(A/N: Part of this chapter is based on the dialogue from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, American Edition, Chapter 11, Pages 211-214.)

"Finally," Ron groaned in relief as the carriages stopped in front of Hogwarts. "I'm starving."

Hermione snorted. "You're always hungry," she said. "But I am too. Let's go."

Harry, Ron, Ginny and Neville stepped out of the carriage and ambled up the stairs to the Entrance Hall. When they entered the Great Hall, they sat down at the Gryffindor table.

Ron looked up at the staff table. "Who is that?" he asked, pointing at one of teachers.

Harry glanced in the direction of Ron's table. His eyes took in a short, pleasant face woman who was completely covered in pink clothing. "Oh, that's that Umbridge woman who was at my hearing. She's works for the Minister."

About a few weeks ago, Harry had to attend a hearing at the Ministry of Magic. He had cast the Patronus Charm in front of his cousin. He was almost expelled from the school, but he was cleared. Harry was very glad to be back there at school with his friends.

"...she has a nice sweater," Ron grinned.

"Yeah," Neville mumbled in agreement. "Nice hat too."

Everyone laughed. Ginny asked about another teacher that looked unfamiliar. She was short, had auburn hair, and had an grumpy vacant expression. However, her eyes seemed to be full of mirth and good humor.

Hermione looked. "I don't know," she said. None of the others knew who she was either.

Just then, McGonagall marched in with the first years. She carried a three-legged stool and a scroll. Ron grumbled.

"Be quiet. We know you're hungry, but you'll just have to wait. Be patient!" Ginny whispered fiercely as the Sorting Hat began to sing. It sang about joining forces with the other houses to defeat Voldemort in the war.

Harry frowned. "It normally doesn't sing about that kind of stuff, does it?" he wondered aloud.

"No. But I think it is because You-Know-Who is back," Hermione reasoned.

"But how can it know that?" Ron murmured.

Harry turned to him. "The Sorting Hat lives in Dumbledore's office. It must have heard about it from him," he explained.

Ron shrugged. "Oh," he said.

Hermione had taken to looking around at everyone, so she did not say anything. At the Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables. At the staff table and the first years waiting to be Sorted. She looked everywhere until she gazed at her friends. That's when she noticed the Neville was glimpsing at her. She smiled quickly and blushed, turning away.

Neville was getting bored by the Sorting Hat's song. True, there was a new one everyone year, but he decided not to pay attention. So, he decided to play with the gold spoons and forks.

He knew why he did not feel like listening to it. He would just forget it, just like most of everything else. He was surprised that he could remember his own name.

He glanced up from his fork and saw that Hermione was gazing around the Great Hall. How he loved her curious expression and intelligent pose. Her curly, bushy hair. Her shiny, brown eyes. Then he mentally slapped himself. Hermione could never like him. He was awkward and forgetful. He was barely good in most of his classes, save Herbology. No, she would want someone else, who was smart like her...

And then Hermione looked at him. She must have noticed him staring at her, for she smiled and blushed before she looked away.

He looked down at his plate. Maybe she does like me a little bit after all, he thought.

"Allen, Janice!" called Professor McGonagall as she began the Sorting. A small girl sat down nervously on the three-legged stool. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Hufflepuff!" yelled the Sorting Hat.

The Hufflepuffs at the other end of the Great Hall applauded loudly.

"Ambokle, Eliza!"

"Gryffindor!"

Hermione clapped along with the other Gryffindors. She wished that they would hurry. She was getting hungry.

She did not have to wait long. When the Sorting finally finished, there were twelve new Gryffindors.

Dumbledore stood up and opened his arms wide as if to embrace all of them. "Two words. Bon appetit!"

"Yes!" Ron moaned in thanks as food appeared on the table. Hermione helped herself to roast beef, a baked potato, and peas.

Everyone continued to eat until the food vanished and the desserts appeared. Hermione had some Yorkshire pudding. After the remnants of that disappered, Dumbledore stood up.

