LXXV. THE COLD CARRIAGE RIDE
21:12 ─❁────────── 21:79
◁ Ⅱ ▷
❝Cold smoke seeping out of colder throats
Darkness falling, leaves nowhere to go❞
༻───────────────༺
THE WEATHER BEYOND THE WINDOWS of the train was as patchy as it had been all summer; the Hogwarts Express passed through stretches of the chilling mist, then into the weak, clear sunlight. It was during one of the clear spells when the sun was finally visible almost directly overhead, that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.
"Wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," said Ron longingly, slumping into the seat near the door at Harry's other side, rubbing his stomach. "Hi, Neville. Hi, Luna. Guess what?" he added, turning to Harry. "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."
As Lucia fed Bao Bao, she saw Harry sat up straight, interested. It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which he had happily abused the previous year.
"What did he do when he saw you?" Harry asked immediately.
"The usual," said Ron indifferently, demonstrating a rude hand gesture. "Not like him, though, is it? Well — that is" — he did the hand gesture again — "but why isn't he out there bullying first years?"
"Dunno," said Harry, but his mind was racing. Didn't this look as though Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying younger students?
"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," said Hermione. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that."
"I can imagine that," said Lucia, nodding. "The Inquisitorial Squad didn't really have any limits in power over the students, so it does seem fairly tame for someone power hungry..."
"I don't think so," said Harry. "I think he's —"
But before he could expound on his theory, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless third-year girl stepped inside.
"I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom, Luciana DiFiore, and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet. She was holding out three scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon. Perplexed, Lucia, Harry, and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron demanded, as they unrolled it.
"An invitation," said Harry.
Miss DiFiore,
I am delighted and cordially would like to invite you for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely,
Professor H.E.F. Slughorn
"Who's Professor Slughorn?" asked Neville, looking perplexedly at his own invitation.
"New teacher," said Harry. "Well, I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?"
"But what does he want me for?" asked Neville nervously, as though he was expecting detention.
"What does he want us for, Neville," corrected Lucia, eyes quivering anxiously. "I'm practically as useless as a rock, why in the heavens would a professor want with me?"
"No idea," said Harry, before adding quickly, "You're quite the contrary to useless, Luce,"
"How lovely," said Lucia sarcastically.
"Listen," Harry began, seized by a sudden brain wave, "let's go under the Invisibility Cloak, then we might get a good look at Malfoy on the way, see what he's up to."
Lucia and Neville exchanged looks before complying, until they got a good peek of the very crowded corridors.
"Tough luck," said Lucia as Harry stowed away his Invisibility Cloak with a frown. "Looks like we can't go discreetly..."
Harry didn't want people staring at him. They walked down the train together, all three felt extremely uncomfortably by the stares that were headed their way. Lucia had made sure to even slow in her steps so that she could get away from the glares her way, which seemed to have increased in intensity ever since she and Harry had last walked down the train.
Students were hurtling their heads out of their compartment just to catch the sights of Harry, though Cho Chang didn't, as she didn't even look at them, talking to Marietta. It wasn't much of a secret that Harry felt that it was amusing to see Marietta wearing heavy makeup as he smirked slightly. Lucia felt slightly (just a tiny bit) guilty and worried for the girl's face, wondering if there were any concoctions she could produce for the girl. When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly anticipated.
"Harry, m'boy!" said Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great velvet-covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. His shiny bald head and great silvery mustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the golden buttons on his waistcoat. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you two must be Mr. Longbottom and Miss DiFiore!"
Neville nodded, looking scared; Lucia breathed out a nervous laugh as she shook Slughorn's hand. At a gesture from the said professor, they sat themselves along with the other invitees. As Harry and Neville sat across from one another, however Lucia was not graced by luck as she uncomfortably found herself sitting beside Blaise Zabini, one of the many she had punched in the face last year in their grand escape to the Ministry, and as well as a brawny, wiry-haired boy who was smirking at her.
