Chapter 8 - Cornelius Fudge
As soon as April, Ginny, and Harry stepped into the warmth of the Great Hall, they began looking for a sign of Ron and Hermione.
"Miss Dumbledore," a familiar voice said from behind the three wet students. April turned sharply to see Professor McGonagall standing behind her, with a new dragon skin wizards hat. She softened her usually piercing glare as she looked down at April.
"Er... yes, Professor?" April looked slightly nervous.
"Come with me. You need to be sorted." April looked at Harry and Ginny for support, but they just tried to look encouraging. Professor McGonagall led April into a mob of first years, and Harry turned his attention towards Ginny, who was yelling to Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione pushed their way through the crowd of people, and sat down with Harry and Ginny at the long Gryffindor table.
"Where's April? She didn't get lost did she?" Ron looked worried, and Harry had a suspicion that Mrs Weasley had given Ron the responsibility of looking after April.
"Nope," replied Ginny, settling herself down beside Hermione. "She's gone to get sorted."
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat significantly, and the Great Hall fell silent. Harry watched as the first years approached the Sorting Hat, which was just infront of the staff table. They all looked rather scrawny, with the exception of April, although she looked as though she might die of embarrassment any moment. Her cheeks were bright pink and her blue eyes radiated some nervousness.
Just then, the sorting hat opened it's brim up wide, and began to sing.
"A creation of Hogwarts,
A sorting hat I be,
I can fortell,
Your houses, you see.
My creators made me
Centuries ago,
And still I'm here,
Watching you grow.
Let me tell a sorry tale,
Of four far in time,
Who placed their hearts in Hogwarts,
And formed it simply divine.
Slytherin and Gryffindor,
Were two of the four,
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
Filled in the flaw.
Together they taught,
The young ones they chose,
And Hogwarts became,
A prestige to behold,
In wonder, in awe,
But the founders four,
Had not hearts of gold,
And crumbled to war.
Slytherin versus Gryffindor,
And Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw,
They divided and conquered,
Their pupils, into four.
Broken to pieces,
The houses lay,
And Slytherin left,
And to this day,
Though strong I stand,
I am forced to divide,
To quarter our talents,
Thus pushing unity aside.
I hope this is right,
Although it feels wrong,
Hope is what we need,
Need to stay strong.
To stay as one,
In perilous times,
Weak as we are divided,
Lets read between lines,
Of my warning song,
For I greatly fear,
That dark times are awaiting,
Approaching this year.
We only appear stable,
If we demolish our mistrust,
And share a new harmony,
For conflict is not just.
After the tremendous applause died, Professor McGonagall picked up the hat off it's stool, and began to speak.
"This year, we have a new student in 6th year - April Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall. "Would you please come up to be sorted?"
April stood up, and Ron whispered to Harry, "If she's not in Gryffindor, she can't try out for our team!"
"D'you reckon Dumbledore would be mad if she didn't get into Gryffindor?" whispered back Harry. Ron looked pensive.
McGonagall placed the ancient sorting hat upon April's head. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, wondering which house Dumbledore's daughter would be put in.
"GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the Sorting Hat, and everyone cheered. Dumbledore looked proud.
April walked over to the Gryffindor table, ignoring the Slytherins, who were staring at her in disgust - All except Malfoy, who appeared to be very interested in the material of the hall ceiling all of a sudden.
After the sorting was over, Dumbledore clinked his spoon gently upon his goblet of pumpkin juice, and immediately, the hall fell silent once more, and turned attentively to Dumbledore for his start of year speech.
"Well," he said, beaming at the new first years who were now seated at their house tables, looking up at him in awe. "Yet another year has started. It's odd how I never tire of giving out the start of year message to all of our students. However, I do tire of having to give speeches while my stomach rumbles and my sugar levels are low, so lets eat before I bore you with long speeches!" With a flick of his wand, plates of delicious food and juice appeared on the long tables, and everyone began to eat as Dumbledore sat down and started on a chicken drumstick.
Harry listened to Ron and Hermione's chatter.
"Thank goodness our prefect duties are being passed to the fifth years," said Hermione, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. "We'll have more time to study now!" She looked delighted, but Ron looked disgruntled.
