A/N: I'm glad you guys like.  And here, for your enjoyment, is Chapter 8.  AND ITS LONG!  4 pages!  ^_^

Disclaimer: I own nothing.  Okay maybe the plot but that's it.

Harry Potter and the Dark Defenses

Chapter 8 ***The Sorting Ceremony***

Around two months later Harry was pacing nervously in the Great Hall.

"Harry?"

He jumped and turned to face Dumbledore, who was standing there smiling at him.

"Sorry Professor."

Dumbledore continued to smile and asked, "Nervous?"

"Kinda."

"Nothing to be nervous about.  I believe you'll do wonderfully as a teacher."

Harry gave a smile that he didn't feel and asked, "When does the Express get here?"

"In a few moments."

"Bloody hell."

Dumbledore smiled and patted him on the shoulder then walked to his position at the middle of the staff table.

Harry watched him then continued to pace.

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A little later he sat between Hermione and Dumbledore, drumming his fingers on the table nervously.  Hermione laid her hand over his and said, "Harry, calm down.  Its not that bad."

"I'm imagining it that way."

She smiled and patted his hand.  "Its not half as bad as you imagine it.  I know I had some fears about my first class."

Harry blinked and looked at her.

"You're joking?  If I don't recall, the Hermione I knew nearly answered every question in class.  I was surprised your arm didn't get stuck in the air one of those times."

They smiled at each other and Harry caught a glare from Draco at the furthest end of the staff table.

"I think he's jealous."

Hermione glanced down the table at her husband and said, "He's jealous of everyone."

"Even Ron?"

"Yes."

"Ah, the Ferret fears competition."

Hermione gently whacked the back of his head and he feigned hurt.  Grinning, Harry watched as the students second year and above entered the hall and sat down.  A few of them spotted him and began to whisper excitedly.  By the time the first years were being led in the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws were grinning at the staff table while the Slytherins were glaring in his direction.

"I don't think they like you very much," was Hermione's statement.

"Ah well.  I can deal with that.  Let's settle back and watch the Sorting.  I haven't seen one in seven years."

Hermione nodded as Harry leaned back in his chair, watching as Professor McGonagall brought out the ragged Sorting Hat and the same three-legged stool that had been used during their own Storing Ceremony.

The first years eyed the hat as it was sat down on the stool and McGonagall took out a scroll.  She unrolled it and opened her mouth but Harry coughed and waved at her.

"Aren't you forgetting something Professor?"

"Hmm?"  She looked at him and he grinned, pointing at the hat.  McGonagall gave him a stern look and began to read the scroll.  But as she did a gash opened just above the hats brim and it broke into song.

Another year, another day

More new students for me to place

Either in Gryffindor, where the bravest are

Or Hufflepuff, where the loyal lie

Perhaps Ravenclaw, where the thinkers are

Or Slytherin, where the cunning are found

In one of these you shall go

So put me on your head

And just sit tight

For all shall put you, where you seem right!

There was thunderous applause as the hat finished its song and McGonagall glared at Harry, who simply grinned back at her.  Turning she coughed and began to read the list.

"Adams, Joshua."

A timid looking boy with auburn hair and green eyes stepped up to the stool and cautiously placed the hat on his head.  Immediately the hat yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

As Joshua went to join his house McGonagall continued through the list.  Harry was silent until "Nickels, Mary" became the first new Gryffindor.  He clapped as she went to her seat and saw her blushing.

Hermione scowled and said, "Harry, don't embarrass the children."

"Embarrass?  I embarrass no one.  Can't I clap for my own House?"

Hermione rolled her eyes and he grinned at her, turning his eyes back to the Sorting.

Three more joined Gryffindor as the list went on and then only two first years were left.  And their brilliant red hair let him know immediately who they were.

Turning to Hermione he asked, "More of the Weasely clan?"

"Yes.  Those are Bill's oldest.  Twins."

"I noticed."  He watched as the first of the two, a girl with shoulder-length hair nervously stepped up to the stool and sat down.  "Are they a reincarnation of Fred and George?"

Hermione smiled and replied, "Well, Sarah isn't but her brother Saran is."

"Saran?"

"It was his mothers idea."

"I see."

Hermione elbowed him in the ribs and he coughed, watching as the Sorting Hat was placed on Sarah's head and promptly yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"  Sarah slid off the stool and sat at the Gryffindor table as her brother stepped up to McGonagall's "Weasely, Saran" among the snickers from the Slytherin table.

He was Sorted into Gryffindor as well and flopped down beside his sister, turning his head towards the staff table.

Harry grinned and said, "All Weasely's are Gryffindors."

Hermione smiled and added, "Family tradition."

Harry was about to ask where she thought her daughter would go but Dumbledore stood up before he could.  "Welcome to another new year!  I have only one thing to say before the feast begins.  Flibbity, jibbity."

With that the tables were full of food and the students and staff were eating.

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Dumbledore stood again later and smiled at the students.  "Now that we are all fed and watered, there are a few announcements."

"To the first years, the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden."

"And to all students, remember, no magic is allowed between classes."

Dumbledore glanced at the Slytherin table then continued.

"We also have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher as Professor Lackhen is no longer with us.  Your new teacher will be Harry Potter."

The Great Hall erupted in applause and whistles.  Except from the Slytherin table where they were all back to glaring at him.  Harry smiled and waved as the nervousness he had felt earlier came back.

Dumbledore held up his hands for silence and said, "And now, to bed all.  Prefects lead back to the houses."

Feet scuffled along the floor as the mass of students got up and filed out, some of them glancing back at Harry as they left.

Yawning, Harry rose, said good night to Hermione, then began to walk towards the staff quarters.

Until a cold voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Mr. Potter."

Harry turned to see Snape standing there, looking the same as when he had last seen him only a little older.

"Professor."

Snape looked at him for a moment, his black eyes expressionless.  Then he said, "I believe you're responsible for my being here now."

Harry glanced at the other staff then back at Snape.  "Mmm?"

"You know what I mean Potter.  And don't worry about that."  He gestured slightly at Harry's left arm and added, "No need to worry about me saying anything about it."

With that he walked out of the hall, his black robes flowing behind him.  Harry stared after him for a moment then shrugged.  Yawning, he headed towards his room.

A/N: There!  The Sorting!  I would've put Harry's first class but I wanted to leave it here.  Next chapter will most definitely be Harry's first class though.  AND maybe even a visit from a really annoying fellow (guess who?).

A/N2: Oh, what do you think Harry's first lesson should be about?  I'm thinking he'll have a class of fifth year's first and then maybe fourth years, followed by first.  And so on and so forth.  But what do you think he should he teach first day?

A/N3: And the song the Sorting Hat sings is my own creation.  ^_^