Hermione watched him to make sure he ate enough, but she never said anything. What he ate seemed to satisfy her. After everyone finished, the food disappeared. Everybody was waiting for Dumbledore to give his speech, and Harry looked up at the staff table for the first time. Dumbledore was in the center. 
                              
His long silver hair and a beard sparkled in the candlelight, but he did not seem as cheerful as he usually does. It was almost as if he was putting on a show. He looked very tired. The great energy that had seemed to radiate from him before was diminished. 
                              
Harry looked at the rest of the staff. Hagrid was at the end, drinking from his huge cup, and Harry was glad to see that he did not have any bruises. All the teachers were there except their divination teachers. Snape was looking pale and thinner, but still quite menacing. Dumbledore got up. He gazed around the room. His eyes fell onto Harry, and started his speech. 
                              
"As most of you have heard, this summer has been marked by some deaths and disappearances. The Ministry is constantly searching for those who side with the Death Eaters and Lord Voldemort," Dumbledore said, causing many people to jump and look around, but he continued unmoved. 
                              
"But I wish to impress upon you that you are safe here. I have taken several precautions to make it safer here. No one can enter the grounds without us knowing about it. However, I must warn you how dangerous the Forbidden Forest is and remind you that it is off limits to all students. There are stricter curfews and increased patrols at night in the school. Classes will go on, and you will learn valuable defensive spells. Now, Quidditch try-outs will be held in two weeks, so if you are interested contact Madam Hooch. I'm sure you are all very tired, so off to bed," Dumbledore said, lazily.
                              
There was a murmur of voices from the tables. First, how gloomy Dumbledore was, and second, that this was the first year since Harry had been there that Dumbledore had not announced a staff change. Every year, Dumbledore introduced a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but he did not mention anything. 
                              
Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, who were as equally puzzled, but they had to make sure that the first years got to the Gryffindor tower. He asked them for the password and headed up a less used path to their common room. He was sweating and in severe pain, by the time he reached the seventh floor. He would have to leave early for his classes, until his leg heals. Finally, he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady exhaustedly.
                              
"Fluffers," he said and the portrait swung open. He clambered through it to the common room. Everybody was already there, because he took such a long time. Ron and Hermione were waiting for him. 
                              
"Ready for bed? I'm sure you've noticed I can't stay awake," Harry said tiredly.
                              
"Yeah, but are you ok?" she asked, clearly concerned.
                              
"Yeah, just tired and sore," he said, but by the time he slowly made it up to his dorm room, at the top of Gryffindor Tower, his leg was stiff from the pain. 
                              
Ron followed behind him, but said nothing, which Harry was glad for it. Dean, Seamus, and Neville had already unpacked most of their things. Seamus had his Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team poster up already and Dean had his traditional poster of West Ham up. Neville was stroking his mimbulus mimbletonia. Harry could see Trevor hopping around on the bed and he also had a handsome Screech owl that had delivered a letter. They all looked up, when Harry entered the room. 
                              
"Hi, Harry! Look what I got for my birthday!" Neville said, breathlessly, as he pointed to his owl. "Gran kept it to send the stuff I forgot, but I didn't forget anything! Well, I also got him because how well I did on my exams. I can't thank you enough. Griselda Marchbanks came over personally to tell Gran how well I did. No one could believe it! How'd you do?"