"You have a knack for making me see the good things in life differently, Hermione," grumbled Ron. Harry, on the other hand, was glad Ron and Hermione would have more time to spend with him this year.
For the first time, Harry's eyes trailed up to the staff table, where Dumbledore sat talking to Professor McGonagall, and Snape was looking particularly vindictive at whom he had to sit next to - Cornelius Fudge. Harry's mouth fell open. The Minister of Magic was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Harry nudged Ron and Hermione and pointed soundlessly up to the staff table. Ron's mouth dropped in astonishment too, but Hermione, on the other hand, merely looked slightly surprised.
"Fudge, a new teacher?" said Ron in amazement.
"What's so odd about that?" questioned Hermione, helping herself to some plum pie.
"Well - he's," Ron looked lost for words. "He's working against Dumbledore! And besides, he sent that Umbridge woman here, what if he's just like her, interfering with Hogwarts? And why is he here if he's got Ministry matters to deal with?"
"He was working against Dumbledore, Ron, he WAS," pointed out Hermione. "Fudge obviously owes Dumbledore something for making last year so unbearable, and so I suppose he agreed to take on the job."
"But why," said Harry in a low voice, "would Fudge abandon his Minister duties to come to Hogwarts?"
"I suppose he's got someone to look after things while he's gone, and besides," said Hermione, "If the Ministry is going to work together with Dumbledore now, it's best that they be side by side, and if Fudge is in Hogwarts, it will be very easy for him to support the Ministry and Hogwarts at the same time."
Harry looked up at the staff table. He wouldn't have been surprised if Percy was sitting somewhere up there too, as Fudge's assistant.
"I just had a thought," said Hermione, thinking along the same lines as Harry. "What about Percy, Ron? Now that the Ministry and Dumbledore have joined forces, won't he have to apologize to your parents and come back?"
"He's too ashamed," Ron snarled, looking vicious. "He's been a traitor for so long that it's too hard to come back. He'd have to swallow his pride, and pride is something Percy would never give up. He did talk to Dad one day though, so you never know -" Ron broke off.
Ron took the last cold pie, and the plate refilled itself with more magnificent pies.
"Looks like the house-elves have outdone themselves tonight," said Ron, looking cautiously at Hermione. "That's the third time that plate has refilled itself."
"I think -" Hermione started to say, but was interrupted by Ron's groaning.
"Hermione, don't start on that SPEW stuff again," Ron pleaded.
"How would you like it if you had to cook enough to refill a plate over and over again?" Hermione's voice began to get higher.
"There are house-elves here?" said April suddenly. She hadn't said much through the whole feast, preferring to eat. The amount she ate could easily compare to Ron, who was on his fifth bowl of custard.
"Yeah," said Harry. "They do the kitchens and tend to the fires and stuff like that."
Soon, nobody could eat anymore, even April, who was looking longingly at a rhubarb pie. Dumbledore stood up.
"I hope you all ate well," he said. "I must remind first years, and some above that, that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. Please remember the creatures that dwell in the forest, and think twice before entering it. Secondly, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic."
Everyone clapped, although some were looking at Fudge in astonishment and surprise. Fudge looked pleased by the applause, and took the liberty of straightening his wizards hat.
"Each house will hold their Quidditch trials at a date set by your team captain," continued Dumbledore. "Please remember that first years are below priority for Quidditch team trials. I hope we all have a good year. Would the prefects please lead the way back to their houses now." He smiled at each of the tables, then sat down as everyone cheered, and people began exiting the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and April (who was trailing along looking at the high ceilings and many stairs in awe) arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room portrait of the Fat Lady, and hesitated.
"Anyone know the password?" said Ron.
"Yes," said Hermione. "It's forum classida" The portrait of the Fat Lady immediately swung open to let them into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione led April up to the girls dormitories, while Harry and Ron made their way up to the boys.
As Harry stepped into the familiar boys dormitory, his fellow classmates Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan greeted him enthusiastically. Too tired to talk for long, Harry left Ron, Dean, and Seamus talking, and pulled the curtains around his four poster bed, and fell asleep, feeling happy and content.
