The Opening Feast
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"There's Sirius and Remus." Hermione noted as they made their way to the Ravenclaw table. "Sirius looks like he's having fun."
"Probably reminiscing about all the mischief that he used to get up to as part of the Marauders." Harry shrugged, then he frowned. "Which worries me. No offense, Ginny, but the thought of Sirius teaming up with the twins…"
Ginny paled and moved closer to Hermione, who placed a reassuring arm across her shoulders. "Why did you have to say that?"
"Sorry. I'll have to warn Remus, though."
"You do that." Ginny agreed as they reached their usual benches and started sitting down. As the last students took their places, the main doors echoed and Remus walked round from behind the teachers table, making his way calmly towards the door. Minerva had started to rise from her throne-like chair, but quickly sat down again.
As they watched, Remus stepped through the door and re-emerged a moment later. Returning to the table and walking around a surprisingly well-dressed-and-trimmed Hagrid, he pulled out a familiar stool and the Sorting Hat, placing them in the middle of the Great Hall before walking back to lead the new students in. The newcomers looked round nervously, then the Sorting Hat twitched, the tear on its brim that acted as a mouth opening as it began to sing.
"A long long time ago - The Founders got together, And Hogwarts castle did create
"And declared that all could come – That they would teach everyone,
"And all would make Hogwarts great.
"And so the students, they did watch for - And split them into the Houses four
"Each to their desire,
"To raise their knowledge higher
"And so to sort them I was made - A hat now tattered and badly frayed
"And each of you I call
"To Sort each of you all…
"So come, come and sit on the stool - I'll Sort you to where you fit in the School
"I'll keep your secrets as that is the Rule
"If you think otherwise, you're a fool…
"If you think otherwise, you're a fool…
"In Gryffindor you may yet go - A house that's brave and true you know
"And courage they do admire
"In Hufflepuff you'll make new friends - Who'll stand with you until the end
"Of the world and in the face of fire
"Well, Ravenclaw's for those who think- Their thoughts unchained to rise not sink,
"For knowledge trumps all things
"Of books and scrolls they sing!
"Or in Slytherin you'll test your wits - -Be cunning, clever and in you'll fit
"And at their table you will sit
"Once I Sort you all
"Once I Sort you all
"So come, come and sit on the stool - I'll Sort you to where you fit in the School
"I'll keep your secrets as that is the Rule
"If you think otherwise, you're a fool…
"If you think otherwise, you're a fool…"
"What the…?" Hermione muttered as the Hall erupted in applause. "How did the Sorting Hat know that song? Is he a Don McClean fan like daddy is?"
"Maybe you can ask it later?" Neville suggested as Remus called out the first name and the student in question walked forwards, nervousness showing in every step. Remus gave him a reassuring smile and motioned for the young boy to sit. Once he was on the stool, Remus lowered the Hat onto his head and the Great Hall seemed to go so quiet that a pin dropping would have been deafening.
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The last student scurried to the Hufflepuff table where she was welcomed by her new Housemates, then the quiet murmurs died away as Minerva McGonogall stood up.
"To those of you who have joined our numbers today, welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Minerva McGonogall and I am the current Headmistress in addition to retaining my position as your Transfiguration teacher. To my right is Remus Lupin, the Deputy Headmaster and beyond him is this year's Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, Lord Sirius Black."
Sirius grinned and waved.
"Both are Animagi and for those of you studying for your NEWTs, they have offered to teach the skill to those willing to make a magical vow that they will not use it in any action against the lawful Wizarding government."
Several of the older Slytherins looked somewhat annoyed by the latter part of the statement and Harry made a careful note of who they were. A quick glace to the Teachers table showed that Remus was doing the same thing, as was Snape.
"For those few of you who are already Animagi, Lord Black and Deputy Headmaster Lupin will be happy to oversee practise sessions on Sunday afternoons. Please speak to either of them should you wish to participate."
At the Gryffindor table, the newly-Sorted Jinelle Shafiq perked up, gaining the attention of several of her year-mates and a proud-yet-envious smile from her older Slytherin brother.
"We also have Lord Black to thank for the new reference books that you will find in your common rooms this evening." Minerva continued, then she paused as Sirius rose.
"Sorry, if I may? Thank you. Although I paid for the reference books, it was Potions Master Snape who was kind enough to tell me which ones would be the most useful for you. Therefore, to show your appreciation, remember to use them so you don't annoy him by being dunderheads."
Sirius sat down as laughter swept the Great Hall and Snape gave Sirius an irritated glare, although his lips did twitch in what may have been an abortive smile.
"Thank you, Lord Black." Minerva said, hiding her own smile.
"Any time."
Minerva gave him a quelling look, then turned her attention back to the students.
"In addition, I would like to remind everyone once again to treat our Centaur guards with respect. Referring to them as stupid animals or other such insulting terms will result in the speaker receiving an arrow in a painful but non-fatal location… as a certain student demonstrated last year."
One of the seventh-year Slytherins shifted slightly, rubbing at his left arm while his neighbours smirked at his discomfiture.
