Chapter 4:
The newcomers
"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will
bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country."
-Anais Nin, The Diaries of Anaïs Nin
The great wooden doors swung open. Students swarmed into the Great Hall of Hogwarts to rejoin their tables. Within less than three minutes, all students had found a seat and were waiting for the things ahead - except, of course, the first-years, who represented the living part of the 'things ahead'. The warm air ruffled Harry's hair. He gladly welcomed the heat and the bizarre decoration of Hogwarts. The sky wasn't very different from past years - dark blue with golden stars and the shadows of night-birds passing from time to time. The enchanted floating candles diffused a soft light throughout the Great Hall. The glow emanating from the candles lit up Malfoy's very sullen-looking features, and Harry saw that he was escorted by a grim and tired-looking Snape. Harry suppressed a chuckle. Served Draco Malfoy right.
Harry took a seat at the Gryffindor table and cast a glance towards the staff. He was shocked to see Ron there. A second look told him - the person sitting there, between Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra, wasn't Ron. Yes, it was a Weasley for sure, with the unmistakable orange hair, but this particular Weasley listened to the name Charlie.
Ron and the twins were floored.
"Charlie! Why that- that...He hasn't mentioned anything all summer!" spluttered an outraged Ron.
Ginny, on the other hand, didn't look the least bit surprised.
"You mean he hasn't mentioned anything to you guys. I knew all along," she said with a vaguely taunting voice. "He secured the gamekeeper job as well as the Care of Magical Creatures one for as long as Hagrid is away. Charlie even said he might let the seventh years study real dragons on a field trip in Romania. Of course, that'll only be when Hagrid is back."
The twins looked delighted. "Dragons. Awesome," mused George. "Remember when we visited him in Romania, and he let us ride the small one."
Both twins sighed wistfully in unison.
"I wish Bill were here though," Fred said.
"Yeah, then it would be the Weasley kids complete. We would completely knock over Hogwarts!" George exclaimed suddenly, startling Hermione and making her knock over her impressive stack of books. She gave him a death glare and began picking up the books.
"Bill said he might be coming for a special surprise, but he wouldn't tell me what it was," informed Ginny once more. "But even so, it wouldn't be the whole Weasley family. Percy wouldn't be here, you know."
Ron snorted elegantly. "Yeah, we know, but who wants him here anyway, he just takes the fun out of everything."
"Oh! Ron Weasley! You're just jealous of Percy's success and even though you'll never admit it, some part of you is definitely proud of him! I for one think it's a miracle he survived in this household with five obnoxious brothers keen on making him lose his mind!" Ginny was now properly flushed, displaying a very fine impression of the Weasley glare.
A voice on Harry's left muttered, "She learned that look from Mum. She's been practicing on us all summer." Turning, Harry saw a very subdued George quailing under his younger sister's temper.
"Well," retorted Hermione, "that just serves you right for practicing your stupid jokes on her all summer." Her voice came from close to the floor, because she was still busy looking for the last five volumes of Arithmancy.
Fred and George were about to vindicate their innocence when Professor McGonagall entered, leading the first years into the Great Hall. Silence settled over the chatter. All the students were staring at the frightened and anxious-looking kids. Harry couldn't remember ever being so small.
Ron voiced his thoughts, "Blimey, quite the midget batch, that one, isn't it!?"
"Ron, be quiet!" scoffed Hermione.
Harry noticed that Hannah Abbott was waving to a chubby first year with blond hair and pink cheeks. The boy looked like he was close to having a breakdown and kept fidgeting impatiently.
At that moment professor McGonagall reappeared with the sorting hat in one hand and the three-legged stool in the other.
Quite some time ago From thread and needle I was born To restrain the rivalry of the Foes, From destroying Hogwarts one fine morn. The task bestowed, Was to separate and sort The young minds of the future, Into the house of their founder Brave and courageous Gryffindor, Wise of heart, and fierce of soul, Would teach those with hearts of gold Smart Ravenclaw, Whose cleverness, was by far valued, Chose those of sharper mind. Mighty Slytherin, very shrewd Even lewd, was driven by sly ambition, Cunning and conniving would dictate his ways. In Hufflepuff, the kindest joined Solely in the name of loyalty and friendship Their strong hearts would sway, I am the sorting hat No dark deep secrets, you shall keep from me. I see all that you could ever be. So put me on, and I will tell you were you ought to be.
"The songs keep on getting worse," despaired Seamus Finnigan. "Oi! See there, mate! That's me little sister, Sinead. She looks quite nervous, doesn't she?" He pointed out a little girl with light chestnut hair and freckles dusted across her face. Sinead's light blue eyes were framed by a pair of frowning eyebrows. She was biting her nails anxiously.
"That's my fault I reckon," explained Seamus. "I told her she'd have to wrestle a troll. Dunno where the idea came from though." He winked cheekily at his sister, who was now glaring at him. A moment later, she resumed her nail-biting.
"ABBOTT, Henri!" read Professor McGonagall.
The chubby blond boy trotted nervously towards the three-legged stool. That's why he looks so much like Hannah, thought Harry.
"HUFFLEPUFF" clamored the hat through the brim opening.
The boy looked relieved and sat down amidst clapping Hufflepuffs. Hannah planted a fat kiss on her brother's pink cheek and congratulated him warmheartedly.
"CRISSKER, Steven," was the first Slytherin sorted. He had silvery blond hair and high cheekbones, and his eyes, deep into their sockets, gleamed with wickedness.
"That's a surprise," Ron whispered in Harry's ear. "Here comes mini Malfoy."
When Professor McGonagall called out, "FINNIGAN, Sinead!" Seamus, who had been biting persistently on the inside of his cheek, crossed his fingers and muttered, "Gryffindor, please let it be Gryffindor."
The Sorting Hat did indeed yell out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table, but Seamus was the one clapping the hardest. He looked extremely pleased with his sister. Sinead squeezed herself between the clapping crowd and arched an eyebrow inquisitively towards her brother. "Troll?" she demanded, but then shrugged as her brother began laughing.
Harry was getting bored. With some amusement, he noticed Ron's drooping eyelids. The students were all starving and exhausted. He barely heard McGonagall reciting the remaining names, nor did he notice that more and more Gryffindors were joining the table. He cast a glance at the teachers' table, suddenly remembering they would have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Noticing no new teacher other than Charlie, Harrry sadly concluded that Snape's long-standing wish had finally come true.
Next moment, Harry gasped. A second later, he couldn't help thinking - hoping - that Snape had failed for at least another year. Because out of the shadows, a tall woman with curly black hair approached the teachers' table and sat down next to Dumbledore. She looked tired and weary, and older than when Harry had first seen her.
The woman in his dream. Harry recognized her at once, despite the small changes. Immediately, his mind became more alert. If the woman was here, that meant her daughter was here too. He scanned the teachers' table, then the Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. However, since he naturally imagined her as a Gryffindor, he paid much more attention to the students seated at his own table. The girl wasn't there either.
Harry tried to concentrate on the first years, and he was surprised to see a rather tall girl - compared to the other figures around her at least - with long, wavy hair, black like the ash-filled sky when a volcano erupts.
Harry knew this girl. No - not really, but he knew this hair, in its own style as distinguishing as the Weasley trademark, and Harry felt safe to assume that this was the right girl. In his dream, he had only seen her from behind. He tried to see her face, but she was partly obscured by Professor McGonagall's dry and severe silhouette. He noticed the girl had her hand on a first year's shoulder. She was murmuring something in the girl's ear, who slightly calmed down. Harry turned his attention back to the Sorting, only waiting for the older girl to be sorted, since that was clearly what she was here for.
"NORTHWORTHY, Edward." RAVENCLAW!
