The Call of the Siren
Chapter 2
Carrie
Carrie was kept busy day and night until the time of her departure to England. She had immediately begun her packing after dinner that Wednesday night when her family told her she'd be attending Hogwarts. The only time she'd stopped bustling around was when she was sleeping, and even then, her mind would be working overtime. Carrie's dreams consisted of what Hogwarts would look like, what her teachers would be like, and the kind of classes she'd be taking. Carrie figured that many of the classes, such as Transfiguration and Charms, would be taught at Hogwarts. After all, that was standard Wizarding curriculum. She fervently hoped that she'd have a good music teacher like Randolph. It would be an adjustment for Carrie to get used to being taught by someone else.
Departure Day finally arrived and Carrie felt a strange mixture of emotions coursing through her. Yes, she was excited, and she felt that bubble up inside her as if it were high tide. Carrie loved new adventures, and the anticipation was strong within her as she made her final preparations to leave. On the other side of the coin, a sense of sadness and loneliness accosted her already. She's miss her family, friends, and other teachers terribly. Rivulets of premature homesickness cascaded down upon Carrie as unexpected tears filled her eyes.
I will not cry, she admonished herself. Blinking furiously and swallowing hard, she managed to get herself back under control as her grandparents came into the living room to say their goodbyes.
"Now remember, dear, to write home. We wan to hear about all the new friends you'll make and how your classes are going," said her grandmother as she folded Carrie into her arms and hugged her to her chest.
"I will, Grandma. I promise," whispered Carrie as she returned the hug. Carrie couldn't hold back the tears this time. "I'm going to miss you."
Bea pulled back and looked into Carrie's watery eyes. "Don't cry, darling," she said. "This is a happy occasion. You're going to be alright." Carrie's grandmother pulled out a handkerchief and dried the tears on Carrie's cheeks.
Next, Timothy hugged Carrie, his own emotions evident. "I love you, darling," he said, his Irish accent apparent as emotion choked his voice. "You have a wonderful time, and don't let too many boys flirt with ye, alright?"
Carrie laughed through the onslaught of tears that her grandfather's embrace brought on. Oh, how she would miss him and his Irish accent! "I will, Grandpa. Don't worry. And I doubt that many boys will notice me. They never did here." Carrie was giggling slightly as she fought the homesickness she was already feeling.
"That's not true, darling. And if it were true, they'd be blind if they didn't notice you. You're the prettiest girl in school," her Grandfather said, giving Carrie a final squeeze.
"I think you're biased, Grandpa," she chuckled.
"Maybe so, but I know a pretty girl when I see one."
"We've got to get going, Angel," said Carrie's father as he and her mother came back into the living room.
"Do you have everything, dear?" her mother asked.
"I think so. Oh, wait. I've got to get Charlotte's cage," said Carrie as she turned toward the stairs to go to her room.
"She's right here," said Gerald.
Charlotte was Carrie's snowy owl that she'd had since her first day in school. Carrie also had a pet Phoenix named Crawford that her grandfather had found for her when she was fourteen. The two of them spent much time taming Crawford, and he eventually became Carrie's special friend and confidante, as another one of Carrie's talents was being able to communicate with animals and understand them. She did this telepathically along with using some audible sounds. It was always wondrous to her every time she linked up with an animal and befriended a creature.
Carrie reached out for Crawford with her mind to let him know it was time to go. The beautiful Phoenix flew through a window in the living room as her father opened it for him. Crawford landed smoothly on Carrie's shoulder and perched there while she stroked his warm feathers tenderly. Leaning her cheek against his softness, Crawford squeezed Carrie's shoulder gently with his talons to convey love and comfort to her.
"Alright, everyone. Looks like we're ready," said Gerald as he picked up Carrie's trunk. Lisa was holding Charlotte's cage in one hand and wrapped her other around Carrie's waist as they prepared to Apparate. Crawford took a tighter hold on Carrie's shoulder, and she reached her free hand up to be sure he was secure. Carrie's grandparents waved to them as Lisa, Gerald, Carrie, and her pets disappeared into thin air.
