Whispers filled the Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fire burnt in the big chimney and the floating candles were lit. The fire-bowls hanging from the Gargoyles around the walls however, remained dark. A lightning bolt shot across the bewitched ceiling and thick, heavy drops of rain throbbed against the high ancient windows. The amount of students sitting at their house tables was depleted, creating holes everywhere. Many families wanted their children rather around at home at such times, but it was only a matter of time until they would be tracked down and either forced to attend school or – worse. Others had left the country already. Some had done so instead of bringing their children to Kings Cross Station by the time they had read the Daily Prophet in the morning. There was however a number of students that were not to speak about how they managed to be allowed back at Hogwarts.
In the middle of the staff table, the throne-like chair was deserted. To each side, wearing identical grey robes – two new faces, resembling animals in ways. Sitting equally straight, the twins looked around. To the woman’s side, Minerva McGonagall and Pomona Sprout, both very concerned and visibly strained, next to the man, Horace Slughorn and Filius Flitwick, no different in expression. Only Professor Flitwick looked a little more angry.
The whispers died when the backdoor opened and a black figure strode over the podium. Almost all eyes were on him, but he simply ignored them, walking straight towards Professor McGonagall. She had neither noticed the silence, nor the looks. Therefore she slightly jumped with a quiet, brief shriek when he placed his hands on the backrest of her chair and whispered into her ear. Shocked, she stared straight forward, not believing what he had just told her and how much he took it for granted that she would do as he said. He raised and walked around Alecto Carrow, sitting down in his new throne for the first time. Everyone in the hall missed the discomfort he did it with. Everyone but six girls, equally divided over the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff table, as well as a Slytherin boy.
He waited for some seconds, his eyes gliding across the empty plates. Then he slightly leaned forward, looked at Minerva and lifted an eyebrow. She did the same, almost simultaneously. Some students couldn’t fully hold back a suppressed chuckle. It was indeed a bizarre scene. Especially since the Carrows sat there like two grey pillars, staring down on him as if he had just said an unforgivable swear word.
“You – you mean that?”, Minerva aspirated, eyes wide open.
“I beg your pardon?”, he murmured quietly, distorting his face.
“You – you really mean that?”
“Of course I mean that!”, he hissed. “What kind of question is this!”
One moment later, Minerva was gone and hurried through under the staff table, along the middle corner towards the big door, her small furry legs downright flying over the stone-floor. Reaching the door, it opened and she transformed back, only to nearly run into Hagrid who had begun to worry and had stomped past the soaking wet first-years, who had a hard time peeking around him.
“Blimey, Professor.”, he gasped.
“Goodness sake!”, she aspirated, holding a hand to her heart. “Why did you come up with them rather than – ”
“Well, yeh know, ’em Dementors an’ all an’ I wanted ter go back already but then I wondered wha’ took yeh so long an’ I though’ he might’ve – ”
“Never mind, Hagrid. I – ”
“He let yeh, Ma’am?”, Hagrid chuckled grimly, his eyes piercing into the Headmaster’s all across the hall.
“Keep your voice down!”, she hissed. “And get in!”
“Yeah, Ma’am. Or he’ll throw my out, righ’?”
“Hagrid – please – ”
“I’m goin’ already.”, the Half-Giant grumbled, changed places with her and went on, the doors closing between them.
Students, mostly Gryffindors, gave him sad smirks as he paced through the hall as gentle as a man of his size could. All the way up, his eyes didn’t break contact with Severus’. Just when he turned to walk around the staff table, their looks would part.
Outside, Minerva had composed herself.
