Phoenix

A Meeting with Dumbledore

     Elaine sat at the Gryffindor table, shutting out the ruckus of the Great Hall as she picked away silently at her dinner.  She had a lot to think about, from her homework, to the elusive Chamber of Secrets, to worrying for Ginny who had skipped out on dinner yet again.

     She was so absorbed that even Neville Longbottom left her alone.  He'd tried to say hello, and Elaine would normally have obliged him.  But, at her half-hearted smile, he'd resigned himself to his meal.

     "Are these seats taken?"

     A high voice captured half her attention.  She looked up to see Hermione Granger, Harry and Ron in tow.  She shook her head.  The second years sat, girls on one side and boys on the other.

     "Don't you normally eat with Ginny?" Ron asked as he piled food onto his plate.

     "She didn't want to come down." 

     Elaine muttered into her plate, which was still full.  To her left, Hermione was shoving around her books, and one of the titles caught her eye.

     "Moste Potente Potions," she read.  "My, that looks like it belongs in the restricted section."

     "That's because it does," Ron replied, his mouth full.

     "Really?  How did you get it?"  

     Elaine gawked at it, pulling it toward her.  She examined the cover closely; it looked exactly like what she'd imagine a powerful potions book to look like.

     "We got a note from Professor Lockhart," Hermione told her.  "I told him I wanted to do a little background reading on one of his books."

     "He'll autograph anything you put under his nose," Ron sniggered.  Hermione shot him a glare.

     "Really, this is what we needed it for."

     Hermione opened the book to a brew called polyjuice potion.  It turned its subject into another's form.  Elaine couldn't keep her mouth from hanging open.

     "What do you need something like this for?"  

     She flipped through the pages, slowly, looking over the many different types of potions.  Most of them were vile.

     It was Harry's turn to answer.  He lowered his voice and leaned in.  "We're going to turn ourselves into a few of the Slytherins."

     "What?  Why would you want to do a thing like that?"  It took all of Elaine's self-control not to shout in amazement.

     "So we can break into the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions," Harry replied.

     Ron slouched toward his friend and muttered, "Do you really think we should be telling her all this?"

     "Relax, Ron.  It's only Elaine," Hermione huffed.

     Suddenly, Elaine clued in.

     "Wait, you don't think..."

     "That Malfoy is the heir of Slytherin?  It would make perfect sense - his entire family was in Slytherin.  Not to mention he hates muggle-borns," said Harry.

     Suddenly, Hermione snapped the book shut.  She tucked it away in her book bag, and hissed at her friends.

     "Shh!  It's McGonagall!"

     Elaine saw the tall hat of their Head of House bobbing above the heads of the students.  She came into view just a moment later, long robes swaying, looking down her sharp nose.