CHAPTER 16: FIRST NIGHT AT HOGWARTS
Lupin strode into the room with confidence, his gaze sweeping over the assembled teachers before settling at the table. With a courteous nod to each, he took his seat, a faint smile playing on his lips.
As Lupin took his place, a ripple of reactions spread throughout the Great Hall, a testament to the mixed sentiments among the students. While the majority of houses welcomed back their esteemed professor with open arms, the Slytherins exhibited a starkly different response.
Rising from their seats in unison, the Slytherins voiced their dissent with fervor, their protests echoing off the ancient stone walls. "He can't be here, he's a werewolf!" one exclaimed, while another chimed in, "I refuse to have him here. The Ministry will hear about all of this."
Attempting to restore order, McGonagall raised her voice, commanding attention that cut through the chaos like a knife. "SILENCE!" she declared, her authoritative tone bringing an abrupt hush to the hall. "The Ministry is informed," she continued, her words measured and firm. "After the events of last year, when we discovered Death Eaters among our own ranks, they see no issue with Professor Lupin returning to his position at Hogwarts."
Despite McGonagall's attempt to quell the uproar, the Slytherins remained steadfast in their opposition. Voices rose in protest, each student clamoring to make their disdain heard. "How can they put us in danger with such a creature?" Parkinson spat, her voice dripping with contempt. "As long as that beast is here, I refuse to take that subject!" Zabini declared, his tone defiant.
Amidst the turmoil, Lupin remained composed, his expression unchanged. With a calm demeanor, he addressed the gathered students, his voice carrying a gentle authority. "I understand your concerns," he began, his tone even. "But I assure you, there is no danger in my presence. I am here to teach, to guide, and to ensure the safety of each and every one of you."
The clamor from the Slytherin table reached a fever pitch, their demands for Lupin's expulsion reverberating throughout the Great Hall. However, their fervent cries were met with staunch opposition from the other houses, who rose to their feet in solidarity, forming a united front against the snakes.
Leading the charge was the Gryffindor table, where the Golden Trio stood shoulder to shoulder, their voices ringing out above the tumult. "QUIET!" bellowed the Headmistress, her commanding tone slicing through the chaos like a sword. The hall fell into a semblance of order, albeit begrudgingly.
"Professor Lupin's presence is not up for discussion," McGonagall declared, her voice unwavering. "This is an introduction of the new teachers, not an opportunity for you to seek approval." Pausing for emphasis, she fixed each student with a steely gaze. "He will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and that's final!"
Defeated, the Slytherins sank back into their seats, their protests silenced by the Headmistress's authoritative decree. In contrast, the other houses erupted into applause, their support for Lupin and the Headmistress resounding throughout the hall.
Once the applause had died down and order was fully restored, McGonagall motioned for silence once more, her demeanor regal yet approachable. With the hall now attentive, she resumed speaking, her words carrying the weight of her authority.
"As I was saying before being interrupted," McGonagall remarked, her gaze flickering briefly towards the Slytherin table, "Professor Lupin will be assuming the role of the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, a familiar presence to all of you, and one whose abilities and worth I have no doubt about." Her tone held a hint of firmness, emphasizing the authority of her words. "I must remind you once more that he has the full authorization of the Ministry to teach."
"In times when Professor Lupin is unable to attend due to... his condition," McGonagall continued, choosing her words carefully, "classes will be led by Miss Nymphadora Tonks, a qualified Auror." A brief murmur rippled through the hall, swiftly silenced by McGonagall's commanding presence. "Furthermore," she added, "I am pleased to announce that Professor Horace Slughorn will be taking up the mantle as the new Head of Slytherin House, as previously announced."
Applause erupted from the Slytherin table, acknowledging their new leader. "And in keeping with tradition," McGonagall went on, her eyes now alighting on the Gryffindor table, "Miss Nymphadora Tonks, who also serves as our Transfiguration professor, will assume the role of Head of Gryffindor House." The Gryffindors erupted into enthusiastic applause, their affection for their new house head palpable.
Harry, beaming with pride, felt a surge of happiness. As the team captain, having direct access to the head of his house would greatly streamline matters concerning the Quidditch team.
"As the applause subsides," McGonagall continued, her voice cutting through the lingering echoes, "I must address another matter of importance. In light of security concerns, the Quidditch team captains will now be granted prefect status." Harry's eyes widened in surprise, mirrored by his friends. "Given the current vacancies in Slytherin and Ravenclaw, decisions must be made promptly." McGonagall's gaze fell upon Harry. "Mr. Potter and Miss Apeldy shall henceforth serve as prefects, entrusted with all the rights and responsibilities of their position."
