Finally, the group stopped in front of a great painting. Like all the other paintings Harry had seen so far, this one could move and was moving, until it stopped. The portrait began to look the students over.
“Well, out with it!” The sharp voice did not suit the witch, who was very pretty. She had very dark skin and eyes; and straight black hair that ran all the way down her back. Her dress was a deep green, as were her shoes. She wore no jewelry of any kind. Her smile revealed perfect teeth, but it was not a warm smile at all.
The male prefect stepped forward and said the words, “Those who do not learn, do not live.”
Instantly the witch’s smile became genuine. “Welcome.” Her voice was much warmer now. The portrait swung open, revealing a hole for the students to climb through. And they did, in order of years, from first to seventh. Harry noticed that the prefects entered last, and then the portrait swung shut.
He looked around the room. It was very large, had many sides, and seven bookshelves, some of which stretched to the ceiling, and all of which were completely full. On two walls were doors, and on one was a fireplace. It was not lit, but there was wood. The floor was carpeted with rugs of many colors in intricate patterns. There were a few chairs scattered about.
And Harry noticed that Professor Flitwick stood at a corner. He was, per normal, smiling widely. He flicked his wand at the fireplace and a roaring flame instantly appeared within. The flame was bright blue. There was no smoke.
Professor Flitwick looked around at all the students, beaming. He was a very tiny man, tinier even than any of the first years, but he somehow loomed over all of them. In his squeaky voice he called out, “Hello there!”
Some of the students murmured the same. Flitwick’s smile grew even wider. “Well, welcome back to Hogwarts, everyone! And for those of you who have just joined us, welcome to Hogwarts, and to Ravenclaw House! I count nine new students among our number, nine new eagles here to learn to fly!”
His speech continued. “As always on September 1, we are missing last year’s seventh year students. They are now making their way in the world, and those among you who are now seventh years shall fly away in June. And next fall, our current sixth years will become seventh years, and so on down the line, until our new fledglings finish school, with their seven years of hopefully wonderful experiences and memories. Such is the way of Hogwarts!”
He paused for a few seconds and then continued. “Well, I thought we might stay a while, and allow our new faces to introduce themselves.” At this, Harry heard a few older students groan. But Professor Flitwick’s smile didn’t falter, even for a second. “Those of you who don’t wish to stay may run off to bed, if you like. You all have classes in the morning after all.”
Well over half the students left at this. Other than the nine first years and Professor Flitwick, only a couple from each year remained. Professor Flitwick just shook his head. Harry turned his attention to the roaring smokeless fire, and wondered what sort of spell it took to do that, and how advanced it was.
The professor began speaking again. “So then! Whenever you’re ready, just introduce yourself, and tell us whatever you like! As much or as little as you want!”
A boy Harry recognized as Michael Corner stood up after a few minutes; he was the first. He was fair-skinned, somewhat tall but very slight; his hair was extremely short, but slightly curled anyway. His eyes were very dark, though they were warm. “Well, I’ll go. I’m Michael Corner. I live with my dad in London; just dad and me. Dad’s a wizard, mum was Muggle, but she’s dead. Dad was a Hufflepuff, he left Hogwarts in 1973. I think he was about sixth in his year. He works for Gringotts.”
And then Michael sat down.
The next student to stand was a girl. Harry recognized her as Su Li. She was tall, the tallest of the first years. Her skin was a light brown and her eyes were black. Her hair was black and hung to her shoulders, perfectly straight. She had a very stern face. “My name is Su Li. My parents left Hogwarts in 1969; both were Ravenclaws. I have mother’s family name, not father’s. Mother’s family is originally from China, and has been all-magic for over two thousand years; and father’s ancestors have been Hogwarts students since the twelfth century. I have one sister, two years younger than me. Her name is Emma, after father’s mother. Mother does not care much for her, as she appears to be a Squib. I do not know. Emma is a good person, magic or not. I would love her regardless; father certainly does. I came expecting to be a Ravenclaw, and such I am.”
