105 Erm... Professor?

"All righ', you four?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him, but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. Arth, Scarlett(Who once more became a snake), Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled by thestrals.

The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. Harry looked better since the chocolate, but still seemed a bit pale. Ron kept looking at him sideways, as though frightened he might collapse again.

As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Arth saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side.

The air became slightly chilly as Arth narrowed his eyes at the dementors. It wasn't one of the four he remembered. Alfred, William, Sebastian, And Dolorem must've been somewhere else.

The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Hermione was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and Hermione and Ron got out.

As Harry And Arth(with Scarlett attached to his arm) stepped down, a drawling, delighted voice sounded in his ear.

"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?"

Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.

"Shove off, Malfoy," said Ron, whose jaw was clenched.

"Did you faint as well, Weasley?" said Malfoy loudly. "Did the scary old dementor frighten you too, Weasley?"

"Is there a problem?" said a mild voice. Professor Lupin had just gotten out of the next carriage.

Malfoy gave Professor Lupin an insolent stare, which took in the patches on his robes and the delapidated suitcase. With a tiny hint of sarcasm in his voice, he said, "Oh, no — er — Professor," then he smirked at Crabbe and Goyle and led them up the steps into the castle.

Arth raised an eyebrow.

"It seems that this new defense against the dark arts teacher will be better than our last."

"Wasn't that bloody obvious?" Said Ron with a snort. "Anything is better than Lockhart."

"Oh be quiet and move along, you're holding up the line Ron." said Hermione as she prodded Ron in the back to make him hurry.

The five of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches, and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Arth followed the crowd toward it, but had barely glimpsed the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight, when a voice called, "Potter! Granger! Kingscrown! I want to see you three!"

Arth, Harry and Hermione turned around, surprised. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House, was calling over the heads of the crowd.

She was a stern-looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun; her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Arth fought his way over to her with curiosity.

For what reason would she call him over?

"There's no need to look so worried, I just want a quick word in my office," she told them while chuckling at Harry's terrified face. "Move along there, Weasley."

Arth shook Scarlet off who let out an angry hiss before begrudgingly transforming back into a human.

Professor McGonagall let out a gasp of surprise.

"An Animagus? At this age?"

Scarlett tilted her head in confusion and turned her head towards Arth for clarification.

Seeing this Arth sighed.

"She is Scarlett, an Egle."

Professor McGonagall recovered from her shock and glanced at Scarlett with a entranced gaze.

"So she is the new third year student that was recently enrolled... how fascinating... an Egle... basically a natural born animagus... how fascinating..."

"Um Professor?"

"How much does she know about transfiguration I wonder..."

"Professor?"

"She needs to get sorted into her house..."

"Professor? Can you hear me?"

"I wonder which house... it must be slytherin considering she transformed into a snake... however her animal form doesn't necessarily determine her house..."

Arth sighed.

"...Hermione, can you capture Professor McGonagall's attention for me?"

Hermione nodded.

"Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes? What was that Granger?"

Hermione sent a glance at Arth before answering.

"Should we get going?"

"Ah, Yes. Pardon my moment of distraction... let's move along then."

Arth felt like crying.