With the help of thick, rolling clouds, darkness fell over the land a little earlier than usual.
Along the entire journey, aside from the darkness and the curtain of rain, the train traveled in complete calm, without the slightest disturbance—and there was not a trace of Dementors to be seen.
Which made sense. Previously, everyone had believed that Sirius Black had escaped Azkaban to hunt Harry, so the Dementors were naturally stationed around Hogwarts, waiting for Black to walk straight into their net (and, in truth, they had accidentally been right). But this time, Black's escape had come without warning, and there had been no muttering of "he's at Hogwarts" in his sleep… no one knew where he had gone.
Dumbledore, Snape, Lupin, and the others who knew the truth of that year might take some precautions against Black, but before he actually broke into Hogwarts and slashed the Fat Lady's portrait, they certainly wouldn't take any overt measures.
There were also rumors that Black had escaped for that "Dark Magic item of Voldemort's"—the Horcrux diary. And everyone knew that diary was now, like Voldemort's main soul, firmly in Dumbledore's possession.
So Hogwarts would probably make some defensive preparations this year, but certainly not to the point of letting Dementors onto the grounds. At most, access to Hogsmeade would be restricted, or curfews would be tightened… none of which had much impact on Avada.
And so, just like last year, after the train arrived, Avada and the other returning students boarded the Thestral-drawn carriages and entered the Great Hall ahead of time. After watching the first-year students—who had just crossed the lake in the rain and were now thoroughly soaked—stare blankly into space as they completed this year's Sorting Ceremony, Dumbledore, seated at the head table, once again rose with a genial smile.
"Welcome!"
He spoke loudly, his voice full and resonant, the candlelight gleaming off his beard. "Welcome to our first-year students, to Hogwarts! And welcome back to our returning students! However, before we move on to everyone's favorite part of the evening—dinner—I have a few matters to address, one of which is quite important. I believe it best to explain it clearly before you enjoy a delicious meal and your minds grow… a little muddled."
"First,"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "due to certain special circumstances this year, we need to adjust the requirements for visiting Hogsmeade. In addition to being in third year or above and having a signed permission form from a guardian, Hogsmeade will be closed on Saturday mornings. Prefects, please assist in supervising this. Saturday afternoons and Sundays will remain open as usual."
The students in the Great Hall exchanged glances, but upon seeing the rare seriousness in Dumbledore's expression, they swallowed their questions, planning to discuss it after the feast officially began…
"Other than that, the remaining news is much more pleasant—I am delighted to welcome two new professors to our staff."
At last, Dumbledore relaxed his expression and warmly gestured toward the worn, unfamiliar face at the staff table. "Professor Remus Lupin will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year."
"Believe me when I say he is an exceptionally capable wizard with extensive practical experience. He has personally endured an extremely powerful Dark Magic curse without suffering harm, and has long dealt with dark creatures, possessing profound expertise in this field… I urge you all to study diligently under him. Such an outstanding professor is truly rare."
Applause erupted—crackling through the hall like sizzling fried chicken.
The students all seemed quite pleased. After all, Professor Lupin looked thoroughly trustworthy: a weathered face, deep-set eyes, a modest and gentle smile, and threadbare wizarding robes. He looked exactly like the kind of powerful hermit wizard from fairy tales—one who lived deep in the mountains, detached from worldly affairs.
Especially compared to the professors of the previous two years, this Lupin fellow seemed practically perfect.
Avada even spared a glance at Snape, only to find that the slightly shiny face showed not intense hatred, but rather a mixture of disgust, disdain—and satisfaction.
Indeed, Snape's current circumstances were far more glorious than before: he had all but completed his mission of avenging Lily by destroying Voldemort, had once sat in the headmaster's chair, was a renowned academic authority in the magical world, and possessed a trove of basilisk materials that made every researcher green with envy. Compared to the impoverished Lupin, they existed on entirely different levels.
That former werewolf who had once nearly killed him was now utterly outclassed in every respect—and still had to meekly drink the potion Snape brewed himself. For Snape, it was hard to imagine anything more satisfying.
"As for the second new professor,"
Dumbledore continued, "following Professor Kettleburn's retirement, our former gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys, Rubeus Hagrid, has passed a series of evaluations and will officially assume the position of Care of Magical Creatures professor!"
Amid thunderous applause from the Gryffindor table, Hagrid stood up in a fluster, his massive thigh nearly knocking over the staff table—fortunately, Professor McGonagall reacted quickly. He bowed repeatedly to the students, the grin beneath his thick beard stretching nearly to his ears…
"Well, I should've known!"
Now in his seventh year, Rolf Scamander clapped while shaking his head with a laugh. "Who else would recommend The Monster Book of Monsters as a textbook? Every creature inside is his favorite—and he probably doesn't even realize the book is trying to bite him…"
He had the most authority to say this. Rolf had long assisted Hagrid alongside Professor Kettleburn, and last term they had even researched basilisks together. He had spent more time with Hagrid than Harry and the others ever had.
"Professor Hagrid is the successor personally endorsed by Professor Kettleburn."
Dumbledore glanced at Hagrid and said cheerfully, "He possesses unparalleled practical experience in the study of magical creatures, and for many years has made tremendous contributions to the ecological balance and species research of the Forbidden Forest… Believe me, he will certainly open your eyes in his classes!"
Avada's eyebrow twitched sharply.
"Alright, that covers the important matters."
Without waiting for the applause to die down, Dumbledore gestured for Hagrid to sit and immediately waved his hand. "Let the feast begin!"
Lavish, exquisite dishes once again filled the long tables. The clatter of cutlery and animated discussion filled the Great Hall's air—people ate while debating why Hogsmeade would be closed on Saturday mornings, whether it had anything to do with the recently escaped Sirius Black; speculating about Professor Lupin's background; and wondering exactly how Hagrid planned to teach his classes…
"Oh, right—you probably don't know how to read The Monster Book of Monsters yet, do you?"
The moment Rolf said this, countless heads turned expectantly. It seemed everyone had suffered plenty at that book's hands. "Just gently stroke the spine, and the book will calm down so you can read it normally. But the effect isn't permanent—one stroke only lasts two or three days, so it's best to keep it bound with a belt or sealed with a Freezing Charm."
"Actually, I have an even simpler solution…"
(End of Chapter)