She paused briefly, as if recalling an oversight. "Ah, yes, one more thing," McGonagall continued, her tone grave. "This year, Ministry Aurors will be patrolling the castle grounds. I must reiterate the dangers of the Forbidden Forest; it remains strictly off-limits. Any student found trespassing after dark will face immediate expulsion, and their safety cannot be guaranteed." A subtle gesture from Filch at the back of the hall drew McGonagall's attention. "Mr. Filch informs me that the list of prohibited items is available outside his office, along with a list of banned items from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
With a faint smile, McGonagall concluded, "I believe that covers everything. Without further ado, I wish you all a hearty appetite." With a graceful gesture, the tables filled with a sumptuous feast, signaling the beginning of a new school year at Hogwarts.
As the feast continued, the buzz of conversation centered on Professor Lupin and the newly appointed Transfiguration teacher. The presence of Ministry Aurors patrolling the grounds seemed to be an open secret, with few displaying surprise at the revelation.
"Congratulations, Prefect!" teased Ron, nudging Harry playfully. "Shut it, or I'll have you running laps during practice," Harry retorted with a grin. Hermione and Ginny joined them, their voices lowered in conversation.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll dive into research at the library," Hermione murmured. "I want to delve into..." Ginny glanced around cautiously, "...the topic of Horcruxes."
"Ginny, we exhausted that avenue last year; there's unlikely to be anything new," Hermione cautioned. Harry noticed movement behind him and turned to find two third-year boys hovering nearby.
"Hey, Harry, when are tryouts for the Quidditch team?" one of them inquired eagerly. Harry recognized them from the common room but struggled to recall their names.
"Sorry, guys, it's a bit early for that," Harry replied. "I'll need to confer with Professor Tonks first. Plus, there might not even be a championship this year, and the team's already complete. However, if there are openings due to injuries, you could be reserves and potentially play in a match."
Though slightly disappointed, the boys nodded understandingly. "Will you let us know if anything changes?" one of them asked hopefully.
"Absolutely," Harry assured them with a smile. "You'll be the first to know."
With a sense of anticipation, the boys returned to their seats, allowing the group to finish their meal in peace. As dinner drew to a close, the tables were cleared once more, and McGonagall rose to address the students.
"I hope everyone enjoyed the meal. It's time for everyone to retire to their rooms and get some rest. Tomorrow marks the start of a new term, and it promises to be a busy day for all. Good night!"
With McGonagall's words, the students began to disperse, making their way toward their respective dormitories. Hermione caught Harry's attention before he could leave.
"Don't forget, as prefects, we need to escort the first-years to the common room," she reminded him firmly.
At that moment, Ginny, accompanied by her brother and the other prefect, took charge, rounding up the new students with practiced efficiency.
"First-years, follow us, please!" Ginny called out, her voice carrying authority as they led the eager newcomers to their new home within Hogwarts.
"Hey, Harry, can I ask you something?" the young girl, named Lily, hesitated, twirling a lock of her hair nervously.
"Of course, Lily. What's on your mind?" Harry replied kindly, crouching down to her eye level.
Lily bit her lip before blurting out, "Are there really ghosts here? Like, real ones?"
Harry grinned, glancing over at Nearly Headless Nick who was floating nearby. "Oh, absolutely! You'll see ghosts wandering around Hogwarts all the time. But don't worry, they're mostly friendly. Nearly Headless Nick over there is the Gryffindor House ghost. He's a bit of a chatterbox, but he's harmless."
Lily's eyes widened with both fascination and trepidation. "Wow, that's... cool, I guess. But what about Peeves? Ron said something about him being a troublemaker."
Harry chuckled, nodding. "Peeves is definitely trouble, but he's more of a nuisance than anything else. Just steer clear of him, and you'll be fine. He loves to prank people, especially the Slytherins."
Lily nodded, seeming reassured. "Thanks, Harry. I feel better now."
"Anytime, Lily. Welcome to Gryffindor," Harry said warmly, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before she scampered off to join her classmates.
As Harry watched the first-years settle into their new home, he couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility wash over him. These were the newest members of his house, and he wanted to make sure they felt welcome and safe. With a determined smile, he turned to join Ron and Hermione, ready to help guide the next generation of Gryffindors through their Hogwarts journey.