“Welcome to Hogwarts, first-years.”, she swallowed to clear her throat. “I am sorry we could not arrange a better weather for your arrival.”, that lifted the mood of the trembling children a bit. “Anyway, before you sit down with your new classmates and housemates behind these doors, you will have to be sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin.”, she couldn’t believe how many times she had done that and now he actually let her do it again? “Each of those Houses has brought our world remarkable witches and wizards, so there is no need to treat any of another House like the worst thing on earth. The sorting ceremony is nothing to be afraid of either. Our ancient Sorting Hat, once belonging to one of Hogwarts’ founders, is very wise and will judge each of you objectively and by their talent and personality. Yes, nothing to be afraid of.”, she ensured, looking straight at each of the now more concerned children. “If you would follow me please,”
She turned on her heels and the heavy doors opened again before her, leading the young witches and wizards in a crocodile through the middle corridor. And as she did, she had regained all her pride. She felt like she could blow up the entire castle just with a flick of her wand. With such a move, astonishing not only the first-years, the bowls along the walls burst into flames one after another and cast the hall in a brighter and warmer shine.
Some students gave satisfied nods, accompanied by confident grins. Nobody noticed the flicker of a smile rushing over Severus’ face, before his expression got cold and prepared once more, just as if he had meant her to do that – or didn’t care whether the hall was light or dark.
With the grace of a goddess, she strode up to the podium, small feet pattering after her. Argus Filch had already brought the stool with the hat and placed it in front of the Headmaster’s chair, in the exact middle of the podium’s space encircled by the U-shaped staff table. Minerva’s expression was as unconcerned as Severus’ when she spun around and came to halt next to the stool.
“Please line up here.”, she waved her hand, her wand back in her sleeve. “Thank you.”
“Yeah. Tha’s McGonagall.”, Seamus said under his breath, gritting his teeth that were missing one at the front, with a murderous grin. “Show tha’ tosser wha’s wha’ here.”
“Seamus,”, Ginny hissed a warning. “Don’t let him hear that.”
“An’ if?”
“A bit of silence, please.”, the head of Gryffindor called into the whispering hall. “Thank you.”
The Sorting Hat made a noise like clearing his inexistent throat and, to the surprise of many in the hall, started his annual song. Severus leaned back, his elbows on the side rests of his chair, the tips of his fingers touching; a golden ring on his right hand glistened in the lights. However, the song would be a short one this year.
More than a thousand years ago
In times of witch and wizard’s glory
Lands cover’d all in white
In a winter cold and frory,
My master took me off his head and said to me
`You’d be our judge from now´
`Tell thoroughly them where to be´
`And where the students are to bow´
`Seek their talent in their minds´
`Unveil their deepest self´
`And row them along with all their kinds´
`Before back on a shelf.´
From there on it had been my task
To chose what’s right, what’s wrong
To search their brains and then at last
Pick out any wits and prong.
Though it is not only what there yet,
It matters what there grows,
And through years of development
Our true nature shows.
Who once was friend be enemy now
And evil may be good
For all I figured out somehow
Predict, I never could.
I only say what I see here,
Not what will future bring
So not just judge from what seems dear,
Let unity begin.
No one clapped this year, which made the hat frown evidently. Everybody just stared at Severus Snape, who seemed to be the most unimpressed person existing. Fingertips still together, his eyes found Minerva’s, making it clear to her that if no one was willing to give the hat some recognition, she should begin the sorting. She waited some more seconds and – Luna Lovegood started to clap enthusiastically. Hesitating, Padma Patil joined her. Then Ginny clapped, loud and clear. Next in the row was Padma’s sister. The Creevey brothers, Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones. Finally the rest of their houses went in, as well as some of the staff and, loudest, Hagrid, making Professor Vector wince at every move. Relieved, the hat let out a sigh and fell still. Only the Slytherins sat as silent as Severus and the twins to his sides.
It was just a mere gesture of him that ended the applause, before he laid his fingers into their former position. A short stiff nod to Minerva and she picked up the hat and roll of parchment beneath. With a sigh and coughing slightly afterwards, she raised her voice.
“Very well, first-years. I will now call one after one and you will step forward to sit down, waiting for the hat’s decision.”
“Very well, yes.”, Ginny whispered.
“Came up short, didn’t he?”, Parvati winked.
“But long enough.”
“Yeah. Unity. How d’ya think he meant tha’?”, Seamus chuckled sarcastic.
“He meant it just like he said it.”, Ginny countered harsh.
“Slytherin!”, the hat shouted.
