Percy got back on the carriage and sat down slammed the door behind him.

"Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?" asked Ginny. "What's she doing back here? Hagrid can't have left, can he?"

"I'll be quite glad if he has," said Luna, "he isn't a very good teacher, is he?"

"Yes, he is!" said Harry, Ron and Ginny angrily. Percy just stared at Luna.

Harry glared at Hermione, then at Percy. Hermione cleared her throat though and quickly said, "Erm ... yes ... he's very good."

"Well, we in Ravenclaw think he's a bit of a joke," said Luna, unfazed.

"You've got a rubbish sense of humor then," Ron snapped, as the wheels below them creaked into motion.

Luna did not seem to be bother by Ron's rudeness, instead she simply watched him for a while as though.

The carriage moved up the road, rattling and swaying. When they passed between the tall stone pillars topped with winged boars on either side of the gates to the school ground. Percy noticed there was no lights on in Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden Forest, but the grounds were complete darkness. The castle was different though, a towering mass of turrets, jet black against the dark sky, here and there a window blazing fiery bright above them.

The carriage slow down near the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors and Percy got out first. Then Harry got off as well, he turned around to look at the Forest. Percy headed to the Great Hall with the other for the feast.

"Are you coming or what?" said Ron as Harry still standing there, still looking at Hagrid's cabin.

"Oh ... yeah," said Harry quickly and they joined the crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle.

The Entrance Hall was ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps of students as they crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, leading to the Great Hall and start-of-term feast.

The four long houses tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the window. the ghosts of Hogwarts were dotted about the Hall and faces of the students talking, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends. People were whispered as they passed them, but Percy couldn't careless.

Luna headed toward her table, Ginny was dragged off by some of the fourth-years to sit with them. Harry, Ron, Percy , Hermione and Neville found seats together about halfway down the table between Nearly Headless Nick and Parvati and Lavender, whose gave especially Harry a very warm greetings.

"He's not there." Harry said, scanning the staff table and so did Percy, Hermione, Ron and Neville.

"He can't have left," said Ron, sounding slightly anxious.

"Of course he hasn't," said Harry firmly.

"You don't think he's ... hurt, or anything, do you?" said Hermione uneasily.

"No," said Harry at once.

"Hard to say," said Percy.

"But where is he, then?"

There was a pause, Parvati and Lavender were eavesdropping. Harry then said very quite, "Maybe he's not back yet. You know-from his mission-the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore."

"Yeah ... yeah, that'll be it," said Ron, sounding reassured, but Hermione bit her lip, looking up and down the staff table as though hoping for some conclusive explanation of Hagrid's absence.

"Who's that?" she said sharply, pointing towards the middle of the staff table.

A woman, sitting on a golden chair at the centre of the staff table, wearing a deep-purple robes with silvery stars and a matching hat. Dumbledore's head was inclined toward the woman sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear. She looked like toad, that was the first impression she made on Percy.

"It's that Umbridge woman!" Harry said.

"Who?" said Hermione.

"She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!"

"Nice cardigan," said Ron, smirking.

"She works for Fudge!" Hermione repeated, frowning. "What on earth's she doing here, then?"

"Dunno …"

Hermione scanned the staff table once more.

"No," she muttered. "no, surely not."

"What?" Percy asked. "What is it?"

But she didn't answer Percy.

Professor Grubbly-Plank just appeared behind the staff table, worked her way to the very end, where Hagrid's usually sit. And that mean the first years must have crossed the lake and reached the castle and a few minutes later, the doors of the Hall opened. A long line of newly faces entered the Hall led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying the stool on which sat an ancient hat, heavily patched and darned with a wipe rip near the frayed brim.

The buzz in the Great Hall faded away. The first years lined up in front of the table facing the rest of the students, and professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them, they stood back.

The first years looked paled, the one in the middle of the row looked as though he was trembling. Percy remembered the time when he was at the same position as them. He freaked out the moment the hat talked him, and if now Percy looked back, he realized that the hat figured out what he was the moment it placed on his head.

The whole school waited with bated breath. Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide, burst into a song.

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 the 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 some day 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 friendships 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 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 held 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 duelling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came c 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 fulfil 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.

The hat motionless once more, applause broke out. Across the Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbors. And Percy, along with everyone else, clapping.

