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Chapter 519: The New Professor
🕑 Added 2025-02-20 13:34:59 +0000 UTCThat night, the Hufflepuff common room was alive with another spirited celebration. The table was laden with an assortment of cookies, cakes, and jugs of Pumpkin Juice and Butterbeer. However, for once, the tempting spread was not the center of attention. Instead, the crowd gathered tightly around a smaller table, their focus fixed on three red stones resting on it.
“What on earth is this?” someone asked, their tone puzzled.
“I don’t know,” Kyle admitted, shaking his head. “Bagman said the clue to the second task is hidden inside, but he didn’t explain how to use it. We’ll have to figure it out ourselves.”
“Maybe we should put them in the fire and roast them,” Mikel suggested. “Burn off the outer layer, and the clue will appear.”
“No,” Hannah Abbott said quickly, shaking her head. “What if we burn the actual clue? It’s too risky. I think we should use a Revelio Charm instead.”
“I’ll give it a try.” Cedric drew his wand and tapped one of the stones firmly. “Revelio!” he commanded.
Nothing happened. The stone remained as it was—silent and unyielding.
“Looks like the Revelio Charm won’t work,” Cedric sighed, lowering his wand.
“It’s okay; it’s only the first day,” Kanna said reassuringly to Kyle. “You still have three months. You’ll figure it out.”
Kyle smiled but didn’t respond. Truthfully, he wasn’t too worried about solving the clue ahead of time. While it would be helpful, it wasn’t essential. They would explain everything on the day of the task anyway.
After Kyle carefully placed the stones back on the table, everyone’s attention returned to the previously neglected snacks. The biscuits and cakes were finally given their due, and the conversation shifted to Kyle’s outstanding performance in the first task. Soon, the room was buzzing with cheerful chatter and laughter, the earlier puzzle temporarily forgotten.
...
When Kyle finally made his way back to the dormitory with Ryan and Mikel, it was well past 2 or 3 in the morning. Fortunately, this time, his housemates had refrained from pouring him Butterbeer, sparing him a groggy morning.
Despite the late hour, Mikel and Ryan seemed full of energy and showed no intention of going to bed. Mikel grabbed a wooden stick and fastened it to the door, pretending it was a makeshift broomstick. He and Ryan took turns re-enacting Kyle’s daring maneuver from the final round of the task, complete with dramatic dives and exaggerated commentary.
Kyle stretched out on his bed, watching their antics with amusement. When Ryan inevitably tumbled off the stick, he and Mikel burst into loud, unrestrained laughter.
Not bad, from this angle, Kyle thought.
...
As December settled over Hogwarts, the weather grew harsher by the day. Cold winds and sleet became a near-constant presence, and the once-bustling Black Lake was now almost deserted. Only the large Durmstrang ship remained moored in the middle of the lake, rocking slightly in the frigid gusts.
“It must be freezing in there,” Mikel commented as they made their way back to the castle after Care of Magical Creatures. Most of the group had flushed faces and slightly unsteady gaits.
Hagrid had taken to feeding the Abraxan horses pure malt Firewhiskey daily, which filled the paddock with a powerful, heady scent of alcohol. With the wind carrying the smell to their lesson area, many students found themselves feeling a little queasy by the end of class.
“I think there’s magic in that boat,” Ryan said, rubbing his reddened cheeks. “Otherwise, there’s no way anyone could stand being on the lake in this weather.”
“Probably,” Mikel agreed. “I heard Durmstrang is even colder than Hogwarts, and they have fur cloaks as part of their uniform.”
The damp, icy wind from the lake pursued them all the way to the castle. Thankfully, by the time they stepped inside, the fresh air had cleared their heads. Kyle went up to the dormitory to put away his books just as Cedric walked in.
“Kyle, I was about to come look for you,” Cedric said.
“What’s up?”
“The Head Boy told me Dumbledore has requested that everyone comes to the Great Hall for dinner tonight. I’ve already let the other year groups know; you were the last.”
“Dinner in the Great Hall?” Kyle asked, puzzled. “Has something happened?”
“I’m not sure,” Cedric admitted with a shrug. “I think the headmaster has something to announce.”
“Alright,” Kyle nodded.
That evening, when dinner began, Dumbledore arrived at the staff table looking particularly cheerful. He was deep in conversation with Professor Moody, smiling as though he were enjoying a private joke.
“What do you think he’s going to say?” Kanna asked Kyle, her curiosity piqued. “Could it have something to do with the second task?”
Kyle considered the possibility but shook his head. “I doubt it. If it were related to the Triwizard Tournament, all three headmasters would be here.”
Indeed, only Dumbledore and Madame Maxime were present at the staff table. Karkaroff had been conspicuously absent from the Great Hall ever since the first task.
Dinner progressed as usual, and soon the plates were cleared. When the last traces of food vanished, Dumbledore rose from his seat, his presence commanding immediate attention.
“You’re probably wondering why I asked everyone to join us for dinner tonight,” he began, his eyes twinkling as he looked around at the gathered students and staff.
There was a brief murmur of curiosity before the hall fell silent again.
Dumbledore’s smile widened. “It’s because I have an announcement to make. Come on in,” he said, gesturing toward the side entrance of the Great Hall.
All heads turned as a man walked in through the doorway.
“Oh!”
“My, he is…”
Gasps rippled through the Gryffindor table, and Harry even stood up, his eyes wide with shock.
“Yes, I’m sure many of you have read about him in the newspapers,” Dumbledore said with a warm smile, “but I still need to introduce you to… Sirius Black.”
There was a round of applause, scattered at first but quickly gaining momentum.
“Silence, silence,” Dumbledore called, raising a hand to quiet the room. “I think it’s a little early for cheering. I am honored to announce that, as of today, Sirius Black will be our new professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts!”
For a moment, the hall was stunned into silence, but it quickly gave way to thunderous applause and enthusiastic cheering.
“Professor, what about Professor Moody?” someone called out loudly, their voice cutting through the clamor.
It was a reasonable question. Though Sirius Black’s reputation was formidable, Professor Moody had proven to be a popular and highly effective teacher, and many students were attached to his classes.
“Please be assured that Professor Moody will continue to stay here,” Dumbledore explained, his calm tone instantly restoring order. “But, to be honest, he has complained to me many times, accusing me of overworking a retired old man by placing him in charge of seven grades. So, Professor Black has graciously agreed to take on part of the burden. He will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts for years one to four.”
Another round of applause followed, with more focused excitement from the younger students.
“Oh, why!” Mikel exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock despair. “Why can’t we have him for the fifth year?”
“Professor Moody’s not bad at all,” Cedric pointed out, trying to console him.
“I know,” Mikel said, shaking his head with exaggerated frustration. “I mean, it’s Sirius Black! The legend himself! Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“Well… okay, I’ll admit I am a little curious,” Cedric conceded with a grin, “but there’s no changing it. He’s only teaching the lower grades.”
“I really envy them…” Mikel muttered, his eyes trailing to the younger students who were practically glowing with excitement.
As the hall buzzed with chatter, Kyle’s attention wandered. His gaze shifted to the staff table, where Snape sat stiffly. Unlike the rest of the room, Snape wasn’t clapping. Instead, he gripped his fork tightly, his eyes fixed on Sirius with an expression of icy disdain.
The fork in his hand was bent out of shape from the force of his grip, and his face betrayed his feelings as clearly as if he had spoken aloud. He looked utterly displeased—no, furious—like Dumbledore had just informed him he’d have to drink a potion brewed by Mikel.
