Okay, this is going to be at Hogwarts at last.  It took me a while to get this one together.  I sort of had writer's block. But I'm okay now.  The sorting hat song won't be added to this chapter.  I couldn't come up with a good song so it will be omitted.   I don't own anything.  They all belong to J.K. Rowling.  Happy reading!

Chapter 6

**********

The train finally stopped at Hogsmeade Station.  Harry was glad to go out of the train and in to Hogwarts.  He somehow felt safe there.  He spotted Hagrid up ahead.

  "Firs' years this way.  All righ', Harry?" he called.

  "Hey, Hagrid!  See you at the feast!" he called back.

Harry followed Ron into one of the horseless carriages.  Hermione and Neville followed behind. 

  "Isn't he supposed to be on a job for Dumbledore?" asked Ron.

  "Maybe he's done," answered Harry.

The carriages moved forward, swaying as they progressed.  Harry looked at the window and saw Hogwarts drawing nearer.  He saw many windows shimmering across the castle.  It was raining.  The carriage came into a halt in front of the stone steps of the castle.  Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville got out and climbed the steps into the Entrance Hall and into the Great Hall for the feast.  The Great Hall was brightly lit as ever. Many students from different Houses were already sitting down on the four tables and waiting for the feast to begin.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat down on the Gryffindor House table and looked around the hall.

  "Having a good evening?" asked the Gryffindor ghost, Nearly-Headless Nick. 

  "It's all right.  I'm kind of hungry, though.  Wish they would go on with the sorting," answered Harry, rubbing his stomach and looking around the hall.  His eyes traveled to the Ravenclaw table, where Cho Chang, who just arrived, sat down with her friends.  She didn't look like her usually bright self, but Harry did not notice.  He then moved his eyes to the staff table.  A couple of the chairs are vacant.  He knew who were missing.  Professor Mcgonagall, their Transfiguration teacher, was waiting for the first years, and Hagrid, the gamekeeper, was fighting his way across the lake to deliver the first years.  He saw many familiar faces.  Professor Sprout, their Herbology teacher, was talking to Professor Sinistra, their Astronomy teacher.  Next to Professor Sprout was the person whom Harry despised the most in Hogwarts-well, except for Malfoy- Professor Snape, their Potions teacher. He was looking at someone, and so Harry followed his gaze and it landed on someone whom to Harry looked very familiar.  On the other side of the table, next to Dumbledore, a familiar brown-haired woman was talking to tiny Professor Flitwick, their Charms teacher.  It was Briana Sullivan.  The Briana Sullivan who Mr. Weasley was talking about.  He tugged on Ron's sleeve. 

  "What?" Ron asked.  Harry pointed to the staff table.  Ron gasped out loud that made Hermione look at the table too. "It's her!  She's our new professor!"

  "Well, isn't it obvious?" snapped Hermione.  "So I guess Percy's right, huh? A female Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher?"

They were interrupted when the doors of the Great Hall opened and Professor Mcgonagall came in with a stool and hat.  Following her were the first years, who looked around the hall with great anxiety.  The sorting was about to start.  Everything was silent as everyone's attention was on the hat.  The sorting hat began to sing its song.  When it finished the hall burst with applause.  Professor Mcgonagall unrolled a piece of parchment and said,  "As I call your name, you need to approach the hat and put it on to see which house you will be put in."

   "Abberton, Vanessa," she called.

   "RAVENCLAW" the hat shouted.

She went to the Ravenclaw table and sat down.

  "Bradford, Thomas!"

  "SLYTHERIN"

As the sorting was going on, all Ron and Harry could do was watch Briana Sullivan.  Hermione wasn't very pleased at this idea.  Twice she had to hit them just to make them regain their attention back to the sorting. 

  "Collins, Kari!"

  "HUFFLEPUFF"

  "Earlington, Helga!"

  "RAVENCLAW" 

"This is very important you know, the sorting ceremony is essential to the Welcoming Feast," she said as "Mold, Jeremy!" became a Gryffindor.

  "Piecard, Emily!"

  "GRYFFINDOR"  

But she wasn't getting through to them.  Finally, she gave up.  When she did, the sorting was finished with "Zirk, Lawrence!" becoming a Hufflepuff. Professor Dumbledore stood up and said,  "Dig in."

  "Finally!" said Ron as he looked at his plate, which was gradually filled with food.

Nearly Headless Nick moaned. 

  "So you're not boycotting elves anymore, Hermione?" remarked Nick.

  "Huh? Oh that, er, I thought that I should give it a rest.  But that doesn't mean I'm giving up!" she added as Harry and Ron sniggered heartily.

When the dessert came and went.  Dumbledore stood up.  Everyone quieted down as he began to speak.

  "Welcome one and all!  It is another year that has come to us.  Anyway, now that we all have been feed and watered.  It is my duty to give out this few notices.  No magic must be used around the corridors.  As always, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students, and so is Hogsmeade to all below third year.  It is my great duty to inform you that Quidditch is back on again."

Many excited murmurs filled the hall.  Harry looked at his fellow teammates, Fred and George, who gave him two thumbs up. 

  "And the try-outs for those will begin during the second week of the term," he continued.  "Well, let's see…Oh yes, I almost forgot!  As it seems like a tradition here in Hogwarts, we have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.  May I introduce to all of you, Professor Briana Sullivan."

There was a mild clap as Professor Sullivan stood up. But Harry and Ron clapped extra hard. Now that she has stood up, she was wearing a dark blue robes, her long hair was let down. There were a lot of whispers throughout the hall.  "A female Defense teacher?"  "Wow!" "We never had that one before…"

Dumbledore let the murmurs die down, and then he continued,  "I do hope that you all have a great term.  Now it is late, you must be well rested to attend your first day tomorrow.  Good night!"

They all got up and headed to the Entrance Hall.  As they did, Harry said,  "Well, I'm going to be looking forward to her lesson."

  "What makes you say that?" asked Hermione.

  "Well, isn't it obvious, Hermione?  She looks pretty interesting," said Fred behind her. "But enough about her. Quidditch is starting.  Hey, Ron, why don't you try out?" Fred slapped him on the back.

  "I don't know.  I told you I don't have a good broomstick, and I don't reckon I should ask dad for one. I mean he's pretty busy and everything," said Ron, he meant saying that he didn't have money, but he rather not go there.

  "Hey, who is our captain, anyway?" asked Harry. 

  "Don't know.  I asked Angelina the same thing, she just grinned and turned away," said George. 

They arrived at the Fat Lady.  "Password?" she asked.

  "Spiffy Knot," said Hermione. "What? I am a prefect, you know."

They climbed the portrait hole, bid good night to each other, and went up to their dormitories. Ron and Harry joined Seamus, Neville, and Dean in their dorm.  They changed into their pajamas and went to bed. 

Okay, all I got to say is that I don't know own anything except all the names that was mention during the sorting and Briana Sullivan. Read and Review! I need suggestions.  Any reviews welcome!