"Branched out a bit this year, hasn't it?" said Ron, his eyebrows raised.

"Too right it has," said Harry. Percy laughed and shook his head.

"I wonder if it's ever given warnings before?" said Hermione, sounding slightly anxious.

"Yes, indeed," said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably, leaning across Neville towards her (Neville winced; it was very uncomfortable to have a ghost lean through you). "The Hat feels itself honour-bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels-"

"So, when was the last time the hat given us warning?" Percy asked.

Nearly Headless Nick looked at him questionably, then dipped down the table, disappeared.

"Great, now he's gone." said Percy, a little bit frustrated.

But Professor McGonagall, who was waiting to read out the names of the first years, was giving the whispering students the sort of look that scorches. With the last frowning look that swept the four house table, Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes on the parchment and called out the first names.

"Abercrombie, Euan."

The boy was terrified stumbled forward and put the hat on his head. It took a minute or two before the rip of the hat opened again and shouted:

"Gryffindor!"

Everyone at their table clap loudly as Euan Abercrombie staggered to the table and sat down. He looked like he would like very much to sink through the floor and never be looked again.

Slowly, the long line of first year thinned. And the long await for the food finally there when the last name "Zeller, Rose" was sorted into Hufflepuff, and Professor Dumbledore picked up the hat and the stool and marched away as Professor Dumbledore rose on his feet.

"To our newcomers," Dumbledore begins. His arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands - welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

Percy and along other students were really appreciate Dumbledore for it as he sat down neatly and threw his beard over his shoulder to keep it away from his plate. Food has now appeared out of thin air, and delicious as ever. The five tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread and sauces and flagons of pumpkin juice.

"Excellent," said Ron, and seized the nearest plate of chops and began to pilling them on to his plate. Nearly Headless Nick popped back now, watching them.

"Oh, you're back now." said Percy.

"What were you saying before the sorting?" Hermione asked him. "About the hat giving warnings."

"Yes," said Nick. Who seemed glad of a reason to turn away from Ron, who was now eating roast potatoes with the most enthusiasm. "Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times in detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: stand together, be strong from within."

"Ow kunnit note skusin danger ifzat?" said Ron with his mouthful of food.

"I'm sorry what kind of language are you speaking?" said Percy, laughing. "Because we're can't understand you."

Hermione giggled.

Ron swallowed the whole and said, "How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a hat?"

"I have no idea," said Nearly Headless Nick. "Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."

"And it wants all the houses to be friends?" said Harry, looking over the the Slytherin table. "Fat chance."

"Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude,'"said Nick reprovingly. "Peaceful co-operation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."

"Only because you're terrified of him," said Ron.

Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted.

"Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins-"

"What blood?" asked Ron. "Surely you haven't still got-?"

"It's a figure of speech!" said Nearly Headless Nick, now so annoyed his head was trembling ominously on his partially severed neck. "I assume I am still allowed to enjoy the use of whichever words I like, even if the pleasures of eating and drinking are denied me! But I am quite used to students poking fun at my death, I assure you!"

Percy nearly choke on his food as he picked up his goblet and take a sip.

"Nick, he wasn't really laughing at you!" said Hermione, throwing shade at Ron.

"Node iddum eentup sechew," Ron said with mouthful in his mouth again. Nick did not seem to think constituted an adequate apology. Rising into the air, he straightened his feathered hat and swept away from them to the other end of the table, coming to rest between the Creevey brothers, Colin and Dennis.

"Well done, Ron," snapped Hermione.

"What?" said Ron indignantly, having managed, finally, to swallow his food. "I'm not allowed to ask a simple question?"

"Oh whatever." and the feast was back to normal.

And Percy think about what Nick had said, about peaceful co-operation, and even though Percy did not like the Slytherin, but he agreed with Nick, or the Hat, that they need each other for what about to come. Voldemort had risen, meaning they need each other more than ever. Percy said it from experience, they needed the Ares cabin, and if it wouldn't for them, Percy wouldn't be here right now.

"Percy," Hermione nudged him, she looked quite worried. "You still here. You seemed a little off"

"Yea," said Percy as he holding his fork. "ADHD and all."

