Winters Eve 

Chapter Two: The Reunion Dinner

Year Seven

            "Harry," Ron yelled across the great hall jumping in the air with his arms waving. "Over here!" Harry began walking to where he saw his friend sitting but stopped abruptly when he noticed Hermione who rested her chin upon her hand. Ron looked to Harry confused as he always was, and once again attempted for his attention. Harry looked to Ron once more before sitting down with Ginny. "Must you sit with my sister? I saved you a seat between Hermione and myself."

            Harry rolled his eyes, astounded Ron hadn't picked up on the point. "I see," he said as he looked over to her. "It's just-"He was interrupted by a loud sound Dumbledore made as his spoon met with a glass in which he held in his hand.

            "The first years shall be arriving soon." He croaked; his beard glistened brightly as the light from the floating candles reflected from it. Students finished what it was that they were saying then turned to look towards the door to see the new smiling faces. Dumbledore raised his hands slowly separating them as though he were moving curtains from the window making it possible to see outside. As he did this, the large wooden doors opened slowly. Once the doors were fully opened a woman wearing a tall sleek black hat and emerald green robes took lead and led in the new first year students. Many students bowed their head towards Professor McGonagall as she passed by. First year's looked up pointing at the floating candles and ceiling in which wasn't quite ordinary. Harry smiled remembering Hermione bragging off what she knew about Hogwarts; "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, a History." Harry sighed glancing over to Hermione once more before the sorting ceremony began.

            McGonagall reached the head of the Great Hall and stopped, the first years moved out of line and positioned themselves in a half circle around a stool. Flitwick, the charms professor and head of Ravenclaw house approached the stool; in his hands he held an old tattered witches cap. Students laughed, the cap itself was almost the size of the Professor and he easily could get lost if he placed it upon his head. Flitwick sat the cap down; as it met with the stool it burst into song, many students chanted along in the background as it sang.

Once again Professor McGonagall appeared in front of all the first year students. "When I read your name, please walk up carefully and I will place the cap upon your head, it will then choose which house you belong."  She pulled the tape from the corner of the parchment; quickly it unrolled and fell to the floor. "Vlad Horkenwen," she called out, slowly a spherical boy stepped out from the crowed. He looked as though he were one of the Weasley's. Old hand-me-down robes, red hair, green eyes and freckles, the only difference was the extra warmth he had upon himself. Professor McGonagall took the old witch's cap from the stool and held it till the boy sat down; as he did she sat it upon his head. Vlad looked up to the cap, but he couldn't see, he bit his bottom lip awaiting the result of which house he would be placed in.

"Gryffindor," the cap called out, the table broke out in cheers as the boy sat down at the front of the table full of smiles. Many students shook his hand welcoming him to the house.

In the back at the Slytherin table Malfoy bellowed with laughter. "Hey Weasley, looks as though your mum and dad hasn't lost their touch yet," he elbowed both Crabbe and Goyle who both began to laugh as well. Ron cringed not bothering to turn around and correct him with one of his own insults. Dumbledore looked over to Malfoy and his gang who quickly stopped laughing.

When McGonagall was finally finished with the ceremony Dumbledore explained all rules, and then magically, filled the room with food. Many first year students cheered on his magic trick while others picked and pulled while they fought over the food.

Ron crouched to the table, "Harry," he snapped his fingers trying to get his attention. "Harry, pist…" still no answer, "well fine," Ron growled as he threw his chicken leg to his plate. If you two want to make this the year of silence then exclude me, I'll be in the common room." He pulled himself away from the table and marched out of the Great Hall. Neither Harry nor Hermione noticed him leave, they continued looking down at their empty plates not eating or speaking to one another. Ginny chewed on a dinner roll then nudged Harry.

"What's wrong with Ron?"

Harry Jumped, "huh? What?"

"He's gone, haven't you noticed a thing he has been saying to you?"

Harry rubbed his eyes then looked over to Ginny, "No, what do you mean?"

"I mean that something is wrong with the three of you and it's irritating! Usually my brother wouldn't skip a meal, you would listen to everything each of your friends was saying while Hermione lessoned you both on proper care of your spell books or explain the good habits of wand keeping."

            Harry looked out from the doors of the Great Hall then to Hermione and back to Ginny. Maybe the famous Harry Potter wasn't so famous anymore, with no friends their wasn't any fame. Harry got up from the Gryffindor table and slowly walked out of the great hall hoping soon his time at Hogwarts would be over.