Chapter Two

A Welcome Back

The castle hadn't changed much over the summer. The gates were still coldly imposing, the grounds still magnificent in their endlessness. The interior hadn't seemed to change either; Isabella sat where she always did at the Ravenclaw table, next to Lisa and across from Jack. Yet, the atmosphere was different. She couldn't put her finger on it. The castle itself was as warm and welcoming and homey as it ever was, but Isabella felt as if the entire feel of the place had changed drastically over their holiday.

No where was this change more evident then on the faces of her professors. The entire Hogwarts staff seemed grim and drawn; their faces were tired and wary. They spoke in low voices to each other as the students filed it, their words indiscernible over the din of the Great Hall. The headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, seemed particularly stoic as he leaned down so weathered old Professor Kettleborn could whisper something in his ear. Dumbledore was a good headmaster, at least she thought so, but her father thought he was a bit off his nut. She supposed he was, but, then again, that's what made him so great.

The doors at the end of the Great Hall open and a tight lipped Professor McGonagall led in a gaggle of petrified first years, which all huddled together in the center of the room. McGonagall was the intimidating head of Gryffindor house. Tall, thin and stern looking, she guided the students of Hogwarts with a firm and steady hand. But she was a little on the scary side and Isabella had always wondered why Dumbledore allowed her to be the first member of the faculty that the already terrified incoming first years saw. However, it was endearing to see that, no matter what else had changed in the world, first years were still first years.

Isabella recalled her own Sorting. Sophia had been so nervous she had gotten sick in the boat, so Bella had tried to look confident in order to reassure her terrified cousin, but, in reality, she had been shaking in her boots. Both of her parents had been in Ravenclaw, as well as both her elder sisters. Isabella remembered being terrified of her parents disappointment and resolving to become a Ravenclaw. She needn't have worried. No sooner had the hat touched her head then the hat had cried "RAVENCLAW!" and the rest was history.

Professor McGonagall headed to the front of the great hall and, with a flourish, revealed their school's old worn out sorting hat-the very one that Isabella had had placed on her head six years ago. For a moment, there was silence, and not a flutter of movement was to be seen as all held their breath as their eyes fixed on the hat.

Finally with a great shake and a shutter, the sorting had sprang to life, earning a cheer form the general audience and a gasp of surprise mixed with wonder from the gathered first years. Without further ado, the had opened it's cloth mouth and cleared it's throat (a very funny thing for a hat to do), and began to sing a jaunty tune;

I am the Sorting Hat

I sit upon your head

And everything you've ever thought

Every confidence, every doubt,

I shall clearly see.

Four houses are there, I shall name them all

So that all, large and small

May know our history

First Ravenclaw, who are the best

At books and deep thinking

True scholars all,

They have a calling

For riddles, puzzles and wit

Then Hufflepuff, for those more gentle

Hardworking is this stock

More loyal mate's you'll never find

Then in happy Hufflepuff

Slytherin calls those sly ones

With whom ambition grows

Those sneaky, snide and clever

Slytherin House well knows

Finally Gryffindor is the house

Where the brave and noble dwell

Where the reckless and the daring

Will surely find a home

Come one, come all

I'll sort you

I'll divide you up in fourths

Have no fear, sit right here,

Leave your mind free and clear

I need no thanks or recompense

It is my task…

Let the sorting now commence!

The Great Hall burst into applause as the hat finished, the thundering peals reverberating around the hall, ceasing only when Dumbledore cleared his throat with a smile and nodded to Professor McGonagall to begin the sorting.

"Ashberry, Kent."

"Gryffindor!"

A thin, blonde boy scampered off the stool to join the rowdy Gryffindor table, at the end of which Sophia was applauding their newest addition politely.

"Barton, Christine."

"Ravenclaw!"

A pretty little girl with chocolate colored hair and eyes ran to join her table, her eyes wide and excited.

"Borboleta, Jessica."

Isabella recognized the rather ill little girl from the Slug Club lunch. She looked terrified, and ascended the podium with shaking steps. The hat rested atop her whispery brown hair for a full two minutes before saying, (in a rather unsure voice), "Hufflepuff!"

The sorting went quickly after that. Carton-Olivia, Cuthbert- Andrew, Hahn- Daniel, Jacobs- John, Newton- Cathy, Wilder- Davis, Winchester- Samantha, and Yelt- Harrison joined the Ravenclaw table. Duncan Wright (the other first year in the Slug Club) joined Kent Ashberry at the Gryffindor table.

Finally when Zachery, Tristan, and Zoma, Rachel were sorted into Gryffindor and Hufflepuff respectively, Dumbledore stood and raised his hands for silence. Instantly the Great Hall quieted as every pair of eyes turned to look at the elderly man at the head table.

"Another year is upon us, this one promising to be far more eventful then the last." He said, his voice echoing through the silent hall. 'Some of our number will be graduating, moving on to bigger adventures and more incredible opportunities then our meager halls can offer them. However, we live in dark times, where the closest of friends are strangers and those dearest to us seem to slip so easily away from us. Perhaps, we all must allow ourselves to bask in the lingering visages of innocence our school days provide, rather then dream of days when we alone will look after ourselves."

"Now!" he said, clapping his veined hands together, "Enough talk, (for you have all been so polite in enduring my long-windedness)-let the feast begin!"

Instantly out plates were filled with all manner of delicious food and Dumbledore's less-then-cheery welcome back speech was all but forgotten. It wasn't until later that evening, when everyone else in her dorm had drifted off to sleep, that Isabella thought of it at all. It was strange, she thought, that Dumbledore spoke of exactly what she had been feeling. But, then again, she couldn't be the only one who was feeling a bit antsy...

Isabella rolled over. It really wasn't that strange now that she thought about it. It was just everything that was going on that was scaring her. She yawned and shuffled around a bit, trying to get comfortable. There was really nothing to be scared of. She thought as she closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to the land of dreams, Nothing at all.