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"𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐞," roger said, "to another year in paradise."
they had arrived at the school and began feasting on the food before them after dumbledore's annual back-to-school speech. lyra and her friends had reunited after the carriage ride at the ravenclaw table whilst the first years prepared themselves for the sorting ceremony. she still wasn't quite sure why roger davies made his yearly toast to her with pumpkin juice, but oh well.
"i just want to know who the defense against the dark arts teacher is this year," she grumbled. as if on cue, dumbledore silenced everyone and began talking.
"so!" said dumbledore smiling around at them all. "now that we are fed and watered, i must ask once more for your attention while i give out a few notices. mr. filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of objects forbidden inside the castle this year has been extended to include screaming yo-yos, fanged frisbees, and ever-bashing boomerangs. the full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, i believe, and can be viewed in mr. filch's office if anybody would like to check it."
the corners of dumbledore's mouth twitched, as well as lyra's.
he continued, "as ever, i would like to remind you that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students, as is the village of hogsmeade to all below third year,"
"it is also my painful duty to inform you that the inter-house quidditch cup will not take place this year."
beside her, roger huffed and put his head down. dumbledore continued, "this is due to an event that will be starting in october and continuing though out the school year, taking up much of the teachers' time and energy but i am sure you will all enjoy it immensely. i have great pleasure in announcing that this year at hogwarts-"
but at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder, and the doors of the great hall banged open. a man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black traveling cloak. every head in the great hall swiveled towards the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. he lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled, dark grey hair, and then began to walk up towards the teachers table.
a dull clunk echoed through the hall on his ever other step. he reached the end of the top table, turned right and limped heavily towards dumbledore. another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling.
the lightning had thrown the man's face into a sharp relief.
the stranger reached dumbledore. he stretched out a hand that was as badly scarred as his face, and dumbledore shook it, muttering something. he seemed to be making some kind if enquiry of the stranger who shook his head unsmilingly and replied in an undertone. dumbledore nodded and gestured the man to an empty seat on his right-hand side.
"may i introduce our new defence against the dark arts teacher," said dumbledore brightly, into the silence, "professor moody."
"well, lyra, there you go," thea muttered.
dumbledore cleared his throat again.
"as i was saying," he said smiling at the sea of students before him, all of whom were still gazing transfixed at mad eye moody, "we are to have the honor of hosting a very exciting event over the coming months, an event which has not been held for over a century. it is my very great pleasure to inform you that the triwizard tournament will be taking place at hogwarts this year,"
"you're JOKING!" lyra heard fred weasley bellow from the gryffindor table.
