First day
Harry just arrived for the last, additional year of Hogwarts.
The castle was rebuild, looking slightly better after it was broken down by deatheaters. Though, when they arrived, there was extra table. It was significantly smaller than the other four, clearly meant just for the students that were supposed to graduate last year.
He recognised most people, Hermione and Ron, of course. He and Hermione were now residents at the Burrow, considering the Dursley's were in safe distance from magic and her parents...forgot.
He also noticed the three Slytherins, Pansy, Blaise and Draco. Sitting close together and talking about something among each other. There wasn't much Slytherins, most stayed home after what happened. It made sense, not many people would be happy seeing them again, but they did not seem to care. Neville was here too, as well as the Patil twins. They sat side by side, quietly chatting about something. Dean and Seamus, sitting together. To be fair, Harry saw them mostly together. He couldn't spot Cho anywhere, so he only assumed she decided to skip. It wasn't mandatory year, it was more of filler after what happened last year.
It left Harry in slight surprise that they managed to fix the castle so fast, but it wasn't as shocking. The magic mostly made all that possible.
"Harry?" Hermione leaned towards him, her mouth close to his face so nobody else could overhear. "Have you seen the people at my right? I don't think I've seen them, ever," she said and when she pulled away, Harry Potter could finally see who she's talking about.
A tall, handsome boy, well, more likely a man, with black hair, tan skin and sea green eyes. Around his neck he had a bead necklace and even under the robes he was clearly muscular.
Next to him sat a much smaller, also clearly younger, girl. She couldn't be over seventeen, so that left him confused. Shouldn't she be year under? She was darker skinned, brunette.
"No idea" he whispered back to his friend and shook his head.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about?" Asked Ron, as loud as always. That never changed, being unable to read social clues. "Ronald, keep your voice down" Hermione's scolding voice brought the attention of the two, the guy moving to the girl and whispering something to her ear, which they both laughed at.
"We'll talk later" She said, glancing at the professor table. Harry followed her gaze and traced over every person.
Despite his long hatred, the line missing Snape was suddenly overwhelming.
There was Slughorn for potions, but the other person there was a blonde man, from the distance already giving off the same energy as Lockhart.
McGonagall stood up, waiting firmly before she got all the attention on her, quite intimidating form. "Welcome, students. I welcome our new first years and returning students"
The hall was quiet, everyone staring up at the headmistress.
"This year will be special, we have students from America's school of Magical Crossroads, they will be joining the last year. Please, treat them with respect" her voice was clearly directed towards their table and everyone turned their heads to look at the two. They both grinned, though, their smiles were different and gave off their personalities.
"When we're at it, I expect you all on your best behaviour. No harassment towards certain students, I hope we understand each other" she was again looking at their table mostly, though, she did turn to the normal Griffindor and Slytherin tables.
"Eight years will be staying in a dormitory located in a new tower, I will have one of the ghosts lead you there after the feast." She waved her hand before she sat back down. After a while of utter silence, there was applause.
Food appeared before them and he could hear the boy gasp in awe. "Close your mouth, Seaweed brain" she chuckled, and to Harry, hee voice was sickeningly sweet. "Don't call me that, you don't have the privilege" He sounded almost offended, by a nickname?
Harry sighed, changing his attention. Ron, like any other day, was already stuffing his mouth with mashed potatoes. Hermione next to him was already rolling her eyes at the ridiculous sight, and he couldn't really blame her.
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It was Nearly headless Nick who led them to the new dorm. Harry found out the names of the two new students from America, Perseus Jackson and Piper McLean. Hermione mentioned something about Tristan McLean, an actor, but he himself never really watched TV, because he hardly could, but she said he was hell famous.
The two weren't much ahead of them, but Piper was talking to Blaise and Percy tried to strike a conversation with Draco who kept telling him off. Ron was practically seething next to himself.
"But that's Malfoy, he's a deatheater" he whispered to him and gave the two a digusted look. "He should be in Azkaban like the rest of them" Hermione elbowed him, making his friend hiss and touch his side where she hit him. "I just don't understand why would McGonagall let him back inside"
Rpn was quiet after that, Hermione looked like he would punch his lights out. To be honest, Ron wasn't entirely wrong, he understood why he felt that way, just talking about it just a small distance from them wasn't ideal.
The common room of the tower was bigger than Griffindor's. A big library, bunch of tables and a fireplace that lighted the entire room. Harry's attention quickly got taken by the little fountain in the corner, why did they need a fountain? Though, Perseus had different opinion, he looked excited.
Some people left again to catch up with friends, mot people, to be fair. There were only them three, slytherin's and the new duo.
"Do you think they're also deatheaters" asked Ron and eyed the group.
Ever since the war, there was this weird tension, in Hogwarts especially. Faces that should be here weren't, and never will be again. Harry still had hard time living with it. The horrible nightmares hunting his sleep everytime he closed his eyes.
And to top it off, he and Ginny broke up after not that long of dating. He had Ron after his throat for a while.
"I don't know, they seem nice enough" Hermione said. "We can't judge them because of this on pure speculations...plus, Voldemort is dead...i don't think this would make any sense" She placed her hand on top of Ron's shoulder and squeezed it. "We'll be careful, but lete's give them a chance"