The next instant, they found themselves a couple streets away from The Leaky Cauldron in London where they'd be staying overnight. Professor Dumbledore had arranged for the Hogwarts Express to take Carrie and her parents to Hogwarts the next day so they could help her get settled into her new surroundings. Carrie looked around and surveyed the crowd of witches and wizards that were milling around as they went about their business.
"Merlin's beard, this place is busy!" exclaimed Carrie. "Everyone's in such a hurry."
The three Americans went inside the Leaky Cauldron, and Tom was there to greet them. "Well, hello there," he said jovially. "What can I do for you?"
"We're Gerald and Lisa Stafford, and this is our daughter, Carrie. She'll be attending Hogwarts this year. I believe Albus Dumbledore contacted you about our staying the night tonight," said Gerald, smiling at Tom.
"Ah yes, the Americans! Yes, Dumbledore told me about you. Your lodgings are ready now. Please follow me. My name is Tom, and I'll be happy to serve you." Tom picked up Carrie's trunk and led the way up a flight of stairs.
Tom opened a door for them, and they entered a suite of comfortable looking rooms. The sitting room was lit by candles, giving it a romantic feel. A big, squishy couch was along the far wall adjacent to the fireplace where a crackling fire was already lit. Two chairs were comfortably spaced on the other side with a table between them. Off the sitting room were two bedrooms—one for Carrie's parents and one for her. Both possessed big King Sized beds with a canopy over each one. A closet and small dresser were in each of the bedrooms, and scented candles and a vase of flowers were on top of the dressers.
"This is lovely," said Lisa. "Thank you for going to the trouble to accommodate us." Lisa smiled appreciatively at Tom as she looked around.
"No trouble at all, Ma'am. Happy to oblige. I'm sure you'll want to freshen up a bit and relax. When you're ready, please feel free to come down to the pub for dinner and drinks," said Tom as he put Carrie's trunk down. "We'll make sure you're up in plenty of time to get to the train station. The change of time is murder on the body."
The Staffords thanked Tom again, and Gerald helped Carrie take her trunk to the bedroom she'd be staying in. Carrie looked out the window at the darkening sky in wonder. It had been full daylight when they'd left home just a bit ago, but it was getting dark in London.
"I think I'll run a brush through my hair and then I'd like to go down for some dinner, if that's OK, Mom and Dad," said Carrie. "It may take my body some time to get used to the time difference, but my stomach is telling me it's dinner time." She grinned and opened her trunk to retrieve her hairbrush.
"That's fine, dear," said her mother. "We'll meet you in the sitting room in ten minutes."
After freshening up a bit, the little family went down to the pub and was escorted to a quiet table where they could enjoy their last dinner as a family before the journey to Hogwarts.
They lingered leisurely over dinner and butterbeer, enjoying their last night together. Finally, it was time for them to turn in, as the next day would be a long one. As they headed back to their room, they smiled at Tom and told him that dinner had been lovely. Carrie prepared herself for bed, singing softly as she got into her nightgown. After she brushed her teeth, she studies her reflection in the mirror for a long time. She hoped that her appearance wouldn't scream "American!" when she met the rest of the Hogwarts students. She really wanted to fit in and be accepted. Carrie, then, crawled under the warm covers and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next thing Carrie knew, someone was knocking on the door to her room, and her mother was telling her to get up. They needed to grab a quick breakfast and then hurry to get ready to leave for King's Cross. The Hogwarts Express was due to leave at 11:00 that morning.
Carrie quickly showered, singing to herself as the hot water beat down upon her. Feelings of apprehension and anticipation took their turns waging war with her mind as she dressed and brushed her hair. Carrie repacked her trunk which didn't take her long since she'd only taken a few things out the night before. Closing the latches, she emerged from her room and met her parents in the sitting room.
Lisa surveyed her daughter's appearance and then put a drying charm on Carrie's hair. Since Carrie was underage and away from school, she couldn't do it herself like she normally did. At times she felt like such a child in situations like this. Carrie smiled sheepishly at her mother as she felt the moisture leave her long hair, and she arranged the tresses of waves around her shoulders.
"Thanks, Mom. I hate going around with wet hair. This underage magic stuff is stupid," she muttered.