“Oh wonderful. So much ’bout the unity.”, Neville sighed.
“What do you mean by `just like he said it´?”, Nigel asked.
“Well, no judging. We can’t see into anyone’s heart and mind and therefore we shouldn’t fight about things we can’t tell for sure.”
“Hermione’s got some influence on you, you know?”, snickered Parvati.
“Oh drop it. I can grow up on my own, you know? But it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
“Hufflepuff!”
“You see, not what you judged at all.”, she noted. “And what I meant, look at him. What do you see?”
“Jus’ wha’ I said.”, Seamus answered. “A big tosser, enjoyin’ ‘imself up there.”
“That is what you want to see.”, she tried to make it as professional as possible, not letting slip through that she actually knew something. “I’m not fond of what he did either, but he sent McGonagall, didn’t he? He let her light the fires without complaint. Just, for once, look at him. Or on how long the list is.”
“So you say – ”, Parvati started.
“I just say.”, she broke her off nevertheless. “We shouldn’t judge unless we know the truth.”
“Ravenclaw!”
“That’ll make us last.”, sighed Fay.
“Honestly.”, Ginny snorted.
They though had the chance to welcome quite a number of new Gryffindors. A long, long while into the rainy evening, the last name was called rather sympathetically. It was always the first and – second-last names that had the biggest effect on the first-years, naturally. McGonagall rolled in the parchment and Filch came stumbling over to take away the stool and hat.
The whole hall fell silent once more when he tilted up the tabletop in front of him, his plate, goblet and cutlery gliding aside. He rose from the throne-like chair in the middle of the staff table and walked forward on the pedestal, followed by the Carrow twins, both positioning themselves to his sides, a little behind. For a trained eye it was more than obvious that he was utterly uncomfortable by the fact. He crossed his arms, his dark eyes wandering over the students, those staring back with fear, insecurity, anticipation and interest. Another glance around, waiting for Minerva to sit down, he took a thorough breath and raised his deep voice, as calm as ever, making each and everyone shiver.
“Welcome to Hogwarts, and for those who decided to return, welcome back. It pleases me to see how many families still put value in the education of the young generation.”, several eyes narrowing with increasing interest, some shaking heads in disbelief. “Some of the older ones might have noticed the change in staff. Head of Slytherin House is now Professor Horace Slughorn, who is teaching the fine art of Potion-Making.”, Slughorn shortly waved his hand dull and feeble. “The two you see standing at my sides, will be assisting me as Deputy Headmasters. They are as follows, Professor Alecto Carrow, who – takes in the place of deceased Professor Charity Burbage in the subject of Muggle Studies,”
She gave the anxiously whispering students a horrible sneer. Some of them had still believed the Prophet’s explanation that their Professor Burbage was on advanced education abroad.
“And Professor Amycus Carrow, who vaguely replaces myself as the teacher of a subject dealing with what is to be treated with more caution than any other taught in this ancient school.”
Alecto’s smile froze, both she and her brother looking at the back of Severus’ head with a similar frown. He allowed all a little pause for thinking. Some of the older students explained to the first-years.
“Now then. As in each school year, there are strict rules to be followed. Breaking them will result in points being taken from your House, special achievements will gain you points. At the end of the year, they will be counted and the House with the highest number of points will win the traditional House Cup. The points can be seen in the glasses at the wall outside in the Entrance Hall, each glass showing the respective colour of your House. Mind, that these glasses are protected by powerful magic and trying to manipulate them, will give you an experience you do not wish to obtain. Furthermore, it might have come to your attention; if you haven’t already been freezing due to your lack of ability to care for something as simple as a weather forecast; that some of Azkaban’s Dementors have been placed around the school grounds for security reasons.”
“Sure.”, Seamus chuckled again.
“A fair warning to all of you: they do not differ anyone and approaching them will only cause something far worse happening to you than the result of an attempt to break the glasses I mentioned. Dementors are not to mess with, but if any of you believe to be capable enough to conjure a full corporeal Patronus that can fight off a dozen of them, just you try. I must point out that no staff member is responsible for your idiocy.”
