A/N: What's up all? Thanks to all for reviewing my story. Zee, you totally
crack me up! "Or can you?" Ha! I love it! I'm sorry but Lavender isn't
going to be in this story. I think one insufferable Trelawney follower is
enough!!! Thank you to my other faithful reviewers, the ever polite
Bombshell, and silvermoon12. I'd also like to welcome the new reviewers!
Thanks for reading my stuff!!! I've started reading the stories of the
people who have been reviewing me. I feel that one good turn deserves
another. If you all have time you should read some too. There is a lot of
good stuff out there! Anyway, I've had some spontaneous enlightenment and
decided to write more sooner than I thought. I wrote the sorting hat song a
few days ago when I thought I'd actually get to use it, but the chapters
get longer and longer and I find myself at chapter eight with no students
yet! I like to tell myself that I'm just building the story! But FINALLY we
have students! Thanks for the reviews and enjoy the story!
~Chapter 9~
Parvati was talking excitedly as she, Ginny, Ron, and Draco headed down toward the train station. "I can't believe the students are finally going to be here!"
"I know," Ginny agreed, "it seems like only yesterday that we got here ourselves."
Ron and Draco sat side by side in the carriage both looking out the window like their lives depended on it. Neither of them paid much attention to the girl's conversation. When they finally reached the station Ron hurried out of the carriage barely sparing a glance to anyone else. He was glad that he finally had some time to himself. It gave him time to think.
Ron hadn't been able to bring himself to tell Harry what had happened that afternoon with Hermione when he saw him. He still couldn't believe himself the new direction their relationship had taken. Sure he thought that maybe someday this would happen, but he didn't think it would be so soon and, truth be known, he didn't know how he felt about Hermione being the one to take the plunge first. It was unacceptable actually. He was the guy! He was supposed to make the moves! Ron sighed. The bottom line was that the move was made; the question was what was going to happen next.
~~~
"We'll be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time," came the announcement over the loudspeaker in the train, "Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
"Wow Emily! We're almost there!" Franklin Creevey said eagerly to his sister.
Emily looked at her brother and merely rolled her eyes and smiled at her younger brother. He looked like a blonde blue-eyed bobble head doll in his excitement. Emily herself had the same blue eyes as her brother, but her hair was a darker blonde color. She closed the copy of the Daily Prophet she had been reading and put it aside. She didn't understand what it was about going to Hogwarts that made all her brothers act like drooling children in a candy store. Sure it was a surprise when her older brother, Collin, had gotten his letter, no one knew there even were witches or wizards. But she had been five years old at the time and by now the shock of it all had worn off. However, the youngest of the Creevey children had inherited his older brothers giddiness over being accepted into the school.
"Yeah Franklin, almost." She may have been sick of listening to Hogwarts this and Hogwarts that for the past week, but she didn't want to ruin the excitement of the experience for him. "It'll be great," she told him as she stood up and climbed on the train bench to dig her and Franklin's robes out of their trunks, "Hagrid will be there and he'll lead you to the boats. You'll have a great time."
"I can't wait!" Franklin said taking his robe from his sister's outstretched arm. "Where are Tyler and Coop?" he asked pulling on his robe. "They've been gone for a long time."
Tyler McLean and Philip Cooper were Emily's fellow fourth years and her best friends. Everyone called Philip Coop because his father's name was also Philip and this way, Coop said, it was just easier for him to know someone wasn't looking for his dad.
Emily finished closing the trunks again and climbed down off the seat. "They have haven't they?" Her friends had gone off in search of the snack cart and still hadn't returned. "I'm sure they heard the announcement so they'll probably be back any minute."
"Well, they had better hurry up or they won't have time to change," Franklin said.
She just finished zipping up her robe when Tyler and Coop finally came back into the cabin. They were both tall boys, not that Emily herself was short or anything. Her brothers might have been vertically challenged, but she had lucked out. Tyler and Coop, however, were still both several inches above her five foot six inch height. Tyler had very short black hair and deep brown eyes while Coop had light brown hair, which reached just past his ears and hazel eyes.
"We couldn't find the cart lady!" Coop said reaching into the overhead bin to take out his own robe from his trunk.
"We looked everywhere too!" Tyler said also rummaging in his trunk. "Now we'll have to wait until the first Hogsmeade trip to stock up on the candy!" he grumbled dejectedly.
Emily laughed at her friends, "I told you two not to wait so long to look for her. Don't worry though," she added at the crestfallen looks on her friend's faces, "I'm sure that there will be plenty of candy for you guys to stock up with at the banquet tonight."
