Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a Harry Potter fanfiction with actual chapters. And I'm reading the series for the first time, and I'm just starting book 5...So please be nice with reviews! :) Plus, I'm completelyl ignoring all the "canon" pairings Rowling came up with, because I prefer my ships much more :p Now enough of my chittering, let's get on to the fanfic!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. They all belong to the ever so talented J.K. Rowling.
It was the first day back to Hogwarts. Everyone was gathered in the Great Hall for the Sorting of the first year students. Everyone was in a good mood, since it was the perfect day to be welcomed back into Hogwart's doors. Well, some students weren't so excited. One of them was Ron; he had been whining quietly for the past ten minutes about how hungry he was and how much he wanted to feast to start right now, so Hermione glared at Ron and firmly smacked his hand. "Ron," she had whispered/scolded, "we'll eat soon enough, be patient! A lot of higher year students didn't complain when we were sorted five years ago!" Ron pouted. Harry chuckled.
"Ron, don't think about how hungry you are right now; that'll make you even hungrier," Harry advised his best friend as he pushed his glasses back in place after cleaning them. "Just try to think of how many Griffyndors we may get. Try thinking of beating in Malfoy's face this year. Try thinking of anything else but food or hunger."
Ron groaned slightly but nodded. He slightly smirked at the thought of beating up Malfoy. Hey, it was kind of helping him forget about his hunger! He grinned and kept imagining it. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled a little, shaking her head at her friend's silliness.
The Trio put their attention back onto the Sorting ceremony, and they all remembered their nervousness of being the ones who were awaiting their final House decision. The first girl, a heavy (but she had a pretty face) girl with red hair and green eyes, sat down and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. She looked nervous while the Hat was thinking. Harry tried to stifle his laughter; she and Dudley would make the perfect heavy couple! Well, maybe if she wasn't a wizard...unless she shared his love of his favourite foods. Harry shook his head and grinned anyway.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Hat bellowed. The girl looked slightly disappointed, but it quickly disappeared when she saw the way Hufflepuff cheered her on with open arms. She quickly made her way over to them and sat down.
The sorting went on for a while longer, since more young wizards and witches came this year.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Each first year went to their designated House tables, grinning as widely as a little kid unwrapping their favourite toy on Christmas morning. Once the Sorting was done, Dumbledore stood up, his eyes twinkling as they always did. He smiled.
"On behalf of all the faculty and students, we welcome all of you first year witches and wizards to our beloved Hogwarts!" he boomed cheerily, starting to clap. Then everyone but the first years clapped, welcoming the new arrivals. Well, everyone except first years and Snape clapped, though Snape did a slow, dull clap, one you might give after trying to be "nice" to someone who just gave a boring lecture or report or speech.
Dumbledore exchanged more merry words amongst the Great Hall, and before everyone knew it, it was time for the feast. The food appeared and everyone quickly took their shares, since that long ceremony always made everyone famished. Ron was eating barbarically, and Hermione scoffed in disgust. "Ron!" she'd said, "don't eat like a pig!"
Ron looked up. "Thorry, 'mione, thi' foo' ith goof!" he said through a full mouth, making Hermione look even more disgusted. Harry smiled at Hermione.
"You think that's bad? Try watching my cousin Dudley eat. Ron's eating looks like fine dining compared to how Dudley eats!" he said, chuckling and shaking his head.
Ginny grinned. "And Ron is nothing like Fred and George when they're in a rush," she told Hermione. Ron heard their conversations and turned pink to the ears in embarrassment. He swallowed his mouth full of food and pouted again.
"I'm not that messy of an eater!" he whined. Ginny laughed.
Everyone ate their food, and when they were all done, Professor McGonagall came by and gave each student their schedules. Harry looked at his. His first class was Divination (again!), and he scanned his other classes. Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, double Potions on Friday (Harry shuddered; two periods straight of Snape. That can drive anyone madE), Defense Against the Dark Arts, and a couple of other classes. Hermione had the same classes as Harry, minus Divination, and so did Ron, but with Divination. The only class Ginny shared with the Trio was Care of Magical Creatures, and that was it.
More formalities went on in the Great Hall, then it was time to head to the Common Rooms for each house. The Gryffindors went to the portrait of the Fat Lady, got the new password (but poor Neville Longbottom would probably forget by morning), and went inside to chat for a while and celebrate the new year. They shared many congratulations with the first years who didn't know what to make of all this excitement. "Where's the bathroom?" one scrawny little boy asked. Someone pointed the way and the boy dashed to the bathroom.
The Trio (and Ginny) were sitting by the fire and talking, excited about what this year may bring. Hermione grinned broadly.
"My goal for this year is to get more members to join and get involved in S.P.E.W.!" she beamed. Ron and Harry both groaned. Not this again. Hermione looked quite offended at their negative responses.
"Hermione, how many times does everyone have to tell you, house-elves like to work for people for free?" Ron sighed. Hermione frowned.
"Because the elves are brainwashed, that's why they don't find anything wrong in it all!" she spat back. Ron facepalmed, and Hermione let out a small "hmph!" and stuck her nose in the air like a posh muggle would do.
Harry chuckled a little at Hermione's stubbornness. "I think I'm going to head up to bed, you guys," he told them, getting up and heading for the boys' dormitories. Ron saluted him off, Ginny said a simple "good-night!", and Hermione smiled, hugging him quickly. "Glad we're all back here again this year safe and sound! Good-night, Harry!"
Harry smiled and went up the stairs and got into bed after he changed into his pyjamas. He stared at the ceiling for a little while, excited fot a new year full of Hogsmead, Quidditch, hanging out with Hagrid, and who knows what other exciting things were in store. He yawned and finally fell asleep.
Author's Note: Yeah, not much Harmony action in this chapter, forgive me. But hey, we can't just rush everything in one chapter now, can we? You don't just dive into romance, you gotta wait a chapter or two to start any mentions of romance! Well, anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!