The Great Hall was not as high energy this year as it usually was on the first night. The war had taken a toll on many, and it was sad to see all the students who looked lost and anxious to be back in a place we had once looked to as home. The tables were filled with an abundance of food, but most just picked at their plates, pushing peas, and mash around. Most had lost their appetite during the way. Ron seemed to be the only person I knew who had no trouble eating after everything we went through, but he had always been able to stuff his face in the worst of times.
"Hermione, I never asked. How was the train ride over? I still can't believe you wanted to ride it instead of apparating into Hogsmeade." Ginny was sitting across from me, slightly buzzing and looking much happier than some others here.
"It was good Gin." I gave her a small reassuring smile and continued to push my food around my plate. This year was feeling a little daunting now that I was finally here.
"You look happy, did you have a good last day with Harry?"
Harry and Ginny had somehow stepped into such comfortable behavior these last couple months. After losing Fred, the whole family had struggled. Nobody really knew how to move forward. The rebuilding of Hogwarts taking a year had been a blessing. I don't think Ginny would have returned to complete her education had we all been expected to come just one month after the war had ended.
"Yeah we did. I'm sad I had to leave, but even if I had stayed behind, he would have been leaving tomorrow." She shrugged.
"We spent the morning at that pond we all like." Ginny said, blushing slightly, as she sipped on her pumpkin juice.
As much as I didn't want to hear about the details, Ginny had tried telling me about the physical development of her and Harry's relationship. I could only assume her blushing was a sign of that physical aspect.
The pond had been somewhere near the burrow we had all been frequenting the last year. It was quite large and deep and had been a wonderful place to swim, or relax by a tree. It was also a fun place we had decided to go to late at night. We would drink fire whiskey and make a bonfire to sit around. Harry and Ginny had definitely gone the most. The four of us had been going together more often when Ron and I had been trying to start a relationship, but that had fizzled out as quickly as it started. After everything we had lost, it was hard.
"At the end of the meal, can all 8th year students please remain in the hall. I have things to discuss with all of you" McGonagall called out.
This year was weird, the way 6th year had left off made things more complicated. 8th year students were those like me who had been in 6th year when Dumbledore was killed. Though some had returned for their '7th' year it hardly counted, this was our opportunity for a do-over, but the first year pool was larger than ever. Students who were supposed to start the last 2 following years were back to officially start, on top of this year's 1st year students. It had been a long sorting ceremony to say the least.
Eventually, everyone began heading out, and Headmistress McGonagall ushered us all forward to sit towards the front. There seemed to be a little less than half the students from our year who had come back.
"Please come around, so I can explain the changes you will all see this year."
She looked the same. Serious, but with a twinkle in her eyes. Similar to the one Dumbledore had held all those years.
"We are pleased that all of you have decided to return, and we know that you have all suffered atrocities youth your age should never have to face, not to discredit that others younger have also not." She stiffened.
"This year we hoped to integrate some changes, some that will hopefully improve interhouse unity. You will not be in your respective houses, but instead will have a shared 8th year Common Room and separate dorms. The hate that has spread through this world is disgusting and quite frankly needs to be over. We expect you to help us in teaching the younger students that a house, or blood status does not define the bonds we make in life."
Everyone seemed to glance around, surprised and apprehensive at the idea of this. The Slytherins didn't look upset at all, mostly indifferent to the news. Perhaps even pleasantly surprised, but most likely at the prospect of having their own dorms. Theo happened to catch my eye and give me a small smile.
"You also will be allowed to travel into Hogsmeade whenever as long as it does not interfere with your courses, the 7th years will also be informed that they will be granted this perk as well. An announcement will be made tomorrow that Muggle studies is to be mandatory for every student. It is our hope that learning about them will help students recognize their own prejudices. It is important to acknowledge that these individuals are individuals who share similar values and have the right to a life, in the same manner as we do. That is all for now. If you have any questions, please do not be afraid to come find me. I'm available to discuss any queries or worries with any student. Now follow me, I will lead you to your Common Room." She stepped off the podium and began a brisk pace across the hall.
"Well, this is unexpected, Hermione?" Luna sighed, like it was absolutely no surprise at all. She smiled at me and swayed off with the others.
I followed closely, trying to catch up with her. Going to Hogsmeade when we had time seemed like a lovely idea, but I wasn't sure when I would realistically have time to go. I planned to keep myself rather busy in my studies this term.
"Luna, do you know where we're headed?" I inquired. Luna simply had a knack of knowing things that other people didn't.
"Well, I imagine it's in the new tower they added on during the rebuild. Plus, I saw an awful lot of wrackspurts all gathered this way earlier, and you know how they tend to love new things." I really didn't, but I nodded along.
We eventually arrived at a new hallway after passing the charms class and the location of the new Astronomy Tower. It was odd, the stone didn't look nearly as dated as most of the castle, but you could tell some charms had been applied to try to make it match. It just didn't though. The tower seemed similar in structure to the Gryffindor tower, but was on the opposite side of the castle and overlooked the Quidditch pitch. We eventually arrived at a sizable, elaborate brass door with an exquisite ivory door knob. It had a very elegantly carved face, almost like it belonged in Alice and Wonderland. The door knob gave us all a charming little smile when it noticed the crowd in front of it, and then it started screaming.
