Is Midnight the only one reading this?  Weird.

Italics are sorting hat.  Or Harry's thoughts.  Whichever fits in the context.

The Founders

            "Trace, Jon."

            "SLYTHERIN!"

            Draco and Blaise clapped politely as Slytherin gained yet another new student, not even trying to hide their boredom.  Not only was this incoming class the largest in over a decade,  but also a large number of students were transferring in from schools all over the world.

            "Votrian, Lucan."

            Draco sat up a bit straighter and Blaise leaned forward.  "Slytherin," Draco muttered.  "You'd better be a Slytherin.  There's no way I'm letting the Weasel win that bet .  If you're a Gryffindor, I'll pinch you."

            "What a threat," Blaise murmured with a smile.

            The sorting hat took its time before calling "SLYTHERIN!"

            Blaise and Draco leapt to their feet, cheering as Lucan crossed the hall and sat next to them.  Across the room, Harry and Ron were booing.  "We got Lucan!" Draco laughed.  "Now for . . ."

            "Votrian, Seneca."

            Seneca bounced up excitedly and sat on the old stool.  The hat was placed on her head and the debate began.

            Hmm, no questions here.  You're definitely a Rav . . .

            "No!  I don't want to be a Ravenclaw!  Put me in Gryffindor or Slytherin!"  Seneca frowned and rocked on the stool, arguing with the hat.

            Gryffindor or Slytherin!?  For you!?  Child, do you have no idea just who you are!?

            "Come on, just say it already!  GRYFFINDOR!  SLYTHERIN!"

            "RAVENCLAW!"

            "No!  Stupid hat!  I'll feed you to Noko!"

            Good luck, little dove, the hat whispered as Professor McGonagall lifted it off of Seneca's head.

            Ron sighed as the last few new students were sorted.  "We didn't get either Votrian.  Seneca's a Ravenclaw and Lucan's a Slytherin.  Ferret won that bet.  I still say Lucan's not Slytherin material."

            "If you think about it, Blaise and Draco aren't acting like dark, evil Slytherins anymore either," Hermione pointed out.  "Well, actually, Blaise never really was to begin with, but Draco has really mellowed."

            Ron frowned, thinking about it.  "Hey, yeah!  I didn't even realize that!  I wonder why he's suddenly so much nicer.  Maybe he's planning something!  Maybe this is a clever trick to catch Harry off guard so he can be easily delivered to You-Know-Who!"

            "Voldemort," Harry automatically corrected.

            "Moldy!" Noko chirped, tumbling off her seat next to Harry.

            Hermione sighed and shook her head.  "Ron, you're hopeless.  Draco's not being nice to trick Harry . . ."

            Harry lifted Noko into his lap and rubbed her ears as Hermione pointed out evidence proving Draco was sincere.  I know why Draco's nicer, he thought, smiling at his puppy.  And it has everything to do with you.

            At the staff table, James stood up.  Sirius, sitting next to him, whispered something to Remus, who bit back laughter.  James smacked Sirius lightly and cleared his throat.

            "Ahem.  Alright, first things first.  I'm the temporary headmaster this year, my name is James Potter, you can call me James, Professor does not suit me.  Two things you should know about me, no, wait, three, no, just two.  Number one, I'm not dead, contrary to popular belief."  A chuckle ran through the crowd and James smiled slightly.  "Number two, I am not Harry Potter's father," he paused and looked around with mock seriousness, "while school is in session."  That earned him a hearty laugh from the students.  James grinned broadly and spread his hands.  "As my predecessor and hopefully successor, Professor Albus Dumbledore, would say, Nitwit!  Blubber!  Oddment!  Tweak!  Dig in!"

            "That went well," Sirius remarked as James sat down.  "You'll be a great headmaster, Prongs!"

            On James' other  side, Professor McGonagall buried her head in her hands.  "Three of the four Marauders are on the staff at this school; one of them is the headmaster.  What have we done?" she moaned.

            Lily laughed and patted McGonagall's arm soothingly.  "There, there, Professor.  No need to worry.  Remus will keep Sirius in line, and I'll take care of Jamie.  Hogwarts will survive this."  Lily leaned in closer to McGonagall and whispered, "Between you and me though, I don't know if Snape will survive!"  McGonagall laughed and shook her head.

            "This year certainly won't be dull, at the very least!"

            George studied the cell door in the little light he had.  "This may be tricky," he muttered.  "But I wonder, based on how I was tied up . . ."  He pushed the door, but it didn't budge.  George then tried turning the handle and pulling.  The door swung open without even a creak.  A large wooden beam stretching across the frame showed how it would have appeared locked from the outside.  George sighed.  What type of idiot tied a wizard up like a muggle and kept him in an unlocked cell?  "I'd like a challenge please!" he called.  "Anything!"  Shaking his head, he strolled lazily down the torch-lit hall.  "This is ridiculously easy, even for a muggle."

I swear, sometimes this doesn't seem worth the trouble it takes to type it.

~Crawler