Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and owlet's wing.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Something wicked this way comes!
In the cauldron boil and bake,
Fillet of a fenny snake,
Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches mummy, maw and gulf.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Double, double, toil and trouble.
Fire burn and cauldron bubble!
Something wicked this way comes!
Everyone in the hall applauded the choir as they took a bow and left the stage. As they did, Dumbledore stepped up to the podium, smiling and clapping.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! Now, I would like to say a few words…. Before we all become too befuddled by our our feast." Dumbledore began, looking over the students. "First, I am pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck professor!" Dumbledore proclaimed, as he swept his arm towards the new professor.
The man looked like he was in his mid thirties, and definitely had the dress style of a teacher. He had auburn hair, with a mustache and brown eyes. He gave a bow, and sat back down between Mira and Levy.
"Of course! That's why he knew to give you chocolate Harry!" Hermione said with a smile. "Wait, he gave you food?!" Natsu gawked. "Yeah, he was in our cabin." Ron explained. "Unfair…." Natsu pouted.
"Hey Potter!" The four Gryffindors turned around, and met Draco's grey cold eyes. "Is it true you fainted?" Draco asked, with a hint of snarkiness. The boy next to Draco put a fainting act on as he dramatically re-created the scene. Everyone at the Slytherin table snickered. "I mean, you actually fainted?" Draco laughed. "Shove off Malfoy…" Ron sneered back, turning Harry back around. The Slytherins laughed as they turned back around.
"Hey Harry, what do they mean by that?" Natsu asked, not understanding what Draco meant. "A Dementor entered our cabin and attacked Harry. It was weird… it was as if it was trying to suck something out of him…." Ron explained. "Eh?! Are you alright Harry?" Natsu asked, looking at Harry, who gave a simple nod, before they all turned back to the front.
"Our Care of Magical Creatures Teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs." The Fairies faces turned a bit white, eyes bland with blue streaks coming down their faces. "What does he mean by that?" They thought. "Fortunately, I am delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other, than our own Rubeus Hagrid." Dumbledore announced before turning to Hagrid.
Everyone applauded, Hagrid beaming as he looked at Mira and Wendy. "Go on, stand up. Professor." Mira encouraged with a nudge. Hagrid ohed in realisation as he stood up. As he did, the table bumped forward, almost causing the dishes to fall off. Everyone clapped, some even cheering, for the new teacher. "Finally on a more disquieting note…" Wendy tugged on Hagrid's sleeve, prompting Hagrid to hastily sit back down with a thud.
"At the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, will play host …" Dumbledore gave a silent sigh. "To the Dementors of Azkaban."
Lucy gasped, her stomach turning upside down. Her face turned white, and she began to shake a bit. She looked down, her eyes widened with fear, remembering the overwhelming disturbance she had encountered with this ghastly spirit. Everyone in the hall began to whisper in confusion at this information. "Until such a time as Sirius Black is captured."
"What? Those things…?!" Gray gasped. "The Dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution…" Everyone stayed quiet, and leaned forward a bit.
"Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt, and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and everyone of you…. To give them no reason to harm you." Dumbledore looked over his students, who were listening with caution. Especially the fairies in the room.
"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving. But you know… Happiness can be found. Even in the darkest of times…." Dumbledore waved his hand over a candle, the flame going out. "If one only remembers to turn on the light…" Dumbledore waved his hand over the same candle, the flame re-igniting. Lucy took a deep sigh, feeling a wave of relief over her. His words comforted her, and she smiled to herself softly. As long as her friends were with her, she had nothing to worry about.
"Now let us not dread, and let us begin the feast!" Dumbledore waved his hands, and the food appeared. "Alright! Thank you for the food!" Natsu cheered and begin to dig in without a second thought, Ron joining in. "You two are disgusting." Hermione sighed. Natsu just smiled, his food stuffing his cheeks.
"And my father has never even heard of her! I'm telling you, there's something here…." Draco complained, cutting into his bread. "Well, maybe her family's laying low." Gajeel shrugged. Draco looked up, squinting at Gajeel. "Why are you defending her Redfox? Are you hiding something from us?" Draco interrogated, pointing at him. Draco's goons looked at him, their eyes squinting at him too. "No, I'm just thinking out loud is all." Draco sighed, looking back at his food. "In any case, I'm going to defeat Potter this year, and Slytherin will be top once more." Draco said with a sneer. Gajeel sighed, and began to eat. He knew there was no point in talking to Malfoy. All he ever does is complain.
