Different New School Year

It seemed to rain heavily every year on the day Hogwarts began, and this year was no exception.

The sky had still been clear that morning, but by evening it was suddenly blanketed by thick, dark clouds. The torrential rain nearly drowned the Hogwarts Express.

Fortunately, the train finally pulled into Hogsmeade Station without incident.

As Ginny stepped off the train, she instinctively looked toward the path beside the platform.

At this time in previous years, Hagrid would be standing there with an oil lamp of uncertain age, calling the first-years to join him in the boats to the castle. It was a Hogwarts tradition that had lasted for many years.

Now the train had stopped, but the path was completely empty. There was no one there.

Hagrid had not come, nor had any professor come to meet them. At a loss, the new students instinctively followed the older ones, braving the rain as they headed toward the carriages.

It looked as though a tradition that had endured for over a thousand years was about to be broken today.

At that moment, though, no one cared about the first-years.

Other than the Slytherins, all the students walked in silence, their faces uneasy as they wondered what awaited them.

"My mum wanted me to transfer to Beauxbatons, but I refused," Seamus Finnigan said quietly, looking at the noticeably smaller number of students around them. "I only want to study at Hogwarts, even if it's going to be dangerous here this year."

"Me too." Neville helped several bewildered first-years open the carriage door. "But my gran never mentioned transferring schools. No matter what, I'll return to Hogwarts."

"I wonder how Harry and Silvan are doing." He wiped the rain from his face. "My gran said Voldemort is looking for them everywhere, and