Chapter Ten:
The Return To Hogwarts
"But mum…! I don't feel like going now!"
"You have to! You got your invitation letter, just like Daddy and I did. Now, be good, make friends – and don't worry. There's no Death Eaters left at Hogwarts! Isn't that so, Gerald?"
"That's right, Gwyneth. Now, obey the teachers and make both me and your mum proud of you, Bethan. You take good care of your new owl, and write to us regularly. I know it's scary – being away from us for the first time, but we all knew this day was coming. So, you be good - and be a brave, strong girl for us. Okay?"
The curly haired young witch solemnly nodded. After hugging her parents, Bethan was helped onto the Hogwarts Express with her luggage.
Harry watched the family with a faint smile, whilst nearby Mrs Weasley was giving Ron, Ginny, and Hermione her version of a pep talk, before the train would take them away once more to school.
Luna walked up to Harry, stopping by her side. She too had paid attention to the eleven year-old girl.
"Are you all right, Celine?"
Harry turned to face Luna. From now on, unless they were certain they weren't being overheard, Harry, Ron, and Hermione would answer to their assumed names. Harry was hoping that none of them would slip up, in any way.
"Yeah. Just thinking back to when I was that age. When…" Harry dropped her voice, allowing the noisy jet of steam from the train to prevent passersby from overhearing her. "When I first came here, knowing almost nothing of what lay before me. Having no friends of my own age – until I started speaking to Ron, then Hermione, in the carriage."
"But you also wish your parents could have been the ones to see you off on your journey – as they should have done," Luna pointed out, reading Harry's eyes and face.
"Yes," Harry admitted.
After a hug from Mr Lovegood for Luna, then Harry, the two witches got onto the train – along with their owls and luggage. Ron, Hermione, Ginny – and a rather-late, panting Neville – joined them in an empty carriage.
"No offence. But it might be better if Ginny and Neville weren't in the same carriage as us. It might get some pupils talking – wondering what the connection is between you two and us," Hermione pointed out.
"Fair enough, Hermi- I mean, Tamaris!" Neville slapped his forehead. Luckily, the compartment door had been shut to behind them. He turned to Ginny. "So, shall we stick together?"
She smiled. "Let's do that. Lavender should be with the Patil girls. Let's track them down. See the rest of you guys later!" Ginny and Neville gave a little wave as they departed with their cases.
Minutes later, the train pulled off. Harry and his three remaining friends waved goodbye to Mr and Mrs Weasley and Mr Lovegood. Then the underground station was lost to view, replaced by the urban jungle sights of London – which in turn, gave way to the countryside of Hertfordshire, and the other counties that the Hogwarts Express passed through to reach the Scottish Highlands and eventually Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft.
The journey passed uneventfully. Coming back from the ladies toilet with Ron, Harry saw the dark-skinned Blaise Zabini in one carriage, looking as inscrutable as ever as he peered out of the window at the backdrop of the English Pennines. Harry wondered how much Zabini really knew about his mother's disappearance since Aberforth Dumbledore's gruesome death. She had learnt from Mr Weasley that Zabini had been interviewed by the Ministry about his mother's activities – but he had denied even knowing that she had been working at the Hog's Head since before the Battle of Hogwarts. He had also passed a Veritaserum test.
With nothing to pin on Zabini himself, the Ministry had been forced to allow the young man to retake his seventh year at school – since he personally had taken no part in the battle, or had even been involved in the bullying of non-Slytherin pupils during the last academic year.
Sat opposite and next to Zabini were other returning Slytherins – Theodore Nott, Millicent Bulstrode, and Daphne Greengrass – who were engaged in conversation between themselves. Harry paused briefly to regard the two girls, who he had barely paid attention to when at Hogwarts before. Millicent was heavily-built, with brown hair framing her bland face. Whilst Daphne had shoulder-length black hair, a pair of spectacles over her blue eyes, and she had turned a little plump since Harry had last glimpsed her.
"No Pansy Parkinson or Gregory Goyle – thank god!" Harry whispered to Ron.
