Jason's POV:
Hogwarts was a huge castle with tall towers. Surrounded by mountains, the castle has large grounds with a dense forest called The Forbidden Forest behind it. We followed other students into the Great Hall. The students sat on four tables, one for each house.
Ginny went to sit with some other students, and we found places opposite Hermione, Ron, and Harry. The three of them were looking intently at a table in front meant for the staff. We had our first glimpse of who Carter thought to be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, a squat woman in deep purple robes with silver stars and a pink fluffy cardigan over it. She had short, mouse-brown hair in which she wore a pink band matching her cardigan. Harry told us she was present at his hearing, thereby confirming our guess of her being the new addition to the staff.
A while later, entered Professor McGonagall, followed by a queue of scared-looking eleven-year-olds, the first years. She was carrying a stool with the Sorting Hat on it. After she placed the stool on the ground, the hat started singing. It sung of the four founders, their disagreement on whom to teach, the formation of the houses, and ended with a warning of the school being in danger, with a hint for the students to see past the houses and come together. The first years were sorted by the hat in a manner similar to our sorting- it was placed on their heads would probably speak in their minds, and announced their houses.
After the meal, Dumbledore addressed the gathering. He had just mentioned the new additions to staff when he was interrupted by Umbridge. She lectured on education, traditions, balance between new and old and gave clear indications of involvement of the Ministry at Hogwarts. After she had finished, Dumbledore continued with his announcements.
At the end, Ron and Hermione left to lead the first years to the Gryffindor tower. We left with the other Gryffindors. The entrance was guarded by a portrait of a woman called The Fat Lady who wouldn't allow entrance without the password. Carter, Sadie, Magnus, Percy, Annabeth and I sat huddled together on arm chairs. Annabeth spoke, "With the Ministry interfering at Hogwarts, we have to be more careful." "Wait, who said that?" she was interrupted by Percy. Sadie also had the same question. "Umbridge gave clear indications towards it in her speech" Carter explained and then added, "Let's just act as average students, and not attract any attention. Nothing out of the ordinary." He stressed the last part.
Ginny showed Annabeth and Sadie their dormitory. They shared with Hermione and a girl named Lavender Brown. The twins led Percy, Carter, Magnus, and me to ours. A separate room had been provided for the four of us.
We met Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the Common Room the following morning. Hermione was annoyed at a poster the twins had put up. It was an advertisement for "simple, part-time, virtually painless jobs". Those were probably related to the pills the twins were making. Ron didn't seem happy about having to talk to the twins about it. It was revealed that Seamus didn't trust Harry about Voldemort's return, and neither did Lavender. This was unpleasant. To be able to defeat him, wizards and witches first had to believe he was back. Ironically, the Ministry seemed to be acting in the opposite direction.
Harry had been approached by Angelina who had now become captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, since Oliver Wood, the previous captain had completed his education at Hogwarts. She also told that they needed a new Chaser, and would hold tryouts when the entire team could be present. We had just gotten settled at the Gryffindor table when several owls flew in delivering letters and packages all around the Great Hall. To our surprise, Hermione received a copy of The Daily Prophet. When Harry asked her about it, she said that it was wise to know what the enemy was saying. Annabeth agreed and added that this would keep them at par with the enemy, and could also enable us to predict their moves in the future. The two of them read the newspaper after that.
After the meal, Professor McGonagall distributed our schedules. We had History of Magic, double potions, divination, and double Defence Against the Dark Arts today. And thus began our life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.