Chapter 9 : A Year begins, and so does the Feast.
Minerva Mcgonagall asked the caretaker to open up the doors. He was in the fourth floor, searching for his cat, Mrs. Norris, while Peeves had locked up the cat in the Great Hall, under the teacher's table. It had been informed to her by a house elf, and she decided it could be put off for a few minutes till the feast began.
She stationed Argus under the old Oak, the one close to the Doors, most often the location where the Thestrals chose to drop off the carriages. Usually, there was high affinity for the creatures towards flesh and Blood, and the Doors of Hogwarts and the Great Hall were some of the major sites of bloodshed, be it the Great Goblin wars of 1156 and 1467, or the more recent Wizarding wars of 1590. The historical sequences followed by general historians made the more recent Wizarding wars, by both Dark Lords, Grindelwald, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, were subsequently named the first and second. Both these wars were fortunately not fought in the grounds of Hogwarts. They had been mostly silent, and cold, with major battles fought in various locations. The key figures of the war had fought, and Dumbledore had secured students from harm each time. The bloodshed under the halls made it a favourite site for the thestrals to come there.
Argus grumpily looked on, as all the carriages started coming. The man hated children, and here he was, in a school, of all places.
The basic defensive measures were usually taken for students of higher classes. The lake had been forbidden grounds for an indeterminate time. Dumbledore had been absolutely strict on that. The students were brought by the thestrals, even the first years. There had been something seriously secretive going on under the waters, and it was not obviously going to be shared with anybody, even staff.
There was a ripple in the air. He had come. Alastor was walking towards her. "Minerva! At long last!" "Alastor!" They hugged, as students passed on. They were glaring at him, especially a first year that came along in that carriage. They were obvious. This man is a lunatic. "Ah! Good ol' Hoggy warty Hogwarts. Who's teaching what now, eh, Minerva? You'll be transfiguration, won't ye?" He laughed, and did not wait for her reply as he limped across the long lane to the teacher's table.
The newer students were asked to split along to the right. Usually, the new students would come late to the castle, via boats, and would be arrival to at time for the Sorting. Older students would have enough time to take their seats. So, now the new students were detained at the entrance, and they were to be shown around the outer parts of the castle, with mentions to the avoidance of the Willow ant the Forbidden Forest, under threat of death.
Minerva went back to the teacher's table. She had just gone to welcome Alastor. Only Severus was nowhere within sight. Dumbledore did not seem perturbed by this. He was busy talking with Alastor. Minerva smiled at the sight of Mrs. Norris jumping up at Sybill. She stood upon the table, and then pounced along the lane, sprinting across the lanes and jumping at his masters as the students coming late laughed at them.
Harry placed back the map as he saw Filch at the entrance, while McGonagall was closely following metres behind. He muttered "Mischief managed." As the map turned blank he heard Hermione say the same thing, thinking he had forgotten to do so.
They went past Filch's basic security detector. This was mainly the piercing gaze of the caretaker, mixed with loathing, anger and lots of other sweet things. As they crossed, he saw McGonagall cross and greet Moody as Moody hugged her like a bear. He just saw that Moody carried around a staff, rather than your usual walking stick. Harry just turned and walked towards the Gryffindor table, and chose a seat more towards the front. He led Ron and Hermione to the chosen seats, while they bickered on something, regarding the food of Hogwarts. "You mean this is all slavery? I thought of going vegetarian, but now I have lost my appetite. Thank you so much, Ron." She sat on the seat, turning away from the table, in the direction of the teacher's table. McGonagall returned, behind Moody, beside Moody, and she got to the table, after which she looked around.
Trelawney was gagging on something. It seemed something had been scratching at her. It was Filch's cat, the average troublemaker's torture. It then prowled on the teacher's table, and went running along the length of the hall to reach Filch. Trelawney was giving a creepy look of a fish out of water, with her mouth wide open. Professor Sinistra patted her on the shoulder. Dumbledore chuckled, as McGonagall asked him something in his ear. He replied loudly "Ah, never mind, Minerva, here he comes. Snape was dragging Draco to the entrance, then left his collar, and held his head high as he walked in long strides towards the teacher's table. His cloak sweeped the floor as he went. His usual appearence as an overgrown bat was too accurate as a description. He nodded at the Headmaster and and took his seat to the right side. The Sorting Hat was brought in front.
