This chapter sux, but I have to ease back in so I'm sorry.

Frankie

Last Chapter…

Remus pursed his lips and Sirius winked at them. "This in and of itself is suspicious. But it doesn't prove anything. Congratulations, you made a clean job of it."

Ron opened his mouth but Harry quickly clapped a hand over it. "Nice try, Remus, but that trick is older the Sirius's jokes."

Remus smiled, Sirius Scowled, and everyone else laughed. They turned toward the castle and found the carriages had left without them.

Chapter 5 – Boredom, Sighs, and Singing Gnomes

"Fuck!" Draco shouted. "I refuse to be late for the sorting! I—"

"Dray, Chill." Harry said, laying a hand on the blond boy's shoulder. He turned to Remus. "Now, what? How do we get up to the castle?"

"I could contact Dumbledore…but why don't you all transform and I can walk back. That way you won't miss the sorting."

Harry smiled. "Selfless Remus as always."

Draco snorted. "I can feel a bout of Perfect Potter's Hero Complex coming on."

For that comment, Draco got a sharp slap on the back of the head form Hermione. Harry grinned at Draco's scowl. He shook his head and turned back to Remus, "Moony, I have wings remember? I can carry you. Hermione can fly…Ron and Sirius will have to run. There forms are way to large to carry, but Draco can ride on my shoulder."

That is exactly what happened. With Remus hanging off Harry's ankles. Though, it was only once they reached the castle that Harry noticed the two whole in the back of his shirt and robes. He sighed and they went into the great hall, Hermione on one of Harry's arms and Draco on the other. As they walked in, Draco leaned over and whispered to Harry, "Potter, Why aren't in the middle? I feel like a girl."

"Darling Draco, that's because you are way more feminine then I could every dream of being naturally, Therefore you are on my arm, not the other way around." Harry whispered back into Draco's ear. He only pulled back after he nibbled and kissed Draco's earlobe, causing Draco to shuddered visibly.

Finally, everyone was seated and the new inkle firsties marched in. The hall went quiet. No one moved, except four students who were rather furiously scribbling in colored ink on pieces of parchment, Com-Parch to be exact.

The small children stood in line waiting to be sorted. The students sat in still silence. The teachers watched expectantly. The entire hall seemed to be holding its breath. They didn't have long to wait. A soft whistling blew through the hall. It grew steadily louder and ended with a pop. The pop signaled the appearance of shining golden words, elegantly scrawling themselves over the teacher's table. The all the occupants of the teacher's table seemed to let out a collective, exasperated sigh.

The Great Hall's big double doors burst open and in marched a parade of little gnomes, playing the Hogwarts School Song on little flutes. Everyone froze. The line of gnomes traveled up the middle isle, with every other pair stopping their flute playing to sing the words. They line up in front of the teacher's table. When their song drew to a halt, the tallest stepped forward, "My dear teachers," he sang. "You thought, perhaps you were rid of us? Not likely. We're back with a vengeance and more powerful then ever!"

The gnomes all disappeared with another pop.

The words still elegantly floating over everyone's heads were suddenly remembered by the student body. Three words and the usual signature, that was all.

Deja vu, no?

sMg

Fighters for the Light

The firsties looked absolutely terrified. Dumbledore heaved a sigh and got to his feet. The hushed whispers stopped and silence fell. "Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, must we start this early in the year? The new first years have yet to be sorted."

Harry stood, his friends close behind, and said, "What do you mean, professor?"

The headmaster sighed again. "Come up here please and bring me your wands."

The quartet went up to the high table, wands ready to be inspected. Remus and Sirius were both shaking their heads. Checking the wands was useless. There would be nothing there, but simple charms that didn't have anything to do with the prank.

Harry reached the front first and handed the four wands to Dumbledore, who checked them. As predicted, they were blank. The old man sighed yet again, before sending them back to their seats, saying, "Mr. Potter, Kindly have your little group wait until after the sorting if you must insist on starting during the feast."

Professor McGonagall tapped him on the arm. "Professor, It started on the train with some manic pink bunnies."

Dumbledore looked up at the ceiling, praying for strength. He sighed one last time, "Let the sorting begin."

The four sat through it, thinking hard. Something felt off. It was boring. Everyone else might find it amusing and cool, but they found it boring, bordering on tedious.

Finally, the sorting ended and the food arrived. Hermione sat eating mechanically, until suddenly her head snapped up and she exclaimed, "I've got it!" This caused several people nearby to jump.

She stood, pulling Harry with her, and made her way to the staff table, Harry in tow. The made their way to where Moony and Padfoot were sitting. Harry just grinned and shrugged in answer to their questioning looks. The hall went silent as everyone watched them.

They both leaned down to be eye level, with the two teachers. Hermione turned to Sirius, "Was there a year when you suddenly found the pranking you were doing…boring?"

"Yeah…Wasn't there, Moony?" Sirius looked thoughtful. Remus smiled, ruefully, "Yes, 'Mione, there was. That was about the time the pranks became more elaborate, and thus more dangerous. It added something to it. The more dangerous or risky the prank the more fun. I probably should not have said that."

Hermione smiled widely and kissed the two teachers on the cheek. Harry stood behind her, one eyebrow raised. Moony and Padfoot for their part looked just a little bit astonished and confused. Hermione turned and made her way back to her seat. Harry who was still standing behind his father's two best friends leaned down and whispered, "What rumors would fly if I did the same thing! Pads, they all ready think something is going on between us, now imagine that." He laughed and straightened, walking back to his seat, leaving Sirius to explain to Remus what he meant.

So over all, it was quite the sorting feast.