Chapter 13 13. Hogwarts~Hogwarts~
"Who is this?"
It was not Jon who asked the question, but Neville.
He seemed to be unfamiliar with the smiling old man brought back by Lily, who looked like a fat walrus, and turned to ask the girl who called out "Professor Slughorn" just now.
The senior girl introduced to Neville.
"He is Professor Horace Slughorn. Last semester, he taught us Defense Against the Dark Arts and the History of Magic at Hogwarts. However, he left Hoag last year for important matters. Watts for one year, our Defense Against the Dark Arts class and History of Magic were all taken by Professor Dumbledore in time, but I didn't expect Professor Slughorn to come back this year, and his affairs should have been dealt with."
After listening to her explanation, Neville showed a dazed expression on his face.
"Did he still serve as the dean of Slytherin before the fall of Hogwarts Castle? My dad seems to have mentioned him to me."
Jon listened to their conversation silently.
He naturally knew Slughorn. What impressed him the most was that he told Voldemort about the Horcrux in the original book, and he was a person who was very afraid of death, but in the end he still stood for justice. party.
His position in this world does not seem to have changed. Even though Dumbledore led Hogwarts to the current situation, he still came here as a professor wanted by the Ministry of Magic.
The night was getting darker. With the cooperation of a group of students, they prepared a sumptuous meal.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and conjured up a long table and chairs on the beach that were big enough for everyone to sit on. Students and professors took their seats one after another.
By now, basically everyone in this carriage has gathered together, and Jon has the opportunity to count all the students in this exile school.
The schooling system of Hogwarts is still seven years, this has not changed, and there are only five first-year freshmen in his class, and even if there are slightly more students in other grades, there are not much more.
There are only ten students in a grade at most, and there are only five or six students in Jon's class, and there are only forty or fifty students in the entire magic school.
This is a very poor number even in a society with a small population like the magic world.
As for the professors in the school, they also counted them with a slap.
Lily Potter, who taught Potions and part-time elective courses in the senior year; Minerva McGonagall, who was the vice-principal and concurrently served as Transfiguration and Herbalism; Felius, who taught Charms and Astronomy Flitwick; who just came back today, should continue to serve as Horace Slughorn, who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts and the History of Magic.
These four are all the professors who have teaching jobs in the carriage now.
Others include headmaster Albus Dumbledore, coachman Rubeus Hagrid and coachman Argus Filch.
The number of teachers is of course far less than the number in the Hogwarts castle in the original book, so both Lily and Professor McGonagall have multiple roles.
But also because there are fewer students, their work intensity is actually not bad, and they won't be so busy that they don't touch the ground.
The bonfires jumping around illuminated the beach, and the soothing sound of the waves was like a symphony orchestra playing soft classical music, adding a touch of elegance to this dinner party.
Dumbledore's favorite thing about being the headmaster is that he never gives boring speeches on occasions that make people feel happy.
The old man with gray hair and beard, who was over a hundred years old, raised the wine glass in his hand. There were no long speeches or any touching speeches, but he just said loudly.
"Thank you for the delicious food, so please enjoy them happily."
The wet and salty sea breeze cannot cover the aroma of the food itself.
Although it is in the UK, the food at the dinner party is of course not just chips and fried fish. Jon has never tasted the craftsmanship of those house elves, but he thinks that these onion soup and grilled fish made by those senior students And mashed potatoes taste very good too.
“.I keep hearing from George and Fred that the most annoying person in the carriage is that Filch.”
The freshmen naturally sat together on the long table. While eating the grilled sausage, Ron quietly showed them where the carriage manager with a bad expression was sitting with his eyes.
"He always likes to use chicken feathers as arrows, and he has never had a good face towards people, as if he wants to hang up those who just made a little mistake and whip them!"
Ron has three older brothers who all go to school in Hogwarts, so he obviously knows much more about the school than Neville.
The dining table was full of laughter and laughter. Even though they are all a group of fugitives wanted by the Ministry of Magic now, there is not much depression or dullness in this group of young girls who should be full of vigor.
This proves that Dumbledore and his Order of the Phoenix really protected them very well. No matter how difficult the situation is, they must keep the seeds of hope.
Old wands stained with blood and faith will appear in the wooden cabinet in the principal's office, but the meaning of their existence in this world is far from disappearing with the old people.
Instead, it was picked up again by immature hands, walking on a road full of thorns, with no future in sight but full of expectations.
After the dinner, Dumbledore told the students some changes in the new semester.
"I am delighted that five new students have joined us, and that our old friend, Professor Slughorn, has dealt with some of his own personal affairs and returned to us as Defense Against the Dark Arts and History of Magic position."
"Tonight will represent another new beginning for us, and there has never been a more celebratory time than this time."
Holding the wand full of knots in his right hand, he raised it up to the sky, a cluster of jubilant ribbons spewed out from the tip of the wand, and those bright blue eyes looked at the students on the long table, full of memories left by the years. A happy smile appeared on Mark's face.
"So why don't we have a song?"
This sentence is like a code that everyone knows except Jon and the freshmen.
Everyone on either side of the long table stood up from their chairs, whether they were professors or students, and the freshmen also stood up blankly.
"Hogwarts~Hogwarts~"
The old principal started the song with his bright voice, and the students below also sang the song in unison.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Please teach us knowledge,
Whether we are bald old people
Still the child who fell and hurt his knee,
Our minds can accept
Something interesting.
Because now our brains are empty, filled with air,
Dead flies and trifles,
taught us something valuable,
Give us back what we have forgotten,
You only need to do your best, and leave the rest to us,
We will study hard until we are reduced to dust.
”
Jon has never heard the tune of this version of the Hogwarts school anthem. It is neither sad nor cheerful, just like seagulls who have been occupied by the beach and have no place to rest, hovering sadly on the coast.
The singing voice was so melodious that he couldn't help but join in the chorus.
He looked up at the incomparably bright night sky, thinking for no reason in his heart.
There is no ancient castle, no warm auditorium, no expected sorting style, no magical ghosts, and nothing that should have been.
But here is the sea, the starry sky, the carriage, and a group of loving people.
This seems to be... not bad.
(end of this chapter)