Chapter eighty-two; New year, new changes
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The Great Hall was illuminated by floating candles just below the dark sky that was littered with thousands of stars everywhere someone looked. A great deal of murmur was going through the vast space as students were all hyped up for the new school year at Hogwarts, some more than others. The four tables, representing each of the houses were equally three-quarters full, having a few seats empty in the middle for the first years that have yet to be sorted. Speaking of the sorting, the group of first years just came in through the door following McGonagall, who was leading them up to the stool where the Sorting Hat was.
Jasmine glanced at Robyn, who was sitting opposite her at the Hufflepuff table as the custom of the first feast of the year was. The students all sat at the table of their respective houses, only during the actual school year they mixed and sat elsewhere, depending on who their friends were. Some students never left their house table at all. Robyn was nervously shaking her leg under the table as her eyes kept flickering all over the group of new students. Jasmine reached forward and clasped her hand, which made Robyn look at her with slight panic in her eyes.
''They'll be fine, don't worry.'' Jasmine tried to call her down.
Her green eyes moved to the sorting as well as she searched out the two tops of curly hair amongst the young ones. Viv and Leo were not so patiently waiting for their turn to be sorted and they seemed to engage everyone around them in conversation as students kept clapping when someone was sorted into their house.
Robyn held tighter on Jasmine's hand, making the knuckles on her hand whiten. ''I don't know. What if they get sorted into different houses? I don't care which house the hat places them in as long as they are together. They do everything together and I can't imagine what consequences will come if they are pulled apart.''
Jasmine frowned and devoted her full attention to her best friend across the table. ''They surely wouldn't be put in different houses if they are attached to each other's hip all the time.''
Robyn shrugged. ''If you look at each other individually, they do have different characteristics. Viv is the one who is loud and causes more trouble, though I've seen her mature in the past year too and she's too confident for her own good. She isn't afraid of anything, even our mama with her spatula. On the other hand, Leo is smart, way smarter than Viv but he usually follows her lead, he likes to make jokes but only when he's sure someone is listening and will laugh at him. Though when he's confronted about anything he rather stays quiet than dig himself a deeper hole.''
Jasmine nodded along with everything that Robyn said. She could see the potential of both of them in different houses but they weren't so different after all. As she thought about different possibilities, Robyn's striking eyes caught her, fear swirling in her irises. ''What do you think?''
Jasmine chuckled softly to ease the tension a little. ''They definitely won't be Hufflepuff if that's what scares you, but I guess we're about to find out.''
Just as Jasmine stopped talking, McGonagall's voice rang through the Great Hall as she said, ''Dixon, Leonardo.'' Jasmine and Robyn stared at the front of the Great Hall as Leo made it through the group and sat on the stool before the professor put the hat on his head. A few moments of anticipation and quiet murmuring of the hat later it shouted ''Gryffindor!''
A loud set of cheers erupted from the red table as Leo took off in the direction of the empty seats. Viv was up next when McGonagall called out her full name. Jasmine didn't want to wince from the amount of pain shooting up her hand because of how hard Robyn was squeezing her.
The hat was on Viv's unruly curly hair for only a split second when it yelled ''Gryffindor!''
A long sigh of relief escaped Robyn and she clapped as well as her eyes followed her younger sister as she ran towards her twin brother. Jasmine turned around in her seat to look at the Gryffindor table and she spotted the twins with big smiles on their faces. That's what they always wanted – to be in Gryffindor while at Hogwarts – and she was immensely happy for them. Her eyes travelled up and down the length of the table and they stopped on Lily who was facing her way. It looked like she was watching the twins as well when she spotted Jasmine and Robyn and gave them both a thumbs up before resuming clapping.
Jasmine turned back around to Robyn, who had a calm smile on her features. She gave her a thoughtful look. ''If you're in Hufflepuff and the twins are in Gryffindor, I wonder which house Cece is going to be in. Slytherin perhaps?''
Robyn chuckled. ''Please, god no. But it could be very well possible, the little devil has a talent for stealing things like a little snake.''
The Great Hall slowly quieted down as the sorting reached its end and Dumbledore stepped over to the podium to address everyone. ''Welcome, new students! And welcome back everyone else! Before we can all enjoy the food and fill our stomachs to the top I have a few important announcements. As always the Forbidden Forest is off-limits at all times, Hogsmeade weekends are planned in advance and are only for third-year students and up if you have your parents' permission slips. Now I would advise everyone to be careful, these days there is a lot of danger and the dark magic is rising so I would like to remind everyone of a strict curfew ...''
