BANG!!
Glancing over at the fireplace, where Sarah had sat talkting to Hermione and Ginny about some of the history of witchcraft in America, Harry saw the result of the bang. Sarah was covered in black soot from head to toe, and some of it had gotten on Hermione and Ginny. Fred and George were nearby, laughing. "Soot crackers, our latest invention. You pull them like you do a normal cracker," Fred started. "And then boom! You're covered in soot!" George finished.
"Not funny at all, you two," she growled.
"We thought it was," the twin terrors replied simultaneously, looking innocent. "Harry!" George exclaimed suddenly. "Good to see you, mate!" Fred nodded. "Angelina, Katie, Alicia, and we have been talking it over," George continued. "And as you know, the new Quidditch season is coming up, and with Wood gone, we need a new captain," Fred said. "As well as a new keeper. And for captain, we figured the logical choice would be...you!" George finished.
Harry just stared. "I can't be captain! How did I get to be the logical choice. You two and the girls both have more experience than I do!" "It's simple," George stated. "The girls and the two of us are all in our seventh year. You'll just have to pick a new captain next year anyway, and it will still most likely be you." Fred nodded. "So you may as well take the position this year, and just worry about finding new beaters and chasers," he said. "Alright," Harry agreed. "But be warned, I'll work you just as hard as Wood ever did, if not harder."
"Congratulations, Harry," Sarah said, hugging her cousin. "I didn't get a chance to play, back at Salem. I was scared of hights. I just commentated, instead." "The Salem Institute. Oh, it must have been very interesting studying there. It's the best school of witchcraft in North America, isn't it?" Hermione asked. Sarah nodded. "The best in the western hemisphere, in fact. It was amazing, but not nearly like Hogwarts." Hermione seemed even more interested at the chance to compare and contrast the two schools.
"Are there any classes one can take there that one can't take at Hogwarts? I've heard the American system is different." "Well," Sarah said, "It's somewhat Brittish, in that there are seven years, and you start the year you turn eleven. And all the classes you take at Hogwarts, you can take at Salem. But there's one class I loved at Salem that isn't offered here. Magical theater. It became an elective when one of the old headmasters realized it could be used to intigrate several different classes."
"Did you take it?" Harry asked. Sarah nodded. "What classes does it intigrate?" Hermione asked. "Yeah," Ron said, perking up. "Maybe we can get Dumbledore to add it here!" Sarah grinned, glad her cousin and his friends were taking an interest in one of her favorite subjects. "Well, there are several different areas involved in theater. Acting of course, but also sound, props, costumes, make-up, publicity, lights, and set. Naturally, the two major ones would be charms and transfiguration. But potions can be added in for paint for the set. And if plants are needed, there's herbololgy."
Neville seemed to perk up slightly at this. Herbology was his best subject. "I think it sounds like a wonderful chance for the different houses to work together," Hermione said. "Not only that, but it could be very educational." Oh no, thought Harry. Better stop Hermione before this reminds her to bug us about studying for our O.W.L.s. "Did you have any adventures?" He asked, changing the subject and, at the same time, hoping for a good story.
"I didn't have many adventures in school," Sarah said. "But when I was in my fifth year, I had one over the weekend. You see, unlike at Hogwarts, Salem students go home after classes and on the weekends using a port-key that can be keyed to their specific homes as well as their specific schedules, changing as the schedule changes. Anyway, it was late October, nearing Halloween. I was babysitting my baby brother, Toby. He was about a year old at the time. He wouldn't stop crying, and I was becoming very annoyed and frustrated." "What did you do?" Ron asked.
"I started telling him a story, about a beautiful young girl whose stepmother always made her stay home with the baby. But what noone knew was that the King of the Goblins was in love with the young girl, and had given her certain powers to wish the child away. And I threatened Toby with being wished away, but he wouldn't stop, so I did it. I said the words. I didn't know they'd work, but they did. The lightning flashed and the thunder clapped. The lights went out, and I heard giggling, and then I saw that Toby's crib was empty. The goblins had taken him."
"Did you get him back?" Harry asked. "I should hope you atleast tried," Hermione inserted. Sarah just nodded. "The Goblin King showed up, and offered me a gift. He said I could have my dreams if I'd just forget about Toby, but I really loved Toby, and I knew I couldn't, so I chose to run the Labyrinth. I had thirteen hours, and I met some friends along the way. I ran into firies, which are these awful creatures that try to take off your head. I almost fell into the Bog of Eternal Stench. I got trapped in an oubliette. Then, when I thought it was almost over, my friends and I had to fight our way through the Goblin City."
By now, Sarah had the entire common-room enthrawled. Harry was watching his cousin in awe. Ron just sat their, wide-eyed. Neville looked positively frightened at the thought of the firies and the Bog. Hermione was fascinated, obviously wanting to learn more about the world Sarah was discribing as the young woman continued her story. "Finally, we made it, and I had to face the Goblin King alone. I entered this huge room that had stairs going every which way, and I just couldn't seem to catch Toby. Finally I jumped off a ledge, fell lightly to the one below, and challenged Jareth, telling him he had no power over me just as my time was up."
"Honestly," came a familiar and, to Sarah atleast, rather infuriating voice. "I thought a group of fifteen-year-olds was too old for fairy-tales, let alone a 24 year old."