Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Harry Potter & the Trio of Trouble ❯ The Visitors ( Chapter 1 )

Rain poured down the windows at number twelve Grimmauld Place. It had been raining steadily for a week, and black darkened the October sky; making it appear late. The dark grey of the sky forced the streetlamps into early action, casting a pale light into the windows, the ghoulish glow highlighting several shadows on their way towards the Black manor.

 

With the last member fresh in from the floo network, an elderly man with twinkling ice blue eyes, flowing long white hair and an equally white beard lowered himself to the seat at the head of the table. As several members got themselves seated, angry voices rose and demanded a reason as to why Dumbledore had called an emergency meeting.

“Dumbledore! What is the meaning of this?" Roared Moody, as he glared at the three shuffling forms behind the senior wizard.

“Ronald Weasley! What in Merlin's name are you doing here?” Screamed an equally riled Mrs Weasley, her red hair glinting under the lights.

 

Only the quiet chuckling of Professor Dumbledore himself had the order members quieting to listen to the explanation. Gesturing to the empty seats beside him, Dumbledore cleared his voice before speaking, his eyes never losing that twinkling shine.

“My dear Molly, they are here on my behalf. Something will happen tonight which shall require all of their cunning, bravery and loyalty to pull off.”

 

The quiet of the room had everyone on edge; only the stern McGonagall had the courage to reprimand the elder wizard, her greying black hair pulled back into a bun and square spectacles framed burning brown eyes.

“But Albus, They are only children!” She cried, her hands clutching the emerald green robes she wore.

At this the twinkle in the headmaster's eyes seemed to dim a little, the icy blue dulling slightly with sadness. His grave voice captured the room, seriousness descending on its occupants.

“Unfortunately, yes Minerva, they are only children. Yet times have brought them into this war and the burden falls on their shoulders”

The sadness within his voice took many of the surrounding members aback. Many looked gravely at the Gryffindors seated alongside them. They looked relaxed, yet many years of Auror training allowed them to visibly notice how shaken up the group was.

 

Before the voices could rise again and arguments recommence, a crackle sounded around the room. Three bodies unceremoniously dropped to the floor, setting off a wave of fumbling as chairs flew back, wands were drawn and shouts rang out across the dusty chamber. The air settled as what had been chaos became deathly silence. Wands still trained on the lump of entwined limbs, several members chanced a glance towards their seemingly unsurprised leader.

Dumbledore raised one bony hand to his face, and after several seconds of stroking his long silver white beard, he spoke.

“Well, it seems our companions are unconscious. Perhaps we should awaken them.”

 

His tone held no question, just gentle guidance as he pointedly looked over to where one extremely disgruntled potions master stood sneering at pile of bodies. His jet-black hair hung limply around his face, highlighting his angular face and blazing ebony eyes.

“ENERVATE,” was the only warning as a red beam spurted from the wand's tip and hit the mass of bodies on the floor.

A muffled groan sounded around the room as the three mysterious figures regained their senses. A tingling sensation rushed through their bodies like liquid fire, burning and soothing the paths it travelled. A pained gasp filled the air, along with a long, drawn-out shuddery breath. A lightly accented voice rose from underneath the unmoving mass.

 

“Erg, Zoë, move,” gasped the owner, evidently filled with the discomfort of being sprawled across on.

Another croaky voice filled the room, the silence of the order members amplifying the hushed volume.

“M- Mat, Is that you? I don't feel so go-od.”

The third voice that spoke was steadier than the first two, yet still the shakiness was evident in the puzzled tone.

“What happened?” Came the question it seemed that Dumbledore had been waiting for. His light chuckle seemed to draw the three still unmoving forms. Three shaky heads glanced up. Both pain filled and startled, the three still lay intertwined.

“We have been expecting you. You have been brought here to fulfil your destiny” he stated simply, as though they had asked the time.

 

As if remembering they were all piled together, the trio untangled themselves slowly, being careful with tender limbs. Standing on shaky legs, the three shared a look of complete bewilderment before Kat turned and addressed the elder wizard.

“Pardon?” Her tone was thick with doubt, but before she could say anything else, her eyes widened with recognition, her voice seeming to falter as she opened her mouth several times before choking out the words which seem to be causing her distress.