When they all finished eating and the noise level in the Hall started to creep upward again. Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students-and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too." (Harry, Ron, Percy and Hermione exchanged smirks.)

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

A round of applause, not as enthusiastic as usual, more like to show politeness, and during it, the four of them exchange almost panicked looks. Percy started to worry about Hagrid.

Dumbledore continued, "Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the -"

He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. She was not much taller standing than sitting. There was a mixed signal up the staff table, and the students couldn't understood why Dumbledore stopped talking, but then Professor Umbridge cleared her throat "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech.

Dumbledore looked taken back for a moment, then he sat down and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge. Other members on the staff table looked quite annoyed, and quite surprised at the same time. Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her flyway hair and Professor McGonagall's mouth was as thin as Percy ever seen. Many students were smirking, she obvious doesn't know how Hogwarts work. No one had ever interrupted Dumbledore before.

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

Her voice was high-pitched, breathy and little girlish. Professor Umbridge gave another little throat-clearing cough and continued.

"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!"

Percy could tell that no one really like her, she was like some older, uglier version of Nancy Bobofit.

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

Students exchanging glances, some of them were barely concealing grins.

"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," Parvati whispered to Lavender, and both of them lapsed into silent giggles.

Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again, then she continued.

"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 the generations lest we lose them for ever. 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."

She paused and made a little bow to he fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back. Professor McGonagall 's eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively hawklike. Percy noticed Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout exchange glances as Professor Umbridge gave them a "hem, hem," and continued.

"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 will be 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 …"

Percy found it quite boring, as his foot started to tap and his mind travelled back to Camp Half-Blood just for a minute. He's wondered how things are going on back home, his hand was playing with Riptide again, his mind bring him to his mother, and finally, Percy was back to the Hall.

"… because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognised as errors of judgement. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

She then sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, then the students, at least a few of them since only a few listened to the whole speech.

"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now, as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held …"

"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," said Hermione in a low voice.

"You're not telling me you enjoyed it?" Ron said quietly, turning a glazed face towards Hermione. "That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy. Sorry."

"Hey, I know you're not talking about me." Percy said. "So what did you gathered?"

"You weren't listening?" asked Ron. "You seemed really focused."

Percy was about to respond, but Hermione beat him to it. "We know, ADHD." And Percy nodded. She then continued.

"And I said illuminating, not enjoyable," said Hermione. "It explained a lot."

"Did it?' said Harry in surprise. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."

"At least we're all enjoy the waffle." said Percy.

"Well there was some important stuff hidden in the waffle," said Hermione grimly.

"Was there?" said Ron blankly.

"How about: "progress for progress's sake must be discouraged"? How about: "pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited"?"

"Well, what does that mean?" said Ron impatiently.

"I'll tell you what it means," said Hermione through gritted teeth. "It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts."

There was a great clattering and banging all around them, Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up and ready to leave. Hermione jumped up, looking flustered.

"Ron, we're supposed to show the first-years where to go!"

"Oh yeah," said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. "Hey-hey, you lot! Midgets!"

"Dude, come on," said Percy. "Not cool."

"Well, they are, they're titchy …"

"I know, but you can't call them midgets!-First-years! And hurry up please, I need to get to the library." Hermione called commandingly along the table. "This way, please!"

A group students walked shyly up between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, they all tried to not to take the lead.

"See you later." Harry said to Ron, Percy said the same to their prefects and making their way through the crowd in the Entrance Hall, ignore most of the whispering and the pointing. Then they hurried up the marble staircase, took a few short cuts and left most of the crowd behind.

Harry seemed angry because of the crowd, and he has the right to. And so should Percy, but he did not feel the same, sure they had emerged out of the maze about two months ago, clutching along of them was a dead body of a fellow student and claiming to have seen Voldemort return to power, and being misunderstood the whole time and had no chance to explain themselves, but Percy understand how it feel, and he seemed a little bit more mature now, after the second Giant War.

They reached the Gryffindor common room and come to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady before they both realized that they did not know the new password.

"You don't know?" said Percy. "I thought you do,"

"Er. . ." Harry said glumly, staring at the Fat Lady.

"No password, no entrance." said the Fat Lady.

"Come on, let us in," said Percy. "You've know us for years."

"Sorry Percy, no password, no entrance."

Percy sighed.

