The Lost Potter || Draco Malfoy [BOOK 1]

Chapter 45

As I rushed down the hallway towards Dumbledore's office, I heard a voice from behind me call out my name.

"Maya!" They shouted. I flinched slightly and whipped around to look at Harry, who looked just about as shaken up as I was.

"Harry!" I said, a sudden bit of relief washing over me. "You had the dream too?"

"Yeah, I fell asleep in Divination. Where were you?" Asked Harry.

"Skipping with Draco," I said. "I didn't want to go to Charms because of, well...you...and I didn't feel like going to Muggle Studies."

"About earlier, I'm sorry. I was just—"

"Not the time, Harry," I said as we speed-walked down the hall. "I get it, you were jealous and selfish and irrational—don't even try to argue because you know it's true—and you're trying to apologize. I'm not mad anymore, I understand your frustration, and I would love to talk more about this when we aren't in a life or death situation."

"Noted," said Harry with his eyebrows raised, not expecting that to come out of my mouth.

When we finally reached Dumbledore's office, Harry groaned.

"Do you know the password?" Asked Harry with a bit of annoyance to his tone.

"Shit," I said. "Doesn't he usually name his passwords after candy?"

"Usually," said Harry. "Sherbet lemon?"

The gargoyle didn't move an inch.

"Okay, okay, uh...Licorice Wand?" I tried. To no surprise, the gargoyle didn't move.

"Pear Drop. Fizzing Whizbee. Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans... oh no, he doesn't like them, does he?" As Harry spoke, his tone became more and more urgent. "Oh, just open, can't you? We really need to see him, it's urgent."

The gargoyle didn't move. Harry kicked the gargoyle, causing him to hiss in pain. He stood on one leg with a string of curses flowing out of his mouth.

"Chocolate frog!" He shouted angrily. "Sugar Quill!"

"Cockroach cluster!" I said, and to my surprise along with Harry's the gargoyle moved, revealing the spiral staircase that led to Dumbledore's office.

"I can't believe that worked," I said in amazement.

"Well, don't just stand there!" said Harry. He took hold of my wrist and dragged me up the staircase, which moved upwards as the gargoyle closed behind us. The staircase took us up to a polished oak door with a brass door knocker, and I could hear voices from inside of the office. Harry and I stepped off of the moving staircase, looked at each other, and began listening.

"Dumbledore, I'm afraid I don't see the connection, don't see it at all!" said a voice that I didn't recognize.

I looked at Harry for confirmation.

"Cornelius Fudge," Said Harry in my mind.

"Isn't that the Minister of Magic?" I thought. Harry nodded.

"Ludo says Bertha's perfectly capable of getting herself lost. I agree we would have expected to have found her by now, but all the same, we've no evidence of foul play, Dumbledore, none at all. As for her disappearance being linked with Barty Crouch's!" Said Fudge.

"And what do you think's happened to Barty Crouch, Minister?" said Moody's growling voice.

"I see two possibilities, Alastor," said Fudge. "Either Crouch has finally cracked—more than likely, I'm sure you'll agree, given his personal history—lost his mind, and gone wandering off somewhere—"