"Hello everyone!" Dumbledore said with a smile. He had stood up from
his seat in the middle of the table, and he looked over the rows of
students, his eyes sparkling with pride. Harry could barely see Dumbledore
from his seat- he was three seats over, and the angle he sat at had a bad
view.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "This year, I feel, is going to be a most exciting year. After the great war of last year, I think that we can relax and concentrate on filling our brains with new knowledge."
A couple of boys yelled, "Yeah right!" Harry recognized them as the Wyelly twins, two boys who became Gryffindors during his sixth year. Harry had always considered them as the new generation of Fred and George, but with a more sarcastic sense of humor.
Dumbledore's long hair waggled as he turned to look in the direction of the Gryffindor table, but continued. "As you all know, we have reason to celebrate. First, this is the first year in several years that we are fully safe from Lord Voldemort, and we have captured quite nearly all of the Death Eaters that are alive today!"
Harry glanced at Snape, knowing fully how Snape had chosen to come to Lord Voldemort and give himself in, offering secrets and offering to be a spy for Dumbledore. Little did Voldemort know was Snape was actually giving him unimportant and/or false information, and helping Dumbledore by giving them the facts.
Many students winced at the sound of the enemy's name, although Harry noticed Ginny straightened up, her slight slouch changing so she was as tall as she could be, without standing up.
"I'm sure," Dumbledore continued, "That you all know exactly how he was destroyed. We do not need to go into that. However, the fact is, we have defeated him. We can live in peace. Hogwarts is, once again, the safest place in the wizarding world. There is no need for alarm."
Harry wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he saw the Ravenclaws in front of him show even more fright in their face then before.
"Also, this year we have two new teachers, both recent graduates from Hogwarts! For Arithmancy, we have miss Professor Granger!"
She stood up, smiling, her cheeks turning a slight pink. A small amount of students clapped, for she didn't teach a main subject, and only a few students would have her that year. Those who knew her, though, clapped proudly.
When the small but enthusiastic cheering ended, Dumbledore stood back up again and said proudly, "And for our Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, we have the one and only......... Harry Potter."
The applause was deafening. As Harry stood up, the students started cheering at the top of their lungs. It was louder then lightening. Many Gryffindors stood up too; Ginny included. Harry beamed, feeling proud. Almost prouder when his amazing catch that had won their final Quidditch game in his seventh year- winning the Quidditch Cup for his house that year.
Almost.
Dumbledore glanced over and winked at Harry. As the applause started to die down, Harry felt calmer. He could do it; he had the support of the entire school behind him. He looked all over the students and accidentally caught the eye of Snape.
Well, not the entire school. But pretty close.
The students stopped clapping, Harry noticing that Ginny was one of the last students to stop. He caught her eye and she grinned. He grinned back.
Dumbledore, who had sat down during the ovation, stood back up and smiled at the students. "Well, well, now that our hands are sore and our throats are tired from the yelling and screaming," (he gave a look at the Wyelly boys), "lets all relax. I have a few more very important things to say. First, as I'm sure you all know, the school is quite safe. Safer then the years past. With the defeat of Voldemort, we can finally know that we have nothing to fear. However, I don't want to hear any silly stories. The Daily Prophet has written mostly fiction about the war, and I want everyone here to know the real story. What really happened with our kind."
Harry looked at Dumbledore, feeling incredibly surprised. What was going on?
Dumbledore glanced over at Harry and smiled, nodding a bit before turning back to the school. "Now, I'm sure you all want to know what went on. But I cannot tell the story as it truly happened. Only one man here can." He paused a moment before saying, "Professor?" He turned to Harry.
Harry stared at Dumbledore for a moment before slowly leaving his seat. "Well, it's a long story." He looked out at the students. Ginny, her bright red hair sticking out in the crowd, looked at him with interest.
