Chapter 2 Hogwart's Sorting Feast
The happiest points in my life have all surrounded Hogwarts, a stunning castle that is as perfect now as it was the day I first laid eyes on it. I am very happy to be returning to my home, happy to hop into a carriage with Harry, Ron, and Neville, and happy to hear Hagrid's booming voice call for the new round of first years.
"I hate that we can all see the threstals." Ron stated forlornly with a slight frown marring his face. I looked up across the carriage to him; I could feel my brow furrow slightly trying to think of an uplifting response for him. Harry faces me from his seat beside me expectantly, his trademark glasses shifting down on his nose as he does so.
Frowning I say, "Well, witnessing death isn't exactly ideal but there really isn't anything we can do about that other then move on. We have a brand new year, a clean slate, opportunities abound. Together, we can make the most of it." I look over at Neville who was sitting on Ron's right side, "Neville this includes you, you are a great friend and the things you did for us in the atrium…." I trail off some in thought. Not only did Neville save Ron from a killing curse, with a very well timed accio of Bellatrix, he had saved me from Voldemort's accursed snake. Apparently Neville could summon the sword of Gryffindor during times of extreme need. Neville looked up at me; a deep sorrowful look flickered across his chiseled face, and he nodded ever so slightly. Neville was the only one who witnessed Luna's death first hand. He doesn't talk about it; he doesn't talk about much anymore really. We weren't told all the details of how she died; just that it wasn't quick or pretty. The death eater that did her in has managed to flee persecution thus far and I know Neville has a hard time with every passing day that man remains at large.
"Hermione has a point mates, if we want to avoid succumbing to the ordeal we went through we must stick together and communicate." Harry paused briefly closing his eyes, "I hope to god that someday these nightmares will end."
"Not gonna lie, if those nightmares would just take a hike I wouldn't complain!" Ron said with a big grin, I find it interesting how he has turned into the optimist of our group. He acts as goofy as ever, but if I am being honest his antics are an act of extreme maturity. He turns to Neville and gives him a waggle of his eyebrows while asking him impishly, "Neville what girl are you trying to impress, cause mate you looking good!" Neville gave a bashful grin to Ron, which makes me giggle slightly, Harry rolls his eyes sardonically.
"I have taken up running, ever since, well ever since I," Neville looked up at us with a pained expression. "Ever since I wasn't fast enough, strong enough, or smart enough to stop him from hurting her like that." He looked back down at his hands, the bitter words having been stated. A pained grimace was shared between the rest of us, Neville definitely saw some of the worst things one human could do to another.
I am desperately thinking of something to change the mood some without seeming like a caustic cow. I was stumped until a voice in my head spoke to me 'Hermione you realize that this can be a perfect way to lose some weight.'
"Neville that is a great idea, with a lot of death eaters still on the run, we should all join in on the exercise. Harry," I turn to look him in the eye. "What would you think of just the four of us studying together this year, instead of the whole of the DA?" Harry sat silently for a minute mulling it over.
"I think that would be wise, with the four of us being the biggest targets of the death eaters we really need to train harder and faster, instead of having to drag everyone else to keep up with us." Honestly I am surprised that Harry took the suggestion as well as he did, normally he would push for making sure everyone could defend themselves. Ron and Neville seemed slightly surprised as well if the expressions on their faces were anything to go by. "I think we can all study together every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening. I had planned on setting the quidditch practice for Tuesday and Thursday. Although Hermione I think I will opt out of the running idea, I have done enough of that crap with Dudley chasing me around to last me a lifetime." He says that last statement with a grin trying to be lighthearted about it, but honestly we can all hear the lingering hurt in his voice. I can't help the pitying look I give Harry. I know he hates pity but I honestly feel so sorry for him. Having met the Dursley's this past summer I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are quite horrible.
"Yeah Mione, mate, I think I will stick to the quidditch practices to keep me in shape. I have a feeling that Harry is going to be a mad workaholic captain" Ron sticks his tongue out at Harry and gives him a nudge with his foot. Harry gives Ron a tight grin and another roll of his eyes for all his effort.
