--Thanks for all the reviews for this so far - it's really appreciated : ) I just wish I knew how to do italics on fanfiction.com.. it doesn't appear to be working, and I did try to fix the formating for this chapter.. but it has come out totally wrong. : ( --

-- Chapter Four: A Few Surprises --

They followed a crowd of students into the brightly lit entrance hall, and Harry spotted Headless Nick looking down at them from one of the staircases above. Headless Nick was wearing a polkadot ruff around his neck and waved at him enthusiastically, so Harry waved back.

"I've been given the job of keeping Peeves out of the entrance Hall", he shouted down at Harry.

Harry nodded and then turned and caught up with Ron, Hermione and Fred who were just then entering the great Hall.

It was even more brightly lit than the entrance hall, made all the more impressive by the floating candles positioned above every table. They walked up to their usual seats halfway up the Gryffindor table and sat down to wait patiently for the feast to begin.

Harry noted that the house tables looked twice as long as they had last year, concluding that they must have been modified to cope with all the transferring students. Although, they would also have had to have modified the dimensions of the Hall. Harry noticed that Fred and Ron where also gazing at the house tables, but Hermione was looking up at the staff table.

"Looks like we don't have to put up with Snape this year", said Hermione sounding pleased.

"What?!", said Ron, whipping around and craning his neck to see the staff table.

Harry also glanced up at the staff table, but his glance was suddenly held up there, as his heart almost stopped beating in shock.

It wasn't the new potions teacher who held his gaze, it was the defence teacher sitting beside Professor Dumbledore.

"What's he doing here?", asked Harry surprised.

"Which one?", replied Hermione raising her eyebrows.

"Artemis Cloric," said Harry indicating.

"THAT'S Artemis Cloric?", asked Ron in surprise.

"Why would he even think of accepting a job here, I mean, he had a great job in NZ as the defence teacher there, and it was a stones throw away from his house and family.. but here.. this is the other side of the world! He has a family to be with, and this is a boarding school, not a day school!", said Harry, expressing how clearly confused he felt.

"Maybe he got sick of it. Didn't you mention he had worked there for 17 years or something?", asked Ron.

"But if he has a family to support, he's not going to throw away his security", reasoned Hermione, "He must have a real reason to want to teach here, or he wouldn't have come".

"Either that or Dumbledore is paying him heaps more!", said Ron.

They sat in silence and pondered this for a moment. Mr Cloric certainly looked happy to be here. Harry could see him talking and laughing up at the staff table with the other professors.

"I wonder which one is the potions professor?", asked Ron, staring up at the other two new teachers sitting at the table. One was a rather attractive female in perhaps her early thirties, and had blue hair that spread out in ringlets just below her shoulders. The other was a man who was in his mid 40's and had untidy sandy hair, and a monocle in one eye. He had a scowl on his face while his forehead seemed wrinkled up in disapproval as he surveyed the sea of young faces ahead of him.

"Well he can't be worse than Snape", said Ron, drawing the same conclusion as both Harry and Hermione just had, about which was which.

A few minutes later everyone had finished sitting down at their tables and the hall went slightly quieter as they waited for the side door to open with the new students to be sorted.

Harry could see Ron squirming in his seat, obviously he was extremely hungry, having eaten only soggy sandwiches for lunch this year. Hermione elbowed Ron and whispered for him to sit still.

"I'll have died of starvation by the time they get though the first years, let alone the transfers as well", moaned Ron unhappily.

"It's not that bad", said Fred rolling his eyes, who was blissfully unaware of how long it had been since Rons last meal.

Suddenly the side door to the hall was opened and Professor McGonagall marched in with an exceptionally large crowd of new students following along in her wake. They were in no particular order, but lined up hastily when they got to the staff table which looked kind of strange, since they were all of such differing heights. The line of them continued out through the side door, so that Harry could see that Ron wouldn't be getting his wish anytime soon. Harry saw that most of them where shaking with nerves as they watched Professor McGonagall pick up the Sorting Hat and put it onto a three legged stool.

There was a moment of silence, and then a rip near the brim of the hat opened wide, and the hat began its song:

Four founders of the school did make,

A thousand years ago,

A way of finding out how to tell,

Whose house to put students in.

