Chapter 5:
Surprise Guests
Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron began walking into the castle. It was just as it had always been, with ghosts flying around high ceiling, the moving staircases and the ever-changing Great Hall. As they walked into the Great Hall, they looked around. The ceiling portrayed the night sky perfectly, wit the clear skies and some scarce clouds here and there. The stars shown brightly as ever. Over at the teachers' table, Professor Dumbledore was chatting away with Professor Flitwick as he watched over the room. Professor McGonagall was leading the first years over to the sorting hat ceremony and I very mad looking potions teacher, Professor Snape, wiped his greasy hair out of his eyes and sat down next to Dumbledore.
The sorting hat ceremony began and one by one the little ones walked up to the stool, sat down with the sorting hat on their head, and were sorted into their houses. Harry, Ron and Hermione had seen this many times before, and were more curious about the absences of teachers at the front table.
"Harry, where is the new DADA teacher?" asked Ron as he looked around the crowded room.
"Well, we certainly know Snape didn't get it again this year. Then he would look sort of mean, instead of absolutely mean," said Harry as he stared at Snape.
"Well, whoever it is, they will not be as good as Professor Lupin," said Hermione.
"Yeah, you're right, as usual," said Ron in a very mocking tone.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" asked Hermione.
"Oh nothing," replied Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Dumbledore, who was rising out of his chairs to give his announcements.
He stood up straight and tall and pushed his half moon spectacles up the bridge of his nose and surveyed the students then he cleared his throat and began his speech.
"As you all know, the Forbidden Forest is just as the name states. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, says that he has again added some forbidden objects to his lists and says that you are welcome to read over it as you wish," he said as he looked over at Fred and George Weasley, who were going to make their last year at Hogwarts memorable, no doubt. " I had a little trouble getting a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, because most of the experienced ones are fighting right now as we speak. However, I did mange to find someone. I owled all of your parents to ask their permission to let him teach here. Normally, I do not have to do that, but under the circumstances, I believe it to be only fair."
"Who could possibly need permission to teach here?" asked Harry.
"Shh!" Hermione said to silence Harry and pointed at the headmaster say they could hear the rest of the speech.
"The majority of your parents knew this teacher while coming to school, and thought this person was nice enough, despite his circumstances, so they saw no problem letting this person teach. But enough about that. I am sure you are very anxious to meet your new professor. Professor Lupin, would you please come in now."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all jumped up and looked around.
"Did he just say-" but Harry was stopped as the wide doors open once more. Professor Lupin walked in with a smile on his face, but he looked slightly tired, and tried not to show it. He walked down the center aisle of tables and stood in front of Dumbledore. After the initial shock came over the students, they all started applauding their favorite teacher, with the exception of the Slytherins. Lupin then shook Dumbledore's hand and went around the table and sat down in the vacant chair beside him. It was just then that Harry noticed that there was an enormous black dog beside him. Harry smiled when he realized who it was and tapped Hermione and Ron and the shoulders to get their attention. The looked away from Professor Lupin and turned to Harry, who directed their attention to the black dog on the side of the new teacher. They immediately knew who it was and then looked up at the headmaster once more who stood up to make another announcement.
"Students, Professor Lupin has indeed returned to teach this year, and brought along some company," he said as he pointed to the black dog. "This is Snuffles, and he will be here the remainder of the year with the professor. He may roam the halls, so feel free to be nice- but only that. I am sure you are all ready to eat by now, so let's begin the feast.
The plates were automatically filled with food. Everyone began to eat, expect for Harry. He was anxious to talk to Lupin and his godfather. He wanted to see them and had suddenly lost his appetite. Dinner went by very quickly, for everyone was anxious to retire to his or her common rooms after a very busy day. After the plates were cleared, Dumbledore stood up once more.
"I am sure you are all ready to go to bed. Prefects, will you please direct the first years to their dormitories, and the rest of you may go ahead up to the common rooms. Good nights!"
"I have to go," said Hermione as she rose to go to the first years.
"That's ok. I wanted to talk to Lupin and Snuffles. Ron, do you want to come?" asked Harry.
"Sure. I really don't want to go just yet anyways. Good luck, Hermione!" Ron yelled out at the retreating Hermione.
After most of the students had left the Great Hall, Harry and Ron made their way up to the Professor's table. The only ones left were Professors Dumbledore and Lupin, along with Snuffles.
"Why hello Harry, Ron. How are you?" asked Professor Lupin in usually cheery voice.
"We're good, how are you, and you Snuffles?" asked Harry as he eyed Sirius.
