Hope, Shocks, and Despair

Harry, Ron and Hermione continued to walk up to the castle. There was the general murmur of excitement as the new school year stared and yet again a new defence against the dark arts teacher would be starting to teach them.

"I wonder who we'll get this year for defence lessons' Hermione asked out of breath from the long climb up to the castle and due to the poor weather that the country had been facing... the worst for five hundred and nine years the climb had turned into a treacherous mud slide and every few steps a student would loose their footing and go sliding down the hill taking a few more kids out with him or her. It was actually quite funny to watch, but it did look very painful.

'Yeah... well we will find out soon won't we' Harry said. 'And I wish they would do something about this stupid hill its getting bloody ridiculous and it's just so.....' Just what it was they never found out as a second year Hufflepuff came sliding into Harry completely wiping him out and sending him sliding down the hill in hot pursuit off the Hufflepuff boy. Ron and Hermione laughing together at Harry s misfortune carried on up the hill to the castle both arriving unscathed. 10 minutes later Harry arrived looking very cold and wet but after a quick charm he looked as good as new and took his usual seat between Ron and Hermione and looked up at the staff table. Were there were the usual absences of Professor McGonagall and Hagrid but the seat that was usual reserved for the defence against the dark arts post was taken by... Harry couldn't believe his eyes he looked again for sitting in the chair smiling back at the sea of young faces was none other then...

'Professor Lupin' Harry shouted waving. Lupin smiled and nodded. Harry couldn't wait for lessons to start if Lupin was to be teaching them this year.

The Sorting began shortly after this, the students were brought in by Hagrid. Professor McGonagall must be busy Hermione whispered in Harry's ear and sensing the opportunity to plant a small kiss on his cheek. Nobody saw this though Harry smiled and squeezed Hermione's hand under the table. The sorting began but without the sorting hats song the roll of students was read off by Dumbledore in McGonagall's absence.

Dumbledore was just coming to the end of the list when the doors to the great hall burst open and two red heads came running through the hall.

'Oh yes' smiled Dumbledore. 'I almost forgot coming back most graciously so that they can finish their final year are Fred and George Weasley they will of course be returning to Gryffindor' the crowd of student were all cheering... well at least all of them the Slytherins all remained in there seats. Fred and George had become Hogwarts legend after making umbrages life as head teacher hell and most the crowd thought that this was brilliant... even Tiny Professor Flitwick as cheering with everybody else.

'Yes yes it's good to have you two back' Dumbledore continued 'now it's onto the normal speech I' afraid. Ever bashing boomerangs and fanged Frisbees have been banned as has magic between classes you don't need to be told this you older ones so I hope that this is just being told to the first years who don't know any better. We have two new members of staff this year well I say two staff replacements is what I mean to say and even then Professor Lupin isn't new and he will be taking up his old post of defence against the dark arts after finally a truly great man if I don't say so myself and I don't want to seem bigheaded as it was me managed to find a cure for wearwolfism. So a de-wolfed Professor Lupin will be returning to his Dark arts post. The other post has been filled on a completely different reasoning and has only been made today... It is my sad duty to inform you that in the early hours of this morning September 1st 2005 Minerva McGonagall was killed by Lord Voldermort and a group of death eaters. The reason for this brutal attack is known to us but before I can explain you must understand that you are completely safe inside the walls of Hogwarts and you can come to no harm whilst here. I am very sorry to put you through this ordeal but there is yet more tragic news to come I firstly must explain how this tragic event happened. Or at least as well as I can.

' Minerva was an outstanding teacher at this school serving as head of Gryffindor, transfiguration teacher, deputy headmistress of Hogwarts and she was also the secret keeper of the school, this is why it was her telling you the location of the school and not I, she told you how to get here thus intrusting her secret within you. She was a true Gryffindor until the end bold and brave in the face of danger and she would rather die fighting and refusing to give what Voldermort wanted she would rather die then betray the trust that I had put in her and for that I am eternally grateful and hope that she would rest in piece and be remembered as one of the strongest characters the school has ever seen. She was tortured to death by Voldermort with the crurtias curse as she would not tell him how to get into Hogwarts I know this is a lot to take in but unfortunately Minerva was not alone when this tragic event took place she was in the company of a young man, and a student of this school. She was with Dean Thomas A 6th year Gryffindor. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and we have lost a truly great student I know ask you to all stand for a one minute silence to remember a truly great member of staff and a truly spectacular student.'

The silence was only punctured by the sobs of some of the students Harry Ron were to shocked to react Hermione was in floods of tears, McGonagall was like a second mum to her and she was truly devastated by this news. Harry put his arm around her and Hermione buried her head in his shoulder.

The Feast that night was a very sombre occasion and was almost eaten in complete silence. Nobody seemed to be interested in it and shortly Dumbledore had stood up again and told the students that they may go to bed. Hermione, Harry and Ron walked in a daze up to the fat lady and gave the password 'Minerva McGonagall' the password had been chosen so that she may never truly leave the castle. They went into the house and up to bed. Nobody could quite remember a night like this in the history of Hogwarts. Nobody knew what to say or do so the house just went to bed in a stunned state of mind. Many having a restless night involving McGonagall being brutally murdered with themselves standing at their side.