Hogwarts AC 196

AN:
Okay, I'll stop telling you I won't update soon. You'll see when the next chapter is out and obviously I can't stop myself, anyway. But please don't be disappointed if it really takes a little longer.
Thanks so much for your positive response to the last chapter. Makes me feel all warm inside. And no worries, our friends will be exactly that again - at some point of the story... I think ;-). Just tell me if you think I'm overdoing the drama part.
Here comes chapter 8.
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Chapter 8: Banquet Night

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The Great Hall quieted down as all students had found a place at their respective tables and Professor Dumbledore stood up to speak. He smiled benignly and opened his arms wide.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I would like to get a few things out of the way."

"With the end of the Muggle war, I am very pleased we could finally welcome colonial students in our midst. A warm welcome to you all. To make sure you can catch up, we have decided to change start of term procedures. First-years' classes will start as of tomorrow. All other colonial students will be divided into two groups according to age and take part in introductory courses which will be shared, at least in part, by your peers, who can regard this as a chance to review."

"After three weeks we will assess your progress and you will be placed into the appropriate years. Then the regular classes will start, but you will still have the opportunity of extra tutoring by our assistant teachers."
"Given the repercussions of the Muggle war on the wizarding world, we have also decided that from now on Muggle Studies will be compulsory for all years. Your timetables will be handed out tomorrow at breakfast."

"At this point, I would also like to welcome our new teachers and those who have agreed to work as assistant teachers this year…" Harry and his friends were glad to see Remus Lupin and… Nymphadora Tonks and Mad-Eye Moody - what were they doing here? - among them, although there were a few whistles and boos audible in the welcoming applause the teachers received.

"New students should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils..." There was a notable glance towards the Gryffindor table, particularly the Weasley twins who suddenly found the ceiling incredibly fascinating.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the fourth week. That's all for now and I won't delay any longer. Let the feast begin!"

To the new students' surprise the dishes before them filled with an abundance of the most delicious food. The other students smiled knowingly at the newcomers who had difficulties picking up their jaws. Soon the hall was echoing with the clinking and clattering of cutlery and the chatter of hundreds of voices. The Weasley twins were entertaining the Gryffindor table with tales of their best pranks. Duo and Hilde were listening to them with great interest.

Remus Lupin observed several members of the Gryffindor table while talking to Tonks and feeding Snuffles underneath the table. The black dog nudged him with his snout and he could hear Sirius' voice in his head. "I'll have a look at the new Gryffindors." For some reason that did not sound good at all, but he probably just wanted to see Harry, right?

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Once Hermione had eaten more than enough, she realized she had not yet introduced herself to the boy who had sat down next to her.

"Um, I guess you don't know us yet. My name's Hermione and," she motioned to the boys sitting opposite to them, "that's Ron, Harry, Quatre…" When she finished the boy just nodded.

"Heero."

Hermione tried to start a conversation but gave up when she felt her efforts being ignored. Pity, he's acting like a jerk. Maybe he's shy, hm, but he sure looks cute. Uh, where did that thought come from? Fortunately, Hilde and the boys were soon done wolfing down their meal as well.

"Oh, I don't know how they managed this, but I'm so full I could burst." Duo groaned.

"One could think you haven't eaten in days," Ron laughed. Duo grinned.

"Whoa, Snuffles!" Harry suddenly exclaimed as he felt a cold nose touch his shin. He patted the animagus. "Good to see you again."

"It looks like he's grinning." Trowa said.

"Yeah, he probably is." Hermione shook her head.

"Is he yours?" Hilde asked. "He's huge."

"No, he belongs to Professor Lupin." Harry said with an amused smirk.

Hermione noticed that Heero looked up quizzically at that. Thinking he might want to know who they were talking about, she explained. "Professor Lupin is the one sitting next to the witch with the long purple hair over there, Heero."

All of a sudden, Snuffles' head appeared on their side of the table, growling and baring his teeth at the silent boy. Hermione put an arm around his neck and pulled him back. "What's wrong with you?"

Crookshanks, who had somehow found his way on her lap, smacked the black dog over his head with his paw, whereupon the animagus showed as much a miffed expression as a dog could. With a huff he returned to Harry's side from where he kept a watchful eye on the other boy while the ginger cat jumped on an unsuspecting Heero's lap.

Harry was puzzled. What could have prompted his godfather to such a reaction? He had noticed the strange looks Duo, Quatre and Trowa had been giving the other boy before. They definitely seemed to know him and they did not seem to like him very much, either. But then Crookshanks usually was a good judge of character. As their talk returned to other subjects like lessons, wizard heritage and Quidditch, he exchanged a look with Ron. They would keep an eye on that guy…

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Finally, it was time for Dumbledore to ask for the school song to be intoned. The new students looked rather bewildered at the cacophony that ensued, which of course motivated some, first and foremost a certain pair of twins, to break out into the shrillest tunes they could make up. Fortunately this torment was soon over and they were told it was bed time.

