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Chapter 48: Tsk, Missed Out on the Drama
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
It didn't take long for Professor McGonagall to arrive in the corridor with Professor Snape.
"Thank you for your trouble, Professor William."
She spoke to William in an icy tone, but William was certain that the coldness was not directed at him.
Because in the next moment, William felt as if the very air had frozen solid.
Professor McGonagall's lips were pursed tightly, her gaze as cold as thousand-year-old ice on a snowy mountain.
"Potter, Weasley, you two, with me."
The two terrified quails trembled as they followed Professor McGonagall. Only when the three of them had disappeared down the corridor did William feel the surrounding air begin to flow again.
‘Incredible.’
William felt that what he had just witnessed was not simply due to Professor McGonagall's anger. If he estimated correctly, the Transfiguration Master was nearing the level where she could freely transfigure her surroundings for attack or defense.
Although he hadn't read about it in any relevant books, judging from a card he had seen before, Dumbledore likely possessed the ability to casually turn any material on the battlegrounds into a puppet.
William combined information from multiple books with his own memory to make a conjecture: this kind of ability was most likely achievable only when one's magical power could directly influence the surroundings without a spell.
Terrifying indeed.
Just as he was making this assessment, Professor Snape, who had disappeared at some point, reappeared. This time, he brought with him an even more terrifying presence—Dumbledore.
"Professor William, which way did Minerva and the others go?"
"That way," William pointed down the corridor—he didn't know the way himself, so pointing out the general direction was the best he could do.
Dumbledore nodded and hurried off with Snape. But after just a few steps, he noticed William standing still. Dumbledore turned, his expression softening slightly. "Professor William, you should come along as well. You were at the scene; you'll know more about it."
"Of course, Headmaster."
William had somehow gone from being a mere bystander to an involved party, and he hurried after Dumbledore through the castle's corridors.
As they neared their destination, William finally realized where they were going—Professor McGonagall's office.
Although he had been here before, he had never taken this particular route.
Before Dumbledore could even knock, William heard Professor McGonagall's icy voice drifting from the crack of the poorly closed door.
"Why didn't you send us an owl with a letter? I'm sure you have an owl, don't you? Even if you did nothing, a professor on the train would have found you immediately!"
Professor, you're exaggerating. As far as I know, apart from me—someone who doesn't dare risk long-distance Apparition and dislikes Floo Powder—no other professor chooses to ride the Hogwarts Express.
That thing might have 'Express' in its name and be a bit safer, but it's excruciatingly slow. When are there ever professors on that train?
But now was clearly not the time to say that.
The Headmaster was up ahead, his face so cold it looked like it could freeze water, and you had to pick your moments to be cheeky. The widely acknowledged Chief White Wizard—the real deal, no less—was angry.
Still, despite being this angry, Dumbledore knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Professor McGonagall's commanding voice echoed from within the room.
Dumbledore led William and Snape into the room.
It was only then that William noticed a fourth person in the office besides Professor McGonagall and the two late students. The young Gryffindor he had brought over that afternoon was hunched over a table, writing something with a quill, not even pausing as three new people entered the office.
While William was looking around, Professor McGonagall had already yielded her seat to Dumbledore.
The two students' spirits seemed to sink the moment Dumbledore's gaze fell upon them. The entire office fell deathly silent, with only the faint scratching of a quill on parchment audible from a corner.
Finally, the Headmaster broke the silence.
"Please explain why you did it."
His voice was low but exceptionally clear.
William suspected that one of the two students was on the verge of tears.
But they didn't. A young boy's voice spoke up.
His words were a jumbled mess, and the story he told had a timeline that jumped all over the place. But after listening to most of it, William finally pieced together what had happened at King's Cross Station after he left.
To put it simply, the two younger students grew extremely worried when they couldn't get onto the platform at the station. Somehow, they ended up in a flying car and decided to come to school that way to avoid missing the start-of-term dinner.
Judging from the outcome of the story, the two of them would most likely be spending their start-of-term dinner in Professor McGonagall's office—oh, right, along with their friend.
Hermione, who was over there copying the student holiday rules (which William had just noticed).
Now, the problem was—where could one get a flying car?
William thought it must be very cool, far more stable than a flying broomstick with railings attached.
The boy who was speaking finally finished his account just as William noticed Hermione finish one sheet of parchment and start on another.
If William wasn't mistaken, this was the Harry Potter that Hagrid had been talking about for so long.
But now was clearly not a good time for introductions. Dumbledore, for his part, offered no comment on the long-winded story.
In the endless silence, the other young boy couldn't hold it in any longer.
"We'll go get our stuff."
His voice was filled with despair.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Professor McGonagall cried out.
"We're being expelled, aren't we?"
The boy called Weasley responded.
"Not today, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. "But I must make you understand the seriousness of your actions."
"Therefore, I will be writing to your families tonight. I must also give you a warning that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
‘I don't believe you. I know they'll attack a professor in the future!’
Taking advantage of Dumbledore's distraction, William was desperately trying to amuse himself.
Professor Snape didn't sense any ill will, but his face wore the expression of someone told on a Friday night that they have to work overtime tomorrow. "Professor Dumbledore, these two students ignored the decree restricting the use of magic by an underage wizard, and they have seriously violated the Statute of Secrecy..."
"Let Professor McGonagall decide the punishment for these two students, Severus Snape," Dumbledore said calmly. "They are students in her House; it is her responsibility."
"Now then, it's getting late. We should return to the feast."
Dumbledore forcefully dragged away a reluctant Snape, as well as William, who had been waiting to see how the plot would unfold and enjoy the drama.
