Waiting For the End- Chapter Seven

It was finally time to go back to Hogwarts. I'm not sure if I have ever been happier in all my life. I was excited, my hair was purple, and there was a slight skip to my step where ever I went. I was standing in the hall with Ginny.

I haven't talked to Fred and George once today, and that was odd. We usually had a prank planned by now. I would talk to them, but I suppose I'd see him in a bit.

"How's Mikey," I teased her. She blushed like only a Weasley can blush.

"He's fine," Ginny said.

Ron was coming up the steps and ran into us. "You better get downstairs, Mum's going mad," he warned and went into his and Harry's room. We turned around and went towards the kitchen; we had already put our trunks down there last night to save us the hassle this morning.

We were slowly walking down the hallway when I felt an impact on the back of my head. I'm not sure what it was but it made me fall downwards, I was already about to go down the first flight of steps. I kept tumbling. I don't know how long and my vision kept going in and out. I couldn't pay attention.

The last thing I heard was screaming. "COULD HAVE DONE THEM A SERIOUS INJURY YOU IDIOTS!"

xXx

I awoke, (when had I been sleeping?) in Fred's arms. How did I get here? Why was I here? "Wha?" I tried to sit up, but Fred wasn't letting me do that. He noticed that I was awake now though and got attention immediately. You know attention of anyone around us. We were in muggle London. Why were we here again?

"Lupin! She's awake!" he said joyfully, causing multiple amounts of heads turn our way.

"What happened?" I asked as I rubbed my head, I had a really bad headache, one of the worst ever. It felt like it was inside my head and outside at the same time.

"Fred and George bewitched their trunks to go down the stairs themselves and they hit you and Ginny. You've been knocked out for the last half hour," Lupin explained.

"Of course they did," I said, annoyed. "Can I come down now?"

"No," Lupin said. His answer annoyed me. Fred was going to drop me. Fred was so going to drop me. "You have to stay off your feet for ten minutes at least. You could pass out again." I grumbled a bit but I really couldn't do anything about it.

"Where are we going?" I asked, because really I had no idea.

"Kings Cross Station," George said, who was standing next to Fred. Ginny was on the other side. I nodded my head; today was September the first, wasn't it?

Once we made it to the station I asked, "Can I be set down now?"

Lupin chuckled. "Sure thing, Lily, unless you're comfortable there." He smirked at us. I was so not comfortable here… was I?

"I'm good," I said as I hopped down from Fred's arms. Not that I wasn't particularly comfy but I surely wasn't going to admit that.

We ran into the barrier and ended up at the familiar Platform Nine and Three Quarters. We found Mrs. Weasley and the others. Moody was there and said to Lupin in that growling voice of his, "No trouble?"

"Nothing," Lupin said.

Mrs. Weasley hugged me when she saw me. "Oh, Lily, I'm so glad you're up again."

"I'm fine, Mrs. Weasley," I said to her as she released me from her hug.

"Well, look after yourselves," Lupin said and shook all of their hands.

"Yeah, keep your head down and your eyes peeled," said Moody as he shook hands as well. "And don't forget, all of you—careful what you put into writing. If in doubt, don't put it in a letter at all."

"It's been great meeting all of you," Tonks said cheerfully. She hugged Hermione, Ginny, and I. "We'll see you soon I expect."

The warning whistle sounded and we hurried to get onto the train. We stood around a bit and waved to the people we were leaving behind as the train went onward. Once they were out of sight Fred clapped his hands together and said, "Well, can't stand around chatting all day, we've got business to discuss with Lee. See you later."

"You coming Lily?" George asked.

"Of course," I said and disappeared down through the corridors with them. We walked down until we found Lee, he was alone and he smiled when he saw us.

"Hey Fred and George!" He said and smiled brightly at the twins. He saw me and said, "Hi, Lily! How was America?"

"It was great," I said sweetly with a fake smile plastered onto my face. No one needed to know, because if I told a soul, someone would find out. I could not let that happen.

He smiled and then looked to the twins."So what have we got?" he asked them.

"Well," George began to say when a door slammed open. We all turned our heads to see Miss Rosalie Hale standing there, looking displeased.

"You mind if I join?" she asked scathingly. Lee Jordan didn't seem to notice a thing, only her inhuman beauty. His mouth was slightly ajar.

"I don't care," he said, lightly, amazed she rolled her eyes and sat down, next to me, without much enthusiasm. I pretty much knew this was a translation for: I was sent to watch you, but trust me, I didn't want too.

The rest of the train ride was pretty much wasted as Lee looked up to Rosalie (literally and figuratively) like she was an angel. He asked her all sorts of questions. Where was she from? Is she a transfer student? Does she have any sisters? Her hair is really pretty…

George, Fred, and I, who were very much used to Rosalie and her horrid behavior and did our best to ignore her, ignored Lee, who would come around eventually, and we ended up playing Exploding Snap.

Fred and George didn't get as much business done with Lee as they hoped, because of Rosalie or any business at all really. I could tell it disappointed them but there wasn't much they could get done now.

