3
Dumbledore greeted Harry as he, Ron and Hermione entered the entrance hall. Dumbledore had always seemed to have a mildly omniscient quality about him. He lead the trio into the Great Hall to join the school in a hearty dinner. The mood of the room was decidedly somber. Harry knew at once that the rumors had been true. Some great and ancient evil was terrorizing Hogwarts and he knew that he must stop it.
After walking a short way to the head table where the trio was to dine with Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall (his right hand woman), Severus Snape (the mean tempered potions master who acted as Dumbledore's surrogate son), and the rest of the Hogwarts teaching staff.
"Thank you Harry for coming to my aid once again. I wish that you were here under better circumstances but I am glad to have your help with this dire matter," Dumbledore said conversationally.
"I am glad to be here to assist you Albus but I am still not sure exactly what the problem is that is plaguing Hogwarts." Harry began.
"Nor am I," Dumbledore interjected, "I am hoping that we can figure that out together. All I know is that whatever it is comes in the night, often with bad weather and plucks the children right from their beds never to be seen again."
"But you must have some idea Albus," Hermione brought herself into the conversation.
"Well." Dumbledore started unsure of himself, "we can be sure that whatever it is that is taking the children is not human. It lurks in dark corners and always manages to escape before anyone realizes it is there."
"We will find out what it is and stop it," said Harry sounding more sure of himself than he really felt.
Harry was going to continue, and discuss his plan with Dumbledore when all of a sudden Snape cut him off. "Well Harry what makes you so confidant that you will be able to help us with our monster problem. As far as I remember you weren't even able to dive down to the bottom of the lake without stealing gillyweed from my personal stores."
"Actually Snape, I did not steal from your stores, the gillyweed was brought to me by a friend. And as you should be well aware, I not only rescued one hostage from the bottom of the lake, I rescued two. One of whom wasn't even mine to save," Harry proclaimed, proudly recalling the tale. "Besides Snape what have you ever done anyway, besides being a filthy turncoat?"
Snape was seething, but Dumbledore gave both men a look that said he wouldn't be putting up with any more of their foolishness. "Well friends, I believe it is time to escort the children back to their common rooms for the night," he stated resolutely.
Those sitting around him nodded their assent and stood to help herd the children to their rooms. As they walked the air buzzed with an energy that could only mean that something dangerous was coming.
Dumbledore greeted Harry as he, Ron and Hermione entered the entrance hall. Dumbledore had always seemed to have a mildly omniscient quality about him. He lead the trio into the Great Hall to join the school in a hearty dinner. The mood of the room was decidedly somber. Harry knew at once that the rumors had been true. Some great and ancient evil was terrorizing Hogwarts and he knew that he must stop it.
After walking a short way to the head table where the trio was to dine with Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall (his right hand woman), Severus Snape (the mean tempered potions master who acted as Dumbledore's surrogate son), and the rest of the Hogwarts teaching staff.
"Thank you Harry for coming to my aid once again. I wish that you were here under better circumstances but I am glad to have your help with this dire matter," Dumbledore said conversationally.
"I am glad to be here to assist you Albus but I am still not sure exactly what the problem is that is plaguing Hogwarts." Harry began.
"Nor am I," Dumbledore interjected, "I am hoping that we can figure that out together. All I know is that whatever it is comes in the night, often with bad weather and plucks the children right from their beds never to be seen again."
"But you must have some idea Albus," Hermione brought herself into the conversation.
"Well." Dumbledore started unsure of himself, "we can be sure that whatever it is that is taking the children is not human. It lurks in dark corners and always manages to escape before anyone realizes it is there."
"We will find out what it is and stop it," said Harry sounding more sure of himself than he really felt.
Harry was going to continue, and discuss his plan with Dumbledore when all of a sudden Snape cut him off. "Well Harry what makes you so confidant that you will be able to help us with our monster problem. As far as I remember you weren't even able to dive down to the bottom of the lake without stealing gillyweed from my personal stores."
"Actually Snape, I did not steal from your stores, the gillyweed was brought to me by a friend. And as you should be well aware, I not only rescued one hostage from the bottom of the lake, I rescued two. One of whom wasn't even mine to save," Harry proclaimed, proudly recalling the tale. "Besides Snape what have you ever done anyway, besides being a filthy turncoat?"
Snape was seething, but Dumbledore gave both men a look that said he wouldn't be putting up with any more of their foolishness. "Well friends, I believe it is time to escort the children back to their common rooms for the night," he stated resolutely.
Those sitting around him nodded their assent and stood to help herd the children to their rooms. As they walked the air buzzed with an energy that could only mean that something dangerous was coming.
