The train slowly pulled into the Hogsmeade Station. All the students
unloaded the train and headed off towards the carriages. Harry heard the
familiar voice of Hagrid in the distance.
"Firs' years! All firs' years come on over here!" Hagrid yelled.
Harry knew that the first years traveled across the lake in a boat and entered the castle in a different entrance. He had to do it himself on his first year.
Harry, Sirius, Ron, and Hermione walked towards the awaiting carriages to take them to the school. They boarded the carriages and shut the door. The carriage jerked forward and headed off towards the castle.
"Yes, so close!" Ron said.
"Almost there." Harry added.
The carriage came to a halt in front of the castle. It was completely dark by now. They climbed out of the carriage and walked up the stone steps to the huge doors.
"Good evening Harry." It was Dumbledore. He opened the doors to greet the returning students. This was the first time this ever happened.
"Hello." Harry said.
Dumbledore knelt over and whispered something into Sirius's ear that Harry could not make out. Then he stood up and waved them inside.
Dumbledore opened the doors and let all the students enter into the Entrance Hall. Sirius stayed behind with Dumbledore. All the students then made a turn and walked into the Great Hall. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the clear, night sky outside. The hall was decorated in the school's colors and had a huge Hogwarts banner hanging above the teacher's table. Above each table was a banner, each representing each of the four houses (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff). The students all headed to their tables and took a seat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed towards the back, where the Gryffindor banner hung high and proud. Next to the banner was the trophy that was awarded to Gryffindor two years ago. Harry remembered that.
All the students took their seats and quickly became silent, all waiting for the arrival of the first years. Harry turned and saw Hagrid enter through the door behind the teacher's table and take a seat. Hagrid looked over at Harry and gave him a wink. Harry smiled and turned to watch the doors. The doors suddenly burst open and Professor McGonagall led the first years to the front of the room. She told the students to stay put and walked into a room on the side. She came back out carrying an old, shabby looking hat. Harry recognized the hat very well. It was the Sorting Hat. It placed students in the houses that it thought best suited the students. Professor McGonagall raised her hand to silence the crowd. Then the Sorting Hat started to sing:
"Oh, you may think I'm not a pretty sight to look at,
But don't judge anything on what you see,
I'll burn myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your pointed hats black
And keep them standing tall,
Because I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing you can hide
That I cannot see,
So put me on
And I will tell you where you should be.
Perhaps I will put you in Gryffindor,
Where the brave stand strong,
And their courage and nerve
Send Gryffindors along.
I might put you in Ravenclaw,
Where they have an intelligent mind,
For those who are willing to learn
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
They are true and patient
And unafraid of toil.
Why not the mighty Slytherin,
Where you will find your true friends,
Those people will go to any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
I'm only three feet high!
Your future will be safe
For your grades will fly!
The whole entire hall burst into applause, all except the first years, who were quivering on the spot. Harry leaned towards Ron and whispered something in his ear.
"Can you imagine? That was us five years ago." Harry said.
"Yeah. That was us. Standing there shaking." Ron started to laugh.
The hall immediately became silent as Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment that held the names of the new students.
"When I call your name, please walk up to the stool and have a seat on the stool." Professor McGonagall said, "Abbott, Melanie!"
A short girl with dirty blonde hair walked up to the stool. She sat down and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It dropped down and covered her eyes. There was a moment's pause—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right burst into applause as the girl walked over and sat down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Buggett, Brendon!"
"RAVENCLAW!" and Brendon scuttled off towards the table on the left.
"Brown, Mandy!"
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat and Harry and the rest of the table cheered as Mandy walked over to join the table.
"That's my little sister!" Lavender Brown, a fellow Gryffindor, said to Harry.
The Sorting Hat went on until it reached the final name.
"Westworth, Zoey!"
The girl walked up to the stool and took a seat. Harry stared long and hard at the girl. She looked vaguely familiar. But Harry couldn't pinpoint where he would know her from. The hat barely even touched her head when it shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
The far table burst out screaming and cheering as the young girl walked over.
"You know, it's really a shame." Hermione said.
"What is?" Ron asked.
"Well, what if not all the kids who get sent to Slytherin are all bad. What if they are actually really nice. But the house and people just turn them evil." Hermione finished.
Harry sunk in his seat. He never told anyone about the Sorting Hat wanting to place Harry in Slytherin when he first tried it on. But that was all in the past. Harry knew he was placed in Gryffindor for a reason.
Dumbledore rose to his feet and raised both his hands to try and silence the crowd. Almost instantly, the hall hushed and became quiet.