It started singing, though phrasing each word with a slow, but firm pace.
Darkness awaited my masters,
the day they started a monument.
Lasting long, t'was the goal.
Through fields of blood, and thrones of bones
wrought iron, forged shields,
darkness never sought.
They built this school, rock on rock.
Brick on brick
Godric, of proud heart.
Victorious in battle and war.
Helga, with her love and light.
Loyal even after death.
Salazar, the lord of snakes
Smartness being redefined.
Rowena with the greatest mind.
Her knowledge reigning supreme.
Created in their image,
glory sought and given.
Your destination shall be decided by me.
I give you the friends you need
on your way to the desired destiny.
Starting the school, they decide,
A need for sorting,
The unanimous vote, with the student's wish prime.
They took some spare cloth,
stitched out a hat.
To serve their needs, I manifest.
I have seen every mind, Britain's greatest sorted.
So, it is that ye students are given a house.
Gryffindor, where the brave forge history
Hufflepuff, where society is built
Slytherin, where the lords rule
and dear intelligent Ravenclaw
where future is determined.
After all, where does life end up,
without courage, art and wisdom
but most important, is all these with goodness of heart.
For what are we, but mortals, and the world needs a bit more good.
"Boo! No Rhyme scheme!" Shouted the twins, as Dumbledore nodded. The hat made a face at the twins, and some first years laughed. With Dumbledore asking the twins politely to forgive the hat, the Sorting began.
"Nothing special, was there? It sounds like the hat changes songs each year..." asked Harry, the question pointed at Hermione.
"Yeah, you didn't know that, Harry? We missed last year, but... oh the year before the last, you were coming with the car, weren't you... oh, yes it changes songs each year."
The Sorting ended, with lesser students than usual.
As Minerva took the Hat back to his room, Dumbledore waited as Argus came forward and gave him the list of prohibitions he had requested for. Dumbledore frownedDumbledore took the stage, silencing the hall. Only whispers still persisted, and with a tap of his glass, Dumbledore got rid of that too. "Another year awaits us, dear students. Welcome, new students, and know that Hogwarts is extremely pleased to have you all. Enjoy your time here, study, play, and make the world proud. A few warnings ought to be issued, with instructions from our caretaker, Mr. Argus Filch. No product of Zonko's is allowed, no wandering around the corridors after curfew, no entering into Girl's Bathrooms, boys, and vice versa, Girls." He said it with a glimpse at the trio, with a wink and a smile at the corner of his mouth. "The forbidden forest is off grounds, and no student who values their life is to enter. The Black lake is now being forbidden to students for an indefinite time period." Amidst series of shouts, he continued.
" There has been a... happening over the summer. Our fellow inhabitants of the premises of Hogwarts, the Merfolk, have decreed that we are not to trespass in their territory for personal reasons. This means no wading, although it is colder than a block of ice for most of the year. Specifically, for urinating into those waters, you can be charged to serious consequences by them, maybe even the trials underwater." This arose to giggles, as they all knew who had done it. Cormac McLaggen had done it last year as a dare, and faced a five minute underwater dumping by some mermaids and had been left ashore in the nude.
"Let me introduce your new Professors for the year. Welcome Professor Alastor Moody, ex-Auror, who shall teach you Defence Against the Dark Arts. He is just here for the one year, so I suggest students to get his help as much as they require. Specifically the students in their OWL year and their NEWT years. It is not the usual classes that you have, being taught from an Ex-Auror. Also, we have Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank for the classes in Care of Magical Creatures, who has replaced Professor Rubeus Hagrid, after his request for remaining as only the Keeper of Keys, and Gamekeeper positions."
"And now for the main news. As most of you might have heard from your parents-" He saw Harry stick out his tongue at Draco. "- there is a significant event that has been prepared to be held at our school this year. The TriWizard Tournament!"
There were murmurs, but no significant surprise among the students. "It is a tournament in which three of the greatest schools of Europe shall participate, and a champion is selected from each school. There have been a serious issues of fatalities in the advent of the tournament, but now, it has been decided by the Ministry that this shall be again continued as a practice, and it is no more a centennial tournament. The latest, most interesting update has been issued by Mister Bartemius Crouch..." The hall went deadly silent, students in rapt attention. "That this tournament shall be held once every Three years! He could see Ginny Weasley slam her Goblet on the desk. "What! Then if you implement Age limits, we will all lose the chance of trying! How is that even allowed?" "Miss Weasley, the new amendment on the Age limit has been changed to the years of participating students, my dear girl. I shall explain once dear Barty is here with the Goblet of Fire."
