- CHAPTER TWO-
The Opening Feast
The train arrived at Hogwarts a few hours after the Dementor scare had occurred. Although the reason for their sudden appearance was not confirmed, everyone on the train was fairly certain they had come to search for Sirius Black. There simply wasn't another logical explanation. However, despite the fact that we had all been scared out of our wits, we managed to exit the train feeling rather cheerful when it reached Hogsmeade Station.
I was careful to stay close to Fred, George and Lee as I stumbled off of the scarlet engine. The students were much more frantic than during any other year, and I found myself being shoved around violently as I pushed through the crowd.
"Oi!" I yelled as a particularly large Slytherin girl stomped on my foot. She snarled at me and I pressed on, gripping to the back of Lee's robes so as to not lose him. It proved difficult, as I think Lee was attempting to shake me off simply to be funny.
The four of us hurried onto the horseless carriages that stood waiting for the students to arrive before taking them obediently up to the castle. I climbed in clumsily and sat myself next to George, who was eyeing the crowds of students in interest.
"I don't see Ron or any of his mates," he commented idly.
"Probably got themselves into trouble again," Fred said as the carriage began to move itself toward the castle.
"Dad will be furious," George said with glee.
"I love when Mum has a go at Ron," Fred agreed. "It's good fun when she's yelling at someone else."
"I bet that rarely happens," Lee said with a laugh.
"Bloody hell, more Dementors!" George said suddenly, pointing out at the castle.
"What? Where?" I asked, astonished, and we all craned our necks to look where George was pointing. It wasn't really necessary. Even as I moved to turn my head I could feel the cold, eerie feeling creeping over us again.
As we neared the entrance to the stone castle it became very clear that there were, indeed, more Dementors guarding the gates to Hogwarts.
I scowled and felt myself shivering unwillingly. I inched myself toward George, wanting to get as far away from the creatures as possible. I hoped he wouldn't notice my discomfort. If there was one thing wrong with being best mates with a bunch of blokes, it was the fact that showing weakness in front of them got you teased relentlessly.
"Do you reckon Dumbledore brought them here?" Fred asked as the carriages continued on past the towering wrought-iron gates that enclosed the school grounds.
"I don't know why he would," I replied. "Hogwarts is hard enough for a trespasser to enter, don't you reckon?"
My eyes were still on the foul hooded beasts. I found I wanted to keep watch on them, as if they were suddenly going to appear at my side and try to suck out my soul (something the Dementors were both capable and quite pleased to do).
"Didn't you just finish saying that you reckoned Black would break into the castle?" Lee questioned.
"If you two can get out, surely someone could get in as well," Fred mocked.
"Maybe Dumbledore agrees with you," George suggested.
"Dumbledore wouldn't bring Dementors to Hogwarts," I said. "It's barmy!"
"Well he is a bit of a nutter," Fred mused.
"Well I hate them," I said.
"You scared?" Lee asked, grinning wickedly at me.
"Definitely not," I answered immediately. "But you can't tell me you don't hate them, either."
None of them replied. They didn't need to. No witch or wizard would ever like a Dementor. They were the most foul and despicable creatures on the face of the earth.
"Maybe the Ministry sent them," Lee suggested, "in case he turns up. They can drag him back to Azkaban."
This seemed like a logical explanation. Logical, perhaps, from the Ministry's perspective. However, I couldn't help but feel that placing Dementors on school property was an entirely illogical idea. As far as I was concerned, they were more dangerous than Sirius Black. The worst Black could ever do is kill you. Surely having your soul sucked from your body was a fate far worse than death.
Perhaps the Ministry of Magic didn't agree.
The horseless carriage rolled to a stop as we reached the castle doors. The four of us pushed each other aside to get down and then hurried up the staircase to the entryway where the rest of the student body was beginning to gather.
"Step aside, step aside!" I could hear Percy's pompous voice coming from somewhere to my right as he tried to push his way through the crowd. "Head Boy coming through!"
Percy obviously took the lead and began directing traffic, as the swell of students poured into the Entrance Hall of the castle. Fred had (rather unceremoniously) grabbed hold of my elbow and tugged me along with him cheerfully into the Great Hall where we would be assembling for supper.