"So Lucy, how was your vacation?" Padma asked. "Oh, nothing much. Just lazed around." Lucy smiled. "Oh okay. What about you Cho?" Padma asked. "Oh, I went to Japan for my vacation." Cho smiled. "Japan?" Lucy asked. "Oh how was it?" Cho asked, tilting her head. "Beautiful. I loved the Sakura trees. Oh, also…" Cho dug through her pockets and pulled out two little fabric tags attached to strings. Lucy reached out with both hands, the little charm resting in her palms.
"Ganbare?" Lucy read out. "Good Luck. Once I saw it, I thought of you guys." Cho explained, smiling. Lucy stared at the charm, with wide eyes. She couldn't put her finger on why, but for some reason, it really reminded her of home… She smiled, and held the charm close to her chest. "Thank you so much Cho…." She smiled. "Let's have the best year ever!" Cho declared. "Yeah!" Padma and Lucy agreed.
"Hey Gray!" Gray hummed in question, as he looked to his left. Gray gave a smile as his senior and greeted him as Cedric took a seat next to him. "Oh, congratulations on getting Prefect last year as well." Gray grinned. "Thank you Gray. How are you feeling?" Cedric asked. "What do you mean?" Gray asked, tilting his head. "You had a few injuries when you came back. But looks like you're all healed." Cedric smiled. "Yeah, now that I think about it, you were injured weren't you… You had a couple of cuts and bandages on your face." Susan pointed out. "Oh that…. It's nothing. All in the past…" Gray reassured, before going back to his meal without another word.
He then felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked at Cedric, who smiled at him. "We're really glad you're back Gray. All of us were really worried about you." Cedric said warmly. Gray looked at Susan, Justin, Zach, and Ernie, who were smiling in agreement.
THUD!
Everyone in the hall jumped, and turned attention to the noise. It was Natsu, standing up on the table, drink in hand. He gave a smile, standing like a hero. "HERE'S TO A GREAT NEW YEAR!" Natsu cheered, chucking his drink into the air, a bit of liquid spilling out. "CHEERS!" He yelled. Everyone giggled and smiled, holding their cups up. "CHEERS!" Everyone chimed, drinking their cups. Even the teachers joined in. Except Snape, Draco, and Draco's dumb goons, who found the behavior bizarre.
Once the feast was over, all the years, except the First Years, immediately rushed off to their Common Rooms. The Prefects stayed behind to lead the way. "Hufflepuffs this way!" Cedric guided, leading everyone downstairs. "Gryffindor's this way." Percy called out, the Gryffindor's walking opposite of Ravenclaw.
Natsu charged up the stairs before the stairs could move again. "La la la la la la la la!" Natsu could hear The Fat Lady doing her terrible warm ups, holding up a wine glass. He stopped outside the door, his face twitching and scrunching from the screeching sound. Semus stopped behind Natsu and gently pushed him aside. "Fortuna Major." He said. "Ah bup bup bup bup!" The lady interrupted, going back to her singing. Semus sighed and looked to the other Griffins coming up. "She's not letting me use the password." He explained, swishing to the side and leaned on the banister.
"Fortuna major!" Harry tried. "No no no wait wait! Watch this." The opera singer said, holding her palm up. "Ahem. Ah ah ah ah AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone, even the paintings around her, covered their ears as lady screamed at the top of her lungs. The lady looked at her audience, then back at the glass. Seeing as nothing was happening, she swiftly smashed the glass against a marble column behind her. She then gasped, holding up the broken glass. "Look! Amazing! And just with my voice!" She exclaimed, showing off the glass. "Yeah, if you mean by shattering our eardrums…." Natsu muttered, rubbing his ringing ears. "I heard that!" The Lady snapped, looking at Natsu who shrugged. A couple of students giggled, before Harry tried again.
"Fortuna Major!" He pleaded. "Yes yes alright. Go in." The Lady sighed, opening the door to the Common Room. "Thank you!" Harry said a bit aggressively as everyone entered. "She's been doing that for three years, and I still have ringing from the first time she tried that!" Natsu sighed to Neville and Harry. "I know right, she still can't sing!" Neville exclaimed. "Exactly!" Harry agreed.
"Ah, room sweet room!" Natsu beamed, bursting into the room and jumped onto his bed. Everyone smiled, and crowded around the window, next to Natsu. "Hey, I grabbed us some sweets for us. Dare to try them?" Semus shook a brown bag with a mischievous eye. Natsu swiftly sat up and gave Semus that same eye. "Bring them on…"
Half an hour later, everyone was laughing like they were mad. Semus picked up a candy piece and showed it to everyone. "Green, that's a monkey." Ron pointed out. Semus nodded and tossed it into his mouth. His body began to jump and fidget. He jumped up, screaming like a monkey. "What is that?!" Natsu laughed, pointing at Semus. "You call that a monkey?" Ron said with a laugh. Semus chittered and got into Harry's face, doing a monkey dance. He gave a cough and twitched back to normal. "Do not give him one again." Neville chuckled.