Twas Gryffindor who took his hat,

To fill it full of brains,

From Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff,

Slytherin and his own.

They intrusted me to use those brains,

To sort the students well,

The virtues that they prized the most,

Divide the students well.

Rowena Ravenclaw,

Prized intelligence the most,

While Helga Hufflepuff prized loyalty.

Salzer Slytherin decided ambition,

Was by far the best to teach,

While Godric Gryffindor chose bravery,

As his pick above the rest.

One thousand years,

Have since gone by,

And I still look inside your heads,

To see which will suit you best.

So try me on,

And I will say,

what house to which you belong,

- Since I am never wrong!

The Great Hall burst into applause as the Sorting Hat finished, and Professor McGonagall removed the same roll of parchment from her cloak that he had seen her use to sort the luggage earlier.

"When I call out your name, you will put on the Hat and sit on the stool," she told the new students. "When the Hat announces your house, you will go and sit at the appropriate table."

With that she unrolled the scroll and read out the first name.

"Jarvey, Perigrene"

Fred, Ron, Hermione and Harry glared at the girl as she stepped out of the line and walked past the others and sat down on the stool. She didn't look at all worried as Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Please Slytherin, please Slytherin", whispered Fred in a loud hiss, that didn't fail to carry across half the hall. Some people on the Slytherin table turned around to look at him and whispered to the people sitting beside them with their hands over their mouths.

"Gryffindor!"

The four of them let out a collective groan, as Perigrene removed the Hat from her fiery head and proceeded towards their table quickly, making straight for where George was sitting further down with Lee Jordan. Fred looked downcast, Harry couldn't even begin to imagine how it must feel to be pushed away so easily by your own twin brother. Ron patted Fred on the back,

"Don't worry, we'll think of something", he said reassuringly, which didn't have the desired effect. Fred pulled away,

"I don't need your sympathy Ron", he growled scrowling down at his gold plate before him.

"Snivel, Mortimer"

"Slytherin!"

"Biggerwort, Petri"

"Slytherin!"

"Lunitovi, Avison"

"Slytherin!"

"At the rate this is going, Slytherins are going to outnumber us ten to one!", said Seamus Finnigan, looking at the Slytherin table cheering as they welcomed their third new member.

"The Durmstrang students aren't all going to be Slytherins, I mean look at Perigrene, she got put in our house", said Hermione crossly.

"I don't want to look at Perigrene, thank you", said Fred.

"Durvatoff, Mahoney"

A bulky looking and at least 4th year Durmstrang boy strode up and placed the hat on his head, almost immediately,

"Gryffindor!"

"There you are, I told you we will get some more Durmstrang students", exclaimed Hermione as their table clapped for the new boy.

"Litmus, Pincipi"

"Hufflepuff", whispered Harry to Ron grinning.

"Hufflepuff!"

"Hey! How did you do that?", said Fred looking stunned, "You didn't learn to read minds over summer did you?".

"Er, no, it was just a lucky guess", said Harry quickly.

They all turned their attentions back when their table broke into applause again, and watched the line shrink, although, it still went out the door.

"Tara Silverstone"

"Gryffindor!

"Wique, Anison"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Austin, Demi"

"Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table broke into enthusiastic applause as Demi made her way over. She was obviously a first year and her cloak trailed behind her as it was far too big.

"Cloric, Trinity"

"Hey!", said Harry, feeling quite surprised.. he hadn't expected this either. He looked expectantly down the line looking for her to step out, but she was obviously standing further down the line through the doorway. It took a minute for her to appear through it and she walked up, strawberry blond hair billowing out behind her.

"Is that..?!", started Hermione looking quizzically between her and Harry.

"Whoa!", said Ron, "Tell me she's in fifth year!".

Harry nodded and looked at Ron with amusement. Ron had the same expression on his face that he had had last year whenever he looked at Fleur. Ron must have felt Harrys gaze, because he took his eyes off Trinity, and after a moment asked hesitantly, "She's not part Veela is she?".