"As you all know, there needs to be a position to be filled this year. We all know what subject that would be." Dumbledore started. Harry knew what he was talking about. Every year, they needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Rumors say that that job is cursed and that's why no one ever stayed more than a month.
"And many of you will know the teacher taking the job. He has already acquired the job a few years before, so I feel he is more than qualified to obtain the position."
Harry stared over at Snape. He had a sour face on. Harry knew that it was probably someone he disliked.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please give a hand to Professor Lupin."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped up out of their seats and cheered the loudest as Professor Lupin entered and took a seat next to Dumbledore.
"YES!!" Ron yelled.
"He's back! He's really back!" Hermione said.
Dumbledore raised his arms again and the room fell silent once more.
"As a recap for most students, the third floor corridor is still, and forever will be, off-limits to students. The Forbidden Forest is also off- limits. No midnight strolls are to be allowed and remember, you are here for the most possible amount of learning, with a dash of fun." Dumbledore said, "Now, before I bore you to death, let us eat!"
Dumbledore clapped his hands and all the golden plates and goblets filled with food. There was chicken and sweet potatoes, beans of all kinds and plenty of mashed and baked potatoes to go around. The Pumpkin Juice was extra cold and tasted better than ever before. After everyone finished their second and third servings, the plates were clean and were then piled high, full of all kinds of desserts imaginable.
"I don't remember it ever tasting so good." Ron said with a mouthful of chocolate pudding.
When everyone finished with the desserts, Dumbledore clapped his hands again and all the food disappeared.
"Well, wasn't that a delightful welcome back meal?" Dumbledore asked, a smile then broadening across his face, "Well, will all the prefects please take the students up to their common rooms. Have a good night's rest and be ready to start off the school year bright and early tomorrow morning."
And with that, all the students rose out of their seats and headed their separate directions to their common rooms. There were new prefects this year for Gryffindor. The prefects led all the Gryffindors through the corridors and up flights of stairs until they finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" asked the portrait.
"Periwinkle." said one of the prefects.
The portrait swung open and revealed the common room. They all climbed in and most headed to their dorm room. Hermione headed up the girl's tower after saying good-night to them. Harry and Ron then headed up.
Once they entered the room, they found Neville, Seamus, and Dean already there. Harry glanced over and found Sirius asleep next to Harry's bedside. Harry changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed. He thought about what tomorrow's classes were going to be like. He then slowly drifted off to sleep.
"Firs' years! All firs' years come on over here!" Hagrid yelled.
Harry knew that the first years traveled across the lake in a boat and entered the castle in a different entrance. He had to do it himself on his first year.
Harry, Sirius, Ron, and Hermione walked towards the awaiting carriages to take them to the school. They boarded the carriages and shut the door. The carriage jerked forward and headed off towards the castle.
"Yes, so close!" Ron said.
"Almost there." Harry added.
The carriage came to a halt in front of the castle. It was completely dark by now. They climbed out of the carriage and walked up the stone steps to the huge doors.
"Good evening Harry." It was Dumbledore. He opened the doors to greet the returning students. This was the first time this ever happened.
"Hello." Harry said.
Dumbledore knelt over and whispered something into Sirius's ear that Harry could not make out. Then he stood up and waved them inside.
Dumbledore opened the doors and let all the students enter into the Entrance Hall. Sirius stayed behind with Dumbledore. All the students then made a turn and walked into the Great Hall. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the clear, night sky outside. The hall was decorated in the school's colors and had a huge Hogwarts banner hanging above the teacher's table. Above each table was a banner, each representing each of the four houses (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff). The students all headed to their tables and took a seat. Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed towards the back, where the Gryffindor banner hung high and proud. Next to the banner was the trophy that was awarded to Gryffindor two years ago. Harry remembered that.
All the students took their seats and quickly became silent, all waiting for the arrival of the first years. Harry turned and saw Hagrid enter through the door behind the teacher's table and take a seat. Hagrid looked over at Harry and gave him a wink. Harry smiled and turned to watch the doors. The doors suddenly burst open and Professor McGonagall led the first years to the front of the room. She told the students to stay put and walked into a room on the side. She came back out carrying an old, shabby looking hat. Harry recognized the hat very well. It was the Sorting Hat. It placed students in the houses that it thought best suited the students. Professor McGonagall raised her hand to silence the crowd. Then the Sorting Hat started to sing:
"Oh, you may think I'm not a pretty sight to look at,
But don't judge anything on what you see,
I'll burn myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your pointed hats black
And keep them standing tall,
Because I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing you can hide
That I cannot see,
So put me on
And I will tell you where you should be.
