Disclaimer: I only own Ember, Eve, Jason, Matt, their mom, the sorting hat's prophecy and the plot. All the Harry Potter canon characters belong to the incredibly talented amazing J.K. Rowling. All the Lord of the Rings canon characters belong to J.R.R. Tolkien.
A/N- I hope y'all enjoyed Draco's secret. Jason will be introduced to the plot soon. Matt will be introduced later on.(chapter 8 or so) The LOTR characters will come in to the story at around chapter 6 or so. I hope y'all enjoy this chapter and I hope you like the prophecy.
Chapter 3- The Sorting Hat's Second Song
The seven kids slowly made their way through the crowd towards the carriages. They had almost arrived when Harry spotted an old friend.
"Hagrid!" called Harry as he spotted his large friend trying to herd the first years towards the boats.
"Why, 'ello Harry," said Hagrid as he made his way through the throng.
He walked over and gave Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna large hugs. Then he turned his attention to Ember.
"Who's yer friend, 'Arry?" questioned Hagrid, wondering if she was the new student.
"Hello, I'm Ember Wilson. I'm the new exchange student," replied Ember cautiously.
"Well o' course you are. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. I'm also the Care of Magical Creatures professor," replied Hagrid kindly.
He knew right away that he was going to like this girl. She reminds me so much of her dad, he thought somberly. Ember started staring off into the distance. Is he the one dad mentioned? she thought.
Abruptly remembering her manners, Ember said, "Nice to meet you, Professor. I'm sure I'll see you around the school."
"Yeah, well, you be sure to do that," answered Hagrid. He was just about to walk away when he suddenly remembered something. "Ember, when you get to the school, have 'Arry here take you to the back entrance of the great 'all. Professor McGonagall will be waiting for you with the firs' years."
"Thanks, Hagrid. I'll be sure to do that," replied Ember.
With a murmured goodbye, Hagrid left to escort the "wee, ickle first years" up to the castle. The students then walked towards the carriages. Squeezing tightly, they managed to fit all seven of them into a single carriage. And with an invisible force pulling them, the carriages and the students they carried were coming back home.
The carriage ride, in itself, was rather uneventful. They simply sat and talked. They were all excited about coming back to Hogwart's. Well, that is, except for Ember. She was nervous and worried and borderline depressed.
What am I doing here? she thought. I should have asked Eve to home school me. Then I wouldn't have to worry about fitting in. Especially with a group of people that are completely different from me. And I bet they don't like Americans either. Plus it's not like Jason and Matt can visit me here. She sighed slowly and went back to staring out the window.
Eventually, the carriages pulled up to the front gates. Everyone was so excited to be back at Hogwarts. They all got out of the carriages and walked happily to the castle entrance. They all eagerly walked into the castle. That is, except for Ember, once again. She seemed to hold back a little and sort of separate herself from the rest of the group. They all belong here, she thought, and I don't. I don't belong anywhere.
Looking at Ember, Harry noticed how depressed she looked. Realizing that this was the same look he wore when he was thinking depressing thoughts of Sirius and needed to be cheered up, Harry told everyone, "You all go on. I'll be up shortly."
With murmurs of "Okay, Harry" and "Sure", the others departed for the great hall.
Hermione lingered and asked Harry, "Do you need some help here?" motioning to Ember.
"Yeah, that'd be great," said Harry. He was grateful for a girl's help with this.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione approached Ember with Harry trailing right behind. "Hey," she said gently, "You okay?"
Suddenly becoming extremely interested in her shoes, Ember whispered, "Not really."
Reflecting on the position that Ember was in, Hermione leaned in and asked, "Do you need to talk about it?"
"No," said Ember, "I'll be okay, I hope. I'm just scared I guess because it is so different here."
"I understand. Change is always scary. Especially adjusting to a whole new school and way of doing things," said Hermione.
"It'll be okay. We're all really nice, well except for the Slytherins and I promise that we won't make fun of you for being American. Plus, if Malfoy is a total prat, you have his worst nightmare when it comes to blackmail. So, come on. Hermione and I'll walk you to Professor McGonagall and she'll take care of you from there," Harry added.
Addressing the subject of Professor McGonagall, Hermione said, "She may come across as strict and uncaring, but she took five stunners straight to the chest last year for Hagrid so we know she cares."
