Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix- Chapter 4
There was a lone carriage waiting for them when they got off the train. It felt weird to be at Hogwarts without the usual noise, confusion and crowds or the long line of horse-less carriages or Hargrid calling out "firs' years, this way". Mrs. Figg and Harry climbed in with Harry's trunk and Hedwigs cage between them. They were both silent the whole way up to the castle. Harry kept thinking about what Mrs. Figg had told him, he had more questions to ask but he felt they were questions for Professor Dumbledore, not Mrs. Figg. When they arrived at the castle doors they saw the outline of someone at the dark doorway. Harry tried to pull his trunk down but the familiar stern voice told him to let Filch get it. Harry met Mrs. Figg and Professor McGonagall at the doorway and McGonagall opened the door, letting the warm, glowing light spill out onto the doorstep. He stepped inside gratefully; glad to be back at the only place that had ever felt like home.
"Welcome back Potter." Professor McGonagall smiled at him. He smiled back and they headed for the Great Hall. Harry felt very tired, it was pretty late, but he also felt very hungry and couldn't wait to have the Hogwarts food. As he entered the Great Hall he noticed that it seemed bigger than usual. It was probably because it wasn't teaming with hundreds of students and that the house tables were pushed to the walls of the room. Looking up to the main table Harry found himself catching the kind gaze of Professor Dumbledore. He looked to the right of Dumbledore and saw Hagrid. Harry gave a wide smile.
"Harry! Good ter see yer! How've the muggles been treatn' yer? How've yer been?" Hagrid beamed at him.
"Just fine Hagrid. I can't tell you how happy I am to be back, though. A whole six weeks with the Dursleys is almost unbearable." Harry grinned happily and was about to ask about Hagrid and Dumbledore when he heard a noise. Harry looked to Hagrid's right and, hidden in his shadow, were two familiar people.
"Hermione! Ron!" Harry rushed forward. Ron grinned at him and stepped forward. Hermione gave a small, slightly forced smile. Harry stopped short and his smile disappeared. Hermione looked so very small. She looked like she had skipped a few meals, her face was pale and drawn and her eyes had bags under them as though she hadn't been sleeping well. The look of sadness and despair were shown clearly through the look that was on her face and the way she carried herself. Her shoulders slumped as though she was too tired to carry herself upright. Harry's heart went out to his friend. Harry and Ron shared a concerned look. Now Harry knew why Harry had wanted him to come. Hermione needed them. Harry stepped forward.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry." Hermione tried to smile and shrugged but her mouth was working furiously as though she was trying not to cry. Ron walked over to her and put his arm around her. Professor Dumbledore broke the silence.
"I'm sure you're all hungry. Please, help yourselves." Harry was famished, but he found it hard to eat when Hermione was sitting so dejectedly, just moving her food around her plate. Ron hadn't touched anything at all and just sat watching her with a helpless look on his face. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Hagrid also looked concerned. After they had finished eating Dumbledore leaned over, "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come here." Harry looked up in confusion. Oh yes, he thought, of course there's a reason why I'm here. He waited patiently and Ron also looked up.
"Harry, every day Lord Voldemort is getting stronger and even though Arabella has been protecting you, we've decided to bring you to Hogwarts so we can keep a 24 hour surveillance on you. It's safe at Hogwarts and it looks as though you'll be staying here with us next summer too. I asked Ron and Hermione to come as well, so you can have some company and so, well, so you can take care and comfort one another." He gave Ron and Harry a meaningful look. Harry and Ron nodded and gave another concerned glance at Hermione who seemed fascinated with her golden plate.
" Harry, if you, and Ron and Hermione if they like, can come with me to my office please." Harry nodded and stood up, followed by Hermione and Ron. Dumbledore bid Professor McGonagall and Hagrid goodnight and Harry, Ron and Hermione followed suit. When the group reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore gave the password (Sherbet lemon) and they climbed onto the escalating steps. Once at the top Dumbledore smiled at them, his blue eyes sparkling happily.
"Here's a little surprise for you Harry." At that he pushed the door open, Harry gasped in surprise.