“I-I-I I know you! You're… you're Sir Michael Gambon,” she stuttered out, pointing directly at the white bearded wizard with whom she'd been conversing. Turning round she glanced at the other members before carrying on. “Oh my god, you're Dame Maggie Smith and you- you're Alan Rickman, DANIEL RADCLIFFE.” Her voice has continued to get stronger until she was practically shouting turning towards her brunette friends she pointed towards the elders surrounding them. “The entire cast,” she ground out, her voice becoming controlled once more.

 

However, her little speech awakened the others and quite suddenly a childish squeal filled the once more silent room. It appeared none of the order members present had expected this response and had been stunned into silence. Zoë grabbing onto Kat's shoulder for support began pointing at each member in an ecstatic state. “You're Brendan Gleeson, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, James and Oliver Phelps; oh GODS! You're, you're Natalia Tena.” She rattled off pointing at mad-eye Moody, Hermione, Ron, Fred and George before coming to a halt on Tonks. Her jaw seemed to be unhinged as she swallowed several times before continuing on, in a rapid high-pitched squeal.

“Oh Gods, I can't believe I've met you . . . oh god. Can- er could I - er - possibly get an autograph, I mean you don't have to, and I won't be offended if you say no, I mean you must get people asking all the time, so please, don't feel obliged to or anything, but . . . if you could, then I'd be forever grateful.”

 

Her rapid speech had many of the occupants of the room staring in open bafflement as her voice became higher and higher pitched and words seem to string together with the speed in which they were spoken. The girl's hands were clasped together, having taken them off Kat's shoulders when she began her incredibly fast speech.

 

Snape, becoming increasingly annoyed with the girl's insistent babbling, took the unexpected silence as the brunette finished to launch into a verbal attack before she could utter another word.

“Just who are you, and why do you insist on calling us these absurd names, and more importantly why are you here?” He demanded as he stalked forward, his wand still trained on the three wide-eyed intruders. Stopping suddenly his eyes narrowed before he shouted, “I want answers now!”

 

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry” came the continuous apologies, rushed and meek as Zoë grabbed both of Kat's shoulders, pulling her close from behind and effectively hiding her from view, her trembling voice alerting Kat to her anxiety. Kat remained stationary, acting as a human barrier between her scared friend and the steaming raven haired teacher. Snarling at the pathetic display, Snape's response was cut off by the commanding tone of one Albus Dumbledore.

“Now, now, Severus. Let's not be too hasty here; our guests have just arrived. The reason that they are here is because they are needed,” came the quiet headmaster's pleasant tone.

 

All eyes on him, several members began to protest before he cut in again and voiced his opinion once more. “Poppy, will you look them over? They seem to be unstable.”

 

The words had barely left the elder man's mouth before the mediwitch burst forwards and began checking Zoë for injuries. Chuckling in amusement he carried on, satisfied with his charges' attention.

“These children are vital to our purpose. They would not have been brought if not; these children will aid the wizarding world in the destruction of Tom Riddle.”

 

Chaos exploded after the announcement, shrill cries erupting from Mrs Weasley and McGonagall, forcing all of the attention from the elder man onto the two women, before Moody's infuriated yell and Snape's snarling had everyone shouting and screaming over the three being examined in the centre of the room.

 

A high-pitched yelp brought everyone's attention squarely back to the children as once more Zoë stood behind Kat, one hand placed on her arm the other pointing at the cut healing on Matthew's face. All three faces were painted with shock and astonishment. Matthew's body shook with fear and his face turned a sickly pale shade in fright.

 

“C-C-C can you see this? Oh god! Can you see what she's doing?” Came the distressed voice from Matt as his body shook with terror.

 

A tingling sensation flared to life as the tissue of his sliced cheek knitted back together. The sensation dulled slightly before stopping altogether, leaving his cheek slightly pink and healed.

 

Moody's yell pierced through the silence like lightning “You've brought us muggles; and not only that, you've shown them magic!” He yelled into a deathly silence.

 

The order members stood frozen in shock. They had all unknowingly revealed magic to three muggles! No-one moved and Dumbledore seemed taken aback by this new piece of information. Madam Pomfrey had released Matthew and he stood back from the group, one hand clutching his cheek, his body frozen in fear like a statue. Kat, no better off, stood almost petrified, the only sign she was still alive were the telltale shivers occasionally running through her body.

 

Hushed breaths had broken the silence long ago. Zoë stood, her body convulsing as raspy breaths choked her body. Her hand fiercely clutched her chest as her knees gave out and she crashed to the ground. Kat sprang into action along with Matthew, their fear pushed aside by the sudden collapse of their friend.

