obligatory disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe, that belongs to JKR, and I am grateful that she allows me to play in it. no copy right infringement intended.
chapter 7
My lunch with the Longbottoms was delightful. Hannah and Neville took their meals in the kitchen away from the tap room, I enjoyed sitting at the table with the small family. Alicea Genevra Longbottom, with her mother's shining blond hair and pretty round face, and her father's expressive hazel eyes, one of the most well-behaved toddlers I'd ever met can only be described in one way, that's adorable. I spent most of the day with Hannah and Ally. I enjoyed helping out in the kitchen, here and there, and minding Ally for Hannah. The child wasn't even afraid of my fangs. Hannah asked me to take her for a stroll around Diagon Alley. I was more than happy to. I learned that was we refer to in America as a "stroller" was a "pram" in Britain. I spent two hours strolling with her around the busy alley. When we returned to the inn, there was an owl waiting for me with a small scroll in it's talon, and it was waiting for my reply. The scroll was another note from Charlie.
Glin, I'm afraid that the emergency here will keep me in Whales at least till friday. We're having problems with the hatchery. I really wanted to see you again before you head north. Please leave part of your weekend for me I want to take you into Hogsmeade, dammit woman, I can't stop thinking about you. see you soon, Charlie.
"Ruby wants a biscuit," Ally told me, in a quiet voice. She pointed to a shelf next to the perch, with a ceramic jar on it.
"Would you like to give it to her?"
She nodded shyly. I took the jar from the shelf, Ally grabbed an owl nut , and said "here, Ruby get your biscuit." Ruby complied, then returned back to her perch, happily munching on her treat.
I grabbed a slip of parchment off the roll next to the perch and grabbed a fountain pen out of my hand bag. I sat at the bar to compose my reply.
Charlie, I'm sorry that I won't get to see you till after I head to Hogwarts, but I understand, completely. Take good care of those hatchlings, and I'll see you over the weekend hopefully. To be honest, you've been occupying my thoughts quite a lot as well. -glinda
I rolled the scroll, gave it to Ruby, and watched her fly off to the west.
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011
It was about thirty degrees colder and pouring rain when Neville and I arrived at Hogsmeade. The portkey assigned to us took us to the back garden of the Three Broomsticks. "Welcome to the highlands," the proprietress of the establishment, Madame Rosemerta (as Neville had informed me before we left London) greeted us with an umbrella and a mug of hot butterbeer. I took the mug gladly and huddled under the large umbrella with Neville. Rosemerta ushered us inside for a hot lunch before we headed for the castle. The walk to the castle was cold and wet, fortunately we were rescued from our near drowning by a covered cart.
"Whoa!" the large elderly man poked his head out from the drivers seat, as the horse pulling the cart stopped in front of us.
"Thank Merlin, it's you Hagrid," Neville shouted.
"Well, come on then, the headmistress sent me on to get you. Don't want you to catch your death out 'ere." He moved over and motioned to me "come on up here little lady, I won't bite." I climbed into the dry cart, and Neville followed and sat down next to me. He introduced me to the grounds keeper and care of magical creatures professor, Rubeus Hagrid. "Welcome to Hogwarts," Hagrid and I shook hands. We chatted amicably on our way to the castle.
It sopped raining by the time we arrived. A gray haired woman in tartan robes greeted us at the door. "Welcome back, Mr. Longbottom," she smiled and turned to me, "you must be Miss good," she said, "I am Minerva MacGonagle, headmistress of Hogwarts. Please follow me, I'll show you to your quarters where you can dry off and get settled, we'll meet in my office later. A large box arrived for you yesterday, and a second parcel arrived this morning." She pointed to a crate I recognized and a smaller parcel that I didn't.
"Would you please have the large box sent to my classroom," I requested. I picked up the smaller parcel, it was addressed to me, with no return address. I carried it with me.
MacGonagle explained the castles quirks to me as she led to me the suite of rooms that would be my new home for the time being. "You'll meet the rest of the staff at supper this evening," she said to me. "Your quarters are in the loft over your class room. I'll see you in my office in one hour it's in the second tower the password 'Bertie Bott', if you get lost any of the portraits can give you direction. Have a good afternoon."
"Good afternoon, mam."
I wandered into the classroom absorbing the aura of the place as I explored my surroundings.
There were half a doze student desks on each long side of the room. The area around the desks was littered with artifacts documenting the never ending fight against the practitioners of the dark arts. From the ceiling of the room hung what appeared to be a dragon skeleton, I wasn't sure why it was there, but it did amazing things for the atmosphere, it gave me a major case of the creeps. "When I redecorate this room," I said to the skeletal beast "you're out of here."
"I really wish I'd had the guts to do that," I heard a quiet voice behind me say. As I turned around, I saw one of Hogwart's famous ghosts. In life he was a tall sandy haired gentleman with a sad expression and haunted eyes. His attire surprised me, he was dressed in tattered modern clothes.
"And you are?" I asked politely, I knew that one should always be polite to dead people.
He smiled warmly, and introduced himself, "I am... or was... Remus John Lupin. I taught the same class you're going to, Miss Goode. or may I call you Glinda?"
"Only if I can call you Remus."
"Certainly. oh wait a moment..." He called out to nowhere, "Dora darling, come meat the new DADA professor, she can actually see us."
The ghost of a woman appeared next to Remus, she would've been quite striking in life. She had a sweet face and hair that could only be described as chaotic, her taste in clothing was original to say the least. "Glinda Goode," Remus introduced us, "This is my wife Nymphadora Tonks Lupin, call her Tonks, please"
"Wotcher!" the ghostly woman greeted me in a clipped cockney accent. "I think my theory was correct, Remus, ghosts can only appear to people they had no connection to in life."
"I think you may be right darling," Remus observed.
The pair seemed very excited to be speaking to a living person. "We died during the battle of Hogwarts, it happened about thirteen years ago. There are quite a few of us here. Would you mind terribly if we tell the other ghosts, they do so want to talk to the living."
"Sure, I guess so."
"Wonderful, I think we'll leave you to settle yourself in. We can chat later. It's delightful to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too." I said as the ghosts waved good bye and disappeared. I wandered up the stairs to to personal quarters. The spiral staircase in the corner led to what could be described as a combination sitting room office, there was a couch in one corner, and a work table with two chairs, a large desk sat in front of a picture window. I'd have to speak to Neville about getting some plants for the sill. The chair in front of the desk looked to be about the most comfortable chair I'd ever seen in my life. There were bookshelves all over the place. I opened the door to the bedroom, and was immediately enthralled by the carved four poster bed that was a work of art in itself. It was made up with neat white sheets, and a quilted bedspread embroidered with the Hogwarts coat of arms. There was a nice bathroom off to the corner, and two large french doors led out to a balcony. I dropped my rucksack on the bed, and went back into the sitting room to investigate the mysterious parcel. Under the address label was a stamp with the words "don not use sharp object to open." I peeled the tape off the box and opened it, inside thew nested wrappings was the little black rat I'd grown attached to at the pet shop in Diagon Alley. There was a bright blue bow around his neck, and he was fast asleep. Inside the box was a small note card.
Glinda, I remember you saying that you might like a pet, if they were allowed at Hogwarts.
I know for a fact that they are. Mrs Switch told me that this little chap had been pining for you. I know how the tiny bloke feels, at least one of us is out of our misery. Charlie.
I picked up my new friend and he opened his bright black eyes and yawned. In the bottom of the box was another box stamped with the words MAGICAL RAT STARTER KIT.