Ginny, who so happened to be squashed beside Slughorn, stared at Lucia in pity. Harry stole occasional glances toward the girl's way, regretting his decision in entering the compartment before she did. If he didn't make that mistake, Lucia would surely be sitting beside at his place, much more comfortable instead of sitting with them.
"Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry, Neville, and Lucia. "Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course —"
Blaise did not make any signs of recognition or greeting, as did Harry or Neville. They loathed each other with their house loathing each other's principles. However, he shook Lucia's hand in front of them to spite Harry, Neville, and Ginny. Lucia was oddly confused by the gesture; however, her handshake did not falter, smiling as she did.
"Er — nice to meet you, I guess?" Lucia said, perplexed, though she knew damn well who Blaise Zabini was. Though, scooching close to Zabini sounded awfully better than sitting so close to —
"This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other — ? No?"
McLaggen.
Sitting closer to Zabini sounded much better than having to sit so close to McLaggen. The said person smug smirk only deepened. Lucia shifted in her seat, biting back a vomit.
"— and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether — ?"
Belby, who was thin and nervous looking, gave a strained smile.
"— and this charming young lady tells me she knows you!" Slughorn finished.
Ginny grimaced at Lucia, Harry, and Neville from behind Slughorn's back.
"Well now, this is most pleasant," said Slughorn cozily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch; the trolley, as I remember it, is heavy on licorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system isn't quite up to such things... Pheasant, Belby?"
Belby started and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant.
"I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his Uncle Damocles," Slughorn told Lucia, Harry, and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding, and his Order of Merlin most well-deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"
Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant; in his haste to answer Slughorn he swallowed too fast, turned purple, and began to choke.
"Anapneo," said Slughorn calmly, pointing his wand at Belby, whose airway seemed to clear at once.
"Not... not much of him, no," gasped Belby, his eyes streaming.
Lucia passed Belby her hanky that had been deposited in the pocket of her yellow dress. He took the hanky graciously, wiping his eyes.
"Well, of course, I daresay he's busy," said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the Wolfsbane Potion without considerable hard work!"
"I suppose..." said Belby, who seemed afraid to take another bite. "Er... he and my dad don't get on very well, you see, so I don't really know much about..."
His voice tailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to McLaggen instead. Lucia frowned at the sight and immediately had a slight idea as to why they were gathered in the first place. And she did not like it one bit.
"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn, "I happen to know you see a lot of your Uncle Tiberius, because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting nogtails in, I think, Norfolk?"
"Oh, yeah, that was fun, that was," said McLaggen. "We went with Bertie Higgs and Rufus Scrimgeour — this was before he became Minister, obviously —"
"Ah, you know Bertie and Rufus too?" beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies; somehow, Belby was missed out. "Now tell me..."
It was as she had expected from observing Belby, everyone here seemed to have been invited because they were somewhat connected to somebody either well-known or influential in the Wizarding world — well, perhaps Ginny was the only exception; Zabini, who was interrogated after McLaggen and began to answer Slughorn's questions all about him — his mother, who turned out to be a famous beautiful witch that had been married seven times with all her husbands coincidentally dying right after and leaving her a good amount of gold that could deem them rich.
It was Neville's turn next: This was a very uncomfortable ten minutes, for Neville's parents, well-known Aurors, had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies. At the end of Neville's interview, Lucia had the impression that Slughorn was reserving judgment on Neville, yet to see whether he had any of his parents' flair.
"Miss DiFiore!" called Slughorn suddenly, shifting massively in his seat.
Lucia jumped at the call of her name, now staring back at Slughorn as everyone turned their attention to her. "You... er... can call me Lucia —"
"Well then Lucia, you're the daughter of Florian DiFiore, am I correct?" Lucia timidly nodded. "Ah, I remember your father back in the days. He was in Slytherin, he was — I taught him Potions. He was an exceptionally brilliant Potioneer, and I heard he retired as an artist so early?"
"H-He has a passion for the arts, my mother told me," Lucia swallowed the lump in her throat. She already knew of her dad's past occupation as a known and talented Potioneer for someone so young at that time, which was why it brought a sense of a shock to the Wizarding world when he suddenly retired to pursue the business of an... artist.