“They do though rub our noses in it,”, Euan whispered to a second-year, who nodded approvingly with a grin.
“Though I am certain, it will not come down to such an encounter. For the sake of your safety, the school grounds are forbidden to enter in a ratio of six feet around the walls or arches of the yards; every walk further away will ask for the company of a teacher or other staff member.”
“He’s imprisoning us!”, a Hufflepuff girl hissed under her breath.
“An exception is the daily walk after lunch. Students are to gather in rows according to their Houses in the Entrance Hall exactly after lunchtime has ended. Do step out of line and there will be no guarantee that you won’t be attacked by a Dementor. Miss the walk without a good reason and you will be punished. This is a school and laziness is not tolerated.”
“He can’t be serious, can he?”, Parvati shook her head.
“Everyone is to wear their school uniform properly whenever being outside their own House. No student is allowed out of their common rooms and dormitories without special permission after the time of eight o’clock in the afternoon and before seven in the morning. Performing magic is limited to the classrooms during lessons and – ”
Slowly everyone noticed the seam of his long black cloak hopping like being pulled up with a string again and again. He though remained calm.
“The training halls. Using your wand with the intention to do magic is forbidden anywhere but named places. The restriction also includes the Great Hall, Mr Finnigan.”, several students started to laugh.
“Great one.”, Nigel whispered to Seamus.
“That’s not funny, guys.”, Ginny hissed.
“Silence.”, everybody went still immediately. “Unless you wish your House to lose points before it has gained any, put away your wand and grow up.”, he snorted, but was staid again right after. “And to note, the restriction to the use of magic does not give any of you the right to stab or hit each other with your wands. So, as I said, any breaking of school rules will result in points being taken from your House and, in sight of the severity of your violation, you will receive detention. A list of rules and forbidden objects may be requested from your Heads of House, our caretaker Mr Filch or myself at any time considered moral and not breaking a single rule I just mentioned, as well as those on said list, may you have obtained it or not.”
In another short pause for making the information sink in, his dark eyes glided thoroughly over the heads, frantically trying not to focus on a specific person to his rightmost.
“You should also know, that a slightly altered version of the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four has been reinstalled. If you allow me the time to quote it, `All Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs are disbanded. An Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the Headmaster´, which would be me, in case you didn’t catch that. `No Student Organisation, Society, Team, Group, or Club may exist without the knowledge and approval of the Headmaster. Any student found to have formed, or to belong to an Organisation, Society, Team, Group or Club that has not been approved by the Headmaster will be expelled. Idem conditions equally apply on any member of staff and opposition will cause being set on probation. Repeated offence leads to suspension; the matter is to be judged according to its precise and specific details by the Headmaster.´”
Again he let everyone think. Some were already quietly discussing certain fears.
“Should you see yourself incapable of understanding this, the decree can be found on the noticeboards in each of your Houses. I may now point out that there are three exceptions I permit as a mean of education. First, the scholastic Quidditch tournament, as a cultural matter that has moulded the wizarding society over centuries.”, along many, Ginny sighed with relief. “Elections for the Quidditch House Teams, will take place during the first two weeks of term. Anyone interested, shall contact their House’s Quidditch Captain for further instructions, or otherwise, their Head of House. Second and third, the Gobstone and Chess Clubs,”
“Who the hell needs – ”, grunted Romilda, but was shushed with a cat-like hiss by Fay.
“As both games require concentration and logical thinking, which marks the qualities of a good student. To think logical is necessary in several taught subjects and an additional training to that is no distraction in my opinion. To apply for membership, you may refer to Miss Bavenworth from Slytherin House for the Gobstone Club and Mr Jonas from Ravenclaw for the Chess Club. That shall be all for now. Enjoy your meal.”
Cold to the depth, his eyes rushed quickly over the majority of the students. Then he turned, waved the Carrow twins in and followed them, taking his seat. The tabletop fell shut as soon as he sat and his place setting slid back to where it belonged. Then the tables were filled magically by the Houseelves in the kitchen below. Surprised, the older students had to notice that there wasn’t a change in the meal. They had expected to go hungry, but everything came as usual. Only that the general mood in the hall resembled the joy at a funeral.
