"C'mon, let's find a compartment." said Ron
Together, Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny took the last compartment to themselves.
"So, how what happened during the holidays Harry?" asked Hermione
"I'll tell you when the time is right."
"By the way Harry," said Ron, "I've been thinking of what you said to Mum back there in Diagon Alley. What did you say about your name? Why Harry James Gryffindor Hufflepuff Ravenclaw Slytherin Merlin Potter?"
"That's for me to know and yours to guess." Said Harry
Silently, Harry placed a wandless memory charm on the three of them so that neither of them would approach the subject soon.
"So, how about you Ron?"
"Oh, we went to see Charlie in Romania. We were just in time to see one of the Hungarian Horntails hatch from the eggs. It was awesome. There was this great fire and…"
While they chatted, Ginny looked at Harry more closely.
Ginny's POV.
"Gosh, I didn't know that it would take him just one summer to completely change. Well, not exactly completely but I can feel the confidence now when he talks. He's even starting to treat me as his friend instead of treating me like his little sister. And his smile, oh his smile. It's melting me at the pit of my stomach. No use to tell these to yourself, Ginny. Don't ruin the trust and friendship that he gave to you. Be content. Besides, he probably already likes a girl. Too bad that my crush on him was already over. Or is it? And anyway, he would just think I was some little lovesick girl. But what were the fantasies that I dreamt? Those dreams couldn't be dreams since I remembered them very well unlike my other dreams." I thought.
Suddenly, I blushed at the thought of my fantasies. I hoped Harry's not noticing me.
Normal POV.
Too late. As Ginny turned her head, Harry noticed the blush on her cheek and he himself blushed too.
"Maybe she likes me." Thought Harry. "Oh well, whatever it is, we're in for an interesting year."
The Hogwarts Train rolled continually along the tracks. It did not take note of the 20 dementors waiting in the front tracks to ambush the train. However, Harry, took note of this silently and excused himself from his friends to go to the toilet. Then, he changed secretly into his battle gear and leapt off the train. He used a time-delay spell to catch up in front of the train, then with one sweep of his wand, he swept the dementors out of the track into a nearby forest.
Then, he bellowed, "Expecto Patronum"
Out of his hand, came many bright figures, three stags, three giant dogs, and three wolves, all bright gold in color. The creatures attacked the evil dementors with a great aggressiveness that consumed the whole army in seconds.
After checking the surroundings if there were any more enemies, Harry disappeared with a pop and reappeared inside the toilet in the train. Thankfully, he had disguised himself so skillfully that no one was the wiser.
"What took you so long in the toilet?" asked Ron after Harry entered in the compartment.
"Where you umm... hooking with someone?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Now where did our sweet innocent bookworm go?" asked Harry smirking.
The four of them laughed merrily.
As the Hogwarts train rumbled to a stop, the students clambered out of the compartments and started to walk towards the platform. Harry was waiting to hear the familiar
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" boomed the cheery voice of Hagrid.
"Hi Hagrid!" shouted Harry over the sea of students.
"All right there, Harry?"
"Doing fine, Hagrid."
"Blimey, you've changed Harry!" Said Hagrid in surprise.
"Yeah Hagrid. Harry's really changed into a bloody gorgeous guy." Joked Ron. "Girls will be clambering over each other for him."
"Oh shut up, Ron" blushed Harry, "Do you really have to be such a prat!"
"Oh Harry," said Ron in a girlish voice, "Can I kiss you?" added Fred fluttering his eyes.
George who was next to Harry, made swooning motions and smooching noises.
Hermione whacked Ron in the head with her book while Ginny took out her wand and turned Fred and George's hair shocking green. She also put marks on their butts which said "We love each other."
Together, the six of them took a horseless carriage together towards Hogwarts. As they entered the great oak doors, the Great Hall was once again never ceased to amaze them. Illuminated by the torches and candles floating above, it looked as magnificent as it always was.