An artist out of anything.
But Florian never cared, for he did what he thought was best for him.
"Ah yes! I heard of her from one of his letters before," said Slughorn reminiscently, but he soon disregarded the very mention of her mum, not thinking much of her. "Your father won numerous awards for his artwork, I heard? Even to duplicate Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem with attention to detail that many always disregard!... He was ambitious... Have you seen his imitation before?"
Lucia shifted awkwardly. Has she?
She racked through the archives of memories in her mind, attempting to find the memories. She could sense it... she had... but the memory was seemingly out of her reach. The only thing she could hear in the chamber of her mind was:
"Just because you're a toddler, doesn't mean you can't remember okay, stellina? Remember how the diadem looks like. It is vital,"
Vital? Why?
"Lucia," She broke away from her thoughts at the nudge by Zabini. She rose her gaze and saw everyone looking at her curiously, overwhelming her, especially Slughorn with his beady eyes on her.
"Have you seen it before?"
If she were to tell the truth, what would he do? Will he be indifferent to her like he was to Belby?
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lucia clenched her trembling hand, smiling at them all; "Of course,"
She lied.
Why did she lied?
Was it because she was under pressure?
No, it was probably because she just could not help but lie. It was terrible.
"You have?!" McLaggen suddenly striking up a conversation with her. Lucia nodded aloofly. "What does it look like? My father told me it's simply divine!"
Divine? Is it really? She couldn't quite remember...
"It's like your father said, McLaggen, it is divine! My mother showed me once!" Lucia dismissed with a kind smile that subtly translated: Go away, I don't want to talk to you.
But it didn't seem as though McLaggen quite understood that as he had this fascinated kind of look toward her that Lucia merely tried to ignore.
"Ever thought of thinking of following his footsteps?" Slughorn beamed.
"What? In Potion or Art?"
"Either of course, my dear girl!"
Lucia inhaled sharply, "Not really," she said bluntly, surprising Slughorn quite a bit. She then elaborated; "I mean, I have some arts and potions skills, sure, but I only do them as hobbies. I don't think I want to quite find a permanent job in them. I'll probably just open up a business for funsies and see how it goes, but I more see myself going into the Ministry business for a few years,"
"In what department, dare I ask?"
She hummed in deep thought for a moment. "The Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures? Sound interesting you know, so I guess there I will start my world domination and stuff," said Lucia jokingly, but no one was laughing, causing Lucia to grimace privately at herself.
"Intriguing..." nodded Slughorn. "If you were to open up a business, what would it be about?"
"I guess it'll be about various of products, from arts and crafts to necessities if can or even about food," said Lucia, shrugging. She had to admit, her empty brain only thought of that out of the blue. "If I were to open up a business, I want to be able to have a diverse group of clients. That'll mean I have to provide for all of them... I'll plan it carefully later on, but I would love for it to lead into me dominating the Wizarding world market,"
A cold wind passed around compartment C from the sudden change of tone in her usually sweet voice. It sounded dangerous, sounded threatening, but they were merely talking about the Wizarding market... So why did it sound as though she was planning a whole battle?
Lucia smiled softly. "That's all for now though," she said. "My future is still very foggy."
"O-Oh," Slughorn said in comprehension of what had just occurred. "Yes... yes... I bid you good luck in your endeavours!"
Lucia's shoulder slumped as she inwardly let out a sigh of relief. She actually got through that alive, without stammering much. Was it believable? She hoped so...
That was the first time someone outwardly mention her father with good memories, and while she was glad to hear it, she also did not appreciate the sole purpose of bringing him up. With her soft eyes, Lucia couldn't help but cast a subtle glare from beneath her soft exterior.
A warm feeling made its way to Harry's stomach. If he was not in love with Lucia before, he was now.
"Harry Potter!"
Harry jumped at the sudden call of his name, causing him to break away from some... thoughts.
"Present," said Harry absentmindedly. Lucia bit back a chuckle from this.
"Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" He contemplated Harry for a moment as though he was a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant, then said, "'The Chosen One,' they're calling you now!"
