Chasing the tesseract

Chapter 32

Light illuminates a large hall as chatter invades the air, hundreds of pupils sat down on row down four large tables. At the front of the hall sits another long table, this one filled with teachers, each one deep in conversation as the headmaster steps up into a stand, raising his arms to silence the room.

"Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts." shouts the headmaster, his voice echoing through the halls as silence hangs in the air. Each student turns to face the front as the headmaster continues. "Now I'd like to say a few words before w begin our feast." Turning to his left, the headmaster glances at another male teacher who sits at the table, his head bowed low. "Firstly I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J Lupin who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." The man who moments before bowed his head and avoided eye contact looks up at the headmaster as he turns to face him, pointing to the new professor as he smiles warmly. "Good luck Professor."

Cheers and applauds invade the air as the new Professor stands up, bowing shyly before taking his seat again. "Good luck indeed Professor Lupin." I congratulate as I push open the large double doors at the back of the room, gasps coming from every corner of the room as hundreds of sets of eyes turn in my direction. Behind me is rest of the team, Stephen lacing his fingers with mine as we make our way to the front of the room, coming to a stop a few feet from the now befuddled headmaster.

"Who are you?" asks the headmaster as he quickly steps down from the stand, cautiously edging closer to us as I smile warmly at him. Behind him, another male Professor steps away from the table he stood near, his eyes fixed on me with every step he takes. His dark hair falls into his face as his cloak drags along the floor.

"Abi?" whispers the Professor as he comes to a stop just in front of me, looking me up and down as he narrows his eyes. Taking a deep breath, I look up at him, smiling at him warmly as he swallows hard.

"Hello Severus." I reply, my voice calm and welcoming as his eyes soften, the wrinkles on his forehead disappearing as he smiles back at me.

"No." demands a larger male teacher at the front of the room, shaking his head over and over as I look past Severus at him. There in front of me stands Harris, his beard longer than when I last saw him as he continues to shake his head. "No. I refuse to believe it's you."

Rolling my eyes, I turn to my left only to be welcomed by two strong arms as they wrap around my shoulders. Slightly taken aback, I stand frozen as I look down to see Professor Lupin hugging me. "I thought you were dead." he whispers as he pulls away from me, looking me in the eyes to check in real.

"Oh I'm very much alive Remus." I assure him, smirking as he rolls his eyes and steps away. I have to say, his worm welcome has confused me, we never did get along well. Especially not after our little fallout.

"Who's that?" whispers a small boy sat at one of the tables in the hall. His dark hair falls on top of his glasses as he narrows his eyes, staring into mine. "I feel like I recognize her." he admits, turning to his friends as the young girl opposite him rolls her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Seriously Harry?" she chuckles, shaking her long curly hair as she looks at me, a huge smile on her face as I watch them. "That's Abi, you know, a member of the Order."

"Oy Potter. Potter." hisses another blonde boy from another table. His robes are different to the others, a green shade rather than the red of theirs, Cleary he's a Slytherin. "I'd stay away from Abi if I were you." he warns him as he laughs with the others on his table, glancing once at me before looking back at Harry. "I heard she doesn't like Potters."

"Shove off Malfoy." grunts the boy sat next to Harry as he turns his friend around to face the table. His ginger hair falls onto his eyes as he bows his head, avoiding the young girls gaze.

"I wonder what he meant by that." murmurs Harry, his voice low enough that only someone with enhanced hearing like my own could hear it.

"Probably nothing." adds the ginger boy sat next to him before he digs into the feast in front of him, picking up a piece of chicken on a bone.

"What are you doing here Abi?" asks Remus beside me drawing my attention back to the conversation in front of me. After one hesitant glance towards where Harry is staring at me, I turn to face Remus smiling at him as I raise my eyebrows. Oh he already knows why. He just doesn't want to admit it.

"I need your help Remus."