Amelia Potter and the Chamber of Secrets PART 1

34

'Not now, Arthur,' said Mrs Weasley. 'Floo powder's a lot quick- er, dear, but goodness me, if you've never used it before –'

'He'll be all right, Mum,' said Fred. 'Harry, watch us first.'

He took a pinch of glittering powder out of the flowerpot, stepped up to the fire and threw the powder into the flames.

With a roar, the fire turned emerald green and rose higher than Fred, who stepped right into it, shouted, 'Diagon Alley!' and vanshed.

'You must speak clearly, dear,' Mrs Weasley told Harry, as George dipped his hand into the flowerpot. 'And mind you get out at the right grate ...'

'The right what?' said Harry nervously, as the fire roared and whipped George out of sight too.

'Well, there are an awful lot of wizard fires to choose from, you know, but as long as you've spoken clearly –'

'He'll be fine, Molly, don't fuss,' said Mr Weasley, helping himself to Floo powder too.

'But dear, if he got lost, how would we ever explain to his aunt and uncle?'

'They wouldn't mind,' Harry reassured her. 'Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don't worry about that.'

'Well ... all right ... you go after Arthur,' said Mrs Weasley. 'Now, when you get into the fire, say where you're going –'

'And keep your elbows tucked in,' Ron advised.

'And your eyes shut,' said Mrs Weasley. 'The soot –'

'Don't fidget,' said Ron. 'Or you might well fall out of the wrong fireplace –'

'But don't panic and get out too early, wait until you see Fred and George.'

Amelia nodded even though the advice wasn't for her. She had only used Flopower to send gifts to her friends, but never as she traveled with it. Amelia took a small bit of Floopower in her hand and threw it into the fireplace. Amelia hesitantly stepped into the fireplace not sure what it would feel like. Amelia shivered. She could feel the flames tickle and lick against her skin, but it didn't burn or hurt her.

'Digon Alley!' Amelia shouted. In an instant, she was gone. 

Trying hard to bear all advice in mind, Harry took a pinch of Floo powder and walked to the edge of the fire. He took a deep breath, scattered the powder into the flames and stepped forward; the fire felt like a warm breeze; he opened his mouth and immediately swallowed a lot of hot ash.

'D-Dia-gon Alley,' he coughed.

It felt as though he was being sucked down a giant plug hole. He seemed to be spinning very fast ... the roaring in his ears was deafening ... he tried to keep his eyes open but the whirl of green flames made him feel sick ... something hard knocked his elbow