The chattering crowds started to stream out of the hall and in direction of their houses. Harry and Heero both were hanging back a little when they heard Remus' voice calling "Wait!". As they turned Remus came up to them.
"Hello Harry. Good to see you again." Then, to Harry's surprise, he turned to the other boy, handing him a bag of chocolate frogs and other sweets.

"Here, I got you some wizard sweets, Heero, seeing that you couldn't get yourself a supply at the train." The werewolf smiled somewhat embarrassed while the taciturn teen stared at the bag without moving a muscle. Then the young Gryffindor nodded to the teacher and turned to follow the rest of his house. Harry slowly tagged along, but he caught the sad look that came into the eyes of the Marauder. What was that all about?

He felt a strange mix of emotions well up inside him. Anger that Professor Lupin had been treated with so much disregard. Concern for the werewolf who had already looked awfully tired before this incidence. Distrust of the other boy. If he had inquired further he might have been astonished to realize that part of it was plain and simple jealousy…

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Wufei was swept along with the Ravenclaw crowd. Not that it bothered him to be apart from the others. He always preferred to go his own way and as it was he wouldn't have to deal with a hyper Duo in his dorm. He grinned inwardly, Gryffindor had no idea what was coming at them… As far as he could see, the Ravenclaws were a decent crowd and he would fit in there quite easily. Interestingly, there was even an onna by the name of Chang…

He actually found it had its advantages to sit far off the Gryffindor table. He got an outsider's view on the group of his friends. The bigger picture, so to say. But what he had seen was nagging him. Something was off. At first he wasn't quite sure what it was, but he had it pinned down to one person. Heero.
Of course Duo had told them what had happened in the ante-chamber and, for once, they agreed with his rash actions, but as usual Heero did not seem fazed at all. But still… He let the scenes replay in his mind. No, it was nothing that had actually happened, it was rather… Heero had looked so… fragile? What?! Heero Yuy never looked fragile! He might manage to not look dangerous, but… He must be imagining things! Ridiculous…

They reached a passageway guarded by some kind of live portrait. "Sapere aude."

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Hermione and Ron, being Gryffindor prefects, led the new and old Gryffindors out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase, explaining that their luggage had already been taken to the dorms assigned to them. They also warned them about the pitfalls of moving staircases and the like.

The new Gryffindors felt like the walk to their house would never end. The moving pictures were fascinating, but they did not really help when you tried to memorize the way.

"How will I ever manage to not get lost here?" Hilde wondered aloud, when they finally seemed to have reached their destination.

"Oh, you'll manage alright after a few days," Ron answered with a grin.

"So, this is the entrance to our house," Hermione pointed to the portrait of the Fat Lady. "It is important that you don't forget the password, if you don't want to spend the night outside. Oh, and don't write it down somewhere and leave it lying around." After warning glance to Neville, she turned to the Fat Lady. "Wiggle-dee-doo."

Several snickers could be heard, as the portrait swung forward to reveal the entrance.

"Hey, that wasn't our choice." Ron said defensively.

"A portrait as watchdog. Interesting security device…" Trowa remarked quietly.

"Wonder how you can get around that…" Duo mumbled while devious plans were already forming in his mind.

The cosy Gryffindor common room was only shortly appreciated before the prefects directed the girls and boys to their respective dormitories. The rooms had been reorganized so that there was a mix of colonials and more experienced Gryffindors in every dorm, at least until it was clear which year the colonials belonged in.

Trowa and Quatre were to room with Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas and another new kid about their age. Hilde and Hermione were glad to see that they were in the same dorm.

"Great." said a displeased Duo, in a tone that belied the wording, when he realized that he would share with Harry, Ron, Neville and, yes, Heero. "Why do I always have to room with you?" He asked the boy who had been given the bed next to his own.

"Hn."

Heero just ignored the cutting remark and got ready for bed. The exchange did not go unnoticed by the other occupants of their room, although they did not investigate any further. They were all too tired to hold up a longer conversation and went to bed quickly.

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Two boys were lying awake long after the lights went out in Gryffindor tower. One was tossing and turning in his bed. He was tired, but sleep eluded him. So much had happened today. He pondered on what the new school year would bring. He briefly mused about his nightmares, but pushed those memories away quickly. He thought about the newcomers. He really liked those colonials he got to know a little better. That Heero guy was a different matter, but he didn't understand what was going on there. Somehow the others knew him and disliked him, yet Professor Lupin seemed to know him, too, and was… concerned for him? Maybe time would tell. And he really, really should sleep now. Yawning he thought that, once again, he was looking forward to a first school day at Hogwarts… Tomorrow…

The other boy was lying completely still, yet wide awake. This was probably the most comfortable bed he had ever slept in. He was free and he was safe here. Still, he just couldn't sleep. One question kept racing through his head, again and again. Why…?
He tried to will himself to sleep, but it was useless. He did not need much sleep anyway. Why were they so angry with him? What had he done wrong? A strange cold feeling not unlike physical pain was eating him up. His eyes were burning, but tears would not come. Why…?

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TBC?

AN: Thanks again for reading and reviewing.