"Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said.
"Thank you, Minerva. Welcome back old students, and welcome to the new ones as well. This year, we are doing everything backward. We will start by resorting the 7th years," Dumbledore said, as one-by-one, the students came up.
Professor McGonagall went through a list of about one hundred students, each getting resorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. At the end, only half of the students changed houses, many of the students that remained in the same house were in Gryffindor or Slytherin. Many of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws switched, with Gryffindor and Slytherin with a very small amount of switches.
"Sixth years," said McGonagall, and the sixth years stepped forward, Harry included.
"Zabini, Blaise!"
Suddenly, the hat shouted. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Blaise ran over to the Hufflepuff table, looking very shaken.
"Weasley, Ronald!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ron hurried over to the Ravenclaw table, looking very upset. He knew that he would probably be split from his friends.
"Turpin, Lisa!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Thomas, Dean!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Dean looked very shaken at his reassortment. He looked to McGonagall, who showed him where the Slytherin table was and Dean waddled over to it.
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry walked up to the stool, shaking. He hoped that the Sorting Hat would not place him in Slytherin, for he knew that the hat had almost placed him there in his first year.
"Eh, you again, huh? Once again, I think that I should put you in Slytherin!" the hat said into Harry's ear.
"Not Slytherin!"
"Well, then, if you still feel that you belong where you are, GRYFFINDOR!" Harry heard Gryffindor shouted to the entire Hall, and the Gryffindors were applauding.
"Perks, Sally-Anne!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Sally-Anne looked grateful, and she walked over to the Ravenclaw table, where Harry saw that her boyfriend seemed to be.
"Patil, Parvati!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Parvati looked shaken, looking as though she had been expecting to remain in Gryffindor.
"Patil, Padma!"
"GRYFFINDOR!
Padma smiled and ran over to the Gryffindor table, and sat down right next to Harry. She smiled at Parvati, who returned the smile. The twins had exactly switched houses.
"Parkinson, Pansy!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Pansy hurried over, saving a seat next to her, which obviously was for Malfoy.
"Nott, Whoa!"
Nott had ran forward, knocking over the chair on his way. This is probably what made the hat shout, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Newgana, Megan!"
Megan walked forward and crossed her fingers at Cristy and Lorena.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted and she walked gracefully to the Slytherin
table.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Harry heard the Hat muttering to Draco, and Draco looked very unhappy. It seemed that he would not remain in Slytherin. Suddenly, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Draco looked extremely nervous about this, mainly because he was the Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, and he knew that Harry was better than he was. He looked over and saw Pansy looking very upset, almost in tears.
"MacMillan, Ernie!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"MacDougal, Morag!"
"SLYTHERIN!
Morag looked very upset at this announcement, for his family hated the Dark Arts. He, however, had no choice.
"Longbottom, Neville!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione hadn't changed one bit. She ran to the stand, and jammed the hat onto her head, just like their first year at Hogwarts.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hermione looked very upset. This time, Harry understood why. She, Ron, and Harry were all split up.
"Goyle, Gregory!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry saw Fred clapping, but looking very depressed. Harry knew why this was also--he and George, and their best friend Lee Jordan were also all split up. "They obviously did this on purpose."
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnagan, Seamus!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Filman, Cristy!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Cristy seemed extremely happy, as she too ran over and took a seat next to Harry. Cho grinned at him. She too had been resorted, and she was put in Gryffindor. Harry saw the number of people in front of him becoming smaller by the minute. Harry was wondering if any of the remainder of the sixth years would be in Gryffindor while the hat called up the next person.
"Crabbe, Vincent!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Crabbe slumped over to the Ravenclaw table, and he looked at Draco and Goyle. They, just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, had all been split up. Malfoy didn't seem to mind, but Crabbe and Goyle looked nervous. They could only be 99.9% sure of winning a fight when it was both of them.
"Carena, Lorena!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Lorena seemed extremely upset by this, for she, Cristy, and Megan also were completely split up.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
"SLYTHERIN!
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Abbott, Hannah!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Now that all of the sixth years are completed, we will progress to the fifth years. Weasley, Ginny!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry listened, but didn't take in any of the information--none of the names said he recognized until he heard, "Creevy, Colin!" Colin walked up and then the hat suddenly shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
After another hour had passed, the sorting ceremony was over. Harry had completely a new House, including Ginny, Cho Chang, and Draco Malfoy. Finally, Dumbledore arose.
