I hope you enjoy this chapter! After tea being spilled all over my laptop yesterday (and then it refusing to turn on), it's taken a lot of effort to get this chapter up on time haha. So, I really do hope you like it and are looking forward to Chamber of Secrets year (like me) :)
Reviews again would be very much appreciated. Also if you want to read about any particular moment you were curious about in CoS then just pop me a message and I'll try to include it in the story :)
(Also as a heads up I know Filch found Harry and Ron in the film, but I'm basing this part of the story on the books)
1 September 1992
Minerva scanned the Gryffindor table a second time but when she still had not spotted Harry Potter or Ronald Weasley she sighed and put the sorting hat back onto the table.
It was highly likely that the two boys were just dawdling, in fact, that was probably the simplest explanation for their absence. Nevertheless, knowing those boys as she did, Minerva suspected there could be another reason for their unexplained absence. So, tiredly, she pushed back her chair, stood up, and began to make her way behind the rows of chairs at the teachers' table.
As she walked down the steps and then down the aisle, she crossed Gilderoy on her way who attempted to begin a conversation about the lighting. Minerva merely nodded, agreeing vaguely with something she hoped she would not come to regret later, and then continued her way to the door where Albus was currently standing; picking a few stray strings hanging off his cuff.
"Good evening my, dear," he said cheerfully, the tassels on his hat swinging as he looked up at her. He was wearing a deep blue set of robes with gold embroidered flowers that fell just above his feet which were sporting bright green socks. "Beautiful evening, is it not?"
"Quite," Minerva replied slowly, frowning slightly at his odd appearance. She shook her head. "Albus, I've noticed that Potter and Weasley are not in the Great Hall. Have you seen either of them this evening?"
"I cannot say that I have," he said his eyes now moving to rest on the front doors.
Minerva's eyes followed his and she bit her lip gently debating whether or not she should be concerned by the unknown whereabouts of the two Second Years. Before she could voice an opinion, however, Severus appeared looking as he usually did; grumpy, sour, and with a hint of anger as his eyes flicked to Gilderoy whom it looked like he would be sitting beside for the rest of the evening.
Minerva's eyes quickly flicked to the face of Elphinstone's old pocket watch - the First Years were due to arrive any minute now. Slipping it back into her pocket she quickly made up her mind. "I'll ask Severus to find them."
Albus nodded and Minerva patted his arm before leaving him and walking briskly towards Snape.
"Severus, have you seen either Potter or Weasley enter the castle this evening?" she asked him, descending the steps to the Entrance Hall to join him.
"Are they not here?"
Minerva pursed her lips. "They are not," she said irritated by the sly smile which now played on his lips - of course, he wasn't concerned, she thought angrily. "I need them to be found, Severus, preferably sooner rather than later."
"The sorting is about to start-"
"I am aware," she cut across him, "which is why I'm going to ask you to stay here until either of them appears. They have possible just gone to the bathroom but..." she checked her watch again the needles now pointing to 15 past - 20 minutes since the Hogwarts Express arrived at the station, "I would rather be certain they have not met any...complications."
Snape arched his eyebrow and Minerva pressed her lips tightly together again.
"Let's not judge before we have all of the information," she told him pointedly, just as Hagrid's loud knocks sounded at the door. "Keep an eye out for them please, Severus. Alert Albus and I if there are any problems," she added before walking off to answer the front door.
Snape behind her looked as cheerful as she had ever seen him - no doubt planning a series of awful punishments in store for the two boys.
"Well, I must say that is a first," said Albus as she joined him in the corridor. Harry and Ron's voices died out as the door closed and sealed them in Filch's office.
Minerva looked at him darkly. "That was a very serious breach of Ministry regulations, Albus," she told him seriously. "It's a miracle Fudge hasn't charged them. Not to mention Arthur for creating that...contraption."
"Quite ingenious-"
"Illegal," Minerva interrupted as they entered the Entrance Hall again. She sighed and slowed down as they climbed the steps. "Do you think they will press charges?"
"I will have a word with Cornelius," Albus said, although his expression was somewhat graver than it previously had been. "The matter has been dealt with so far. I don't believe Harry and Ronald Weasley will be facing any form of punishment from the Ministry."
"What about Arthur Weasley?"
Albus sighed. "I can speak to Cornelius," he said. "However, my power as Headmaster covers only our students. It may not extend to Ministry employees."
Minerva shook her head, as they continued up the staircase. "Foolish man," she muttered, though it came from a place of concern.
"I don't believe it was intended for this purpose, my dear," Albus told her gently. "Harry and Mr Weasley used his invention quite insensibly."
"That's one word for it. Flying a car to get to school," she said, shaking her head. "Are they looking to give me a heart attack before term even starts?"
She saw the corner of Albus' mouth twitch in her peripheral vision and pursed her lips as they reached the doors to the Great Hall.
"Honestly," she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as she pushed open the door, "boys."
