Chapter 1: To be Welcomed or Not to be Welcomed, That is the Question?
It had all begun at the start of this year on the Hogwarts Express. I used to attend Beauxbatons Academy of Magic which was a nasty, snobby school for girls who were always in competition with each other. They thought of themselves as superiors because they perceived themselves as intellectuals. They would bully younger students and threaten them to do their work. Once they tried it on me but I defended myself by refusing to do their homework for them, saying that they were being childish and that they needed to grow up. They're smart enough to write and think for themselves and bullying was seriously stupid, why do it? They were put into the school to learn, not bully other girls to do their education for them. And that's when they backed away from me, and left me alone. I think the only goodness I got out of Beauxbatons was defending myself and learning French.
But now I was attending Hogwarts for my sixth year of schooling where my grandfather, the Headmaster of Hogwarts could keep a close eye on me as Voldermort's army grows and the wizardry world gradually becomes paranoid. I wasn't really afraid of coming to a new school; it was just the hard part of making new friends because they had grown up with each other since their first year.
I hoisted my trunk onto the rack inside a carriage on the Hogwarts Express when I heard the door swing open just as I sat down.
"Hey look this carriage isn't full," I heard a female voice speak.
I could hear the rattling of trunks being launched onto the racks as I kept my face focused on the Daily Prophet.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Hermione Granger," the girl said.
I looked up, facing a medium height girl with slightly unruly brown hair and brown eyes.
I shook her hand and looked beside her and saw two boys about her age and mine. One had raven, messy hair, emerald eyes and a lightning bolt scare on his head. I wasn't really surprised to see 'the boy who lived.' My grandfather had a strong relationship with him and would always tell me he was normal like the other students. I had never met him before till now. The other boy was quite tall and gangly, with bright red hair which was also messy and he had blue eyes.
"And this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley," she introduced.
The two boys looked up at me and took their hands out so I could shake them. I shook them and looked out the window admiring the green land we were passing by.
"And you are?" the girl asked.
"Ohh right, I'm Sabrina Delphina Dumbledore," I answered watching the shock crease their faces. A lot of people did that whenever I mentioned my last name.
"So, you're related to Albus Dumbledore then, the Headmaster of Hogwarts?" Ron asked.
"Of course I am, that's my grandfather," I replied turning around facing them with Ron eyeing me up and down.
We finally sat down with Ron sitting on the seat opposite me, next to Harry. Hermione had already seated herself down before when she introduced herself to me. I turned my back on them and looked towards the view outside the window. I could now see small villages with children playing. It was definitely a different site from the opulent and luxurious location of Beauxbatons.
"Dumbledore never told us that he had a granddaughter, and I haven't read anything in the Daily Prophet or heard of you," Hermione spoke.
I smiled warmly to her as I needed to be polite to my fellow peers so I could make some new friends. "I have never been mentioned in the Daily Prophet because my grandfather didn't want people to know of his personal life, even though he's considered the greatest Headmaster of Hogwarts and was a popular candidate for the Ministry of Magic. Besides, I've been living in France at Beauxbatons and it's very mellow there."
"What about your parents?" Hermione asked quizzing me.
I looked at her sternly, "They are no longer with me. My grandfather has been raising me since I was ten."
They all apologized for hearing about my loss.
"So how come Dumbledore didn't want you attending Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, more questions coming from her.
"If you think about it, it's definitely weird going to the same boarding school where your grandfather is the Headmaster of. But that wasn't a major concern to me. I didn't want to go to Hogwarts because my mother was French and her education was at Beauxbatons, so I thought it would be best to have my education there. But now because of Voldermort's growing power and reinforcements, Granddad wanted to keep a close eye on me."
"Well, I for one am very happy to meet you Sabrina," Harry said grinning, with the dimples in his cheeks showing.
"Thank you," I replied, smiling back.
I noticed Ron whispering something to Hermione. "We need to go now, we have to attend our prefect duties. It was nice to meet you Sabrina," Hermione said smiling proudly. I watched them walk out than a third-year girl stepped inside breathless.
"I'm supposed to deliver this to Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as I watched as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out a scroll of parchment tied with violet ribbon.
