Chapter Five: Reunion Feast:

----------------------------------------

Yannick froze at the entrance of the Great Hall. The place that he remembered was now at least four times its usual size, no doubt for accommodating the current students as well as their returning graduates. It was however familiar with its four long table going from the entrance to the teacher's table at the other end. Many students were already in the Great Hall. Not many were sitting yet and he could see different groups talking animatedly together, sharing stories and greeting old school friends.

"Well at least I am not late," he thought as he made his way to the Hufflepuff table.

His meeting with Professor Sprout had been very enjoyable and it had been a pleasure to talk again with his old Head of House. He had found her in one of the greenhouse, preparing one of her next lesson for the next week with the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff second years, re-potting young mandrake plants. He had used his treeshaping power to help her, putting the plants to sleep so she could prepare them without having to wear earmuffs. This way they were able to talk for a good while, only to be joined by Alwena afterwards.

Yannick had found out that Professor Sprout was a little disappointed in his cousin's performance in Herbology as she had apparently expected her to do as well as him, being a Silverleaf. He had to explain her that being a Silverleaf did not mean that Alwena would do well in that subject as well.

He had spent the rest of the time after his meeting with Professor Sprout, with his cousin, catching up on what she was doing in school and family news that she knew of. While Gran had talked to him at length, filling him in on what had happened during his absence, Alwena's child viewpoint of things was always enjoyable to hear. Despite her still young age, Alwena had already proven to understand a lot of the worries adults could have. She also had a stubborn streak that made it very hard to get her to back off from an idea when she knew she was right. And to his surprise when that happened, she usually was. He smiled as he sat down at the table, next to Sean.

"Well there you are," his friend said, "what's the stupid smile for," he chided him, earning himself a slap on the shoulder.

"I had a long and nice talk with my cousin, Alwena," Yannick answered.

"She's in Hogwarts?"

"Yep. In her second year now," Yannick said, "Got sorted into Gryffindor."

"Not Hufflepuff?" Sean asked in mock surprise, "Must not be such a hard worker then."

Yannick snorted at that. "I won't repeat that to her," he said, "Don't want to see my best mate hexed."

"Thanks for caring for my sake."

"Actually not for yours," Yannick answered with a grin, "I just want to spare Cynthia the sight of seeing your angelic face full of boils."

"Oooh! Nice one," Sean said, laughing, " You have not lost your edge mate. But would she really do this?"

"Wena? Absolutely!" Yannick answered, "Why do you think I call her 'little devil'?"

"Then she really fits in Gryffindor," Sean replied.

They were soon joined at their table by other Hufflepuff from their year, Hannah Abbot, Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Susan Bones, to name just a few. The group talked together, sharing news and catching up with where each other had been.

Yannick looked at the Ravenclaw table and saw that Cynthia and Alex were seated there. But while Cynthia was seated in a way where she could still catch her husband's eye, Alex was sitting opposite from her and somehow Yannick knew that it was on purpose. She seemed to be talking with a girl from her year but he could not remember who it was.

The Slytherin table was not as filled as the other three, at least in the years close to Yannick's own. The events of his seventh year had a lot to do in that but he refused to think about them on a day where all should be enjoying to be reunited with old friends and schoolmates.

He noted that the Gryffindor table had a few redheads on it and while he recognized Ron Weasley and his sister, Ginny, he saw that there were at least six more persons on the table with the distinctive hair color. The two twins that Dumbledore had greeted at the castle's entrance, an young man that was strongly built and looked ready to wrestle a troll, another young man, perhaps just a year older than the other, sporting a ponytail and two older person, a man and a lady, who from their age could only be the parents of the whole.

Before he was able to continue more on his analysis of the hall, the main doors opened and the current Hogwarts student came in the Hall. Yannick saw Alwena who waved enthusiastically to him before to go and sit down at the Gryffindor table, next to the strong looking Weasley. The students looked thrilled about the reunion and he could understand them. Quite a number of the people around had become quite known. He could see the students pointing as they passed by the famous Quidditch players, the members of the Order of the Phoenix, known Aurors and the rest. It was nice to see that so many former students of Hogwarts had turned out to have respectable careers. And now they were here to pass on knowledge to the next generation.

Yannick looked at Sean and could see that his friend was most probably sharing the same thought. He was about to ask him about it when a young girl came to occupy the free seat between them. She looked like she was in her first year and had short chestnut hair and brown eyes. The young girls nodded shyly to the older persons around her.

"Well hello there," Susan said, seeing that the girl felt out of place, "What's your name?"

"Sandra Beechwood," the girl replied shyly.

"Nice to meet you, Sandra," Susan said, reassuringly, "I'm Susan Bones. And here you have Hannah Abbot, Ernie McMillan, Justin Finch Fletchey, Sean O'Maley and Yannick Silverleaf," she added, introducing the former students that were nearest. Yannick saw the girl's eyes go wide as she looked at Hannah, Susan and Ernie.

