Chapter 14: Welcome to Hogwarts
I stand here before the gates leading to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a brand new suitcase clutched tight in either hand, watching the two wild pig statues paw impatiently at the pillars on which they are situated. Snape is slightly behind me holding another suitcase that belongs to me and I can almost feel the irritation radiating from him.
We had traveled to the Three Broomsticks using the Floo Network after getting all of the necessities from Diagon Alley. Necessities include: a new wand (8 and ¾ inches, cedar, with dragon heartstring), three sets of robes, several shirts, trousers, socks, shoes, and**ahem** undergarments, a pair of dragon hide gloves, a revised edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (by Newton Scamander), a revised edition of Dangerous Curses and How to Stop Them, various toiletries, and one Puffskein. Snape had been quite annoyed when I insisted on buying one, staring down that long nose of his as I paid merely five Galleons of my savings for the small ball of custard colored fur and muttering something along the lines of, "What value anyone sees in those useless fuzz balls is beyond me."
Truthfully, I bought the Puffskein for the comfort it provides. It may not have many magical qualities, unless you count the extraordinarily long tongue that likes to pick bogies from your nose in the middle of the night, but it is a good companion when you need something to cuddle. All right, I didn't explain my reasons fully for getting the Puffskein to Snape—I don't think he would quite believe a hardened ex-Azkaban convict could possible feel the need for something soft to snuggle up to. I tell you one can get quite tired of stony walls and iron chains after a while and the dementors certainly are not the first choice for cuddle companions.
I reach into my pocket and give the Puffskein a gentle squeeze and causing it to start humming contentedly.
"Well?" Snape's voice snaps from behind me. "Do you plan on going through the gates sometime soon or would you rather waiting around for the Dark Lord's cronies to pick you up?"
I turn my head slightly, shrugging. "It's been a long time since I've seen the castle."
"You are making it longer every minute you stand there gawping like a fish out of water. Now, stop loitering and get moving." Snape mutters impatiently.
I move forward slowly, walking up the long drive leading to the castle of Hogwarts. As it comes into view, I stop again, drinking in the sight of the tall turrets, flying buttresses, and magnificent stained glass windows. Snape doesn't realize soon enough that I've stopped moving and slams into me from behind, nearly knocking me over.
"What is it now?" He demands edgily.
I rub my arm where the suitcase he's carrying smashed into me. "I just wanted to take a look at a place I haven't seen for nearly half my life. I was hoping to try and see if has changed any from how I remember it. But that is being made almost impossible by your acting like a mad bludger, Snape."
His face darkens slightly. "I apologize for not meeting with your romantic sensibilities, Weasley, but you will have plenty of time to view the castle at your leisure later." I can hear the barely controlled anger lurking beneath that mellifluous voice of his, a silent warning to make no more protestations.
I shrug again, choosing to head that warning and not to argue with him this time, and move forward lugging my things behind me. I am scarcely able to lift the bulky bags, but am unwilling to show Snape my weakness for two reasons. One, he would rub it in my face. And two, he would then help me. I assure you I don't have too much of, what did he call it, "Gryffindor pride" to accept his help should he offer it. However, he would spend the rest of his life making sure I never forget the favor.
So I continue to drag the heavy bags without a word, hoping the path is shorter than I remember it being.
A half hour later, I pull myself and the luggage up the stairs leading to the huge double doors with the Hogwarts crest emblazoned proudly in the oak wood. It takes all of my willpower and strength not to collapse within the entrance hall. Snape sweeps past me through the doorway, pulling a small silver bell from somewhere in the folds of his robes and ringing it. Seconds later two little house-elves appear, scuttling quickly down the hallway, their comically large ears flapping behind them. They skid to a halt in front of Snape.
"What is Professor Snape wanting?" one with large green eyes asks in a high-pitched voice.
"Take all of these bags to Professor Lupin's old rooms." Snape commands imperiously. The other elf, one with watery brown eyes holds up a shaking hand. Snape arches an eyebrow at the elf, his frown deepening. "What is it?"
