The Great Hall was especially lively that day. Even Peeves, who had set off five Filibuster Fireworks outside the Castle's main doors ten minutes earlier, had been allowed by the ghosts to join the start-of-term feast.
Although he was under the personal supervision of Slytherin's resident ghost, the Bloody Baron, he was still delighted.
George and Fred had given Peeves the Filibuster Fireworks as a special gift just after arriving at school, hoping to ease the strained relations between humans and ghost from the previous year.
When the students noticed a professor they had never seen before at the staff table, their feelings were complicated.
Some of them missed last year's Professor Holmes dearly, though of course they only missed the various arrangements he had made for practical lessons.
At the same time, they hoped the school would abolish last year's various examination systems. Although they admitted that these methods had indeed improved some students' grades, the process had been too painful.
Of course, quite a few students were even more disappointed, because Professor Lupin's clothes looked ragged not merely compared with last year's Professor Holmes, but even beside the other professors in their best robes.
They found it hard to imagine how accomplished someone like that could be at magic.
Everyone also noticed that Professor Snape kept staring at Professor Lupin at the other end of the staff table.
Everyone knew that Snape had always wanted to teach Defense Against Dark Magic, but had never gotten his wish.
Still, the twitching expression on Snape's thin, sallow face startled them. Even last year... Only then did they remember that Professor Snape had apparently not been at the staff table at the beginning of last year.
Harry, who had always thoroughly disliked Snape, keenly noticed that the look Snape gave Professor