Gathering her courage to herself, Ember took a deep breath and said, "Okay. Let's go."
Smiling, Harry and Hermione led the way into the school.
Ember stood at the front of the great hall with the first years as they were sorted thinking about what had occurred after she had walked into the school. After Harry and Hermione had taken her to Professor McGonagall, Ember had introduced herself and the two had talked for a few minutes before Professor McGonagall turned and addressed the first years.
"Welcome, to your first year at Hogwart's," she had said, "The start-of- term banquet and feast will be beginning shortly. But before it can begin, you must be sorted into a house. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. The sorting is very important because while you attend school here, your house is like your family. Until your sixth year, all of your classes will be attended with your house, you will attend meals in the Great Hall at your house table, and you will sleep and spend free time in your house dormitory. Also, good things you do will gain your house points, break any rules, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the House Cup is awarded to the house with the most points.
"These houses all have a long and ancient history. They were named after the school's founders and you will find that in each house are people that exemplify the traits of their house's namesake. You will be sorted into the house that best fits you. You needn't be worried about being placed in the wrong house because Hogwart's has yet to ever produce a student who was ill sorted.
"The ceremony will begin shortly so please make yourselves as ready as possible. Please wait quietly and I will be back as soon as we are ready."
She had started to walk away and then she remembered something.
"Everyone," she had said, "This is Ember Wilson, a sixth-year transfer student. She will be in charge until you enter the great hall."
Great, just great, they'll think I'm a stuck up teachers pet. Well, at least it's just first years, Ember thought to herself.
Turning her cat-eyes on Ember, McGonagall had said, "Make sure they look halfway decent, would you?"
Noting the look of annoyance on Ember's face at her comment and misinterpreting it as fear, she had said, "They're just first years, I'm sure you can handle it."
And with that, she swept from the chamber and into the hall.
Once she was gone, the first years glanced at her and then began to talk to each other in rather loud increasing intervals. Ember had hoped that they would quiet down but it soon became obvious that that was not likely to happen.
Thinking she was going crazy to get people to follow a teacher's order, Ember had cleared her throat and said, "Would you mind being quiet? You are giving me a headache."
A prim looking first year had turned to her and said, "Thank you very much for quieting them. I'm Aliana Warrison and I'm sure that we would all benefit from following the professor's instructions."
Sparing Ember from having to reply, Professor McGonagall had entered and said that they were ready for them now. Ember had simply followed her and the first years had trailed along behind Ember.
When they got to the front, Professor McGonagall had explained about the sorting and then the hat had sung its song.
Now, she was simply waiting for the first years to be sorted so she could be sorted.
She listened as Aliana Warrison was made a Ravenclaw and several others were sorted.
Then, she heard the last first year be sorted and Professor Dumbledore stood up and addressed the student body.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," he said, "I'm sure you are all very hungry but we have one more thing that must be dealt with before the feast begins."
Turning to Ember, he said, "This is Miss Ember Wilson and she is our first American transfer student. She is here for the next two years from the New York Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please welcome her."
Suddenly noticing all of the eyes focused on her, Ember felt slightly self- conscious. Luckily, Dumbledore began to speak again and all the attention was once again focused on him.
"Miss Wilson, if you will, please try the hat on," he said.
Ember walked over to the stool and was about to sit on it when the hat did something that surprised everyone. It shocked the students and professors alike and it even surprised Dumbledore a little.
It began to sing a second time.
Opening it brim wide, it sang:
Now I bet you wonder why this hat sings yet again.
I am here to warn you because I think of you as friends.
Already I have told you of the houses and their kinds,
But now it is my warning tale I beg you keep in mind.
The warrior and the savior together must combine,
As two different worlds once again align.
Two foes will emerge to terrify this place,
Both with evil hidden, behind a powerful face.
The first, a foe once beaten, once again appears.
To conquer him, the warrior must face his deepest fears.
The second, a new foe yet not new to all,
Disaster shall come to this land if he does not fall.
The warrior has a past known all too well,
Yet his future remains much too difficult to foretell.
Despite a cutting loss and a lack of understanding,
One will come to make things right in the middle of his grieving.
The power of the savior, is not yet known to her,
Yet it must be realized if evil's downfall is to occur.
