EPILOGUE

'Harry Potter' Professor McGonagall called from the top of the stairs to where Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Hannah where heading.

'Yes Professor?' Harry asked.

'Please follow me into my office, I have something of interest to you.' She said.

Harry looked back to his friends apologetically.

'Go on Harry, we will save you a seat.' Said Hermione.

'See you soon then.' Harry turned to McGonagall as the rest made their way into the Great Hall. She beckoned him to follow her again and he hesitantly moved towards her.

*What could she possibly want to give me?* He thought.

'Do not worry Harry, I won't keep you for long. You won't miss the sorting because after all I am the one who has to call the new students names out. And of course that includes your sister.' She gave Harry a small smile.

They arrived in a small office that looked exactly like most of the offices in the castle but Harry had never been in it before.

'Please take a seat Harry.' Harry sat down and observed McGonagall who was now shuffling through a desk searching for something.

'Here it is.' She pulled out a fancy looking scroll that was tied with a single red ribbon. She handed it over to Harry who gazed at it curiously.

'Before you open it, I would just like to say that I am very happy and deeply relieved that you and Hannah are both safe and well after this summers ordeal.' She said in a kind, motherly voice.

'Thankyou professor.' Harry said graciously.

'You may open it now.' She said and Harry noticed that she was fidgeting with her hands and actually appeared to be nervous about something.

Harry untied the ribbon and rolled open the paper, which quickly straightened to reveal large print on the top. It read:

Ordinary Wizarding Level

RESULTS TO- Mr Harry Potter

Harry gasped. He had completely forgotten about his OWL results with the summer's complications.

'Due to circumstances, your certificate was not delivered to you on time. I am sorry for the delay.' In an eager tone she added, 'So come on, how did you do?'

Harry glanced down at the scroll. Down the paper there was the names of each subject he had studied and next to each was the marks he had received in the exams. The first subject was CHARMS.

'Exceeding Expectations.' Said Harry Happily.

'Wonderful.' Said Professor McGonagall.

'Exceeding Expectations for Transfigurations' Harry said. 'Acceptable for Herbology, Outstanding for Defence against the Dark Arts.'

'Naturally.' Said McGonagall with a delighted grin playing on her lips.

'Acceptable in Potions.' Harry felt his heart sink slightly. 'I guess that means Professor Snape won't allow me into his class this year and that means I won't be able to become an Auror.'

Professor McGonagall frowned. 'Let me talk to professor Snape. I will try my best to let him accept you because I believe you can to well if you put your mind to it. And Acceptable is not a bad grade after all.'

Harry returned his attention to the certificate, feeling a little hopeful and read the rest of his marks out.

'Care of Magical Creatures- Outstanding Astronomy- Acceptable Divinations- Dreadful

History of Magic- Poor'

'Not too bad really,' Said McGonagall encouragingly 'I doubt anyone would do better in Divinations and you did collapse during your History of Magic exam. And how could you or any of the other students concentrate on your Astronomy exam with all those men and Umbridge trying to take poor Hagrid away.' Harry noticed her lips tighten and her eyes darken at the memory of being hit with four stunning spells the previous year while trying to defend Hagrid.

'So considering the circumstances I believe you achieved some excellent results. Congratulations.' She now smiled at Harry and stood up.

'We had better get going now. The first years will be waiting to be sorted.' Professor McGonagall left the room and headed to the Great Hall where the rest of the school where applauding the hat's finished song.

Harry was disappointed to have missed hearing it this year. He always enjoyed listening to the new cleverly composed lyrics the hat made up.

He made his way over to the Gryffindor table where he found a seat saved for him in between Ron and Hermione. When they saw him Ron asked, 'What was that all about?'

Harry handed him the certificate and saw Ron's eyes widen as he read Harry's marks. 'You did fantastic mate! Well done.'

'Thanks' Said Harry who was now grinning with satisfaction. He had done great.

Hermione studied the paper and beamed up at Harry. 'Congratulations Harry, wonderful results.'

'What about you two? Did you receive your certificates?' Harry asked.

'Yes we did. We would have told you about it sooner but with everything that has happened it was sort of the last thing on our mind.' Ron said.

'That's ok.' Replied Harry. 'So how did you do?'

'Not too bad but not as good as you.' Said Ron. 'Hermione received Outstanding in almost everything though.'

