Chapter Four
A Meeting Amongst Portraits
Heriman awakens once again being watched. He looks up at the wispy cat. "Good morning." He says softly as he gets up to stretch, looking at the books spread across the bed. As he gets dressed, he looks at the wispy cat once more. "Between you and me, I spent most of the night reading my text books. Don't tell Professor McGonagall, okay?" Heriman asks the cat.
The cat gives him a look before nodding and leaving the room. "Strange cat…" Heriman wonders aloud to himself. He grabs his oral hygiene kit and heads for the loo. Brushing his teeth, he wonders about his meeting with the Headmaster that is planned for the day. He doesn't want to mess this up, but an unknown feeling has settled itself in his stomach. Looking into the mirror, he takes a calming breath. "Everything will be alright and it will all work out." He says softly with a smile. Heading back to the room, he notices McGonagall standing in front of the door to his room. "Good morning, Professor McGonagall." He says, moving around her so he can open the door.
"Good morning, young Heriman." McGonagall says in a short greeting. "Would you like to eat before we head to Hogwarts for the meeting?" her accent fills the room with her question.
Heriman fills the heaviness in his stomach and shakes his head. He grabs one of the wand holsters and attaches it to his right forearm once more, before placing his wand in it. He pulls the sleeve of his shirt over it and turns to face McGonagall. "How are we getting to Hogwarts?" Heriman asks softly. McGonagall looks at him for a few seconds before answering him.
"The Headmaster will be opening his Floo for us, so that we can go directly to his office without any delays." Heriman nods and moves to give Midge her breakfast.
"You be a good girl while I'm away." he says, getting a hoot in reply. He glances at the cloak, wondering if he should wear it. With a small smile, he puts it n and looks at McGonagall. "I'm ready Professor." he says. McGonagall assesses him before nodding and leaves the room. Heriman follows, making sure to close the door behind him. He notices that they aren't going to the Floo that they came to the Leaky Cauldron.
As if reading his mind, McGonagall speaks up. "We are using Tom's personal Floo, so that others can't follow us through o the headmaster's office."
Heriman nods in understanding. He still feels the weight in his stomach, but keeps it to himself, not wanting McGonagall to cancel the meeting. As they enter Tom's office, Tom looks up from his work on his desk.
"Ah, good morning Minerva! Ready to go already?" the bar keeper asks, which gets him a nod in response. Tom smiles. "Well, you know where everything is." McGonagall heads towards the Floo and grabs some Floo Powder before looking at Heriman.
"Do you remember how to do this?" she asks him. He nods slightly, not wanting to speak. "Good. Just repeat what I say and there shouldn't be any issues." McGonagall says before she enters the Floo. "Headmaster's Office." McGonagall's accent comes through as she throws down the powder and vanishes in green flames.
Heriman grabs some Floo Powder and steps into the Floo.
"Good luck today with your meeting lad." Tom says to Heriman with a smile.
"Thank you, sir." Heriman replies before saying, "Headmaster's Office." As he says this, he throws down the powder and vanishes amongst green flames.
The first thing Heriman notices as the green flames disappear, is the noise. The room is filled with tables that seem to be cluttered with many silver trinkets that are whirling about. As Heriman steps out of the Floo, he looks around the large circular room. Even with all the trinkets, it's still a beautiful room. Heriman looks towards the enormous claw-footed desk. He sees McGonagall talking to an older looking man with long silver hair and a beard to match.
"Professor McGonagall." Heriman says, voicing his arrival. Making his way over to the desk, he looks at the many portraits covering the walls. The previous Headmasters and Headmistresses." Heriman says to himself.
"Correct, Mr. Granger." The man McGonagall was speaking to says.
"And you would be Headmaster Dumbledore." Heriman says, looking at Dumbledore. Heriman can see a tinkle in Dumbledore's blue eyes. It's an odd twinkle, one that makes Heriman think that Dumbledore is up to something.
"Correct again, Mr. Granger." Dumbledore answers. Heriman looks to McGonagall, but notices that she is talking to a woman who looks to be a nurse.
"And you must be Madam Pomfrey." he says with a smile and goes to shake her hand. McGonagall watches as Madam Pomfrey shakes Heriman' s with a smile.
"That's right, young sir." Madam Pomfrey says.
"It's nice to meet you." Heriman replies, finally catching McGonagall's eyes. "Now what, Professor?" he asks softly.
"Madam Pomfrey will discuss what your potions will do while we wait for them." Heriman nods before turning to listen to Madam Pomfrey.
"Are you sure he'll be safe here, Albus?" McGonagall asks Dumbledore softly, so that Heriman doesn't hear.
