Author's Note: Can you believe it? I actually completed a chapter! And got it posted! OMG! Okay, so I'm really sorry that it's taken so long for me to get this done - but here it is.
Gabby.
-A New Hogwarts-
(January 4th – First dinner back from Winter Holidays. Same day as previous chap.)
"Can you see him?" asked Hermione as she scanned the Great Hall for Harry.
"No," said Ron as he shoved a forkful of chocolate tart into his mouth. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well I don't understand where he could be. I mean he's been gone for hours now. Isn't he hungry?"
"Hermione leave it alone," begged Ron. "When he wants to eat, he'll eat. After all, he knows how to sneak into the kitchens - you know he's not going to starve to death, so stop worrying."
Hermione bit her lip and stopped scanning the room. "I'm just worried that's all."
"Here." Said Ron as he stuck his fork into a cube of Jello and wiggled it in front of her face. "Oh come on Hermione… it's your favorite… blue raspberry."
Hermione smirked at Ron's silly attempt to cheer her up, although she gently pushed the Jello away from her face. Ron simply shrugged his shoulders and swallowed the cube without much thought.
Hermione looked down at the desserts in front of her and sighed. Her eyes immediately fell on a delicious looking slice of cheesecake, but just as she was leaning over to grab it, something in the corner of her eye caught her attention.
It was Dumbledore, who had just walked into the Great Hall from a door behind the teachers table. He had been absent during the entire feast, and Hermione now knew why; he was accompanied by two men.
One of them was the Minster for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, dressed in his usual emerald suit but looking unusually disheveled and preoccupied with his own thoughts. The second man was tall and slender, a man who resembled an old lion with his bushy tawny hair and eyebrows.
The sight of the two men with Dumbledore captivated Hermione's thoughts, and she was only able to stare at the three men, watching them motion to one another and talk in whispers. It was an odd sight seeing Fudge, who was usually so confident and cocky, slouching – his appearance most uncomfortable. The second man on the other hand had a certain disposition about him. He looked stern and strict, not one to play games or fool around.
Hermione soon noticed that she wasn't the only one who was staring, all of the other staff members seemed to be equally interested in the three men who had suddenly made an appearance, and now seemed quite unsure of what to do next.
But no sooner had Hermione thought it then Dumbledore slowly stepped up to the speakers podium and raise his hands in the air.
"Can I please get everyone's attention?" asked Dumbledore as he waited for the room of students to quiet down. Silence came quickly and Dumbledore continued on, without a smile, "Thank you. I have some very important news to share with all of you."
At those words Hermione and Ron quickly shared a glance of concern with one another and then looked back at Dumbledore.
"Over the past couple of days there have been some important developments. It is no secret that Lord Voldemort has returned. His appearance at the Ministry of Magic barely two years ago confirmed the suspicion. However there had been very little trace of his activity since… until now."
At this the entire student body gasped in horror and began to murmur amongst themselves until Dumbledore raised a hand and gained silence in the room once again.
"I know that many of you are fearful of what this means. I understand. Your knowledge of Lord Voldemort comes only from the secretive whispers of your parents, from the general fear of speaking his name… from the pictures of loved ones lost."
Dumbledore paused at this moment and allowed the statement to settle within the students.
"But this time around, is different. This time we generally know what we can expect for Voldemort and his followers. This time we stand a better chance. This time, we are taking no chances."
Another pause from Dumbledore, but this one was more for his sake then for the students. He looked as though he was choosing his next words carefully; the students all waited nervously… and then he spoke.
"In these times the Ministry for Magic has chosen to appoint a new Minister. Cornelius Fudge has gracefully stepped aside and Rufus Scrimgeour has taken up the position." With those last words Dumbledore stepped away from the podium and allowed the new Minister to step forward.
The entire hall was silent. Some of the teachers seemed just as stunned as the students. Hermione looked across the table at Ron, and hoped to get in a quick glace of nervousness, but Ron's jaw was dropped and all he seemed capable of was a dull stare towards the teachers table.
Hermione turned back to the podium, and saw Rufus Scrimgeour take his last step, a step he seemed to struggle with because of a small limp in his leg. But as soon as he made the step, his body rose behind the podium, and the students suddenly felt they were in for grave news indeed.
"Good evening, everyone. Teachers – students – ghosts," said Scrimgeour, nodding to each one as he went. "Well, as Dumbledore has said, I am in fact the newly appointed Minister for Magic."