I watched as Harry took the scroll from the girl and she stumbled back out of the compartment. I didn't say anything because I didn't want to pry upon meeting someone knew.
"Wow, it's an invitation," I heard him mutter.
To be nice, I asked him, "Who from?" because he was open to talk about it.
"Professor Slughorn."
"Oh, the new potions master. I heard that granddad recruited him back from retirement. That parchment invitation is probably him selecting who he wants in his Slug Club this year," I informed him. Knowing full well what granddad had told me about this man.
"Slug Club?" Harry asked me confused.
"Granddad told me he handpicks his favourite students who show talent, ambition, intelligence or would become outstanding in particular fields. He hosts parties and get-togethers with the club. You should definitely go," I encouraged him, even though I didn't know him that well. But I knew of him from the Granddad and the Wizarding Worlds Media.
"I'm surprised you didn't get an invite," he said, still holding the parchment in his hands. "You know, being Dumbledore's granddaughter."
"I think I'm better keeping a low profile," then I put my hand over my mouth in a whisper, "between you and me, I don't really like big crowds."
"Well, I'll see you around at school then. Till the next time I meet you," he said, holding out his hand.
I shook his hand, "Till the next time."
We both smiled and then he was out the door within a heartbeat. I kept myself busy through the rest of the train ride. Harry never came back in but Hermione and Ron did because of their luggage. I just talked to them about the Daily Prophet, never revealing too much personal details. It was hard times to trust people you didn't properly know. But I came to like Hermione and Ron. They seemed easy to get along with. This was a breath of fresh air to get comfortable with. I was slowly fitting in. They also told me about the significance differences between the Houses in Hogwarts which Granddad had talked about on many occasions. But I was really interested in hearing them talk about how wicked and corrupt the Slytherin house was. Eventually we all changed into our school robes and left the compartment when the train came to a halt.
Once I stepped out of the carriage, I was dragged away by the crowd exiting the train. When my feet landed on the train's platform I was looking for any signs of Hermione and Ron. Right now they seemed to be the only people I knew.
"Firs'-years this way," called a familiar voice who I knew was Hagrid the game keeper of Hogwarts.
I had met him almost a zillion times since he liked to visit me and granddad a lot. Since I was distracted, I turned around and saw the figure of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning some small kids to follow him.
"Ello Sabrina," Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd.
"Hey," I yelled back smiling. He sure looked the same with his long, black shaggy mane of hair and his wild tangled beard.
"I need yeh' to wait for me when yeh' get to the front of the giant oak doors," he yelled once again.
"OK," I shouted.
I turned around to where I was facing before and started following the rest of the crowd onto a mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited for remaining students. I began looking, once again for any sign of my new friends but I couldn't find any. So I climbed into one coach which was occupied by two boys and sat down opposite them.
The coach smelled faintly of mould and straw. One of the boys shut the door and the coach set off all by itself, bumping and swaying in procession. Granddad had told me that the coaches were pulled by thestrals but luckily I couldn't see them.
Both boys were staring at me. One had a pointy pale face with platinum-blonde hair and blue-grey eyes. The other had black hair and dark blue eyes. I glanced out the window viewing the wrought-iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars we were passing through.
"I've never seen you before, and you don't look like a first year because they would be traveling on the boats for the traditional journey across the lake," the blonde hair boy spoke.
"I'm new," I said turning my face to meet there's.
"I'm Draco Malfoy and this is Blaise Zabini," the blonde announced rudely.
"Charmed," I remarked quickly, looking out the window again but this time watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. My grandfather had talked about these boys parents before. It was weird meeting their offspring in the flesh and knowing the snide behaviour of their parents. It probably rubbed off on them as well.
"And your name is?" the boy Draco had just informed me asked. I looked back at them and stared at the Zabini guy. Bingo!
"Sabrina Delphina Dumbledore," I replied looking at them. I turned my head and once again I was staring out the window. The castle we were drawing nearer to, was huge and beautiful, but it wasn't a match to Beauxbatons one. But I loved how the windows sparkled in the starry sky.
"So that means your Dumbledore's daughter?" I heard one of the boys ask.
