Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JKR does.
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By the time Icarus had sat down at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, he was starving. He had missed the trolley witch on the train and he hadn't eaten since breakfast. Icarus inwardly groaned as he watched the headmaster stand up to give his usual first day of school speech."Welcome!" Dumbledore said. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. . . ."
He cleared his throat. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
There was a short pause before Dumbledore continued, "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are here with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors."
Even from the Slytherin table, Icarus was pretty sure he could see Percy Weasley puffing his chest out in an important manner.
"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.
"First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some scattered and unenthusiastic applause, and the loudest clapping was coming somewhere from the Gryffindor table. Icarus looked up at the staff table, noticing that Lupin looked shabby in his old robes in comparison with the other teachers.
Icarus looked at Snape, who was glaring daggers at Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape had always wanted the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but had never gotten it. However, Icarus felt as if there was a little more to the look on Snape's face than resentment; he could basically feel the loathing rolling off of Snape.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbeldore continued as the lukewarm applause for Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retored at tje end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Applause erupted from every table except for Slytherin. Icarus just sat there, trying to gage what type of teacher Hagrid was going to be. He had never met the bloke, only heard of him, especially last year when he was taken to Azkaban for the Petrification of Muggle born students. As it had turned out, Hagrid was innocent and he returned to Hogwarts before the end of the year.
As if on cue, Alan leaned over and whispered into Icarus's ear, "He's the one who was in Azkaban, right?"
Icarus nodded in response.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore said. "Let the feast begin!"
The plates were suddenly filled with food. Icarus scooped mashed potatoes until he had a massive steaming pile on his plate. He put a piece of steak and kidney onto his plate and started to eat.
"Wow, quite the variety of food I see on your plate there," Phillip commented as he eyed his friends plate.
Icarus swallowed a large spoonful of mashed potatoes. "I'm hungry."
"Okay, but do you have to wolf it down like that? You're probably gonna choke. Although, it might be better for the world if you do," he added as an afterthought.
"Hey!" Icarus scowled. He swallowed another spoonful of mashed potatoes, then, lowering his voice as he did so, asked, "Did either of you come up with a way to piss Snape off over the summer?"
"I mean, I didn't do the homework he assigned us," Alan said.
"You never do any of the homework he assigns us," Icarus reminded him.
"Yeah, because Phillip does it for me."
"Well I'm sorry that I care about your grades!" Phillip butted in indignantly.
"No one said you had to, mother," Alan retorted.
They continued their conversation until Dumbledore announced that it was time for all of the students to go to their respective common rooms. Icarus and the rest of the Slytherins were herded down to the dungeon.
Icarus despised the dungeon. They were cold as if the warmth from the rest of the castle stopped at the stairs leading down to the dungeon. Whenever he was down there, he felt as if every sound that he made would echo throughout the entire floor, which made it difficult for him to sneak around after curfew.
The Slytherins stopped outside of the Slytherin common room.
The prefect that had been leading them said, "The password is 'Kleos.'" A stone door concealed in the wall slid open to reveal the common room.
The Slytherin common room was always dark; it had never been properly lighted. The lights that hung from the ceiling cast the room in a greenish tinge. A fire was going in a fireplace, leather couches and a chair around it. The windows, in Icarus's opinion, were pointless because the only thing you could see through them was the lake and the occasional grindylow.
Icarus, Alan, and Phillip went straight to the fifth year boys dormitory where it would be less crowded. The dormitory was cold as always. There was no fire in there to keep the room warm.
Icarus sat down on the window ledge and Phillip sat down on his bed. While Alan was rummaging for something inside his trunk, Icarus asked, "Did you guys see the way Snape was looking at Lupin?"
"No?" said Phillip, though it sounded more like a question. He gave Icarus a weird look. "Did you?"
"Yeah. Snape seemed really, really pissed."
"Okay, and. . .?"
"Remember last year when Alan and I were paired together in potions and we didn't follow the instructions and our cauldron exploded?" When Phillip nodded, Icarus continued, "Remember the look on Snape's face?"
"The one where he looked like he wanted to strangle you?"
"Yeah, but he was looking at Lupin like that."
"Do you reckon they're ex-lovers?" Alan said, sitting down with a box in his hand.
"Why do you have to say those things?" Phillip questioned.
"Well, hey, seems like Snape was looking pretty scorned."
"Why can't you just keep those thoughts to yourself?"
Alan opened his mouth to say something, but Icarus interrupted him. "What's that in your hand?"
"Oh, this?" Alan grinned as he shook the box. "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans."
"How long have those been in your trunk?" Phillip asked, cautiously eyeing the box as Alan opened it.
"Dunno, but it's probably fine."
The dormitory door opened to reveal one of their dormmates, Samuel Avery.
"Hey, Sammy, catch." Alan chucked a bean at the boy's head. Samuel ducked.
"What was that?" he asked.
"A bean," Phillip answered.
Alan got up and walked over to Samuel. He picked up the bean, dusted it off, and popped it into his mouth. His facial expression turned sour and he gagged. "Lemon," he said.
"Ah, lemon's not that bad," Icarus said, standing. "Here, I'll try one." He fished around the box, looking for a yellow bean. When he found one, he made sure that it was the right one before putting it in his mouth. He spit it out almost immediately.
"See!" Alan said. "Lemon is the worst flavor!"
Icarus wiped his mouth. "When did you buy those?"
"At least a year ago."
"We're throwing these away." Phillip reached for the box, but Alan ran over and snatched it from Icarus.
"No, we're not," Alan said. He turned to Samuel. "Want one?"
"I'm good, thanks," Samuel said, pushing the box away from him.
"Suit yourself." Alan ate a yellow and white bean.
"You're disgusting," Icarus said, making a face at his friend.
"You're all sissies."
Icarus sighed. "Hand me the box," he said, knowing he was going to regret eating the year old candies later.