Swept From the Past

Chapter 3: A weird creature

"So... What happened, Harry?" Luna asked, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione had sat in the compartment. "Dad told me you've been attacked by vampires?"

Neville's eyes widened.

"Ok, ok..." said Harry. He told them all that had happened. After all, there was no need to hide something like that, especially from his friends."

"Frightening!" Ron exclaimed, after hearing Harry's story.

"Yeah," said Neville, who had almost collapsed when Harry had described the vampire.

"I hope we aren't going to be attacked by vampires today," Ron said.

"Ron..." Hermione uttered, rolling her eyes, "it's ten past eleven. You are not going to see a vampire now."

"Why?" asked Ron who hadn't understood.

"Daylight," Hermione replied, designating the blue sky outside the windows. "Vampires just go out at night."

"Oh," Ron replied awkwardly.

"Dad said there are special measures to protect the train," Luna said. "When we went to the station, we saw many Aurors all around. I recognised Mad-Eye Moody when I entered."

"And Snape's here," Ron added with a grimace.

"Snape?" asked Neville, who wasn't there when Ron had talked about it the first time. He suddenly didn't feel very well.

"Yeah," Ron replied. "But I don't think he'll sit with us."

"I suppose he's with the Slytherins," Harry said, thinking of Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle.

"Do you think he could be Big Brother?" Ron asked.

"I don't think so," Harry said. "He would have transformed me into a dog instead of Marge." He grimaced like Ron.

"What a strange name?" Neville uttered. "Big Brother?"

Hermione rolled her eyes again. "It's taken from a Muggle Book, 1984, by George Orwell... This sentence, 'Big Brother is watching you,' is also written in the book. It's just a sentence which means that Big Brother always knows what you are doing, that someone is always keeping an eye on you. It's more a concept than a person."

"Er... Hermione," Ron said, "in English, please!"

"I think I understand what you mean," Harry replied. "So... do you think that Big Brother was watching outside my window all summer?"

"I don't know," Hermione replied. "Maybe he used a magical spell to do it? But you know, Harry, I don't think that 'Big Brother' is the name this man took. It's just something to warn your uncle and aunt not to treat you bad. You said that each time they started to yell at you, someone called them on the phone? That proves that the man who called was watching you and took care of your interest."

"So, you don't think it's a pseudonym he took?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, Harry," Hermione replied, "but I think it's a kind of joke made to your uncle. Considering the message he got, I would interpret this note like that. Maybe it's something from Dumbledore himself?"

"Dumbledore???" Ron asked.

Everyone looked surprised.

"I thought of Mad-Eye," Harry said, "but Dumbledore???"

"He likes the jokes..." Hermione replied. "Don't forget that Dumbledore comes from a Muggle family. He probably knows the book! If he told Lupin you were safe at home, he probably took care of the problem by himself! After all, he called on my mother's portable to tell us we should go back to England."

"Dumbledore called you??? On the phone???" Harry asked, shocked. He had never imagined Dumbledore with an electric appliance. The thought of the Headmaster using a microwave oven was simply comic.

"Yes," Hermione uttered. "He said we were not safe. That's why I went back earlier and called you on the phone, like he asked me to do when I saw him at home."

"Dumbledore came to your place???" Ron asked. Everyone was puzzled again.

"Er... yeah..." Hermione responded. "He and Dad had a little chat about movies... It was surprising, but he's very interested in cinema."

Everyone stared at her. Hermione blushed. "Come on! Stop staring at me like that! It makes me feel uncomfortable!"

Three hours passed with discussions of theories about the mysterious phone-caller and speeches about everyone's summer holidays. Soon, Ron had an animated debate with Hermione concerning Quidditch. Harry and Ginny tried to make it end, but it was a waste of energy. Harry decided to let the two of them quarrel, while he asked Luna what was the object she had sent him for his birthday. Luna laughed.

"Haven't you guessed what it is yet?" she said.

"No," Harry replied.

"It's a funny version of a Golden Snitch!" she exclaimed. "From Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes!"

