Gabriel was still in a foul mood a few hours later, sitting at the Ravenclaw table while the Sorting Ceremony went on. His scowl could've curdled milk.
A sharp pinch on his arm - barely more than a mosquito bite - made him turn.
Luna sat beside him with her cheeks puffed and her pale eyebrows furrowed, glaring up at him with all the intimidating power of an angry kitten.
Adorable, Gabriel thought, the corner of his mouth twitching upward despite himself.
The instant he smiled, Luna's pout vanished, replaced by her usual bright, dreamlike grin.
Gabriel huffed softly and leaned a bit toward her, whispering, "Why were you pouting?"
"You were scaring the firsties," she whispered back, pointing discreetly toward the still-unsorted line of trembling eleven-year-olds at the front of the Hall.
He followed her finger. Sure enough, several of the new students were shooting nervous glances his way. One of them actually flinched when he made eye contact.
"Oh," he mouthed, then gave them a sheepish grin and a small wave, mouthing, sorry.
That seemed to ease their nerves; a few even smiled back.
He couldn't blame them. It must've been terrifying - first trip to Hogwarts, attacked by Dementors on the train, and then, right after stepping into the Great Hall, seeing some older student with strange eyes glaring holes in the wall. Yeah… not the warmest welcome.
He could feel the irritation trying to crawl back in at the thought, but he pushed it away, focusing instead on the petite ball of calm sitting next to him.
"I thought you said I wasn't scary," Gabriel whispered with a crooked grin.
"I think they have Atisidasophibia," Luna said with perfect seriousness, not even tripping over the impossible word.
Gabriel blinked. "They have what?"
"It's the fear of tall, intimidating, extraordinarily handsome people," she explained solemnly, then added, "It's a very unfortunate condition."
Gabriel snorted, shoulders shaking despite the blush in his face. "Yeah, sounds terrible."
She nodded sagely, then let her body fall gently against his arm, half-reclining on him like a sleepy cat.
Gabriel raised his arm in mock protest, earning a quiet grumble from her, before wrapping it around her shoulders instead and pulling her closer. His hand settled on her hair, absentmindedly running his fingers through the silvery strands.
They stayed like that for a while - comfortable, quiet, watching the Sorting unfold. Each time a new student was placed in Ravenclaw, Gabriel gave a sharp whistle and a grin in their direction. A few of the new first-years laughed, and the tension in the Hall seemed to ease a little more each time.
"Psst, Gabe-"
Gabriel turned at the whisper. Across the table, Padma was leaning forward, hand half-covering her mouth. She glanced at the spot where Luna was comfortably leaning against him, then back up at him with a knowing smirk.
He rolled his eyes and tilted his chin upward. "What is it, Padma?"
"Did you really fight a Dementor on the Express?" she asked in a hushed but excited tone. Several nearby students - especially the first years - immediately leaned in, trying to look disinterested while clearly eavesdropping.
"Oh, yes!" Luna said dreamily before Gabriel could answer. "He created a ghost shark that dragged it away - it was the cutest thing! Could you conjure it again, Gabriel?" Her eyes sparkled like moonlight on water.
Padma leaned even closer, joined by a few other Ravenclaws, curiosity crackling through the group.
Gabriel sighed good-naturedly. "Patronus Charm," he said simply. "I'll see about teaching you later."
That earned him several wide-eyed stares and eager nods. Padma was about to return to watching the Sorting when she suddenly stopped and leaned forward again.
"I heard the Gryffindor boys from our year were attacked too," she whispered conspiratorially, "and that the new professor saved them."
Gabriel blinked, then glared without heat. "You're really the same as your sister."
"We are twins," Padma said with a grin, before turning back toward the front.
Gabriel followed her gaze to the Gryffindor table, where he spotted Harry Potter sneaking into the Hall. The boy looked pale, doing his best to slip into his seat unnoticed.
Gabriel's eyes drifted to the staff table. There, seated between Snape and Hagrid, was a man he hadn't seen before - clearly the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
The man's robes were shabby, the fabric worn but clean. His sandy hair was streaked with gray despite his youthful face, which was lined with thin, pale scars that traced across his cheek and jaw like faded lightning. Heavy shadows clung under his eyes, but there was focus and calm behind them - a steady intelligence that swept gently over the students as he watched the ceremony.
And, Gabriel noticed, there was gentleness there too.
'Huh,' he thought, lips twitching upward. 'Maybe this year we'll actually have a competent professor - and since the curse's been broken, we might even get to keep him.'
A few moments later, Dumbledore rose from his seat, spreading his arms slightly as the Hall quieted. Gabriel perked up immediately - because the Headmaster standing meant the feast was imminent.
"Welcome!" said Dumbledore, candlelight shimmering in his silver beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is rather serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"
The Great Hall hushed.
"As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express," Dumbledore continued gravely, "our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."