“She's having a panic attack!” Yelled Matthew in a panic as he grabbed the fallen girl's shoulders, dropping down to her level. Both friends murmured calming words, urging her to breathe slower and deeper.

 

Madam Pomfrey jumped out of her daze and snapped into action; casting several spells before Zoë's breathing eased and she slumped into Matthew's arms, her body too weak to move. The shuddery breathing of the girl seemed to calm the Order, soft talk beginning, with sympathetic glances thrown in the direction of the three distraught teens.

 

With her body securely encased in Matthew's arms and her face caressed by Kat; Zoë allowed herself to relax, absorbing the offered comfort. Soft whispers from her companions eased her discomfort and overrode her sense of fear. Zoë held onto her friends as if they were the only solid things left in the world.

 

“How can they help us, they are muggles?” Questioned Tonks, her tone soft.

“I wonder, just who are these people she claimed us to be?” asked Hermione quietly.

“We could oblivate them.” Moody pondered aloud.

“No, they are here for a reason,” Stated Dumbledore quietly. “What I do not understand is how they have no knowledge of magic. If the prophecy is true, they will be needed for our redemption.”

 

The calm shattered as Kat overheard the hushed conversation taking place. Unwinding herself from her friend's grasp, and glaring at the group, she rose to her feet and unleashed her fury.

“What do you mean, we are here for your redemption? And just what prophecy is this of which you speak?” Her hands balled into fists as she shuddered with anger. Behind her Matthew crouched low, still holding Zoë as she continued to calm down, his own body twitching occasionally with suppressed emotion.

 

All eyes once more swivelled towards the three. Kat glared at them, daring them to challenge her outright. She was livid, and her raging temper happened to be directed towards them. Narrowing her eyes when no one immediately answered her, Kat growled in agitation.

 

As if sensing Kat's self-restraint slipping, Dumbledore held up a hand in an attempt to quiet the bellicose girl. Ignoring the old man's entreaties, Kat batted the hand away impatiently, still growling, which made her resemble a large cat. The surrounding members eyes widened in shock except for one smirking Snape who grinned like an evil Cheshire cat.

 

Frowning slightly at the young girl's antics, Dumbledore cleared his voice; allowing the deep hypnotic tone to lull the child into listening.

“My child, you have been brought here to help save the world, and the prophecy we speak of merely foretold your arrival and the greatness you shall provide,” he said, his eyes regaining that shimmering twinkle.

“What prophecy is this?” Called Moody, his magical eye swirling to glance the elder wizard up and down.

“This prophecy would be the one my dear friend Sybil made yesterday morning,” the headmaster replied, appearing slightly pleased with himself.

“Trelawney! You're listening to Sybil Trelawney?” Exclaimed McGonagall; astonishment evident in her voice, the rest of the adults mirroring her expression.

“Of course, Minerva” came the soft response, which still managed to astound the surrounding group.

 

Shaking out of his stupor, Matthew grasped Zoë by her arms and hauled both of them upright, coming to a stop next to Kat. He gazed at the order members surrounding them and sighed, rubbing his temples in hopes of avoiding the oncoming headache, still continuing to massage his brow he began to speak.

“So you're telling us that we're extras?” He asked, his voice tired yet still containing a gleam of hope.

 

Several people stopped to stare at him, pondering on what the boy had said. Finally Mr Weasley asked the question at the tip of many tongues.

“Uh, just what exactly is an ...'extra'?” His tone was puzzled and his brow wrinkled with the unfamiliar term.

 

Glancing up, Matthew sighed once more before looking to Zoë for help. She swallowed the lump in her throat before pretending her friends' confidence and taking charge of the discussion.

“He means, I - I think... are we extras in the film? We wouldn't mind that. But I'm afraid we weren't expecting it and none of us have done this before,” she answered shakily, the effects of her earlier attack still not completely gone.

 

“What film?” Growled Shacklebolt, confusion at the muggles' words irritating him. Listening carefully to the potential argument, Mrs Weasley offered a solution to the circle.

“Well then, no need to become aggressive Alastor,” she reprimanded, sending a sideways glance at him. “Why don't we floo call Professor Trelawney, and have this sorted out in a jiffy?” She beamed happy that she had provided a solution without any bloodshed.

 

Openly smiling at the ginger-haired woman, Dumbledore clapped his hands and nodded his agreement; Snape gave a curt nod of acceptance, leaving only McGonagall to sigh before she too accepted the idea; before passing the floo powder to Dumbledore. Moving over to the fireplace Dumbledore threw the powder before yelling, “Sybil Trelawney,” and began quitely conversing with her.

