An American At Hogwarts: Book Three

Chapter Ten

I woke up an earthquake the next morning.

I pried my eyes open to see Mrs. Weasley hovering over me, shaking me awake.

"Alexa dear, we have to go! We're going to be late for the train!" she cried before moving across the room to give Ginny the same wakeup. Hermione was already sitting up, eyes bleary as she went to get her trunk. I groaned, but I didn't want to make Mrs. Weasley's life any harder than it already was, so I sat up.

Ginny and I made exhausted eye contact, and I let out a tired chuckle before standing to get dressed. None of us were awake enough to speak as we got ready, and once we finished, I heaved a heavy sigh before beginning the process of lugging my trunk downstairs. I'd dragged it halfway to the door before I realized there was a much easier way to accomplish the same task.

"Hey, trunks over here," I said to Ginny and Hermione. I didn't check to see if they were doing what I said before closing my eyes and concentrating on the entryway of 12 Grimmauld Place. I opened a glowing sling portal, grinning as I shoved my trunk through. Hermione and Ginny followed suit, and then the three of us stepped through, officially ready to go as soon as one of the adults gave the word.

"Why don't you do that more often?" mused Ginny. I just shrugged.

"I don't want to get too reliant on it. But I'm too tired to not take the easy way this morning," I replied. Ginny and Hermione nodded appreciatively as Moody came bustling into the hallway, yelling about some person I'd never heard of who'd failed to show up.

"What's all this yelling about?" I asked, looking to Ginny and Hermione. They didn't have any answers, but fortunately, Lupin and Sirius joined us in the hallway in time to hear the question.

"Moody's trying to coordinate a guard for Harry, and for all of us travelling with him," Sirius said. He sounded absolutely exhausted, and I got the impression he'd been dealing with Moody's energy all morning.

"And now, we're missing a man and he doesn't want to leave without him," Lupin continued. "Of course, Molly keeps pointing out that we need to leave or we'll miss the train. It's been a lot of yelling all around, this morning."

I grimaced. "Sounds fun."

The five of us shared a laugh before Mrs. Weasley hustled through from the kitchen, looking harried.

"Where are the boys?" she yelled, mostly to herself. Still, Hermione stepped forward.

"I can go check on Harry and Ron," she said, following after Mrs. Weasley, who nodded appreciatively. I winced for the twins, knowing their mother was headed for them next, but they apparently realized the same thing. They appeared at the top of the stairs just in time, trunks floating along behind them and knocking into every portrait on the walls.

"For the love of God, WHY CAN'T YOU TWO JUST CARRY YOUR TRUNKS!" Mrs. Weasley cried in exasperation. The twins yelled back responses in chorus, fighting to be heard over Moody, who was back in the hallway and also yelling.

"Podmore's nowhere to be found!" he roared, apparently speaking to all of us. "We can't leave without him, being a man down will create a hole in our security!"

Mrs. Weasley looked like she was about to faint on the stairs, so I stepped forward.

"Let me take his place," I said. Moody's eyes quickly swiveled to me, both magical and normal giving me an appraising scan.

"You think you can hold your own against a pack of Death Eaters shooting to kill?" he demanded.

"Already have twice," I shot back. He grunted, then a rare smile that was actually a little terrifying broke out across his face.