In his bright green eyes, the glint of tiredness was very much visible as he said nothing while they all stared at him.
"Of course," said Slughorn, watching Harry closely, "there have been rumors for years... I remember when — well — after that terrible night — Lily — James — and you survived — and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary —"
Zabini gave a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused skepticism. Lucia nudged the boy's ribs, hard. She may have no problems just yet with him, but there will certainly be soon if he were to start the problem. The boy winced in pain, holding his hand to cover up the possible bruise underneath his robes. It was hard to believe that such a timid and gentle-looking girl would throw a hard jabbed that felt as though it had been done by a brawny lad.
"Yeah, Zabini, because you're so talented... at posing..." Ginny said.
"Oh dear!" chuckled Slughorn comfortably, looking around at Ginny, who was glaring at Zabini around Slughorn's great belly. "You want to be careful, Blaise! I saw this young lady perform the most marvelous Bat-Bogey Hex as I was passing her carriage! I wouldn't cross her!" Zabini merely looked contemptuous.
"Anyway," said Slughorn, turning back to Harry. "Such rumors this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe, the Prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes — but there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses, that there was quite a disturbance at the Ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all!"
Harry nodded, saying nothing. Slughorn beamed at him. "So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond — you were there, then? But the rest of the stories — so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe — this fabled prophecy, for instance -"
"We never heard a prophecy," said Neville, turning pink.
Lucia shifted uncomfortably, knowing that none of her friends have yet to know about Harry's fate.
"That's right," said Ginny staunchly. "Lucia, Neville and I were both there too, and all this 'Chosen One' rubbish is just the Prophet making things up as usual."
"You were both there too, were you?" said Slughorn with great interest, looking from Ginny to Neville. "Yes... well... it is true that the Prophet often exaggerates, of course..." Slughorn said, a bit disappointed. "I remember dear Gwenog telling me- Gwenog Jones, I mean, of course, Captain of the Holyhead Harpies —"
The meeting felt as though it could go on forever, much to the students dismay. It was a rather uncomfortable meeting for all. All they wanted was to leave the professor just to get on with their lives. Slughorn wouldn't stop taking about his past students and all while talking about his "Slug Club" at Hogwarts. Of course, Lucia was not able to focus on the professor as she was too alarmed by the stares coming from McLaggen that grew more and more... lustful? He was hoping she was just imagining.
Finally, the sun was setting into twilight.
"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change into your robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by and borrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise — any time you're passing. Same goes for you two misses," he twinkled at Lucia and Ginny. "Well, off you go, off you go!"
There were finally able to escape from Slughorn. Blaise pushed passed Harry into the darkening corridor before shooting a loathing look while excusing himself passed Lucia.
"McLaggen couldn't stop looking at you, and it's disgusting"
Lucia looked at him, surprised. She never truly had a conversation with Zabini and quite honestly, she assumed that it was because he was in Malfoy's friend group, so he was just equally bad as Malfoy...
"Yeah... I'm really hoping for that not go on for the whole year," said Lucia, going along with the oddly normal conversation.
"Knowing McLaggen, that's a possibility." snorted Blaise. "Well, you have nothing to worry since Potter is around, huh?"
Lucia hummed distractedly, "I guess so..."
"I have to go before Potter bite my head off,"
She nodded, sending him off with a polite smile and turning back to her three friends.
"I'm glad that's over," muttered Neville. "Strange man, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is a bit," said Harry, his eyes still on Blaise.
She happily made her way beside Ginny, interlocking her arms together with the redhead. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?" she asked.
"He saw me hex Zacharias Smith," said Ginny. "You remember that idiot from Hufflepuff who was in the D.A.? He kept on and on asking about what happened at the Ministry and in the end, he annoyed me so much I hexed him — when Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention, but he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch! Mad, eh?" Ginny then looked at the girl worriedly, "McLaggen looked as if he was about to eat you. Are you okay?"
"I could be better if he didn't decide to stare at me like I'm a delicious meal," mumbled Lucia anxiously, fiddling with her locket.
