As Strong As We Are United
Chapter 12 – The Death of Tradition
When the train pulled into the Hogsmeade station, everyone disembarked. A loud female voice called, "Hey, first year munchkins over here. First years."
Buffy and Charlie were the first faculty to notice the dark haired Slayer calling the first years. "Faith?" Buffy questioned her.
Faith grinned. "Dumbledore asked me, if I wanted to take the kids across the lake," she explained. "I figured it would be cool. I think he wanted me out of the castle; so, I wouldn't know who the knew DADA teacher is before you guys do."
"I wonder why he's keeping it so hush-hush," commented Willow, who had joined them.
"I wonder if it's someone we know. Why else would he be keeping it such a secret," mused Buffy. "If it was some wizard, it would be no big deal to tell us, since the name would be meaningless."
"Well, it definitely isn't Giles, Xander, Anya, or Robin," said Faith.
"And it isn't anyone from Los Angeles," added Wesley, who along with Cat had also joined the group. "Angel is having a hard enough time managing Wolfram and Hart without losing Fred, Lorne, or Gunn."
"I don't see Dumbledore having a green demon teaching DADA," commented Willow.
Harry, who was purposely wandering around alone, heard her comment. "Why not?" he asked the professors. "Dumbledore's had some pretty strange appointments to that position over the years. I mean, look at Lupin. He's a werewolf. Hey, maybe he's back."
Faith shook her head. "He's really busy working with the Watchers Council now. Can't be him."
Many of the first years had begun to gather around the professors. "Well, I need to take care of the munchkins. See you all up at the castle," said Faith, before turning her attention back to the youngest students. "First years, follow me," she bellowed.
The Scooby faculty members made their way toward the carriages, followed closely by Harry. "It just isn't the same without Hagrid here," he commented sadly.
"I know exactly what you mean," agreed Charlie. "Every year that I got off the Hogwarts Express, Hagrid was there calling for the first years."
"I hate this War," stated Ginny. She and Neville had caught up with the faculty members. "There have already been too many losses, and it is only just beginning." Many students heard Ginny's comment, which was followed by an eerie silence.
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The students took their seats at their house tables. Hermione once again was wedged between Dawn and Shannon. Harry sat across from them, but did not appear to acknowledge their existence. He was too busy staring at the five empty chairs at the staff table. He was sure that one was for Faith and the other for Professor McGonagall, both of whom were taking care of the first years. He figured that one might be for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but wondered for whom the other two chairs were placed.
Ron sat with Dean and Seamus further down the Gryffindor table, occasionally glancing longingly at Hermione. "You want her back, don't you?" asked Lavender.
Ron spun around to look at Lavender. She and Parvati were staring at him with similar dreamy looks on their faces. "What?" he sputtered. "No, I don't want her back."
"Yes, he does," Ginny whispered to the other Gryffindor girls. "He's just too stubborn to admit it, which is a shame, since I can't imagine any other girl putting up with him."
Ron glared menacingly at his sister. "Yeah well, Hermione refuses to put up with me too," he muttered.
Before anyone else could comment, Professor McGonagall marched the first years into the front of the Great Hall. They gathered to one side of a spindle-legged stool, on which the Sorting Hat rested.
The large rip above the brim of the hat opened, and the Sorting Hat began to sing.
I may be old and tattered, a bit wrinkled and bit torn,
But normally I'd be the smartest hat you've ever worn.
See I was created years ago, by Hogwarts founders four:
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffindor.
A thousand years ago, they came together with a plan,
To create a school of magic right here where you all stand.
The founders chose their students by the qualities they displayed.
And so they all agreed that four separate houses should be made.
Sly Slytherin chose pure-blood wizards of great cunning and ambition.
Daring Gryffindor believed the brave of heart to be the best addition.
Dear Hufflepuff did value hard workers above the rest.
And for clever Ravenclaw, the smartest were considered to be the best.
The founders, realized that one day they would be gone and dead,
And so they created me, the Sorting Hat, to do their job instead.
They put a bit of each of them inside this charmed, black hat,
And since that time on each new student's head, I have sat.
I have looked inside their heads and made the choices that divide.
But I have one last secret to you I now confide.
Though Gryffindor did make me, Ravenclaw added one condition.
And so today I must break from Hogwarts' grand tradition.
Two years ago when I sang my song, I did warn you all,
Of external dark forces, which will Hogwarts School to fall.