"SECKROAD, Katrina." A girl with eyes as dark as her hair was made Slytherin and, to everyone's great surprise, her twin brother, "SECKROAD, Kyle," was proclaimed Gryffindor.
Finally, the last first year, "VECTOR, Thalessa," was made Ravenclaw. A few people looked up at the staff table, wondering if there was any connection whatsoever between their Arithmancy teacher and the scrawny girl with thick- lensed glasses.
After the first years were all sorted, only the girl with the black mane remained. She stood in the middle of the hall, probably looking at the professors' assembly, but indicating by no sign that she was impatient or stressed out. Harry wished she could turn to face the Gryffindor table, as he was positive she was the girl from his dream. He had seen the way she walked, the way her hair flowed around her when she moved, the way she stood erect and proud while advancing through the Great Hall. He only needed to see her face, to find out if she had seen death up front, and he would be certain that the girl, like her mother, had survived.
Dumbledore stood up. The chatter in the Great Hall went quiet as the Headmaster indicated that he would speak. Harry hoped he would explain the arrival of a new student and waited expectantly. He barely noticed that most students were avid for explanations as he was, save for Hermione who eyed the raven-haired girl with affection.
"It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces back at Hogwarts and new ones as well. It seems like you enjoyed your vacation, which is good, because a hard year awaits you. Indeed, you will understand soon enough," Dumbledore said, smiling but his eyes very serious. "Now, I imagine that with the boiling curiosity that is characteristic of your age, you are wondering who this new student could possibly be. She is not a first year, of course, and I suppose you could consider her an exchange student. Before any of you raise objections, I must assure you that yes, I know, there have never been any exchange students at Hogwarts. Let her be the first, and welcome her warmly. She spent her second, third and fourth year at Beauxbatons, but she also attended the Egyptian school of Ouadjet. Jawhara Beaupré, please proceed to the Sorting Hat. Your house will be determined."
Her back still turned to the audience, the girl headed for the Hat, who woke up when she seized it and put it on her head. As Jawhara sat down and finally faced all four houses, Harry gasped. In fact, all the students, who hadn't paid attention to her when she had arrived with the first years, gasped. The girl's face was tanned and finely shaped, with voluptuous lips, a large forehead, thin nose and gigantic black eyes. However, dark shadows underlined her eyes and her cheeks were emaciated. Harry immediately recognized that look for having seen it in mirrors after he witnessed Cedric's murder: Jawhara had seen death, up front and probably too close. Harry paled, unnoticed, as he realized that his dream was true. He was glad, though, that the girl and her mother had survived. Jawhara closed her eyes, awaiting the Sorting Hat's verdict, and her face softened, appeased by the silence and darkness.
Aaaah... Yes, I see... Yes, yes... The fourth one, are you not? Hum...uite interesting that you should join the others, after such a long time. Why now, and not before? Dark times have come and passed, yet it is only now that you are reunited. I wonder...
Hum, I'm really sorry to interrupt, but, are you sorting me now?
No, no, my dear, I'm just trying to figure this out. Oh well, I suppose the time will come where all is revealed. Now, about the house you're going to...
Harry wondered what was taking the hat so long. The last time this happened was with Harry. But then again, he realized, he had missed the Sorting Ceremony of his second and third years, so maybe this occurred ever so often. He noticed that the girl was talking to the hat, as he had, and he paid even more attention.
One thing is sure, I see immense intellectual potential. Yes, you are a brilliant young girl, and determined to get what you want, the way you want it. Serious, too, extremely proud, perhaps a bit arrogant when you dislike someone. Come to think of it, you have a tendency to be haughty which probably has and will earn you the enmity of a number of people. Ravenclaw would suit you perfectly.
Sure, why not. But... What house is Hermione in?
Hermione? Er... Oh, Granger? You know her, I bet. And you seem to like her. Ah, well, the choice was difficult with her too. I finally decided to put her in Gryffindor, because her loyalty to her friends -and homework as well- was a trait that would have gone unappreciated in Ravenclaw where their only loyalty is to themselves. She also has a quite noble passion, which is to always defend those who she deems treated unfairly. I was right, you see, because she, along with Potter and one of the Weasleys -ha, he was a surprise, that one- saved Hogwarts quite a number of times.
Weasley? Doesn't he have a brother?
Too many, yes. Well, if you know Granger and Weasley, I suppose... Besides, you are extremely loyal to those whom you love, I can tell. Too much, if I may say so, since you would rather be killed than betray a secret. In fact, it borders on chivalry. But then again, this is part of you personality, isn't it? Hum... Then I suppose your wit and chivalry, determination and perhaps what you have lived push me to put you in -GRYFFINDOR!
Cheers and a thunder of applause erupted from the Gryffindor table. Jawhara gently put the Hat back on the stool and ran to the table, a huge smile spreading across her face. She passed the available seats fifth and sixth years offered her to finally throw herself in Hermione's arms.
"Jawhara, this is great! I'm so happy!" Hermione screamed to be heard above the noise that reigned in the hall.
"I know! I'm in Gryffindor with you! Mom must be so happy that I won't be alone," Jawhara said.
The two girls laughed and kept doing so until they noticed the dumbfounded look on Harry, Ron and Ginny's faces. Hermione immediately realized she had kept Jawhara a secret, or at least, not mentioned too much information about her, as Dumbledore had demanded. She presented her "pen pal" to her friends.
"Harry, Ron, Ginny, this is Jawhara, the girl I sort of spoke to you about. Jawhara, this is Harry Potter, Ron and Ginny Weasley."
Jawhara nodded toward the others. When looking at Ron, her eyes widened, and she said, "You have a brother, don't you? Bill?"
"How do you know?" asked Ginny.
"I think she met him in Egypt," answered Hermione instead. "As I was saying, I wasn't really able to tell you more, because it might have endangered her safety."
Ron, still wondering about Jawhara's remark, frowned. "Safety?"
"Yeah, safety. Death Eaters tried killing her, and her mother," Harry said in a morn voice.
Ron's head spun around toward his friend. "What?"
"How did you know?" asked Hermione and Jawhara in unison before Harry had even a chance to answer Ron's question. He came as far as opening his mouth when another Weasley gave the answer for him.
"He saw it happen in a dream," said Ginny.
Ron's head snapped back to stare at his sister. "How did you know?"
Harry took the chance to return favor for favor, and to answer a question even if it wasn't asked to him. "I told her," he said.
"And how," asked Jawhara with her eyes fixed on Harry's face, "did you know in the first place? Are you a Seer?"
"No, I'm not." For the first time since the girl had arrived at their table, Harry could answer without someone else being quicker. "But the scar I received from Voldemort's curse when I was a baby links me to him. That's why if he's feeling particularly murderous or happy, or such strong emotions, I have visions concerning him and his actions or plans."
Jawhara grew pensive, the intensity of her stare into Harry's face not fading the least bit.
"Argh, this is so confusing," said Ron, putting his face in his hands. "Can anyone explain to me what happened? Slowly, please?"
"Sure, I will," Jawhara volunteered. "It's quite simple, actually. You see, a few years ago, my dad was killed. I'll spare you the details. My mom and I left Egypt, thinking it wasn't safe anymore. So I attended Beauxbatons until last year, which was really great since I got to improve my French and know my dad's culture better."
"Her father was French," Hermione piped in. Ron scowled at her, indicating he had understood before she explained, thank you very much.
"Last year, when Madame Maxime and some other students of our school left for the Triwizard Tournament, we managed to keep in contact. That's how we learned everything, like Harry joining the three other contestants, and Fleur being chosen."
"You knew Fleur Delacour?" Ron asked, blushing.
"Of course. There are a lot less wizards in our school so we know everybody. I also took dancing classes with Fleur, so yeah, you could say I know her."
"So what happened next?" Ginny asked, noticing the look of awe on Ron's face and Hermione's evil glare at him.
