Chapter 7
The Hogwarts Express finally pulled in at the station in Hogsmeade. Ginny, Luna, and Neville grabbed the lasts of their snacks and proceeded out the door. Harry was about to follow after them when he looked back to see Morgan still fast asleep. Her head was leaning against the window and she was taking in deep soft breaths.
Harry wondered what could have exhausted her so much that she'd sleep so soundly. She couldn't have been exhausted from the incident with Malfoy, could she? Harry debated whether he should just leave her or if he should wake her up.
She did call me a dumbass and she was really bossy.
By then, the entire car was empty and the girl still hadn't woken up. And as much as he would have liked to just leave her, his conscious wouldn't let him.
"Hey, wake up." He shook her arm. "Wake up."
"Huh?" Her sleepy green eyes were unfocused as she opened them. She looked up at him without recognition. "Wha-?"
"Come on. We've arrived at Hogsmead."
"Where?" She sat up and yawned.
"The station. Hurry up or we'll miss the carriages and then we'll have to walk all the way up to the castle."
"Castle?" She shook her head. "Oh man, how long have I been asleep?"
"Long enough."
Morgan quickly stood up and straightened her robes. A parchment fell out of her pocket. Harry stooped to pick it up and recognized the signature.
Dumbledore.
Why did she have a letter from Dumbledore in her pocket?
Harry was about to unroll the parchment when Morgan snatched it out of his hand.
"Opps. Can't believe I dropped this." She hastily stuffed the parchment back into her pocket. "Let's go. Aren't we in a hurry?"
Harry nodded and led the way off the train. His mind kept returning to that parchment. He wondered what could be on that note from Dumbledore. It was puzzling and kind of irritating to Harry. This random girl was receiving letters from Dumbledore when Harry had gotten nothing from the Headmaster the entire summer. If it wasn't for the Dementor attack, Harry suspected he would have spent the entire summer at the Dursleys – miserable and without any communication with the Wizarding world.
They reached the carriages pulled by invisible horses and spotted Ron and Hermione waiting for them.
"Finally! We were beginning to worry, Harry. This is the last carriage. Hurry up!" said Hermione.
As Harry was about to climb on board, he noticed that the usual invisible horse had been replaced by something else – something that looked half dead. The creature had a horse-shaped body but bat-wings protruding from its back. There was no fur on the creature either, just reptilian grey skin that emphasized the creature's skeleton.
"What is that thing?" asked Harry, watching the creature curiously as it unfurled its leather wings like it was stretching.
"What? Wha'cha looking at, Harry?" asked Ron.
"That thing, pulling the carriage. Can't you see it?"
Ron shook his head. "There's nothing there, like always."
Hermione was watching Harry with a concerned look on her face. Harry started feeling dread creep into his heart. Here he goes again, seeing and hearing things that aren't there.
"Don't worry, you're not crazy," said Luna. "I can see them too. They're called Thestrals. Only people who've seen someone die can see them. I've been able to see them since my first year."
"Oh." Harry wasn't sure if he should be comforted that someone like Luna could see it. In fact, it made Harry feel like he was losing his mind even more.
Harry climbed in, followed by Morgan and Ron before the door shut and the carriage lurched forward.
"Hey, did you guys hear? Seamus' was about to not come back to Hogwarts this year," said Neville.
"What? Why is that?" asked Hermione.
"He said it was cause of you, Harry, and Dumbledore. Said his mom thought you guys were a bunch of loons."
"What?! So it's my fault now? Where's Seamus? I'm going to –"
"Calm down, Harry. He's probably just buying in to all that rubbish the Prophet's been publishing about you all summer," said Hermione.
"Yeah, mate. Hermione and I both know You Know Who is back and that you fought him," said Ron.
"Gran and I believe you too, Harry. She says if Dumbledore says You Know Who is back than he's back, and that the Prophet is a waste of good gold so she cancelled our subscription," added Neville.
"Thanks you guys." But it didn't cheer him up. This was probably just a taste of what this year was going to be like for him. By now everyone at Hogwarts probably thought he's a liar and an attention-seeking brat.
The carriage arrived at the castle front door and rolled to a stop. Everyone got out and headed up the stone steps into the Entrance Hall. Harry could hear the rest of the school noisily chattering in the Great Hall to their right. They were about to head in when Professor McGonagall rushed out and spotted them.
"There you are! Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger there is something I must tell you. Hogwarts has accepted a transfer student this year. She was sorted into Gryffindor over the summer. I want you two to escort her to the Gryffindor table."
"Yes, Professor. Who is she?" asked Hermione.
"Well she hasn't arrived yet but she –" Professor McGonagall broke off. "Ah there she is. Come here, dear. You had me worried."
McGonagall moved past Harry and dragged Morgan forward.