“Wha’s he playin’, ya think?”, Seamus mumbled to Neville.
“Let me see – Quidditch, Gobstones and Chess.”, snickered Neville; most around him joined in.
“As much a dangerous game as you do.”, Ginny snorted over their chuckles. “Just that he knows his borders. You could have gotten yourself in serious trouble, Seamus, you know,”
“And if – I rather die than doin’ what he says.”
“You did what he said when he was only a teacher. Now he’s Headmaster. That’s nothing to go easy with.”
“Are you afraid of him?”, Neville chuckled once more.
“Shut up, you moron.”, she hissed.
“Whow!”
“I am just warning you. Each of you. This is not about points anymore, even though he keeps up that system – and those games as well. Believe me, I wonder too. So, Snape might not hurt us physically, but those Carrows are Death Eaters.”
“Too. And he’s been slappin’ us with books, remember?”, Seamus noted but she ignored him.
“Hell only knows what they will do if we don’t obey their rules. But I’ve got the feeling that we’d want Umbridge back when they’re done with us.”
“Snape might not hurt us.”, Lavender quoted her. “Tz. What makes you think he won’t now?”
“I just know.”
“You just – ”
“Well, he won’t be around us that often anymore.”, that didn’t really convince her friends. “Look – if this place now is to bind the students, it wouldn’t be useful for him if parents started swarming it and taking their children away. So I suppose, that’s why he at least gives us some freedom.”
“Yeah. But he doesn’t let us go anywhere else, forgot?”
“But students will start to write letters – ”, Parvati considered.
“They won’t reach anyone.”, Ginny shook her head, digging into her mashed potatoes. “The owl traffic was controlled before, you know that.”
“Well, at least he still allows us to speak now.”, Lavender pouted, her eyes on the staff table, observing every of the moves he made while eating. “How can he sit on that chair, eating roasted mushrooms with such delight?”, if she had looked closer though, she would have seen that there was not even a faint hint of pleasure to his face or movement.
“You are talking about the new Headmaster as if he was really cruel.”, a first-year in the near joined in their conversation. “But I don’t think the Ministry would have announced him if he was.”
“What’s your name again?”, Neville asked.
“Emily.”
“Well, Emily, the Ministry’s down. Fallen into the hands of the Death Eaters a month ago.”, the girl’s eyes gaped with shock.
“This can’t be. There was nothing in the Pro-”
“Course there isn’ a thing in tha Prophet. Tha Prophet’s down as well.”, Seamus explained.
“But Scrimgeour – ”
“Dead.”
“No.”, the girl moaned at him.
“He’s right.”, Ginny said calm. “They killed him.”
“No.”, Emily shook her head heavily. “Mum and Dad are working at the Ministry. They – ”
“Are obviously badly informed or want to protect you.”, Parvati interrupted her.
“How did you two manage to come back anyway?”, Ginny frowned at her.
“Padma threatened our parents that if they don’t let us go back, we’d run away with everyone else in the DA.”, Parvati curled her lips. “Well, she didn’t mention the DA, ever; but she’s gotten quite consequent on sticking to what she says, recently.”
“Welcome to – the club, then.”, smirked Ginny.
“Apropos club – ”, Cormac threw in, clearly only having heard Ginny’s last words due to having had a nondescript conversation with a classmate to his right, “If Snape really bans all clubs – hasn’t he said it goes for teachers as well? What d’you think, Slughorn – ”
“No chance.”, Ginny said, distinctively unimpressed, doing her best to make her face show it. “Snape hated that club ever since he’d gotten to know about it. Rather he’d hire a contract killer to get Slughorn out of the way. He won’t make his fingers that dirty. He’s too disgusted by him and his club to do it personally.”
“How the heck would you know?”, asked Neville.
“First,”, she kept her expression, “I have properly working eyes and possess logic without having to play Gobstones or kick my brothers’ arses in Wizard Chess, and second, even if I hadn’t noticed it long before that, Harry’s mentioned it somewhen.”