"Granddaughter you nitwit. Do I look one-hundred to you?" I rhetorically said. I didn't bother looking at the boys for the rest of the ride. They seemed cold, fake even by the way they composed themselves in the carriage. Neat robes, sleeked back hair, clean faces and just those snide faces.
"Ladies first," Draco announced with a smile. A moment ago he was being arrogantly impolite with his friend.
"Thank you," I politely replied while opening the door and climbing out.
"And what it's worth, I think you are looking to be one-hundred, with all those wrinkles forming on your face. You definitely have the resemblance of Dumbledore," I heard the Zabini guy yell out behind me.
'Quelenfoiré,' I thought, swearing in French. I ignored his comment and didn't bother retaliating. They were buffoons and so were their parents.
I heard Zabini laugh out loud, like his joke was just that hilarious, and the other guy snicker next to him.
I made my way up the flight of stone steps, without looking behind my back at the two strangers I had just met and waited patiently for Hagrid to arrive. A lot of students, I noticed, were staring at me.
Probably wondering why I'm standing here and not going inside.
After two minutes just staring at my shoes and twiddling with my fingers I heard a familiar voice yell my name.
"Sabrina, thank yeh' for waiting."
I looked up and saw Hagrid walking up the stone steps with a bunch of first years. They all looked so tiny from where I stood. Hagrid came to a halt in front of the huge oak doors and turned around.
"Every first year here," he shouted.
I noticed all the first years nodded their heads, they appeared frightened. Obviously the slight way I was feeling.
Hagrid raised his gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. It swung open at once by a tall brown-haired witch who I knew was Minerva McGonagall.
"I will take them from here Hagrid," she said, guiding the crowd of first years down the entrance.
"Sabrina you come with me, first you need to see your granddad," Hagrid told me.
I started to walk behind him fast as his giant steps were bigger than mine.
We had entered the Entrance hall which was huge and had flaming torches lit on the stone walls. The ceiling was too high to make out and facing Hagrid was a magnificent marble staircase that probably led to the upper floors.
Finally we had turned a corner and I saw my grandfather in the middle of the corridor standing alone. I ran up to him and embraced him in a tight hug.
"Hope the trip was alright for you my dear," Dumbledore said.
I looked up at my grandfather's face and answered, "Yeah it was alright."
"Thank you Hagrid."
"No worries," Hagrid said turning around and leaving.
My grandfather then started to explain to me that I would be sitting at the Gryffindor table since last week when he had brought the Sorting Hat home it had chosen what house I was to be in without telling me. Granddad wanted to keep it a surprise till today. I told him how I had met Harry, Hermione and Ron. He didn't seem too surprised as he probably knew I would become friends with them.
We walked back around the corner and made our way back to the entrance hall. I followed him across the flagged stone floor and finally we turned to a doorway on the right. I could hear the drone of hundreds of voices coming from inside of the room.
"Are you ready," he asked.
"Yep," I said gulping.
He swung the pair of double doors open and we walked inside the Great Hall. The place was lit with thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
In the front and centre of the Great Hall stood a four-legged stool and upon it was an extremely dirty, frayed, patched up, pointy wizard hat. I could see first year students still being sorted into their houses.
While we were walking down the hall I looked up to the ceiling to avoid stares from the other students. The ceiling was velvet black, dotted with stars. I quickly remembered that granddad had told me that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. I finally lowered my head down and saw Ron and Hermione over at the Gryffindor table. I scuttled away from granddad and joined them. Granddad was now sitting in the middle of the teachers table. He gave me a satisfied look. He wanted to walk in with me to keep me comfortable but he didn't want to announce my presence publicly to cause a buzz. I liked my privacy as well.
"Sorry for missing you at the carriages, we couldn't find you and we thought you'd left," Hermione said as I sat down.
"It's okay. I'm here now. Is Harry here by the way?" I asked bemused, having an urge to talk to him.
"He's been missing," Hermione answered, looking around the hall for him.
"Don't worry he'll come around," Ron said, watching the last first year student being sorted into his house.
I looked over at the Slytherin table after having felt eyes watching me. I saw that guy Draco Malfoy smiling at me. I turned my face away annoyed with him. That Slytherin house was a menace. I then spotted Harry walk into the Hall with Snape by his side. He noticed us and sped along the benches towards use, forcing his way next to Ron.