"They're still at large, along with most of the Death Eaters that escaped," Ron whispered back. "Dad's told us that only a couple of the nutters have been found. One was killed whilst resisting arrest – and the other hasn't given any useful information, even when fed Veritaserum."
"The rest of them have gone to ground, then. Planning something, no doubt." Harry snorted. "Wonder who's going to lead them, now?"
"Well, it won't be Lucius Malfoy – after what he did to Vol-Voldemort, will it?" Ron pointed out, taking care to make sure there was nobody else in the corridor of the train as they walked on. "He and his wife are still under house arrest, for their part in the war." She smiled. "Hogwarts without Draco Malfoy! Or Cormac McLaggen. Maybe this year won't be so bad, Ha- I mean, Celine. Especially if the DADA teacher is friendlier than Snape."
Harry's lips twitched with something resembling a smile. "Let's hope so…, Rohan. First of all, we've got to get used to sleeping in a girl's dormitory. Still, at least we'll have Hermione, Ginny, and Lavender to help us along."
Ron looked glum. She stopped and looked along the corridor on either side of them, before speaking. "Poor Lav's going to have to be away from us all, in a few days time, though – ain't she? With the next full moon approaching. Hope that her secret won't get out…"
"I've heard from Hermione that Lavender has told her friend Parvati about it – who's since been sworn to secrecy," Harry replied. "So far as I know, there aren't any other Gryffindor girls from our year returning – so that will make six of us in the dormitory who'll know of Lavender's secret, and who will support her. Lavender herself, Parvati, Ginny, Hermione, and – um – you and me."
"What about the new seventh years?" Ron frowned.
"When I went to use the Pensieve, Professor McGonagall told me that extra dormitories were being built, to accommodate us 'returnees'. We're technically eighth years, but we're honorary seventh years." Harry shrugged. She then smiled. "Personally, a part of me isn't ready to part with Hogwarts just yet. I just hope I can be allowed to enjoy my final year there – despite us being witches."
"Don't rub it in, mate!" Ron groaned. "I'll be sleeping in the same room as 'Mione and Lavender – but I'm still having to get to grips with the fact that I'm not physically attracted to either of 'em, now!" She looked back up quizzically at Harry. "What about you and Ginny. You told me what happened between you two…"
Harry leaned against the side of the corridor. Ignoring the rocking motion of the thundering train, she sighed. "I don't exactly feel comfortable with the thought that I might have the bed next to my former girlfriend – put it that way. But I'll try not to let her feelings about…the new me…get between us."
Ron looked worried, as a thought struck her. "Yeah, but you might not even be placed into Gryffindor, Ha- Blast! Celine. As new pupils, we'll have to…"
"…be sorted. Yes – but c'mon, Rohan. We certainly look different on the outside – but we're still the same on the inside, aren't we?" Harry retorted, her light voice rising in pitch. "The Sorting hat will know who we are, once it's on our heads – and it'll recognise our Gryffindor natures…"
Ron didn't look so sure. "Hermione told me that she was rather hoping to be placed in Ravenclaw…," she whispered.
Harry chuckled. "Well, she's brainy enough."
"Yeah, but she's becoming firm friends with Luna, Celine. She wants to make sure that Luna has good company in her house…" She broke off as Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, and Justin Finch-Fletchley opened the door that led to the next carriage, creating a change in the timber of the roar from the speeding train's passage over the tracks.
"Oh, hello! Who are you two? I'm not seen you pair around, before." Ernie looked at the unfamiliar witches before him.
Harry's heart missed a beat, as she hurriedly fought to put on the faint Irish accent that Luna had taught her. "Well… My name's Celine. Celine Lovegood. I'm joining my cousin for the seventh year at Hogwarts, to finish off my home tutoring. So I am."
"Luna's cousin? Wow! I didn't know anything about her family. 'Part from her dad, of course." Justin smiled and shook Harry's hand, and she automatically returned the gesture – almost forgetting to keep her grip as light as that of most other ladies.
