The Halloween Party this year was not just to celebrate the eve of Halloween but was also to welcome the new Headmaster properly. This celebration ought to have taken place at the start of term feast but due to Neville's and Hannah's demise such a merry occasion, the coronation of the new Headmaster, could not take place so, with Dutchmen's consent, it had been postponed to the eve of Halloween.
The ceremony comprised of only two things. First was the adorning of a crown by the Headmaster and a Phoenix being gifted to him. Tom had received the large Red and Gold bird only this afternoon and it sat resting in his room. It would come at his call when it would have to be presented.
The Great Hall filled up with a roaring crowd. As everyone settled down Tom began the ceremony. He called Harry forward. He waved his wand and a crown appeared on Harry's head. The crown meant that from now onwards he had command over each and every nook and corner of the Castle. He summoned the Phoenix which flew into the Great Hall almost burning and glowing in all its glory amid a sweet music that seemed to come from within it. It took a complete circle of the Great Hall before it landed on Tom's outstretched hand. Tom smiled at the bird that nibbled his ear. He had received it from Dutchmen a few hours ago yet the bird had grown fond of him. It was supposed to have landed on Harry's arm, instead it had chosen Tom but it wasn't his to keep. He handed it to Harry and the bird recognizing the crowned Headmaster bowed its head in allegiance to Harry. Harry recognized it at once. It was Fawkes. It had returned. Now he understood. Each Headmaster had been gifted one but it wasn't a new one, it was the same one. As Harry looked at it, he wondered how many years had this Phoenix seen on this earth, how many leagues had it seen pass by.
Then one by one all teachers stood up and welcomed Harry solemnly. They spoke words about him and he bowed to each of them in gratitude.
In the end, Tom stood up again holding a bottle of Champagne. "This" he shook the bottle vigorously, "is for the man who defeated the Dark Lord." and shot the cork open.
Champagne flew everywhere. He conjured up two glasses out of nowhere and filled them up then walked up to Harry who stood up, handed him a glass and said. "Welcome to Hogwarts!" He turned to the Hall at large. "Hogwarts has had great Headmasters... Albus Dumbledore... Severus Snape... Minerva Mcgonagalle... Alard Dutchmen... and to date Harry Potter."
He raised his glass and so did Harry. "To Harry Potter!" They all drank in Harry's name as Harry finally stood upon the roster.
"It's a great honor to be the Headmaster of the school founded to educate the Witches and Wizards of the age. I thank everyone for this immaculate celebration." Harry stopped and turned to look back at Tom. "Great have been the Headmasters of Hogwarts and great they shall be for this place makes magnificent all that it holds in its embrace." He turned back to the Hall. "Let the Feast begin." The Hall rang with applause so loud anyone had seldom heard it.
The feast began and Harry along with all the teachers settled down. He turned to Tom to talk to him but he wasn't there. He had immersed himself in a very loud conversation at one of the House table but it soon felt quite normal as chatter broke in the rest of the Hall. Soon, Harry too was immersed in a conversation with Miss Louisiana Patrick with whom he was having a first proper conversation.
The moment she stood up to greet Padma, Ron came back to the teachers' table. Harry hadn't even noticed him leaving. "Harry have you seen Hermione?" Ron asked him.
"No". Harry replied. He hadn't even noticed Hermione leaving.
Ron sat down beside him. They talked for a while then they saw Hermione looking worried walking briskly towards the teachers' table. Harry was strongly reminded of Professor Mcgonaglle. She fell in a chair beside Ron and said something in his ear then stood up and went out of the Great Hall from the back door. Ron explained after a moment. "She's weird. She just asked us to leave the Great Hall from the back door, one by one."
"Did she give you any reason?"
"No."
Harry stood up. "I'll go first, you and Ginny follow us by and by."
He left the hall from the back door and found Hermione right behind it."Hermione, what's---"
"Not now Harry."
About 5 minutes later both Ron and Ginny came out. It was only then that Hermione spoke."Follow me."
They all followed her. She took them into the Hogwarts grounds right outside the Castle doors.
She took out a piece of paper from her cloak and read of it out loud " 'Meet me by the Hogs Head at 9.' I intercepted Tom's reply to the mail he had received. This was all that he had sent. It's 8.30 and he's already disappeared from the Great Hall but he hasn't left the Castle." Harry had noticed too that Tom who had been in the middle of a crowd a few minutes ago had suddenly disappeared.
"How do you know he hasn't? He could have disillusioned himself and left." Ron asked.
Hermione bit her lip. "I didn't think of that. In any case, he's going to meet someone by 9. There's still time. We can wait by the Hogs Head."
Harry nodded and pulled out the Elder Wand. "I will disillusion everyone; otherwise he'd be able to see us."
They all nodded and took out there wands. They left the Castle gates and stood by the Hogs Head awaiting Tom.
*************************************************************************
Tom left the Great Hall early with hopes of reaching his destination unhindered. He had only just left when he met Professor Trelawny making her way to the Great Hall. Apparently, she had decided to join them in the feast tonight.
She was so old she could hardly take a step without support. She had, therefore, started carrying a cane. However, when she saw Tom coming out of the Great Hall she called to him to take her inside.
Although, Tom had to leave, his refusal would be very rude to her. He didn't know her well. He had never taken Divination but every time he had run into her she had declared his very painful death. It was something that he had been trying to avoid hearing just at the moment. Nevertheless, he took her by the arm and led her to the Great Hall. On the way, he wished her a Happy Halloween expecting a reply but when he looked at her he was quite alarmed. It felt like she had been silenced by a power greater than any. She suddenly became unfocused, stopped and turned to him, and started advancing on him as he backed away and found himself slammed against the nearby wall. But Professor Trelawny never stopped. She came ever closer to him and stood close enough until he could hear her very breath. She then spoke in less than a whisper as if only he was meant to hear her words.
"Blood shall reunite with blood, will and more shall be sacrificed, soon...the Dark Lord shall rise again...the Chosen One shall rise to the occasion again...thy fate shall defeat thee...the Wand shall rest with its true master...the Dark Lord shall rise again as blood reunites with blood again..."
Professor Trelawny finished her prophecy and shut her eyes. When she opened them she peered closely at his chalk white face through her thick spectacles. "Have I said something, dear?"
Tom gulped down and shook his head. She didn't remember anything she had just said. He realized he had to leave. "Let's go to the Great Hall, Professor."
"Great Hall? No, no, it's too loud there. I prefer the silent ambiance of my own little fortress. What am I doing here? I shall return to my tower." She announced turning slowly back to the way she had come.
Nothing so strange had ever happened to Tom but he didn't exactly have the time to ponder over it. He disillusioned himself. The clock was about to strike 9. Tom was about to leave when his eyes fell inside the Great hall at the Teachers' table and he realized that none of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were present there. He shook doubts out of his mind thinking that now he was being paranoid. No one could follow him tonight. No one could possibly know of this meeting. He had to go.
***************************************************************************************************
1.6k