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~ Corvus Black - POV ~
~ Great Hall, Hogwarts ~
As my tie and the inside of my robes shimmer into green with silver lining, I stand from the stool and head towards the Slytherin table after returning the Sorting Hat to an shocked McGonagall. On the way I catch Nymphadora's eye and give her a wink, which she scowls back at and mouths 'wanker' at me her hair still a pinkish-red hue.
'Good.' I think to myself. 'Any strong emotions towards me is better than an apathetic view of me.'
At the Slytherin table I'm welcomed with enthusiastic applause as if I'm truly going to be the second coming of Merlin. All fifty or so of my housemates are on their feet still applauding as I make my way towards a spot on the bench with my back towards the wall. That way I can watch the rest of the Sorting Ceremony and get a good look at the staff table, which had finally come out of their dazed state as I sat down. Yet, you can still hear some mutterings from the other tables about the hatstall and the Sorting Hats comparison of me to Merlin.
While the rest of the hall starts to settle down I decided to take a closer look at the staff table. Most of which are the same as the staff from Harry's first few year's at Hogwarts, except for; the Care of Magical Creatures teacher whom I'm assuming is Professor Silvanus Kettleburn, who retired before Harry's third year, by his prosthetic limbs and many scars. Then there is this year's, and only this year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, who well be 'lost' by the end of the school year because of Voldemorts jinx on the Defence Against the Dark Arts post. And finally we have the Muggle Studies teacher, a not so jittery and without the purple turban around his head, Professor Quirinus Quirrell.
'Other than the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, I probably won't be interacting with the other two until my third year.' I thought to myself as McGonagall finally returned to the Sorting Ceremony.
For Gryffindor there was Charlie Weasley obviously, and seven other first years. For Hufflepuff, other than Nymphadora Tonks, there were only three others. For Ravenclaw, besides Badeea Ali, who was sorted first, was four other first years. And finally for Slytherin, other than myself—the second coming of Merlin, was four other first years.
After the first year's were sorted into their house and Professor McGonagall had stepped back and taken her seat at the staff table, Headmaster Dumbledore had stood up for his start-of-term speech.
"The very best of evenings to you! Now… to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you here in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... but firstly some reminders. The Forbidden Forest is, as always, forbidden to all students..."
He went on for a while to introduced the the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, who was as nondescript as someone can be, and whose existence that I had filed away as 'nonexistent, gone by end-of-year." He then finally got to the end of his speech after the school stopped applauding the new temporary Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few extra words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you." At his command, four Hogwarts house-elves filled the tables with the prepared food from the Hogwarts kitchen right underneath the Great Hall.
The types of food served were roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak, joints, steak and kidney pie, boiled potatoes, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and peppermint humbugs. For dessert, there were blocks of assorted ice cream, apple pies, spotted dick, chocolate gateau, treacle tart, pumpkin tart, chocolate éclairs & jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, and rice pudding.
As we 'tucked in' to our meals the four houses started chatting amongst themselves. Younger children asked about the staff as soon as they got the opportunity and felt self-assured enough. Older kids caught up with their friends and compared their summer holidays.
While the Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff tables were a bit rowdy and loud. The Ravenclaw and Slytherin tables were a bit more subdued. Not that it wasn't loud, it's a bunch of children in a magical school, it'll probably be constantly loud. Yet, with Ravenclaw houses bookishness and Slytherins pure-blood noble mannerisms, the two houses were far from rambunctious as the other two houses.
Yet, while my fellow first year Slytherins were silently eating and taking everything in, I had started up a conversation with the fifth-year prefect Felix Rosier. While still upholding my noble etiquette I got him to speak extensively about the staff and the castle. None of which is truly helpful to me but should save my year mates some time in getting accustomed to the castle. Something that they realized judging by the thankful nods they've been sending me.
The upper years have obviously noticed as well and with me being compared to Merlin, and his association with Slytherin house, has already established me at the top of the hierarchy. House politics are going to be easy enough it seems, and that's even before my first actually day of classes has started.
'Looks like my first year is going to be so breeze.'
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