"Um… Pleased to meet you…" Harry deliberately trailed off.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley."
The three honorary seventh-year Hufflepuffs all introduced themselves to Harry and Ron, with a series of handshakes. In turn, Ron gave her name as Rohan Chesterton, who was – like Celine – brushing up on her previous education at home, along with her sister, Tamaris.
"Well, you seem like a pleasant pair." Ernie smiled at Harry and Ron. "I guess Hogwarts could do with some new faces to cheer us up, even amongst us seventh-years. Last year was a miserable slog, under the Carrows…"
"…encouraging the pupils, especially the Slytherins, to become Dark Art participants." Hannah looked pained at the memories resurfacing in her mind. "And, of course, the Carrows made sure that the Slytherin pupils got away with their bullying and belittling of anyone who didn't tow the line of the new regime."
"Hope you two don't end up in Slytherin," Justin interrupted Hannah. "But if you do, can you help to change that house for the better? I rather feel sorry for the few Slytherins who didn't cause anyone any trouble last year. And let's not forget that some of them, alongside Professor Slughorn, even helped in the battle against Voldemort! I suppose any of that lot returning to Hogwarts this time round won't be popular with some of their housemates!"
"That's true. And apparently, Snape – that's last year's Headmaster, by the way, ladies… He wasn't the Voldemort toady we'd made him out to be," Ernie added. "But sorry, I'm boring you…"
"No. I'm glad to hear that there's some good Slytherins around," Harry politely replied. After all, she silently added to herself, I nearly ended up being sorted into Slytherin. And I was forgetting about the Slytherins that fought alongside Slughorn…
"Anyway, we'd better get back to Susan. She's keeping our carriage seats reserved. See you girls around!" Hannah waved at Harry and Ron, and led the two Hufflepuff wizards onwards.
"That went well enough…," Harry remarked, keeping her voice low as they passed the lady with the snack trolley further along the corridor. "The Hufflepuffs didn't recognize us – and they were friendly."
Ron grunted.
"Rohan… What's wrong?" Harry rolled her eyes and stopped outside their carriage, where Hermione and Luna seemed to be deep in conversation.
"I'm not looking forward to the part where we have to dress up in our school uniforms." Ron's cheeks turned a shade red.
"But only days ago, we've both tried on our new uniforms when we visited Diagon Alley. Skirts, tights, blouses, girl's shoes… The lot. And in my case, even a pair of Luna's knee-high white socks," Harry pointed out. "We can't avoid it, Rohan. We're schoolgirls now – like your new sister, your real sister, and Luna. So let's just get on with it, study hard, enjoy being with our friends, and hope that the Death Eaters and our poisoner aren't able to strike again, and..."
"…and hope that there's no pratts like Cormac McLaggan, to chat either of us up," Ron added sourly.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
As the sky turned dark, a woman, whose dress sense made her look suspiciously like an Auror, marched along the corridor from one end of the train to the other, calling out that their arrival at Hogwarts was in thirty minutes time. Harry and her three friends took that as the cue to change into their school robes. Harry and Ron were prepared to stand outside whilst Hermione and Luna used the carriage to change first – but Luna smiled and firmly led Harry into the corridor.
"Let the Chesterton sisters get ready first, Celine," Luna explained. Further along the carriage, the other pupils were moving about the train, getting into their compartments and pulling down their screens, as they prepare to switch to their school attire.
"Right…" Harry nodded.
Some minutes later, Hermione opened the compartment door. Both she and Ron stepped out, wearing identical clothes – plain black ties, white blouses, grey jumpers without any house colour trim, knee-length black skirts, and black robes (again without house colouring). The pair of them had their hair neatly arranged and wore a light layer of make-up – Hermione slightly more than Ron, who looked as though she would rather be back home.
Harry managed to smile. "You both look nice, ladies," she declared.
"Shut it…" Ron gritted her teeth.
"Thank you, Celine." Hermione's lips lifted. "Now it's your turn. Luna, are you ready to prepare your cousin for school?"