Jasmine felt a kick under the table and her eyes snapped away from Dumbledore and towards Robyn. Her own eyes were wide and she momentarily flickered them up to the professor's table before going back on Jasmine. Jasmine furrowed her eyebrows and looked at what Robyn was gesturing.
''I think that's the new Defence professor,'' Robyn whispered.
Jasmine looked at the far right and sure enough, a new face was sitting there, but they already knew they'll be getting a new professor since the last one was let go.
''Speaking of Dark Magic,'' said Dumbledore. ''I would like to present our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Adriel Smirnitsky. Professor Smirnitsky just came into the country and agreed to fill in the free spot. I think you'll find him more than capable of teaching you everything that the late professor failed. So make most out of his life important lessons.''
A round of applause boomed across the whole Great Hall as Professor Smirnitsky stood up and bowed a little, eyes travelling across all four house tables. A light, almost blonde, set of hair sat atop his head, neatly styled, accompanying him a younger look to his features. His smile took most of his face as he waved slowly at the students, displaying the huge sleeves around his arms. His robes were pitch black with golden lacery around the collar and the ends of sleeves. The coat looked three times the size of his figure but at the same time, it suited him.
Jasmine guessed it was traditional wherever he came from, but she guessed it had to be any eastern country based on his last, very foreign, name. She just hoped he spoke English well enough, Defence was the only subject she'll need to catch up a lot on.
''He doesn't look old enough to be a parent,'' Robyn commented as she leaned heavily over the table to check him out properly.
''That's not right, Robin Hood. You just think that because you haven't seen him up close.''
''No, but really. He can't be older than thirty. Which is very young for a Hogwarts professor. I wonder what he's done in his life to confine himself to a boring professor's job until further notice.'' Robyn sat back down on her seat.
Jasmine only shrugged as she looked at the new professor for the last time before turning her attention back to Dumbledore. ''Last thing, as per request of our new and already hard-working Head Girl, Lily Evans,'' before he could continue a very loud whoop and a few claps came from the Gryffindor table. ''Thank you, Mr Potter, I hope you'll give just as much energy and devotion to your job as Head Boy through the year.''
Laughter followed this statement through the whole room.
''As I was saying, this year's Halloween's feast will be a little different. Instead of just a feast, there will be a dance. We will call this Halloween's Ball. Miss Evans ensured me that the prefects will collectively work on it so please follow her for further instructions. We are hoping that the ball will relieve all students alike of a stressful day to day life. I can tell you that I am looking forward to it, I hope you are too. Now please, enjoy the first feast. Dig in!'' And just as he said that the food appeared on every table.
Jasmine was too shocked to start eating immediately so she looked at Robyn across the table. ''Did you know Lily was planning this?''
Robyn shook her head while a big grin was starting to spread on her features. ''I had no idea, but this is so exciting. We haven't had a ball in all of six years at Hogwarts. We get to buy dresses and shoes and pick dates...'' She trailed off a little as she stared dreamily in front of her. ''Well, the last one will be no problem for you.''
Jasmine felt a blush creeping up her cheeks and she averted her eyes. She had no idea why she was feeling embarrassed but discussing her relationship such a little time since they announced it to their friends was still strange. She looked behind her shoulder and sought out Remus' figure at the Gryffindor table but sadly he was showing his back to her, conversing with his friends.
''I saw you two last week at the train station when you were saying goodbye and I know we hadn't really had the time to talk about you and him so I just want you to know that I can see how happy you two look together. I mean it's that sort of thing that everyone looks for in their lives and it's safe to say you have found it, Jass.'' Robyn reached forward and grabbed one of Jasmine's hands that were laying beside her plate on the tabletop.
''Thank you, Robyn. That's really sweet.'' Jasmine smiled.
She didn't confirm nor deny her statement since it would be scary to think that she and Remus would be together forever. Of course, she wished it, she couldn't imagine being with anyone else but at the same time, she had no idea what life had in store for her.
When Robyn let go of her hand, a distant look settled on her features and Jasmine immediately took notice of it. She couldn't wrap her head around what it could be about but it made sense that their current conversation brought sadness to Robyn. She had no news of a new boyfriend or even a boy she would potentially be interested in which was at the end of the day, kind of strange for Robyn. It was possible the girl was still harbouring feelings for a certain trouble maker from Gryffindor since whenever the whole group was together both of them became very quiet even though they agreed on being friends. That was easier said than done and the whole group felt the tension.
Jasmine thought the whole on and off ordeal was done but now she wasn't so sure. For the sake of both of their lives, she hoped they never hook up again and find themselves new people to indulge in. Little did she know that her wishes will come true in a few months' time.
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