"Where've you – blimey, what've you done to your face?" said Ron, goggling at him.
I looked at him mystified. He had dried blood on his face. I saw him grab a spoon and squint at his distorted reflection. Hermione was able to cast a spell and siphoned off the dried blood.
"We were terrified Harry. Where were you?" Hermione asked.
"I'll tell you later," he said curtly. He seemed conscious that people were listening in the vicinity. He looked at me acknowledging my presence and I just furrowed my eyebrows at him. Confused at what had happened to him. I watched his attention change from me to the teachers table.
I turned around and saw that my grandfather had stood up and was now beaming at the students, his arms opened wide.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. Firstly I am pleased to welcome our new staff member, Professor Horace Slughorn, who is a former colleague of mine who had kindly consented to resume his old post of Potions master."
Everyone in the Great Hall clapped as Professor Slughorn stood up to present himself. His bald head was gleaming in the candlelight with his big waistcoated belly casting the table below into shadow.
"Professor Snape meanwhile will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
I could hear Harry, Hermione and Ron discussing next to me the jinxing of the position of the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. They didn't appear to be happy with Snape's new position. Snape was a close friend of my grandfather but I was always suspicious about him. He seemed bat like, sleek, cold and articulate. Every time I was near him I felt cold with the hairs on my arms rising. He gave me the shivers. As a child he wasn't too fond of me- he never used to play with me and he never brought me gifts on special occasions when he came over to visit granddad. Just cold looks to keep his distance away from me. Like he didn't want to get involved with a child. His exterior cold like a dead carcass. Granddad just told me Snape had a sad, lonely past that's why he was a grumpy man. But if granddad was friends with him he must be good- I used to think…even though he didn't bother to get to know me.
Snape was sitting on granddads right, didn't even stand up at the mention of his name. He just raised a hand in lazy acknowledgement of the applause from the Slytherin table.
"And last, but not least, there will be a Valentine's Day ball for fifth years and above." Once granddad had announced this, a lot of girls shrilled and squealed in delight and started whispering at once to their neighbors.
"So that means, gentlemen it is time to start getting your dancing shoes out and thinking about who you would like to accompany with you to the ball."
"Not again, it better be easier than in our fourth year, and I hope mum this time sends me more suitable dress robes," Ron groaned to Harry.
"Well I think that is everything of importance, Let the feast begin," Granddad said.
I noticed that the golden plates and goblets were suddenly filled with drinks and food.
I was eating as much food as I could put on my plate as I was extremely hungry. Harry and Ron were once again pigging out while talking to each other with their mouths full, igorning what had happen to Harry moments before.
"Can you believe it, a ball," Hermione protested looking up from her food.
"Why? Don't you like balls?" I asked her. She looked very unpleased with the announcement.
"Their nice to attend to, if a guy has the guts to ask you, but it also interferes with our education. I know a lot of girls are now going to be talking about it and wondering, who will ask them, what they're going to wear, and who they want to go with. Plus the boys are all ridiculous dancers," Hermione answered with a laugh while I giggled.
"But that's all the fun about it. It gives us girls something to talk about. Come on Hermione, you surely want to go to this ball?" I asked, giving her a questioning look.
She answered, "We'll see. Depending on who takes me. But this nonsense of a ball does not matter. We're in dark times and Dumbledore's hosting a ball? It's ridiculous."
"I think he's trying to lighten the atmosphere. Perhaps to give us kids some peace, fun and something to look forward to," I replied, defending my grandfather.
"Yeah, like he's trying to keep our minds off the dark side of life that's happening at the moment," Ron agreed with me.
I smiled at him.
"Is it just me, or this food tastes better than last year," Harry said, looking down at his fork.
"It gets better every year," Ron said, as Harry and he cheered with some orange juice.
"I'll be showing you around the Gryffindor house with the first years. So you can see the castle a bit and your dormitory," Hermione said next to me. "You'll be in my dormitory with two other girls."
"Awesome, thank you." She must have been informed during her Prefect duty to take care of me. I had a hunch from granddad.
