Disclaimer: The most wonderful J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, not I.

The night before term started, Harry lay awake. He knew he had to sleep but was afraid the dream may return. Eventually he wafted off into a hopefully dreamless sleep.

Early the next morning Harry's eyes fluttered open. Sunlight filtered into the room and Harry smiled. No dreams. 'Maybe they're gone,' he thought hopefully. Then Harry turned over to see if Ron was awake. Not surprisingly he wasn't. Harry groaned and almost got out of bed. But he stopped.

Harry picked up his wand from the bedside table and murmured, "Imber," and it started to rain on Ron. Immediately the redhead jumped up and rolled out of bad landing on the floor with a loud thump. Harry then whispered the spell to end the spell and put on his best innocent smile.

"You, you, you, you," Ron sputtered.

"I what?" Harry asked innocently.

"You spend to much time with Lirus," Ron finished as he angrily stalked off to the bathroom. Harry laughed and began to shove any last minute items into his bag. The group was to go to platform 9 ¾ and board the train as they would normally as to not arouse any unnecessary suspicion.

Maybe ten minutes later Ron came out of the bathroom dry and ready to head to breakfast. "Come on, breakfast before we leave, let's go," Ron whined.

"Hold your horses," Harry muttered in reply. At this Ron looked at him funnily. Harry rolled his eyes, "Muggle saying."

"Oh, "Ron nodded in understanding, "But I don't have any horses"

Harry shook his head, "Never mind," and he left for the bathroom.

Ginny slowly opened her eyes as bright sunlight glided over them. She sat up and yawned before looking for Hermione. She found her sitting on her bed reading a textbook that was for Charms. "Now you're doing homework before it's assigned?" Ginny asked.

"What? Oh, you're awake, no, just a bit of light reading. My Charms textbook is already packed," Hermione explained. Then she looked a t a large magical clock above their beds. "Hmm, you should probably get ready so we can go down and have breakfast before we leave," she suggested.

Ginny's eyes shut upwards to the clock then to Hermione who was already dressed and ready, "What time did you get up?" she questioned.

"4:30," Hermione answered breezily. It was, at the moment, 6:02. Ginny rolled her eyes then grabbed her pack that contained her clothes and toiletries and entered the bathroom.

At Six Thirty the pairs left their dormitories. They met and the common room and talked loudly as they headed for the Great Hall.

"So, how long before Malfoy comes and bugs us?" Ron asked.

"Between thirty and forty-five minutes," Hermione answered.

"Bet you a galleon it's less," Ron inquired. Hermione nodded and they shook on it. Meanwhile Ginny cautiously shot a glance at Harry 'I wonder if he heard me last night,' she thought. As she looked she saw he was doing the same and both of their heads shot forwards and reddened. Hermione and Ron just shared a knowing look.

The group entered the Great Hall and had a quick breakfast before flooing to the Leaky Cauldron. Once there they entered into Muggle London and discretely walked through the barrier. First Harry and Ron. Then Ginny and Hermione. There they boarded the brilliant scarlet Hogwarts Express. They found an empty compartment and sat down.

Ron and Hermione left to go to the Prefects compartment and Ginny and Harry were left alone.

Harry and Ginny sat across from each other and were looking out the window. Every once and a while they'd chance a glance at each other. Whenever they would do this at the same time they'd shyly smile then turn away. 'What am I doing?' Harry thought, 'I'm in Gryffindor aren't I?' Along the same thing was running through Ginny's head, 'I'm a Gryffindor. Time to leave up to my reputation.'

"Harry, I"

"Ginny, I," They said at the same time.

"Go ahead," Harry prompted.

"No, no you," Ginny said.

"Ladies first," Harry continued.

"Don't be such a gentleman," Ginny commanded.

"I insist," Harry retorted.

"Fine, same time then?" Ginny asked trying to find a solution.

"Yes, that should work," Harry, answered.

"3-2-1," Ginny counted.

"Wouldyougooutwithme?" basically came out of both of their mouths. They laughed. "Yes," they said at the same time. They laughed again. Ginny got up and sat down next to Harry.

At about this time the door to the compartment slid open to reveal.....

(A/N I was going to stop here for a cliff-hanger but I wanted a longer chapter. But if suspense is your thing then stop reading and come back in an hour or two to finish. ;))

To reveal Hermione and Ron. They took in the scene and smiled. "'Bout bloody time," Ron exclaimed and the group started to laugh again.

Maybe two minutes later the compartment door slid to the side once again. This time it held a less pleasant surprise. Malfoy. And Crabbe and Goyle.

