Chapter 17

Once the applause from the sorting hat’s opening remarks was done, the first years were brought in, along with the first transfer student to Hogwarts in over twenty-five years.

With the school’s leader now being Headmistress Minerva McGonagall, the reader of the student’s names had become Aurora Sinistra, the Astronomy Teacher. Her slight Romany accent made the names sound quite interesting.

Less than 25 minutes later, Gabriel was one of the new members of Gryffindor house, and the three Houses each had four new young men and women.

With everyone settled, the Headmistress stood up and said to the 211 students, “As you may notice, we have some new teachers, and just as important, we have many of the teachers who are here after defending Hogwarts in the Battle against Evil that was held here less than four months ago.”

She went forward and named each teacher and what they teach, finishing with saying, “Without a qualified teacher until at least next year, I will be teaching Transfiguration, again. That will mean for anyone who wishes to speak to me about my duties as Headmistress, will need to pay attention to the schedule on my office door. Have patience with me please, I am an old woman!”

That brought about an applause, starting from the teachers table. When things had gone quiet, she added, “In the words of the late great Albus Dumbledore, ‘Let’s Eat!’”

The largest of the gleaming clean shiny plates & platters on the four sets of tables were immediately filled with the many varieties of food:

Roast Beef
Roast Chicken
Pork Chops
Large Baked Potatoes
Cornish Pasties
Steak & Kidney Pie
Pumpkin Juice
Non-Alcoholic Butter Beer
Black Pudding
Yorkshire Pudding
Rice Pudding

Harry and Ron, back in their fourth year, determined they served so much food at suppertime so everyone would have an easy time falling asleep.

He was sitting between Professor Hermione Weasley and Professor Aurora Sinistra and he was being careful not to stare at either one.

With his affection for his best friend’s wife and the curves of the Astronomy Teacher, he was keeping to himself.

“Harry,” Mrs. Weasley startled him a little. “Why are you being so quiet? You usually are a big talker, during a meal here at Hogwarts.”

“My dear Professor Weasley, being up here is a little bit daunting after all the years we sat at the House Tables.”

“No need to be nervous,” Professor Sinistra said, putting her hand on mine for a moment. “You must remember the students are very likely much more intimidated by you than you can ever be by them. If you need to know anything about the administrative workings of the school, you could come by my office and I could help you settle in, if need be. Also, thank you for becoming the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher. It is so nice to have such a polite young man sitting next to me at these group meals. Severus was something of a demon to me. Besides everything else, he was constantly trying to get me to his office for a liaison.”

“I knew he was a bastard, but mistreating other teachers is ... just wrong,” the green eyed 18-year-old said as they had a moment glancing each other’s eyes.

He was knocked in the shoulder by Hermione as she whispered, “Be careful with her, Harry. It is rumored that she is part Vampire.” He had a gulp in his throat, as he picked up and drank a whole Butter Beer in one gulp.

That made him wonder and got him worried. ‘If a Wizard sleeps with a Vampiress, what is the resulting child?’

The plates and the food were disappearing before he could get a piece of Kidney Pie, darn it.

“Harry,” Hermione said, “Did you know that we could go sit at the House Tables except for when Headmistress McGonigal says otherwise?”

“Thank you,” he said giving her a light peck on the cheek.

The Headmistress stood for the usual after dinner speech.

“Everyone will be getting their schedules during our morning meal. Until then, Students, go to bed, Teachers please stay. I wish to speak to all of you privately, please?”