lupercus @ 2003-09-02 09:15:00

Current mood:	relieved
Current music:	that blasted song in my head

Home Sweet Home
On Sunday the halls of Hogwarts were unusually silent, and so when I arrived I took my time making my way to my rooms. I like the way the school feels before the start of term - the walls seem to shiver with anticipation and the corridors feel just a little wider, like they are ready and waiting for the quiet to be replaced by the rustles of pages, robes whispering against the floor, and the voices. James once said when we were boys that he thought the castle was the most eager student of us all, and more and more I think that he was right.

Got myself settled, then went down to the dungeons to see if I could scare up Severus for our scheduled tea. Found him scrutinising his cauldrons and muttering to himself about leaky bottoms (and as I write that sentence, truthful as it is, it really looks rather unfortunate). Tea was enjoyable, and afterward I went with Severus to a short teachers' meeting in the staffroom. Minerva has acquired a new brooch and it is very lovely, and Professor Flitwick seems to have gained a tan on the holiday to Majorca he took with his wife (whom I have not met, though I am given to understand that she is very tall).

Sirius looked well, if a little pale, and did not have much to say. I wanted to speak with him but we were sadly never given the chance. I'll have to catch up to him at another time.

An early night, and then this morning we prepared for the students' arrival. The Great Hall was aired out, the house-elves bustling to evacuate a few last-minute spiders from under the tables, the Sorting Hat brought in and dusted off while it sneezed in protest.

At one point during the evening, just before Hagrid set off to greet the train, I sat in the Great Hall at the Gryffindor table at the exact spot I had sat in every day for seven years. It's quite strange to do it as an adult. The benches seem so small now and the Head Table not quite so far away and intimidating as it had once been.

After a bit, I found my fingers tracing a familiar set of letters carved into the table surface, without even having to look to see where they were. I sat there for a very long time before I had to go and take my seat. The children were arriving.

It was brilliant feast as always, and I simply must remember to write down the Sorting Hat's wonderful songs. They seem to become more clever every year. I'll have that one stuck in my head all the week. I've already heard some of the children humming it under their breath in passing. Even Minerva was whistling it when I saw her later in the hall.

September is here at last. Welcome back everyone.

See you tomorrow!

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