After the thorough train-wide inspection, the Aurors departed, taking the Dementors with them.
What?
Were you expecting Hydrus to strut about, commanding the Dementors like some fearsome queen and saving the day?
Tsk tsk…
Hydrus had her own image to maintain, thank you very much. Did you think the title Dementor Queen sounded cool?
"Ah! My idol is a Dementor! I'm done, unsubscribing!"
—Don't underestimate the notoriety of Dementors in the wizarding world. Haven't you heard the cruelest curse wizards can utter is "You deserve a Dementor's kiss"?
Hydrus wasn't about to flaunt her connection to Dementors in public.
By the time they finally reached Hogwarts, delayed by the Aurors for over an hour, the young witches and wizards were already starving.
Worse still, they had to wait for the new students to complete the "Founders' Path."
By 7:30 PM, the little first-years finally arrived at the castle, led in by Professor McGonagall like a flock of ducklings.
New students were always nervous; no exception. The wizarding world's tradition of intimidating first-years with the Sorting Ceremony was firmly entrenched.
It wasn't until the Sorting Hat began singing its opening tune using Hydrus's song that the first-years realized: just put on the dusty old hat, and the sorting would succeed.
Relieved, they thought: a hat with our music taste is a good hat. It won't bite off half our brains!
The Sorting began.
"Astoria Greengrass…
Slytherin!"
Daphne beamed, waving vigorously as her sister walked toward the long table.
Draco clapped politely, unaware of how important this little girl was to him.
"Hamo Tsuruko!"
Hydrus's head lifted in surprise. She recognized the name.
A Japanese girl, about fifteen, stepped up.
"Another older first-year?"
"No," someone whispered. "She's transferring from a Japanese magic school due to her parents' work relocation."
The Sorting Hat spoke in Tsuruko's mind:
Gifted… from a prominent magical family, pure-blood… oh, and ambitious!
"Slytherin!"
Tsuruko stood, returned the hat to its stool, bowed respectfully, and hurried to the Slytherin table. Applause and smiles greeted her.
She went straight to Hydrus's side, cheeks flushed, visibly excited.
"Senior Astre! You remember me?"
"Of course, Tsuruko," Hydrus said, shaking her hand. "And what about your Totchi-san?"
Hydrus remembered Totchi, Tsuruko's adorable invisible companion, from her Japanese Budokan concert six years ago.
Tsuruko clutched her heart and mouth in disbelief.
"You actually remember! Totchi-san was left on the train! I heard the school will send him to my dormitory!"
Hydrus nodded. "Sit wherever you like."
"Yes, senior!"
The Slytherin interactions didn't disrupt the Sorting.
"Luna Lovegood!"
"Ravenclaw!"
Applause echoed along the Ravenclaw table.
"Ginny Weasley!"
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted. George and Fred clapped until their hands turned red, even Percy couldn't help but stand.
Despite McGonagall and the Sorting Hat speeding things along, the ceremony still took time.
By the time the feast began, the starving students devoured their food with abandon, caring nothing for appearances.
Of course, there were exceptions.
"Hydrus, are you dieting?"
Iselin noticed only a bowl of light cabbage soup in front of her.
Hydrus tapped the table. Instantly, the same bowl appeared before Iselin.
"Don't talk. Eat first."
Hydrus's version of the soup had chicken, duck, ham, dried scallops, pork elbow… and she added lamb, pufferfish, and goose-neck barnacles. Clear as it looked, the taste was extraordinary.
"Mm…"
Iselin covered her mouth in awe. Hydrus's taste was impeccable.
In truth, neither of them was very hungry—they had already eaten on the train, right from Hydrus's suitcase.
Dragon-flame roasted meat (Noberta: I'm still a kid!) was delicious, but nothing compared to this soup.
Once everyone had eaten, Dumbledore clapped his hands. The food vanished.
Standing, he addressed the school:
"Another new term begins. First-years, be warned: the Forbidden Forest is dangerous. Do not enter without permission. Do not cast spells in the corridors, and no night wandering. Mr. Filch is eager to have a chat, and professors may assign detention."
After the Aronia Roll incident last year, Filch nearly faced expulsion. Parents wouldn't tolerate a caretaker with improper intentions toward female students.
Yet investigations revealed Filch was innocent—entirely bound by Roll's restraining charm.
How could a poor caretaker resist a witch? Even a sixth-year girl.
Filch described Roll's actions as "necessary measures to prevent harm."
In reality, under love potion influence, Aronia's actions weren't even properly insane—they were something else entirely. Filch had spent two days in the infirmary!
Dumbledore continued:
"Students are also aware that dangerous Dark Wizards have escaped from Azkaban," he glanced at Hydrus. "All students, stay vigilant. Never go to Hogsmeade alone, and report any issues immediately to a professor."
"Now, Prefects, escort your houses back to the common rooms. Good night."
The opening ceremony ended. Students returned to their houses, professors to their rooms.
Crack!
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Hydrus appeared in high spirits, unusually cheerful as she greeted him.
"Hydrus," Dumbledore flustered, flipping over the letter in his hands, "could you…?"
"No!"
Hydrus grinned. "Why enter the front door when I can Apparate? Wizards do things in style!"
If it weren't for convenience, she'd never return to the wizarding world.
"Alright. What's the matter this time?"
Hydrus plopped into the chair opposite Dumbledore, leaning on the table, chin in hands.
"I formally notify you, Professor Dumbledore," she said, "Minister Crouch searched last year's Ministry decrees. There is no record of your order that I must pass all OWLs to advance to sixth year!"
"So I'm a sixth-year now!"
Dumbledore's eyes flickered with surprise. Perhaps he suspected she manipulated Fudge out of office to avoid repeating a year.
But he already knew: Hydrus cared about appearances. If saving face meant skipping a year, so be it. Not a big deal.
"Yes, yes. Looks like you won't repeat a year," Dumbledore smiled.
"Only the OWLs registration has closed. We've already submitted it for you."
Hydrus shrugged. "No problem. Getting straight O's in twelve subjects is still quite an achievement!"
"But," Dumbledore added, eyes twinkling behind his glasses, "to graduate, you must complete two full years after OWLs. So although you didn't repeat a year, you won't graduate until '95."
The rule hadn't existed before, but as Headmaster, he decided.
…Hydrus was speechless.
Wasn't that just another way of saying she repeated a year?
Just phrased differently. Not recorded in the school's history. No one would laugh at her. Perhaps acceptable.
"Fine," she nodded. "So be it."
Though annoyed, she hadn't passed one OWL subject anyway.
Hydrus didn't know OWLs had retakes. But of course, Dumbledore wouldn't allow her one.
"Good. Since we're clear on that, Hydrus," Dumbledore said, smiling—perhaps slightly flattering,
"When are you planning to return Fawkes to me?"