"He's not going to have eyes anymore if he keeps up with that," said Harry venomously before turning back to Ginny, "Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous," said Harry, scowling at the back of Zabini's head, "or because their uncle —"
They looked at Harry, puzzled. Why had he broken off from finishing he sentences?
"I'll see you three later," said Harry under his breath, pulling out his Invisibility Cloak and flinging it over himself.
"But what're you — ?" asked Neville.
"Later!" whispered Harry, darting after Zabini as quietly as possible, though the rattling of the train made such caution almost pointless.
The trio watched as his body head was no longer in sight. "I have a bad feeling..."
"You and me both," said Ginny. "No matter. Let's just go."
Reluctantly, Lucia followed Neville and Ginny back to the compartment. The ominous feeling lingered in herself.
༻❁༺
As they finally arrived at the platform in Hogsmeade Station, Lucia began to worry. Even after landing on the platform with the rest of the students, she have yet to see Harry and quite honestly, there was no sign of him anywhere
"Where is he?" said Lucia, brows furrowed in worry.
"I'm sure he'll come. Let's go before there's no more carriages anymore."
Lucia gnawed on her bottom lip, looking around as she played with the hem of her robe's sleeves in utter discomfort. "You guys go first," she said once they were in front of a carriage. "I... I have a feeling that I had — I've certainly forgotten something! Yes, that's it!"
Without a moment wasted, Lucia dashed back to the now empty platform when she heard the call of her last name. She whipped out her wand cautiously, looking around once more and entering the train. The moment she did, she was immediately crashed into a figure.
"Sorry!" she said at once, squeezing her eyes shut.
"Watch where you're going next time," hissed a voice.
Fluttering her eyes open, she was greeted by the displeasuring sight of Draco Malfoy.
"Malfoy... I take that back, Im not sorry one bit," Lucia said and Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"What are you doing around here still?" he asked.
"Nothing," said Lucia. She then cocked a brow at him suspiciously, "What are you doing around here still?"
"Nothing," said Malfoy easily. "And it's really none of your business what I'm doing, is it?"
Lucia's lips parted to object, but she decided against it as she thought privately to herself: Fair...
She then narrowed her eyes at him, "Well, you best be off, there won't be anymore carriages for you if you don't hurry."
"Don't tell me what to do," he sneered down at her. "Also, you're not a prefect —"
"I may not be, but seeing as you're not doing your work, I'll do it myself," said Lucia.
Malfoy scowled but before he went ahead, he halted in his steps, looking over his shoulder. "How's Erin doing?"
Lucia uncrossed her arms, shoulders slumping before her eyes softening. "She's doing fine,"
"Is Weasley treating her right?" It may have not been noticeable to the others, but she could hear the croakiness in his tone that he tried so desperately to hide.
"From what I last time saw, yes," she said delicately.
Malfoy nodded. "Thanks,"
He turned his heel and was about to walk away. Lucia bit her lip in contemplation, she didn't know whether he was going to lie, but it doesn't seem as though Harry was even in there. Especially after how many minutes have passed since the conversation started, she feared that perhaps Harry wasn't exactly inside the train and was already out...
She sighed. "Hey, Malfoy!"
"What?" he whirled around, irritated.
"Do you know where Harry is?"
He paused for a moment, causing Lucia to stiffen. But then he spoke, "Nope."
Lucia huffed out in agitation. She turned back to the train, then to Malfoy. With a last-minute decision, her feet moved, following behind Malfoy's figure.
"What are you doing?" he inquired, crossed.
"I'm going to catch the last carriage of course," said Lucia as a matter-of-factly.
Malfoy glared at her, and she glared back with utter loathing. Then they looked away from one another, irritated.
Harry was inside already, and she had just probably missed him that was all, she thought to herself continuously again as she climbed inside the last carriage with Malfoy. They sat in utter silence, not looking across one another. For once, no hostile comments were thrown at one another. Both were too filled with their own thoughts to acknowledge each other's presence.
When they both arrived in front of the entrance hall, they hopped off and walked in silence on their way to the Great Hall.