He then paused, as though waiting for either a cheer or a moan, but neither came and so he continued on.
"As the new Minister for Magic, it is my duty to ensure the safety of all wizards and witches – and there children – which is why Dumbledore and myself have agreed on certain changes that will take place tonight and until further notice."
At this point Cornelius Fudge stepped forward and handed a roll of parchment to the Minister. Scrimgeour took the paper, unrolled it and read out loud:
"It is in agreement with Albus Dumbledore, current Headmaster of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the current Minister for Magic, I - Rufus Scrimgeour - that the following rules are to be set in place for the students and staff of Hogwarts to abide by and follow.
"Any student who is found not abiding by the rules will be expelled from Hogwarts – permanently. Any staff member will be fired."
The last words sent the students into a buzzing frenzy, until Dumbledore raised his hand into the air, and silence came once again. The Minister took a breath and started:
"Number One: All trips to Hogsmeade are here by cancelled. All ventures into the Forbidden Forest are here by discouraged. No student will be allowed to leave the Hogwarts grounds without the accompaniment of a teacher or auror."
Hermione's head tilted at the mention of aurors, and so did many others, but the Minister continued on unfazed.
"Number Two: The clock in the tall east tower has now been put to good use. It will act as a security warning system. When it chimes, all students who are on the grounds will be expected to enter the building as quickly as possible. If you are in the hallways of the school, please enter the nearest occupied classroom and stay with the teachers or aurors that are present.
Number Three: All Prefects as well as Head Boys and Girls will be expected to take extra classes with Professor Seresin. These classes are to begin immediately and will be held after the regular school day. These classes are extremely important and any student who chooses not to show up or commit to the course will be demoted."
Hermione's gazed flickered quickly over to the DADA teacher Professor Seresin, and she was a bit surprised to see that he looked just as shocked by the news as everyone else.
"Number Four: All post leaving and coming into Hogwarts will first be examined by the Ministry of Magic and must be approved for delivery. Owls may take longer to arrive then usual, but we at the Ministry ask that you and your families bare with us as it is a simple yet important step in insuring the safety of the students.
"And lastly, Number Five: Any suspicious behavior among students or teachers is expected to be reported immediately to the next person in power. This includes secret meetings, bizarre tendencies or strange and unusual behavior of a person."
There was a pause following this short statement, where the new Minister first looked the students down and then began to slowly roll up the piece of parchment from which he had been reading.
"With all that said I expect everyone to be alert and on their best behavior from here on in, as we will not tolerate any horse play or prank jokes. In these times it is crucial for everyone to cooperate with one another and work together to insure the safety of all."
Scrimgeour finished the sentence with one last stare and then slowly descended the steps of the podium and Dumbledore quickly took his place.
Hermione noticed how tired and worried Dumbledore looked, and as he began to speak, she noticed that there was a touch of sadness in his voice.
"I understand how hard this must be for all of you," began Dumbledore as he stared out to the students in front of him, some of the younger ones in silent tears of worry and fear.
"I know that right now, at this very moment, this is all coming as a great shock. But I promise in the next few days things will begin to make more sense. I encourage all of you to write to your families tonight. Express with them any fears you may have, as I am sure that they will be able to offer you comfort in their words."
Dumbledore paused and smiled a half smile, "Feel free to return to your treats if you like, its not quite nine thirty yet." And with that last statement, Dumbledore, Fudge and the new Minister walked out of the Great Hall… a door slowly closing behind them.
Yet although the men had just left, no one moved or uttered a word. The students it seemed did not know what to do next. No one spoke. No one coughed. The silence was heavy, and it wasn't until Professor McGonagall stood up and slowly stepped forward that everyone finally seemed to remember exactly where they were and what had just happened.
"Well…" began McGonagall in a slow and uncertain voice as she clasped her hands together, "I think that everyone can agree that it's time to head off to bed. The teachers and I have to urgently speak with Professor Dumbledore, and so I'll ask the Prefects of each house to take the lead and direct everyone to their common rooms."
The students at first looked at each other, wary to stand, and then slowly the Prefects of each house rose and started to organize the students.
Hermione stood up quickly and walked towards McGonagall. The professor was in a huddle with the other teachers. When they noticed Hermione's presence they stopped their whispers and stared at her.
"Professor?" asked Hermione in McGonagall's direction.
"Yes Miss Granger?"
"Well I was just wondering… have you seen Harry at all today?"