Chapter 3
Professor Minerva McGonagall has seen many students grow and change over her years at Hogwarts. She has seen students come back from summer holidays several inches taller, or several pounds heavier, with faces full of acne or new haircuts. She has helped them struggle through new family dynamics, the difficulties of loss, and the struggle of sharing a dorm. The end of summer holidays brings many rowdy, hurting, and confused kids to her door, and Professor McGonagall makes it her mission to notice the small things-- the warning signs.
It doesn’t slip her notice that Marlene McKinnon is making eyes at Dorcas Meadows. It doesn’t pass her gaze that one of her sixth-year girls has touched nothing but lettuce and carrots for dinner. It doesn’t fool her when Frank Longbottom points at something across the hall before slipping a bit of euphoria potion into his pumpkin juice. Yes, Minerva McGonagall is attentive to her kids, but it doesn’t take a sharp eye to notice that something is wrong with Sirius Black.
The boy is usually so brash and loud, always causing trouble and making noise. He usually bounces in his seat rather than sitting, and rarely misses the opportunity to draw attention to himself. Today, though, he is different.
He walks slowly, with James and Remus hovering just a bit too closely on either side. He does not smile, or talk, or laugh at all. He does not tell a single joke during Dumbledore’s speech and he doesn’t squirm impatiently at the sorting. In fact, he doesn’t even move when the plates are filled with food. Instead, he sits there completely still and silent, until James scoops food on his plate and puts a fork in his hand.
Something is wrong, there. Something is very, very wrong.