The students were very nearly trampling over each other in an attempt to get past the gigantic oak doors of the Great Hall. The long train ride usually left everyone ravished and exhausted. This year you could add nervous and frightened to the list as well.
As Fred tugged me toward the furthest table from the entrance (the very same one we had been seated at for the four years previous), I noticed Ron and his mates pushing through the crowd.
Ron Weasley was the youngest of Fred and George's brothers. He was two years younger than us (putting him in his third year of school), and was followed only by their younger sister Ginny. Ron also happened to be best mates with Harry Potter…The Boy who Lived.
Harry Potter was by far the most famous student in Hogwarts. Fred and George ranked pretty high, but unlike the twins, Harry was well-known not for his ability to irritate the faculty, but due to the fact that he had a knack for saving the world…to put it lightly.
Ron and Harry were joined by the third leg of their little tripod—Hermione Granger. Arguably the brightest girl of her age, Hermione was generally disliked by much of the school. She was a nice girl, and brilliant to her very core—no one could possibly deny that, but she was such a know-it-all that conversations with her could be quite infuriating.
Actually, she kind of reminded me of Percy at times.
Nevertheless, despite the fact that Hermione and I didn't usually see eye-to-eye, due to prolonged exposure to her, I had grown to tolerate…and maybe even like her.
"Fancy that," Fred said, nodding toward his brother and company as we neared them. "You lot all decided to turn up for this year's feast, did you?"
Before any of them managed to rebut, McGonagall's voice interrupted them.
"Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!"
Turning around, I caught sight of Professor McGonagall. She was head of Gryffindor house—a stern witch who wore her hair in a tight bun. McGonagall was by far my favourite teacher. It wasn't because I particularly enjoyed Transfiguration (which she teaches) or that I find her extraordinarily helpful or kind…rather, she's the professor I most enjoy irritating.
Fred and George prefer Snape, but I find his punishments are too severe to be worth pushing him.
Hermione and Harry turned around with surprised expressions on their faces. It was only then that I noticed Harry looked rather ill. He was pale beneath his messy dark hair and round glasses and looked as though he was going to be—or already had been—sick.
"There's no need to look so worried," Professor McGonagall said, seeing their surprised expressions. "I just want a word in my office."
Ron looked as though he were going to try and follow them as his friends moved toward McGonagall.
"C'mon Ronniekins, you can sit with us," Fred said cheerfully. He prodded his younger brother in the back.
Ron didn't look at all thrilled by the arrangement, and glared pointedly at Fred's use of his childhood nickname. The twins grinned identically at him.
The Great Hall filled up quickly as chattering students poured in towards their house tables. As Fred, George, Lee and I took our spots on the bench at the Gryffindor table (with a reluctant Ron saving two seats for Harry and Hermione nearby), I realized why Harry had looked so ill.
"Did you hear?" Katie Bell was saying from a few seats down. "Harry fainted on the train."
"The Dementors?" Alicia Spinnet guessed, and from my seat I could make out Draco Malfoy imitating a fainting Harry at the other side of the Great Hall.
"That Malfoy bloke is a bloody tosser," I commented idly, watching him pretend to faint for all of his Slytherin cronies.
"Nasty looking as well," George agreed.
"Let's not look at him," Fred said. "It'll spoil my appetite. Oh, look, there's Dumbledore now."
We all turned our attention to the head of the Great Hall to see Headmaster Professor Dumbledore standing from his seat. He looked just as old and wizened as ever. His long, silver hair and beard were combed for the occasion—although I'm certain he always kept his facial hair in immaculate condition (the same could not be said for Gamekeeper Hagrid). His long, violet-toned robes shimmered in the candlelight of the Great Hall, and his half-mooned spectacles were perched on his crooked nose as he stared down at us with his bright blue eyes.
Arguably the greatest wizard of our time, Professor Dumbledore was both intimidating as well as humble. You would be foolish to believe he was just a simple old man who enjoyed Muggle sweets. In reality, Albus Dumbledore was a force to be reckoned with.
As he stood up at the golden podium in front of the teacher's table, the entire Hall grew quiet. This was different from any other year. Usually some sort of sign had to be made in order for everyone's attention to be captured. Today, however, everyone was so interested to hear about the Dementors that silence was granted immediately.
