The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

iv.

At first, Electra's spidey-senses (déjà vu) told her that going with McGonagall was the right choice, but at this moment it didn't quite feel like it.

It was an agonizingly hot morning.

Manhattan summers were always miserable, especially on days when it was as humid as it was today. The sun beat down on them, making the top of Electra's dark head ache. She turned her focus to Professor McGonagall. She wondered how the older woman could stand being in a full length... well, Electra didn't know what to call Professor McGonagall's clothing. Whatever it was, Electra was into it.

There were two components, a black underdress of sorts that looked to be made of silk with silver lace snaking up her fitted sleeves, and a decorative emerald green robe with long flowing sleeves overtop the dress, stitched in patterns that reminded Electra of the veins of a leaf, clasped down her front with ornate silver buttons. She looked elegant and Electra assumed, extremely warm.

"Blasted park," she huffed, cheeks flush from the sun. It seemed the professor underestimated how long it would take to walk to their destination... that and she kept getting lost in the winding paths of Central Park. "We're behind by twenty minutes." She bunched up her skirts and picked up the pace, her heels clicking on the pavement. "No time to lose Miss Black, looks like breakfast will have to wait."

Electra followed, adjusting her backpack as she followed the professor in silence. She was far too entertained by the strange looks Professor McGonagall was getting by people passing by to ask her questions. The professor didn't seem to notice either, which Electra found just as amusing.

They walked further and further into the park for what felt like forever until they were deep in the Rambles again. Professor McGonagall stopped suddenly, and pulled out a strange looking compass from one of her pockets. Electra craned her neck to get a better look at the device. It had twelve hands pointing different directions and nine little planets that moved in circles around the face that looked like the blazing sun above them, each planet going at a different speed. It was almost dizzying to look at.

Professor McGonagall found her planet and followed it down a thin trail that led the way into the forest, hoisting her skirts up higher and away from the tree branches that threatened to pull at her pretty clothes.

Electra had to keep her eyes on the forest floor so she didn't trip over the roots as the trees got denser. Professor McGonagall was quiet most of the trip, but the further they walked she started to grumble about how a "Hagrid" would be more suited for this. Electra found it a bit comical watching how annoyed the professor was getting trekking through the forest hiking up her nice silky robes and stumbling over the forest floor in her little leather heeled boots. She clearly was not prepared for this part of the day.

Eyes on the ground, Electra wasn't paying attention to McGonagall until she suddenly bumped into her back. She backed up and looked around the woman to see that they had stopped in front of a tree stump with an old iron tea kettle atop it.

"Just barely made it on time," McGonagall huffed as she straightened out her robes.

Professor McGonagall took Electra's shoulders and steered her close to the tree stump. "I haven't got much time to explain, but this old kettle here is what we call a Portkey. It is an everyday object that is bewitched to transport anyone who grasps it to a pre-arranged destination."

"Okay," said Electra looking skeptically at the blackened kettle.

"I must warn you Miss Black, that this will not be a pleasant feeling, but it will get us to London in a split second. Which I believe you would agree is much better than the muggle way, no?"