T A L K S O F T H E P A S T "I'm glad that they were both once were good."
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AT LUNCHTIME THEY went down to the Great Hall, to find that the house tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for twelve, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather mouldy looking tail coat. There were only two other students: two extremely nervous-looking first-years.
"Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore said, as Aurora, Harry, Ron and Hermione approached the table. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the house tables ... sit down, sit down!"
Aurora, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table.
"Crackers!" Dumbledore said enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver one to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture.
"Tuck in!" he advised the table, beaming around. As Aurora was helping herself to roast potatoes, the doors of the Great Hall opened again. It was Professor Trelawney, gliding towards them as though on wheels. She had put on a green sequined dress in honour of the occasion, making her look more than ever like a glittering, oversize dragonfly. "Sybill, this is a pleasant surprise!" Dumbledore said standing up.
"I have been crystal-gazing, Headmaster," Professor Trelawney said, in her mistiest, most faraway voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness ..."
"Certainly, certainly," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "Let me draw you up a chair –" And he did indeed draw a chair in mid-air with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Professor Trelawney, however, did not sit down; her enormous eyes had been roving around the table, and she suddenly uttered a kind of soft scream. Aurora rolled her eyes at the teacher.
"I dare not, Headmaster! If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"
"We'll risk it, Sybill," Professor McGonagall said impatiently. "Do sit down, the turkey's getting stone cold."
Professor Trelawney hesitated, then lowered herself into the empty chair, eyes shut and mouth clenched tight, as though expecting a thunderbolt to hit the table. Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen. "Tripe, Sybill?"
