The Second War
Chapter 3
The door across from them slid open, and a blonde haired head came out. "You say my name, Weasley?" Out of the booth stepped Draco Malfoy. Ron and I automatically pulled out our wands, raised them, and took in a breath, but Malfoy was too quick for us. He had shouted "Expelliarmus!" and our wands were in his hand. He twirled all three of them with his fingers. "My, my, my…it would seem I'm still better. Let's see then…who shall I curse first?" I wanted desperately to leap forward and hit him, but with three wands in his grasp, I didn't dare.
"What's this?" he said sinisterly, peering over my shoulder to look at Ginny. "Ah, the young Weasley. I bet it would cause Potter a lot of pain to watch her cursed…"
He raised his wand and drew in breath. At that moment a number of things happened in close order; Ron and I launched at him, and Ginny threw the booth the door shut. At the same moment, another voice rang in the air from up the corridor, yelling "Impedimentia!" Malfoy was thrown backwards, and fell to the ground, where he lay motionless.
Ron and I, who had narrowly avoided being hit by the spell ourselves, looked up the awe in awe to see Josh, his wand still raised, advancing down the corridor. "You're welcome," he said irritably. "You may thank me for getting Malfoy, and my lovely associate for moving you two out of the way." Erin approached from behind, a satisfied smile on her face. I felt Ron shaking nervously next to me.
I decided to try to strike up a conversation to get Ron's mind and eyes off of Erin. "How d'you know that spell, or any spell, if you're only just coming to Hogwarts?"
He smiled. "Well, Dumbledore himself asked us to read through some spell books he gave us, and to practice each and every spell, all through the summer. He cleared it with the Ministry and everything. Could you step aside for a moment?" I stood stunned for a moment before opening the door behind me and moving back into the booth with Ginny, dragging Ron after me. "Thank you. Accio wand!" Malfoy's wand, which was inches from his outstretched hand, flew into Josh's hand. "Impedimentia!" Once again, Malfoy was unable to move. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Using his wand, he set Malfoy back into his booth. "Colloportus!" The door closed and locked behind him.
Josh smiled and put away his wand. "There. That should do. Now then, Harry, Dumbledore wanted us to talk to you about something. Could you come with us?" As I walked towards the door, Ron followed me, but Josh stopped him. "Only Harry." He and Erin then led the way up the train, and into an empty compartment, that I guessed was theirs. Josh ushered me in and sat down, while Erin came in and closed the door behind them, sealing it with a number of spells and charms, before sitting down next to Josh, across from me.
"Now then," he said, looking at me with green eyes I would have sworn were my own. "We have a number of things to tell you, and most of them are highly important. Please hold your questions until the end of the presentation." He said with a grin.
But his grin soon faded. "To business. First, and most importantly, the matter of your godfather." My mind raced. Was he alive? Josh smiled. "Yes, he is alive." I started, and looked at him. "Do not bother with wondering how I can read your mind. All will be explained. Back to your godfather, then. Sirius was recovered by members of the Order of the Phoenix, after being found stumbling about the Department of Mysteries, trying to get out." My heart leaped. So Lupin had been wrong! All along, Sirius was in reach, able to return.
"He is in an accelerated state of shock, and for the moment, he cannot speak to anyone. When Dumbledore had me use my power to try to read his mind, I, too, went into a blank state of nothingness, but only for a short period. We do know, however, that it will not be long until he regains consciousness. By the time he does, all of us shall have learned to Apparate, so Dumbledore has told us to leave the grounds and Apparate to Grimmauld Place.
"That is only the first piece of information I have for you!" he said, seeing my excitement. "The best part about Sirius' situation is this: he has seen the other world! We believe that he spent so much time there as opposed to returning immediately because he was learning some new form of magic. We are all eagerly waiting his revival.
"Even more good news! Peter Pettigrew has been found, captured, and has admitted his crime via Veritaserum. So now, Sirius is a free man, when he awakens. He will also be awarded the honor of having special a cleaning crew from the Ministry clean up that house of his, because it is absolutely disgusting and unsanitary.
"That's all for news. Now some explanations are in order. We were told to answer any and all questions you might have, but no more. We only tell you what you want to know. So, that's your cue to start asking."
My excitement, if it was possible, grew even more. Not only was Sirius alive, but also he would be getting his house made sanitary, and after an entire summer of wondering, he would finally get his questions answered! A million questions sprung into his mind. "Where's Voldemort? What's he been doing?"
It was Erin who spoke this time. "We don't know where he is, but we know he's been doing nothing. Nothing at all has happened since the fight in June. We think he's stewing up another plan."
I turned to Josh. "What's this mind reading power of yours?"
He smiled. "It's basically Legilimency, without a wand, and a lot easier to perform. It's quite easy to close your mind to it, though. Right now, I cannot sense your thoughts, but I can sense your extreme excitement. Strong feelings often shield thoughts. Like your friend Ron, for instance. I cannot read his thoughts at all, because he is so consumed with love." He jokingly nudged Erin, who blushed and looked away.
"What was it that you did to reveal that you could do magic? It's been bugging me."
