Chapter Thirteen: The Summons!

"Don't forget you two-see if you can find out anything about Merlin over the Christmas break!" Jenny told us as we arrived on platform nine and three-quarters for our holidays.

"Merry Christmas to you too." Martin muttered, but Jenny didn't seem to hear. Of course the moment I saw my parents all thoughts of Merlin went out of my head.

"Mum! Dad!" I called, and I hurried over to them.

"Sam! You've grown these few months!" Mum said fondly.

"So have you!" Aunt Hermoine said, gathering Jenny into her arms, like Mum had with me. I saw Martin wave goodbye as he and his parents left, and I waved back.

"What's the bet he doesn't do any of his holiday homework?" Jenny said to me, noticing me wave.

I shrugged.

"So, how's the Gryffindoor Quidditch team coming along?" Uncle Ron asked us, as we all began to walk.

"We're currently second. It's been a brilliant season so far!" I said, and I began to give all the highlights to both Dad and Uncle Ron. Behind me I heard Jenny giving Mum and Aunt Hermoine the news of classes and what she'd learnt.

Soon we arrived at where my parents had parked their car. Because Dad had been brought up in the muggle world he was more than happy to do things the muggle way-like drive through the crowded London streets in a muggle car. Aunt Hermoine had been brought up the same way-both her parents were muggles, and therefore she was the same. It had been quite a struggle for her to convince Uncle Ron that having a car was more practical than apperating and using Floo powder all the time-it helped them blend in she argued. We all said our goodbyes and got in our respective cars, with Jenny hissing at me not to forget.

My parents and I lived in an outer suburb of London because they both worked for the Ministry and wanted to be near it. Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermoine and Jenny lived further out in the country near the rest of the Weasley clan, and traveled into London for work each day.

As we drove along I said "Dad, how come Snape hates us so much?"

"Snape? Then Ron was right!" Dad said more to himself than to me. In a louder voice he said, "Snape hates us because my Dad saved his life, and so did I and your Aunt Hermoine once. But really he also hates everyone Sam."

"Your Dad's right." Mum said, turning round in her seat to smile at me. "Snape used to give us horrible essays and tests-and your father wasn't even in that class with us!"

"He seems to like the Slytherin's just fine." I argued. "He never takes points off them.."

"Well they're his house, he wouldn't would he?" Dad asked, frowning at all the traffic.

"Alforth seems to be one of his favorites-apparently he liked his Dad quite a lot. But the way Alforth was speaking about his Dad, well he didn't sound very nice to me!"

"Alforth Malfoy?" Dad demanded.

"Yeah." I said.

"You've spoken to him?" Dad asked, his voice strange.

"Sure, he was put in Gryffindoor for a bit, but then his Dad complained so much that the headmistress agreed to resort him, and then the hat put him in Slytherin where he belongs." I explained.

"Sam, I thought I told you not to associate with Alforth." Dad said.

"Well I wasn't associating really..It's not like we're friends or anything." I argued, as we turned into our driveway.

"I'm glad. I've told you Sam-the Malfoy's are not the sort of people you want to be friends with." Dad said.

I didn't respond, as we went inside. As much as I loved Hogwarts I was glad to be in my comfortable, familiar house again. Later that night, after I had gone to bed, I was thirsty, and got up to get a drink, and on my way back from the kitchen I heard my parents speaking. When I heard my name, I stopped and listened.

"Sam told you he's not friends with Malfoy Harry. That should be more than enough for you." Mum said.

"I trust him of course." Dad said. "I just wish that he hadn't even spoken to Malfoy."

"Well they're in the same year so they're bound to run across one another." Mum said diplomatically.

"I know Cho." Dad said. "But I'm convinced that the Malfoy's had more to do with that thing with Fudge trying to make himself into a Lord Voldemort years back."

"Be that as it may Malfoy's not going to do anything at school that will concern Sam." Mum said.

"I know. I can't help but worry though. I've just got this feeling, and I can't explain it Cho, but I feel like Sam's in danger from something." Dad said. I could tell by his voice that he really believed it.

