The train chugged closer to Hogwarts. Susan and I decided it was time that we change into our robes. I smoothed out my robes with my hands and looked down at my blue Ravenclaw patch. It was a strange feeling when I thought about how next year I wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts.
"I still can't believe they are continuing school with that crazy out and about." Susan said sitting back in her seat for the remainder of the trip.
"Hogwarts really is the safest place for us." I said taking the seat opposite her, "I'm more worried about my family than I am about myself."
Susan bit her lip. "I feel bad about leaving my parents. What if they end up in the wrong place at the wrong time? They won't be able to even try to defend themselves."
"The most we can do from here is hope that someone puts an end to this soon." I sighed.
Raindrops started to hit the window of our compartment. Dark grey clouds lay ahead. I bright flash of lightning illuminated the ominous sky followed by a low rumble of thunder.
By the time we arrived at Hogwarts the storm was in full swing. The wind pelted cold rain into our faces. I could barely hear Groundskeeper Hagrid's voice over the rain and wind. Lightning flashed followed immediately by a loud crack of thunder. The short first years were jogging to Hagrid and the rest of us ran to the carriages pulled by the thestrals. Neither Susan nor I was able to see them which we weren't too upset about. I chose a carriage with two fifth year Ravenclaws.
We stopped in front of the castle and quickly jumped out of the carriage and sprinted to the front doors. As soon as we passed through the doors we were all instantly dry and warm. I smiled to myself and thought about how much I loved this place. Susan and I followed the others into the Great Hall for the welcoming feast. As always the professors were already sitting at the head table except professor McGonagall who always escorted first years before the sorting. Susan and I sat next to each other at the Ravenclaw table. I looked up at the professors to wave at Professor Slughorn.
He wasn't in his normal seat. His chair sat empty. I searched the staff table for him. Perhaps he and Professor Flitwick were having one of their conversations. He wasn't anywhere.
"What's the matter?" Susan asked.
"Professor Slughorn isn't at the table. I wonder where he could be." I mused.
"He might be running late. Eccentric people have a tendency to be late, it wouldn't be the first time." She offered.
Susan was right. Professor Slughorn wasn't always the most punctual teacher.
"But it looks like I have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor…again." Susan groaned, "It's a miracle that I can learn anything with a new professor every year."
"It's because you're so smart." I smiled at her.
Just then a young man with curtains of black hair and billowy black robes came through the doors. He made his way swiftly to the head table and took a seat in Professor Slughorn's chair. My stomach dropped.
"I'm sure that's nothing." Susan said.
"I hope it's not. It's our seventh year. I can't have someone new teaching me potions in my N.E. year, especially someone that young. He couldn't have any spectacular knowledge of potions, not like Slughorn did. It would completely ruin everything, Susan." I worried.
"Ruby, breathe. Even if he is replacing Slughorn, which I seriously doubt, I don't think Dumbledore would hire someone he didn't think was qualified." Susan said as she comfortingly rubbed my shoulder.
I inhaled and exhaled. The butterflies in my stomach died down a bit but I was still nervous about the possibility of not having Slughorn for the most important year of my school career. I looked up at the head table and the new professor was looking at the students with a disdainful sneer on his face not the cheery grin Slughorn greeted everyone with. Some of the butterflies came back to life.
Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall carrying a stool with the sorting hat sitting on top followed closely by a number of scared looking first years. She set the stool down in front of the head table and took a step back.
The Sorting hat began its song. It told the story of each house and that its job was to place each child where they would become their greatest. The song this year ended with words of hope and the promise of triumph over darkness.
At the end of the song McGonagall called out the names of the first years to be sorted into their houses. The crowd of new students thinned out and finally the last student sat down and was sorted into Slytherin.
Dumbledore finally stood up and made his way behind his podium.
"Welcome, welcome, everyone." He started. "I would like to take this opportunity to inform you all that there will be special precautions taken this year to ensure everyone's safety, as always though the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all. I am sure all returning students recognize that we have two new additions to the head table the year. First we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Edgewoode.
He gestured to the man with a bushy mustache that Susan was talking about before. "And also it is my pleasure to introduce our new Potions Master, Professor Snape. Professor Snape is also the new Head of House to Slytherin." Dumbledore motioned to the young man with black hair and clapped his hands together. The Slytherin table clapped enthusiastically but I turned away from the head table and stared at the wood grain of the Ravenclaw table. My final year at Hogwarts was already ruined.