Hunted by Memories
CHAPTER 14: HOGWARTS ALUMNIIt was a fine summer day in Hogwarts. It is the day of the much-awaited event. Visitors are starting to arrive at the Hogwarts ground. Outside the campus there is a spot intended for those visitors who wish to apparate. There is also a portkey entrée for those who will use a portkey to arrive at Hogwarts. In front of the Great Hall, there are four tables marked with the names of each of the respective Hogwarts houses. It is the registration for all the visitors. On the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger Weasley and her brother in law Professor Bill Weasley are taking the names of those witches and wizard who used to be a Gryffindor during their Hogwarts years. On the Slytherin table, there's Professor Marcus Flint and Pansy Parkinson Wood. On the Ravenclaw table, it was Cho Chang Potter and Professor Fleur Delacour Weasley. And at the Hufflepuff table it was Proffessor Hannah Abbot and a Hufflepuff student who just a graduated a year before named Sasha Miller.
Since all the visitors cannot stay in their old dormitories, it had been decided that only those unmarried Hogwarts graduates that are going to stay in their old dormitories. Those who have families are going to erect a camp at the Hogwarts ground. Not unless if a visitor wished not to stay at Hogwarts campus during the one-week-festival. Outside the castle, there is also a registration table for those who are going to erect their own camp. Visitors are starting to come in and the place is getting busy. Inside the Great Hall, there is a big table in the middle that is meant for light snack and beverages. There are also different stands meant for different things. There is one for Best Hogwarts' Memoirs, Hogwarts' Past and Present Quidditch Teams and Players, Head Boy, Head Girls and Prefects of Hogwarts, Past and Presents Student Clubs, Memorandum-for those who died during the first and second war, and there are lots more that are meant to entertain the visitors. Up front at the staff tables, the pictures of past Headmaster and Head Mistresses had been moved there. In the middle is the portrait of the late Headmaster Professor Dumbledore. Dumbledore's picture is happy to see the commotion that is going on inside the great hall and he is merrily greeting the visitors.
Outside the castle everybody are busy as well. Some visitors are already starting to erect their camps. Since the Weasley family is quite a big family, they are erecting three camps in order to accommodate the whole family. The Potter family erected their own camp, beside the Weasley camp. Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had just finished building their camp and they are walking heading inside the castle to join their wives. It had been a while since Harry set his foot at Hogwarts. He is busy managing his own Quidditch franchise. Ron is also busy helping his wife managing their bookstore. They are both excited to see their old friends are school.
"Ron, Harry is that you?" it was Seamus Finnigan calling them behind their backs. Both Harry and Ron turned their backs and saw Seumus waving at them.
"It's been long time mate!" said Seamus as he gave Ron and Harry a brotherly hug.
"Seamus!" exclaimed Harry "How long has it been? Look at you, all grown up. Where have you been all this time?"
"I migrated in Asia. I worked there and started my family there" replied Seamus. "So how are you?" he asked both Ron and Harry.
"We're fine" replied Ron. "Hermione and I get married a year after the war and our children go here at Hogwarts"
"Well after the war, Cho and I got back together. We also got married after Ron and Hermione did. Same as Ron's children my three children goes here at Hogwarts except for my youngest who got a full scholarship at Beuaxbatton" said Harry. "What about you? Where is your family?"
"They didn't come with me" said Seamus sadly. "Lets go in then, I'm excited to see the rest" he added and they all went inside the castle.
Pamela Wood is standing behind her mother. She is waiting for her friends to arrive. Since both Frank and Vince's fathers are Slytherin they will register at Slytherin table. She had been standing there for almost an hour now, and none of them hasn't arrived yet.
"Pam, why don't you go and find your father" it was Pansy as her head turned around to check her only child.
"He was with old his old Quidditch pals" Pamela replied as she shook her head. "But mom, I'd rather stay here I'm waiting for my friends" Pamela objected.
