Rhapsody of a Veela

Part 25 - A changed Hogwarts

September 1st 1995

You and Fred had gotten a compartment at the Hogwarts express all to yourselves, because he knew that returning to Hogwarts this year was difficult for you after everything that had happened. You were more than happy to finally leave Grimmauld Place however, as it felt like you had not had fresh air for weeks, so naturally the mere thought of the clean air of the Scottish Highlands seemed splendid to you. The train ride was long, but the changing scenery had never failed to calm you down. You sat there, half asleep in Fred's arms the whole time gazing at the yellow withering landscape passing by with your tired eyes.

"Remember when you and George snuck me out of the castle so I could go to Hogsmeade?" you suddenly asked, and he chuckled softly.

"Of course! Gave me a perfect excuse to get you alone, I had planned it rather thoroughly you see" he laughed and winked at you,

"You're not that Clever Freddie, it was pretty obvious" you smirked,

"Either way, it worked didn't it?"

You nudged his rib teasingly,

"Anyway... it's one of my favourite memories.. being with you at The Three Broomsticks for the first time" you murmured, looking back on it all with a smile. Fred seemed delighted,

"And I could honestly sell my soul for a butterbeer right now"

"Will some iced pumpkin juice suffice for the princess?" Fred asked, getting up to see if the Trolley lady would pass by soon,

"Of course, I'm not that spoiled you know" you said, batting your eyelashes innocently.

By the time you arrived at Hogwarts it was late, as the carriage pulled you along towards the castle you felt afraid that you would break down by the mere sight of it. You had long decided you had cried enough, you were not even sure you had any tears left at all. But when you saw the castle coming into sight in the darkness you only felt the warmth of nostalgia along with the excpectations for what this new year would be like.

When you arrived at the Great Hall for the welcoming feast, you found yourself instinctively looking towards the Hufflepuff table in search for Cedric. You were not saddened by it, it was only melancholic. Looking around you wondering how many other students had made the same mistake, forgetting he was gone for a single beautiful moment.

"Are you alright?" Fred whispered as you sat down together at the Gryffindor table, and you nodded and smiled. You turned and looked towards the teachers table in the end of the room, noticing Hagrid was not there. But as your eyes trailed over the row of your Professors, they landed on the smiling face of a middle aged Toad-like woman dressed head to toe in pink. It had taken you a moment to realise why her very presence had made you so uncomfortable until your mind instantly trailed back to three years earlier.

"Do you see that lady over there Fred?" you whispered, "She was present in all my trials at the Wizengamot years ago" you continued, studying her face smiling as her own eyes scouted across the room at all the students who had yet to notice her.

Fred looked up, wrinkling his nose as she probably reeked of authority to him already.

"She called me a half-breed, smiling just like that as she insisted, I was better off in Azkaban"

Fred looked sickened,

"Bloody hell Y/n..." he turned his head to look towards Dumbledore, who had walked up from the table to begin his speech,

"Why on earth would he let someone like that be here?"

Unfortunately, you all quickly came to find out just why as the horrid little lady jumped down from her seat, clearing her throat a few times before she interrupted Dumbledore right in the middle of his welcoming speech, he had merely mentioned her, Dolores Umbridge, to be your new Defence against the Dark Arts teacher. It was as if all the students and professors were stunned alike in disbelief, having never seen anyone act quite so rudely in life, and to the headmaster of all. Looking at Snape who was seated next to her, you had never quite seen him looking so sour before.