"Oh, I should think so, Tamaris," Luna announced airily. Taking Harry's hand, Luna escorted her adopted cousin back into the lit compartment with its screens pulled down. The two witches then started to remove their casual clothes and jeans, and opened their suitcases to pull out their uniforms. Harry paused, and turned round so that she couldn't see Luna in her underwear. She still felt self-conscious about undressing in the same room as a girl, despite the fact that she wasn't attracted to the fairer sex anymore…
Get used to it, Harry! She scolded herself. You are a witch – and you will be sleeping in a girl's dormitory from now on!
Some minutes later, Harry and Luna had redressed. Luna helped to check that Harry's thin application of make up was suitable, and she helped to bind Harry's strawberry-blonde hair into a knot at the back.
"Err… That looks good. Thanks, Luna," Harry said, seeing the results in Luna's compact mirror. "But you don't have to…"
"I know, Harry. But I want to make sure you are all right. We're family now, after all." She smiled serenely – and then added, "Unless we're in private – or with those who know your secret - I'll only refer to you three guys by your new names."
"Got it," Harry replied - without any enthusiasm.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
When the train stopped and all the doors were unlocked by the guards, the pupils all emerged onto the platform at Hogsmeade station. Some were nervous-looking first years, and some were faces that Harry and her friends recognised. They also noticed that a number of other faces were missing – Zachery Smith, the Hufflepuff last seen making an escape bid from Hogwarts before the battle began, was one. Romilda Vane, of Gryffindor house, was another absentee.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luna moved to one end of the platform, to avoid the hustle and bustle of the station porters and milling pupils. Harry glanced at herself and her company, thinking how they were dressed identically. Luna's uniform was different in one respect – her tie was not the plain black of her friends and the first-year pupils, but was coloured the stripped grey and light blue of Ravenclaw house.
"Well, it's the final year here. For all of us," she hummed.
"And the first for us three, as well," Hermione added, acting as per her undercover role, now that they were in a crowd.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years – follow me," Hagrid bellowed as he emerged from the station's waiting room, holding up a lit lantern. As he walked closer to Harry's group, he stopped.
"An' yeh three will be the special seventh-year intake, I suppose?"
"Th-that's right," Ron stammered.
Hagrid patted his free hand gently on Ron's shoulder, and smiled knowingly at the four witches. "Don't be lookin' so worried. Yeh will be fine. Well, as it's your firs' time here, as well – yeh get to come alon' with me, too. Alrigh'?"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione smiled and nodded. Waving goodbye to Luna - who was making her way to join Ginny, Neville, Lavender, and the Patil twins – the three disguised witches tagged along with the gaggle of new Hogwarts pupils, who were talking excitedly as Hagrid led them away from the station and down a steep narrow path. Without the lights from the platform, the darkness of the cloudy night threatened to swallow them all up – the gloom being repelled only by Hagrid's lantern bobbing in the air ahead of them. Harry nearly tripped over an eleven-year old boy, who had stopped to recapture his escaped rat.
History felt like it was repeating itself. The group rounded the bend at the bottom of the path, and the first year pupils gasped upon seeing the magnificent sight of Hogwarts Castle in the near-distance, lit up in possibly every window – the glow reflecting off the Black Lake immediately before them.
"Glad to see that the repairs look complete," Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione.
"Yes – no sign of damage from this angle," Hermione agreed.
At Hagrid's urging, the group continued on. Due to their extra weight, compared to the first-year pupils, Hagrid made sure that the youngsters were all in their wooden boats, before urging the trio to board one of the two remaining – whilst he stretched himself out in the last one. With a cry of "FORWARD!" from the half-giant, the fleet of boats moved together across the lake, as if all joined together by invisible ropes, whilst those new to the school chatted animatedly amongst themselves on their boats.
Harry drank in the wonderful sight before her, feeling the cool night air lightly brushing her shoulder-length hair to one side. They were now within the protective wards of the estate. She sighed with relief, feeling happy and content.
I'm home again…, Harry thought to herself, smiling serenely.
