42. Understanding the Characters

Harry started to try to properly understand everyone at the high table.

First he looked at Hagrid and he realised that he was right to doubt him.

'So Hagrid is really not as naive as he tries to portray himself. He understands what Dumbledore is doing and that his actions are not right, but he also believes in Dumbledore's philosophy that sacrifices are necessary and everything for the greater good. Except for helping Dumbledore whenever told, he never intentionally harmed anyone.

Overall, he is not a bad guy that needs to die but also not someone who can be trusted by anyone other than Dumbledore.'

He was interrupted by Dumbledore who had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

"Thank you!" He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.

Then The dishes in front of him were piled with food. There was roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs. Instead of directly starting to eat them he first checked whether their food and drinks were spiked. His suspicion proved correct as all drinks and foods were laced with potions whose primary motive was to make students believe in the school's authority and not report back home any unusual happening in the school.

As he looked at the high table, he noticed that Snape and Dumbledore were watching everyone like Hawks. Not eating the food or stopping people didn't really seem like a good choice at that moment so Harry silently took an empty cup and brought that under the table away from all the prying eyes. Silently taking out Vörn, he changed the properties of its ink to be the antidote of the potion, he filled the cup with the necessary amount of antidote and drank it immediately.

'I will send Hermione the antidote at night as doing it right now will completely expose me.' Harry thought.

Then Harry looked at Professor Snape who immediately turned to look at him.

'What scary senses.' Harry thought to himself in surprise when suddenly he felt a mind probe from Snape. Harry let Snape read his memories from before his awakening while he himself started looking. He smirked thinking' When you look at the abyss, Abyss is looking back at you'.

After looking at Snape's memories Harry concluded that Snape was a jerk. He only said that James and his group bullied him but never told anyone what really was the case. When Lily was in her 3rd year, James started to pursue her blatantly. At that time both Snape and James treated each other as love rivals. It was not that Snape never tried to bully James but he was outnumbered every time. Seeing himself getting no success he approached other Slytherins for help and tried to hurt James using some nefarious ways, which Lily didn't like at all.

She was aware of their rivalry but she never really returned their feelings previously and was even a little inclined towards Snape but when he started using darker spells, Lily warned Snape about their negative effects but he ignored her words again and again. Lily naturally did not like that and decided to give James a chance. That together with his Slytherin friends' instigation made snape call her mudblood.

Lily understood that for Snape, his competition against James was more important than Lily herself. If he could be so easily influenced by others towards her then he did not deserve her love and friendship.

'So It is his jealousy that made him dislike students. He is a brilliant potion master and he never intentionally teaches incorrectly but he feels some sort of sadistic satisfaction when he sees students terrified of him. Man, this guy is mentally ill, he is in serious need of a psychiatrist.'

Next Harry looked at Dumbledore and concluded that he was dealing with a good but manipulative man. Using his ability Harry could see that Dumbledore was feeling sad and guilty, but was still willing to do it as he was not sure that Voldemort had died and wanted to lure him out if alive. He wanted to use Harry as another bait as he believed that Voldemort and Harry would surely die together as said in the prophecy.

'Why does it look like every capable witch or wizard has some sort of mental problems.' Harry thought in frustration.

Deciding not to worry about these things, Harry and Hermione and Daphne ate while interacting with other Ravenclaws. When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate éclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, JellO, rice pudding …

At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch.

And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.

And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

Knowing what was coming, Harry had already transfigured some spoons and forks into ear plugs for himself. He did enjoy looking at Daphne's awkward expression during the song.

"You are so bad Harry. You clearly knew but didn't even warn us about it." Hermione said pouting.

"Haha. I wouldn't have been able to witness those expressions on your faces otherwise." Harry laughed to which Daphne, Hermione, Padma and others too started laughing.

Everyone started getting up to follow their house prefects.

"Hermione, I need to talk to professors for some moments. You guys should go and settle down, I'll see you all tomorrow morning." wishing them goodnight, Harry started to walk towards professor McGonagall and Flitwick.