Chapter Thirteen
Apparate
Cameron pushed open double doors and led them to a grand room with three tables set up full of food. "Hurry up and grab yourself some breakfast. You can take it too the class room."
Harry's eyes got big in a grin and almost on cue, Ron stomach gave a roaring growl.
They slipped though and dogged through Minister Workers. Some in blue, some in green, the point being... unlike Fudge's workers, these people were dressed to style and uniqueness, not to uniform.
"Everyone ready?" Cameron sounded over everyone. "Throw away your trash or take the remainder of you breakfast with you. APPARATITION STUDENT THIS WAY!"
The crowd of workers stopped what they were doing and eyes the 17year olds walking to the curly red head in the front. It seemed that this was part of the "intonation" Harry thought, adults staring at them, them pointing and cutting silent jokes. And this went on for a minute or too till someone dropped a glass jug of milk.
"I don't fucking believe it!" a woman shirked, "It's Harry Potter!"
Harry bowed his head and shook it. His face was plastered on every book, newspaper and magazine since he was one year old, and for the past seven he has been part of this world but it never failed. His presence always seemed to bring uproar.
"So," a man snapped.
"Sooooo," the woman said more calmly, "It's bringing... the bringing of the end!"
"What are you talking about?"
"She's talking about Harry Potter becoming a man, he and Voldemort on finally on even footing, same education... you know. And Harry was a match for him as a baby... now think of the odds."
Harry's felt his face glow red, "Harry Potter becoming a man..." Draco looked at him, and even though Harry excepted a joking smile he got a reassuring smirk. Draco put his arm over Harry's shoulders, and pushed through the crowd and past Cameron.
"Thanks Draco," Harry whispered.
"It's alright Potter, they don't know what they're talking about. You've been a man for a long time, whether you or any of them want to admit it. Half that room in there still doesn't have the balls to do what you've been doing since you first started school."
Harry looked at him and grinned, he never heard anyone say something like to him, and even if they did, he doubted it would mean half as much as it did coming from the mouth of his rival now friend.
"Step up here lively," Cameron beckoned.
The throng of students horded into the foyer and the grand double doors magically closed behind them. Draco slid his arm from Harry's shoulder's and eased his way into the mass, away from Harry, Ron and Hermione, who had come to Harry's side. "What did that slim say to you?" Ron muttered.
"Leave Draco alone, he's... changed." Harry said, with a relieving sigh.
"What did he say?" Ron repeated, unhappy with his answer.
"We understand each other, or at least he understands me."
Ron gave him a quizzical look, but shrugged, "His not going to beat me out for best mate, is he Potter?"
Harry chuckled, "As long as I'm still famous, never."
Ron gave a wide grin and patted Harry on the back.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "Did Draco say anything about..." she stuttered to finish, "...me..."
Harry looked down at her: she came to his shoulders, her now straight hair falling over her own shoulders. Her neck was hinged up, glaring into Harry's eyes for the truth. He narrowed his eyes, trying to find out where she was going with such a question, "No, why would Draco..."
"I know your life might be a bit more important than the one of us humble people, Mr. Potter, but please take your social life with Miss Granger somewhere else." Cameron raised her voice as to catch Harry's attention. She'd been talking to whole time. There was a snigger in the back ground. Harry knew the laugh; it was Draco's.
"As I was saying, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, through the door behind me is a corridor. It is dark and it separates out in two opposite directions; one to your left and the other to your right." She paused and looked at Neville who was shaking. "This is your first task... to get to your class room." She proclaimed, a smile on her face. "One will take you straight or as straight as possible to the nearest door. The other will take no where. It will bring you back through this door," She pointed to a small, plane red door to Harry's right. "And you will begin the task over again, hopefully not taking the path you took the first time. You are to make your decision based on instant of where the class room is."
The tall green door behind her slowly opened in darkness. "Proceed." She said softly.
The swarm squeezed through the door, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville up front.
"Ouch!"
"That was my foot frog brain!"
"Hey, watch it!"
Everyone was tripping over each other, stepping on each other's feet. You could not see the hand in front of your face it was so dark. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had formed chain, holding onto each other's robes.
They came to the fork.
"Which way?" Hermione hissed.
"Right?" Ron said, beginning to drag Neville in the that direction.
Harry rooted still. "No," he breathed slowly, "Left."
"You think so?" Hermione asked.