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
About half-an-hour later, Professor Flitwick – now the Deputy Headmaster – led the lined-up group into the restored Great Hall, past the four long house tables where the seated pupils sat, silently watching them. The countless floating candles were also present – lighting up the hall. Harry noticed that the blasted hole in the roof that had led to Voldemort's death had been repaired.
She quickly ran her eyes along the teachers present. There were no new faces there, and she wondered who the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be this year…
As on Harry's first visit to the Great Hall, the newcomers were lined up, facing the other students – whilst the teachers' table was behind them. Professor Flitwick explained the sorting procedure to the first years – then he patted the Sorting Hat, which was already in place on the four-legged stool. The new pupils gasped as the hat formed its face and spoke, welcoming them to Hogwarts. This time, it didn't sing, Harry gratefully noted.
With his parchment of names in hand, the half-goblin head of Ravenclaw house started calling out the names of the new pupils, in alphabetical order of surnames – one by one, whilst the hat got to business placing the girls and boys into the most suitable house for them, as each pupil put on the hat.
Harry scanned the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables in front of where she, Ron, and Hermione were standing. Ginny, Lavender, Neville, and Luna all smiled back.
The sorting continued until…
"Chesterton, Rohan!"
Ron didn't move at first. Harry elbowed her, and rolled her eyes.
Ron's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't like having the eyes of the whole school upon her, any more than on the first night at Hogwarts. Keeping her legs from trembling, she managed to sit on the stool without knocking it over. Taking the hat from Flitwick's outstretched hand; she placed it over her eyes.
"Well, well."The voice of the hat sounded in Ron's ear. "The first of the three 'special cases' I was told to expect. Welcome back, Ronald Weasley."
Um… Hi, hat. So… You know where to place us Weasleys, Ron thought back.
"Yes… But the situation is different now. You are different now, compared to how you were seven years ago, Miss Weasley. So, let me see…"
Harry frowned when the hat did not automatically call out "GRYFFINDOR". Instead, judging from Ron's moving lips, there was an animated, whispered conversation going on…
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Harry's jaw dropped open. She turned to face Hermione, who also looked taken aback. Standing up, with a dazed look on her face as she returned the hat to Flitwick, Ron glanced back at the other two disguised witches – and then she falteringly walked over to the Hufflepuffs, who welcomed her.
Harry shot a glance to her other friends. Ginny and Lavender looked as though someone had slapped their faces with a fish. Neville seemed bewildered, whilst Luna's eyes were wider than usual. She frowned and tilted her head. Harry fancied she could almost hear the cogs whirring away in her cousin's mind.
"Chesterton, Tamaris!" Flitwick called out in his chirpy voice.
Hermione and Harry quickly squeezed each other's hand. Then, still feeling unsteady, Hermione carefully walked over to the stool. The hat dropped over her eyes, as she put it on.
"Hello again, Miss Granger," the hat whispered in her ear.
What's going on? Hermione silently thought back. Why did you…?
"Place your adopted sister in Hufflepuff? I am merely following guidance from the Heads of the houses. If you, the new Miss Weasley, and Miss Potter were all sorted into Gryffindor again, how long would it be before someone there - who was not in on the secret – recognized you three by your latent characteristics? Besides, you have all proved your bravery as Gryffindors. Now Miss Ron Weasley needs to prove herself through hard work and study. But where to put you, now? I reckon with your sharp mind you should be in Raven…"
No! Hermione managed not to yell out. Ron! He-she will need me! No one in Hufflepuff knows – aside from Professor Sprout.
"Hmm… Are you sure, Hermione Granger?" The hat kept its voice low.
I… I'm tempted to join Ravenclaw house – it's true! But I'm a hard worker – and I value my friends! Put me in Hufflepuff. Please!
"A loyal and determined witch, you are, Miss Chesterton," the hat announced to the watching crowd. "So off you go, into…HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Thank you!" Hermione gasped with relief. Hurriedly flinging the hat back at Flitwick, she raced to join the joyous Hufflepuffs, and sat next to Ron, who eagerly awaited her. The pair of them looked back with concern at Harry, who now had to nervously wait until her turn came.
