A/N: Greetings, salutations and hi! Thank you so much for taking the time off of your busy schedules to visit my story! It's greatly appreciated! Your reviews are even more greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you!
"So, explain to me what's going on," Prue bent over to whisper to a blonde girl with pigtails. The girl sighed as she looked up to her.
"Well, the First Years are getting sorted. As the hat just explained, there are four houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw…" the blonde explained, but was interrupted by Prue.
"… and Hufflepuff, yes," she nodded.
"Right. The Gryffindors are brave, loyal and noble," the blonde girl gestured towards the table where everyone was wearing a red and gold tie. Prue raised and eyebrow, seeing the boy whom she had introduced herself to on the school grounds during the attack.
"Slytherins are cunning, powerful and ambitious," the little girl was almost afraid to look to the direction of the students who were wearing silver and green ties.
"Okay," Prue mumbled, stealing a glance to them. The students by the Slytherin table merely glared in her direction.
"The Ravenclaws are wise, witty and… just plain old popular. All of them are usually pretty or handsome," the blonde girl shrugged in the direction of the students who were wearing blue and bronze ties.
"So… basically… their perfect?" Prue watched the, indeed, attractive students. "No… their not perfect," the girl answered huffily.
"What do you mean? They've got brains and beauty," Prue frowned as she turned to look at the little girl.
"My brother, Roger Davies, was in Ravenclaw and he's just a down right idiot that one. Sorry, for not introducing myself earlier, but, I'm Rhonda Davies," the little girl held out her hand so that Prue could shake it.
"Prue Pattinson and I'll just have to take your word for it," Prue smiled, shaking Rhonda's hand.
"Good. Oh, yeah. The Hufflepuffs are hardworking, loyal, patient and they are all about fair play. Their usually very sweet," Rhonda smiled, continuing with her introduction. Prue paused, but, quickly plastered on a smile.
"I'll take your word for it," Prue beamed, straightening back up, trying to block away some ill-fated memories of the past.
"Prudence B. Pattinson," Professor Flitwick called out the name on stage with the Sorting Hat in one hand. She cleared her throat and walked slowly towards the stool and sat down.
"Is that her?" Hermione whispered hoarsely to Harry who nodded in return. "Who's that?" Ginny frowned, turning to Hermione. Hermione paused and glanced to Harry before whispering in Ginny's ear. "Oh, my gosh," Ginny whispered, staring at Hermione in disbelief. "Yes. But, keep your mouth shut. We are not gossiping about it," Hermione shushed Ginny before turning back to look at Prue.
"Prudence Pattinson. My, my, you're a late comer, now, aren't you?" the Sorting Hat began speaking as it was placed onto the top of Prue's head. Prue was quiet as she turned to look at Professor Flitwick.
"I'm sorry, but, am I supposed to actually give him an answer?" she whispered to the professor who nodded vigorously in return. A few snickers were heard around the room.
"Well, I suppose so," Prue quickly looked upwards, answering the hat. "I sense some wit and intelligence in you," the hat declared, deep in concentration.
"Yeah… some…" Prue mumbled, rolling her eyes. "Modest… very modest indeed… Shall I put you in Hufflepuff? Maybe she should follow a family member's footsteps?" the Sorting Hat continued, but, his words caused her to cringe lightly as she fought to keep cool.
Hermione, from a distance, stole a quick glance to Harry and Ron. They knew who the family member was.
"No. Not Hufflepuff. Too impatient. Ah… What's this? Anger? And a thirst for… revenge? Or is it power? Power to seek revenge? My, my… this is interesting," the hat continued, his tone scandalous.
"Oh, God. Please just get this over and done with," Prue closed her eyes, hating every torturous second on the stage. "Not just yet. It isn't everyday I get to sort a Seventh Year student. Plus, there is a strange vibe in you, Prudence Pattinson. What is it? Is it the darkness?" the Sorting Hat's tone grew serious.
From the corner of Prue's eye, she could see the Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, frown. She closed her eyes again. She was getting angry. There wasn't any darkness in her! She would die before she would ever become one of those.
"Ah… You would die for light and good… is that what you're trying to say?" the Sorting Hat's voice suddenly broke into her thoughts. She immediately opened her eyes and frowned. How did he do that?
"Oh, my. I suddenly sense an overpowering surge of… courage… and nobility in you, Prudence Pattinson. Yes… there's no doubt in where you belong, dear girl. I will sort you in… GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat exclaimed loudly, causing the Gryffindor table to roar in delight. She exhaled in relief as the Sorting Hat was lifted from her head. She realized that she had been holding her breath all along. She walked towards the Gryffindor table and smiled awkwardly to everyone.
They cheered and clapped as she shook their hands. Pleasantries and introductions were rushing down on her as she smiled and nodded to everyone. She sat down on the bench. "Oh, boy," she muttered under her breath.
"Hello! I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione smiled, shaking Prue's hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm… as the Sorting Hat so gallantly had bellowed, Prue Pattinson," she replied, nodding along.
