Harry Potter and the Flying Squad (01) - Sahits

Having reached the building, they parted to deposit their luggage, then met again in the Great
Hall.
The Sorting Ceremony was due first, as usual. After each exclamation from the Sorting Hat,
the new student was greeted with wild applause from the assigned house's table, while the
others booed and whistled.
The Slytherins had a hard time. Every assignment to their own house raised a yelling
concerto. Harry felt pity with those poor newcomers who moved, head down, to their table.
Damon Harker was selected for Ravenclaw, showed a happy grin on his way back. His
applause was the loudest because at the Gryffindor table first a small group and then, after
some surprised looks, the entire table was applauding too.
When the ceremony was over, Albus Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome in Hogwarts," he began, "after a long and eventful journey. I have quite a lot of
things to announce, but as I'm sure to have a more patient audience after dinner, there is just
one item I want to address before we eat."
Laughter and applause.
"I could notice a somewhat unbalanced enthusiasm during our Sorting Ceremony. It gives me
reason to make one point very clear."
Dumbledore looked around. "Hogwarts with all four of its houses is one unbreakable
community, with due respect to a fair competition between them. This is particularly true,"
the Headmaster's voice turned sharp, "for the Slytherin house."
Silence was lying over the hall.
"Especially now - after three seats at their table are left empty and will stay that way -
although we don't expect these students back ... I'll address this issue in more detail later, but
for now, let's eat!"
Roaring applause erupted from the Slytherin table, after some hesitation followed from the
other tables.
Then, everybody busied himself with food and drinks.
Harry didn't feel very hungry, while he kept emptying one glass after the other, taking his
time to watch the teachers' table.
Hagrid was missing. But Harry saw Grubbly-Plank, the witch who had substituted Hagrid
once before. Snape looked better than the past weeks. Lupin, although not showing bruises,
looked like a wreck. His appearance was very much how Harry felt himself. Doing a Patronus
seemed to suck an awful lot of energy.
Dumbledore was up again.
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