"Well, we saw everything that happened at your school. That's how we learned about Hermione and Krum," Jawhara explained, beaming at Ron whose ears turned white with anger, "the last task, and Cedric Diggory's death. That's also how we learned that Voldemort came back."
"Don't- mention- his- name!" Ron hissed.
"Look, I'm really sorry for your delicate ears, Ron, but I will not fear the name of the asshole who killed my father!" Jawhara answered him in a passionate and slightly disdainful tone.
The redhead crossed his arms and looked in another direction.
"My mom and I left Beauxbatons for the summer break. We kept moving from village to village, hoping that no one would find us if we moved a lot. That was great! I visited the chateaux de la Loire, the Mont Saint Michel and of course Paris. Finally, we were staying two weeks in a little island on the coast, near la Rochelle, when, at the end of the first week, we were attacked. I didn't know we were being followed. In fact, I doubt we were, it seems like they just found us."
"Yes, and as the sun was setting, Death Eaters raided your house. You fled inside. You must have escaped just in time, because I heard the Avada Kedavra curse," Harry explained.
"That's exactly it," Jawhara sighed. "And that's why we're here. We fled, again, and we figured that Hogwarts, where Voldemort's - it's just a name, Ron! - greatest enemies could protect us, would be the safest place."
"Voldemort's greatest enemies?" Ginny wondered.
"Professor Dumbledore and Harry, of course," Hermione said.
"Wow," Ron said, dumbstruck. His eyes, wide with curiosity about Jahwara's tale, filled with compassion. "That sounds like a painful vacation."
"You have no idea," Jawhara conceded. "But during the last weeks of vacation, I stayed at Hermione's house. She pretended that she knew me already, like we had been pen-pals for a long time, when she wrote you letters. Not that she didn't trust you, of course, but it seems that Dumbledore feared that some information about my location might be intercepted. My mom stayed at a friend's house, in London. Both of us arrived here."
"Wait. How did you arrive here?" Ron asked.
"By the Hogwarts Express, of course."
"How come we didn't see you?" Ron wondered.
"And where is your mother?" Ginny asked.
"She's right there, sitting at the teachers' table," Harry answered. He was right: he had recognized her, she was indeed the woman from his dream.
"Doesn't that explain everything?" Hermione impatiently asked.
"Huh?" Ron looked completely lost.
"I was with my mom in the teachers' compartment, that' s why you guys didn't see me. She's," Jawhara began. However, she didn't have time to continue, as Dumbledore hit his wand gently on the side of his cup. The hall was silent in seconds.
"I can see by your faces that you're all starving. Therefore I shall let you all suffer during a long and monotonous speech and then allow you to eat," the Headmaster announced, popping a sherbet lemon drop into his mouth.
The first years were crestfallen and the shock among the older students was palpable. Even the teachers looked puzzled.
"Don't look so disappointed, it was just my little idea of a joke," Dumbledore explained, while he clapped his hands and sat down, looking highly amused.
The table was immediately covered with delicious dishes. Everywhere around the Great Hall, plates of roast beef, veal cutlets and fish appeared. Squares of butter finished melting in the mashed potato servings; the smell of beef stew spread through the air; pumpkin and tomato pies, yellow squash and leek soups held color contests; pasta and rice laid in huge bowls, surrounded by multiple sauces. Harry's empty stomach assured him he had never needed such a lavish display of food as right this minute. Ron's eyes lit up at the sight of the braised chicken and his hungry look was almost pitiful.
"What kind of joke was that? That was just cruel! I'm famished!" Ron exclaimed.
The students literally threw themselves on the various cooked meats and vegetables. Gryffindor boys, especially, seemed famished, and the girls watched as Harry and Ron gluttonously engulfed incredible portions of roast beef. Hermione threw Ginny a horrified look.
"Don't worry, they're teenage boys: they have to grow!" Ginny explained, laughing.
"I imagine you're used to this display of hunger, since you have so many brothers," Jawhara said flicking off the bits of food that were flying everywhere as a result of their feral feeding.
"Oh yeah, definitely! And Ron isn't the worst. Just take a look at Fred," the youngest Weasley answered.
He was serving himself a fourth portion of grilled chicken with mashed potatoes. He consumed it at a surprising speed with a surprising savagery. Hermione was utterly shocked and surprised that she hadn't noticed his bestiality before.
"So, tell me, Jawhara," Ginny began, "you didn't answer when I asked you how you knew Bill. Where did you meet him?"
"Supposedly, your brother works at the Gringotts' Bank in Egypt, right?" Jawhara asked.
"What do you mean, 'supposedly'?" Ginny said. She frowned quizzically and tried to understand what the other girl meant.
"He doesn't," Jawhara said simply.
"Whaaah?" Ron asked, his mouth full and his eyes wide open with surprise.
"Close your mouth, will you? It's disgusting. I said that your brother Bill doesn't work at Gringotts' bank. He works in Egypt, sure, but he took care of our security -my mother's and mine, I mean. Because the Death Eater attack we were involved in this summer wasn't the first one. I don't know why, but they keep trying to get us. I guess it's because my dad used to be an Auror, but I can't figure out why they still want to kill us now that they've succeeded in killing him." Jawhara's voice dropped.
"How long has it been?" Ginny asked softly.
"Three years. A pack of Death Eaters assailed him in the streets of Cairo, after dark. He didn't notice them, as hooded figures aren't uncommon in Egypt and Death Eaters are. Besides, my dad wasn't really an Auror anymore. There wasn't much use for him after Voldemort -calm down, you guys- fell, especially since he wasn't in the country most affected by Death Eaters."
"I thought Aurors depended solely of the Ministry of Magic," Harry said.
"In the beginning of the war, they did," Hermione said in her know-it-all voice. "When slaughters broke out all over Europe, the ministries of various countries formed some sort of higher authority to fight against He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Dumbledore was in it. It doesn't say anywhere why, but they called this association the Order of the Phoenix. Maybe they believed in the bird's power and capacity to never give up. I really don't know. Anyway, it regrouped Aurors and trained units from other countries. Soon enough, trained wizards depending on the Order of the Phoenix were called Aurors. Those fought up front with the forces of evil. In the 'back', there were the Crepuscules, those who tried to find a pattern in Death Eater attacks, locate the whereabouts of the Dark Lord, and so forth."
"That's why my dad was called an Auror," Jawhara explained. "Mom worked with him for a few years. When they got married, and had me, she switched to Crepuscule in order to spend more time with me. They lived in France until you, Harry, managed to defeat Voldemort. People thought the war was over. The Death Eaters disbanded, their Lord disappeared, no one needed the Order of the Phoenix anymore. Mum, dad, and I moved to Egypt, were my mum was born. Dad took a job as librarian, and mom as Defense Against Dark Arts teacher in Ouadjet, which is also called the SEW -School of Egyptian Wizardry."
"Your dad must have been so lucky! I would love to live in a universe filled with books," Hermione exclaimed.
"Lucky? You're saying her dad was lucky?" Ron asked. Hermione, Harry and Ginny gave him a shocked look. "I mean, I er- I'm sorry," Ron muttered, realizing the error he'd just made.
"It's okay, don't worry. The fact that he sold old magic books and parchments had nothing to do with his death. I guess he helped capture too many Death Eaters for them to let him get away with it, even with Voldemort dead," Jawhara finished, sensing the shudder that passed through her friends' spines.
"Look, er, people might wonder what we're up to if we keep bringing up his name, so maybe we should-" Hermione started to whisper.
"Who's name?" Harry asked.
"You Know Who's!" Ginny hissed.
"Well, no, I don't know whose, or else I wouldn't be asking," Harry defended himself.
