This is my second fanfic so again, read and review. This story is totally independent from my first fic but can also be considered a prequel of sorts. You don't need to read my first fic to enjoy this one.
Again, thanks for reading my previous fic. I had more than 700 readers and that's a lot since that was my first written fic. I still can't believe the big number! I thought only around 20 people were reading my story. Well, here goes my new story.
Hope you like it.
HARRY POTTER AND THE HOGWARTS'S FOUR
CHAPTER ONE: THE BEGINNING
Harry woke up and looked out of the window in Gryffindor Tower. He checked his watch. 6:30 am. He went out of his bed and headed towards the common room. No one was there aside from Hedwig, Pig, and Crookshanks. The floor was littered with confetti and food stains from the party last night. He walked around the space, gazing on the walls that he was about to leave. Today was the day that Harry graduates from Hogwarts, his final day on this wonderful school. He was soon to go to an Auror job waiting for him at the Ministry and he couldn't be happier.
Thirty minutes went by and soon, the common room was filled with people dressed in their graduating robes of sparkling silver with the Hogwarts coat-of-arms attached. Harry gathered with Hermione and Ron and had a cup of coffee.
"Can you believe it?" said Ron. "This is our final day."
"Yeah" answered Hermione. "I am going to miss this place."
"That's for sure. Not Snape though."
"Well, we can always go back" said Harry. "You know, visit Hogwarts."
"I know" said Hermione. "But it's not going to be the same."
"Well, we better get going." replied Harry. "Graduation is about to start."
McGonagall entered the Common Room wearing a frilly green dress robe for the graduation ceremonies and asked all of the students to fall in line. They then walked in a single file out of the Fat Lady's portrait and went down the stairs and onto the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was magnificent. Giant Hogwarts banners hanged on the walls and purple fire was cracking on the torches. The ceiling which reflected the sky was in a clear blue with balloons floating along the levitating candles. The four house tables were not there and were replaced by mahogany chairs where parents of the graduates were to sit. There was a red carpet that was placed on the center of the hall, starting from the doors and ending on the other side near the long teacher's table where Dumbledore stood.
Albus stood and said "Welcome, welcome everyone, to the graduating ceremonies of Hogwarts this year. Today, we will see the fruits of the seven years of quality education these young and men and women have undergone. They have been seen worthy today to depart from this institution as proud graduates and alumni of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The parents who were sitting were clapping their hands as Albus ended the opening speech. The applause subsided and Minerva McGonagall took the stage.
"As Deputy Headmistress, I have the honor and privilege to first present to you the students whom we, the faculty, found to have special qualities which enabled them to surpass our expectations. The names I am going to announce are the students who will receive special awards for excelling in their academics and showing great promise in their future endeavors as career men and women. The first name I am going to call is… Neville Longbottom from Gryffindor House for being the batch's best Herbology pupil and for having discovered the newest plant fertilizer."
Neville walked across the red carpet and went to the headmaster, who gave him a special medal and shook his hand.
"Next" announced McGonagall further. "Draco Malfoy, Slytherin House, for being the batch's hest Potions pupil."
Malfoy, too, walked across the carpet and shook Dumbledore's hand as he got a medal.
"Hermione Granger" said McGonagall. "For being batch valedictorian, having the highest marks of the batch in Transfiguration, History of Magic, Arithmacy, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, and Astronomy."
Hermione also shook Dumbledore's hand and received a small trophy with the logo of Hogwarts emblazoned on it. She raised it and went back to the rest of the batch.
"Now, for being the best Defense Against the Dark Arts student, is Harry Potter from Gryffindor House"
Harry smiled and worked his way across the red carpet. He shook Dumbledore's hand, gave him a wink, and handed him a medal. Harry smiled as he saw the many teachers and parents who waved at him. He then went back to the rest of the students.
Minutes passed as the awardees were called. Next, Albus Dumbledore went to take the stage again and said: "Now, after seeing the academic awardees of this year, we shall now start the graduation march. To present the graduates of Slytherin House is Professor Severus Snape."
Snape approached the stage and began to speak. "Dear friends, parents, students, and fellow professors, I present to you the graduates from Slytherin House. First, Anthanaea, Margaret"
As Margaret approached the stage, the candles went out, plunging them into semi-darkness with only the ceiling providing light since it reflected the blue sky outside. In the extreme dimness of the room, Snape's voice suddenly screamed out loud as a red spell struck him. No one knew who cast this spell for no one saw where the spell originated from. There was chaos as the parents stood, alarmed, and started to duck. The graduates started to speak among themselves and also, drop to the floor in case more spells were to fly about.
"What was that?" asked Hermione as she lowered herself on the floor. "That spell that hit Snape?"
"I don't know." answered Harry. "But whoever it was, he must have run off by now."
"Well, it's Snape who was hit." Said Ron. "Everyone hates him so what is the fuzz about?"
"This isn't funny Ron" said Hermione. "The person who cast the spell must be really powerful if he was able to do what he did with Dumbledore in his midst. This could be dangerous."
Minutes went by and no further spells were cast. Convinced that it was safe to stand up, everyone slowly stood and brushed off the dirt that clung to their robes. The fire on the torches were burning again, shedding light to the room once again.
The students eagerly watched Dumbledore talk with McGonagall as people came in to take Snape to the Hospital Wing. Finally, Dumbledore walked forward to say something.
"Everyone, due to the attack that just happened, I am afraid to say that the graduation ceremonies will be postponed until further notice. Students, you have the choice of living here in Hogwarts or going home with your family since term has already ended."
"Hey Ron," said Harry quickly once Dumbledore stepped of the stage. "Can I live in your house in the meantime? I mean no point living here if I am going to be alone since everyone is going home with their folks. And I don't want to go back to the Dursley's."
"Sure" answered Ron. "What about Hermione?"
"Oh" said Hermione. "I'd love to stay at your place Ron. It just worries me that someone was just attacked. It's pretty odd."
Everyone now started to make their way to the exit doors as the students hauled their trunks. People were going home now, squeezing in the Knight Bus parked outside since the students were not yet allowed to disapparate. Harry, Ron, and Hermione met up with the Weasleys and went home to the burrow to discuss the attack that they just witnessed.
END OF CHAPTER ONE