Meanwhile at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy was one of the people in the hall who had a hard time trying to eat something. Gazing onto his plate, he more messed around with his food unconsciously than bringing any of it to his mouth. Being back, he wasn’t that sure anymore that he wanted to continue his education. Curled up in the world of his thoughts, he stirred noodles until they disappeared. Only that would make him wake from his sad daydream. Pudding had taken in the place of the main course. With a sigh, he only reached for a green apple and stared at it for a long while. Finally, he took a fainthearted bite.
The conversations around him seemed like miles away. He knew what his housemates were talking about, but he didn’t bother. After another bite, he examined the marks on the fruit. Clear and shiny, the apple – bled. He narrowed his eyes at the red stain and wiped two fingers over his upper incisors that now started to hurt him a bit. His gum was bleeding a little. Angry, he took a third bite. He had to eat more, he thought. It couldn’t be that his body had gotten that weak already. Before he could dig his teeth into the apple once more however, the tables cleared. His head rushed up to the staff table, where Severus had walked onto the podium again, this time without the Carrows. The hall fell silent like before.
“There are only a few more words I would like to say to you.”, he spoke calmly. “Surely, each of the first-years has found out the regular meal times by now; if not, I shall however not waste my time with talking about minor matters. None of the first-years is allowed a broom, no matter what your families tried to make you believe. Your possessions have been searched for such as well as forbidden objects. If any of you find something missing of which they are not fully sure why it is gone, you may consult our caretaker on the matter – and better accept his decisions.”
A grin of teeth in an equally horrible state as Bellatrix Lestrange’s forced itself into the atmosphere. The only one not uncomfortable with it, seemed to be his scrawny cat on his arms.
“Mind that all ways of communication out of and into the school grounds are being watched in addition.”, Ginny gave Parvati an affirmative glance. “Prefects of the fifth year will be elected in the upcoming week, as usual. Of each House, one of the current Prefects may ask their Head of House for the password now. If there are no more questions, the Prefects will lead the first-years to their Houses then.”, Ginny clearly visible raised her hand. “Yes, Miss Weasley?”, he murmured, sounding like he had never been more annoyed.
“Gryffindor hasn’t any Prefects left, Sir.”
“Oh my goodness – ”, McGonagall aspirated, her hand on her chest, when the whole Slytherin table burst into laughter again.
“Silence! I expected Slytherin House to be a little more mature than Mr Finnigan.”, McGonagall’s eyes wandered over the Gryffindor table while he told the others off and Euan exchanged a knowing look with his neighbour.
“Miss Weasley, would you like to be one, then?”, Ginny looked around as well.
“Alright, Professor.”
“And Mr Creevey – the older, I mean – you surely don’t mind assisting her?”, Ginny contorted her face a little, apparently displeased.
“No, Ma’am. I’d love to.”
“Very well. Mr Longbottom, Miss Dunbar, can you take in the places of Mr Weasley and Miss Granger?”, they nodded; Ginny noticed Severus sighing a little at the sound of Hermione’s surname. “Fine. You will get your badges tomorrow.”
“Anyone else wishing to say something?”, he said grim. “No? Then off to your Houses, good night.”
His eyes on the main door, he quickly paced straight towards it, his hair and cloak bulging as usual. Everyone watched him leave, the wings of the door swinging open when he approached them, accompanied by a lightning bolt rushing across the ceiling. Only after he couldn’t be seen anymore, the students and teachers rose, filling the hall with whispers once again.
“That were interesting speeches.”, Luna had reached Ginny.
“Yes. Even a bit like Dumbledore would have spoken, in times of peace.”
“Only that it’s war and Dumbledore’s way of speaking wouldn’t have scared the first-years.”, Neville grunted angrily.
“But he isn’t here anymore.”, Ginny noted.
“Yeah. Because Snape killed him. Recall that?”, Neville hissed.
“Gryffindor first-years! Come here, please!”, she called as though she hadn’t heard him. “You’d better get the password, Neville.”
“Hey.”, Hannah had caught up with them.