"The Forbidden Forest is just that and only those who are in the company of a Professor may enter it. On that note, Professor Kettleburn has retired, stating that he wishes to spend more time with his remaining limbs, so the position of Care of Magical Creatures Professor is now filled by Rubeus Hagrid who, last month, gained his Mastery in CoMC."
Almost every student in the hall applauded and Hagrid smiled, pulling a wand out of his sleeve to unleash a couple of jets of sparkles before tucking it away again. Harry's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of the Gamekeeper with his neatly-trimmed beard and neatly tailored (but still very practical) clothes.
"He's got a new wand!" Hermione noted quietly. "What happened?"
"We'll ask later." Harry hissed back as the applause finally died down.
"For those not in the know, information provided by Lord Potter and Lord Black after the end of last school year proved that Hagrid had been framed by then-fellow-pupil Tom Riddle for the death of Myrtle Warren in 1943. This means that Hagrid has been reinstated as a full Wizard and has received compensation as approved by the Wizengamot in the form of the political position of the Head of House Gaunt, previously held by Tom Riddle, now restored to prominence and renamed House Hagrid. For those of you not familiar with the intricacies of Wizarding Politics, Lord Hagrid is now a member of the Wizengamot, just like Lord Black."
Harry was not the only one who reacted with a dropped jaw and Hermione gasped in amazement, then another round of applause, this one mixed with cheering, filled the hall. Hagrid's smile turned into a wide grin and he wiped at the corner of his eye.
"We really need to catch up." Neville noted. "You know, it's probably a good thing we all decided to do CoMC…"
"Finally, as always, tomorrow will be your day to settle in, with lessons starting on Friday. Yes, I am aware that some of you would rather wait until Monday to begin learning, but even the most optimistic Witch would fear the amount of mischief that some of you could get up to in that amount of time."
The Weasley twins tried to look as innocent and angelic as possible as MacGonogall glared at them pointedly.
"Tomorrow morning, your schedules will be handed out and now, as tradition demands, we shall sing the school song. Deputy Headmaster Lupin, if you will be so kind?"
Remus reached under the table and pulled out a metal-and-crystal device that he placed on the Teachers Table.
"We now have an official tune for the song." He smiled, tapping a control on the top of the device. "We shall let it play through once, then everyone join in."
"That was made by Jor-El!" Harry gasped as the sound of a pipe organ rose from the music player. "You can see my family's crest on it!"
"Ssssh!" Hermione hissed at him and Harry went quiet. As the music came to an end, holographic words formed above it, along with a small shield-shape pointer.
"Everyone, in three, two, one…"
The pointer jumped to the first word and the students began singing, most trying frantically to keep in time with the pointer and each other, something that the Muggleborn and Muggle-raised were achieving with very little effort.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy hoggy Hogwarts…"
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"The Hogwarts year will be starting now." Tom Riddle noted as he carefully modified the spells on one of the Wizarding Tents that they had brought with them. The triangular tent shivered, then it shortened in length until it was barely two feet from front to back.
"Last one, Barty!" He called and the Wizard in question stepped out of the RV that they had appropriated from the Muggles who didn't need it any more.
"The other two are installed." Barty said respectfully as he tapped the top of the tent to collapse it.
"And I am very impressed." Gellert added as he stepped out. "I would have just installed a single tent in the middle, not three in the cupboards."
"We will need quarters for the Obscurials that we find and putting both boys and girls in the same set of rooms strikes me as potentially being a spectacularly bad idea." Voldemort pointed out as Barty vanished into the RV to set up the final tent. "I admit that I am looking forwards to driving this. I have never driven a Muggle vehicle before."
Gellert glanced towards the nearby farmhouse. Through the open door, a body could be seen lying in the hallway, blood staining the wooden floor. "Should we burn the farmhouse down as we leave?"
"A delayed-action spell would be better, I feel." Voldemort mused. "While it was interesting seeing these Muggles at work robbing that bank and escaping, not knowing that my Inquisitor was with them, I would prefer to not risk anyone connecting us with them."
"It was interesting seeing you pull their skills out with Legilimency." Gellert admitted. "Thank you for giving me a copy of their skills. While I doubt I shall ever need to use a gun, having the ability and not needing it is far superior to not having the ability and requiring it urgently."
"Quite so." Voldemort agreed. "Quite so."
"Should we take all the money they stole as well, My Lord?" Pettigrew asked deferentially and Voldemort shook his head.
"No. Take… about a third and leave the rest. If the Muggle investigators find no money, they will search for whoever took it. By finding some of the money burned, they will simply assume that what they cannot find has been consumed by the flames. I must admit, using felis felicis to ensure we managed to enter Canada undetected did create a rather fortuitous boost to our mission."
"It's almost a shame that I had so little of it." Gellert sighed. "Then again, to rely on luck may aid in the short term, but it will inevitably lead to the destruction of all you hope to achieve."
Voldemort glanced at the older man, but chose not to ask why Gellert had sounded like he was talking from harsh experience.