Harry rubbed her head, reeling from what had just happened. Once more, like the Harry of old, she had blindly made assumptions – this time thinking that all three of them would automatically be resorted into Gryffindor. She looked back at Professors McGonagall, Sprout, and Slughorn. The Headmistress met her eye, but gave nothing away.
Blast! This was pre-arranged!
So, what's lined up for me? It better NOT be Slytherin, despite Justin's hopes for a reformer amongst the snakes! At least with the other three houses, I've now got friends in each who'll look out for me, I suppose…
The sorting continued. Before long, Flitwick's chirpy voice reached Harry's ears, breaking her meandering thoughts.
"Lovegood, Celine."
All right, Harry. Here we go…
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she walked over to the stool and pulled the battered black hat over her eyes.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Harry Potter," the hat spoke into Harry's ear.
Hello, hat… Wherever you're going to sort me, please don't place me in Slytherin, or I just might throttle you, the way I'm feeling…
"No need for violence. Your mind is different now… Oh yes, I remember the last time I was in your head – even though that was seven years ago."
Maybe my mind's not the same because I don't have a part of Voldemort in me now! Harry shot back.
"Hmm… Maybe. What I sensed in you before was evidently more than a legacy of that wicked man's attempt to kill you, when you were a baby! I wish I could have recognized the connection for what it was… Still, onto your present dilemma. The Headmistress has told me about this assassin that nearly killed you. It seems to me you face a shrewd and clever enemy. And it's not bravery that will aid you the most now – it's a sharp mind. Besides, the house teachers felt you would be safe in a house where most of the pupils do not know you as well as the Gryffindors. Otherwise, your hotheadedness might lead you to exposing yourself eventually, if you became a Gryffindor again."
Okay. Fair enough…, Harry conceded. Look, just put me in Hufflepuff – so that I can be with Ron and Hermi-
The hat whispered again, cutting Harry off. "And one wise teacher here felt that you would be best placed with a witch who needs you as much as you need her. Therefore… RAVENCLAW!"
Harry blinked, taken aback. Standing up, she took off the hat and heard the Ravenclaws cheering at their table. Looking beyond them, Harry saw that Neville and Lavender were crestfallen. Ginny looked as if she had just swallowed a sour lemon. Turning her head to the right, Ron and Hermione were also expressing dismay.
"Go on, Miss Lovegood!" Flitwick was whispering to Harry. "Join your cousin!"
Luna! Pulling herself together, Harry ran over to join the Ravenclaws and – pulling her skirt underneath her - sat next to Luna, who hugged her warmly.
"Oh! This is wonderful! We'll be in most of the same classes, Celine. Welcome to Ravenclaw!" she gushed.
Feeling the gaze of the other Ravenclaws on her, Harry hugged Luna back, forcing a smile, as she tried not to think of the fact that she wouldn't be in the same house as Ron and Hermione…
Look on the bright side, Harry…, she told herself. If you hadn't been sorted into Ravenclaw, Luna wouldn't have had any of your gang with her. You were forgetting about your cousin!
More of the elder Ravenclaws who were nearby reached over to shake Harry's hand. Again, Harry had to remember to keep her grip light. It was starting to feel more natural to do so, however…
"Wow! Another Lovegood? I hope you'll do us proud, like Luna here!" Padma Patil smiled widely. "She made many people start respecting her a lot, when she took on those Death Eaters at the Ministry, along with those Gryffindors. Has she told you all about that?"
Luna blushed somewhat, but she looked pleased at the compliment.
"Um, yes… I know all about that night," Harry muttered, trying not to think about what happened to Sirius…
The sorting continued. Harry allowed herself to unwind as she watched the remainder of the nervous first-year pupils go through the sorting process. About half-an-hour or so later, it was all done. Then Flitwick removed the sorting hat and the stool, before taking his seat at the teachers table. Next, the Headmistress stood up and faced the attentive, silent pupils.
