hr
So, as many of you are probably surmised, or know since I've been complaining incessantly, I have a severe case of writers block right now. In order to conquer this foe, I have decided to write in the third person for this installment of, "The Long and Short of It." I apologize if it causes any confusion and I don't think any of the other chapters will be written in the third person from this point on. However, you never really know with me. So, at any rate, I'm done with my little speech … On with the story from where I left off.
/hr
b i center u A Glowing Start /b /i /center /u
It took Copper and Maybell a very long time before they finally were able to uproot a very disgruntled Johnathan out of their compartment. But, the girls did have to change, alone, and he did eventually have to leave, his pink hair ablaze.
Even Ollie and Gufo appeared to be sympathetic to Johnathan's plight. They both solemnly sat staring mournfully at him has he dejectedly admitted defeat and moved away from the cabin. If it had been possible, they would have offering him melancholy advice on how to deal with and handle the evil's of other students comments on his distinctly feminine hair.
Copper was also quite upset at the secession of Johnathan from the compartment because the moment he was outside a cruel barrage of laughter greeted him. Maybell, perhaps, felt the worst of all; she felt as though she had had a very large hand in the humiliation of Johnathan and his cursing because she had not stood up for him. He had, after all, been quite nice to her and this was how she repaid him. By allowing him to be torn apart at the hands of cruel students. She felt as though she should have taken a stronger stance and stood up to the formidable Copper; but she also realized doing this would mean having to stare down her daunting purple eyes, "Copper," Maybell said tentatively, "Is there any way you could maybe change his back to normal color, maybe? You know, before we get to Hogwarts … I feel horrible." More peals of laughter could be heard down the hall as she spoke.
"Why would I want to change him back?" Copper said defensively, too defensively, "He needs to learn not to be a jerk to people. I did him a favor by teaching him that lesson. I was helping him; I am helping him."
Maybell sat silently for a moment, "Is it really for you to teach?" She buckled her Mary Jane shoes on and sat back comfortably in her seat, "I mean, you're, and well we're the same age as Johnathan. Who are we to decide what he needs to learn and what he doesn't?"
Copper's glare had a strange quality to it. They reminded Maybell a lot of Mr. Ollivander, the way they could stare right through you and into the core. Her purple eyes were hurricanes of anger at the moment and they threatened to bowel Maybell over. Her voice matched her eyes, "You know," Copper paused dramatically, and "You were laughing just as much as I was, as they are. And besides, he really did deserve it. If I didn't teach him the lesson, who would?"
"I suppose," Maybell conceited, "But still, it really wasn't for us … to do. It's not up to us to decide who deserves what."
"Oh!" Copper said, "So now it's 'us.' No, I'm the one who cast the spell. That was all me, you just laughed. There is no 'us,' in this situation. Anyways, he was nice to you; you should have been nice to him. I had no reason to be nice to him, he was to busy being nice to you to be nice to me."
Maybell sighed, "You are a very confrontational person, do you know that? I bet you live a volatile life."
Copper didn't answer; she just looked out the window.
The train began to slow and Copper and Maybell began to collect their luggage to take into the school with them; the compartment was full to the brim with silence. Maybell glanced around for any remaining items that belonged to her, Copper, or Johnathan even.
"What in the world are you girls doing?" Laughter filled the voice and betrayed the owner. Maybell turned to face Sirius Black, color flooding to her cheeks; angry color. James Potter was there as well, and though they were minus Lily, they had gained another boy who appeared rather embarrassed by his two companions.
"Hmm, let's think here." She approached Sirius until they were nose to nose and spoke to him as though he were only in muggle kindergarten, "Let's look at the situation. There's luggage all over the compartment, packed up and ready to go. We're looking in corners for items that may be lost. What does it look like we're doing?"
"When you talk like that, the only answer I have for you is …" Sirius started, a grin flashing.
"It looks like you're doing something really stupid." James finished with a grin matching Sirius' flashing brilliantly.
"But, James," Sirius grin turned wicked and twisted, "Who are we to tell these fine ladies what they should do?" Without warning he stepped into the compartment and swiftly took Maybell's hand into his own and kissed it, with a flourish. Before she could react, he leapt out of the compartment.
"Have fun carrying your luggage," James said smiling, and then went bounding off to follow Sirius to wherever he was going.
