The Last Sorting

"Hello, Harry, Hermione." Professor Dumbledore said as Professor Snape lead them into his office. "Thank you, Severus. We will be down for the feast in a moment."

"Hello, Professor." Hermione and Harry said as they sat down across the desk from him.

"I hope that the two of you had a pleasant end to your summer. The reason we are meeting here is to discuss your duties as Heads of Hogwarts. I expect you two to be honest and fair when dealing with the other students. I have no doubt that you will be wonderful Heads, along with your roles as Prefect you will also need to share these duties." Professor Dumbledore handed them each a list of extra duties for them to do. "If at anytime you come up with an idea for a school event please tell me. I am sure we will all need our share of fun this year. Also, before we go to the feast, if you ever need me the password to my office this year will be Disappearing Drops."

With that the three left Professor Dumbledore's office and went to the Great Hall. They entered through a side door and made their way to their seats. Harry and Hermione sat down next to Ginny and Ron who both had just finished laughing at something. Before Harry could ask what was so funny Professor McGonagall lead the first years in for the Sorting Ceremony. She placed a three legged stool in front of the staff table and set a old tattered wizards hat on top of it. A few seconds later it came to life and began to sing its song.

Last year I made a warning

That you all needed to unite

Before we started warring

And most of you did, to my delight

Now that those who were against us

Have been removed from our ranks

In this war we have made progress

For that we owe the DA our thanks

The Dark Lord will make his return

Within this very year I am sure

For complete power he does yearn

Many more attacks we cannot endure

The next battle could be the last

Harry and his friends will be central

Next to them you must remain steadfast

They will fight for us all

Now as my song draws to an end

Remember only one house of four

A decision I cannot amend

My warning do not ignore

The sorting hat fell silent and the students began applauding while Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione all blushed and tried to hide their faces. Professor McGonagall began calling students up to the stool one at a time. When the sorting was complete Professor Dumbledore stood and gave his usual speech about the Forbidden Forest and various items that Mr. Filch had banned from the school.

"And finally, before we begin our feast, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Kimberly Tero. Professor Tero is a fully trained Ministry Auror, she has also spent time hunting and capturing Irish Pooka's." Professor Dumbledore paused as he could hear the Irish students explain what a Pooka was. "Now that the introduction has been made, tuck in."

"I can't believe she is going to be our Professor." Harry said while putting turkey breast on his plate.

"And why not?" Hermione demanded.

"I don't know, I'm just surprised by it. I thought someone would have told us she was going to be a Professor." Harry defended himself.

Luckily for Harry, Hermione decided he had a point and didn't argue any further and began eating. At the end of the feast Professor Dumbledore gave some advice for the beginning of classes in the morning and asked the Prefects to lead everyone to their dorms.

Harry and Hermione began making their rounds around the castle.

"Harry, what do you think about the Sorting Hat's song tonight?" Hermione asked cautiously.

"It's never been wrong before." Harry said quietly. "I don't know how, but somehow the Sorting Hat knows more than we do."

"Well Professor Dumbledore does keep it in his office, maybe it listens to what everyone tells the Professor and can spend the rest of its time figuring out what it all means." Hermione suggested.

"Yeah I suppose." Harry said. "That doesn't worry me as much as knowing that the Sorting Hat is right. We will be central in this war and it will probably reach its finale this year."

The two friends walked in silence as the continued their rounds. There were a couple times they had to tell students to return to their dorms or tell Peeves to quit chasing Mrs. Norris. Finally after an hour of walking through the corridors they returned to the Gryffindor common room where they found Ron and Ginny both waiting for them. Everyone was so tired that the talked for a few minutes then went to bed.

The next morning at breakfast Professor McGonagall passed out the class schedules. Harry had forgotten how many classes he had signed up for and in what seemed to become an annual tradition, his head dropped and hit the table.

Time table for Harry Potter

Monday:

Care of Magical Creatures

Divination

Lunch

Potions

Charms

Tuesday:

Transfiguration

Herbology

Lunch

Double Defense Against the Dark Arts

Wednesday:

Double Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts for Aurors

Lunch

Divination

Care of Magical Creatures

Thursday:

Double Transfiguration

Lunch

Defense Against the Dark Arts

Herbology

Friday:

Double Potions

Lunch

Charms

Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts for Aurors

As a note Divination, Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology will conclude at the end of first term. The N.E.W.T.'s for these classes will be held the week before Christmas holidays. Harry, once again the staff here at Hogwarts would appreciate your continued leadership in the DA.

"Well, that is a bit of good news, only five courses next term." Harry said with a very unconvincing smile. The four friends finish eating when they left Ginny went with Colin to their Charms class while Harry, Ron and Hermione headed for Hagrid's hut.

"'ello you three!" Hagrid greeted the three as they made it to his hut.

"Hi, Hagrid." The three friends said in unison.

"Hagrid, where is everyone?" Hermione asked noting that they were the only students there.

"Well, you three were the only ones who took seventh year Care of Magical Creatures. No worries though, jus means we will be done sooner." Hagrid said with a genuine smile.

"So what will we be studying this year?" Ron asked afraid of the answer.

"Well, today I'm goin' t' show ya the Blue Fanged Toad." Hagrid said as he put a pair of dragon hide gloves on and pulled a very large toad out of a box. It looked identical to every other toad Harry had ever seen except the three inch blue fangs protruding from its mouth.

Later that day after lunch the three friends found themselves making their ways down to the dungeons for their least favorite lesson with their least favorite Professor. Harry, Ron and Hermione saw that this class was also considerably smaller but there were actually other students here.

"Welcome to your final year of Hogwarts Potions, this day couldn't come soon enough for me in regards to some of you." Snape's lip curled into a snarl as he spoke and looked directly at Harry. "Now let's see how much you remember from last year, get out your supplies and prepare a Desino Cruor potion. Begin."

Snape stalked the class while the students attempted to remember the ingredients and recipe. After five minutes Harry was sure he remembered how to brew the potion and set to work on it. By the end of the period Harry, Hermione and a Hufflepuff named Chelsea Langford were the only three to have brewed the potion correctly.

"Five points each to Ms. Langford, Ms. Granger and Mr. Potter. Ten points from Mr. Weasley for using four drops of dragon's blood and not three." Snape smiled as he saw the defeated looks on the Gryffindor students.

"Ibloody hatehim." Ron vented as they headed for their Charms class. "He really is a git."

"Yeah, but at least he gave us points first." Harry added. "So we didn't really lose anything. I don't think Snape will be as bad this year with Malfoy gone."

Ron smiled at the thought as he entered Professor Flitwick's classroom.

A/N As a poll I am conducting, please let me know if you would like to see me continue this story beyond the end of this year. Thanks