Hermione threw him an exasperated look and continued, "Yeah, well, maybe we can continue this later? In the Gryffindor common room, for example? I don't want people," Hermione said, throwing Lavender and Parvati a look which indicated there was no point in pretending they hadn't eavesdropped, "knowing everything about your life, Jawhara. And especially not," she added, whispering even more, "that you're the daughter of two Aurors. Might get you in trouble, especially with students from a particular house."
Ron glared at the Slytherin table where its occupants were enjoying dinner. Draco Malfoy, Blaise sitting at his right, was being fed by Pansy Parkinson. Another girl held his cup. Sitting all around him were Slytherin girls, most of them pretty but a bit on the whorish side, who fawned over him like concubines in a harem. Draco noticed the Gryffindor group staring evilly at him and he held his cup to them, snickering.
"Right," Ron muttered as he averted his eye from the blond Slytherin. "Let's get back to something healthy," he added, grasping his plate in one hand and a piece of cake in the other.
"I'm not sure if that's healthier," Ginny muttered as Harry imitated Ron.
The three girls took some fruit salad and thin portions of cake, all the while eyeing reproachfully the boys who ate like pigs. Finally, Dumbledore got up once more. Some students were eyeing him with a hint of distrust after his previous joke.
"I presume you have all eaten to your stomach's content? If not, excuse me while I make a little announcement. Afterwards, you shall be free to eat once more."
"All right!" screamed Fred.
Dumbledore acknowledged him with an amused nod and continued, "To all first years, I must tell you that names are a very convenient way to remember things and that means that indeed, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you that in his office is a list of all other forbidden things. I believe there are new additions to this list, and quite a few of them have recently been invented by two students in our midst." He was interrupted by loud cheering coming from the Gryffindor table and Fred and George Weasley, who had gotten up on the table to bow, were hauled down by McGonagall.
"Yes, yes, congratulations. Now, I'm afraid I will have to tackle a much darker subject. As you know, last year a student, Cedric Diggory, was killed. By Voldemort." Gasps erupted all around the room and Harry felt his scar prickle, and his memories and nightmares come rushing back like a strong wind.
"I don't believe in lying to you to protect you, and I trust that you are old and mature enough to deal with the truth. Voldemort has come back. Harry Potter was there to witness it, and he returned, risking his own life to bring Cedric's lifeless body to his parents. It was not a pleasant ordeal for him, so I must ask you not to bother him with it. Realize that Voldemort has come back, and that we must be strong and united, to defeat him again. Dark times call for responsible behaviors, therefore all foolish and dangerous acts will be sanctioned severely."
He cast a pointed look at Harry, Hermione and Ron. "I made that joke earlier - it was very bad, I'll admit it - to show you that even in times of evil and hate, it is better to smile than to despair. So joke around, laugh, be happy! Don't let Voldemort ruin your adolescence."
"Now, on to happier things. First of all, I would like you to meet your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Mrs. Beaupré previously taught at Beauxbatons, so I daresay you will all make an effort to make her feel as welcome as she was over there."
Jawhara's mom got up to a quite enthusiastic applause, which grew louder and was punctuated with catcalls as the boys got a closer look at her. She waved at them and looked at her daughter for a fleeting instant, and then sat down again.
"I am sure you have all noticed that your Care of Magical Creatures professor is missing. He has indeed taken a sabbatical leave for an indeterminate period of time. Replacing him - and I'm sure some of you already know this person -" Dumbledore turned to Bill Weasley, and at this point all the other Weasleys howled in recognition and in encouragement - especially Fred and George -
"Mr. Charlie Weasley!"
All the students clapped once again, and this time it was the girls' turns to throw catcalls when they got a closer look at him.
The applause died down, and the Headmaster continued, "I have one last announcement to make, and I'm sure this will excite you as much as it did me. In light of Voldemort's rebirth, and in order to strengthen the bonds uniting the three best European schools, Mme Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, Mr. Rebavnoff, the new Headmaster of Durmstrang and myself, have decided to establish inter-school classes. Supervising this event, is yet another Weasley, Mr. Bill Weasley! He is not here at the moment, but will join us in the next few days."
The Weasleys were dumbfounded. This was definitely news to them.
"That's what he meant!" Ginny shouted, jerking Fred, George and Ron out of their stupor. Then followed a series of exclamations, "I can't believe he didn't tell us!" "All summer!" "Supervisor!" "Hinting like a maniac..."
"Umm, guys, everyone's looking at you," interrupted Harry. Dumbledore had stopped talking and indeed, everyone was taking a peek, amused, at the family scene.
"Yeah and it certainly isn't because of Ron's superb looks," said Fred, making Ron turn pink from embarrassment and try to duck under the table.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As I was saying, these classes are not compulsory; only those who wish to join, and feel that they can deal with the responsibility of the additional workload it brings, may do so. They will only be available to fourth years and higher, and will deal with Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. Therefore they will be taught by our lovely Mrs. Beaupré and Mr. Bill Weasley, as well as teachers from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, should many students decide to join. Posters will be put up in your common rooms, to allow you to sign up. They have been charmed so that no students below fourth year may apply, and you also can't sign someone else's name, even if you have their permission. That person will have to make the effort of signing up himself or herself. Well, I think that's about it for the moment. Prefects will lead the students to their dormitories. Get a good night's sleep so your brain is in perfect condition for tomorrow's classes, which I'm sure you all await eagerly since last term ended."
A few groans were heard throughout the Great Hall, except near the Ravenclaw table, where they all looked as if this were perfectly true. And of course, three people from the Gryffindor table looked like this too: Hermione, Jawhara and Harry. Hermione was impatient to learn new things, Jawhara had waited all summer to see the great and safe Hogwarts, and Harry was very glad to be home.
"Harry, we have to help the first years get to Gryffindor tower. Nooo, you don't need a sixth piece of the raspberry tart. Come on, let's go. Ginny, can you show Jawhara how to get to the dorms and everything? I really wish I could do it, but with my prefect responsibilities," Hermione said.
"Yeah, yeah, we know," Ron said. "We understand that you are overwhelmed by the load of work," he continued, imitating a dying tragedian, "but my poor, frail little sister will take care of this perfectly. Won't you Gin?"
"Sure, don't worry," Ginny answered Hermione. "Oh, and Ron?"
"Muh?" was Ron's response as his mouth was once again filled by something that had been Harry's raspberry tart.
"Shut up," Ginny told her brother. She took Jawhara by the arm and led her toward the corridor.
They passed the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, earning superior looks from the first and genuine smiles from the second. As both girls strode past the Slytherin table, though, they earned positively evil and jealous glares from the girls and interested glances from most boys -except for Crabbe and Goyle, of course, whose interested glances never departed from food. Draco had, at that moment, decided to raise his eyes from Pansy's plunging corsage to take a peak in Mandy's. He recognized the Weasley girl, and made a mental note that she had... grown. He then observed the girl who was walking with her, the girl that had just been sorted in Gryffindor. Draco was positive he had never seen her, and yet something in her seemed so familiar, so appealing that it was almost intimate.
The fair-haired Slytherin was searching very hard in his memory to find where he had met her when he noticed Jawhara was looking at him. He smiled charmingly. How surprised he was to see the wave of horror that crashed in her black eyes, and even more surprised to see her fearful look replaced by a positively hateful gaze. He frowned inquisitively, silently urging the mysterious Gryffindor to explain the reason of her hate. But Jawhara just gave him a look loaded with loathing and disdain, and left the hall, royally ignoring him.
Draco was furious. Sure, it was not uncommon at all for Gryffindors to hate Slytherins, but he didn't even know the blasted girl! Plus she was quite fair, and seemed smarter than the other bunch of Gryffindors like Longbottom or Creevey, so what the bloody hell was she doing with those nitwits? And how dare she ignore him, Draco Malfoy? He would find out about her, and make her pay.
The newcomers
"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will
bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country."