"Now dear, the Ministry makes those rules for a reason. Sometimes people abuse magic, and this is what they came up with to keep tabs on it," said her mother.
"It's just that I feel like a little kid. I mean, it's just a simple drying charm for Merlin's sake. Honestly, I can do it myself. I've done it for years."
"Getting too big for your britches there, Angel?" asked Gerald, chuckling softly.
"You'll never be too old for your mom to fix you up," said Lisa, smiling at Carrie.
"I know, Mom. It's just hard sometimes. There are times I want to stay a little kid, but I realize I'll be seventeen and an adult in just over four months. It's difficult when you're stuck in the middle," sighed Carrie.
"This is a rough age for anyone, honey," her mother continued. "Things sometimes don't get any easier when you're older though. There's a whole new set of problems and experiences waiting for you when you become an adult."
Carrie nodded, and the conversation turned to going down to breakfast. They quickly made their way to the pub and hurriedly ate their meal, keeping close tabs on the time as they ate. Carrie ate in silence, lost in thought about the upcoming school year. Her parents didn't pressure her to keep up with conversation, sensing that Carrie needed to be alone with her own musings for the time being.
As they exited the pub, they saw that Tom had already arranged for the luggage to be brought down so the Staffords didn't have to go back upstairs. Crawford was sitting on Carrie's trunk but flew to her shoulder when he saw Carrie. Again, they thanked Tom as he told them that a carriage would be meeting them outside in a few minutes to take them to the train station.
The ride to the station was uneventful, and Carrie and her parents enjoyed just watching the world go by as they rode. When they arrived at King's Cross, the driver helped Carrie to the ground while her father alighted and picked up Carrie's trunk. They thanked the driver politely and made their way to Platform nine and three quarters, walking through the magical barrier that led to the Hogwarts Express.
The American family settled into a compartment that they had all to themselves and awaited the long train ride. Gerald and Lisa were soon engrossed in reading books they'd brought along, and Carrie picked up her crocheting that she'd been working on. She loved making Afghans and sweaters, even if she had to hand stitch them when she was away from school. Singing softly, she began to work, her hook and fingers handling the yarn deftly. Carrie knew she was allowed to use magic here on the train, but she decided to crochet by hand as it would pass the time more quickly. The Siren quickly lost herself in her work and was startled when a witch wheeling a cart appeared at the entrance to their compartment and asked if they wanted anything. Carrie put down her crocheting and picked a few things off the cart, thanking the witch as she paid for her purchases.
Grinning, Carrie tossed a chocolate frog to each of her parents and opened one for herself. "Oh, looks like I've got Dumbledore," she said as she smiled. She loved those little cards and had quite a collection of them.
After a time, the journey was over. Gathering their things, the American family stepped off the train and found themselves in Hogsmeade Station. They had been told that an escort would be meeting them and would take them up to the castle. As it turned out, they didn't have to wait long. A booming voice rang out as a huge, bearded man approached them.
"Well, 'ello ter ya!" The big man smiled warmly at them. "My name's Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper o Keys a Hogwarts. I'm also the Care o' Magical Creatures teacher. Ye can call me Hagrid."
Carrie gaped as she looked up at this smiling, energetic man. He was the biggest man she had ever seen. Hagrid's long black hair and beard were a bit messy, and he wore a huge cloak over his clothing. To Carrie, Hagrid stood as high as the sky, and she had to look way up to get a good look at him. The giant man's eyes twinkled with warmth and laughter, and although his voice was loud, it had a friendly quality to it.
"I'm Gerald Stafford, and this is my wife, Lisa. And this is our daughter, Carrietta," said Gerald as he extended his hand to the huge man standing before him. "Carrie, put your eyes back in your head and say hello to our escort."
Hagrid shook Gerald's hand enthusiastically, nearly knocking him off his feet. Hagrid then shook hands with Lisa but was a bit gentler about it. He sensed, however, that Carrie was the most taken aback by his size, so he squatted down so he'd be more on her level and lowered his voice as he talked to her. "'ello, Carrietta. I'm righ' pleased ter meet ye," he said in a soft tone of voice.