He laughed. "Very interesting story, very interesting indeed. Here's my story: Last year, near the end of term for my school, I got in a fight with some snotty kid who thought he was stronger than me, and wanted to fight for the principle of the thing. So, we fought Muggle style. I got the crap beaten out of me. When I was about to pass out, I stumbled over a trashcan and onto a bench. Under the bench, I saw a wand that belonged to someone, though I didn't know it was a wand at the time. I decided to try to poke it in his eye, since it was long and stuff. So I grabbed and rolled off the bench. When I took it in my hand, it shot a beam of light into the air, becoming a weird sort of sword.
"Seconds later, the Ministry team showed up and erased everyone's memory. They took the wand from me and were about to erase my memory, when Dumbledore appeared and told them not to. He then took me back to Hogwarts with him, and told me about wizardry, and what I was and could become. He then gave me spell books and sent me on my way."
I looked on in awe. "Wait wait wait. A sword? You made a wand become a sword?"
He smiled. "Yep. I can only do it when I'm angry, though. I have no clue how to do it otherwise."
I turned to Erin. "What about you? What'd you do?"
She shrugged. "My story's not as impressive. A piece of a building's stone veranda fell when I was lying in the shade. As a reflex, I put out my arm – and it stopped falling in midair. Then the team showed up and Dumbledore stopped them, etc etc. And I can only do it when I'm in danger."
I nodded, finding nothing else to do in my awe. Josh smiled. "Well, that's it. If you want to go snog Ginny like you're thinking, feel free."
I blushed. At the same time, a rebellious flame relit inside of me. "Well what does Erin's mind say? I think Josh should go somewhere else, so I can get my mate Ron in here." As Erin blushed, I laughed inwardly.
To my surprise, Josh laughed. "Great idea! Let's go get him." He sprung up. I nervously got up after him. How would I explain this to Ron?
I sat in the booth across from Ginny, wondering a number of things. Why had I never suspected that Harry had liked Ginny? What were Josh and Erin so eager to tell Harry? How could I get Erin alone? These thoughts and others raced through my mind, but were shattered as the booth door opened.
Harry and Josh stepped in. Josh spoke, very quickly. "We're going to do this my way, which is the way that will fit everyone best. Harry, you stay in here. Ron, you come with me, my friend would like to meet you. I'll go sit up in the front with Hermione, since that is where Ron's mind says she is." It took a long time for his words to sink in. After some deep thinking, I realized that Erin had sent him to get me. I followed him up the corridor to the booth with Erin. As I walked, I had a hunch that in the next while, there would be a lot of snogging going on.
Chapter 3
The door across from them slid open, and a blonde haired head came out. "You say my name, Weasley?" Out of the booth stepped Draco Malfoy. Ron and I automatically pulled out our wands, raised them, and took in a breath, but Malfoy was too quick for us. He had shouted "Expelliarmus!" and our wands were in his hand. He twirled all three of them with his fingers. "My, my, my…it would seem I'm still better. Let's see then…who shall I curse first?" I wanted desperately to leap forward and hit him, but with three wands in his grasp, I didn't dare.
"What's this?" he said sinisterly, peering over my shoulder to look at Ginny. "Ah, the young Weasley. I bet it would cause Potter a lot of pain to watch her cursed…"
He raised his wand and drew in breath. At that moment a number of things happened in close order; Ron and I launched at him, and Ginny threw the booth the door shut. At the same moment, another voice rang in the air from up the corridor, yelling "Impedimentia!" Malfoy was thrown backwards, and fell to the ground, where he lay motionless.
Ron and I, who had narrowly avoided being hit by the spell ourselves, looked up the awe in awe to see Josh, his wand still raised, advancing down the corridor. "You're welcome," he said irritably. "You may thank me for getting Malfoy, and my lovely associate for moving you two out of the way." Erin approached from behind, a satisfied smile on her face. I felt Ron shaking nervously next to me.
I decided to try to strike up a conversation to get Ron's mind and eyes off of Erin. "How d'you know that spell, or any spell, if you're only just coming to Hogwarts?"
He smiled. "Well, Dumbledore himself asked us to read through some spell books he gave us, and to practice each and every spell, all through the summer. He cleared it with the Ministry and everything. Could you step aside for a moment?" I stood stunned for a moment before opening the door behind me and moving back into the booth with Ginny, dragging Ron after me. "Thank you. Accio wand!" Malfoy's wand, which was inches from his outstretched hand, flew into Josh's hand. "Impedimentia!" Once again, Malfoy was unable to move. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Using his wand, he set Malfoy back into his booth. "Colloportus!" The door closed and locked behind him.
Josh smiled and put away his wand. "There. That should do. Now then, Harry, Dumbledore wanted us to talk to you about something. Could you come with us?" As I walked towards the door, Ron followed me, but Josh stopped him. "Only Harry." He and Erin then led the way up the train, and into an empty compartment, that I guessed was theirs. Josh ushered me in and sat down, while Erin came in and closed the door behind them, sealing it with a number of spells and charms, before sitting down next to Josh, across from me.
