Chapter 8 – Hogwarts



“You lot wait here, I have to try and get us clearance, give me just a few minutes.” said Harry



“But Harry wait” said Hermione grabbing him by the arm “How are you going to do that? Nobody is allowed entrance into Hogwarts before the start of term, it’s completely empty.”



“It’s not empty Hermione, Dumbledore is there, along with the rest of the Professors, they live in house.”



“Well, we can’t exactly ride our brooms there can we Harry!” replied Ron



“OK, come with me, I was going to send an Owl to Dumbledore but I think there may be an easier way. “



Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna ran off down the hill towards Weasley Wizard Wheezes.



There were small crowds of witches and wizards, congregated in alleyways and shop doorways, many were muttering to their family members and friends about what took place only ten minutes ago in peaceful Diagon Alley. Some were shaking their heads in disbelief; others were trying to deny it as if it were just a prank by some children, trying to blank it out of their mind, if by doing so, it never happened and the stories of the imminent war will never materialise.



“Don’t you think it would be better to go to Grimmauld Place first Harry?” said Hermione sharply.



“No Hermione, no-one will be there, Remus would have left for the shrieking shack by now, the Order will be standing post and Karis and Dumbledore will be awaiting news at Hogwarts, it will be a waste of a trip.”



“But at least we can get our things.”



“No, we can get them later, we all have our wands, that is all we need right now.”



Finally they got to Fred and George’s joke sweet shop and entered quickly.



“HELLO” shouted Harry



“FRED? GEORGE?” bellowed Ron



“There not here, they must have left.” said Hermione



“Maybe they disapparated to the Ministry to warn Fudge and the others?” replied Ron



Harry knelt down in front of the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder and tossed it in. He said in a loud clear voice “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Headmaster’s office.”



Harry’s head was spinning; all he could see were green fuzzy circles in front of his eyes, making him feel very nauseated.



Suddenly he was looking directly into Professor Dumbledore’s office.



“PROFESSOR, PROFESSOR ARE YOU HERE?” bellowed Harry



There was silence for a few seconds, and then Harry noticed the bottom of a long purple crushed velvet gown.



“Harry, I was expecting you. Please come through, bring the others.”



Harry was taken aback for a few seconds; he didn’t expect to hear Karis’ voice at the other end.



“OK, give me a couple of minutes.”



Harry then released his head from the fireplace and was immediately back in the shop.



“Come on, we have to go, we have access to Hogwarts but I don’t know how long the fireplace will stay open for. I will go first, you follow behind.” Harry said to the others.



One by one they entered the fireplace with their floo powder, and were endured again to the unpleasant experience of Floo travel.



Part 2



Black smoke puffed from the fireplace into the warm comfortable air of Professor Dumbledore’s office.



Harry felt at ease, the smell was so familiar. He never noticed it before, but as soon as he fell out of the fireplace, he felt like he had just arrived home.



“Harry, I am so pleased you are alright” said Karis holding him gently by the shoulders. “I heard what happened. Fred and George managed to disapparate, they went to Grimmauld Place first, but it was empty so they went to the Ministry. Cornelius Fudge sent immediate word. I was going to go with Albus but I knew you would be in contact.”



Harry looked surprised “How did you know?”



“Well Molly said last night that you will be going to Diagon Alley today to fulfil your requirements for the new term, when we heard about the attack I knew straight away you would all be there, so I waited here.”



“What is happening Karis?” asked Hermione with panic in her voice. “Has the war started? Has Voldemort got all his followers now? Is Azkaban no longer safe?” Hermione shot question after question.



“Hermione, slow down a little bit, I still don’t know for sure what the point of the visit to Diagon Alley was all about, I think it was a warning though.”



“What kind of warning?” asked Ron



“I have a feeling it was a ‘BE PREPARED’ one. I can’t think of another reason he would summon his remaining Deatheaters to parade themselves in broad daylight in the busiest street in London.”



Luna looked at Karis for what seemed like the first time since their arrival. “Who are you?” asked Luna



“Oh yes, I haven’t met you yet have I, but I have a faint suspicion you may be Luna, am I correct?”



Luna looked impressed and replied with a vague smile and a nod.



“You must be Neville.” said Karis, looking at Neville with a beaming smile.



“Uh, Yes, I am Neville Longbottom.” he held out his hand and Karis shook it gently.



“Well it’s nice to meet you both, and to see that you are all safe.”



Karis slowly walked around the table to her Grandfathers chair.



“You used good initiative coming here tonight, but right now I insist that you contact your families to let them know that you are alright, and then I will ask the house elves to prepare dinner. My Grandfather will be back shortly. But for now go to the Owlery and get letters to your loved ones immediately. Oh and just to let you know, on your way back up, the password through the entrance is Fizzy Wobbler.” Karis winked at Ron.



Ron and Hermione both suppressed a laugh.



Karis then turned to Harry “Except you Harry, you can stay here with me; I want to talk to you about something.”



Ron looked at Harry with his questionable what the hell is all that about? look, Harry shrugged his shoulders and slowly Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna left the office and made their way slowly up to the Owlery.



Part 3



“Harry, please sit down.” Karis held out her hand and motioned him towards the seat opposite.



Slowly she surveyed Harry with a kind and gentle expression, Harry felt butterflies in his stomach.



