Harry had never paid much attention to the staff table.
Apart from his first year and last year, he had barely ever looked toward it. There was still plenty worth looking at, though; after all, Professor Babbling attended the opening feast.
But now that Harry had a girlfriend, he spent more time exchanging meaningful glances with Qiu than looking at the staff table.
This year was no exception.
Ron was much the same. He did not have to exchange glances across a great distance, though; he could get lovey-dovey with Lavender right beside him.
But after hearing Hermione's words, the two of them looked toward the staff table together, then both froze.
Most of the faces at the staff table were familiar. Even Professor Trelawney, whom Umbridge had already dismissed the previous school year, was seated there again.
Besides her, Lupin, who had arrived with Harry and the others, was unsurprisingly seated near the end of the staff table. He was chatting about something with Professor Sinistra, both of them smiling.
Harry guessed they were probably discussing Lupin and Tonks's engagement. Professor Sinistra and Tonks were close friends in private; despite their considerable age difference, they were the best of friends.
Hagrid sat at the very end. He was probably the last of all the staff to arrive, since he had to lead the young wizards across the Black Lake by boat.
Apart from last year, when he had gone to find the giants and had therefore not done it, he had faithfully carried out that job every year.
None of that was unusual.
What was truly unusual was that there were now two people at the staff table who should not have been there. Moreover, Harry, Ron, and the others knew them both.
While Harry and the others were