-Anais Nin, The Diaries of Anaïs Nin
The great wooden doors swung open. Students swarmed into the Great Hall of Hogwarts to rejoin their tables. Within less than three minutes, all students had found a seat and were waiting for the things ahead - except, of course, the first-years, who represented the living part of the 'things ahead'. The warm air ruffled Harry's hair. He gladly welcomed the heat and the bizarre decoration of Hogwarts. The sky wasn't very different from past years - dark blue with golden stars and the shadows of night-birds passing from time to time. The enchanted floating candles diffused a soft light throughout the Great Hall. The glow emanating from the candles lit up Malfoy's very sullen-looking features, and Harry saw that he was escorted by a grim and tired-looking Snape. Harry suppressed a chuckle. Served Draco Malfoy right.
Harry took a seat at the Gryffindor table and cast a glance towards the staff. He was shocked to see Ron there. A second look told him - the person sitting there, between Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra, wasn't Ron. Yes, it was a Weasley for sure, with the unmistakable orange hair, but this particular Weasley listened to the name Charlie.
Ron and the twins were floored.
"Charlie! Why that- that...He hasn't mentioned anything all summer!" spluttered an outraged Ron.
Ginny, on the other hand, didn't look the least bit surprised.
"You mean he hasn't mentioned anything to you guys. I knew all along," she said with a vaguely taunting voice. "He secured the gamekeeper job as well as the Care of Magical Creatures one for as long as Hagrid is away. Charlie even said he might let the seventh years study real dragons on a field trip in Romania. Of course, that'll only be when Hagrid is back."
The twins looked delighted. "Dragons. Awesome," mused George. "Remember when we visited him in Romania, and he let us ride the small one."
Both twins sighed wistfully in unison.
"I wish Bill were here though," Fred said.
"Yeah, then it would be the Weasley kids complete. We would completely knock over Hogwarts!" George exclaimed suddenly, startling Hermione and making her knock over her impressive stack of books. She gave him a death glare and began picking up the books.
"Bill said he might be coming for a special surprise, but he wouldn't tell me what it was," informed Ginny once more. "But even so, it wouldn't be the whole Weasley family. Percy wouldn't be here, you know."
Ron snorted elegantly. "Yeah, we know, but who wants him here anyway, he just takes the fun out of everything."
"Oh! Ron Weasley! You're just jealous of Percy's success and even though you'll never admit it, some part of you is definitely proud of him! I for one think it's a miracle he survived in this household with five obnoxious brothers keen on making him lose his mind!" Ginny was now properly flushed, displaying a very fine impression of the Weasley glare.
A voice on Harry's left muttered, "She learned that look from Mum. She's been practicing on us all summer." Turning, Harry saw a very subdued George quailing under his younger sister's temper.
"Well," retorted Hermione, "that just serves you right for practicing your stupid jokes on her all summer." Her voice came from close to the floor, because she was still busy looking for the last five volumes of Arithmancy.
Fred and George were about to vindicate their innocence when Professor McGonagall entered, leading the first years into the Great Hall. Silence settled over the chatter. All the students were staring at the frightened and anxious-looking kids. Harry couldn't remember ever being so small.
Ron voiced his thoughts, "Blimey, quite the midget batch, that one, isn't it!?"
"Ron, be quiet!" scoffed Hermione.
Harry noticed that Hannah Abbott was waving to a chubby first year with blond hair and pink cheeks. The boy looked like he was close to having a breakdown and kept fidgeting impatiently.
At that moment professor McGonagall reappeared with the sorting hat in one hand and the three-legged stool in the other.
Quite some time ago From thread and needle I was born To restrain the rivalry of the Foes, From destroying Hogwarts one fine morn. The task bestowed, Was to separate and sort The young minds of the future, Into the house of their founder Brave and courageous Gryffindor, Wise of heart, and fierce of soul, Would teach those with hearts of gold Smart Ravenclaw, Whose cleverness, was by far valued, Chose those of sharper mind. Mighty Slytherin, very shrewd Even lewd, was driven by sly ambition, Cunning and conniving would dictate his ways. In Hufflepuff, the kindest joined Solely in the name of loyalty and friendship Their strong hearts would sway, I am the sorting hat No dark deep secrets, you shall keep from me. I see all that you could ever be. So put me on, and I will tell you were you ought to be.
"The songs keep on getting worse," despaired Seamus Finnigan. "Oi! See there, mate! That's me little sister, Sinead. She looks quite nervous, doesn't she?" He pointed out a little girl with light chestnut hair and freckles dusted across her face. Sinead's light blue eyes were framed by a pair of frowning eyebrows. She was biting her nails anxiously.
"That's my fault I reckon," explained Seamus. "I told her she'd have to wrestle a troll. Dunno where the idea came from though." He winked cheekily at his sister, who was now glaring at him. A moment later, she resumed her nail-biting.
"ABBOTT, Henri!" read Professor McGonagall.
The chubby blond boy trotted nervously towards the three-legged stool. That's why he looks so much like Hannah, thought Harry.
"HUFFLEPUFF" clamored the hat through the brim opening.
The boy looked relieved and sat down amidst clapping Hufflepuffs. Hannah planted a fat kiss on her brother's pink cheek and congratulated him warmheartedly.
"CRISSKER, Steven," was the first Slytherin sorted. He had silvery blond hair and high cheekbones, and his eyes, deep into their sockets, gleamed with wickedness.
"That's a surprise," Ron whispered in Harry's ear. "Here comes mini Malfoy."
When Professor McGonagall called out, "FINNIGAN, Sinead!" Seamus, who had been biting persistently on the inside of his cheek, crossed his fingers and muttered, "Gryffindor, please let it be Gryffindor."
The Sorting Hat did indeed yell out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Applause erupted from the Gryffindor table, but Seamus was the one clapping the hardest. He looked extremely pleased with his sister. Sinead squeezed herself between the clapping crowd and arched an eyebrow inquisitively towards her brother. "Troll?" she demanded, but then shrugged as her brother began laughing.
Harry was getting bored. With some amusement, he noticed Ron's drooping eyelids. The students were all starving and exhausted. He barely heard McGonagall reciting the remaining names, nor did he notice that more and more Gryffindors were joining the table. He cast a glance at the teachers' table, suddenly remembering they would have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Noticing no new teacher other than Charlie, Harrry sadly concluded that Snape's long-standing wish had finally come true.
Next moment, Harry gasped. A second later, he couldn't help thinking - hoping - that Snape had failed for at least another year. Because out of the shadows, a tall woman with curly black hair approached the teachers' table and sat down next to Dumbledore. She looked tired and weary, and older than when Harry had first seen her.
The woman in his dream. Harry recognized her at once, despite the small changes. Immediately, his mind became more alert. If the woman was here, that meant her daughter was here too. He scanned the teachers' table, then the Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. However, since he naturally imagined her as a Gryffindor, he paid much more attention to the students seated at his own table. The girl wasn't there either.
Harry tried to concentrate on the first years, and he was surprised to see a rather tall girl - compared to the other figures around her at least - with long, wavy hair, black like the ash-filled sky when a volcano erupts.
Harry knew this girl. No - not really, but he knew this hair, in its own style as distinguishing as the Weasley trademark, and Harry felt safe to assume that this was the right girl. In his dream, he had only seen her from behind. He tried to see her face, but she was partly obscured by Professor McGonagall's dry and severe silhouette. He noticed the girl had her hand on a first year's shoulder. She was murmuring something in the girl's ear, who slightly calmed down. Harry turned his attention back to the Sorting, only waiting for the older girl to be sorted, since that was clearly what she was here for.
"NORTHWORTHY, Edward." RAVENCLAW!
