Muggle Year
by Virgi Ca

Chapter 6: The Special Sorting

A/N: Okay, I just want to warn you that, this may be a little lame to you people, so please please don't blame me, because I had to put it in to start the action! Hope you guys like it. R&R!!!

The normal version without any weird signs (if any) and pictures drawn: http://muggleyear.wildimagination.net/index.htm

'Draco, I'm really sorry.' Myra apologized timidly, tailing behind Draco who was walking down the corridor to his tower which was located underground from the dungeons.

'Myra, one more apology and I'll really get mad.' Draco said, turning the corner.

'But – '

'Come on Myra.' Draco sighed, stopping. He lifted his hand from his robe and looked down at Myra with a small smile. The little girl's tears dried and she grabbed the hand lovingly, nearly pulling his hand from his shoulder. 'Watch it, I wouldn't want that wretch to heal me again.'

'Oh come on, with healing skills like that, she can't be that bad can she?' Myra said, giggling.

'Yeah right…' Draco muttered, pulling Myra along. It was really hard to believe that Myra was his cousin, because she was a Gryffindor, and the sorting hat never went wrong. Myra had been quite close with Draco since she was a little kid and she went to his manor every summer. She was the daughter of his mother's sister and Draco had thought all along that she would be in Slytherin, considering her mother was one too.

I guess it wouldn't do any harm taking her to the Slytherin Common room, there won't be anything for her to do at Gryffindor anyway, she doesn't even know anyone there. Draco thought. It was not good for people to know that Myra had a Slytherin for a cousin, a close relative too. He understood why Myra was so homesick and sad, because her father was just attacked by death eaters a week before she came to Hogwarts, ever since the attack Myra had been crying. Draco was so worried when he couldn't find her on the Hogwarts Express, but it turned out she had been sent directly to the school by his mother.

I hope father didn't torture Myra and her mother. Draco thought, approaching the stone wall that led to the Slytherin Common Room. 'Chameleon Ghouls.' The stone doors slid open to reveal the cold common room. 'Come on.' Draco gave Myra a slight tug and they stepped into the common room.

'Draco! Where did you go after Ancient Runes? I thought you had a free lesson.' Pansy rushed forward, oblivious of small Myra behind Draco.

'Got in a fight with Weasel and Pot-head.' Draco grunted, wanting desperately to cast a silencing spell on Pansy. He had done an efficient job when Pansy was whining all about Virginia Weasley being in their Potions and had to snog her in order to shut her up, to her delight, but to his disgust, the girl was not a good kisser, too bold, and too… just too bold, like he was going to shag her or something.

'What? But I thought……' her voice trailed when her eyes landed onto the small Gryffindor behind Draco, it was so recognizable with the tie and the badge, 'what's a Gryffindor doing here?' she screeched.

Myra grabbed Draco's robe and started to shake. Draco glared at Pansy, then knelt down to face the little girl, 'don't cry Myra, you're strong.' Myra's eyes were shaking and she suddenly burst into tears, throwing her arms around him.

'Everyone's mean to me here, I want to go home! I want to be with Papa! I don't want to be here Draco!' Myra wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

'What the – ' Millicent came down the stairs and stared at the scene before her.

'She's in Gryffindor if you haven't noticed yet.' Draco interrupted shortly, glaring at them. He picked her up and headed to his room. 'If you have to know,' Draco said, not turning around, hesitating slightly, 'If you have to know, she's my cousin, and if you want to hurt her, you'll have to ask me first.'

Pansy stared as the door closed behind his back.

'What in the world is happening? A Gryffindor for a cousin?' Millicent cried incredulously.

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'Ginny?'

Virginia looked up from the cauldron and saw Charlie standing at the door of the small working room at the medical wing. 'Charlie!' Virginia smiled, it would always cheer her up when Charlie was around. She put down the huge spoon into the cauldron and hugged her brother, 'your done with lessons?'

Charlie nodded and plopped himself down onto the couch that was opposite the working benches. 'Had seventh and sixth years.'

'Sixth years? Did you have Gryffindor?' Virginia asked, cocking her head, 'Ron was hoping you could ace him.' She joked, sitting down onto the stool at the working bench.

Charlie laughed, 'it would take a long time until he aces Care for Magical Creatures. Had Slytherin and Gryffindor today, not the wonder pair, I was hoping to separate the two houses, but apparently Dumbledore had something else in his mind, I'm starting to wonder how Hagrid could teach with Ron and Malfoy along with Harry arguing all the time.' Charlie shook his head, 'I'm going to teach dragons for sixth years, an introduction. I just hope the two won't kill each other.'

