Vengeance and Wrath: The Rise of the Dark Lord

by AmyandBecci

In his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, not only must Harry Potter come to terms with the death of his godfather, Sirius Black, he must learn to accept that, if he doesn't want to die a victim, he must become a murderer...

8. The Ballad of The Sorting Hat

Harry Potter - Vengeance and Wrath: The Rise of The Dark Lord

For the record: This chapter was written back in September 2004, and therefore any similarities to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince are purely coincidental. Thank you.

- CHAPTER EIGHT -

The Ballad of the Sorting Hat

The black carriages trundled up the seemingly endless drive, towards Hogwarts. Harry peered through the window, watching as the castle grew closer and closer. He couldn't help but wonder what lay in store for him this year. He'd never had an easy time at school, what, with stopping Voldemort from getting the Philosopher's Stone, finding the Chamber of Secrets and consequently saving the students from a Basilisk, discovering that he had a godfather, and that Ron's rat, Scabbers, was in fact, Peter Pettigrew, the man who had betrayed his parents. Then there was the Mad-Eye Moody impersonator, Barty Crouch, who entered Harry into the Triwizard Tournament, so that Voldemort could be reborn, kill Harry and get a second chance at domination. Then, of course, there was last year... Harry wouldn't be forgetting that in a hurry. And now that Voldemort was no longer in hiding - now he was stronger, well, who knows what would happen this year?

The carriage drew to a halt outside the great oak front doors, and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville climbed out, and made their way up the flight of stone steps, and through the doorway.

From the warmth of the torch-lit Entrance Hall, Harry allowed himself one last look at the large, black reptilian-looking horses that pulled the carriages - Thestrals. Creatures that could only be seen by someone who had witnessed death. Images flashed through Harry's mind; a graveyard and a blaze of green light, Cedric lying on the cold ground, a room in the Department of Mysteries, voices whispering from behind a veil...

'Harry?' Hermione's voice broke through his thoughts.

'Huh?' Harry replied, finally looking away from the Thestrals.

'Are you ready to go into the Great Hall?' she asked, concern etched onto her face.

'Yeah,' Harry answered, following his friends through the double doors on the right.

The Great Hall looked as wonderful as it always did for the start-of-term feast. Bathed in the warm glow of candlelight, the golden plates and goblets that lined the tables gleamed and sparkled, waiting to be filled with all sorts of delicious food. The four long house tables were packed with excited students, catching up on summer holiday gossip and talking animatedly with friends, whilst the staff at the top table contemplated another year of teaching. Above them, grey clouds swirled over an inky-black star-speckled ceiling, bewitched to look like the night sky.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked towards a table at the far side of the Hall, passed the Slytherins, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, to join the other Gryffindors.

'All right, Harry?' Dean asked, as Harry sat down across from him. 'Me and Seamus were just wondering who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher is. Don't suppose you'd know?'

'No, sorry.' said Harry wearily.

'They've got to be better than that Umbridge woman though, haven't they?' Ron added.

'I hope so,' Hermione replied anxiously, her eyes searching the staff table for any new faces.

Suddenly, the doors of the Great Hall burst open and silence fell, as Professor McGonagall walked in carrying a stool and an old hat, and followed by a group of first year students, whose facial expressions ranged from slightly nervous to completely petrified.

'That girl doesn't look much like a first year.' Hermione whispered, pointing to a girl with long, dark hair, who was towering over the other new students.

'Maybe she's just tall for her age?' Ron suggested, as Professor McGonagall placed the three-legged stool before the staff table, and put the dirty, old, patched hat on top of it.

There was a moment of silence as everyone stared expectantly at the ancient hat. Then the hat began to move - and what appeared to be a tear near the brim opened wide like a mouth, and the hat began to sing:

When Hogwarts was first established.

Years ago, when I was new,

Four noble founders of our school

All shared a certain view;

To educate all magic folk

No matter what their class

And hand on their great knowledge

As seven years did pass.

As time elapsed, the four good friends

Soon became divided,

They each wanted different things

And so it was decided

That Slytherin would only teach

Those with purest blood,

And Ravenclaw would teach all those

Who were intelligent and good,

Gryffindor said he would teach

Those who were brave and bold,

While Hufflepuff said she'd teach them all,

They all had hearts of gold.

Several happy years passed by,

Until quarrels began once more.

Then, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff,

Slytherin and Ravenclaw

Turned upon each other,

Each friend wanted to rule.

And for some time, it seemed to be

The end of Hogwarts school.

After Slytherin had left,

The quarrelling did cease.

But the three remaining friends

Never restored peace.

And ever since that fateful day,

The houses were at war.

But that's not what sorting is about

That's not what I am for.

I know the Dark Lord rises,

He grows stronger every day.

And Hogwarts is in danger,

No matter what the teachers say.

