WOW, I actually made my deadline! By the way, I own very little in this story, but the OCs, and the Amps are mine. The rest belong to the one and only JKR, and whoever bought the rights to such things : )

Chapter 7: A Sorting of Sorts

After filing into the great hall the students all made their way to each of their tables. Luna went off to her Ravenclaw housemates, a frown playing at her lips. The rest of her friends headed for the Gryffindor table.

"Who do you thing the new defense teacher will be?" Hermione asked.

Harry scanned the head table also wanting an answer to the question. The only new person sitting at the table shouldn't have been. It couldn't be, even Dumbledore isn't this insane. Harry aghast looked to Hermione as she was scanning the table too. The pure shock that entered her eyes confirmed Harry's suspicions, Dumbledore had lost it.

Ron seeing the distress of his two best friends looked up too. Landing on their newest professor his head turned to his friends.

"What does Dumbledore think he's playing at?" he asked still in a mild shock.

"I'm not sure," answered Harry, "but this can't be good."

Before anymore conversation could commence Professor McGonagall entered the all with a line of first years trailing behind her. They lined up in front of her, each looking scared and nervous, each eyeing the three legged stool with an old hat upon it suspiciously. When the hat animated itself and started to sing the newest students to the school all gasped.

I gave my warning and it fell on deaf ears

Now I'm here to sort again the first years

But I did think in the face of war

I could unite the houses split by four

But you did not listen to me then

So now I'll let my own sorting begin

For once a year I'm taken off the shelf

And this year I think I'll just help myself

Instead of dividing you few and far between

I'll only sort you, if you are a teen

Younger than that and I'll refuse to call

For its time you learn, that divided, you fall

Instead of clapping, pure, unrefined silence filled the air. Dumbledore's small cough to get the attention of Professor McGonagall almost sounded like a cannon firing.

"Um…Yes…" she tried to regain her composure, "This year we have a couple of new older students who will be joining the sixth years. When I call your names, please come sit on the stool and put on the hat."

"New sixth years?" Harry asked Hermione; nothing like this had happened that he knew about.

"They must be transfers, though usually it never happens, whoever they are their parents must have pulled some strings," she answered.

"Great," moaned Ron "sounds like Slytherins to me."

Their musings were cut short though by McGonagall calling "Haszel, Jenks"

A sixteen year old male of medium height with dirty blonde hair strode to the front. He was broad and looked somewhat intimidating. But his composure was nothing compared to his eyes, they started yellow but faded to green, and then a circle of blue surrounded them. When he stared at you, you almost felt pierced. With an air of confidence he sat on the stool.

He put the sorting hat on, instead of falling over his eyes it sat their like it was made for him. The hat again came to life, and the tear at the bottom almost formed a smile. Soon enough it called, "Gryffindor!"

Clapping ensued from the table as his new house cheered for their new arrival. He sat a couple of places down from Harry and friends, but he did give them a warm smile.

"Haszel, Sira," McGonagall called the next name.

A very pretty sixteen year old girl with strawberry blonde hair performed the same stride to the stool. It was obvious they were siblings, twins even. Though her eyes were opposite from her brothers, they started green and faded to yellow, but she too had the same blue ring. Instead of intimidation, you were compelled to complete trust while staring into those orbs. Again the hat sat on her head like it was tailored just for her.

The tear took on the same gash of a smile before shouting "Gryffindor!"

The same polite clapping and cheering erupted from the table, she joined her brother, but she gave Harry and friends another warm smile.

Professor McGonagall tried to continue the sorting with the first years though by calling the first of them.

"Ambry, Todd!"

The frightened first year tried to run up to the stool, but in his excitement he tripped on his robes and landed with a thud. The Slytherins all laughed while the Gryffindors shot them all daggers with their eyes to shut up. Harry smiled when he saw his two newest house mates also looking murderous. The kid did manage to get to the stool though. The hat sank low resting on the brim of his nose, and then, nothing.

For fifteen minutes the hall sat in silence as the hat seemed to be content by just being a hat. Finally Dumbledore rose.