"Percy, I know it." some on said from behind them. Neville jogged toward them. "Guess what it is? I'm actually remember it for once -" He waved the little cactus he showed them on the train. "Mimbulus mimbletonia."

"Correct." the Fat Lady said, and her portrait swung open, revealing a circular hole in the wall behind them. Through which the three now climbed.

The Gryffindor looked as normal and cozy as ever. The fire was cracking in the grate and a few people were warming their hands by it before going up to their dormitories. George and Fred were there too, on the other side of the room. They were pinning something up on the notice board. Harry headed to the dorm first while Percy stayed a little back, warming his hand as well.

Percy slumped down the couch, and a minute or so later, Ron climbed through the portrait with the first years along with here.

"Hey," Ron called. "Where's Harry?"

"The dorm." said Percy.

"Okay, I'm going to lead these. . ." Percy knows Ron was about to called them 'git' before paused. "little guys to their dorm before headed to the room okay?"

Percy smile before he said, " Yeah, sure. And where's Hermione?"

"The library mate," said Ron. "You know how it is with the girl."

And Ron lead the boys up the staircase and show them their room right after asked a little favor from Parvati to lead the girls up to their dorm. Percy finally headed up to his dorm, Percy stopped at the doorway when he heard, almost like a shout from Seamus, "Then you're mad, too,"

"Yeah? Well, unfortunately for you, pal, I'm also a prefect!" Percy heard Ron said, a small smile appeared on his face. "So unless you want detention, watch your mouth!"

And it seemed there was no more argued in a minutes before Ron continued. "Anyone else's parents got a problem with Harry?" he said aggressively.

"My parents are Muggles, mate," said Dean, shrugging. "They don't know nothing about no deaths at Hogwarts, because I'm not stupid enough to tell them."

"You don't know my mother, she'd weasel anything out of anyone!" Seamus snapped at him. "Anyway, your parents don't get the Daily Prophet. They don't know our Headmaster's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he's losing his marbles-"

"My gran says that's rubbish," piped up Neville. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's cancelled our subscription. We believe you Harry." said Neville simply. "My grans always said You-Know-Who would come back one day. She says if Dumbledore says he's back, he's back."

And when he entered the room, Harry was the only one left who hasn't close the bed hanging.

"You heard?" asked Harry.

"I heard enough." Percy said. "And you know I'm always on your side right."

Harry nodded, and get onto his bed. "Goodnight Percy."

"Night Harry." And Percy got to his bed. But he could not just close his eyes and go to sleep, because he afraid that it will bring him nothing but nightmare, of all those who had died in the war. It haunted him and only now that Percy realized that he can't just have a nice, quite, dreamless sleep. So Percy got up and headed down to the common room again.

Percy sat there for quite awhile before the portrait swung open once again, and Hermione climbed through it, looking quite worry, and Percy doesn't know why.

"You not in bed?" asked Hermione as she saw him on the couch.

"Couldn't sleep." answered Percy.

"And about the horses, those are Thestral," said Hermione, still looked quite worried. "They can only be seen by those who already saw death, Percy. And Harry told me that you've seen them long before this year."

Percy was speechless, Percy zoned out because his mind started to bring him back to Zoe, to her death. But then suddenly Percy felt a warm hand placed on his. Percy looked at Hermione's brown warm eyes, and a warm smile appeared on his face.

"You know you can talk to me right?" said Hermione. "About what happened."

"Even if I want to, I can't." said Percy.

Hermione suddenly stood up and said, "I'm understand." She then quickly headed to her dorm. And in a fraction of a second, thoughts racing through his mind, Percy then said, "A friend of mine died," and it stopped Hermione mid-way.

"A friend go mine died a few years ago, Bianca was a good girl with a great heart." said Percy, and Hermione sat down again.

"Bianca?" Hermione said. "Was that her name."

"Yea, Bianca's adopted mother was in some trouble with her father, and we decided to do something about it," said Percy, smiled and shook his head as he relive the experience. "And things turned sour for us, Bianca died because of an accident on our way."

Percy's eyes started to go a little red and watery, Percy swiped it away and laughed before he turned and looked at Hermione and said, "It's late, you should headed to bed."

And Percy get up on his feet and leave Hermione down in the common room speechless.