“Hey.”, replied Neville, only. “You’re back?”
“I have to, haven’t I?”, she smirked. “Got to finish stuff and it’s odd to sit at home all the time.”
“Yeah.”, though she chuckled a little, the words couldn’t bring an honest smile on his face either.
“See you all tomorrow.”, Luna however smiled, unusually tired.
“Yeah. See ya.”, Neville murmured, accompanied by good-night-wishes from the others but didn’t go for McGonagall who was already shoving her way through the mass of students blocking the middle corridor. “So – um – Prefect, eh? Never thought I’d be.”
“Guess so.”, Hannah sighed. “I wonder if I still have to do it. Left it on Ernie to lead the youngsters.”, such now gathered around the two.
“Neville,”, Ginny warned.
“Huh?”, she nodded over to McGonagall who had almost reached them. “Oh. Yeah. Um – ‘night, Hannah.”
“Good night.”, this time her smile was real, when she went off and threw a look back over her shoulder, Neville doing the same.
“Neville!”, Ginny puffed.
“Alright!”, he snarled.
“Gryffindor first-years? Are all of you here? Anyone known missing? No? Good. If you’d follow me please,”
At a wall-side table, an apple was carelessly dropped on the tabletop and the one who had held it, marched past his housemates out of the hall, alone.
~~#~~
“No, no, no.”, the Fat Lady sang; dumbfounded, Neville slouched his shoulders, all Gryffindors jamming behind him.
“But – she said it was Gillyweed. She clearly said.”, he murmured.
“What’s it, Neville?”, Ginny tried to get through.
“That old hag won’t let me pass!”
“Are you sure you got the password right?”
“I’m not stupid!”, Neville moaned. “McGonagall said it’s Gillyweed.”
“Gillyweed.”, Ginny snorted at the portrait.
“No, girl, as I said to him, that is not the password. Not anymore.”
“Not anymore?”, Ginny hissed. “What d’you mean by `not anymore´?”
“Well, it changed.”
“A password can’t change on the first evening, right after it was announced.”
“But it has.”
“Incredible.”, she mumbled. “So what’s it now?”
“No, no. I can’t tell you.”
“I’m a Prefect now!”, Ginny murmured. “So’s Neville! You know us! Let us in and I can ask for it tomorrow.”
“No, I can’t. Security matters.”
“Surely we’re more safe out here on the stairs,”
“Oh man – tha’ sucks, ya know?”, Seamus snarled. “’T’s not funny. When did tha’ ruddy passwor’ change an’ who did it anyway?”
“It changed many minutes ago already.”
“And who changed it?”, Ginny repeated pleadingly.
“He said, it wouldn’t be safe.”
“Not safe?”, the girl raged. “Who!”
“There is no need to shout at me. And it was the Headmaster himself. He came up to me and told me the new password.”
“Tha’ bloody t-”
“Shut it, Seamus.”, Ginny huffed. “There are first-years here.”
“I don’ give a damn t– ”
“Shut up!”, the words echoed in the tower and portraits turned their heads towards her. “And let me think. Is it something edible?”
“I am not to give hints, girl.”, the Fat Lady replied in her hollow song-like tone.
“Green or brown?”
“I said – ”
“Chocolate cream?”
“This is not a guessing game!”
“Spearmint?”
“I – what?”
“Spearmint.”
“Alright, alright, girl. You won. I don’t know how you figured that one out, but yes. It is correct.”, the woman snorted and her canvas swung open.
“Spearmint?”, Parvati hissed.
“Just a guess.”, Ginny sighed. “I need to go find McGonagall. Get in, everyone. Goodnight.”, she turned to go, but Neville stopped her.
“What if he changes it again?”
“Then I’ll chop his head off with one of the portraits here.”, she snarled.
“I would like to volunteer, Miss!”, said an elderly man with a ruff.
“You’re too heavy.”, Ginny huffed and stormed off.
“Oh no, I am – ”
“Fat.”, said Neville.
“Do you mind? I am muscular!”
“Fat.”
