Due to the last chapter being so VERY short, I decided to post a second chapter for you all to enjoy. so... enjoy.
Year 04 Chapter 04: Back To School Again
September first came quickly to Harry and Hedwig. After disabling the blood ward tap, they met up with their friends on platform nine and three quarters. They all crammed into a compartment and tried to enjoy the trip. Sadly, they realised that they were in a compartment right next to Draco Malfoy, who was loudly proclaiming his self importance.
Of course, they couldn't enjoy the trip, without a direct visit from Draco. "So... going to enter, Potter? You never miss a chance to show off, do you?"
"Either explain what you're on about or go away, Malfoy," said Hermione testily.
"Oh, you don't know, do you, Potter. Well I guess being the boy-who-lived isn't everything. God, I heard about it ages ago. Just goes to show you how much better the Malfoys are."
Malfoy laughed, before beckoning to Crabbe and Goyle, leaving Harry and his friends behind.
"Wonder what that was all about." Bella said, as she got up to shut the compartment door.
"Dunno." Harry responded. "If it's important, we'll be told about it eventually."
The rest of the trip was uneventful, and they were soon standing in the pouring rain, rushing to get to a carriage. They rode up the long track, past the winged boar statues, and finally arrived at the school. After another pass through the rain, they were inside. Sadly that didn't make them any dryer as they were hit with water balloons thrown by the poltergeist Peeves, provoking an angry Professor McGonagall.
Finally, they arrived in the great hall, which was deliciously warm, after being in the cold rain. The great hall, as always was lit by thousands of floating candles, whose light glittered off the gold plates and goblets decorating the tables. At the far end of the hall, the teachers table was already mostly full with expectant professors. Harry and his friends found seats at the Gryffindor table, and readied themselves for dinner.
"Hiya, Harry!" Came a voice from farther down the table.
"Hey, Colin."
"Harry, guess what? Guess what, Harry? My brother's starting! My brother Dennis!"
"Well that's good."
"He's really excited!" said Colin, practically bouncing up and down in his seat. "I just hope he's in Gryffindor! Keep your fingers crossed, eh, Harry?"
"Will do." Harry promised.
They lounged in their seats a few more minutes, before Hermione spoke up again. "Where's the new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher?"
Harry glanced at the teachers table and noticed three empty chairs. Hagrid was probably still out in the rain with the first years, McGonagall was most likely waiting for them, and the third seat was that of the Defence teacher.
"Maybe they couldn't get anyone." Hermione wondered.
"He's probably just late." Neville commented.
At that moment the doors opened and in came Professor McGonagall leading the first years, which truly looked like a pitiful bunch, soaked to the bone. He saw one tiny first year, who was wrapped in Hagrid's coat, shoot a thumbs up to Colin Creevy, and mouth that he fell in the lake, looking thrilled by the fact. He followed his fellow first years up to the stage, where the sorting hat sat. The brim opened and the hat began to sing.
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
After that, McGonagall called for Stuart Ackerly, and the sorting began. Denis Creevy was sorted into Gryffindor, and dropped into a seat next to his brother, proudly announcing that he fell in the lake and was saved by the giant squid. Colin pointed Harry out to his brother, and Harry grinned at them, winking slickly. Finally the sorting completed, and Professor Dumbledore stood, to make his welcoming speech.
"I only have two words to say to you." He declared. "Tuck in."
Food appeared on the tables and Harry dove on the roasted chicken, taking an entire bird for himself. He ate heartily, while sharing meat with Hedwig. Between bites, he struck up a conversation with Nearly-headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost. All was fine, until Sir Nicholas mentioned there were house elves at Hogwarts.
"But they get paid?" Hermione said. "They get holidays, don't they? And — and sick leave, and pensions, and everything?"
That caused Sir Nicholas to laugh, making his head nearly fall off, until it was hanging from his shoulder by a thin strip of flesh.
"Sick leave and pensions?" he said, pushing his head back onto his shoulders. "House-elves don't want sick leave and pensions!"
Hermione immediately pushed her food plate away and set sown her silverware. "Slave labour. That's what made this meal."
"You're not going to help them by starving yourself." Harry commented. "If you want, later we can discuss ways to get elves equal rights."
"You would do that?" Hermione asked.
"Sure," Bella said. "We're your friends."
"If it's important to you, it's important to us." Sophie added.
Hermione pulled her plate back to herself and finished her dinner.
After dessert, Professor Dumbledore stood to make his announcements.
"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around at them all. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to
include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."
The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued:
"As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
"What?" Bella asked, shocked.