Perhaps I will put you in Gryffindor,
Where the brave stand strong,
And their courage and nerve
Send Gryffindors along.
I might put you in Ravenclaw,
Where they have an intelligent mind,
For those who are willing to learn
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
They are true and patient
And unafraid of toil.
Why not the mighty Slytherin,
Where you will find your true friends,
Those people will go to any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
I'm only three feet high!
Your future will be safe
For your grades will fly!
The whole entire hall burst into applause, all except the first years, who were quivering on the spot. Harry leaned towards Ron and whispered something in his ear.
"Can you imagine? That was us five years ago." Harry said.
"Yeah. That was us. Standing there shaking." Ron started to laugh.
The hall immediately became silent as Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment that held the names of the new students.
"When I call your name, please walk up to the stool and have a seat on the stool." Professor McGonagall said, "Abbott, Melanie!"
A short girl with dirty blonde hair walked up to the stool. She sat down and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It dropped down and covered her eyes. There was a moment's pause—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right burst into applause as the girl walked over and sat down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Buggett, Brendon!"
"RAVENCLAW!" and Brendon scuttled off towards the table on the left.
"Brown, Mandy!"
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat and Harry and the rest of the table cheered as Mandy walked over to join the table.
"That's my little sister!" Lavender Brown, a fellow Gryffindor, said to Harry.
The Sorting Hat went on until it reached the final name.
"Westworth, Zoey!"
The girl walked up to the stool and took a seat. Harry stared long and hard at the girl. She looked vaguely familiar. But Harry couldn't pinpoint where he would know her from. The hat barely even touched her head when it shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
The far table burst out screaming and cheering as the young girl walked over.
"You know, it's really a shame." Hermione said.
"What is?" Ron asked.
"Well, what if not all the kids who get sent to Slytherin are all bad. What if they are actually really nice. But the house and people just turn them evil." Hermione finished.
Harry sunk in his seat. He never told anyone about the Sorting Hat wanting to place Harry in Slytherin when he first tried it on. But that was all in the past. Harry knew he was placed in Gryffindor for a reason.
Dumbledore rose to his feet and raised both his hands to try and silence the crowd. Almost instantly, the hall hushed and became quiet.
"As you all know, there needs to be a position to be filled this year. We all know what subject that would be." Dumbledore started. Harry knew what he was talking about. Every year, they needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Rumors say that that job is cursed and that's why no one ever stayed more than a month.
"And many of you will know the teacher taking the job. He has already acquired the job a few years before, so I feel he is more than qualified to obtain the position."
Harry stared over at Snape. He had a sour face on. Harry knew that it was probably someone he disliked.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please give a hand to Professor Lupin."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione jumped up out of their seats and cheered the loudest as Professor Lupin entered and took a seat next to Dumbledore.
"YES!!" Ron yelled.
"He's back! He's really back!" Hermione said.
Dumbledore raised his arms again and the room fell silent once more.
"As a recap for most students, the third floor corridor is still, and forever will be, off-limits to students. The Forbidden Forest is also off- limits. No midnight strolls are to be allowed and remember, you are here for the most possible amount of learning, with a dash of fun." Dumbledore said, "Now, before I bore you to death, let us eat!"
Dumbledore clapped his hands and all the golden plates and goblets filled with food. There was chicken and sweet potatoes, beans of all kinds and plenty of mashed and baked potatoes to go around. The Pumpkin Juice was extra cold and tasted better than ever before. After everyone finished their second and third servings, the plates were clean and were then piled high, full of all kinds of desserts imaginable.
"I don't remember it ever tasting so good." Ron said with a mouthful of chocolate pudding.
When everyone finished with the desserts, Dumbledore clapped his hands again and all the food disappeared.
"Well, wasn't that a delightful welcome back meal?" Dumbledore asked, a smile then broadening across his face, "Well, will all the prefects please take the students up to their common rooms. Have a good night's rest and be ready to start off the school year bright and early tomorrow morning."
And with that, all the students rose out of their seats and headed their separate directions to their common rooms. There were new prefects this year for Gryffindor. The prefects led all the Gryffindors through the corridors and up flights of stairs until they finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" asked the portrait.
"Periwinkle." said one of the prefects.
The portrait swung open and revealed the common room. They all climbed in and most headed to their dorm room. Hermione headed up the girl's tower after saying good-night to them. Harry and Ron then headed up.
Once they entered the room, they found Neville, Seamus, and Dean already there. Harry glanced over and found Sirius asleep next to Harry's bedside. Harry changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed. He thought about what tomorrow's classes were going to be like. He then slowly drifted off to sleep.