As soon as April, Ginny, and Harry stepped into the warmth of the Great Hall, they began looking for a sign of Ron and Hermione.
"Miss Dumbledore," a familiar voice said from behind the three wet students. April turned sharply to see Professor McGonagall standing behind her, with a new dragon skin wizards hat. She softened her usually piercing glare as she looked down at April.
"Er... yes, Professor?" April looked slightly nervous.
"Come with me. You need to be sorted." April looked at Harry and Ginny for support, but they just tried to look encouraging. Professor McGonagall led April into a mob of first years, and Harry turned his attention towards Ginny, who was yelling to Ron and Hermione. Ron and Hermione pushed their way through the crowd of people, and sat down with Harry and Ginny at the long Gryffindor table.
"Where's April? She didn't get lost did she?" Ron looked worried, and Harry had a suspicion that Mrs Weasley had given Ron the responsibility of looking after April.
"Nope," replied Ginny, settling herself down beside Hermione. "She's gone to get sorted."
Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat significantly, and the Great Hall fell silent. Harry watched as the first years approached the Sorting Hat, which was just infront of the staff table. They all looked rather scrawny, with the exception of April, although she looked as though she might die of embarrassment any moment. Her cheeks were bright pink and her blue eyes radiated some nervousness.
Just then, the sorting hat opened it's brim up wide, and began to sing.
"A creation of Hogwarts,
A sorting hat I be,
I can fortell,
Your houses, you see.
My creators made me
Centuries ago,
And still I'm here,
Watching you grow.
Let me tell a sorry tale,
Of four far in time,
Who placed their hearts in Hogwarts,
And formed it simply divine.
Slytherin and Gryffindor,
Were two of the four,
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
Filled in the flaw.
Together they taught,
The young ones they chose,
And Hogwarts became,
A prestige to behold,
In wonder, in awe,
But the founders four,
Had not hearts of gold,
And crumbled to war.
Slytherin versus Gryffindor,
And Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw,
They divided and conquered,
Their pupils, into four.
Broken to pieces,
The houses lay,
And Slytherin left,
And to this day,
Though strong I stand,
I am forced to divide,
To quarter our talents,
Thus pushing unity aside.
I hope this is right,
Although it feels wrong,
Hope is what we need,
Need to stay strong.
To stay as one,
In perilous times,
Weak as we are divided,
Lets read between lines,
Of my warning song,
For I greatly fear,
That dark times are awaiting,
Approaching this year.
We only appear stable,
If we demolish our mistrust,
And share a new harmony,
For conflict is not just.
After the tremendous applause died, Professor McGonagall picked up the hat off it's stool, and began to speak.
"This year, we have a new student in 6th year - April Dumbledore," said Professor McGonagall. "Would you please come up to be sorted?"
April stood up, and Ron whispered to Harry, "If she's not in Gryffindor, she can't try out for our team!"
"D'you reckon Dumbledore would be mad if she didn't get into Gryffindor?" whispered back Harry. Ron looked pensive.
McGonagall placed the ancient sorting hat upon April's head. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, wondering which house Dumbledore's daughter would be put in.
"GRYFFINDOR!" yelled the Sorting Hat, and everyone cheered. Dumbledore looked proud.
April walked over to the Gryffindor table, ignoring the Slytherins, who were staring at her in disgust - All except Malfoy, who appeared to be very interested in the material of the hall ceiling all of a sudden.
After the sorting was over, Dumbledore clinked his spoon gently upon his goblet of pumpkin juice, and immediately, the hall fell silent once more, and turned attentively to Dumbledore for his start of year speech.
"Well," he said, beaming at the new first years who were now seated at their house tables, looking up at him in awe. "Yet another year has started. It's odd how I never tire of giving out the start of year message to all of our students. However, I do tire of having to give speeches while my stomach rumbles and my sugar levels are low, so lets eat before I bore you with long speeches!" With a flick of his wand, plates of delicious food and juice appeared on the long tables, and everyone began to eat as Dumbledore sat down and started on a chicken drumstick.
Harry listened to Ron and Hermione's chatter.
"Thank goodness our prefect duties are being passed to the fifth years," said Hermione, pouring herself some pumpkin juice. "We'll have more time to study now!" She looked delighted, but Ron looked disgruntled.
