Chapter 6: The Sorting. Harry slept with no problems and dreamt of living with Sirius. Harry woke suddenly, someone was shouting at him. "HARRY, WAKE UP!" "What. What time is it?" Harry reached for his glasses. "8:05, now get dressed you will miss breakfast. Remember, the sorting," they replied. "Have a nice chat with Sirius?" a girls voice spoke. "HERMIONE! What are you doing in here? This is the boys dorm!" Harry yelled. "The other boys were dressed and up so I came to see you, Ron said it was OK." She explained. "Well. Fine. We had a great talk. We spent an hour and a half chatting, then I realized the time, so I came to bed." Harry smiled and continued "Sirius is coming back at Halloween to see me too." "Don't you think it's a bit risky? People will talk you know. They will think some animal is loose." Ron said troubled. "Oh, I never thought. But there is a big gap between now and then!" Harry thought. Ron and Hermione nodded. "Now can you leave I need to get dressed, a man needs his privacy!" Harry raised his eyebrows. Hermione laughed quietly and left followed by Ron, "See you in the Hall" and shut the door. Harry got dressed quickly and noticed something different suddenly as he went to the hall. The atmosphere is different; something is different around here, but what? Harry made it to the hall and found Hermione and Ron sat together laughing. "Hey, what's so funny?" Harry asked. Hermione jumped in fright. "Oh Harry, I didn't see you there." Hermione gasped. "Pansy is having a fit at Malfoy because they aren't spending any time together before their 2 month split during the experience." "Stupid couples," Harry mumbled, then noticing Cho Chang walk past he turned red. Harry had a crush on the 6th year since he joined Hogwarts. "Is that the time" Harry looked at his watched and saw it was already 8:30. Harry fed himself as the four, later joined by Neville, were discussing what they might get for their work experience. "I will get the worst of course. Something to do with potions to even more annoy me," Neville told them. "No you wont, I think you will get" Hermione comforted then began to think "You will get experience at the Leaky cauldron." Everyone around them laughed including Neville. "Good morning everyone, what a lovely morning it is." Dumbledore stood up and the hall fell silent." I am glad to see everyone is here, and well. The disturbance last night was merely an owl who had come through the window." Some pupils laughed others mumbled to there nearby friends. "Anyhow we are here to sort the 5th years to see what they are to do for their work experience." "Miss Hannah Abbot." Professor Mcgonagal called out reading from a list. The same pink-faced girl came from the Hufflepuff table, but unlike the house sorting she had her hair down which shined in the sunlight. As she reached the stool he picked up the hat, sat down, placed the hat on her head and in 10 seconds the hat came to a decision. "Ludo Bagman's P.A" the hat shouted. Hannah looked happy, and obviously she didn't mind the job. Many different jobs were shouted out some were to work in a muggle shop but run by a wizard in London. Soon enough Hermione was called up, as she walked up, Harry shouted good luck and blushed after a few seconds which puzzled him. She's changed and has made things different Harry thought. Hermione sat on the stool, and after a small wait the hat called out "Barmaid at The Three Broomsticks." Hermione tried to look happy with this decision but Harry and Ron could see she wasn't. "There are worse ones." Ron comforted with an arm round the upset girl. "Doesn't matter, I will see Dumbledore after lunch." Hermione wiped tears away from her face: and watched the sorting continue. Goyle followed Hermione and was sorted as assistant to Arthur Weasley, Ron's dad who worked at the Ministry. Ron promised to send his dad an owl later on. She was very surprised when Neville was sorted to work at the Leaky Cauldron, and laughed when Draco Malfoy was sorted for "Flourish and Blotts assistant." "Harry Potter." Harry rose smiling at his table and sat down on the stool, placing the hat on his head. Harry remembered the first time he sat here; the hat was very indecisive. It seemed the same was happening this time. "Ahh, a wise guy I see. Skilled: big thinker. Choices." It spoke to the boy. Hurry up Harry thought. Just after a few seconds of that thought the hat shouted out "Assistant trainer of the England Quidditch team." Harry rose, taking off the hat, and ran to his table while other students cheered at him. As he made his way to his place, he went past Cho and she winked at him. She likes me harry thought amused. "Well done Harry." Hermione greeted him back. "What was that with Cho?" Ron asked. "She winked at me, nothing much" Harry smiled. Ron whistled which everyone heard as the next student placed the hat on. Soon enough it came to Ron. Hermione patted him on the back as he left. Ron was one of the longest ones to decide, but as it came Ron's face was muddled, but his twin brothers cheered as they heard "Zonko's shop researcher." "It could be worse. Flourish and Blotts" Harry reminded Ron. "Oh well, its true though," Ron shrugged "It could be fun." "Grin and bare it!" Hermione said messing with his hair. The sorting finished and Dumbledore stood up to say a few words. "What interesting jobs the hat has chosen." Draco snarled on his table. "You will spend the next half an hour in you common rooms sorting out your time tables which currently lay on your beds. Also this year like many before, we have a new Defence against the dark arts teacher." People began to murmur around the hall. "PLEASE not Snape!" Ron begged in a whisper. "This year for a change we are delighted to bring in a woman, Professor Ob(iril," as Dumbledore annoced the new teacher the students turned their heads to look for the teacher. Out of nowhere, into an empty space on the staff table, appeared the teacher. She was tall, not too thin with dark hair, which was long enough to tie up, but she left hanging on her shoulders. "You may now leave to your common room's," as the head finished speaking; everyone got up and left the room to lead out of the door. Harry, Hermione and Ron stayed near the end to avoid the rush.