This is a time to come together,

And leave rivalries in the past.

To forget our petty differences

And we must do it fast.

Listen close to what I tell you;

It's time that we stand tall.

We must unite, and do it now,

Because divided we will fall.

The Sorting Hat finished, and the Hall was filled with applause and worried whispers, as students decided what to make of the Sorting Hat's new song.

'Even the Sorting Hat must be worried,' Neville whispered. 'It's never mentioned You-Know-Who before.'

Ron gulped.

'Do you think it knows something we don't?' he stammered. 'Maybe a load of Death Eaters are going to Apparate into the school and kill us while we're all asleep?' he added, glancing around the Hall nervously.

'Oh, Ron!' Hermione chided. 'How many times do I have to tell you? No-one can Apparate or Disapparate inside the Hogwarts grounds. One of these days I'm going to force you to read Hogwarts: A History.'

The conversation came to an end as Professor McGonagall began to unroll a large scroll of parchment.

'Listen closely, first years,' she began. 'When I call your name, you will come up here, sit on the stool and put the Sorting Hat on your head. When the hat declares your house, you will join your fellow house-mates at the appropriate table.

'Abercrombie, Callum.'

A terrified-looking boy hurried to the front of the group, trembling with fear as he sat down on the stool, and placed the hat on his head.

'Gryffindor.' shouted the Sorting Hat.

The Gryffindors erupted with cheers, as little Callum Abercrombie joined the table.

'Bennett, Joseph.' Professor McGonagall called.

'Ravenclaw.' the hat bellowed.

'I wish they'd hurry up - I'm starving!' Ron grumbled, as Elliot Bones became a Hufflepuff.

'Yeah, me too.' Dean whispered, oblivious to the disapproving glance Hermione was giving them.

'I wonder why Snape's looking so happy?' Seamus questioned. 'I don't think I've ever seen him smile before - it doesn't really suit him.'

'Hmm... I overheard Parvati saying that she hearda rumour from Lavender, who was told by Hannah Abbott, that one of the teachers was dating someone from a Quidditch team.' Ron revealed.

'Maybe Snape's dating someone from the Holyhead Harpies?' said Seamus excitedly.

'In his dreams!' Dean scoffed.

'Shhh!' Hermione hissed angrily. 'Some of us are trying to listen to the Sorting.'

The group fell silent, and Harry heard tumultuous cheers from the Slytherin table as David Dawson joined their house.

'Fisher, Cecilia.' Professor McGonagall shouted.

'Hufflepuff.'

'Foley, Ella.'

'Ravenclaw.'

Harry was interrupted from the ceremony once again, as a young woman dressed in royal blue robes exited the door behind the staff table and took a seat between Professor Vector and Madame Pince. She was obviously the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Harry thought. But she looked more like a student than a professor. Harry noticed he wasn't the only one staring at her - in fact, most of the male students were, and it wasn't hard to see why. With her porcelain skin, and her long brown hair, glowing gold in the flicker of the candlelight above her, she looked truly beautiful. She was definitely a welcome distraction from the tedious Sorting ceremony.

'Moore, Amber.' Professor McGonagall called.

Harry managed to pull his eyes away from the new professor in time to see the tall girl, who Hermione had pointed to earlier, sitting on the three-legged stool and placing the hat on her head.

'Gryffindor.' bellowed the hat.

As Amber made her way to the Gryffindor table, amidst yells and cheers, Harry noticed that Hermione was right - Amber didn't look like a first year at all, actually, she could easily have passed as a sixth year.

Once the Sorting Hat had finished dividing the first years into the four houses, Dumbledore stood up.

'I will leave the more lengthy announcements for after the feast.' he smiled, 'Until then, I have only two words for you - eat heartily!'

'About time!' Ron muttered, as the tables magically filled with food.

'Do you reckon, she's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?' Dean asked, pointing to the woman in the blue robes at the staff table.

'Dunno.' Ron answered, his mouth full with potato. 'She looks a lot better than Umbridge though!' he snorted.

'I can't get used to Snape smiling,' Seamus shivered, 'It's so creepy, it's putting me off my dinner!'

'Do you think he is dating someone from a Quidditch Team?' said Neville.

'Well if he is, it's not going to be someone from the Holyhead Harpies.' Dean replied.

'Who're the Holyhead Harpies?' Harry asked, intrigued.

Ron gaped at him, his mouth now full with chewed steak-and-kidney pie.

'You've never heard of the Holyhead Harpies?' Seamus asked, gob-smacked.

'Obviously not.' Harry replied testily.

'They're the only all-female Quidditch Team in Britain.' said Ron. 'So, obviously, Snape doesn't stand a chance with any of them!' he grinned.

'I don't think that big-nosed, greasy-haired idiot would stand a chance with anyone!' Seamus laughed.

Hermione cast them a disapproving look.