"You helped in the defence of the school during the rebellion," she said amazed, "You were part of Harry Potter's DA club."

"Well, we were not the only ones," Susan said with a smile, "And we were more helping those two actually," she added, nodding towards Yannick and Sean.

"I think you are a bit exaggerating, Susan," Yannick said, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Oh? So you and Sean knocked out five opponents, four of them without the use of a wand, prevented the breaching of the common room's entrance, giving us time to put the rest of the Hufflepuffs in security, that only being the start," she replied, "And I am exaggerating? You two did wonders!"

"Yeah, I guess we did," Sean replied.

"I had big motivation at that particular time," Yannick said.

"No kidding," Ernie said, "Must have been something,"

"You have no idea," Yannick replied more to himself than his friend.

"So what do you want to do when you get older, Sandra?" Sean asked, trying to make the young girl feel more at ease.

"I would like to become an Auror," she replied, "It seems like a fascinating job."

"Well, that depends which department you get assigned to," Yannick said with a smile, "Right, Sean?" he asked his friend.

"Right," Sean said, "As a word of advice, stay away from Earnshawn's department. The people in that office are usually useless."

"But being an Auror is a very fascinating job indeed," Susan said, "You have to have high marks to get there though."

"I don't really mind working hard when it means achieving what I want," Sandra replied.

"Spoken like a true Hufflepuff," Sean said, nodding appreciatively.

Yannick was about to add something but stopped as Dumbledore had stood up, causing silence to fall over the Hall. He seemed to clear his throat but nobody was able to hear him. He raised his wand, and pointed it to his throat.

"Sonorus!"

"Dear students and graduates. It's a great pleasure to see you all gathered here for the first time. From now on, the tradition of the reunion will continue every seven years, so that every student here can have at least one chance to meet his predecessors."

There was a huge cheer from all the tables.

"Now, before the feast begins, I'd like to pay homage to some people. I'd like all of you to give a toast with me to the memory of all the students of this school who aren't with us tonight, because of dark events, accidents and painful separations."

He raised his goblet. Everyone stood up and raised their goblet as well. They drank silently. Yannick thought of the students who had taken part in the defence of the school in his seventh year. Many had been injured and unfortunately, some had lost their lives in the events. He also thought of Gael, his uncle, who had died in a Death Eater attack on the French Ministry of Magic. Dumbledore put his goblet down and continued on with his speech.

"But even darkest times have their share of hope and light. And thus, I'd like to pay homage to all the members of the Order of the Phoenix that I see among us. Your fight has saved so many lives that nothing could express our gratitude properly."

There was a huge roar of cheering in the crowd. Yannick and Sean joined in enthusiastically.

Dumbledore raised his hands again, calling for attention.

"And more precisely, I'd like to give a few names, and I apologize to their owners, for I know they don't like to be praised too much. I'd like to pay tribute to the Weasley family, which has suffered many pains and many losses in their fight against evil. Arthur, Molly, William, Charles, Frederic and George, Ronald and Ginevera... We owe you very much, my friends."

Cheering was heard again and not only from the Gryffindor table.

"Then, I'd like to salute some close friends of mine, that attended studies here and that had been a huge support in these dark years we went through. Remus Lupin, Severus Snape, All the teachers around me, and Nymphadora Tonks." The cheers went even higher.

"There is someone else I'd like to name, but I know he would call the thunder upon me if I did so, so I'd just like to say that he saved us from a great peril, even if very few people are aware of that."

Yannick looked at Sean, raising a questioning eyebrow, but his friend shrugged, apparently not knowing exactly what the headmaster meant exactly. They cheered with the rest nonetheless.

"Finally, I'd like also to give credit to some of the most extraordinary students I've met in my many years as Hogwarts Headmaster. I want to speak of Miss Luna Lovegood, Mister Neville Longbottom; Mrs Hermione Granger-Weasley, and of course, Mister Harry Potter."

All the eyes went straight to Harry and his friends. Luna smiled dreamily at her Ravenclaw classmates. Neville was red but couldn't help a little smile. It however seemed that Hermione and Harry on the other hand were trying their best to disappear under the table. Dumbledore began to clap his hands, and everyone in the Hall followed his example. This time Harry really disappeared under the table. But the Hall didn't stop cheering and clapping for a long time.

"And now, let the feast begin!!!" said Dumbledore. All the plates were now full and everyone threw themselves at it.

After the feast, the tables disappeared and the Great Hall was turned into a reception hall, with seats all along the walls, tables with drinks and cakes. The evening was planned to go over all the night, apparently. The students were now more relaxed to talk about careers with their famous predecessors. Yannick continued to talk a bit with Sandra, along with Susan and Sean. The young Hufflepuff was delighted of the different advices they gave her on what to do if she wanted to become an Auror. She left them together with Susan after a while, to present her to some friends of hers.

"Well," Sean said, "Seems like we are not as well known and respected as Susan, heh?"