Harry stopped, to think and then nodded, added yes to the answer since no one could see him nod.
The crowd followed him left.
The passage went straight until they hit a crude turn.
Then it narrowed to where only one person could get through at a time. "Aw, Hell no!" Draco screamed in the back. "I bet Potter made this ole wise decision, didn't he. I'm going to other direction!"
The crowd moaned and groaned, as turning around proved to be a painful task. Only five figures where left in the darkness.
"Should we turn back?" Neville was clinging to Harry's arm as he chattered.
"What do you say Potter?" Ron asked.
"I'm sorry guys," Harry said, defeat riding his voice, "I just had a feeling."
There was silence.
"Well hell, I trust that feeling, let's go already. Pick your feet up Weasley, don't want them stepped on." Pudgy Susan Bone with her pink cheeks, same red pony tail from first year had pushed past them and proceeded through the small opening (with a bit of difficulty.)
Hermione, Ron, Neville and Harry looked to each other in the darkness, and then hurried after her.
The hall way would wind and zigzag, but not after a minute of the confusing hall way had there been the loud bang, an cry of ouch and Susan Bones screaming, "STOP!"
They all listened.
They all watched in darkness.
"Well, open it Susan," Ron said, his voice mounting to excitement to see if they were right or not.
Susan nodded in the darkness, searched the door for the door knob and turned the ice steel. The door swung open.
Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and the over coming flooding light made their eyes automatic shut and they stumbled into the room.
"Bravo!" a high pitched voice squealed.
Harry fell forward, shielding the others out of reflex.
"Who... who that?" Ron sput, backing against the door which creaked shut moments before.
Vision came in slowly, as Harry's eyes adapted to the light. Standing over him, in a flowing black robe was Cameron. Harry sighed and relief and let her help him to his feet.
She giggled heavenly, "who did you think it was Weasley?"
Ron messed his hair and shrugged.
"Are you the only ones?"
"Draco led the rest in the other way when Harry's got rough, the pansy." Susan said, taking a seat. The room was bright, trimmed in blue and green. There were three rows, two to a glossy oak table. An old, ruby red book sat at each seat, a quill pressed in each book.
"Well, take a seat while we wait for the others." Cameron ordered. "Potter you and Neville, Susan you and Hermione and Ron you will sit here."
"Excuse me," Hermione said, raising her hand as though she was promptly back in Hogwarts, "Does it really matter where we sit?"
Cameron gave a mischievous grin. "Actually it does, like an other class at Hogwarts you shall be graded in here, competing for top seat..." she moved to Harry, "the seat Harry sits in right now."
Harry sighed, knowing that it had to be something with his fame.
"Why Harry and not one of us? Why this order?" Susan demanded calmly, "If you please?" she added.
"Harry's first because I assumed that it was Harry who made the decision to go the right way, and the rest are you are just random. It really doesn't matter at this point... you four have a better chance than anyone of being top honors, who ever is sitting at the first table." Ron raised his hand to say something but she stopped him. "Yes Mr. Weasley, there are two."
"Just checking!" Ron said, closing his mouth quickly and sitting down in a slum, alone at his table.
"And," Cameron continued, "You going the right way will be remembered in later days."
Her eyes twinkled at Harry who grinned where he heard the voices outside the door.
"GEEEOFFF!"
Cameron dashed to the door and pulled it open. A throng piled in on top of each other, Draco Malfoy at the bottom.
"God damnit Malfoy, you stupid squib!" A boy at the middle screamed, worming his way out.
"Cindy, Cindy!" A blond cried, "Is my hair messed up?"
"No, no, it's fine Mipsy."
"CLASS!" Cameron roared. Everyone hopped to their feet leaving Draco laying alone spread eagle on the floor.
"Mr. Malfoy... I expect you where the one leading the wrong direction."
"YES HE WAS!" the tall, slender Mipsy said, pointed her finger at Malfoy.
"Shhhh," Cameron hissed, she redirected her attention to Draco. "Sooo...."
"Yea, so." Draco snapped.
"You're the leader... a leader..." She gave an encouraging smile and Ron nearly fainted on his desk. Draco grinned and raised his chest.
Cameron dropped her smile and her eyes narrowed. "You're the leader with heavy handed words who can talk anyone into doing anything. You're the leader with big word and little actions. You're the leader that as soon as the going gets rough you turn around with you tail between your legs. Well, Mr. Malfoy, with that attitude you will not make it far in my class. Sit down." She addressed coldly.