"Welcome, returning students, to another year at Hogwarts!" he said, speaking very loudly for a person so old. "I assure you your concerns about the train ride will be addressed. But first, I think it's time that we welcome our new students to Hogwarts. Let the Sorting Ceremony begin!"
I could almost feel the disappointment radiating from everyone in the room. It was quite clear that no one wanted to wait for the Sorting to be complete before we received answers. Alas, it seemed we were going to have to.
The Sorting Ceremony was never an altogether exciting affair. Watching terrified students sit on a stool to be placed into their houses could only be described as sinfully boring. The exception to this was during my third year at Hogwarts when Harry Potter arrived. I don't think there was a single person in the room who wasn't waiting on the edge of their seat to see which house he would be placed in. Of course, now that we know he's a Gryffindor, it's quite clear that there isn't another house in which he could be placed. He's a Gryffindor through-and-through.
As the Sorting commenced, I let my mind wander. The Sorting Hat—a tattered old thing that sat in Dumbledore's office during the rest of the three-hundred and sixty-four days of the year—sang its opening song before a long string of terrified looking first years came marching into the Hall.
Fred and George were already complaining about their state of starvation. Drama queens. Apparently all of those chocolate frogs on the train just didn't cut it until dinner.
I could feel my own stomach starting to rumble, and I tried to focus my attention elsewhere. I took my time studying the walls of the Great Hall. I had been in the castle for five years, and it still took my breath away—sorry to sound cliché.
The Great Hall's defining feature was the ceiling. If I didn't know any better I would still think the ceiling was non-existent. In fact, the ceiling was there, but it was bewitched to look like the sky above it. It was spectacular to sit in the Great Hall and have the sun shining down upon the tables. For me, it was even more amazing to see raindrops fall and disappear before they reached the students' heads. It really was fantastic magic.
To top it all off, there were hundreds of candles bewitched to hover high above the tables within the room. The combined effect was beautiful—especially during the night where the stars above were mimicked by the flickering candles.
Today, the sky looked foreboding. I felt as though the Dementors must have some control over the weather—like they had driven the beauty out of the night sky and scared the stars away. Instead the night air was cloudy, dark and restless. It only reminded me of the disturbing creatures lingering just outside the castle.
I tore my eyes away from the ceiling to gaze up and down the rows of students seated at their prospective tables. I let my gaze linger on a young boy picking his nose. He was a Slytherin. Typical. I recognized him as one of the third year boys that is always teasing the younger students. He was quite large, and took up a space big enough for two regular-sized blokes.
"What's caught your fancy?" Fred asked quietly.
I nodded towards the disgusting boy and heard Fred and George snicker on either side of me.
"Didn't think pudgy Slytherins were your type, Juliet," George snickered.
Fred pulled his wand out from the pocket of his robes.
Sending me a mischievous grin, he muttered something under his breath and flicked his wand in the direction of the oversized boy. In an instant his finger shoved itself up violently far into his nostril. The boy immediately started yelling in pain and panic as his friends nearest him struggled to free the fat finger from his nose.
Fred, George, and I burst into fits of silent laughter, trying to keep quiet so as not to cause any of the professors to come and punish us after the Ceremony.
"What's funny?" Lee inquired from his seat opposite us. He craned his neck, turning around in his seat to catch a look. Once he caught on, he too was lost to a fit of giggles.
"Shut it," George said suddenly. "I think Snape's noticed."
Glancing up at the staff table told me Snape had indeed caught sight of the struggling Slytherin students. He flicked his wand casually and the boy's finger was free. It was then that he scanned the room for the cause of the incident.
Predictably, his eyes fell almost immediately upon the four of us. We composed ourselves quickly, hoping to look innocent. I could feel his eyes glaring down at us, but he made no move to deliver any sort of punishment our way.
"We really have to learn to be more discreet," I muttered. "I can't stand Snape breathing down our necks all the time."
"Don't make it so obvious you're up to no good, then," Fred suggested.
"I think being mates with you lot automatically puts me in the realm of up to no good," I retorted.