"Yeah, right!" Yannick snorted, "Perhaps it's because her aunt is very well respected in the Ministry?"

"Or maybe it's because you two never stop to banter and thus no one takes you seriously," Cynthia said before to snake her arm around her husband's waist.

"I can't stop to banter," Sean said, feigning being hurt, "It would ruin my charm."

"I wonder what charm you are referring to, mate," Yannick said.

"Yeah, me too," Cynthia added.

"Betrayed by my own wife," Sean said in a dramatic tone, "Where is the world coming to?"

"I love you too," Cynthia said, laughing and kissing him on the cheek, "So, Nick, enjoying your return to Hogwarts?"

"In a way, yes," Yannick answered, "It is good to see familiar faces again. And I must admit that I missed the mood of the castle."

"Glad to hear that," Cynthia said, "And you are expected to come a sleep at our house during your stay here, you know that."

"Uuuuh, I am not sure this is a good idea," Yannick said, scratching his head and feeling uneasy.

"Nick, I know exactly what happened between you and Alex in the train," Cynthia said, "She told me as soon as I saw her. But her reaction does not mean that you cannot sleep at our house."

"She does not want to see me, Cynthia," Yannick said.

"But Sean wants and so do I," she replied defiantly, "And last time I checked it was our house."

"I do not want to impose my presence on her," Yannick countered.

"Look Nick, I want you to be there," Cynthia said, "Alex has her right to be angry at you and I understand her. But I also understand your explanations and you will need to see how to tell her the same thing. Now might not be a good time, true, but fleeing her presence will hurt her more than you think. If she voices protest of you being there, I'll deal with it, okay?"

"All right," Yannick said, knowing that it was no use to argue. He was about to say something else when he saw Alwena coming towards him, her face beaming.

"So Wena," he asked her as she reached him. "Enjoying your reunion?"

She nodded eagerly. "There are so many people to meet," she said brightly.

"I am glad to hear that," Yannick replied, passing his arm around her shoulder, "You remember Sean and Cynthia right?"

"Of course!" she answered, "How are you?"

"Doing fine, thank you," Sean replied, smiling.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Alwena," Cynthia said, bending to kiss the girl on the cheek.

"Same here," Alwena replied, "Is it for soon?" she asked, pointing to Cynthia's belly.

Cynthia exchanged a loving look with her husband before answering, "It should be for January."

"Do you know if it will be a boy or a girl?" Alwena asked, looking very interested.

"We preferred not finding out," Sean said, taking Cynthia's hand, "I always thought the Muggles were spoiling the surprise with their machines," he added.

"And what about you, Alwena?" Cynthia said, "Which interesting persons did you meet tonight?"

"Well, I did not meet that many actually," Alwena admitted, "But I saw a lot of known faces."

"So, who did you meet?" Yannick pressed on.

"I met Charlie Weasley," she said, grinning broadly, "I was sitting next to him during the feast. He's a dragon handler!" she added, looking thrilled.

"Oh! I guess you had a very nice talk then," Yannick said, "Seeing how much you like dragons."

"It was so cool!" Alwena answered, "He knows so much about them."

"I am sure he does," Sean said, "the Ministry often liaises with the reservation in Romania when they have dragon trouble here," he added.

"Where is Romania?" Alwena asked.

"I thought you learned your Geography with you father, Wena," Yannick said teasingly, which earned his a playful slap on the arm from his cousin.

"I only learned the main countries around France and England," she countered.

"Alright, it's in the South East of Europe, near the Black Sea," Yannick answered.

"I am sure that the school library has an atlas where you can find it," Sean said, helpfully.

"Of course it does!" Cynthia said, "Mme Pince has almost any book you could need."

"Seeing the amount of time you spent there during school, I believe you without a question, love" Sean said, kissing his wife on the cheek.

"He told me there were some books on dragons in the library. I'll have to find them," Alwena said.

"I'm sure there are some good ones but the best of them are in the restricted section," Cynthia said, "So you will have to wait a bit before to get hold of them."

"Why are they there?" Alwena asked.

"Well some of the spells used to subdue or handle dragons are very complex and sometime can be dangerous," Cynthia continued, "They are not the type of spells you teach a Hogwarts student. Maybe after you OWLS. But for sure after your NEWTS you will be able to access them."

"That's what he told me," Alwena said, "He said that he stayed some time in Hogwarts after his NEWTS, to be able to study more on dragons."

"Well seeing your enthusiasm on the subject," Sean said, "I would say that your career is already drawn out for you. What do you think, Yannick?"

But Yannick did not hear him. His attention had been drawn by a little commotion at the entrance of the Great Hall. He heard Sean swear under his breath and Cynthia gasp. Standing at the entrance, dressed in his Slytherin colours and surrounded by friends from his former house, was Draco Malfoy, looking as contemptuous as ever.

This sight made Yannick blood boil with anger and also brought memories he would have preferred to keep undisturbed deep inside him.

-------

Next: Chapter Six: Rebellion