Finally,
the staircase brought him, with a jerk and a painful wheeze, to the door of the
office. Taking a deep breath, Happy reluctantly turned the doorknob and
stepped into the devastated study. Raising his eyes to the headmaster's
desk, Happy suddenly seized his wand and leaped back into the doorway.
"You!" he
bellowed, "But--but--you're dead!"
Behind
Professor Dumbdoorknob's desk sat Severed Snake.
“I can assure you, Mr. Rotter, that
I am well aware of that fact,” Snake snarkily snarled.
“But-But,
you’re here!” Happy was feeling quite faint again.
Snake
squinted at the boy. “That you for pointing out the obvious.”
“Why?” was
all Happy would get out before collapsing on a dusty, red, ornate chair. The
uprising dust was not helpful for his spinning mind.
Snake
frowned. He really had no idea why he was alive again, although he was not even
certain he was truly alive. He would not, however, ever admit such a thing to
the obnoxious, dazed boy in front of him.
Instead of
answering, Snake conjured up some water for the twit.
It was an
oddly nice gesture. Happy was suspicious before remembering the dead man’s
memories, and took the water without a word.
“I trust,
Rotter, that you will be discreet about what you know,” Snake slowly said.
Happy had
no doubt he was speaking of his memories, imagining Snake’s embarrassment and
the revenge he would take were he to know most of the wizarding community
already knew, as Happy had been given the displeasure of reading Snake’s
eulogy. Happy sipped his water, nodding, hoping the dead man was not reading
his mind. He suddenly regretted having not practiced guarding his mind, before,
even though he had been given ample opportunity.
“I have you
here to discuss your education,” Snake said. “Most of your year have been
offered immediate graduation from Pigpimples, and jobs. I was under the
impression that you and your minions might be returning, though.”
Happy was
unsure how to answer. Education had never crossed his mind since he had
defeated Mort Loverdold. Niether had a job, not that he had been offered one. Couldn’t
he just be The Boy Who Survived, Died, Lived, and Won?
Severed
Snake interpreted the silence. “I see. Well, be back within the week with an
answer, Mr. Rotter, and bring Miss Ginger and Mr. Weasel’s decision as well.”
Happy left,
not even acknowledging the man.
“Oy! Boy
Who Damaged Me!” the gargoyle shouted. “What were ye here for?”
Happy
turned. Now that he thought about it, this information could easily have been
sent in a letter. “I’m not really sure.”
Joe
