Chapter 3: The Directional
Walking through the large oak doors Aurora's eyes widened just like they had when she had first been ushered in by Professor McGonagall as a first year student. She felt a warm welcoming glow as she beheld the hundreds of floating candles, the long house tables, the house banners, as well as the famous magical ceiling. She saw Peeves floating by, seemingly behaving for once, which was likely due to Dumbledore's presence at the head table. Sir Nick floated by her as well, yanking off his head in a welcoming bow. Aurora walked along the Gryffindor table until she was about three quarters of the way to the front, then, hoping nobody would notice, she casually put her fingers under the table and felt along until she came to a small indention. Ah ha! It's still here. She leaned under the table and saw her initials carved next to a small knot in the wood. You naughty girl, tarnishing school property. What would Filch think? Warmed by this remembrances of her youthful pranks, Aurora walked slowly back down the aisle, noticing as she did that Professor Lupin had walked in the room. He noticed her, too, and raised a hand in welcome.
"Well Professor Knightly, I see you managed to find your way here," greeted Remus, a smile threatening to appear on his clean shaven face.
Aurora raised a well shaped eyebrow dramatically, "Why Professor Lupin it was as easy as an Accio charm, across the hall, down the stairs, through the corridor and here we are."
"Really? And how many people did we need to ask? One, Two," he moved closer and whispered, "possibly three?"
Aurora blushed slightly, but laughed and replied, "Well I could hardly help it if I happened to run into Professor Binns on the way....and then Mr. Filch was wandering around...and, uh, the Young Girl in the portrait wanted to have a little chat, too."
"Ah huh," said Remus triumphantly, pulling something from his robe pocket, "well maybe this will help you the next time."
In his hand he held what looked like a plain silver locket attached to a long, thin silver chain.
Aurora looked up into his face, surprised, "What is it, Remus?"
"It's a compass of sorts, called a 'Directional.' All you have to do is move your finger over the case in a certain pattern, tell it where you want to go, and it will pull you in the direction of your destination."
Aurora looked at the compass, then back at Lupin's face, "Well, I, Remus this is.." Spit the words out, girl, say thank-you! "This is absolutely wonderful, thank-you so much!"
She smiled warmly up at him, which he felt was thank-you enough, even though it caused his stomach to do that strange hop again. He felt he needed to do something with his hands, so he lifted the chain up over her head.
"Here, I'll show you how to work it," he said, his hands brushing her hair as he lowered the chain around her neck. "Take your finger and move it in a figure eight pattern over the case, then say the name of a room."
Aurora lifted up the case, noticing that it was quite cool. She moved her fingers over it and then said, "Owlery."
She could feel the chain around her neck tugging her slightly towards the door of the great hall, although she could see no movement in it.
"To stop it or give it new directions, just wave your hands over the case."
Aurora did as directed and the slight tugging stopped. She dropped the Directional back against her, where it lay with a pleasant weight against her breastbone.
"You know," she said with a grin, "you have just solved a problem that has been plaguing me for my whole life. I wish I'd met you years ago, this little gadget would have got me out of some very sticky situations."
He gave a little shrug and said lightly, "Well I've had the Directional for awhile, but never used it. Some of us actually have a sense of direction, you know," he added teasingly.
Aurora had a retort ready on the tip of her tongue when she heard Dumbledore's voice.
"If I could have your attention for a moment please, there are a few small things to go over before the students arrive."
The teachers hurried up towards the Headmaster, and stood around him at the front of the Hall.
"Well, here we are once again," began Dumbledore, smiling out at his professors "another year at Hogwarts is about to begin. As you know, we have two new professors this year. You all know Professor Lupin, our former, but still very popular, Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor"
Remus nodded his head and smiled at the other teachers, who, all except Snape, smiled back.
"And we are privileged to have also added Professor Knightly to our staff as Charms teacher."
Aurora, too, exchanged smiles with the other teachers.
Dumbledore paused before continuing, as though carefully thinking of what he was about to say. He began quietly, but firmly.
"As you know, it has finally come to pass that Voldemort," he stopped as a few teachers sucked in their breath at the mention of the dreaded name, "has returned. Last year I was not privileged to have the support of certain members of the wizarding community regarding Voldemort's returning strength. This year, though, there will be full cooperation between all levels of the wizarding world. We at Hogwarts, also, will not have the certain," he paused, picking his words carefully, "restrictions that were in place last year."
Aurora noticed that Professor McGonagall sniffed very loudly at the mention of the word 'restrictions.' She had heard of Umbridge's role as "High Inquisitor" and was sure McGonagall was pleased to have won that battle.
Dumbledore went on, "I must ask you, as my colleagues and as my friends, to expand your role this year and to act, not just as teachers, but also as protectors of these children. Hogwarts is not immune to the long shadow that the Dark Lord casts, as we have learned in the past."
Again he paused, looking out over the long tables, seemingly lost in the thoughts of an old man. Then his eyes became clear again and he continued.
"As well, I would like you to answer all the questions the children may have about Voldemort, and the situation we all face. I have learned, at a great cost, that it is unwise to assume they are too young to understand. Or," he added, eye shadowed again, "to try and shield them from things they must see."
The circle of teachers was very quiet. Lupin was looking at the Gryffindor table, eyes hooded, remembering four young men who used to sit there. McGonagall was sniffing once again, although for a very different reason.
