Chapter 12:: The Missing Headmaster

Astronomy was looking to be an interesting class. Professor Asptania was quite strict and didn't put up with any nonsense. However, when she spoke about the stars and constellations she flourished into a beautiful woman full of excitement.

Though Eva didn't have Swan with her in this class, she did have Sparrow though today he had already sat with his friends before she arrived. After class he told her he would save her a spot.

During the class Asptania mainly discussed what they would be learning in class and its importance. The stars, constellations, and moons sometimes directly affected magic around them. She also says that often Astronomy directly affect certain wizards or witches in divinations.

Eva still did not understand what divinations was, even after Professor Duquette had explained it to her. If Astronomy had anything to do with Divinations then Eva would probably need to understand it thoroughly. This also made her remember that she was taking a private class with Duquette and wondered when it would be. She hoped it was not at midnight too because she didn't know how she could stay up so late multiple nights of the week.

Professor Asptania reminded them that on Wednesday they would have a free period during their usual class time and then they would come to Astronomy at midnight. Eva noticed that there were only Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors in the class, so she figured that Ravenclaws and Slytherins would not be there at midnight on Wednesday.

After Astronomy was complete Eva made went to Potions class which was down in the dungeons. She was out of breath when she arrived. All those stairs would be a definite workout every other day. She found Swan sitting at a table with two other students; one a Ravenclaw and the other a Hufflepuff. She waved Eva down and pointed at the chair next to her.

Apparently, this would be their lab group when working on group assignments. Swan had confessed that she choose to sit next to a Ravenclaw because they were usually quite astute and this particular Ravenclaw was named Millicent; a quiet yet very intelligent first year. Eva wondered how Swan knew all of these things about people without even speaking with them. Swan however didn't choose the Hufflepuff, he just sat down. Apparently, his name was Patrick West but Swan didn't know anything else about him.

Professor Evermore was quite a small little man but for his age he moved very quickly around. Likewise, his voice moved very quickly. Eva was having a hard time keeping up with the type of cauldrons and vials that existed. Luckily, Swan caught a few things that she missed.

At the end Evermore assigned the groups to create the Forgetfulness Potion. Eva had opened her book to the recipe and didn't know what a single ingredient was. Fortunately, Millicent had already charged into action. Mainly, the three watched as she concocted the potion. At the end, the Professor asked for one person out of each group to take one drop of the potion to test the potency. Patrick willingly agreed and tried it. Evermore then verbally listed 10 items and asked each test to repeat back the items. Most students could reply five or six items before forgetting. Patrick, however, only got through one before asking what the question was again.

Finally, it was time for lunch and Swan and Eva made their way down to the Great Hall. The tables were covered with cooked hams, roasted vegetables, and piles of fresh fruit. Eva had grown a large appetite since breakfast and quickly filled a plate. All the first year Gryffindors sat together discussing their morning class. Many students warned others about Professor Oakenhart's class. Others complained about Professor Asptania midnight class on Wednesday. One talked about Professor Shufflebottom's class, how weird he was and often rambled about things no one understood.

Eva would have him next and hoped that she would not get drowsy after this large meal and fall asleep during class.

After lunch, Swan, Eva, and few other Gryffindors went out to the courtyard to catch some sun before heading back to their next class. Discussion was late as everyone digested their large meals and soaked up the warmth of the afternoon.

Finally, Jane asked, "Has anyone seen the Headmaster? I know Duquette said he will sick but I think that is kind of odd."

Teric who was laying on his back in the grass sat up and looked at her. "Me mum works for the Daily Prophet. She told me before I left that there were rumors he had disappeared due to mysterious circumstances."

Eva remembered the conversation the Gran and Michael were having when she walked in. Something about the Headmaster missing.

"Well, if anything happened to the Headmaster, then Duquette was probably involved," said William pushing his red hair out of his face.

"Why would you say that?" Eva asked without really thinking.

"That woman has been pining for that position since she showed up here. My cousin told me , she's a 3rd year."

"Perhaps he will show up eventually, but it doesn't seem like the Ministry is doing anything to find him," Jane finished.

Eva heard about the Ministry and thought to write Michael about it. Perhaps he had some insight into where the Headmaster was. Of course, she had a feeling that Michael was not a fan of the Headmaster, for some reason or another.

The clock started to chime 1:15 and some of them began to grown. They all pulled out their maps and headed off to their final class of the day.

Sparrow and Eva found they were heading to the same class along with Rin, Luanne, and Teric.

When entering the History of Magic classroom they found piles of books all around the room. They were not neatly stacked or in any particular order. Some seemed to have toppled over from the weight and now lay all over the floor.

Each student had their own desk and the Gryffindors found a cluster of them together. There was no professor to be found, but it didn't seem that any of the students were too concerned. They continued to have their conversations even as the time to begin class came and went.

Eva sat at her desk looking around the room curiously. Sparrow must have noticed because he tapped her shoulder, "I wouldn't be too worried about him being late. I have heard that he has a tendency of getting sidetracked. I think he gets caught up in his reading."Sparrow smiled and looked around the room at all of the different books, some piled up precariously.

Even more time went by and finally the chatter turned to where the professor was. Some even talked about leaving and starting their evening early. A few Slytherins began to back up their books and parchment and make their way towards the door.