"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy — but I am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts —"
Two things happened simultaneously to interrupt Dumbledore's speech. There was a deafening crash of lightening on the ceiling, and the doors to the great hall slammed open. Harry watched as Alistair 'Mad Eye' Moody limped his way into the great hall. He approached the teachers table and exchanged words with Dumbledore. Harry used his shape-shifting ability to magnify his hearing and could make out their words over the students whispers.
"Hello Alistair."
"Hello, Albus. Sorry I'm late, but you know me, I love to make an entrance."
"I understand old friend. I hope you are prepared for your classes tomorrow."
"Aye, I'm ready. Looking forward to teaching the next generation."
Harry stopped listening at that point, returning his hearing to it's normal level. Moody sat at the table and began eating, while Dumbledore returned to his speech.
"May I introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts
teacher?" said Dumbledore brightly into the silence. "Professor Moody."
"That's our new Defence teacher?" Bella questioned.
"I wonder what happened to his face." Hermione muttered.
"As I was saying," Dumbledore continued, "we are to have the honour of hosting a very exciting event over the
coming months, an event that has not been held for over a century. It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
Harry tuned out the professor, while thinking about the Triwizard tournament. He was a spectator at the last tournament, and it didn't end well. What they were thinking, bringing it back, he would never understand. He tuned back into the speech in time to hear Hermione whisper to him with a look of alarm on her face.
"Death toll?"
"Yeah." Harry answered. "All three of the champions, and a number of spectators died when a manticore they were attempting to wrangle got loose."
"There have been several attempts over the centuries to reinstate the tournament," Dumbledore continued, "none of which has been very successful. However, our own departments of International Magical Cooperation and Magical Games and Sports have decided the time is ripe for another attempt. We have worked hard over the summer to ensure that this time, no champion will find himself or herself in mortal danger.
"The heads of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving with their short-listed contenders in October, and the selection of the three champions will take place at Halloween. An impartial judge will decide which students are most worthy to compete for the Triwizard Cup, the glory of their school, and a thousand Galleons personal prize money."
Harry could see the eyes of a number of students lighting up, as they thought about entering. The Weasley twins both announced that they were going to enter. Dumbledore cleared his throat, as he wasn't finished yet.
"Eager though I know all of you will be to bring the Triwizard Cup to Hogwarts," he said, "the heads of the participating schools, along with the Ministry of Magic, have agreed to impose an age restriction on contenders this year. Only students who are of age — that is to say, seventeen years or older — will be allowed to put forward their names for consideration." That of course caused cries of outrage to arise from around the hall. Harry was willing to bet that the Weasley twins were already working on plans to get their names entered in the tournament.
"This is a measure we feel is necessary, given that the tournament tasks will still be difficult and dangerous, whatever precautions we take, and it is highly unlikely that students below sixth and seventh year will be able to cope with them. I will personally be ensuring that no under-age student hoodwinks our impartial judge into making them Hogwarts champion. I therefore beg you not to waste your time submitting yourself if you are under seventeen. The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving in October and remaining with us for the greater part of this year. I know that you will all extend every courtesy to our foreign guests while they are with us, and will give your whole-hearted support to the Hogwarts champion when he or she is selected. And now, it is late, and I know how important it is to you all to be alert and rested as you enter your lessons tomorrow morning. Bedtime! Chop chop!"
Harry, with Hedwig on his shoulder, stood and followed his group of friends to the dormitory, listening idly as they discussed the tournament. They arrived at the common room and one of the twins spoke the password, 'Balderdash', and together they entered.
"So" Harry spoke up, once they were all seated. "House elves."
"Slave labour." Hermione muttered.
"Hermione," Harry said. "You haven't seen them. They love working here, they think they are the luckiest elves alive. And seeing how others are treated by the likes of Lucius Malfoy and his ilk, I'd have to agree with them."
"But they have no rights!" She demanded.
"They don't want rights. They want to work and who are we to tell them that what they want is wrong? Now I won't deny that there aren't other house-elves that want to be free of abusive masters, but there's nothing you can do for them. The master has to free them, unless you somehow trick them into it, none of them will do it willingly.
Hermione looked heartbroken. "I'm sorry Hermione. If you want, after classes tomorrow, I'll take you all to the kitchens, and you can see how happy the house-elves are."
"I think that's a good idea." Bella said.
After that, the group soon broke up, each going to their individual dorm rooms. Harry quickly got behind his silenced bed curtains, before he had his arms around a human Hedwig, and was kissing her neck. She giggled softly before speaking.
"Don't start something you can't finish, lover."
Harry grumbled softly before rolling over, not willing to make love to her while sharing a dorm with thirteen year old boys. He hugged her one more time, before she returned to her owl form to sleep, and he soon joined her.
