When the Hogwarts Express came to a halt at the Hogsmeade station heavy rain was pounding down on the pavement. All over the platform students were scrabbling for shelter from the rain as they waited to load into carriages that would bring them to Hogwarts. It didn't take long for Harry, and Ron to secure a carriage for the rest of us. We clambered in, our wet shoes thoroughly soaking the floor.
"Blimey," Ron said shaking his head and sending water everywhere.
"Uh!" Emily, Hermione, and I shrieked as water droplets splashed throughout the tight space. We laughed attempting to dry our faces with shirtsleeves.
"If this keeps up the lake's going to overflow! Look at us, I'm soaked!" Ron said shaking his hair out once again.
"We've noticed." Harry said attempting to dry his glasses on his uniform shirt.
"Harry what's the point? They're just going to get wet again when we go outside." I told him. Harry heaved a great sigh.
"I suppose you're right. " Harry gave up trying to dry his glasses and instead stored them in his pocket. Soon enough our carriage gave a lurch forward and then came to a stop.
"Welcome home everyone!" Emily said as she swung the carriage door open. We raced from the carriage to the Hogwarts Entrance Hall mud staining our knee high socks and the bottoms of the boy's pants. Now the four of us joined Ron with shaking water from our hair. The smells of sweet sugar and savory meats were already filling the Entrance Hall.
"Smells like the feast will be delicious this year!" Emily exclaimed.
"Don't get too excited Em. We've still got to sit through the sorting of the first years." I reminded her. In a way I envied Emily's ability to become excited about simply anything.
"Honestly I find the sorting ceremony quite fascinating Alice." Hermione interjected as she scraped bits of mud from her shoe. I smiled knowing exactly why Hermione would think the sorting ceremony fascinating.
"Because the sorting hat knows everyone's full potential and deepest desires?" I asked trying to squeeze the last bits of rain from my hair.
"Exactly. It's just a deeply complex piece of magic." Hermione answered nodding as we made our way into the Great Hall.
"You'll have to forgive me for not appreciating every complex piece of magic that comes my way. Enjoy the sorting!" I called to her as she, Ron and Harry made their way towards the Gryffindor table.
"What's got you is such a foul mood Alice?" Emily asked as we crossed the room to the Slytherin table.
"More than usual you mean?" I asked her. I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe it's the weather." I suggested pointing up at the enchanted ceiling as it mimicked the angry rain outside.
"Or perhaps it's Professor Lupin's obvious absence from the staff table." Draco Malfoy my former best friend said over my shoulder. I rolled my eyes.
"To what do I owe this displeasure Malfoy?"
"Now, Alice I'm sure you can forgive me. The Hippogriff got away last year, no harm done!"
"No Harm done! Ha!" I laughed. "Do you not understand that if you hadn't…" But in that moment Professor Dumbledore asked the Great Hall to quiet down for the sorting ceremony. Emily and I took seats across from Draco far away from the head table. I dropped my voice to a low whisper. "It's not just about Buckbeak. What about when you knew Harry was at Hogsmeade, and you ratted him out to Professor Snape?"
"Allison, did you ever consider for one moment," Draco began as his voice too dropped to a whisper. "Did you ever think that I might actually be worried for your brother? He shouldn't have been in the village In the first place. If you weren't going to tell Professor Snape, someone should have." As mad as I wanted to be with him, it was hard to be mad at someone for caring. Being raised by a wizard spy I learned to take anything someone said with a grain of salt, but Draco and I had been through a lot together and I really wanted to try and make out friendship work. I extended my hand across the table.
"Friends?" I asked.
"As if we had a choice." He whispered back but reached across the table to shake anyway.
"We always have a choice." I whispered as we turned our attention to the sorting. My focus wasn't really on watching the first years being placed in one of the four houses. Instead it turned to Remus. When Draco pointed out his absence I hadn't been thinking of him, but now that I was thinking of it I couldn't help but miss him. I realized then that I had been taking advantage of Remus' presence at Hogwarts for the last three years. He was right last year when he said I had been pitting Severus and him against each other for my own benefit. I had always thought that was just what children did. At least Severus had worked at Hogwarts for years before I became a student. Remus on the other hand never really had the chance to be a teacher because he was always dealing with me and all the trouble Harry and I got into. Once the sorting was over the food for the feast appeared and my thoughts of Remus shifted to thoughts of dinner. By the time dinner had come to its end I was practically falling asleep on the Slytherin table. I probably would have if it weren't for the disapproving look Severus was giving me from across the room. From the pocket of my sweater I pulled out a piece of enchanted parchment that allowed me to communicate secretly with Severus.
Longest welcome feast of my life. I scribbled down.
It's almost over. I'm sure you can bare the next few moments. Severus' elegant script replaced mine. If I don't fall asleep before that. I mumbled to myself. What was that?
How did you see that? You're across the room!
Please pay attention to Professor Dumbledore. I rolled my eyes, but I did look up from the parchment in time to see Professor Dumbledore make his way to the podium at the center of the head table.
"So," Dumbledore began. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I must once more ask for your attention, while I give a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include, Screaming yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office if anybody would like to check it. As ever I would like to remind you that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students as in the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."
Hogwarts burst into angry shouts of protest at this statement. Draco and I among the loudest to protest. I assumed Dumbledore was playing some sort of trick on all of us, they wouldn't, no couldn't cancel quidditch.
Is he serious?
Pay attention. I crossed my arms over my chest. That was Severus, always making me find things out the hard way. Dumbledore hold his hand up, waiting for the Great Hall to quiet down. Once the Hall was filled with only a few whispered voices he continued. "This is due to an event that will be starting in October and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teachers time and energy, but I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this years at Hogwarts…" But Dumbledore's announcement was cut short with a deafening rumble of thunder as well as the doors of the great hall banging open.