Chapter 6 : Hogwarts
Sirius and Remus went their own way to go to the Hogwarts Castle. Harry saw that Victoria was going the same way too.
Harry and the others though, they were going in the horse - less carriages. The first years were called by Hagrid and they were going to cross the lake to get to Hogwarts.
Inside, it was warm and cosy and everyone was here except the firs years. Snape was still there but Harry knew that he wasn't teaching anymore. Snape was looking at Sirius at the other side of the table with extreme loathing, the look that was normally reserved only for Harry himself.
Sirius, however, did not notice as he was in an animated conversation with Remus and Victoria. From the way that Harry sees it, Sirius was begging to do something and Remus and Victoria was firmly saying no.
"Sirius, NO!" Remus and Victoria shouted for everyone in the Great Hall to hear. Everyone went quiet and looked at their direction. Well, everyone was staring even before they started shouting to get a good look at the teachers anyway.
Sirius' name was cleared only a month ago so it was natural for people to be curious. He was thought to be a convicted murderer for twelve years and he even got sent to Azkaban for it. And then he escaped two years ago. Then some witnesses turned up to testify that he was innocent and he jury said that he was no guilty of the crime.
Remus Lupin is a werewolf. He was also the school's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher two years ago in Hogwarts and most of the students thought that he was their best teacher ever.
Victoria de Guzman is an auror and even though she's 35, she looks more like 21. But because of the Auror mistake last year, she was first given a dose of Veritaserum before getting the job.
The rest of the staff were also there: Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Trewlaney, and any others. Only Professor McGonagall wasn't there. She was leading the first years.
Just then, McGonagall appeared, leading a bunch of first years. Despite the fact that Lord Voldemort has risen, many students still came, probably thinking that they will be safe in the eyes of Dumbledore. They all lined up and presented the Sorting Hat.
The Sorting hat Then launched into its song:
Hello,
Welcome to Hogwarts!
I
am the sorting hat
That
ells you where you all belong
Yes
I know, I'm torn and old
Bu
don't judge on what you see
For
you do no know what is inside me
But
you will soon find out!
So
be patient, please
And
let me tell you
The
four houses
That
formed Hogarty Wogarty Hogwarts!
You
can be a Gryffindor
Where
the brave and courageous dwell
The
Gryffindors are set apart
But
that's just for a start!
Or
you may be a Hufflepuff
Who
are loyal and just
In
the humble Hufflepuff
You
will fit right in!
A
possibility to be a Ravenclaw
Where
there are the great and the wise
Ravenclaws
are the logical ones
And
you'll all be great there!
Or
maybe a Slytherin
If
you're determined or ambitious
Those
cunning snakes will do anything
To
achieve what they desire
So
c'mon put me on
I've
never been wrong
You'll
be safe with me
For
I am the sorting hat!
The great hall burst into applause, Sirius and Remus the ones who were clapping the loudest. The hat bowed to the four tables, then went quite still again. McGonagall started speaking.
"When I call your name, you are to sit on the stool and wait till the Sorting Hat tells you which house you belong." she said in her crisp tone. "Arthurs, James!"
A nervous boy with sandy brown hair approached the table and put the hat on. After a while, the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table burst into applause. James was pretty happy after that. Harry stopped listening after "Juntero, Kati!" and looked at Remus, Sirius and Victoria, still arguing good naturedly.
After a while, the sorting hat finished with "Yanari, Andrea!" being sorted to Gryffindor. Professor Dumbledore stood up and gave his annual speech.
"First years are not allowed to go to the Forbidden Forest. In fact, no student from the first year to seventh year are allowed." he said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "I would also request a minute's silence for the memory of Cedric Diggory."
Everyone was silent, including the Slytherins. Harry felt uncomfortable as some students were looking at him. Dumbledore broke the silence. "Now that Voldemort is back, I would like for everyone to mention where they would be going to a teacher if it's outside the Hogwarts Grounds." He was looking particularly at Harry.
"On a lighter note," he said, the twinkle in his eyes were back, "I would like to introduce your new teachers. Professor Snape will not be teaching the potions anymore."
The students and some of the teachers would have been shouting for joy, if only Snape wasn't there. Instead, they settled for very broad grins.
"Instead Professor Sirius Black will be teaching all of you."
The Great Hall rang in applause as Sirius stood up, grinning at everyone. He sat down and eventually, the clapping died down.
"Fifth years and seventh years will have a different Transfiguration teacher in preparation for their OWLs and NEWTs. This teacher will be Professor Victoria de Guzman."
The Hall applauded again.
"Finally, due to popular demand, Professor Lupin - he had to raise his voice because the clapping already started - is back teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
Professor Lupin's applause was the loudest and most of it was coming from the Gryiffindor Table. Another reason was because all the teachers were once Gryffindors.
"Enough talking! Let the feast begin!"
With that, food appeared right before their very eyes and it was delicious as ever. Then came their timetables. First lesson tomorrow Potions with the Slytherins. Harry and Ron would normally groan, but this tie it was Sirius teaching them. It was going to be a very interesting lesson tomorrow.