"Good evening, everyone. For those who are new to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall, your Headmistress." She spoke with her usual measured tones, her steely gaze sweeping across the four crowded tables. Then a trace of emotion crept into her voice. "Most of you will be painfully aware of the war with the Death Eaters, and the fact that the enemy had control over this school during the last academic year. The battle that resulted in the death of the one I can now call Tom Riddle Junior, alias Voldemort, saw its climax here. At Hogwarts. We have repaired the physical damage to the school and the surrounding estate. But the emotional scars remain from the last year and that battle, though they will heal in time. We lost some fighters – both adults and pupils. Sadly, some Death Eaters remain at large from the jail breakout during the summer. The war that we hoped had come to an end, remains unfinished. Though the scourge that was Voldemort is dead and gone, a number of his followers are determined to undermine and overturn the morals and values we hold true – fairness, decency, respect, and equal opportunities for all who come here, whether they be Muggle-born or of long-standing wizard lineage. To support those who wish to do good by all people in the world – and to correct and resist those who seek to intimidate, bully, divide, and cheat their fellow human beings."
She paused, and Harry saw and heard many of the pupils nod and mutter "Hear, hear." The older pupils on the Slytherin table were silent, she noted.
"Let us hold a moment of silence for those who fell in battle, defending the school and its values. First the pupils: Colin Creevey, Anthony Goldstein…"
The remainder of the fallen defenders had their names read out – including the last Headmaster, Severus Snape – and ex-pupils such as Fred Weasley. Everyone bowed their heads in solemn silence. And then the minute was over. The pupils rose their heads, when…
The double doors to the Great Hall were suddenly opened. Argus Filch, lowering his lantern, escorted a flustered-looking Remus and Dora Lupin along the space in-between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. Harry did a double-take. Dora, her hair changing colour to pink in her agitation, was holding a baby in her arms. The infant gave a cry and wiggled its arms in the air, as the Lupins quickly sat themselves down at the teachers' table.
"Oh! They must be staying with us!" Luna whispered to Harry, smiling.
Harry returned her wide eyes to the baby that Dora was now 'shushing'.
That's my godchild over there! Teddy is staying with his parents? Here!?
"Apologies for our lateness, Professor." Remus moped his sweating brow.
She scowled, but then nodded. Facing the murmuring pupils, she waved them into silence.
"For the benefit of those who are not familiar with them, let me introduce Remus and Dora Lupin, and their baby son. Professor Lupin and his wife are werewolves – but they are good werewolves. They fought for the defence of this school. No prejudice against them will be tolerated!" Miss McGonagall paused, and then nodded to herself.
"Ah yes. I should add that Professor Lupin has been reinstated as teacher for the Defence Against the Dark Arts, following his successful run here five years ago!"
Many of the older pupils gave an almighty cheer at this news – even some of the seventh-year Slytherins were smiling, Harry nodded. She didn't realize that she too was cheering, until the clapping Luna whispered in her ear.
"You don't know the Lupins yet, Celine!"
"I don't…? Oh, right!" Harry lowered her arms – and saw that Hermione had similarly rebuked Ron.
Professor McGonagall again raised her hand. The pupils fell quiet.
"In a moment, I will allow you to eat after your long journey here. Then I will make all you aware of the rules and regulations that you all should adhere too. However, there is one further declaration to be made… Ah, yes. Remus, you have my permission to declare it yourself."
"Thank you, Minerva." Remus Lupin stood up and faced the crowd. "I will make this brief. In light of the ongoing war, the need for all of us to be vigilant against the Dark Arts and the agents of evil remains important. To those of you who have been told by your parents never to trust a werewolf, I say this. Judge a person not by their labels, or conditions – but by their actions. Measures are in place, so that my wife and I cannot harm any of you. Indeed, I will do whatever I can to safeguard you at Hogwarts – for sooner or later, the Death Eaters will seek to reclaim the position of power that they held here, last year…"
Dora whispered to him. "Tell them the other news, Remus!"