The destiny of this pair must soon come to light,
If evil's downfall is to occur and the world be set right.
If they are not destroyed and the banners of good once again unfurled,
Then peace on earth will not come to either world.
Their lineage shall be revealed and told.
It and more will be explained before the year grows old.
The prophecies told yesterday,
Today will be fulfilled.
And so maybe the peace we hope for
The world may yet yield.
But unless these things come to pass
And the defeat of evil comes about,
Both of these worlds shall crumble and fall.
Of that I have no doubt.
As soon as the hat was done, the room was so silent that you could here a pin drop. But then, it was like a million voices erupted at once, all wanting to be the loudest.
Surprise still evident on his face, Dumbledore cleared his throat rather loudly. Instantly the voices and the noise stopped.
"Miss Wilson," he said, "Would you please put the hat on?"
Gathering her wits and her courage, Ember sat down on the stool and put on the hat.
As soon as she placed it on her head, Ember heard a small voice in her ear.
"I knew I'd be seeing you this year," it said, "How did you like my second song"
It was nice, Ember thought, was it a prophecy?
"Oh yes," said the hat, "Even I make a few prophecies every now and then. But now I have to sort you. Hmm...you're a rather difficult one."
I am? Ember asked.
"Yes," it replied, "You have a high amount of loyalty you'd be fine in Hufflepuff yet you have an extreme ambition even though it is yet unrealized. You have a mind like your sister's and yet you have all of your father's courage and more. So where on Earth do I put you?"
Well, thought Ember logically, I think Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw would be okay but they're not quite the right fit. And I really don't want to be in Slytherin.
"Ah yes," said the hat, "I recall your father had a very strong dislike for the snake's house. Well, if its what you want I guess you belong in ... GRYFFINDOR!
The hat yelled the last word to the entire school. Just as Ember was about to remove the hat, she heard a voice in her ear say, "Be careful this year. Your road is much tougher that you suspect."
Taking the hat off, Ember handed it to Professor McGonagall and went to sit down between Hermione and Ginny. Everyone told her congratulations until they realized that Dumbledore was waiting for them to quiet down so he could speak.
"I believe the feast can now ... begin," said Professor Dumbledore from the Head Table and the plates instantly filled themselves.
Loading her plate with food, Ember sat back and listened to the conversation around her.
"I can't believe the hat sang twice," said Ron in-between large mouthfuls of food.
"I know," agreed Harry, "Has it ever happened before?"
"Yes," answered Hermione, "In Hogwarts, A History, it says that the hat only sings twice when it is giving a prophecy."
"Was that a prophecy then?" Ginny questioned.
"Yes," said Ember.
Everyone turned to stare at her. "What?" she said, "I asked the hat about it and it told me it was."
"Not another prophecy," groaned Harry. He still hadn't adjusted to the fact that he either had to murder Voldemort or be murdered by him.
"What do you mean another?" asked Ember curiously.
Harry sighed, "There is a prophecy that we discovered in the Department of Mysteries last June. It involves me and we all still haven't adjusted to it." Praying Ember would drop it, he said, "It takes some getting used to."
Realizing that everyone would like her to drop the subject, Ember simply replied, "Oh. So let's try and figure out what the sorting hat's prophesy means. It may be valuable information. I mean it sure as heck sounded like it."
"Yes," agreed Hermione, "It sounded like it was referring to..."
Interrupting Hermione, Ron said, "Let's figure it out later, Hermione. Just let us enjoy one meal in peace."
Hermione agreed and the topic moved to safer waters such as classes and Quidditch.
When everyone except possibly Ron was stuffed, Professor Dumbledore once again stood up.
"I have a few start of term notices. I would like to remind everyone once again that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. If you seem to have any trouble remembering that, think of its name. Also, Mr. Filch would like me to remind you that there is to be no magic in the corridors between classes and that there is a continually growing list of contraband items located on the door to his office. This list now includes Canary Creams, Skiving Snackboxes, and Portable Swamps.
"Last but not least, I would like to introduce to you our new Defense against the Dark Arts professor and her assistant. Their names are Professor Eve Wilson and Jason Malfoy."
And upon hearing these names, Ember and Draco both promptly fainted.