 

Ey's swung round back to Zoë's face as Moody repeated the question he asked before.

“Just what are these 'film' thingie,s exactly?” His tone was softer this time, but still contained a commanding undertone.

 

Blinking at the man rapidly, she cocked her head to the right, biting her bottom lip in thought before answering the question carefully.

“The Harry Potter films, sir” Zoë answered quietly glancing at her friends for reassurance. Twin half-smiles answered her call, effectively allowing her stay in control.

 

Whatever answer they were expecting, it was apparent it wasn't that. Several loud gasps filled the air, eyes widened in shock and hushed whispers broke out around the room. Glancing around, Zoë took a step back, clasping onto both her friends arms. Harrry, meanwhile, stood with his mouth agape.

“What?” he whispered, the mixed mutterings and mumblings quickly drowning him out.

 

Fred and George advanced on the confused trio, while the others huddled together, discussing these so-called Harry Potter Films. Sliding beside Matthew, Fred looked him over before smiling. The wicked gleam in his eye was lost on the tired and aggravated teen.

“Want a sweet? You look like you could use one,” he said while pulling a handful of the brightly coloured candy from his pocket.

"Yeah , I could do with half a ton of sugar right now,” he sighed, picking up an orange sweet, unwrapping it and popping it into his mouth.

 

Seconds later, Fred's gleeful laugh caused Kat, Zoë and George to turn round and watch the transformation take place on their friend. Matthew's tongue had begun to swell to an enormous size. Eyes wide with distress, the trauma of his tongue increasing to ten times its normal length had him collapsing to his knees in horror.

 

Outraged that her friend had fallen for such a trick, Kat growled before stomping her foot, so appalled she swung round and grabbed George by his robes and proceeded to do the same with his twin.

“Help him!” Zoë cried, her eyes narrowing slightly and teeth clenched together, as she dropping to her knees to cradle the shocked boy. George glanced at the enraged girl before his gaze settled on his brother who was similarly being yelled at.

 

One hand buried in his hair, the other grasping his collar, the Kat shook Fred, screaming all the while.

“How DARE you do this! We have been hurt, shocked, traumatised and now you're JINXING US?!”

 

Tugging harshly on his hair, Kat yelled again, her face flushed with anger, snarling at the older teen. Agitated by their lack of response, she dragged them together and effectively slammed their heads against one another.

 

Blinking at the vicious girl's rage, George quietly muttered an emergency resize spell and chuckled at the reaction they had invoked.

Matthew's eyes continued to water as the spell was removed, and his tongue was returned again to normal size. Zoë sat beside Matthew, her arms around him rocking back and forth. Seeing her friend was safe and sound, she dragged him into a quick hug. Calming after the re-transformation, Kat smiled slightly before frowning once more at his sheer stupidity.

 

“Just what were you thinking?” Kat ground out. Behind Zoë, the boy tensed before glancing up into livid green eyes.

“Yes, Do tell us… what part of you decided it was a good idea to eat something given to you by the Weasley twins?” Zoë glared, poking him with one slim finger.

“I mean, even if you knew them, you shouldn't eat their sweets! Have you forgotten all of your supposed common sense?” yelled Kat, as she paced the floor, throwing both hands up in irritation.

 

Both twins gave an undignified “Hey!” from where they had stalked off to rethink and edit the design. Glaring at the two boys, Kat rounded on them showing just how displeased she was with their pranks.

“And you two, don't even get me started on you two. Fred, George just what were you thinking? What were you trying to do… give him a HEART ATTACK?” The angry scream caught everyone's attention as they surveyed the scene.

 

“BOYS!” Mrs Weasley shrieked as she picked up the telltale wrapper of the twins' ton-tongue toffees, “Tell me you didn't do what I think you did!”

Grinning cheekily, they were about to answer when a thought struck the pair and they rotated round to gape open-mouthed at the three.

“You, you… you know our names!” Exclaimed Fred as he backtracked, double-checking that they hadn't given away their identity

“How do you know our names?” George questioned, positive that they'd not mentioned them.

 

Blinking at the ridiculous question, Kat glanced at Zoë who shrugged back in turn. Neither of them sure how they kept running round in circles.

“We told you. We've watched your films and read the books,” sighed Kat, her head already starting to pound with the idiocy of the morons surrounding her.

