Having just flown back from a protracted holiday in London, host of Yummy Papadam King Muthu and our ever dependable Kate find themselves waiting for the Hogwarts bound train on the cold , blustery morning .
The editors of Gnak had just been granted permission for an in-house interview with Harry, Ron and Hermione and nothing would have stopped them from conducting the interview- not the tickets arriving barely on time on their table; not even the disgruntled reporters who threatened to quit should they find themselves with a body part missing or added.
As the copious black smoke bellowing from the train's engine disappeared into the distance, our reporters braved themselves against the high profile magical trio and the cold draught from outside.
Muthu, who was now breathing out white gusts of moisture laden air and Kate , taken more to drawing on the foggy glass windows reports.
Decked in their glaring red and gold Gryffindor robes one may be tempted to ask them if they were dressed up for some Halloween party ; that is until they take out their wands.
"Accio," the girl with the straggly golden hair said, swishing her wand in our direction. Muthu and I jumped , parted our fingers and showed them the peace sign we gave normally to Aliens.
"We come in peace," Muthu said sepulchrally.
Our journey here had not been peaceful at all. The train ride was uncomfortably noisy and the food served was almost comparable to the food rations soldiers get when out-field , or so Muthu suggested.
We got lost in the maze-like school and wandered into the girl dormitories- Something Muthu was indignant about as the stairs suddenly transformed into a slide beneath him while I stood a little further, unscathed.
As the pipingly hot cups of tea floated from behind us and settled unto the coffee table, Hermione explained,
" That's explained in Hogwarts: A history. The founders thought girls more trust-worthy than boys. That is why you," she said pointing at me ," and I can be here in the boys' dorms."
"highly illuminating!," said Muthu, a touch of sarcasm in his voice.
"Yeah , she has a knack for knowing things we don't know," said a boy with red toussled hair dressed in filthy robes as he grimaced.
" I don't know how she does that," his friend behind him continued, a scar barely discernable beneath his fringe.
" I read," Hermione said simply, a note of asperity evident .
"I'm Harry Potter," the youth with the scar introduced himself, holding out his hand.
Muthu hesitated slightly before extending his hand for a quick shake.
"Argh. My scar," Harry bent over, clucthing his forehead.
Muthu looked postively thunderstruck.
" Just kidding, " he said, patting Muthu good-naturedly on his back.
I almost expected Muthu to stranggle him when his friend interjected.
" Ron. Ron Weasley."
I took his small hand in mine.
A cat mewed in the corner as the fire cackled in the fireplace. Books laid strewn all over the table gave indication to what they had been doing before we came- Transfiguration. As I pondered what they would transfigure us into should we ask the wrong questions, we started the interview good and proper.
Muthu: First of, what of the rumours rife on the internet of Dumbledore's death in Half Blood Prince?
Ron: Total hogwash if you ask me. He's still here. Someone as powerful as he is can't have died can he?
Hermione: Exactly, if someone were to die, I'll much rather it be Malfoy or one of his cronies.
Harry: Personally, I hope it's Kreacher, that ruddy elf. But we must not get our hopes up too high.
Ron guffawed but choked it down at the last minute when Hermione glared at him.
Harry: Unfortunately though, someone did die but it's not him.
Kate: The half blood prince?
Hermione rolled her eyeballs backwards dismissively as Ron took to coughing out some chocolate frogs he just ate.
Muthu: From the green jacket of the book, it seems rather obvious that the half blood prince's from Syltherin ain't it? It is afterall their house colour no?
Ron: Blumi, yushoe tokuver foam bosezer trilani!
Munching on a bag full of every flavour beans, he swallowed hard and gulped down half a cup of tea.
Muthu:What's that?
Ron: Blimey, you should take over from Professor Trelawney, our divination teacher.
Harry: Think your imagination's much better.
Ron: At least he didn't predict you getting eaten alive by a giant mashmallow from the dream you had about eating your porridge.
Eyeing Harry matter-of-factly, Ron poped three more beans into his mouth.
Harry: True.
Ron: We're hopeless at it.
Ron concluded, wagging his fingers at Harry, Hermione and finally himself.
Herminone: At least I try not to sleep during her classes.
Ron: I'm getting better at it though (ignoring Hermione's comment) . I was almost certain when I took my Ordinary Wizarding Levels( OWLs) that a certain bald old man with a red wart on his nose was peering at me in the Crystal Ball.
Harry: That would be reflection of the examiner himself.
Ron: Was it? No wonder he looked at me funny.
Hermione: What did you foresee?
Ron: Told him straight to his face that if the old man in the ball was his idea of joke then I'ld rather have my leave than waste my time there.
Hermione looked as if she just swallowed something furry.
*awkward silence*
Kate: So Hermione what have you been doing of late?
Hermione: Preparing for my NEWTs and knitting more hats for the house elves, those poor souls.
Kate:The elves sure look miserable down here.
Hermione's face lit up even before you could say "Orlando Bloom".
Hermione: Good to have someone on your side,
she said, flashing dirty looks at Ron and Harry.
Kate: Nono, you misunderstannd me , we muggles( non-magic folk) are more used to elves looking all tall and handsome, perferably wielding a bow and an in-exhuastible supply of arrows. It would do well to speak a little Elvish too.
"What are you looking at?" Legolas challenged.
Ron: Bloody hell. Your elves look like one of you. I think his hair looks rather like Hermione's. Don't you think so Harry?
Herminone shot Ron an offended look.
Harry: I know that guy. My Aunt Petunia used to glaze longingly at his posters all day long.I think she's secretly in love with him.
Kate: Talking about love, how are things for you and Cho Chang in the new book? Had your first kiss in the last book I see.
Harry: Er.. , he said blushing furiously, we still have our rows, but we are doing quite well.
Muthu: The editors of your book leaked that there will be more romance in this one.Will it be a Sydney Sheldon waiting to happen?
At this moment, a sudden gush of wind blew out all the candles and the room would have plunged into total darkness if not for the light from the red-hot embers in the fireplace. Transfiguration notes flew haphazrdly in the wind in every direction and as Hermione tried to catch them before they flew out the window, I tried to unplaster one showing a particular tranfiguration diagram of an rat becoming a camel from my face.
"Alohomora," a guff voice beside me said.
The window and doors clicked shut as they were locked magically.
I turned my head and saw out of the corner of my eye, a boy, his hair sleek, oiled and combed to the back, a smug expression plastered on his face.
"Malfoy," Harry glowered.
I looked around and found that Muthu was nowhere to be seen.
- End of Part One-
