The Cupboard Series 4: The Fourth School

Chapter 16

"Alright, everyone, look sharp and best behaviour," Headmistress McGonagall instructed.

Harry only just managed to stop his eyes from rolling. Minerva had said the same thing, in a dozen different ways, more times than he could count in the past hour. It was simply nerves, he knew, something that he suspected most of them were experiencing, including him. This was going to be the first time he'd been back to the castle in sixteen months and the first time that he'd seen many of his friends since then as well.

At the Headmistress' nod, Jaxom pressed the button beside the hovercraft's main door. The late afternoon sun streamed in through the gap causing Harry to blink profusely. A break in the sunlight indicated Minerva exiting. She was quickly followed by Remus before the students of Diricawl Academy began their egress. Sirius and Madam Longbottom, he knew, would be bringing up the rear. Extra eyes would be provided by Jaxom and Dobby who had both been instructed to remain invisible.

Harry emerged onto the upper deck of the forest green hovercraft beside Hermione, his staff clicking on the metal deck with each step that he took. Around him, his friends shifted sidewards, allowing a path to form to the stairs. Taking the hint, Harry stepped forward.

A sharp whizzing sound split the air, quickly followed by two more and Harry looked up in concern. Streaks of light shot high above the castle before triple simultaneous explosions erupted. Harry's lips curled upwards at the sight of the ... unique fireworks display. Two enormous green and gold birds soared through the sky. Their wings were short and dumpy, and their squat beaks playfully snapped away at the dancing letters that had appeared between them.

"The twins?" Harry guessed to Hermione, indicating the message above.

WE MISS YOU! TAKE US TOO?

For a few more minutes, he blocked the stairs, allowing everyone to watch the antics of the flying diricawls, then, finally noting Minerva's gesture, he led the way down to the awaiting Hogwarts students.

"Ah, Minerva, how lovely to see you. Welcome home," Dumbledore cooed, spreading his arms wide.

"Albus," Minerva nodded. "Thank you for inviting us."

"My pleasure, my pleasure," Dumbledore smiled, his bright blue eyes twinkling away behind his half-moon spectacles. "We have quarters prepared for you all, unless the students would like to re-join their Housemates?"

With her back to him, Harry could only guess at the thinness of his Headmistress' lips. The icy cold tone, though, left no doubt as to her feelings right then.

"As I told you in my last letter, we have our own accommodations. And, as the students now attend Diricawl Academy of Magical Studies, they can no longer be classified as being Housemates to any student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you are going to persist in this foolishness, then we will simply board our hovercraft and go home this instant!"

"I assure you I meant no offence," the grandfatherly voice of Albus Dumbledore replied. "I was only thinking of the children and how they must miss their friends and how they might like a chance to spend some time with them while they are here."

"That is what meals and time outside the castle is for," Minerva countered. "No Diricawl student will set foot in any of the private common rooms of Hogwarts. Now, if you're finished trying to get us to go where we do not wish to go, we would be delighted to enter the castle. I see that Maxine and Igor are already here?"

"Yes, yes, they arrived just before you made your most spectacular entrance," Dumbledore replied, before indicating the path between the students leading to the front doors of the castle.