Chapter Four
Almost as soon as I had woken up, the doors to the hospital swung open. It was none other than Albus Dumbledore himself, looking none-too-pleased.
"Please don't fire me." I croaked out, as he came to stand over my bed. His eye twinkled good naturedly, but his appearance was still stern.
"That was quite a spectacle you put on for the children, Miss Smythre. I would expect that from one of my students, perhaps. But two of my Professors"
"What!" I yelled, sitting up. Bad idea. My head throbbed painfully and I was forcefully reminded that, even in the magical world, cross-country riding without a helmet is a BAD idea. I clutched my head. "That man is one of your PROFESSORS"
Dumbledore smiled and urged me back down to lie. "Yes. That was Professor Severus Snape, our Potions Master and head of Slytherin House"
This day, and this job, which had seemed before to be a dream, was slowly disintigrating into nightmare status. "THAT is the man I'm working with"
"Yes. It is"
I opened my mouth and closed it, simply unable to respond. Finally, I steeled myself, and sat up carefully. "Well.." I said slowly, "I suppose we'll just have to learn to get along then"
Dumbledore smiled. "That's just the spirit I expected from you, Hero. Now, if you would take a drink of that potion on our bedside table, that should fix you up completely. Poppy Pomfrey would have administered it herself, but she is more than a little angry at your and Severus' blatant example of unsafe practices." He smiled and indicated a small red phial-like tube. He left as I picked the tube up and just as I had thrown my head back and downed the nasty, gel-like potion, in came Severus Snape.
"The Headmaster has asked me to show you to your quarters"
"Marvelous." I sighed, as my head cleared and the ache in my body settled to a dull roar. I noticed my robes folded onto a chair beside me, and that I was wearing my button-up black long sleeve shirt and my black slacks. I slipped on my shoes and Severus began to tap his foot impatiently. I swallowed, trying to force down the anger.
"Look, I wouldn't be in hospital in the first place if it weren't for you, so if you would just lose the attitude that would be spiffing." I tied my boots quickly and shoved my pant legs over them, standing and grabbing my robes.
Severus was just standing there, staring fixedly at the opposite wall. When he saw me stand he whirled around, hitting me in the nose with his cloak, and I followed him as he stalked out of the room.
It seemed as if we were walking forever. We walked down flights of stairs and into a dank and cold section of the castle, that I imagined was probably the dungeons.
"Being that tomorrow is Saturday, I will have someone give you the full tour then. In the meantime, the classroom is right down this hallway-" He pointed. "Do not stray into any of the other rooms. If you need a specific ingredient that I have not supplied, ask me for it, don't just go looking"
"What if you're not here"
He ignored me, coming to stand in front of a big wooden door. "This is your room. My room is across the way, but you won't need to bother me so forget I told you. Since you missed dinner, a house elf is being sent from the kitchens to get you what you want. I will send someone in the morning. Probably a student." And with that he swooped away into the door across from mine.
"Asshole." I muttered, and entered my room. It was bare, with a fireplace, a wardrobe, a four-post bed, and a chair. I could see around the corner a door into the bathroom. My bags were set on my bed, which was neatly made. I walked over and began to unpack.
Just as I was finishing, and after I changed into a long, black-linen nightgown, I heard a knock on the door. Grabbing my wand, I tiptoed across the cold stone floor and opened the door a crack. There was no one there. Just as I was about to close the door, I heard a miniscule "Ahem.
I opened the door and looked down. A fully-dressed house elf, wearing slacks and a bowler, stood smiling with his hands behind his back.
"Er...hello, there"
I'd never seen a house elf in person, as my family, even if they had been a Wizarding family, could never afford something like that. I had only read about them briefly in a couple books I had read prior to coming to Hogwarts.
"Dobby is sorry to bother you, miss Hero, but he has been sent to ask her what she wants for dinner"
I leaned against the door, still staring at the little being. He looked uncomfortable at my watching him, but stood obediently.
"Why are you wearing clothes?" I asked.
"Oh, Dobby has been freed, Miss"
I looked at him strangely. "Then why are you still working here"
"Oh, Dobby is being paid"
"Really? That's odd"
"Yes. Dobby was freed from his family by Harry Potter"
I blinked. This was a bit of interesting information.
"Would you, um, come in for a second, Dobby"
His little eyes brightened and he hopped in when I widened the door. I shut it behind him, and indicated a chair. He sat happily and I sat across form him on my bed. "You say family...who did you work for before"
Dobby looked uncomfortable momentarily, and then answered. "The Malfoys, Miss Hero"
I snorted in interest. "Indeed. I've heard of the Malfoys. Harry Potter asked me if I was one"
"If Dobby can say so, Miss, you does not resemble a Malfoy at all. You was nice to Dobby, letting him sit here. You has not kicked Dobby yet"
I cocked my head. "I take it these Malfoys aren't particularly nice people"
"No, not at all!" Dobby exclaimed, and then started beating his knobby little head against the armrest of the seat.
"Hey, stop! Stop!" I grabbed his head. "What the hell was that about"
"Oh, Dobby is sorry. It is habit to punish hisself for speaking badly about the Malfoys"
I changed the subject. "Al...right, then. You say that Harry Potter freed you"
Dobby popped his hat of and held it to his chest. "Yes, indeed, Harry Potter did. Harry Potter is the kindest wizard Dobby has ever met"
"Hmm..." I nodded slowly. "Well, that was all I wanted to talk to you about. And don't worry about the food, alright? I'm not hungry"
"Is Miss Hero sure? Dobby can bring her tea or pies if Miss Hero wishes"
"No, that's alright. Thanks Dobby." He hopped off the chair and I let him out of my room. I watched him pad down the hall and heard him go up the stairs. I waited a few moments, and then closed my door softly behind me as I stepped into the hall.
It was even colder now, and I conjured my purple cloak, wrapping it over my head and around my shoulders as I headed up the stairs. I hadn't gotten a chance to explore the castle, and wanted to be able to see some of the areas the student guiding me tomorrow may not be able to take me. It was pitch dark, so I charmed my eyes with the Brighteyes charm, which enables one to see in complete darkness. The only drawback is your eyes become conspicuously light, like a cat's reflecting in the dark, and it is hard to see anything in great detail. It enabled me, however, to walk the hallways without disturbing the paintings or anything else that might be unfortunate to wake in the middle of the night.
I was just wondering where the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom may be, when I could have sworn I heard a scuffle of feet. I looked around hastily, but couldn't see anything. I shrugged it off and continued up the hall toward the library. I felt like I was being watched the whole way there, but I figured in a castle such as this, with resident ghosts and such, that could only be expected.
I entered the library, which was softly illuminated by the moonlight pouring in the windows, and discharmed my eyes quietly. I walked the rows, now and then stopping to examine a title, and then a sign caught my eye- "Restricted Section.
"Excellent." I murmured, and followed the sign into the section. It was full of ancient looking books, some with titles and some without. As I went further in, it got darker, and I again charmed my eyes. I came to rest on a vast section on the Dark Arts. I scanned the titles, some rather sinister, like "Magical Murders Undetected". I plucked that one from the shelf and perused it quietly, wondering which one I would use on Severus Snape. From behind me, there was suddenly a clatter, and I shoved the book back into place, although it stuck out a little, as it seemed on of the books beside it had expanded by a few hundred pages.
"Who's there?" I asked sinisterly. No one answered and I decided it was nothing, and that maybe I should get some sleep, as I was beginning to hear noises left and right.