"SECKROAD, Katrina." A girl with eyes as dark as her hair was made Slytherin and, to everyone's great surprise, her twin brother, "SECKROAD, Kyle," was proclaimed Gryffindor.
Finally, the last first year, "VECTOR, Thalessa," was made Ravenclaw. A few people looked up at the staff table, wondering if there was any connection whatsoever between their Arithmancy teacher and the scrawny girl with thick- lensed glasses.
After the first years were all sorted, only the girl with the black mane remained. She stood in the middle of the hall, probably looking at the professors' assembly, but indicating by no sign that she was impatient or stressed out. Harry wished she could turn to face the Gryffindor table, as he was positive she was the girl from his dream. He had seen the way she walked, the way her hair flowed around her when she moved, the way she stood erect and proud while advancing through the Great Hall. He only needed to see her face, to find out if she had seen death up front, and he would be certain that the girl, like her mother, had survived.
Dumbledore stood up. The chatter in the Great Hall went quiet as the Headmaster indicated that he would speak. Harry hoped he would explain the arrival of a new student and waited expectantly. He barely noticed that most students were avid for explanations as he was, save for Hermione who eyed the raven-haired girl with affection.
"It is wonderful to see so many familiar faces back at Hogwarts and new ones as well. It seems like you enjoyed your vacation, which is good, because a hard year awaits you. Indeed, you will understand soon enough," Dumbledore said, smiling but his eyes very serious. "Now, I imagine that with the boiling curiosity that is characteristic of your age, you are wondering who this new student could possibly be. She is not a first year, of course, and I suppose you could consider her an exchange student. Before any of you raise objections, I must assure you that yes, I know, there have never been any exchange students at Hogwarts. Let her be the first, and welcome her warmly. She spent her second, third and fourth year at Beauxbatons, but she also attended the Egyptian school of Ouadjet. Jawhara Beaupré, please proceed to the Sorting Hat. Your house will be determined."
Her back still turned to the audience, the girl headed for the Hat, who woke up when she seized it and put it on her head. As Jawhara sat down and finally faced all four houses, Harry gasped. In fact, all the students, who hadn't paid attention to her when she had arrived with the first years, gasped. The girl's face was tanned and finely shaped, with voluptuous lips, a large forehead, thin nose and gigantic black eyes. However, dark shadows underlined her eyes and her cheeks were emaciated. Harry immediately recognized that look for having seen it in mirrors after he witnessed Cedric's murder: Jawhara had seen death, up front and probably too close. Harry paled, unnoticed, as he realized that his dream was true. He was glad, though, that the girl and her mother had survived. Jawhara closed her eyes, awaiting the Sorting Hat's verdict, and her face softened, appeased by the silence and darkness.
Aaaah... Yes, I see... Yes, yes... The fourth one, are you not? Hum...uite interesting that you should join the others, after such a long time. Why now, and not before? Dark times have come and passed, yet it is only now that you are reunited. I wonder...
Hum, I'm really sorry to interrupt, but, are you sorting me now?
No, no, my dear, I'm just trying to figure this out. Oh well, I suppose the time will come where all is revealed. Now, about the house you're going to...
Harry wondered what was taking the hat so long. The last time this happened was with Harry. But then again, he realized, he had missed the Sorting Ceremony of his second and third years, so maybe this occurred ever so often. He noticed that the girl was talking to the hat, as he had, and he paid even more attention.
One thing is sure, I see immense intellectual potential. Yes, you are a brilliant young girl, and determined to get what you want, the way you want it. Serious, too, extremely proud, perhaps a bit arrogant when you dislike someone. Come to think of it, you have a tendency to be haughty which probably has and will earn you the enmity of a number of people. Ravenclaw would suit you perfectly.
Sure, why not. But... What house is Hermione in?
Hermione? Er... Oh, Granger? You know her, I bet. And you seem to like her. Ah, well, the choice was difficult with her too. I finally decided to put her in Gryffindor, because her loyalty to her friends -and homework as well- was a trait that would have gone unappreciated in Ravenclaw where their only loyalty is to themselves. She also has a quite noble passion, which is to always defend those who she deems treated unfairly. I was right, you see, because she, along with Potter and one of the Weasleys -ha, he was a surprise, that one- saved Hogwarts quite a number of times.
Weasley? Doesn't he have a brother?
Too many, yes. Well, if you know Granger and Weasley, I suppose... Besides, you are extremely loyal to those whom you love, I can tell. Too much, if I may say so, since you would rather be killed than betray a secret. In fact, it borders on chivalry. But then again, this is part of you personality, isn't it? Hum... Then I suppose your wit and chivalry, determination and perhaps what you have lived push me to put you in -GRYFFINDOR!
Cheers and a thunder of applause erupted from the Gryffindor table. Jawhara gently put the Hat back on the stool and ran to the table, a huge smile spreading across her face. She passed the available seats fifth and sixth years offered her to finally throw herself in Hermione's arms.
"Jawhara, this is great! I'm so happy!" Hermione screamed to be heard above the noise that reigned in the hall.
"I know! I'm in Gryffindor with you! Mom must be so happy that I won't be alone," Jawhara said.
The two girls laughed and kept doing so until they noticed the dumbfounded look on Harry, Ron and Ginny's faces. Hermione immediately realized she had kept Jawhara a secret, or at least, not mentioned too much information about her, as Dumbledore had demanded. She presented her "pen pal" to her friends.
"Harry, Ron, Ginny, this is Jawhara, the girl I sort of spoke to you about. Jawhara, this is Harry Potter, Ron and Ginny Weasley."
Jawhara nodded toward the others. When looking at Ron, her eyes widened, and she said, "You have a brother, don't you? Bill?"
"How do you know?" asked Ginny.
"I think she met him in Egypt," answered Hermione instead. "As I was saying, I wasn't really able to tell you more, because it might have endangered her safety."
Ron, still wondering about Jawhara's remark, frowned. "Safety?"
"Yeah, safety. Death Eaters tried killing her, and her mother," Harry said in a morn voice.
Ron's head spun around toward his friend. "What?"
"How did you know?" asked Hermione and Jawhara in unison before Harry had even a chance to answer Ron's question. He came as far as opening his mouth when another Weasley gave the answer for him.
"He saw it happen in a dream," said Ginny.
Ron's head snapped back to stare at his sister. "How did you know?"
Harry took the chance to return favor for favor, and to answer a question even if it wasn't asked to him. "I told her," he said.
"And how," asked Jawhara with her eyes fixed on Harry's face, "did you know in the first place? Are you a Seer?"
"No, I'm not." For the first time since the girl had arrived at their table, Harry could answer without someone else being quicker. "But the scar I received from Voldemort's curse when I was a baby links me to him. That's why if he's feeling particularly murderous or happy, or such strong emotions, I have visions concerning him and his actions or plans."
Jawhara grew pensive, the intensity of her stare into Harry's face not fading the least bit.
"Argh, this is so confusing," said Ron, putting his face in his hands. "Can anyone explain to me what happened? Slowly, please?"
"Sure, I will," Jawhara volunteered. "It's quite simple, actually. You see, a few years ago, my dad was killed. I'll spare you the details. My mom and I left Egypt, thinking it wasn't safe anymore. So I attended Beauxbatons until last year, which was really great since I got to improve my French and know my dad's culture better."
"Her father was French," Hermione piped in. Ron scowled at her, indicating he had understood before she explained, thank you very much.
"Last year, when Madame Maxime and some other students of our school left for the Triwizard Tournament, we managed to keep in contact. That's how we learned everything, like Harry joining the three other contestants, and Fleur being chosen."
"You knew Fleur Delacour?" Ron asked, blushing.
"Of course. There are a lot less wizards in our school so we know everybody. I also took dancing classes with Fleur, so yeah, you could say I know her."
"So what happened next?" Ginny asked, noticing the look of awe on Ron's face and Hermione's evil glare at him.
