Chapter four
"Um, I'm sorry, but what?" Sarah asked.
"You two, that was actually quite advanced magic! How did you know that spell?" McGonagall steered the girls across the Entrance Hall and up a flight of stairs, towards a door with two mean-looking gargoyles guarding it on either side.
"Nimbus Popinjay" McGonagall said, and the doors opened. They stepped onto a moving stairwell, like a spiral escalator.
"My dad told me that spell when I was like, five." Lily muttered, as the stairs brought the trio to a stop before yet another oak door.
McGonagall pushed opened the door, saying: "Well your father was Harry Potter, it was like him to teach that to a minor." As she did.
They entered an enormous oval room, whose walls were covered in talking portraits and photographs, much like the ones Lily knew of her father's parents, Lily and James. Behind the desk was a slightly larger portrait. The man inside it was one Lily knew well – Albus Dumbledore, the wizard who had been Headmaster when Harry and Ginny were at school, and who her brother Albus was named for.
McGonagall sat down behind the desk and greeted Dumbledore. "These two girls are Sarah Parker" – Dumbledore nodded at Sarah, who simply looked dumbfounded – "and Lily Potter." The old Headmaster smiled.
"Hello, girls. Minerva, what brings these girls to your office?"
"They made dominoes of the Slytherins." McGonagall said simply.
Lily blushed. This has to be a trick. She thought. We're in so much trouble; we'll probably get expelled! Hey… that's it!!"
Dumbledore looked confused. "These two first years…" He frowned.
"Expelliarmous was the spell, Albus." McGonagall said, smiling.
Out of nowhere, Dumbledore grinned from ear to ear. "This is rather interesting! But now you are the headmistress, so I will leave you to – erm – deal." With that, Dumbledore strode out of his portrait and out of sight.
"We're in so much trouble, aren't we?" Lily cried, trying to keep the hopefulness out of her voice. Sarah looked at her oddly; Lily assumed it didn't work.
"Trouble? Why would you be in trouble, Potter?" McGonagall asked, as if the idea was preposterous. "Take a seat, Parker, Potter."
Nervously, they sat in two chairs that McGonagall conjured up.
"You realize, that spell was quite advanced?" McGonagall asked, and Lily felt like she was looking right into them.
"Erm, sort of…" Sarah spluttered, unsure of herself.
"Where did you learn this spell, Parker?" demanded McGonagall, and Lily saw her friend trembling in her seat.
"I-I-I… Scorpius!" Sarah cried. Despite her normally bold and strong attitude, Sarah seemed to crumple under McGonagall's icy stare.
"Scorpius Malfoy?" McGonagall asked, looking puzzled.
"The creep told me about it on the train! He also told me about three others…" Sarah trailed off.
"Which others?" Growled McGonagall, and even Lily began to feel intimidated.
"There was… Crucio…" Sarah whispered the curse and Lily stared at a small potted plant which began to writhe and twist as if being tortured.
"Imperio…" The plant began to dance and sway as Sarah's wand moved with it.
"And the last one was… um… oh – Avada-" Professor McGonagall snatched the small fern away from Sarah in one swift movement, gripping it so tightly Lily swore she saw cracks appear in the pot.
Looking absolutely furious and struggling to keep from screaming, McGonagall turned to Lily and Sarah and spoke. "Go to your beds. I have called for Douglas, your prefect, to take you to back to the common rooms. I will take care of Mr Malfoy for you, so no funny business. And girls… may I see your time tables?"
Lily handed hers to the Headmistress. When she got it back, her Charms lesson had been replaced with a free period, and she now had Charms first thing that next day.
"But, Professor, That's second year Charms class!" Sarah spluttered, looking down at the sheet of parchment.
"Yes, Parker. You deserve it. And neither of you will be punished." McGonagall smiled.
"Ok, Professor." Lily could barley conceal the disappointment in her voice.
She was never going to live down the Slytherin life.