Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Please don't sue.
It seemed that every year the trip to Hogwarts took less time. Harry swore that 15 minutes after the train started, it had pulled into Hogwarts, and they were going to the Great Hall.
"Are you ok, Harry?" Ginny asked, seeing the odd expression on Harry's face.
"Erm, yeah," Harry replied, "Well, I don't know. The last several hours have just flown by."
Ginny laughed and said, "You know what they say? Five minutes on a stove, five minutes with a beautiful lady…" Harry laughed too, and they both sat down by the Gryffindor table.
"Rule one," Hermione said earnestly, "No arguing about who said what during the sorting last year."
Harry and Ginny sniggered, and Ron said, "What? Why?"
Hermione said, "We did that the last two years. And since I'm Head Girl, I have to set an example for the rest of the house."
Ron loudly coughed, "Percy."
Harry and Ginny sniggered again. Hermione frowned and said, "I am not Percy! I just think we have a higher standard to uphold."
McGonagall entered the hall, followed by yet another group of first years. Harry leaned forward, anxious to hear this year's Sorting Song – which would be his last one.
Ages and ages ago
Wizards and witches took place
In a magical community
Which muggles sought to erase
How could sorcerers learn
In an environment filled with fear?
So four wise wizards built
This castle you see here
When each student would arrive
The four builders they would meet
They'd do their best to divide them up
Which is not an easy feat
When it comes to thinking
Ravenclaw's best for you
When the need of wisdom arises
Ravenclaws take their cue
Or perhaps you're very brave
Gryffindor would be the best
In the search for mettle and nerves
Gryffindors complete their quest
Maybe you value loyalty
Hufflepuff would be ideal
If you're looking for friendship
Then Hufflepuff has appeal
For those with much ambition
Slytherin would suit you fine
If a situation requires cunning
A Slytherin is sure to shine
Yet the four are now gone
And you're all left with me
So how do you get me to tell
Where you ought to be?
It's quite easy! Put me on!
Not a straining test
This sorting hat will tell you
Which house you'd fit the best.
The hat grew still and the hall burst with applause. McGonagall stood and said, "First years, when I call your name, please step forward and put the Sorting Hat upon your head."
Harry and Ron sniggered. Harry could almost hear Ron thinking, "She didn't say that last year…"
"Albert, Jon" McGonagall called.
Harry and Ron couldn't stop sniggering, and Hermione hissed, "Higher Standard!"
While the hat decided Jon as a Hufflepuff, Ron whispered, "Rule breaker!"
Hermione became indignant; Ron, Harry, and Ginny burst into giggles.
"I haven't broken more than a handful of rules!" Hermione hissed; "Barker, Ryan" called McGonagall.
"That sounds like a challenge," Harry whispered as Ryan was announced as a Slytherin.
"Yeah, you're on, Hermione!" Ron added, while Janessa Conley was called to the front.
"Ok, we've got the Polyjuice formula," listed Ron as Janessa made her way to the Ravenclaws.
"Oh, don't forget she had to steal ingredients to make it, too!" Harry sniggered; "Alexis Freeman" said McGonagall.
"And she planned out the drugging of Crabbe and Goyle with poisoned food," Ginny added. Alexis walked over to the Gryffindor table, but was slightly bewildered by the nasty look on Hermione's face.
"Knock it off, you three," Hermione hissed as Don Grant was called up.
Ron grinned and said, "Three so far. Ok, she was bad her first year as well. She went down the third row corridor. She broke curfew for Norbert. She broke curfew again to retrieve the stone. And when she went down the trapdoor, she broke an order from McGonagall. Wow, that's already 7!" Hermione steamed as Don was greeted as the second Gryffindor, and Christina Long and Carla Miller were both sorted as well.
"Let's move on to her evil 3rd year," Harry whispered. "Will Morrell," called McGonagall.
Ron gravely said, "Ah, yes, the year she descended into attacking teachers instead of stealing from them. That's 8." "Ravenclaw!" called the Sorting Hat.
"Does aiding a convicted murderer count?" Ginny asked, "Or how about consorting with a werewolf?" McGonagall called up Zach Owen.
"Of course it counts!" Ron said. Hermione was red from anger. As Zach made his way to sit down at the Gryffindor table, he kept chancing intimidated looks in her direction.
