SON OF MAGIC

PERCY AND PIZZA

Harry had run as fast he could but by the time he had neared the carriages, the four new students had already left. When he had entered the the great hall, those students had not been there.

Soon enough, along with the first years they had arrived and been sorted in Gryffindor. Hermione seemed to be lecturing him about their eccentric sorting, though he hadn't found anything out of place.

But even though no one believed him, Harry was sure he had too much to prove that Malfoy was a death eater. What he also noticed was how the Great Hall, which had always been crowded at the start of the year, seemed empty.

Harry could only imagine one reason for parents refraining their kids from studies and that was Voldemort. Minister's official statement about the return of Voldemort seemed to have shaken everyone and Harry couldn't help but wonder that-

"Hey, can I have that?"

Harry turned to see the black-haired, sea-green eyed new admission looking at him. Apparently, those new ones had changes into their robes because now he looked more like a student and less like a basketball player with orange themed jersey. He seemed to be pointing at the pizza in front of him.

"Sure", Harry said. He had never liked pizza much. The boy- Percy, he now remembered- took away the plate and sat a few seats away from him. His other companions sat next to him, though the capped boy, the one who could smell monsters, was missing. 

"You notice them, right? Their strange behaviors?", Hermione said.

"Well, I notice Malfoy sitting silently and looking bored for a change, and I notice Dumbledore's blackened hand.", Harry replied.

"Yeah, his hand kinda looks dead. Why can't he cure it?", Ron said, his mouth filled with pudding.

"Dunno", Harry said. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but was stopped as Dumbledore stood up for his ending speech. 

His speech included announcing Snape as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Harry was horrified but couldn't do much as Dumbledore continued, announcing the usual Quidditch season news and a blanket ban on Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products, probably put on by Filch.

Harry, though, did notice how none of this news bothered the new-comers. Neither did the announcement about Voldemort, and the strict regulations that were put up, disturbed them. Dumbledore finished his speech and all of them headed towards their dormitories.

Harry slowly made his way to the Gryffindor common room with Ron. Hermione had insisted on going to do her prefect duty. The common room was packed as ever so Harry went straight to the boy's dormitory.

Harry could not help but notice that the new comers weren't in the common room nor in the dormitory though two more beds had been added beside Dean's.

"What do you think is the deal with those Americans?", Ron asked, probably noticing their absence just the same.

"No idea.", Harry said wearily and stared at the odd looking trunks on the new beds before drifting to sleep.