Once Anne and Hermione climbed into the carriage, it began to move slowly.
"Anne, why couldn't I see Thestrals before, but now I can?" Harry asked, puzzled, his eyes fixed on the dark, skeletal creatures pulling the carriage.
Anne looked to Hermione, silently signaling her to explain.
Hermione, clearly eager to answer, gave Anne a quick grin and launched into an explanation as if she were in class.
"Thestrals are a breed of winged horses, black and bony, often misunderstood. Some say they bring bad luck, but that's not true. They're only visible to those who have directly witnessed death. In reality, they're rare magical creatures found in only a few places across the world. They're highly intelligent and incredibly useful. Once tamed, they never leave their master. Thestrals have a remarkable sense of direction, just tell them where you want to go, and they'll take you there. And they can fly at incredible speeds..."
Hermione's explanation may have cleared Harry's confusion, but it didn't seem to lift his spirits, in fact, he looked even more troubled.
Of course. You had to have seen death to see them.
Cedric Diggory.
The name echoed silently in everyone's mind.
But the silence didn't last long.
"You two prefects saw that woman, Grubbly-Plank, wasn't it?, on the platform, didn't you?" Ginny asked. "What's she doing back? Hagrid's not leaving, is he?"
"I'd be happy if he did," Luna said dreamily. "He's not exactly a good teacher, right?"
"He is a good teacher!" Harry, Ron, and Ginny said quickly, almost in unison.
Harry glanced at Hermione and Anne, who hadn't jumped in as fast.
Hermione cleared her throat awkwardly. "Um, yes! Of course. He's really quite good."
"My uncle says Hagrid's a decent guy," Anne added helpfully.
"Oh, please. Everyone in Ravenclaw thinks he's ridiculous," Luna said with her usual airy bluntness.
"Then your house has no sense of humor," Ron retorted.
The wheels beneath them groaned as the carriage slowed.
Luna didn't seem offended by Ron's snark. On the contrary, she stared at him like he was an oddly amusing TV show.
The towering silhouette of Hogwarts Castle loomed ever closer, its spires jet-black against the dark night sky. Here and there, a few glowing windows cast fiery beams of light over the landscape.
The carriage clattered to a halt beside the stone steps leading up to the oak doors.
The group disembarked, climbed the stairs, and entered the castle. The torch-lit entrance hall glowed with warm, red-gold light. They crossed the stone floor and walked toward the two large doors on the right, which led into the Great Hall, where the welcome feast awaited.
The Great Hall was filled with the four long House tables, beneath a ceiling enchanted to look like the night sky, dark and starless, just like the view outside. Candles floated above them, casting their flickering glow on the pale ghosts drifting among the students and the excited faces of classmates chattering and waving at friends from other Houses, comparing new haircuts and summer stories.
"See you later, Anne," Hermione said with a wave.
Anne waved back and made her way to the Slytherin table.
"Why are you so late? Is your arm okay?" Fanny asked before Anne had even sat down.
"Yeah, much better. It was too crowded getting off the train, so I waited until the crowd thinned out," Anne replied.
On the last day of summer, Fanny had called Anne, Orbie had answered the phone, and that's how Fanny found out Anne had been hospitalized. She'd wanted to visit, but Anne had turned her down.
Now they chatted about a few summer things they hadn't caught up on earlier. Anne also mentioned that she was thinking of buying a car during the Christmas holidays.
"Whoa, cool! Take me with you when you go! We should take a road trip!" Fanny said, clearly envious.
"Sure, as long as your parents are okay with it," Anne smiled.
"Come on, you're a prefect now. I'll just tell them that and they'll definitely say yes!" Fanny grinned.
"I seriously doubt being a prefect is that persuasive," Anne chuckled.
"Not just any prefect, you caused a stir at the Ministry, remember? I heard Fudge himself was there that day," Fanny teased.
Anne gave a sheepish smile.
Just then, the hall doors opened. A long line of nervous-looking first-years followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall. She was carrying a stool, and on it sat an ancient wizard's hat, patched, frayed, and torn, with a wide slit near the brim.