The third boy who had just been standing there up until now stepped into the compartment. "I think that's their way of trying to help." He said quietly, "I wouldn't worry about it too much." He shuffled his feet nervously.
"Don't worry." Copper said, because Maybell was staring at her hand, "Because we certainly won't."
"Ok. They were trying to tell you that you don't have to carry your luggage into school, that is unless you want to I suppose. Don't ask me how it gets there," He said quickly as Copper opened her mouth to question him, "It just does." His hands continued to fidget ceaselessly, which in turn made Copper very nervous, especially since Maybell seemed to suddenly be oblivious to everything. "Well, we should probably go out and all. I mean, if you want me to leave you alone, I can." He turned bright red and peered over at Copper out of the corner of his eye, waiting for her refusal and rejection.
"Oh no, it's fine," she didn't want another enemy like Johnathan would surely turn out to be, "But …"
"What?"
"What's your name?"
"Oh," He laughed nervously, "Remus. Remus Lupin."
"Ok, Remus. Let's go." She started off out of the compartment, and then turned to look at Maybell who was off in her own little world. Her face had a surreal quality to it; she wasn't focused on the here and now, but on unreality, the world of imagination. "Maybell?" Copper said loudly, snapping her fingers in front of Maybell's face, "MAYBELL!"
Maybell's voice was disgusted and her face changed into an expression to match her voice. She held up her hand which still had a lip print from Sirius Black, "That. Was absolutely, by far, the most revolting, disgusting … horrible thing that has ever happened to me!"
Copper and Remus both laughed and the three left the compartment.
Maybell continued, "I mean, it's just my hand and I'm disgusted. It's like he spit on my hand. Why would anyone ever want to be kissed on the mouth? Why? It's so gross. I'll tell you, right here, right now, Sirius Black will never, never kiss me on the mouth. If he ever so much as kisses my hand again I'll murder him. It's so gross. I bet no boy will ever kiss me on the mouth, not just Sirius Black. I won't let them."
This one-way conversation continued as they made their way into the throng of students. They didn't really have a problem getting anywhere as the entire student body had heard of either Maybell's hedgehog turning two people to golden statue's or Copper's cursing Johnathan's hair pink. They all stayed far away from both Copper and Maybell.
Surprisingly, Remus stayed with the two despite his classmates' fear of them. Copper finally, her curiosity getting the best of her, asked, "Don't you want to go with Sirius and James, Remus? I mean, we like you and all, it's just everyone else is … well rather afraid of us it appears. I don't want them to hate you just because they hate us."
Remus smiled, "Honestly, I don't think they hate you, first of all. Second, I fell better around you then around Sirius and James, don't ask me why. I'm aware that I shouldn't."
Maybell punched Copper playfully on the shoulder, "Oh, now it's 'us,' again, eh Copper? I'm really not all that sure I want to be a member of this 'us,' partnership here." She laughed at Copper's crestfallen face, and then turned to face the crowds. She grabbed Ollie off of her shoulder and held him out menacingly towards the crowds, making them back away even farther.
"Oh shut up. You know you want to be a part of 'us.'"
"But it's only 'us,' when everyone is afraid of us and hates us. It wasn't 'us' when I got some credit, it's 'us' when everything is going wrong!"
"No, no, no, you've got it all wrong. It wasn't 'us' who cast the spell. That was all me. However, it's 'us' when the entire student body is afraid of us because both of us gave them very good reason's to fear us. I'm not sitting here taking credit for turning those people to gold, for turning Gufo to gold. That was all you. Johnathan's hair was all me. But, everyone being afraid, that's 'us,'"
Maybell threw her hands in the air, "I give up! You win! It's us!"
Copper merely smiled, pleased with her victory.
"Would one of you please tell me what's going on?" Remus implored.
Maybell said "Ollie did it!"
When Copper said, "He deserved it!"
But they said, "But it wasn't my fault!" together.
Remus couldn't decide whether he should laugh, or ask another question, so he just stayed quiet. All he could think of was he thought Sirius and James were interesting, these girls were much more on his level, especially Copper. She was one smart cookie.
The girls started to talk again, almost completely ignoring Remus, lost in their own world of arguments. Remus shuffled his feet and followed them quietly, listening to their conversation and laughing to himself.