Hermione blushed. 'Well I could have done better in Defence Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy but E (Exceeding Expectations) is an alright mark.' Harry and Ron rolled their eyes.

'Hand on, where is Hannah?' Harry had just noticed that she wasn't sitting with them and couldn't be seen at any of the tables.

'She had to go with the first years to get sorted.' Said Hermione.

'Don't know why they bother. I mean it is obvious that she is going to be in Gryffindor.' Said Ron.

Harry nodded his agreement.

The sorting was just starting now. The first name called was 'Allen, Rebecca!' and the little girl nervously sat on the stool while professor McGonagall placed the hat over her head, as it was far too big to fit on it.

Almost immediately it called out 'HUFFLEPUFF!' and the Hufflepuff table broke out in cheers and clapping.

Next a boy called 'Ryan Boyd' was called up and the hat placed him in Gryffindor. As the sorting ceremony proceeded and the students joining their new houses, Harry turned to Ron and asked, 'What did the hat talk about tonight?'

'Basically the same things as last year except it changed some words and added new ones but it defiantly put a lot of emphasis on the need for unity between the houses. I just can't imagine Gryffindor and Slytherin being civil towards each other.'

Harry had to agree with that. There was no way he and Draco could ever get along.

At that moment there were cheers coming from the Slytherin table as a dark skinned, shy looking girl made her way over to it.

'She doesn't look too bad.' Harry observed the fact that she was the only Slytherin without a sneer and for that matter without a remotely evil face.

'It won't take long for her to be influenced by the rest of them. You wait and see.' Said Ron darkly.

Suddenly the hall fell silent. There was only one person left to be sorted.

'Potter, Hannah'

The crowed began to whisper silently and glanced at Harry and then back to Hannah again.

Before she put the hat on however, professor McGonagall announced that Dumbledore wanted to say something.

Dumbledore stood up from his chair and faced the curious students.

'Firstly I would like to welcome all the new students to Hogwarts and I hope you enjoy your time here. Now I know most of you are wondering about our latest student, Hannah. Of course this is the first time anyone has started here in a higher grade so I welcome you Hannah into seventh year. Also there are rumours that she is Harry's sister. These rumours are true as those of you who read the Daily prophet would know but it is not my place to tell you about this summers events and how we discovered Hannah. But I would like you all to welcome her together. I dare say she will make this year a proud one for whichever house she is placed in.'

Dumbledore sat down again and everyone's eyes darted back to Hannah as McGonagall put the hat onto Hannah's head and stepped back.

The crowd waited in silence. Hannah had her eyes closed and was sitting very still. Harry had his fingers crossed, as did Ron and Hermione, and was holding his breath. What was taking so long? Perhaps the hat was having a similar conversation with her as it had with Harry in his first year. Harry had to take another breath. The hall was still silent put he could tell that some people were becoming restless and from the corner of his eye Harry could see Draco and his gang of Slytherins whispering and sniggering and he felt his face grow hot with anger.

But before he could think about it anymore, there came a loud and clear voice from the hat. 'RAVENCLAW!' it shouted.

There was clapping cheering from the surprised Ravenclaws and clapping from other tables (except Slytherin) but everyone was shocked.

'What?' Said Ron. 'There must be some kind of mistake.'

Harry, who was speechless, just gaped open-mouthed as Hannah joined Padma Patil and Cho Chang at the Ravenclaw table.

'Well there isn't anything wrong with Ravenclaw. In fact I can see why she was placed there.' Said Hermione knowingly. 'I mean she is very intelligent after all isn't she.'

'I suppose,' said Harry as he recomposed himself, 'but now she won't be on our Quidditch team and they will probably win this year.'

'Quidditch isn't everything Harry.' She said crossly.

Harry decided not to argue this point and instead clapped along with everyone else. It wouldn't make a difference really. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor got along quite well and he would still see her all the time anyway.

But Harry could see that Ron was still not too happy about this. He grinned to himself but didn't say anything.

Every head turned to look up at Dumbledore at the sound of a clinking glass. He made his usual beginning of term announcements and before Ron could complain about his stomach, plates of food appeared in front of everyone and students and teachers both delightedly plunged into their meals, momentarily forgetting the worlds perils and the dark times to come.

THE END