[Hogwarts Between] At the Ministry of Magic (Cyrus, Eugene, Heath&Family)

[Margaret Dean]

Brandon Klutzke wrote:
> 
> On 10/14/07, Karen Klutzke <kklutzke at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >         Cyrus looked at the green flames with no small amount of
> > > > trepidation. While he had seen his father use the Floo Network many
> > > > times, he had never tried it himself. "Well, here goes," Cyrus
> > > > muttered to himself as he stepped into the roaring fire. "M-Ministry
> > > > of Magic, Main Entrance," he shouted. Suddenly, Cyrus was spinning
> > > > like a top, green flames licking around him as he whizzed from one
> > > > fireplace to the next, getting small glimpses of each parlor beyond.
> > > > After what felt like an eternity, Cyrus fell dizzily onto a dark wood
> > > > floor.
> > >
> > > It was so highly polished that Cyrus could practically see his
> > > reflection in it, but he did not have much time to study it
> > > before his father was pulling him to his feet and dusting him
> > > off.
> > >
> > > "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
> > >
> > > The gilded fireplace they'd emerged from was only one of a row of
> > > fireplaces set into one wall of a long and lofty hall.  Eugene
> > > pulled Cyrus out of the way just before he could be bumped into
> > > by a short, fat wizard in purple robes who stepped out of the
> > > fireplace behind him.  Across the hall was another row of
> > > fireplaces into which people were disappearing.  The ceiling, far
> > > above their heads, was peacock-blue, and inlaid with glittering
> > > golden traceries that seemed constantly in motion.
> > >
> > > "I'll need to sign you in as a visitor," said Eugene.  "Over
> > > there, past the fountain."  He began to lead Cyrus toward one end
> > > of the hall.
> >
> > They saw a family already standing in line: father, mother, and a son
> > who looked to be about Cyrus's age. The mother appeared friendly,
> > looking around and happily making eye contact with people and flashing
> > a winning smile. The father looked more like the proverbial fish out
> > of water, his eyes flitting around nervously at all the new sights. He
> > kept taking his glasses off and polishing the lenses on a
> > handkerchief.
> 
> The boy on the other hand kept looking from one thing to the next, but
> when he looked at something it was with a stare so intense it was like
> he was trying to melt the object with heat vision, which he obviously
> lacked.
> 
> Ever since Heath's mom threw floo powder on the fire the laws of
> science went out the window. Normally Heath would rebel at something
> this confusing, but he was prepared. He left everything that made
> sense back at home. He had read plenty of fantasy novels and expected
> a new world. Sure enough when he stepped out the flames it was like
> some one told the laws of physics to shut up and sit down. He had
> expected more castles and dragons, but it looked just like any other
> government building, granted that he just stepped out of one of a long
> line of fire places to get there, light seemed to come from nowhere,
> and the ceiling was always shifting. "Well obviously you aren't going
> to be in a castle." reasoned the logical part of Heath's mind. "Even
> the wizards have to keep up with the times." Logic paused and thought
> that that had to be the most crazy thing it had ever said and started
> to worry about Sanity. Sanity on the other hand was just fine, almost
> like it knew this sort of stuff existed.

As Eugene and Cyrus came up behind Heath's family, Eugene broke
into a smile and exclaimed, "Why, that's never you!  Samantha
[Samantha's maiden name], as I live and breathe!"  He turned to
Cyrus and explained, "Samantha and I were at Hogwarts together. 
It's been years!" he added, to Samantha again.  "Do you remember
the Tickle Charm in the--  Well, perhaps we shouldn't mention
that in front of the youngsters, eh?"


--Margaret Dean
  <margdean at erols.com>