CHAPTER 14

Everyone was seated and happily eating. After going through the trouble of sorting everyone again, the 'proper' annual sorting had taken place and the sorting hat had sung a new funky song that definitely got the hall going and made many people more at ease. People were discussing many things, especially the interesting event that had just taken place. Not many people seemed to notice, but Draco was still sitting at the end of the table sulking. Skye was deep in conversation with Hermione, while Ron was still absorbed in Skye-gazing. Harry was talking to Fred about the new Quidditch team and who would take the Oliver Wood's old position as keeper.

"Attention, attention please!" McGonagall yelled over the noise "There is one last announcement I need to inform you of before breakfast tomorrow morning." The hall quietened down and she smiled.

"Thank you, now because of my inability to take any transfiguration classes this year, we decided we needed a suitable replacement" She paused, then continued. "We have found what we think is a suitable replacement" She looked around with a gleam in her eye and waved her hand "May I present Professor Pangasis"

There was a brilliant flash of gold and metallic glitter started falling everywhere. The disturbing sound of a million fluttering wings echoed around the hall's walls and everyone was looking up to see where it was coming from, only to be met with a face-full of glitter. Soon enough, the dust gratefully cleared away and in mid air, right in the centre of the hall stood Olympius, or more truthfully, fluttered. Everybody was amazed to see the handsome little toga-draped man from Diagon Alley with a huge pair of sparkling gold wings protruding from his spine.

"He's an angel!" Someone from the Hufflepuff table yelled out. Olympius gave a shout.

"Ha! Nearly right, I'm a half angel!" And with one swift movement he swooped down over the four tables and landed safely next to Professor Flitwick at the teacher's table.

There was an instant explosion of chatter, grinning and people staring openly at the half angel at the teacher's table.

"Wow, half angel, there's one I never heard of before, do you think he's telling the truth?" Ron asked the other three while taking a bite out of a chicken drumstick.

"Oh yes, I think he is" Hermione explained "I've read about half angels in 'Human Wonders: The Otherside of half-breeds' when I was in France a few years ago"

"You were in France?" Skye asked excitedly.

"Yes, sorry I didn't mention it........is everything ok?" She asked worriedly at the sight of Skye wriggling around with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes, yes! I remember seeing you, I thought I was going a little folle (A/N: it means crazy or mad in French) before on the train because I remembered you from somewhere, but since I have never been out of France I thought I must have been mistaken." She seemed very excited for some unknown reason.

"That's great" Hermione smiled" But I don't remember meeting you"

"Ohh no, we did not meet, but..." She lowered her head and smiled mischievously "...but I know you and Odin did meet!" Contented Skye leaned back with a smirk on her face, leaving Ron and Harry confused, but Hermione blushing uncontrollably.

After dinner was over, they showed Skye the way to the Gryffindor common room. Suspiciously Draco had not yet arrived. A lot of the new people seemed extremely unsettled or otherwise extremely comfortable, but no where in between. They made their way to a comfy corner with two fluffy armchairs, and a fuzzy two-seater and sat down with just a hint of perplexity. Two minutes passed, which seemed far longer than Harry or Ron could hold, they turned to Hermione at the same time and with the same almost undecipherable baffled utterance they burst

"Please explain........"