Disclaimer: Do I really need to say I am not J.K. Rowling again? Well, knowing how some people are, it wouldn't hurt. I am not J.K. Rowling and I don't own Harry Potter. However, it would be nice if I did.

Chapter 8: The Return to Hogwarts

Without fail, the Weasley family, Harry, and Hermione had managed to get a later start on September 1 once again.

"Oh no! Not again!" said Mrs. Weasley. "We're late! Hurry up. You don't want to miss the train."

"We're coming!" yelled Ron as he came down the stairs, followed by Hermione, Harry, and Ginny.

"I wonder who's coming back," said Harry.

"We'll find out, when we get back," said Ron as they headed out the door and to the Ministry-provided cars. Harry, Ron, and Mr. Weasley got into one car, and Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley the other.

They arrived at King's Cross Station at quarter to eleven and they all hurried out, stuffed their luggage on trolleys and ran into the station, which was packed with Muggles as usual.

"Hermione and Ginny, you'll go first with me, and Arthur, Ron, and Harry, you'll follow," said Mrs. Weasley right before she, Hermione, and Ginny walked straight through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Harry waited until they were sure there were no prying Muggle eyes on them before they walked through the barrier and onto Platform 9 ¾. The platform wasn't as packed as normal, but Harry was glad to see that there were several parents telling their children that Hogwarts was still one of the safest places to be.

Mrs. Weasley looked at the clock and said, "You four better be getting on the train before it leaves. It's already 5 to 11." With that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny hurried onto the train.

"I need to go up to the Head's Compartment, and find out who Head Boy is and my duties as Head Girl," said Hermione as she walked towards the front of the train.

Then Ron said, "I better get to the prefects' compartment. I need to talk to the new prefects and tell them what they're supposed to do." Then he also walked towards the front of the train.

"I guess it's just you and me," said Ginny, with a grin that suggested she was planning something. "I still say that I'm in no more danger being your girlfriend than simply being your best friend's younger sister."

"I can't take that risk, Ginny," replied Harry, and thus started an argument that lasted until Harry saw Luna and Neville sitting in a compartment by themselves. "Hey, look, it's Neville and Luna," Harry said as he opened the compartment door at which point Neville and Luna, who had appeared to be holding hands jumped apart.

"I thought you two broke up," said Luna in her dreamy voice.

"We got back together," said Ginny.

"No, we didn't," said Harry faster than you could say Quidditch.

"Oh," said Luna, seeming to understand while Neville just looked even more confused than normal.

"So how was your summer? Catch any crumpled-horn snorkacks, Luna?" said Harry.

"No, but Dad managed to get a picture," replied Luna as she handed Harry and Ginny. Harry looked at the picture, which he saw was extremely blurred but one of the blurs was moving. "He put it in this month's Quibbler."

"I see," said Harry, not quite believing that this picture could be considered proof of crumpled-horn snorkacks, but he also knew that some Muggles had blurred photos of creatures the wizarding world knew were real.

"Neville, what about your summer?"

"It was all right, but Gran seems to be getting very nervous these days. She says she doesn't know what would happen if I died or if I suffered my parents' fate. Of course, she still thinks Hogwarts is the safest place in all of Britain."

"That's because it is," said Hermione as she opened up the compartment door and was followed in by Ron.

"I'm amazed. So few fifth years were back, that people who obviously shouldn't be prefects were selected," said Ron. Hermione shot Ron a look that said you're-one-to-talk-like-that, right before the snack trolley came by and Harry purchased a lot of items for everyone to share in eating, and before they knew it, the Hogwarts Express was pulling into Hogsmeade Station, and the students that had decided to return and the unusually small number of first-years left the train.

Hagrid's familiar voice ushered the first-years to the boats for their traditional journey across the lake, and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna found two thestral-driven carriages that would be their transportation to the castle.

When they arrived at the castle, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville sat down at the Gryffindor table, and Luna headed to sit at the Ravenclaw table after telling Neville, "I'll talk to you later. Ginny's told me of a place we could meet later." Ron looked at Ginny menacingly.

"I don't see a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said Ron.

"Ron. It's quite possible the new teacher hasn't arrived yet," said Hermione.

"Or could be like Trelawney, usually not participating the feast," said Harry as Professor Slughorn brought out the stool with the sorting hat on top of it, and it started to sing its annual song:

For long have I sorted.
Sometimes I think it wrong.
But I must sort you all.
I've never made a mistake.

Gryffindor chose those who were brave.
Ravenclaw valued intelligence.
Slytherin chose those that were cunning.
Hufflepuff took the rest.

But whatever house I sort you
You must stand together.
For Hogwarts is weak when
The houses are divided.

And is strongest
When the Four Stand Together
Each of you have all the qualities
The Founders searched for.

Now my song must come
To a Close,
For The Sorting Must Begin!

Once the Sorting Hat finished it's song, Professor Slughorn started to read off the unusually small list of first years to be sorted. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff got two new students each, but Slytherin managed to get four new students.

"This isn't good," muttered Ron as the feast appeared on the table. "Slytherin got more students than anyone else."

Then Professor McGonnagal started to speak, her voice magically magnified. "It is my duty to welcome back all the returning students and to welcome our new students. I must also remind you that the Forest is Out of Bounds and that the list of banned items may be found posted on Mr. Filch's door. I must also regretfully inform you that due to the events of last year, there will be no Hogsmeade visits permitted this year until the danger of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has passed. I also regretfully inform you, that the Quidditch Cup has also been canceled for this year." With this there were a lot of boos and hisses from the members of each Quiddtich team. "Instead the Quidditch pitch will be the designated outdoor recreation area. A staff member will be present at all times during daylight in order to protect the students. The events of last year have also brought about several staff changes. Professor Slughorn has gladly consented to stay on as Potions Master and has also accepted the positions of Deputy Headmaster and Head of Slytherin House. Ralphael Biggs will be assuming my former post as Professor of Transfiguration, and last but not least to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher and Head of Gryffindor House is Mrs. Molly Weasley." As Professor McGonnagal finished saying this, Mrs. Weasley walked in, Ron accidentally spit his pumpkin juice on Neville, and Ginny gulped hers faster than she had intended.

"Mum's the new Defense teacher and Head of Gryffindor?" said Ron very shocked. "We're not getting away with anything this year." Then he noticed Neville covered in pumpkin juice. "Sorry, Neville. I'll get that off you." But before he was able to, Hermione had already cast a cleaning and drying charm on Neville.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, but things got quite busy for me, and the more chapters I write, the more often I get writer's block. This chapter might be a bit on the shorter end of things, but it did what I wanted it to, and sorry if my Sorting Hat Song sucked. I'm only good at poetry when I'm sad and heartbroken. Before anyone asks me how Mrs. Weasley got to Hogwarts: It's simple: She Apparated to just outside the Hogwarts gates and one of the Order Members keeping watch on the school let her in. Now you read it, so review.