Candace and Harry looked at each other uneasily. What were they talking about? What did they hope it was not?

"Professors. The portrait." Candace reminded them.

"What? Oh, yes, of course," said Professor McGonagall, snapping out of thought.

She took out her wand and muttered an indistinct charm. The portrait creaked open very, very slowly. She ushered Harry and Candace inside, nodded to Snape, who left, and followed her students into Gryffindor common room.

Everyone looked up when they entered. Though she was Head of Gryffindor House, Professor McGonagall was rarely seen inside the common room. When she was, it usually wasn't good.

Looking around at the students chatting, playing games, and studying, McGonagall smiled a rare smile before looking serious again and saying, "Boys and girls, I would like you to accompany me to the Great Hall. There is a very important matter that needs to be discussed with you all. It is easier done in there. Come along now."

So every single student in Gryffindor House was lead to the Great Hall, where the House tables were still set up. They all piled in at their table and Professor Dumbledore came into the room and looked around at them all.

"I think," he said, "that the easiest thing to do is to divide you up among the other three Houses and have you stay there. The Fat Lady is indeed in a catatonic state and needs tending to. The charm needed right now to open the portrait is far too advanced for any student to ever hope to perform. So you will be divided up and sent back to Gryffindor Tower to collect your things. You will eat at the same table and keep your regular class schedule, but you will sleep in a different House. Understood? Good. Please listen for your name as I read them off."

******************************************************

A/N: Sorry to interrupt, but at this point in time I decided that the kids would be divvied up according to dorm. I have given the dorms numbers, just so you know.

******************************************************

"Dormitory one, you will go to Slytherin. Dormitory two, Ravenclaw. Dormitory three, Hufflepuff."

Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered, "We'd better not be in Slytherin!"

Harry nodded in agreement and kept listening to Dumbledore. He kept an ear out for dorm eight (his and Ron's) and dorm ten (Hermione and Candace's).

"Prefect group three, Hufflepuff. Head Boy and Girl, Slytherin. And last but not least, dormitories eight and ten, Ravenclaw."

Thank God. Harry thought, standing up and following his peers back to Gryffindor Tower to collect their things.