Chapter 3 - Back to school
The Entrance hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great hall and the start-of-term feast. The four longhouse tables in the Great hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling , which was just like the sky they could glimpse out of through the high windows. Candles floated in midair all along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts that were scattered across the hall and the faces of students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one anothers new haircuts and robes. Again, Harry noticed people putting their heads together to whisper as he passed; he gritted his teeth and tried to act as though he neither heard nor cared.
Luna drifted from the group as she made her way to the Ravenclaw table. The moment they reached the gryffindor table, Ginny was hailed by some fellow fourth years and left to sit with them. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville found seats halfway down the table between Nearly headless Nick and Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown who gave him overly friendly greetings, making him think they had just stopped talking about him, a split second before. Harry scanned the staff table, hoping to see his half giant friend but coming up empty
"He's not there" Ron and Hermione scanned the staff table too… there was no real need Hagrids size would have made his appearance obvious
"He cant have left" Ron said anxiously
"Of course he hasn't" Harry replied firmly
"You don't think…he's hurt or anything do you?" said Hermione uneasily
"No!" Harry said at once
"Well, where is he then?"
"Maybe he's not back from the mission Dumbledore sent him on" Harry said quietly aware that Neville, Lavender and Parvati were in close proximity
"Yeah...yeah that'll be it" Ron sounded reassured but Hermione chewed her lip still looking worried
"Whos that" she said sharply
Sitting in a high-backed golden chair at the centre of the very long staff table, wearing deep-purple scattered robes with silvery stars and a matching hat. Dumbledore's head was inclined towards the woman, sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear. She looked Harry thought like somebody's maiden aunt: squat, with short, curly, mouse-brown hair in which she placed a horrible pink Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes. Her face turned slightly to take a sip from her goblet. She had a pallid, toad-like face and a pair of prominent, pouchy eyes. Harry glanced over at Neville making sure Trevor hadn't been slightly mis transfigured. A few seconds later the doors from the entrance hall opened as Professor Mcgonagall entered with a stool and an ancient looking hat, she was followed by a line of scared looking first years. They lined up in front of the staff table, facing the student body, silence fell upon the hall as Professor Mcgonagoll set down the stool and hat and took a step back. The first year's face glowed pale in the candlelight. A small boy in the middle began to tremble, Harry recalled fleetingly, how terrified he felt when he had stood there, waiting for the unknown test that would decide which house he would belong to. The whole hall watched with bated breath. The rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the sorting hat burst into a song. The hat gave an unusual song more of a warning than anything which made Harry's heart sink, but eventually It finished and laid motionless where it sat. Professor Mcgonagoll stepped forward clearing her throat and lowered her eyes to the parchment and called out
"Abercrombie, Ewan"
The trembling boy from earlier moved towards the stool, and took a seat. The hat was put on the boys head and he was very nearly enveloped if not for his prominent ears
"Gryffindor" The hat shouted, the boy looked as if he wanted to sink in his seat as the gryffindor clapped. Slowly the line of first years began to thin until the last name was called out.
"Zeller, Rose" The girl read-haired was sorted into Hufflepuff and Professor Mcgonogall removed the stool and hat, marching away as Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"To our newcomers" said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome, to our old hands-welcome back! There is time for speech making, but for now tuck in" There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause broke out as Dumbledore sat down throwing his beard over his shoulder, out of the way of his plate and began to eat. The student followed his example as food came out of nowhere, so that the five tables were groaning from under the weight of pies and dishes of vegetables, bread and sauces and flagons of pumpkin juice.
"Excellent" Ron said with a groan of longing as he seize the plate of pork chops and began to stack them on his plate
"That was an usual song" Hermione said
"It's because he's back" Harry replied sourly "Nick, Hey Nick" Harry shouted down the table causing the ghost to float towards the free spot next to Hermione who seemed to scooch a little away from the ghost. "Have you heard the hat give a warning before?"
"Oh yes, yes I have heard the Hat give several warnings before, always at times when, it detects great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is always the same: stand together, be strong within." The ghost said
"Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?" said In his mouth was so full, Harry was quite impressed that he could make any noise at all
"I beg your pardon" Nearly headless Nick said politely while Hermine looked revolted. Ron gave an enormous swallow and said "How can it know if the school is in danger if it's just a hat?"
