A New Beginning

Chapter 4

"Why would Dumbledore lie to us?" Harry asked Hermione and Ron incredulously.

The trio was sitting on a red leather couch in the Gryffindor common room. The room was empty, except for Hedwig, who was taking a break from the owlery, and Pig, who was sitting on Ron's finger, hissing every second or so unless Ron scratched his under the chin. It was ten minutes before dinner time and exactly one hour since their last class. Despite how much they tried to talk about, they'd been asking the same question over and over again. None of them could think of a sensible answer.

"I don't know why, Harry," Hermione said, " but I'm much more interested in why the teachers were out there waving their wands about out there. I've never seen anything like that. But I do know one thing. I know that it's dinner time. You hardly had any lunch this afternoon, what with Fred and George showing you those idiotic Quidditch plans. Why do you need to know twenty new plans for, like, five games this year? It's idiotic! But come on, you have to admit it. Everything seems better on a full stomach. Besides, you have a Quidditch game day after tomorrow- and it's against Slytherin. And it will hurt the Malfoys especially." She smiled at Ron. "And it's Ron's first day as Keeper."

After Harry consented, they walked out the common room door and towards the Great Hall. The Fat Lady was out visiting her friend- in fact, all of the paintings seemed to be gone today. The staircases seemed to be changing more than usual, as well- they had to take three alternative routes before they finally came to the Great Hall.

They sat down and waited for all of the teachers and students to come in. The sky-ceiling was extremely turbulent tonight- a deep black sky with purple lightning streaking across, and dark purple rain clouds streaking across.

The Slytherin bunch came in, chuckling and scowling. Draco headed the hoard. Fred and George came in with Lee Jordan, who was going to be commentating again this year. They saw Harry and Ron, and started to come over, but the other members of the Gryffindor team waylaid them and asked them to explain the new moves again.

Dumbledore, McGonagall, and all the rest of the teachers came in, stony-faced and silent. Even Snape looked glummer than usual. Harry stared at Dumbledore, who had his hat in his hand, and was rubbing at his temples anxiously. He waved his hand, and the tables of the Great Hall filled with food and plates. No one on the great table touched their food. Everyone on the other tables started eating, and commented on the different foods which were, as usual, superb.

"Buck up, Harry," said Ron, his mouth full with biscuits and pumpkin juice. "No sense to starve yourself over it! Pumpkin juice seems good tonight. S'pect they put some wine it tonight to keep us quiet!"

A loud bang sounded from the direction of the Great Hall's door, and everyone turned around and looked towards the opening of the two huge double doors.

A middle-aged man, waving a gun screamed loudly, "Wh-wh-what is this place? H-h-how did he f-f-food appear like that? I-I was driving and my car ran off the road-"

Professor Malfoy stood up. "A filthy Muggle! And an American Muggle!" he said out loud.

"Lucius!" Dumbledore was up now, followed by McGonagal and Hagrid. All the students that knew what the strange metal weapon was were underneath the tables and screaming. Harry and Hermione pulled on Ron's robes when they saw he wasn't moving to position himself on the floor.

"What the bloody hell is that thing the Muggle's holding? It makes a bloody noise! Like a cracker at Christmas." he said, his mouth still full of food.

"It's a gun, Ron, and it could possibly kill you," Hermione said, exasperated. Ron blanched. "And what I want to know is- how did he get past the Muggle protection field? There's no way he could have gotten passed it, even with magical help!"

All the teachers stood up, wands ready. Dumbledore was at the head of the group, speaking calmly and rationally.

"Sir, please put down the weapon. Put it down, and we won't hurt you. It will be fine." Dumbledore motioned with his wand toward the floor.

The Muggle stared at him, then, seeing how many people there were, lowered his gun. A curse rang out. Sparks flew out from a wand, and the Muggle fell down.

He fell down, but not before a stray bullet had had time to hit Dumbledore.