Carrie, finally recovering her voice and composing her face, said in a barely audible voice. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Hagrid. I-I'm so sorry for staring. It's just—well—"
Hagrid grinned down at her and replied, "I understan', li'le miss. My size can be a bi' scary ter some folks, Carrietta. Yer no' t'e firs' ter gawk."
"You can just call me Carrie if you like, Mr. Hagrid, Sir. Everyone does. And I certainly apologize for being so rude. I hope you'll forgive me," she said as she blushed and looked down at the ground.
"There's nothin' ter forgive, Carrie. And jus' call me Hagrid. Will ye be takin' Care o' Magical Creatures this year?" asked Hagrid hopefully.
"Oh certainly. That was always one of my favorite classes," Carrie beamed up at him. "I love animals." Carrie pointed out Crawford and Charlotte to him, and Hagrid grinned at the beautiful owl and wise looking Phoenix.
"Ye know, Dumbledore's t'e only one I e'er knew to 'ave a Phoenix," said Hagrid. "They're rare."
"I know. My grandfather found Crawford and helped me tame him. He's one of my best friends," Carrie was grinning. She was beginning to like Hagrid, and she hoped she'd be seeing a lot more of him while she was at Hogwarts.
Hagrid escorted the newcomers to the castle and showed them the way to Dumbledore's office. The Headmaster had asked them to report directly to him so he could help get Carrie's schedule laid out and go over everything Carrie would need to know with her and her parents. Hagrid gave the password to the Gargoyle and beckoned them inside the entrance, pointing out the door to the Headmaster's inner office. He said his goodbyes as Gerald knocked on the door. "Enter," came a commanding voice from inside. Gerald opened the door and escorted his wife and daughter inside.
Sitting behind a huge desk, the man who caught their eye was an elderly wizard with long flowing white hair and beard. His blue eyes twinkled behind his half moon spectacles, and he was dressed in stately robes of midnight blue. This was Albus Dumbledore, the legendary Headmaster of Hogwarts!
Dumbledore smiled warmly at the little family and beckoned them to sit sown in the three chairs he'd placed before his desk. "Good evening! I am Albus Dumbledore. You must be the Staffords. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Sir, I'm Gerald Stafford, my wife, Lisa, and our daughter, Carrietta. We want to thank you for accepting our daughter at your school," said Carrie's father.
"I assure you, we are happy to have Ms. Stafford with us," said the professor kindly as he nodded and smiled at Carrie. "It has always been my wish for Hogwarts to reach out to other Wizarding schools, and our staff will see that you settle in nicely, Carrietta."
"Please, Sir. You can call me Carrie if you like," she said in her soft and gentle voice. "I look forward to the start of term, and I'd like to thank you myself for allowing me to come here."
"You are most welcome, Carrie," said Dumbledore. "Now, shall we get down to business? You have scored most excellently on your O.W.L.'s according to my report. Your top scores appear to be in Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Music, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures. I see you also wish to take Muggle Studies, Arithmancy, and Runes. Is that correct, Carrie?"
"Yes, sir. Will my schedule allow that?"
"Certainly. Ah, I see your lowest O.W.L. was in Herbology. I see you received an "A" which is far below your other scores. Did you have difficulty with the material?" the Professor asked as his brow creased in concentration.
Carrie laughed in spite of herself. She'd been so embarrassed over her Herbology grade at first and had endured much teasing and ribbing from her friends about it. "Well, let's just say I have a black thumb. I tend to kill everything I touch. The Herbology professor at home was relieved to see the backside of me at the end of last term, I'm sure." Carrie gave Dumbledore a wry smile.
"Ah, we each have our own strengths and weaknesses." The Headmaster's kind voice went right into Carrie's soul. She immediately felt at ease with him and knew that this was someone she could trust. In a way, he reminded Carrie of her grandfather. Thought of him caused Carrie's heart to ache a little from missing him, and a sad little sigh escaped her.
"Are you alright, my dear?" asked Dumbledore. "Is something troubling you?"
"No, Professor. I was just thinking of my grandfather, that's all. I miss him already," said Carrie softly.
"That is indeed understandable, Carrie. It is hard leaving behind those we love." Dumbledore smiled gently at her, conveying his understanding.