'Dragons?' Virginia raised her eyebrows, 'your teaching dragons this year? How about fifth years? Oh, almost forgot, unicorns and marine creatures.'

'Right, not exactly what I like, but I'm still good at it,' Charlie winked and leaned back, 'can't fool the one who aced the subject can it.'

Virginia rolled her eyes, reaching for the glass of water, 'right, and may I remind you that you almost failed your Potions?'

Charlie shrugged, then turned serious, 'I heard that your taking Potions with the Slytherins, heard Ron warning Malfoy about not shagging his sister.'

Virginia choked, 'WHAT? That pathetic git…'

'I totally agree on Ron though,' Charlie said, 'Malfoy's have a reputation of being womanizers.'

Virginia shrugged, 'nothing special, unless you recall Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabani calling me a wretch and Snape totally ignoring me, I think I know why he wants me to work alone in this room.' She sighed and took a look at the contents of the Cauldron, then slid off the stool, 'I think its getting right.'

'What's getting right?' Charlie asked, raising an eyebrow.

'A Potion for repairing fangs and teeth of magical animals, mainly snakes, unicorns and sharks.' Virginia replied, 'found it in the book,' she motioned towards a leather bound book lying on the table beside the couch.

'Uh, Gin, this is seventh grade, you haven't even done sixth.' Charlie said.

Virginia shrugged, 'who cares, I'm just playing around with the ingredients Professor Snape gave me, I don't care if it doesn't works, its not like I'm gonna try it.' She poured the thick blue liquid a small bottle and disposed the rest into a trough. 'Hey!' she cried when Charlie snatched it and pocketed into his rob.

'Won't hurt if I tried it on some small snakes I've got in Hagrid's hut.' Charlie grinned.

Virginia laughed, 'don't come crying if it poisons your snake.'

Charlie looked at the clock, 'it's almost time, we better get going.' And that was when Professor McGonagal's voice rang through the school, reminding the students to be punctual for dinner.

'Sure.' They walked out of the room and Virginia locked it behind her with her wand. They walked in silence until they passed a door. Virginia stopped and tugged at Charlie's sleeve, 'what's this room? I don't remember a door here.'

Charlie grinned and put his arms around her shoulders, 'you'll see, something exciting.'

'Charlie, all you've been was a pain in the ass and killing me with suspense!' Virginia whined, glaring at her brother.

'You'll see.' Was all he said, squeezing her shoulder.

Virginia pouted and turned her head, then stopped when she passed another door. 'What is it Ginny?' Charlie asked, looking at his sister.

'Uh… you go first.' Virginia said in a vague voice.

Charlie shrugged and patted her on the shoulder, then turned the corner and disappeared. Virginia stood there for a solid five minutes, not knowing what to do, curiosity and temptation building up inside. It wouldn't be a crime to take a peek would it? She thought, looking around. Silently she walked down the corridor and turned into another relatively dark one, the one where her terrible first year started.

It was totally quiet, the fear still lurking around. Virginia turned and looked at the toilet door again that had a sign reading 'out of order'. She slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open with a creaking sound.

It was Moaning Myrtle's washroom, the one no student would have dared to enter after what happened during Virginia's first year, a horrible experience for a student who was about to start a 'wonderful' year at Hogwarts.

Virginia walked around the dark washroom that was slightly flooded and stopped at the last basin, staring at it with dark chocolate eyes. The very basin that has the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, the very entrance that I had first opened for the last fifty years. Virginia thought, lowering her eyes and tracing it with her finger tips, I wonder what it's like…

'Ginny?' a small voice rang from behind. Virginia turned and saw the ghost who dominated the poor washroom, constantly flooding it and crying all by herself.

'Myrtle.' Virginia greeted, smiling at the translucent figure floating in mid air, 'how are you?'

'You aren't…' Myrtle eyed her hand that was resting on the basin, 'Ginny no! You can't go into the Chambers again! Don't go in, your just going to get trapped again!' she started to wail.

'Myrtle, I'm not going into the Chambers again, not ever again.' Virginia said reassuringly.

'Liar!' Myrtle cried, 'you opened the entrance last year over and over again when I told you not to every time! You said you didn't have friends at all and you wanted to have a place that belonged to you! You're going to do it again this year! I know how horrible it is inside that filthy place, even if I haven't been in there before, the Basilisk may still be alive… Ginny?'

Virginia had turned away from her ghost friend, looking at the basin with trembling eyes, she then turned and smiled at Myrtle, 'don't worry, I promise I won't this year, I won't next year either, my brother Charlie is back at Hogwarts so I won't be bored, like last year, or last last year, or…'

'Ginny…' Myrtle looked at her sympathetically.

