Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Harry Potter universe that you recognize. Only several original characters. No infringement of copyright is intended and no money is being made by this work. Sorting Hat Song from pages 204-7 US version of OotP.

Chapter 2: Arrival of Changes

It wasn't long till they were within the Great Hall. All of the students clambered to their appropriate table under the starless ceiling.

"Ginny, over hear." hailed Tiffany a small blonde sitting close by Rebecca. "How was your summer?"

"It was fine, if not boring at times." Ginny responded. "Does anyone know who the new Defense Professor is?" she said changing the subject abruptly.

Several said no, so Rebecca finally decided to speak up. "Her name is Dolores Umbridge, she works for the Minister."

"Are you sure?" Ginny questioned.

"Without a doubt, she's his Undersecretary. Both my Parents work in law enforcement at the Ministry. Let's just say we're probably in for an interesting year." It was only a short while till the buzz in the Hall died down and the Sorting began. As usual the Sorting hat has a new song, hmmm … must be boring being a hat, Rebecca wondered.

In times of old when I was new
and Hogwarts barely started
the founders of our noble school
thought never to be parted:
united by a common goal,
they had the selfsame yearning,
to make the world's best magic school
and pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
the four good friends decided
and never did they dream that they
might someday be divided,
for were there such friends anywhere
as Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
the whole sad sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
with brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
and treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife
when first they came to light,
for each of the four founders had
a House in which they might
take only those they wanted, so,
for instance, Slytherin
took only pure-blood wizards
of great cunning, just like him,
and only those of sharpest mind
were taught by Ravenclaw,
while the bravest and the boldest
went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
and taught them all she knew,
thus the Houses and their founders
retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
had once held up our school,
now turned upon each other and,
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end,
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for,
but this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.

After the Sorting, they discussed the new song. "It appears to be a warning of some kind." Ginny said.

"Yeah, a warning that the student body needs to unify to face its struggles." Rebecca stated sounding quite bored. They heard Sir Nicholas in the distance explain that when the hat sensed that the school was in danger, it felt that it was its duty to give a warning. Always the same warning: unite the houses to strengthen the school from within. "There is no way that the houses will unite. Gryffindors and Slytherins be friends; Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws to do the same. The Sorting hats asking for a bloody miracle to occur, maybe the latter have a chance, but a slim one at that." And there were murmurs of agreement from those situated around her.

Soon the banquet began and the Hall was alive with conversation. Rebecca tried to tune it out and eat, though on occasion she caught wind of talk about a number of different topics. The summer holidays. Exams at the end of the year. A bit early for that type of talk, she thought when a student was complaining that they were going to fail their NEWTs. Discussions on the staff, and more importantly the new Professor. But when they started to turn towards Dumbledore and Potter she lost her appetite and looking up she noticed that Ginny had stopped eating as well. With nothing else to do she started to look around. First years get smaller and smaller each year she noted. When her eyes locked on Harry's for a moment she smiled at him lightly and he returned the gesture. It seems he's aware of what they're all talking about. He's insane. An attention seeker. A liar, the Minister and the Prophet should just leave him be. It's hard enough growing up as is, without wondering if people think you're a whack-job.

"I have a few start of term notices I wish to make." Professor Dumbledore pronounced. "First I would like to note--" That the dark forest is strictly forbidden, yadda yadda yadda, same thing each and every year.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when Professor Umbridge cleared her throat. Rebecca just stared blankly ahead as Umbridge made her speech. Well at least this is new, note now students that the changes have just began, Rebecca thought sarcastically. She was only partially paying attention to the Professor's welcome speech, remembering that her Parents had warned her to behave because Umbridge worked for the Minister for Magic himself.

Heather interrupted her daydreaming. "What was that Umbridge lady talking about, Becca?" she asked casually as they got up from the table to head towards Gryffindor tower.

"Why me?"

"'Cause you weren't listening." Tiffany laughed lightly.

"Because you tend to… understand things that we have problems with." Heather smoothed over.

"That, and you weren't listening." Rebecca said coolly. "She was saying that changing things just for progress is not always right, and that the Ministry thinks that not necessarily all changes made by Headmasters of late have been in the best judgment… Basically, the Ministry is going to change how we are educated to fit the traditional ways more."

"Why?" Ginny asked in slight shock because she truly thought Rebecca had not been listening like the rest of them. "We've been learning what they set out for us to learn."

"Because they don't necessarily trust certain people's judgment on what our young minds should learn." she said pointedly

They have been smearing Dumbledore's good name in the mud and she has to ask. The Ministry's taking control over what ever they can, because Fudge is afraid of the Headmaster and his supporters. And soon they were back in their dorm and had their last sleep before the new term officially began.