“Merely well-fed and – “, Neville climbed through the hole into the common room. “Really!”
~~#~~
Hasty footsteps echoed through the empty and dark corridors. None of the torches lit as he passed by, hurrying after the sound of someone else walking. His uniform cloak waved widely behind and billowed a little more, every time he rushed around a corner. The heavy rain was still half flooding the exterior, windowless arched corridor he walked through and clashed against the windows of the fourth-next. There he found that the other man had stopped at a window, leant on the sill and stared out into the dark. A lightning bolt flashed the gloomy figure.
Slowing down a bit, he approached the man who took something from a pocket of his robe. Stopping at his left, he eyed the package that was handed to him, wordless. It was something wrapped in a napkin. Carefully, he unpacked it and let out a sigh at the sight. It was a barbecued thin steak and two lettuce leaves pressed between two slices of bread.
“I’m not hungry.”, the bored look facing him said it all. “Damn. I can’t fool you, can I?”, he ranted and bit off. “Thanksh.”, he added munching and both watched the rain running down the glass.
“Doubting your decisions?”, Severus said softly.
“Dunno.”
“I won’t force you to stay here. The Dementors aren’t as pleasant anymore as they used to be. They are as hungry as you are.”
“Dementors. Pleashant.”, Draco chuckled and Severus lowered his head with a weary smile. “Housh Cup? Honeshly?”
“It’s a tradition.”, was the empty answer.
“I can undershdand shat – you keep up Quidditch. But that? Don’t you think, it’s a little suspicious?”
“It is an experiment. I want to see who gives sympathy points and who loves to take them off.”
“Let me see – first, everyone but the Carrows, second, nobody but the Carrows – and the Slytherin Prefects. Research study finished.”
“Will you take off points for no good reason?”
“I don’t want to be a Prefect anymore.”
“But I want you to.”
“Why.”
“Because that is your only way to survive this year. Everyone who has knowledge of what happened on the Astronomy Tower, also knows what you had been about to do and not all of them will understand that you only feared for your parents’ and your own life. Threatening them with punishment, will keep them at bay. At least for some time.”
“But what if I don’t want to threaten them?”
“And you wonder why I don’t eliminate the House Cup.”, Severus curled his lips. “Why are you here, Draco.”
“Because I want to help you.”
“Exactly. Then do as I say.”
~~#~~
“He did what?”
Ginny had never seen such a face on her. It hadn’t been easy to enter her bedroom and the fury she had met with hadn’t been amusing either, but she had managed to bring McGonagall to her senses by yelling the sentence equally loud at her. Now the chandelier-lit room was silent. Stripped down to her underwear, her hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, McGonagall gave up any attempt to hide her body with cushions. Her arms falling slackly, the cushions slipped to the stone floor.
“Changed the password to the Gryffindor tower right after he left the hall.”, Ginny calmed down.
“And the students? They aren’t – standing – ”
“No. They’re all in. I found out the new password.”
“How?”
“Well, even though the Fat Lady said he changed it because he thought it wasn’t safe enough, the new password wasn’t difficult to discover for someone with some insider knowledge.”
“Insider knowledge, Miss Weasley?”, her big green eyes widened even more, but Ginny just smirked languidly. “Very well, Miss Weasley.”, the teacher went for a dressing gown and slippers and put them on, then picked up her cloak she had thrown into a corner; obviously in some moment of whatever she had done before Ginny had entered; swung it over her shoulders and got her wand. “I cannot let you wander around alone. You will come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“He will regret that skite.”, she murmured thin-lipped and waved her wand. “Severus Snape.”, the teacher clearly said to the light.
Fascinated, Ginny stared after the bluish light bulb that zoomed out of the room, McGonagall hurrying after it. Paralysed for a moment, she though went after her Head of House then.
“What is that?”, she asked, catching up, surprised about how fast the elderly woman could run upstairs.
“A tracking spell.”
“You mean, Professor – ”
“Exactly, Miss Weasley. That light will lead me directly to him. It only works if he doesn’t bother being found though. Let us see, if it gets us into a cesspool or worse.”
~~#~~