Gufo rode high and proud on Coppers shoulder, overlooking the crowd's and his feathers glowed supernaturally in the falling sunlight. Ollie was in Maybell's hands and he too was glowing oddly, Remus stared at the two creatures, mentally noting their similarities. Before he could question, a strong voice rose over the crowds, "Fir' years! Fir' years over 'ere!" Maybell, Copper and Remus, along with the rest of the first years, made their way over to the strong voice.
Soon, all of the first years were gathered around this huge man. Huge is an understatement. To the average man he would be humongous, to the first years gathered around his knees he was beyond gigantic. He was five times as tall of all of them, and he had to be at least three times the size of an average man. Despite his size however, he still made Maybell fell very comfortable. She was surprised to find that he wasn't intimidating whatsoever.
Remus also was very comfortable with the large man's presence, which may have been because he apparently knew him. "Remus!" the big man yelled, "It's good to see ye!"
Remus smiled, "It's good to see you too Hagrid." The two embraced each other.
"I see you've already made some new friends, Remus," Hagrid said affectionately, he held his hand out first to Copper, then to Maybell, " 'Ello, I'm 'Agrid."
Maybell laughed, "I'm Maybell, and this is Copper."
Remus blushed. Copper hadn't realized how white his skin was until his face turned red. She was shocked; he could have been a ghost, a chalk white ghost.
James and Sirius dramatically popped up at this point from what appeared to be nowhere, dragging a very pissed off Johnathan behind them. They were yelling loudly, "He's cursed! Cursed I tell you! Stay out of his way, this little boy is contagious." People quickly jumped away from Johnathan fearfully, they were so easily manipulated, "Don't piss off this kid's girlfriend guys. I'm telling you!" Sirius yelled, "DON'T PISS HER OFF!"
People started to laugh now, pointing at Johnathan and at Copper, exchanging 'funny,' words behind their hands. James and Sirius were quite pleased with their handiwork. Johnathan wrenched his arm out of their grip, his face contorted in rage. The whispers stopped, "I am not a 'little boy,' and she is i not /i my girl friend. Who the hell do you think you are?" He stepped menacingly towards them, "Leave me alone! What did I ever do to you?"
Sirius, stupidly, didn't realize the game was up. He stood his ground next to Johnathan and said, "You could have fooled me. You seem pretty small, and she really acts like your 'girlfriend.' Good choice mate!" Even James wasn't laughing.
"Why are you obsessed with that?" Maybell stepped forward despite herself, "What do you really know about girls and all … all that stuff anyway! I bet you've never even had a girl friend."
"It doesn't matter whether I've had one or not. I was born with a gift; it runs in my family. I just know women."
"Well, it seems to me that you just don't know anything. I'm inclined to believe that, in fact, you are just a stupid, big fat, brute! A malicious, vengeful insecure bully who tries to cover up his faults by making fun of people and acting like you're all that as far as girls go. It may work on some people, some people may think you're cool, but we haven't even started school and I already see that all you are is a stupid little boy who's incredibly unsure of himself."
"That's where you're wrong," Sirius said without missing a beat, "I'm completely sure of myself. There's no reason arguing it, I have no reason to argue with you. See, they're all afraid of you, not me."
Hagrid stepped between the two, separating their blazing faces. "Everyone onto the boats. Four to a boat, please. You," he pointed to Sirius and James, go on that boat over there." He pointed to the very end of the line of boats, "And you three," Maybell, Copper and Johnathan, "Come with me."
Students scrambled to get boats with their friends and away from people they didn't like, or thought they didn't like. Maybell sat by Johnathan and across from Copper who sat silently by Hagrid who was hurriedly waving a pink umbrella around. The boats began to move away from shore, rowing of their own accord. Copper avoided eye contact with everyone with a fierce determination, Johnathan stared off into the distance, and Maybell's eyes were jumping around ceaselessly, never resting, her face still flushed a flaming crimson and her mind still mentally ripping Sirius Black to pieces. All three nervously awaited the arrival at shore where they would have to face their class mates again, and the rest of the school.
