Harry Potter and the Gem of the Oracle
KyleGranger342
Chapter Eight
The Unexplainable Sunday
Sunday came really quick. For their first Sunday, which meant all Hogwarts students had no classes to go to, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny thought it would be fun to venture down to Hagrid's hut and have a small lunch.
"Yeah, well, affer tha, I ventured down ther ta Romania, to see ya brothr Charlie. He let me go into tha Norwegian Ridgeback pen and see me littl Norbert," Hagrid explained.
"You got to see Norbert, Hagrid?" Hermione confirmed. "Did he recognize you?"
"Well, once I got into ta pen, all the dragans looked at me funny. I could tell which one waz Norbert, he looked exactly tha same as I remembered . . . except that he's quite a bit larger than he waz when he waz a pup. But, anywayz, he did notice me first out of all the dragans."
"Who's Norbert?" Ginny asked. Ginny did not know about the Norwegian Ridgeback that was given to Hagrid in Harry, Ron, and Hermione's first year. Harry told her all about it and then she was updated on what was going on.
Hagrid got up as they discussed it and picked up the kettle full of tea, hanging over the fire. Hermione summoned five teacups from the cupboard in the corner and Hagrid poured them each a small amount. Ginny set the table while Ron and Harry unpacked Hermione's very old picnic basket. It was just a bit of food that Hermione had picked up from the house elves on her way down to the Great Hall that morning. They were all settled and began eating before striking up another conversation. The new topic was started by Hermione, of course.
"So, Hagrid, how's . . . er, Gwarp?" Hermione asked quietly, incase anybody was spying on them. It was a delicate conversation to have. Gwarp, Hagrid's half-brother who is a giant, was brought to the Forbidden Forest last year. Hagrid traveled with him a great distance and went through some very tough and interesting situations.
"He's fine, he's fine. I brought him back deepr inta tha forest a coople days befor the strt of term," Hagrid explained, taking short pauses to sip his tea. "Yea, I . . . brought him ta a clearing in the forest wher thers a small pond with a cave nestled inta tha cliff."
"That's good," Ron began. "As long as he doesn't cause any noise in the middle of the night. Ain't that right, Hermy?"
"Ron, that is not funny, that is really annoying," Hermione said. Ron was referring to the way Gwarp would try and say Hermione's name. The table filled with laughter. Hagrid looked out the window and his facial expression turned to a shocked look.
"Hagrid, is something wrong?" Harry asked noticing the expression. He looked out the window, looking for the thing Hagrid had become so speechless about. All he noticed was a small, faint cloud of smoke and a flock of birds twirling around crazily in the sky.
"Er . . . nothing, Harry, it's nathing. I'm just goin' ta have ta shorten this littl get togeter," Hagrid explained. He quickly got up out of his seat and grabbed his large jacket. He quickly put out the fire and began walking towards the door. "Sorry ta leave ya like this, but something imporant just came up," he said quickly. "Could ya please lock tha door when ya four leave." He called Fang, his door, and slammed the door behind him. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny sat there. Not one of them had said a word for a couple of minutes. Ginny was the one to break the awkward silence.
"Er . . . what was that all about?"
"I have no idea," Harry said.
Without warning, something could be heard from the Forbidden Forest. It was a very loud screeching scream, that was so loud, if you were close, it could cause you to become deaf. The four of them covered their ears. Ginny bent over and placed her head in Harry's lap. Harry then bent and rested his head on hers. Hermione had done the same to Ron, and vise versa.
To add to the loud scream were many students screams. Even the four Gryffindor's were screaming. The scream soon died as well as the students'. The four off them straightened up. Harry ran to the window and looked to the Forbidden Forest. The birds were no longer there. He then turned and looked towards the castle. Students were lying on the ground as if there were an aerial attack on the country. No one appeared to be hurt. Slowly they rose from the ground. Teachers, Prefects, and upperclassman came running from the castle to help get the people inside.
"I'd think it would be best if we were to go where everybody else is going," Hermione said, looking out the window behind Harry.
