Headmaster's Office

Harry almost behaved like he has been suffocated. Chris looked around the deserted corridor and saw a line of spiders scuttling as fast as they could away from the bodies. The only sounds were the muffled voices of teachers from the classes on either side. Harry started to panic. Chris took some deep breaths. 

"We should call the teachers," Chris said calmly. 

But before she can do anything a door right next to them opened with a bang. Peeves the Poltergeist came shooting out. 

"Why it's potty wee Potter!" cackled Peeves, knocking Harry's glasses askew as he bounced past him. "What's Potter and Norton up to? Why're they lurking ..." Peeves stopped, halfway in midair. He spotted Justin and Nearly Headless Nick. He flipped the right way up, filled his lungs and, screamed, "ATTACK! ATTACK! ANOTHER ATTACK! NO MORTAL OR GHOST IS SAFE! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ATTACK!" 

Crash .... crash .... crash ... door after door flew open along the corridor and people flooded out. For several long minutes, there was a scene of such confusion that Justin was in danger of being squashed and people kept standing in Nearly Headless Nick. Professor McGonagall came running, and used her wand to set off a loud bang, which restored silence, and ordered everyone back into their classes. No sooner had the scene cleared somewhat, a Hufflepuff boy arrived, panting, on the scene. 

"Caught in the act!" The boy yelled, his face stark white, pointing his finger dramatically at Harry and Chris. 

"That will do, Macmillan!" said Professor McGonagall sharply. 

Peeves were bobbing overhead, now grinning wickedly, surveying the scene; Peeves always loved chaos. As the teachers bent over Justin and Nearly Headless Nick, examining them, Peeves broke into a song about Chris and Harry. 

"That's enough, Peeves!" barked Professor McGonagall, and Peeves zoomed away backwards, with his tongue out at Harry and Chris. 

Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra of the Astronomy department, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to the same Hufflepuff boy with instructions to waft Nearly Headless Nick up the stairs. Soon Chris and Harry were left alone with Professor McGonagall. 

"This way, Potter and Norton," she said. 

"Professor," said Harry at once, "I swear we didn't ..." 

"This is out of my hands, Potter," said Professor McGonagall curtly. 

"Harry, calm down .... we didn't do anything," Chris said as they followed Professor McGonagall. 

They marched in silence around a corner and she stopped before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle. 

"Lemon drop!" she said. This was evidently a password because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two. Chris was amazed. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. As they and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, Chris heard the wall thud closed behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, they saw a gleaming oak door ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. 

This must be Dumbledore's office.

They stepped off the stone staircase at the top, and Professor McGonagall rapped on the door. It opened silently and they entered. Professor McGonagall told them to wait and left them there. The only Office Chris had seen before was Lockhart's office and she was really not interested in watching his various portraits smiling at her. But Dumbledore's office was different. She was curious and everything around her felt like mysteries which were ready to be solved by her. 

Harry was standing stiffly; Chris started to look around. It was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames. 

Chris heard a strange, gagging noise behind her. She turned and saw standing on a golden perch behind the door was a decrepit-looking bird that resembled a half-plucked turkey. The bird looked balefully back, making its gagging noise again. 

"Harry! Look!" Chris called Harry to see the bird. It was looking very ill. Its eyes were dull and, even as Harry watched, a couple more feathers fell out of its tail. 

"Is it alright?" Harry asked fearfully. 

"No. I think it's time. It's going to die." Chris said. 

"What?" Harry was in shock. 

"Harry, it's a Phoenix. When I was reading about wand cores, I read about it. They are very beautiful and rare creatures. Don't worry, they burst into flame when it is time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. They can carry immensely heavy loads and their tears have healing powers." Chris said smiling at the bird. "You can move on peacefully. It's painful to see you like this." 

Harry looked at them flabbergasted. Suddenly the bird burst into flames; it gave one loud shriek and next second there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash on the floor. Then a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. Chris smiled at it. 

"Aren't you the cutest?" she said.

Harry chuckled. Chris rolled her eyes at him. 

"Do you think Dumbledore will expel us?" Harry asked finally recovering from the shock. 

"No. 'Course not. Dumbledore is a wise man. He'll never do anything just because of few rumours." She moved on to see the other things in the office and saw Harry looking at the Sorting Hat. 

Harry went towards the Hat and picked it. 

"Harry? You're still hanging on that Slytherin-Gryffindor thing, aren't you?" Chris said raising an eyebrow. 

Harry was hesitating to hold the hat. Chris frowned and took the hat from him. 

"Every house is good Harry." She said loudly and was about to put the hat back when a big and long thing fell from the hat with a loud thud sound. Chris and Harry both looked at it. It was a gleaming silver sword; its handle glittering with rubies the size of eggs. Chris picked it up and examine it closely. A name engraved just below the hilt. 

Godric Gryffindor. 

"What?" Chris asked looking at the Hat. 

"Don't look at me. The sword comes out when it wants to be. I've nothing to do with this." The Hat said arrogantly. 

"Great," Chris said sarcastically. 

The office door opened. Dumbledore came in, looking very somber.