Chapter 2: A New Face
It was always one of Harry's favourite parts of the year, the banquet and sorting ritual. The only exception was his own first year, when he had to wear the hat himself. It seemed so long ago now, so much had happened... Ron gestured towards the teacher's table.
"New defence against the dark arts teacher, there..." He motioned towards a middle aged, dark haired woman sitting one place to the right of Harry's nemesis, Professor Snape...
"Right..." Replied Harry, noticing Snape glaring at him as always... Thankfully for Harry, Dumbledore rose from his chair, and the entire hall fell silent. It was a huge mark of respect that even the Slytherins shut up quickly for him...
"Friends, students, colleagues..." he began. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts..." At this the hall erupted into mass applause, as was the usual custom...
"May I add a personal note of welcome to our first years, who will now be sorted in the traditional way..." He gestured to the new first years, then to the hat. Harry listened intently as the hat sang it's new song and they were all sorted into their houses. Eventually only one person remained seated in the area designated for the new students... Dumbledore rose again.
"It is also my great pleasure to introduce a new fifth year student. Marcus Greenstone is joining us from the Durmstrang institute. I trust that he will be made as welcome as any other..." He then motioned Marcus towards the hat, which he put confidently on his head. Marcus seemed to be slightly taller than Harry, with short brown hair, and robes in pristine condition. The hat paused for what seemed to be, even to Harry, like an eternity. The hat whispered to Marcus...
"You are very difficult to place, my friend. You have many qualities of each house, but you have already begun to walk your path..."
"What does that mean?" Marcus whispered in reply.
"You will find out soon enough..."
"But..."
"Gryffindor" The hat shouted... Harry felt strangely pleased, but thought nothing of it...
Later in the Gryffindor common room, while talking to Hermionie and Ron beside the fireplace, Harry heard a voice behind him.
"Harry Potter?" It was Marcus.
"Yeah, that's me..." Harry replied, fearing that this was another crazy first-year wanting an autograph. He turned to view Marcus. "Oh, hi, you're Marcus aren't you?"
"That's right." They shook hands. It appeared that Marcus was a very mature boy, considering Fred and George were less mature than this, despite their extra years...
"Do you want to sit?"
"Thanks."
"This is Ron and Hermionie." Marcus shook hands with Ron, then took Hermionie's and kissed it gently.
"Charmed..."
Hermionie giggled. Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. This was bound to end up in trouble.
"So what brings you to Hogwarts?" Asked Ron, as eager as Harry to get Marcus's attention away from Hermionie.
"Well, my parents decided that with You-Know-Who raised again, that I would be safer here. Personally, I think that he'll come here first, Dumbledore's getting to old to fight him away."
Harry, as always, stood up for Dumbledore. He'd done as much as save Harry's life on a number of occasions, and always seemed to have time for him.
"His strength is in his teaching, for sure. But Vol... I mean, You-Know-Who would never try anything at this stage..."
"True. Not yet at least." There was an awkward pause. The mention of Voldermort's name always seemed to have that effect on conversation... After a few moments, Marcus spoke.
"I think that this year will, for the most part, be quiet."
"Don't count on it." Replied Hermionie. "There's no such thing as a quiet year at Hogwarts..."
Harry had obviously decided that this was far too depressing for the first real conversation of the year, so he inquired about Marcus again...
"What's you history then Marcus, tell us about yourself..."
"There's really not a great deal to tell. " Marcus started. "My parents are pure blood, fairly wealthy, and I'm an only child. I got straight NEWTs last year, and that's about all."
"Do you play Quidditch?"
"Of course... I was a beater for my house two years ago."
"You should come to practice on Sunday, we're on the lookout for new talent... I'll put in a good word for you with the rest of the team..."
"Thanks... I can't wait to start playing again."
"I know exactly what you mean."
All this talk of Quidditch got Hermionie bored, so she pointed out that class was about to start, and that they better get going. Ron seemed to agree with this, which was strange, but then he saw the schedule...
"Typical..." he muttered...
