This wasn't the first time Nyla had to visit a headmaster's office; damn
this was probably the 12th time, or something like that, because apart from
the first-day interviews with the headmasters of six different schools, she
had also returned to the same office to receive her expulsion lecture.
However, as callous as she thought she had become, she couldn't help but
marvel at Dumbledore's office. there were so many weird silvery instruments
in the tables, and so many pictures of past headmasters that she felt as
though that was a museum instead of an office.
"Wow. I can see now why sexy-boy called this dude a relic, but I kinda like this office. at least, by the looks of it the guy is too much of a nutcase to give me a hard time. at least I hope so."
"I don't know if I would call myself a nutcase, but I certainly don't plan on giving you a hard time, Ms. Welsh."
Nyla froze in her step as soon as she heard the kind, but determined voice behind her, and she just KNEW that she had said too much, as usual. Turning around she couldn't help but smile at the sight of the elderly man in front of her. *Bullshitting this guy is gonna be a piece of cake.* Boy, was she wrong??
"So Ms. Welsh. My name is Albus Dumbledore and I would like to welcome you to Hogwarts."
"Hey thanks. I guess I don't need to introduce myself since you already know my name."
Nyla had never felt so awkward in her entire life. The headmaster had a way of looking at her that made it seem as though he could read her soul, but strangely enough, he didn't seem pissed off about being called a nutcase.
"No, you don't need to introduce yourself, nor do you need to tell me why you are here. I know all about your past, and I received an owl a while ago from your past headmaster warning me about your, how should I call it? Problem with authority."
Nyla felt her throat go dry. *What did that bastard tell him? I mean, do they really expect people to follow those stupid rules, like 'boys are not allowed in the girls dormitory'??? Please. that guy just had it in for me. everybody broke the rules, but only I got in trouble. and they call that fair. YEAH RIGHT!!!* But, even with all that going through her mind, she wasn't able to voice it out. so she just nodded and smiled sheepishly.
"But don't worry Ms. Welsh! I believe in giving everybody a second chance, so I just ignored that owl. I do, however, want to hear your side of the story. better yet. I want you to tell me about you.."
"Well, you see. I don't even know where to start. I think I have the most bizarre life possible."
"How about I tell you what I know about you then??"
Even though she didn't really want to hear her life's story once again, she figured it would be better than actually having to explain it.. so she just nodded and motioned for him to go on.
"Well, you were born in England, and if I'm not mistaken, your mother attended Hogwarts, correct?"
Nyla just nodded.
"You lived with here until you were about eleven, you even received a Hogwarts letter, but then your mother was involved in a conflict with one of the Death-Eaters, and you were counseled to move to another country. I believe you attended Durmstrang for the first two years, but an argument with Karkaroff got you your first expulsion."
Nyla froze. so he knew about Karkaroff.
"Professor, about that. I just want to make it clear that the conflict wasn't as bad as my record might indicate. he just was in a really bad mood and didn't really feel like wasting his time with me."
Dumbledore's eyes shone behind his moon-shaped glasses and he smiled kindly.
"Don't worry, my dear. I'm just telling you what I know. I don't plan on holding any of it against you. I am well aware of how explosive Professor Karkaroff can be. but shall I go on?"
"Please do."
"Well, after Durmstrang, you moved to Belgium, and after just six months, for reasons that are not yet clear, you were requested to leave. France was your next stop, and even though you had an excellent record there, you were forced to switch schools again, this time for reasons beyond your control! Your mother fought valiantly against the rise of Voldemort, about three years ago, and her testimony is crucial if the Ministry hopes to arrest all the Death Eaters involved. so you had to leave again, this time by yourself, since your mother had been placed under the care of WWPP. After that, I don't believe your rebellious acts to be of much importance to us, so we are just going to skip those and get to the part where you transferred into Hogwarts, how is that??"
Nyla smiled, liking the headmaster more and more with every passing minute.
"That sounds perfect to me."
"You are here now, and the first thing we need to know is where to place you. so sit on that stool over there if you please."
Nyla didn't really understand the request, but she decided not to push her luck, and did as she was told. Dumbledore then brought out a ragged looking hat and placed it on her head. after a few seconds of deliberation, the hat suddenly shouted.
"Gryffindor"
Nyla suddenly remembered Malfoy's advice and started to ask the hat to place her somewhere else, but it was too late. Dumbledore had already taken the hat away.
"So we got ourselves a new Gryffindor. well. you'll be placed under the care of Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor house. I'll be taking you there; so don't worry about getting lost. I'm well aware of how confusing this castle can be."
"Oh. okay... thanks. just one thing. Which house does a boy named Draco Malfoy belong to?"
"Oh so you've met our young Mr. Malfoy? He belongs to Slytherin house, he's a seventh year, like yourself. however, it is my experience that Gryffindors and Slytherins don't blend very well, so you might find it hard to get in contact with him now that you were sorted into another house."
Nyla mumbled, barely audible.
"Great.what is probably the hottest looking guy I've ever seen literally falls into my lap and a stupid house rivalry is gonna make it impossible for me to see him again. Ain't I lucky the one??"
