Where He Went

Chapter 4 - Half a Life

Fiadh had not realised how much she had missed Hogwarts until she stepped through the large oak front doors and gazed around. There was the familiar tangle of staircases, the moving portraits, the statues and the crowds of black cloaked students hurrying towards The Great Hall with hungry bellies. Fiadh wished she could go straight in and sit at the familiar Slytherin table but she had agreed to meet Professor McGonagall beforehand, she didn't even think to wait for Draco to go up, she simply waved and ran up the stairs, ignoring the strange looks she was receiving. She knew in her rational mind that the feast couldn't start before the Headmistress arrived but in her irrational brain she was starving.

She came to a halt in front of the Gargoyle guarding the tower up to what was now Professor McGonagall's office. She realised she didn't have a clue to get up to the tower. She looked around for some sort of buzzer or button but could find nothing.

"Oi, are you going to just stand around or are you going up?" said the Gargoyle, making Fiadh jump.

"Oh, uh-"

"Name?" it asked impatiently as though it had something better to be doing.

"Fiadh Rose..." she said hesitantly.

"Right you are, you're on the list. Go on up, so." The Gargoyle leapt aside, revealing a slowly ascending spiral staircase. Fiadh quickly hoped onto it as it took her to another oak door. Not knowing what else to do, she knocked hoping there wasn't a password. The door swung open silently and revealed a room full of odd objects glittering and sparkling. In the corner there was a fire, not in a hearth but simply burning on the ground, causing no harm, not spreading but simply heating the room. At a large desk there sat the new headmistress, looking just as formidable as always. Draco was not yet here.

"Ah, Miss Rose, thank you for being so prompt. Please, take a seat. Could I offer you a cup of tea?" with an effortless flick a silver tea tray appeared on the desk in front of Fiadh. As she took her seat the tea began to pour itself.

"Thanks," she muttered, looking around the room at all the strange things that filled it. What caught her most by surprise was a portrait of Albus Dumbledore. He was blissfully knitting, not noticing the new addition to the room. She felt a sudden wave of guilt. Remembering what she had done last year and to what level she had been prepared to stoop.

An awkward silence hung in the air, only broken by a small cough from a portrait or the hushed cursings of Professor Dumbledore as he dropped a stitch. It was so tense that she was actually glad when there came a knock at the door, signalling Draco's arrival. The door swung open with a swift flick of her wand and Draco walked over, his usual air of arrogance surrounding him. McGonagall gestured for him to take the seat next to mine and then began to speak.

"I'm sure you two are both perfectly aware that you are not safe. After Mr. Potter and his two friends you are enemy number 1 to the other side."

Fiadh refused to glance over at Draco, not willing to give him any sort of satisfaction.

"And so, while you are here it is at great risk to yourselves, your fellow students and our staff. Hogwarts has, of course, defended itself for now to its greatest ability. But, when the time comes, they will be penetrated. Until that day comes we will fight to keep Hogwarts safe. Now, after what happened last year, Mr Malfoy and Ms Rose, you will both be under strict supervision, as I'm sure you can understand." McGonagall's steely gaze fell on Fiadh and she felt the mark burn on her arm, sending chills through her body. Instead of looking away in shame, Fiadh held the gaze, determined not to let McGongall feel superior to her.

"Now, neither of you will be allowed on the Hogsmede trips, to play quidditch or to leave the castle unattended. This includes wandering the grounds. This is for both your safety and the safety of everyone else. We will not be willing to risk another infiltration like last year."