Cheelalaucha: Sorry, none of your questions were answered in this chapter. Next chappie, almost sure. ;) Thanks for the review!
CHAPTER FOUR
"And voilà!" Bill was teaching Ginny a Flame Freezing Charm. They were both sitting in the fireplace of a dark, large room. Molly was looking at them as though she wasn't exactly approving this, but the recent events prevented her from disapproving too harshly. Sure, the nine members of the Weasley family were all safe and warm, but some of them had just escaped a certain death. Mrs Weasley shot a glare around the room. Fred, George and Charlie were discussing Quidditch while Ron was writing on a torn piece of parchment at the table. Writing to Hermione, Molly expected. Arthur was out to get Percy. Percy didn't want to talk to his parents any more than he did the year before, but what had just happened was too important to let a Weasley out of it. Molly thought that Percy's sudden presence, without his agreement, would be sure to cause some embarrassment in the little troop, but Molly was too eager to see her little baby boy she hadn't seen in so long to worry about that.
They sure were recovering fast. Of course everybody had been shocked after learning what Ron, Ginny, Molly and Arthur had just escaped, but now that they knew everybody was just fine; they were just enjoying some family time as though everything was back at usual. Charlie had apparated right away from Egypt. Dumbledore had gotten in touch with him, and ordered them to stay all together. It was him who had sent Arthur to get Percy as fast as he could. He had then had a little chat with one of the portraits and left just as soon in a cracking noise. The man had other things to do.
Neville coughed a few times and gasped for air. With useless movements of his hand, he tried to dissipate the thick cloud of ashes that was suffocating him. When finally he could see clearly, he seriously wondered where he was. He thought for a moment that he might have gotten out of the fire a little too quick, but he soon heard a familiar voice. "Good grief boy, Argus will go mad if he finds out you've been dirtying the whole school!" Irma Pince sounded bitter even when she was trying to be nice. "I need to see Professor Dumbledore" Neville said simply. "Well, it's impossible at the moment, I'm afraid…" Mrs Prince began. She cut off, surprised, just realizing what Neville was holding was not a pile of old cloths. "What happened to her?" Mrs Pince didn't seem reassured at all. She started trying to pull Mrs Longbottom from Neville "We've got to get her a healer. Come on boy, be reasonable! Let me have a look at her." But Neville wouldn't let loose of an inch his grip on his grand-mother. "I need to see Professor Dumbledore" Neville repeated.
Albus Dumbledore had just reassembled the Weasley family and told Arthur to get to his third son as soon as possible. He was greatly concerned. Firstly, Shacklebot had not showed up for their meeting and Albus was afraid that his last mission might not have turned out so well. Then, there was this whole Percy business. The boy hadn't given any news for months now, and the old man was uneasy about his situation. He feared for his safety more than for his loyalty. Albus was sure he'd never see the day where a Weasley would turn out to be a traitor. Though the dark forces were sure to try soon to enrol him, Albus was confident the boy would not betray them. Exactly for this reason, Albus feared. He was not unaware of Voldemort's manners to kill people when they refused to join his side.
Molly turned away from her children's and got into the kitchen. With a flick of her wand, she got cauldrons and plate out. She took 8 carrots from the refrigerator and when she pointed her wand at them, they began to peel themselves. Molly distinctly heard Albus converse with one of the portraits in the hall. "He's there? They're both there! You think she's hurt? Thank Phineas. I'll be there in a moment."
When the Headmaster arrived, Mrs Pince was pulling onto the sleeve of Neville's shirt. Footsteps made her turn her head. "Headmaster!" she said, and her eyes expressed relief. "He won't let me check on her. She's hurt! We've got to find her an healer!" She seemed exhausted. Albus gently put one his long fingered hand on her shoulder "It's okay Irma. You may go now, I'll take care of them." His soothing voice seemed to tranquilize her. She walked away in a pace. Finally, the old man, looked at Neville. Neville seemed out of it. "Follow me Neville" Dumbledore turned around and started walking. He led Neville through the maze of the old castle. Neville held her grand-ma' close to his heart. "This is weird" Neville thought. Nothing seemed like the home he'd been leaving in for five years now. "Professor, has anything changed?" asked Neville in a clearly inquiring voice. Dumbledore stopped walking abruptly. He turned around to see if Neville was kidding or something. When he saw the look on Neville's face he just raised an eyebrow and said "I'm positive everything is just as you left it a month ago Neville".
Neville continued walking in a second state of mind. He was looking around him with eyes wide open. He was exactly listening to Professor Dumbledore's speech, but the sound of his voice was somewhat relaxing. "Mrs Pomfrey's not here right now, so you'll just bring her in my office and I'll see what I can do" Professor Dumbledore was saying. Neville followed the old man through stoned corridors and turning stairs. The old man seemed to know where he was going, at least. When they at last arrived in front of the statue of a gargoyle, Dumbledore spoke the password "Pumpkin Pasties" and the door behind the statue opened to reveal a spiral wooden stair which moved upward slowly. Neville lightly jumped on it before was too high.
Neville opened wide eyes at the sight of Dumbledore's office. The room was circular with lots of windows and a really high ceiling. Some of the walls were covered in books from floor to roof and behind the master desk stood a brown, rich, leather couch. Neville's mouth fell open. He saw the Sorting Hat, a big crimson and gold bird, a pensieve and a gold, richly embedded with precious stones sword. Dumbledore pointed his wand at an uncomfortable looking collapsible chair and it turned into an old fashioned wooden bed with soft and warm beige covers. Neville carefully placed his grand-mother onto the goose feathers stuffed pillow. At the same time, Albus Dumbledore walked over to his phoenix Fawkes, whispered a few words to his pet and the bird flew out of the open window. The room remained silent. Neville had kneeled down on the floor, just beside his grand-mother's head, holding one of her hands. Albus sighed sadly at the touching sight. How much the boy had suffered. He didn't want to be the one putting him through any more harsh stuff. Finally, Dumbledore approached the small bed. At first, Neville was reluctant to leave his grand-mother's side, but Albus talked him into it. Calmly, with his deep blue eyes gazing into Neville's, he said "She's going to be alright, but you've got to let me take a look at her. I only mean to help Neville."
Dumbledore had been examining the elderly dame for a few moments when the door of the cabinet sprung open. The tall (and it's nothing to say it) figure of Rubeus Hagrid appeared into the door step. His black, glinting, beetles like eyes, shone with rush. His long, tangled, wild and bushy hair was flying around his face. He looked out of breathe. Just after his entrance, Fawkes graciously came flying in and gracefully posed his beaming gold claws on his iron perch. Albus looked up and caught a glance of panic into his friend's black eyes. "She's going to be alright Hagrid." Hagrid looked panicky. "Neville…" he said in a faint voice. "The boy's going to be alright as will, Rubeus. Now, look at me, I need you to do something for me." And when Hagrid's glare wouldn't leave Neville's demolished one; Albus made use of his legilimency skills to force Hagrid to obey him. "You're going to go find Minerva" the aged man went on. "I'm almost entirely sure you'll find her at Number 46 Strained Street. You know how to get there." Hagrid nodded sharply and turned to leave. Dumbledore raised one of his languish, bony finger and said "Hagrid…" The aforementioned, turned around, time stood still. "The safe way, if you shall" and Rubeus Hagrid turned his heels and left by the open door.
There you go. I'm liking the chappie that's coming up so, keep reading!