"Ok, we've got 10 so far. Last year, she broke a rule from the prefect," Harry said.
Ron quickly added, "I don't know why. That was a great rule!" Ginny silently laughed, and Leslie Phillips was sorted into Slytherin.
"Oh, that's right! She Bogie'd the entire 7th year guys dorm," Harry said, while the sorting hat announced Adam Rose as a Hufflepuff.
"12! Well, that's certainly a handful!" Ron crowed.
Hermione looked extremely miffed and sarcastically said, "You didn't say anything from my 4th or 5th year. Bad memory?"
"Wait a minute!" Ginny whispered, "Her 5th year she tried to break the age line Dumbledore set up!" Ron and Harry chortled while Steve Smith was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Well," Hermione hissed, "I must have broke a rule my 4th year as well, then!" As Eric Topp was sorted, Harry, Ginny, and Ron racked their brains. Each second they failed to come up with something, Hermione's mood turned from sour to vindicated.
"Well?" Hermione smugly asked; "Wolff, Tamara" called McGonagall.
"Rita Skeeter!" blurted Harry. "Gryffindor!" cried the hat.
"You didn't tell anyone that Rita Skeeter was an unregistered animagus, and blackmailed her!" Harry crowed. Tamara was slightly taken back by the nasty look on Hermione's face.
Before any of the four could say anything else, Dumbledore stood up to and announced, "I have some quick start of term announcements before we begin the start of term feast. First, the Triwizard tournament has been cancelled this year. I have requested this due to recent events, although I cannot tell you at this time what they are." Harry gave a shudder, having a good idea what Dumbledore was talking about.
"Second," Dumbledore spoke, "Anyone wishing to be part of their house Quidditch team should talk to Madame Hooch. Last, we have instituted a new program at Hogwarts for 6th and 7th year students. In order to help them decide what they want to do once they leave Hogwarts, we are implementing co-operative classes. Each class will spend a week in a practical, related job field. Your professors will have more information for you in class."
Harry grew excited at this – hopefully he'd have an idea of what he wanted to do before he left. "Now," Dumbledore said, "I think it's time for some food." Harry smiled as the customary variety of foods appeared on the table. No matter how many feasts he ate at Hogwarts, he still appreciated the quality of the food.
Ginny, Ron, Hermione, and Harry ate the feast, all talking back and forth about Quidditch, future jobs, and classes. However, as the feast ended, McGonagall walked up to Hermione with a nasty look on her face.
"Why," she demanded, "are all the first year Gryffindors afraid of you, Miss Granger?" Hermione looked at the end of the table, and immediately, the four new students jumped in alarm. Don and Tamara immediately looked down; Alexis and Zach both managed to look back at her, but their hands were slightly shaking.
Hermione didn't know what to say, and McGonagall continued, "Well? Why are they all afraid of you?"
Hermione still didn't have an answer, and McGonagall said, "You can imagine my surprise when I look over at you during the sorting ceremony, looking like the personification of hostility. And adding to that, you talked through the ceremony as well! I don't know what you were thinking, but we hold our Head Boy and Girl to a higher standard."
At her last two words, Harry, Ginny, and Ron fought not to break out laughing. Hermione couldn't find anything to say, but it was really moot anyway since McGonagall was already marching back to the staff table.
Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Harry elbowed him. "If you value your life at all," Harry whispered, "you will not say anything to her right now." Ron looked over at Hermione, and saw how angry she was.
"I'm sorry," Ron whispered, and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Get your hand off me, Mr. Weasley!" Hermione growled. Ron jerked his hand back, his mouth hanging open. Hermione stood up, and called for the Gryffindors to follow her.
"Oh, boy, he's in trouble now!" Harry chortled to Ginny.
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Kaelli: Wow! Thanks!
Penda: Glad you like it!
Ariel: Sorry! Can't tell you what Harry does. I don't think I'm going to get into Harry's parents, either. Each time I read a story where Harry's parents are high-level aurors, or where James was a Quidditch star, or where they worked at the ministry, etc. it seems to take away something. I'm comfortable not knowing what his parents did for a living. Maybe I'm just weird.
Suzanne: Hehe, can't tell you what Harry's going to do, either!
Seifer: Wow, everyone's anxious about Harry's future. Hmmm… I wasn't planning on doing a sequel to this story, but…
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