I do not own Harry Potter or any other recognised characters, places etc. They all deservedly belong to J. K. Rowling.
- Chapter Two -
Upon entering the Great Hall the second and third years were excited to be back at Hogwarts. The fourth, fifth and sixth years felt a sense relief as nothing had yet been changed under the new rule. Hogwarts still felt like home.
While the students attending their seventh year also felt this relief, they also felt a desperate longing for their old Headmaster, for this would be their last year attending the school they loved. Plus, they were old enough to consider that the Ministry official would lull them into a false sense of security tonight.
It was well past midnight when they arrived at Hogwarts the previous night. The returning students were all sent straight to their common rooms. The first years however, had to sleep in the Great Hall as they did not belong to any house yet. Naturally, classes that day were suspended.
As the returning students sat at their house tables awaiting the first years arrival they felt secure in the familiarity, the enjoyment they felt at seeing the first years sorted into the houses they would spend seven years. A time honoured tradition.
As Professor McGonagall revealed the sorting hat, it sang:
It's that time of year
When a sorting must commence
For there are here some First Years
To be sorted like the rest
You may belong in Ravenclaw
Where wit and wisdom hold regard
The clever ones, they will accept
Who work hard to top the class
Then there is kind Hufflepuff
Who prefers the hard-working type
For tolerance and patience
Are the values she holds high
You may have heard of Slytherin
With cunning ambitious traits
Power hungry fraternity
Where true greatness awaits
Last but not least the Gryffindors
Who show bravery and nerve
The daring ones who always find
True friends among the herd
Think on that, young First Years
For the sorting must begin
But first some sound advice
For those returning here
You may feel all is lost
Hopeless and despaired
With your Headmaster gone
And Dolores in his chair
But Headmaster Dumbledore
Was not a fool we know
For he did not leave
Without a few parting words
And then the sorting hat didn't sing, he spoke.
Our Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, will never truly leave us. So long there are those here who are loyal to him. He has asked me to remind you also, that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.
Now I have said all I can
I hope these words sink through
For now it's the time we've all been waiting for
Let the sorting.. begin.
Deafening cheers sounded from the house tables, while the first years stood in surprise. Some noticed that Dolores Umbridge was not seated among the other Professors, this brought a mixture of feelings. Some felt relief as the sorting was a sacred tradition and they could not bear it if she was to tarnish something they loved however, there were also those who felt that her not being there meant their suspicions were in fact correct, that she did not care about the school, nor its students. Only the Ministry and the Ministry's reputation.
Once the welcoming ceremony ended and the excitement of meeting all the new faces had calmed a small voice sounded from where the Sorting Hat had just been.
"Ahem" it may have been small, but it was enough to capture the student's attention, for it was innocent and vulnerable yet ominous and commanding at the same time. "I would like to welcome all the first year students to Hogwarts and wish them the best in the next seven years" She started. "As for the students returning, I know it's rather shocking to see Albus Dumbledore replaced"
For reasons she didn't understand, Hermione turned to seek Malfoy among the Slytherins, slowly as to not draw any attention to herself. While others around him were smirking Malfoy himself was not. He was scowling, much like the other three houses.
"Now" Hermione turned her attention once more back to their new Headmistress "Albus's departure is not the only change which will be occurring this year. Don't fret" she told them, seeing their worried faces "Some will happen slowly as the year progresses, after a while the changes will be second nature, some you may not even notice" she told them with a smile, which wasn't reassuring in the slightest.
Every student and teacher started sneaking worried glances at one another, not knowing what to do or say to the speech.
"Don't be alarmed, I won't make any changes tonight, but tomorrow there will be a meeting in the Gryffindor common room"
"Why Gryffindor?" A Slytherin yelled, meaning to be awkward. Little did she know there were many students, not just Syltherin, asking the same thing.
"Not to worry Miss Parkinson, that won't matter much longer" Wide eyed students and teachers alike looked worried. "Welcome" she ended her speech.
"To hell" Ron muttered.
As Umbridge sat down the food appeared, it was the feast they all loved and adored but like she said, nothing changes tonight.
"She didn't even mention the forest" Hermione hissed, referring to the fact the first years were not aware of the dangers the place held.