He nodded and faced the pupils again. "In light of Professor McGonagall becoming Headmistress, another position has been made vacant. Although the good lady here has agreed to continue teaching Transfiguration – the role of Head of house has now been passed on. In addition to being your DADA teacher, I am – as from today – also head of Gryffindor house!"
The cheers from the jubilant Gryffindor table filled the entire hall. Harry smiled at the news. To her satisfaction, she saw that Neville, Ginny, and especially Lavender, finally had a reason to be happy.
Then Lupin stepped down, and the plates of the first courses of food magically appeared on all of the tables – courtesy of the kitchen House Elves. Harry smiled again as Ron soon started filling her plate - though with less items that the old Ron had, just two years ago…
*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*
Harry was not surprised to learn that Padma Patil was now Head Girl for Ravenclaw. She led the new Ravenclaws to their tower. Harry and Luna hung at the back – followed by the returning boys and girls of their house.
Once inside, Harry gazed round the airy Common Room for the second time. The last time he had been here, it had been with Luna – whilst on the trail of a Horcrux. And Luna had stunned Alecto Carrow – saving Harry's hide, and putting the dark witch out of action from the forthcoming battle.
This will take some getting used to… But it's cosy, not too hot from the lit fires, well ventilated. Plenty of space for studying, I suppose…, Harry thought. She glanced at Luna, who seemed to read her mind and briefly squeezed Harry's hand, to reassure her.
On the stairs to the Girls Dormitories, Harry felt the presence of magic around the lower steps. Seeing her pause, Luna explained that it was a barrier to prevent boys from entering the Girls' rooms.
Well, that won't hold me back, now… Harry noted ruefully. She continued climbing the spiral staircase without hindrance – along with Luna and the other ladies.
Due to the circumstances with some of the previous seventh-year's pupils returning, an extra level had been added to Ravenclaw tower, so that the dormitory for the current year's seventh-formers was on the top two floors. Checking over the nameplates at the base of the beds, Luna found that she and Harry were to reside in the lower seventh-form dormitory – along with Padma Patil, and a dark, frizzy-haired girl named Tina Naylor. The other girls – including Mandy Brocklehurst, Lisa Turpin, Morag McDougal, and Su Li, were to sleep in the bedroom on the floor above.
Harry moved over to her four-postered bed, seeing only the night sky through her window, which she guessed was facing to the west – away from the rest of the school, and towards the Black Lake. She was relieved to see, looking from the centre of the bedroom, that Luna's bed was immediately to her left.
The other girls swarmed into the dormitory, finding their beds and cases. Sighing, Harry got to work on her own case. She thought of her new pet, purchased from Diagon Alley only a fortnight before, a barn owl named Hecate – who would now be residing in the Owlery, along with the rest of the pupils' owls. Remus Lupin had cast a binding spell over Hecate, so that she would not be able to deliver any letters or messages addressed to Harry Potter. Instead, she would register Celine Lovegood as her owner. Lupin had performed the same magic on Ron and Hermione's owls, too – in case the Death Eaters and the unknown assassin tried to locate the trio by fair means or owl.
The Ministry had also, with some difficulty and careful skill, managed to place a long-lasting perception charm on the wands of Ron and Hermione, so that other pupils – especially Gryffindors - wouldn't be able to recognize them. As for Harry, she continued to use her own wand, repaired by his use of the Elder Wand – before the latter had been placed back in Professor Dumbledore's tomb, back in May. The perception charm was also now in effect on her wand.
Once sorted, both Harry and Luna were ready for bed, and they got dressed, along with their fellow Ravenclaw witches. Harry took off her spectacles, and then closed the curtains surrounding her bed. Lights out soon followed.
This time, Harry was not plagued by any nightmares on her first night at Hogwarts. She did fret over what the next few months would bring, however. The worry of what the Death Eaters were planning with their kidnapped victims ran over and over in her mind.
Take it one day at a time, Harry…she told herself. This time round, just keep your head down and try to be an incognito pupil…
She didn't hold much hope of that lasting long.