Harry boarded the Hogwarts express with Ron and Hermione, for the first time ever wishing summer had lasted longer.
The three had just settled down with their goodies from the cart when two figures opened the sliding glass door. One of the figures was short and squat, but the other was of average height and build. Both were wearing deep blue robes with hoods that billowed around them, effectively hiding their faces.
The two quickly walked to the exit, opened the door, and left. The palpable silence they left behind was soon broken, and the golden trio soon pushed the two to the back of their minds, unaware of how much they would be affected by them.
Time Skip
The Sorting had just finished, leaving each house with many new students. Dumbledore stood up. "We have a few things to attend to we can begin our feast. Darren Shan and Hakrat Mulds will be transferring into 6th year. The two figures in the blue robes stepped forward, out of the shadows.
Darren POV
How had he gotten here again?! He had to help the war efforts, not guard some stupid school. The fact that it was a magic school didn't make much of a difference in his opinion.
The fact that Mr. Tiny had personally made sure Darren would go made him even more wary of this stupid plan, the creepy old bastard.
Darren was jerked out of his thoughts by Dumbledore saying him and Hakrat's names. "Hakrat Mulds!" called Professor McGonagall. Hakrat put the wizened old Sorting hat on his head without removing his hood, confusing the students.
The hat spent a full five minutes before announcing, "Gryffindor!" Hakrat lifted the hat off his head and calmly walked to the table of red and gold, his limp unnoticeable to all but the closest of watchers.
"Darren Shan!"