The founders realized a time may come, that for the school to survive,
You must all stand united, and so today I shall not divide.
The Sorting Hat will now stay silent upon its wooden seat.
Until you come together and your enemies you defeat.
For the first time that anyone could remember, no applause followed the Sorting Hat's song. Everyone, including the faculty, sat in a stunned silence.
Dumbledore rose to address the students and faculty. "I would ask the first year students to take seats at the ends of the house tables. Do not concern yourselves with where you sit at the moment. The faculty and myself will confer about what is to be done in place of the traditional sorting ceremony, while you all have your dinner. The Head Boy, Mr. Ronald Weasley, and the Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger, will be in charge while we are gone. Tuck in."
The tables filled with a plethora of sumptuous platters. Many students began serving themselves, though many still sat in a stunned silence.
Harry found that Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna, Dawn, Shannon, and Draco were all looking at him from their positions around the room. "This is bad," Harry mouthed. Each of the teens nodded in agreement.
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Professor Dumbledore ushered all of the faculty members into the small room behind the head table. When the Scoobies entered, they were surprised to see Genevieve and Spike waiting for them. There was also a short, dark-haired man standing beside the fire with his back to the group.
"What are you two doing here?" Buffy asked, her confusion evident.
"I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and Spike is working as an assistant professor between a few different classes," said Genevieve with a smile. "It was supposed to be a surprise."
"Yes," said Professor Dumbledore. "I had hoped that our new appointments would be a pleasant surprise for you all, but now we have a rather large problem to discuss."
"Problem?" asked the young man, who had been looking into the fireplace.
Willow and Buffy both gasped as the young man turned toward the group. "Oz? What are you doing here?" questioned Willow.
Oz smiled. "I'm the new caretaker. The headmaster said I would be working with old friends. I was a bit confused when I saw Spike. Glad to know he isn't evil anymore though."
"Your reunions will have to wait," stated Professor Dumbledore. "For those of you who do not know, the Sorting Hat has refused to divide the new students into their houses. Though I must say that I understand the reasoning, for practical purposes of living quarters and class schedules, we must come up with a way to divide the first years."
Everyone stood in silence for a few minutes. Professor Flitwick was the first to speak. "Maybe we could come up with questions to assess the qualities possessed by the students."
"The only problem is that some of the students are not aware of the qualities they possess that would make them candidates for a certain house," said Professor McGonagall. "For instance, in first year no one would have placed Neville Longbottom into Gryffindor, and yet in his fifth and sixth years he chose to fight against Voldemort first hand."
"Professor Dumbledore, is there any magical way you know of that can be employed to look into the students' heads as it were?" asked Professor Sprout.
"None that I am aware of," answered Professor Dumbledore dejectedly. "Professor Flitwick, do you know of any charm? Professor Snape, a potion per chance?" Both professors shook their heads, indicating that they did not know of any way.
"Professor Dumbledore, I have an idea, though it is somewhat unconventional," stated Wesley.
"I would be interested in hearing any ideas you may have," replied Professor Dumbledore.
"Well, a friend of ours, Lorne, is an Empath," said Wesley.
"Ah, yes, I remember him from the Thanksgiving Feast you hosted last year. A charming green fellow with a beautiful voice," replied Professor Dumbledore.
"That's him," said Cat.
Wesley explained further. "Lorne is able to quite literally see inside someone's head if they sing. He would be able to recognize even hidden qualities possessed by each student. Angel has been using him at Wolfram and Hart to eliminate some of their more evil employees, and it has worked very well."
"But he doesn't know the qualities that are marks of each of the houses," Professor Snape pointed out to the group.
"We could have him listen to a few students from each house, who most exemplify that house's qualities. It would give him a baseline to work from," suggested Cat. "I had the opportunity to see him in action this summer. He really is very good."
"What does everyone think of this suggestion?" asked Professor Dumbledore.
"It is the only suggestion we have," stated Professor McGonagall.
"I concur," said Professor Snape. "It is better than nothing."
The rest of the faculty quickly agreed. Wesley went to use the fireplace to contact Lorne and ask if he would be willing to come to Hogwarts for a few days, while the rest of the faculty adjourned to the Great Hall to have their dinner.
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"Look, they're coming back," Hermione told Dawn and Shannon. All of the students looked up at the head table as the faculty reentered and took their seats.
"Oh my god, is that Genevieve and Spike?" asked Shannon.
