Opening Banquet

Today is a special day—the first day of school. Maybe it'll do more justice if we say "the first night", as children only come at night for the banquet.

Stille moved to Hogwarts a week before the opening banquet. To this day, he was free to do his own thing. He prepared for his lessons, making schedules, questionnaires, and assignments. Most of his time was spent in the library or his office, reading the books that were hard to find outside of Hogwarts.

They started to prepare the castle for the students today. As this was just the opening day, there was not much work to do to adjust the decorations to a certain theme.

After making sure he wasn't needed by Professor McGonagall, Stille returned to his office and continued reading for the rest of the day.

Later in the evening, he took a bath, made his hair, and wore his usual clothes: a white shirt with bigger and harder collars; a dark green cravat tied in old style; a patterned vest; a long, flowing black trench coat with silver buttons and silver embroidery on its lapel and end of the sleeves; thick black pants; and knee-high black leather boots.

He also put on the necklace with a vertical eye on its end. The pupil of the eye, made of emerald, shone with a rich green color. A silver pocket watch was also tucked in the vest pocket, its silver chain shining.

On his hands, seven rings with different colored gems and styles can be seen. Putting his wand in a wand-holster on his waist, he took stride towards the Great Hall.

A few professors rose eyebrow at his clothing, but didn't comment on it. He silently sat besides professor McGonagall. They didn't have to wait too long as patronus in the shape of a cat came floating in and she left, probably to get the first year students. Other students came in and sat at their own house tables, many opting to talk to their friends, filling the Hall with chilling and refreshing aura of youth.

After putting the four-legged stool and the Sorting Hat on it, Professor McGonagall went out to fetch the new students for the ceremony.

"Our school is welcoming some famous people this year. Don't you agree, Professor Snape?" Stille addressed the one who was sitting beside him.

"Such as you?" Ignoring his snarky remark, he continued.

"Draco Malfoy, I heard he was your godson, Neville Longbottom, the heir to the house of Longbottom, and last, but not least, the boy who lived, Harry Potter."

Snape narrowed his eyes at him. 'How did he find out? Me being his godfather was a secret between the Malfoy family and me. This boy is becoming more scary.'

"You are well-informed despite your status, Professor Elding."

"Call me Stille, Professor; there is no need for formalities between us." He smiled at the man amicably.

Snape found this move suspicious. This student of his is a true snake; there is no such thing as being warm and friendly in his vocabulary. He would rather believe that Stille wanted to recruit him or get something in exchange for his friendship. Being accepted as a professor by Dumbledore proved his worth as a talented figure, but there is no need to be hasty.

So, he just nodded at the request.

Seeing this old snake being so cautious, Stille didn't push further. There will be more opportunities in the future.

After a few minutes, Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall. Stille grinned, seeing the flustered youngsters. A few of them stood out for him. A few children from prominent families, like Malfoy, Bones, and Longbottom; redhead Weasley; famous Harry Potter; and a certain girl with bushy hair stood out to him.

Sorting went without any mishaps, with Harry Potter being placed in Gryffindor. As the last child was sorted, Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the sorting hat away. 

Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms open 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. 

After this odd speech, food appeared on the plates and they dug in.

If someone asks Stille to write his favorite things about Hogwarts, second thing he mentions will be the food. As this is the first day of the school, house-elves went all out to prepare the feast. 

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For half an hour, the only sound one could hear was the sound of tableware. After eating their fill, students relaxed and started talking among themselves.

Harry, who was starting to feel warm and sleepy, looked up at the high Table again. Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor Dumbledore. After watching the people he knew, his attention was grabbed by the mysterious professor who was the youngest among the teachers.

He has unique, long purple-black hair. His clothes also seemed strange to Harry. Well, stranger than other wizards'. In the short amount of time he spent in magical Britain, he noticed that people liked to wear robes of different colors.

The mysterious necklace, which shone green, and the rings on his fingers also gave him different auras.

"Who's that teacher besides Professor McGonagall?" He asked Percy.

"Well, he should be a new professor from the Defense Against the Dark Arts class. He looks familiar, but I don't quite remember him."

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

"Ahem, just a few more words. Now 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 team should contact Madam Hooch.

And finally, let me introduce you to Professor Stille Elding, who will be teaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

At the last announcement, there was some scattered applause and cheers for the new teacher. Harry noticed that the Slytherins, who were the silent bunch with the least noise, clapped hardest. Some even stood up. Professor Elding stood up and gave the hall a slight bow.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he were trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words.

"Everyone picks their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!'"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something, please.

Whether we are old or bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling.

With some interesting stuff, 

For now they're bare and full of air, 

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

 So teach us things worth knowing, 

Bring back what we've forgot, 

Just do your best, we'll do the rest, 

And learn until our brains all rot."

 Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

"'Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"