As the day of their return to school drew closer, things became much more relaxed.
Malfoy and Pansy arranged to meet at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Of course, by sixth year, parents no longer needed to accompany their children to and from school.
Well, except for the Weasley family's peculiar habit of sending the entire family to see their children off on the train.
"I really don't want to go back to class. And now I have to deal with those brats who enjoy breaking school rules."
After boarding the train and finding her compartment, Pansy placed her small bag on the long table in front of her and complained casually.
Malfoy simply sat in silence, staring out of the window.
This rare moment of peace had reportedly come at a considerable cost.
The Hogwarts professors had gone to great lengths to enchant the entire railway line and the Hogwarts Express itself with powerful protective magic. Without Lord Voldemort's personal intervention, breaking through these enchantments would have been virtually impossible.
The scenery outside the window continued to change.
Pastoral landscapes gave way to winding mountain ranges. Morning gradually turned into afternoon, and everything passed by in the blink of an eye.
As they approached their destination, Pansy went to help guide the first-year students.
Everything seemed ordinary.
If not for the worry etched across the faces of so many students.
The turbulent situation had left almost everyone feeling anxious.
As usual, the first-year students travelled to the castle by boat, while the older students rode in carriages pulled by Thestrals.
Of course, most people did not know that Thestrals were pulling the carriages. They simply believed that the vehicles moved through magic.
When the Thestrals passed through a pair of magnificent cast-iron gates, flanked by numerous stone pillars topped with winged boars, the students realised they had arrived at Hogwarts.
They climbed down from the Thestral-drawn carriages and passed one by one through the two open oak doors. Crossing the stone floor, they entered the Great Hall and took their seats according to their respective Houses.
Only a few people were seated at each House table. Most of the students were still making their way inside.
Hermione sat alone at the end of the long table.
It was rare for the famous trio to be reduced to just one member.
Ron and Harry should still be in the carriages.
Even Malfoy would not have known where they were.
Hermione had not spent her summer holiday at home at all. Instead, she had remained at Hogwarts throughout the entire holiday, practising her Animagus transformation.
Her ultimate goal, of course, was to keep an eye on him.
If Malfoy knew about it, he would probably have a rather peculiar expression on his face.
The girl's determination truly exceeded his imagination.
As usual, the Great Hall was decorated with numerous floating candles, their light making the plates below sparkle.
At the staff table, the students noticed a new face.
He was a middle-aged man with a walrus-like moustache, a round belly, and a friendly smile that made him appear exceptionally approachable.
The students gradually took their seats until the Hall was almost full, though several places remained vacant for the first-years.
Then came the Sorting Ceremony.
The tattered Sorting Hat had composed a new song, and the Prefects led the first-year students towards their respective House tables.
The final proceedings before dinner began.
"First of all, the Quidditch tournament will remain suspended."
What Professor McGonagall did not reveal was that this had also been Dumbledore's wish.
"In addition, the Quidditch pitch near the Forbidden Forest has been designated a restricted area. Entry is strictly prohibited, and anyone who violates this rule will be dealt with according to school regulations."
"This applies especially to younger students and first-years. You are absolutely forbidden from entering the area."
The evil aura surrounding the Forbidden Forest had grown increasingly powerful, almost enveloping the Quidditch pitch. The area was unsuitable for students of any year to enter.
The audience began murmuring among themselves. Some sounded disappointed.
"Administrator Filch has asked me to inform everyone that students are strictly forbidden from bringing items purchased from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes into the school this year."
"Any joke products purchased from the joke shop are prohibited," Professor McGonagall added seriously.
"Self-defence tools are exempt."
In the past, the Weasley twins would certainly have pulled amusing faces or done something else to entertain the students.
However, they had both graduated and were no longer at Hogwarts.
The Gryffindor students found their absence somewhat strange.
"At the same time, we are delighted to welcome a new teacher this year: Professor Slughorn."
Professor McGonagall announced that any sixth-year student with excellent grades would be welcome to join his advanced class.
At the far end of the staff table, Slughorn stood up. His bald head gleamed beneath the candlelight, while his large belly, covered by a waistcoat, cast a deep shadow across the table.
"He was a former colleague of mine, and he has agreed to return to his former position as the Potions professor."
"His return was also arranged at the invitation of Professor Dumbledore before his death."
"Potions?"
"Potions?"
"Did I hear that correctly?"
The word echoed throughout the Great Hall. Everyone wondered whether they had misunderstood.
"What about Snape?"
A murmur swept through the crowd.
"Was he fired? That's something worth celebrating," Ron said optimistically.
As though responding to the students' questions, Professor McGonagall quickly explained:
"Professor Snape will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts."
Clearly, their wish had not come true.
Professor McGonagall's answer was completely unexpected.
Her words were like a bomb dropped into a shallow pond.
"Oh, my God! He's going to teach?"
That was the reaction of most of the students.
Only the first-years had little impression of Snape, but seeing the reactions around them, even they sensed that this was probably not a good thing.
Snape slowly stood up. He was still wearing his black robes, and his greasy black hair remained unchanged.
He bowed expressionlessly to the students.
Why is this happening?
Where is Professor Moody?
"Regarding Professor Moody…"
Professor McGonagall continued.
"He suffered an accident while fighting Werewolves. His wooden leg was bitten off and needs to be replaced. He is currently recovering."
"You may visit him in the school hospital."
"School hospital? What does 'school hospital' mean?"
Another round of whispered discussion broke out.
"Isn't St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries the best hospital?"
"Due to the current turbulent situation, St Mungo's Hospital and Hogwarts have reached an agreement. All patients have been temporarily transferred here."
"The school hospital has been expanded. If you have the opportunity, you will be able to see it tomorrow."
"Also, faking an illness is strictly prohibited."
Professor McGonagall emphasised this point, her hawk-like gaze sweeping across the many boys in the Hall. It was clearly a warning for the future.
The students found it strange that she had deliberately stressed this particular rule.
Many of the boys understood what she meant the following day.
"All right, that is all. You must be starving. Let's begin dinner."
Food began appearing automatically on the plates, leaving many of the first-years stunned.
They wondered what kind of magic was responsible, but their hunger quickly overwhelmed their curiosity.
After all, they had never had so many choices at home.
The new school year at Hogwarts had officially begun.
After dinner, the Prefects first led their respective first-year students around the dormitories and explained the passwords.
Once they had reiterated several important rules, their duties for the day officially came to an end.
In the Gryffindor common room, the trio sat around a wooden table, with Hermione being relentlessly questioned by the other two.
"Where did you go during the holidays? All the letters we sent you were returned by owl."
Hermione, of course, had no intention of telling them the truth.
"Nowhere special. I stayed at home and read all day. Perhaps you wrote the address incorrectly."
She spoke dismissively.
Naturally, she could not tell them the truth. She had spent the entire holiday at Hogwarts.
"Oh, and we can even take Potions!"
Ron became excited when discussing his examination results. He seemed particularly pleased about having a new teacher.
He had been lucky. He had obtained all the grades he was supposed to receive, and his Outstanding grade had not been revoked.
It had to be said that timing was sometimes a wonderful thing.
Harry nodded in agreement.
Apart from his performance in Divination, his results were also quite respectable.
The group continued chatting casually.
And so, their sixth year at Hogwarts slowly began.