Hey! A HUGE thanks to the reviewers: Citrus scented, Melia and Staci (by
the way, thanks so much for your compliment. I hope my story can actually
live up to your expectations :-) I really appreciate being catalogued with
J.K. Rowling!) Thanks to you all for your encouraging reviews! I promise I
will update MUCH more often now! My IGCSE exams are almost over and the
hard ones are out of the way. I'm hoping that if I work hard enough I can
finish this fic before the real thing comes out. That will be a stretch
though; 30-some-odd days now. Yay! Please bear with me. The next one or two
chapters may be slow. I'm deciding how exactly this plot will develop and
what exactly is going happen. If this chapter is sucky its because it's
pretty late, but I don't wanna wait any longer to update. :-)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- Chapter 10
Harry and Ron returned to the castle where they promptly told Hermione all that they had seen and heard. Hermione agreed that they should keep their eyes open. Just a little more discretely and cautiously then before.
They later read in the newspaper that the prisoners of Azkaban had been released by the Dementors. Most of them had re-joined the Dark side.
* * *
The days leading up to the start of the school term were busy as teachers returned from their holidays. Hagrid had been absent since that night Harry came to the school and when they asked Lupin about it he just waved it away as though it was no big deal. He said that they shouldn't worry about it and that Hagrid would be back for the start of the year.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were starting to get anxious for school to start. At first having the school to themselves was fun, but after a few weeks the novelty wore off. The school seemed so empty and lifeless without the crowds of students milling around.
Hermione was busy organising her papers, notes and books for the start of the term. Harry and Ron were practising their Quidditch. Ron was going to be trying out for the place of Keeper.
It was a relief to the trio when the carriages brought the students of Hogwarts up the path. Harry watched from his spot at the Gryffindor table as the students poured in, chattering, calling and shouting. Dean, Seamus and Neville took their usual seats beside and across from the trio.
"Where were you guys?" Neville questioned. Harry looked at his best friends. They hadn't even thought of what they were going to say if that topic arose.
"Ah, well, you see, we, um, missed the train. Professor Dumbledore sent a Ministry car for us. We arrived a few minutes before you lot did." Neville seemed satisfied with that answer and sat back, looking around. Seamus was complaining loudly to Dean, Lavender and Hermione that they would be taking their N.E.W.Ts this year. Ron was staring at the door, that the first years would soon be emerging from, with all of his might as though he could make the door open. Ron was fingering his silverware wistfully. Harry's eyes travelled from the Gryffindor table to the one on the far left. His eyes landed on a blond haired, smartly dressed, smirking Slytherin. Harry felt his stomach clench when he saw his archenemy. His teeth ground hard and Harry had his hands balled up in fists as he thought of the past insults Malfoy had thrown at him and his friends for the past four years. His thoughts were interrupted by the presence of McGonagall and the first year students. Harry watched as she strode forward bearing the weathered Sorting Hat and placed it on the three-legged stool. The Great Hall fell silent as the brim of the hat suddenly opened and a clear, loud voice called out:
*No spells will you do, it's no contest, no race,
I dig around and find your place.
Put me on and we will see,
Nothing you have up there is hidden from me.
Hufflepuff are gentle and kind,
While Ravenclaw help their friends in a bind.
Slytherin are tricky, crafty and shrewd,
While Gryffindor are brave and never rude.
So step up, don't be afraid,
Never a wrong decision have I made. *
The hat fell silent, his poem for this year done. The Hall burst out, ringing with applause. As Professor McGonagall stepped forward the Hall fell silent again.
"Axel, Jason." She called. A young boy, trembling visibly came through the crowd of first years. The boy put the hat on and waited, gripping the sides of the seat tightly. The hat thought for a moment or two before-
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat bellowed out loud.
The rest of the Sorting proceeded like this. The Gryffindor table received quite a few more students. The children all huddled together on one end of the table, half of them were looking relived that the Sorting was over, the other half were looking awed and amazed as they gazed around the Hall. When the Hat and stool were removed the Headmaster stood up with his arms open, a warm smile and a twinkle in his blue eyes that made the newcomers feel at home and welcome.
"Welcome everyone, to a new year at Hogwarts. First I would like to tell the first years that the Forest is strictly forbidden. Second, Dung Bombs and other more, er, messy practical jokes are not allowed. To see what is allowed and what isn't, please see the list in Mr. Filch's office. Next, the Quidditch tryouts will take place at different times. Your Head house teacher will come around with the day of your houses' tryouts." Here, Ron eagerly nudged Harry, who grinned at him.
"Now, all I have left to say is: Welcome, good luck with the start of the term, and enjoy." At the last word Dumbledore spread his arms wide and food appeared on the table. There was a sudden explosion of noise; people talking, cutlery scraping, chairs being dragged in and out, etc.
After they had eaten Dumbledore ordered the Prefects to take the students to their dormitories. Harry felt very sleepy as they trudged up the stairs to the Tower. He heard a noise and saw a shaggy black dog at his side. He let his hand fall lightly onto the dog's back. Harry then glanced up and saw Lupin walking a few feet behind. He looked to his right and saw Hermione and Ron. They both nodded at him; they had seen Sirius and Lupin. Harry suppressed a sigh and continued the familiar walk to the Gryffindor Tower. It was going to be a long year.