They were silent until Professor McGonagall's voice rang again in the corridor outside. Virginia jerked her head up and rushed to the door, 'don't worry Myrtle! I won't go into the Chambers again, I'll visit you later!'

'Goodbye Ginny!'

Virginia slammed the door behind her and ran down the corridor, ignoring the curious stares from the first years that seemed to be lost.

I won't go into the Chambers again! NEVER!

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Virginia was surprised when she noticed another four chairs set at the very end of the staff table. It was unusual to have new teachers when school started, even more unusual when all posts have been occupied.

'I wonder what's going on.' She heard Adela whisper to Colin when the teachers started to file in. Virginia sat at the far end, a distance away from her brother, his friends, her room mates and the staff platform.

'Ouch!' Virginia quickly sprang up when a voice squeaked, she looked down and saw Myra holding her hand up.

'I'm sorry!' Virginia apologized. Myra looked at her with huge blue eyes, then shook her head and looked down at her lap. Without thinking, she turned to the Slytherin table and spotted Malfoy, but he was talking to Crabbe and Pansy, and didn't notice someone staring at him. She sighed and hung her head, looking at the staff table with bored eyes. Just then Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat, looking around with a pleased look.

'As all of you have been wondering, your letters have required you to buy Muggle Studies books and all of the students have two double periods of Muggle Studies per week, except for the ones whom are taking O.W.L. and N.E.W.T Muggle Studies.' The students murmured in agreement, but Dumbledore held his hand up to silence them. 'I have discovered, ever since the tragedy of Cedric Diggory, or even before that, the children of Hogwarts seem to have not much respect for Muggles, and do not know how to cope with them, and therefore, after a long period of negotiation and scheming, the staff and I have decided to start a programme, along with the other two magical schools.'

'A programme?' Ron looked at Hermione and Harry with raised eyebrows.

Professor McGonagal stood up, 'All Hogwarts students will take Muggle Studies, except for those taking standard Muggle Studies, will have lectures in the great hall with the other four houses of their year. This subject may not be a standard one, but we still take exams, and so you need to be serious with it.'

Virginia heard snickering at the Slytherin table and frowned. Well, at least I don't have to take Muggle Studies with those pigs. She thought.

'After much of our meetings, fundings and permission from the Ministry of Magic,' Professor Dumbledore said, 'We have decided to start filling you with Muggle knowledge from books,' he paused, his eyes twinkling, 'and sports.'

A murmur broke out in the hall again.

'Since Quidditch has been such a success among the wizarding world, I won't have a doubt that sports is the right point to start on broadening you knowledge of the muggles. This year, I have invited four Muggles to join our working staff for the year.' Professor Dumbledore motioned the backdoor. Four figures came out, not wearing robes, but Muggle attire. 'May I introduce Claude Siward at water sports, Bing Harnet at Archery, Hyman Monet at Soccer and Lesley Chestwood at Dance.'

_____________________________________________________________________________

It was the second time in two days that Ron's jaw had dropped and Virginia had gasped, along with shocked faces from Hermione and Harry.

'I can't believe it, all along…' Ron fumed.

'they have known and didn't tell you.' Hermione finished warily.

'But, Ginny say something!' Ron demanded. Virginia just stared at the platforme wide eyed. She couldn't believe that two of her favorite people were here, at Hogwarts…

'All students in this school will be sorted,' Dumbledore continued, 'with a brand new sorting hat especially made for this occasion, and will hopefully carry on.' Dumbledore flicked his wand and a stool appeared, another wave and a silver hat appeared on it, brand new. Dumbledore motioned for Professor McGonagal. She nodded and walked forward, carrying four parchments.

'Each student shall be sorted by this sorting hat, it will sort you to your department according to your ability and interest.' Professor McGonagal rolled open her parchment which was green with silver trimmings, 'The sorting now begins. Slytherin, seventh year, Pucey Adrian!'

'This will take forever!' Harry complained in a whisper, 'the whole school is going to be sorted!' Just then, the sorting hat shouted 'SOCCER!'

'Oh no, does this mean we're going to mixed together with other houses?' Adela asked in a worried tone.

'Seems like it,' Evelyne said with a shrug.

'Slytherin, sixth year! Bulstrode, Millicent!' Millicent sat on the stool and let the silver hat drop on his head.

'WATER SPORTS!'

'Crabbe, Vincent!'

'ARCHERY!' it screamed.

'Goyle, Gregory!'

'SOCCER!'

