Chasing Shadows || Draco Malfoy x OC

Year 5- Ch. 105

Once they were in the Great Hall and made their way to their tables, they were starting to feel the excitement as the others did, since it was the start of a new school year. Céline looked up at the teachers table and noticed two different things. One, Hagrid wasn't there, instead it was the witch that covered for him for a while last year, Professor Grubbly-Plank. Second, there was another new professor sitting at the table, she had short brown curly hair that had a very pink Alice band, that matched her very pink fluffy cardigan that she wore over her robes.

The woman had a sickening sweet smile on her face as she spoke to Professor Dumbledore.

Soon, all the first years came through the large doors towards the front of the hall with Professor McGonagall in the front leading them. She stepped up to the stool that perched the Sorting Hat. Its mouth opened near the brim and began to sing its song.

Once the Sorting Hat finished his song, applause broke out into the Great Hall. Céline joined, though her face grew slightly pale by the sorting hats finally lyrics. The ending felt more like a warning and advice.

The thought was quickly pushed away as Professor McGonagall began to call out the names of the first years, so that they were to be sorted into their respective houses. And as soon as the last first year was sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome all the newcomers and those who are turning, welcome back!" He said brightly and with a beaming smile on his face. "There is a time for speech making but this is not it— tuck in!"

Many student giggled and chuckled and in front of them in their tables the food magically appeared. Céline looked at it hungrily, she really missed the food at Hogwarts, even though it had only been a couple of months. Thankfully, she had been eating delicious food when she was Mrs. Weasley and the others. But she quickly felt like Hogwarts had become her home, so this felt like her eating at home.

She filled her plate with roasted chicken and potatoes and a few other vegetables.

"Tell me I wasn't the only one that thought the Sorting Hat's song was a bit weird at the end?" Daphne said quietly, leaning over to Céline.

"No kidding," Céline said. "I wonder if it's ever done that before, give warning in its song."

"I'm sure it has." Said Daphne spearing her fork into her potato. "Hogwarts is old, I'm sure it's done it many times."

They continued eating, until Draco lean closely to Céline, "Salazar." He said in a low tone, near her ear, that uncontrollably sent chills down her spine, she shuddered and rubbed her ear, looking at him annoyed.

"What?" She said. He had grin on his lips.

"That's the password to the common room." He said coolly.

"Oh..." she grumbled, "Don't do that... it tickled my ear."

"Good to know." He said amused.

Céline couldn't help notice that Draco had been acting more strangely with her since she saw in the train. She didn't know what to make of it, but it made her cheeks flush every time.

Once everyone was done eating, Professor Dumbledore stood again and the room silenced.

"Now that we've eaten our delicious dinner, I would like to do our usual announcements. First years are to know the forest on our ground are out of bounds. Some of our older students ought to know that too." the headmasters voice carried over the students.

"Mr. Filtch, the caretaker, has asked me for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, that no magic is to be used in between classes in the corridors, among other things you can check on his office door. We've also had to changes of staff this year. We welcome back Professor Gubbly-Plank to you school at the Care of Magical Creatures teacher; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge as the new professor of Defense Against Dark Arts."