"Do you think they're the new DADA professors?" asked Hermione.
"It would make sense," replied Shannon. "They both have centuries of experience with the dark arts."
"It would also explain why one of our texts is from the 1700's," added Hermione.
"And where's Wesley?" Shannon wondered.
Dawn had not engaged in the conversation at all. She was too busy staring at the young man who had entered with the rest of the faculty and sat at the end of the head table. Shannon finally noticed her best friend's distraction. "Who's that?" Shannon asked. "He's kind of cute."
"It's Oz," replied Dawn. "I wonder what he's doing here?"
"Oz, as in Willow's ex-boyfriend?" asked Harry, who had momentarily forgotten that he was not supposed to be speaking to anyone.
Dawn nodded. "Yeah, they were so sweet together – or at least my memories are of them being sweet together." She looked at her friends meaningfully.
"Memories of what?" came a voice from behind her. Draco was standing there. "I wanted to know what was going on," he stated. Dawn slid over a little to make room for him beside her. Many of the Gryffindors gave Draco nasty looks, but he ignored them.
"The guy on the end," Dawn pointed. "That's Oz, Willow's high school sweetie. We were wondering what he's doing here. Last I heard he was searching the world for a cure for his wolfiness."
"Maybe he came here for Wolfsbane Potion," suggested Hermione. "Though that wouldn't explain why he's sitting at the head table."
"I got it," said Draco, snapping his fingers. It was a very un-Malfoy-like thing to do, and all of the surrounding Gryffindors looked at him strangely. He again ignored them. "I bet he's the new caretaker, since Xander left to work for the Council and Filch isn't likely to come back any time soon."
"That makes sense," mused Shannon. "The caretaker could be a muggle."
"And, Dumbledore is crazy enough to employ a werewolf again," added Hermione in a low whisper. She was unsure if Oz's condition was supposed to be kept secret or not.
"So, since they're back, do you think they came up with a solution to the Sorting Hat going on strike?" asked Shannon.
"I guess so," replied Hermione. "But I don't remember reading of any magic that can look into a person's head like the Sorting Hat does." Hermione, Dawn, Shannon, and Draco continued discussing possible remedies to the Sorting Hat's refusal to sort students throughout the rest of the meal. Harry listened intently, but feigned annoyance.
Draco stayed at the Gryffindor table through dessert, picking off of Dawn's plate and ignoring the looks he was getting from many students in the Great Hall. "You'd think they would've gotten bored with our inter-house romance by now," Dawn commented at one point. Draco shrugged in reply. He really could care less what anyone thought of his relationship with Dawn, as long as they were together.
Just before the end of the meal, Wesley reentered the Great Hall and spoke with Professor Dumbledore. The headmaster, looking relieved, nodded several times. "Wonder what that's about," Ron commented to Neville and Ginny, who both shrugged in reply.
When the dishes were cleared, Professor Dumbledore rose and addressed the students again. "I know that you are all concerned about how the new students will be sorted this year. However, I have several announcements to make before we discuss the new sorting technique that will be employed this year."
"We have several new staff members this year, and I would like to take a moment to introduce them before reviewing some rules and telling you about some new programs at Hogwarts this year. As I am sure you are all aware, Hagrid along with many others lost their lives this summer to a Death Eater attack. I know that we will all miss him terribly. However, I am happy to announce that Charles Weasley has agreed to take the position of Care of Magical Creatures professor. He has some very big shoes to fill, but I am quite sure that he is up for the challenge. Professor Weasley has several years of experience working with dragons and is a fine addition to our faculty." Professor Dumbledore motioned for Charlie to stand, which he did. He nodded to the students and retook his seat.
"Some of our traditions have not changed. We once again have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Genevieve Rayne is probably the most experienced person in this field in the world. She is a vampire with a soul." Many students gasped. "As I said, she is a vampire with a soul and poses no threat to anyone. She was born into a wizarding family and was called as a Slayer, meaning that she has over three hundred years of training and experience battling the dark arts as both a witch and a Slayer." Genevieve also stood and nodded to the students, before retaking her seat.
"Professor William Sanguine," ("William Sanguine – William the Bloody – Now, that's funny," commented Dawn to her friends.) "another vampire with a soul, will be assisting Professor Rayne in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Professors Summers and Wood in Fighting Techniques." Spike gave a quick wave to the students from his seat.