"Nope, she's a direct descendent of Clariol Cloric", answered Harry, and when this didn't ring a bell with Ron, "You know.. the man we did our History of Magic assignment on in the holidays we have only just had?!".

"Ohhhhh!", said Ron, then after a pause -

"So she's quite smart then?", he said frowning at the Ravenclaw table.

"Gryffindor!",

Shouted the Sorting Hat.

"Not particularly", said Harry grinning at Ron, and then making eye contact with Trinity who was already heading very fast towards them beaming.

"Hello Harry! Is there enough room to sit beside you if that's OK?", asked Trinity, glancing down the table past where most of the boys where still clapping enthusiastically to finally where Lavender and Parvati were trying to get her attention to sit by them.

"Yes, sit by us!", said Ron quickly moving aside, "We really want to talk to you, and you will be sick to death of Lavender and Parvati really fast if you sit by them".

Ron had gone slightly red, but he wasn't tongue tied as he had been around Fleur.. Trinitys complete lack of Veela power was definitely helping him with his new crush. At least, that's what Harry thought, as he grinned between both his friends.

"Why will I be sick to death of them?", asked Trinity curiously, "Have I got all my classes with them or something?".

"Nope.. all they ever talk about is divination this and divination that.. they never stop. Like anyone would even believe in all that crap", said Ron with feeling.

Trinity looked a bit taken back, and Harry thought he better try to pull Ron out of the serious blunder he had just made.

"He only thinks that because of Professor Trelawney being a fraud", he explained to Trinity, and when Ron looked up at Harry, with a look on his face like Harry had gone crazy, Harry continued. "Ron, Trinity really is a true seer, I would have died over the summer if she hadn't had been able to use her gift to find me. Then she showed me something in the crystal ball later and I'd never seen anything in the crystal ball until she helped me".

"What was it?", asked Hermione.

"I'll tell you later", replied Harry.

"I'm sorry", said Ron to Trinity, "It's just that I've never met a true seer before".

"That's ok", said Trinity, "Now let's be quiet, cos I want to see where my brother is put, and they still haven't called him".

"Neo's here too?", asked Harry.

"Yep, and so is -".

"Columbo, Michael"

The line was much shorter now and the end had emerged from the doorway and crept up to three quarters across the hall while they had been talking. A scruffy brown hair and eyed boy stepped out of the line and shuffled his way up to the stool. He plucked the hat up off the seat and examined it before sitting down on his seat and putting it on his head.

"From what I've heard about the houses, he'll be a Ravenclaw for sure", said Trinity, "Mike's a genius".

"Why did he decide to transfer? Wasn't he at Salem in the states with your brother Luis who has finished now?", asked Harry.

"He was doing 6th year there yes. But when he heard Neo and I was transferring he got the idea in his head that he wanted to transfer too.. so he had a word with dad, and dad wrote him a letter of recommendation. Of course he had never been taught by dad, going to a different school and all that, but dad wrote that Mike had stayed over summer and was a well behaved kid and all that. He has to redo 5th and 6th year though, but he doesn't mind, Mikes just glad to have been accepted into such a fantastic school".

"Why does he have to repeat two years?", asked Harry mystified, "You just said he was a genius". Harry glanced up at Mike still sitting on the stool. He appeared to be quite relaxed, and looked like he was having a conversation with the hat, something Harry had never seen before. Interrogating it probably. Dumbledore had a look of amusement on his face. All the other students in the line where getting impatient for the hat to decide. "Well you see", Trinity started in reply to Harrys question, "the American system of assessment is different from ours. They take "STAR's" in 5th year and onwards, which don't really have any meaning over here. So Mikes going to take OWL's this year. Then he might be able to skip 6th year and take his NEWT's if the teachers think he's ready." "What about Neo? He doesn't have to repeat 5th year does he?", asked Ron. "Yeah, he does. Dads tried to convince Dumbledore to let him into 6th year, I mean, his marks were perfect.. but the exams in other countries just don't mean all that much over here. I feel so lucky that I hadn't finished 5th year before I transferred here."
"How far though 5th year where you?", asked Hermione. "It's halfway through the year in New Zealand right now... so really, it's given me an extra half year to study for my OWL's which is good", said Trinity smiling. "Oh", said Hermione looking slightly upset. "Gryffindor!", shouted the Sorting Hat. The whole hall broke into applause, as Mike finally removed the Hat from his head and started down towards their table. "You couldn't have taken longer", said Trinity as he approached. "That's one interesting Hat, that is", said Mike in reply sitting down beside Hermione. "He's seen inside the brains of every famous U.K. wizard in the past 1000 years.. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to ask him a few things". "More than a few things if you ask me", moaned Ron massaging his stomach.."You took longer than anyone else". Mike looked over at Ron with amusement. Everyone else turned their attention back to the last of the students being currently sorted.

