... A Requiem for Sadness ...

- II -

It's In Our Hands

"Welcome." The silky voice spread across the group of students easily. The room was virtually silent to begin with. The new Headmaster was glad of this, he didn't feel well. It was more than just nerves, facing the body of students for the first time in his new position. Everyone questioned his appointment to this position, despite the Ministry's insistence that he should be honored for his contribution in the war. Even he questioned it.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." Snape began again. "Before we begin sorting the new students, I would like to address you all, students and teachers, regarding the overwhelming events of the past year." Some of the students looked apprehensive at the mention of this.

"No doubt some of you expected me to avoid this topic. However, I feel obligated to recognize the war out of respect and love of those who perished – on both sides." Many threw sharp looks at him. He had expected that, but he continued. "The Wizard's War, as it has become known, wreaked havoc on the whole wizarding world and even caused innumerable disturbances in that of muggles. It should not be ignored.

"It was once believed that this war could be avoided, that it was simply a matter of taking the right precautions, ensuring that Voldemort could be avoided and kept at bay." Some still reacted at the sound of the dark lord's name.

"I believe that this war was unavoidable. I also believe that the result was just as inescapable. I know that Voldemort was not planning to idly cower in the darkness waiting for the rest of us to forget about him to attack. No, his drive to conquer forced this war upon us, just as it forced us to defend what we held high and loved – just as it forced us to face him and finally deal with him the only way we could. By destroying him, or be destroyed while trying.

"This is precisely why the immense loss of loved ones, colleges and friends does not break my spirit as it has done to some others. I am grateful for their sacrifices. I am also terribly grateful for the sacrifices of those who survived, including those in this room.

"I made choices during this war that ultimately affected everyone. Most of you did the same." He stressed this point. "In fact, some of those choices overshadow mine so greatly, that I am amazed and humbled to realize that we all owe you our lives and our respect, and our love." His gaze fell upon Draco. The boy had just looked up, his eyes visibly watery from the head table.

Snape's own words weighed heavily on his heart. He said more than he had planned to. He requested that the room stand and observe a moment of silence, to recognize those losses from the war. The moment turned into five minutes. When the sound of idle feet shuffling reached his ears, he cleared his throat. All motion ceased.

"Let the sorting begin." Severus announced.

The group of first year students was larger than usual making up for the lost year, but that wasn't what bothered Harry. They were all scared. Not knowing what Hogwarts was like before the war, they seemed to think that evil was still lurking around the corners. He felt sorry for them. Hogwarts was still a warmly magical place, so they should get settled in before long.

Harry wasn't entirely surprised to find Snape as the new Headmaster. The potions master was an authoritive person. After showing his true colors in the war, it seemed fitting, at least to Harry, that Severus take up the position. No one else qualified wanted the position, so no one argued with the Ministry's decision. After the sorting, Snape introduced the new staff to the students.

Harry was glad to see that not all the new teachers were unfamiliar faces. Oliver Wood had filled in Snape's previous position as the Potions Instructor, while also filling the vacancy for Head of Gryffindor. Harry found this news incredibly uplifting. With Oliver as Head of Gryffindor, the house would be just like the house's Quidditch team when Wood had been team captain.

Some old wizard from the Ministry of Magic had been appointed Head of Slytherin, and took over the Defense against the Dark Arts class. Hootch and Trelawny had taken over head of house positions for Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, respectively.

There was also, Amelia bones. She agreed to teach Charms for this year, relinquishing her Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement position to someone more willing to deal with the huge increase in work load. It was rumored that she in fact failed to act quickly during the war, and stepped down believing she was now unfit for that position.

Harry didn't pay attention to the rest of what was said. He looked over to where the Malfoy sat and realized that the blond Slytherin sat alone. It wasn't that his two sidekicks were no longer a presence; it was simply that no one sat beside him at all. The rest of the Slytherin table was full. The other boy was silent, and staring blankly down at the table top in front of him.

Those grey eyes.

Suddenly the food appeared and the meal had begun, much to the astonishment of the new students! Almost as sudden, Draco left the Slytherin table and promptly ignored the food and everyone in the room. He left swiftly and soundlessly. Harry's eyes followed the young man out the door. He almost got up and followed him, but he stayed. He had an overwhelming need to help, and he wanted to. He just couldn't, not yet.

Harry took a deep breath and let himself relax. His plate of food held no interest for him. He looked around at his fellow students, they all seemed ravenous. Some even were smiling now, which was nice. Then he noticed Snape looking at him from the head table. His former potions master had lost some of his dark edge since the war, especially now. The new Head Master was looking at the Gryffindor boy with a look of understanding. He shook his head imperceivably, though Harry saw it.

Draco, more than anyone, needed time alone before anyone could help him.

--

That first day turned out to be anticlimactic. New students got settled in, eventually. Some of the older students took the opportunity to play pranks on them. Harry was relieved that some of his classmates still had a sense of humor, no matter how juvenile. On the whole, the pranks were mild in comparison to the havoc the Weasly twins could stir up. Inwardly, Harry chuckled at some of the pranks he remembered the most.

No, forgetting isn't the answer, he told himself. Too many good memories were lost that way.

He moved through the crowded Gryffindor Common Room, towards his room when someone caught his arm. Harry whirled around with a start.

"Sorry, Harry" some boy from third or fourth year apologized. "I was told to give you this." The younger Gryffindor handed him small scroll of parchment sealed with wax. "Most of the seventh year students and some from sixth year are getting them."

Harry thanked the boy absently. He stared at the note a good minute before deciding to open it. He sat down away from most of the crowd and broke the seal. Unrolling the parchment he recognized the penmanship as belonging to his old potions teacher.

Dear Mr. Potter,

you are invited to a private meeting

of significant importance this evening

on hour before midnight

in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

Please present this scroll upon your arrival.

Your Headmaster,

Severus Snape

Harry read the note once. Then suddenly the letters faded away and left only bare parchment. The note didn't bother him as much as it could have. What bothered him was it regarded 'a private meeting of significant important', and that most of the older student were getting these invitations. Of course Snape left the note as vague and mysterious as possible while being entirely direct about its purpose.

Harry was required to be at the Great Hall for eleven o'clock tonight.

September-21-2005: first posted