Being the first awake in Gryffindor Tower, Nancy and Jeremiah were sitting by the fire discussing the matters at hand more enthusiastically.
“Another murder! This is good! Well, for us at least,” Nancy shared.
“Yeah,” Jeremiah agreed, “we need to look at the links between each death, or maybe there’s a pattern.”
It was only when they were interrupted by older students (who rudely shooed the pair out of the armchairs) that Nancy and Jeremiah found that the Gryffindor notice-board was slightly fuller than in had been the night before. There was a large notice that could have been read from the other end of the room:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
All students will attend the Great Hall at midday for Headmaster Professor Suspiro’s welcoming speech. Anyone who fails to attend will be sorry they’ve missed this great event. (Please come, there will be cauldron cakes!)
-Professor S. Suspiro
Nancy and Jeremiah didn’t know what to think.
“Headmaster Suspiro? What happened to Dumbledore?” Nancy asked.
“I’ve no idea! I don’t know what to make of anything, we need a little help here!” Jeremiah exclaimed.
Upon his last few words, Harry Potter looked up from working on an essay on the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane. He thought for a moment before approaching the two unknown first-year Gryffindors.
Nancy and Jeremiah spun around as a voice said, “Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask.” And with this Harry Potter looked at the first-years hopefully and returned to his seat by the window. And strangely, there was little more hope in the young detectives.
It was five minutes to midday day when they arrived at the half-full Great Hall. They found seats close to fellow Gryffindors but far enough away to converse without anyone hearing over the mumble of other students and teachers. Nancy and Jeremiah scanned the room, but they saw no sign of a Professor S. Suspiro.
“Probably busy making the Cauldron Cakes,” Jeremiah laughed with Nancy. When twelve chimes could be heard from the clock tower, the Great Hall was just about full. It seemed that no-one wanted to miss out on the “great event” or perhaps the Cauldron Cakes. Students mumbled, probably commenting on the absence of their new Headmaster. But suddenly there was a thunderous bang in front of the teachers’ table and a cloud of silvery smoke burst from thin air. And all of a sudden, there was almost complete silence in the Great Hall, apart from the light coughs of those near the smoke. Students climbed over each other, attempting to find a good position in which they could get a clear view of what would happen next. The smoke dissolved and in its place stood a tall man in bright grey robes with matching eyes. His hair was silvery, like Dumbledore’s but so short that it hardly reached his ears.
‘Good afternoon, children,’ the man said. ‘My name is Professor Suspiro. S-u-s-p-i-r-o is the spelling, for those of you that did not get the notice and are here completely by accident.’ He paused for a laugh but nobody did.
‘And for those of you that are here for the Cauldron Cakes…’ He flicked his wand and a silver plate was conjured out of thin air. It was piled up with cakes of all different colours. Jeremiah the cakes would topple to the floor as the plate began to travel down the room but they managed to stay tall.
‘Now, eat up quickly,’ Suspiro said. ‘As there is something I would like to share with you all.’ The cakes seemed to disappear within seconds, Jeremiah and Nancy munching away with the rest of the students, some larger individuals trying to catch the now whizzing plate so as to grab some more cakes. When the plate was empty, Professor Suspiro clapped his hands. The plate vanished and he began to speak once more. ‘I hope you all enjoyed!’ Suspiro shouted, ‘now, of course I am aware of the grim situation at Hogwarts just now. And therefore, I feel obliged to help.’
Nancy and Jeremiah exchanged glances. What kind of help could this man supply that Dumbledore couldn’t have?
‘So, anyone who would like to help in making Hogwarts safe again, meet me, on Halloween at midnight in the back courtyard and we shall bring back the spirits of Orsay Westwall and Ravinder Gem!’
YOU ARE READING
The Tear Collector (a Harry Potter fanfic)
FanfictionHogwarts is not what it used to be. One by one, house by house, students are being picked off and killed brutally. They all have one thing in common: they were all crying before they died. It's a race against time for Jeremiah and Nancy as they work...