The dog jumped on Harry and licked his face. Then he got back down and looked up at Lupin.
"Because of recent events, Harry, I felt that it would be better if these two stayed here the remainder of the school year. It is for their safety as well as yours. Snuffles here can stroll the halls and keep an eye out. It's the perfect disguise," Dumbledore said to answer the questions Harry had.
"And what about-" Ron began before being interrupted by Professor Dumbledore.
Ah, Hagrid will be back shortly. Until then, the Care of Magical Creatures classes will be cancelled. He is away at the time with Madame Maxine on a special mission, and it is almost complete.
Harry knew he must have been talking about the giants. Hagrid was sent to try to persuade the giants to join the good side this year.
"Harry I am sure you want to talk to me and Snuffles alone, but not tonight. I have to prepare for my classes. Come by tomorrow and we can talk, is that all right?" asked Lupin. Harry nodded and followed Ron out of the Great Hall as he bid them good bye.
When they reached the common, the saw Hermione on the couch with an exhausted look on her face.
"Hermione, how were the first years?" asked Ron as he sat down next to her.
She looked up when she heard them and sighed as she replied, "I was going up one of the staircases to come here with them and two of them stepped on the trick step at the same time. They were panicking, so I had to cut through the others and pull them up. When I was done, the clapped like I was the greatest thing, and now this girl Hilary won't leave me alone. I finally got her to go to bed before you guys came in. She was one of the ones in the stair, so now she acts like I am some kind of superhero."
Harry and Ron busted out laughing at the thought of Hermione having to pull first years out of a step, but were silenced at her death glare.
"Good thing looks can't kill," Harry said right before he was elbowed in the ribs by a brown, bushy haired fifteen-year-old.
Harry and Ron decided then that it was a good time to leave, and they walked up to the dorms leaving Hermione talking to herself. Harry was almost sure He heard "BOYS!" as he closed the door. He sat down on his bed and began thinking about the year to come.
"This should be a good year," Harry said as he fell asleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I will post two chapters the next time I update, which will hopefully be on Monday. I hope to see some reviews by then. I kinda wrote this in a hurry, so please don't sue if their are some mistakes. The next two chapters will reveal Ron and Hermione's secret romance. Ooooooooooh! So keep checking in to see what happens!
Surprise Guests
Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Ron began walking into the castle. It was just as it had always been, with ghosts flying around high ceiling, the moving staircases and the ever-changing Great Hall. As they walked into the Great Hall, they looked around. The ceiling portrayed the night sky perfectly, wit the clear skies and some scarce clouds here and there. The stars shown brightly as ever. Over at the teachers' table, Professor Dumbledore was chatting away with Professor Flitwick as he watched over the room. Professor McGonagall was leading the first years over to the sorting hat ceremony and I very mad looking potions teacher, Professor Snape, wiped his greasy hair out of his eyes and sat down next to Dumbledore.
The sorting hat ceremony began and one by one the little ones walked up to the stool, sat down with the sorting hat on their head, and were sorted into their houses. Harry, Ron and Hermione had seen this many times before, and were more curious about the absences of teachers at the front table.
"Harry, where is the new DADA teacher?" asked Ron as he looked around the crowded room.
"Well, we certainly know Snape didn't get it again this year. Then he would look sort of mean, instead of absolutely mean," said Harry as he stared at Snape.
"Well, whoever it is, they will not be as good as Professor Lupin," said Hermione.
"Yeah, you're right, as usual," said Ron in a very mocking tone.
"And just what is that supposed to mean?" asked Hermione.
"Oh nothing," replied Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at Dumbledore, who was rising out of his chairs to give his announcements.
He stood up straight and tall and pushed his half moon spectacles up the bridge of his nose and surveyed the students then he cleared his throat and began his speech.
"As you all know, the Forbidden Forest is just as the name states. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, says that he has again added some forbidden objects to his lists and says that you are welcome to read over it as you wish," he said as he looked over at Fred and George Weasley, who were going to make their last year at Hogwarts memorable, no doubt. " I had a little trouble getting a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year, because most of the experienced ones are fighting right now as we speak. However, I did mange to find someone. I owled all of your parents to ask their permission to let him teach here. Normally, I do not have to do that, but under the circumstances, I believe it to be only fair."
"Who could possibly need permission to teach here?" asked Harry.
"Shh!" Hermione said to silence Harry and pointed at the headmaster say they could hear the rest of the speech.
