64: The Start of a New Year

After a few minutes of anxious chatter from the frightened students, the train continued its journey. The Head Girl, a tall Ravenclaw girl, stepped into their carriage as the lanterns flickered back to life, reassuring any panicked students.

Cedric sat loosely in his seat, quietly nibbling on a Chocolate Frog. It seemed like happiness had deserted the world for a brief moment and that he wouldn't be able to feel cheerful again. However, the snack proved to be comforting enough to lift his spirits.

For the rest of the trip, they didn't talk much. Perhaps it was Cedric's wandering thoughts on how a third-year student had just cast a Patronus powerful enough to drive away a legion of dementors that caused the silence — Had anyone seen it as clearly as he did? Should he tell them if they didn't? It would almost certainly make Alaric even more well-known than he was already. But what were the boy's thoughts on it?

"I would appreciate it if you refrained from telling people about what you saw," Alaric said after a while. He had his gaze locked outside, flickering around, searching for the presence of any lingering Dementors. "It would save me from a great deal of headaches," 

"Sure," Cedric said. "Why would I snitch on my friend?" He added with a laugh. 

Alaric was a bit surprised, but for the first time that day, he broke into a smile. 

At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, and feet stepped in puddles, wetting robes even further. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.

"Firs' years this way!" Alaric stepped out in his Slytherin robes and heard a familiar voice. He saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.

"I'll see you later, Alaric," Cedric tapped on his back and walked over to a group of older students. 

Alaric nodded absentmindedly, looking at the large group approaching Hagrid. There were the usual faces: Hope, Harry, Ron, Hermione... and his sister. But accompanying them was also Lily Potter — the new Muggle Studies professor — and a man Alaric recognized from the day he eavesdropped on James Potter and Sirius Black. He'd only heard him being addressed as Remus but now figured his full name was Remus J. Lupin. Dressed in considerably shabby clothes, he looked like a kind man, but Alaric got a strange feeling from him he hadn't noticed the first time. Was he cursed by any chance? If he was, Alaric wasn't familiar with his ailment. 

The new professors greeted Hagrid and resumed the hushed discussion they were having. Alaric guessed they were talking about his Patronus. They weren't in his carriage, but Alaric put enough power in the charm to repel every last one from the train. As long as Cedric kept his promise, he wouldn't have to deal with any of their questions. 

Suddenly, he felt something heavy jumping onto his shoulders. 

"We've been looking all over for you, you knobhead!" The distinct voice of Tracey spoke loudly near his ear. 

"I was in the last compartment," Alaric said, freeing himself from the clutches of his friend. 

"We thought you missed the train," Theodore admitted. "But Blaise saw your sister with the Potters, so we relaxed a bit," 

"You ought to know Daphne almost had a panic attack when she thought you weren't coming to school this year," Blaise chuckled, failing to see the smack that hit him on the shoulder. 

"No, I didn't!" Daphne exclaimed, but her puffy eyes told otherwise. 

They followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students, each pulled by a pair of Thestrals. 

"Al," Someone called, and when he turned to look, he spotted his sister strolling towards him. She came closer to him as Alaric petted one of the Thestrals and asked in a whisper. "The Patronus... was it—"

"Can't even recognize it?" He glanced at his sister briefly with a scowl, before boarding the coach. The door closed by itself and set off, bumping and swaying in procession, leaving Lysandra staring at it with confusion. 

The coach smelled faintly of mould and straw. Alaric felt better after joining his friends, but the frustration from the morning was still very much present. He hated feeling like this. They were just clothes. But why did he despise them so much?

Daphne kept looking at him sideways, wondering what had him so quiet. 

As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, they all saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side. 

"They're so creepy," Tracey muttered, and they all nodded in agreement. 

The carriage picked up speed on the long, sloping drive up to the castle; Theodore was leaning out of the tiny window, watching the many turrets and towers draw nearer. At last, the carriage swayed to a halt, and they got out. The five of them joined the crowd swarming up the steps, through the giant oak front doors, into the cavernous entrance hall, which was lit with flaming torches and housed a magnificent marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

Up above, Malfoy was chattering loudly about Harry fainting at the sight of the Dementors, and his group of friends shared a laugh at his expense.