"It seems that our resident sorting hat was serious, I'll come up with something but until then," he waved his wand and another table spawned into existence, "will the first years please sit there. I do welcome you all to another year at Hogwarts; I'll save any announcements till after the feast. Till then I just have this to say, Blubberfoot."

And with his odd choice of ending his welcoming each table had food appear ready for the students.

"Well Harry," Ron started in while piling his golden plate full of food until it almost overflowed, "it looks like your wish for a normal year isn't going very well."

Harry snorted, "Yeah, like I really thought that wish could ever come true, it was nice to imagine though."

Ginny laughed, "So why are you all so shocked at the new DADA professor?"

Hermione grimly answered, "He's a death eater."

"WHAT!" Ginny exclaimed at the top of her lungs, and not for the first time that evening the hall fell silent.

Professor McGonagall strode to the Gryffindor table, "What is the meaning of your shouting Miss Weasley?"

"Sorry Professor," Ginny muttered with her head downcast, her cheeks matching her hair.

"She just had a bit of a shock," Hermione provided glancing at the head table.

Professor McGonagall followed her gaze, her lips thinned considerably before replying, "I see, I take it you can control your outbursts without a silencing charm then?" She then returned to her chair without waiting for an answer.

Slowly conversations started to grow again until the hall was the low roar it usually was accustomed to. Ginny still highly embarrassed asked more calmly, "What do you mean he's a death eater?"

"At least he used to be," Harry started but was interrupted by one of the new students.

"Hi, I'm Jenks, this is my sister Sira, we were wondering if we could join you?"

Ron and Harry shared a look that clearly meant each had their reservations, Ginny didn't look too happy about the new arrivals either, but Hermione was the first to answer, "We'd love for you to join us."

"Thanks," the sister answered as both took seats to join in.

"So where are you from, I haven't heard that accent before," Ron asked.

"America, Texas, though we don't really have the Texan accent," Jenks answered.

"And why are you in England?" Asked Ginny, still put off from having to hold her previous conversation.

"Our mom moved back here to take care of our grandmother," Sira answered.

Hermione glared daggers at her friends, "This is Ron and Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter, and I'm Hermione Granger by the way."

Jenks nodded as each person was introduced, and smiled pleasantly at Hermione. Small pleasantries were exchanged as dinner ended and dessert began. Harry sat mostly to himself. After dessert Dumbledore again rose and the great hall fell quiet.

"Now after we have been fed and watered I have a few announcements to make. The Forbidden Forest is as forbidden as it has ever been," he took a moment to glare at Harry, Hermione, and Ron as they shared a mischievous grin, "and Mr. Filch has taken the time to update his list of forbidden items. Topping said list this year is Weasley Whiz-Bangs and portable swamps." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily as he continued, "Also I would like you all to welcome yet another new defense against the dark arts instructor. Professor Igor Karkaroff, the former headmaster of Durmstrang, has agreed to try his luck for the year, and hopes he may finally prove that the position is not cursed."

Even through his attempt at humor only a few of the younger students chuckled. For the most part the Gryffindor table stared at the newest teacher like he was something foul. The Slytherin table looked as if it was something offensive standing before them, some looked out right murderous. The Hufflepuff table was not amused, mainly out of loyalty to Hogwarts as they remembered the Tri-Wizard tournament, but remembering that event a couple years ago opened some old wounds. One student yelled "Remember Cedric" to seal how the whole table felt. Only the Ravenclaws clapped politely.

Harry scanned the people around Karkaroff, Professor McGonagall seemed torn, and Snape looked to be somewhere between amused and offended. Harry remembered some of the interactions between the two professors in his fourth year, it would be interesting to see how the reacted now. The rest of the professors were smiling and clapping politely.

Jenks had the bad timing to ask, "Who's Cedric?" before Dumbledore had a chance to continue or finish. Harry felt ill at all the memories boiling to the surface. He stood, took a hard glance at Dumbledore, and left the hall and its new many whispers.

Outside the hall he took to a sprint, through many shortcuts and avoiding all the trick stairs and one particular poltergeist he made it to Gryffindor Tower in record time. He looked at the fat lady that guarded the room he wanted to get to.