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
It didn't take long for Professor McGonagall to arrive in the corridor with Professor Snape.
"Thank you for your trouble, Professor William."
She spoke to William in an icy tone, but William was certain that the coldness was not directed at him.
Because in the next moment, William felt as if the very air had frozen solid.
Professor McGonagall's lips were pursed tightly, her gaze as cold as thousand-year-old ice on a snowy mountain.
"Potter, Weasley, you two, with me."
The two terrified quails trembled as they followed Professor McGonagall. Only when the three of them had disappeared down the corridor did William feel the surrounding air begin to flow again.
‘Incredible.’
William felt that what he had just witnessed was not simply due to Professor McGonagall's anger. If he estimated correctly, the Transfiguration Master was nearing the level where she could freely transfigure her surroundings for attack or defense.
Although he hadn't read about it in any relevant books, judging from a card he had seen before, Dumbledore likely possessed the ability to casually turn any material on the battlegrounds into a puppet.
William combined information from multiple books with his own memory to make a conjecture: this kind of ability was most likely achievable only when one's magical power could directly influence the surroundings without a spell.
Terrifying indeed.
Just as he was making this assessment, Professor Snape, who had disappeared at some point, reappeared. This time, he brought with him an even more terrifying presence—Dumbledore.
"Professor William, which way did Minerva and the others go?"
"That way," William pointed down the corridor—he didn't know the way himself, so pointing out the general direction was the best he could do.
Dumbledore nodded and hurried off with Snape. But after just a few steps, he noticed William standing still. Dumbledore turned, his expression softening slightly. "Professor William, you should come along as well. You were at the scene; you'll know more about it."
"Of course, Headmaster."
William had somehow gone from being a mere bystander to an involved party, and he hurried after Dumbledore through the castle's corridors.
As they neared their destination, William finally realized where they were going—Professor McGonagall's office.
Although he had been here before, he had never taken this particular route.
Before Dumbledore could even knock, William heard Professor McGonagall's icy voice drifting from the crack of the poorly closed door.
"Why didn't you send us an owl with a letter? I'm sure you have an owl, don't you? Even if you did nothing, a professor on the train would have found you immediately!"
Professor, you're exaggerating. As far as I know, apart from me—someone who doesn't dare risk long-distance Apparition and dislikes Floo Powder—no other professor chooses to ride the Hogwarts Express.
That thing might have 'Express' in its name and be a bit safer, but it's excruciatingly slow. When are there ever professors on that train?
But now was clearly not the time to say that.
The Headmaster was up ahead, his face so cold it looked like it could freeze water, and you had to pick your moments to be cheeky. The widely acknowledged Chief White Wizard—the real deal, no less—was angry.
Still, despite being this angry, Dumbledore knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
Professor McGonagall's commanding voice echoed from within the room.
Dumbledore led William and Snape into the room.
It was only then that William noticed a fourth person in the office besides Professor McGonagall and the two late students. The young Gryffindor he had brought over that afternoon was hunched over a table, writing something with a quill, not even pausing as three new people entered the office.
While William was looking around, Professor McGonagall had already yielded her seat to Dumbledore.
The two students' spirits seemed to sink the moment Dumbledore's gaze fell upon them. The entire office fell deathly silent, with only the faint scratching of a quill on parchment audible from a corner.
Finally, the Headmaster broke the silence.
"Please explain why you did it."
His voice was low but exceptionally clear.
William suspected that one of the two students was on the verge of tears.
But they didn't. A young boy's voice spoke up.
His words were a jumbled mess, and the story he told had a timeline that jumped all over the place. But after listening to most of it, William finally pieced together what had happened at King's Cross Station after he left.
To put it simply, the two younger students grew extremely worried when they couldn't get onto the platform at the station. Somehow, they ended up in a flying car and decided to come to school that way to avoid missing the start-of-term dinner.
Judging from the outcome of the story, the two of them would most likely be spending their start-of-term dinner in Professor McGonagall's office—oh, right, along with their friend.
Hermione, who was over there copying the student holiday rules (which William had just noticed).
Now, the problem was—where could one get a flying car?
William thought it must be very cool, far more stable than a flying broomstick with railings attached.
The boy who was speaking finally finished his account just as William noticed Hermione finish one sheet of parchment and start on another.
If William wasn't mistaken, this was the Harry Potter that Hagrid had been talking about for so long.
But now was clearly not a good time for introductions. Dumbledore, for his part, offered no comment on the long-winded story.
In the endless silence, the other young boy couldn't hold it in any longer.
"We'll go get our stuff."
His voice was filled with despair.
"What are you talking about, Weasley?" Professor McGonagall cried out.
"We're being expelled, aren't we?"
The boy called Weasley responded.
"Not today, Mr. Weasley," said Dumbledore. "But I must make you understand the seriousness of your actions."
"Therefore, I will be writing to your families tonight. I must also give you a warning that if you do anything like this again, I will have no choice but to expel you."
‘I don't believe you. I know they'll attack a professor in the future!’
Taking advantage of Dumbledore's distraction, William was desperately trying to amuse himself.
Professor Snape didn't sense any ill will, but his face wore the expression of someone told on a Friday night that they have to work overtime tomorrow. "Professor Dumbledore, these two students ignored the decree restricting the use of magic by an underage wizard, and they have seriously violated the Statute of Secrecy..."
"Let Professor McGonagall decide the punishment for these two students, Severus Snape," Dumbledore said calmly. "They are students in her House; it is her responsibility."
"Now then, it's getting late. We should return to the feast."
Dumbledore forcefully dragged away a reluctant Snape, as well as William, who had been waiting to see how the plot would unfold and enjoy the drama.
(end of chapter)