"Now, it is time for the feast!"
Suddenly, the plates in front of them filled with food. Harry noticed Hermione looking nervous, but she was talking to Neville. Ron seemed to be talking to Lorena, and he seemed to be having an "okay" time. Harry was engaged in conversation with Ginny when suddenly the hooded creatures once again joined everyone and they walked up to the High Table.
After everyone was done eating, Dumbledore arose again.
"Now that we are done eating, I will announce more about this year and its differences from the rest. This year, we will have a teacher go back to school. This is why we left out the Sorting Hat. The teacher returning to school was expelled in his third year, but as all of the fifth years and above know well, four years ago the Chamber of Secrets was opened. He was expelled for this reason, and therefore we feel that he should be allowed to go back to school. Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rubeus Hagrid!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at each other before they clapped the loudest ever.
"We must do this properly," Dumbledore said, beckoning for Professor McGonagall to come back up.
"Oh, okay then Professor Dumbledore. Now, we are hoping that the hat will allow him to be sorted. Anyways, Hagrid, Rubeus!"
The hat stood upon him, and the speakerphone on Hagrid's coat magnified everything the hat said.
"Eh, back again to school, Rubeus?"
"Yes," said Hagrid to the hat.
"Well, I know that you were in Gryffindor when you were here," the hat said as Dumbledore interrupted.
"Sorting Hat, please just tell us which House Hagrid will be in this year."
"Okay then, Professor Dumbledore. Okay, hard decision, however you seem to belong in SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted, and Hagrid groaned as he walked to the Slytherin table, where everyone seemed scared of him. However, they scooted and finally got a seat for him, and Hagrid sat down. "Am I done yet?" the hat went on, and Dumbledore nodded.
Now, as all of you may know, shadowy figures were on the Hogwarts Express. Now, I must tell you the truth--these are some of your teachers this year," Dumbledore said as everyone nodded and then seemed suprised.
"Because of the numberous new appointments, I will announce the names of the new Heads of Houses and all of the teachers. First of all, I will announce the names of the teachers who still teach the same subject. For starters, Professor Snape, who teaches Potions!"
Everyone who was either resorted into Slytherin or was in Slytherin before clapped as Snape stood up, bowed, and sat back down.
"Secondly, another teacher who hasn't changed subjects, Professor McGonagall, who teaches Transfiguration!"
There was much applause for McGonagall sat down, and Dumbledore continued with the introduction.
"Third, our Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout, also is staying at that position!" Dumbledore went on.
Everyone that liked Professor Sprout clapped, and Dumbledore beckoned for silence.
"Finally, our final continuing teacher, Professor Flitwick, the Charms professor!" Dumbledore said.
Harry noticed all of the Ravenclaws clapping for Flitwick. Harry figured this was because Flitwick was the Ravenclaw Head of House. However, he was suprised when Dumbledore continued.
"Our first of the new appointments is to none other than Remus Lupin, who was here a few years ago as the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher."
Lupin came out of the shadows, and then everyone clapped.
"Lupin will be gamekeeper this year, because Hagrid, our old gamekeeper, has returned to school."
Once again, everyone clapped for Lupin, and he waved his hand at everyone to say 'hi' back.
"Secondly, our new Head of Slytherin house. Many of you will know him from two years ago with the Triwizard Tournament. He will teach Care of Magical Creatures while he is with us. I present to you all, Viktor Krum!"
The Slytherin table erupted with applause as Krum came out of the shadows. The Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables were obviously excited and wondering who their new Head of House would be.
"Third, our new Head of Ravenclaw house. She was also here two years ago as a Triwizard Tournament for her school, Beauxbatons. She will teach Defense Against Dark Arts this year. Here she is, Fleur Delacour!"
Harry remembered this girl very well. Fleur Delacour was part veela, meaning she had awesome silvery hair. She came out of the shadows and flipped her hair, leading all the boys at the Ravenclaw table Stunned. When they had recovered, everyone clapped for her.
"Fourth, our new Head of Hufflepuff house. He was here a few years ago as Captain of the Quidditch team for Gryffindor. However, with this year being the Year of Differences, we feel that he should come back as a different house. Here he is, the new Quidditch teacher, Oliver Wood!"
