Chapter 2 : Start-Of-Term Extra Notice
Hogwarts Express was speeding across the country as neat green fields could be seen passing through in a blur. In one of the many compartments of the train, four heavily cloaked in Hogwarts black robes students were sitting closely to each other. The compartment was easily distinguished as the loudest of all as all the noise seems to be coming from there.
"Oh come on, not again!" Harry exclaimed as he lost yet again in a chest match against Ron. The said latter was grinning widely, wiggling his brows mockingly.
Meanwhile, Fred and George were hurdled up together at the corner over a long parchment. They were arguing heatedly regarding the newest product for their joke shop though anyone can tell the two are not going to reach an agreement with each other any sooner. The door suddenly slid open with a harsh tug before a tall, dark-haired male burst into the compartment with a beaming smile.
"It"s true!" He shrieked loudly, intending to inform the other two newcomers. "They are really here."
Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan trudged into the compartment just then, saying a quick greeting towards the others before squeezing themselves between Harry and Ron.
"You are really back." Neville mused as if thinking it was some kind of sick joke in the first place. "But why?"
"Because they are idiots, that's why." The door slid open again, revealing Ginny and Hermione already dressed in their Hogwarts robes. Hermione was sporting a shiny silver badge on her chest while Ginny had her red and gold badge pinned onto her robes. They immediately slumped onto the empty seats while the three clueless boys exchanged a confused look with each other.
Hermione rolled her eyes as the Weasley twins just laughed at the boys' expressions. "Because Dumbledore asked them to do so."
If she thought she was actually being helpful, she was immensely wrong indeed. If anything, it brought even more confusion to the boys as they had their brows scrunched up by now. Harry and Ron snorted derisively in the background but said nothing.
"Hemione, that's not helping." Ginny pointed out through a mouthful of Cauldron Cake.
"Yeah, Hermione." Fred said, smirking.
"You tell them then."
"What is there to tell?That old Dumbledore barged into our shop and insisted upon our return to Hogwarts with the help of our dear mother?" George retorted with a scoff. "It's not like we want to be reminded of why he is so bloody pesistent on that."
"Why is it that Professor Dumbledore-"
"No idea." Ginny quickly cut Dean's words, getting the idea even without listening to the rest of the question. "That's the only thing that they won't tell even us either."
"You will see soon anyway." Fred grunted as he took a huge bite of a chocolate frog.
Nevilled blinked. "So,let me get this straight. You are not actually planning on ever coming back to Hogwarts but Dumbledore suddenly appeared and insisted you to do so for whatever reason it is that you refuse to tell us?"
"You missed our dearest mother bit there." Fred said sarcastically.
"Mum is over the moon." George told with a look of annoyance. "Something along the line of it is such a wonderful opportunity no matter what's the circumstance. She is convinced that graduating is still very much needed despite of our booming business as she adressed it."
"What about the store then?" Dean inquired eagerly and it really does seems like he actually cared more about the store itself. The Weasley twins were obviously not that much bothered with Dumbledore's odd request after all, just plainly annoyed having to succumb to their mother's firm belief instead.
George shrugged. "There's this thing called workers, you know?"
Dean looked mildly embarassed with his dumb question but he paid no heed and covered it up with a sheepish smile. Ginny finished the last bit of her Cauldron Cake before deciding to interrupt.
"Not a bad idea though now that the old bat is long gone."
The twins raised a brow but nodded in agreement nonetheless. The lack of the old bat's presence-who goes by the name Dolores Umbridge-at Hogwarts certainly played a huge part in their final decision if they were being honest. That particular ministry official certainly brought a shudder to many just at the mere thought. She was plainly a nasty epitome of nightmares.
"I wonder who is going to be our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Ron said with a deep thoughful look while tapping his finger against his chin. A second later, he suddenly looked alarmed. "It can't be Snape again, right?"
"Actually.." Hermione began hesitantly. "It's highly possible."
Ron instantly let out a loud groan while Harry looked somewhat doubtful.
"As long as it's not the old bat, I'm good."
"I second that."
The rest of the journey was filled with random conversation. Neville, Dean and Seamus left half an hour later since the compartment was already as crowded as it can get while the girls excused themselves soon after to carry out their patrolling duties.
It was a clear, breezy night when they stepped into the platform. Hogsmeade Station was bustling with students as they rushed to the door to the waiting horseless stagecoaches. Most of the older students though, immediately winced at the sight and Harry didn't even need to be an accomplished Legilimens to realise what is the cause. The coach was undoubtedly no longer horseless in their eyes. Several of them bore a resigned look on their faces, sighing as they began climbing into the carriages wordlessly. But, some of them also had confusion plastered all over their faces and Harry was instantly reminded of his own reaction.