"OY, TWIST ME. I DARE YOU LOT. CALL ME A KNOB TO MY FACE, SEE WHERE THAT GETS YA."
It yelled at us all, and the lovely charm it had just possessed vanished in an instant. I noticed a couple students snigger at the strange, and slightly rude door knob.
"That is quite enough, Mr. Klamka." McGonagall had a finality to her voice, sounding like she had dealt with the irate door knob in the past. "This is your entrance, please say hello to Mr. Klamka and introduce yourselves before you enter. There is no need for a password, he will know you all and will open to your touch."
"Oh, I'll open to some of yer touches." He said in a provocative voice and winked at 2 of the girls up front. Who, in turn, just laughed at his comment.
McGonagall sighed and bid us goodnight, explaining our names would be on plaques above our bedrooms, and with that she was gone. Everyone took turns saying their names and opening the door. Some getting better responses than others upon touching Mr. Klamka. He even pretended to bite at a couple of the boys including Seamus who jumped back.
"Nasty little bugger." he laughed before entering inside.
I took my time, in no rush to introduce herself to this offensive little man. Was he a man? "Hello, I'm-"
"Yes, yes. I think we all know who you are, lass." He then began to make kissy noises at me and sticking out his tongue, pretending to make out with the air.
"I think the knob has got a bit of a thing for you, Granger." Malfoy said from behind me. When did he get behind me?
"Figures that it's an animated door knob that likes you, honestly might be better than the Weasel." He threw his classic smirk my way.
"OY BLONDIE, ARE YOU DEAF OR JUST STUPID. DO NOT CALL ME A FUCKING KNOB AND APOLOGIZE TO MISS GRANGER, or you can sleep out here for the night. I'm the only one who's going to be bullying any of ya."
Well maybe he wasn't that bad, he did just stick up for me, and he made fun of Malfoy.
"I was only messing about Mr. Klamka, my apologies to both you and Miss Granger."
Malfoy didn't sound apologetic, he sounded bored, but it seemed like the best I could have gotten out of him. He also hadn't said his previous comment to me with as much malice as usual.
"Thank you, Mr. Klamka. Have a nice night."
I opened the door and went inside, but not before calling out behind me.
"Glad sleeping out in the hall sounded worse than apologizing to me, Malfoy." and gave him a sickly, sweet smile before going all the way in.
Everyone was gathered in the Common Room. It was beautiful. It seemed every house was incorporated into this Common Room. The floors were crafted from a beautiful, black walnut that was so similar to what had been in my childhood home growing up. Plush Persian carpets were everywhere, some with luxurious sitting pillows spread across them. A Dark, glossy onyx fireplace with a mantle roared in the center of the farthest wall, where each of our houses' metal crests were placed above on the stone wall. The furniture was tasteful and comfortable looking and came in a variety of colors, plenty of sofas and chairs spread around. It had candles charmed to float by the ceiling like in the Great Hall and cast a glowing, warm light across the whole room. Everyone was looking around, taking in our new home. On one of the walls were two stairways, each leading up to a hall of what looked to be our dorm rooms. Most people were excited to see what a room had to offer. As I walked across the new Common Room I was pleased to say that it was quite comfortable, and as much as I loved the Gryffindor Common Room, this room was much more balanced in terms of color.
My room was set between Pansy Parkinson, and Lisa Turpin, it was clear they had tried their best to make our neighbors be from other houses. I guess to encourage this 'unity'. Pansy was just coming up as I was about to head in, and I gave her a soft smile and nod. She nodded back, softly saying 'have a good night' as she headed inside her own dorm.
Pansy had definitely been rude to me in the past, she was known for being quite annoying, superficial and just not a very kind individual, but if that were true why did she even bother to acknowledge me back? Then again, that day, I was also taken aback by Theo. He had even smiled at me a little in the Great Hall after our earlier pleasant conversation.
My room was lovely, and almost a carbon copy of what the Gryffindor dorms looked like, sans the four other beds that usually laid in a circle around the room. Instead, the head of my four poster bed was up against the back wall, with a window on the wall to the right. A trunk sat in front of the bed and a wardrobe on the wall across from that. A desk was pushed on the wall to the left, and a bathroom even led off from that wall.
In the room, content with the solitude, I grinned. I was relieved that my fear of frightening people with my nightmares would no longer materialize. I would still wake up most nights with a cool sweat all over my body. I could hear sobbing voices in my ears, and I could feel the decay and blood all around me, under my fingernails, in my hair. Most nights, it was difficult to fall asleep without a potion. All of their faces would be played in my mind on a loop. I'm not sure if I could ever forget, or if I even wanted to.
I unpacked my things and tried my best to get comfortable, my copy of The Bell Jar clutched in my hands. Eventually, I turned off the lights and headed to bed, looking forward to getting back into the familiar routine of classes again.