Chapter 4: Welcome (Back) to Hogwarts
"Two hours! Can you believe it? Two hours!" Jazz was ranting, pacing the room while attempting to pack. "They expect us to pack up and be ready to move half way around the world in two hours!" Luke, having finished packing twenty minutes before, sat on her bed watching her pace. He had an amused look as she folded everything very neatly and then hurled it into her trunks.
"You know, you can use magic to pack. It might make it so you'd be packed quicker and easier and you wouldn't be as stressed." Luke smirked at her, knowing that he was right. Jazz glared at him, but pulled out her wand and muttered the charm. Everything flew neatly into her trunk except her favorite books and music. That flew into her bag to use right away. She then cleaned the room, so that whoever got her room next, would have a clean one. She sighed, thinking of all the memories she has of the place. Luke stood up and pulled her into a hug.
"It's going to be okay. We're going to have fun in England. It'll all work out in the end." Luke lightly rubbed her back, trying to prevent the tears that seemed inevitable.
"I know, but it's the principal of the matter. It's the fact that we're being uprooted during our last year to go and save the world or something is what's bugging me. Why can't life be normal?" Jazz knew she was whining like a three-year-old, but she didn't care. Giving her a final squeeze, Luke shrank her luggage and guided her out of the room and back to the headmistress's office.
"Oh, God. Well, here we are again." Draco lowered the hood of his cape as he walked into the castle. He had a look of utter disgust at the thought of being trapped there for ten more months.
"But this time, we're seventh years," Goyle muttered
"And we're going to rule the school." Draco perked up at the thought of terrorizing little first years. He ran his hand through his hair; then, he motioned for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him to the Great Hall.
As Draco was walking toward the Great Hall, Hermione was talking to Ginny about the cloths she had bought that summer. Her cousin had taken her shopping and clubbing. Hermione had a bit of a smirk on her face as she described some of the guys she danced with at the clubs. Ginny laughed at the torture that Hermione had put the boys through. Her eyes grew wide as she remembered something.
"Oh my gosh! I read in Witch Weekly that there's a new club in Hogsmeade. It plays both muggle and wizarding music. We so have to go!" Ginny was practically bouncing with excitement. She had changed from the quiet first year she once was. With subtle curves in the right places, boys we definitely noticing the sixth year. Her hair was straight to mid-back where in curled slightly at the ends. Her freckles and dimples stood out as she laughed at Ron. Her vivid blue eyes betrayed her feelings, even though they grew harder as she grew older. Right then, they were sparkling with annoyance as Ron was attempting to lecture her.
"..and if you think that I will just stand by and let my baby sister go to some club, you're crazy. What would Mum say? You never know what could happen in those clubs. Rape, murder, drugs…" Ron's rant was interrupted by Ginny.
"Merlin's wand, Ron! It's a teen club. There's little to no alcohol served and the bar is closely monitored. Besides, Mum said it would be a fun place for us to go during the school year." Ginny finished with a smug grim on her face.
Luna Lovegood, the most eccentric student in the school, had been walking past and watched the dispute.
"Don't worry, Ronald. Ginny may have a winding path ahead of her, but the events that may result from that club straightens her journey out. Someone will always watch out for her." Luna's voice stopped as they went to their separate tables.
"That's one strange chick," Harry remarked to the air.
"Yet, she's right. Ginny has all of her brothers, you, Hermione, and everyone in the Order watching out for her. I shouldn't worry too much." Ron sat down and turned to wait for the Sorting ceremony. Harry stared first at him, then at the girl who calmed him down with only three sentences. Luna wasn't particularly tall, only 5'5". Compared to Ron's lanky form, she was even more petite. She had dirty blonde hair that was sun streaked, probably from searching for King Kong or something like that during vacation. Her hair went to her waist in loose waves. Luna's eyes were always wide open. She would stare at you without blinking. Her eyes, paler that the sky, always seemed unfocused, and would see things most missed. But, Harry had been friends with Ron too long to miss this. He had watched Ron grow up and flirt with girls. He could see that he respected Luna in a way he respected only three other girls: his mum, Ginny, and Hermione. Those three were the most important females in his life. That look meant that Looney-er-Luna Lovegood was really making an impact on his best mate.
Hmm…Maybe I could enlist Gin into doing some matchmaking with me. Harry made a mental note to talk to Ginny soon about those two. As he sat at the Gryffindor table, he looked around seeing his friends joking around like they do every year. Surrounded by a sea of robes, he saw two students standing behind Professor McGonagall's empty chair. Before he could mull over their presence, the aforementioned professor walked in with the Sorting Hat in her hands and the first years following her.
As the Sorting Hat began its yearly song, Harry's mind drifted to his own sorting. He had been creeped out when this voice was in his ear. He often wondered what would have happened if he had been sorted into Slytherin instead. But, honestly, he wouldn't have changed the last six years for anything. Well, except the whole Voldemort trying to kill him thing. Otherwise…Harry was brought back to reality by Professor McGonagall snapping the scroll closed. He saw Ron shake the cobwebs of Memory Lane away as well. As Professor Dumbledore moved to stand, Harry began to wonder about those two students. He soon realized they were about to find out.