"Taylor, Emily-Jane" "Gryffindor!" "Wishstone, Gabrielle" "Gryffindor!" "Runesier, Ryan" "Slytherin!" "Longlock, Rapunzel" "Hufflepuff!" "Jupiti, Amber" "Gryffindor!" "Jelical, Katherine" "Hufflepuff!" "Chartier, James "Gryffindor!" "Almagi, Mickael" "Hufflepuff" "Zorander, Zeddeous" "Gryffindor!"

And then..

"Cloric, Neolyte"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Uhh", said Trinity disappointed, as her brother made his way over to the Ravenclaw table, new Hogwarts cloak swishing behind him.

"You'll probably be in some classes with him", said Ron cheerfully.. "We'll get our timetables tomorrow".

"Oh, we get some classes with other houses then?", said Trinity lightening up, "That's good, cos I'd be lonely without him I guess. It was hard enough leaving Saul and the others, without losing Neo once I get here."

"You can see him whenever you want outside of classes", reassured Harry.

"Ya'll see me all the time too", said Mike, "It's not so hard, I miss my parents and dog, but I write them loads.. gives them a nice fright everytime a owl swoops in the window. "Ah.. that'll be a letter from Michael", my dad says pretending he didn't get a fright. Well at least my mum says that's what he does".

Just then, the whole hall went quiet, and they all turned around to see that the sorting ceremony had finished. Dumbledore was standing up and beamed around at them and opened his arms in welcome.

Mike was examining his plate, and held it up to his face and examined his reflection.. "Is this real gol-", his whisper was cut off midway.

"I've just one word to say to you", Dumbledore said, his deep voice echoing around the hall. "Enjoy!"

All the plates before them filled up magically and Ron didn't even pause to say 'Finally!' before the first forkful of meat was shoved in his mouth.

"Ewww!", said Mike as the plate he was holding up filled and all the food slid off onto his lap.

All the people sitting around him on the table chuckled, Mike looked upset but then burst out laughing and brushed it all off onto the floor.

"Least there's plenty, I'm almost as hungry as Ron", he exclaimed taking a serving spoon and spooning some roast potatoes from a dish onto his plate.

"Hey Harry!", said Mike looking over at him, "What type of magic is this? I haven't seen this before".

Harry realised he had never really thought about how it was done before. It was a good question that Mike had just posed him. All he really knew was that there where identical tables below them, and the house elves put the food on them, and it somehow got transferred up..

"Must be a swapping charm, there are identical tables to these in the kitchens", concluded Harry.

"Really? Wow.. I have to see that!", answered Mike enthusiastically.

"You can come down to the kitchens with me next time I go to visit the house elves", said Hermione leaning towards Mike, her eyes gleaming in the flickering candlelight.

Harry quickly adverted his eyes to his plate and held his breath. He heard Ron groan loudly and make a noise that distinctly sounded like a bulimic on a bad day.

This must have tipped Mike off, because Harry noticed a very pregnant pause before Mike spoke next.

"Why do you need to visit the House-Elves?", he said all at once. No beating about the bush for Mike then, Harry thought. Ron groaned again. Harry looked up to see Hermione smiling. Harry waited.. there would soon be an explanation, and possibly a new member of S.P.E.W. before the meal was over.

Hermione explained to Mike about how the school used House-Elves without paying any of them except Dobby whom her society had already been successful in liberating.