Neville gives me a timid smile, "You don't mind waking early to run? We would be getting up at the very least five thirty in the morning." I prefer to sleep in honestly, I thought to myself. Maybe I really don't want to run that badly, or I could do an afternoon run. No, an afternoon run would cut into my study time. WHAT is this talk! Did you not just look into a mirror this morning! Did you not see the fat hanging off of you! Have you already forgotten about Ron making fun of your chubbiness earlier! You will run tomorrow morning with Neville, and if you are that determined to get the most sleep you can just skip breakfast. I have to admit that makes some sense, this voice in my head was right, I really did need to exercise some and at least this way running wouldn't interfere with my study times.
"I don't mind at all, thanks Neville." I give him a big smile and a comfortable silence sets upon us for the rest of the ride to the castle. We arrive without another word and silently make our way to the Gryffindor table, taking our usual seats at the third table down. I try to search out our new DADA teacher, without much luck. Perhaps they are late; the chair next to Flitwick is empty, I thought to myself.
Soon enough the first year pile into the great hall following the always stern face McGonagall towards the sorting hat who burst into his song as soon as they had taken their places.
"Gryffindor brave and swell,
Always thinking they know how to make everything well,
Ravenclaw all smarts and wit,
Unfortunately they all act like twits,
Hufflepuff is loyal and kind,
So boring you will lose your mind
Slytherin ambitious and cunning,
Stupid really, losing contacts and opportunities by always shunning
All houses have their qualities and their flaws,
None of you are perfect,
All are equal in that regard,
So get your heads out of your rumps,
And make friends with all,
For the last thing we want,
Is for Hogwarts to nearly fall,
Again!"
At the end of the hat's song, the whole hall sat in stunned silence never before had the hat been so mean. Dumbledore himself was staring at the hat in wonder, curious as to what provoked such a reaction after the war, not before. I personally liked the hat's song this year. It was certainly different. The hat was correct as well, the only way to prevent another war was to realize that not all Slytherins are 'Slimy' as Ron likes to put it, just because a Gryffindor was brave didn't mean that they were brave for the correct things. Peter Pettigrew was in a way incredibly brave to spy on the order and betray his friends all those years ago, not that it was any way shape or form the correct thing to do. He certainly risks great dismemberment from several livid witches and wizards if they ever catch him.
"Er, Mione?" Ron whispered nudging me with his foot under the table.
"Yes, Ron?"
"What are you thinking about? You were sitting there with a far off look in your eye, half the sorting is over already. You haven't even clapped for our new firsties." I looked down where some of our new first years had been sitting. I smiled sheepishly and waved at them. Part of my duties as a prefect is to be extremely exuberant for any new first year. I looked back across the table at Ron.
"I was just thinking about the hats, interesting, song." Harry and Neville stopped watching the ceremony and gave me their attention. "He was basically saying we need to make friends with one another or we risk another stupid clash in the next generations or so. I know a lot of kids of the death eaters never really had a chance to say what they wanted to be during the war. People still treat them like monsters for something they didn't have control over. Besides that, while yes their relatives were horrible murderous death eaters, they were their family. They lost a lot of their loved ones. I just think we should try and treat them like normal kids." Ron was turning an ugly shade of red fast, Harry looked pensive, and Neville adorned a small smile.
"Hermione you are by far and wide the most forgiving soul I know, I can't promise you I can make friends with Malfoy but I will try my hardest to treat them as equals." Neville has always been so kind with his words. I find it ironic that he believes me to be the most forgiving, for I have always found it to be him to be the most forgiving person. I flash him a quick appreciative smile for his efforts.
"Harry, Ron, will you guys at least try?" I gently ask, Harry gives me a quick nod, and Ron's red face starts to return to normal with Neville's and Harry's agreement to the idea.
