Her Tulip Heart | R.J. Lupin

Chapter 2

After six years of attending Hogwarts, it was only a matter of time before the Start-of-Term Feast had become boring. Regardless of how predictable Dumbledore's speeches became and how every year the sorting ceremony went on for an antagonising amount of time, tonight felt bittersweet to Alethea.

Tonight marked the beginning of an end; her final year at Hogwarts as a student. Suddenly tonight's feast seemed less boring than it had in her previous years. Tonight was her last first day at Hogwarts, her second home.

Tonight, Alethea wanted to feel like a first-year again. Feel the buzz of excitement from exploring Hogwarts for the first time or that happiness you felt when you successfully performed your first spell in Transfiguration.

She even wanted to feel those waves of anxiety and splashes of fear you couldn't help but feel when you got lost in the castle for the first time. Projecting her current fears of a future outside of Hogwarts into recalling memories calmed her.

For now, this projection lulled her fears into a state of numbness, just enough to tell everyone she wasn't scared of the future, that she was ready for her childhood to officially be over.

Seated in the Great Hall, Alethea and Estella were at the Slytherin table with Adelyn, listening to the Hogwarts choir. They were listening with smiles on their faces as Neville's toad — Trevor performed his solo.

As Professor Flitwick bowed, the student body became rowdy — awaiting Dumbledore's start-of-term speech. Only because he would then invite everyone to begin eating. The mouth-watering feast was the best part of the night, especially after a grueling nine-hour train ride.

A game of I Spy with a fifth of Slytherin House later, Dumbledore finally decided to step up to his lectern. It wasn't until he cleared his throat that Alethea and her friends diverted their attention towards the High Table.

"Looks like Snape already hates the new professor." Snickered Elias Palmer, seventh-year Slytherin, from Alethea's left. That prompted her to look behind Dumbledore, where Lupin was seated between Snape and McGonagall at the table. Snape was casting glares full of distaste at him, yet Lupin took no notice of his behaviour and maintained a content smile.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore beamed, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast...."

Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

He paused; by the expression on his face, Alethea could tell he wasn't particularly pleased with this new arrangement. And neither was she because being on guard every time she went outside sounded exhausting.

"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises—or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.

From across the hall, Alethea could see Percy Weasley puff out his chest and stare around at his peers impressively. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at his arrogance. She was all for a bit of boasting now and again, just not when the Headmaster was warning his students of life-threatening dangers.