Ron snorted at that. Harry kept his eyes on his food. Mike however looked mildly interested. But still warily he prodded her for more information. Finally he had found out how they hadn't wanted to be freed, then the answer to Rons noises earlier; Hermione pulled out a badge and pinned it on him.

"You can be our new member, you can pay for the badge later, it's 2 sickles", Hermione instructed.

"Two sickles?", moaned Mike, "I'm not make of money!".

"It's for a good cause", was Hermiones answer.

Mike looked at his badge. A faint smile turned up the edges of his lips. "S.P.E.W.?", he said, looking at Hermione, enlightened as he looked over at Ron who pretended to stick his fingers down his throat again.

"It stands for 'Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare'", explained Hermione.

"Excuse me, but if you don't mind me saying so, perhaps at our next meeting we should brainstorm a name which sounds better as an acronym?"

Harry noticed that Hermione looked rather taken aback by what Mike had just said. Maybe because it was that he wasn't laughing at the name like they had. Mike was actually suggesting a solution. Although, it could have been because he was being so willing to be part of the club, or perhaps, because he was suggesting a 'meeting', something that Hermione had never been able to formally organise, previously simply accosting them in the common room. But Harry reasoned, it was probably all of the above. Hermione for once in her life was completely overwhelmed. After a moment she beamed at Mike. Mike returned the smile and turned back to his meal.

Hermione, encouraged by her success, then proceeded to hand badges over to Trinity and then got her to pass one down to one of the new Gryffindors, Amber Jupiti who was sitting close by and had been listening with interest.

They continued eating their meals, taking their pick from large dishes of nicely done carrots, peas, cauliflower, yams, new potatoes, roast potatoes, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, Yorkshire pudding, well.. you name it.. it was on the table. Even odd things like beef jerky. There was also chilli soup. Mike seemed to be draining the chilli soup all by himself.

Finally, most people had had their fill of the main meal. Harry sat back in his seat awaiting the appearance of dessert. Nobody would ever be able to tell him that he hadn't been fed well at school. Dudley would have killed to have been here tonight, especially with his diet in progress. Harry wondered if Dudley had lost yet more weight since he had last talked to him, or whether Aunt Petunia had finally relented to his constant whining.

Dessert finally appeared in the form of wobbles of colourful Jellies, mountains of cake and cascades of ice-cream. There was also Ambrosia, Treacle tart, Spotted dick, Chocolate gateau, bowls of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and a dish appearing in front of Trinitys place, Pavlova.

Harry helped himself to the Pavlova and Ambrosia, having not much room left for anything else. He noticed that Ron however, managed to fit something of everything on his plate, and still had room for seconds afterwards.

Finally the meal was over, and all the plates magically cleaned themselves, left completely spotless in appearance.

Dumbledore rose from his seat at the great table and the whole hall suddenly went as quiet as a grave. Heads turned to look at him beaming around at them.

"I have just a few start of term notices to give out before I allow you to proceed off to bed. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to tell you that the list of forbidden objects has this year been forbidden to include, self turning jump-ropes, non removable magical inks and stinging Buzzy- Bees. The full list comprises some four hundred and forty items, and can be viewed in Mr Filch's office, if anybody would like to check it.

The Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to all students, while the village of Hogsmeade to all below third year.

Next, it is my great pleasure to introduce three new teachers this year. May I firstly introduce Professor Samphire Swirly as our new potions teacher."

There was much cheering from all the tables except Slytherin, which looked on in dismay as Samphire Swirly stood and beamed around at them.

Dumbledore continued, "However, Professor Swirly is only filling the potions position until Professor Snape is able to return to work later this year".

There was a collective groan from everywhere again, except the Slytherins. Trinity and Mike looked quite frankly bewildered to see the reactions of the Gryffindor table to the news that Professor Snape was returning.

"Just when I was thinking we where free of the old bat", groaned Ron, "I'm never going to pass my OWL's this year".

Harry nodded, Professor Swirly better be good, if she let them get behind, they would all be failing.

Professor Dumbledore put his hand up, indicating for silence. The groaning gradually ceased, and he continued.