After some time, while he called for some drinks for everybody, Barty Crouch entered the hall, wearing a distorted hat. "Good evening, students of Hogwarts. I am Bartemius Crouch, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. It is my office, alongside the Department for Magical Sports that organises this massive event. The schools that will be participating along with Hogwarts are Durmstrang Institute of Magic and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic."
"Wth the new amendment to the previous act, much aided by our dear Headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, we have concluded that the originally proposed plan for the Tournament will be modified to a Tournament once every three years, and the other agreement drawn was to admit students of the next three groups to graduate, shall be allowed to participate. The Age limit is taken off, and now, illustrating it, assuming the year's tournament to be the first, then all students from Year Five, Six and Seven shall be admitted. The next tournament can be played by students in Year Four, Three, and Two. This is the plan that has been adopted. For now. Thank you."
"Waiting for three more years! Bah!" Shouted somebody from the Slytherin tables. Dumbledore silenced the hall, and said "This plan promotes equal chance for all. It does not matter to you, my boy. If the tournament is held once in a hundred years, you wouldnt have a choice, Master Vaisey. I suggest you please accept this opportunity."
With some commotion at the Gryffindor table, Albus sat in his seat, as Barty took the vacant seat of Hagrid.
"Let the feast commence!"
Fred and George clapped hands in happiness. "Hey Angie- you were sayin'? We are now included too. Wow!" "Angelina already came of age, I mean, 17. So she can already have a chance even without this amendment." Said George, to Ginny, who asked questioningly.
"I'm starving. Why don't they start the feast, then start the talking back again. I hate this system. " "You just had 12 glasses of Pumpkin juice, Ron. Honestly!" Said Hermione. She had not drunk anything but water since the Sorting. "Harry! How can you stand it?" She said, as she knocked off his arm with the Hot Chocolate. "These are made out of slavery. These drinks, and all the food that is going to come, is made my house elves, countless, by the sound of it, and they are being worked endlessly to make us dinner. Are your hearts so hard?" She all but shouted at everyone in the vicinity.
"Let the feast commence!" Said Dumbledore.
"I am not eating." Said Hermione, and proceeded to walk out of the table, and leave the Hall. "Miss Granger!" Called Dumbledore. "A word, if you would please."
"Um.. Professor Dumbledore. I just .. the food was made out of slaving the house elves in the kitchen, so I thought.. Sir?" She came to the corridor, where Dumbledore had taken her to. "Miss Granger. The house elves of Hogwarts do not do it out of force, you know. Their blood flows to serve, that is their motto. They were once a separate race, but once they saw the potential in wizardkind, they decided they would do better in service. They have served us for centuries, and you can still see elves who are as old as a century working in Hogwarts still. You can not deny them of what they ask for, can you?"
"Sir, I'm sorry, but I saw Winky, the house elf of at the World Cup. We both, I mean, Harry and I saw him. She was just pretty battered, you see. She was in the Top Box, holding a seat for Mr. Crouch who did not even come for the entirety of the match. She was not even sitting in the seat she held." "My dear, wizards have exploited this relation batsmen men and elves for centuries, it is history. But you cannot decide upon their sadness with one elf, can you? I know you have heard about Dobby, the free elf? The one our dear Harry saved from cruel masters? Well, I have given him a job in Hogwarts too. Care to see?" He pointed at the portrait of fruits that they had reached."Do not ask them if they want wages or if they want to be free. They consider it an offensive term."
He pushed it, as it swung open, as many elves stared at the visitors. "Headmaster, Sir, what does you want? How can we help you? More Sherbet lemons? You love eating them." Not now, dear. We came here to see you all. How is the school? Any discomforts?" "Nothing sir! Not a single problem sir! We is very happy with school, sir!" "Miss granger, you wants any French dishes that you likes so much?"
"I'll leave Miss Granger here." Said Dumbledore.
After a hour, Hermione exited the kitchen with full stomach, convinced that she had been proved wrong.
More chapters on the way. Please review.
