Three Hours to Live

Three Hours to Live

By Matt Coggins

Chapter 1

Professor Dumbledore walked silently walked through the halls of Hogwarts. He was heading for the room hardly anyone had been in since the year before, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Since every skilled wizard in the subject turned it down, he himself had to teach it.

Albus opened the door to a full classroom. As he walked to his desk, he passed the many Gryffindor and Slytherin students. There was Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and- "Yes!" thought Dumbledore- Harry Potter.

"Good afternoon, class!" Dumbledore said gleefully.

"Good afternoon, Professor!" the class chimed back. They were all happy, even the Slytherins, to have a good professor again.

"Today," said Dumbledore. "I will be teaching you the Portal Spell. It takes great skill to do it, so I don't expect you to make one on the first day.

"The Portal Spell allows you to make a portal that can travel you from one place to the other. It can also travel you through time. If you have a report on the witch burnings in Salem, cast the spell and you're on your way."

Harry was impressed at this. He had always wanted to see the Ancient Greek games, and with this spell he could be in the coliseum with the swish of a wand.

Dumbledore went on, "The incantation for the Portal spell is Lesotho."

"Isn't that a country in Africa?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, Ms. Granger, it is," said Dumbledore. "Lesotho is where the spell originated. As I was about to say, Lesotho is conjured like this:"

Dumbledore put his wand in above his head, pointing it at a wall. He said "Lesotho," and then put his wand strait in front of him. Instantly, a black shape shot out of his wand. When it hit the wall, it spread out into a large circular shape.

"After you cast the spell," Dumbledore declared. "You walk up to the portal," (he did so) "and say when and where you want to go."

Dumbledore walked to the portal, stood right in front of it and said: " "South end of Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, right now."

A portal just like the first one opened right behind the class. Dumbledore walked through the first portal, and appeared in the other.

"Now I want you to try it," Albus said. "Let's start with you, Mr. Malfoy."

Malfoy put his wand above his head, said "Lesotho," and put his wand strait in front of him, but nothing happened.

"Okay... you next Mr. Crab-- no, wait, Mr. Weasley, try your luck."

Ron did the wand movements, cast the spell, and a small portal came out, but not big enough for anyone to travel through.

"Ms. Granger, you're up!"

Hermione cast the spell, and a full sized portal came out, but when she went to say where she was going, it shrunk back up.

"Mr. Potter, maybe you can do it-...."

"Oh, yeah, trust your luck in Potter," Malfoy interrupted. He then mocked Dumbledore. "'I'm and old fart that just loves Harry Potty! He can cast the spell, oh, yeah! Potty rules!'"

"Detention, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said, calmly.

Harry cast the spell, went up to the portal, and said, "Hogwarts' hallway, right outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts room."

He walked through the portal, and it disappeared behind him. The class waited in silence, and a knock came to the door. Dumbledore opened it, and there was Harry with a large smile on his face.

"It works!" he yelled.

***

Later that night, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to finally go to bed near one o'clock in the morning. They had been celebrating Harry's success with the Portal Spell.

Hermione headed to the girls dormitory, changed into her night clothes, and slowly crept into her bed.

She fell asleep soon later, and had the strangest dream.

She was walking down the hall with Harry and Ron on the way to Transfiguration class. All were laughing at a joke Ron had just told, when Harry bent over, clutching his forehead.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked.

"My.... scar......." Harry moaned.

"Is Voldemort near?" Hermione asked.

As if it were answering her question, a loud laugh echoed through the great hall. From the balcony of the first floor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw Voldemort standing in the middle of the hall.

"HARRY POTTER!!!" he yelled. "Your rein of good will end today! Ever since you've taken the power out of me, I've wanted to destroy you!!

"My power is back, now, so let it be known that Lord Voldemort will finally destroy Harry Potter!"

Voldemort drew out his wand and Harry did the same as he jumped off the balcony.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort yelled.

"Protego!" Harry cast the shield charm to protect himself from getting killed. Voldemort dodged the spell as it came back.

Then he noticed Hermione was the only one with her wand drawn. "Hermione!" he yelled. "Cast a spell!"

"Which one?"

"Anyone!"

Hermione could only think of one spell- the spell Voldemort last used.

"Avada Kedavra!" she yelled.

Voldemort was smarter than any school child, so, quick as a flash, he cast the shield charm.

The spell missed Hermione and hit Harry, who couldn't see it coming. He fell to the ground, dead.

Then Hermione woke up. That was no dream. That was a premonition.

To Be Continued