry back through the Room." Dumbledore told me. I nodded dumbly and grabbed Harry wrist, "Stay calm. I will be needing you soon enough, with your wits about you." We nodded again.
"Come on, Harry." I said pulling him through the portal. I hurried over to the Gryffindor tapestry. I held it back and pushed him gently towards the golden tapestry.
"What is it?"
"It goes to your common room." I said becoming impatient as I heard voices coming from the other side. "Go!" I urged pushing him through. He looked back confused and then hurried when hearing his name called. I turned and hurried across the room.
"Sari?" Jill asked emerging from the tapestry when I was halfway across the room.
"Come on!" I said dragging her back through into a bustling common room. No one noticed our odd entrance and we hurried over to Amy and Violet. They were shaking as we made our way down to the Great Hall. Gryffindors were hurrying in as we reached the huge doors. I spotted Harry and we both exchanged knowing looks.
Syltherins and Hufflepuffs were already there and mingled in and out of the houses. The tables had midnight snacks on them and students stood around nibbling on the snacks. They talked hurriedly and fidgeted nervously. According to Jill and Amy the last time they had slept in the Great Hall was when Sirius Black had gotten in the castle.
Harry caught my eye and motioned to follow him. I excused myself and did so. He stopped at a dark corner in the hall.
"Did you see what was in that letter?" He asked. I shook my head. He frowned in thought. Suddenly the Great Hall's burst open with a huge gust of wind. The students screamed until they realized it was Dumbledore. He walked to the front followed by the teachers in two single file lines. I gulped and heard Harry play with his robe absent –mindedly.
"I am sorry to frighten you so, but the matter that comes to hand is this. Two students have had dreams of the wrath of the Dark Lord. I have been hearing rumors of his reemerging for months now and this has only heightened my suspicions. Ladies and gentlemen I have also a letter here from the Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley." The crowd's respectful silence faded into dumbfounded quite and hushed gawks, "Cornielus Fudge was over thrown by Ministry officials tonight and Mr. Weasley found a great deal of hidden evidence showing a recent rise to power by Lord Voldemort." Harry and I looked at each other in shock as the room cringed at the name, "Mr. Weasley also goes on to add that due to recent events there is good reason to expect Voldemort is going to attack Hogwarts." Screams came from the crowd as the students became beyond horrified.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!" Dumbledore roared finally hushing the group, "Fortunately we have prepared for this attack ever since the first uprising. I would like all first and second year students to follow the Syltherin and Hufflepuff perfects to the entrance hall. You will be apparated to your homes by members of the faculty. Third and fourth year students, please follow the RavenClaw and Gryffindor perfects to the third floor, you will be using the Floo network to get home. If any other year would like to go with them please do so at this time." There was a bustling as the students left and soon the crowd was considerably smaller.