Ember felt herself wake up. She was lying on the floor of the great hall and everyone was staring at her.
Someone came up behind her and helped her up. "Thank you," she said as she stood.
"Not a problem," said Harry.
Up front, Professor Dumbledore said, "You are all dismissed except for Professor and Miss Wilson, Professor and Mister Malfoy, Mister Potter, Miss Granger, and Mister and Miss Weasley."
Ember simply sat there and sipped at her pumpkin juice as everyone else left the Great Hall. But the minute they were gone, she ran over and hugged first Eve and then Jason. Her friends trailed along behind her.
"Why didn't either of you tell me?" she said accusingly to her sister and her boyfriend.
"I can answer that," said Professor Dumbledore from behind her, "They didn't tell you because I told them not to."
"Oh," said Ember, "Well in that case, Professor, would you excuse Eve, Jason and myself for a few moments?"
"Certainly," said the headmaster cordially.
Walking to a far corner of the Great Hall, Ember once again hugged Eve and Jason.
Laughing, Eve asked, "What's with all the hugs? You only left me this morning."
"I know," said Ember, "I just missed you."
"I missed you too baby sis," replied Eve, "But from now on, you probably should call me Professor Wilson."
"That'll take some getting used to," laughed Ember. Swiveling her head, she turned her attention on her boyfriend.
"And you," she said, "You haven't written since term let out and then you just show up here as a professor."
"I've written a lot, I just didn't know you'd be in England," said Jason, "And I'm not a professor, I'm a professor's assistant."
"Oh," replied Ember, "Well, in that case, I missed you."
Wrapping his arms around Ember, Jason said, "I missed you more than you know." And with that, he leaned down and softly kissed her.
"All right," said Eve, smiling. "Break it up you two."
Grinning, the three friends walked back over to Professor Dumbledore.
As they walked, Ember leaned over and whispered to Jason, "You might want to talk to Draco. He got a little mad at me when I mentioned you and Matt on the train."
"Okay" agreed Jason.
Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore had sat everyone else down and began to talk with them.
"I am well aware of the fact that you have been enemies for years," he said addressing the four Gryffindors and the lone Slytherin. "However, as the sorting hat made sure we knew, there is something going on this year that is bigger, even than Voldemort."
"What could be bigger than Voldemort?" questioned Ron, confused.
"Oh honestly, Ron," said Hermione exasperated, "You heard the prophecy. There rises a second foe remember?"
"Oh yeah," said Ron.
"And which one of you figured out that in fact the sorting hat's second song was indeed a prophecy," questioned Dumbledore kindly.
"Ember did," answered Harry.
"I daresay you've had enough of prophecies lately," said Dumbledore looking at Harry regretfully.
"Forgive me for interrupting," drawled Draco sarcastically, "But why am I here?"
"Very well, Mister Malfoy," sighed Dumbledore, "You are here because I want you to talk with your brother."
"No," replied Draco.
"Mister Malfoy," asked Dumbledore, "Are you refusing to talk to your older brother?"
"YES," yelled Draco, "I REFUSE!" And with that Draco ran from the room.
Seeing Draco run out, Ember, Eve, and Jason hurried over to Dumbledore.
"Where did he go? What happened? Why did he run?" said Jason, pelting the Headmaster with questions.
"Unless I am mistaken," answered Professor Dumbledore, "he has run back to the Slytherin common room. I want no one to disturb him tonight. We will deal with him in the morning. Now I suggest you all go to bed. The Gryffindor password is Braveheart. Professors, you already know your passwords. Goodnight."
And with that Dumbledore left the hall.
Yawning, the five friends said goodbye to the professors. Ember gave Jason and Eve both hugs and pecked Jason on the cheek before following her friends out of the hall.
Smiling, they walked to the Gryffindor common room. The girls and boys parted and Hermione showed Ember to her dorm.
Smiling, Ember changed into her nightclothes. After unpacking some of her stuff, she and Hermione laid on her bed and talked. Well after midnight, the two finally stopped talking and went to sleep.
A/N- I hope you enjoyed the extra long chapter. But don't get used to it. I'm so sorry this chapter took so long. I also hoped you liked the prophecy. Please comment on it in your reviews and tell me what you think of the new DADA professor and her assistant. Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!!
-Elvenwitch