Fred and George Weasley all stared at Harry. Only George was lucky enough to be in that house. Fred and George were Beaters on the Gryffindor House Quidditch Team before they were resorted. However, when Wood emerged from the shadows, he looked still like he was young. The girls at the Hufflepuff table gawked at the sight of him.
He had changed so much from when he was at Hogwarts learning himself. He was an extremely handsome and well-liked boy when he was at school, and now the kids all seemed to enjoy his presence in their midst again.
"Finally, our final new appointment, Divination teacher and new Head of Gryffindor House. Now, I must tell the story so none of you freak out," Dumbledore started, but was inturrupted when everyone stared at each other.
"What does he mean, 'I must tell the story so none of you freak out'?"
"Did he get us a vampire?"
"No, maybe another werewolf!"
"People!" Dumbledore said as he stared at everyone, and everyone quieted down immedietely.
"Now, fifteen years ago, this man was accused of murder. However, he has been released from Azkaban for the year to teach. No one freak out, the situation is under control. He was not guilty of the crime he was imprisoned for. I present to you, the new Head of Gryffindor House and Divination teacher, Sirius Black!"
"What?" half the room said.
"I didn't know he was freed for that reason--I thought he was freed to keep me safe from Voldemort!" Harry said.
Sirius then emerged from the shadows. He seemed to be nervous, but he saw Gryffindor house and waved to them all.
"Bed!" said Dumbledore, and everyone walked out of the door.
The next morning, everyone woke up bright and early to get ready for classes. Instead, it was posted that Quidditch tryouts would be that day. Harry grabbed his note and Firebolt and headed down to the field.
When he arrived at the bottom of the stairs to get on the Quidditch field, Wood came up on him.
"What's that?" he asked. Harry showed him the piece of parchment.
Just then, Cho and Draco showed up. Harry knew that they were Seekers on their old house teams, but he had forgotten that everything was shaken up this year. "What's that?" they both said to Wood, who told them, "Harry got this over the summer."
Draco and Cho didn't smile. They looked nervous as they said very plainly, "He's not the only one that received that note. I did too!"
"Thank you, Minerva. Welcome back old students, and welcome to the new ones as well. This year, we are doing everything backward. We will start by resorting the 7th years," Dumbledore said, as one-by-one, the students came up.
Professor McGonagall went through a list of about one hundred students, each getting resorted into one of the four Hogwarts houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. At the end, only half of the students changed houses, many of the students that remained in the same house were in Gryffindor or Slytherin. Many of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws switched, with Gryffindor and Slytherin with a very small amount of switches.
"Sixth years," said McGonagall, and the sixth years stepped forward, Harry included.
"Zabini, Blaise!"
Suddenly, the hat shouted. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Blaise ran over to the Hufflepuff table, looking very shaken.
"Weasley, Ronald!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ron hurried over to the Ravenclaw table, looking very upset. He knew that he would probably be split from his friends.
"Turpin, Lisa!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Thomas, Dean!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Dean looked very shaken at his reassortment. He looked to McGonagall, who showed him where the Slytherin table was and Dean waddled over to it.
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry walked up to the stool, shaking. He hoped that the Sorting Hat would not place him in Slytherin, for he knew that the hat had almost placed him there in his first year.
"Eh, you again, huh? Once again, I think that I should put you in Slytherin!" the hat said into Harry's ear.
"Not Slytherin!"
"Well, then, if you still feel that you belong where you are, GRYFFINDOR!" Harry heard Gryffindor shouted to the entire Hall, and the Gryffindors were applauding.
"Perks, Sally-Anne!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Sally-Anne looked grateful, and she walked over to the Ravenclaw table, where Harry saw that her boyfriend seemed to be.
"Patil, Parvati!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Parvati looked shaken, looking as though she had been expecting to remain in Gryffindor.
"Patil, Padma!"
"GRYFFINDOR!
Padma smiled and ran over to the Gryffindor table, and sat down right next to Harry. She smiled at Parvati, who returned the smile. The twins had exactly switched houses.
"Parkinson, Pansy!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Pansy hurried over, saving a seat next to her, which obviously was for Malfoy.
"Nott, Whoa!"
Nott had ran forward, knocking over the chair on his way. This is probably what made the hat shout, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Newgana, Megan!"
