Dinnertime in the Great Hall was as noisy as ever.
Bang-!
The Great Hall's two heavy oak doors flew inward as though a furious siege troll had rammed them, slamming hard against the stone walls on either side.
The deafening crash seemed to drain every sound from the hall in an instant.
Everyone turned in astonishment to look at the entrance.
Deputy Director Alastor Moody stood there, leaning on his battered walking stick.
He limped inside, each step seeming to chisel at the floor with the tip of his stick, producing a dull, steady "thud, thud, thud," as though sounding the prelude to a trial.
He no longer radiated his usual deranged paranoia, but the grim killing air of a battle-hardened Auror about to step onto the battlefield.
His blue magical eye no longer spun wildly. Instead, it swept slowly over the room at a disquieting pace.
Every student who met his gaze involuntarily put down their knife and fork and straightened their back.
He did not head for his vacant corner at the staff table. Instead, he walked straight to the center of the four long tables, directly in front of the middle of the staff table.
He stopped, turned, and faced all the students and teachers.
"Sonorus."
He pointed his wand at his throat, and his magically amplified, raspy voice rolled like thunder beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Great Hall.
"I have just returned from the Academic Affairs Office, where I read the complete report on the second task."
His opening was unexpectedly calm, even carrying a hint of approval.
"I must admit, it was an extremely creative and highly entertaining task. The Marauders Power Company certainly gave us a spectacular... performance."
He deliberately stressed the word "performance," filling it with undisguised sarcasm.
The corners of Snape's