All the color that was never in Draco's face seem to vanish more. He slide in beside Ron, slummed down under the table.
"And Mr. Malfoy, what makes you think I want you so close to me that I can actually smell you? Get up and to the back of the room." Cameron pointed to the very last chair in the far corner. It was fit for one person... Draco Malfoy made his way to the seat in shame. His head bowed, chin in chest and "tail between his legs." Harry had never felt this before. A powerful guilt and empathy came upon him. Singled out in a class... having no one or anyone to care. Draco Malfoy never looked more pitiful to Harry, and yet, while Ron was beating down chuckles Harry felt his heart want to reach out. He felt sorry for him.
"Everyone else, take a seat somewhere between Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy." The class obeyed, fearing the whip lash Draco has just gotten. "Let this be your first real world lesson..." her eyes danced to Harry and down the room to Ron. She was obviously thinking of all they had been though. "...lesson from me. You don't go far following what is popular or looks easier. You go far and make it by tightening your grip and going along with the tough. I don't believe anyone has ever told you this... but the end is coming."
The class gasped, Harry leaned on his hand, threading his hands through his hair. "The end may be coming... or it may be defeated. That all depends..."
"Don't say Harry, please don't Harry." Harry hissed under his breath, into his hands. He felt the class's attention and eyes fall onto him. His neck grew hot and his face glowed red.
"When the end comes depends on our actions... not tomorrow, not yesterday but our actions today." Harry felt his skin loosen and his breath grow deeper in thanks. He looked up to find Cameron's eyes on him, not harsh, not caring either. They were stern as though speaking words and stories and pasts never spoken before in words. "Today we must take action, we can't sit our lazy asses down and say, 'Oh I'll do that tomorrow,' because the one thing that is always coming but never gets here is... tomorrow." Cameron froze letting her heavy words drop into the pit of everyone's being. Hermione seemed to be the only source movement in the room. She scurried to find parchment and quill, scribbling every word down quickly.
For some ungodly reason Harry turned back to look at Draco. Draco rose his buried head and his cold gray eyes met Harry's. Eyes, the glints and movement of lights on eyes spoke volumes, screamed instruction and decided futures.
Cameron pushed open double doors and led them to a grand room with three tables set up full of food. "Hurry up and grab yourself some breakfast. You can take it too the class room."
Harry's eyes got big in a grin and almost on cue, Ron stomach gave a roaring growl.
They slipped though and dogged through Minister Workers. Some in blue, some in green, the point being... unlike Fudge's workers, these people were dressed to style and uniqueness, not to uniform.
"Everyone ready?" Cameron sounded over everyone. "Throw away your trash or take the remainder of you breakfast with you. APPARATITION STUDENT THIS WAY!"
The crowd of workers stopped what they were doing and eyes the 17year olds walking to the curly red head in the front. It seemed that this was part of the "intonation" Harry thought, adults staring at them, them pointing and cutting silent jokes. And this went on for a minute or too till someone dropped a glass jug of milk.
"I don't fucking believe it!" a woman shirked, "It's Harry Potter!"
Harry bowed his head and shook it. His face was plastered on every book, newspaper and magazine since he was one year old, and for the past seven he has been part of this world but it never failed. His presence always seemed to bring uproar.
"So," a man snapped.
"Sooooo," the woman said more calmly, "It's bringing... the bringing of the end!"
"What are you talking about?"
"She's talking about Harry Potter becoming a man, he and Voldemort on finally on even footing, same education... you know. And Harry was a match for him as a baby... now think of the odds."
Harry's felt his face glow red, "Harry Potter becoming a man..." Draco looked at him, and even though Harry excepted a joking smile he got a reassuring smirk. Draco put his arm over Harry's shoulders, and pushed through the crowd and past Cameron.
"Thanks Draco," Harry whispered.
"It's alright Potter, they don't know what they're talking about. You've been a man for a long time, whether you or any of them want to admit it. Half that room in there still doesn't have the balls to do what you've been doing since you first started school."
Harry looked at him and grinned, he never heard anyone say something like to him, and even if they did, he doubted it would mean half as much as it did coming from the mouth of his rival now friend.
"Step up here lively," Cameron beckoned.
The throng of students horded into the foyer and the grand double doors magically closed behind them. Draco slid his arm from Harry's shoulder's and eased his way into the mass, away from Harry, Ron and Hermione, who had come to Harry's side. "What did that slim say to you?" Ron muttered.