"A Golden Snitch?" Harry asked, unconvinced. "But... it's not golden and it doesn't look like a Snitch... it doesn't fly very fast... and a Snitch doesn't make bubbles."

Luna laughed again. "Have you tried it?"

"I've opened the package and the... Snitch had slowly flown in the air, but--" Harry said.

"You haven't tried it..." Luna replied. "You have to put your wand on it and say "Go!" Then, you'll see! It'll fly like a Snitch!" Luna replied, winking behind her big round glasses.

"I'll try it as soon as possible! Thank y--"

But Harry couldn't finish. Suddenly, a big crash was heard and the train shivered violently, as if something very hard had exploded against it. It was followed by many similar sounds, which echoed and burst all around the train. The students screamed. Most of them ran from their compartments. Harry and his friends sprinted into the corridor, dying to know what had happened.

Someone, or something, stood in the middle of the corridor, uttering a spell with an indescribable, guttural voice. The creature was hidden under a dark-green, hooded cloak and its face, turned to the window in front of it, couldn't be seen. Nothing seemed to indicate that the creature was human, because it was covered by clothes from head to foot. Even its hands were protected by thin, black, leather gloves. A blue light emerged slowly from its body, something which looked like electricity and seemed to diffuse throughout the whole train.

"Harry, Look!" Ron said, his wide eyes opened.

Twenty Death Eaters, flying outside on their brooms, attacked the Hogwarts Express with dangerous spells, hitting it with great force. The train would have probably derailed, if the strange creature hadn't used magic.

Meanwhile, Professor Snape had arrived and was completely startled. He obviously didn't know what the creature was, but seeing what was going on, he didn't utter a word.

Suddenly, one of the Death Eaters flew very close to the window, faced the creature, and pointed his wand to it. Professor Snape took his own wand from his pocket, but the hooded figure abruptly clutched his arm, preventing him from using it. At that moment, its voice became louder and louder. The creature raised its arms and a very strong power came out. A blast of blue energy went out of her hands, hit the ceiling, and spread. The Death-Eater was hit by his own spell and the blue light filled the train, protecting it from other attacks.

Then the creature took out a wand from its robes. Without turning its head, it stretched out its arm. "Accio Broomstick," a feminine voice said firmly.

Snape stared at the hooded figure, an expression of shock on his face, the same expression a Muggle would have had if he had seen a ghost.

The door of the prefect compartment opened suddenly and a broomstick came quickly to her. The woman made a circular movement with her wand on the window. She made the window disappear, mounted her broomstick, and flew out of the train. As soon as she left, the window glass reappeared.

The train stopped on a bridge, which was overhanging a big lake. Everyone in the Hogwarts Express could see the hunt beginning between the woman and the Death Eaters. Some of them tried to attack the train and were hit by the reflection of their spells. The others pursued the woman, but she succeeded in hitting five of them, which discouraged many Death Eaters from continuing the game.

Something strange suddenly happened. Jets of light came from the sky, shooting toward Voldemort's servants. They panicked and tried to avoid them. Harry wondered why the Death Eaters didn't defend themselves. But when he looked above to see the origin of the spells, he understood why the Death Eaters hadn't done anything. There was nothing to see except the sky. The jets of light seemed to come from nowhere.

Meanwhile, the woman continued fighting. Nine enemies remained around her, then eight, and seven. She was at ease on her broomstick. She could perform figures on it, even flying upside-down, risking a fall. One of the Death Eaters was waiting for her, expecting to block her in her run. She charged into him, passed underneath his broomstick, pirouetted, and hit him with her feet. He fell into the lake, knocked unconscious.

However, a spell, thrown from behind, wounded her shoulder. She fell into the deep waters. One minute passed. The Death Eater that had made her fall started to laugh, glad to have defeated such a formidable enemy. But he stopped laughing, when he was attacked by a bolt from the sky.

Suddenly, the woman emerged from the lake on her broomstick, wet, but alive and angry. She performed many powerful spells, hitting half of the remaining Death Eaters. Finally, they decided to run away, afraid of her. She came back to the train, dripping wet and bleeding from her shoulder. The pupils clapped and gave her a standing ovation.

