InsaneJournal

When Myron arrived to the Great Hall that morning for breakfast, somebody was missing, and somebody new arrived. Potions had been cancelled for the last few days, and it was becoming clear why.

The Great Hall was swarming with whispers and the rustling of that day's Daily Prophet. The front page read, THE BOY WHO LIVED. A picture of a house was on the front page but Myron didn't get a closer look until his owl dropped his off. The house was destroyed, like it'd almost been burned down. The second header below read, THE DARK LORD DEFEATED?

The classes the day before had all been cancelled on Dumbledore's orders - everybody instead used that day to catch up on homework from the days before. The day before, Myron had noticed three absences from the staff's table: Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and the Headmaster.

Professor Slughorn had resigned out of nowhere on the morning of November first, and nobody except the Headmaster knew why. Dumbledore wasn't keen on telling them why, either. In Slughorn's place was now a pale young man - perhaps in his early twenties. Dressed in all black, with shoulder-length black hair. Myron wasn't sure what it was, but he gave off an intimidating aura - it felt icy in comparison to Professor Slughorn's typical warm, jovial demeanor.

Professor Dumbledore rose to his podium and greeted the hall. "Attention, everyone. I have announcements, this morning before we begin our morning feast," he said. "I'm sure you've all seen the news, now. The Dark Lord is gone, and while this is the end of the war, it is not the end of the fight. The Dark Lord's defeat did not come without tragedy. Two young lives were taken far too soon, and a young infant is now without his mother or father. Some of you are likely wondering, and yes, the Boy Who Lived is safe."

The four tables were silenced, and Dumbledore continued. "Professor Slughorn, as you know, resigned a few days ago. With no Potions master, we had to cancel those classes, but we have a new member in the staff."

The man Myron noticed earlier stood and took his place at Dumbledore's side. His hands were tucked behind his back, and he was standing tall. The black robes he wore were so long, they swept against the ground as he walked.

"Students, this is your new Potions Master - Professor Severus Snape. Slytherins, he is also your new Head of House. You will all have a chance to introduce yourselves to him, in due time. Classes will begin again Monday morning so you all have time to process the news. You may begin."

The tables filled with food, but Myron couldn't find it in himself to bring any food to his plate. Now that the Dark Lord was gone, he knew his father was likely called into action to round up the last of the Dark Lord's followers. He was worried.

Felix Rosier nudged Myron none-too-gently with his elbow. "Eat," he said.

"I'm not that hungry anymore," Myron said, shaking his head.

"Did I stutter?" Felix sneered, rolling his eyes. "You don't need a bloody plate full of food, Wagtail. Just take a piece of fruit or something. Drink some pumpkin juice. It's going to be hours before dinner rolls around and if you don't have something in your stomach now, you're going to overeat later and feel awful."

Sighing, Myron grabbed an apple from his bag and waved it at Felix before stuffing it back into his bag. He hated to admit it, but Felix was right. He just wouldn't say it out loud. "Jus' leave me alone, Rosier. I don't need you to take care of me. I'm fine."