Megan walked forward and crossed her fingers at Cristy and Lorena.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted and she walked gracefully to the Slytherin
table.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Harry heard the Hat muttering to Draco, and Draco looked very unhappy. It seemed that he would not remain in Slytherin. Suddenly, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Draco looked extremely nervous about this, mainly because he was the Seeker on the Slytherin Quidditch team, and he knew that Harry was better than he was. He looked over and saw Pansy looking very upset, almost in tears.
"MacMillan, Ernie!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"MacDougal, Morag!"
"SLYTHERIN!
Morag looked very upset at this announcement, for his family hated the Dark Arts. He, however, had no choice.
"Longbottom, Neville!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione hadn't changed one bit. She ran to the stand, and jammed the hat onto her head, just like their first year at Hogwarts.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hermione looked very upset. This time, Harry understood why. She, Ron, and Harry were all split up.
"Goyle, Gregory!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry saw Fred clapping, but looking very depressed. Harry knew why this was also--he and George, and their best friend Lee Jordan were also all split up. "They obviously did this on purpose."
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnagan, Seamus!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Filman, Cristy!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Cristy seemed extremely happy, as she too ran over and took a seat next to Harry. Cho grinned at him. She too had been resorted, and she was put in Gryffindor. Harry saw the number of people in front of him becoming smaller by the minute. Harry was wondering if any of the remainder of the sixth years would be in Gryffindor while the hat called up the next person.
"Crabbe, Vincent!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Crabbe slumped over to the Ravenclaw table, and he looked at Draco and Goyle. They, just like Harry, Ron, and Hermione, had all been split up. Malfoy didn't seem to mind, but Crabbe and Goyle looked nervous. They could only be 99.9% sure of winning a fight when it was both of them.
"Carena, Lorena!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Lorena seemed extremely upset by this, for she, Cristy, and Megan also were completely split up.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
"SLYTHERIN!
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Abbott, Hannah!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Now that all of the sixth years are completed, we will progress to the fifth years. Weasley, Ginny!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry listened, but didn't take in any of the information--none of the names said he recognized until he heard, "Creevy, Colin!" Colin walked up and then the hat suddenly shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
After another hour had passed, the sorting ceremony was over. Harry had completely a new House, including Ginny, Cho Chang, and Draco Malfoy. Finally, Dumbledore arose.
"Now, it is time for the feast!"
Suddenly, the plates in front of them filled with food. Harry noticed Hermione looking nervous, but she was talking to Neville. Ron seemed to be talking to Lorena, and he seemed to be having an "okay" time. Harry was engaged in conversation with Ginny when suddenly the hooded creatures once again joined everyone and they walked up to the High Table.
After everyone was done eating, Dumbledore arose again.
"Now that we are done eating, I will announce more about this year and its differences from the rest. This year, we will have a teacher go back to school. This is why we left out the Sorting Hat. The teacher returning to school was expelled in his third year, but as all of the fifth years and above know well, four years ago the Chamber of Secrets was opened. He was expelled for this reason, and therefore we feel that he should be allowed to go back to school. Students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rubeus Hagrid!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at each other before they clapped the loudest ever.
"We must do this properly," Dumbledore said, beckoning for Professor McGonagall to come back up.
"Oh, okay then Professor Dumbledore. Now, we are hoping that the hat will allow him to be sorted. Anyways, Hagrid, Rubeus!"
The hat stood upon him, and the speakerphone on Hagrid's coat magnified everything the hat said.
"Eh, back again to school, Rubeus?"
"Yes," said Hagrid to the hat.
"Well, I know that you were in Gryffindor when you were here," the hat said as Dumbledore interrupted.
"Sorting Hat, please just tell us which House Hagrid will be in this year."
"Okay then, Professor Dumbledore. Okay, hard decision, however you seem to belong in SLYTHERIN!" the hat shouted, and Hagrid groaned as he walked to the Slytherin table, where everyone seemed scared of him. However, they scooted and finally got a seat for him, and Hagrid sat down. "Am I done yet?" the hat went on, and Dumbledore nodded.
Now, as all of you may know, shadowy figures were on the Hogwarts Express. Now, I must tell you the truth--these are some of your teachers this year," Dumbledore said as everyone nodded and then seemed suprised.
