The Feast

Dani joined the other at the school about an hour latter. Several aurors would be coming in the morning to interview students. Dani told them that it looked to her like the entire of Slytherin house was crammed into the last two carraiges of the train. She hadn't made portkeys for any of them but it was an observation.

As they gathered in great hall for the feast, Professor McGonagall took the twins to some seats next to the anti-chamber door to await sorting, before leaving to escort the first years in. Minutes later the doors to great hall and Professor McGonagall escorted the first years to the front of the hall and set the sorting hat down.

For many years I have split

and I have divided

Never thinking it was good

but my purpose be

Into brave Gryffindor

where courage abounds

or into kind Hufflepuff

where loyalty grows strong

Or perhaps into Ravenclaw

where intelligence is key

or into cunning Slytherin

where smarts be

What ever you go

heed this warning

unite form within

or Hogwarts falls

United we stand

divided we fall

for a house divided

cannot stand

Most of the returning students clapped politely, and the first years looked positively petrified. Professor McGonagall looked briefly at Dumbledor, before starting the sorting. About 30 minutes later the last first years finished. Professor Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat.

"Welcome back to our returning students, and welcome to our new ones. I have a few items that need to be dealt with before we start eating tonight. We have two new teachers on the staff. They have recently returned after 15 years and were believed to be dead. Graciously filling the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is Professor James Potter." pausing briefly to lift a disillusionment charm. "And to teach first and second year Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration is Professor Lily Potter."

Needless to say this announcement was met by shock and disbelief. Then continuing "now we have Danielle and Davis Potter who are transferring from the United States Academy of Magic at Napa to sort as well. Davis will be joining our second years, and Danielle, despite being twins, will be joining our sixth year students. Professor please proceed."

The sorting hat was on Davis' head briefly before shouting "Gryffindor." Then it was placed on Dani's head, where it remained quiet for several minutes. It seemed to those watching, that the sorting hat and Dani were arguing. Finally, after about six minutes, the hat yelled out "Gryffindor."

After the twins joined the other Gryffindors, Dumbledore stood up and said "now that thats out of the way I can delay you no longer, please tuck in." Like usual the table were suddenly filled with food. As they ate Harry asked "Dani, what took so long?"

"The sorting hat couldn't decide were to put me. It said I was Intelligent enough for Ravenclaw, loyal enough for Hufflepuff, brave enough for Gryffindor, and cunning enough for Slytherin. It said it was leaning toward Slytherin because I was so powerful, but that I seemed to have a powerful dislike for Slytherin's past and what it stands for. It decided that, since I had not even the slightest interest in Slytherin, it placed me in Gryffindor."

From down the table came some nasty remark about that. To which Dani replied "I see what the sorting hat meant. This school has some serious bigotry problems."

Several minutes latter, after desert, Professor Dumbledore stood up to give his speech.

"Once again I would like to welcome you to another year at Hogwarts. As you are a were, the Dark Lord Voldemort has returned. As such we will be taking precautions. Now the forbidden forest, as it's name implies, is strictly forbidden. The number of forbidden items in to castle has increased to over a thousand and includes everyting sold by Weasley Wizarding Wheeses. Now First years, follow your house prefects back to your house, and have a good nights rest to all."

Ron went to help the fifth year prefects guide to first years, and the Potter children, Ginny, Neville, and several others followed Hermione upto the common room. Hermione waited outside of the portrait hole to give the password, returned from the dead, to any straglers.