"Or we can wrangle some from some unsuspecting first years again!" Coop said excitedly.
"Yeah!" Tyler agreed his brown eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh no you don't," Emily interrupted, "You're not going to charge first years to get off the train this year!"
"But Em," Tyler began, "you can't really expect us to go so long without candy, can you?"
Coop zipped up his robe as he walked back next to Tyler, "Besides, someone's got to teach them that they can't trust anyone. It's more of a public service really."
"Come off it Coop, we're going to set a good example for my little brother," she said motioning over to where her brother sat staring out the window. "Besides, I picked up some extra candy in Diagon Alley and if you two promise to be good little boys, I'll give it all to you."
Coop and Tyler looked at each other silently weighing the dilemma before them. Run amuck and torment first years or a sure supply of candy.
"All right," they both said. "But it had better be good candy!" Tyler added.
Emily shook her head at them. "We're here, we're here!" Franklin said jumping up and down. He ran past the other three, "Come on!" he said at the door and kept going. Emily rolled her eyes again and followed her brother out into the corridor.
~~~
Ron heard the train blow its whistle as it rolled into the station. As it stopped in front of him Ron stood up from the bench where he was sitting and walked over to it. In the next second students came pouring out of the train. Some were running up to friends they hadn't seen over the summer while others looked around nervously trying to figure out what came next.
"First years this way," he called out waving in his direction. "The rest of you please move on to the carriages." The students who heard him turned to look at him questioningly.
"Hey, where's Hagrid?" one of them called.
"Everything will be explained at the castle. He kept walking towards the boats, "First years this way." The group of first years started following him.
As they all gathered near him he could hear them whispering among themselves. "Hey isn't that-" "Hey I know him-" "Doesn't he play for-" "That's Ron Weasley! I have his poster hanging in my room." Ron smiled to himself. He never really thought about the fact that these students would know who he was.
"First years," he called again heading of to then end of the platform to wait as first years scrambled toward him.
~~~
Draco, Ginny, and Parvati all stood near the carriages as the returning students made their way up to them. "I don't understand why we need to be here," Draco said as he watched the students, "I don't remember anyone coming to meet us at the carriages when we returned."
Parvati ignored Draco, but Ginny answered, "Don't you think they'll be asking questions especially since Hagrid isn't there to welcome them as usual?" Parvati glanced at Ginny out of the corner of her eye. She was a brave one to be sure. Parvati knew better than to answer back to anything Draco said. His father had been a death-eater and for all she cared, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Ginny, however, didn't seem to worry too much about angering him.
Draco didn't comment farther and as the kids reached them they started with the questions. "Where's Hagrid?" "Who are you?" "What's going on?"
Parvati held up her hands to quiet the students, "Don't worry, everything will be answered at the castle. For now, please get into the carriages. Prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl, use the carriages in the front as you need to arrive as soon as possible."
The prefects the Head Boy and Head Girl, who already had some idea that they had new teachers, headed up toward the front carriages and climbed in. When their carriages took off Ginny and Parvati started herding the others into carriages as well while Draco just stood off to the side. When a student curiously looked in his direction he'd just raise an eyebrow at them, which caused them to look away quickly and scurry off.
When the last student was loaded up Ginny and Parvati headed back to their own carriage and climbed in with Draco behind them. As soon as they sat down the carriages began their journey to the castle.
~~~
If Ron thought the attention he was getting was bad, it was nothing compared to the looks and comments that Harry was receiving from the eight prefects in front of him. The sixth and seventh year students and prefects were likely to remember him from his seventh year at Hogwarts. However the few fifth years in front of him were most excited to see him. "That's him," one of the girls was saying to another, "That's THE Harry Potter!" "Look, there's the scar." Neville and Cho could only cast sympathetic looks in his direction as the students entered the room where they would be told of the changes taking place. They all sat down at the table and looked expectantly at their new teachers.
"Right then," Neville cleared his throat, "I guess I'll begin?" he asked looking toward Harry and Cho for approval. When they nodded their heads at him he cleared his throat and started again. "As Professor McGonagall has already told you, there is a new staff at Hogwarts this year. There are eight new teachers in all here. Since this is all new for us, we need to make sure that you are all on the same page."
Cho stepped forward, "Yes, we need to make sure that you are extra vigilant in your duties. "Now we'll just quickly go over some new stuff. This will be covered in more detail at the banquet tonight, but just so that you guys have a heads up."