The boats rounded a corner, and for a moment all three forgot everything. The castle loomed in the distance on a hill and it sparkled and dripped with mystery and intrigue. Its lights beckoned the new students into its halls of learning, both in classes and with classmates. The wind picked up surreally and whispered through Maybell's hair, singing softly in her ear of the adventures she had dreamed about not two weeks ago. Hogwarts embodied both the practical and the illogical. That which made sense, and that which did not, things that were seen and unseen, and the vision of the castle the children were no seeing was no less a paradox than the school itself.
The feeling of complacency that came over Maybell at this point shocked her. Suddenly, a feeling of warmth, well-being and safety had invaded her foreign soul, which up until this point had been consumed with so many fiery emotions it hadn't had time to be excited. Suddenly she felt like she was home. Little did she know, most of the other first years were feeling the same as she was.
The boats continued their methodical journey, but the children in them were changed. All were happier now, ready to begin the next seven years of their lives. An eerie silence remained over the first years as the boats came to shore. The students followed Hagrid up to the doors of the castle, Maybell and Copper periodically looked over at Johnathan to see how he was holding out. He had his head down as far as it would go and he refused to look at anyone or to acknowledge where he was and what he was doing.
Most of the other students however, were enamored with the castle. They couldn't take their eyes off of it. It wasn't until a very severe and tall woman came crashing through the doors of the castle that their attention was diverted. "Thank you, Hagrid; I believe I have it from here." Hagrid took this invitation and quick as a flash he disappeared into the castle without a look backwards to the students.
It was forever before the woman opened her mouth again. She had the uncanny ability to keep an entire room silent with merely a glance; with these students however that was unnecessary. They were already quite frightened without her help. "My name." She said quietly, "Is Professor McGonagal. Not McGonagaggle, Not MacGonagal, and you shall never say 'McGonagal,' without the word 'Professor,' preceding it. This goes for all of your Professors and administrators.
"You are here at Hogwarts to learn. I want this to be very clear to all of you." Her eyes began to scan the students, picking them apart visually. The students rummaged nervously and swayed indecisively with the wind. The feeling of complacency was gone and in its place was, once again, fear. "I have been informed that the train ride to Hogwarts was filled with misbehavior and 'pranks,' of all sorts. This is not a good beginning to your years here at Hogwarts." Her eyes landed on Johnathan and they narrowed to slits as her mouth got even smaller than what seemed possible, "That kind of hair is certainly not permitted here. I assume I'm right when I assume that it's a spell that made it that way. The sparkle gives you away." She said as Johnathan tilted his head, wondering how she had known, "Remove it. Now."
Giggles floated into the air with no obvious owner. McGonagal stepped to Johnathan, towering over his cowering figure. "Did you hear me?" Johnathan nodded, "Then what is taking so long?"
Johnathan shrunk even more, defying gravity, "Ma'am," He said, trying to be polite, but his voice quavered, "I …" He stammered, "I don't know … how."
"What do you mean you 'don't know how?'" McGonagal exploded, "How could you perform a spell and not know how to reverse it! Do you realize how unsafe it is to go around charming things without knowing the reverse spell! Did you honestly expect to live the rest of your life with pink hair?"
"I'm sorry!" Johnathan barely managed to squeak out.
"Sorry! What is sorry? You aren't sorry! If you were sorry, you'd find a way to fix the problem …"
Copper was burning red and resolutely she stepped forward, her violet eyes flashing dangerously, "Stop it!" McGonagal turned into frozen statue of ferocity. Slowly, she turned to face Copper and glower down at her from her significantly larger stature, "It was my fault! I cursed him! Don't yell at him, if anyone, yell at me." The world went silent and Copper could uncomfortably feel every pair of eyes trained on her. She could especially feel McGonagal's eyes burning holes into her soul. It was as though the woman's glasses magnified the piercing effect of her glare.
Near silent, McGonagal said, "Then you fix it." This flattened Copper's resolve. Faster than a bullet Copper went from a defender of Johnathan's rights, a champion of justice to a babbling, fearful little girl. McGonagal waited patiently, "Well? What are you waiting for?"
Realization hit Maybell, and she was shocked she hadn't seen it before, "You don't know how, do you! That's why you were so defensive about it!"
Copper didn't take her eyes of McGonagal, but she visibly shrunk, "No." Maybell laughed loudly, shattering the silence. A chorus of giggles followed her, filling the air with mirth.
