The Great Hall was filled with people. Hermione was a bit surprised. She hadn't expected so many parents to be willing to allow their children to come back to Hogwarts, but she was glad they did. They had to start getting back to whatever this new normal was going to be.
She looked around at the tables. The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables was full of students eating their dessert and chatting. Every now and then students would look over at Harry, Ron, and Hermione and whisper. They would look away quickly when Hermione made eye contact.
"That's going to get old" Ron said taking a spoonful of pudding.
Hermione gave him a small smile. She looked over at the Slytherin table. The once crowded table was now maybe half full. "I heard that some of them enrolled at Durmstrang."
Hermione looked up and Seamus was leaning over towards her. "Durmstrang? They've left the country to go to school?"
"Well, yeah. If my family was all either killed or sent to prison for supporting the darkest wizard known to man, I would probably want to skip town too." Seamus said laughing
Hermione looked up at the Staff table. Professor McGonagall sat in the chair at the middle. The chair where Professor Dumbledore would sit. To her left, was Professor Sprout. To her right, was Professor Flitwick. Next to Professor Flitwick sat Hagrid. He waved his mini van sized hand at Hermione and continued speaking with Professor Flitwick.
The Great Hall went silent as Professor McGonagall stood up and walked to the front of the platform. "Good evening, students." She said in a clear voice
"What a pleasure it is to see you all again. Now, I know that this must feel…strange, but I can assure you, your Professors and I are ready to get back to teaching and make up for lost time."
She cleared her throat, "I know that we have lost a lot. Students, teachers, friends, and family. Last year was one filled with unspeakable tragedy. Let us not forget the ones we have lost. We shall use their memories to fuel us forward.
I can assure you that as Headmistress, it shall be my mission to care for you and nurture you just as every Headmaster has done before me-"
"Then why in the bloody hell have you named Malfoy head boy? It should be Potter!" A Ravenclaw student shouted. The Great Hall filled with murmuring. Students across the room seemed to thinking it, but no one was brave enough to shout it out…especially not to McGonagall.
"Excuse me, Mr. Smith?" McGonagall raised an eyebrow "You have a problem with my selections for Head Boy and Head Girl?"
"No!" The boy stated defiantly "Granger is fine. She has earned the position of Head Girl."
Hermione's cheeks burned. She looked at Professor McGonagall not wanting to make eye contact with anyone. Hermione was becoming more and more aware of all of the eyes on her.
"Everybody knows that she was the brains behind Potter and Weasley. Granger makes sense. But Malfoy? His father was a Death Eater. His father was in You Know Who's inner Circle. His father-"
"He is not his father, Mr. Smith." Professor McGonagall said staring at him
"Alright then. Well what about what he's done? He fought with the Death Eaters last year.
"Did he? Did you see him fire spells?"
The Smith boy stuttered, "N-No, but he's been a pompous prat for the entirety of his time at Hogwarts. Constantly using his privilege and title to push others around. I can't count the amount of times he has thrown around his pureblood status and called muggle-borns…well, you know. Most of us would never-"
"Why?" Professor McGonagall asked calmly.
"Why what?"
"Why would most of you never use that word?" Professor McGonagall asked
"Because it's a foul word. Because-"
"Because you were taught not to. Because you were taught to treat others with respect and dignity. Because you were taught to treat others as you would treat yourself. Because you were taught that you are no better than the next witch or wizard that walks through that door, am I correct?"
"Well, yes" Smith said
"Exactly. You were taught that. Your upbringing and the teachings in your household do not reflect the mindset of every wizarding household. There are many people that feel very differently than you and your family, Mr. Smith."
"So you agree with it?" Smith yelled defiantly
"My opinions on their beliefs are not relevant, Mr. Smith. The point is that you were brought up one way and these people, Mr. Malfoy included were raised differently. Have you not been listening to anything Professor Dumbledore has been saying over the last couple of years? Have you not been listening to the Sorting Hat when it gives its song? Salazar Slytherin himself believed that he and those like him were superior to everyone else. That belief, whether right or wrong, has been passed down from generation to generation since Salazar walked these halls. That cannot be changed overnight."
"Dumbledore! He tried to kill Dumbledore!" Smith screamed
Professor McGonagall paused. "Professor Dumbledore, Mr. Smith. He has given more to this school and the wizarding community than most of us can ever hope to. You will give him the respect he deserves."
"Sorry, Professor. I'm just saying, he tried to kill Professor Dumbledore and now he's being rewarded"
"Did he?"
"I'm sorry-what?" Smith asked confused
"Did he kill Professor Dumbledore?" Professor McGonagall asked calmly
"No, but-"
"But he could have?" Professor McGonagall asked
"Yes, but-"
"And he didn't?"
"Yes, but-"
"Were you listening last year, Smith?" Professor McGonagall asked, her patience audibly thinning. "Professor Dumbledore knew about You Know Who's plan to murder him and use Draco Malfoy to do so. He took every measure at his disposal to protect Mr. Malfoy to ensure that he did not feel forced to commit such a heinous act. Why do you think that was?"
Smith didn't answer
"Because Professor Dumbledore knew that Mr. Malfoy wasn't and isn't a murderer. In fact, Mr. Malfoy's actions that night contributed to Mr. Potter's success in defeating He Who Must Not Be Named. Whether you want to admit that or not, it is the truth.
I am not making excuses for Mr. Malfoy's past actions. Only he can speak to his choices, but I ask you this, Mr. Smith. If You Know Who was living in your house, controlling and torturing people in front of you, holding people, children, elderly people, hostage in your cellar, forcing you to do and commit to unspeakable things, would you have the courage to tell him no?"
Smith didn't answer. Hermione had chills down her spine. She had never thought about the situation like this. If Voldemort was there every day staring at her with those cold eyes, if she knew that one wrong statement, one hesitation, could lead to her death, would she have chosen differently? It's one thing to be brave when you don't have to face him, but to make those choices when he's staring in your eyes…
"Exactly. It's not that simple is it?" Professor McGonagall stated. "I know that many of you have similar feelings to Mr. Smith." She said, now speaking to all of the students in the Great Hall.
"I knew that you would. When I decided to step on as Head Mistresses I knew that came with two great responsibilities. Not only did I have to lead this school, I had to unite this school and play a part in uniting the Wizarding Community.
Division will get us nowhere. It causes nothing but pain and torment on both sides. Unity is the best way forward. Professor Dumbledore believed that. I believe that. I chose Mr. Malfoy to be Head Boy because I saw an opportunity. An opportunity to unite this school in a way that has never been done before. I saw an opportunity to heal a young man's heart. I took that opportunity and I know that it was the right choice to make.
I am not asking you to agree with my decision. The decision has been made. I am asking you to remember the words of Professor Albus Dumbledore:
'We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.'
With that, you are dismissed, good night and I hope you have a good first day of classes tomorrow."
You could have cut the tension in the Great Hall with a knife. Slowly, people started to get up from their tables and head to the entrance. Hermione looked over at the Slytherin table. Draco looked like he was going to be sick. She saw him swallow, push his shoulders back and walk towards her.
She turned to Harry and Ron, "we have to go make sure the Prefects have their passwords."
Harry nodded. "We'll see you in the common room." He grabbed Ron by the shoulder and pulled him towards the entrance.
Draco cleared his throat. Hermione turned around to see him standing next to her.
"Are you ready?" She asked softly
"I'm ready." He said confidently. She nodded and they walked towards the Entrance Hall to meet the Prefects.