"Enough!" she shouted sharply to silence their applause.

"Whaw!" Ron said. "You are terrific!"

"No... I am terrible!" she responded with a satanic laugh, before returning to her compartment and locking the door behind her.

***

When the students arrived in the Great Hall, they realised that about the quarter of the school was missing. There were many students missing in every House, but the Slytherin table was almost deserted.

"How strange!" Ron said, grumbling, "the Hogwarts Express is attacked and the Slytherin table is almost empty? I guess there's a strange epidemic today!"

"Yeah," Harry replied, "I guess they all have indigestion! Too much death to eat... It runs in the family!"

Dumbledore, who sat on his big golden chair, as always, didn't seem to be surprised by this strange phenomenon.

"I wonder who that woman was," Harry said. "And I'd like to know where those jets of light came from!"

"And I really wonder why there were no Aurors in the train," Hermione replied. "Luna talked about security measures, but I guess the Aurors stayed at the station. Have you noticed that Snape and the woman were the only adults we saw in the train?"

"Frightening!" Ron uttered.

As usual, the arrival feast began with the ceremony of the Sorting Hat. The Hat had prepared an endless speech about the importance of cooperation among the different houses at such a horrible time. At the end of his poem, half the students were dozing, the other half complaining about their poor tormented stomachs.

"Bloody Sorting Hat!" moaned Ron, who belonged to the second category.

"Oh, come on, Ron!" Hermione said reproachfully, when he had complained for the twentieth time. "He has to do this! This is important! This is about war! Tell him, Harry!"

"In fact," Harry answered awkwardly, "I really think that fifty minutes is quite enough." Hermione smirked. "Oh, just admit it, Hermione!" he added, "we're starving!"

A half-an hour later, the first years were finally sorted and everyone was waiting impatiently for the food. Even the teachers were bored and seemed angry at the Hat for having spoken so long. Hagrid's stomach was grumbling loudly, making him feel very uncomfortable and fidget in his seat. Snape, who was separated from Hagrid by an empty chair, was wearing the same murderous expression on his face that he wore every year. Several students even realised that Professor Flitwick had fallen asleep. When the Sorting Hat disappeared, Dumbledore began his speech.

"Silence please! Because of the return of Voldemort..." Dumbledore said.

The students flinched.

"... there will be changes in the rules of Hogwarts. No one is allowed to go in the Forbidden Forest. It will now be guarded by the members of the staff, members who are able to see through invisibility cloaks..." He quickly glanced at Harry who swallowed, knowing the warning was for him. "Each student who breaks the rules will lose not less than 150 points from his house." A few pupils gasped. "You can't leave school, by night or day, and the Hogsmeade outings will be cancelled until further notice."

Many cries of disapproval were heard.

"May I have quiet please..." Dumbledore added with a smile, "of course, this is a temporary procedure, and we will make alternative arrangements in the meantime. Perhaps later, we can allow one or two Hogsmeade's weekends."

The Headmaster kept silent for many seconds, a sign that he had an important announce to make.

"This year, we are also glad to welcome a new teacher, who will assume the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts and who... is unfortunately late, as you can see... I mean, was late. Yes... Here she is!"

At this moment, the door of the Great Hall burst open, breaking the heavy silence caused by the Headmaster's speech. A dark-green hooded figure appeared, her face buried in the shadows of the cloak. The menacing form moved forward with a determined step, as if it knew perfectly where to go.

"Let me introduce Professor Katarina Burns to you!" Dumbledore continued, while the new teacher threw her hood back, revealing her fine features. She had dark tangled hair and green eyes, which were lit by a strange cold light. Her left cheek was marked by a scar in the shape of a cross. Her shoulder still bled, but she obviously didn't care. And she wasn't wet anymore.

"Probably a Drying Spell," Harry thought.

"Whaw!" Ron exclaimed. "We are going to be taught by Captain Burns!"

"Who is she?" Harry asked. "And why do you call her Captain?"