What in the bloody hell was she thinking when she decided to go off with Malfoy? She could just imagine the weird stares they would be receiving, after all, they were technically the last people to enter.
Without a word being exchanged as they stood at the entrance of the Great Hall, ignoring all the stares and mumbles that were being thrown their way, Lucia and Malfoy went their separate ways. Malfoy to the Slytherin table, and Lucia to the Gryffindor table. Her feet were moving in such fast pace that she had almost missed Ginny, Hermione, and Ron if it weren't for Ron quickly seizing her wrist, pulling her to sit between him and Hermione.
"Where were you?" Hermione hissed first, tearing her eyes away from Malfoy, who wasn't even talking to his friends that were bombarding him with questions after what they had just saw. "And why were you with him?"
"I was off finding Harry, but I ended up not finding him," Lucia squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. "Malfoy was there and not to mention it was either ride the last carriage with Malfoy or walk up to the castle alone in the dark. And a girl walking in the dark is already dangerous enough, so I just didn't focus on Malfoy being there with me!"
"So, you didn't find Harry?" Ron questioned.
"No!" said Lucia.
"Did you try to search inside the train?" said Ginny from across them.
"I thought about it, but the train was about to leave. I guess my mind just went to the thought that maybe Harry was already out —"
"But he isn't —"
"Yes, I can see that, Ron!" cried Lucia, hiding her face in her hands. "Harry's probably in the train still, going back to London — I'm a terrible girlfriend or whatever I am to him!"
"Remember, you're his best friend first, then girlfriend or whatever you are to —"
"Ronald, shut. Up." Hermione glared at him.
"Hey, c'mon, let's think positively," said Ginny weakly. "He's probably just in the bathroom or something..."
Even after the Sorting Ceremony had taken place, Harry have yet to return from who knows where, making Lucia more and more itchy with guilt as well as worry. Her mind kept on running through thoughts of Harry possibly in the arms of a Death Eater... Voldemort... or worse, being eaten by wolves —
"He'll be here in a minute..." said Ron, stuffing some chicken inside his mouth.
"Will you stop eating? Your best friend is missing!" said Hermione disapprovingly.
"Oh, what if something happened to him, Ronnie?!" fretted Lucia, shaking his shoulders profusely.
"Why won't you turn around, you lunatic?"
Harry was standing with Snape at the door, glowering at him, but Lucia couldn't help but focus her eyes on the blood that was on his shirt. "Is that blood?"
"Why is it he's always covered in blood?" Ginny wondered quietly.
After having finished with his stares of loathing with Snape, Harry avoided from taking notice of the hundreds and hundreds of eyes that were on him as he ran through the aisle between Hufflepuff and Gryffindor before he wedged himself between Hermione and Lucia.
"Where have you been?" said Lucia, as she stuffed carrot cake inside her mouth stressingly. "And why's there blood —"
"Forget why there's blood, what even happened to your bloody face?" said Ron, goggling at him along with everyone else in the vicinity.
"Why, what's wrong with it?" said Harry, grabbing a spoon and squinting at his distorted reflection.
"Blood, Potter. Blood!" said Lucia, flailing her arms around.
"Come here —" Hermione huffed, raising her wand from beside him and saying, "Tergeo!" and the dry blood was clear from him.
"Thanks," said Harry, feeling his now clean face. "How's my nose looking?"
"Handsome?" said Lucia weakly while Hermione answered anxiously, "Normal,"
Harry couldn't help but smirk at Lucia's answer, but she wasn't paying attention as her eyes was on the cake. She did not want to pay attention to the people around them
"Why shouldn't it? Harry, what happened? We've been terrified!" fretted Hermione.
"Correction: Lucia was the most terrified," said Ron, earning another glare from Hermione. "I'm just saying the truth! You have no bloody idea how it felt being her victim!"
"I'll tell you later," said Harry curtly. He was very conscious that Ginny, Neville, Dean, and Seamus were listening in; even Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had come floating along the bench to eavesdrop.
"But —" said Hermione.
