A Master of Magic - On Hold

Chapter 2 - Falling to fear

**3RD PERSON**

As Harry stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottorn telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron, whose jaw was clenched.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old Dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"

"You can't say much, Draco" Someone sneered from behind, Malfoy turned around and narrowed his eyes at the speaker.

"What do you mean?" Draco asked her, she shrugged.

"Just saying, you might want to be careful"

"Is that a threat?"

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage.

Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the dilapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no -- er -- Professor," then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.

"Twit, he ran into our compartment, litrally wetting his pants" Faith scoffed angrily, Ron sniggered at this imformation, forgetting he was standing in the middle of Hogwarts grounds.

Hermione prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry, and the four of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous Entrance Hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Harry followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!"

Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Harry fought his way over to her with a feeling of foreboding: Professor McGonagall had a way of making him feel he must have done something wrong.

"There's no need to look so worried -- I just want a word in my office," she told them. "Move along there, Weasley... Gryffindor."

Ron and Faith stared as Professor McGonagall ushered Harry and Hermione away from the chattering crowd; they accompanied her across the entrance hall, up the marble staircase, and along a corridor.

"Why is it always them?" Ron muttered under his breath, Faith patted him on the back.

"Ahh, my young Padawen, do not worry, later in your life you will become smoking hot and marry a book worm, you will fight an evil person and win gleefully" Faith exclaimed, unfortunatly, Ron only really heard; 'Ahh, my young Padawen'

"Whats a Padawen?" He asked grumpily, Faith rolled her eyes.

"You have no childhood... or life at that matter"

Some time later, Harry and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats.

"What was all that about?" he muttered to Harry.