Chapter the Seventh

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The Great Hall was fairly buzzing with excitiment as the returning students entered and went to their respective House tables. All eyes were scanning the room, most hoping for a glimpse of the new transfer students. Two pairs, those belonging to Lily and Jane, instead sought out their friend. She and Sturgis were standing next to the staff table in conversation with Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Dumbledore himself.

The latter looked up and caught Lily's eye, his own brightly twinkling as they always did. She smiled back before hooking Jane's arm with her own. "Come, Jane," she said, tugging her friend gently. "Let's go get seats so we can save one for Charlotte." Jane nodded and they scampered off.

Seconds after they sat down, Charlotte joined them, squeezing in between the other two at the table crowded with chattering students. "I'm glad Dumbledore likes you, Lily."

"What do you mean?" They spoke in low mutters only heard by each other under the cover of the din in the room.

"He seemed content to simply let Professor McGonagall go on and on until he saw you arrived. Honestly. I think Sturgis and I are competent enough to understand the rules and requirements as laid out in our paperwork without needing it to be gone over, in detail and word for word."

"You're joking!"

"No indeed."

"That isn't like her," Jane put in.

"No. She did seem unusually high strung, though. Almost nervous. Which is understandable, I suppose. All the transfer students have been sorted into her house."

"What all of them?"

"Mm. And --" Charlotte was cut off as Dumbledore stood and raised his hands for attention. The Hall quickly fell silent.

"As you all know," he began, "the beginning of a new school year means the bringing in of new students. This year is no different. Before I call for our new first years to be brought in for the Sorting, however, I would like to announce the arrival of seven new students. As I am sure you are all aware, they have transferred from Netherfield School, which closed at the end of last year. In order to aid with adjusting to a new school, these seven students arrived late this afternoon and were Sorted upon their arrival. Each is now part of Gryffindor House."

He paused as cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table and polite applause came from everywhere else. When silence fell again, he continued, "They are currently in their dormitories getting a bit more settled. But, as you all are just as eager to meet them as I am sure they are to meet you, there will be a small gathering after the feast. As we do not wish to overwhelm them on their first night with curious looks and glances," Lily smothered a snort of laughter in her handkerchief, "this gathering is open only those in the same years as they, so fifth, sixth, and seventh." This met groans and protestations from the younger students.

Dumbledore went on with his speech. "I trust you will do all you can to make them feel most welcome. And now, as I am sure you are all hungry, let us bring forth our new first year students for the Sorting Ceremony!"

The students all turned toward the large double doors at the end of the Hall and watched as Professor McGonagall marched the line of first years to the stool where the Sorting Hat would be placed. In short order, they were all sorted into separate Houses and Dumbledore made his usual beginning of term announcements before instructing, "Tuck in!"

As she served herself a large helping of roasted potatoes, Lily peered between the heads of those sitting across from her at the nearly empty Slytherin table. She leaned in to her friends. "Charlotte," she whispered, "why is Slytherin still deserted except for the first years? I thought they were going to be back this year."

Slytherin as an entire House had been given the opportunity to make a tour of Europe during the school years. They would stay one or two terms at each town before moving on, breaking as normal for the summer holidays. Each new school year, the newly sorted first year Slytherins would be magically transported to the location of the House the morning after the start of year feast. This had been going on for six years and they were expected back so the seventh year students could experience life at Hogwarts as well as be in a stable environment as they prepared for their NEWTs. The reason for this travel remained unexplained to the rest of the school, though the girls privately supposed it was to experiment with different methods for keeping the school hidden.

"That's another thing we were told on the coach ride up, along with the whole 'transfers are in Gryffindor' business," Charlotte whispered back. "I guess they all went on summer holiday together and there has been a delay in getting back. They should be joining us for winter term."

"But what about the new Slytherins?" asked Lily. "What is going to happen to them?"

Charlotte shrugged. "They will start their years at Hogwarts actually at Hogwarts as planned, and when the rest of their House arrives they get a special reunion feast of some sort. We weren't told more than that. I got the feeling that there was a great deal of conflict behind the whole plan change, but of course we weren't told anything further because we are still students."

"Those poor first years," Jane said, piteously. "They look so small and lonely. Perhaps we should go over and invite them to sit with us, or perhaps sit with them instead?"

"You see, Jane?" Lily was smiling broadly at her behind Charlotte, who had leaned forward to grab the pitcher of pumpkin juice. "This is why you are a perfect Prefect. You genuinely care for the well-being of all students. Even those not in the House you are Prefect of!"

Jane blushed and began to stammer protestations as Charlotte agreed with Lily. "Precisely what I think. However, you needn't worry to much, Jane. A couple of the Slytherin Prefects are due to arrive shortly, remember? Though they should have been here already and I cannot imagine what the hold-up has been. They will make sure the first years are taken care of and made to feel at home."

As if her words conjured up the missing Prefects, one of the large doors opened once again and the Hogwarts caretaker, a stout man by the name of Apollyon Pringle, escorted two very exhausted looking students into the room. They made their way to Slytherin's table and sat down next to the first years, who looked in awe at the elder boy and girl for all that the two looked as though they were about to fall asleep on their plates.

Still, it appeared they were making some effort at conversing with the youngsters and Jane ceased her fretting. She, Lily, and Charlotte then engaged in light-hearted conversation with the other Ravenclaw students sitting nearby until the announcement was made that it was time for them to head off to the small welcome gathering in a large classroom nearby. The students remaining in the Hall watched them go wistfully before turning to find some of the most scrumptious deserts lining the tables before them. They soon forgot the gathering going on elsewhere with such delights to keep them entertained.