There was a lone carriage waiting for them when they got off the train. It felt weird to be at Hogwarts without the usual noise, confusion and crowds or the long line of horse-less carriages or Hargrid calling out "firs' years, this way". Mrs. Figg and Harry climbed in with Harry's trunk and Hedwigs cage between them. They were both silent the whole way up to the castle. Harry kept thinking about what Mrs. Figg had told him, he had more questions to ask but he felt they were questions for Professor Dumbledore, not Mrs. Figg. When they arrived at the castle doors they saw the outline of someone at the dark doorway. Harry tried to pull his trunk down but the familiar stern voice told him to let Filch get it. Harry met Mrs. Figg and Professor McGonagall at the doorway and McGonagall opened the door, letting the warm, glowing light spill out onto the doorstep. He stepped inside gratefully; glad to be back at the only place that had ever felt like home.
"Welcome back Potter." Professor McGonagall smiled at him. He smiled back and they headed for the Great Hall. Harry felt very tired, it was pretty late, but he also felt very hungry and couldn't wait to have the Hogwarts food. As he entered the Great Hall he noticed that it seemed bigger than usual. It was probably because it wasn't teaming with hundreds of students and that the house tables were pushed to the walls of the room. Looking up to the main table Harry found himself catching the kind gaze of Professor Dumbledore. He looked to the right of Dumbledore and saw Hagrid. Harry gave a wide smile.
"Harry! Good ter see yer! How've the muggles been treatn' yer? How've yer been?" Hagrid beamed at him.
"Just fine Hagrid. I can't tell you how happy I am to be back, though. A whole six weeks with the Dursleys is almost unbearable." Harry grinned happily and was about to ask about Hagrid and Dumbledore when he heard a noise. Harry looked to Hagrid's right and, hidden in his shadow, were two familiar people.
"Hermione! Ron!" Harry rushed forward. Ron grinned at him and stepped forward. Hermione gave a small, slightly forced smile. Harry stopped short and his smile disappeared. Hermione looked so very small. She looked like she had skipped a few meals, her face was pale and drawn and her eyes had bags under them as though she hadn't been sleeping well. The look of sadness and despair were shown clearly through the look that was on her face and the way she carried herself. Her shoulders slumped as though she was too tired to carry herself upright. Harry's heart went out to his friend. Harry and Ron shared a concerned look. Now Harry knew why Harry had wanted him to come. Hermione needed them. Harry stepped forward.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry." Hermione tried to smile and shrugged but her mouth was working furiously as though she was trying not to cry. Ron walked over to her and put his arm around her. Professor Dumbledore broke the silence.
"I'm sure you're all hungry. Please, help yourselves." Harry was famished, but he found it hard to eat when Hermione was sitting so dejectedly, just moving her food around her plate. Ron hadn't touched anything at all and just sat watching her with a helpless look on his face. Dumbledore, McGonagall and Hagrid also looked concerned. After they had finished eating Dumbledore leaned over, "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come here." Harry looked up in confusion. Oh yes, he thought, of course there's a reason why I'm here. He waited patiently and Ron also looked up.
"Harry, every day Lord Voldemort is getting stronger and even though Arabella has been protecting you, we've decided to bring you to Hogwarts so we can keep a 24 hour surveillance on you. It's safe at Hogwarts and it looks as though you'll be staying here with us next summer too. I asked Ron and Hermione to come as well, so you can have some company and so, well, so you can take care and comfort one another." He gave Ron and Harry a meaningful look. Harry and Ron nodded and gave another concerned glance at Hermione who seemed fascinated with her golden plate.
" Harry, if you, and Ron and Hermione if they like, can come with me to my office please." Harry nodded and stood up, followed by Hermione and Ron. Dumbledore bid Professor McGonagall and Hagrid goodnight and Harry, Ron and Hermione followed suit. When the group reached the entrance to Dumbledore's office, Dumbledore gave the password (Sherbet lemon) and they climbed onto the escalating steps. Once at the top Dumbledore smiled at them, his blue eyes sparkling happily.
"Here's a little surprise for you Harry." At that he pushed the door open, Harry gasped in surprise.