The great hall buzzed with excitement as the first years filed in, waiting to be sorted. In the excitement of a new term, most of the students failed to notice that a certain Gryffindor boy was missing. Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger however were very aware of the absence of their best friend Harry Potter.
"You don't suppose You-Know-who's got him, do you?" Ron said, a fleeting tone of panic in his voice.
"Ron, how could you even think that, I'm sure Harry is fine" Hermione reassured him, but from the look on her face, he could tell that she was just as worried as he was.
A silence passed over the crowd as Dumbledore, back in his rightful position as headmaster, stood to speak.
"I am glad to see you all back here, And I would like to announce the arrival of our new defense against the dark arts teacher..."
Hermione couldn't concentrate on Dumbledore's words, the thought that she may have seen Harry for the last time was too much to bare.
Applause erupted through the hall as a fairly young witch stood up and waved. Dumbledore continued with his announcements, "I would also like too tell you that something new is happening this year, two students from each house will be participating in a foreign exchange program"
There were mumbles of confusion throughout the hall.
Dumbledore noticed this, and addressed it "This means that eight of our students will be carrying out this term at the Baxter Academy Of Magic In the United States. This also means that we will be receiving eight American students for the term."
Ron couldn't help but think about how Harry hadn't answered his letters all summer.
"From Gryffindor Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, And from Hufflepuff" The headmaster paused, "The Hufflepuff students chosen will not be able to participate, so they will be replaced by students from another school"
The Hufflepuff table showed their unapproval with negative comments coming from their table.
Dumbledore concluded his speech, "All of you who were chosen, please come with me now, while the first years are sorted"
Hermione tugged on Ron's shoulder bringing him back to reality.
"We were chosen for something, we have to go now" She said, he gave her a puzzled look, then got up and followed her to the corridor outside the hall. Also leavening the hall were a pair of Ravenclaw fourth years, and two Slytheryn fifth years. Dumbledore soon approached them, with a bundle of parchment in his arms. "Stewart Ackerley" He said looking down at the first paper, your American partner will be Aidan Burke, take this it has all you need to know", with that he handed the boy a scroll, and let him go. He did the same for Orla Quirke From Ravenclaw, and Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bullstrode from Slytherin.
. Then only Ron and Hermione were left.
"Professor Dumbledore is Harry..." Hermione began.
"He is fine that is all you need to know, the rest you will find out soon enough" said the Headmaster, aware of her fear.
"Dumbledore, what is all of this about going to the U.S.?" Ron asked.
"Now more than ever we need friendships and allies throughout the wizarding world, I am hoping that this program will help us gain a good relationship with the Baxter School." He explained, "And you, Ron your partner is Conner Lewis, and Hermione yours is Tammy Smith."
He handed them each one of the scrolls, and proceeded to go back into the hall.
"I'm not really hungry" said Ron his head held low.
"Well that's a first!" exclaimed Hermione, "But I know how you feel, lets go to the comment room"
They made their way up to the Fat Lady in her frame.
"Pumpkin Seeds" Muttered Hermione, both prefects, Her and Ron already knew the password. They sat in two lounge chairs by the fireplace, and began to read the parchment that Dumbledore had given them. They soon found out that they would be leaving the next morning after breakfast, and would be traveling using a port key, to the Baxter Academy. They also read off their new schedules to find that they had all of their classes together. Although they trusted Dumbledore's word that their friend was safe, they couldn't help but wonder when they would see him again.
"You don't suppose You-Know-who's got him, do you?" Ron said, a fleeting tone of panic in his voice.
"Ron, how could you even think that, I'm sure Harry is fine" Hermione reassured him, but from the look on her face, he could tell that she was just as worried as he was.
A silence passed over the crowd as Dumbledore, back in his rightful position as headmaster, stood to speak.
"I am glad to see you all back here, And I would like to announce the arrival of our new defense against the dark arts teacher..."
Hermione couldn't concentrate on Dumbledore's words, the thought that she may have seen Harry for the last time was too much to bare.
Applause erupted through the hall as a fairly young witch stood up and waved. Dumbledore continued with his announcements, "I would also like too tell you that something new is happening this year, two students from each house will be participating in a foreign exchange program"
There were mumbles of confusion throughout the hall.
Dumbledore noticed this, and addressed it "This means that eight of our students will be carrying out this term at the Baxter Academy Of Magic In the United States. This also means that we will be receiving eight American students for the term."
Ron couldn't help but think about how Harry hadn't answered his letters all summer.
"From Gryffindor Hermione Granger and Ron Weasly, And from Hufflepuff" The headmaster paused, "The Hufflepuff students chosen will not be able to participate, so they will be replaced by students from another school"
The Hufflepuff table showed their unapproval with negative comments coming from their table.
Dumbledore concluded his speech, "All of you who were chosen, please come with me now, while the first years are sorted"
Hermione tugged on Ron's shoulder bringing him back to reality.
"We were chosen for something, we have to go now" She said, he gave her a puzzled look, then got up and followed her to the corridor outside the hall. Also leavening the hall were a pair of Ravenclaw fourth years, and two Slytheryn fifth years. Dumbledore soon approached them, with a bundle of parchment in his arms. "Stewart Ackerley" He said looking down at the first paper, your American partner will be Aidan Burke, take this it has all you need to know", with that he handed the boy a scroll, and let him go. He did the same for Orla Quirke From Ravenclaw, and Blaise Zabini and Millicent Bullstrode from Slytherin.
. Then only Ron and Hermione were left.
"Professor Dumbledore is Harry..." Hermione began.
"He is fine that is all you need to know, the rest you will find out soon enough" said the Headmaster, aware of her fear.
"Dumbledore, what is all of this about going to the U.S.?" Ron asked.
"Now more than ever we need friendships and allies throughout the wizarding world, I am hoping that this program will help us gain a good relationship with the Baxter School." He explained, "And you, Ron your partner is Conner Lewis, and Hermione yours is Tammy Smith."
He handed them each one of the scrolls, and proceeded to go back into the hall.
"I'm not really hungry" said Ron his head held low.
"Well that's a first!" exclaimed Hermione, "But I know how you feel, lets go to the comment room"
They made their way up to the Fat Lady in her frame.
"Pumpkin Seeds" Muttered Hermione, both prefects, Her and Ron already knew the password. They sat in two lounge chairs by the fireplace, and began to read the parchment that Dumbledore had given them. They soon found out that they would be leaving the next morning after breakfast, and would be traveling using a port key, to the Baxter Academy. They also read off their new schedules to find that they had all of their classes together. Although they trusted Dumbledore's word that their friend was safe, they couldn't help but wonder when they would see him again.