They all discussed Carrie's schedule for a while, slotting in classes in the appropriate times. As Carrie took a look at the final draft, she was well pleased. She'd be busy with the classes she was taking, but there was also plenty of time for her to study and have time for making friends. She was pleased that she'd be having extra COMC classes with Hagrid and that she'd be taking extensive music classes as well as private lessons. Dumbledore handed Carrie some parchments, explaining what they were. "This is what will be covered in your classes at the start of term," said Dumbledore. "It is advisable that you spend some time in the library getting caught up so you will be ready when classes resume. I'm sure much of this material is at least somewhat familiar to you."
"Thank you, Professor. I was worried about how to get caught up. This will certainly be of assistance to me," said Carrie politely.
"Very well, then. Now, we must get your sorted into the house you'll be residing in while you are with us. Hogwarts is divided into four houses. The Sorting Hat will decide which house you are best suited for. The houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Let's see which house you will be in, shall we?" The professor picked up a battered old black hat and placed it on Carrie's head. It was so big that it obscured her face, and all Carrie could see was blackness as it covered her head.
Carrie heard a voice in her ears as the hat looked inside her mind. "Hmmm. Very interesting. You have talent and brains. You know how to speak your mind and your courage is certainly noticeable. Very tough decision indeed. Better make her—Gryffindor!" the voice shouted triumphantly, and Carrie couldn't help but grin. She'd heard that Gryffindor was a good house to be sorted into. Dumbledore removed the hat from Carrie's head, and she blinked as the light hit her constricted pupils.
"Congratulations Carrie. You are now a member of Gryffindor House. I am very pleased," smiled Dumbledore.
"Thank you, sir. I'm pleased as well," grinned Carrie.
"Since that is now done, I'd like to talk with you about your—talents," said Dumbledore very seriously. "It is my understanding that you are an extraordinary witch."
Carrie chuckled at that. She didn't think of herself as anything special or extraordinary. "I don't know about that, Sir. I'm just—me."
"Let me assure you, Carrie. You possess talents and gifts that not many witches and wizards possess. First of all, there is your singing. You are part Siren, as is your grandmother, I understand. That is a unique quality and it is one that must be handled very carefully. According to my report, you've received extensive training in controlling this ability." Dumbledore's remark was a statement rather than a question.
"Yes, Professor. My grandmother taught me for years and then my family found me an excellent teacher. I've been with him now for nearly 4 years," said Carrie. "Randolph, that's my teacher at home, is very familiar with the abilities that Sirens have, and he's been teaching me proper control and channeling of my powers. I would very much like to continue this area of learning if I may."
"Yes, indeed," the Headmaster nodded. "Our music teacher, Adrienne Croft, is very capable of teaching this area of music. I would like you to start your lessons with her before classes resume. Does that suit you?"
Carrie nodded, and Dumbledore continued. "It appears that you have the ability to communicate with animals. That is indeed a wonderful gift to be proud of. You have already met our Care of Magical Creatures professor, Rubeus Hagrid. I'm sure he will be thrilled when he learns you have this ability. As you know, your schedule is adjusted accordingly so that you can take extra studies in this area."
Again, Carrie nodded. "I'm glad of that, and I'm sure I'll enjoy working with Hagrid. I like him," Carrie said with a smile in her voice.
"Most excellent! It has also come to my attention that you are skilled in Legilimency and Occlumency, Carrie. These are skills that most young wizards have difficulty in learning. May I ask what caused you to have the desire to study these arts?" Dumbledore looked into Carrie's eyes as he voiced the question to her.
"Of course," she smiled. "My family and I thought it would be a good idea for me to learn how to use them. You see, because I am part Siren, there is a lot of power and magic for usage. We felt it was best that I learn Occlumency and Legilimency so I could not be used against my will to use my—uh—ability for evil purposes if I ever fell into the wrong hands. There are certain precautions a Siren must take to ensure her safety."
"A very wise decision, indeed," said Dumbledore, nodding. "And yet, you did fall into the wrong hands last year." Dumbledore's expression turned to that of compassion and concern as he studied Carrie. At the mention of her ordeal, Carrie went white, and she reached for her father's hand.
