Fortune favoured the trio. Professor McGonagall was in Hogsmede with other teachers and ministry officials to discuss whether the school ought to continue after Dumbledore s shocking murder in the hands of Snape.
Now we just have to look out for Peeves,otherwise our coast is s take the invisibility cloak in case someone sees us, said Harry as they set out to the Headmistress office and stood still near the gulping garagoyle.
I enjoy acid pops? asked Harry to which the garagoyle resoponded by giving way to the trio.
The room was exactly as it was since he last saw it when he left with Dumbledore to the Cave except that the portrait of Albus Dumbledore was hanging right behind the Head s desk.
Ha! Harry! I was expecting were actually a bit late, greeted Dumbledore as they neared his portrait.
Professor,we just came to ask you something....., started Harry as Dumbledore interrupted him. ....as to whether and should accompany you in the horcruxes hunt...., finished Dumbledore.
Sir...Professor...How do you know?, asked a very astonished Hermoine.
Ha, ! You see, I know Harry s nature even better than he does.I understand his inner self more than mine, so it wasn t that difficult predicting what he was going to say....HA...HA... and I know quite well about you two too, replied a very excited Dumbledore.
Hermione was quite astonished by Dumbledore's words but she didn't comment on his reply was very Dumbledorish,Harry could sense something un-Dumbledorish about him, something artificial about him or something ready-made.
Harry shrugged these thoughts and said slowly with his heart pounding against his chest, where one part of him wanted Ron and Hermoine with him and the other part did not, ...so....sir....should they ....should they ....come along with me?.....wouldn t that be very dangerous?.
I m sure that its is not going to be a bed of roses....in fact I assure you that it is going to a bed of thorns in those roses but the result of that, will blossom everyone s life like a beautiful big rose, said Dumbledore after giving an after thought.
Are u sure sir?, said Harry doubtfully, glancing at those two, who beamed significantly at each other looking victorious.
YES HARRY! OF COURSE ! Do you think that you can even go out of Hogwarts without their company ? Won't you feel weak? Would you have the confidence , the boost and motivation to do something which I think only your dear friends can provide you I, Professor Dumbledore, say that you will be immobilised without their help....., went on Dumbledore till Ron s ears could no longer turn pink and when Hermoine could no longer remain there without bursting.
Harry's doubtful heart gained some confidence and he realised that whatever Dumbledore told him was entirely true - he wouldn t be able do anything without were almost his living patronuses.
Ha,yes Harry.... I forgot to tell you one more important thing....., paused Dumbledore looking at the three anticipating faces and continued, .....that in your journey one more person should be accomodated,that is, this team of three should become a team of four," said Dumbledore.
Whatever the three were expecting,it wasn t three faces look bewildered,shocked....it was as if no word can explain their surprise at this unexpected announcement.
" Is it Remus sir?, "asked Harry hopefully.
"No....it is someone else whom I met during my world tour...., "paused did not continue for quite sometime during which Harry's brain whizzed with a thousand is that ? Will he/she be of any use to did Dumbledore choose a complete stranger when he had the whole Order with extremely skilled wizards and witches under his command?
"........and that person's name is Narmadha," finished Dumbledore.
"Sorry?Could'nt quite get that! Sounds like a foreign name! "said Ron to which Dumbledore replied,"Its N-A-R-M-A-D-H-A! Stress that D-H-A perferctly."
"Sir,I don't understand!, "said Harry quite puzzled.
"What you don't understand Harry? "asked Dumbledore.
"Why should we travel with a complete stranger and that too a foreigner when we have better people with us? "asked Harrry.
"Ha! Harry you will understand when time now,search for her in a place called Chennai in India," told Dumbledore.
"Sir,India is a big place. Where can we go and search her?Chennai is not a small city and is quite populated.I'm sure we'll find about a thousand Narmadhas there,"put in Hermione who was simply shocked by the ongoing processions.
"Ha...! Quite sensible as ever",said Dumbledore and gave Hermione instruction as to where to search the so-called Narmadha.
"Sir,still I'm not quite sure about it so necessary that we should travel with this girl? Is she trustworthy?" asked Harry,still not sure about anything.
"Harry,so you trust me?Then trust this girl is as reliable as her as another Dumbledore itself! I know what is in your are thinking about will come to know about Severus was trustworthy and is still too and now het ready to go back to your homes tommorow and search this person",dismissed Dumbledore just as they heard a noise of someone climbing up the stairs and opening the door.
"Now could I know what you are doing here in my absence , and ?" asked Professor McGonagall as she stood holding the door aside.