The Sorting

Hogwarts rose before them, as magnificent as ever. Harry beamed, for the castle was home to him. Leaving the assorted pets with the luggage, they hurried to the Great Hall. There, Luna left them with a vague "Goodbye, Ronald." and proceeded to the Ravenclaw table, while the Gryffindors headed to their own table.

Harry seated himself next to Ron and Hermione before looking up at the staff table. Dumbledore was chatting pleasantly with Sprout, the short, dumpy witch who taught Herbology. Snape was scowling as though the holidays had ended far too soon. Flitwick was deep in discussion with the Arithmancy witch. Grubbly-Plank was still escorting the first years across the lake and no doubt McGonagall was waiting to receive them. The new DADA professor's seat was empty "Wonder who the new DADA teacher is?" mused Hermione.

"Ron, did you hear anything?" asked Harry. Ron's family was extremely active in the Order and in frequent contact with Dumbledore and other members of the Hogwarts staff.

"Not a word," grumbled Ron. "Mum, Dad, and even the twins know, but they won't tell. They just told me to wait. The twins did say I would like the new professor, but Mum heard and threatened to put a Silencing Charm on them if they said anything else."

The group paused as professor McGonagall led the new first years into the Hall. Once again, Harry recalled his own Sorting. Most of the new students looked just as terrified as he had felt.

Flitwick carried the Sorting hat into the room and set it on a stool. Patched and frayed, the filthy hat was silent. Then, it twitched and a wide rip near the brim gaped as the hat began to sing.

Once four friends had a heart to heart

And decided a school to start

Young witches and wizards they would teach

Gathering those with values prized to each

Brave Gryffindor liked those as bold as he

For him audacity and daring was the key

Clever Ravenclaw loved those of inquiring mind

Those who sought knowledge, her heart would also find

Sweet Hufflepuff adored those who were loyal

Her favorites are true and unafraid of toil

Sly Slytherin prized those of a cunning mind

With him ambitious souls always found their kind

At first the Hogwarts Four taught as friends

Then a rift between them began to rend

Until as last open dissent sounded

As brother upon brother rounded

Now a thousand years have passed and gone

Still, none have mended the ancient wrong

Now a threat looms once more

Slytherin must battle Gryffindor

Yet these two heroes are dead

Now the heirs fight in their stead

One more warning I give to all

If divided we stand, then divided we shall surely fall

The hat gave its customary bow to the House tables and fell silent. Intense whispering swept the Hall as students speculated on the hat's latest song. It took a particularly ominous glare from McGonagall to silence the restless students. She stepped forward and called.

"Allan, Gregory!" a short boy walked to the stool, plainly terrified, and sat as McGonagall placed the hat on his head.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" bellowed the hat. The Hufflepuff table erupted in cheers as Gregory Allen hurried to the table.

"Batterton, Leslie!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

Harry quickly tuned out the Sorting, thinking about the song. Voldemort was the Heir of Slytherin. Was he, Harry, the Heir of Gryffindor?

"Evans, Mark!"

Harry's head snapped up. A smallish boy was walking toward the hat. Harry knew that name…the night the Dementors came, him cheeking Dudley about boxing…Mark Evans lived on Privet Drive! Harry watched intently as the tiny boy's face all but disappeared under the hat. There was a long pause.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat roared. Harry stood and cheered with the other Gryffindors as Mark Evans joined the table.

The Sorting continued and the line of new students began to dwindle. Ron was looking longingly at his empty plate. Finally, Flitwick carried the silent Sorting hat from the Hall. Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"Let the feast begin." he said simply. At once, food appeared on the plates and pumpkin juice filled the goblets. Ron let out a strangled cheer and fell upon the food. Harry followed suit, slightly less desperately. Hermione let out a disdainful sniff.

"Whoever the DADA professor it, they're even later than Crouch" she remarked.

"Let's hope he's not like Crouch then." Harry said darkly. "One homicidal maniac teacher was quite enough, thanks."

"'mon 'arry, maybe 'is one 'on't be 'ad" mumbled Ron through a mouthful of shepherd's pie.

Hermione managed to look revolted, exasperated, and partly resigned at the same time. "Ron, how can you possibly expect us to understand you?"

Ron swallowed with what looked like a huge effort to Harry. "I said, come on Harry, maybe this one won't be bad" he said, speaking with exaggerated emphasis. "Of course, in five years we've had a traitor, a conceited git, a lunatic Death Eater, and a sadist. Even Lupin was a werewolf, and he was our best teacher! Hate to say it mate, but odds are against this one." Ron said, shaking his head as he returned to his pie.

Hermione's retort was cut off as Dumbledore rose to his feet.