"Why look at this, Potty and Weaslette have gotten together. How disgusting," Draco Malfoy sneered. Meanwhile Hermione was handing a galleon to Ron.

"What's this?" Draco asked.

"Oh, we made a bet on how long it was going to be before you came to annoy us. I said less then half an hour and I was right," Ron explained smuggle.

"Well I'm glad I could make you some money Weasel. You sure do need it," Draco drawled.

Ron's face reddened and Ginny had to be held back by Harry. Hermione glared and stood up. "That was rude and uncalled for," she started. Then she looked over their shoulders, "Oh, hello Professor Moody! I didn't know you were coming back!" she called. Malfoy visibly paled and turned around. "Impedimenta," Hermione cast and Malfoy flew out of the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle clumsily followed. Hermione then sat back down obviously disgruntled.

A while later they had all changed into their robes and were exiting the Hogwarts Express. Harry led the group off of the train. They soon heard the familiar call of "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" They turned towards Hagrid and waved. The rather large grounds keeper waved back and then went back to calling the First years.

Harry and company continued towards the 'horseless' carriages. As they did so Hermione stopped but was unnoticed by the group. She knew she'd see the horses this year but it didn't come without a shock. As her group continued on unaware of her absence she continued to stare at the Thestrals.

"So you can see them too," a voice stated behind her.

Hermione nodded, "My cousin was killed because they thought she was me." Then she turned around and gaped. Malfoy smirked.

"Be seeing you around Granger," he said before turning around and taking off. Hermione shook her head extremely confused then she ran to catch up with the others. She jumped into a carriage with them just before it left.

"Where were you?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"Oh, I-I just got sidetracked. I'm fine don't worry," Hermione said hastily. Her friends nodded and the carriage took off. A bit later they arrived in the Great Hall in time for the sorting. They sat down quietly and turned to where the Sorting Hat had been set up.

(A/N I apologize for any nightmares or other things that this Sorting Song inspires.)

The Sorting Hat then began its song.

Inter-House unity

Must come to pass this year

For if it doesn't

Will arise all your greatest fears

We all now know he is back

The one whose name isn't said

The Ministry, they are done

Messing with your head

I may sort you into Ravenclaw

For your logic will surpass

Or you may be in Hufflepuff

Where kindness is the best

These two houses

Are a prime

Example for the rest

They do not fight

Or hate each other

Hostility's at rest

If you are sorted into Gryffindor

Your bravery is bold

But you must remember

There is much more to life

Then gold

Slytherin may be the house

Where you come to reside

If it is don't be fooled

By what's already inside

We must become one

To keep from becoming none

Work together

Be strong

Or your lives may soon subside

So now that I have warned you

What may come to pass

Take great heed

For you will need

All that you do have

The hall erupted in cautious cheers and applauses. Then the sorting began with Avery, Annabelle (Hufflepuff) and ended with Zarhy, Zachary. After that Dumbledore rose, "It appears the Hat has explained most of what I had to say in its song. I hope you do listen to its words. Anyways the dark forest on the edge of the ground is out of limits to all new students, and old. Our caretaker Mr. Filch would like me to tell you to read the extremely long list of banned items daily for it seems to grow at an amazing rate," Dumbledore's eyes gave off their usual twinkle, "Also, we have a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Isab."

A polite round of applause followed and Lirus and Harry exchanged a happy smile. "Anyways, without further ado, tuck in!" Dumbledore finished as a meal appeared on the table.

Harry, Hermione, and Ron climbed the stairs towards Gryffindor Tower. Ginny was absent because she and Collin were the 5th year prefects and had to take the First Years up to the Tower. As they entered the common room they continued to talk of the Sorting Hat's speech.

"Has it finally gone mad? Gryffindors and Slytherins are never going to be friends," Ron argued.

"Well, maybe we should try be nicer, it may be worth it," Hermione offered.

"I have an idea. We're tired. We're full. We're going to bed When we wake up we'll try to be nicer as long as they try and be nicer," Harry told the other two. They nodded either because they agreed with the entire statement or just the tired and full part.

Then they headed to their respective dorms and collapsed on their beds falling instantly asleep.

A/N: Ok, I have made a few changes on chapter 7 if anyone wants to check it out. I also wanted to let you know I hid two things in chapter 8 and was surprised no one found them. I'll wait till next chapter then reveal what they are. Ok, as well, I am continuing to beg for reviews for my songfic. I'm on hands and knees. PLEASE! Ahem. Yes, well, on to thank yous. Thank you: Madam-Kati, Eric2, volleypickle16, jennr276, and Kordolin.