"Lastly, Mr. Osborne has taken the position of caretaker. In keeping with a precedent set by Mr. Harris last year, Mr. Osborne has agreed to hear arguments to take any items off of Mr. Filch's old list of forbidden items." Oz also gave a quick wave to the students from his seat.
"Now, I must remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is called Forbidden for a reason. Many creatures that will not hesitate to maim or kill dwell in the forest. No student may enter the Forbidden Forrest without being accompanied by a teacher. Also, students are not permitted to be outside their house dormitories after hours. We are currently in dark times, and I do not want anyone putting himself or herself at unnecessary risk. The sixth and seventh year Slayers, prefects, and faculty members will regularly be patrolling the castle and grounds. If they find any of you out of bounds, you will lose points from your house and face several evenings of detention."
"As I have already said, we are currently living in dark times. My first obligation is to keep you all safe. Unfortunately, this means that I must cancel all Hogsmeade weekends this year." There was a collective groan from the older students. Professor Dumbledore raised his hand to silence the protests. "As you know, there have already been Death Eater attacks in Hogsmeade. It simply is not safe for me to allow you to journey to the village."
"However, this year, in place of Hogsmeade weekends, several activities will be taking place at Hogwarts itself. This year's Head Boy and Girl, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, have each been given a staff of two seventh year students to help them plan various events throughout the school year. Their staff members are Dawn Summers, Shannon Crawford, Harry Potter, and Draco Malfoy. If any of you have ideas for activities you would like to have, please speak with one of your house prefects or one of these students. It is my hope that these activities will help to promote the inter-house unity of which the Sorting Hat spoke."
"I have decided to institute another new program at Hogwarts this year about which I am very excited. Some faculty members have agreed to take a sixth or seventh year student as a teaching assistant. They are: Ancient Runes – Pansy Parkinson, Arithmancy – Padma Patil, Astronomy – Susan Bones, Charms – Terry Boot, Divination – Lavender Brown, Care of Magical Creatures – Neville Longbottom, Herbology – Ernie McMillon, Muggle Studies – Ginny Weasley, and Research Skills – Luna Lovegood. If you have a question about one of these courses and do not want to approach the professor, you should feel free to speak with the student assistant."
"Now, I realize that you have all been waiting eagerly to hear of the solution to the sorting of the first years. A friend of several faculty members is an Empath and has agreed to come to our aid. He will be arriving later tonight. One student from each year second through seventh from each of the four houses will be chosen at random to aid in the sorting. These students will help the Empath to form a baseline for each house. The Empath with then be able to sort the first year students. This process will begin after breakfast tomorrow morning. We will be postponing the start of classes for a few days while we get everything straightened out."
"The first years will be spending the next few nights in the Great Hall. I have set up two changing rooms in the classroom in the adjacent corridor – one for the boys and one for the girls. Your trunks have been placed there. Sleeping bags will be provided for you here. I do ask that the Head Boy, Head Girl, and their staff members stay the night with the first years, after readying themselves for bed in their own quarters."
"And now, I wish you all a good night. Prefects, kindly lead the students to your house dormitories." The noise level greatly rose, as the second through seventh year students left the Great Hall.
"First year girls, please gather over here," called Hermione, who had taken a position near the head table.
"And first year boys, over hear," called Ron from the other side of the room.
With the help of Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Draco, Ron and Hermione led the first year students to the classrooms that were set up as changing rooms. Once all the students were in the changing rooms, Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Draco ran up to their rooms off the Scooby Common Room to get ready for bed themselves, while Ron and Hermione stood guard outside the two changing rooms.
Dawn, Shannon, Harry, and Draco hurried up to the Scooby Common Room. Faith was the only one there. "Hey, Faith, why are you still hanging around?" asked Dawn.
"Waiting for Lorne," Faith replied.
"Do you know which rooms are ours?" asked Shannon.
Faith smiled. "Yeah, you girls have my old quarters, right up those stairs." She pointed at one of the many spiral staircases off the side of the Common Room. "And the guys are in Robin's old quarters, down that set of stairs right below the girls' quarters."
"Cool, so if you annoy us too much, we can jump up and down and keep you guys awake," commented Shannon. Harry and Draco groaned, knowing full-well that their girlfriends would do something like that to them.
The four teens went to their rooms, changed quickly into nightclothes and headed back to the first floor changing rooms. Along with Ron and Hermione, they lead the first year students back to the Great Hall. Once the first years were settled, Ron and Hermione went off to their own rooms to change.
