Chapter II
The Warm-Up
After the Sorting, the new Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, stepped up to the podium and cleared her throat loudly. The entire hall fell silent at once.
"Greetings, students and teachers. Welcome to our newly Sorted first-years. And welcome back to the rest of you." many people clapped and cheered. Some patted the small and timid newcomers on the backs. Hermione smiled to remember how amazing and other-worldly Hogwarts had been for her. Even 8 years later, the magical world still never ceased to amaze her.
"I have some announcements to make before we begin the start-of-the-year feast. Firstly, I would like you all to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Nicomedes Darnell." everyone clapped politely as a young man, probably in his late-twenties to mid-thirties with a handsome smile and dark hair and eyes, stood up. Parvati Patil leaned over and whispered in Hermione's ear,
"Gosh, I hope this one doesn't get killed. He doesn't look all that bad." Parvati joked. Hermione giggled and shushed her so that she could hear what the Headmistress was saying next
"Secondly, I'd like to bring attention to our eighth years. Again, welcome back. Thank you for choosing to join us at Hogwarts another year." she waited for the applause to stop.
"Unfortunately, our regular dorms seem to have no room for you so we have decided to renovate part of what was formerly part of the Forbidden third-floor corridor. If eighth years could please stay behind for direction to their dormitories. And lastly, we are introducing a new course to all Hogwarts students." confused murmurs were heard all throughout the hall.
"What?" Parvati whispered, shocked, "They can't introduce a new course, can they?"
"Actually, they can. Isn't that what the Carrows did? When they took over Hogwarts?" Luna whispered back.
"I guess so, but..." whatever Parvati was going to say was cut off when Headmistress McGonagall cleared her throat loudly once again.
"The new course will be called Introduction to Musical Magic. You will all start at beginner's level. In this new course, you will learn how to play magical instruments such as the linovi, the putterm, and the niopa." Hermione giggled at the nonsense-sounding words and at the imagined reactions of her parents when she tells them what magical instrument she will be playing.
"After the feast, when you go to your dorms, the teachers will come and show you how you are to be Sorted, in a way, into different instrument groups." the Headmistress seemed to sense the confusion in the Hall.
"The teachers thought that the school could use a new course." this time, when she spoke, her voice was much softer.
"This new course- it was something former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore wanted to arrange before he left Hogwarts. He-he never got the chance. The teachers and I thought it would be something nice and new to do." she cleared her throat to regain her composure.
"Now please do enjoy the feast!" McGonagall finished as food appeared on the table. A few kids cheered and everyone started eating.
