Chapter 9.
Retirement.
Aurora woke up with a terrible headache when a bushy haired blurry figure pulled her out of bed in frenzy.
"Hermione?" Aurora blinked and rubbed her eyes. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Yes," she said rather impatiently. "It's 6:00 for your information, and you were right, Auri! You were right! They're holding a banquet in honor of Professor Snape. He's retiring."
She quickly slipped into her school robes and half-combed her long wavy locks, following an excited Hermione out the door. The Great Hall was decorated as almost exactly as it was on the very first day of school. Marvelous food was on the tables and Professor Dumbledore was in his very best midnight blue robes.
"I'd like to say a toast," Dumbledore stood up from the table and nodded towards Professor Snape. "To the finest potions teacher this school has ever seen. Severus, you must think twice before retiring. It would be such a pity to lose you." The Slytherins broke out in applause while the rest of the houses half-heartedly clapped in politeness. Now it was Snape's turn to stand up from the table. His cold eyes scanned across the room before stopping on Auri. He smirked unpleasantly and pretended to be greatly appreciative and kind.
"I take pride in my students," Professor Snape began slowly.
"Yeah, right," Auri muttered under her breath.
"And as of this day, that is why the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Turmoil, will teach potions. He has kindly agreed to do so. I will leave it to Dumbledore to find a suitable teacher for the dark arts. There are dark times ahead… a new life for a powerful figure in history… I trust he will chose accordingly." His eyes flickered when he said this. "It pains me to go, but I feel that I have taught all of you enough, and that it is time to have a new teacher for potions. I believe Miguel is very bright and an expertise in this field of magic. I wish you all well."
The Slytherins erupted yet again with whoops and enthusiastic clapping while the other three houses stared sleepily at the potions master. After one final speech from Dumbledore, all of the houses dug into the food on the table. Auri piled her plate with chocolate-dipped strawberries and apple pie, and watched Ron stuff food in his mouth with a small smile.
"The speech was strange," Auri turned to Hermione, finishing off one strawberry.
Hermione nodded. "Especially that part where he said "Dark times are ahead… a new life for a powerful figure in history." I suspect Dumbledore would be curious, but he really isn't at all suspicious."
"Maybe he's under a spell," Auri suggested.
"That's not very likely," Hermione shook her head. "Dumbledore is a powerful wizard."
Classes were canceled and Ron, Harry, Auri, and Hermione were left with free time on their hands.
"This is all very peculiar," Hermione said in the library, chewing on her lip. "Everyone is acting as if Snape's retirement is an everyday thing."
"I have a feel Voldemort is not quitting the war," Harry said gloomily. "He still has intentions to control the wizarding world, and I think it's going to happen soon. Very soon."
"But Harry," Hermione said anxiously. "Your dreams about Voldemort stopped, didn't they? Maybe that means…."
"No!" Harry said rather loudly. "Doesn't anyone believe me?"
"My dreams haven't stopped," Auri said quietly.
"What?" Harry said in disbelief.
"They're really nothing," she continued, feeling a hard knot in her throat. "But I keep having this same dream repeated over and over… I-I see Voldemort's face and… and then a room starts to fill up with blood and I'm in it. You see, Harry, I think you're not the one that might die. It's me."
"That's ridiculous," Hermione said angrily, looking up from her copy of Powerful Potions and their Uses in Daily Life. "Nothing's going to happen to you."
Auri swallowed the knot in her throat, but didn't say anything.
"Maybe you're related to Voldemort," Harry suggested in a low voice. Hermione shuddered.
"N-no," Auri shook her head, thinking of her secret. They would surely expel her from the school and put endless charms on her to let her forget about the magical world if they ever found out.
"I'm the one that's supposed to be in danger," Harry said egotistically.
"You know, this isn't fun," Auri felt like crying. "I want this to end just as much as you do."
"And then you can play my part of the 'hero' and save the wizarding world, and become famous," he replied sarcastically.
"I've… I've got to go," Auri said in a high-pitched voice that didn't suite her well. She collected all of her books and headed out the library door, biting back the tears.
"Why do you always have to do that, Harry?" Hermione said wearily, sighing.
"Do what?" he pretended not to notice.
"Oh, don't be stupid," Hermione narrowed her eyes. "You always have to say a rude comment that will make Auri leave. That's the last thing she needs right now."
Auri walked swiftly to the Gryffindor Common Room with eyes half closed and wet from tears. She felt like screaming and slapping Harry good and hard on the face. Her hands curled into fists as she stormed into the common room, yelling "pink pixies" to the Fat Lady. She plopped herself down on a red armchair with crossed arms, staring at the ceiling for a few blank moments and fuming. Auri noticed a newspaper on the small table and picked it up to read "The Daily Prophet." "That must be their newspaper," she thought and turned the page to read a major headline: 'Death Eaters escape from Azkaban.'
"What?" she whispered in disbelief. "No one has ever escaped from Azkaban before!"
Death Eaters Escape from Azkaban!
By: Sean Muffin
Just recently on November 25 three death eaters were reported missing from none other than Azkaban. Their names are Xan Dee, Claire Loot, and Stone Black. If you see any suspicious looking passengers, please be sure to report to the Daily Prophet. If found, the reward is a Daily Prophet T-shirt and 500 galleons. This is very important! This could be a provider of new information for the war against the Dark Lord. Have haste and support us!
Auri didn't finish reading. She folded the newspaper and placed it in her bag, and walked quickly out of the common room and into the library. She was lucky because Harry and Hermione were still there.
"Hi," Auri said breathlessly, placing her bag on the table and taking a seat.
"Harry would like a word with you," Hermione said, glaring at Harry.
"No need for any apologies," Auri said with a small smile. "It's quite obvious that Harry and I will never get along. Anyways, that's not why I came. Did you see the latest issue of the Daily Prophet?" And not waiting for an answer, she placed the newspaper on the table and turned to the article concerning Death Eaters.
Hermione briefly scanned the Daily Prophet, and then pressed her fingers to her mouth and turned to look at Harry.
"Death Eaters have escaped from Azkaban," she said softly.
He grabbed the Daily Prophet from her hands and quickly read the article.
"I bet this has everything to do with Snape's retirement," he said gravely.
"That's not possible," Hermione disagreed. "Snape retired only today, and I don't think it would have taken him barely a couple of minutes to escape with the Death Eaters."
"I think," Auri said carefully. "I think their escape wasn't a coincidence. I think it was planned and it probably has something to do with the Dark Lord."
"Whatever it is," Hermione said worriedly. "The wizarding world is entering a dark and difficult time."