The Last Horcrux/Hogwarts/The Great Hall
By the time the boats have crossed the lake, the sun has set, and Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry becomes illuminated from hundreds of little lights and windows.
Your heart is beating, and you still feel a little stunned by what you saw in the monster’s memory. Any time you move away from the Potter boy, you feel it’s hold on you tightening, and any time you or he move a little closer to one another, you feel the monster slithering back under its rock. So long as the monster is hiding, you are temporarily free of him. It occurs to you that if anyone could help to free you from the monster, it would be Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts. You don’t dare ask him for help though, fearing the revenge that you know the Dark Lord would take.
Lily asks if you are ok, and you manage to smile weakly at her. The first years are led up from the boats and into Hogwarts itself, entering a courtyard and up some stairs, in through a grand doorway, and entering the school itself.
You feel someone take hold of your arm. It is Lavender Brown, who starts excitedly gossiping with you.
“You didn’t say your cousin was so handsome!” Lavender whispers excitedly in your ear.
“Who?” You reply less quietly, “Draco?”
“No!” Lavender whispers back fiercely, “Blaise! Is he a Pureblood Zambini?”
“Of course…” you reply, struggling to keep up and feeling the blood pounding in your temples a little from the earlier pain.
“He’s lovely,” Lavender says, dreamily.
You nod, then look around for Lily, who has fallen behind a little. You reach out for her and she hurries after you, taking your hand.
You are then greeted by a small troop of House-Elves, who take luggage and coats from you, levitating them away with their own magic. Lily and Lavender are pleased to have them take their luggage away, but you have nothing to give them.
“Does Mistress have anything she needs to unburden herself from?” Asks one of the House-Elves, with formal politeness.
Only a monster lurking in my soul, you think to yourself.
You hold on to Lily and Lavender. This was not the way you expected arriving at Hogwarts to go, but at least you are entering with friends. Before another thought can pass through your mind, the doors to the Hogwarts Great Hall swing open, and you and the other first years are led in to the booming applause of the whole rest of the school.
You make your way to the front of the school, walking past hundreds of clapping and cheering older students. Floating candles illuminate the hall, and the ceiling appears to be a starry night sky. The tables are laden with an extravagant start of term feast, and you can see a team of House-Evles levitating a whole roast hog onto one of the tables. Lavender and Lily seem awestruck by the sights and sounds of the Great Hall, but you are suddenly aware that you are surrounded by witches and wizards, some of whom are quite powerful, and one of whom is perhaps as powerful as you. You begin to fear that you have made a mistake, walking straight into Albus Dumbledore’s lair.
You are brought to your seats, and you can see the Headmaster, Dumbledore, sitting at the head of the table. Sitting beside him are Professors McGonagle and Snape. You wonder where Snape’s loyalties lie, given how he betrayed you in your timeline.
Once you sit, the Dumbledore stands and begins to make a speech, welcoming students back from their summer holiday, as well as welcoming first years. Now that your hands are free, you slip your wand out of your sleeve under the table, and whisper some incantations. You are sat with your back to much of the assembled hall, but you can see Dumbledore and the rest of the teaching staff, and they are the most important ones to investigate. Plenty of other first years are turning their heads to take in the whole hall, so you won’t look out of place.
Which spell do you cast first?
You will need to investigate quickly, because the House Sorting Ceremony is due to begin shortly:
Inside Extended Luggage Suite
Books: Life Magick of the Celts and ancient Britons, Wiccan Blood Rituals, A Primer of Magickes of Imperial China, The Fragmented Soul, Saucy Tricks for Tricky Sorts, Love Potions, Sexus, Serpentes et Magicae Voluptatis, The Daughters of Hecate, A Secret Guide to Hogwarts, Tom Riddle’s Diary (Horcrux).
Magic Items Sofia Lestrange’s Pensieve, Enchanted Tarot, Guardian Statue, Self-Writing Quill, Wizard’s Chess Set, Mother’s Broomstick, several sets of shirts, skirts and underwear with protection from minor charms, jinxes and hexes.
Other Items Clothes, text books, blankets, towels, food, medicines and various supplies