Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past

As I turned to my friends, I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye - a flicker of movement, a flash of dark magic... and my heart skipped a beat. What was going on? I scanned the entrance hall, my eyes searching for any sign of disturbance, but everything seemed normal. The first years were still being sorted into their houses, and the older students were chatting and laughing as they made their way to the Great Hall for the welcoming feast. But I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. I nudged Seamus and Dean, my voice low. "Guys, do you see anything weird?" Seamus and Dean exchanged a look, but shook their heads. "Weird? Like what?" Seamus asked, his brow furrowed in concern. I hesitated, unsure if I was just being paranoid. "I don't know... I thought I saw something... dark magic, maybe." Dean's eyes widened. "Dark magic? Here? In the entrance hall?" I nodded, my eyes scanning the area again. "I'm not sure, but I think I saw it out of the corner of my eye." Just then, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out, welcoming us all to the welcoming feast. The students began to file into the Great Hall, and I reluctantly followed my friends, my senses on high alert. As we took our seats at the Gryffindor table, I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched. I glanced around, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, oblivious to the strange occurrence I had witnessed. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were chatting with Professor Weasley, who was beaming with pride as he talked about his latest joke shop innovations. I smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia for our earlier conversations. But as the feast began, and the food was served, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking in the shadows, watching us. I kept my eyes peeled, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. It wasn't until the dessert course, when the first years were being treated to a special welcome feast, that I noticed a strange, pungent smell wafting through the air. It was like nothing I had ever smelled before - a mix of sulfur, ash, and something else that made my skin crawl. I exchanged a concerned glance with Seamus and Dean, and we all stood up, our eyes scanning the Great Hall. That's when I saw it - a dark figure, lurking in the shadows near the staff table. This time, I wasn't imagining things. The figure was real, and it was watching us.