"Hey, Colin, watch it," Ron snapped, his voice tinged with irritation. "You don't want to get on Hermione's bad side, trust me."
Colin took a step back, his eyes widening in realization. "Sorry, Ron, I didn't mean anything by it. Just making an observation, that's all."
Ron huffed, crossing his arms defensively. "Well, keep your observations to yourself next time."
Harry intervened before the tension could escalate further. "Alright, let's not start picking fights on the first night. We're all on the same team here."
Colin nodded quickly, eager to diffuse the situation. "Yeah, you're right, Harry. Sorry again, Ron."
Ron grumbled a half-hearted acceptance before turning his attention elsewhere, his mood visibly sour.
Harry exchanged a knowing look with Hermione, who had been observing the interaction with a raised eyebrow. It was clear that Colin's comment had struck a nerve with Ron, but Harry knew they had bigger things to worry about than petty squabbles between housemates.
"Let's just focus on helping the first-years settle in," Hermione suggested, her tone firm but gentle. "We can talk about this later."
Harry nodded in agreement, shooting Colin a reassuring smile before leading the way to check on the rest of the newcomers. As they dispersed to assist the new Gryffindors, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that there was more tension brewing beneath the surface than just a simple misunderstanding between friends.
Colin's heart pounded in his chest as he stood face-to-face with Ron, who radiated anger like a raging inferno. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to run, to apologize profusely and retreat to safety, but a fierce determination held him in place. Hermione, positioned behind Ron, watched the confrontation unfold with a mixture of concern and uncertainty.
"No one messes with my girlfriend!" Colin's thoughts echoed loudly in his head, a mantra of protection for the girl he held dear. "She's perfect, and if you dare say anything about her, I guarantee you'll regret it!"
Ron's expression mirrored the intensity of his fiery hair, his eyes ablaze with fury. Hermione, caught in the crossfire, remained silent, unsure of how to intervene.
"You'll apologize and go to your room before I change my mind!" Ron's command was stern, leaving no room for argument. Colin swallowed hard, his fear palpable as he approached Hermione with trembling steps.
"Sorry, Hermione," Colin managed to stammer out before hastily retreating to his room, the weight of Ron's wrath heavy on his shoulders.
As the door closed behind Colin, Ron's demeanor softened slightly, though his frustration still simmered beneath the surface. He turned to Hermione, who looked at him with a mixture of confusion and gratitude.
"That was unnecessary!" Hermione's voice was tinged with frustration, her brow furrowed in exasperation. "I can take care of myself. I don't need you hovering over me all the time!"
Ron's shoulders sagged, his guilt washing over him like a tidal wave. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione cut him off with a warning tone.
"Anyway, thank you," Hermione softened her stance, leaning in to plant a kiss on Ron's cheek. "But if you pull something like that again without consulting me, you'll regret it!"
Ron nodded solemnly, chastened by Hermione's words. He knew he had overstepped his bounds, allowing his protective instincts to override Hermione's autonomy. With a sheepish smile, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, silently promising to do better in the future. As they walked away together, Ron made a mental note to communicate more openly with Hermione, ensuring that their relationship remained strong and respectful.
The kiss from Hermione left Ron feeling like he was floating on cloud nine. He nodded, a mixture of understanding and adoration evident in his gaze as he looked at her. She returned his gaze with a smile, her eyes softening with affection.
"Sometimes you're an angel, but other times you act like the biggest idiot and overprotective being I know," Hermione teased gently, her tone laced with playful affection.
Harry, sensing their moment, exchanged a knowing glance with Ginny. They both nodded in silent agreement before Harry spoke up. "We're off to bed," he announced, gesturing for Ginny to follow him.
"Yeah, tomorrow will be a tough day," Ginny added with a sympathetic smile, knowing that the challenges of Hogwarts often loomed large.
Alone in their room, Ron and Hermione found themselves lost in their reconciliation, their lips meeting in tender kisses as they sought comfort and connection in each other's arms.
Meanwhile, Harry lay in bed, his mind wandering to the days left until Christmas break. He longed to hold Tonks close again, eagerly anticipating their reunion.
In another part of the castle, Tonks herself was plagued by similar thoughts, reminiscing about the warmth and comfort of sleeping beside Harry. Despite being surrounded by bustling students and towering stone walls, she couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness that gnawed at her heart.
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