Sara's adventure -Part II

“Would you like to accompany us to Britain, Sara?”

“Wha…. What the…? Me??? To Britain? You mean you are taking me to your world????” I was breathless when I spoke this.

Alisis smiled. “Yes, Sara, we see that you are thoroughly excited. Can we make a move?”

“What? Now? You mean you are taking me now? But what for? Harry said he wanted my help. What kinda help? “ I bombarded him with my list of questions. I took my breath on seeing the wink Alisis gave me. 

“Calm yourself, Sara, we will let you know everything you would want to know.”

“But, what about my parents? What will I tell them? What about my friends, my office?”

“Everything has been arranged.” Winnace spoke. I gasped a bit on hearing his harsh tone.

“You tell your parents as soon as they come back that you are leaving to Rajapalayam on audit. You take a medical leave in your office. Here is your ticket. You have got your train tomorrow evening. We will be at the station to pick you up.” Harry described me the plan.

My eyes grew wider and wider as I heard Harry’s plan. I could not believe that I was going to disapparate with them tomorrow. Am I doing the right thing by lying to my parents? I wondered.

“You people know everything about me then?”

Alisis slowly nodded his head in acknowledgement.

Harry gave me a minute before he spoke again. “Can we presume that you are coming with us, Sara?”

“Won’t i? I would love to”. I smiled.

I was so restless the next day waiting that my parents noticed and questioned me about it. Though I passed it out as my office tension, I was excited and worried at the same time.  I was doubtful if all that happened was only a dream, but the ticket in my hand proved me wrong. I patiently sat in my train seat peeping through the window all the time. I got nervous when the train started moving. When I bid farewell to my parents, tears escaped my eyes out of desperation. I felt guilty on how worried my parents would be if I tell them the truth. I relaxed myself closing my eyes. As I closed my eyes, I felt two rough hands holding my both the arms. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw a blur of colors and I realized that we were moving away from the train compartment with unimaginable speed. Before I could realize that I was disapparating with them, I felt dizzy and I closed my eyes shut.

When I opened my eyes, I was lying in a cozy bed in a dark room. Bright light made my eyes glare. It took a minute for me to understand the design of the room. I was in a wide room supported by walls made of hard stone. I was in the far end where I was laid. In the middle of the room was a big window, curtained with light silk material that the sun rays came in through and flooded the entire room.  I turned my head to see a group of people crowded near a long wooden table in the center of the room. I was able to recognize the violet cloaked Alisis and black cloaked Harry seated in the far corner. Winnace was standing beside Alisis’s seat. There were four more people seated, of which one had a bushy hair pulled in a pony tail. I got up and moved my legs to get down from the bed. Though the room was scarcely equipped still I was able to see few things that distinguished the place as a wizard’s residence. In the eastern corner of the room was a dressing table on which was placed a number of colored bottles from the wrapper of which I could hear wizards calling out the effects of using them in a low voice. To the right of it was a picture of a wizard and a witch who were staring at me vividly. They turned their faces to the crowd assembled on seeing that I had noticed them. The witch cleared her throat softly, hearing which the group of wizards talking among themselves in low voices stopped short. Alisis looked at me, got up and came towards me. Slowly, the seven of them moved towards my bed. I noticed the one with a bushy hair and jumped to my feet.

“Her…Hermoine Granger??”

She smiled at me. “Hermoine Weasley. Welcome Sara, pleased to meet you.” She offered her hand. I was so thrilled to give her my hand that I stumbled. She came forward and caught me before I could fall. I stood straight and relaxed myself before I could turn to see her.

“Sorry, I am so excited. Hermoine, one of my friends who is as crazy on Harry Potter as I am, would die of jealous if she happened to know that you offered your hand to me.”

Hermoine laughed. The other wizards smiled too.

“We are perfectly delighted by your amazement and friendly attitude towards us, Sara. Let me introduce you, Mr. Henry Michelles, the Minister of magic.” He pointed to the short, plump wizard standing beside Harry. He bowed his head a little and I smiled at him.

“And this is Ms Marie Bones, the head of the department of Magical Law enforcement.”

“Hello Sara”, said the pale, skinny witch who appeared to be in her eighties.

“Hello, Ma’am! Are you by any chance related to Susan Bones?”

Marie laughed out aloud looking at Alisis. “I am surprised. Now, I believe your word, Alis, she is a natural. Yes, I am, Sara, I am her aunt. Amelia’s sister.”

“Oh, nice to meet you”

“And this is ….” I gasped on looking at the wizard who hid himself behind the others. I looked at his oily greasy hair. “Snn Ss Snape…?”

“Aw, you are amazing, Sara, yes, he is related to Severus. He is Severus’s cousin. Mr Toby Marvin Snape.”

Toby came to the front and winked at me which did not get along with his appearance. I imagined Severus winking at a muggle and I laughed.

“What is so funny, Sara?” Toby asked.

“I was just imagining your uncle winking at a muggle like me and I was unable to control my laughter. You are so different from your uncle. “

“Yes, I am. Because I am a muggle, Sara. My father was born a brother to Severus’s muggle father Tobais.”

“Oh, I see! I am pleased”

“I apologize for your inconvenience while we disapparated, Sara. Now can we have our breakfast? My friends have been waiting patient enough for you to recover. Please.” Alisis led to me to the table. I walked after him and took my seat. I looked at the table to find different food items in golden bowls placed in the center. Different sized silver plates were laid before each seat. My plate had veg noodles, potato chops, apple, banana and tomato sauce. A brass glass filled to its brim with delicious smelling milk was kept beside my plate. My stomach growled with hunger as I had not had food properly the whole day out of excitement and restlessness. I waited for others to settle down before I could lay my hands on my plate.

We all ate in silence. Though I could sense that everyone except one (Alisis) in the table had their eyes on me, I involved myself in eating. As soon as I finished my noodles, hot cheese toast and capsicum appeared. They were followed by another dish which looked very much like chicken, appeared in my plate out of nowhere. I hesitated staring at it.

“They are cauliflower fries, Sara. Rest assured. We know that you are a vegetarian.” Hermoine who was seated beside me smiled at me.

“Oh, thank you. I am surprised at your hospitality.”

As my stomach filled in slowly, I slowed down eating and spent my time glancing at the portraits hanging in the wall and examining the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

When I finished off with my milk, all plates and vessels disappeared.

“Cool!” I muttered.

“You may rest, Sara. This house belongs to the ministry of magic. Feel at home.” Alisis smiled.

“But, you haven’t told me anything yet. Why have I been brought here? Why only me? Harry said that he wanted my help. What kind of help are you expecting? What kind of help would I be able to offer?”