It was always one of Harry's favourite parts of the year, the banquet and sorting ritual. The only exception was his own first year, when he had to wear the hat himself. It seemed so long ago now, so much had happened... Ron gestured towards the teacher's table.
"New defence against the dark arts teacher, there..." He motioned towards a middle aged, dark haired woman sitting one place to the right of Harry's nemesis, Professor Snape...
"Right..." Replied Harry, noticing Snape glaring at him as always... Thankfully for Harry, Dumbledore rose from his chair, and the entire hall fell silent. It was a huge mark of respect that even the Slytherins shut up quickly for him...
"Friends, students, colleagues..." he began. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts..." At this the hall erupted into mass applause, as was the usual custom...
"May I add a personal note of welcome to our first years, who will now be sorted in the traditional way..." He gestured to the new first years, then to the hat. Harry listened intently as the hat sang it's new song and they were all sorted into their houses. Eventually only one person remained seated in the area designated for the new students... Dumbledore rose again.
"It is also my great pleasure to introduce a new fifth year student. Marcus Greenstone is joining us from the Durmstrang institute. I trust that he will be made as welcome as any other..." He then motioned Marcus towards the hat, which he put confidently on his head. Marcus seemed to be slightly taller than Harry, with short brown hair, and robes in pristine condition. The hat paused for what seemed to be, even to Harry, like an eternity. The hat whispered to Marcus...
"You are very difficult to place, my friend. You have many qualities of each house, but you have already begun to walk your path..."
"What does that mean?" Marcus whispered in reply.
"You will find out soon enough..."
"But..."
"Gryffindor" The hat shouted... Harry felt strangely pleased, but thought nothing of it...
Later in the Gryffindor common room, while talking to Hermionie and Ron beside the fireplace, Harry heard a voice behind him.
"Harry Potter?" It was Marcus.
"Yeah, that's me..." Harry replied, fearing that this was another crazy first-year wanting an autograph. He turned to view Marcus. "Oh, hi, you're Marcus aren't you?"
"That's right." They shook hands. It appeared that Marcus was a very mature boy, considering Fred and George were less mature than this, despite their extra years...
"Do you want to sit?"
"Thanks."
"This is Ron and Hermionie." Marcus shook hands with Ron, then took Hermionie's and kissed it gently.
"Charmed..."
Hermionie giggled. Harry and Ron rolled their eyes. This was bound to end up in trouble.
"So what brings you to Hogwarts?" Asked Ron, as eager as Harry to get Marcus's attention away from Hermionie.
"Well, my parents decided that with You-Know-Who raised again, that I would be safer here. Personally, I think that he'll come here first, Dumbledore's getting to old to fight him away."
Harry, as always, stood up for Dumbledore. He'd done as much as save Harry's life on a number of occasions, and always seemed to have time for him.
"His strength is in his teaching, for sure. But Vol... I mean, You-Know-Who would never try anything at this stage..."
"True. Not yet at least." There was an awkward pause. The mention of Voldermort's name always seemed to have that effect on conversation... After a few moments, Marcus spoke.
"I think that this year will, for the most part, be quiet."
"Don't count on it." Replied Hermionie. "There's no such thing as a quiet year at Hogwarts..."
Harry had obviously decided that this was far too depressing for the first real conversation of the year, so he inquired about Marcus again...
"What's you history then Marcus, tell us about yourself..."
"There's really not a great deal to tell. " Marcus started. "My parents are pure blood, fairly wealthy, and I'm an only child. I got straight NEWTs last year, and that's about all."
"Do you play Quidditch?"
"Of course... I was a beater for my house two years ago."
"You should come to practice on Sunday, we're on the lookout for new talent... I'll put in a good word for you with the rest of the team..."
"Thanks... I can't wait to start playing again."
"I know exactly what you mean."
All this talk of Quidditch got Hermionie bored, so she pointed out that class was about to start, and that they better get going. Ron seemed to agree with this, which was strange, but then he saw the schedule...
"Typical..." he muttered...
