Disclaimer: Bla, bla… oh, come on, you know already…
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Harry gazed up at the ceiling of the Great Hall, glad to be back at Hogwarts, away from the lingering memories of Sirius. Finally, he might be able to live again. To his right, Ron argued (again) with Seamus about the Chudley Cannons and to his left, Hermione chatted animatedly to Ginny. All was perfect…
"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" Came a cheery, ringing voice from the end of the hall. Harry craned towards the voice to see Dumbledore standing before the staff table, in deep blue robes embroidered with stars and, oddly enough, mice. "I trust your heads, and stomachs are all empty, but we shall have to see to some new arrivals before we can fill the latter of these up." Ron groaned, Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry ignored the both of them. He was used to this.
One by one, first years filed into the hall, looking timidly around.
"Can't they go ANY faster?" Ron hissed into Harry's ear. Harry grinned in response. True, the first years did seem slow, but something else had caught his, and everyone else's, eye. A stunning girl who was definitely not a first year stood in the middle of the newcomers. She had red, wavy hair down just past her shoulders and stunning figure. But it was her eyes that Harry stared into. Glinting blue eyes. James' eyes, he suddenly thought.
As she made her way down the Great Hall, Harry stared at her. What on earth is going on? I have no surviving relatives other than Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. This can't possibly be happening. But it was.
Professor McGonagall started reading her parchment list. "Hannah." Nothing more. Everyone cast bemused looks at the stiff necked teacher in confusion. What happened to the first years' last name?
However, Hannah was the elder girl. She stepped quietly up to the Sorting Hat and sat gracefully down on the three-legged stool, slipping the hat over her head. She studied the students lined in front of her with a small, secretive smile, as though laughing at some private joke. She was just about to reach Harry, when the Sorting Hat yelled "GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindors looked at each other. Slowly, they began to clap. They weren't wholly sure what to expect. What year was this girl in exactly?
Suddenly, she stopped by the table. Her eyes locked onto Harry's and widened with shock. She glanced at Dumbledore, and then hurried out silently.
"What was that?" Ron asked. Hermione peered into Harry's face, white and shocked.
"It looks like he's just seen a ghost," she replied.