A/N Thank you once again for the reviews!!!
Disclaimer: All this belongs to J.K. Rowling except for the plot and Ginny's friends


After changing into his robes, Harry walked back into the compartment where his friends were. He reached it just when the train stopped so he picked up his luggage and walked to the exit. Ginny and Cat helped Ari along, as she was stumbling quite a bit, but they all made it to the horseless carriages.
Harry walked into a seemingly empty one with Ron and Hermione. They started talking, but Hermione interrupted with "Hi, Cho."
Harry turned around quickly to see Cho sitting in the back corner of the carriage. He hadn't even noticed her.
"Hi," she responded quietly.
She was silent for the rest of the ride, but as they were exiting the carriage, Cho asked to walk with Harry.
"Sure," said a bewildered Harry.
They walked in silence for a few minutes and then Cho spoke. "You know, I don't blame you for Cedric's death. The only one to blame is ... well ... Voldemort."
Harry was surprised to hear her say his name. "Why, th - th - thank you, C - Cho."
I can't believe I'm still stuttering around her, Harry thought.
"Well," Cho began, but then she stopped abruptly. Harry turned around quickly to see a rapidly disappearing splotch of white. He looked closer. It was a ghost. Could it? No, it couldn't. But it was. The ghost of Cedric.

(A/N Should it stop here? Nah. Then here's more!)

Cho gave Harry a weak smile and ran the rest of the way to Hogwarts. Harry quickly followed her and on the way ran into Ma.
"Sorry!" Harry yelled.
Ma glared at him.
"Go get her!" Cat yelled.
Ginny gave him a sad smile. Harry didn't think long about this though because Cho was already at the entrance doors. He continued the chase and when he entered the hall, he ran into a second person that day.
Snape.
"No running in the school Potter. Fifty points -"
"But sir," Cho interrupted. "As the term hasn't officially started yet, can points be taken away?"
"Miss. Chang. If you wouldn't mind, this is between Harry and myself. But, I suppose you're right," Snape turned and walked away.
"How's you do that?" Harry asked, amazed.
"Well, Snape likes me for some odd reason. Well, I gotta go to the Ravenclaw table. See you later." Cho turned and walked to her friends.
"Well, bye," Harry said, but she already left.
Harry shook his head and went to the Gryffindor table, where Hermione and Ron were already sitting. He wanted to tell them about Cedric's ghost. He felt guilty more than ever because he knew only restless people and people who died in an accident so there lives were not fulfilled became ghosts. He also felt guilty about Cho. He could see how sad she was and how she ran when she saw the ghost. Just as Harry sat down, Dumbledore's voice rang through the hall.
"Welcome back students! Or welcome or the first time!" The students who were to be sorted walked into the hall, all obviously scared out of their wits. One little girl even started crying.
"New students. When called, please put on this sorting hat," Dumbledore explained.
The attention was put on the sorting hat. The rigidness of the first years seemed to melt away. One little boy even shouted out, "Is that all there is to it, sir?"
"Yes, that's all that will be in store for you tonight," said Dumbledore, laughing. Then let's begin. The Sorting Hat sang a song, different from the one the previous year and the first student was called up.
"Abotts, Franklin," Dumbledore called.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bulbepur, Elisa."
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Frolic, Bradley" became the first Gryffindor, who Harry recognized as the boy who shouted out "Is that all there is to it?" to Dumbledore.
Bradley pranced over and sat down next to the Creevy brother. He was looking up at Colin in awe.
"Are you the one whose best friends with Harry Potter?" Bradley asked.
Harry let out a quiet groan.
"Yup, that's me! And what's your name again?" Colin asked.
"Bradley."
"So, Bradley, have you ever read 'All About Harry Potter?'" Colin asked.
"No. I can't believe I didn't. I thought I read all the books about Harry," Bradley answered.
"Well, you probably wouldn't have because I wrote it," Colin said proudly.
Harry turned back to the sorting. They were now on "Rancorm, Derek" who was announced Slytherin.
Harry turned to talk to Hermione and Ron who were (surprise, surprise) arguing.
"Hermione? Why do you have a book with you?"
"Well, isn't it obvious Ron? O.W.L.s?"
"Yea, at the end of the year!" Ron shouted. Then he quieted down and said, "When do you plan on reading it?"
"When we're eating," Hermione answered curtly.
Harry rolled his eyes and once again looked to see who was being sorted.
"Saturan, Melinda."
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ten new students had joined Gryffindor.
"Students! Before we eat, I have a few announcements. Let's begin with this: Mr. Filch has added another 523 objects to his list of those that shouldn't be found in the corridors and asks that no magic be used in the corridor." Dumbledore looked at Filch. "Or rather demands it."
"Also, we have a few more serious things to discuss. Oh, no, Filch. Not that those aren't. Anyway," Dumbledore went on, his voice now grave, "As you might have noticed, we are missing quite a few students this year." Harry looked around and finally realized that lots of the tables weren't as full as usual, especially Slytherin.
"They are fine," Dumbledore said, and at this many worried looks disappeared. "There has been a lot of Hogwarts students that have transferred, Durmstrang seems to be the top pick. A few changes are to be made at Hogwarts this year. The gates leading to the grounds will be locked all the time and no one is to attempt to leave the grounds." Dumbledore's eyes flicked to the Gryffindor table and then to the Weasley's. "I'll have you no, the gates can't be unlocked with simple unlocking spells."
"Not that I don't trust all of you, but I must demand a search for Dark Arts. Some students will be taken away for questioning and a search for." Dumbledore paused and looked down for a second. He then rose his eyes to the group assembled before him. "A search for Dark Marks on the upper arm will take place. The search will start tomorrow."
The Hall was completely silent.
"Now enjoy dinner!" Dumbledore waved a hand and the tables were immediately loaded with so much food, that the tables seemed to groan with its weight. The students finished eating an hour later.
"Now let's end today with the school song. Pick your favorite tune!"
A few groans were heard. Dumbledore raised his wand and a long golden ribbon soared out and twisted itself into words.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy, Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do...

CRASH!

Everyone suddenly stopped singing. Quite a few glass cups were shattered on the ground. Apparently, the Weasley twins had decided to sing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' a song with many high notes and their voices went a little to high for the cups liking.
"Wow," Bradley breathed. "I never knew it was true that voices could make glass break."
"Oh, it is true. Very," Colin said knowledgeably.
The song just ended there and Dumbledore called the Prefects to guide the students up to their rooms. Hermione stood up.
"Hermione, what are you -" Ron stopped as Hermione walked to join the prefects.
"She's a prefect?" Ron asked Harry.
Harry shrugged. "Guess so."
"Why didn't she tell us?" Ron asked angrily. "I bet she got the notice when she was vacationing with Krum." Ron stood up to obviously tell Hermione a piece of his mind, but it was then Dumbledore told the students to follow their Prefects. Ron lost Hermione in the crowd.
"Come on Ron. Let's just go to our dorm," Harry said.
Ron nodded distractedly, his eyes roaming the crowd. "Yup."
Harry walked through the portrait hole. (The new password was "Augurey.") He walked up the staircase to the room now labeled "Fifth Boys Dorm" and collapsed in the familiar bed. He prepared himself to wait he hoped to be a dreamless sleep.

A/N Wow, long chapter for me. Well, anyway. Please review! Thanks!