"Yeah, we'll call you, if we ever need someone mental..."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THE SORTING CEREMONY had gone quicker than Aurora had expected. Ron had joined them five minutes later and once again the twins had stopped talking about their latest ideas. It was top secret.
Harry and Hermione came in after the sorting. Both she and Ron were about to ask them why McGonagall wanted them but stopped when the headmaster started to speak. Aurora rolled her eyes at the interruption. Aurora had never really liked their headmaster. There were so many things that were off about him. However, the rest of the group liked Dumbledore. The trust wasn't there yet.
"Welcome!" Dumbledore said, 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."
Aurora lowered her head a little. She knew why and what he was about to say.
"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," he added blandly, and Aurora, Harry, and Ron glanced at each other. "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 foul of the Dementors."
Percy, who was sitting a few seats along Aurora, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.
"On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the DarkArts teacher."
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic, applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Aurora among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
As Aurora clapped, she studied the professor. He had looked at her, like a ghost from the past appeared in front of him. She had thought maybe he knew her biological mother and father before they went missing from her life, and she looked so much like them - Aurora didn't have a clue what they looked like. That was the only conclusion she had about his behaviour.
"Look at Snape!" Aurora heard Ron hiss in Harry's ear. Professor Snape, the Potions master, was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. It was common knowledge that Snape wanted the Defence Against the Dark Arts job, but even Aurora, who hated Snape with her whole heart, was startled at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. Aurora knew that expression all too well; it was the look Snape wore every time he set eyes on her.