"The majority of your parents knew this teacher while coming to school, and thought this person was nice enough, despite his circumstances, so they saw no problem letting this person teach. But enough about that. I am sure you are very anxious to meet your new professor. Professor Lupin, would you please come in now."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all jumped up and looked around.
"Did he just say-" but Harry was stopped as the wide doors open once more. Professor Lupin walked in with a smile on his face, but he looked slightly tired, and tried not to show it. He walked down the center aisle of tables and stood in front of Dumbledore. After the initial shock came over the students, they all started applauding their favorite teacher, with the exception of the Slytherins. Lupin then shook Dumbledore's hand and went around the table and sat down in the vacant chair beside him. It was just then that Harry noticed that there was an enormous black dog beside him. Harry smiled when he realized who it was and tapped Hermione and Ron and the shoulders to get their attention. The looked away from Professor Lupin and turned to Harry, who directed their attention to the black dog on the side of the new teacher. They immediately knew who it was and then looked up at the headmaster once more who stood up to make another announcement.
"Students, Professor Lupin has indeed returned to teach this year, and brought along some company," he said as he pointed to the black dog. "This is Snuffles, and he will be here the remainder of the year with the professor. He may roam the halls, so feel free to be nice- but only that. I am sure you are all ready to eat by now, so let's begin the feast.
The plates were automatically filled with food. Everyone began to eat, expect for Harry. He was anxious to talk to Lupin and his godfather. He wanted to see them and had suddenly lost his appetite. Dinner went by very quickly, for everyone was anxious to retire to his or her common rooms after a very busy day. After the plates were cleared, Dumbledore stood up once more.
"I am sure you are all ready to go to bed. Prefects, will you please direct the first years to their dormitories, and the rest of you may go ahead up to the common rooms. Good nights!"
"I have to go," said Hermione as she rose to go to the first years.
"That's ok. I wanted to talk to Lupin and Snuffles. Ron, do you want to come?" asked Harry.
"Sure. I really don't want to go just yet anyways. Good luck, Hermione!" Ron yelled out at the retreating Hermione.
After most of the students had left the Great Hall, Harry and Ron made their way up to the Professor's table. The only ones left were Professors Dumbledore and Lupin, along with Snuffles.
"Why hello Harry, Ron. How are you?" asked Professor Lupin in usually cheery voice.
"We're good, how are you, and you Snuffles?" asked Harry as he eyed Sirius.
The dog jumped on Harry and licked his face. Then he got back down and looked up at Lupin.
"Because of recent events, Harry, I felt that it would be better if these two stayed here the remainder of the school year. It is for their safety as well as yours. Snuffles here can stroll the halls and keep an eye out. It's the perfect disguise," Dumbledore said to answer the questions Harry had.
"And what about-" Ron began before being interrupted by Professor Dumbledore.
Ah, Hagrid will be back shortly. Until then, the Care of Magical Creatures classes will be cancelled. He is away at the time with Madame Maxine on a special mission, and it is almost complete.
Harry knew he must have been talking about the giants. Hagrid was sent to try to persuade the giants to join the good side this year.
"Harry I am sure you want to talk to me and Snuffles alone, but not tonight. I have to prepare for my classes. Come by tomorrow and we can talk, is that all right?" asked Lupin. Harry nodded and followed Ron out of the Great Hall as he bid them good bye.
When they reached the common, the saw Hermione on the couch with an exhausted look on her face.
"Hermione, how were the first years?" asked Ron as he sat down next to her.
She looked up when she heard them and sighed as she replied, "I was going up one of the staircases to come here with them and two of them stepped on the trick step at the same time. They were panicking, so I had to cut through the others and pull them up. When I was done, the clapped like I was the greatest thing, and now this girl Hilary won't leave me alone. I finally got her to go to bed before you guys came in. She was one of the ones in the stair, so now she acts like I am some kind of superhero."
Harry and Ron busted out laughing at the thought of Hermione having to pull first years out of a step, but were silenced at her death glare.
"Good thing looks can't kill," Harry said right before he was elbowed in the ribs by a brown, bushy haired fifteen-year-old.
Harry and Ron decided then that it was a good time to leave, and they walked up to the dorms leaving Hermione talking to herself. Harry was almost sure He heard "BOYS!" as he closed the door. He sat down on his bed and began thinking about the year to come.
"This should be a good year," Harry said as he fell asleep. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I will post two chapters the next time I update, which will hopefully be on Monday. I hope to see some reviews by then. I kinda wrote this in a hurry, so please don't sue if their are some mistakes. The next two chapters will reveal Ron and Hermione's secret romance. Ooooooooooh! So keep checking in to see what happens!
