Chapter 3: Thump in the Night

Harry paced around his room nervously. Sirius had just 'hung up' the mirror and he was left alone in his small room with Saighe. He felt very awkward. He couldn't think what to say. He turned to look at her and finally noticed that there were several birds in the room.

Hedwig had returned with a package from Sirius. 'Pig,' Ron's little owl, was twittering about with two small packages dangling from his talons. There was a strange-looking bird, with a very large head and small wings. I didn't look like it could even fly, and Harry wondered how it fit through the window. Harry thought it might be a Diricawl or dodo as the muggles called it; he was sure it must have come from Hagrid. And most surprising of all, there was Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's glorious phoenix.

All the birds were gathered around Saighe, as if vying for her attention. Even his own owl, Hedwig, who was generally aloof with people, except for Harry and Hermione, was craning her head to get close to Saighe's hand. Saighe murmured to them in soothing tones as she stroked their feathers. She gently removed the messages and the packages from each bird. She picked up some seeds from Hedwig's bowl and then had all the birds literally 'eating out of her hands.'

Harry could only stare in amazement.

Sirius stalked to the painting of his great-great-grandfather and coughed loudly. The old headmaster woke with a start and snorted indignantly, "What do you want?"

"I need to get a message to Dumbledore." Sirius answered.

"Sorry, Dumbledore has not been at his office for several days now." The painted figure replied. Then he yawned and closed his eyes again.

"Where is he?" Sirius snapped.

"I wouldn't know," said Phineas, without opening his eyes. "I'm not his keeper." Sirius shrugged and walked over to the fireplace.

Molly Weasley hurried about the kitchen of 'the Burrow' deftly pointing at pots and pans with her wand. Two pots went flying through the air, narrowly missed Fred & George sitting at the table, and landed in the sink. Stepping over Ron's broomstick, Molly sent the other pan skidding across the stove top. Ginny ran in from the garden and dumped an armful of green beans in one of the pots. A large puff of orange smoke erupted from a small cauldron on the table, and everyone began to cough. Ron, who had been leaning over the table, got the worst of it and began to choke. He took a few steps backwards and tripped over a stack of Percy's ministry time cards. Percy stood up and made a huffing noise.

"Fred, George!" screamed Molly. "Find somewhere else to make those nasty concoctions. Supper is already late…Oh Ron, help Percy with his papers. And Ginny, dear, please call Bill and Charlie. Your father will be here any minute."

Just as everyone was about to spring into action they stopped and noticed the disembodied head of Sirius Black watching them from the fireplace.

"Hello, Molly. Have you got room for one more?"

Saighe sat cross-legged on the floor of Harry's room and nibbled on a slice of birthday cake. Harry had missed dinner with the Dursleys and was reluctant to venture downstairs for food or utensils lest he call attention to himself and his guest. Luckily, several of the packages he received contained birthday treats.

At this point, Harry wasn't quite sure if he was more afraid of Uncle Vernon discovering Saighe in his room or of Uncle Vernon embarrassing him in front of her.

"Harry"

Harry rushed over to the mirror and said, 'Hi Sirius.'

"Harry, I wasn't able to locate Dumbledore, but Arthur and Molly have agreed to take the girl in."

"Great," said Harry. "I'll start packing right away."

"I'm sorry Harry, but you need to stay there until I hear from Dumbledore. I haven't been able to track him down yet."

"Fawkes is here," said Harry. "Maybe I can send a message with him?"

"Good idea, Harry," said Sirius. "But we can't wait for his response. Arthur is arranging for a Portkey to be delivered to you later this evening. Make sure the girl is ready. "

Harry pulled out his quill and ink and a fresh roll of parchment. He hastily scribbled a note to Dumbledore about Saighe. He tried to write as neatly as possible but ended up with several ink splotches. He leaned back in his chair in order to roll up the message. His shoulder brushed against Saighe's side. He hadn't realized that she had gotten up from the floor and was standing behind him. She jumped back at the casual contact, and Harry turned bright red with embarrassment.

"Forgive me," she said softly, "I did not mean to intrude upon thy thoughts. I wished only to borrow ink and pen, that I might send greetings to Dumbledore."

Harry nodded. He pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment and then stepped away from the desk. Saighe dipped the quill in the ink with her left hand and quickly began making symbols down the length of the page. She worked from right to left, and within a few minutes the page was completely filled.

Harry could not believe the shear perfection and balance of her writing. True, he could not understand a word of it, but it was so flawless with each character and rune the exact same size. Even Madam Pince, the Hogwarts' librarian who prided herself on good penmanship, would have been put to shame.

Harry rolled up both messages and went over to Fawkes. Fawkes grasped the messages in talons and disappeared with a brief flash of fire and a puff of smoke.

"So why are the Death Eaters after you?" Asked Harry, surprised that he hadn't thought to ask it before.

"I know nothing of these 'Death Eaters' save that they tried to attack my home," said Saighe. "My aunt charged me with a duty to deliver news of this threat to Albus Dumbledore. A vision came to her just before a great darkness blocked the sun. She found me on the upper landing of the great hall just as the evil one and his servants entered below."

She looked at him very seriously and Harry nodded. "He was there then. " Harry said. "Lord Voldemort was in your home."

"Lord Voldemort," she repeated as if hearing the name for the first time. Then she whispered, "Voldemort, of the darkness, thief of death."

"What happened?" said Harry anxiously.

Saighe stared into Harry's eyes. She seemed to sense at once that he knew what it was like to look upon Lord Voldemort. She nodded slightly and said.

"Harry, he told his serpent that 'once they found that which they were seeking, Dumbledore would be powerless and Harry Potter would be vulnerable'." Saighe looked away for a moment as if deciding whether to tell him the rest. When she turned back, there were tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She continued in a low, disgusted voice, "His serpent just laughed and said that she 'grew hungry for a taste of you.'"

Harry nodded calmly and Saighe seemed to calm down as well. She continued, "My aunt hurried me to the library and bade me to go and seek out Dumbledore. Voldemort entered just as she opened the portal. He sent his servants after me."

"Are you worried for your aunt?" asked Harry with concern.

"Yes," replied Saighe. "But I must have faith that she is well, for she is most powerful and well versed in the ancient ways. She foresaw the attack and seemed not fearful."

Harry nodded and looked away. He thought that her aunt was probably already dead, and he didn't know what to say. She obviously had no idea how lethal Voldemort was. Desperately searching for something to say, he went over her story again and then said with surprise, "The snake. You heard the snake? You understood what she said?"

Saighe looked equally surprised, "Yes. She was a most vulgar creature."

"You're a parselmouth, too?" said Harry incredulously.

Saighe looked at him quizzically, but before she could answer there was a loud thump downstairs.