𝑵𝒆𝒃𝒖𝒍𝒂 - 𝑾𝑻𝑴

2.8 Who Put A Murderous Tree Near Children??

[As the Ford Anglia flies alongside the Hogwarts Express, it puts on its headlights and flies off. Soon enough, Harry, Juniper and Ron are flying over the lake, and have arrived at Hogwarts.]

Ron: [glancing at the castle with a smile as he turns to face Juniper and Harry] Welcome home. [Harry and Juniper smile, happy to be back at Hogwarts after such an unpleasant summer]

[Suddenly, the Anglia experiences a major turbulence as it steers on the left side of the castle, then right. Ron holds the wheel while panicking. The car drives down, still going forward.]

Harry: Up! UP!

Ron: [stepping the pedals which had no effect of braking] It's not working!

[Harry does his best to grab the gear shift to keep the car down. Unfortunately, it's headed for a tree and Ron is screaming while turning.]

Juniper: Mind that tree!

Ron: [grabbing his wand from the top compartment followed by tapping to the steering wheel] Stop! Stop! STOP! [the wand breaks in half]

[The car crashes into the giant tree, landing in the middle of it. Ron stares at his broken wand.]

Many people in the great hall make a "oof" sound.

Ron: My wand. Look at my wand.

Juniper: Be thankful it's not your neck.

[Something suddenly hits the car.]

Ron: What's happening?

Harry: I don't know.

[Harry, Juniper, and Ron scream as the tree comes to life, beating up the car with its branches. Eventually, the car falls out of the tree and lands on the ground.]

Harry: Come on, go! Fast!

[Before the tree can grab them again, Ron quickly drives the car out of the tree's range. A moment later, the car throws out Juniper, Harry, Ron, and their luggage. It ends by throwing Hedwig's cage to Harry, Ludwig's cage to Juniper, and Scabbers' cage to Ron.]

Ron: Scabbers, are you okay? [the car drives off on its own] The car! [Harry and Ron chase after the car, only to see it drive off into the forest] Dad's gonna kill me.

Juniper: I'm gonna kill you. [She walks over to Harry and Ron. She hits Harry on the back of the head.] Idiot 1. [She hits Ron on the back of the head] Idiot 2. Who decided to put a murderous tree on ground where children walk?! Now come on so we don't miss the feast.

"Hey! Lily has done that to Sirius and I!" Juniper and Lily both deadpan stare at James.

Ron: Your sister scares me sometimes.

[Juniper, Harry, and Ron walk into the Entrance Hall with their belongings and pets, which they leave with the rest of the students' luggage.]

Harry: See you, Hedwig! [he, Ron and Juniper then run up the steps] So a house-elf shows up in our bedroom, we can't get through the barrier to Platform 9¾, we almost get killed by a tree... clearly someone doesn't want us here this year. [reaching the top of the stairs, they come face-to-face with the caretaker, and his pet cat, ]

Filch: [glaring at them with a malicious smile] Well, take a good look. This night might well be the last you spend in this castle. [Juniper, Harry, and Ron glance at each other nervously] Oh, dear, we are in trouble. [he smiles more devilishly; moments later, Juniper, Harry, and Ron are standing in 's classroom]

Snape: [holding up a newspaper article about their flying car at King's Cross Station] You were seen by no less than seven Muggles! [furiously throws the newspaper aside and glares at them] Do you have any idea how serious this is?! You have risked the exposure of our world. Not to mention the damage you inflicted on a Whomping Willow that's been on these grounds since before you were born!

Ron: Honestly, Professor Snape, I think it did more damage to us.

Snape: Silence! [walking around his desk towards them] I assure you... that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight! As it is.

Dumbledore: They are not. [Harry, Ron, Juniper, Snape, and Filch turn towards the doorway to see Dumbledore standing there, accompanied by his associate, . Both of them are looking stern.]

Juniper: [Whispering sarcastically] Oh great.

Harry: [glancing at Dumbledore and McGonagall] Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall.

Snape: Headmaster, these three have flouted the Decree for the Restriction of Underage Wizardry. As such...

Dumbledore: I'm well aware of our bylaws, Severus, having written more than a few myself. However, as Head of Gryffindor House, it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action.

Ron: We'll go and get our stuff, then.

Professor McGonagall: What are you talking about, Mr. Weasley?

Ron: You're going to expel us, aren't you?

Professor McGonagall: Not today, Mr. Weasley. [Harry, Juniper, and Ron are both relieved by this] But I must impress upon both of you the seriousness of what you have done. I will be writing to your families tonight. And you will both receive detention.

[Harry, Juniper, and Ron turn back to Snape who casts a glare of pure venom at them]