"But sweetie, you'll just get tired standing there" said Pansy to her daughter. "Why don't you grab a chair and sit here with mommy" she suggested. Pamela nods her head and went inside the Great Hall. Pansy continues what she is doing as she is taking the names of former Slytherin's.
"You and Wood made a good job raising your daughter" commented Professor Flint.
"Im glad that Oliver raised her well, you know Oliver being a Gryffindor and all. I'm just so glad that Pamela sorted in Slytherin house" replied Pansy proudly.
"Yeah a Slytherin like her mother" said Marcus without looking up. It was then that Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Gloyle arrived together with their wives and children.
"Hello, Pansy" greeted Vincent Crabbe Sr. "All of us are registering in Slytherin House" Pansy looked happily at her old pals as both her Marcus took their names.
"Mrs. Wood, where is Pam?" asked Vince to Pansy.
"Oh she went inside the Great Hall" Pansy replied.
"Dad, we're going to the Great Hall" said Frank to his dad as he and Vince went inside the Great Hall to find Pamela.
John Weasley and James Potter are standing in front of Quidditch booth. They are reading the names of the past Quidditch players and looking at their pictures. John is reading the names of every Weasley that had became Quidditch players, when he noticed a name that he never heard before. "Virginia Weasley?" he asked his self.
"What did you say, John? Are you muttering something?" asked James.
"I said Virginia Weasley" replied John. "I never heard that name before"
"She must be your aunt" said James. "But how come we never heard anything about her before?" asked James without looking at John when he noticed something interesting. He is looking the side of the past Slytherin players when he saw the picture of Draco Malfoy. "Hey look at this player. It says here that his name is Draco Malfoy, he graduated same year as dad. He used to be a seeker"
"Why a sudden interest to Slytherin players" asked John with a disgust. It was know to his best friend that he has a strong aversion to Slytherin student.
"Not really, just curious that's all. Look at him" said James not taking his eye of at the picture of Draco Malfoy "This Draco Malfoy guy surely looks like someone I knew"
"And who would that be?" asked John, this time he turned his head and looked at the picture of Draco Malfoy "Yeah, you right. That Draco Malfoy bloke look like someone" he said and he stared at the picture much longer "In fact, he look like McBride" he commented.
"Yeah sure he is" said James.
"James, John!"
"Uncle Fred! Uncle George!" said John as he turned his back, happy to his uncles.
"So, you're looking at the past Quidditch players" said George "Did you see our pictures yet"
"Yeah, they're amazing!" exclaimed John.
"Um, Uncle George can I ask you a question?" it was James.
"Sure, go ahead" said George.
"Do you happen to know this person?" said James as he pointed out Draco Malfoy's picture. George and Fred looks at Draco's Malfoy wondering why does James is asking about him.
"Yeah, we know him. That is Draco Malfoy, the biggest git in Hogwarts during our school years. And he also happened to be the husband of our dead sister Ginny"
"You have a sister, Uncle Fred and Uncle George?" asked John with a growing interest in his voice. Fred gave George a dirty look.
"Fred, you should tell that to the kids!" stopped George.
"How come we don't know anything about it" said John.
"Because it was forbidden to discuss about it in the family" said George. "Now come on Fred, we should talk to our clients and leave this two alone"
"We need to go" said Fred as he and George took their leave.
"Uncle Fred!" called John as he followed his uncles. James was about to follow them too when someone called his name.
"Potter!" it was Pamela Wood.
"Um, hello Wood" mumbled James as he looks at Pamela. She is alone; her friends are not with her. He is wondering if Destiny McBride will attend the Alumni. "You're alone" said James
"Yeah, Vince and Frank will come in late"
"What about…?"
"Jet and Destiny?" finishes Pamela as she witnessed how James' check turned red. "I'm not sure if they can come. They're on vacation together with their parents" she added and there is a hint of sadness in her voice."I'll take my leave now" and Pamela left James standing feeling sad about what he had heard from Pamela.