"Professor Dumbledore left specific instruction to make sure you were well situated here at Hogwarts," McGonagall said. "These two are Gryffindor Prefects. They will show you to Gryffindor Tower after the feast. I am Professor McGonagall and I am the Head of Gryffindor House."
Morgan nodded. "Yes, Professor."
McGonagall turned to Ron and Hermione. "I leave her in your care, prefects. Now hurry along. The Sorting is about to begin." She hurried off to the room where the first years usually wait.
"So, you're the er, new transfer student?" asked Ron.
"We never properly introduced ourselves. My name's Hermione Granger and I'm a Gryffindor Prefect," said Hermione. She held her hand out for Morgan to shake.
"I'm Morgan. Pleasure to meet you, Hermione."
"Ron Weasley. And can we get out of the Entrance Hall. I'd rather not be here when McGonagall comes back out with the first years."
Everyone nodded and they hurried into the Great Hall. Luna waved goodbye as she joined the Ravenclaws at their table. The rest of them found seats next to Nearly Headless Nick at the end of the long table. Harry sat down with Ron and Hermione on one side and Morgan on the other. Ginny and Neville took their seats across from them, next to Nick.
The Great Hall's doors opened and McGonagall led the first years in. While they passed by, Harry scanned the staff's table. To Harry's surprise, Hagrid was missing, and there was a new face among the teachers. She was squat woman wearing a repulsively pink suit and a black bow in her mousy hair. She reminded Harry of a toad, which jogged his memory as he realized he'd seen her before. She was at his hearing over the summer.
Harry glanced at Dumbledore, who was smiling warmly as he looked around the room. Harry subconsciously willed Dumbledore to look at him.
Look at me damn it!
They made eye contact for the first time after a month of nothing. Suddenly, a flash of pain erupted from his scar.
"Argh!" Harry gripped his head and curled up into a ball. The pain was so intense. He gritted his teeth, trying to keep quiet as the Sorting Hat started to talk. He didn't hear any of its words. All he could hear was the pounding in his ears as thousands of invisible knives stabbed him where his scar was.
What was going on? His scar never hurt like this before.
"Harry!"
Morgan turned to see Hermione shaking Harry, who was doubled over in his seat.
"What's wrong?" Hermione whispered anxiously.
Morgan laid a hand on his back and felt pain shoot up her arm and into her head. It was his pain she was feeling and it was intense. Morgan gritted her teeth and pushed passed the pain, sending her mind into his. Something was struggling inside Harry's mind – a different entity. It was kind of like her demon, but more foreign. Morgan followed the path and found another mind immersed in fury.
This must be the cause of Harry's pain, she thought. She had no idea what this was but if she wanted to prevent Harry from having a seizure, she had to close off the connection. Morgan tried severing the link between the boy and this other entity but couldn't do it no matter how hard she tried.
Suddenly, something pushed back and the demon in her came roaring to the foreground. It was like the chains had disappeared and the demon was free. Morgan clamped down on its mind, restraining it and pulling it back into her subconscious. It was difficult. She reconstructed chains with her mind, just like Isis had taught her. The demon didn't go down quietly. It fought with a made fury to get free but Morgan's will won out in the end. Finally, after her own demon was chained, she returned her attention back to Harry's problem.
What was going on?
Harry's pain was increasing and Morgan feared he may not last much longer so she constructed a hasty wall that would dampen the link. Morgan knew her strength quickly fading but she needed to reinforce the walls. Mustering the last of her strength, she doubled the walls before finally pulling out of his mind and returning to her own.
Morgan blinked and fought off a wave of nausea that always occurred when she performed any telepathic magic. Luckily, the nausea passed fairly quickly but her body felt like it weighed a ton. She rested her head on the table for a moment before glancing in Harry's direction. Thankfully he looked like he had recovered. Hermione was busy trying to make him drink some juice as Professor McGonagall finished reading off the list of first years.
That took longer than I expected.
Morgan glanced up at the staff table to see Dumbledore watching with worry in his eyes. Morgan shook her head, sending him a mental message that she'll report later tonight in his office.
Dumbledore nodded subtly and returned his attention to the sorting.
"Harry, are you sure you're alright?" asked Hermione.
"Yes, I'm fine. It was just my scar…"
"If it was your scar than you should tell Dumbledore –"
"No, I'm fine," hissed Harry.
"Well, at least tell Snuffles –"
"No. The last thing I need is for him to come marching into Hogwarts because of my scar."
The Sorting had finished and Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. I trust you are all famished so I will make a few quick announcements and then we can all tuck in. First off, I would like to welcome Professor Grubby-Plank, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures. Next, Professor Dolores Umbridge, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Everyone clapped as both professors stood up.
"Now, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students and that –"H""'""ksfasdfsfd
"Ah hem," interrupted Professor Umbridge, getting out of her seat. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome. Before you continue, I would like to say something."