"She is an Auror, Harry! And a very good one, maybe the best!" Ron said, excited. "Some people say that she is the best Sorceress in the world after Dumbledore and You-Know-Who! And now that you ask, I don't really know why she is called Captain..."

"She is a Dark Sorceress, Harry," Hermione added, "she is reputed to be dangerous, even pitiless! That's why people never talk about her. I wonder why Dumbledore has hired her."

"I don't understand," Harry replied, surprised. "She's both a Dark Sorceress and an Auror? But aren't the Aurors supposed to...?"

"... hunt Dark Wizards?" Hermione continued, "Yes. But she belongs to a special department of the Ministry of Magic. That's all that I know."

"Look at Snape!" Harry murmured. "What happened to him?"

The murderous expression Snape was wearing had suddenly changed to an expression of shock. He gasped and appeared to have stopped breathing. His eyes were fixed on Captain Burns and he became very pale.

"The bloody git acts as if he's been hit by a Bludger in the chest!" Ron replied. "He has even forgotten to smirk! What a bloody miracle!"

"Oh, Ron," Hermione said irritated, "stop saying bloody!"

"Is that too vulgar for you, Mum?" Ron retorted. "Not written in your bloody scholar manuals, eh? But you know, even the teachers use this bloody word."

"Ron!" Hermione replied angrily. "Teachers don't speak like that! This word is only used by childish, ginger-haired boys!"

Ron grumbled something she didn't hear.

The teacher went straight to the staff table and took the only remaining free place, at the left of Snape's. She abruptly sat and didn't glance at anyone.

"Professor Burns?" Dumbledore asked. "Would you like to say a few words about yourself or your methods?"

Professor Burns looked at the Headmaster, then stood up, without nodding. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"Hello. I'm your new Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher. My name is Professor Burns, and I expect you all to call me that. This rule also applies to teachers," she said looking around. "I don't want to share familiarities with any of you." She looked back to the students. "I'm here for only one reason: to save your butt! I suppose that you have all understood the unbearable speech of the bloody Sorting Hat..."

Ron grinned at Hermione.

"... A little mouse told me what he was going to say this year... Yeah, Mister Voldie has come back and you should all be united against him. One hour for explaining that, My God!" she added while rolling her eyes. "My role is to teach you how to survive and you will work hard! I will NOT tolerate laziness or insubordination. Don't forget this: The students who will have the best marks in my class will be the students who will live at the end of the year. I think half of you students may be dead by that time ... Anyway, my job is to keep you alive, theoretically. I don't really care about you. Die or live, this is NOT my problem!" She conjured a golden goblet in front of her and she raised it. "So, have a nice year, and Cheers! Nothing's better than Firewhisky!" she said, before emptying the glass in one gulp. "Less than three minutes and I have all summed up! And no snoring!" she said, finally sitting down, leaving the students stunned and completely white.

"Hmmm," Dumbledore replied, a little confused. "Well, now, let the feast begin!"

Food appeared on the plates and a murmur of satisfaction filled the Great Hall. Professor Burns looked suspiciously at her meal and picked up her silverware without taking off her gloves. Hagrid, who sat next to her, tried to speak to her.

"So, Professor Burns... Where have yeh studied? Durmstrang? Beauxbâtons?"

"Hogwarts," she replied without looking at him.

"Damn! When did yeh leave school?" Hagrid asked.

"Eighteen years ago."

"Eighteen?" Hagrid continued. "Cannot remember of yeh. Which house?"

"Gryffindor."

"Should've known Harry's parents then? The Potters?"

"Yes."

"Burns... Burns... reminds me of somethin'..." Hagrid said. "Think I knew a Burns, but..." He exclaimed suddenly "Yeh can't be the little Katarina Burns, who was about ter..."

"I'm not her," Professor Burns cut him off sharply. "And don't ever call me that name or you'll regret it!"

Hagrid, stunned, kept silent during the meal. Snape, who was discretely listening to their short conversation, didn't say a word either. He was agitated and furious.

***

The students left. Only a few teachers remained in the Great Hall. The Headmaster went to Professor Burns, smiling.