Swallowing hard, she nodded and said meekly, "Yes, sir. I was taken hostage and was ordered to sing a Death Song, a very Dark Song that would cause much killing and destruction. This is something I refused to do because of the amount of destruction it would cause. It would also be harmful to me if I sang that particular Dark Song. It would require a lot of power on my part—too much power, in fact. My strength would be sapped, causing my life to be in danger from weakness and illness. My captor tried to force me to do it by using the Imperious Curse on me, but I was able to throw it off. When that didn't work and when I refused to do as he demanded, I was exposed repeatedly to the Cruciatus Curse. Professor, I nearly died from this experience." By the time she was done with her explanation, she was squeezing her father's hand tightly, and she trembled slightly as she sat in her seat.
Dumbledore looked aghast as he listened to Carrie's story. A brief outline of it was in her report, submitted by her parents. However, listening to Carrie reveal it herself caused Dumbledore's heart to go out to her. Reaching across his huge desk, he took Carrie's free hand gently in his own and leaned over his desk so he could peer closely into her face. "I'm truly, truly sorry for what you went through, my dear. I can see how frightening it must have been for you. My heart goes out to you." He squeezed Carrie's hand gently before letting her go and straightening up in his chair.
As Dumbledore's hand made contact with Carrie's, something happened to her—something she couldn't explain. It almost felt like an electric current was running through her, only it didn't hurt. There was something about Dumbledore that she couldn't put her finger on. Carrie could swear she felt a kind of "connection" to him as their hands touched. Why would she feel this way about someone she just met? Why would his touch evoke such feelings in her?
"Are you alright, Carrie?" the elderly Headmaster asked in concern. "You look rather dazed."
"Uh, I'm fine, Professor. I-I can't explain it. There's something that I just—" she trailed off and shook her head in bewilderment. "Oh, never mind. I think my imagination is running away with me."
"Very well, then," said the professor. "There are some things I'd like to discuss with your parents, Carrie. If you'd like, you are more than welcome to get settled up in Gryffindor Tower. Your room will be number six. Your trunk has already been taken there for you. Hagrid will show you the way to the common room and point out the correct staircase leading to the girls' dormitory." Dumbledore handed Carrie a small piece of parchment. "This is the current password that you will need to give to the Fat Lady—she is the portrait leading into the common room. Without that, you won't be able to get inside. When we are finished, I will send your parents to the common room to collect you. You will all share dinner with the staff and me in the Great Hall before your parents return to Hogsmeade."
"Alright Professor," said Carrie. "Thank you for your time."
Dumbledore nodded as Carrie excused herself and left the Headmaster's office. When Dumbledore knew Carrie was out of earshot, he addressed Gerald and Lisa. "I trust you have not told her yet?"
Sighing heavily, Gerald shook his head. "No, Uncle Albus. Carrie still has no idea that you're her great-uncle."
"Gerald, the longer this is put off, the harder it will be on all of us," Dumbledore scolded him gently.
"I know, Uncle. It was hard enough convincing her on such short notice that coming to Hogwarts was the right thing to do. We didn't want to overload her with too many revelations too quickly."
"If it is your wish, I will tell her in my own way when the time is right," said Dumbledore.
"Perhaps she'll take it better coming from you, Uncle Albus," said Lisa. "She might resent us for keeping this from her for so many years."
"Do not fret. I will tell Carrie in due course. She will be safe in my protection, I promise you." Dumbledore looked into the faces of Carrie's parents reassuringly as he spoke. "I will do my best to make her understand about our situation."
"We know you will, Uncle Albus. If anyone can make her understand, it will be you," said Gerald.
"I saw her face when you reached for her hand, Uncle. I know my daughter well enough to know she felt the connection we share with you. Her mental abilities are very keen," chimed in Lisa.
"Yes," Dumbledore said softly, his eyes growing misty for a moment. "Please try not to worry yourselves. Carrie will be alright. I'll see to it. All will be well."
"Thank you, Uncle Albus," said Lisa as her eyes filled with tears. "You've been so kind—to all of us."
Dumbledore smiled and patted Lisa's hand comfortingly. "Now, let us enjoy our dinner."