The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 6

"It does explain all of his shenanigans though," Pansy pointed out.

Delilah had to interject before they got more off topic. "But why did you have to break his nose? Isn't stupefying and leaving him to go back to London more than enough?"

Draco shrugged.

Luckily for him, the first years walked in so Delilah didn't pull a Hermione and punch him. It was tempting, but she didn't want to make the first years witness it.

During the sorting she didn't pay much attention. Instead she scanned the Gryffindor table, but Harry wasn't there. Draco's scheme hadn't actually worked, right? With all the security measures someone was bound to notice that he was gone.

Even after the feast began, Harry didn't come in.

"Come on Delilah, you need to eat," Daphne said.

Delilah blinked back into reality.

"What?"

"You're just pushing the food around your plate. You should actually eat some of it. I know you don't get nearly enough at the Muggles place."

Delilah blinked. She had forgotten Daphne was so observant.

"Right."

By the time Daphne made her finish her plate, Harry still hadn't appeared. She was about to go over to Hermione and Ron to see if they had heard from him, when he walked in, covered in blood.

Delilah relaxed and put some more food on her plate. As usual people noticed him, but by the time they were standing up to see him he had already sat down beside Ron and Hermione.

After the dessert had been cleared away, Dumbledore stood up. The talk and laughter echoing around the Hall died away almost instantly.

"The very best of evenings to you!" he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room.

His hand still looked like it was dead, and people noticed. Whispers swept the room; DUmbledore, interpreting them correctly, merely smiled and shook his purple and gold sleeve over his injury.

"Nothing to worry about," he said airily. "Now... to our new students, welcome, to our old students, welcome back! Another year full of magical education awaits you..."

Why hadn't he healed his hand yet? Madam Pomfrey could heal anything. Then again there were some injuries that couldn't be cured, but how would Dumbledore of all people have gotten one?

"... and Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.

"Those wishing to play for their House Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise.

"We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year. Professor Slughorn" — Slughorn stood up, his bald head gleaming in the candlelight, his big waistcoat belly casting the table below into shadow — "is a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions master."

"Potions?"

"Potions?"

The word echoed all over the Hall as people wondered whether they had heard right.

It was odd. Delilah had expected him to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher since it was the only opening, but Potions did make more sense.

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," said Dumbledore, raising his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."