The-Boy-From-The-Future
Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Harry Potter or other associated characters and ideas.
Chapter 7
When the early risers of Hogwarts walked into the Great Hall the next morning, they were astounded to see two more long tables set up there. Of course, the next thing they noticed were the simple black banners that adorned the Hall instead of the usual colourful decorations, so despite the small group, in no time at all the Great Hall was filled with the sounds of frantic whispering.
The moment James walked into the Hall with the other Sixth Year Slytherins, his mind went back to the newspaper cutting his father had showed him when he was still very small; only about five or six. He remembered his boredom at the mention of an event so far in the past, as, for a child of his age, the solemnity of the situation evaded him entirely.
But when he sat down next to Blaise, he noticed the other boy's copy of the Prophet resting on the toast rack. He realised that the front page was the exact cutting his father had shown him, and so it was with a significantly deeper interest that he scanned the article that was squeezed below the picture of a crumbling Beauxbatons; the Dark Mark shining brightly above the ruins.
DEATH EATERS STRIKE AGAIN!
The European magic schools of Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and even the secretive Durovernum were brutally attacked by the followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named early this morning. The attacks were launched simultaneously at around three this morning (British time), surely an attempt to catch the abovementioned schools off-guard.
However, the levels of destruction vary from school to school. While the buildings of Durmstrang escaped with minor damage, the famed towers of Beauxbatons were completely destroyed; beyond even magical repair. Naturally, there were significant injuries, with Deputy Headmaster Pierre Henry among the dead. About four-fifths of the school has perished, therefore severely depleting France's pool of young witches and wizards.
Even more tragically, the entire teaching staff of Durmstrang perished in an attempt to mount a last stand, so ensuring the escape of the students. However, only a third of the student population survived the escape, amongst them David Fota, son of the late headmaster of Durmstrang, Professor Alex Fota.
And although there are no official reports yet released on the condition of Durovernum, many experts speculate that although the faculty and students were forced to evacuate, the school itself is well protected with not only defensive charms but also numerous offensive spell-work. So we can only assume that those from the mysterious and elite school will soon be returning to their secluded fortress.
All the survivors of the attack are currently taking shelter at a yet unknown location. But what will be the repercussions of this violent attack? Will the Ministries of Magic finally take action against these rogue wizards or will they continue to ignore all the warning signs that You-Know-Who has, without a doubt, returned?
As more of the school entered the Hall, the whispers grew louder and soon evolved into a buzzing chatter. However, it ceased immediately at the ringing sound of metal against a crystal goblet.
"Your attention, please," spoke the gentle tones of Professor Dumbledore. His eyes were no longer twinkling and instead had acquired a sad glaze. "You have all read or heard of the tragic events that have taken place across Europe."
He was interrupted by a raised muttering, which quickly subsided when he raised an aged hand.
"Hogwarts will be playing host to the survivors of the attacks; both staff and students. They will be arriving this evening and I hope you will extend a warm welcome to them and treat them all with the utmost consideration and respect."
There was a deathly silence as Dumbledore sat down, and for once, it did not erupt into the usual chatter. The rest of breakfast continued in complete silence, and once they had finished eating, the students left quietly in small groups.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The tone of the day was set that breakfast. Everyone spent the day in a sombre mood, and the weather outside seemed to mimic the dreary atmosphere inside the castle. By the time lessons were over, heavy, grey clouds had gathered in the sky over Hogwarts, creating an inky reflection in the lake. Deep shadows were cast and the flickering torches lent a spooky feel to the corridors.
James wandered from lesson to lesson, the general dour mood affecting the group of Slytherins he went around with. By the time dinner came around, many of the students were rather nervously chatting in small groups outside the doors to the Great Hall.
The doors swung open to admit them. Inside, the black hangings that were present at breakfast and lunch still hung there. However, the biggest change was the fact that the two extra tables were filled with people, all wearing black Hogwarts robes. Up at the High Table, many new faces were to be seen and it was clear that the long table had been extended to accommodate the extra people.
James silently took his place at the Slytherin table, sitting between Blaise and Millicent this time. Like all the other Hogwarts students, he was observing the newcomers. When finally everyone had arrived (and it didn't take long for that), Professor Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome all," he started. "On behalf of Hogwarts, I welcome those of you from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and Durovernum."
Turning slightly to his right, he nodded to a regal and very large lady with black eyes, and a man with dark, greying hair.
"Madame Maxime, Professor Rossi; I hope you and your students are comfortable."
Both offered short nods, clearly still worn out from the attacks. Dumbledore then turned back to the school.
"Before we continue, I would like us all to observe a minute of silence for all who fell."
A hush fell over the hall and most students and teachers there bowed their heads. When the minute was up, Dumbledore spoke again.
"As our guests will be attending lessons at Hogwarts as part of the student body, they will all be sorted into a Hogwarts house. Our guest teachers will all take lessons as Hogwarts professors; new timetables will be given out tomorrow at breakfast. Now, the Sorting," he said, nodding to Professor McGonagall, who sat at his side. She rose and disappeared behind a door to the side of the High Table. Moments later, she returned with a low stool and the Sorting Hat.