As soon as the portrait that guarded the Scooby Common Room swung closed, Ron pulled Hermione into a kiss. "What was that for?" she asked breathlessly.
Ron smiled. "Because I couldn't let you go off to bed without kissing you goodnight, and once we leave here, we have to pretend that we aren't together."
"Which explains why every young couple who enters this room feels the need to make the rest of us sick," said Faith, who was sitting by the fire.
Ron and Hermione both jumped. "S-sorry, professor," apologized Hermione.
Faith waved her hand in the air. "Don't worry about it. I'm just teasing. If Robin suddenly showed up, I'd be doing the same thing."
"What are you still doing here?" asked Ron. Hermione glared at him. "I mean, I thought you were staying at your own house in Hogsmeade."
Faith grinned. "Oh, I am. But right now, I volunteered to wait for Lorne to arrive. Wesley's making up an extra bed for Lorne in his quarters. Willow's talking to Oz in her room – catching up, I guess. I don't want to know what Buffy and Charlie are doing. And, I'm not quite sure where Cat disappeared to."
"Where are Genevieve and Spike staying?" asked Hermione.
"Oh, Dumbledore gave them a suite of rooms in the dungeons, so they don't accidentally catch any rays."
"Makes sense," commented Ron. "Well, we better get ready for bed. We don't want the first years thinking that we're up to something."
"They'd probably just think you two were off fighting somewhere," replied Faith. "Buffy told me that you two put on a hell of a show on the train. Shame I missed it." Ron and Hermione both blushed. They quickly excused themselves to get ready for bed.
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Willow and Oz were seated on the small sofa in Willow's sitting room. "So how is it you're here?" Willow asked the one question that had been bothering her all through dinner.
Oz smiled at her. "You know I was touring the world looking for a cure." Willow nodded her head enthusiastically. "So I met this werewolf, Remus, who was also a wizard."
"Remus Lupin?" asked Willow. Oz nodded. "We know him. He's working with Giles to help rebuild the Watchers Council. He also helped us with a bunch of stuff last year."
"Well, Remus, told me about a potion that keeps the wolf in check during the full moon."
"Wolfsbane," stated Willow.
Oz smiled and continued. "Well, I wanted to try it out for a few months, since I can't always prevent the wolf from making an appearance. Anyway, I needed a job and a place to stay while in England, and Remus suggested that I talk to Dumbledore. Told me that Dumbledore always makes crazy staff appointments. Well, since the last caretaker only lasted a year, Dumbledore was happy to offer me the job, and here I am. Though I'm a little worried about why the old caretaker only lasted a year."
Willow giggled. "Don't be. Xander was the caretaker last year. He left to work with Giles and supervise the construction of the new Council buildings."
"I thought Giles was fired from the Council," commented Oz. "What have I missed?"
Willow giggled again. "How much time do you have? It's kind of a long story."
"I'm not going anywhere for now," stated Oz.
Willow launched into a lengthy explanation of everything that had happened in the past four years: the fight against Glory, Buffy dying and being brought back, her own addiction to magic and trying to end the world, the fight against the First, the fall of the Council, the activation of the Potentials, Dumbledore's offer to come to Hogwarts, and everything that had happened so far in their fight against Voldemort.
"Wow," said Oz, when Willow had finished. "So Xander married Anya, and I was shocked that they went to prom together." Willow began giggling again.
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Hermione and Ron returned to the Great Hall to find the first years spread around the room in the bright purple sleeping bags that Dumbledore had conjured. Dawn, Shannon, Ron, and Harry were sitting on one of the tables that had been pushed to the side of the room.
"Remember when we slept down here in third year?" Draco asked.
"How could I forget," said Ron. "I woke up to see Sirius with a knife. I thought he was trying to kill me."
"So much has happened since then," stated Harry. It was obvious to his friends that he was thinking about finding out that Sirius was innocent, finally having someone like a parent in his life, and then watching Sirius fall behind the curtain in the Death Chamber.
"Well, I suggest we get some sleep. Tomorrow is probably going to be a very long day," stated Hermione.
"Yeah, and we don't want to be getting to friendly," added Dawn in a whisper.
The six seventh year students took their sleeping bags and scattered around the room. It had already been a very long day, and none of them had managed to get any sleep on the train. Within minutes, all of the students in the Great Hall were sound asleep.