“What more do you want?” questioned Zoë, her teeth nipping the bottom of lips in irritation, one hand idly playing with a lock of hair.

“Just what exactly do these books entail?” Asked Harry, his voice full of worry at the Order members learning something of his past.

 

Shaking her head and sighing, Kat waved to Zoë to answer. Her head was steadily pounding and the fact they were messing with her mind didn't help. Zoë inhaled deeply in a calming fashion before taking up the role of explainer. Stepping forwards she began to explain ignoring the slight ache her temples sent her in agitation.

“Well, I mean we've read the Harry Potter books, you know, Harry Potter and Philoshopher's Stone, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, and Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix,” she replied in the soft tone one would use when speaking to a child or scared animal, purposely leaving out the book that had brought them there.

 

Several gasps filled the air however before anyone could comment. An indignant squawk burst through the room as Sybil Trelawney stumbled out of the fireplace. Steadying herself, she glanced at Dumbledore, who nodded his head slowly before she scrutinised the three strangers in the middle of the room.

 

Her sigh broke the quiet which had settled over the room, her high screeching voice had them wincing.

“Yes, that's them. There are the wizards from my vision... they've got a troubling future ahead.”

 

Nodding in acceptance, Dumbledore turned towards the three,

“There, you have been brought here for a reason.” Pausing slightly, Dumbledore carried on, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “These books, it might be prudent to not reveal their immediate contents”

 

Spluttering with rage, Harry jumped out of his seat, his face twisted into a mixture of shock and anger.

“Professor! Surely, you're not serious, those books are about me, I deserve to know what's in them!” He yelled out, his fingers idly running through his hair.

 

Zoë dropped back onto her haunches, sighing in exasperation. She had no clue what was going on and her head pounded because of it. Glancing at Matthew she watched as he tried to hold onto what sanity he had left before he too dropped beside her.

“My mind's screaming at me to crawl into a hole an die,” she whispered, exaggerating her pain. Smirking and chuckling at his friend's attempt to cheer him up, he tugged on Kat's sleeve, gesturing her to join them on the floor. Smiling, Kat dropped beside him, the girls resting their heads on his shoulders.

 

A bellowing yell had Matthew wincing as his headache worsened into a throbbing and pounding beat, forcing him to clench his teeth in pain.

“We need to know what's in those books, Dumbledore!” Bellowed a furious Snape, glaring deadly at his superior. Pivoting, Snape pointedly glared at the three slumping figures before carrying on his demands. “I demand you tell us the future of the war.”

 

Matthew groaned as all of the shouting was not making his head feel any better. Half-heartedly glaring at the shouting man before him, he was unaware of a red streak that shot past him and squarely hit the yelling professor on the chest.

 

Startled gasps and shocked faces mirrored on his best friends' faces. Blinking, he realised that once more the room had descended into silence.

“Matthew, you performed magic!” Came Zoë's awestruck assessment.

 

Gazing back at Snape, his mouth fell open with shock. Across the steaming professor's face was a jet-black zip with a small metal padlock. As one, the room burst into laughter. Kat had her head buried in Matthews shoulder, attempting to contain her outrageous chuckles, glancing up she locked eyes with Zoë who lost herself to the giggles she was trying to ignore. Hooting in laughter, Kat chanced a look at the twins who were sprawled across the floor laughing like hyenas. The rest of the room was no better off, with even Dumbledore chuckling at the potions master's expense.

“Well at least that solves the muggle issue,” Dumbledore said lightly, as he undid the spell cast upon the professor. “I would imagine you have the talent, after all you were children of our time.”

 

Puzzled by the expression, Zoë cocked her head towards the right before speaking her mind.

“What exactly do you mean by that, sir?” her voice squeaking lightly.

 

“Curious,” Hermione stated, her eyes fixed on the puzzled three still sitting on the hardwood floor. “Curious, that you have no knowledge of magic. And yet you are able to perform such an advanced spell. Also you believe yourselves to be in a muggle film, yet you seem to know our history and us; including things that have not come to pass,” she pondered aloud. Eyes silently questioned the girl to continue. “The only plausible reasoning for this would be that you are indeed not from our world. You have somehow been transported here via portkey, which probably only activated as all three of your magics combined; acting as the password of sorts… this is very advanced of course, way beyond any of our levels.”

 

The room stood as if in a daze. The silence ticked by, the only disturbance= the even breathing of the inhabitants. Finally the low rumble of the professor's voice once more brought the occupants of the room back into the pleasant atmosphere.

