PreHarry

- CHAPTER TWO -

Dumbledore's Warning

The next day in Potions class, Snape decided to abandon teaching and harass Skye about the tournament instead.

'So, Miss McAndrews, I see that you've managed to weasel your way into a world-famous tournament. We all know that it's due to the fact that you're related to Dumbledore. If any wise person knew that you two were related, then he wouldn't allow you to be in such a posh event.'

'I don't see why you have a problem with Skye being in the tournament,' said a Gryffindor student sitting next to Skye. 'Like Dumbledore said, she's qualified and she has talent. Everyone knows that.'

'Everyone knows that in my class if you speak out of turn you have points deducted from your house. Five points from Gryffindor, Mr Thomson.

'I suppose all of you believe that Miss McAndrews is indeed qualified to be in this tournament. I disagree. Are any of you brave enough to disagree with me?'

For a few moments, no one spoke. It was common knowledge that if you voiced your disagreement to something Snape had said, you were most likely to end up in detention.

'Just as I thought,' Snape said icily. 'Not one of your classmates agree that you should be in this tournament. Clearly there has been a mistake-'

'I think that Skye is beyond qualified,' someone at the back of the class said. Everyone turned to see Skye's friend Darcy standing next to her desk. 'Someone would have to be mad to think that Skye's no eligible. She's someone that others can look up to, she has excellent marks, even in Potions, and she's quite famous at Quidditch. She's the best damn Seeker that Hogwarts has had in years.'

'SIT DOWN!' Snape snapped.

'Why?' Darcy shot back. 'You asked us if we thought that Skye was eligible and you got an answer. What's wrong with that?'

A whisper of shock rippled through the class. No one talked to Snape like that. No one.

'If I have to tell you again, fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor and you will be in detention for the rest of the week!' Snape said harshly.

'If being in detention for the rest of the week spares me from the misery of this class then I'll take it,' Darcy said, crossing her arms.

A few gasps broke the silence. Darcy had really crossed the line now.

Snape's face twitched in anger. 'OUT OF MY CLASS!' he shouted. 'I DON'T WANT YOU TO RETURN UNTIL YOU'VE CHANGED YOUR ATTITUDE!'

'Then I won't be coming back for the rest of this year,' Darcy retorted. 'I'd rather be cleaning the girl's toilets with a toothbrush than stay in this class.' With that, shoved her books, quill, ink and parchment into her bag and marched out of the room.

'Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor for Miss Hawthorn's cheeky attitude,' Snape said rather calmly. 'Any student that speaks to me in that tone will suffer a severe punishment.'

'I think that she should be expelled for that,' said a Slytherin sitting in front of Skye. 'People should have more respect for you Professor. You're only telling us of the reality that Skye's in a tournament which she shouldn't be.'

Snape gave a small smile. 'I appreciate your comment Mr Lynch, but unfortunately that cannot be done. Professor Dumbledore won't expel her. He's too soft on Muggle-borns like Miss Hawthorn. That Mudblood won't get very far in this world if she treats her superiors like that.'

'How dare you!' Skye said, standing up quickly. 'Don't you ever call Darcy a Mudblood!'

'SILENCE!' Snape shouted. 'I WILL NOT TOLERATE YOUR TONGUE. NOW SIT DOWN!'

'What are you going to do, kick me out?' Skye said fearlessly. Out of all of the students at Hogwarts, Skye was the only one who wasn't afraid of Snape and had the guts to stand up to him.

'I just might, and I could take fifty more points from Gryffindor if you don't control yourself!' Snape snapped.

One hundred points gone from Gryffindor in the first day wasn't the best thing to have happen. But Skye knew ways that Snape didn't on how to earn Gryffindor those lost points back. By threatening him, Skye knew that Snape wouldn't dare deduct more points from Gryffindor, especially if Dumbledore and McGonagall heard about it.

'Take another fifty from Gryffindor,' Skye said threateningly. 'Go on, or don't you have the guts to? What on earth would McGonagall think if in one class Gryffindor lost one hundred points? What would Dumbledore think?'

Snape looked rather torn indeed. Would he risk taking one hundred points from Gryffindor without a good excuse to back it up?

Skye looked thrilled indeed when Snape didn't answer.

'I will consider your statement, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to punish you for your actions. Since you appear to be so keen on pressuring me to give you a detention then I'll do it. You shall be in detention with Mr Filch tonight at midnight. I will think it over as to what your punishment will be, but I guarantee you that it won't be enjoyable.'

*

At supper that day, the whole school had heard about what happened in Snape's class and how Darcy had left and how Skye had stood up to Snape.

'Look at Snape's face,' Fred said, pointing up to the High Table where the teachers were sitting. 'He looks as if he's going to kill someone.'

'I can't believe that you did that today,' George said with awe. 'I would have stood up to Snape if I didn't know what the consequences would be.'

Oliver though, was in the most awe. He had been best friends with Skye since they were very young and he had never known Skye to talk to a superior like that. No matter how horrible they were.

'Did Snape say what your punishment was going to be?' he asked, his broccoli lost on its way to Oliver's mouth.

'No, but I can bet that it's not going to be fun. It's bound to be better than Potions though.'

To everyone's surprise, an owl flew into the Great Hall and landed on the table in front of Skye, a rolled up piece of parchment was clutched in its talons.