The train came to a halt when we got to the station, and leaving our trunks behind, and my head still slightly throbbing, we went to the carriages. As much as Lee wanted Rosalie to ride with us she couldn't because she had to go on the first year boats.

Ha, have fun Blondie…

Lee, George, Fred, and I all gathered into a carriage. It carried itself to Hogwarts and they chatted aimlessly. Lee still looked disappointed that Rosalie couldn't come with us, but I was glad she couldn't!

I had a feeling that over the next couple of days I would have to deal with more vampires than I will want, and that is not something I look forward too.

Once the carriages found their way to the castle we hopped out of them and talked until we found ourselves in the Great Hall, taking seats at the Gryffindor Table and waiting anxiously for the First Years to come.

I scanned the staff table and noticed an overly large woman wearing too much pink. I recognized her. She was the woman from my Hearing. "See that lady," I said pointing to the toad. "She was at my hearing. She was against me coming back."

"I don't like her," Fred and George said immediately and at the same time, which they had a weird way of doing that Harry and I didn't do often. It was just so Fred and George, and not really the fact that they were twins. I wonder if they ever practiced when they were younger or if it was just instinctual.

"Hagrid isn't here either," Lee said and pointed to Hagrid's empty seat.

Before anyone had time to say anything Professor McGonnagall led a line of first years and five teenagers into the Great Hall. Everything was silent as she placed a stool in front with an old hat on it.

The hat opened the brim of its mouth and began to sing a lengthy tune.

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted;

United by a common goal,

They had a selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such good friendship fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach just those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name."

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin,

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once help up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with dueling and fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within

I have told you, I have warned you…

Let the Sorting now begin.

That was most definitely the longest sorting song I had ever heard. Before Professor McGonagall sorted the first years, she went for the vampires.

"We have new transfer students from America this year. I expect all of you to treat them with respect. I will call your name and you will come sit on the stool and put on the hat.

"Cullen, Alice," Professor McGonagall called. Alice danced, yes danced, across the stage gracefully and sat on the stool, her legs dangling from it. The hat was lowered onto her head and soon enough it called out, "Gryffindor!"

Alice a Gryffindor, okay, I think I might be able to deal with that.

"Cullen, Edward," Professor called next and I wrinkled my nose up in disgust. Ugh. Please don't be Gryffindor. Please don't be Gryffindor.

The hat called out, much to my pleasure, "RAVENCLAW!"

Phew.

"Cullen, Emmett," was called next and he became a Gryffindor as well. I didn't mind him. He was okay. Alice and Emmett never did anything to harm me.

"Hale, Jasper," Professor McGonagall called and for him I was mutual. If he was in my House, cool. If he was in another house, cool. We never were exactly close.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Hale, Rosalie," was the last for the vampires and she was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!" to the happiness of the Slytherin boys and the displeasure to our dear, Lee Jordan. She made her way over to the most unpleasant bunch of people I have ever met. She would fit in well there.

The first years begun to sort then, starting with Abercrombie, Euan who became a Gryffindor. After the sorting Dumbledore gave his short speech and food appeared on our plates.

"It's okay, Lee," George said, who elbowed him. Lee looked upset and kept looking longingly to the Slytherin table. I suppose there was a first time for everything, eh?

Once we had finished with our food, Dumbledore began to speak. He was cut off right before we were told when Quidditch tryouts were. I kind of wanted to know about that…

The pink toad had been standing up, it wasn't much of a difference, and cleared her throat, "Hem, hem." It was annoying and high pitched and made me want to kill her.

"Thank you Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome."

"You didn't even let him finish," I muttered under my breath.

"Hem, hem," she coughed once more to my disgust. Why did she cough so much? "Well, it was lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say! And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

No one was happy, at all, and the tone she was using with us was nauseating.

"I'm very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

I was in shock for a moment. That was a very good joke.

"Hem, hem," she coughed again, gaining the attention she didn't quite deserve. "The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

Fred snored a bit, purposely, and I laughed. "Hem, hem," she cleared her throat, which stopped my giggles.

"Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there would be no stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation…"

Cue where I fall asleep. This was so boring. I don't understand how people like Hermione could be paying a bit of attention to all of the words that she said. Then again, she is Hermione.

I guess she sat down because Dumbledore began to clap. I began to clap furiously, only glad that she was done talking. I'm not going to enjoy class with her all that much.

Dumbledore stood up again and said, "Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating. Now—as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held…"

No one seemed to have a care when the tryouts were held anymore though (second weekend of the month, by the way) and we're all talking of the new professors. People had also begun to take notice of the two others. They would be Carlisle and Esme, although I wouldn't be able to call them that anymore.

Fred leaned down to the other end of the table and came back to tell us the news. Hermione had apparently decoded the entire speech. "The ministry is setting ferrets loose in Hogwarts." He said.

"What?"

"That might not have been it exactly," he said with a shrug. I went down to Hermione to get it straight. The Ministry was interfering at Hogwarts.

A little bit more Fred in this one. Review, because I love reviews, and love is awesome. It's like the whole theme of Harry Potter and stuff, and you know how important that is. So, review, and the next chapter will be the D.A.D.A. class and detention.