He welcomed everyone and went over the school rules. "And now, let me introduce you to two of our new teachers. First, we have Professor Dolores Jane Umbridge for Defense Against the Dark Arts..." he announced, gesturing towards the woman in pink. "...and Professor K. Thomas for Charms."

The students applauded and talked amongst themselves. Ron scowled. "K. Thomas? Wait. Isn't she married to that American Rap and Jazz Sensation? You know, C. LaFleur?" he wondered hesitantly.

"Yeah, I think it is. It looks like her," Neville pointed out. "I have pictures of them together and she looks just like the woman in it."

Everyone gazed at him. They thought it weird that Neville would notice something like that an remember it. However, Neville loved rap. It was an escape to him, though in a sort of a rough way, depending on the song.

"But I wonder why she's teaching Charms," Ginny said.

Dumbledore seemed to had heard her. "No need to worry. Professor Flitwick has retired..."

"Hem, hem!" a voice coughed.

The students in the Great Hall grew silent as Professor Dumbledore turned around. Professor Umbridge stood up, clearly wanting to make a speech. He sat down politely and waited.

"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome," Professor Umbridge announed in a girlish voice.
"It's lovely to be back at Hogwarts! And to see such happy faces looking at me!"

None of the students looked happy. Instead, they looked confused and shocked.

There was more to her speech. Professor Umbridge talked about what the Ministry of Magic thought about a wizard's and witch's education. That "each Headmaster and Headmistress brought something new to the school." She proclaimed that "progress for progress's sake must be discouraged." That they should "preserve what must to be preserved," and "perfect what needs to be perfected." Finally, she said that they must "prune practices that should be prohibited."

Hermione was outraged. The Ministry could not do this! She had to admit, though, that it was illuminating.

Harry was confused. "What was she talking about? It sounded like a bunch of rubbish," he whispered.

"But what was hidden in the rubbish is important. She's saying that the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts," noted Hermione as Dumbledore went over the school rules.

After about ten minutes, Professor Dumbledore permitted them to leave. Hermione and Ron stood up to guide the first years to their dormitory.

Neville was climbing up the stairs, heading for the Gryffindor common room. He was very sleepy and wanted to get into bed as soon as possible.

When he walked up to the Fat Lady's portrait, he remembered that he didn't have the password. So he waited until Ron approached him.

"Can't get in?" Ron inquired, sniggering.

Neville shook his head.

"Oh, okay. Flitterbloom," announced Ron.

"Quite right," the Fat Lady said as she swung forward.

Ron ambled towards the stairs to the dormitory, but Neville called him back. "Yeah?" the former queried.

"Where's Hermione?" asked Neville timidly. "I thought she was with you."

Ron laughed again. "Oh, I escaped her. She was going on about the rules. So when she wasn't looking, I ran behind the fourth floor tapestry," he explained. Then he scowled slightly. "Why?"

"N-nothing. I thought you would be with her," Neville lied, stammering.

Ron shrugged and went upstairs. Neville, however, sat down near the fire.

He tried to convince himself that he did not lie. He did think that Hermione was with Ron. But he could not say that he wanted to talk to her. Ron wouldn't like that because he liked Hermione.

As he thought this over, Hermione and the first years walked through the portrait hole. She showed them where their dormitories were and walked away.

Neville stood up and sauntered behind her. Suddenly, he had an idea. He would pretend to trip over his own feet. Hermione would be able to talk to him then.

So, he did what he planned to do and sure enough, Hermione noticed. "Are you okay?" she asked as she helped him up. The hand on his arm was very warm.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks. Hermione?" he said.

"Yes?"

Neville looked down and shuffled his feet. "I-I saw that you became a p-prefect. The badge looks very nice on you. It makes y-you look more prettier." He blushed.

Hermione was flattered, but before she could say anything, he ran up the boys' staircase.

When Neville stumbled into the fifth years' dormitory, he clumsily dressed into his nightgown and clambered into bed. He could not believe that he was able to say that to her.