She sat down. Harry thought a little about what she had said. He had never heard or read the term ‘Squib’, but since Su had defined it he had no need to ask, or to look it up. He thought it was curious that non-magic people could be born into an all-magic family. He supposed it was just chance.
The next student was a short, blond-haired, blue-eyed boy that Harry remembered was called Terry Boot. “Hello, everyone.” He spoke softly and slowly. “I’m Terry Boot; it’s really Terrence, but nobody calls me that. I live in Manchester with my parents and brother. My parents are Muggles, and I’m shocked they let me come here, because both are schoolteachers and I was expected at the nearest comprehensive. I have a younger brother named James; he’ll be six in December. He looks like me, but smaller.” Terry smiled warmly. He sounded happier than the two previous students. “I’m really excited to be here; I think that this world is brilliant. It’s going to be strange going home each year. The day I went to Diagon Alley to get my school things, I came home with the lot, and all I could think of was how plain that life now seemed. Well, I suppose that’s all.” He sat down. With his slow and soft speech, he’d been standing for several minutes.
Another boy rose immediately. Harry recognized this one as Anthony Goldstein. He had olive skin and wavy brown hair. His eyes were green, but darker than Harry’s. He had a very long nose, and an expression almost as stern as Su Li’s. Then it brightened and Harry immediately realized it had been a front. “It’s good to meet you all, and to be here. I’m Anthony, Anthony Goldstein. I live in Yorkshire with mum. She’s a witch; left Hogwarts in 1978, Hufflepuff House. Dad’s an accountant. I don’t have any siblings. Mum and dad weren’t married; they met at a party in late 1979. Both got extremely pissed and they ended up shagging. That’s how I came about.” He was clearly amused. “Anyway, they stayed together for a few years, but they didn’t have any more kids, and they broke up when I was six. I see dad mostly in summers, but sometimes at holidays too. I’d like them to get back together, but mum swears Merlin will come back from the dead before that happens. Therefore I bet they’re back together before the end of this year.” He laughed, and sat down.
Harry was smiling. He thought he might like Anthony Goldstein; the boy clearly was unafraid of laughing at his life. That, Harry respected.
Though Harry wanted to listen to the rest, he found himself unable to avoid tuning them out. He concentrated on sensing the auras around the school. There were a lot more than would be accounted for by the number of students and the teachers, and Harry guessed that there must be a considerable number of faculty members who did not attend the feast.
After a while, he noticed that several people were staring at him, including Professor Flitwick. He sighed. Going against the tide of the students he’d paid attention to, he remained sitting. He cleared his throat. “My name is Harry Potter.”
Everyone nodded.
“I’ve been told that some of you may know of me. Well, for better or worse, you can probably throw whatever you think you know of me out. I refuse point-blank to be defined by events I don’t remember and didn’t control. If you insist on defining me by those events, we will not get along. Beyond that, I don’t know.” He smiled, trying to convey at least a bit of warmth. “I am happy to be here, though, and it is nice to meet you.”
He stopped there. He didn’t want to talk about his life right now. If people had questions they could ask, but there were too many people here, and he was tired besides and wanted to sleep.
Professor Flitwick looked somewhat disappointed for a second, but he then brightened. He began talking again. “Well, time for bed then! Witches, you go in the door on my left; Wizards, you go on the right. First years, you have the lowermost rooms on both sides of the tower, and the years climb as the stairs climb. Each of you will find your school trunks by a bed in your room. If you choose to change beds, you may do so when you reach your room. If you have brought owls, they are in the owlery; those of you with cats or toads or other small pets will find them in your rooms. If you cannot find your familiar, see me and I shall find them. Good night!”
Harry followed Terry, Michael, and Anthony as they made their way up the right staircase to the first landing. He walked to the bed he knew was his, because his labeled trunk was at its foot. As it turns out, only Terry had brought a familiar: a small white cat. Or at least, it was the only animal in the room.
Harry took off his robe and shirt, pulled a plastic bag from his trunk, and put them inside. He lay on top of his bed for a while, before crawling under the covers.
He fell asleep quickly, thinking that whatever came after today, came after.
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(Posted Sat, 27 Dec 2003 22:53)
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