Although he was chilling out it was abundantly clear he didn't agree, I was hoping he would want to talk about it later. Unfortunately he wanted to argue at this very moment, starting off his spiel almost too loudly, "You really can't be serious Hermione! They have made our school years miserable. At the most I will ignore them." He takes a breath and frowns at me, "I cannot be friendly with them not after how they treated you." I don't think any of us were surprised that Ron reacted to the idea like that, if anything we were slightly surprised he handled the idea as well as he did. People who didn't know Ron as well as we did probably expected him to blow up the table at the idea or something obscene like that.
"I understand Ron; just remember that most couldn't act friendly, lest word made it back to their parents that they were nice to a blood traitor and a muggleborn." Ron's anger deflates all the way at these words, he knows I am correct.
I hear the sound of a spoon tapping the side of glass and I look up at the head table startled. Did I really miss the rest of the sorting? I sure hope I can focus more than this during class.
Dumbledore stands up smiles at the entire hall and starts to speak. "I hope the young minds in this great hall today will cultivate more than just knowledge during their stay at Hogwarts this year. Please remember that the Forbidden Forest is in fact, forbidden. Our caretaker Mr. Filch has added thirty-two items to his list this year; I believe the total number of banned items to be near 643 now. Please read his list as soon as possible to make sure you haven't accidently brought in contraband. I am pleased to announce the appointment of our newest defense instructor Professor Eliza Grey." My eyebrows almost launched off my face when she appeared in the chair that I had previously thought to be empty. I really need to learn the charm that would allow me to see through concealments. The new professor stood up, and man was she gorgeous. I would say she was about five foot three inches tall, maybe a hundred pounds tops, with long thick brown hair shooting straight down nearly to her rear end. The boys of Hogwarts were definitely applauding enthusiastically. I must admit I was a little jealous. I really wish my hair would cooperate and stay straight and sleek like that. I couldn't see her eyes from where I sat but I doubt they were the dull brown I am saddled with. "Professor Grey has graciously agreed to change careers from her successful career in the Department of Mysteries as an unspeakable to teach for us. Now that the position has no longer been cursed let us hope that we will have her around for a long time. Without further ado, MARMADUKE! KITTLEWITTLES! STUELION! WOBBLETOBBLES!"
With those magic words food appeared on all the tables in the hall. I looked at the selection of food; all of my favorites, Corned beef, potatoes drizzled in melted cheese, bowtie noodles, chocolate pudding, and the best treacle tart ever. I start enthusiastically piling things on my plate. I really didn't get to drink pumpkin juice at home after all.
I went to place more noodles on my place until I heard Harry say something to Ron. I didn't much of their quieted conversation until I realized, after halfway listening to them for a minute, that they were talking about the new professor. With a newfound interest in the conversation I eavesdropped on them. Sure, I could have joined in, but I didn't want them to know why I was interested. They would probably think that I played beater for the wrong team or something stupid like that if I joined in. Harry kept going on and on about how the new professor was so skinny and hot. Ron agreed exuberantly, even Neville gave them a goofy grin. I looked back up at the 'smoking' professor. Dumbledore had mentioned she had a successful career as an unspeakable. She didn't look a day over twenty six, so either she was incredibly smart, or just impossibly good looking. Either way I am pretty jealous how easily she captured the adulations of all the young men here. Even the girl clueless Harry was already drooling all over her and this is the boy that the rest of us were concerned with because he never talked about having interests in girls. I unfortunately have not been able to capture anyone's attention for anything other my ability to do homework. Oh yes I am already very jealous of this new professor of Hogwarts.
Your mother is so right. You have been angry with her for how she treated you for so long. She must really care to keep trying even when we were in denial. Well voice in my head, if you are so smart what do you propose we do about it! You are definitely running with Neville in the mornings, even if it means skipping breakfast. For heaven's sake look at your dinner plate! You could run for days straight and not lost any weight with the amount of portions you have taken. Shove that plate away and start a new one, this time with the broccoli, salmon, and a small portion of rice on it. Pumpkin juice is not acceptable! You know how sweet that stuff is, we don't know if diabetes mellitus can exist in a wizard, but if it can it is caused by that juice there. Drink water. I really love pumpkin juice though I argued back with the voice. Why don't you spend tomorrow evening in the library researching magical foods and corresponding topics? I suppose that is a good idea, but I am drinking pumpkin juice for tonight. Acceptable if you change the food on your plate.
