Fortuna Major

"Where is Professor McGonagall?" Chris asked as Professor Flitwick started the sorting ceremony. 

"She took Harry said Hermione to her office," Ron answered sitting opposite of them. 

"Why?" Ginny asked. 

"No idea." Ron shrugged. 

The sorting started. Like last year, the Sorting Hat sang a song then sorted the first years in four houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. 

As the sorting ceremony ended Harry, Hermione and Professor McGonagall came back. Harry and Hermione sat down on either side of Ron, who had saved them seats. 

"What was all that about?" he muttered to Harry. 

Harry started to explain in a whisper, but at that moment the Headmaster stood up to speak, and he broke off. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles and an extremely crooked nose. He was often described as the greatest wizard of the age. Chris always respected Dumbledore as she felt that he was a wise man, he knew what was right for the greater good. 

"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast …" Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused maybe for the students to process the news but Chris couldn't figure out why Sirius Black would come to Hogwarts.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added blandly, and Chris looked at Harry, who also understood that the line was for him. "It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors." Percy, who was sitting a few seats along from them, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the Hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. 

"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic, applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Chris among them, she was still very embarrassed. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes. 

"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, "well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties." 

Chris, Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at each other, stunned. Then they joined in with the applause, which was tumultuous at the Gryffindor table in particular. Chris leant forward to see Hagrid, who was ruby red in the face and staring down at his enormous hands, his wide grin hidden in the tangle of his black beard. 

"We should've known!" Ron roared, pounding the table. "Who else would have set us a biting book?" 

Harry, Ron and Hermione were the last to stop clapping, and as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. 

"Well, I think that's everything of importance," said Dumbledore. "Let the feast begin!" 

The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Chris helped herself to everything. It was a delicious feast; the Hall echoed with talk, laughter and the clatter of knives and forks. 

"Are you three going to congratulate Hagrid?" Chris asked Hermione. 

Hermione nodded enthusiastically. 

"I mean we all know how much this means to him. Isn't it?" 

"I agree," Ron said. 

"I want to congratulate him too., Chris said. 

"Me too," Ginny said. They knew how much being made a teacher would mean to him. Hagrid wasn't a fully qualified wizard; he had been expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, for a crime he had not committed. It had been Chris who had cleared Hagrid's name last year. 

At long last, when the last morsels of pumpkin tart had melted from the golden platters, Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, and they got their chance. Chris, Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione went towards the teachers' table. "Congratulations, Professor Hagrid," said Chris smiling. 

"All down ter yeh, Chris," said Hagrid, wiping his shining face on his napkin as he looked up at them. "Can' believe it great man, Dumbledore… came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettlebun said he'd had enough… it's what I always wanted …" 

Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away. Then they joined the Gryffindors streaming up the marble staircase and, very tired now, along more corridors, up more and more stairs, to the hidden entrance to Gryffindor Tower. 

A large portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress asked them, "Password?" 

"Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd. 

"The new password's Fortuna Major!" 

"Oh no," said Neville Longbottom sadly, the same boy from Harry's compartment. Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided towards their separate staircases. Chris and Ginny climbed the spiral stairs and went towards their room.