Meanwhile, Ron was already standing in front of one of the Thestrals. He stared at the empty white eyes and began stroking the dragonish head absentmindedly. Hermione had emerged next to them by that time, letting out a loud gasp with wide eyes.
"Oh Harry, you are right - I was downright stupid to ever wish this - Blimey, this is scary." Hermione muttered frantically. Her eyes were fixed on the empty white eyes as well, struggling to keep her trembling hands still.
"It's fine." Harry muttered as he pat her shoulder assuringly. "Come on."
They climbed into the carriage before the door shut with a snap and the carriage began to move in convoy up the road. When the carriage finally jingled to a halt before the oak front doors, Hermione was the first one to hop out of it. She glanced all around as she waited for the rest to come out and locked gaze with a pair of cold grey eyes by pure coincidence. The group of Slytherins turned out to be in a carriage right before them and were currently making their way to the Entrance Hall as well.
On the spur of a moment, Hermione somehow found herself noticing that the once cold eyes bore no sign of life in it and the sharp, pointed face was filled with something she was unable to decipher. Before she could went even further though, the other quickly broke the connection and hurried into the Entrance Hall alongside his group of friends.
"Are you coming or what?" Ron said next to her.
"Oh...yeah." She said quickly and they joined the crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle.
The Entrance Hall was 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 Weasleys, Harry and Hermione quickly took their seats halfway down the Gryffindor table and greeted the other students with a quick hi.
"Is that Malfoy?" Ron suddenly pondered out loud while squinting his eyes in the said male's direction.
"The one and only." Harry confirmed. "Never thought he will back as well."
"Or the rest of the Slytherins for that matter." Ginny added while scanning the Slytherin table. Hermione quickly followed her lead and her eyes fell first upon the blonde male,sitting between Crabbe and Goyle. Blaise Zabini can be seen occupying the seat next to Goyle while Theodore Nott had his chin resting on one hand next to the latter. Further down the table, she spotted Pansy Parkinson chatting animatedly with Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bulstrode.
"What d'you reckon-" Fred was unable to finish his words since the doors from the Entrance Hall finally burst opened and a long line of scared-looking first-years made their entrance, led by Professor McGonagall. The buzz of noise in the Great Hall faded away as the Sorting Hat burst into song before it proceed to sort the pale first-years. The long line eventually thinned and with the last student sorted into Ravenclaw, Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet with his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile playing on his lips.
"I have only two words to say to you," He told them, his deep voice echoing around the Great Hall. "Tuck in!"
They didn't have to be told twice as they loaded their plates the moment the food magically appeared. All kind of thoughts flew right out of their minds at the moment as they stuffed themselves to the brim. The first course was soon replaced with puddings of all kinds and before long, Albus Dumbledore got to his feet once again when the puddings too had vanished and the last crumbs had faded off the plates. He began to recite the usual start-of-term notices, in which they just smirked at the mention of the Forbidden Forest.
"And last but not least, we are very pleased to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Rosier."
There was a round of scattered, polite applause as the dark-haired wizard presented a tight smile and nodded his head in acknowledgement at the applause. Hermione noticed that Harry suddenly looked thoughtful with his brows knitted together in concentration.
When the applause died down, Dumbledore cleared his throat before continuing, "And now, it is late and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. However, I must ask the cooperation of our seventh years to kindly stay put for an extra notice. The rest of you, bedtime!Chop chop!"
"Here goes nothing." Fred muttered with a frown.
The twins had a knowing look on their faces as the rest of the seventh years remained seated and looked plainly confused. Ron opened his mouth to possibly question the twins but Professor Dumbledore chose that exact moment to interfer since the Great Hall was finally devoid of younger students.
"First, my sincere apologies for keeping you from your awaiting beds, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish but there is such an important news that I am no way fond of but have to break to you. Bear in mind that I tried my best to prevent this and I am absolutely against the whole thing. Unfortunately, I'm afraid there is only so little an old man like me can do."
Dumbledore's blue eyes swept over the students-in what Hermione can make out as sympathetic gaze.
"As all of you are fully informed already, we had just recently survived the Second Wizarding War and many of you fought with such bravery and courage that even more experienced and older wizards and witches have a hard time to accomplish. But with a war, came the huge price that we have to pay. Our wizarding population took quite a hit as the war had spilled so much magical blood and caused too much casualties. As a solution, the Ministry of Magic decided to enact a new law imaginatively named as the Marriage Law. It was officially enforced as of today and applied to all wizards and witches alike between the age of 17 and 40."
"There goes your answer." George said first with a strange gleam in his eyes as he waited for the impending outburst. Oh, he had a good feeling about this.