BLISS ✷ Harry Potter.

𝐈𝐈. the grim

─── chapter two.
❛ THE GRIM ❜

EMMELINE WATCHED THE TRIO AT THE GRIFFYNDOR TABLE, her eyes squinting and trying to read their lips as best she could.

the only downside to befriending students from other houses was that there was always a time where she couldn't speak to them.

luna lovegood, a blonde ravenclaw only a year younger, sat beside emmeline, talking with a dreamy voice and a smile never leaving her lips.

emmeline quite liked the girl — she was fun to be around, and conversation never got boring. while the younger girl chatted away, emmeline listened with rapt attention. it was only when the headmaster stood up to speak that emmeline's attention diverted.

professor dumbledore, though very old, always gave an impression of great energy. he had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles, and an extremely crooked nose. he was often described as the greatest wizard of the age. people couldn't help trusting albus dumbledore.

"welcome!" said dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "welcome to another year at hogwarts! i have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, i think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast..."

dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "as you will all be aware after their search of the hogwarts express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of azkaban, who are here on ministry of magic business."

"they are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, i must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises — or even invisibility cloaks," he added blandly. "it is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. i therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. i look to the prefects, and our new head boy and girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.

percy, who was sitting at the gryffindor table a few seats down from harry, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound.

"on a happier note," he continued, "i am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year.

"first, professor lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of defense against the dark arts teacher."

there was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. only those who had been in the compartment on the train with professor lupin clapped hard. professor lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.

professor snape, the potions master, was staring along the staff table at professor lupin. it was common knowledge that snape wanted the defense against the dark arts job, but even emmeline, who was familiar with the wrath of the profesor, was surprised at the expression twisting his thin, sallow face. it was beyond anger: it was loathing.