"Password?"

"Bloody hell," Harry said not knowing the password.

"I'm sorry, that is not the password," she grimaced at him.

"I don't know the new password; can't you just let me in? You know me," Harry pleaded but knew it was no good as she shook her head at him disappointedly.

"I'm afraid not dear; you'll have to wait for someone to let you in like that Longbottom boy has on many occasions," she said with a hint of pity in her tone. Luckily for Harry a prefect showed up soon enough.

"Acerbus Solus" Ginny said and the portrait swung open.

Harry grinned at her before saying, "Poor Neville, who comes up with the passwords anyway?"

As they stepped in Ginny grinned too before answering, "The sixth and seventh year prefects. You can thank Hermione for this one."

"I'll be sure to let Neville know who to hex," he said.

She cautioned, but asked anyway, "So are you all right?"

"Yeah, it was just too crowded," He answered trying to let her know he didn't want to talk about it.

"I know what you mean," she said trying to let him know she would drop it, but was there for him if he needed it.

Harry smiled, used to his two best friends pushing him to open up more; he liked Ginny's approach much better. He asked, "So did I miss anything?"

"Only thing said after you left was about Quidditch tryouts and Hogsmeade weekends. There is no schedule for going this year; Dumbledore said it would be announced only the morning before we could go."

"That makes sense, though I'm not sure it will help that much. Even if a student could only leak the information that morning, it wouldn't take that long to mount an attack for the same afternoon." Harry said this, all the while with the thousand yard stare of someone thinking and not taking in their surroundings. Ginny frowned at how serious his mood had shifted.

Soon more Gryffindors began to arrive. Hermione, Ron, and Neville sat with Ginny and Harry for a little more discussion before bed. While a Quidditch talk began Hermione whispered to Harry about an observation she made.

"Did you notice that the Slytherin table was a little emptier than we're used to?" she asked.

"I noticed. Do you think it means what I think it means?" he asked back.

"I don't want to believe that students our age could become death eaters," she said with sadness in her voice.

"Malfoy?" Harry asked, knowing the path he knew he was on.

"Well, not at least till after school. Some of the ones missing were fourth year Harry."

Neville who wasn't actually included in the discussion, but not really excluded either decided to join in, "Hermione, members of the DA were younger than fourth year."

"But the DA didn't have an initiation, nor was it really an army. We weren't planning any battles." She replied.

"Initiation?" Harry asked her to clarify.

Her eyes went a little dark as she answered, "I found it in the Black Library. They have to first cast an Imperius on another death eater to prove they have mastered it. They then have to hold the Cruciatus on a wizard for five minutes," Neville's face grimed as she continued, "and then they have to perform the Avada Kedavra on two muggles before they can bear the dark mark."

Harry was stunned. Not that Voldemort would think of some sick ritual involving all three unforgivables to sort out who could serve him, but shocked that Dumbledore had two professors on his staff that both had the skull and snake charred into the flesh of their forearm. Harry's eyes again went a little unfocused as he thought out loud,

"The Dark Mark comes with a promise and a price, whatever you want, for your soul."

Hermione and Neville shuddered at the ice that had taken over Harry's voice. He took no notice as he smiled at his friends and said, "It's been a long day, I'm going to bed."

They each said their goodnights to him as he headed for the stairs that lead to his dorm. Before he could go though, a voice called his name making him stop.

"Harry?" Harry turned to the person, it was Jenks, "Could you show me where we sleep?"

"Sure," was all he could say to the relative stranger as he turned back and started up the steps. He reached the door that read 'Sixth Years' and entered. He pointed to the new bed and told Jenks it was for him.

"Thanks," they new guy said as he went to his bed on the right of the room and started unpacking his trunk.

Harry felt worn for the day; he decided to unpack tomorrow, after a nice sleep. He lay back in the warm sheets, happy to just finally be home. Before he drifted off to a peaceful slumber, a small twinge went through his scar, ignoring the slight pain he fell into a sleep that held a vision he soon wouldn't forget.

Thanks to Bobboky for the review. Dunno why but I love it when other authors review with kind words.