Chapter14:
The day of the hearing finally arrived.
Harriet woke early in the grey light of dawn. She got up unable to sleep any longer. Once dressed she went down to the common room.
It was a long time latter when Luna finally found her staring dreamily into the fire her hand resting on the letter she'd been given by Harper.
¡°Harriet are you okay?"
¡°yes" but she didn't look it "what do you think 'a ministry official will arrive in due course to escort you to your hearing' means?"
¡°I don't know but …" Luna replied and then stopped as Harriet raised her hand.
¡°can you hear that?"
¡°what?"
but just then the voices became more obvious as they climbed the stairs up the Ravenclaw common room.
¡°why do you need to get in Minerva?" came professor Flitwicks squeeze voice.
¡°I need to talk to Harriet" this was McGonagalls stern cutting voice.
¡°why?" Flitwick persisted.
¡°the ministry are trying to weed out muggle borns and Harriet's got to go to a hearing today"
¡°today!"
¡°yes"
¡°well of course you can come in"
they heard the musical voice and then Flitwicks answer.
And the door opened.
¡°Harriet" it was professor McGonagall's voice as she spotted Harriet who had returned to gazing at the fire.
A few seconds passed in silence.
Then:
¡°what is the trans-substanchiate triple?" asked the musical voice of the door as scuffling footfalls stopped an knocked on the door.
¡°I don't know do I you bleeding door! Just open up!" came the bad tempered wheeze of Amycus Carrow.
Then came a thump. " open you stupid door!" ordered Alecto kicking.
Nothing had any effect.
¡°do you think we should let them in Minerva?" Flitwick squeaked.
¡°no! Don't do that!" Luna cried.
Harriet continued to gaze into the fire.
¡°who ever's in their open up!" the Carrow's screamed.
Then came the thundering noise of footsteps above them. The rest of the Ravenclaws had obviously been woken be the racket and frightened faces began to appear at the foot of the staircase.
¡°isn't anyone going to open the door?" came a voice.
Harriet recognised it from the DA. It was Zacharias Smith. Harriet looked up at him.
¡°I agree" she finally said her voice slightly horse. Both Luna and McGonagall stared at her. "I think we should let them in" she repeated. "the longer they have to wait the worse it will be"
at that Flitwick walked forward and opened the door.
The Carrows fell in glaring.
¡°where is Dursley!" Amycus screeched.
Everyone looked at Harriet.
¡°hear" was all she could manage raising a hand a fraction.
She them heard both Carrows make their way towards her.
¡°get up!" one ordered. They were far closer than Harriet could possibly feel comfortable with as she found flecks of spit hit her face.
She did as she was told.
¡°where are you taking her?" McGonagall demanded.
¡°non of your business" Amicus wheezed.
¡°as her head of house …" Flitwick begin to squeak but he was interrupted.
¡°I don't care what bleeding head you are! But I've been ordered to take the scum Dursley!"
McGonagall was about to retort when Harriet spoke.
¡°stop!" there was little conviction in her voice but McGonagalls retort died in her throat. "I'll go with the Carrows. I don't really have any choice"
¡°a mud-blood making sense. I never thought I'd see that" Alecto giggled.
¡°Harriet!" Luna tried to corshun her but Harriet was already out the door.