Espérer -James Potter

Les Meilleurs Plans

Chapter title translation- Best Laid Plans

Cami's legs burned with the exertion of walking to the third floor of the castle. The moving staircases this morning seemed to be particularly mischievous as two flights of stairs turned into the exact opposite corridor that Cami needed. She was thankful that as always she had decided to leave early that morning because the adventure to the third floor had taken an astounding twenty minutes and then another twenty minutes to find the precise gargoyle that led to Dumbledore's office.

Dumbledore had neglected to mention that there were about 5 different gargoyles on the third floor, the only thing differing them was the expressions on their faces. In hindsight she should have realized the hungry-looking gargoyle, with his tongue lolling out of its mouth, was the correct one, seeing as to what the password was.

"Chocolate Frog"

The gargoyle that was once facing Cami turned to the left by 90 degrees revealing a staircase that led upwards. Without a second's hesitation, Cami started to climb upwards, worried that her escapade through Hogwarts would lead her to be late for her meeting. She released a shout of surprise as she noticed that the once stationary staircase had started to move upwards.

Cami's eyes widened at the sight of the top of the stairs. Dumbledore's office was circular and smaller than she would've imagined, such a great man in her mind deserved an office just as great. There were moving portraits that lined the walls all depicting previous headmasters of the school.

In the middle of the room stood a desk which was the only thing in the room that was ornate in decoration. His desk was covered in books and silver instruments that puffed out puffs of smoke at odd intervals. Cami looked around the office in amazement before her eyes caught the sight of the flames that stood off to the side of Dumbledore's desk.

For a second, Cami stood still waiting for the phoenix to turn into her headmaster, but the phoenix only stared back at her, slowly cocking its head as if to look deeper into her person. Slowly the fire stemming from the bird quietened down until only steam remained. Cami stood transfixed.

"Beautiful creature isn't it?"

Cami jumped, not having heard the man's footsteps enter the office.

"Phoenixes have a unique ability to be able to read a person and see into their heart and soul. Fawkes seems to quite like you Ms. Brochand." Dumbledore made his way around his desk before settling down in the cushy chair behind it. He gestured for Cami to sit down as well.

"Your phoenix is beautiful Professor Dumbledore. For a second I thought she was you," Cami joked. Dumbledore's eyes crinkled behind his half-moon glasses as he turned to gaze at his bird,

"I don't normally practice human transfiguration but every so often it is nice to spread my wings and take flight with Fawkes, and please call me Dumbledore, no need for professor. If I am to be your magical guarantor we are going to need to become quite familiar with one another don't you agree?"  Dumbledore spoke to her kindly with the intentions of making her feel free to speak her mind.

The girl's heart thudded, she shouldn't have been surprised that he already knew the reason for this meeting. She had a feeling that Mr. Mergmetton had owled her headmaster after Cami sent word to him that her letter had been burned.

"I have to ask sir, why was it that after Potter and I sprayed you with dye, did you decide to meet with me? Surely getting detention is not a good show of character." Cami wasn't quite sure why he only truly noticed her after she broke the rules, it was something she kept turning over in her mind.