"I'm glad you're here, Professor Burns," he said.

"Headmaster," she replied.

"You already know a few of our staff members," Dumbledore uttered. "Here is Professor McGonagall..." Professor Burns reluctantly shook their hands, without taking off her gloves. "Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Madam Pomfrey, Madam Hooch, Hagrid and, of course, Professor Snape."

"Professor," she said with a very cold look, while she shook Snape's hand.

"And here is Professor Trelawney, our Divination Teacher," Dumbledore continued. "You don't know her. As you can see, many teachers have already left, but you will meet the rest soon."

"I don't want to," Professor Burns replied. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do."

She had made a few steps, leaving the staff members bewildered, when Professor Dumbledore spoke.

"Professor Burns," he said, "there is a staff meeting planned in half an hour in my office. I'd like you to join us. We will be discussing the new program."

"A staff meeting?" Professor Burns repeated. "Why was I not informed sooner?"

"Because I have just decided there will be a staff meeting tonight," Dumbledore replied.

"All right," she said, about to leave again.

"Oh, my poor, poor girl!" Professor Trelawney screeched suddenly, her eyes opened like plates behind her big glasses. She approached the Defence Against The Dark Arts Teacher. "My Inner Eye has just seen that you will soon die a violent death!"

"Really?" Professor Burns replied with amusement. "And how will I die? Will it be horrible? With pain, blood, and tears? I wish it will be... It's not funny without that!"

Professor Trelawney rolled her eyes with stupefaction. After a couple of seconds, she replied, half-convinced that it was a frank answer:

"My predictions are never wrong, Professor..."

A murmur of disagreement was faintly heard, while the other teachers were glancing around.

Trelawney went on:

"Of course, people who don't possess the gift can't understand what I'm talking about!"

Professor Burns laughed. "Actually, I can read the future." She stepped back. "I predict that you will be wet until the end of the day."

At this moment, Peeves the Poltergeist, who was flying above Trelawney for the last two minutes, threw a water ball on the poor divination teacher.

"Damn! I'm GOOD!" Professor Burns exclaimed. She looked maliciously on Trelawney, stunned and dripping wet. "Do you need some shampoo?" she added. "Yeah, Inner Eye is great, but you'd better use your external eyes sometimes..."

***

Half an hour later, Professor Burns knocked at the Headmaster's office door.

"Come in," she heard.

There were only two persons in the office, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape.

"Please, take a seat," the Headmaster said. "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Sure," she replied.

"So, Professor Burns, how was your trip to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore queried.

"Isn't this supposed to be a staff meeting?" she asked, ignoring what Dumbledore had said. "Why are we only three?"

"Straight to the point, I see..." Dumbledore replied. "The meeting concerns both of you."

"Really?" she smirked.

"Considering your lack of experience as a teacher," Dumbledore uttered, "I decided that you should be supervised by Professor Snape. Consequently, you will work together, as partners."

The glass Professor Burns was holding suddenly burst into frozen bits. The glass and its contents had frozen and shattered abruptly.

Snape gasped from surprise and Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.

"I think I squeezed it too hard," Burns said simply, as if nothing had happened.

"Thus, I want Professor Snape to be present while you teach," Dumbledore continued.

"Headmaster!" Snape exclaimed. "I don't think that it's wise to--"

"On the contrary, I think it is very wise..." Dumbledore interrupted.

"But, Headmaster!" Snape retorted. "You have decided of this without asking me! I didn't even know you were thinking of it! How could you? And you didn't even tell me that she was--"

"We have already talked about this," Dumbledore uttered.

"But I don't--" Snape said.

"Severus, this is my decision and you can't change it," the Headmaster replied. "Professor Burns, do you have anything to say?"

Professor Burns looked at Dumbledore and simply ignored Snape.

"You are the Headmaster," she responded. "Your wish will be followed." She stood up and left.

***

"Whaw!" Neville said, going to the Gryffindor Common Room with his mates. "She seems very severe!" He was already worrying about his Defence Against The Dark Arts lessons. "She's going to kill me..." the adolescent complained.

