1.3 The Remains of Slytherin

From the centre of the head table stood a tall, elderly woman. Headmistress McGonagall held herself proud yet the stick in her hand she leaned on heavily and the weary expression on her aged face showed the toll the last few months had left. The students faced the head table waiting in silence for the Headmistress to speak.

Headmistress McGonagall smiled but there was sadness in her eyes.

"Welcome back. We are pleased to have you all here."

There was a moment of pause and then applause went up. Many students from the Gryffindor table stood and Headmistress McGonagall waved them to sit.

"As many of you may know there was a great battle here some months ago and as you see Hogwarts still stands. But not without a heavy toll. As you entered, you would have seen the paintings of the fallen. Those brave witches and wizards fought gallantly to protect Hogwarts. Some you will notice have pre-empted their death and thus provided a valuable memento to Hogwarts. I ask that you limit your contact with these portraits as some may seek to misguide you."

There was a snickering from the Gryffindor table and several Hufflepuff girls appeared to be crying at the mention of the portraits.

Headmistress McGonagall continued, "There are many areas of Hogwarts that will remain off limits until repairs have been completed. This includes the astronomy tower, the dark tower and transfiguration courtyard. The forbidden forest is out of bounds to all students, however there are a number of creatures that may venture out from time to time, please do not approach them unless approached first."

The scowl on the Headmistresses face visibly showed her annoyance and waving a hand toward a scruffy old gentleman, hovering near the staff exit, she continued, "Hagrid has provided a list of possible visitors from the forbidden forest to Mr Filch, who will post it around the school. Please note the list and any other information Mr Filch may provide."

Mr Filch vigorously nodded his head as he glared at Hagrid across the great hall. Hagrid ducked his large face, murmuring to Professor Norefault beside him.

"I might also mention the burning smell noted on the seventh floor corridor has so far proven difficult to remove with no obvious reasons as to why it exists. It would pay to avoid the corridor where possible. Or learn to hold your breath for the length of the corridor."

Headmistress McGonagall paused glancing to her left and towards the new teachers at the table.

"Before I introduce our new teachers, you must all have questions about recent events at Hogwarts. There will be sessions held in the great hall in the evening for the rest of this week. I ask you to leave your questions until then and not bother the teachers during classes.

"And now. We have two new teachers to Hogwarts. Professor Merryweather who will be teaching Transfiguration."

A cry from the students Headmistress McGonagall ignored.

Professor Merryweather stood and acknowledged the students. A young man, his thick blond hair slicked back and although small in stature his baby face was difficult not to like. His appearance had not gone unnoticed by the female students and not been welcomed by the male students.

Headmistress McGonagall waved her free hand for Professor Merryweather to sit and cleared her throat to quieten the student once again.

"Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is Professor Norefault."

Professor Norefault stood, and the students gave a small clap of acknowledgment.

"Professor Norefault will also be the new head of house for Gryffindor and I hope you treat her well. Now let us eat as we are all hungry I'm sure."

Headmistress McGonagall did not give the Gryffindor students time to moan as food appeared and she sat back down at the head table. However, there was no complaint from the Gryffindor table as one by one the students stood and applauded Headmistress McGonagall. This followed by several other students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Headmistress McGonagall lifted a hand in acknowledgement as she wiped a tear from beneath her glasses. Professor Sprout and Flitwick on either side of Headmistress McGonagall patted her arms speaking quietly to her.

The foreboding mood surrounding the Slytherin table resonated across the great hall yet the other houses ignored them.

Across from Lorna, Regina picked at her food, her sour expression not improving.

"Don't see why I have to be here?" Regina spoke through gritted teeth.

"You're here like the rest of us. Force by the Ministry." A tallish boy with an acne complexion and dark auburn hair cropped short beside Regina replied.

"Jackson Kellon." He introduced himself. "Second year. We all got visits from the Ministry." Jackson flicked his head towards the other Slytherin's along the table.

"If I knew there would be so few of us I'd have insisted I not come." Regina told them.

"You could have gone somewhere else." Spoke a tall girl, with multiple tight braids tied behind her neck with a green bandana, sitting beside Jackson. "Neema Matzal. Second year. I heard most of the senior student chose either Durmstrum or Castelobruxo rather than Hogwarts."

"Castelobruxo? Where is that?" Bree asked.

"It's in Brazil." Lorna told her.

Bree glared at Lorna as though her answering the question was an insult.

"Why aren't you there. Isn't that where you are from?" Regina remarked.

The atmosphere around them immediately grew hostile and Lorna shrunk at the looks thrown at Regina but Neema didn't batter an eye.

"I'm from south London. Where are you from?"

Neema's respond was dismissive and the second years all but ignored the first years from that point on.

Lorna glanced at Vivian beside her, whose hair covered her entire face, making it difficult to see her expression. When she began her meal, Lorna too ate. Across the table Regina and Bree sat close together, their matching scowls difficult to ignore. With so few of them returning, Lorna imagined they would want to stick together but having no experience with people her age she couldn't be sure what to expect.

With the meal over, the three house tables followed their prefects out the great hall. All bar the Slytherins. Professor Slughorn approached their students his face jovial, his mood cheery.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts. It's a great time, a great time indeed."

All twenty-eight students glared at Professor Slughorn.

"Now, now. No need to be like that. It will indeed be a great year. Now if you'll follow me, let's get you down to the dungeon."

It wasn't until they were in the dark corridors a female fourth year student spoke.

"Professor Slughorn, as we don't have any students higher than fourth year. Would one of us be made a prefect?"

The Professor gave a deep sigh, stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned to glance at the fourth year student.

"Only fifth years can be prefects Hazel. I had hoped those chosen would return, but it appears not."

"Why haven't the older students returned?" Conrad asked.

"Why they haven't returned is a good question. Perhaps their parents thought differently. Perhaps recent events stops them from returning."

Professor Slughorn raised his arms and shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know why. Wish I did. Might have been able to talk a few more into returning."

Professor Slughorn's shoulders dropped as he turned and continued down the corridor, his posture somewhat dejected.

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Useless end note:

There may be some inconsistencies and holes throughout these 7 books I've forgotten to tidy up. My apologies. (Also I'm not good with detail)