"Maybe," Harry said. "What do you two think?"
"I really don't want to go out there," Ginny said, completely terrified. Ron nodded.
"Let's just stay here until we know what's going on or a professor comes to get us," Harry said. Hermione nodded. Ginny and Ron slowly got up and walked by Harry and Hermione by the window. The grounds were now cleared of students.
Without warning, the screeching scream came once again, only louder, but shorter; lasting enough time for the four of them to drop to the ground, cover their ears, and cover each other.
"What is that?" Ron asked. Hermione rose her head to peer out the window. The sky was naturally getting darker, but she did notice a figure coming down from the castle. It was indeed Professor McGonagall wearing her emerald robes. She came running into Hagrid's home.
"Hagrid?" she shouted. She didn't find Hagrid, but she did find Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. "What are you students doing here? I have been looking everywhere for you! Come with me, quickly!" she commanded. They did as they were told and followed her up to the castle.
She led them up to the fifth floor. The four students were confused. The only things they knew that were located on that floor were the prefects bathroom and statues of Boris the Bewildered and Gregory the Smarmy. She walked up to the wall beside the prefects bathroom entrance. After a moment, the bricks shifted into an open doorway, very much like the entrance to Diagon Alley. The doorway revealed a very long hallway that was very decorated. Doors and pictures covered the walls. A couple ceiling windows were among the chandeliers on the very-high-up ceiling.
Professor McGonagall quickly lead them down the hall. As they passed by each door. Harry noticed what it said on the plaques on each one. One read: 'Severus Snape,' 'Minerva McGonagall,' 'Filius Flitwick,' 'Rolanda Hooch,' 'Irma Pince,' 'Poppy Pomfrey,' 'Pomona Sprout,' 'Sibyll Trelawney.' The names continued to go until they reached the very end of the hallway. They approached a door which plaques said the Defense Against the Dark Arts people for the past century or so. Harry did recognize 'Quirenius Quirrell,' 'Gilderoy Lockhart,' 'Remus Lupin,' 'Alastor Moody,' 'Dolores J. Umbridge,' and 'Donovan Phithill.' Harry assumed this was the sleeping quarters for the teachers of Hogwarts.
Professor McGonagall tapped the doorknob with her wand and a small click sound was made. She turned the knob and opened the door to the room.
The five of them scooted into the large room. This wasn't even a room. I was more like a small two story house. Before them would be what would be considered a living room. It consisted of a couch and two arm chairs surrounding a large fire place. To their left was a small staircase going upstairs. Next to the stairs was a small kitchen consisting of a cupboard, small pantry, a table for four, and a sink. Next to the kitchen was a small bathroom. They turned to the professor who shut the door behind them. Harry did notice that the names on front of the door were also on the back, but carved into it by each of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors.
"Professor, why did you bring us here?" Hermione asked.
"Please take a seat. I'll make this very quick and brief. We do not know what it was that made that noise. Professor Dumbledore has called in the Dementors. He believes that it was You-Know-Who or one of his followers that created that noise. So we need to protect the six of you since Voldemort knows who you are and that you know Harry Potter," she explained. "Well that is all I can say for now. Stay here until someone comes up and tells you that it is okay for you to come out."
The professor left and closed the door behind her.
"The six of us?" Ginny wondered.
"She means us too," said a voice from upstairs. It was Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. Hermione gasped; she just realized something.
"We all went to the Ministry last year. That's how Voldemort knows us!" she said quite loud. "Harry? Harry, are you listening to me?" Harry was looking at the back of the door.
Hermione came over.
"Look at this," Harry said pointing at one of the names carved onto the back of the door.
"Oh my gosh," Hermione said.
"Wicked," Ron said.
"I can't believe it," Harry said whispered, "James Potter."
Hope you enjoyed the new chapter. Took me a few hours to write this one shockingly. Sorry this one didn't include Harry's first animagi lesson. I kinda forgot I wrote that. That will be next . . . if I remember. Please review.