*~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~*
Well, what do you guys think? Thanks again for the reviews. I will be updating again really soon. I suddenly am inspired and think I'll write another chapter or two today.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- Chapter 10
Harry and Ron returned to the castle where they promptly told Hermione all that they had seen and heard. Hermione agreed that they should keep their eyes open. Just a little more discretely and cautiously then before.
They later read in the newspaper that the prisoners of Azkaban had been released by the Dementors. Most of them had re-joined the Dark side.
* * *
The days leading up to the start of the school term were busy as teachers returned from their holidays. Hagrid had been absent since that night Harry came to the school and when they asked Lupin about it he just waved it away as though it was no big deal. He said that they shouldn't worry about it and that Hagrid would be back for the start of the year.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were starting to get anxious for school to start. At first having the school to themselves was fun, but after a few weeks the novelty wore off. The school seemed so empty and lifeless without the crowds of students milling around.
Hermione was busy organising her papers, notes and books for the start of the term. Harry and Ron were practising their Quidditch. Ron was going to be trying out for the place of Keeper.
It was a relief to the trio when the carriages brought the students of Hogwarts up the path. Harry watched from his spot at the Gryffindor table as the students poured in, chattering, calling and shouting. Dean, Seamus and Neville took their usual seats beside and across from the trio.
"Where were you guys?" Neville questioned. Harry looked at his best friends. They hadn't even thought of what they were going to say if that topic arose.
"Ah, well, you see, we, um, missed the train. Professor Dumbledore sent a Ministry car for us. We arrived a few minutes before you lot did." Neville seemed satisfied with that answer and sat back, looking around. Seamus was complaining loudly to Dean, Lavender and Hermione that they would be taking their N.E.W.Ts this year. Ron was staring at the door, that the first years would soon be emerging from, with all of his might as though he could make the door open. Ron was fingering his silverware wistfully. Harry's eyes travelled from the Gryffindor table to the one on the far left. His eyes landed on a blond haired, smartly dressed, smirking Slytherin. Harry felt his stomach clench when he saw his archenemy. His teeth ground hard and Harry had his hands balled up in fists as he thought of the past insults Malfoy had thrown at him and his friends for the past four years. His thoughts were interrupted by the presence of McGonagall and the first year students. Harry watched as she strode forward bearing the weathered Sorting Hat and placed it on the three-legged stool. The Great Hall fell silent as the brim of the hat suddenly opened and a clear, loud voice called out:
*No spells will you do, it's no contest, no race,
I dig around and find your place.
Put me on and we will see,
Nothing you have up there is hidden from me.
Hufflepuff are gentle and kind,
While Ravenclaw help their friends in a bind.
Slytherin are tricky, crafty and shrewd,
While Gryffindor are brave and never rude.
So step up, don't be afraid,
Never a wrong decision have I made. *
The hat fell silent, his poem for this year done. The Hall burst out, ringing with applause. As Professor McGonagall stepped forward the Hall fell silent again.
"Axel, Jason." She called. A young boy, trembling visibly came through the crowd of first years. The boy put the hat on and waited, gripping the sides of the seat tightly. The hat thought for a moment or two before-
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat bellowed out loud.
The rest of the Sorting proceeded like this. The Gryffindor table received quite a few more students. The children all huddled together on one end of the table, half of them were looking relived that the Sorting was over, the other half were looking awed and amazed as they gazed around the Hall. When the Hat and stool were removed the Headmaster stood up with his arms open, a warm smile and a twinkle in his blue eyes that made the newcomers feel at home and welcome.
"Welcome everyone, to a new year at Hogwarts. First I would like to tell the first years that the Forest is strictly forbidden. Second, Dung Bombs and other more, er, messy practical jokes are not allowed. To see what is allowed and what isn't, please see the list in Mr. Filch's office. Next, the Quidditch tryouts will take place at different times. Your Head house teacher will come around with the day of your houses' tryouts." Here, Ron eagerly nudged Harry, who grinned at him.
"Now, all I have left to say is: Welcome, good luck with the start of the term, and enjoy." At the last word Dumbledore spread his arms wide and food appeared on the table. There was a sudden explosion of noise; people talking, cutlery scraping, chairs being dragged in and out, etc.
After they had eaten Dumbledore ordered the Prefects to take the students to their dormitories. Harry felt very sleepy as they trudged up the stairs to the Tower. He heard a noise and saw a shaggy black dog at his side. He let his hand fall lightly onto the dog's back. Harry then glanced up and saw Lupin walking a few feet behind. He looked to his right and saw Hermione and Ron. They both nodded at him; they had seen Sirius and Lupin. Harry suppressed a sigh and continued the familiar walk to the Gryffindor Tower. It was going to be a long year.
*~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~;~*
Well, what do you guys think? Thanks again for the reviews. I will be updating again really soon. I suddenly am inspired and think I'll write another chapter or two today.