'Malfoy, Draco!' Malfoy walked forward, an annoyed expression, obviously thinking that the whole idea was stupid. He plopped onto the stool and let Professor McGonagal drop it onto his head, covering his view. Immediately a small feminine voice whispered in his ear.

'So, you don't seem to like water, am I correct?' Draco rolled his eyes, was this sorting hat the other one's sister or something? 'Hmm… you don't have a very good eye concentration for archery…' What does that suppose to mean? 'And I suppose you won't want to get dirty on the soccer field.' Draco rolled his eyes again in annoyance. 'Ah yes, you definitely have talent in dancing, I see you already know some of the sport, have you learnt it before?' Get over with it you stupid hat! Draco cursed mentally. 'Well, better be… DANCE!'

The whole hall burst into conversation, Draco Malfoy, dance? No way! It just didn't match! When Draco walked down the plateform, he noticed Harry and Ron snickering at him, and Hermione trying to bite back laughter, the whole Gryffindor table wanted to laugh. Draco just ignored them and walked back to his seat. I can't believe that after six years of Hogwarts school life, I still have to be sorted!

'Parkinson, Pansy!'

'DANCE!'

Pansy smiled in satisfaction while Draco frowned, he'd have to go for these stupid lessons with Pansy? He had noticed that there were quite a lot, almost every day.

It seemed like forever until it was Gryffindor's turn, which was the last house. After six of the seventh years were sorted, Professor McGonagal called Ron out, and after a few moments of consideration, the hat shouted, 'WATER SPORTS!'

'Granger, Hermione!'

'WATER SPORTS!'

'Potter, Harry!'

'WATER SPORTS!'

Jeez, do they always have to be together? Virginia thought, rolling her eyes, there was no doubt that they had to be the best friends in the whole world.

'Gryffindor fifth year, Weasley, Virginia!' Virginia sprang up from her seat at her name, almost knocking over the China on the table. She walked up nervously, catching Lesley's smiling face. Trembling slightly, she sat down and her vision was blocked by the brim of the silver hat.

'Ah…… you do have talent, lots and lots of talent… let me see, what is the talent you have?' Virginia closed her eyes and waited. 'Oh my, you do know a lot about dancing already, let me see, ballet, tap dance, a bit of tango, I see that you do want to learn Can Can, I must agree that it is an exciting type of dance, the costumes are lovely… hmm… you also know a little jazz, now where should I put you…' Virginia bit her lip, crossing her fingers, without warning the hat shouted, 'DANCE!' Virginia jumped up in surprise, the hat falling off her head, the hall burst into laughter.

'Miss Weasley, mind you not be so startled, it's just a hat.' Professor McGonagal said warily, picking up the hat. Virginia lowered her head in embarrassment and muttered an apology, catching Lesley's eyes, who gave her a thumbs up.

After a few more shouts, the sorting was finally over. Dumbledore stood up again, 'It might be useful if I told you the venues of the various lessons. Dance will be located at the third floor corridor, which has been modified into a huge dance studio over the summer. Water sports will be located at the great lake, where a dock and a high platform is built, Soccer will be located at the ground that is opposite the quidditch pitch, and last archery is located at the edge of the forbidden forest.' Dumbledore paused to get the students attention, 'I expect that each and ever one of you will take these courses seriously, because it is being looked by the Ministry of Magic, hopefully giving them some suggestions on how to improve the Muggle-Wizard relation.'

'Must be something big.' Virginia heard Geraldine whisper, 'or Dumbledore wouldn't mention anything about the Ministry.' Evelyne nodded in agreement.

Dumbledore waved his wand and piles of food appeared in front of them, 'a delay, but by all means, let the feast begin!'

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'So the studio is at Hogwarts! You should have told me Lesley!' Virginia cried, throwing her arms around Lesley in front of the staff table.

Lesley laughed, 'wanted to give you a surprise.'

'And you!' Ron pointed at Charlie angrily, who looked at him innocently, 'you lied to us you prat.'

'What? I didn't even say anything about being at Hogwarts or not being at Hogwarts!' Charlie protested, 'I merely said that I would be back at England – '

'You said London.' Ron argued, 'and Hogwarts is no where near London!'

'Did I?' Charlie scratched his head.

'Charlie!' Hermione laughed.

'So, did you bring your little present with you?' Lesley asked.

'What present?' Harry asked.

Virginia's eyes lit up, 'Yes! I'll have the chance to use it after all! Thank you Lesley!'

This was going to be the best year ever!

End of Chapter 6

A/N: Be kind and review! Email me at slayershilarious@yahoo.com if you got any questions!