Chapter 8 - The Unwelcoming Feast

                                        

                                              
The Unwelcoming Feast
                              
"Firs' years! Firs years! This way, come to me," said a familiar voice that all four of them were glad to hear, as they piled out of the train. 
                              
"Wotcher Harry!" Hagrid said, spotting Harry first.
                              
They said hello, but Hagrid had to direct the first years for their journey across the lake. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had to supervise the unloading of the train. Ron was little happier, because he could now dock more points from students. It was only ten points, but it was power. Hermione, of course, reminded him that they should not abuse their power. 
                              
Harry limped slightly as he made his way over to a carriage, and waited outside for the others to turn up. He did not bother putting his hood up, no one would see it in the pitch-black darkness. Harry passed the time by admiring the fleshless, reptilian-like horses called thestrals, which only people who have seen someone die can see. Last year, it was quite a shock when he first saw them, because he had seen Cedric die the previous school year. 
                              
A few moments later, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny showed up, followed by Neville and the Luna, who had a silver badge on her robes, and they climbed in a carriage. Harry tried to do it quickly, still trying to hide his injuries.
                              
"So you're a perfect?" he asked Luna.
                              
"Yes," she said, in her usual dreamy appearance. "I found it rather peculiar."
                              
"Colin Creevy is the other Gryffindor one, too," said Ginny. "You have to see Malfoy. His clothes are all ragged and he does not look too good. It was great." Ron grinned wildly, but Hermione was staring at Harry, but she said nothing.
                              
They passed the two winged boars at the entrance to the Hogwarts and stopped at the doors to the main hall. It was raining harder. Harry waited for everyone to pass him before he started walking toward the door. They walked up the front steps, past the giant oak doors and into the huge entrance hall. They took a right and went into the Great Hall. He looked up at the ceiling, which reflected black and cloudy sky outside as well as his mood.
                              
They took seats toward the middle of the Gryffindor table. The four long House tables were covered in with golden plates and goblets that were reserved for the traditionally for big celebrations. The rest of the tables filled up as the rest of the students, minus the first years, came in from the carriages.
                              
Harry was hungry and tired. He had not eaten anything on the train, and Boe attack was still stinging him. To stay awake, he looked around. Luna had taken a seat at the table next to them, across the way. He finally saw Malfoy, who usually makes his first appearance on the train. Ginny was right. He was a mess. Being poor certainly did not suit him. Most of the other Slytherins moved away from him. Crabbe and Goyle were next to him, and Nott was across from him. All four of their fathers were Death Eaters.
                              
The Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost, was not too far from them. He had a gaunt face and silver bloodstains covered him. Nobody ever asked him how it got there. He also saw Nearly Headless Nick in full ruff near the second years, and Filch, the sputtering, wheezing caretaker with his foul cat Mrs. Norris. He would have looked more, but someone asked him something.
                              
"Whoa, Harry who gave you that black eye?" asked Seamus, who across the table from him. Dean, Neville, Lavender and Parvati were looking, too. He turned to his right and looked at Hermione.
                              
"I got it from my cousin," he said looking back at him.
                              
"You had a Muggle fight?" asked Neville, who was a pureblood wizard.
                              
"Yeah," Harry said, indifferently.
                              
"Did you win?" asked Dean eagerly. 
                              
Harry just shook his head and it ended the conversation. They went on talking about Gringotts.