monophobia • harry potter³ [UNEDITED]

𝐱. limitations or excuses?

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       THE LAST OF THEIR CRUMBS DISAPPEARED AND DUMBLEDORE GOT TO HIS FEET AGAIN. The buzz of chatter in the Hall ceased almost at once so the howling wind and pounding ran could be heard. Nyx was content with her belly full, but she dreaded the fact that's she'd had to sleep soon. 

"So!" said Dumbledore, smiling around them all. "Now that we are fed and watered," ("Hmph!" said Hermione) "I must once more ask your attention, while I give out a few notices. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you the list of objects forbidden inside the castle has this year been extended to include Screaming Yo-yos, Fanged Frisbees, and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs. The full list comprises some four hundred and thirty-seven items, I believe, and can be viewed in Mr. Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it."

The corners of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He continued, "As ever, I would like to remind you all that the forest on the ground is out-of-bounds to students, as is the village of Hogsmeade to all below the third year. It is also my painful duty to inform you that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will not take place this year."

"What?" Harry gasped from next to Nyx.

She glanced at him, but Harry was looking at Fred and George, fellow Gryffindor Quidditch players. Understandably enough Quidditch was important to all of them and so they were stunned at the news. Nyx on the other hand knew why Quidditch had been cancelled but kept that information to herself as she leaned forwards onto the table. However, the Quidditch boys were mouthing soundlessly at Dumbledore too appalled to speak.

Dumbledore went on. 

"This is due to an event that will be starting in October, and continuing throughout the school year, taking up much of the teacher's time and energy — but I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. I have great pleasure in announcing that this year at Hogwarts—"

But at that moment, there was a deafening rumble of thunder (Nyx screamed and covered her ears) and the doors of the Great Hall banged open. A man stood in the doorway, leaning upon a long staff, shrouded in a black travelling cloak. Every head in the Great hall swivelled toward the stranger, suddenly brightly illuminated by a fork of lightning that flashed across the ceiling. He lowered his hood, shook out a long mane of grizzled dark gray hair, then began to walk up toward the teachers' table.

Nyx observed him, suddenly feeling on edge, there was a dull clunk that echoed through the Hall on his every other step. He reached the end of the table, turned right, and limped heavily toward Dumbledore. Another flash of lightning crossed the ceiling. She and Hermione gasped.

The lightning had thrown the man's face into sharp relief, and it was a face, unlike anything Nyx'd witnessed. It looked as though it had been carved out of weathered wood by someone who had the only vaguest idea of what human faces are supposed to look like. Every inch of skin seemed scarred. The mouth looked a diagonal gash, and a large chunk of the nose was missing. But it was the man's eyes that made him frightening.