"I have no idea, of course it lives in the Headmasters office so it may have picked up somethings from there" Nick replied
"And it wants all the houses to be friends?" looking over at the Slytherin table, where Draco was holding court "Fat chance"
"I don't know Harry" Neville jumped in seemingly having "Seems like you didn't mind the company of a certain Slytherin earlier"
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked, racking his brain and coming up empty. Neville smirked and nodded his towards a certain part of the slytherin table, Harry's eyes followed the trail and his eyes fell upon Daphne Greengrass, the beautiful girl he had spoken to earlier. Harry's heart sunk a fraction, it could be worse she could be sitting next to Malfoy
"Daphne, when did you speak to her?" Hermione questioned
"She caught Trevor earlier, when he escaped" Neville said
"Oh, that was nice of her. She's in my ancient runes class, shes quiet but every time we have talked she seems friendly " Hermione said cautiously eyeing Harry with a suspicious look in her eye
"She wanted to sit next to me in potions" Harry said nonchalantly and continuing to cut into a pork chop
"Maybe she's one of Malfoys cronies, hoping to get something on you" Ron said after swallowing a Mouthful
"Just because she's in slytherin, doesn't mean she has any association with him" Hermione replied
"I'm just telling you to be cautious mate, it's not like we have had the best experiences with them"
"I'll keep that in mind" Harry said flinging a spoonful of mash potato at Neville
"Hey!"
"Should have kept your mouth closed then" Harry smirked, Neviile tried to glare at him but his attempt at intimidation was ruined by the potato sliding down his face. Harry began tucking into his steak and kidney pie, glancing once more at the slytherin table and making eye contact with Daphne's friend, Tracey who wiggled her eyebrows at him. With everyone's plate empty and belly full, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the Headmaster. Harry was feeling drowsy, his four poster bed was waiting somewhere above, wonderfully warm and soft…
"Well now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, i beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices" Said Dumbledore " First years ought to know, that the forest on the grounds is out-of-bounds to students- and a few of our older students ought to know by now too." (Harry, Hermione and Ron exchanged smirks) "Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be seen on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door. We have two changes to staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking care of magical lessons. We are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new defence against the dark arts." applause rang but most were unenthusiastic and underwhelming, Harry frowned, Dumbledore never said how long Professor Grubbly-Plank would be teaching for. "Tryouts for the house quidditch teams will take place on the-" He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. Nobody had noticed she had stood up as she was not much taller than she was sitting down.
She cleared her throat, "Hem, hem" as it became clear, she got to her feet and was preparing to make a speech. Dumbledore looked taken aback for a second before he returned to his seat smartly and looked alertly at Umbridge. Professor Sprout's eyebrows disappeared behind her hat and Professor Mcgonagalls lips thinned more than he had ever seen it. No one had ever interrupted the Headmaster before. The students began to smirk, this woman obviously did not know how things worked at hogwarts.
"Thank you, Headmaster" Professor Umbridge simpered " for those kind warms of welcome" her voice was high-pitched, breathy and a little-girlish and, again, Harry felt a powerful rush of dislike that he could not explain to him-self. She cleared her throat once again (hem, hem") and continued. "Well it's lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! " she smiled revealing very pointed teeth "and to see such happy little faces looking up at me!" Harry glanced around the hall. None of the faces he could see looked happy, on the contrary they look rather taken aback at being addressed as if they were five years old. "I am very much looking forward to getting to know all of you, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Students exchanged looks at this, most of them concealing grins.
"I'll be her friend as long as i don't have to borrow her cardigan" Parvati whispered to Lavender, and both of them lapsed into silent giggles.
She cleared her throat once again (Hem, hem") but when she continued she sounded much more business-like: "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and haunted by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished and polished by those who have called to the noble profession of teaching." She bowed towards the fellow teachers who returned it although Professor Mcgonagolls eye were knitted so close together she look positively hawk-like
"Every Headmaster and Headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the position, for without progress there would be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation…" Harry's attentiveness began to slip, the quiet that had once filled the halls when Dumbledore was speaking began to ebb away as students put their heads together to begin whispering and giggling. Professor Umbridge carried on as if nothing had changed. The teachers along with Hermione were still watching attentively, drinking in every word.
"Because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognised as errors of judgement. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited." She sat back down as Dumbledore began to politely clap as the members of staff followed, only putting their hands together once or twice before stopping. A few students joined in but the majority had not realised it had ended. Dumbledore stood and finished his speech and sent the student body back to their commons rooms to rest before their lessons tomorrow.
Hermione jumped up looking flustered "Come on Ron, were supposed to show the first years, where to go"
"Oh, yeah" said Ron who had obviously forgotten " hey- hey, you lot! Midgets!"
