Chapter One: The Lucky Few
"Is this really necessary, Headmaster?"
"Severus, if I wasn't certain of it's necessity than I wouldn't have followed through with it in the first place."
"But — Headmaster — they're only children."
"They are young adults, Severus. I have full faith that they can handle this."
"With all due respect, Headmaster, is it really wise to trust these pupils with such a burden?"
"It is only a training class, Minerva. It's not as if we'd send them out in the war. Now enough about this, I've made my decision. Come, there's a delicious-looking lemon tart that I'd like to sample."
* * *
The Halloween Feast had never come with such anticipation. Since the news of the Auror class had been spread, students — even those under seventh year — have signed up for it. Fred and George Weasley — now 19 and running a joke shop in Hogsmeade — had been heard complaining that they were never offered a thing like that when they had attended school. It was curious to everyone why they would offer this now when the Dark Lord had already been defeated.
There was a great cloud of tension when Dumbledore stood up for his announcement. He looked around at them all, making everyone shift in their seats uncomfortably. He found it all very amusing and decided to build up the suspense by taking time to pick the lint off his robes.
"Oh, come on!"someone shouted through the silence.
Dumbledore peered through his spectacles and grinned. After clearing his throat, he spoke, "I suppose this wouldn't be a good time to tell you all a wonderful joke I heard over the summer about a banshee and a vampire and what happens when they — "
A tidal wave of groans could be heard throughout that mass of students. " — Right," said Dumbledore. "Maybe next time." He cleared his throat again. "I suppose I should just go on with what everyone's really waiting for." He paused to wave his hand in the air and in front of him popped a roll of parchment. "Those lucky few who'll be allowed to attend the Auror classes are... Harry Potter — "
A deafening applause exploded from the Gryffindor table, later joined by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Slytherin remained unmoving.
" — Hannah Abbott — "
More applause and goblet-banging for the stunned Hufflepuff.
" — Ronald Weasley — "
Applause and whooping while Harry clapped Ron hard in the back.
" — Padma Patil — "
Parvati joined in on the applause for her twin who was blushing a deep shade of red.
" — Hermione Granger — "
A distinctive sound of a book dropping could be heard throughout the applause for Hermione.
" — and Draco Malfoy."
Silence.
Very quietly murmurs and whispering could be heard as people snaked their heads around to peer at the Slytherin table, who now celebrated by themselves. In the mass of ecstatic Slytherins, Draco Malfoy could be seen sittng very quietly with a triumphant smirk on his face.
"Is this really necessary, Headmaster?"
"Severus, if I wasn't certain of it's necessity than I wouldn't have followed through with it in the first place."
"But — Headmaster — they're only children."
"They are young adults, Severus. I have full faith that they can handle this."
"With all due respect, Headmaster, is it really wise to trust these pupils with such a burden?"
"It is only a training class, Minerva. It's not as if we'd send them out in the war. Now enough about this, I've made my decision. Come, there's a delicious-looking lemon tart that I'd like to sample."
The Halloween Feast had never come with such anticipation. Since the news of the Auror class had been spread, students — even those under seventh year — have signed up for it. Fred and George Weasley — now 19 and running a joke shop in Hogsmeade — had been heard complaining that they were never offered a thing like that when they had attended school. It was curious to everyone why they would offer this now when the Dark Lord had already been defeated.
There was a great cloud of tension when Dumbledore stood up for his announcement. He looked around at them all, making everyone shift in their seats uncomfortably. He found it all very amusing and decided to build up the suspense by taking time to pick the lint off his robes.
"Oh, come on!"someone shouted through the silence.
Dumbledore peered through his spectacles and grinned. After clearing his throat, he spoke, "I suppose this wouldn't be a good time to tell you all a wonderful joke I heard over the summer about a banshee and a vampire and what happens when they — "
A tidal wave of groans could be heard throughout that mass of students. " — Right," said Dumbledore. "Maybe next time." He cleared his throat again. "I suppose I should just go on with what everyone's really waiting for." He paused to wave his hand in the air and in front of him popped a roll of parchment. "Those lucky few who'll be allowed to attend the Auror classes are... Harry Potter — "
A deafening applause exploded from the Gryffindor table, later joined by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Slytherin remained unmoving.
" — Hannah Abbott — "
More applause and goblet-banging for the stunned Hufflepuff.
" — Ronald Weasley — "
Applause and whooping while Harry clapped Ron hard in the back.
" — Padma Patil — "
Parvati joined in on the applause for her twin who was blushing a deep shade of red.
" — Hermione Granger — "
A distinctive sound of a book dropping could be heard throughout the applause for Hermione.
" — and Draco Malfoy."
Silence.
Very quietly murmurs and whispering could be heard as people snaked their heads around to peer at the Slytherin table, who now celebrated by themselves. In the mass of ecstatic Slytherins, Draco Malfoy could be seen sittng very quietly with a triumphant smirk on his face.