Dumbledore pretended not to hear it, and simply motioned for them to walk out of his office. Nyla allowed herself to be led, while thanking the heavens that this was last year. "At least I only have one more year of this crap and I'm done."
"Wow. I can see now why sexy-boy called this dude a relic, but I kinda like this office. at least, by the looks of it the guy is too much of a nutcase to give me a hard time. at least I hope so."
"I don't know if I would call myself a nutcase, but I certainly don't plan on giving you a hard time, Ms. Welsh."
Nyla froze in her step as soon as she heard the kind, but determined voice behind her, and she just KNEW that she had said too much, as usual. Turning around she couldn't help but smile at the sight of the elderly man in front of her. *Bullshitting this guy is gonna be a piece of cake.* Boy, was she wrong??
"So Ms. Welsh. My name is Albus Dumbledore and I would like to welcome you to Hogwarts."
"Hey thanks. I guess I don't need to introduce myself since you already know my name."
Nyla had never felt so awkward in her entire life. The headmaster had a way of looking at her that made it seem as though he could read her soul, but strangely enough, he didn't seem pissed off about being called a nutcase.
"No, you don't need to introduce yourself, nor do you need to tell me why you are here. I know all about your past, and I received an owl a while ago from your past headmaster warning me about your, how should I call it? Problem with authority."
Nyla felt her throat go dry. *What did that bastard tell him? I mean, do they really expect people to follow those stupid rules, like 'boys are not allowed in the girls dormitory'??? Please. that guy just had it in for me. everybody broke the rules, but only I got in trouble. and they call that fair. YEAH RIGHT!!!* But, even with all that going through her mind, she wasn't able to voice it out. so she just nodded and smiled sheepishly.
"But don't worry Ms. Welsh! I believe in giving everybody a second chance, so I just ignored that owl. I do, however, want to hear your side of the story. better yet. I want you to tell me about you.."
"Well, you see. I don't even know where to start. I think I have the most bizarre life possible."
"How about I tell you what I know about you then??"
Even though she didn't really want to hear her life's story once again, she figured it would be better than actually having to explain it.. so she just nodded and motioned for him to go on.
"Well, you were born in England, and if I'm not mistaken, your mother attended Hogwarts, correct?"
Nyla just nodded.
"You lived with here until you were about eleven, you even received a Hogwarts letter, but then your mother was involved in a conflict with one of the Death-Eaters, and you were counseled to move to another country. I believe you attended Durmstrang for the first two years, but an argument with Karkaroff got you your first expulsion."
Nyla froze. so he knew about Karkaroff.
"Professor, about that. I just want to make it clear that the conflict wasn't as bad as my record might indicate. he just was in a really bad mood and didn't really feel like wasting his time with me."
Dumbledore's eyes shone behind his moon-shaped glasses and he smiled kindly.
"Don't worry, my dear. I'm just telling you what I know. I don't plan on holding any of it against you. I am well aware of how explosive Professor Karkaroff can be. but shall I go on?"
"Please do."
"Well, after Durmstrang, you moved to Belgium, and after just six months, for reasons that are not yet clear, you were requested to leave. France was your next stop, and even though you had an excellent record there, you were forced to switch schools again, this time for reasons beyond your control! Your mother fought valiantly against the rise of Voldemort, about three years ago, and her testimony is crucial if the Ministry hopes to arrest all the Death Eaters involved. so you had to leave again, this time by yourself, since your mother had been placed under the care of WWPP. After that, I don't believe your rebellious acts to be of much importance to us, so we are just going to skip those and get to the part where you transferred into Hogwarts, how is that??"
Nyla smiled, liking the headmaster more and more with every passing minute.
"That sounds perfect to me."
"You are here now, and the first thing we need to know is where to place you. so sit on that stool over there if you please."
Nyla didn't really understand the request, but she decided not to push her luck, and did as she was told. Dumbledore then brought out a ragged looking hat and placed it on her head. after a few seconds of deliberation, the hat suddenly shouted.
"Gryffindor"
Nyla suddenly remembered Malfoy's advice and started to ask the hat to place her somewhere else, but it was too late. Dumbledore had already taken the hat away.
"So we got ourselves a new Gryffindor. well. you'll be placed under the care of Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor house. I'll be taking you there; so don't worry about getting lost. I'm well aware of how confusing this castle can be."
"Oh. okay... thanks. just one thing. Which house does a boy named Draco Malfoy belong to?"
"Oh so you've met our young Mr. Malfoy? He belongs to Slytherin house, he's a seventh year, like yourself. however, it is my experience that Gryffindors and Slytherins don't blend very well, so you might find it hard to get in contact with him now that you were sorted into another house."
Nyla mumbled, barely audible.
"Great.what is probably the hottest looking guy I've ever seen literally falls into my lap and a stupid house rivalry is gonna make it impossible for me to see him again. Ain't I lucky the one??"
Dumbledore pretended not to hear it, and simply motioned for them to walk out of his office. Nyla allowed herself to be led, while thanking the heavens that this was last year. "At least I only have one more year of this crap and I'm done."
