sylvanawood (sylvanawood) wrote in storiesfromwood, @ 2008-03-27 18:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | climate change |
Climate Change - Chapter 1
Twenty Years Later.
" …and that is why I want you all to act as if all the houses were one, using all the skills and talents each house represents. I want all the students to be cunning and ambitious, brave and daring, clever and studious, loyal and caring. The house that wins the House Cup this year should do so by combining the qualities that together make us all great, and not just by playing to their individual strengths.
“We have to put a stop to the old prejudices, and now is the time. This is a time of change at Hogwarts: teachers have retired, Heads of Houses have changed. It's now or never. I’m counting on you."
"You can't be serious, Minerva!"
Four voices uttered their protest more or less simultaneously.
"I am. And that is my last word on the subject. So come, now. Let's go to the Welcoming Feast."
Shaking their heads in confusion, the four Heads of Houses followed the Headmistress to the Great Hall.
Hermione sat down at the High Table still confused, amused and surprised. This year, her second year of teaching Charms, promised to be interesting. She studied the Great Hall, filled with excited and happy students, while the Sorting took place. There weren't any children of her old acquaintances among the first-years, but the other years contained enough of them. There was Ginny and Harry's brood, except for little Lily who would be coming next year. Luna and Ron's daughter Rose, her own goddaughter, had started last year, together with Albus Severus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy. Several Longbottoms, Dursleys, Abbotts and many more Weasleys were haunting the school, evenly distributed throughout the years.
Hermione wondered what the newest addition to the staff thought about all this, but her thoughts were interrupted by Minerva McGonagall's welcoming speech.
“…and may I remind you that the students taking Muggle Studies will once again be able to make a fieldtrip to the Muggle home of Professor Dursley's husband and her mother-in-law. Conversely, the Muggle-borns taking Wizard Studies will be invited again to the home of Professor Longbottom and his wife.
And now, I ask all of you to welcome our newest addition to the Hogwarts staff. You all know that Aberforth Dumbledore decided to retire from teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts after teaching it for twenty years. Thus, I am delighted and honoured to introduce our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Professor Severus Snape."
The Great Hall almost exploded from the noise made by all the clapping and hooting students. It was just as good as her own welcome had been, if not more so, Hermione thought. A sideways glance at her neighbour at the High Table showed her a very surprised face, for once without the customary sneer. A faint smile lit up Snape's face when he nodded his thank you to the students.
They all knew that he was a war hero, of course. His name had become famous, even though nobody really knew whether he had survived the war or not. His body had never been found; a headmaster portrait hadn't appeared – it didn't take long for the rumours to start flying. From time to time, 'Snape-sightings' were reported, and his fame had become even greater for the mystery surrounding his person. The Boy-Who-Still-Lived had publicly announced him to be a great hero, of having fought the Dark Lord Voldemort bravely for most of his life, and for having been essential for Voldemort's defeat. Harry told everyone who was ready to listen what a brave and honourable man Severus Snape had been, and how he had fulfilled his duty up to the last moment of his life.
However, the mystery of the missing body and portrait remained, and the rumours did the rest. By now, Severus Snape had become a legend, and the students were excited to have him as a teacher. Hardly anyone remembered that his reputation from the past had been that of a stern, unfair and demanding teacher who could silence a classroom with a glare, and who had favoured his own house faithfully. They were in for a few surprises, Hermione thought with a smirk. Snape was more relaxed now than he had been during the war years, but he was essentially the same sarcastic and witty man she had known during her own student years. Favouring his own house would be interesting to watch with Minerva's original idea for more house unity; an idea that she’d just now explained to the students, who had listened in shocked silence.
"And so I trust that you will all remember, while you work hard to win the Cup for your house, that it is only together that we can be truly strong; as one school, and as one wizardkind. Now, let the feast begin."
Excited whispers followed her speech, and only the first-years paid the food on the tables its due attention.