"Why's he making fun of Potter when he made a fuss himself?" Blaise remarked, and Alaric gave him a curious look. "He seems to have forgotten how he screamed like a scared child before the Dementor was frightened away by a spell,"

"He's always trying so hard to be a bully," Theodore chimed in. "One of these days, some Gryffindors might teach him a lesson if he's not careful,"

"It wouldn't be unwarranted," Tracey commented. "He's consistently an insufferable git, it's a wonder nothing's happened to him yet,"

"Alaric does play pranks on him from time to time," Daphne added, wanting to hear him speak.

"Most of what I do is harmless," Alaric explained. "But I have to agree with you, Theo. Draco is certainly inviting trouble,"

The door into the Great Hall stood open at the right; Alaric followed the crowd to it and glimpsed at the enchanted ceiling, which was black and cloudy tonight. The students dispersed to their respective House tables, and Alaric and his friends sat at the far end of the table nearest to the professors. 

It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long House tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousands of candles, which were floating over the tables in midair. Instead of Professor McGonagall, who wasn't yet present, it was Professor Flitwick carrying the ancient hat and a three-legged stool into the hall.

A few minutes later, a long crowd of nervous first-years entered the hall, walking and murmuring to each other. 

Knowingly, Alaric covered his ears, and a second later, the Sorting Hat song began. It was as gruelling as usual, but there was always some sort of amusement in seeing the firsties trying to keep their faces straight during it. 

"Settle down please!" Flitiwick squeaked after the song ended, and slowly, the chatter died down. He unfurled a piece of parchment from his pocket and began to read. 

After a few dozen names, what the group was waiting for finally arrived.

"Greengrass, Astoria!" 

From the dwindling crowd came the girl, her brown hair swaying as she walked up to the hat. Flitwick swished his wand, letting the hat float onto the girl's head, and after a mere five seconds passed, it spoke.

"Slytherin!" 

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers as it usually did whenever someone was chosen for their house. Astoria walked happily to her sister, who hugged her tightly. 

"See? You didn't have to be nervous!" Daphne said happily. 

"And I wasn't," Astoria puffed her chest out in pride. "The hat instantly knew where I belonged," She smirked at the end and sat beside her sister and Alaric, and they all watched the rest of the sorting.

When it ended, the headmaster stood up to speak. 

Albus, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy to Alaric. His long silvery hair and beard were always nicely trimmed, his half-moon spectacles were never dirtied, and his robes were in perfect condition. His only bad feature would be his extremely crooked nose. Aberforth once told him the story behind it but asked for him to refrain from mentioning it around Albus, so he never knew why his older uncle never fixed his nose. 

But today, he looked slightly different. He still had the grandfatherly look behind his eyes, but there was a hint of frustration also present, and Alaric betted it had to do with the Dementors. 

"Welcome!" he said, 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...."

The entrance doors opened quietly, and Professor McGonagall appeared, followed by Harry and Hermione, the latter beaming with happiness. The two quickly joined Lysandra and the rest at the table while McGonagall sat down in her seat. 

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, and Alaric wondered if he would mention the Patronus. 

"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 Alaric thought back at the time Hope stalked him with a similar cloak. "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 afoul of the dementors," he said.

Alaric looked at Percy Weasley, the new Head Boy, and hoped he wouldn't be more insufferable than usual. 

"On a happier note," Dumbledore continued. "I'm pleased to welcome three new professors to our ranks. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher post," There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause, except from the Gryffindor table. "Second, Professor Lily Potter, who will fill the new vacancy in Muggle Studies. And as to our third appointment, Professor Rubeus Hagrid has agreed to take on the job of Care of Magical Creatures after Professor Kettleburn retired,"

The applause was more intense when Lily Potter was announced, leaving people to craft theories on why the Potter twins' mother applied for the job. When it came to Hagrid, the Gryffindor table clapped furiously, and Alaric had to join. 

If he kept his nerves controlled, he reckoned Hagrid would be an excellent professor. 

Alaric had chosen every elective except Muggle Studies, so he hoped Hagrid would do well. Both Divination and Care would align on the timetable for the Slytherins, and he chose to attend Divination after Albus assured him he simply had to pass the end-of-the-year exams to continue with the class next year. 

Of course, if the revered Professor Trelawney turned out to be a farse, Alaric would happily switch to Hagrid. 

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

**********

A/N: I feel like I should address this. In canon, wizarding fashion is never specifically stated, so, using both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, I came up with what I've been using since the beginning of the novel. Just imagine that wizarding fashion was stuck in the 1930s and that they haven't bothered changing it since then!

Fun fact! Alan Rickman knew things about Harry Potter most people did not. Rowling gave him spoilers about the story to help him really land the role of Snape.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!