"Stop worrying Harry." Mum said. "I'm going to bed, are you coming?"

I hurried back to my room with my glass of water hoping they didn't know I'd been there. My parents had never had secrets from me, and I knew the story about Fudge, but the news that the Malfoys were involved was new to me. As I drifted off to sleep I wondered about Dad's concern that I was in danger....

*****

The week and a half we were given for our Christmas holidays seemed to fly by. Before I knew it we were due back at school in a two days and I hadn't even began my homework. I'd been too busy having fun with my parents and celebrating Christmas. We'd gone into the city to see the muggle Christmas Carols, and we'd gone to movies, and had a great time. I finally sat down with my transfiguration book and started on my essay, however I hadn't done much when an owl arrived from Jenny.

"Dear Sam,

I hope you've been enjoying your Christmas break. I've taken the opportunity to catch up on some extra readings I'd been planning to do. My parents were surprised that you all didn't come up for Christmas here. Grandmother was sure you'd be here, but apparently your parents thought it might be nice to spend some time in the city, and do some of the muggle things. I'm jealous because it means you might have a start on me in Muggle studies if you chose to do it. Of course, with Mum being brought up a muggle and all I can't be too far behind! Mum and Dad have noticed my studying efforts, and Dad says I'm Mum's clone. I said if I get the marks she did I don't mind. He looked thoughtful and said that was all well and good, but that he also hoped I was having fun at Hogwarts like he had! Maybe I should lighten up a bit? Anyway, the point of this owl is that I found out some things about Merlin! According to Mum he was mostly interested in studying the dark arts, and he usually collaborated with someone, and chose for his name not to be mentioned, as he was an intensely private person-which is why we can't find anything! She seems to think he spent awhile over in America studying dark arts there. However he was also very good in things such as charms, and wizard legend has it that someone saw him charm something up when he was over there, and asked his name, and when he said Merlin they went off and wrote about Merlin the Magician. So because he's so private that's why nobody knows much about him! Mum did suggest, though, we ask our Charms teacher since not only was he a dark arts specialist, but perhaps also he knew a lot about charms. We'll have to ask Professor Horring when we get back to Hogwarts. Anyway, I am almost out of parchment, so I'll see you on the train in a few days.

Jenny.

P.S. DO YOUR HOMEWORK SAM!"

I grinned at the postscript. Typical Jenny! But the rest of the letter interested me-so Merlin was a wizard, and if he worked on dark arts he must have been a good wizard, which made it seem even stranger that he didn't like people knowing much about him! Well when we got back to Hogwarts at least we would know where to look.

*****

"SAM! How was your holiday?" Martin asked a few days later as we greeted each other at the train station. I'd said goodbye to my parents and hurried onto the train to see whether he or Jenny were there yet. I'd found him comfortable in a carriage.

"Smashing. Yours?" I asked.

"Brilliant yeah!" Martin replied. "Where's the nerd?"

"She's not here yet..and Martin, I think you might owe me a dare." I replied smugly, ignoring his jibe.

"What? She found out about Merlin?" Martin asked.

I told him what Jenny had told me. "Ask Horring?" He groaned. "Do we care about Merlin enough to voluntarily speak to that sod?"

Jenny arrived then and heard the last comment. "I don't know about you Martin," She said. "But I sure do."

Martin glanced at me and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Well I wouldn't mind finding out more-even if it means we have to speak to him." I admitted.

Martin sighed. "Fine. Have it your way. We'll ask Horring the moment we get back to school!" He said.

However, as it turned out, we didn't get the chance. We'd only just entered the building when Nearly-headless Nick came floating over to us. "Children," He said dramatically. "I'm here to tell you that you've been summoned."

"Summoned?" Jenny repeated, looking at us confused. But we were just as confused as she was.

"To the ghost's council. Be there tonight at midnight sharp. We're meeting in the auditorium since you'll be able to find that better than our usual meeting place. Make sure you're there children, believe me." And he floated off, leaving us staring after him our mouths agape. A summons to the ghost's council? What on earth was it about?