After the feast granddad stood up again but this time with a stern look on his face. "I cannot emphasise strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them- in particular the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and each other's safety. But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say goodnight. Pip pip!"
I rose from the table and could hear Ron asking Harry what happened to his face but was taken away by Hermione. She escorted me and the first years up to the Gryffindor tower fulfilling her duty as prefect. Climbing those stairs was exhausting. We finally reached a portrait at the end of the corridor. It was of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.
"Password?" she asked.
"Dragon Dung," Hermione said.
The portrait swung open to reveal a round hole in the wall. As Hermione walked in she spoke, "This is the Gryffindor common room."
The room was cozy, round and full of squashy armchairs and lopsided tables. It had a fireplace with a hearthrug and a grandfather clock near the door. And there was a notice board with lists of the school's rules and announcements, advertisements for various clubs and outings, lost and found items, things for sale, and chocolate frog card trades.
Hermione then walked through a door and directed me to the stone spiral staircases.
Finally we entered into the girls dormitories. She took care of the youngsters than came back to me. We entered a room that was round, red and had high narrow windows to look out at the quidditch pitch. There were four, four-poster beds with crimson velvet curtains, and our trunks were at the foot of each bed. I noticed that my trunk was brought up already. Probablybythehouseelves.
"Lavender Brown and Pavati Patil will be shearing our room with us," Hermione said looking at me.
"Great," I said enthusiastically.
"Oh and the bathroom is on the left," she stated, unpacking her trunk for her pajamas.
"Okay," I said making my way to my trunk and taking out my white night gown.
I walked to the bathroom, quickly got changed and made my way back inside the room.
When I re-entered there were two girls talking to Hermione. They introduced themselves to me as the other two roommates. They began asking me questions about granddad and all that nonsense of small talk you have with acquaintances. After half an hour had past we all said goodnight to each other and went to bed.
I finally drifted off into a deep sleep, happily knowing I was fitting into this school slowly, I just needed time.
I had awoken by noises moving everywhere, which were probably my new roommates getting ready for the day. I was able to drift off last night in a deep sleep. It was a dream that reminded me about my father and how he always looked out for me.
Sometimes I wish I had an older brother or sister to protect me from harm, because it's quite difficult being me, since I grew up with one parent and then only one grandparent. I would always wonder what my life would have been like if my mother hadn't died, but then I wouldn't be the person I am today. But it would've been nice to embrace all that love.
As I opened my eyes I was blinded by a white light which made me blink quite some time.
I really wished now I could stay snuggled in bed and not face the day. But I had to get the first day, at the new school, over and done with. Because eventually the next day would come.
So I climbed out of bed and opened my trunk. I had gone shopping before at Diagon Alley with granddad and bought my school uniform and books. We had run into many people that day, who were surprised to see the famous Dumbledore walking with a child who had the same complexion as he did.
I put on my skirt, white blouse, grey socks and black shoes. And then I noticed on my bed that there was a red and gold scarf and tie, as well as a grey jumper with red and gold stripes going down the neck line. It was definitely a different uniform than the one I was used to at Beauxbatons. For a mere moment, I had a pang for missing my old school.
I had difficulties putting my tie on and finally my jumper. I walked to the bathroom and stared at my reflection in the clear mirror that was above the sink. My curly auburn hair was a bit messy but I didn't care, because I knew if I brushed it, the curls would be ruined, so I just tied it up in a ponytail. I then began to wash the sleep out of my eyes, dried my face and stared at the mirror once again. I always liked to look intently at my eyes as I was told they were exactly the same as granddads sparkling ones. He always told me that I inherited my mother's elegant, elongated face, but my dad's curly auburn hair, which he always liked to admire. Whenever granddad told me this, I would always hug him since he was telling the truth, as always, and it always brought a smile to my face. Knowing that I had inherited significant features of my parents which made me have a slightly closer bond with them…in spirit. And most of the time I wished they were here with me, to watch me grow up and become a beautiful lady. But it wasn't meant to be. Why did mum have to die giving birth to me? And dad having died because of that stupid accident in his laboratory? The world wasn't fair.
I walked out of the bathroom, put on my school robe, which had the Gryffindor badge on it, and walked out of the dormitory. Keeping those negative thoughts of my parents away.
