Evanora

Meeting Horace Slughorn

I strolled up to a man in a suit who was reading a muggle newspaper.

"Coffee, sir?" I asked politely with my notepad and pen on hand, ready.

"I'll have an Espresso," he said without looking up from the newspaper. Thank goodness his order was easy because I got off work in ten minutes. I shifted to the next table where another guy was seated, reading a newspaper as well.

"And-- Harry? Is that you?" I said, nearly dropping my pen. He looked up from his newspaper.

"Eva?"  he said, his face breaking into a surprised smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," I said. "I work here,"

"Ohh," he said, looking down at my apron.

"Well -- uh, I get off work in ten minutes. Gotta make this customer an espresso, want anything?"

"Uhh. . ." Harry looks around to figure out what he could get.

"I'll surprise you," I say, trotting off with a grin on my face. I was quite fast at making coffee, and it only took a full minute for the first man's espresso. I brought out two coffees with espresso at the bottom, chocolate syrup, milk, and vanilla ice cream. Harry devoured his and I couldn't finish mine, so he ate that too. It was hilarious. Out the window behind Harry, I spotted Dumbledore out the window.

"What?" Harry asked as I focused on a point behind him, slowly standing up. It had to be Dumbledore. Nobody else would wear his outfit.

"What is Professor Dumbledore doing in the subway station?" I asked.

We approached Dumbledore from either side.

"You've been reckless this summer, Harry." Dumbledore said, looking at the muggle magic ad on the wall.

"I like riding around on the trains. Takes my mind off things," he said.

"I take it that you did not receive my owl earlier this morning, Evanora," I shook my head.

"I was working, Professor," I said.

They both look towards me. It was nearly 11:00 PM. I shrugged. "It's become a habit by now, I suppose,"

"Well then, I suppose that you'll just have to come with us," he said delightfully. Yes, I thought. I discretely celebrated with myself by jerking my fist back and mouthing 'Yes!'

"Take my arms," he instructed. I hesitantly took it. Suddenly, it was like I was being squeezed through a tube with very little room zooming at full speed, making twists and turns. Everything was blurred and moved past us too quickly for me to see. Suddenly, I felt the ground beneath my feat and I put a foot forward to regain my balance.

"I just Apparated, didn't I?" Harry asked.

"Indeed. Quite successfully too, I might add. Most people vomit the first time," said the Professor.

"Can't imagine why," he said. Dumbledore and I started walking ahead while Harry regrouped and jogged to catch up with us.

He lead us into a house that was tattered and filled with rubble made up of broken furniture and decorations. We took our wands out. Dumbledore whisper-called the name "Horace" into the darkness. I stepped forth quietly after him, careful not to knock things over. Suddenly, something wet dripped on the tip of my nose. I closed my mouth and my eyes naturally widened as I stared at the red drip, realizing that someone's-- a stranger's--- blood from their insides was on my face. I slowly looked up to find there was blood leaking through a patch in the ceiling.