Then the spell was broken by the sound of carriages being drawn up outside the school, and childrens voicing ringing through the night air. Dumbedore nodded to McGonagall, who turned and marched out of the hall to meet the first years.
"Well it appears our young charges have arrived," Dumbledore said brightly, "may the feast begin!"
***
The teachers took their seats at the head table, Aurora ending up between Professor Binns and Snape, while Lupin was sandwiched between Hagrid and Professor Sprout. All the professors turned expectantly towards the doors as they heard the voices of their pupils becoming louder. Suddenly it was though a dam had been broken, students from second to seventh year swarmed in, running towards their house tables and yelling to each other...
"Oh no, I forgot my wand! Gran is going to kill me!"
"Have you heard? Lupin's back!"
"Hey Potter, still hanging around with Weasley and his dumpy family?"
"Harry! Ron! You can't get into a fight on the first day!"
"I heard Dumbledore blew him apart..."
"Cho, there's Harry.....No, just ignore him..."
The cacophony was silenced by a raised hand from Dumbledore, who pointed towards the doors of the Hall. McGonagall was marching in, a stool and the Sorting Hat in her hands, whilst all the first years trailed behind her, looking very embarrassed and nervous. She placed the stool down at the front of the head table, with the Sorting Hat on top of it. Its voice rang out clearly through the Hall, expressing its annual purpose and touching briefly on the importance of vigilance in the coming year. When it had finished McGonagall stepped forward and said in her crisp voice,
"When I call your name, you will step forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head. Please remember that its decision is final; no whining on your part will help change its mind."
Professor McGonagall began reading from her list, "Arthur, James."
A dark haired boy, with a pleasant mischievous look on his face stepped forward and placed the Hat on this head. There was a moment of silence, and then "GRYFFINDOR." A loud cheer broke out from that house table, and "Arthur, James" was greeted by a crush of congratulating Gryffindor members. The sorting continued through "Chadwick, Mary," "Morris, Peter," "Tourney, Star," finally ending with "Xavier, Folder" being placed in Ravenclaw. Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands.
"Welcome, new and old students, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before we dine on the delicious feast I know is awaiting us, there are a few items I would like to mention to you. As usual Mr. Filch wishes me to remind you that the Forest is off limits to..."
Aurora listened to the rules that had not really changed since her day, and which she had paid little heed to, often to her bad fortune. Her eyes began to wander out over the crowd of students, stopping when they reached the Gryffindor table. She gazed thoughtfully at a sixth year boy with a scar on his forehead. So this is Harry Potter, he does look very much like James. Paler though and tired...Well anyone would be with Sirius and that prophecy hanging over them... Aurora noticed he was looking at Ginny Weasley, who was mouthing something to him. Harry smiled and mouthed something back, all the time running his hands through his hair, making it look a bit windswept. Aurora turned her eyes back to Dumbledore, who was concluding his short speech.
"I know you are all quite hungry, so without further ado, let us begin!"
Before all their eyes goblets filled, trays appeared in front of them, and plates become laden with delicious edible creations.
Students and teachers alike chatted with each other. Remus and Hagrid seemed to be deep in conversation with each other, Dumbledore was talking pleasantly to Professor Vector, and the students continued to trade stories of their summers to each other. Stuck with two rather silent dinner partners, Aurora concentrated on the large plate of food in front of her, reflecting as she chewed on a piece of steak and kidney pie that the food at Hogwarts was vastly superior to that of St. Mungo's. Finally, after finishing off her dessert of Strawberry Fool, Aurora decided to try and make conversation with Snape and Professor Binns. Smiling at each of them, although she was rather annoyed with Severus, she said, "So, I suppose this is all old hat to both of you, being the experienced teachers that you are."
Severus seemed put out by this comment, he sneered at her and replied, "We are not all as ancient as Flitwick, Professor Knightly." He said, putting a sarcastic strain on the word 'Professor,' "Although some of us do have the experience necessary to navigate the halls of this building."
Aurora gritted her teeth, and turned to listen to transparent Professor Binns.
"Well my dear, as you can see, age is no longer a factor with me, I have solved the aging process! Although I do, of course, take an interest in the daily affairs of this life...Did you perhaps see the article in today's Daily Prophet about the goblin strike in Bulgaria? So like the one of 1567 in Romania when..."
Professor Binns proceeded to explain in great detail about the Goblin strike of 1567 that completely shut down the Romanian magical community. Aurora was rather glad of this distraction, it prevented her from speaking again to Professor Snape, who seemed to be content to sit and glare out at the crowds of students.
After all the food seemed to be gone, and everyone was leaning back in their chairs, happily drowsy from the feast, Professor Dumbledore stood up.
"Before I dismiss you all to bed, I would like to introduce you to our new staff members this year. I'm sure many of you will be happy to see Professor Lupin back as your Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor."
The minute Lupin's name was mentioned a huge roar went up from the house tables, especially Gryffindor, who stomped their feet and cheered the loudest of all, drowning out the silence that was coming from the Slytherin table.
"And," continued Dumbledore, "our new face this year is that of Professor Knightly, a former Hogwarts student, who will be your new Charms Professor while Professor Flitwick is on holidays.
Aurora received a warm welcome from the students, especially from the male population, who seemed to think it a great event to finally have a young, female professor on staff.
Dumbledore concluded, "I believe that it is time for us all to be getting to bed, so I will wish you all the best for a pleasant school year. Good Night!
With that the students got to their feet, following the prefects to their house towers.