Disclaimer: I don't own anything here except my OC who comes in here. Anyway, it's not like you'd get anything if you sued me.

A/N: Thank you to all of my magnificent reviewers. Please don't hate me for the Sorting Hat's song here. I really did try. Oh and before I forget, I finally have some good news. I have finished the storyline for the rest of the story! And since I don't start school until September, I should be able to get at least a few more chapters up before them. OK I'll shut up now...here we go!

Chapter 9

As soon as everyone, with the exception of the unsorted first years, was settled at their House tables in the Great Hall, the great sorting ceremony began. Professor McGonagall brought out the old three-legged stool and set the ancient Sorting Hat on it. After she backed away, a ragged rip near the brim of the hat, it burst into song. Everyone listened in closely, as the Sorting Hat often gave great advice through its jingle.

"I come down here, year after year

In the right direction, the students I steer.

Will you be in great Ravenclaw

With all of the smartest? There's a test!

Or maybe in sly Slytherin

Where they only took the purest.

Or should you be in Gryffindor

With the brave and the true?

Or possibly sweet Hufflepuff

Where anyone will do.

Wherever you would fit the best

I tell you that I do not jest.

Heed my warnings, you should try.

Or Hogwarts will fall and people will die.

Unity is needed now the most

Or all of us will soon be toast.

A change in power takes place soon

And deception during a spring full moon.

But take pride now in what you see,

Before we pay the ultimate fee."

A hushed silence was over the students. Even Dumbledore seemed a little stunned at the sorting hat's song. The hat had never hinted at a change of power before, and usually its predictions ended up being right. Harry looked over at Ron, who had a blank expression on his face. Hermione leaned over to Harry and whispered "Do you really think all of those horrible things will really happen?"

He put his arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "I sure hope not, but those things seem to always come true with the hat says they will."

Before they new it, the sorting started with Anthony, Tara, who was sorted into Hufflepuff, and ended with Young, Zyaria, who was put into Slytherin. A dull roar started as everyone started talking with everyone else in their houses.

Before they could talk for any more than a couple of minutes, the great and powerful Dumbledore stood up in front of the Great Hall full of students. "Welcome to another glorious year at Hogwarts!" his magically magnified voice boomed. "Before we dig into this magnificent feast, I have a few announcements. First of all, and this is mostly for the first years, but I think that certain other students could benefit from this as well." His eyes looked straight into Harry's, and his grin faltered for a second. "The Forbidden Forest is exactly as it sounds: forbidden to all students," he continued, "and I don't want any reports of students going out there unless they are with a teacher, specifically there for a class. My next announcement is for everyone. I need to inform everyone about the castle's new security measures. The main doors will no longer open after curfew. The common room doors will do the same. If you have a legitimate reason to be late, a teacher or myself will let you in. And just for your own information, acceptable reasons would be reasons like having to stay late for a detention or falling and not being able to get up. An example of an unacceptable reason would be coming back late from your stroll alone in the Forbidden Forest." Scattered chuckles were heard, and even Hermione giggled at that joke.

My third, and much more exciting, announcement is to introduce your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. May I introduce Professor Jennifer Timpton." With that, Dumbledore stood aside. A large plume of dark purple, smoke appeared, with a loud "bang" accompanying it. After the smoke finally cleared, a tall woman with long, straight, white hair and clear blue eyes was standing there. She cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Hello Hogwarts students. I am very honored to be here to instruct you in the very exhilarating, yet very complicated, study of Defending Against the Dark Arts. Hopefully you will learn something from me, and I from you. I'm sure Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't want me to talk much longer, and this food looks absolutely delicious, so I look forward to seeing you in classes starting tomorrow!" She sat down to a smattering of applause, and everyone in the Great Hall prepared to tuck in.

Without any further ado, the bowls and platters on top of the tables filled with many different foods. Harry, Hermione, and Ron, having no particular tastes that night because they were so hungry that they could just about eat a dead rhinoceros, reached out for whatever was in front of them. Sheperd's pie, spaghetti and meatballs, mashed potatoes with gravy, and lamb with mint jelly were just some of the dishes that found their way on to the trio's plates.

After stuffing themselves to the point where they were worried about whether they would fit in their robes the next day, Harry tagged along behind Ron and Hermione, who had to lead the new Gryffindors to the common room.

"Come along first year Gryffindors! This way please!" shouted Hermione.

"Gryffindor midgets follow her!" yelled Ron, earning himself several disapproving looks from the girls around. After they rounded up everyone, they set off. Out of the Great Hall, around through several corridors, and up the moving staircases they went. Harry, who was more or less drafted by Hermione to help direct the first years, was so used to the route to the Gryffindor common room that he could probably walk it in his sleep. They all finally got there and stood in front of the Fat Lady in the pink dress until she asked for the password in an extremely bored voice.

Hermione cleared her throat. "All right everyone. The password is flibbertigibbet. If you forget the password, ask for it from another Gryffindor student or prefect, the Head Boy or Girl, or one of the professors. The password changes periodically, so be aware of that. All right, through the passage behind the Fat Lady to the common room. Once you get there, the boy's dormitories are up the stairs to the left, and the girl's are up the stairs on the right. Just keep going until you find the room with your year on it. Curfew is in ten minutes, so everyone upstairs to bed. You'll get your schedule at breakfast tomorrow. Good night!" Ron led the students inside. Hermione, with Harry at her side, waited until every last student went into the common room. Then they followed, gave a quick hug and kiss good night, and went up to bed.

Harry greeted the other boys, changed into his red and yellow striped pajamas, and fell into bed. He was so tired that he fell asleep before his head hit the pillow.