5. Leroux and Sesachar

Fortunately, when they got out of the train at Hogsmeade they didn't see anything to justify their anxiety. Everything was as it should be. It was raining hard, and a storm was brewing, but they could see Hagrid among the crowds of students, gathering up the first-years to take them across the lake in boats in accordance with the age-old Hogwarts tradition. The half- giant waved cheerfully to his friends and they waved back. At the gates the carriages were waiting, drawn by thestrals - black, bony horses with reptile-like skin and demons' wings. Their pupilless white eyes seemed to be staring at everything or nothing. Walking past, Harry patted the neck of the animal pulling their coach. Few other students could see the ghostly horses which pulled the carriages to the castle. They were only visible to people who had seen death. And, besides Harry, Neville and Luna were the only ones to greet the thestral. Although on the outside the animal looked frightening and downright ugly, the friends had a great respect for the winged horses.

They climbed into their coach and it set of immediately with the others. Harry stared out of the window, looking closely at the gigantic castle, but he saw nothing to arouse suspicion. It really did seem that everything was as normal. Even the rain and the storm were nothing out of the ordinary.

They entered Hogwarts through the enormous gateway and followed the crowds of students on their way to the Great Hall. They took their places at the Gryffindor table, and Luna went over to join the Ravenclaws. There was a general murmuring and whispering, mixed with happy chatter as friends met up for the first time since the holidays. Harry glanced over at the fifth large table - that of the teachers. Dolores Umbridge's chair was empty - the teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts changed with alarming frequency every year. And, just as always, the new teacher for this subject was nowhere to be seen.

However, Harry noticed another new face among the members of staff. He didn't seem to be occupying the place of another teacher, and Harry wondered what subject the stranger would teach. He was a tall, thin man with mid-length brown hair and prominent features. He was wearing a long robe, various shades of green, and a matching hat. His nose was a little too large for his face, and his appearance rather gawky.

"Who's that?" Harry asked Hermione, who was sitting next to him. She followed his gaze.

"That's Professor Pithormin Sesachar. But he must be here to teach a different subject - not one we've studied before. No one knows what it is. They seem to be making quite a secret of it."

"And who's going to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts?" Ginny asked.

But before Hermione could answer there was an angry shout from outside, and the murmuring voices in the hall stopped abruptly. All eyes turned towards the entrance hall at the far end of the room, where the great double doors had been thrown open. The storm had sent a gust of wind and rain into the castle. The students could literally hear the raindrops hitting the newly polished marble. Filch the caretaker stood in the midst of the squall, tearing his hair out and turning red in the face as he stared with a mixture of boundless fury and blank horror at the culprit who had just walked in.

Everyone present watched with interest as a hooded figure in a dark cloak stepped past the seething caretaker into the Great Hall. There was now complete silence. Everyone watched the figure of the stranger until it reached the raised staff table and pulled off its hood, revealing long, aubergine hair which hung in a plait over the its shoulder.

"Ah, Professor Leroux!" Albus Dumbledore jumped up from his chair and cheerfully clapped his hands. "I was afraid you'd be late. But you've arrived just in time - please, take a seat."

Professor Leroux nodded to the headmaster and stepped up to the only free chair, pulling off her cloak. She was a woman - a remarkably beautiful woman, thought Harry, who was looking at her curiously. She was nothing like any of the other teachers they had had for Defence Against the Dark Arts, who had all been.eccentric in their own way. Quirrel with his gigantic turban and his stammer, Lockhart with his glamour and self- satisfaction, Lupin with his dilapidated appearance, Mad Eye Moody (admittedly the impostor) with his frankly repugnant appearance and finally Professor Umbridge, the most ghastly teacher Harry could remember, who happened to look like the human version of an exceptionally ugly toad.

Professor Leroux was really beautiful. Her long, full hair played about her soft features and her blue eyes were receptive and warm. She had taken off her dirty cloak to reveal a royal blue suit. Gracefully she took her place next to Professor Snape. The last person to appear was Hagrid. He had given the first-years their traditional welcome and brought them across the lake, which meant that now they were waiting nervously behind the door, ready to enter into the unknown. And then they came, marching two by two between the students' tables, pale and scared. Professor McGonagall walked ahead of them with the Sorting Hat in her hand, which she then laid on a stool. Every eye was fixed on the ugly lump of felt, patched up in numerous places, until a crease in the hat opened into a mouth, and it began to sing.

An age ago they built this school Within these walls so strong. They thought that it would never fall Throughout the ages long. The Dark Ages, they called those years - They could not have foretold The pain, the sorrow and the fears That our future will hold. Take heed, for never is the night Far from the light of morrow. And every age will bring delight But also pain and sorrow. Now friendship counts, as you must know, In every time of strife. Saves you from greed and hatred, so By this means, saves your life. It seems you are divided yet Into your houses four. But at the time of reck'ning, let Divisions be no more. If you to Slytherin I send Ambitious, cunning soul Your blood is' pure', but in the end You're but part of a whole. In Ravenclaw a brilliant mind, Hard work might be your creed, But yet through teamwork you should find Your path in times of need. In Hufflepuff you try your best You'll always help a friend. And persevere; put to the test You're faithful to the end. And while in Gryffindor you're known For courage, it would seem Another virtue you have shown: Your loyalty to the team. In short, your way ahead is clear. With rivalry be done. For in this team I mention here Four houses work as one. Beware: dark times are on their way So take heed of my song. Now put me on, and I will say In which house you belong.

