Chapter 8 - The Welcoming Feast

The day for students to return to Hogwarts have arrived with Harry groaning about the day. On one hand he was excited to see Daphne again alive and healthy. While on the other hand he has to keep his temper and slowly disconnect from Ron the other Weasleys. As for Hermione he will just have to suck it up and play it by ear.

"Harry, are you going to floo with me or take the train?" Dumbledore asked as Harry woke up.

As Harry weighed the options in the end he decided to go with the old headmaster. He didn't know if Dobby would do something in an attempt to keep him safe despite the warning. The thought of flying in Weasley's flying car didn't really appeal to him or ending up somewhere in the floo network. So he side apparition to Hogwarts into the Headmaster Office.

"I will just review some books until it is time for the Welcoming Feast."

"Very well Harry." Dumbledore smiled with a small sparkle in his eyes.

--

A few hours passed by as time neared for students to arrive and the sorting and welcoming feast to begin. Placing a dark arts book that covered an in depth study on Fiendefire and tips and tricks to control it and the counter curse back. Harry quickly went and got changed before heading down to join in the stream of students.

"Harry mate, where were you on the train? I searched everywhere for you." A voice that he considered forever too soon on hearing.

Turning in his seat at the Gryffindor table, he looked a red haired twelve year old with freckles common to the Weasleys. While Harry knew they would be meeting. It took him a few moments to get used to seeing Ron again. The last time he saw the red head they were in their thirties and Ron was putting on a gut from overeating.

"I was here." Harry said shortly and simply. "I sent you and Hermione a letter over break telling you this."

"What happened Harry? What did you do that was important to interrupt the Headmaster Summer." Hermione who stood behind Ron asked. "Your letter didn't say."

Emerald green eyes flashed over to her as Harry studied her for a moment. Once again he took a moment due to her bushy brown hair, buck teeth and slightly superior tone. He was forced to dig into his memories as he was used to her when she grew out of this phase. Sadly that wasn't for another two years and not having her looking up to those with authorities like their gods.

"That between him and I. So how was your summer?" Harry asked changing topics.

"Come on mate, you can tell us." Ron asked. "So what is the real reason Dumbledore took you on as an apprentice?"

"Again, that between him and I."

Hermione's eyes appeared as if demanding he tell her, but he just shook his head. Truthfully he figured she will either hound him for answers later or try and figure it out. Hopefully it was the latter as the first would quickly grate on his nerves and patients. The patients he will probably be on short supplies soon enough with sharing a dorm with Ron.

"Fine don't tell us." Hermione huffed as Ron just shrugged.

Harry just studied Ron for a moment wondering why he didn't burst out but realized Ron while probably asking again in the dorms. Sometimes he wished he could use Legilimens but he never learned and was unable to practice occumenacy in his last life. Snapes 'lessons' and losing his wolf side made it impossible to learn. However he did learn a few tricks from Fleur and Daphne and his wolf should guard his mind now.

While Harry was having an internal debate, he tuned out the sorting until it finished. Sighing a bit he wanted to watch Luna get sorted since he missed it the first time around. However it seems he missed it once again and scanned the Ravenclaw table. At the very end of the table he found her and mentally smiled. She was a cute eleven year old with her platinum blonde and bright intelligent blue eyes.

'I will give you a better Hogwarts experience this time Luna for being a great friend the last time around.' Harry thought as he remembered despite how much she traveled with her family, she always stayed in touch with him.

Well until her husband died when they were on vacation up and stumbled into the middle of a gang war. From what he remembers, Rolf Scamander was shot nearly five times trying to protect the twins. While he did his best he didn't realize that shots were coming from both sides. Ending his and their twin sons lives. After that she came and lived with him to grieve and heal until his death, but still travel in search of the unknown.

Once Harry was done reliving the memory he tried to search the Slytherin table for his lover and blonde hair and blue eye beauty. Sighing as too many bodies blocked his view and decided to send her a note by owl to meet up tomorrow after breakfast.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" Dumbledore rose to bring all attention to him. "Now shall we feast before going over the rules."

WIth a wide wave of his hands, food from a wide variety appeared down the center of the four tables. Cheers and laughter sprung as everyone dug in, filling their empty stomachs from the long train ride or in Harry's case a long day.

While everyone chatted with their friends Harry greeted a few others in Gryffindor. When he looked back at Ron who gained a bit of table manners, not much but better. His ears had to listen to him complain about all the chores he had to do over summer. Though he was sure Ron conveniently forgot what he did to earn all these chores.

When dinner finished and dessert came and went, Dumbledore rose from his seat again. "Now that everyone is fed and watered. I will explain the rules, the first like always is the Forbidden Forest is Forbidden to everyone. The second is there is no spell casting in the Hallways and Mr. Filch has informed me of the increase of banned items."

"Now onto some changes to Hogwarts, from third year and up all is required to take at least math, science, or art as well either muggle or magic cultures. It has been brought to my attention that many wizards and witches are bringing unnecessary attention. So I hope this will lower the amount of time the Obliviator squads have to move out."

While some cheered as these classes already existed but now are required. On the other hand most purebloods who grew up in the magical world and those raised by death eaters. Well they were the loudest with their boo's and protests.

"Now, I would like to announce that Professor Snape shall be teaching fifth to seventh years and removed from being Head of Slytherin. Since Professor Slughorn has agreed to come out of retirement, he shall be the head of Slytherin and teaching first through fourth year potions. Now Professor McGonagall has requested to be removed from the head of house for Gryffindor. So now Professor Vector has agreed to take over."

"Now if you will follow your perfects, you will be taken to your dorms. Good night."

Harry blinked at the sudden change, but as he saw Lockhart up at the head table. He knew some things would stay the same which was fine with him. Maybe he should take up pranking, the idiot would be a good tester and guinea pig if he was going to be here for the year. Even Harry knew it would be too much to ask to get rid of the idiot just because he didn't like him.

'I should probably just watch him and should he do something illegal. Then bye bye idiot, but who would take over DADA? This requires more thinking or maybe I should start a study group.' Harry thought as he followed the crowd towards the Gryffindor dorms. 'A thought for another day.'