~The Big Five at Hogwarts~

Chapter 10

Merida

            Luckily, the three professors forget about scolding us for the dragon fight (even though we didn’t do anything wrong!) and leave without noticing us.

            “Okaayy…” I say, confused, “what do we do now?” The other four are silent for a second.

            “Well,” Elsa shrugs, “I think it’s best if we all go back to bed for now and talk about it tomorrow. How about we meet here, after lunch?” But I shake my head.

            “Actually, Ravenclaw has Quidditch practice around that time tomorrow. I thought you would’ve known that,” I say irritably, looking at her blue and yellow badge.

            “I don’t really pay attention to sports,” she responds simply. Something tells me that she and I are not going to get along much in the future.

            “Maybe we could meet at Hiccup’s hut,” Rapunzel proposes quickly, “is that all right Hiccup?”

        “Sure, it’s not like I have anything to do then,” he responds with a sad smile. We all wave goodbyes to each other before turning and leaving: Hiccup back to his hut, Rapunzel, Elsa, Jack and I back to Hogwarts.

            I can already see the pale gold rays of sunlight peeking out over the tops of the distant grassy hills by the time I collapse onto my bed in the Gryffindor common room. I had worn my robes to practice late night broom-flying, but I decide not to change, and to instead fall asleep in the clothes that I am wearing.

             That night, I have a terrifying nightmare about a huge Hungarian Horntail who is chasing me on my Firebolt, wearing my Quidditch robes. And for some reason he is yelling at me to give him back his peanut butter.

* * *

I wake up to the sound of Astrid shaking my shoulders and telling me to get up. I suppose I must have slept in too late, because when I drowsily get up off the bed and pull on another uniform, I notice that all the other students have gone down to breakfast. Astrid has already run downstairs, so I quickly follow the aroma of bacon and eggs wafting from the Great Hall. Then I sit down at the wooden table across from her, setting my plate that is piled high with food down.

             I hadn’t noticed the mix of excited and worried murmurs filling the room when I came in, but as I bite into my buttered toast, the chatter finally catches my attention. 

 It seems that almost everybody’s conversations are directed towards the front of the room. Astrid and I both look up to see an empty chair where McGonagall used to sit. I wonder if this has anything to do with the conversation we overheard last night. The other members of staff seated at the head table seem totally oblivious to the babble happening around them. Soon Ms. Cronglle, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, stands up and starts to speak.

            “I would like to let everyone know,” she croaks in a raspy voice, “that as far as we know, Ms. McGonagall will no longer be your Headmistress from this point on.”  As soon as the words leave her mouth the Hall erupts into chatter once more. There are panicked voices, surprised voices, and even excited ones. And through all of this, I am simply staring wide-eyed at the front of the room. McGonagall, gone? It didn’t seem possible. What could’ve happened?

            “This is insane!” uttered Astrid. Finally, after the crowd of pupils is hushed, Ms. Cronglle continues calmly.

            “I know that it could be difficult to accept, but it is true. The Minister of Magic has decreed that she not fit for being the head of this school any longer.” Someone from the back of the room cries,

“Who will be our new Headmaster?” Ms Cronglle pauses before speaking once more.

“The Minister has also sent a new Headmaster who at this time would like it best if he remains anonymous to students.” At the words, “to students,” Professor Longbottom fidgets in his seat. Something tells me that this new Headmaster is anonymous to the staff as well.  

             Cronglle finishes her speech with “and this man would prefer it if you refer to him only as, Headmaster.”