"When I call your name, you will come up here and sit on the stool. I will then place the Sorting Hat on your head. Once the Hat has called out your house, you will sit at your house-table. Are there any questions?" she said.
When no hands were raised, she nodded smartly and unrolled a piece of parchment she extracted from her robe pockets.
It was soon clear that the new students were being sorted according to year. Depressingly, although there were three new schools, there didn't seem to be all that many new students, especially amongst the lower years. Finally, Professor McGonagall reached the Sixth Years.
"Abrosimova, Julia," she called out. A tall, slim girl with long, brown hair stepped up to the front. McGonagall had barely set the Hat on her head before it called out, "RAVENCLAW!"
Up to then, James hadn't really been paying attention. However, the next name made him sit up so sharply that he nearly knocked a golden fork off the table.
It wasn't the surname, rather, it was the first name.
"Baker, Solly."
A boy with dark brown hair walked up to the stool. The Hat was placed on his head, and it deliberated for a few heartbeats before it announced, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Applause came from the Gryffindor table as the dark-haired boy walked back down to them, taking a place next to Seamus Finnegan, who clapped him on the back cheerfully.
It couldn't be, thought James. But the next name confirmed it.
"Baker, Alex."
James' best friend strode up confidently to the stool where the Hat was set upon his head. Two seconds later, and he made his way over to the Slytherin table, a small smile playing across his lips.
Taking a seat between Millicent and James, he nodded in a friendly manner to the others around them.
"Blaise Zabini," said Blaise, stretching around James. "Welcome to Slytherin."
"Alex Baker, although you probably already know that," he replied, his eyes twinkling.
The Sorting was still going on, but the Hat was taking an abnormally long time deliberating over a girl with curly, strawberry blonde hair.
"Baker…is that a Pureblood name?" asked Draco, knowing full well it was not.
Alex obviously knew what Draco was up to because he responded with, "Of course not. I'm a half-blood, although my father is dead now. My mother was a Thistlebloom."
True, false, true, true, thought James. Alex was, if possible, even more of a Pureblood than Draco. His mother's family, the Thistleblooms, were a large, established Pureblood family who lived not only in Britain, but all over the world, including America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. And the Dee family was a very old, if rather reclusive family who'd fled to America during Voldemort's first rise to power. They only returned when Voldemort was vanquished the second time; they had not returned after Voldemort's first defeat because the three youngest children (Alex's father being one of them) were attending school on the West Coast.
"Was that your brother who went to Gryffindor?" asked Pansy, discretely glancing at the Gryffindor table where Solly was chatting animatedly to Seamus next to him and Lavender Brown across the table.
"My cousin," replied Alex smoothly. "And who may you be?" he asked Pansy with a flirtatious grin. James rolled his eyes mentally. Honestly, Alex would flirt with anything in a skirt.
"Pansy Parkinson," replied Pansy, giggling slightly. "Let me introduce you to the rest of the Slytherin Sixth Years."
Alex nodded slightly. Up at the front, three more Gryffindors, five Ravenclaws and two Hufflepuffs were sorted.
"Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Millicent Bulstrode, Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass over there," said Pansy, indicating with her head. Everyone nodded at James politely. Tracey and Daphne looked up from their conversation when they heard their names, and when Alex smiled at them, they waved and smiled back.
"Oh, and this is James Schwarz. He's new, only been here less than a week."
Alex moved to greet James like he did the others and the only sign that he recognized James was a slight widening of his eyes. But he quickly flashed his easy grin, to which James replied with a nod and smile.
James opened his mouth to ask Alex a question, but was interrupted when the Sorting Hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"
A tall boy with fair, curly hair made his way over to them, smiling in a friendly manner. He introduced himself as Sergey Makarov, and spoke with a slight Russian accent.
It seemed as if Sergey Makarov's sorting opened a floodgate of a sorts, as the next four students were consecutively sorted into Slytherin, followed by a Hufflepuff and then two more Slytherins before Professor McGonagall moved on to the Seventh Years.
The rest of the Sorting passed without further incidents or best friends from the future popping up unexpectedly. When dinner was over, it was clear that the newest additions to the school were well on their way to fitting in at Hogwarts. Conversations took place with heavy accents or odd pronunciation, but by the time the students reached their houses, a very slight, but still clear bond had formed.
If Voldemort had been looking to demoralise the Wizarding World, he'd made a grave miscalculation, thought James as he tugged his pyjama shirt on. Across from him in the significantly larger dormitory, Alex was chatting animatedly with Blaise; Goyle, Crabbe and Sergey were helping a dark-haired boy, Pierre something-or-other to move an oddly uncooperative trunk and two other boys, one from Durmstrang and the other from Durovernum were comparing broomsticks with Draco.
Maybe it's just the benefit of hindsight, but Voldemort's plan definitely backfired this time, thought James with a smirk.
"What are you grinning about, James?" asked Blaise with a laugh.
With a shake of his head and a sheepish grin, James moved over to join Blaise and Alex's conversation.
Yeah, yeah, that was a bit of a pathetic chapter. But we're rather busy with some very important exams right now, even 'Miss I-Got-All-My-Modules-Right-First-Time-Round', so this will also be the last chapter for about a month.
Anyway, hope you didn't find the chapter too appalling, and wish us luck!