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HP Chapter 26: The Start of Term
🕑 Added 2025-08-05 14:00:12 +0000 UTCWhen the train finally pulled into the station, Hermione looked anxious. Ron and Harry hadn’t come to find her the entire ride, and now they were nowhere in sight. She turned to Anne with concern.
“Anne, do you think… they missed the train?”
Fanny, overhearing this, looked shocked.
“What? They missed the train? What’s the school going to do about that? They won’t get expelled, will they?”
Hermione looked even more worried now, so Anne answered calmly, “Of course not. I’m sure something must have come up that kept them from getting here on time. And with Dumbledore at Hogwarts, there’s no way he’d allow Harry Potter to be expelled. Don’t worry.”
Anne’s reassurance helped Hermione feel a little better, though her questions didn’t end there.
“Then… how will they get to school?”
“They might send a letter to Professor McGonagall explaining what happened. Doesn’t Harry have an owl? I’m sure the school has contingency plans. Hogwarts has been around for over a thousand years, this can’t be the first time something like this has happened.”
Both Fanny and Hermione nodded thoughtfully. What Anne said made sense, and their worries eased.
Still, Anne glanced up at the pitch-black sky and silently added in her mind, Though arriving by car might actually be a first in Hogwarts history.
Second-year students no longer had to cross the lake by boat. Instead, they followed their House Prefects to the other side of the platform. Hagrid led the first-years toward the docks for their boat ride.
Near the platform was a large open space where several horseless carriages were waiting. At least, they appeared horseless. As they approached, Anne noticed that Fanny didn’t seem to see the creatures pulling the carriages. Fanny even commented in surprise,
“We’re riding carriages that move on their own this year?”
Anne fell silent. She vaguely remembered that only certain people could see the creatures pulling the carriages. She made a mental note to visit the library once they were back at school.
In the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the Sorting Ceremony was about to begin. Students sat at their House tables, waiting expectantly. Anne took her seat and, out of habit, scanned the staff table. The first person she noticed was Gilderoy Lockhart, he stood out like a sore thumb among the professors in his shimmering aqua robes, grinning radiantly.
Her gaze shifted down the table. Dumbledore sat in the center, speaking quietly to Professor McGonagall beside him. Professor Flitwick was watching the Ravenclaw table with interest. Hagrid sat nearby, sipping from a comically large tankard.
But where was Professor Snape?
Anne looked around the hall but saw no sign of him. Odd. Where was he?
She didn’t have time to dwell on it, Professor McGonagall had just brought out the Sorting Hat and placed it on a stool in front of the line of nervous new students. She gave a brief speech explaining the procedure, and the Sorting Hat launched into a new song, different from the one it sang the year before.
While the Sorting went on, Anne scanned the hall again. Still no sign of Snape. And with Harry and Ron still missing, Anne began to suspect where he might have gone.
She looked at Dumbledore and thought, If Dumbledore sent Snape after them… that says a lot about how much he trusts him.
The Sorting ended, but Harry and Ron never arrived. Rumors, however, were already spreading among the students. That day’s Daily Prophet had published an article: three Muggles had reportedly spotted a flying car in the sky, complete with photos. Many suspected it had something to do with Harry and Ron.
Most Gryffindors were delighted. They thought flying a car to school was the coolest thing ever. Others, however, whispered nervously about the possibility of expulsion, after all, three Muggles had seen them.
After dinner, Draco Malfoy looked positively gleeful, as if Harry and Ron had already been expelled. At the Slytherin table, he loudly read the Daily Prophet article to anyone who would listen.
Anne and Fanny didn’t stick around, they went straight back to their dormitory. Neither of them had any interest in listening to Malfoy’s gloating, especially since Lockhart had also been loudly commenting on the situation in the Great Hall, saying how Harry, as a student, should never have done something so reckless, while, of course, using the opportunity to praise himself. Anne had little patience for self-important blowhards with no real skill.
Fanny, however, saw it differently. Back in the hall, she’d been practically bouncing.
“Oh, that really was Gilderoy Lockhart, wasn’t it? And he’s teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts? Amazing! I’ve read all about him in Witch Weekly and the Daily Prophet! I’ve even read all his books. Too bad my butler missed his book signing when he bought them. Pansy told me hers are all signed, and I, ”
Anne cut her off. “Didn’t you say you admired people with actual ability? You think he qualifies?”
“Anne, you don’t know? Professor Lockhart received the Order of Merlin, Third Class! He’s an honorary member of the Dark Force Defense League! And he’s won Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award five times! Of course he’s capable!”
“I think the only thing he’s truly good at… is deceiving people,” Anne muttered.
“Why don’t you like him? Lots of students do. He’s handsome, and he has such a lovely smile. His books are full of exciting stories!”
Fanny, Anne thought, you’re still too young and too naive.
“You’ll come to realize eventually that it’s not about what someone says they’ve done, but what they’ve actually done.”
Fanny tilted her head thoughtfully.