"That's Ginny Weasley, her brother, Ron and that's…" Hermione laughed and pointed to everyone as she introduced them to Prue. Hermione was about to say 'Harry Potter', but Prue interrupted her first.
"Harry Potter. Of course," Prue smiled, nodding to Harry in acknowledgement. Hermione gave her an odd and explanation expectant look.
"Oh… the scar," Prue smiled, gesturing to her own forehead with her finger. "Right," Hermione smiled, nodding. Suddenly, the room was quiet as Professor McGonagall stepped up to the stand to give her speech.
"Good evening, students. Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I hope you've all had a pleasant summer. But, the school term has started and it's time to rid ourselves of summer fever," Professor McGonagall began her speech crisply. "Before we begin our magnificent feast, I would like to say a few words. The Forbidden Forest is, of course, forbidden to all students…" Professor McGonagall continued, reading the words from a piece of parchment.
All around, Harry could hear murmurs and whispers going around.
"It's just not the same,"
"I really miss him,"
"Remember first year?"
"He was really quite mad…"
"…But in a good way,"
"I can't believe Dumbledore's gone,"
Harry frowned and looked down to his hands on the table. He hadn't realized he was clutching them together firmly, till his knuckles had gone white.
At the Slytherin table, the Slytherins were also mumbling to each other. Draco merely fiddled with the cutlery silently as they gossiped all around him.
"Finally, the old geezer's gone,"
"He was a mad old goat,"
"You really shouldn't say things like that,"
"Oh, shut up, Blaise! Who asked you?!"
"Too bad Mad Cow McGonagall is replacing the dead coot,"
"Who cares… I'm just glad the Dark Lord has freed my father,"
"Well, at least we won't have to listen to Dumbledore's stupid, long-winded speeches anymore,"
"Yeah. And we have Draco to thank for that,"
At that last sentence, Draco's head jerked toward the direction of Darren Evans, who uttered that sentence. "Excuse me?" he asked, his voice low. The Fifth Year boy was taken aback by Draco's sudden alertness of the conversation.
"Well, yes. You killed…" Darren was about to finish his sentence, but, Draco quickly got up to his feet and pulled Darren up to his feet by the scruff of his neck.
"I have never killed anyone in my life. You got that?" Draco hissed venomously to the boy, who was now shaking with fear. "But…but…" Darren stuttered in reply. "Are you calling me a murderer?" Draco growled, his eyes narrowing as he looked down upon the poor boy.
"Draco. Just let it go, man," Blaise immediately got up to settle things down. Crabbe and Goyle just looked up to Draco fearfully. "Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall's voice interrupted the scene. Draco, still clutching Darren's collar, turned to look at the Headmistress.
"Is there something wrong?" her voice was cold and calm as she looked at him with piercing eyes. Draco blinked and shoved the boy back into his seat. He shook his head, ignoring the looks and stares he got from everyone in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall kept her eyes on him for a few more seconds and continued with her speech.
He kept his eyes down, and looked up again. This time, he didn't know why, but, he turned his attention to the Gryffindor table. Hermione Granger was staring at him curiously. He frowned as their eyes met. Suddenly, he saw that new girl, Prudence, nudge Hermione as she leaned in to whisper something to her. He blinked and went back to looking down, ignoring the Slytherins' stares.
"That's Draco Malfoy. Bloody ferret. Has been giving everyone a hard time ever since he first stepped onto the School Grounds," Ginny mumbled to Prue, who didn't know exactly what was going on. Lavender Brown suddenly leaned towards the chestnut haired girl.
"You know, they say that Draco Malfoy killed…" Lavender began to whisper, but Prue finished her sentence for her. "… Albus Dumbledore. I know," Prue nodded, keeping her hands under the table politely. Lavender frowned in return.
"It's just a rumor, right?" Prue noticed the sudden silence in their small group. "Of course. Wow. Sounds like you've done some research," Hermione smiled, after casting Prue an odd look.
"You could say that," Prue muttered under her breath, keeping a smile on her face for show.
"What's wrong with Ferret-boy? Has he finally cracked?" Ron snorted as Professor McGonagall finished her speech. The feast immediately appeared right in front of them. The older kids were used to it, but, the First Years were gasping in delight. "Yeah," Harry muttered, scooping some potatoes to his plate.
Harry could see the distressed look on Ron's face from the corner of his eye. Harry sighed and decided to put Ron out of his misery. "So, what do you think of Prue?" Harry absent-mindedly tried to start a conversation. Ron's face lit up, but fell again into a frown.
"I don't know. She seems a bit odd," Ron said quietly as he took a bite out of his roast beef. Harry took a sip of his pumpkin juice. "Odd?" he asked.
"Well, yeah. Why come to a school you're not familiar with in your Seventh Year, your last year? And if it has anything to do with… you know… Cedric… Why come now? Shouldn't she have come in her Fifth Year, right after his death? Why wait three years?" Ron whispered, gaining Harry's genuine interest with every word he said. Harry didn't say anything, instead he turned his attention to the girl they were discussing.
"I say, there's more to her than meets the eye," Ron muttered, glancing to her before taking a swig of his pumpkin juice.
