Disclaimer: Bite me.

Author's Notes: Thanx 2 all of my loyal reviewers!  I love y'all!  Spirited Away Again is finished, BTW.  Thanx also go out to reviewers of The Empty Cup.  Now, to the fic!!!!!!!^^

Chapter 9

Ron's Secret

"Settle down everyone and let's get back to the Sorting Ceremony," said Professor McGonagall.  "Yes, let's," said the old hat.

"Cortez, Michelle."  Michelle sat down and winced as the hat was placed upon her head.

"Ah, I know!  HUFLEPUFF!"  Michelle ran to the Hufflepuff table and sat down next to Justin Finch-Fletchley.

"Demotion, Abby." 

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Gonzalez, Bennie."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Jordan, Lillian Jean."  Lee Jordan's younger sister made her way through the crowd.  She sat down on the stool and waited.

"Ah, another Jordan.  Not like your brother, no?  Well then, the only place for you is…  GRYFFINDOR!"

"Yes!  Yes!" Harry heard Lee scream.

"Kipswatter, Kelly."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Krickethall, Charley."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Mendoza, Henry."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Mix, Clair."

"RAVENCLAW!"  Clair ran off and sat down next to Abby.

"Ortiz, Timothy."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Fifth year Pan Potter."  People throughout the Great Hall were gasping and whispering to one another, "Another Potter?  No way!  A fifth year student can't be sorted!  It can't happen!"

Pan sat down on the stool, not knowing what to do.

"Ah, the other Potter at last.  You know where you belong."

"Um, Gryffindor?" said Pan uneasily.

"Don't ask me, ask yourself."

"Gryffindor," Pan repeated.

"LOUDER!" the hat shouted.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted Pan with a smile.

"Correct.  GRYFFINDOR it is!"  The whole Gryffindor table cheered.

"I have a few words I'd like to say before we eat.  First, first years should note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden.  Professor Snape is not here this year, and Professor Moody has taken his place.  Professor Kirkwood is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.  Next, I'd like you to all welcome Phebilithisis Malfoy.  He will be Professor Moody's assistant."  'So that was why Phebis was on the train,' thought Harry.  Ron, who had finally overcome his giggles, was watching Draco, who was looking quite pleased with himself. 

"Also welcome Miss Fleur Delacour, last year's Beauxbatons Champion, who will be Madame Pince's assistant."  Harry, Ron, and a bunch of older boys clapped loudly.

"Now two more words: Sleep well."  The empty plates were now filled with food.

"Wow!" Pan said with a mouth full of mashed potatoes.  "This food is really good!"

"Yeah," said Harry, who was watching Ron.  Ron had been acting funny.  Fred kept saying he kept talking about Hermione, then Ron volunteered to take Hermione to the hospital wing, and he got mad at Viktor Krum after he found out he liked Hermione.  Harry had thought barely anything of it, but here Ron was trying to copy Hermione by eating the same thing.  Hermione reached for the rolls; Ron, watching her, also reached for the rolls.  But as soon as he'd put his roll down, he noticed Hermione hadn't picked up a roll at all.  That was when Harry figured it out.  Ron had a crush on Hermione!

"Ron, what are you doing?" Hermione asked as she spotted a bunch of food piled on his plate.

"Nothing!" Ron said, his face and ears going red.  "Nothing!"