Chapter 308: The Opening Feast
At last, the Hogwarts Express began to slow.
The train gradually rolled to a stop.
Immediately, the corridors filled with noise as students hurried to gather their trunks, owl cages, and pets before disembarking.
Ron, who had returned only briefly after carrying out his Prefect duties, disappeared into the corridors once again, leaving Harry and Hermione to look after their own belongings.
---
After leaving the train, they walked only a short distance before a lantern glowing with a warm yellow light emerged from the darkness.
Its gentle glow swayed with every step.
Holding it was Professor Grubbly-Plank, the substitute Care of Magical Creatures professor.
The stern middle-aged witch had been assigned the traditional duty of guiding the new first-years.
As always, the first-years separated from the older students.
Following Hogwarts tradition, they would cross the lake by boat, commemorating the journey once taken by the school's four founders.
Everyone else continued toward the waiting carriages.
The narrow path beyond the station was damp from the rain.
Water flowed quietly along the roadside as they walked.
Nearly a hundred horse-drawn carriages waited silently nearby, ready to carry the older students to the castle.
But...
Only a handful of students could actually see what pulled them.
Thestrals.
Creatures visible only to those who had witnessed death.
To everyone else...
The space before each carriage appeared completely empty.
---
Luna quietly approached one of the waiting carriages.
In her dreamy eyes stood a magnificent creature.
Its fleshless body was covered with tight black skin stretched over visible bones.
Its dragon-like head remained perfectly still.
Blank white eyes stared silently into the darkness.
Large bat-like wings folded neatly against its skeletal frame.
The creature stood motionless, giving off an eerie yet strangely peaceful presence.
The Thestral gently lowered its head.
Accepting Luna's touch.
To everyone else...
Her behavior appeared incredibly odd.
Every year, whenever she saw them...
She instinctively comforted these misunderstood creatures.
"People really weren't wrong to call her Loony Lovegood."
Ron still sounded slightly irritated, perhaps because of what had happened earlier on the train.
"There's obviously nothing there."
He spoke loudly, glancing toward Harry and Hermione as though expecting them to agree.
Luna looked back calmly.
"Perhaps..."
"The inability to see them is what true happiness looks like."
A faint smile crossed her face before she climbed quietly into the old wooden carriage.
"See?"
Ron pointed after her.
"Nobody can understand half the things she says."
Hermione, however, remained silent.
She stared thoughtfully at the empty space before the carriage.
As though...
Something really might have been standing there.
"Hermione."
Ron waved impatiently.
"Stop daydreaming."
"We'll be late."
Only then did she climb aboard.
---
The line of carriages creaked into motion.
One after another, they rolled through the school gates.
They passed between the towering stone pillars crowned with winged boars.
Ahead...
Hogwarts Castle gradually emerged from the darkness.
Its towering spires rose into the night sky.
Warm red light glowed from the occasional high window.
The carriages finally came to a stop at the foot of the broad stone staircase leading to the massive oak doors.
Older students climbed out and entered the castle in groups.
---
The Great Hall was already overflowing with students.
The four long House tables stretched across the hall beneath the enchanted ceiling, which perfectly reflected the stormy night outside.
Thousands of floating candles illuminated everything below.
Silvery ghosts drifted lazily through the air.
Students laughed loudly as they exchanged stories from their holidays.
Friends greeted one another enthusiastically.
Others compared new hairstyles, robes, and summer experiences.
Very few students appeared affected by the news of Voldemort's return.
For most of them...
It still felt distant.
Almost unreal.
---
A few moments later...
The doors of the Great Hall swung open.
Professor McGonagall entered first.
Behind her followed a long line of nervous first-year students.
Excitement and fear were written plainly across their young faces.
McGonagall carried a small wooden stool.
Resting upon it...
Was an old, battered wizard's hat.
Covered in patches.
Frayed along the brim.
With a long tear running down one side.
Years of service had left the Sorting Hat looking thoroughly worn.
The entire hall gradually fell silent.
Everyone waited.
Then...
The slit beside the brim opened like a mouth.
The Sorting Hat began to sing.
> Long ago I was a brand-new hat...
This year's song differed from previous years.
It reflected upon the history of the four Houses.
It spoke of their founders.
Their ideals.
The changes that time had brought.
Then, toward the end...
Its tone became solemn.
> Stand united...
> For should division take root within...
> Everything may crumble from the inside.
> I have spoken honestly.
> I have sounded the warning.
> Now...
> Let the Sorting begin.
The song ended.
Soft applause echoed through the Great Hall.
---
The first-year students lined up before the staff table.
Professor McGonagall carefully placed the stool at the front before stepping aside.
In the flickering candlelight, every child's face appeared pale with nervousness.
One by one...
They stepped forward.
Placed the hat upon their heads.
Waited.
Then hurried away to the table chosen for them.
The Sorting Ceremony ended quickly.
---
At the center of the staff table sat Albus Dumbledore.
He wore deep purple robes embroidered with silver stars, along with a matching pointed hat.
Leaning slightly toward him was the witch seated beside him, whispering quietly into his ear.
She was short and squat.
Her grayish-brown curls were tied with an enormous, hideous pink bow.
Over her robes she wore an equally pink fluffy cardigan.
After speaking, she turned slightly.
Lifting her wine glass, she took a delicate sip.
Her pale, toad-like face, drooping eyelids, and bulging eyes slowly swept across the students seated throughout the Great Hall.
Setting the glass back down, she forced a smile.
"I hope our cooperation will be a pleasant one, Headmaster Dumbledore."
Dolores Umbridge's shrill, grating voice echoed softly beside him.