Harry quickly took a seat on the Gryffindor table. Ron sat next to him on the left along with Hermione while Ginny sat on Harry's right side. Fred and George took their seats opposite them. Just as the students settled themselves, the Great Oak doors opened and in came Professor McGonagall accompanied by the new first years. Professor Snape arranged the three-legged stool in front of the Great Hall where that famous Sorting Hat sat. When the first years where crowded in front of it, the brim of the hat opened and spoke.
A thousand years ago, the land was young,
Untainted the trees were, and young birds sung.
But peace couldn't last for a very long time.
Darkness came, and light was slimed.
Through this, the founders came together,
To save the world and bring Light forever.
Tensions must be broken, friendships we must renew,
In saving the Light and the world we once knew.
Now the Heir of Four has come,
To aid the light in the outcome.
He will be born, deprived of love.
He is a warrior from high above.
Bravery he has, Loyalty too.
Cunningness and smartness, he will soon have.
Help from the owl and the fox, the heir will get.
Since they were together since the first time they met.
Their friendship is strong and forever lasting.
It shines as a beacon among the battling.
Love, the heir is given by Fate.
Sibling of the fox will be his mate.
So after you hear my poem of sadness and lore,
May God bring unity once again, to the Hogwarts four.
Silence reigned over the Great Hall. Suddenly, a small buzzing started. Many people looked confused at the Sorting Hat's song. Even Dumbledore was trying to figure out what the hat said. Unknown to anyone but Ron and Hermione, Harry was starting to squirm in his seat.
"That was the weirdest song I've ever heard from the bloody hat. Do you know what he meant though?" asked Ron
"Well, we all know that the Hogwarts Four are the four founders. And "tensions must be broken" that means we have to unite with the other houses and put aside grudges. Also, the owl and the fox should mean a lot to this heir. But who represent the owl and the fox? But what I don't get was the heir of four. Maybe he's an heir to all the founders." murmured Hermione. "All this doesn't make sense. The sorting hat's supposed to sing about the founders characteristics. Not about someone we don't know."
Then, she suddenly looked at Harry who looked like squirming in his seat and looking guilty. Professor Dumbledore noticed this too so he decided to try and pry open Harry's mind gently to see what he knew of. But when he entered Harry's mind, he hit a tall metal barrier and a booming voice spoke to him.
"Please respect other people's private places. " said an amused voice.
Dumbledore's eyes widened. Not even he could manage a feat like this. He looked over the Gryffindor table and caught Harry looking amused at him. Dumbledore's eyes gave an encouraging smile in a way that said, "You've finally mastered Occlumency, I see."
"Before we decide to devour this tasty feast, I would like to announce a few things." Said Dumbledore in a loud voice. "In the light of last year's incompetent and foolish Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I have hired a much better man and woman for the job. Let me introduce you to Professor Steel and Professor Ches."
"Professor Ches will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts while Professor Ches will be teaching Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. They will be teaching side by side." He added after seeing the students' confusion.
"Next, I have decided to start a new subject, and that is Dueling. Your teacher is the top auror and head auror, Mr. Rad. Now, I know that many of you will like to join but the Mr. Rad declared that he will be the one who will chose the students. So tomorrow noon at 4 o'clock, I want everybody from first year and above to come to the Great Hall. Whatever lesson you are attending at that time will be cancelled. The staff and the teachers are also required to come. I, myself, will attend too. But I must warn you that Mr. Rad is not to be taken lightly. I want everyone to do their best. Yes, even the teachers and the staff shall be judged by Mr. Rad. It is also Mr. Rad's decision if you should join the class or not. Even teachers can become the students of Mr. Rad if their dueling skills are somewhat equal to our late DADA teacher." Dumbledore chuckled.
Some of the student body laughed heartily as they remembered their nuisance of a DADA teacher who did not have an adept ability to duel against a pig.
At this, Professor McGonagall's lips curled and her nostrils look flared. She looked as though Dumbledore had insulted her dueling abilities. Even Snape looked insulted. Professor Flitwick however was ecstatic about it.
"That is all." Finished the headmaster before sitting down on his throne and eating.
Everyone else followed suit.