"I'm sure that the boy will do fine here, Minerva. He seems like a smart enough lad." Dumbledore replies as he watches Heriman talk with Madam Pomfrey.
Suddenly, a loud noise fills the room and everybody turns toward it to see Severus Snape stepping from the staircase. "Bloody Griffin.' He says under his breath. Heriman looks at the man, wondering who he is.
"Ah, Severus my boy! Glad you could make it." Dumbledore says, a little to cheerfully for some of the present company. Dumbledore turns towards Heriman before once again speaking. "This is Professor Snape. He will be your Potions Professor once you start here." Heriman can see the twinkle in the Headmaster's eye, and it does nothing for the heavy feeling in his stomach.
"Hello Professor." Heriman says quietly.
Severus looks at Heriman before nodding and holds out two vials to him. "I believe you are waiting for these, Mr. Granger." Severus' timber voice says.
Heriman takes the vials from the Potions Professor and studies them. One holds a bright green liquid, while the other holds a light blue liquid. "May I take them now?" Heriman asks, looking at Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape. They both nod silently. Heriman looks at Professor McGonagall as he unstoppers the vials. He takes the green one first, before swallowing the blue one. Heriman makes a slight face as he sets the now empty vials down on Dumbledore's desk. He turns his head to say something, but stops and looks out the window.
"Ah, yes. The Black Lake. Severus, why don't you take our younger friend down while Minerva, Poppy, and I discuss the schedule that Mr. Granger will take his potions." Dumbledore says.
Professor Snape scowls at Dumbledore before looking at Heriman. "Shall we?" Snape says before turning to lead the way out of the castle.
Heriman follows the Potions Professor through the castles, not paying much attention to his surroundings. His mind is elsewhere as he watches Snape's cloak billow behind him. As they finally exit the castle, Heriman looks at the amazing view of the lake and country-side surrounding it. He looks up at Snape. "Can we get closer?" Heriman asks Snape. Snape looks at Heriman and nods. Heriman leads the way down to the lake with Snape following behind him. As he approaches the edge of the lake, he looks down at his reflection. He runs his fingers through his hair with a puzzling look.
"Is everything okay, Mr. Granger?" Snape's voice questions, cutting through Heriman's thoughts.
"My hair keeps getting darker, Professor." Heriman replies softly. "I've noticed that it would change slightly when I first used magic, but since being around more magic…" Heriman trails off. The heaviness in his stomach has went to his mind. His breathing becomes heavier as he looks around in a panic. "What if I'm not supposed to be here?" Heriman asks Snape, tears filling his eyes as he does. "What if I'm too different? What happens if they find out I know?" Heriman starts rambling, the panic over-taking him. Suddenly, he feels arms around him.
"You need to breathe, Mister Granger." Snape's timber voice says. "Follow my breathing and you shall get through this." The Professor says as his chest rises and falls slowly. Heriman does as Snape instructs and follows the Professor's breathing. Slowly, the panic and heaviness leave him. Snape releases him and Heriman wipes his eyes.
"Thank you, professor." Heriman says, looking at the ground, feeling ashamed of having a panic attack in-front of his soon-to-be Potions Professor.
Snape regards Heriman for a second before asking, "Would you like to discuss what is bothering you?" Heriman quickly looks up at the Potions Professor before nodding.
"A few days after Professor McGonagall brought me my letter, I overheard my parents talking. They…they were discussing how maybe they should tell me that I'm adopted since it turns out that I'm a wizard." Heriman says, looking away from Snape. "It makes me wonder if my biological parents were a wizard and witch. Why didn't they keep me?" Heriman sighs, and looks up at Snape.
"I do not hold the answers, but maybe one day we can answer them. Would that help ease what troubles you?" the Potions Professor asks. Heriman nods with a smile. "Good. Now I believe we should return before they start to worry." Snape says, a slight curve of his lip showing that he is joking.
"Lead the way, Professor." Heriman says with a chuckle. They walk back to the Griffin in silence. "Wait. Professor, could we not tell them about everything?" Heriman asks as Snape gives the Griffin the Headmaster's password.
Severus looks at the boy and nods. "Of course, Mister Granger." Heriman smiles as they enter the Headmaster's Office.
"Now that's a sight I dare say I've never seen" McGonagall's voice says. "A student smiling after spending time with the Potions Professor." McGonagall says with a slight smirk.
Heriman hears some of the portraits gasp while others chuckle. He himself can't help but giggle when he sees Professor Snape scowl at McGonagall. "I think I'm going to enjoy it here." Heriman says, earning him a round of laughs from the portraits.
"Like I said Minerva, bright lad." Dumbledore tells McGonagall softly. McGonagall can't help but nod in agreement.
"A bright lad indeed." Severus thinks to himself.