He took a deep breath and swallowed. "It goes like this:
--
A/N: A cliffhanger of sorts! I haven't made the war so big a deal so far, but now the truth comes out! Excited? You better be! Ok, now PLEASE review! I have almost no reviews!!! It makes me saaaaad.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. "This year, I feel, is going to be a most exciting year. After the great war of last year, I think that we can relax and concentrate on filling our brains with new knowledge."
A couple of boys yelled, "Yeah right!" Harry recognized them as the Wyelly twins, two boys who became Gryffindors during his sixth year. Harry had always considered them as the new generation of Fred and George, but with a more sarcastic sense of humor.
Dumbledore's long hair waggled as he turned to look in the direction of the Gryffindor table, but continued. "As you all know, we have reason to celebrate. First, this is the first year in several years that we are fully safe from Lord Voldemort, and we have captured quite nearly all of the Death Eaters that are alive today!"
Harry glanced at Snape, knowing fully how Snape had chosen to come to Lord Voldemort and give himself in, offering secrets and offering to be a spy for Dumbledore. Little did Voldemort know was Snape was actually giving him unimportant and/or false information, and helping Dumbledore by giving them the facts.
Many students winced at the sound of the enemy's name, although Harry noticed Ginny straightened up, her slight slouch changing so she was as tall as she could be, without standing up.
"I'm sure," Dumbledore continued, "That you all know exactly how he was destroyed. We do not need to go into that. However, the fact is, we have defeated him. We can live in peace. Hogwarts is, once again, the safest place in the wizarding world. There is no need for alarm."
Harry wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but he thought he saw the Ravenclaws in front of him show even more fright in their face then before.
"Also, this year we have two new teachers, both recent graduates from Hogwarts! For Arithmancy, we have miss Professor Granger!"
She stood up, smiling, her cheeks turning a slight pink. A small amount of students clapped, for she didn't teach a main subject, and only a few students would have her that year. Those who knew her, though, clapped proudly.
When the small but enthusiastic cheering ended, Dumbledore stood back up again and said proudly, "And for our Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, we have the one and only......... Harry Potter."
The applause was deafening. As Harry stood up, the students started cheering at the top of their lungs. It was louder then lightening. Many Gryffindors stood up too; Ginny included. Harry beamed, feeling proud. Almost prouder when his amazing catch that had won their final Quidditch game in his seventh year- winning the Quidditch Cup for his house that year.
Almost.
Dumbledore glanced over and winked at Harry. As the applause started to die down, Harry felt calmer. He could do it; he had the support of the entire school behind him. He looked all over the students and accidentally caught the eye of Snape.
Well, not the entire school. But pretty close.
The students stopped clapping, Harry noticing that Ginny was one of the last students to stop. He caught her eye and she grinned. He grinned back.
Dumbledore, who had sat down during the ovation, stood back up and smiled at the students. "Well, well, now that our hands are sore and our throats are tired from the yelling and screaming," (he gave a look at the Wyelly boys), "lets all relax. I have a few more very important things to say. First, as I'm sure you all know, the school is quite safe. Safer then the years past. With the defeat of Voldemort, we can finally know that we have nothing to fear. However, I don't want to hear any silly stories. The Daily Prophet has written mostly fiction about the war, and I want everyone here to know the real story. What really happened with our kind."
Harry looked at Dumbledore, feeling incredibly surprised. What was going on?
Dumbledore glanced over at Harry and smiled, nodding a bit before turning back to the school. "Now, I'm sure you all want to know what went on. But I cannot tell the story as it truly happened. Only one man here can." He paused a moment before saying, "Professor?" He turned to Harry.
Harry stared at Dumbledore for a moment before slowly leaving his seat. "Well, it's a long story." He looked out at the students. Ginny, her bright red hair sticking out in the crowd, looked at him with interest.
He took a deep breath and swallowed. "It goes like this:
--
A/N: A cliffhanger of sorts! I haven't made the war so big a deal so far, but now the truth comes out! Excited? You better be! Ok, now PLEASE review! I have almost no reviews!!! It makes me saaaaad.