"Well, we saw everything that happened at your school. That's how we learned about Hermione and Krum," Jawhara explained, beaming at Ron whose ears turned white with anger, "the last task, and Cedric Diggory's death. That's also how we learned that Voldemort came back."
"Don't- mention- his- name!" Ron hissed.
"Look, I'm really sorry for your delicate ears, Ron, but I will not fear the name of the asshole who killed my father!" Jawhara answered him in a passionate and slightly disdainful tone.
The redhead crossed his arms and looked in another direction.
"My mom and I left Beauxbatons for the summer break. We kept moving from village to village, hoping that no one would find us if we moved a lot. That was great! I visited the chateaux de la Loire, the Mont Saint Michel and of course Paris. Finally, we were staying two weeks in a little island on the coast, near la Rochelle, when, at the end of the first week, we were attacked. I didn't know we were being followed. In fact, I doubt we were, it seems like they just found us."
"Yes, and as the sun was setting, Death Eaters raided your house. You fled inside. You must have escaped just in time, because I heard the Avada Kedavra curse," Harry explained.
"That's exactly it," Jawhara sighed. "And that's why we're here. We fled, again, and we figured that Hogwarts, where Voldemort's - it's just a name, Ron! - greatest enemies could protect us, would be the safest place."
"Voldemort's greatest enemies?" Ginny wondered.
"Professor Dumbledore and Harry, of course," Hermione said.
"Wow," Ron said, dumbstruck. His eyes, wide with curiosity about Jahwara's tale, filled with compassion. "That sounds like a painful vacation."
"You have no idea," Jawhara conceded. "But during the last weeks of vacation, I stayed at Hermione's house. She pretended that she knew me already, like we had been pen-pals for a long time, when she wrote you letters. Not that she didn't trust you, of course, but it seems that Dumbledore feared that some information about my location might be intercepted. My mom stayed at a friend's house, in London. Both of us arrived here."
"Wait. How did you arrive here?" Ron asked.
"By the Hogwarts Express, of course."
"How come we didn't see you?" Ron wondered.
"And where is your mother?" Ginny asked.
"She's right there, sitting at the teachers' table," Harry answered. He was right: he had recognized her, she was indeed the woman from his dream.
"Doesn't that explain everything?" Hermione impatiently asked.
"Huh?" Ron looked completely lost.
"I was with my mom in the teachers' compartment, that' s why you guys didn't see me. She's," Jawhara began. However, she didn't have time to continue, as Dumbledore hit his wand gently on the side of his cup. The hall was silent in seconds.
"I can see by your faces that you're all starving. Therefore I shall let you all suffer during a long and monotonous speech and then allow you to eat," the Headmaster announced, popping a sherbet lemon drop into his mouth.
The first years were crestfallen and the shock among the older students was palpable. Even the teachers looked puzzled.
"Don't look so disappointed, it was just my little idea of a joke," Dumbledore explained, while he clapped his hands and sat down, looking highly amused.
The table was immediately covered with delicious dishes. Everywhere around the Great Hall, plates of roast beef, veal cutlets and fish appeared. Squares of butter finished melting in the mashed potato servings; the smell of beef stew spread through the air; pumpkin and tomato pies, yellow squash and leek soups held color contests; pasta and rice laid in huge bowls, surrounded by multiple sauces. Harry's empty stomach assured him he had never needed such a lavish display of food as right this minute. Ron's eyes lit up at the sight of the braised chicken and his hungry look was almost pitiful.
"What kind of joke was that? That was just cruel! I'm famished!" Ron exclaimed.
The students literally threw themselves on the various cooked meats and vegetables. Gryffindor boys, especially, seemed famished, and the girls watched as Harry and Ron gluttonously engulfed incredible portions of roast beef. Hermione threw Ginny a horrified look.
"Don't worry, they're teenage boys: they have to grow!" Ginny explained, laughing.
"I imagine you're used to this display of hunger, since you have so many brothers," Jawhara said flicking off the bits of food that were flying everywhere as a result of their feral feeding.
"Oh yeah, definitely! And Ron isn't the worst. Just take a look at Fred," the youngest Weasley answered.
He was serving himself a fourth portion of grilled chicken with mashed potatoes. He consumed it at a surprising speed with a surprising savagery. Hermione was utterly shocked and surprised that she hadn't noticed his bestiality before.
"So, tell me, Jawhara," Ginny began, "you didn't answer when I asked you how you knew Bill. Where did you meet him?"
"Supposedly, your brother works at the Gringotts' Bank in Egypt, right?" Jawhara asked.
"What do you mean, 'supposedly'?" Ginny said. She frowned quizzically and tried to understand what the other girl meant.
"He doesn't," Jawhara said simply.
"Whaaah?" Ron asked, his mouth full and his eyes wide open with surprise.
"Close your mouth, will you? It's disgusting. I said that your brother Bill doesn't work at Gringotts' bank. He works in Egypt, sure, but he took care of our security -my mother's and mine, I mean. Because the Death Eater attack we were involved in this summer wasn't the first one. I don't know why, but they keep trying to get us. I guess it's because my dad used to be an Auror, but I can't figure out why they still want to kill us now that they've succeeded in killing him." Jawhara's voice dropped.
"How long has it been?" Ginny asked softly.
"Three years. A pack of Death Eaters assailed him in the streets of Cairo, after dark. He didn't notice them, as hooded figures aren't uncommon in Egypt and Death Eaters are. Besides, my dad wasn't really an Auror anymore. There wasn't much use for him after Voldemort -calm down, you guys- fell, especially since he wasn't in the country most affected by Death Eaters."
"I thought Aurors depended solely of the Ministry of Magic," Harry said.
"In the beginning of the war, they did," Hermione said in her know-it-all voice. "When slaughters broke out all over Europe, the ministries of various countries formed some sort of higher authority to fight against He- Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Dumbledore was in it. It doesn't say anywhere why, but they called this association the Order of the Phoenix. Maybe they believed in the bird's power and capacity to never give up. I really don't know. Anyway, it regrouped Aurors and trained units from other countries. Soon enough, trained wizards depending on the Order of the Phoenix were called Aurors. Those fought up front with the forces of evil. In the 'back', there were the Crepuscules, those who tried to find a pattern in Death Eater attacks, locate the whereabouts of the Dark Lord, and so forth."
"That's why my dad was called an Auror," Jawhara explained. "Mom worked with him for a few years. When they got married, and had me, she switched to Crepuscule in order to spend more time with me. They lived in France until you, Harry, managed to defeat Voldemort. People thought the war was over. The Death Eaters disbanded, their Lord disappeared, no one needed the Order of the Phoenix anymore. Mum, dad, and I moved to Egypt, were my mum was born. Dad took a job as librarian, and mom as Defense Against Dark Arts teacher in Ouadjet, which is also called the SEW -School of Egyptian Wizardry."
"Your dad must have been so lucky! I would love to live in a universe filled with books," Hermione exclaimed.
"Lucky? You're saying her dad was lucky?" Ron asked. Hermione, Harry and Ginny gave him a shocked look. "I mean, I er- I'm sorry," Ron muttered, realizing the error he'd just made.
"It's okay, don't worry. The fact that he sold old magic books and parchments had nothing to do with his death. I guess he helped capture too many Death Eaters for them to let him get away with it, even with Voldemort dead," Jawhara finished, sensing the shudder that passed through her friends' spines.
"Look, er, people might wonder what we're up to if we keep bringing up his name, so maybe we should-" Hermione started to whisper.
"Who's name?" Harry asked.
"You Know Who's!" Ginny hissed.
"Well, no, I don't know whose, or else I wouldn't be asking," Harry defended himself.