"Another warning," Hermione murmured, and Ginny nodded. Harry looked silently at the hat, which had now stopped speaking. Yet again it had urged them to unite at the start of a school year, and to look beyond the boundaries of their houses. In the past year they had taken the first step with the formation of Dumbledore's Army, as this was a community consisting of students from three houses. And he was surer now than ever that Hermione was right when she said they should finally start making contact with the Slytherins.

Minerva McGonagall had stepped forward with a scroll of parchment in her hands and started to read out the names of the first-years. "Ashley, Desma."

A dark-skinned girl stepped hesitantly out of the group and sat down equally hesitantly on the chair. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head, and within a few moments it had sorted her into Hufflepuff. Applause rang out at the Hufflepuff table. "Boran, Selman." Slytherin. "Bugalski, Priska." Ravenclaw. "Button, Myriam." Hufflepuff. "Calvente, Sonya." Gryffindor. And so it continued, until the last student - Ronny Zorn, Slytherin - had been sorted.

Then, once all the first-years had joined the tables of their new houses, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet and cleared his throat. Immediately there was complete silence in the Great Hall. Smiling, the headmaster looked down across the rows of pupils.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before the banquet starts, I'd like to say a few words. I'd like to remind the first-years - as I do every year - that anyone who enters the Forbidden Forest will be severely punished, and probably not only by us. So keep as far away from it a possible. I would also like to introduce two new members of staff." With his right hand he gestured towards Professor Leroux at the edge of the table. She didn't seem to be listening - in fact her whole attention was focussed on. Harry raised his eyebrows in astonishment. Professor Snape. He, however, seemed completely unaware of the fact that the new teacher was practically devouring him with her eyes, and was staring in front of him, lost in thought.

"Firstly I'd like to welcome Professor Améthyste Leroux into our midst. This year she will be your teacher for Defence Against the Dark Arts."

At the mention of her name, Professor Leroux woke up from her apparent daydream, and conscientiously raised her head to give the pupils a friendly nod.

"And secondly," this time Dumbledore pointed to his left, "I would like to introduce Professor Pithormin Sesachar. However, only the older students will have the pleasure of attending his classes. His subject Certamensis will only be taught to the fifth-year and above." A murmur went through the room. "But that's enough talking. Thank you for your attention."

Dumbledore clapped his hands and instantly the tables were sagging under the weight of mountains of delicacies, which the students tucked into ravenously.

Harry took a helping of potatoes. "What's Certamensis?" he asked. To his surprise it was not Hermione but Ginny who answered.

"It's a more advanced form of duelling," she explained. "As far as I know, the subject hasn't been taught at Hogwarts for over three hundred years."

"And why not?" asked Dean Thomas, who was sitting next to her and eagerly heaping meatballs onto his plate.

"Because it's too dangerous."

All the students within earshot of Ginny immediately fixed their eyes on her, and she shifted nervously on the bench. "Well, I've heard that there were a lot of injuries. and not only that."

"Buh ififo dangeruf, whyur they gonna teash it 'gain?" mumbled Ron with his mouth full.

They exchanged glances. Everyone knew the answer without speaking it. But finally Hermione voiced their thoughts, although she spoke only in a whisper. "Voldemort." A few students jumped at the sound of his name, a few moaned with horror, but many nodded in solemn agreement.

"Dumbledore must have his reasons for bringing back this subject after so many years," Ginny murmured.

Harry pushed away his half-eaten plate of food. Somehow he had lost his appetite. "That means he fears the worst, and that Hogwarts isn't as safe as it was before." He couldn't help remembering the incident with the harpies.

Hermione nodded. "That's what it looks like. At least, he seems to want to prepare us. as far as that's possible."

***

After the meal, Hermione and Ron showed the first-years into the common room. The rest of the Gryffindors followed some time later and made their way to their dormitories, where their luggage had been arranged for them. Harry slung his cloak onto his bed and went back out for a moment to see if Hermione was still awake. She had just showed the new girls to their dormitory and was on her way to her own. When she saw Harry she turned around and came back down the steps towards him.

He grinned at her. "I just wanted to say good night."

"Then do," she smiled, ignoring the giggling first-years, who were standing in the gallery, too excited to sleep, and watching the two of them. Their giggling grew louder when Harry pulled Hermione to him and kissed her. Ginny, who was just coming into the common room with Dean through the hole in the portrait, grinned broadly and waved at the younger girls. "Just you wait - in a few year's time other people will be giggling when they see you with a boy."

"Never!" protested one of the girls, Sonya Calvante, who had been the first in that year group to be sorted into Gryffindor. "I'll never have anything to do with boys. They're all stupid."

The four older students exchanged amused glances. "We'll see what you say in four year's time," said Hermione, pulling away from Harry. "Good night."

"Good night," he smiled, watching the girls disappear into their dormitory. Next to him, Dean grinned mischievously and dug him in the ribs. "Thanks, mate. I've just won my bet with Barny and Theodore."

Harry looked at him, puzzled. "What bet?"

"Barny said Hermione would choose Krum. I didn't agree and I betted on you. And Theodore."

"You make bets about stuff like that?" Harry exclaimed aghast. "Are you mad?"

Dean burst out laughing. "Well. don't you?"

Harry looked at him as if his classmate had just turned into a ghost. "No. Whatever gave you that idea?" He shook his head. "I'm going to bed." Dean could hardly suppress a laugh as he watched him go.