'Hello Blaze,' Skye said stroking her owl's glossy brown feathers. 'What news do you have for me?' Skye took the letter out of her owl's beak and Blaze flew off.

'Open it,' Fred said.

'What does it say?' George asked at the same time.

Skye unrolled the parchment and showed it to the others.

Dear Miss McAndrews,

I have decided what your detention will be. You are to meet Mr Filch in my office promptly at midnight. You will be scrubbing the dungeon until Mr Filch says that it is clean enough and even if it takes you all night, I want it to be perfect and spotless when I inspect it tomorrow before classes begin. If you fail to show up at your detention, you shall be in much worse trouble than you are already in.

Professor S. Snape

'Wow, that sounds pretty harsh,' Fred said.

'It'll take you ages to clean everything up. There are potion stains on the floor that have been there for decades. I bet he won't let you use magic to clean it up,' George replied.

'When it comes to detentions, no magic is to be used,' Skye said, taking a small bite of cauliflower.

'How would you know that?' Oliver inquired. 'You've never even had a detention before now.'

'I read it in Hogwarts, A History,' she said simply.

'You read too much,' Fred said in fake disgust.

*

When Skye showed up at Snape's office right at midnight, she was quite surprised to see Dumbledore standing there, arguing with Snape.

'I must speak to her about the tournament Severus,' Dumbledore said calmly.

'It had to be right now when she's supposed to be in detention didn't it,' Snape said harshly.

'I am afraid that I put this off to long Severus. I should have told her when I received the message -'

'Can't it wait until tomorrow?' Filch interrupted. 'She's got to be punished for the way that she acted in class today - '

'I shall think of a way to punish her,' Dumbledore began.

'You will not,' Filch said in disgust. 'You'll let her get away with it because she's your second cousin or whatever.'

'I most certainly will not,' Dumbledore replied.

'This little chat between you and McAndrews can wait until tomorrow. I believe it is up to the teacher as to what the punishments will be, am I right? So, I've decided on what her punishment is going to be, and I'm going to make sure that it is carried out!' Snape snapped.

'Severus, I will not argue with you. I agree that what she did was wrong, and I will decide what she will do for a punishment. As I have told you, this cannot wait,' Dumbledore replied.

'It just so happens that you have to tell her at midnight don't you?' Filch muttered.

'Ah, Skye!' Dumbledore said, taking notice of Skye's arrival. 'I am afraid that your detention with Professor Snape and Mr Filch is cancelled. I must speak to you immediately about the tournament.'

'But- ' Snape began but Dumbledore cut him off.

'I will not argue with you Severus. I have made my decision and "I'm going to make sure that it is carried out",' Dumbledore replied.

Snape looked as if he had just swallowed a lemon, Filch didn't look much happier.

*

'What's so important that it can't wait for tomorrow?' Skye asked, hoping that she didn't sound rude. She was in Dumbledore's office, stroking Fawkes the phoenix.

'A matter which has disturbed me since the moment I received the message.'

'What is it?'

'As you know, Albania is where Lord Voldemort was rumoured to be seen last. The tournament was to be held there, but several wizards that are with the International Confederation of Wizards disagreed, saying that it was too dangerous. I quite agree. But somehow, the place where the tournament is to be held has not changed. I believe that one of the wizards with the Confederation was right in Voldemort's inner circle when he was in power, but no one can prove it. He has pushed and forced the others to believe that nothing will happen. He claims that his old master is gone for good. Rubbish in my opinion.'

Skye looked quite surprised indeed. 'So what am I supposed to do?'

'Ah, that it why I need to speak with you, though my timing is not the greatest. Some of the other competitors are still going to compete; some have withdrawn, believing that it is too dangerous and that they would be putting their lives in danger. So, I have been meaning to ask you whether you are still going to compete or not.'

'What do you think I should do?' Skye asked looking up at Dumbledore.

He was silent for a moment. 'This matter does not rest in my hands, it rests in yours. You have to make the decision, not me.'

'I'm thinking that you don't want me to go,' Skye said, letting Fawkes fly back to his golden perch.

'Yes, I don't want you to go,' Dumbledore admitted. 'I believe that it is too dangerous and I don't want to see young people such as yourself getting hurt, or even killed. But as I have said, my decision is not yours.'

Skye turned it all over in her mind. She had just been given the chance of her lifetime to compete in a tournament with other witches and wizards of her age from all over the world. She had been picked to compete for England out of thousands of other entrants. This was her chance to prove to everyone who she really was and that she didn't need Dumbledore there to hold her hand every step of the way (as many of them already thought).

But Dumbledore's warning had changed her mind. Did she really want to put her life on the line just to be in a tournament? She was torn.

'I see your hesitation,' Dumbledore said. 'I know that you are debating what to do. I know that this is a big chance for you to prove to everyone that you are more skilled and a much better witch than they give you credit for. I still don't think that it is safe for you to go.'

Skye nodded, sharing his concern.

'You do not have to make your decision now. I will let you think it over in a few days and then I want to know what you decide. Now, why don't you hurry off to bed, you look rather tired.'

'But what about my punishment?' Skye asked, turning to leave.

'I think that what I have told you is punishment enough,' Dumbledore said with a laugh. 'Just don't tell anyone that I got you out of detention because everyone will be coming to me asking me to get them out of their detentions for them.'

'I won't,' Skye said with a smile as she left Dumbledore's office.