"Next I would like to introduce Professor Artemis Cloric who will be joining us permanently on our staff. Hopefully for many years to come," Dumbledores mouth twitched at the edges, and he continued, "Professor Cloric is our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and has been teaching it in New Zealand for the past 17 years".

Artemis Cloric stood up, and grinned from ear to ear as the whole hall erupted into applause. When he had seated himself again Dumbledore indicated to the last new member of staff.

"Lastly I would like to introduce Professor Garuda Munkvold from Durmstrang, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures -"

There was a loud cheer from the Slytherin table, Harry could just make out an ecstatic Draco lifting his goblet and making a toast with Tertius.

Professor Munkvold stood up and smiled grimly down at them all. He leaned forward slightly, finger tips supporting his weight on the tabletop. His eyes were bulging and Harry wondered if he hadn't been recently strangled.

"HOWEVER", said Dumbledore very loudly, obviously not pleased at being cut off. The Slytherin table went quiet.

He continued, "Professor Munkvold is also only with us on a semi-permanent basis.. that is, until Rubeus Hagrid is able to return to us later this year".

The Slytherins looked horrified by this news. Harry saw to his pleasure that Draco looked like he had just had the Quidditch cup taken off him, and given back to Gryffindor instead.

A bit of hissing started coming from their table. Harry wasn't sure if this was meant to be intimidating or what, but Professor Dumbledores face darkened.

"That's enough!", he boomed, glaring at the Slytherin table over his half moon glasses.

"There is one last notice I would like to give you before you are excused. I am sure that you are all aware that Durmstrang was closed after their Headmaster Karkaroff left last year. Many of our new students sorted tonight are from Durmstrang. I will urge you to treat them with the same respect as everyone else, and accept them as one of ours as they now are. That is all. Prefects are to show new students to bed, classes begin tomorrow!"

Harry rose from his seat with everyone else in the hall. When he looked at Hermione, she was still sitting though, and had a puzzled expression on her face.

"What's the matter?", he asked.

"Oh.. I was just thinking, I'm sure I've heard mention of Professor Munkvolds name before. I just can't place where", said Hermione frowning while slowly standing up.

"You probably read it in some books somewhere Hermione", said Ron reassuringly.., "It will probably come to you in about ten minutes!".

"Probably", replied Hermione.

"Where's this fabled bed of mine then?", asked Mike looking at Harry.

"Oh, I'll have to show you all up to the Gryffindor common room", said Harry.

"We haven't been given the password yet!", hissed Hermione, who already had a small group of Gryffindors crowding around her.

"The password is Chudley Cannons", said Ron with a shy grin.

"What?!", said Hermione and Harry together.

"Oh? Did I forget to tell you? Professor McGonagall asked me to choose the first password for this year while we were sorting the luggage before."

"And how long do we have to put up with the pleasure of that password for?", asked Hermione crossly.

"Just a week!", said Ron grinning.

Harry soon found he had quite a large group of Gryffindors crowding around him waiting to be shown up. He made his way out into the Great Hall calling out "New Gryffindors can follow me!". Ron and Hermione were doing the same. It turned out that they really did get quite a large amount of students from Durmstrang after all, although, the Slytherins did win that particular competition hands down.

Mike had joined Harrys group, and Harry looked with amusement at the food stains on Mikes trousers from the slight accident with the plate before. Mike saw Harry looking and went slightly red, and quickly buttoned up an old brownish coat he had on under his Hogwarts cloak. Perhaps he should have just left the coat undone though, since the coat looked about 60 years old, and like it had been run over by a bus several times, and never been washed.

"That's better!", exclaimed Mike, oblivious to the stares he was getting from the other new Gryffindors. After a couple of minutes, Harry decided that he had waited long enough for any stragglers to join their group - no one else seemed to be coming. So Harry set off up the stair case with them all following behind. As they passed the first suit of armour at the top of the stair case, they all oh'd and ah'd, and Harry had to wait for a moment to let them admire it before continuing. Several staircases later they reached the right hallway to the tower and Harry quickly led the way down it stopping outside the Fat Lady portrait.

"What have we here?", she said surveying them with raised eyebrows.

"These are new Gryffindor first years", said Harry, wondering why she hadn't been expecting them.

