AN: The Beginning of the feast with a whole cast of characters, some new and some not. Also, how do I turn off the Poll?
All around us was a wide assortment of a variety of meals, those both native from the British Isle and some from further out. Whole roast chicken with sides of mashed potatoes and peas placed next to steaming towers of pasta and grilled fish. Over a dozen different salads were made ready and what looks like some traditional Indian dishes being available near Padma and Chinese near Sue Li. Looking around, it seems that the dishes were arrayed so that students have options from their homelands near them, which is more than I expected from Hogwarts. For my part I grabbed a steak and some shrimp pasta. Students all around me were doing the same, enjoying the available spread the house elves made for us. I should visit them in the kitchens and work out something to learn how to make all of this.
By this point chatter had filled the Great Hall as everyone was catching up with friends they hadn't seen in months, introducing themselves to new students, and gossiping about the latest news. Which just so happened to be me and my sister. I'm honestly surprised that for the house considered to be nosey and obnoxious when it comes to finding things out, they had the decency to let me enjoy my meal first. I could tell that many were looking my way, trying to gleam any insight they could about me from the way I cut my steak. Not a moment after I finished my meal though did the first question come.
"Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass. So, you are a Potter then? Any relation to House Potter, or just a coincidence?" the girl seated next to me asked, causing the attention on me to seemingly double as many leaned in a bit to catch what I was going to say.
"Harry Potter, a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Greengrass. And as for my relations to House Potter I should hope so considering James Potter is my father." I tell her, allowing a bit of humor to seep into my voice.
Her eyes only narrow a tad though, seeming to hold the slightest bit of disbelief. "Then would you care to explain why nobody seems to know of you? I believe that the Girl-Who-Lived having a brother would have been big news."
I take a moment to work out a response that would describe what happened to me without spilling that I had grown up muggle to them. "Due to the events of that Halloween, it was deemed necessary for me to be raised separately from the Potter Family, with them only attempting to contact me when I turned sixteen, inviting me to this school."
My words sparked multiple discussion around us as people threw out wild theories for why that was the case. It was everything from me being the bastard son of James and a nameless witch to me being the Dark Lord Reborn, having been trapped in the body of a babe. The most commonly agreed one though was that they must have believed me a squib and sent me away until they had proof that I was magic. Daphne looked satisfied for the moment and moved the topic to other subjects, leading me to introduce myself to more of my new dormmates and allowing me to learn about them.
The Greengrass, as Daphne explained, were the premier suppliers of rare plant-based potion ingredients, owning quite a few properties around Magical Britian. They may not have been as rich as the Malfoys or as Influential as the Black Family, but that did not dimmish the importance of their family. She seemed to enjoy the interest that I expressed in both her family and herself. Padma was all too happy to tell me how her family was the main point of trade between the Magical Ministry of India and the British Ministry of Magic, supplying rare magical reagents and other exotic goods found nowhere in Britian. She also spent a fair amount of time complaining about her sister and the many boys she has been with. Sue Li mentioned that she was the third child of one of the Last remaining Chinese Noble Houses and was sent here to help build better ties between our two countries. From what I could infer from little tidbits she mentioned through the feast, she was expected to bind herself to one of the wealthy and influential heirs in attendance before she graduates, in order to build a branch of the family away from China due to the situation there being unstable.
Mandy Brocklehurst, a Half-Blood, mainly just bragged about how she was related to some famous romance novelist that many of the girls in my new house read. Sure, it got her some attention from many of our classmates but when she confessed that she didn't really interact with them most of the interest dried up. Isobel MacDougal, Pure-Blood, though was an aspiring reporter who was a massive fan of Rita Skeeter, telling us all about how she stalked various figures around Diagon to practice for when she got out of Hogwarts. She also apparently had a sister named Katrina two years above us in Hufflepuff. Lisa Turpin, one of the few Muggle-Born around, mainly stayed silent about herself, mentioning something about a clothing shop before going back to her meal.
Terry Boot, Pure-Blood, though he was lacking any significant ancestry. His parents ran a small secondhand book shop in one of the Diagon offshoots that he promised to take me too during break. Michael Corner, Half-Blood, seemed to be our resident quidditch fanatic. It's probably what allowed him to date Ginny in canon. Anthony Goldstein, Half-Blood, was a surprisingly friendly individual, already having made friends with over half of the students in our year. He was just in the middle of telling me about how his grandfather was in the War against Grindelwald when something I had been anticipating, and dreading, happened.
"How do you know Healing Magic? From what I managed to find out in A History of Magic and Magical Theory as well as A Collection of Advanced Arts, it should be something that only those with years of experience using Magic and intense study can use, and even then, it would take even longer to get to the level of ease you seemed to have." Hermione asked, unable to hold back her need for information. She wasn't quiet about it either, as she was a few seats away and had to raise her voice when she addressed me. The surrounding conversations ceased, and all attention was back on me.
"Necessity, Granger. Healing was something that I had much practice in growing up. Nothing more needs to be said." I say, intending to cut off any further questions on the matter.
That didn't seem to deter her though as she plowed on regardless. "That still doesn't explain how you learned it though, nobody without their O.W.L.'s can even practice the art so how did you learn it before you received your wand?"
At this point, even more attention is on us, and I wonder if she even realizes what she's asking. There are very few circumstances that would require a magical to learn how to heal while growing up, and even fewer for them to gain much experience in it, all while being without a wand. I can already see some looks of realization in some of the surrounding students as they come to the wrong conclusion, gaining looks of sympathy and disgust, not that Hermione noticed, her attention focused solely on me.
I was thankfully saved from having to respond to her as the headmaster got to his feet, causing the hall to go silent.
"Ahem Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First year students should note that the forest on the ground is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of the older students will do well to remember that as well." He said, clearly looking at the Weasley Twins as he said that, who only gave a cheeky wave on response.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Should you be caught, it will be a loss of points and detention with your Head of House. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch when she arrives next Friday. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds for everyone. Any attempt to investigate will result in severe punishment, if you are still alive after we recover you."
A few laughed at the statement, but soon stopped when no one else did.
"Now, before we all head off to rest for the night, let us sing the school song!" There were multiple groans around the hall, some of the older students starting to stuff their ears or cast spells on themselves.
"Everyone pick your favorite tune, and off we go!"
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
Teach us something please
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff
For now they're bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff
So teach us things worth knowing
Bring back what we've forgot
Just do your best, we'll do the rest
And learn until our brains all rot"
It was complete anarchy, with dozens of different tunes, tones, and paces. When it concluded Dumbledore wiped his eyes o tears that had somehow appeared, either from him enjoying the song so much, or lamenting how horrible it sounded. "Ah, music, magic beyond all we do here! And now, time for bed. Off you trot!"
We were led by the blond prefect from the train, who turned out to be Penelope, out the Great Hall and to our dorm.