Gabriel's jaw tensed. For a fleeting instant, he thought he saw the faintest flicker of distaste pass across Dumbledore's face - there and gone again so quickly he could have imagined it.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," the Headmaster went on. "While they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises - or even Invisibility Cloaks," he added mildly, eyes twinkling toward the Gryffindor table. "It is not in their nature to understand pleading or excuses. Therefore, I warn each and every one of you: give them no reason to harm you.
"I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to ensure that no student runs afoul of the Dementors."
A deep, uneasy silence fell over the Hall. Even the floating candles seemed to flicker lower.
Then Dumbledore's tone lightened. "On a happier note," he said warmly, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year."
The students straightened again, murmurs rippling through the tables.
"First, Professor Remus Lupin," Dumbledore said, gesturing toward the man Gabriel had noticed earlier, "who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Polite applause followed.
Gabriel blinked.
'Remus Lupin. Remus - one of the founders of Rome, suckled and raised by a she-wolf. And Lupin - from the Latin word lupus, meaning lobo, wolf.'
He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing softly.
'This man has a hundred and two percent chance of being a werewolf. With a two percent margin of error.'
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the polite applause for Professor Lupin faded away, "I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs."
A soft wave of laughter rippled through the Hall.
"However," Dumbledore went on, his blue eyes twinkling, "I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Before anyone else could react, Gabriel shot up slightly from his seat and started clapping - loud, sharp claps that echoed across the Great Hall, drawing startled glances from every table. His grin stretched from ear to ear as he looked toward the staff table, where Hagrid sat, red-faced and bashful, beard trembling with emotion as he tried to hide behind his enormous hands.
That was all it took. The Great Hall erupted into applause. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables joined in almost immediately, followed by a more dignified applause from the Ravenclaws and Slytherins.
Hagrid looked utterly overwhelmed. The half-giant sniffed loudly, and began dabbing at his eyes with what appeared to be the tablecloth.
Dumbledore, smiling broadly now, waited for the noise to settle before raising his hands.
"Well, I think that's everything of importance," he said, eyes twinkling toward the students. "Let the feast begin!"
At once, the golden platters shimmered and filled - steaming roast beef, mountains of golden roast potatoes, platters of chicken legs glistening with honey glaze, tureens of buttered peas, and jugs of pumpkin juice that refilled themselves the moment they neared empty.
The scents collided in a wave of warmth and spice, filling the air with the comforting promise of excess.
Gabriel didn't hesitate.
He set upon the food with a focus and ferocity that would have made even the Weasleys proud. Roast potatoes vanished by the handful, drowned in gravy. A half-chicken disappeared, bones and all. He spooned mashed pumpkin onto his plate, then topped it with lamb chops, sausages, and a roll of fresh bread so soft it melted in his mouth.
By the time most people were halfway through their first plate, Gabriel was already on his third.
Finally, his eyes locked onto a platter carrying a curious piece of meat - a massive dumstrick leg from some beast he didn't quite recognize. The texture looked halfway between bird and boar, and the smell alone made his stomach growl again.
He picked it up with a full hand and took a small bite of the tender flesh. The taste was impossible to describe - chicken and pork at once, rich and juicy and utterly divine.
"Hey, Luna. Wanna see something cool?" He asked her with a grin, which she answered with quick nods that made her hair fly.
He gave her a playful wink, then, opening his mouth as wide as he could, he gave one massive bite, stripping all of the meat clean off the bone in a singular motion, leaving it perfectly bare. Luna clapped her hands delightedly. He held the bone up triumphantly just as Dumbledore rose from his seat again.
"My, my," said the Headmaster, chuckling softly, "it appears that in my advancing age, my memory is escaping me. There is one more announcement I seem to have forgotten."
The Great Hall quieted once again, hundreds of curious eyes turning to the front.
"I have recently taken on an apprentice among the students," Dumbledore said, voice echoing warmly through the Hall. "A fine young wizard who will be assisting me in certain academic and practical matters this year."
Gabriel froze mid-chew.
The Headmaster's gaze - far too amused for his liking - turned directly toward the Ravenclaw table.
"I am, of course," Dumbledore said with a twinkle, "referring to Mr. Gabriel Moretti."
For a heartbeat, the Hall was silent. Then, like ripples in water, whispers began spreading from table to table.
Gabriel sat perfectly still, the stripped bone still in his hand, his cheeks puffed out with food. Every pair of eyes in the room seemed to find him at once.
He slowly turned his head toward Dumbledore and glared, his expression halfway between betrayal and exasperation. The Headmaster only smiled serenely, pretending not to notice.
Finally, Gabriel swallowed everything in one loud gulp, and raised his free hand in a sheepish wave.
"Uh. Hi."
That earned a wave of giggles, and a few scattered claps.
Luna, meanwhile, was still applauding enthusiastically, her eyes glittering like starlight.
'I'll get my payback for this.'