Suddenly, there was a loud noise that seemed to be coming from behind a pile of books. A squeaky door opened and in scurried a slightly disheveled, red headed man. His robes seemed to be thrown on and his hair clearly hadn't seen a comb for weeks. In his arms he carried several old textbooks which left a trail of dust behind him. All the way through his maze of books he was mumbling to himself.

The Slytherins let out a slight grown and made their way back to their seats.

The Professor set down his books heavily, on what Eva assumed to be his desk, though it was completely covered and could only be used to hold more stuff. He turned to his chalkboard, picked up the only piece of chalk, which barely fit in his hand and began to write.

"Yes, I am Professor Shufflebottom and this is History of Magic," not once did he turn around and speak to the students. On the board was writing that could only be seen a curving lines which made no sense. "History is important. It tells us where we are coming from and that leads to where we are going next.

"Yes, yes, if we revert back to one of Merlin's first works, a very good author, yes indeed. He discussed things like...well since being pronounced the Prince of Enchanters..." the class tried to follow this man logic though it seemed he was having a conversation mainly with himself. He paused for a moment, turning towards the class and mouthing inaudible words. "Enchantments, yes. That is the key, yes. I need to write." Suddenly, the professor was running towards the area from which he first emerged. Of course, he returned, rather quickly, collected his books and looked up at this students. "Class dismissed." With that he was back behind the massive pile of books, which Eva could only assume was his office.

The students were left staring at one another. Finally, a Hufflepuff stood up and began to walk towards the door. Everyone seemed to watch him before he turned and said, "Well, he said class dismissed." That seemed to be enough truth for everyone else as they made their way out of the dusty, book-filled classroom.

They returned to the Gryffindor common room and found Tonya sitting on the couch with a few other 7th years. She looked at them curiously, "Why are you out of class so early?"

"Well, we were at History of Magic but Professor..." Rin began to say apologetically.

"Professor Shufflebottom. Of course, sometimes he gets sidetracked. He is writing a book, been writing it since before I came to Hogwarts. I guess he hopes it is going to surpass every other historical books out there, becoming the next Bathilda Bagshot," Tonya chuckled with her friends. Eva didn't know who Bathilda Bagshot was but thought to ask Madame Post when she went home. Tonya started again, "Did he remember to give you your assignment?" By their blank stares she assumed not. "He also will forget he didn't give it to you. He gives a lot of reading assignments and expects you to examine them thoroughly. Just make sure to ask your friends when they come back."

With that the 1st years were left to do as they wished. Eva's first task was to check on Myster. He was not happy to see her, and even more unhappy that she left him in that room by himself all day. She gave him some extra food and promised that she would ask Tonya to possibly enchant the door with a kitty door so he could explore the tower. Eva also informed Myster that he would have to accompany her to class as well. She would be performing spells on him in Transfiguration. Again, he seemed loathsome of the idea.

The rest of the evening was spent with the first years. They discovered that Shufflebottom had assigned 134 pages from their book. They came up with the idea to split it up between them and then discuss what they read with the whole group during their study hall the next day.

The evening ended with girly conversation about what boys were cute, what other girls were wearing (which seemed to be what everyone had to wear), and how they planned to stand out the next day. Eventually, all of them fell asleep, even Eva quickly drifted away.

Eva was suddenly wide awake standing in a dim hall that looked unfamiliar. This didn't seem to make her anxious in any way as she moved through corridors. She heard the word lumos spoken but didn't know what it meant nor who had said it.

Soon, she saw someone in the distance; pale skin and pale hair, blue dress. It was her. She stared at herself and soon realized she was looking in a mirror. When she moved, her reflection followed.

Unexpectedly, something came slamming against her reflection with such force it woke her from her dream.

Eva sat up in her bed with jolt and looked around the curved room. All the others were still sleeping, not hearing her commotion. The only one that did notice was Myster as he sat at the edge of her bed, his eyes watching her.

"It is hard to sleep when you move so much," he said crawling over the blankets to sit next to her.

"Sorry," she whispered rubbing her head. Eva was completely exhausted and felt like she had run a mile. "I had a bad dream."

"You know, back in Caterjune Square you had bad dreams as well. Fortunately, your bed was large enough for me to avoid you. Do you always have bad dreams?"

"Those are the only ones I can remember when I wake up. It was so strange. There were mirrors and then something attacked me." Eva was having a hard time remembering it now. She got up, quietly, and opened her chest to get out her parchment.

"You saw something in the reflection going to attack you?" Myster climbed up on the foot board to see what she was doing.

Charcoal in hand she began to draw. "No, it wasn't coming from behind me. It was coming from behind the mirror." She started by drawing a blurry image of herself. "There were two firsts hitting the mirror, as if to break out." She then drew the fists on either side of her head.

Myster climbed down to the floor and looked at the drawing. "Maybe you should tell Michael because these do not sound like dreams."

"Madame Duquette said that I had the sight. Do you think this has something to do with it?"

"I don't know much about those sorts of things. I am my own magical anomaly. But Michael got you knowing that you had something different about you." Myster climbed up into bed and curled into a ball, leaving Eva alone and staring at her work. There was something about mirrors that was important.