“That makes sense… kind of like how you keep saying those three from Gryffindor aren’t your friends, but then you keep helping them. Doesn’t that mean you are their friend?”
Anne paused, then replied seriously, “Fanny, that’s not the same. I didn’t choose to help them. The circumstances left me no choice, and you played a big part, too.”
Fanny gave her a skeptical look. “That sounds overly complicated. But you still helped them, didn’t you? I don’t really see the difference.”
Anne sighed. Note to self: never try to explain complex ideas to a child.
“Fine. Fanny, you keep admiring Professor Lockhart, then.”
“I don’t like him, I just admire him, that’s all…”
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The next day, Monday – Slytherin table, Great Hall
Anne studied her class schedule. It hadn’t changed much from last term, except Defense Against the Dark Arts was now on Mondays, and they’d be sharing that class with Gryffindor.
In fact, Slytherin had four joint classes with Gryffindor that week: Defense on Monday, History of Magic on Tuesday, Flying on Thursday, and Potions on Friday.
Anne noticed Draco Malfoy shooting a smug glance across the hall toward the Gryffindor table, no doubt already scheming ways to get Harry and his friends kicked out of Hogwarts.
Not long after, he got just the opportunity he wanted.
Because Ron had recklessly flown his father’s car to school, Arthur Weasley was now under investigation by the Ministry of Magic, and Mrs. Weasley had sent Ron a Howler. The angry voice echoed through the Great Hall, and everyone near Ron clapped their hands over their ears.
Anne, curious, turned to Fanny. “What was that?”
Fanny gave Ron a sympathetic look. “He got a Howler…”
Anne watched the letter burn itself to ashes in midair.
“Truly… living up to its name.”
Malfoy seized the chance to mock Ron and Harry loudly at the Slytherin table.
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Monday morning’s Charms class with Professor Flitwick, shared with Ravenclaw, was refreshingly quiet. Without Gryffindor present, Malfoy was much more bearable.
After lunch, Anne and Fanny strolled back to the Slytherin common room. Fanny had forgotten one of her books. Anne wasn’t thrilled.
“Honestly, Fanny, you didn’t need to come back for it. You already brought six of his books with you.”
“Anne, you’re just biased against Professor Lockhart. You should actually read his books, they’re full of fascinating adventures.”
“They’re full of tired old fairy tales meant to fool children…” Anne muttered.
“How do you know? Have you read them?” Fanny asked sharply.
“No… I just guessed,” Anne said, recalling how one of Lockhart’s books had gotten soaked during a summer Potions experiment.
“But didn’t you say last time that if someone hasn’t experienced something firsthand, they don’t have the right to judge it?”
“Fanny, that’s not, ” But before Anne could finish, Fanny dragged her into a nearby courtyard.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were there, along with Malfoy and a crowd of students from various houses. Malfoy was calling out in a mocking voice:
“Autograph photos, Potter? Are you giving out signed photos?”
Standing behind him were the hulking Crabbe and Goyle.
“Form a line, everyone!” Malfoy called out. “Harry Potter’s handing out autographs!”
“I am not,” Harry growled, clenching his fists.
Malfoy ignored him, clearly delighted. Next to Harry stood a small first-year Gryffindor, Colin Creevey. He held a Muggle camera and shouted indignantly, “You’re just jealous!”
Malfoy raised his chin.
“Jealous? Of what? I don’t want a scar like that on my forehead, thanks!”
Ron yelled, “Shut it, Malfoy!”
That only made Malfoy smirk more.
“Careful, Weasley! Wouldn’t want you in trouble again, or else your mummy might have to come collect you!” He mimicked Mrs. Weasley’s voice, “If you don’t behave properly…”
The students around them burst into laughter.
Just then, Lockhart parted the crowd dramatically and strode to the center.
“What’s going on? Who’s giving out signed photos?”
Anne instinctively turned to leave, but Fanny grabbed her arm.
“Professor Lockhart’s here, let’s see how he handles this before we go!”
“Didn’t you need to get your book?”
“I’ll go later!”
Anne sighed. Nearby, Hermione was gazing at Lockhart with shining eyes, holding a copy of Voyages with Vampires. Anne also noticed that most of the girls in the crowd had the same look.
Lockhart slung an arm around Harry.
“Ah, Harry, there you are! Giving out signed photos already? At your age? That’s not a great look, it might come off as a bit arrogant. But of course, I know you didn’t mean it…”
He waved Colin over.
“Perfect, let’s make it a double autograph! Both of us!”
After signing the photo, he clapped his hands to dismiss the crowd.
“Alright, off you go! If anyone wants my autograph, come to my office later, we’ve got class soon!”
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On the way back to the dorm, Fanny was practically glowing.
“Anne, you saw that! He resolved everything so quickly. He really is capable!”
“Sure… as long as he thinks Harry’s giving out photos.”
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A/N: A quick insight into Anne’s character: she’s technically an adult, but only recently left school. As she adjusts to her new environment, her real personality begins to show. People are complex, not just one thing. Honestly, Anne is a bit of a self-insert.