The finished up quickly and headed out as the last of the students entered from the carriages. They all walked into the Great Hall to wait for the first years to arrive and the sorting to begin.
A/N: OK, so this chapter is coming to you in two parts. It was A LOT longer than I thought it would be and I thought it would be sporty to give you guys a break in here. Don't worry though, if you don't need the break you can just click on the next arrow!!!
~Chapter 9~
Parvati was talking excitedly as she, Ginny, Ron, and Draco headed down toward the train station. "I can't believe the students are finally going to be here!"
"I know," Ginny agreed, "it seems like only yesterday that we got here ourselves."
Ron and Draco sat side by side in the carriage both looking out the window like their lives depended on it. Neither of them paid much attention to the girl's conversation. When they finally reached the station Ron hurried out of the carriage barely sparing a glance to anyone else. He was glad that he finally had some time to himself. It gave him time to think.
Ron hadn't been able to bring himself to tell Harry what had happened that afternoon with Hermione when he saw him. He still couldn't believe himself the new direction their relationship had taken. Sure he thought that maybe someday this would happen, but he didn't think it would be so soon and, truth be known, he didn't know how he felt about Hermione being the one to take the plunge first. It was unacceptable actually. He was the guy! He was supposed to make the moves! Ron sighed. The bottom line was that the move was made; the question was what was going to happen next.
~~~
"We'll be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time," came the announcement over the loudspeaker in the train, "Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
"Wow Emily! We're almost there!" Franklin Creevey said eagerly to his sister.
Emily looked at her brother and merely rolled her eyes and smiled at her younger brother. He looked like a blonde blue-eyed bobble head doll in his excitement. Emily herself had the same blue eyes as her brother, but her hair was a darker blonde color. She closed the copy of the Daily Prophet she had been reading and put it aside. She didn't understand what it was about going to Hogwarts that made all her brothers act like drooling children in a candy store. Sure it was a surprise when her older brother, Collin, had gotten his letter, no one knew there even were witches or wizards. But she had been five years old at the time and by now the shock of it all had worn off. However, the youngest of the Creevey children had inherited his older brothers giddiness over being accepted into the school.
"Yeah Franklin, almost." She may have been sick of listening to Hogwarts this and Hogwarts that for the past week, but she didn't want to ruin the excitement of the experience for him. "It'll be great," she told him as she stood up and climbed on the train bench to dig her and Franklin's robes out of their trunks, "Hagrid will be there and he'll lead you to the boats. You'll have a great time."
"I can't wait!" Franklin said taking his robe from his sister's outstretched arm. "Where are Tyler and Coop?" he asked pulling on his robe. "They've been gone for a long time."
Tyler McLean and Philip Cooper were Emily's fellow fourth years and her best friends. Everyone called Philip Coop because his father's name was also Philip and this way, Coop said, it was just easier for him to know someone wasn't looking for his dad.
Emily finished closing the trunks again and climbed down off the seat. "They have haven't they?" Her friends had gone off in search of the snack cart and still hadn't returned. "I'm sure they heard the announcement so they'll probably be back any minute."
"Well, they had better hurry up or they won't have time to change," Franklin said.
She just finished zipping up her robe when Tyler and Coop finally came back into the cabin. They were both tall boys, not that Emily herself was short or anything. Her brothers might have been vertically challenged, but she had lucked out. Tyler and Coop, however, were still both several inches above her five foot six inch height. Tyler had very short black hair and deep brown eyes while Coop had light brown hair, which reached just past his ears and hazel eyes.
"We couldn't find the cart lady!" Coop said reaching into the overhead bin to take out his own robe from his trunk.
"We looked everywhere too!" Tyler said also rummaging in his trunk. "Now we'll have to wait until the first Hogsmeade trip to stock up on the candy!" he grumbled dejectedly.
Emily laughed at her friends, "I told you two not to wait so long to look for her. Don't worry though," she added at the crestfallen looks on her friend's faces, "I'm sure that there will be plenty of candy for you guys to stock up with at the banquet tonight."
"Or we can wrangle some from some unsuspecting first years again!" Coop said excitedly.
"Yeah!" Tyler agreed his brown eyes twinkling mischievously.
"Oh no you don't," Emily interrupted, "You're not going to charge first years to get off the train this year!"
"But Em," Tyler began, "you can't really expect us to go so long without candy, can you?"