This was not what McGonagal had had in mind. She rounded viciously on Maybell, brimming with contempt. "And who are you?" She said dangerously over the roar of nervous laughter.
Maybell's laughter abruptly stopped, finally realizing exactly what Copper and Johnathan had felt when McGonagal had been trained on them, "M-Maybell Shorter."
"Well, Maybell Shorter and company," She gestured to Copper and Johnathan, "Wait here." She disappeared into the castle and soon reappeared with a confused Hagrid in tow. "You three, stay here with Hagrid. The rest of you," The laughter stopped, "Come with me please."
Maybell, Johnathan and Copper stood rooted to the ground, petrified. Johnathan looked like he was going to cry.
When every last student was gone, Johnathan turned to Copper, "I figured you knew how to reverse the spell! Why would you curse someone without knowing the counter curse?"
Copper tried to ignore him. Her pride demanded she ignore him. Oh, she tried very, very hard. Johnathan approached her, "Copper," He said, continually moving into her vision as she looked away, "Do you even know what spell you used?"
Her resolve failed, "It's a spell I made up. I have three older brothers who love to pick on me, and two of them are already out of Hogwarts and love to 'test,' new spells on me. I need something to protect myself with, to defend myself with against the evils of my three siblings. I've just never had to reverse it before; my brothers are generally quite capable of removing my spells."
Maybell laughed again, but Hagrid cut her short, "Follow me, I've been told to take you to Dumbledore's office so that McGonagal and Dumbledore can deal with you later." He started to lead the three into the castle, "Normally, Professor McGonagal isn't really that mean, it's just she's having a very bad day. A very, very bad day.
"See, the thing is, everyone was, and is, really upset right now at the entire first year class. Apparently, at the train station, there was a bit of a fiasco where two people and an owl were turning into golden statues by a student. Dumbledore received a letter from the head boy, Arthur Weasley, which did very little to explain the situation and just got nerves up. The older woman who was turned to gold also sent a letter when she 'got better,' I suppose, but she sent it to both McGonagal and Dumbledore. Who knows why … anyways, McGonagal has been in a rage every since. I pity whoever did that, she's going to tear them apart."
Maybell stared down at her feet and said sullenly, "That would be me."
"Oh." Hagrid said and his large face blushed subtly, at least it seemed too, it was hard to tell with the beard. His eyes also assumed a compassionate sheen, "That would explain why I'm taking you to Dumbledore's office."
"Actually," Copper said, talking for the first time, "We're going to his office because I turned Johnathan's hair pink and don't know how to change it back. McGonagal doesn't know it was Maybell yet."
Hagrid laughed, "What a way to start here at Hogwarts." He turned to a statue of a gargoyle they had arrived at and said, "Laffy Taffy." And the gargoyle sprung to life and leapt away from an opening to a large spiral staircase.
"Oh, wow!" Maybell gasped, she had never seen anything so amazing. Copper and Johnathan were also shocked and thrilled. Hagrid and the three stepped onto the staircase, which began to spiral upwards.
The walls around the moving stairs were brick and very reminiscent of an old lighthouse. Maybell briefly entertained the thought that she was the commander of a brilliant lighthouse used to steer lost souls into shore, saving people, being a hero. However, when the reached the door to the office, reality came crashing back down into an unattractive heap.
Hagrid left them alone in the office. There was a semi-circle desk in the middle of the circular room, and only two chairs in front of it. Copper and Johnathan immediately took these two chairs, leaving Maybell standing.
All three were silent, Maybell started to walk around the room, looking at everything. She was especially fascinated with the portraits on the walls. They appeared to be sleeping … but she knew portraits couldn't sleep. She walked over to a cabinet on one side of the room and opened the doors, peering inside. There was an assortment of gadgets and thing-a-ma-bobs. One particular item caught her interest; it was a black orb sitting on three legs that were shaped like dragons. At first glance, the orb appeared to be completely onyx black, but on second one could see various shades of dark purple running through like moving veins, and by third glance it was obvious that all colors of the rainbow were running through this orb, circling it non-stop. The colors moved so quickly, they appeared to run together and became the original black color.
"Hey guys!" Maybell called, "Come look at this!"
