Chapter Eight: Early Morning Stroll

I knew from the moment I got up that it was going to be a long day. That was because I had gotten up, paranoid like, at just past four thirty a.m. in the morning. However as it was so early, I didn't feel tired. The events of the night – traveling, eating and hiking through the castle – seemed to have been nonexistent. Seeing that there was no way I'd have a chance of falling asleep again, I got up very quietly, dressed into my black robes, tucked my wand into my pocket and made my way down into the common room.

It was still very dark. Outside I couldn't see a thing. Without really thinking, I went over to the dorm entrance and pushed it open.

It was darker out in the corridor, but torches on the wall only just allowed me to see where I was going.

Exploring the school on my own while everyone else was asleep was fun. There was nobody to stare at me, like they had the instant my face had welded into their minds as I stepped up to be Sorted the night before. There weren't even any of the House ghosts. I remembered Gryffindor's own Nearly Headless Nick, and how he had preferred to patrol the table rather than sit beside me, which had been the only seat available on the whole table. The corridors were cold, but I figured that nothing else could be colder than the treatment I was about to get that day onwards so I ignored it.

High and proud, the corridors, hallways and rooms of the castle were my only friends. I walked through them with a sort of respect, like they were watching me and approving of how I was keeping so quiet so not to disturb them. I had always liked wandering through places like this, there was no wonder Pop had given me the Imperceptible Cloak.

I opened every door in a corridor that was unlocked and looked around the room before moving on to the next hall. Some rooms turned out to be classrooms, with desks strictly in line and various scripts and posters hanging on the walls. Others were merely broom closets that stunk strongly of polish and mothballs.

With Pop's stories in mind, I looked behind every tapestry, inside every cupboard and under every rug to find his so-called secret passageways. I only found one – a small wooden door behind the cape of a large statue of Gregory the Smarmy on the sixth floor. I didn't dare go inside; who knew where it would take me?

It only seemed a short time when daybreak appeared. I was walking past a lengthy arch window when the burst of early morning sunlight flooded over me through it. It had to be around six a.m. Perhaps it wasn't so early to go down to breakfast? At least there wouldn't be too many people.

I was going down the stairs when the first person I saw that morning popped up. And I mean literally popped up floating in midair. It was a ghost, a little green man that reminded me of St Patrick of the Irish tradition, wearing a suit and a large, lurid bow tie.

"Well well well!" he cackled in a nasal voice. "A wee little firstie wandering the halls so early in the morning? You's is up to something, you is!"

He was hiding something behind his back. Judging by the smell it emitted, it wasn't something good, and I had the feeling that this ghost wasn't an ordinary ghost.

I didn't know what to do. The first thing that entered my head was self-defence, and I pulled my wand out and held it in front of me.

"You'd better go on your way, spirit," I said, trying to sound brave. It wasn't often that ghosts confronted me – this was the first time and I didn't know what to expect.

The ghost cackled again, and teased me. "Ooh, thinks she's so tough, she does…and who has seen so far an ickle firstie who can do as much as one spell? I thinks she deserves a well-earned introduction Peeves' way!"

And giggling hysterically, he exploded a bag of flour in the air.

"Immobilus!" said a loud, yet calm, voice, and the many particles of flour froze in the air. The ghost cursed, and with a pop! he was gone. Albus Dumbledore waved his hand, and the flour disappeared altogether. He looked down at me with a smile, and for a split second I felt the same thing I had felt at the Sorting. I felt…like…I wanted to seize the old man, and tear him to shreds! But why? What was going on?

"Good morning, Ms Rastrick."

"Good morning, Headmaster."

I waited for the accusations, the possible detention. Nobody was supposed to go around Hogwarts before and after school hours.

"I suppose you're as much as an early bird as I am, then?"

"Not really, sir. I was just excited about my first day." It was a lie, but it was better than saying that I dreaded the whole ordeal and I didn't want to show my face to anyone ever when it was over. I was surprised though. He should've given me punishment by now.

Dumbledore nodded and looked up at where the ghost had disappeared. "That was Peeves. He's our school poltergeist, as his troublesome qualities show. Everybody else complains to me every year about him, but I just can't find it in my heart to expel him. He makes trouble worthwhile here, you see." He smiled again. "I doubt that any student has ever been able to ward Peeves off with a wand. You're welcome to try, however. Have a nice day."

And he was off, heading down the corridor and humming a little tune to himself. That was it, no lecture about going around the halls, no telling off, no nothing. It was strange. And my feelings towards him…they were even stranger.