Everyone in the Hall gaped at the woman and Morgan guess it was because no one normally interrupts the Headmaster when he is making announcements.
But Dumbledore didn't seem the least offended. "Of course. Please," he said very courteously.
The woman stepped forward to address the hall. "It's so wonderful to see all your smiling and happy faces I hope we can all become good friends," she said in a high, girlish voice. "The Ministry of Magic has always…"
Morgan rested her head down on the table and shut her eyes as the woman launched into the longest speech she had ever heard. Her annoying high pitched voice seemed to make the headache that Morgan had suddenly acquired twice as worse. Half the Hall was chatting with their neighbors while the other half was waiting impatiently for Umbridge to shut up so they could eat.
Ron was obviously one of the latter.
"Urgh, I'm so hungry I could eat a hippogriff," he groaned.
"Sssh," hissed Hermione, who was listening intently to Professor Umbridge's speech. "Don't you get it? The Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts. That woman is clearly working for Fudge."
"I don't care if she's working for You Know Who himself. I just want the feast to start."
"Ron!"
So that was what Dumbledore meant when he said to keep an eye out for the Ministry. They were a threat to Harry too.
"Is everyone out to get this guy?" she muttered to the table.
Finally, Umbridge ended her speech and the hall cheered. Dumbledore stood up, still applauding. "Thank you, Dolores. Now, let the feast begin."
Suddenly, the plates before them were filled with food. Everyone quickly dug in, piling their plates high with roast beef, mashed potatoes, and all sorts of other foods. Morgan had never seen so much food on one table in her life. The food seemed to do wonders on her headache and she was starting to feel her strength coming back.
Slowly, conversation broke out along the table as people asked how each other's summer was. Morgan preferred to listen rather than talk as she ate. It wasn't until Hermione leaned over and asked her what year she was in, that Morgan actually spoke.
"I'm supposed to be a fifth year this year."
"Really? So you're in our year? What school did you go to?" asked Hermione.
"I was home schooled."
"Wow, what was it like? Did your parents teach you?"
"No, my guardian taught me."
"Guardian? Where are your parents?" asked Ron, between bites of his chicken.
Morgan remained silent. That part of her past she didn't talk about, especially with strangers. Not even her best friends knew about her past. It was one of the Sorcery's customs to never ask about another's family and loved ones. But what did you expect from a race whose numbers were so few? The less the enemy knows about you, the less he can use against you; that's what Ransho had taught them.
"Hello? Morgan?" waved Hermione.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Hermione, but I don't talk about my family."
"Hmm? How come?" asked Ron with his mouth full.
Morgan shrugged. She knew they were giving her funny looks but she remained silent and ignored them. Dessert arrived and Morgan helped herself to some sweets that she'd never seen before.
What's a treacle tart?
Lucky for Morgan, the conversation steered back to summer break, but it ended up with Harry having an argument with Seamus about Voldemort's return. Morgan was wondering if she needed to remove Harry vocal cords before things escalated into fist fight when the desserts vanished and Dumbledore stood. The Hall quieted as everyone's attention went to the Headmaster.
"And now that we have all been fed, off to bed with you."
The students rose and exited the Great Hall in waves.
"Come on, Ron! We're supposed to lead the first years to the Tower," said Hermione. "First years, over here!"
"Oy, midgets, get over here."
Hermione elbowed Ron in the rib. "Ron!"
"What? They're short enough."
"I'll see you guys in the common room then. What's the password?" asked Harry.
"Er…"
"Mimbulus Mimbletonia," replied Hermione. "First years! This way, follow me!"
Harry turned and left the Great Hall.
Though Morgan was supposed to stick with Ron and Hermione, like McGonagall instructed, she decided to follow Harry. She caught up to him as he reached the marble staircase. She followed silently behind as Neville started chatting with Harry on how he'll finally be able to remember the password.
As they walked, Morgan noticed many students pointing and whispering about Harry. They weren't being very discreet about it either, especially the first years. They practically ran when they passed by him, following their respective prefects to their common rooms. The older students seemed to be eyeing Harry with dislike, though Morgan had no idea why.
What did Harry do to make so many people dislike him?
Several flights of stairs and countless corridors later, Morgan, Harry, and Neville stood in front of a portrait of a very fat lady.
"Password?" she asked.
Morgan jumped with surprised that the picture could talk.
"Mimbulus Mimbletonia."
"Correct." The portrait swung open, revealing a hole for them to climb through.
Morgan's mouth hung open as she gazed around the common room. It was a very cozy room with plenty of couches, armchairs, and tables for the students to study on. Already, there were people lounging around, chatting or playing chess. The fireplace took up the center of the left wall and currently had a fire roaring in its mouth. Towards the back of the common room was a spiral staircase that probably led to the sleeping quarters.
"Hey! Weren't you supposed to stay with Ron and Hermione?" asked Harry, finally noticing her.