I quickly followed the voice in my head and started a new plate. I got an angry half full stomach and some a few strange looks by Ron for my efforts. At least I thought they were strange until he asked me if he could eat my other plate if I had decided to go with the salmon instead. Suppressing a giggle at his eating antics I slide the plate across the table to him. The rest of the meal passed without incident.
Being a six year prefect I didn't have to lead the new first years back to the common room since that was the job for the fifth year's prefects. I say my goodnights to the guys and head up to my dorm. I figured I should prepare all my stuff for tomorrow as I was running tomorrow morning and wouldn't have time to prepare for the day then. I didn't have any athletic wear, but I could easily transfigure something for awhile. But I did make a mental note to write a letter to my parents asking them to purchase some gear for me.
My female year mates came up shortly after and all said their hellos and stuff. I never really got along with any of the, nor were we particularly close. Fay Dunbar was alright, Parvati had moments where I didn't want to kill her (whenever she wasn't near Lavender), but Lavender drove me nuts. She is so obsessed with her looks, how to get boys, and on getting the best gossip on everyone. I don't know why she was always reading about how to get guys to like her, because they literally fall over her and her perfect looks. She really doesn't even have to think of trying, having a perfect hourglass figure.
Ever so predictable Lavender and Parvati within minutes of getting changed into PJ's were sitting on Lavenders bed gossiping. Normally I don't pay much attention to anything I hear from them, I just continued to sort through my books. I was picking out a good potions supplement text, bending inside my trunk, and I hear Lavender start to giggle that evil giggle of hers.
"Did you see how fat her arse has gotten?" Lavender whispers quietly to Parvati, but I sure heard it. I hurriedly set the book aside, close my trunk, and rush to the shower fighting off the tears in my eyes. How I hate her. You will show her, you are going to show them all. We are going to exercise hard and watch our diet and in a month's time they will be so jealous of the hottest woman here. Yes you are ugly now, but together we will be beautiful. Soon enough it will be Lavender's arse that the school makes fun of. As the warm water pelted me from the shower head I couldn't help but be reassured by this voice. I do really want to show them all. We will be perfect.
By the time I had taken a shower and gotten changed into my pajamas (that was a long task actually I had to adjust some clothes magically because I didn't fit) it was nearly midnight and everyone else already was already fast asleep. I lay back in my four poster bed trying my hardest to ignore the slight pains of hunger. My stomach just needed some time to shrink. It is perfectly normal that it needed some time to adjust after how much I pigged out over the summer. The pangs actually felt pretty good. They make me feel like I am achieving something. I didn't really care that I wasn't sleeping very well because of it. It just feels so great.
It feels like I am invincible.
Keep following my lead and we will feel like this every day.
HJPHJPHJPHJPHJPHJPHJPHPHP
In this chapter I really wanted to push more of a back-story in, as well as show how the inner voice is a form of conscience but when it speaks to you it really comes across as a separate entity. Well at least it did for me anyway. I realize the voice was in fact mine, just at the beginning it was more like a thought someone threw out there for me to debate with. Maybe I am just a little abnormal but I did bargain with it some in the beginning about foods I didn't know about such as per say an almond. I loved almonds but the voice said they were high in fats, I said I would eat five then and look it up tomorrow to be sure because I thought nuts were healthy. As time progressed that stopped and I just started listening to everything the voice said to me. What my voice kept saying to me. Sometimes it is really hard to believe that something inside of me thinks like that.
I hope I captured the idea well. I am indeed well versed in nutrition among other things, but a writer I am not.
Thanks all