two; INCOMPETENCE

The Welcoming Feast was just as Sutton remembered it to be for the last two years, some idiotic rumour about Harry Potter being circled all around the table that's emblem shone with emerald and silver, raucous laughter coming from members of Slytherin house as Draco Malfoy dramatically raised his hand to his head and slumped backwards into Pansy Parkinson's side, the girl blushing terribly as he did.

According to the rumour that had filtered its way down the entirety of the Slytherin table as the Sorting commenced and brought amusement to the shitheads in lower houses and the morons her own age, Harry Potter had fainted on the train due to a Dementor attack.

Sutton was unsure how a boy fainting due to reliving a horrible memory could be so amusing to some, but she guessed that some people didn't have terrible memories for the Dementors of Azkaban to exploit, that or they just wanted to appear cool by their peers.

The girl rolled her eyes as Lyra's cousin 'fainted' once more as Professor Flitwick collected the three-legged stool and the sorting hat and began to leave the hall, where Professor McGonagall entered with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger trailing behind her.

Sutton averted her gaze from the third years and their Head of House as Lyra tapped her wrist and she turned her attention to the dark-haired witch.

"Does he realised that he looks like the biggest git?" Lyra murmured, jutting her thumb in the direction of her cousin who proceeded to slump against the table this time and Sutton rolled her eyes at the antics of the boy.

"Probably not." She answered, "Doesn't his Mummy and Daddy like to encourage his bratty tendencies?"

"Oh, absolutely." Lyra nodded, "But Merlin forbid Uncle Lucius to find out I got an Acceptable on my Charms essay last Semester."

Sutton frowned as she fiddled with the fork in front of her, she absolutely despised Lyra's relatives and their blatant favouritism. Sure, Draco was their son but there was absolutely no need for them to treat Lyra the way they did, purely based on the fact that she was their niece and not their daughter.

"He trying to marry you off yet?" She asked her and Lyra smirked as they watched Professor Dumbledore get to his feet and make his way to the podium.

"There's talk of some French guy." She whispered as the Headmaster raised his arms in welcome, "Aunt Cissa told him that the wizards in the UK that are my age are far too stupid to unite with Houses Lestrange and Black, personally, I think she just wants me to graduate before any discussion is set in stone."

Sutton snorted at that, she'd never met Narcissa Malfoy but at least the woman occasionally had her niece's best interests at heart.

"Welcome." Headmaster Dumbledore spoke and his voice silenced any conversation that had not stopped when he first stood, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled with our excellent feast."

Sutton and Lyra shared a look with Phoenix who sat across the mahogany table from them, knowing that the aging wizard would be mentioning the Dementor's that guarded the train, as well as the few they had seen around the gates being warded off by a few Professor's who ushered students inside as quickly as they could.

Dumbledore cleared his throat, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business."

"Sirius Black business more like." Adeline Fawley murmured to Beatrice Johnson and Lyra rolled her eyes.

"Some of us are trying to listen, Fawley." She hissed down the table at the two giggling fifth years, "So, keep it down."

Sutton fought off a grin when she saw Lyra's sour look as she looked away from the girl she had disliked since their first year before they had even arrived at Hogsmeade Station and Adeline huffed loudly as she looked away from the Lestrange Heiress.

"They are stationed at every entrance of the grounds, and while they are while us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave the school without permission." Dumbledore spoke in an authoritative tone, "Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises, or even invisibility cloaks and it is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses, I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the Prefects, and out new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs foul of the Dementors."

"Very doubtful that they have Dementors covering the passageways out to Hogsmeade though." Sutton murmured to Lyra who grinned delightedly at the thought, the two usually sneaking into the Village every week or so to just be alone with one another without the invasion of their roommates or others.

"Weasley is showcasing that ruddy pin for the fifteenth time since we ran into him on the train," Phoenix told them as he looked over his shoulder and the two followed his gaze to where the oldest Weasley still in school sat at the Gryffindor table with his chest puffed out proudly, his Head Boy badge glimmering beneath the candlelight.

"Git." Lyra scoffed, shaking her head as they three turned their attention back to the Headmaster whose grave expression had transformed into a more positive one as he beamed out at the students staring up at him.

"On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year." He announced, "Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts."

As the man in shaggy clothing got his feet with a bright smile, Sutton gazed at him, her eyes narrowed in scrutiny as she pondered where it was that she had seen this new Professor before as he looked incredibly familiar but she shook herself from her thoughts as she began to clap enthusiastically when it was clear that none but a few Gryffindor students were really giving him the time of day.

"Why are you applauding, Sutton." Adrian drawled, "He looks incompetent."

"And Lockheart didn't look incompetent, but he was a complete moron." She responded as she noticed the smile on the man's face growing marginally as the applause became a little more enthusiastic, "Don't judge appearances, Pucey, it'll bite you in the arse."

"Dude, look at Snape," Lyra whispered, "He looks pissed."

"He's always pissed." Sutton replied, not breaking her glaring match with Adrian, "Why is now any different."

"This is a whole new level." Phoenix cut in, sharing a look with Lyra as an intrigued Sutton turned her attention away from Pucey and looked towards the teacher's table where she quickly found Snape and her eyes widened.

It was known to every student at the school that Snape wanted the Defence job, he had hated every teacher who had the position for as long as he'd been at the school, according to Sutton's aunt and uncle who were in their second year when Snape started as Potions Master, but the look on his face was different, it was beyond hatred.

The look on Snape's face as he glared along the table at Lupin was complete loathing and it reminded Sutton of the look he had given her during her very first Potions class when he uttered her surname and the look he still gave Harry Potter.

"Merlin, that's beyond pissed." She muttered as the applause died and the Headmaster began to speak once again.

"As to our second new appointment, well I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs." Dumbledore announced and a few murmured of disappointment were scattered around the tables, "However, I am delighted to say his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching position in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Lyra, who didn't take the class but had been having Sunday tea with Hagrid since their second year, began to clap loudly and Sutton and Phoenix quickly joined when those around them started to shoot them incredulous looks.

"Well now, I do think that's everything of importance." Dumbledore announced to the students pleasantly, "Let the feast begin."

The plates along the table filled suddenly and Sutton grinned, immediately beginning to fill her plate as those around her began to brag of their Summers to anyone who would listen.

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thanks for reading!

~r