Hazel MacMillan Yr.2: Chapter 3

Instructions

“Nothing!” I said fiercely, feeling annoyed. Why in the world did ERNIE MACMILLAN, of all people, had to turn up at that second? “Why’re you spying on us anyways?” Ernie rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t ‘spying’. I was looking for One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Who’re you? “Hazel,” I answered. “Looking for Herbology books in the History section, though?” “Haze, quite nagging him,” Elizabeth sighed. “Look, tell Ernie. It involves him after all.” She shot me a look that only best friends could understand. “Urghhh, ok,” I grumbled, succumbing to Elizabeth’s pleas. “So, basically, Ernie, you’re my second cousin.” Surprised, Ernie stood perfectly still for a moment and then managed a “You’re lying!”, but I could tell he believed me, even if he didn’t, I had proof. He looked astonished, then puzzled, and a dozen other emotions ran past his face before he finally settled on ‘Let’s not talk about this now?’ expression. “I’ve got homework,” Ernie said. Total lie, since first years NEVER have homework on their first days, but I let it pass. “See you later.” Just then, the bell for end of break rang, and we scrambled into Potions. Snape hated imperfection, so I tried to concentrate on my Giggling Gillywater. My concentration payed off, and as Snape awarded me an “Exceeds Expectations”, I rushed out into the corridor with my friend group. “I’m worried about Carina,” Emily said worriedly. Apparently, Carina had just told her something that unsettled her dreadfully. “Her stuff is disappearing all the time. Mum made her some green socks, and they’re gone, as well as her hairbrush, chocolates and two Rowena Ravenclaw chocolate frog cards.” “Maybe she….. misplaced them?” suggested Daliyla, but Emily shook her head no, that wasn’t the case, and also that Carina was very tidy. “Ah,” Ruby sighed. “They’ll turn up, oh look, it’s Harry Potter!” The jet-black haired scar hero walked past, with a Muggle-born called Hermione and a redhead, obviously a Weasley. We watched with interest. “Miss MacMillan,” a crisp voice came from behind me. Spinning around, I spotted Dumbledore. “Please come to my office for a second.” I followed Dumbledore into his spacious, neat study. There, in a straight-backed wooden chair, sat Ernie. I sat down opposite him, and Dumbledore cleared his throat. “I expect you’ve found out,” he said, calmly. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Ernie and I asked curiously at the same time. Embarrassed, Dumbledore inclined his head. “Ah. Well, I was afraid, Miss MacMillan, if I told you too soon, it would open the wounds from your father’s untimely death. I planned to feed chunks of information but by bit, but before I had a chance to…. You figured it out.” “And Mr. MacMillan, Theodore MacMillan, Miss Macmillan’s cousin is also your second cousin, but I do not believe he would be quite hospitable and nice to you.” I nodded. Lately, Kay and Teddy had become quite…distant, cheeky, selfish and even a bit mean. So, I ignored them, as did Elizabeth. The Kay and Teddy I knew were gone. Once we were dismissed, Ernie MacMillan ran off to DADA, which was taught this year by a creepy guy named Quirrell. He was a total scaredy-cat, and could barely utter five words without stammering, even if it had nothing to do with Dark Arts. Huh.