La Pietra

8

After the sorting was finished, Slytherin receiving 10 new students, the feast started. Half way through the feast, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up. The Great Hall fell silent and everyone waited for him to speak.

"Students, welcome back to Hogwarts, and welcome new students! We have a new professor joining us, Professor Quirrell. He is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! Please welcome him!" Dumbledore said

Professor Quirrell stood up and bowed slightly. There were several 'Welcome Professor Quirrell''s going around the Hall. Said professor nodded his head in acknowledgement and sat back down.

"The Forbidden Forest is off limits, and the third floor corridor is also off limits. If you wish an awful death, then be my guest to take a stroll down it. Now, may the feast continue!" Dumbledore said and sat down.
The Great Hall was silent for a few more moments before conversation started amongst the students again.

Harry just sat quietly and continued to eat his small amount of food. He was thinking about why the third floor corridor was off limits to the students. Did something happen? Harry was also surprised that Dumbledore didn't mention the death of Anthony Goldstein, a student that Harry and Draco had found dead right before the end of their first year.

Harry did notice though, that most of the students at the Ravenclaw table looked sad, probably from the loss of Anthony. He hoped he could become friends with some of them, he had only kept to the Slytherin last year.

Harry took a bite of his treacle tart and then pushed his plate away. He was full, even though he only ate a few bites of food. During the summers, or anytime that he is with the Dursleys, he didn't get much food, only enough to keep him alive.

"Why aren't you eating anymore Harry?" Draco asked him
"I'm not very hungry anymore." Harry said
"Oh, well you better eat more at breakfast tomorrow. You are far too skinny for an 11 year old." Draco said
"Yes mother" Harry said and rolled his eyes.
"Don't sass me young man!" Draco joked and pointed his finger at Harry, his hand on his hip and his eyes squinted.

Harry smiled slightly and sighed.

He missed this, being able to joke with someone and have fun. He missed Draco, and his friends. He missed classes. He missed life. At the Dursley's, Harry wasn't living, he didn't have a life. He was surviving, making it through each day by remembering Hogwarts, and how he had friends and was happy.

Harry was finally happy after 2 months of break, and he wasn't going to let anyone take his happiness away.