Coop zipped up his robe as he walked back next to Tyler, "Besides, someone's got to teach them that they can't trust anyone. It's more of a public service really."
"Come off it Coop, we're going to set a good example for my little brother," she said motioning over to where her brother sat staring out the window. "Besides, I picked up some extra candy in Diagon Alley and if you two promise to be good little boys, I'll give it all to you."
Coop and Tyler looked at each other silently weighing the dilemma before them. Run amuck and torment first years or a sure supply of candy.
"All right," they both said. "But it had better be good candy!" Tyler added.
Emily shook her head at them. "We're here, we're here!" Franklin said jumping up and down. He ran past the other three, "Come on!" he said at the door and kept going. Emily rolled her eyes again and followed her brother out into the corridor.
~~~
Ron heard the train blow its whistle as it rolled into the station. As it stopped in front of him Ron stood up from the bench where he was sitting and walked over to it. In the next second students came pouring out of the train. Some were running up to friends they hadn't seen over the summer while others looked around nervously trying to figure out what came next.
"First years this way," he called out waving in his direction. "The rest of you please move on to the carriages." The students who heard him turned to look at him questioningly.
"Hey, where's Hagrid?" one of them called.
"Everything will be explained at the castle. He kept walking towards the boats, "First years this way." The group of first years started following him.
As they all gathered near him he could hear them whispering among themselves. "Hey isn't that-" "Hey I know him-" "Doesn't he play for-" "That's Ron Weasley! I have his poster hanging in my room." Ron smiled to himself. He never really thought about the fact that these students would know who he was.
"First years," he called again heading of to then end of the platform to wait as first years scrambled toward him.
~~~
Draco, Ginny, and Parvati all stood near the carriages as the returning students made their way up to them. "I don't understand why we need to be here," Draco said as he watched the students, "I don't remember anyone coming to meet us at the carriages when we returned."
Parvati ignored Draco, but Ginny answered, "Don't you think they'll be asking questions especially since Hagrid isn't there to welcome them as usual?" Parvati glanced at Ginny out of the corner of her eye. She was a brave one to be sure. Parvati knew better than to answer back to anything Draco said. His father had been a death-eater and for all she cared, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Ginny, however, didn't seem to worry too much about angering him.
Draco didn't comment farther and as the kids reached them they started with the questions. "Where's Hagrid?" "Who are you?" "What's going on?"
Parvati held up her hands to quiet the students, "Don't worry, everything will be answered at the castle. For now, please get into the carriages. Prefects, Head Boy, and Head Girl, use the carriages in the front as you need to arrive as soon as possible."
The prefects the Head Boy and Head Girl, who already had some idea that they had new teachers, headed up toward the front carriages and climbed in. When their carriages took off Ginny and Parvati started herding the others into carriages as well while Draco just stood off to the side. When a student curiously looked in his direction he'd just raise an eyebrow at them, which caused them to look away quickly and scurry off.
When the last student was loaded up Ginny and Parvati headed back to their own carriage and climbed in with Draco behind them. As soon as they sat down the carriages began their journey to the castle.
~~~
If Ron thought the attention he was getting was bad, it was nothing compared to the looks and comments that Harry was receiving from the eight prefects in front of him. The sixth and seventh year students and prefects were likely to remember him from his seventh year at Hogwarts. However the few fifth years in front of him were most excited to see him. "That's him," one of the girls was saying to another, "That's THE Harry Potter!" "Look, there's the scar." Neville and Cho could only cast sympathetic looks in his direction as the students entered the room where they would be told of the changes taking place. They all sat down at the table and looked expectantly at their new teachers.
"Right then," Neville cleared his throat, "I guess I'll begin?" he asked looking toward Harry and Cho for approval. When they nodded their heads at him he cleared his throat and started again. "As Professor McGonagall has already told you, there is a new staff at Hogwarts this year. There are eight new teachers in all here. Since this is all new for us, we need to make sure that you are all on the same page."
Cho stepped forward, "Yes, we need to make sure that you are extra vigilant in your duties. "Now we'll just quickly go over some new stuff. This will be covered in more detail at the banquet tonight, but just so that you guys have a heads up."
The finished up quickly and headed out as the last of the students entered from the carriages. They all walked into the Great Hall to wait for the first years to arrive and the sorting to begin.
A/N: OK, so this chapter is coming to you in two parts. It was A LOT longer than I thought it would be and I thought it would be sporty to give you guys a break in here. Don't worry though, if you don't need the break you can just click on the next arrow!!!