"Sir, Professor Lupin is not left yet." the elf says timidly, "Professor Lupin is not leaving until the end of Christmas holidays, sir…" The elf trails off as Snape towers above her, his scowl deeper than ever.
"What do you mean he hasn't left yet?" he growls. "He was supposed to leave yesterday. Leave it to Lupin never to do what he says he's going to." He mutters to no one in particular.
I clear my throat slightly. "I suppose it's fine if I just go to some guest quarters for now. I can move into the faculty wing after Professor Lupin leaves." The elves look up questioningly at Snape.
"Fine." He snaps. "You two," he turns on the two now quaking elves, "Take Professor…Burdock's bags to a guest room for now."
"Yes, sir!" They intoned, snapping their long fingers, causing the bags to float in the air and follow them down the hallway.
"And if Professor Burdock finds one item missing, you'll be answering to me!" Snape called after them. Both elves cast frightened glances over their shoulders before disappearing around the corner.
"Do you really think house-elves have any inclination to steal, Professor Snape?" A gentle voice laced with amusement said from behind me. Snape and I spin around to find a lanky man with graying brown hair in much darned and worn robes watching us with a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And are you really so anxious to see me leave? I thought you would miss me terribly."
Snape snarls something inarticulate causing the other man's face to break out into a full smile. "It's good to see you again, as well. Aren't you going to introduce us, Severus?"
"Professor Remus Lupin, this is Professor…"
"Professor Finley Burdock," I say shortly, not trusting Snape to come up with a decent name for me, moving forward to shake Lupin's hand. He takes my hand, smiling warmly, hazel eyes sparkling. I manage something of a smile in return, saying woodenly, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise and welcome to Hogwarts. I was curious as to whom they chose to take my place during my absence." He turns to Snape. "I'm surprised you didn't offer to substitute for me. The students informed me on multiple occasions that you have longed for the position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for quite some time now."
If it is possible, Snape paled even further, his thin lips tightening into a narrow line. "Potter must have told you that." He spat, "Only he could come up with such a preposterous idea."
I decide to stop this conversation before it could turn really ugly. "Potter? Not Harry Potter?" If I imagined that this change of subject would help this chat, I was sorely mistaken.
Snape draws himself to his full height, pulling his robes tightly around his body, his eyes turning colder and blacker than I had yet seen them. "Yes, Harry Potter." His voice is filled with something I can only define as pure hatred. "Famous Harry bloody Potter."
There's a slight scuffle down the hallway and I look quickly to find there was no one there. Neither Lupin nor Snape seem to have noticed sound.
"Come now, Severus, Harry's not all that bad." Lupin says, laughing gently, "Besides, it's not like he asks for the fame. Fame seems to find him."
"Next thing you'll be saying is that trouble finds him as well." Snape scowls unpleasantly, "The boy believes he can do anything just because of who he is. The things he's be able to get away with over the past five years…"
"Now, now," Lupin says consolingly, "He is still just a child after all." He turns to me. "I'm sure you'll find him to be quite likeable, Professor Burdock."
"Please call me Finley." I say, "I suppose I'll have to decide for myself when I meet him, won't I?"
Lupin gives me another warm smile. "Of course."
"We must be going to see Professor Dumbledore now." Snape interrupts and sweeps up the hallway, calling over his shoulder, "As much as a pleasure as it has been to talk to you, Lupin, I'm afraid you must find another time to talk to Professor Burdock."
I nod at Lupin and follow Snape quickly, making a small note of a door being closed quickly to my right. Someone had been listening to our conversation that much was for sure…but who?
A/N: Puffskeins can be found in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They sound like fun little guys, don't they? ^_^ Next chapter should be up real real soon. And we get to see Harry Potter for the first time! Yay! (Honestly, I don't know how I've managed to go this long in an HP fic without mentioning the his name…oh well…)