"Not now, Hermione," said Harry, in a darkly significant voice. He hoped very much that they would all assume he had been involved in something heroic, preferably involving a couple of Death Eaters and a dementor. Of course, Malfoy would spread the story as far and wide as he could, but there was always a chance it wouldn't reach too many Gryffindor ears.
Lucia stared down at her carrot cake, contemplating greatly. If she didn't assume that Harry was already inside, perhaps Harry wouldn't have gotten a bloody nose... However, who in the world would do — how naive she was...
She sighed privately, closing her eyes. Malfoy...
No wonder he was exiting out of the train later than the rest. No wonder he said Harry wasn't in there — actually, what possessed her to believe Malfoy in the first place? Was it the tone of worry and care that he used when he mentioned Erin? Did that drawn her to believe that Malfoy wasn't lying, or that maybe he was terrible at lying?
Ugh, she was a fool.
As her eyes looked around the hall, she saw the fawning looks that were directing toward Harry. Just when she had thought that she had enough in her plate, this comes in like a storm. Now she couldn't help but fret over the rest of the term, knowing full well that things were going to be hell. Especially with people probably going to spike Harry's food and drinks...
Lucia huffed out, stuffing her mouth with her cake was the only way to get her mind off the troubles.
"You missed the Sorting, anyway," said Hermione, as Ron dived for a large chocolate gateau.
"Hat say anything interesting?" asked Harry, taking a piece of treacle tart.
"Still the same thing really," said Lucia absentmindedly. "Mister Hat advised us all to unite in the face of our enemies and blah blah blah..."
"Dumbledore mentioned Voldemort at all?"
Hermione shook her head. "Not yet, but he always saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he? It can't be long now."
"Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast —"
"You've seen Snape? How come?" said Ron between frenzied mouthfuls of gateau.
"Bumped into him," said Harry evasively.
"Hagrid was only a few minutes late," said Hermione. "Look, he's waving at you, Harry."
Lucia turned along with the three to the staff table and saw Hagrid, who was indeed waving at Harry. She smiled when she saw Harry grinning beside her. It baffled her how a simple grin from him could diminish all her worries like a snap of a finger...
Anyway, back to the topic at hand, Hagrid had never quite managed to comport himself with the dignity of Professor McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House, the top of whose head came up to somewhere between Hagrid's elbow and shoulder as they were sitting side by side, and who was looking disapprovingly at this enthusiastic greeting. The Divination teacher, Professor Trelawney, sitting on Hagrid's other side, surprisingly since she rarely left her tower room. She looked as odd as ever, glittering with beads and trailing shawls, her eyes magnified to enormous size by her spectacles.
Many considered her as a fraud, though Lucia and some of her friends — Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown — did not think of the woman as a fraud. Don't get her wrong, Lucia will not brush over the excessiveness in her prediction, but that didn't mean that she was a fraud. There were many times in which her predictions came to be real, but people would rather look pass that because of her excessiveness.
Her great beaconlike eyes swiveled in their direction; Harry hastily looked away toward the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy was miming the shattering of a nose to raucous laughter and applause. Harry dropped his gaze to his treacle tart, his insides burning again. What he would not give to fight Malfoy one-on-one, especially after getting to know from Hermione that Lucia had entered with Malfoy after the Slytherin had deliberately lied.
"So, what did Professor Slughorn want?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, are we really going to go back to that?" groaned Lucia.
"Yes, we're going back to that," said Hermione. "Might as well get answers from Harry since you're so stubborn to tell,"
"I don't want to tell because it makes me feel weird," said Lucia. "You didn't know what I have to go through in there — bloody McLaggen..."
Hermione shook her head and turned to Harry expectedly. "So?"
"He wanted to know what really happened at the Ministry," said Harry.
"Him and everyone else here," sniffed Hermione. "People were interrogating us about it on the train, weren't they, Ron?"