Copper and Johnathan reluctantly came over to where Maybell was standing, and soon they two were absorbed in the beauty of the black orb. Maybell reached out to touch it, and she felt a wave of heat run through her arm as she got close, "Maybell!" Johnathan said, grabbing her arm, "Don't touch! Look!" Maybell followed Johnathan's extended arm to a small not attached to one of the legs. In very neat calligraphy it said, "Please, refrain from touching any objects in this cabinet." As she watched the parchment, the letters began to change and rearrange themselves, soon, it said, "Especially you, Maybell, Haviland and Johnathan."
All three jumped away from the cabinet and Maybell slammed the door shut with a loud BANG. Copper and Johnathan returned to their seats, visibly shaken and Maybell went to stand between them. "Why do you two get the seats?" she asked.
"Because we sat here first." Copper answered.
"You can sit on the floor." Johnathan offered, helpfully.
"I doubt they'll be back anytime soon," Maybell's posture became mischievous, "And since that's the only chair left, I'm going to take it."
Maybell bounded over the chair behind the desk and plunked herself comfortably into its cushions. "Maybell!" Copper hissed, "Aren't we already in enough trouble without you pretending to be headmaster!"
"Headmaster?"
"Yes, Dumbledore, he's the headmaster. And you're sitting in his chair! Get up!" she squawked, looking nervously back at the door.
"Oh, I don't think he'll mind." Maybell said, putting her feet up on his desk. "After all, I have the makings of his favorite student." Ollie crawled out of her breast pocket and scurried over her legs and onto Dumbledore's desk, making himself comfortable in Dumbledore's quill holder.
"What in the world do you think you're doing young lady?" A familiar voice sounded from the door as McGonagal strolled into the room, followed closely by Dumbledore. Maybell fell from her seat onto the floor with a loud crash, her feet taking some of the papers on Dumbledore's desk with her.
She stood up quickly and tried to right everything in the office as fast as she could, hurriedly picking the papers of the ground and putting them onto the desk. Her whirlwind actions however, only caused the papers to fall off as quickly as she put them on in the wake of the wind she was creating. Dumbledore stood next to McGonagal still, his eyes twinkling as he watched Maybell try desperately to fix everything.
McGonagal however, was glaring at Maybell, so she didn't notice Ollie who was getting upset with all of the commotion going on around him. Dumbledore did notice Ollie, and he approached the desk and picked the little critter up.
This stopped Maybell. "Sir!" She said urgently, "He's going to turn you into a golden statue."
Copper and Johnathan instinctively backed away from Dumbledore, and Dumbledore laughed outright at their reactions. "So you're the one who caused all the ruckus!" He said affectionately to Ollie, "I'm so glad it wasn't a student." He turned to Maybell, "Mr. Ollivander wrote to me after you visited his store to tell me about your wand of choice, and your new little friend. He suggested that I run some tests on this little hedgehog to find out if he has any magical powers. You see the wand you used to create him, mahogany and unicorn hair is known for its magical ability. This would explain all the happenings at Kings Cross."
Maybell stared at Dumbledore, not knowing what to say. Copper spoke for her, "His name is Ollie, and he turned Gufo to gold."
Dumbledore turned, "Ah, the first victim. Hmm. I see that he is well. Did you know that Gufo means owl in Italian?" He asked.
"Yes." Copper laughed, "We bought Gufo in Italy, and it was the only Italian word I knew at the time. We were outside of this art museum and this guy comes up to me and my mother screaming about how he'll sell us this owl for only a shekel! A Shekel! My mother wanted to refuse it, but I insisted. His full name is Leonard Gestapo Gufo."
Dumbledore laughed, and turned towards Johnathan. "And who might you be?"
"My name is Johnathan Emerson." He said quietly.
"And why is your hair pink?" Dumbledore asked, peering over the top of his glasses, his eyes still twinkling but no longer laughing.
"I did that sir." Copper said, "He was calling me Haviland."
"Oh! So you are the Irish student I was informed of. Yes, your parents wrote me a letter to see if it would be all right for you to come to our school as Ireland has no wizarding school. They also told me you had quite a temper and I should put you down as Copper even though your name is Haviland. Pleasure to meet you, now, would you please change his hair back?"
McGonagal stepped forward, "Professor, that's why they are here. She refuses to change his hair back."