"So," Seamus replied, "you're going to take her class?"

"Yes," Neville answered. "Gran told me I had to, especially since we were attacked in the Ministry. She said I was lucky. The DA lessons last year helped, but I know I wouldn't be able to survive alone."

"Don't worry," Hermione said to make him feel better, although she didn't believe in what she was asserting. "I'm sure you'll make progress with Professor Burns."

"Yeah..." Neville replied, "but I also have to take Potions... you know... to become a Magical Apothecary, I have to study Herbology and Potions, Professor Sprout told me. This is going to be the worst year of my entire life! I'll never pass my exam, for sure!"

"But you got an 'O' on your Potions O.W.L.s!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I know," Neville said, "but I worked very hard last year to get that mark... and Snape wasn't there to supervise my Potions exam. It relaxed me. But this year, I'm sure he'll be there, especially since I have got an 'O'. He'll just have to stare at me if he wants me to fail my exam!"

"I promise to help you," Hermione reassured, although she knew Neville was partly right. Professor Snape had a strange power over him. He just had to be around to perturb him. And Snape was the kind of person who enjoyed embarrassing someone he disliked. Neville's chances on that exam were slim.

The students reached the Gryffindor door.

"Password," the Fat Lady said.

"Hippogriff's Wing," Hermione uttered.

The door opened, letting the students enter.

"It's not a Latin Password?" Harry remarked.

"No," Hermione responded. "This year, Hagrid chose the password, for a change!"

"I'm happy he did this," Neville replied, "for once, I'll be able to remember it. I just have to think about Malfoy's accident in third year!"

"I wonder what the Slytherin password is, this year," Ron said, lost in thought. "I hope they tried something great like 'Stinky Ferret'!" he said, laughing hard with the other Gryffindors, thinking of the punishment Mad-Eye Moody had given Malfoy in fourth year.

"Oh, Ron..." Hermione sighed, her eyes raised.

"No need to ask you which password you would have chosen: 'SPEW!'" Ron continued.

"It's not SPEW!!!" Hermione replied furiously. "You know it's--"

"Yeah," Ron retorted, "the Society for the Prohibition of Elvish Whisky!"

"The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare!" Hermione corrected angrily.

"It's all the same!" Ron replied. "Anyway, they don't want to be freed."

"That's because they have never tasted freedom!" Hermione said. "Once they'll be freed, I'm sure that--"

"They don't want to be, Hermione," replied Harry, who tried to make the debate end. Hermione and Ron hadn't stopped quarrelling for the last few hours. It was annoying.

Hermione threw a reproachful stare at Harry and left, mad at the two of them.

"What's up with her?" Ron said, crunching loudly into an apple. "She's been like that since we met in the train. Maybe she had a fight with Vicky..."

"Vicky?" asked Harry.

"Viktor Krum," Ron replied with a sneer. "Yeah, she told me Vicky wrote her many long letters when she was in France. I guess she's drawing big hearts on parchments with her name and his inside. So sweet..." he continued with an ugly grimace. "I'm sure he's wearing pyjamas with hundreds of Golden Snitches printed on them!" Ron laughed. "You know... just to remember in the morning the kind of job he has!"

"Ron!" Ginny interrupted. She looked like Mrs. Weasley when she was becoming angry. "Have you finished making fun of Krum?! You've been joking about him since the train ride! I guess Hermione has heard enough for today, and so have I!"

"Of course," Ron replied, heatedly, "I would expect you girls to stick together! But remember, I'm your brother!"

"Yeah," Ginny responded with a smirk, "you're my idiot brother, who keeps annoying one of my best friends, just because you're jealous!"

"I'm not jealous!" defended Ron.

"So, if you're not," Ginny said, "leave Hermione alone with this Krum thing."

"Hmmm..." Ron grumbled, his ears red. Then, there was a heavy silence.

"Do you think that Snape has little cauldrons printed on his pyjamas?" Neville asked shyly, breaking the awkward pause and making everyone laugh again.

***