3
When Dumbledore entered the hall, most fell silent, watching as he made his way to the front podium. The other professors were already seated at the long table at the very end of the hall. He raised his arms in the air and those who had still been talking quieted.
"Good evening students. Tonight, begins another year at Hogwarts. Now, I'm sure some of you have heard the rumors…" He trailed off, looking past them to the double doors.
Noelle turned in time to see Harry walk into the room, moving quickly towards the Gryffindor table. He was covering his face, a trickle of blood running down his chin. Had Harry broken his nose? Noelle blinked in surprise.
Dumbledore began again. "And I cannot say at this time what is true and what is not. However, know that the teachers here will do everything in our power to make sure this school remains safe. And whatever you do, no one is to leave school grounds or enter the forbidden forest without instruction and guidance from a professor." There were murmurs at this until he once again raised his arms for silence. "A couple more points to address. Professor Snape" Snape stood as his name was called, "will be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Several Slytherin students cheered, and Snape was noticeably happier than normal, with a little less sneering than usual. "And Professor Horace Slughorn has returned to be our new potions teacher." The new professor stood and waved and then sat once more.
The headmaster smiled. "And now, for the sorting of the new students." He returned to his seat, to be replaced by McGonagull.
"I will have the first year students gather up here at the front and as I call each name, you shall come forwards and be sorted into your house."
She went on to name each student in turn in her plummy voice, and they were each sorted by the hat, who was as snarky as ever. Noelle noticed that of the dozen or so new students, more than half were named to Slytherin.
Now, being a Slytherin herself, she knew they weren't all bad. But a lot of Slytherins as of late were giving the house a bad name, and it was also well known that most of the death eaters had come from the house of the snake. Slytherins were meant to be known for their power, leadership, cunning, ambitions, resourcefulness, and determination. Just as Gryffindors were known for bravery, Ravenclaw for knowledge, and Hufflepuff for… Well… They made great cookies.
As she thought all this, one of the very reasons for Slytherin's bad name stood and clapped Crabbe and Goyle on the back before going to meet the first years. Draco Malfoy. Noelle couldn't stand the boy and wished nothing more than to not share a house with him. But she enjoyed being a Slytherin overall, and if that meant tolerating a few bad seeds? Well then that was what she'd have to do.
Dumbledore returned to the front and center and smiled widely. "And now? Let us begin the feast!"
Food appeared on all the tables in a magical flourish and all the students began digging in, noise seeping back in all around her. Now free to talk once again, everyone took the opportunity to catch up, talking all about their years back in the muggle world, and their hopes for the school year. Noelle wished to be with her friends, trying to see them over the other heads in the room and failing.
Noelle cut into a turkey in the middle of the table, grabbing a few slices and eating slowly. She watched Harry Potter and Malfoy shoot glares at one another across the room and wondered, not for the first time what the year would have in store.