"Now then," he said, looking at me with green eyes I would have sworn were my own. "We have a number of things to tell you, and most of them are highly important. Please hold your questions until the end of the presentation." He said with a grin.
But his grin soon faded. "To business. First, and most importantly, the matter of your godfather." My mind raced. Was he alive? Josh smiled. "Yes, he is alive." I started, and looked at him. "Do not bother with wondering how I can read your mind. All will be explained. Back to your godfather, then. Sirius was recovered by members of the Order of the Phoenix, after being found stumbling about the Department of Mysteries, trying to get out." My heart leaped. So Lupin had been wrong! All along, Sirius was in reach, able to return.
"He is in an accelerated state of shock, and for the moment, he cannot speak to anyone. When Dumbledore had me use my power to try to read his mind, I, too, went into a blank state of nothingness, but only for a short period. We do know, however, that it will not be long until he regains consciousness. By the time he does, all of us shall have learned to Apparate, so Dumbledore has told us to leave the grounds and Apparate to Grimmauld Place.
"That is only the first piece of information I have for you!" he said, seeing my excitement. "The best part about Sirius' situation is this: he has seen the other world! We believe that he spent so much time there as opposed to returning immediately because he was learning some new form of magic. We are all eagerly waiting his revival.
"Even more good news! Peter Pettigrew has been found, captured, and has admitted his crime via Veritaserum. So now, Sirius is a free man, when he awakens. He will also be awarded the honor of having special a cleaning crew from the Ministry clean up that house of his, because it is absolutely disgusting and unsanitary.
"That's all for news. Now some explanations are in order. We were told to answer any and all questions you might have, but no more. We only tell you what you want to know. So, that's your cue to start asking."
My excitement, if it was possible, grew even more. Not only was Sirius alive, but also he would be getting his house made sanitary, and after an entire summer of wondering, he would finally get his questions answered! A million questions sprung into his mind. "Where's Voldemort? What's he been doing?"
It was Erin who spoke this time. "We don't know where he is, but we know he's been doing nothing. Nothing at all has happened since the fight in June. We think he's stewing up another plan."
I turned to Josh. "What's this mind reading power of yours?"
He smiled. "It's basically Legilimency, without a wand, and a lot easier to perform. It's quite easy to close your mind to it, though. Right now, I cannot sense your thoughts, but I can sense your extreme excitement. Strong feelings often shield thoughts. Like your friend Ron, for instance. I cannot read his thoughts at all, because he is so consumed with love." He jokingly nudged Erin, who blushed and looked away.
"What was it that you did to reveal that you could do magic? It's been bugging me."
He laughed. "Very interesting story, very interesting indeed. Here's my story: Last year, near the end of term for my school, I got in a fight with some snotty kid who thought he was stronger than me, and wanted to fight for the principle of the thing. So, we fought Muggle style. I got the crap beaten out of me. When I was about to pass out, I stumbled over a trashcan and onto a bench. Under the bench, I saw a wand that belonged to someone, though I didn't know it was a wand at the time. I decided to try to poke it in his eye, since it was long and stuff. So I grabbed and rolled off the bench. When I took it in my hand, it shot a beam of light into the air, becoming a weird sort of sword.
"Seconds later, the Ministry team showed up and erased everyone's memory. They took the wand from me and were about to erase my memory, when Dumbledore appeared and told them not to. He then took me back to Hogwarts with him, and told me about wizardry, and what I was and could become. He then gave me spell books and sent me on my way."
I looked on in awe. "Wait wait wait. A sword? You made a wand become a sword?"
He smiled. "Yep. I can only do it when I'm angry, though. I have no clue how to do it otherwise."
I turned to Erin. "What about you? What'd you do?"
She shrugged. "My story's not as impressive. A piece of a building's stone veranda fell when I was lying in the shade. As a reflex, I put out my arm – and it stopped falling in midair. Then the team showed up and Dumbledore stopped them, etc etc. And I can only do it when I'm in danger."
I nodded, finding nothing else to do in my awe. Josh smiled. "Well, that's it. If you want to go snog Ginny like you're thinking, feel free."
I blushed. At the same time, a rebellious flame relit inside of me. "Well what does Erin's mind say? I think Josh should go somewhere else, so I can get my mate Ron in here." As Erin blushed, I laughed inwardly.
To my surprise, Josh laughed. "Great idea! Let's go get him." He sprung up. I nervously got up after him. How would I explain this to Ron?
I sat in the booth across from Ginny, wondering a number of things. Why had I never suspected that Harry had liked Ginny? What were Josh and Erin so eager to tell Harry? How could I get Erin alone? These thoughts and others raced through my mind, but were shattered as the booth door opened.
Harry and Josh stepped in. Josh spoke, very quickly. "We're going to do this my way, which is the way that will fit everyone best. Harry, you stay in here. Ron, you come with me, my friend would like to meet you. I'll go sit up in the front with Hermione, since that is where Ron's mind says she is." It took a long time for his words to sink in. After some deep thinking, I realized that Erin had sent him to get me. I followed him up the corridor to the booth with Erin. As I walked, I had a hunch that in the next while, there would be a lot of snogging going on.