'Honestly, I thought you'd know better than to believe some silly rumour that was going around.' she berated. 'Especially after all the things the Daily Prophet have printed about Harry.'

'Not to mention that balderdash article in The Quibbler, concerning You-Know-Who.' Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, added.

'You read The Quibbler?' Hermione asked, in amazement.

'Not usually,' Sir Nicholas admitted. 'But I often hear students talking about articles, and now and again I read the odd feature over someone's shoulder.'

Nearly Headless Nick floated down the table to speak to the new Gryffindors, and the group fell silent once more; too busy eating to talk. Harry finished his last piece of steak-and-kidney pie, and watched in fascination as the remainder of the first course vanished from the golden plates, which were instantly filled with all kinds of delectable puddings.

Harry helped himself to some treacle tart. This was his sixth year at Hogwarts, and his fourth start-of-term feast, but he was still completely awe-struck by all the magical festivities - probably due to the fact that he had spent ten years of his life living as a Muggle.

After the puddings too, had disappeared from the tables, and all of the students were feeling comfortably bloated, Dumbledore stood again.

'Now we are all pleasantly full, I will ask for a moment of your time to issue a few notices.' Dumbledore began. 'First of all, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to inform you that Portable Swamps, Weasleys' Wildfire Whizzbangs and any other type of fireworks are prohibited inside the castle grounds. The full list of forbidden items can be found in Mr. Filch's office.' he smiled. 'I would also like to remind you that the forest is out-of-bounds to all students.' he continued, staring pointedly at Harry, Ron and Hermione, 'And, due to unfortunate circumstances, weekend trips to Hogsmeade have been cancelled.'

There was a great tumult from the pupils, who were all appalled with this latest development.

Dumbledore raised his hands to silence them.

'Now, now. I'm sure you'd all rather stay at Hogwarts than go outside the grounds and risk being killed by Voldemort's followers.'

Another uproar ensued, as panicked voices filled the room.

'I'm sure I don't need to remind any of you that you will all be very safe within Hogwarts.' he added calmly. 'I would also like to introduce our new Potions teacher, Professor Plumpton-Black.' he said, gesturing at the young woman in the royal blue robes.

A deafening applause, and a few wolf-whistles replaced the panicked commotion, and Professor Plumpton-Black blushed in embarrassment.

'What?' Ron whispered, 'Potions? I thought she was the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?'

Harry shrugged in confusion.

'It's also my great pleasure to announce that Professor Snape will be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts.' Dumbledore continued.

Snape grinned broadly, flashing his yellowing teeth, but the only applause came from the Slytherin table.

'Oh, no!' Neville looked like he was about to cry. 'I should have failed Defence Against the Dark Arts instead!'

'No wonder he looks so happy.' Dean added. 'He's been after that job for years.'

'And I would also like to welcome back Rubeus Hagrid, who will resume his role as professor of Care of Magical Creatures, and Professor Trelawney, who is returning as Divination teacher - a position she will be sharing with Firenze.' Dumbledore proceeded. 'Now, I'm sure you're all eager to get back to your common rooms. Prefects, if you'll lead the way, please.' he finished, sitting back down.

Utter commotion filled the Great Hall, as hundreds of students all rushed towards the double doors, and back into the Entrance Hall. Prefects were all yelling for the first years to follow them, and the poor first years looked thoroughly bewildered.

Harry steered a few of the new Gryffindors in the direction of Ron and Hermione, making sure that no-one got lost on their first night in the castle. He followed his other house-mates as they made their way up the staircases and towards the Gryffindor Tower, which was cleverly concealed behind a large portrait of a rather large lady in a silky pink dress.

'Password?' said the Fat Lady.

'Constant Contumely,' Hermione replied.

'And I expect none of that from you!' the Fat Lady chortled, as the portrait swung open revealing a hole in the wall.

There was a slight commotion as every Gryffindor student tried to climb through the hole at the same time. But soon everyone was relaxing in the warmth of the circular common room. Harry was too tired to sit in one of the many cushioned chairs and sofas surrounding the crackling fire, instead, he bid Hermione goodnight and made his way up the stairs to his dormitory.

Ron, Neville, Seamus and Dean were already getting changed for bed when Harry entered theroom. Harry too, changed into his pyjamas and got into bed, overcome by tiredness as his head hit the soft pillow.

'Bit disappointing that we can't go to Hogmeade this year, isn't it?' Seamus muttered sleepily.

'Hmm.' Harry managed to murmur.

'What do you think of Professor Plumpton-Black?' Neville whispered, also on the verge of sleep.

'She's pretty,' said Dean. 'I'm glad I'm still taking Potions.'

'I'm not looking forward to Defence Against the Dark Arts, though.' Ron mumbled.

The conversation ended suddenly, and the whispered discussion was replaced by gentle snoring and steady breathing as the boys succumbed to sleep.

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