A trio moved quickly toward the end of the Hall. Every single pair of eyes at each of the four tables watched their approach, some with curiosity, others bored indifference, and more then a few with cold hostility. Two cloaked figures flanked a young woman, their footfalls eerily making no sound as they moved. Accompanying the witch as far as the end of the corridor formed by the tables, the mysterious figures gave a curt nod to the Headmaster, turned on their heels and swiftly exited the Hall. With a warm smile, Dumbledore elegantly moved forward, his long robes swishing and swirling about him, a restless ocean of dazzling colors. The tension that had unknowingly arisen from the students' confusion slowly dissipated at the reassuring sight of the Headmaster. With an air of good humor and pleasantness, Dumbledore took to the podium adorned with an enchanted owl, seemingly unbothered by the girl who quietly stood below him. With a flourish of his arms, he began to speak.
"Ah, good evening students. I trust you all had a most pleasant holiday and are most eager to begin again with your classes and studies. This year, however, it light of the darker occurrences of our times, will be unique from previous years."
A slight murmuring passed through the tables as guesses and suppositions passed from mouths to ears. Some students insisted they knew what the strange appearance of the girl meant, while others presented such outlandish theories that not even the thickest of the lot believed.
"I believe all you astute young witches and wizards have noticed some out of the ordinary happenings here tonight", Dumbledore gestured to the young woman. "She will be our guest for the next year. The wizarding community in America has so graciously allowed us to host a witch from the Salem Institute of Magic. I am pleased to welcome to Hogwarts Miss Natalie Wildes".
A hearty round of cheers erupted from the tables that had been silent only moments before. The witch that had just been introduced as Natalie turned around to face the students, and the attendees of Hogwarts were given their first real look at the American witch.
She was of average height with a slender body. Her thick black hair fell past her shoulders, the ebony color a stark contrast to her fair complexion. In addition, her scarlet lips and bright blue eyes made her immediately desirable to the male students in attendance. After a few moments, gasps and whispers jumped between tables as wizards traded off-colored remarks and witches envied the way not a bit of her seemed out of place. Instead of a display of nervousness, the young witch merely moved her lips into a small smile, standing before the school seemingly at ease. Something sparkled from her nose, which the students sitting closest to her could see was a silver piercing. Instead of Hogwarts robes, she was clothed in a flattering crimson and cream dress that stopped at her knees, revealing slender legs only accentuated by a pair of tasteful, reasonably high high-heels.
Dumbledore broke the spell the beautiful witch seemed to have cast upon the audience with his smooth, calm voice.
"I'm sure you will all do you best to make Miss Wildes feel at home. She will be staying with Hufflepuff", a statement that was met with subdued exclamations and excited whispers from the Hufflepuff table, "and will be attending sixth year classes". To the second part of Dumbledore's statement, the heads of each sixth year shot up. Included were the famous trio from Gryffindor; Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
"I'm sure Miss Wildes is overwhelmed by her new environment and would care to settle in. She will be joining the rest of you tomorrow morning".
With a nod and a smile to Dumbledore, Natalie made her way out of the Great Hall while most of the other students returned to their meals. One set of grey eyes watched her go.