"Leave Draco alone, he's... changed." Harry said, with a relieving sigh.
"What did he say?" Ron repeated, unhappy with his answer.
"We understand each other, or at least he understands me."
Ron gave him a quizzical look, but shrugged, "His not going to beat me out for best mate, is he Potter?"
Harry chuckled, "As long as I'm still famous, never."
Ron gave a wide grin and patted Harry on the back.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "Did Draco say anything about..." she stuttered to finish, "...me..."
Harry looked down at her: she came to his shoulders, her now straight hair falling over her own shoulders. Her neck was hinged up, glaring into Harry's eyes for the truth. He narrowed his eyes, trying to find out where she was going with such a question, "No, why would Draco..."
"I know your life might be a bit more important than the one of us humble people, Mr. Potter, but please take your social life with Miss Granger somewhere else." Cameron raised her voice as to catch Harry's attention. She'd been talking to whole time. There was a snigger in the back ground. Harry knew the laugh; it was Draco's.
"As I was saying, Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, through the door behind me is a corridor. It is dark and it separates out in two opposite directions; one to your left and the other to your right." She paused and looked at Neville who was shaking. "This is your first task... to get to your class room." She proclaimed, a smile on her face. "One will take you straight or as straight as possible to the nearest door. The other will take no where. It will bring you back through this door," She pointed to a small, plane red door to Harry's right. "And you will begin the task over again, hopefully not taking the path you took the first time. You are to make your decision based on instant of where the class room is."
The tall green door behind her slowly opened in darkness. "Proceed." She said softly.
The swarm squeezed through the door, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville up front.
"Ouch!"
"That was my foot frog brain!"
"Hey, watch it!"
Everyone was tripping over each other, stepping on each other's feet. You could not see the hand in front of your face it was so dark. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had formed chain, holding onto each other's robes.
They came to the fork.
"Which way?" Hermione hissed.
"Right?" Ron said, beginning to drag Neville in the that direction.
Harry rooted still. "No," he breathed slowly, "Left."
"You think so?" Hermione asked.
Harry stopped, to think and then nodded, added yes to the answer since no one could see him nod.
The crowd followed him left.
The passage went straight until they hit a crude turn.
Then it narrowed to where only one person could get through at a time. "Aw, Hell no!" Draco screamed in the back. "I bet Potter made this ole wise decision, didn't he. I'm going to other direction!"
The crowd moaned and groaned, as turning around proved to be a painful task. Only five figures where left in the darkness.
"Should we turn back?" Neville was clinging to Harry's arm as he chattered.
"What do you say Potter?" Ron asked.
"I'm sorry guys," Harry said, defeat riding his voice, "I just had a feeling."
There was silence.
"Well hell, I trust that feeling, let's go already. Pick your feet up Weasley, don't want them stepped on." Pudgy Susan Bone with her pink cheeks, same red pony tail from first year had pushed past them and proceeded through the small opening (with a bit of difficulty.)
Hermione, Ron, Neville and Harry looked to each other in the darkness, and then hurried after her.
The hall way would wind and zigzag, but not after a minute of the confusing hall way had there been the loud bang, an cry of ouch and Susan Bones screaming, "STOP!"
They all listened.
They all watched in darkness.
"Well, open it Susan," Ron said, his voice mounting to excitement to see if they were right or not.
Susan nodded in the darkness, searched the door for the door knob and turned the ice steel. The door swung open.
Their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and the over coming flooding light made their eyes automatic shut and they stumbled into the room.
"Bravo!" a high pitched voice squealed.
Harry fell forward, shielding the others out of reflex.
"Who... who that?" Ron sput, backing against the door which creaked shut moments before.
Vision came in slowly, as Harry's eyes adapted to the light. Standing over him, in a flowing black robe was Cameron. Harry sighed and relief and let her help him to his feet.
She giggled heavenly, "who did you think it was Weasley?"
Ron messed his hair and shrugged.
"Are you the only ones?"
"Draco led the rest in the other way when Harry's got rough, the pansy." Susan said, taking a seat. The room was bright, trimmed in blue and green. There were three rows, two to a glossy oak table. An old, ruby red book sat at each seat, a quill pressed in each book.
"Well, take a seat while we wait for the others." Cameron ordered. "Potter you and Neville, Susan you and Hermione and Ron you will sit here."
