Chapter 3

Hope is a very strange and complex emotion, for it comes in many forms. There's the hope the waiter will remember to remove the anchovies from the left half of the pizza. The hope for a new love to blossom. There's the hope of a mother for the future of her children. And the hope of an author that his research will bring to light the truth surrounding the Baudelaire's unfortunate circumstances. Hope is certainly a strange emotion, but not as strange as the sight of a hundred winged horse-like creatures, standing in line waiting to pull the morass of students up to the castle.

"What do we do?" called Violet to Klaus, over the noise of the bustling crowd in front of her.

"I don't know", cried Klaus.

"Uvlum", said Sunny to Violet.

"Yes, but how do we get there?"

"Firs' years, over 'ere! This way firs' years!" boomed a loud voice. "Come on, firs' years. Ain't got al' day!"

"Do we go with him?" asked Klaus, "we're not first years…"

"Yeah, and those creatures don't look so friendly."

"Come on Violet!" said Ron from deep in the crowd, "You're not a first year, are you?"

With just a quick sideways glance to her brother, she made the one step forward and was immediately swept off with the crowd. In no time, she was standing right next to Ron in front of the giant Thestral before her.

"What is that?" said Violet, reluctantly, "couldn't you just use a normal horse?"

"Huh? What's what?"

Violet pointed to the demon-like creature, rearing on its hind legs and snorting rather violently. "That!"

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, slightly confused, "There's nothing there, Violet!"

"Yes there is! It's standing right there, rearing on its hind legs and snorting rather violently"

"Vrai!" said Sunny in agreement.

"You're both mad." said Ron, leaping up onto the awaiting coach, "Just get in."

Despite being slightly annoyed that she wasn't being listened to, Violet heeded. She didn't want to have an argument yet - she'd only just met him. With her entry to the carriage, the large Thestral made one last snort and cantered off towards the inviting castle. Neither Violet nor Sunny had any idea what was in store for them upon reaching those doors but it felt like they were coming home, arriving back to the happy life they had led before.

As the coach halted outside the gate and the loud chattering of students resumed, Violet was forced out of her thoughts and onto the task at hand: finding Klaus.

"He must have gone with Harry and Hermione" she said to the quiet Sunny curled up in her arms. "Yes. I hope he remembers about Professor McGonagall."

Sure enough, as if on cue, the tabby cat that was sitting on the wall behind them transfigured back into the strict figure that everyone at Hogwarts knew to be Professor McGonagall.

"This way, Violet!" she ushered, startling Violet slightly, "I've not got all day."

Violet turned round. "You must be ... Professor McGonagall?"

Taking up a quick pace, the professor turned and started walking up the stone steps to the Hogwarts entrance hall. Inside, there was even more of a ruckus than at the station. An excited buzz seemed to eminate from each of the students: a new term, a new start. Ron had found Harry, Hermione and Klaus and, dodging the characteristic water bombs from Peeves, traversed unhindered into the awaiting Great Hall.

"Aren't you supposed to be meeting Professor McGonagall now?" said Hermione to Klaus, looking slightly worried, "It must be important."

"Oh, yes!" the trio heard as they watched the figure of Klaus running out of the entrance hall.

"Who was that?" whispered Dean Thomas from accross the table, "Why have I never seen him before?"

"Oh, hi Dean!" Harry leant forward. "That was Klaus. He's new here with his two sisters, I think they're orphans."

"I didn't know students could join in the fourth year."

From the seat a couple of places down came an audible "Hmmph"

"Oh, be quiet Hermione." said Ron, disapprovingly.

With another annoyed "Hmmph", Hermione rejoined her conversation with Lavendar Brown.

"Ignore her", Ron said. "She's been like this since we left."

"Heh - so how've you been, Ron?"

"Oh, fine. A pretty uneventful summer, really."

A deep, loud cough echoed from the front of the hall; everyone turned to look. "Students, teachers, ghosts." His voice sounded almost majestic. "Let the sorting begin!"

A line of first years duly enter the hall, followed by the characteristic Professor McGonagall. She put the chair and the sorting hat at the front and directed the first in line to the chair

As the very nervous "Ariel, Ardent" sat down on the stool, the hushed chatting began again and as she was duly sorted into Ravenclaw, the cheering began. The sorting was always entertaining.

"Brians, Francis", called Professor McGonagall.

"Hufflepuff!"

"Demzies, Michael"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Drachma, George!"

"Slytherin!"

"Knight, Helena"

"Gryffindor!"

And so it continued. Just as the students thought the line would never finish, "Zynthicyl, Jeremy" was called (and sorted into Hufflepuff) and Dumbledore stood up, clapping politely. "This year, alongside all of the other fine wizards and witches, we have two other additions to our studentship. Klaus Baudelaire, please seat yourself on the stool and place the hat on your head."

As the plainly nervous Klaus placed the hat on his head, almost immediately, he heard it speak to him. "Hmm, a late starter, eh? Very astute. Intelligent. Interesting. You'd do well in Ravenclaw with this mind. Yet. There's something else here, grit, bravery. Yes, yes."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.

A smile broadened on Klaus' face and cheers emanated from the Gryffindors.

"And Violet Baudelaire" called Dumbledore, finishing clapping for Klaus. Before the hat even touched her head, the loud "GRYFFINDOR!" could be heard echoing round the building.

A glint shone from Dumbledore's eye as the cheers sounded. "Very good. Now, I'm sure you're all considerably hungry at this point, so I have very little to say. Let the eating commence."

With that, as if by magic, all of the plates across the giant hall suddenly filled theirselves with all of the inviting foodstuffs one could imagine. There was turkey, chicken, lamb, beef. There were mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, chips, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, carrots, peas, broccoli and many vegetables even Ron had never seen before.

"The House elves have really outdid themselves this time" said Ron excitedly.

With another "Humph!" from Hermione, everyone ate until bursting, then some more. The delighted sounds of laughter emanated from the hall for at least half an hour before the plates cleared away and left the most fantastic array of cakes, fruits, creams, ices, yoghurts, tarts appeared. The three orphans were eating the heartiest of all, they hadn't experience such a generous meal in a long, long time.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "That was delicious. Now, down to business."

The room hushed almost immediately. Dumbledore waited a few seconds.

"I have a few announcements to make. The Forbidden Forest is, as always, out of bounds." Dumbledore waited for the sniggers to subside. "And we have two new staff members, due to the sad departure of Professor Lupin last year. Let me introduce Professor Gorgachio, our new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, and Professor Huttle, the caretaker's new assistant.

Amongst the excitement of the meal and the new life that the Baudelaires felt they were receiving, they had not once looked up at the staff table. When they turned round with everyone else to look, they knew that this was a mistake. They were too shocked to clap. They had seen the tattoo on his turned-up trousers and the one eyebrow across his face. He wasn't Professor Gorgachio. He was the one person they hoped not to see at Hogwarts. Count Olaf.

As I said, hope is a very strange emotion. Without it, life would be more difficult to lead, yet there's nothing worse than losing the hope, especially by smelling the bad breath of a villain that you'd hoped was out of your lives forever.

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A/N: Please read and review:)