"She hasn't made a very good impression" Harry agreed "She's even managed to rile Slytherin, and they were never fans of Dumbledore"
"And our Professors, I don't think they know any more than we do" Hermione continued.
"Yeah, what the bloody hell did she mean when she said 'That won't matter for much longer'?" Ron asked.
"Wouldn't surprise me if she took houses away altogether" Harry thought, aloud.
All three pairs of eyes widened as their heads shot to the headmistress who was elegantly sipping her soup.
"No, she wouldn't. She can't. The founders of Hogwarts created the houses, she can't just do away with them"
"Look, it's best we not get paranoid, for all we know she could have meant something entirely different" Harry reasoned.
"Right, but before we do any more digging first we need to tell the first years everything she failed to mention" Hermione started.
"And then we use Harry's cloak to go to the library" Ron finished, referring to Harry's invisibility cloak.
"No" Hermione contradicted, surprising both her friends "What use will the library be? We may find some texts on Umbridge but that's all, we can't use the library unless we have something to look for - besides, we need to hide the cloak" she concluded.
"Why?" Both Harry and Ron questioned, urgently.
"Changes Harry. Dumbledore knew about the cloak and let you keep it, what do you think would happen if she found out about it? She'd confiscate it" Hermione answered her own question.
"Worse, I'll bet she isn't half the witch Dumbledore is wizard. He doesn't need an invisibility cloak, if she can't produce a complete disillusionment charm like Dumbledore can, I think she'd use it"
"But-"
"No, she's right Ron. We need to keep it safe" Harry had an ulterior motive of course, it wasn't just that it was useful. The cloak had belonged to his father, he would keep it safe at all costs.
Ron knew they were both right, but didn't like it.
"So, when do we tell the first years everything?" Ron asked, moving the conversation forward.
"When we get back to the common room" Hermione answered.
"Do you think we should tell the other houses to do the same" Harry asked.
Hermione nodded "Yes, I do"
"I'll take Hufflepuff" Ron said, almost reflexively.
Harry and Hermione stared at one another, silently debating who they would take.
"I'll tell Slytherin then" Hermione relented. They both looked at her, demanding an explanation. "Harry, if you talk to Slytherin things might get out of hand, same goes for you Ronald. You're too hot-headed when it comes to them"
Harry audibly huffed, not caring he sounded childish "Fine, but take the cloak, if things do get out of hand, put it on and run"
"But Harry, the cloak-"
"I know. But you're more important" He told her, honestly "We can hide it when you get back" Hermione smiled, gratefully.
Ron himself didn't understand why they were including Slytherin at all, but hoped the other two would tell him later.
They decided to talk about other things for the rest of the feast, not wanting to dwell on what lay ahead, until Umbridge told them it was time to go to bed. Harry thought she looked far to happy.
As soon as they entered their common room Harry went to get his cloak while Ron made himself seen and, when he was sure no one was looking, left for the Hufflepuff common room. All the while Hermione was speaking to the Head Boy about warning the first years of all the things Dumbledore warned them about in their first years.
Finishing her conversation with this years Head Boy, she finally spotted Harry and both edged towards the entrance and snuck out themselves.
"Here, put it on now, the Slytherin common room is in the dungeons" Harry told her.
"What about you?"
"I'll be fine, you have further to go than I do"
Hermione smiled before putting the cloak around her entire self and vanished. "Good luck" she whispered.
"You too"
They both snuck down the stairs together, quietly however, Harry only needed to go down a couple of floors, he felt a breeze as he stopped to turn, Hermione carried on down, wanting to get to the dungeons as quickly as possible. It occurred to her that the members of Slytherin house may not listen to her, or even care about what she had to say. 'Too late to turn back now' she thought.
Suddenly, hearing footsteps, she froze. She had nowhere to go, nearly face to face with the portrait of Slytherin.
It was then she realised that neither three knew the passwords however, getting a Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff to help would be far easier than Slytherin, she stood no chance.
Whether it was pride or fate that kept Hermione standing there, she didn't know. What she did know was that she could not and would not go back to her friends telling them she had accomplished nothing, especially as this had been her idea.
As she tried to think of a solution to her dilemma she snapped out of her musings by the footsteps she had heard earlier growing louder as they moved towards her.
As the moonlit glow shone through the church-like windows she saw who was making the noise, striding confidently in her direction.
Severus Snape.