"Hey Neville! Try an elephant!" Natsu suggested, throwing him a grey sweet. Neville caught it and popped it into his mouth. His body jerked, and began to cough. But as he did, elephant sounds escaped his mouth. Everyone laughed as Neville tried to cough it out. Semus gave a sigh of happiness as he tossed Ron a red one. "Ron catch." He called out. "I will." Ron caught the sweet and swallowed it whole. His body changed positions and began to roar like a lion. "Woo Ron!" Natsu cheered. Natsu sighed from laughing too hard, and picked up two sweets, one brown, and one white.
"Hey, mind if I give these to someone?" Natsu asked with a sinister smile. "Ah, a pranking face! Go right ahead." Semus permitted, the same look on his face. Natsu nodded and pocketed them. "We should keep these two apart at all costs…" Ron whispered to Harry, who nodded. "Hey Natsu!" Neville threw a black one at Natsu, who caught it with no issue. He swallowed it, and opened his mouth. "Woof!" Natsu barked. He brought his hands to his chest and started panting like a dog. As everyone laughed, Natsu shook his head, and went back to normal.
Harry spotted a different sweet on the table and picked it up. "Oh Harry!" Semus gasped. "Is he really going to eat that?!" Neville chuckled. "Don't eat that!" Ron warned him. Harry swallowed it, then froze. His whole mouth felt like it was on fire. "Oh look at his face!" Semus chuckled. Steam erupted from from his ears. "Ooo, let me try that!" Natsu picked up the same candy and tossed it in. "Oi oi oi! You sure?!" Semus asked, a little too late. Natsu just chewed, but nothing happened to him. "Huh?! What?! How can you eat that?!" Ron gasped. "Tolerance." Natsu smiled back, a bit cheeky. "No way!" Everyone laughed, pushing him a bit. They all had a laugh and go at each other, not even realising that outside their window, Dementors were flying past.
Natsu couldn't sleep for some reason. He sighed as he tossed and turned in his bed. Usually around this time there would be a meeting, but due to the…. Unexpected guests, Mavis told everyone to lay low while she would patrol the entire castle. Natsu rolled onto his side, closing his eyes. "Hm?" Natsu hummed, as he opened his eyes again, a brown rectangular item was sticking out of his clothes he wore when they met up with Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
He gave a bit of a sigh and sat up. He ran his fingers through his hair, and gave the letter a stare. He looked around the darkroom, everyone fast asleep. He grabbed the letter and made his way to the Common Room's main area. The room was dark, only for the dim orange from the crackling fireplace. He let his body flop down on the couch and he put up the letter. "Don't open it until we get to Hogwarts huh…?" Natsu repeated softly to himself. He looked up at the ceiling, wondering if he should open the letter or not. "I really should wait for the others, but if this is an important letter, then….."
Natsu flicked the letter up and down, and gave another sigh. He pocketed the letter again, and leaned back with his hands supporting his head. "If it's important might as well wait for everyone…" He muttered to himself. "Huh?" Natsu looked back at the fireplace that was dwindling. He visibly groaned and puffed up his cheeks. He spat out three fireballs at the fire, causing the fire to glow brighter, but quickly dimmed down. "Maybe it's the logs." Natsu muttered. As he stood up and walked over to the fire place, he realised that the logs actually looked quite new. "What the….?" Natsu muttered.
Suddenly, he could hear cold snaps at the window. He snapped his attention to the windows, ice slowly spreading a thin layer across. As he breathed out, a small orange flame escaped his mouth, along with steam from his hot breath. Everything became colder in the room, everything becoming slowly frosted over. Natsu ignited his fist and looked around the room. There was only one creature capable of this…
He looked everywhere, looking for the ghast. His head began to spin as he looked around the room. Little by little, fear sneaked into his body. Suddenly, as he turned back around, he could hear the roars of a familiar dragon, haunting his mind, memories on Tenrou Island.
And in his face… He saw a blink of a monster, before it vanished in a vortex. He gasped sharply and fell back, his fist going out. The fire began to glow healthy again, the ice walls dripping. He panted heavily, sweat coming down his forehead. He looked at his hand, as it was shaking once again.
He sharply gasped, looking at the door. "Wait a minute if they were here then…. Lucy!"