“What happened Harry?”



“Well, we were eating ice-cream and then Luna and Hermione saw the Deatheaters coming down the street. People started to panic, things were being broken in the chaos….”



Karis was shaking her head at him and he stopped talking.



“Harry, I know what happened in Diagon Alley, I meant what happened to you? What did he say?”



“Oh, sorry. Well he didn’t say anything.”



“But your scar hurt?”



“Yes, it hurt but I just had the impression he was happy about something. I also pick up on his emotions sometimes, normally if he is really happy or angry.”



“I see.” Karis said while nodding her head, drinking in every word.



Karis continued “He is getting stronger, his legilimens skills are very powerful, this is why we really need to start your training soon. I will make arrangements.”



Harry looked up at her “Does this mean I will have to stay here until the start of term?”



“I would like that to be the case; it is however against the school rules. I will be breaking them already in my first term, but I guess I could persuade my Grand Father, if that is what you want of course?”



“Are you kidding, having the whole of Hogwarts to ourselves, that would be amazing.”



“It won’t be a walk in the park Harry, we will be practising Occlumency every day, you will be tired and drained and will probably have to take a few migraine potions from Madame Pomfrey, but I promise I will help you all I can, but I will need you to help me achieve that also.”



“I understand and I also know it is a case of having to learn legilimens, I don’t have a choice, because he cannot know about the Order or Grimmauld Place.”



“That’s right Harry, he can’t.” Karis stared intently into Harry’s green eyes. Something told Harry that she would be an amazing teacher, but she would also expect a lot from him, working with Karis Dumbledore was going to be tough!



The office door flew open and Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna came rushing back into the office, they were panting heavily.



“What’s the matter.” said Karis in a state of urgency.



“Peeves, bloody Peeves, he started chucking stuff at us, told us we were trespassing.” spluttered Ron



Karis looked relieved and Harry laughed out loud.



“Yes, I have had a few run-ins with Peeves already; I did kind of miss him though.”



Harry looked across at Karis, she seemed to be reminising about something.



“You’ve met Peeves before?” enquired Harry



“Well Yes, of course, everyone knows Peeves, how could you not miss him?” replied Karis with an amused chuckle.



“He is a total nightmare, but considering he did help out a little with Umbridge last year, he isn’t all that bad I guess.” said Hermione



“Yes, I was told about her. Anyway you must be hungry, let’s make our way down to the kitchens, being a Marauder’s son Harry, I’m sure you know the way.” Everyone let out a well deserved laugh, and it was for the first time since the end of last term, Harry actually felt a pang of happiness.



Part 4



“You see, you have to tickle the grapes on the wall.” explained Harry.



“I know Harry, I was kidding, can’t we teachers have a sense of humour?”



Hermione spoke “Karis, why do you refer to yourself as teacher and not Professor?”



“Not much gets past you does it Hermione?”



“No it don’t” said Ron



Hermione nudged Ron again in the side, he shot her a frown.



“Well the truth is Hermione I’m not a qualified Professor, but that is between just us alright!” replied Karis. “The press would have a field day if they knew and I don’t want to have to answer to too many parents. But the way I see it, Remus Lupin did a superb job in teaching you so there hasn’t always been a true Professor teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.”



“Remus was the best, oh, but I’m sure you will be just as good, if not better.” said Hermione, feeling a little embarrassed at her quick clumsy remark, she knew Harry would be giving her daggers right about now.



Finally they entered the kitchen. It looked the same as usual and Harry was pleased to see an old friend approaching him in his usual bow.



“Tis Mr Potter sir, Dobby is so happy to see you.”



“Hi Dobby it’s great to see you too, how have things been?”



“Ah, been quiet with no students, but we have had parties, Master said it was alright to have parties now and then, and we are allowed Butterbeer and as much food as we can eat. It is so nice working for Master Dumbledore, and I still get paid every week, I am up to seven sickles.”



“That’s great Dobby, you seem very happy.”



“Yes sir Harry, Yes.”



“Well, How about feeding us lot up then, were starving.” interrupted Ron.



The house elves all beamed smiles at the small party that had congregated in their kitchen and within minutes they were eating at their own table with stacks of food that only Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry could suffice.



“Hey everyone, I almost forgot, Karis said she will try and get us to stay here until start of term, so I can extra lessons in Occlumency before lessons start.”



Ron and Hermione’s faces lit up “Excellent” said Ron.



“I can use the library and get a head start” replied Hermione



Karis felt awkward. “Well Harry I just meant you.” she looked apologetic



“Oh but…. Please Karis….. We need help too.” said Ron, with a pleading expression like a puppy dog begging for a biscuit.



Karis shrugged her shoulders, how could she turn them down she thought, she caved in “Oh, OK, I will see what I can do. “I think Neville and Luna should go back to their families though, does that sound fair?”



Neville and Luna both agreed, after all, they didn’t want to have any extra work.



“You know what Karis, you’re the coolest teacher we’ve had yet.” said Ron, beaming at her.



“You won’t be saying that in a week’s time I can assure you, you do realise this means that I will be working you harder!”



Ron’s face fell. Hermione was ecstatic; more work the better as far as she was concerned.



Harry however laughed at Karis, knowing full well, that she for the second time tonight was only kidding.