"I don't know how to change his hair back."
"Well, that's easily fixed," Dumbledore said, and with a wave of his wand Johnathan's hair was back to a beautiful blonde color.
"How did you do that?" Copper asked curiously.
Dumbledore leaned close to the three and said in a quiet voice, "The key to magic isn't in the spell, it isn't in the wand and how you move it, the key to magic in here." He patted his heart, "When you truly believe in something and need it to happen, it will happen. That's what being a witch and wizard is, it's believing.
"However, Copper. Even though I was able to fix this mishap, it doesn't change the fact that you shouldn't be cursing students. That will be twenty five points from … well what house are you in?"
"We haven't been sorted yet, sir." Johnathan said.
"Oh! Well that's the first thing we need to do! Minerva, please fetch the sorting hat for me." McGonagal walked out of the office, her face visibly redder than before. Dumbledore turned to the three smiling broadly. "How unfortunate though, one of the most memorable moments of Hogwarts is being sorted in front of the entire school. Most first years turn brick red when all eyes on them."
"Sir," Maybell said, "What house was Sirius Black sorted into?"
"Gryffindor, along with his new friend James Potter and Remus Lupin. It seems to be a very popular house this year."
Maybell slouched down, very unhappy. All of her family had been sorted into Gryffindor, which meant she probably would be too. Seven years with Black. It would be hell.
McGonagal reappeared in the office with a large black hat in her hand. "Who's first?" She asked amiably. No one responded. "Alphabetical order then, Johnathan."
Johnathan stepped toward her and she gestured to the chair he had been sitting in before. As soon as he sat, she plopped the hat onto his head. A few moments later, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Copper was next, the hat was barely on her head before it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Maybell stepped forward, ready to take her turn. She sat down and watched as her vision went black when the hat was placed on her head. "Interesting. You've got quite a mind, however you aren't … well you aren't nice enough for Hufflepuff. You would do well in Slytherin if you wanted to be in Slytherin, however I can tell you would abhor being put in Slytherin. Since you're a Shorter, I suppose it'll have to be GRYFFINDOR!"
Maybell stood and walked over to Copper and Johnathan. Dumbledore rubbed his hands together, "Well, that was easy. Right, that means twenty five points away from Gryffindor for cursing a fellow classmate, Copper. Also, I think two days worth of detention will also do well to teach you a lesson, Copper. Beyond that, there is only one more matter here that needs attending to." Dumbledore held Ollie up, "Do you mind if I borrow him for a while?"
Maybell paused, nervous, "Be really careful." She said, praying fervently that her hedgehog wouldn't turn her headmaster into a golden statue. She figured so far she had been incredibly fortunate not to be in trouble, and it just would be good if he turned to gold because of her pet.
"I will," Dumbledore said, "I'll call you up to my office soon to discuss the results of the tests."
"What are you going to do to him?" As she was afraid for Dumbledore's safety, so was she afraid for Ollie's. She didn't want anyone sticking random needles into him and making him uncomfortable.
Dumbledore seemed to read her mind, "Don't worry, I won't hurt him. Honestly, I think what I'm probably going to do is just watch him, I don't know yet though. We'll talk about it when I see again. Now though, I think you three have a feast to attend to, and so do I."
"What are you going to do with Ollie during the feast?"
Dumbledore laughed at Maybell's question, "Take him with of course! He's got to eat too!"
"Actually, I think he only eats wood."
"Oh. Well that just makes total sense."
hr
A/N: Reviews! I love Reviews, and thanks to all you wonderful folk who have already reviewed! I apologize for how long it took me to get this out, as I said before, I had a horrible case of writers block. This is why I wrote The Wrong Fireplace. At any rate, the next chapter should be coming out faster than this one did because I already have it all in my head. It's practically mentally written; Note to Billy: HI! I'm glad your reading this … it means you're like me, you have no life Not to Fiona: Yay! I'm glad you're reading this here instead of in math class, cause honestly, we should really start paying attention if you know what I mean. Note to Arabel: YAY! You finally got around to reading my story, yippee! Note to various other pals of mine: Call me and verbally beat me for not remembering you … Oh yes … Michael: I LOVE YOU! You are FABULOUS!
I'm done now. Shout outs are finished … tee-he.