"Excuse me," Hermione said, raising her hand as though she was promptly back in Hogwarts, "Does it really matter where we sit?"
Cameron gave a mischievous grin. "Actually it does, like an other class at Hogwarts you shall be graded in here, competing for top seat..." she moved to Harry, "the seat Harry sits in right now."
Harry sighed, knowing that it had to be something with his fame.
"Why Harry and not one of us? Why this order?" Susan demanded calmly, "If you please?" she added.
"Harry's first because I assumed that it was Harry who made the decision to go the right way, and the rest are you are just random. It really doesn't matter at this point... you four have a better chance than anyone of being top honors, who ever is sitting at the first table." Ron raised his hand to say something but she stopped him. "Yes Mr. Weasley, there are two."
"Just checking!" Ron said, closing his mouth quickly and sitting down in a slum, alone at his table.
"And," Cameron continued, "You going the right way will be remembered in later days."
Her eyes twinkled at Harry who grinned where he heard the voices outside the door.
"GEEEOFFF!"
Cameron dashed to the door and pulled it open. A throng piled in on top of each other, Draco Malfoy at the bottom.
"God damnit Malfoy, you stupid squib!" A boy at the middle screamed, worming his way out.
"Cindy, Cindy!" A blond cried, "Is my hair messed up?"
"No, no, it's fine Mipsy."
"CLASS!" Cameron roared. Everyone hopped to their feet leaving Draco laying alone spread eagle on the floor.
"Mr. Malfoy... I expect you where the one leading the wrong direction."
"YES HE WAS!" the tall, slender Mipsy said, pointed her finger at Malfoy.
"Shhhh," Cameron hissed, she redirected her attention to Draco. "Sooo...."
"Yea, so." Draco snapped.
"You're the leader... a leader..." She gave an encouraging smile and Ron nearly fainted on his desk. Draco grinned and raised his chest.
Cameron dropped her smile and her eyes narrowed. "You're the leader with heavy handed words who can talk anyone into doing anything. You're the leader with big word and little actions. You're the leader that as soon as the going gets rough you turn around with you tail between your legs. Well, Mr. Malfoy, with that attitude you will not make it far in my class. Sit down." She addressed coldly.
All the color that was never in Draco's face seem to vanish more. He slide in beside Ron, slummed down under the table.
"And Mr. Malfoy, what makes you think I want you so close to me that I can actually smell you? Get up and to the back of the room." Cameron pointed to the very last chair in the far corner. It was fit for one person... Draco Malfoy made his way to the seat in shame. His head bowed, chin in chest and "tail between his legs." Harry had never felt this before. A powerful guilt and empathy came upon him. Singled out in a class... having no one or anyone to care. Draco Malfoy never looked more pitiful to Harry, and yet, while Ron was beating down chuckles Harry felt his heart want to reach out. He felt sorry for him.
"Everyone else, take a seat somewhere between Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy." The class obeyed, fearing the whip lash Draco has just gotten. "Let this be your first real world lesson..." her eyes danced to Harry and down the room to Ron. She was obviously thinking of all they had been though. "...lesson from me. You don't go far following what is popular or looks easier. You go far and make it by tightening your grip and going along with the tough. I don't believe anyone has ever told you this... but the end is coming."
The class gasped, Harry leaned on his hand, threading his hands through his hair. "The end may be coming... or it may be defeated. That all depends..."
"Don't say Harry, please don't Harry." Harry hissed under his breath, into his hands. He felt the class's attention and eyes fall onto him. His neck grew hot and his face glowed red.
"When the end comes depends on our actions... not tomorrow, not yesterday but our actions today." Harry felt his skin loosen and his breath grow deeper in thanks. He looked up to find Cameron's eyes on him, not harsh, not caring either. They were stern as though speaking words and stories and pasts never spoken before in words. "Today we must take action, we can't sit our lazy asses down and say, 'Oh I'll do that tomorrow,' because the one thing that is always coming but never gets here is... tomorrow." Cameron froze letting her heavy words drop into the pit of everyone's being. Hermione seemed to be the only source movement in the room. She scurried to find parchment and quill, scribbling every word down quickly.
For some ungodly reason Harry turned back to look at Draco. Draco rose his buried head and his cold gray eyes met Harry's. Eyes, the glints and movement of lights on eyes spoke volumes, screamed instruction and decided futures.