Morgan shrugged. "I followed you since they looked like they had their hands full."
Just then the portrait hole opened and Ron and Hermione climbed in, followed by a line of first years.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Back there is the staircase that will take you to your dormitories. Boys dormitories are on the right and the girls are on the left," explained Hermione. She then proceeded to take the girls up to their rooms while Ron took the boys to theirs.
Morgan settled herself by the window and gazed out onto the grounds. It was cloudy night and she could barely see anything. Every now and then, a hint of moonlight would sneak through the clouds but overall everything was black outside. She could see her reflection clearly in the window. The incident with the demon in the Great Hall had really scared her, and she was surprised her eye hadn't turned pink again.
But why did the chains suddenly snap?
A hand suddenly tapped her shoulder, making Morgan jump. Morgan turned to see Hermione standing there with her hands on her hips, looking slightly annoyed. "You know you gave us a scare, back in the Great Hall. I thought we lost you. McGonagall told us to escort you to Gryffindor Tower. Why did you run off like that?"
"Sorry, Hermione. You guys looked preoccupied so I just followed Harry up here. I didn't mean to get you in trouble."
Hermione sighed. "It's all right. Though now we have the question of where you'll be sleeping." She scratched her head. "McGonagall never said which room you're going to be in…"
Just then the portrait hole opened and Professor McGonagall stepped in. She looked around the common room until she spotted them and came over.
"There you are. Thank you, Miss Granger. I'll take it from here. You're dismissed."
Hermione nodded and went over to where Ron and Harry were sitting by the fireplace. Morgan was watching Harry as he glared at the fireplace looking like he wanted to bite the head off the next person who provoked him when McGonagall came into her line of vision.
"It's time for us to report to the headmaster, Morgan," she said softly.
Morgan nodded and followed her out of the cozy Gryffindor common room, casting a quick illusion so that no one would notice them leaving.
Dumbledore's pacing was making Morgan sleepy. He was like a pendulum swinging back and forth and making her eyes feel heavier and heavier with each swing. She stifled a yawn as the headmaster walked by. Under normal circumstances, Morgan would have been captivated by his office, with all its interesting instruments and portraits of headmasters past, but right now she was just too tired to care. Her body and mind were exhausted and all she could think about was how good it would feel to finally rest her head on a pillow.
"What is it, Albus?" asked McGonagall anxiously.
Dumbledore paused and turned to Morgan again. "Please repeat what you said earlier about the train ride." His eyes were closed as he listened intently.
Morgan sighed. "About an hour in, the bridge that goes over a river was demolished by some black entity. I didn't get a good look at what it was, but I did know that it had somehow destroyed the entire bridge and we were about to go over the cliff. I cast an illusion around the train and then lifted the tracks out of the water so the train could cross the river safely."
Man, even talking is making me tired…
Dumbledore resumed his pacing. Then he paused by his desk where a stone basin with slivery liquid was sitting. He put the tip of his wand to the side of his head and slowly pulled his wand. A stream of silver liquid came out of his temple and floated gently into the bowl.
"Something is amiss here…" Dumbledore muttered. "Why would Voldemort attack the train?"
"Maybe he wants Harry dead as soon as possible?" said Morgan.
"I assure you, the Dark Lord would not do something as crass as destroying a bridge to kill Potter," said a man, who was standing next to McGonagall.
"Severus, what do you think," asked Dumbledore. He obviously thought highly of this greasy haired man's opinion. The man had a hooked nose and seemed to wear a constant sneer on his face. Personally, Morgan thought he looked like the most unpleasant man in this world.
"The Dark Lord gave no such order for his Death Eaters to destroy the bridge, that I am confident. Also, the Dark Lord would insist he'd be the one to kill Potter."
"If this isn't his doing then whose?" asked McGonagall.
"That I do not know," whispered Dumbledore gravely. "An enemy in the shadows… this is troubling. What do you think, Morgan?"
"Huh?" Morgan yawned and rubbed her eyes. "If it wasn't the Death Eaters, then I wouldn't know who else it could be. But you know, you should talk some sense into Harry. He's out for blood this year. I've never seen someone with so much pent up anger." Morgan yawned again.
"I suspect it has to do with his connection with Voldemort," replied Dumbledore.
"So that's what that was," muttered Morgan.
But why did my demon snap like that? Was it drawn by Voldemort's dark soul?
"Something troubling you, Morgan?" asked Dumbledore, peering over his half-moon spectacle to watch her carefully.
Morgan shook her head. "No, sir. Just tired."
Dumbledore nodded. "Very well, you are dismissed. Minerva, please escort her back to Gryffindor Tower."
"Yes, Headmaster."
Morgan trudged after McGonagall as she held the door open for her. She really needed some sleep.
First thing, shower, then I'll try and get what little sleep is left of this night…