"Yeah," said Ron. "All wanting to know if you really are 'the Chosen One' —"
"There has been much talk on that very subject even amongst the ghosts," interrupted Nearly Headless Nick, inclining his barely connected head toward Harry so that it wobbled dangerously on its ruff. "I am considered something of a Potter authority; it is widely known that we are friendly. I have assured the spirit community that I will not pester you for information, however. 'Harry Potter knows that he can confide in me with complete confidence,' I told them. 'I would rather die than betray his trust.'"
"That's not saying much, seeing as you're already dead," Ron observed.
Lucia rubbed the bridge of her nose, "Honestly, Ron,"
"What, it's the truth!" Ron defended himself.
"Once again, you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe," said Nearly Headless Nick in affronted tones, and he rose into the air and glided back toward the far end of the Gryffindor table just as Dumbledore got to his feet at the staff table. 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.
"What happened to his hand?" gasped Hermione.
She was not the only one who had noticed. Dumbledore's right hand was as blackened and dead-looking, causing Lucia to grimace. 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..."
"His hand was like that when I saw him over the summer," Harry whispered to Hermione and inevitably, Lucia and Ron. "I thought he'd have cured it by now, though... or Madam Pomfrey would've done."
"It looks as if it's died," said Hermione, with a nauseated expression. "But there are some injuries you can't cure... old curses... and there are poisons without antidotes..."
Lucia nodded, "I've spent many years and time in the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomfrey, and sometimes she would complain about some lack of healing magic for many things. Maybe that's one of it..."
"...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."
"Are you sure you don't want to tryout for Quidditch? Put that broom I brought to use again," said Harry to Lucia.
She hummed. "Yes, but I would do better as a replacement instead," said Lucia. "Plus, I have some ideas already..."
Harry looked at her peculiarly, but before he could question, Dumbledore spoke above him.
"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 waistcoated 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.
"Potions?" said Ron and Hermione together, turning to stare at Harry. "But you said —"
Lucia gasped, looking at Harry. "That means..."
"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."
"No!" said Harry. He was so loud that even heads were turned toward his direction, but he didn't care. It was widely known of Snape's utter dislike toward him. Harry was the most dislike and many could see it. It was a natural reaction that Harry wouldn't like Snape to be taking the position to teach his favourite subject.
"But Harry, you said that Slughorn was going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts!" said Hermione.
"I thought he was!" said Harry, racking his brains to remember when Dumbledore had told him this, but now that he came to think of it, he was unable to recall Dumbledore ever telling him what Slughorn would be teaching.
Snape, who was sitting on Dumbledore's right, did not stand up at the mention of his name; he merely raised a hand in lazy acknowledgment of the applause from the Slytherin table, yet Lucia was sure he could detect a look of triumph on the features he loathed so much.
"I'm doomed..." whimpered Lucia.
"Well, there's one good thing," he said savagely. "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."
"What do you mean?" asked Ron.
"That job's jinxed. No one's lasted more than a year... Quirrell actually died doing it... Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death..."
"Harry!" said Hermione, shocked and reproachful.
"He might just go back to teaching Potions at the end of the year," said Ron reasonably. "That Slughorn bloke might not want to stay long-term. Moody didn't."
"While that wish is pretty... gruesome — I also don't think that Snape's going to end up dead by the end of the year," said Lucia, leaning her head on her palms. "Slughorn was a professor before here before I think, and if he's up to take the job again, I won't doubt that he'll be here for awhile. Especially when he's mission is to become all 'buddy-buddy' with Harry," she quirked a brow at Harry, who scowled.
Dumbledore cleared his throat. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lucia were not the only ones who had been talking; the whole Hall had erupted in a buzz of conversation at the news that Snape had finally achieved his heart's desire. Seemingly oblivious to the sensational nature of the news he had just imparted, Dumbledore said nothing more about staff appointments, but waited a few seconds to ensure that the silence was absolute before continuing.
"Now, as everybody in this Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength."
The sound a pin drop could be heard in the silent hall if wanted to be dropped. The headmaster's words are as shocking as it is, but when all eyes went to Harry, it made the group of four quite uncomfortable.
"I cannot emphasize strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you, therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them — in particular, the rule that you are not to be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and others' safety."
He paused before a smile returned his lips.
"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say good night. Pip pip!"