Author's ramblings: Okays, my entire story after chapter one was deleted from my computer. I tried everything, even a programme that retrieves deleted files, but to no avail. Soooooo I'm re-writing everything. Bleh. Expect fairly long waits between chappies, as I must write them all again, and I can't remember half of what happened! Ah well. Enjoy!
A/R mark 2: I have re-designed the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw ghosts, as I can't remember their names, or even if J.K. mentioned them, just so you know.
Disclaimer: I'm saying nothing 'til my lawyer gets here.
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Mind: The Gap.
Chapter Two.
Draco Malfoy was never one for patience.
"You. Will tell me. Something. Now. Or I. Will get. ANNOYED."
"Ah, see it's like this…."
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The compartment door slid open to reveal a figure commonly know as Albus Dumbledore, complete with half-moon spectacles, twinkling eyes and beard.
"Albus! So nice of you to join us, come in, come in! Take a seat next to Minerva here."
"If I may intrude…" said the headmaster, swooping in and sitting down with a creak next to Professor McGonagall. He twinkled his eyes at them, "you weren't talking about me, were you? Only I heard something about jumping llamas? I happen to know quite a bit about jumping llamas."
Madame Hooch just guffawed and flicked her hand holding her wand - an empty plate appeared, she frowned at it. "I was never any good at this sort of thing," she muttered, turning to the short man beside her.
Professor Flitwick happily obliged, with a wave of his wand a pile of assorted cakes and biscuits appeared on the plate, along with a small mound of our headmaster's favourite sweets. The old man's eyes lit up at the sight of such delicious morsels, and he was the first to select something from the abundant delights.
"Soooooo, not to question your impeccable logic and wisdom, but why is it the entire staff are on the train with the students?" asked Professor Flitwick curiously.
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"Are you sure this was a good idea?"
"Everybody was doing it! I for one wanted to see what it'd be like outside of that infernal castle for once!"
The Bloody Baron rounded on the two ghosts, an ever-present frown adorning his pale, slightly transparent features. "And if someone were to jump of a cliff would you do it too?"
"Well yes, how did you think I died?"
The Slytherin ghost sighed, "I would have expected as much from someone like you."
The Hufflepuff ghost stiffened, "And what's that supposed to mean?!" he said indignantly.
Nearly Headless Nick decided now was the time to intervene. He quietly but firmly drew the poor insulted ghost to the side and whispered soothing encouragement into her ear until she calmed down to a reasonable level.
Ravenclaw's ghostly representative was sitting nervously in the corner of the carriage, twiddling his thin bony fingers as he observed his fellow spirits. Having asked the question in the first place, he was mulling over the feeling of being free from Hogwarts in what was over a century. Granted, they were four stowaway ghosts sitting in a cramped baggage cart, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.
"Lord Sylvester?" The Ravenclaw ghost jumped, startled from his reverie. "Sorry dear, didn't mean to scare you. I just…. I apologise for dragging you out here, but seeing you mope about the castle like a wet rag was so disheartening. I just wanted to have some fun is all, and I'm sure the headmaster wouldn't mind so much. Ha! It's not as if we can get hurt or anything, bit late for that, don't you think?"
The Ravenclaw ghost looked up at Duchess Darla, the Hufflepuff ghost. He gave a slight nod, and Daring Darla, as she was jokingly called, used to his ways as she was, took this as an 'OK'.
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Neville was confused and not a little frightened as Ginny continued to silently crawl towards him. She reminded him of a predatory cat, stalking her prey, silent but deadly. He could practically see a swishing tail and sharp fangs, waiting to rip him apart. Her hair seemed wilder than before, reminding him of a fiery red mane, and it framed a face that looked more angular than he was used to. Her eyes were glazed over, but each focused very much on him, sizing him up.
He shuffled backwards on the cushioned bench, no longer pretending he wasn't trying to escape. Ginny paused, head cocked slightly to the side, waiting.
She didn't have to wait long, Neville's back hit the wall of their small compartment, and at that point he was acutely aware that Ginerva Weasley blocked his only means of escape, and there was in fact nothing he could do about it.
"G-Ginny? Snap out of it-"
She placed one hand in front of the other, lazily, and at the same time shifting her weight to slide one leg forward slightly. She kept her eyes trained on Neville, repeating her movements, getting closer and closer.
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"Grab him Ron! Quickly!"
Ron swooped down to the floor, stretching out his arms in a fruitless attempt to capture a particularly wily toad. Trevor hopped away, out of his reach, and then under a bench.
"Bloody hell!" Ron swore, scrambling up. This was not what he'd pictured doing when he became a prefect.
"Trevor! Get your warty butt out here right now!"
Hermione looked at with one eyebrow raised, "He can't understand you, Ron." She sighed and crouched down next to where Trevor had disappeared. Ron sat down with a huff, feeling that right then he really wanted to shout at a first year for playing with a fanged boomerang. Or something.
Hermione was making calm, encouraging noises at the toad, like little clicks, which Ron found quite endearing. The toad didn't share his sentiment however, and stayed stubbornly sheltered under the compartment bench, glaring at them all the while.
After a while Hermione seemingly had enough and suddenly darted her hand out to grab the offending creature.
Ron jumped a little at the quick movement, he looked at her. "D'you get it?"
She turned and grinned at him, Trevor the toad gripped in her hands, not to tightly but definitely firmly enough so as he had little chance of escape.
Ron smiled back, "Finally, that's over with, I see why you're so tired of this particular chore."
Hermione sighed, "At least this time I had some help, even if I was the one who ended up catching him after all. Come on; let's give this little guy back to his rightful owner.
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"Yes," joined Minerva McGonagall, "I've been wondering about that too, Albus. Will the school be safe without us to protect it?"
Professor Dumbledore chuckled into his beard, "don't worry, I doubt we'll be attacked in the few hours we are away, and I have left some members of staff behind."
At Hogwarts castle.
"Lada DUM dada DUM dada, DUUM dada da dada DUM…" Argus Filch danced the empty corridors of the castle, his worn shoes making soft scuffing sounds on the stone floor.
He waltzed with an invisible partner, arms out, rising and falling smoothly as he twirled and sidestepped and flicked his heels gracefully. "…dada DUM daa…" He spun round the corners, humming and occasionally breaking in to song, enjoying the feeling of once-time solitude.
"Dada dum DUM dada da deee…" He turned a corner, twirling slowly but gracefully on one foot, only to stop when he hears a slight sound. "My puss! Where have you been? I was worried, my sweet." He scoops her up, and shushes her when she mews in surprise.
"Don't worry, dearest. Do you wish to dance with me?" Her only response was a small confused meow, but Filch took this as an affirmative and began his waltz again. Through the many corridors he danced, a loyal companion in his arms and a song in his heart.
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Author's Ramblings…again: A bit short, I know, but the next chapter will be longer, and hopefully I'll get some actual plot in there! If you liked it, review, or even alert it, I'm comforted when I know people are actually reading this stuff. Love ya's!
This is Squibakou signing out.