"Because of the numberous new appointments, I will announce the names of the new Heads of Houses and all of the teachers. First of all, I will announce the names of the teachers who still teach the same subject. For starters, Professor Snape, who teaches Potions!"
Everyone who was either resorted into Slytherin or was in Slytherin before clapped as Snape stood up, bowed, and sat back down.
"Secondly, another teacher who hasn't changed subjects, Professor McGonagall, who teaches Transfiguration!"
There was much applause for McGonagall sat down, and Dumbledore continued with the introduction.
"Third, our Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout, also is staying at that position!" Dumbledore went on.
Everyone that liked Professor Sprout clapped, and Dumbledore beckoned for silence.
"Finally, our final continuing teacher, Professor Flitwick, the Charms professor!" Dumbledore said.
Harry noticed all of the Ravenclaws clapping for Flitwick. Harry figured this was because Flitwick was the Ravenclaw Head of House. However, he was suprised when Dumbledore continued.
"Our first of the new appointments is to none other than Remus Lupin, who was here a few years ago as the Defense Against Dark Arts teacher."
Lupin came out of the shadows, and then everyone clapped.
"Lupin will be gamekeeper this year, because Hagrid, our old gamekeeper, has returned to school."
Once again, everyone clapped for Lupin, and he waved his hand at everyone to say 'hi' back.
"Secondly, our new Head of Slytherin house. Many of you will know him from two years ago with the Triwizard Tournament. He will teach Care of Magical Creatures while he is with us. I present to you all, Viktor Krum!"
The Slytherin table erupted with applause as Krum came out of the shadows. The Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables were obviously excited and wondering who their new Head of House would be.
"Third, our new Head of Ravenclaw house. She was also here two years ago as a Triwizard Tournament for her school, Beauxbatons. She will teach Defense Against Dark Arts this year. Here she is, Fleur Delacour!"
Harry remembered this girl very well. Fleur Delacour was part veela, meaning she had awesome silvery hair. She came out of the shadows and flipped her hair, leading all the boys at the Ravenclaw table Stunned. When they had recovered, everyone clapped for her.
"Fourth, our new Head of Hufflepuff house. He was here a few years ago as Captain of the Quidditch team for Gryffindor. However, with this year being the Year of Differences, we feel that he should come back as a different house. Here he is, the new Quidditch teacher, Oliver Wood!"
Fred and George Weasley all stared at Harry. Only George was lucky enough to be in that house. Fred and George were Beaters on the Gryffindor House Quidditch Team before they were resorted. However, when Wood emerged from the shadows, he looked still like he was young. The girls at the Hufflepuff table gawked at the sight of him.
He had changed so much from when he was at Hogwarts learning himself. He was an extremely handsome and well-liked boy when he was at school, and now the kids all seemed to enjoy his presence in their midst again.
"Finally, our final new appointment, Divination teacher and new Head of Gryffindor House. Now, I must tell the story so none of you freak out," Dumbledore started, but was inturrupted when everyone stared at each other.
"What does he mean, 'I must tell the story so none of you freak out'?"
"Did he get us a vampire?"
"No, maybe another werewolf!"
"People!" Dumbledore said as he stared at everyone, and everyone quieted down immedietely.
"Now, fifteen years ago, this man was accused of murder. However, he has been released from Azkaban for the year to teach. No one freak out, the situation is under control. He was not guilty of the crime he was imprisoned for. I present to you, the new Head of Gryffindor House and Divination teacher, Sirius Black!"
"What?" half the room said.
"I didn't know he was freed for that reason--I thought he was freed to keep me safe from Voldemort!" Harry said.
Sirius then emerged from the shadows. He seemed to be nervous, but he saw Gryffindor house and waved to them all.
"Bed!" said Dumbledore, and everyone walked out of the door.
The next morning, everyone woke up bright and early to get ready for classes. Instead, it was posted that Quidditch tryouts would be that day. Harry grabbed his note and Firebolt and headed down to the field.
When he arrived at the bottom of the stairs to get on the Quidditch field, Wood came up on him.
"What's that?" he asked. Harry showed him the piece of parchment.
Just then, Cho and Draco showed up. Harry knew that they were Seekers on their old house teams, but he had forgotten that everything was shaken up this year. "What's that?" they both said to Wood, who told them, "Harry got this over the summer."
Draco and Cho didn't smile. They looked nervous as they said very plainly, "He's not the only one that received that note. I did too!"