I had hardly noticed that the procession for the Sorting Ceremony had dwindled down to nothing. It was with one final student scurrying off to join the Hufflepuff table that Professor Dumbledore stood up again.
Just as he did so, Hermione and Harry rejoined Ron. They took their seats across from us and opened their mouths to explain where they had gone. Neither of them got a word out, however, because they were interrupted by Dumbledore.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" he said, standing up once more.
Everyone's attention was immediately on him and silence rang through the hall once more.
"I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast," he said.
Every head was turned in the direction of Professor Dumbledore. Even the Slytherins—who tended to take the least interest in the Headmaster's speeches—were listening intently.
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
I heard mumbles from everyone in the room. Lee gave us a satisfied look, as his prediction had been correct.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," he continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission—" I had often wondered if Dumbledore knew that the four of us had snuck out on many occasions to visit Honeydukes cellar. If he knew, he never showed any sign of it. "Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises- or even Invisibility Cloaks."
Invisibility Cloaks. The things were ruddy expensive, but Merlin would I love to get my hands on one of those.
"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."
At this remark I instinctively turned my gaze toward Percy to catch a glimpse of him puffing out his chest and looking around impressively. I heard Fred and George give a little snort as they stared loathingly at their elder brother.
How he could be so different from the twins was beyond me. They were opposites. I doubted they were even related, actually.
"On a happier note," Dumbledore continued, breaking into a cheerier voice, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."
"He didn't really tell us much of anything," George whispered in disappointment.
"Not a word about Black," I agreed with a frown.
"Reckon he doesn't want to scare anyone," Fred pointed out.
"Fat chance," Lee muttered. "The Dementors scared the wits out of everyone already."
"Firstly, Professor Lupin—" as Dumbledore spoke I recognized the shabby wizard from the train. Up until now I hadn't even taken notice of him sitting at the teacher's table. Next to the others, he looked even unhealthier than he had when I had first laid eyes on him. Professor Dumbledore continued, "—who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some scattered applause at the introduction. It seemed no one had heard of this Lupin character. Everyone seemed quite unenthusiastic about him joining the ranks of the other teachers. Harry, Hermione and Ron were among the few who clapped particularly hard.
"He was in our compartment on the train," Ron explained, catching our confused looks.
"Hope he's better at Defence than he is at taking care of himself," I said, frowning up at the front table again. He didn't look like he could defend himself against any sort of Dark Magic.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, "well I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
The applause for Hagrid was filled with delighted surprise. Fred and George hollered and hooted their approval while the other Gryffindors banged on the table and cheered enthusiastically.
"Well I think that's everything of importance, let the feast begin!" Professor Dumbledore yelled, making everyone cheer.
The food appeared magically on the golden plates in front of us. I heard a few yells of surprise from some of the new students. Muggle-borns in particular were always utterly fascinated by the little bits of magic that were common to the rest of us.
The boys surrounding me wasted no time in piling their plates high with the delicious Hogwarts food. The selection of the feast was always so wide that I never knew where to start.
The opening feast was always a cheerful event. Even with the appearance of the Dementors, everyone quickly became absorbed in the meal. Everywhere, people were catching up with their friends, swapping summer stories and growing red in the face from over-stuffing themselves with delicious food.
The atmosphere had changed from one of nervousness to one of laughter and buoyancy. By the end of the feast, when both dinner and dessert had faded away on the tables, there were smiles on everyone's faces.
Professor Dumbledore dismissed us all for bed, and the four of us—leaving Harry, Ron and Hermione to congratulate a blushing Hagrid—walked down the familiar corridors to Gryffindor tower.
The portrait of the Fat Lady greeted us warmly when we got there—it seemed she was in an uncharacteristically good mood this evening—and swung open to reveal the comfortable Gryffindor common room once we had given her the password (Fortuna Major).
We all climbed in through the portrait hole door and I gazed happily around at my surroundings. The common room looked exactly the same as it always did—squashy armchairs and a crackling fire. The room was decorated in the Gryffindor colours of gold and maroon.
Fred and George gave a great yawn from either side of me, and it was decided without words that we were all heading for bed.
With a clap on the shoulder from Lee, the boys thundered up the staircase to their dormitory, leaving me to head for my own room on the other side of the tower.
It was good to be back.