It was past 7 in the night. The very last visitors had arrived. The visitors are already inside the Great Hall; dinner will be served at 7:30. The Hogwarts camp is brighter than usual as camps are built everywhere. In the middle there is a bonfire, it is magically creating some images. Pansy glanced at her watch, she is already tired. Her husband is inside talking to his old Gryffindor friends. She looked at the Gryffindor table; Hermione and Bill had just finished scrolling their registration entrée.
"Im tired!" complained Hermione.
"We're all set. Let's wait till the other finishes their duty and we will all go together inside" suggested Bill "Are you done, Marcus?" asked Bill to his fellow professor.
"Almost done" replied Marcus "We're still waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy to arrive"
"They're coming too? I thought they're not attending?" asked Bill.
"According to Terrence they will arrive late. You know Terrence, he knows what was going on in Malfoy Manor" replied Marcus as she shuffles the parchments beside him.
"They're here" said Pansy as she saw Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy coming in. "Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy" greeted Pansy.
"Hello, Pansy my dear. It had been a long time and look at you all grown up" said Narcissa Malfoy to Pansy.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy" said Marcus. "I need you to sign this for me" said Marcus as he gave the parchment to Lucius Malfoy. Lucius took it and signed it.
"Did Severus told you where we are staying?" asked Lucius to Marcus.
"Professor Snape told me that there is a quarter in the castle reserved for you and your wife" said Marcus.
"Thank you, Marcus. Lets go then Narcissa" said Lucius as he holds his wife's arm and they went inside the Great Hall. The rest of the Alumni Committee was looking at the Malfoy couple that they did not notice the pair of hooded figure that are coming.
"Did you hear that? A reserved quarter for the Malfoy's?" snorted Hermione. "Can't break the old friendship eh?" said Hermione.
"So, where all set. Lets get inside then" said Bill as Hermione and Bill stood up from their chair. Marcus and Pansy scrolled the last parchment and put it away. They stood up from their chair and followed Bill and Hermione.
One of the hooded figure walks into the Slytherin table. He glance at the door, the Alumni Committee had almost reach the door. Hermione and Bill are walking together; Marcus and Pansy are behind their backs.
"Excuse me, I'm here to register" called the hooded figure, he is standing in the dark and its hard to see his face. Marcus and Pansy looked at each other. A last minute visitor had arrived, it was almost 7:30 the registration is close at 7:15.
"The registration is done, you can come back tomorrow. Im afraid there is no exception for last minute visitor" said Pansy feeling annoyed.
"Im a Hogwarts graduate, too. I deserve an explanation for this" insisted the hooded figure. "And I am a Slytherin" he added as the other hooded figure emerged from his back.
"Slytherin or not, you can come back tomorrow. Im just following a rule, otherwise you need to talk to Headmaster Snape" said Pansy. This time Marcus walked to the table to see who are the face of the hooded man that is standing in the dark.
"What is going on here? If we said that you can come back tomorrow, then come back tomorrow" said Marcus as anger is rising up inside of him.
"Why would I come back tomorrow?" insisted the hooded man. This time both Bill and Hermione stopped walking to see what was going on. "So, there is no exception. Even me?" he asked again as he pulled his hood from his head revealing a very handsome face and a deep blond hair. Marcus looks surprise seeing the man's face, he is speechless.
"Draco Malfoy?" asked Marcus. It can be true, Draco Malfoy is dead. "It… it can't be true" said Marcus as he shook his head.
Draco Malfoy is looking at Marcus Flint. Marcus Flint is beyond shock; here standing in front of him is Draco Malfoy. "Draco Malfoy? Yes I believe that is my name" said Draco. This time the other hooded figure pulled her hood, revealing her face. It was Ginny Weasley Malfoy.
"Hello, Marcus" greeted Ginny as she looks at Marcus Flint.
"Draco Malfoy? Ginny?" it was Hermione as she saw them and she fainted into Bill's arms.
TO BE CONTINUED