A/N: yes, kiddies, chapter two is up! Thanx muchly too all those who reviewed! Erm…just in case you don't know, before reading this, you should probably read 'the same old unrequited' first. And, yes for the millionth time, JKR owns all of this, except for the plot, but if she really wants it, she can have that, too. So yeah, here goes! Reminder: this takes place at no specific time, really.
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The train slowed to a stop, and there was a great rush to get off the train, grab luggage, find a carriage, and cause chaos in general. On the small platform in Hogsmeade where the second years and above would take stagecoaches up to the school. Fred and George went off with Lee Jordan and Alicia Spinnet, leaving Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go get a stagecoach, and bounce and jerk their way to Hogwarts.
It wasn't a long ride, only about ten minutes, but it was enough to make them all a little nauseous. Hermione, especially, because her stomach already had butterflies in it, ( Harry smiled at her when he won a game of exploding snap).
When they arrived at the Great Hall, the scene was really rather splendid: a thousand or so candle suspended in mid-air, the Sorting about to begin, and the Hall lavishly decorated for the welcoming feast. She stared happily around her, taking in the scene, but was interrupted by Dumbledore clearing his throat significantly from the head table.
" Good evening to all of you," he began, a familiar twinkle in his eye.
" I would like to welcome you all to another year, now that you've had time to get your heads nicely emptied again." A cheer echoed through the Hall. Dumbledore smiled.
" There are only a few things I'd like to mention before the Sorting. The new list of banned items is posted next to Mr. Filch's office, and this year they include Melvin's Everspinning Tops, Morodd's Bash-a-lot Boomerangs, and Sniper Sherbert. Also, if anyone has seen any of our kind Mr. Filch's cleaning supplies, ( Fred and George both coughed loudly) they should be returned to him as soon as possible. And finally," he added, staring pointedly at the twins, " the left staircase leading from the second floor to the astronomy tower is off-limits until further notice."
He smiled once again and gestured to stool infront, on top of which sat a very old, very tattered hat. Harry watched excitedly; he'd never seen a sorting apart from his own.
The hat appeared to clear its throat, and sung in a scratchy voice.
Four great wizards came to face
The fact that they were growing old
And future students would need to be told
Which house title
They would hold.
So they got together and I was formed
With great powers I was adorned.
Whether great or noble or loyal you be,
What's in your mind,
I will see.
I'll take a look.
I can read you like a book!
Are you great like Slytherin,
Good for show?
Or are you courageous like Gryffindor,
Worthy so?
Put me on and I will know!
The Great Hall burst with applause. After about a half an hour or so, when all the first years were finally sorted, the feast began. The tables were covered in things like roast turkey, treacle tarts, and chocolate gateau.
As the last of the crumbs melted from the golden plates, Dumbledore spoke up again.
" May you all sleep well, good night, and bounce muchly." With a slight grin, and a loud pop, he turned his hat into a nightcap, and led the way out of the hall.
~*~*~*~*~
Harry knew that he really, really missed Hogwarts during the summer, but he didn't realize it to its full extend until he reached his familiar four-poster. However, sleep was not what he found there.
A/N: yes, I know that was short, but I'll be posting more in like a day or two anyways, so it'll be out very soon. I don't know what to say but PLEASE REVIEW! Tell me anything you can about my writing/this story, good or bad, because that'll decide whether I keep going with this or not. If you flame, no matter, I'll just feed them to Ikofire (pet Swedish Shortsnout).