"More? I just let two lots in. Well I am pleased! The school is really growing in size. Mind you", she said now frowning, "I'm going to have my work cut out for me now!"

Harry turned around and addressed his group.

"The password you give to the Fat Lady to get into the tower is Chudley Cannons. It will change weekly, but may be changed more often if we need the security. You are not allowed to give your password to anyone not in Gryffindor. You will get points deducted from Gryffindor house if you are found sharing the password with other houses", said Harry loudly. He didn't like to threaten them like that about the points, but he knew better than anyone how dangerous it would be to let just anyone be able to walk in.

With that, he said the password to the waiting Fat Lady who swung open obligingly, and they all stepped through the portrait hole after Harry.

"This is the Gryffindor Common Room", he said, gesturing at the room they where now standing in. It was empty except for Parvati and Lavender who were lounging in front of the crackling fire in armchairs.

"Your dormitories are up here", Harry said, pointing up the staircase, "Boys - Girls. Your luggage has already been brought up. You will get your timetables at breakfast tomorrow, so you should go to bed now so you don't sleep in!", said Harry with a grin.

"Wow Harry, you sounded just like Percy!", exclaimed Ron appearing at the bottom of the staircase, after Harrys group had dispersed.

"I sure hope not!", replied Harry.. "I didn't deduct any points, anyway".

"I still can't believe how Percy could deduct points from our house!", said Ron, "It's almost like he didn't want us to win!".

"Oh for goodness sake!", scrowled Hermione appearing in the doorway, "How do you propose we deal with disobedient students? Deducting points is an effective punishment".

"You could just tell them off of course", suggested Ron.

"But then you will get a reputation as been soft, and they will break the rules more often", replied Hermione, "Anyway.. are you going to just tell off the Slytherins? You have to be fair."

"Making up for all the times Snape deducted points from us for no good reason is fair!", said Ron with a frown.

Harry laughed at that, and Hermione, stifled a bit of a laugh too, while trying to control her serious expression.

"Anyway", she said, "It's nearly 8.30, we have to meet McGonagall in the great Hall, remember?".

"Yes, lets go now", said Harry glancing at his Precision Planetary Watch, which he could still only read the hour from, never having got up to the part on minutes or seconds.

"Wow!", said Hermione, "Is that -"

"Isn't he so lucky?", said Ron cutting in, "Sirius gave it to him for his birthday, it's the real thing. Dumbledores got one similar to it too."

"I've read about those!", said Hermione, "They tell you all sorts of useful things, like if you walk into a frozen time field, or the year if you go back in time - it goes back too!".

"Hey is your watch showing the right time then?", said Ron impressed by this information, "my ordinary watch is several hours ahead now".

"It says it's 8 O'clock.. I can't read the minutes or seconds yet", confirmed Harry.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked out the portrait hole and down the stairs to the Great Hall. Most of the other prefects were already there, and they waited patiently for Professor McGonagall to turn up.

She finally turned up and surveyed them all before determining that they were all present.

"Right, everyone follow me", she instructed, leading them down one of the passages that led in the direction of the Slytherin common room. However, she led them on past there and many other dark dingy dungeons, and finally stopped outside a large old oak door.

Professor McGonagall glanced up at the clock above the oak door. It said that the time was 16 to Nine.

"Another minute and a half should do it", she said watching it.

They all waited patiently for the time to tick by, and finally she withdrew a large brass key from her cloak and opened the door. Inside was the time room they had brought the luggage into before. The grandfather clock stood against one wall, its cabinet open. Professor McGonagall waited for them to all walk in and closed and locked the door behind them. Then she closed the cabinet of the clock and opened the door to the outside.

A cold wind blew in through the door and stung Harrys face.

"Right, everybody out the door and walk around the castle and in through the great doors and off to bed. That should do it!", she commanded indicating for them to step out into the cold dark night.

Harry reluctantly followed the others outside and walked around the castle and back inside the great doors.

When Harry finally entered their dormitory some 15 minutes later he noticed that he was now going to be sharing the room with Mike and another new fifth year boy as there where now two extra beds which the room had been expanded to accompany.