The hall's buzz died down.
The new students lined up in front of the staff table, facing the older students. McGonagall carefully placed the stool before them and stepped back.
Everyone held their breath.
Then, the slit in the hat opened like a mouth, and the Sorting Hat began to sing:
"In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether
Sorting May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you. . . .
Let the Sorting now begin.
The hall broke into applause, though quieter, more thoughtful than usual.
"That was… interesting," Anne remarked, eyes still on the Sorting Hat.
"Not the first time it's issued a warning," said the Bloody Baron suddenly, emerging from the table. "But it's been a long time since the last." He floated up toward the ceiling.
McGonagall shot a stern look at the whispering students. The room fell silent again. She scanned the hall, then looked down at the long list in her hand.
"Yuan Abercrombie."
One by one, the students were sorted. The last new student joined Hufflepuff, and McGonagall took the hat and stool and left. Dumbledore rose to his feet.
"To our new students, welcome!" he said, spreading his arms and beaming. "To our returning students, welcome back! There's plenty of time for speeches… but not tonight. Tuck in!"
Laughter and applause filled the room.
With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, food appeared across the tables, roast beef, pies, vegetables, loaves of bread, pots of jam, and jugs of pumpkin juice.
Anne quickly pulled several dishes toward her.
Unable to cut the meat one-handed, she pushed the platter in front of Fanny.
"Help me out, I want meat," Anne said, completely unapologetic.
Fanny efficiently cut up a plate of meat and slid it back to Anne, just as she finished a small cake and forked a piece of meat into her mouth, mumbling a thanks.
"You know, I think someone else would be very eager to do this for you," Fanny said as she started on another plate.
"Who?" Anne asked, her mouth full.
"Miss Granger," Fanny said pointedly.
"...You're joking," Anne said, swallowing hard and taking a gulp of pumpkin juice.
"You know I'm not," Fanny said with a wink, handing over more meat.
"And you know my stance on that," Anne said, stabbing her next bite.
"I do. Doesn't mean I can't point it out," Fanny grinned.
Anne resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She still needed Fanny to cut her food.
"Fine, fine, just... cut it slightly more to the left. It's better that way," Anne instructed.
As the feast wound down and the chatter picked up, Dumbledore stood again.
"As we digest that marvelous meal, a few reminders for the start of term," he said. "First-years should note that the Forbidden Forest is, as the name suggests, strictly off-limits. And our older students ought to remember that too."
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me, yet again, to remind everyone that magic is not to be used in the corridors. This is the 426th time he's asked me to say this, and as always, the full list of rules is posted outside his office."
"We have two staff changes this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures. We're also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
A polite but lukewarm applause followed. Dumbledore went on: "Quidditch tryouts will begin on, "
He stopped, glancing at Professor Umbridge, who had stood, though she barely seemed any taller standing than sitting. A few people chuckled.
Umbridge cleared her throat: "Hem hem."
Dumbledore sat down, politely attentive. The other teachers looked far less amused.
"Thank you, Headmaster," Umbridge said with a sugary smile. Her voice was high and girlish, almost breathy. "It's so lovely to be back at Hogwarts! And what a joy it is to see your happy little faces!"
"I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you. I'm sure we'll be great friends!"
Students exchanged skeptical looks. Some openly smirked.
She then launched into a long-winded, dull, overly official speech about change, tradition, and finding the right balance between innovation and the old ways, though no one really paid attention.
When she finally sat down, Dumbledore rose again.
"Thank you, Professor Umbridge. That was... most enlightening. As I was saying, Quidditch tryouts begin Friday. And now, off to bed!"
The hall erupted in noise as benches scraped back. Anne remained seated, Fanny staying beside her.
"Aren't you supposed to help guide the first-years?" Fanny asked.
Anne pointed to her bandaged arm. "Too crowded. And there are four prefects, remember?"
She clearly wasn't counting Malfoy. Fanny got the hint and grinned, staying put with Anne.
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The complete release can be accessed through Patreon.com/Crimson_Lore