"Ron!" Hermione scolded
"Well they are, they're titchy"
"I know! But you can't call them midgets- First years!" Hermione called commandingly down the table "This way please" The first years began to weave between the gap in between the gryffindor and hufflepuff table. Harry grinned at them remembering being in their exact same position, before one of the boys whispered in their friend's ear, they both casted horrified looks at him. Harry felt the grin instantly fall off of his face
"See you later" he said to Ron and Hermione before he quickly made his way out of the hall ignoring the whispering and stares. If he had stopped to look, he may have noticed a pair of bright blue eyes watching him. He hurried up the marble staircase taking two steps at a time and had soon left most of the crowds behind. He had been stupid not to expect this, he thought angrily as he moved down the much emptier upstairs corridor. Of course everyone was staring at him, he emerged from the maze clutching the dead boy of a fellow student and claiming to have seen and fought Lord Voldermort. Harry had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffinor common room and came to a halt realising he didn't know the password
"Er" he said glumly
"No password, no entrance" the fat lady said loftily
"I know it Harry" Someone panted behind him as he saw Neville jogging to keep up with Harry's longer strides "Guess what it is? I'm actually going to remember this one!" he waved the ugly little cactus plant he had showed on the train "Mimbulus Mimbletonia"
"Correct" the fat lady said and her portrait swung open allowing the two gryffindors entry. The common room was cosy as ever with the fireplaces lit and the vibrant colour satisfying his eyes. He instantly made his way up to the boys dormitory, Neville still hot on his tail. In reality, he had begun to enjoy the boy and the conversations they shattered when he was out of his shy demeanour. Dean and Seamus had reached the dorms first and were covering the walls with posters and photographs. They had been talking but had stopped abruptly as Harry opened the door and stepped in.
"Hi" said Harry moving over to his trunk and opening it
"Hey Harry" Dean said, putting on his west ham pyjamas "good holiday?"
"Not bad" Harry replied distractedly "You?"
"Yeah it was okay, better than Seamus anyway he was just telling me"
"Why what happened" Neville asked as he placed his plant on his bedside
Seamus didn't answer immediately, he seemed to be making a work of putting one of his posters up. His back still turned he said "me mam didn't want me to come back this year"
"What?" Harry asked midway from pulling off his robes
"She didn't want me coming back to hogwarts." he still didn't look at Harry as he began to rummage through his cloak
"But why?" Harry asked astonished
"Well i suppose, because of you" Seamus said buttoning up his pyjamas
"What do you mean!" Harry said quickly. His heart thumped in his chest and he started to feel claustrophobic
"Well She…er…well, it's not just you, it's Dumbledore too…" he still avoided Harry's eyes
"She believes in the daily prophet?" said Harry "She think i'm a liar and Dumbledores an old fool" Seamus look at him
"Yeah something like that" Harry threw his wand on the bedside and began to angrily stuff his robes back into his suitcase, fuming inside.
"Look…what happened that night when…you know.. When Cedric and all" Seamus sounded nervous and eager at the same time. Dean went still and Harry knew he was listening intently
"What are you asking me for?" Harry retorted "just read the daily prophet like your mother, why don't you? That'll tell you all you need to know"
"Don't have a go at my mother" Seamus snapped
"I'll have a go at anyone who calls me a liar"
"Don't talk to me like that"
"I'll talk to you however i want" said Harry his temper rising so fast he snatched his wand up, the tip of it glowing red "If you got a problem go to Mcgonagall, stop your mummy worrying"
"Leave my mother, out of this Potter"
"What's going on?" Ron had appeared in the doorway looking from Harry whose wand was pointing at Seamus to Seamus who had his fist raised
"He's having a go at me mam, is what's going on"
"What? Harry wouldn't say that we met your mum we liked her"
"That was until she started to believe every word that came out of the daily prophet"
"Oh" comprehension dawned on Ron's face "Oh.. right"
"You know what i don't want to share a dormitory with him" Seamus said seething
"Thats out of order Seamus" Ron said defensively
"Out of order, am i? Have you heard the rubbish, he's come out with about you-know-who"
"Yes… i do actually"
"Then your mad too"
"Yes well unfortunately for you pal, im a prefect so unless you want detention i suggest you shut your mouth" Seamus opened his mouth, but on second thought decided detention wasn't worth it. He stomped to his bed and pulled his curtains closed tearing them from how violently he pulled on them
"Has anyone else's, parents got a problem with Harry" Ron said aggressively
"My parents are muggles mate, they don't know anything about no deaths or anything and i intend to keep it that way" Said Dean
"My gran said it is the daily prophet that is rubbish, she said it's been going downhill and has cancelled our subscription. We believe Harry" Neville stated proudly. Harry felt a surge of affection towards the boy and made his way under the covers as his roommates bustled into bed drawing their curtains. Harry stared up at the ceiling, his blood still boiling. If this was how everyone was gonna treat him then he would need to ready his wand for more fights, he took a calming breath and closed his eyes. Tomorrow can only be better…right….