Chapter 14: Poof
Leave it to me to realize my mistake when it is absolutely, much too late. Ah! If the place just wasn't so wonderful, I would've avoided getting in the middle of everything. I should've left Harry alone. I shouldn't have taken up all of Dumbledore's time. But I had. Now, there's no telling what would happen now.
I twisted and turned all night, and then finally dozed off an hour before the wake-up call. I looked horrible. A group of young Slytherins snickered. I racked my brain for a good retort but it wasn't working very well. So instead I grunted and finished off my breakfast. I didn't talk much with the trio, complaining about a head ache. Later I slouched towards the room I had been taking lessons from Professor Ghent. Yawning, I opened the heavy door with decidedly less effort than usual. I leaned on the door with my eyes closed and muttered, "Mornin' Professor."
There was no answer.
I opened one eye and had a sinking feeling. Both my eyes were finally wide open as I surveyed the room. It was empty. All the books, papers and magical items were gone. I quickly went outside to see if I went to the wrong room. But it was the same room I went to everyday for a month. I suddenly felt clammy and nervous like when I feel something was terribly wrong. Could it be that Professor Ghent changed rooms? No! There's no note or anything! Professor Ghent always left a note or had someone tell me if he couldn't make it to a lesson. This had happened twice before. Leaving without any notice was just… unlike him. Quickly, I ran to the Great Hall, but Professor Dumbledore wasn't there.
"Have you seen Professor Dumbledore?" I asked passers-by. They simply shrugged and went on their way. I checked in many rooms and then I saw Professor McGonagall walking down a corridor. I came to a halt and exclaimed, "Professor McGonagall!
Startled, she clutched her chest and said, "Oh! You gave me a fright! What's wrong, child?"
"Professor Ghent is missing!"
"Missing? Maybe he went to a different room."
"He would've left a note saying so!" I started to sob. The fatigue and confusion forced out my tears. I felt silly and weak but I was never one to hide my feelings.
"Calm down, child. Argus! Argus!" Professor McGonagall called out to Argus Filch as she held my shoulders. Filch sprinted towards us and Mrs. Norris scampered behind him.
"What's the matter Professor?" he wheezed.
"Have you seen Professor Ghent in the grounds?"
"No… that's quite odd. I usually see him walking to that room he works in."
An expression of grim and worry formed in Professor McGonagall's face. Her grip on my shoulders tightened so much that it hurt. I winced at the pain and she let go.
"I am sorry," she said apologetically.
I wiped my tears on my sleeve. Enough crying. I'm over-reacting. It's time to find out what's going on. So I looked up at Professor McGonagall's face.
"What could've happened to him?"
"I do not know. But we'll find out soon enough."
A tenderness in her voice made me feel slightly better. She had Filch accompany me back to my room. I figured she'll find Dumbledore and have him search the castle for Professor Ghent. But for some reason, I knew he wasn't in Hogwarts.
Climbing back in the bed I hugged a pillow. In my exhaustion, I fell asleep still wearing my shoes.