The Disgraced of the House of Black - A Multi-Character Fanfiction - Part One

139. The Woman

Eliana was running late for the Welcome Feast. Madam Pomfrey had fallen ill just two days prior, leaving Eliana both with the task of caring for her and readying the Hospital Wing for the arrival of the students. She had only just finished when she realized it was time to head to the Great Hall. She quickly dressed in robes of the brightest white which set off her auburn hair quite nicely. Checking over herself quickly in the mirror, she rushed to the Great Hall, smiling and giving, receiving, and returning hellos to the students as they entered.

When she had finally taken her seat, she found herself unfortunately placed beside Professor Snape. Choosing to ignore him, however, she turned to speak to Professor Sprout before Snape's cold, quiet voice reached her ear.

"You should be careful," he said.

She turned, brows furrowed.

"What?" she said in confusion.

"The new professor," he clarified bitingly, keeping his eyes fixed on something across the hall. "Dolores Umbridge. You should know that if she discovers your...connection to Lupin, you may find life...significantly more...difficult."

"Why?" Eliana asked, her voice so soft it was almost a whisper.

"He hasn't told you anything about her?" Snape said in mild surprise, glancing in her direction. "Haven't you wondered why he has such trouble finding work?"

"What about Althea?" Eliana whispered. "Would she-"

"What do you think," Snape retorted, looking her full in the face with a sour expression.

Eliana glanced down the table, catching sight of the woman talking to Dumbledore. Before she could question Snape further, the first-years entered and the Sorting Hat was placed before them and began to sing.

In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin.

Although the students applauded like usual, it was broken by whispers.

.

"Well," Dumbledore began after they had all eaten, rising to his feet. "Now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students - and a few of our older students ought to know by now too. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubby-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the-"

"Hem hem," Umbridge coughed. Eliana instantly shifted her gaze to look at her with raised eyebrows. "Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," she said. Her voice was so girlish and high in pitch that Eliana was unsurprised to see several of the students failing to suppress grins. "Hem, hem. Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

Glancing down at them, Eliana was positive Umbridge had no idea what she had coming to her. No one looked impressed.

She resumed, "I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Taking on a more professional tone, she said, "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction.

"The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

Here she bowed solemnly to the other professors. McGonagall, who was sitting on the other side of Professor Sprout, exchanged looks with both her and Eliana as Snape's lips curled.

"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering.

"A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..." Eliana was listening so intently, a frown had formed on her face and her brows lay flat along her forehead. "Because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned.

"Let us move into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited." Dumbledore began to speak again, but Eliana was sharing worried looks with the other members of staff.