"You have a knack for making me see the good things in life differently, Hermione," grumbled Ron. Harry, on the other hand, was glad Ron and Hermione would have more time to spend with him this year.
For the first time, Harry's eyes trailed up to the staff table, where Dumbledore sat talking to Professor McGonagall, and Snape was looking particularly vindictive at whom he had to sit next to - Cornelius Fudge. Harry's mouth fell open. The Minister of Magic was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Harry nudged Ron and Hermione and pointed soundlessly up to the staff table. Ron's mouth dropped in astonishment too, but Hermione, on the other hand, merely looked slightly surprised.
"Fudge, a new teacher?" said Ron in amazement.
"What's so odd about that?" questioned Hermione, helping herself to some plum pie.
"Well - he's," Ron looked lost for words. "He's working against Dumbledore! And besides, he sent that Umbridge woman here, what if he's just like her, interfering with Hogwarts? And why is he here if he's got Ministry matters to deal with?"
"He was working against Dumbledore, Ron, he WAS," pointed out Hermione. "Fudge obviously owes Dumbledore something for making last year so unbearable, and so I suppose he agreed to take on the job."
"But why," said Harry in a low voice, "would Fudge abandon his Minister duties to come to Hogwarts?"
"I suppose he's got someone to look after things while he's gone, and besides," said Hermione, "If the Ministry is going to work together with Dumbledore now, it's best that they be side by side, and if Fudge is in Hogwarts, it will be very easy for him to support the Ministry and Hogwarts at the same time."
Harry looked up at the staff table. He wouldn't have been surprised if Percy was sitting somewhere up there too, as Fudge's assistant.
"I just had a thought," said Hermione, thinking along the same lines as Harry. "What about Percy, Ron? Now that the Ministry and Dumbledore have joined forces, won't he have to apologize to your parents and come back?"
"He's too ashamed," Ron snarled, looking vicious. "He's been a traitor for so long that it's too hard to come back. He'd have to swallow his pride, and pride is something Percy would never give up. He did talk to Dad one day though, so you never know -" Ron broke off.
Ron took the last cold pie, and the plate refilled itself with more magnificent pies.
"Looks like the house-elves have outdone themselves tonight," said Ron, looking cautiously at Hermione. "That's the third time that plate has refilled itself."
"I think -" Hermione started to say, but was interrupted by Ron's groaning.
"Hermione, don't start on that SPEW stuff again," Ron pleaded.
"How would you like it if you had to cook enough to refill a plate over and over again?" Hermione's voice began to get higher.
"There are house-elves here?" said April suddenly. She hadn't said much through the whole feast, preferring to eat. The amount she ate could easily compare to Ron, who was on his fifth bowl of custard.
"Yeah," said Harry. "They do the kitchens and tend to the fires and stuff like that."
Soon, nobody could eat anymore, even April, who was looking longingly at a rhubarb pie. Dumbledore stood up.
"I hope you all ate well," he said. "I must remind first years, and some above that, that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. Please remember the creatures that dwell in the forest, and think twice before entering it. Secondly, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic."
Everyone clapped, although some were looking at Fudge in astonishment and surprise. Fudge looked pleased by the applause, and took the liberty of straightening his wizards hat.
"Each house will hold their Quidditch trials at a date set by your team captain," continued Dumbledore. "Please remember that first years are below priority for Quidditch team trials. I hope we all have a good year. Would the prefects please lead the way back to their houses now." He smiled at each of the tables, then sat down as everyone cheered, and people began exiting the Great Hall.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and April (who was trailing along looking at the high ceilings and many stairs in awe) arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room portrait of the Fat Lady, and hesitated.
"Anyone know the password?" said Ron.
"Yes," said Hermione. "It's forum classida" The portrait of the Fat Lady immediately swung open to let them into the Gryffindor common room. Hermione led April up to the girls dormitories, while Harry and Ron made their way up to the boys.
As Harry stepped into the familiar boys dormitory, his fellow classmates Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan greeted him enthusiastically. Too tired to talk for long, Harry left Ron, Dean, and Seamus talking, and pulled the curtains around his four poster bed, and fell asleep, feeling happy and content.