As I was descending the stairs, I couldn't help but admire the exquisite and stunning designs on the walls. Granddad had magnificent portraits of old wizards at his manor and of himself. But my favourite portrait was the one with my mother and father sitting together on a bench in a park. The portrait would show them laughing and smiling together.
I was now inside the common room wondering where Hermione was. I couldn't see her, but my eyes wondered over to a guy waiting for someone at the portrait hole with his head down staring at his shoes. Once he looked up and spotted me. He walked over to me with a very wide grin on his face.
"Sleep well last night," he asked. The issue of his distorted face and dried blood last night going away. He was in a more talkative mood today with me.
"Yep Harry, sure did," I replied shyly.
Since he was the only person I knew inside the room, we walked out together and straight to the Great Hall.
While we were walking, he told me that Hermione had already left for breakfast with Ron, so he wanted to wait for me and make sure I knew my way around the castle, in case I got lost. He then started talking about how he got lost in his first year a lot with Ron, wondering where the classrooms were. While he was talking to me, I stared at him and smiled. He was the kindest and thoughtful guy I had ever met. He had the dreamiest emerald eyes I had ever seen, which were sparkling in the sunlight as green as the finest grass.
And then I couldn't help but wonder how he was the one, who had been chosen to save the Wizarding World from Voldermort. And yet last night something bad had happened to him. But I didn't want to pry.
For a sleek second I was trying to wonder what I would do if I was in his shoes. Having loads of pressure on him being known as 'The Chosen One.' But then again, I kind of am, with Albus Dumbledore as my grandfather, and with both my parents deceased as well. We were actually more alike when you think about it.
When we finally made it to the Great Hall I noticed a lot of students were staring at us, since we were walking together. When we arrived to where Hermione and Ron were sitting I sat down immediately next to Hermione while Harry sat down next to Ron. I started eating bacon, eggs and toast to keep my mind off, the wondering minds of the students.
Professor McGonagall came walking down handing out the timetables for the classes. I received mine and noticed I had Ancient Runes and Arithmancy first, then after lunch double Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Snape. I was a bit disappointed in the last part.
I looked up, dissatisfied, and saw Harry and Ron moan.
"Great, bloody DADA with Snape and the Slytherins after lunch, what a great way to end a scrumptious feast," Ron said heatedly disgusted with the time table in front of him.
"Well, at least I'm ready for whatever he throws at us, unlike you two, I studied over the holidays," Hermione retorted, munching down her scrambled eggs. "And Ancient Runes looks promising this year."
I asked Hermione if I could look at her timetable and we both beamed at how similar they were. I was glad I had a companion in most of my classes. It would help me to find my way around. I then saw that she was reading through her DADA book, skimming the pages carefully, without missing a word that flew past. I noticed Harry and Ron looked at each other miserably.
"How about you Sabrina, did you study over the holidays?" Harry asked me with a smile.
I felt a slight tinge of warmth take over my body after hearing him say my name. "Nope, didn't need to, whatever he's teaching, I already know," I answered, looking back down at my time table to get rid of the thoughts of Harry's smile.
"What do you mean, you already know?" Hermione asked, looking up from her book with a serious look.
"My granddad has been teaching me over the years. Especially since the rise of Voldermort. He wants me to be prepared for the unexpected."
"Can we ask you something Rina?" Hermione asked me, looking at Harry and Ron.
"Yes?"
"What happened to Dumbledore's hand?"
I looked at all of them. They were so eager to find out the mystery to granddads hand. "He hurt it whilst he was practicing a spell at home. He said he was weak at resisting the spell and because of his slow reflexes it injured his hand. I thought I had done it whilst practicing defenses against the Dark Arts with him. But he did it one night a couple of weeks ago."
"Oh," was all Hermione said.
"Don't worry, he's reassured me that his hand is mending. It does look freaky because it looks black from being burnt."
Harry though I noticed looked at me then down at his plate. Like he was thinking I wasn't telling the whole truth. That there was something missing in my story. But for all I knew there wasn't. I knew my grandfather.
Just then, the bell rang. I got up from my seat and walked with Hermione to Ancient Runes. Today was going to be a long first day.