Harry Potter and The Staff of Azkaban

Chapter 1

Rain was pouring down from the gloomy sky, as Harry looked out from the window. The window was open a bit, so the earthy smell crept in and filled the room, little droplets of water falling at the edge of the window frame. The morning sun was hidden by the seemingly endless clouds, the only source of light in the room was from the crisp fire, and the very few candles.

"I hate rainy days." Complained Ron, sitting in front of the fire, trying to warm up. 

"Oh, stop complaining, the rain is beautiful!" Hermione replied, shuffling through the bookshelf in the corner of the common room. Harry sat, in the armchair, by the open window. The blow of wind carried his hair out of his face, as he stared outside, fidgeting with a pillow.

"You okay Harry?" Ron said, staring into the fire, an agitated look still on his face.

"Yeah, I'm good. Hey, when do you reckon the rain will stop?"

"I've been asking the same question all this morning!" Ron sighed and rested his head against the back of the couch. 

"Professor McGonagall said around the afternoon, but I wouldn't count on it. Doesn't look like the rain is giving in anytime soon." Hermione announced, looking down, and flipping through the transfiguration book that was on top of the bookshelf.

Ron sighed once again picked up Hermione's book that she's been reading, and flipped through the pages. 

"You know, Pigwidgeon was supposed to deliver a letter to my mom today, I wonder if he has gotten knocked down by the rain!" Exclaimed Ron. 

"Pidwidgeon is fine, honestly Ron, you do talk a lot," Hermione said, in an annoyed, but teasing manner. Ron rolled his eyes. Harry got up from his chair, and lifted the window, letting a big gust of wind out and into the warm room. 

Harry took a deep breath, and a long exhale. He already knew that for most of the day, they would have to stay inside, and he wasn't a big fan of that. For some reason, he thought that Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall were being awfully careful this year. Harry knew that Voldemort was still out there, but surely he wasn't going to come now. 

Harry closed the window fully, and joined his friends on the couch. 

"Now do you guys regret staying in, when everyone else is enjoying breakfast in the Great Hall?" Teased Harry. He looked at both of them, and Hermione replied with an eye roll, Ron, however, was getting ready to open his mouth.

"Now, let me remind you that this wasn't my decision! You and Hermione just wanted a cup of cocoa and a nice book." Ron frowned and took a careful sip of his hot cocoa. Harry laughed and joined Ron in taking a nice, warm sip of his drink. The liquid soothed his dry throat, as he drank some more, and finally, finished his third cup. 

The rest of the day went on, it was a drag, but somewhere, deep inside, Harry felt a pull in him. Not a pleasant one. More of an agitating one, something that was there, but he couldn't make out what it was. In one of his classes, he felt a knot forming in his stomach, it was like a force was telling him to come, to attend. He knew what it was. He knew who it was.

Voldemort.

It chilled him, it made him shiver. Maybe that's why the morning was filled with clouds, and the sun was nowhere to be found the whole day.

"Did you notice it, Harry!" Hermione waved her hand in front of Harry's face, and he snapped out of his thoughts. 

"Notice what?"

"Oh boy, Harry! Dumbledore was walking with McGonagall, and they were talking about... Voldemort. Most of the school heard it, and now everyone's panicking. Dumbledore is going to catch on soon that the school overheard them. They were talking about a staff, something related to You Know Who." 

Hermione and Harry were walking down the busy hallways, keeping the conversation to a whisper. They were heading over to the Great Hall, to meet Ron at dinner. 

"You're positive that's what you heard?"

"Yes! That's what everyone heard! Dumbledore said something about the staff being hard to destroy. Something about the Forbidden Forest. It seems as if this so-called staff will be our next problem" Hermione started to walk faster, looking forward. She seemed scared. Everyone did.

Suddenly, Filch turned the corner, it seemed as if he was looking for them.

"You two! Dumbledore's office, now!"