Hermione threw him an exasperated look and continued, "Yeah, well, maybe we can continue this later? In the Gryffindor common room, for example? I don't want people," Hermione said, throwing Lavender and Parvati a look which indicated there was no point in pretending they hadn't eavesdropped, "knowing everything about your life, Jawhara. And especially not," she added, whispering even more, "that you're the daughter of two Aurors. Might get you in trouble, especially with students from a particular house."
Ron glared at the Slytherin table where its occupants were enjoying dinner. Draco Malfoy, Blaise sitting at his right, was being fed by Pansy Parkinson. Another girl held his cup. Sitting all around him were Slytherin girls, most of them pretty but a bit on the whorish side, who fawned over him like concubines in a harem. Draco noticed the Gryffindor group staring evilly at him and he held his cup to them, snickering.
"Right," Ron muttered as he averted his eye from the blond Slytherin. "Let's get back to something healthy," he added, grasping his plate in one hand and a piece of cake in the other.
"I'm not sure if that's healthier," Ginny muttered as Harry imitated Ron.
The three girls took some fruit salad and thin portions of cake, all the while eyeing reproachfully the boys who ate like pigs. Finally, Dumbledore got up once more. Some students were eyeing him with a hint of distrust after his previous joke.
"I presume you have all eaten to your stomach's content? If not, excuse me while I make a little announcement. Afterwards, you shall be free to eat once more."
"All right!" screamed Fred.
Dumbledore acknowledged him with an amused nod and continued, "To all first years, I must tell you that names are a very convenient way to remember things and that means that indeed, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you that in his office is a list of all other forbidden things. I believe there are new additions to this list, and quite a few of them have recently been invented by two students in our midst." He was interrupted by loud cheering coming from the Gryffindor table and Fred and George Weasley, who had gotten up on the table to bow, were hauled down by McGonagall.
"Yes, yes, congratulations. Now, I'm afraid I will have to tackle a much darker subject. As you know, last year a student, Cedric Diggory, was killed. By Voldemort." Gasps erupted all around the room and Harry felt his scar prickle, and his memories and nightmares come rushing back like a strong wind.
"I don't believe in lying to you to protect you, and I trust that you are old and mature enough to deal with the truth. Voldemort has come back. Harry Potter was there to witness it, and he returned, risking his own life to bring Cedric's lifeless body to his parents. It was not a pleasant ordeal for him, so I must ask you not to bother him with it. Realize that Voldemort has come back, and that we must be strong and united, to defeat him again. Dark times call for responsible behaviors, therefore all foolish and dangerous acts will be sanctioned severely."
He cast a pointed look at Harry, Hermione and Ron. "I made that joke earlier - it was very bad, I'll admit it - to show you that even in times of evil and hate, it is better to smile than to despair. So joke around, laugh, be happy! Don't let Voldemort ruin your adolescence."
"Now, on to happier things. First of all, I would like you to meet your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Mrs. Beaupré previously taught at Beauxbatons, so I daresay you will all make an effort to make her feel as welcome as she was over there."
Jawhara's mom got up to a quite enthusiastic applause, which grew louder and was punctuated with catcalls as the boys got a closer look at her. She waved at them and looked at her daughter for a fleeting instant, and then sat down again.
"I am sure you have all noticed that your Care of Magical Creatures professor is missing. He has indeed taken a sabbatical leave for an indeterminate period of time. Replacing him - and I'm sure some of you already know this person -" Dumbledore turned to Bill Weasley, and at this point all the other Weasleys howled in recognition and in encouragement - especially Fred and George -
"Mr. Charlie Weasley!"
All the students clapped once again, and this time it was the girls' turns to throw catcalls when they got a closer look at him.
The applause died down, and the Headmaster continued, "I have one last announcement to make, and I'm sure this will excite you as much as it did me. In light of Voldemort's rebirth, and in order to strengthen the bonds uniting the three best European schools, Mme Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, Mr. Rebavnoff, the new Headmaster of Durmstrang and myself, have decided to establish inter-school classes. Supervising this event, is yet another Weasley, Mr. Bill Weasley! He is not here at the moment, but will join us in the next few days."
The Weasleys were dumbfounded. This was definitely news to them.
"That's what he meant!" Ginny shouted, jerking Fred, George and Ron out of their stupor. Then followed a series of exclamations, "I can't believe he didn't tell us!" "All summer!" "Supervisor!" "Hinting like a maniac..."
"Umm, guys, everyone's looking at you," interrupted Harry. Dumbledore had stopped talking and indeed, everyone was taking a peek, amused, at the family scene.
"Yeah and it certainly isn't because of Ron's superb looks," said Fred, making Ron turn pink from embarrassment and try to duck under the table.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As I was saying, these classes are not compulsory; only those who wish to join, and feel that they can deal with the responsibility of the additional workload it brings, may do so. They will only be available to fourth years and higher, and will deal with Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. Therefore they will be taught by our lovely Mrs. Beaupré and Mr. Bill Weasley, as well as teachers from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, should many students decide to join. Posters will be put up in your common rooms, to allow you to sign up. They have been charmed so that no students below fourth year may apply, and you also can't sign someone else's name, even if you have their permission. That person will have to make the effort of signing up himself or herself. Well, I think that's about it for the moment. Prefects will lead the students to their dormitories. Get a good night's sleep so your brain is in perfect condition for tomorrow's classes, which I'm sure you all await eagerly since last term ended."
A few groans were heard throughout the Great Hall, except near the Ravenclaw table, where they all looked as if this were perfectly true. And of course, three people from the Gryffindor table looked like this too: Hermione, Jawhara and Harry. Hermione was impatient to learn new things, Jawhara had waited all summer to see the great and safe Hogwarts, and Harry was very glad to be home.
"Harry, we have to help the first years get to Gryffindor tower. Nooo, you don't need a sixth piece of the raspberry tart. Come on, let's go. Ginny, can you show Jawhara how to get to the dorms and everything? I really wish I could do it, but with my prefect responsibilities," Hermione said.
"Yeah, yeah, we know," Ron said. "We understand that you are overwhelmed by the load of work," he continued, imitating a dying tragedian, "but my poor, frail little sister will take care of this perfectly. Won't you Gin?"
"Sure, don't worry," Ginny answered Hermione. "Oh, and Ron?"
"Muh?" was Ron's response as his mouth was once again filled by something that had been Harry's raspberry tart.
"Shut up," Ginny told her brother. She took Jawhara by the arm and led her toward the corridor.
They passed the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, earning superior looks from the first and genuine smiles from the second. As both girls strode past the Slytherin table, though, they earned positively evil and jealous glares from the girls and interested glances from most boys -except for Crabbe and Goyle, of course, whose interested glances never departed from food. Draco had, at that moment, decided to raise his eyes from Pansy's plunging corsage to take a peak in Mandy's. He recognized the Weasley girl, and made a mental note that she had... grown. He then observed the girl who was walking with her, the girl that had just been sorted in Gryffindor. Draco was positive he had never seen her, and yet something in her seemed so familiar, so appealing that it was almost intimate.
The fair-haired Slytherin was searching very hard in his memory to find where he had met her when he noticed Jawhara was looking at him. He smiled charmingly. How surprised he was to see the wave of horror that crashed in her black eyes, and even more surprised to see her fearful look replaced by a positively hateful gaze. He frowned inquisitively, silently urging the mysterious Gryffindor to explain the reason of her hate. But Jawhara just gave him a look loaded with loathing and disdain, and left the hall, royally ignoring him.
Draco was furious. Sure, it was not uncommon at all for Gryffindors to hate Slytherins, but he didn't even know the blasted girl! Plus she was quite fair, and seemed smarter than the other bunch of Gryffindors like Longbottom or Creevey, so what the bloody hell was she doing with those nitwits? And how dare she ignore him, Draco Malfoy? He would find out about her, and make her pay.