“Ten points to Gryffindor, Miss Granger, for your correct evaluation.”

 

Blinking still at the speech of caramel-haired girl, Zoë turned towards her friends before leaning in to whisper,

“And all that means…?” She trailed off looking dumfounded and embarrassed at the same time.

Chuckling at his friend's bafflement, Matthew gazed at Kat before answering his ebony haired friend.

“She means we have somehow skipped worlds . . . I think,” he said uncertainly.

“Euch, I so feel a headache coming on,” Zoë moaned as she learnt this new piece of information, holding her head in her hands and trying to breathe calmly through the idea that she was in an alternate world.

 

“Hang on, let's get this straight. They're not from our world but an alternate one where magic doesn't exist and we only do in film and books, which centre around my life,” questioned Harry, disbelief evident in his voice.

 

“Yes, not forgetting we're about ten years ahead of you, since it's what 1996 here? And we're from 2007,” corrected Kat, her voice blank as she tried to remember just why she'd been dragged into this mess and if it would all go away like a bad dream.

 

Shaking his head, utterly nonplussed, Ron stepped forwards, eyes wide and voice heavy with confusion.

“That's just not possible, it's not.”

 

“Believe me Mr Weasley, it is” hissed a very annoyed Trelawney, glaring at the boy who'd dare disbelieve her talent.

 

“So what now?” Tonks asked, trying to avoid the broomstick propped up beside her, unfortunately banging the end table beside her and sending a vase crashing to the floor. “Whoops” she grinned apologetically.

 

Grinning at the girl's accident attraction, Dumbledore clasped his hands together before addressing the room; in particular the three flopped in the centre.

“Now, they shall proceed to Hogwarts where they shall acquire an education, and the rest shall fall into place on its own,” he proclaimed, gazing at the three questioningly.

“We get to go to Hogwarts?” Zoë gasped gleefully, her head shooting up in wonder.

 

Rolling her eyes at her friend's bipolarity, Kat looked pointedly into their headmaster's eyes before asking the important questions.

“Where are we going to stay, how are going to catch up on five years' work, where will our money come from and just what is going to happen afterwards?” She rattled off, her serious gaze boring holes into the passive ice blue locked with her own.

 

Chuckling at the inky-haired girl's precise questioning and intense gaze, Dumbledore nodded to the girl. New respect shone in his eyes.

“Well, Hogwarts will welcome you with open arms, and your current magical expectations will be lower than most. However; mysteriously, your magic seems to be stronger than it should be, therefore I'd imagine you'd catch up rather quickly,” he mused, voice dripping with amusement. “You'll be placed with your correct year group, of course. You'll be a bit behind but with tutoring and hard work it's very possible you'll be able to take your N.E.W.T's with the rest of year. As for your financial status, when I learned of your pending arrival, I set up several accounts in your name, only to discover that whoever created that portkey also set up a fund for your arrival as well… The account has been dormant for almost three hundred years, the small fortune which was originally placed, including several unknown assets, will have been greatly augmented by interest schemes,” he continued, his voice brimming with joy that someone had such a well thought-out plan.

His long-winded speech affected the three unknown wizards and witches, eyes of amazement and wonder shining back at him, mixed with confusing glances of the third.

 

“I, er, guess it's all good then,” Zoë said; the slight puzzled tone in her voice showing she wasn't entirely sure what that all meant. Tilting her head to the right slightly, she bit down on her bottom lip, still puzzling on their arrangements.

 

Snapping out of her stupor, Kat nodded in acceptance before turning to poke the openly gaping Matthew. Chuckling at his response, she grinned at Zoë before asking her opinion.

“Well, It seems all acceptable to me, can't fault anything.”

“Er, what about our family? When can we go home?” Zoë questioned at remembering how her cousin would love the chance, blinking back tears as she gazed into the saddened eyes of their new headmaster.

 

“I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm at a loss on that, the magic used to bring you here is considered dark magic and is effectively banned; any attempt to send you back the way you came would effectively send the participant to Azkaban. I am afraid we shall have to find a new means of returning you back to the world from which you came.”

 

Startled at the possibility that they could no longer return home, Kat glared into the floor with vigour. The endless family members she would no longer see ran through her head. Two slender arms encased her own from behind and she felt the soft-hiccupped breath of Zoë as she offered her friend support. Matthew watched the girls, clenching his hands together before he too huddled into the embrace; sharing their loss, fears and sorrow together.