Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, 'tis a trademark of J.K. Rowling. I don own Misty and Annabelle. I also own the mystery around her.
Chapter 7: The Professor's Dinner
The five Gryffindors stood outside of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor's office. "Are we all ready?" asked Hermione giving everyone a finally once over. "Yes mother we are," Ron said playfully, but got a slap on the arm for his joke. "That's not funny Harry," Ginny said as she tried to control her own giggles. After the five had recovered from their laugh-fest, Neville opened the door to the office and they walked in.
The Gryffindors were amazed at what they saw. The office had completely changed from how their former DADA teachers had it. The office seemed to be much larger than when they last saw it and it had twice as many shelves lining the walls all filled with books and jars of odd things. There were many more odd creatures and plants in jars all around the room than there had been when Lupin taught. There was also a chest in the corner of the room behind the desk that continually shuddered. "I bet that chest has a Bogart in it," Hermione said under her breath to only Harry. He nodded his head in agreement, though he was reminded of a chest that was similar and had held Mad-Eye Moody captive for a year. The room had also been decorated with many banners and streamers bearing a coat of arms with all of the houses on it.
"You know this is really extravagant," Neville commented as he looked around the room. "I know just look at everyone's outfits," Ron said. Indeed it was a site to be hold. All of the girls present were wearing dresses of their house colors. The boys were all wearing black dress robes with cloaks in the colors of their houses, but all the cloaks appeared to be glittering as if it were covered in jewels. "You know I've been thinking," Ginny said as she looked at the boys' cloaks, "What if this is not colored thread but actual gold thread woven in as a lion. I mean look how it glitters and shines." "You are very correct in you assumption Miss Weasely," McGonagall said as she walked up behind the five causing them all to jump, " All of these cloaks have had the emblems woven in with real gold, silver, sapphire, and emerald thread. I trust you three young men will take very good care of this precious gift you have been given." McGonagall said eyeing each of her young lions in turn before heading over to the other heads of house.
"Wow! I can't believe she actually gave us something worth so much! Wait till my mum hears about this!" an excited Ron exclaimed. "I can't believe she would throw money like that a way," said Hermione thoughtfully. "It's not that hard to do when you've got money and she's filthy rich," came the voice of a fifth year Hufflepuff named Steven Brass. "Hi Steven," Ginny said flirtatiously. "How do you know how rich she is?" asked Neville. "I read about it in Gringotts, A History, she's was listed in their for having one of the oldest family vaults. She is the last person having the Shani namesake and they were loaded! Well I got to go." Steven said farewell and walked over to some giggling Ravenclaw girls.
"I guess we should go talk to people," Neville said as he and Ginny walked over to some other Hufflepuffs. " You know he's right. Let's go over to the food I'm hungry," Ron said has hurried over to a table full of food. "You know I worry about him sometimes," Hermione said looking at Ron stuffing his face. "I do to Mione. We better hurry or they may not be any food left," Harry laughed as he and Hermione headed over to join Ron.
Two hours after the party started Professor D. Shani cleared her throat and brought silence to the group. "Welcome everyone! Thank you so much for coming to my dinner this evening. I am pleased to see everyone getting along so well. Well, almost everyone." She turned her hooded head toward the Slytherins who were staying in a dark corner talking amongst themselves before returning her attention to the rest of the room. "I am very pleased to inform all of you of the fact that you have been chosen to join a special dueling squad I am setting up. This squad will be teaching better defenses and at the end the five house representatives that has showed the most improvement in my tasks will get 500 house points. Also the five representatives that have shown exceptional skills in my duels and tasks will automatically get O's for their exams in my class and will not have to take the tests!" There were a few moments of cheering and clapping before D. Shani quieted everyone back down. "Now these special medallions I am about to give you will let you know every time there is a task or duel." She said passing the medals to each student, "Now I hope you have had a great time and I wish you all pleasant dreams. Good night!" The professor finished her speech and went back to talking with the other teachers.
"These things are so cool," Ron said as he turned his medallion around in his hands, "It's just like the D.A. coins." "I wonder what kind of tasks we will have to do?" Hemione asked worriedly. "It almost seems like she having her own twisted idea of a Triwixard Tournament. Something about her just doesn't fit," Harry said as he watched McGonagall and D. Shani conversing in low whispers away from everyone else. "I think that there is definitely something going on with her."
They left the party and were half way back to their common room when McGonagall stopped them. "Children if you don't mind I would like the five of you to accompany me down the hall." "Yes professor," the five students said as they hurried after her down the hall.
Harry and the others had to run at a jog to keep up with McGonagall as she headed down to the first floor. "I wonder where she's taking us?" Hermione asked Harry as they turned around more corridors and hallways. "I have no idea," Harry said. McGonagall kept walking at a very brisk pace before she stopped in front of her old office. "All of you get in quickly." The five Gryffindors hurried into the office and watched as their professor pointed her wand at the door and muttered a series of incantations causing the door to give off a light purple glow. "Now then," she said turning to face the students, "Please sit down." She waved her wand and five straight back chairs appeared before them. They all sat down and waited for what their professor was going to say.
Instead McGonagall sifted through papers on her desk and then proceeded to write a letter. "Um, pardon me professor but what exactly did you want us in here for? And what did you do to the door?" Hermione asked cautiously. " A simple silencing charm. Now just a minute," McGonagall said as she finished her letter and looked it over, " All right now I understand you are supposed to have a private meeting with Professor D. Shani late this evening. Is this true?" "We are supposed to have a meeting tonight but we didn't know who with," Ginny said. "Well it is indeed with the professor. She must not have wanted any one from the ministry or other groups to know it was her," McGonagall said the last sentence more to herself than anyone else. "So what does she want to talk to us about?" Harry asked hoping he could get a little information. "I-I'm not allowed to discuss it at the moment Potter. But I must tell you that what you will hear in that office tonight you mustn't tell a soul," she exclaimed as she took out her wand and proceeded to utter a series of strange incantations. Each time she spoke she pointed her wand directly at each of the students. All of the children proceeded to have a strange warming sensation fill them up. "Now do you solemnly swear that everything you will hear and discuss in the Headmaster's office will not go further than you five?" she asked nervously. "Uh, what do you mean," Neville asked looking scared and utterly confused. "Just answer my question Longbottom," she said sounding very agitated. "Y-Yes Professor I do," he said timidly. " What about the rest of you?" she asked. "We do," the other four answered. The sensation left them as soon as they answered her question. "Very good, now I will allow you to return to your common room and change out of your dress robes. I must advise you to wait until all of your class mates have gone to bed before you leave so as not arise suspicions." The five students started to leave as McGonagall called them back. "Oh and the password is cauldron cakes!"
The little group headed back toward the common room looking thoroughly confused. "I want to know what the bloody hell is going on around here!?" Ron exclaimed. "What exactly was it that McGonagall did to us?" Harry asked. "Yeah," said Neville. "Honestly don't any of you read your books," asked Hermione and after receiving quizzical looks from her classmates she continued, " She made us secret-keepers. Obviously whatever the professor is going to tell us is very important. I wonder if she knows about what Dumbledore told us," Hermione mused as they walked through the portrait hole to change. The five friends agreed to meet back in the common room at 11: 30 and wait around pretending to study before heading to the headmistress's office.