"Um... hullo, April." Harry said, stunned and appalled.
The exchange student started giggling.
"Er... if you don't mind me asking... what's so funny?"
April finally stopped, after much deliberation. "Sorry! I'm April. What was your name again?"
"Harry… Potter." Harry said, raising an eyebrow. "Well... since you're... staying at Gryffindor? Yes, must be. Follow me, since the school's coming in."
April followed Harry to the Gryffindor table, as hundreds of students filed in to their tables. Their robes were miraculously dry after coming in from what seemed to be a yearly hurricane. Hermoine and Ron led the pack, running to Harry, grinning widely. Ron had gotten taller, and might never stop growing. Hermoine's hair looked smoother, but probably because the rain had weighed her hair down.
"Hullo chaps!" Harry said in uncharacteristic speak.
As they returned the greeting, including a big hug and groping from Hermoine, Harry turned to introduce April to them. But she was gone! Harry looked to see her chatting it up with a Ravenclaw who had wandered over.
"April! Come meet my friends!" Harry called over the din of the Great Hall.
"Ooh, sorry Harry!" April said and skipped back. "Hii guys! I'm April."
"Hullo April." Both Hermoine and Ron said, both looking a little confused. Well, Ron looked especially confused.
"Let me explain." Explained Harry. Which he did.
After the explanation the four of them sat down, but April took Ron's usual seat besides Harry. Figuring this was only temporary, Ron sat with Hermoine across from the two. The Great Hall looked at the main table as Dumbledore stood up for his usual few words before the meal.
"Greetings students! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. There need not be explaining to know that the school will be heavily guarded due to the discovering that Lord Voldemort has risen once again." He paused as the Hall winced. Harry looked at April, only to see her too busy looking around to wince. "Continuing on, you should be sure to know that you ARE perfectly safe at Hogwarts. Those with any doubts should keep in mind that any infiltrations in the past were in my absence, or by those who were perfectly innocent, although thought otherwise." Harry winced this time, knowing perfectly well who he was referring to. "Furthermore, many might notice not only the absence of our former 7th years, but certain students who were withdrawn from this school. Not to be alarmed, they themselves have been transferred to other schools, and their business need not concern us!" Many of the students turned to the Slytherin table, noting the absence of maybe five students, including one Pansy Parkinson. Ron nearly choked when he saw Draco Malfoy and his cronies, Goyle and Crabbe, still sitting in their usual seats. Draco looked particularly smug. "And finally, I'd like to introduce the first exchange student ever to come to Hogwarts. An American student from Venificus Academy, I present... April Garcia!"
April stood up, and many people stood up in order to see her at one part of the hall. Much applause was heard. This was something no one had expected, and almost made everyone forget the fear and paranoia of You-Know-Who. Almost, but not quite.
As the applause died down, Dumbledore finished his lengthy speech with, "And before I forget, your temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be none other then Professor Snape. And with that, let the feast begin!"
Only the Slytherin table dug in to the meal, which included some American fare. The rest of the hall was speechless, and slowly began eating their meal.
"He said temporary though, so he couldn't possibly be permanent. Either that, or he stays and cracks working two jobs!" Ron said, turning purple with fear. Who needs Voldemort when you're being taught two classes by Snape?
The meal progressed, and the tables were led to their dormitories. All were so tired from the first day's shocking events that there was not a person awake that night. Except Harry.
He didn't need protecting. Why did he need April? Had she survived Voldemore more then five times? Or any other attacks for that matter? He'd ponder it more in the morning, as he was too busy dreaded double Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts for his first day.
… To be continued.
Note: Yeah, what the duck, am I right? More to come soon. Sorry for the waste of your time, but please keep reading, and R&R! All things copyright to J.K. Rowling and so forth. Have fun! And if anyone's curious, Venificus, I believe, means magic in Latin. Or it means academy in Latin. Either way, don't question it. Ta ta for now!
(Revised 11/24/07)