I was just heading into the Great Hall, just before the sorting and feast, when a rough, callused hand stopped me. I turned around to face the offending person, when I realized it was Charlie. I smiled. "Yes, Mr. Weasley?" I asked with a smug smirk on my face. He just grinned at me. "Just because we are coworkers doesn't mean we have to address each other formally Parthena. That's not what I came over here to discuss though. What was wrong with little Katie Bell?" He sound genuinely concerned. "Well, you know she is a fourth year and she is starting to discover her interest in the male population, and she realized her feelings for a certain Gryffindor Keeper." I said softly as I saw the second through seventh years coming into the Entrance Hall.
Charlie and I stepped over to the side so the students could get to the Great Hall. As the last of the stragglers went into the Great Hall we walked up to the Head Table to our respected seats. Murmurs started when students from my year noticed I was sitting at the Head Table. Professor Dumbledore and the other Professors showed up then and made their way to their respected seats at the table. We sat anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first years.
I was conversing with Hagrid over what he thought would be a good way to start the term off when the doors of the Great Hall were pushed open to reveal Professor McGonagall and the nervous first years. The poor things looked like they would pass out by the slightest sound made. I smiled reassuringly at a few of them that looked my way. They seemed to calm down noticeably.
"When I call your name you will come forward, sit on the stool, and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head to determine which house you will be placed in. Once you are placed in that house, your fellow housemates will become your family. Bad behavior will be rewarded with points taken from your house. Good behavior will be rewarded with points gained for you house. Whichever house with the most points at the end of the year will win the House Cup. Now, before we start the sorting Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." McGonagall said. Professor Dumbledore stood up then and smiled with his twinkling eyes and soft smile.
"Welcome back to those students whose journey here is still in the progress or just wrapping up and welcome to those whose journey here is just beginning. Now, I have a few teachers I would you all to welcome. First I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher; Professor Lupin." There was a round of applause mainly from the Golden Trio. "Next, you all know our Grounds Keeper Hagrid, he will be your new professor for Care of Magical Creatures seeing as how Professor Kettleburn resigned." His response was the same as Lupin's except the whole Gryffindor table was in an up roar from the excitement. "And now, you all may know Charlie Weasley from stories or perhaps you are friends, he will be assisting Hagrid as will your fellow classmate, Parthena Miller. I hope you give them as much respect as you would your Professors." The went rather fast if I say so myself, but that could have been because there were twice as many first year in my year than in this one.
