Chapter Nine

Back to Hogwarts

The month of July neared its end as Harry spent his time rereading his mother's diary. He had read it so many times that he had almost memorized each entry. Ginny had just received her Ordinary Wizarding Level, O.W.L., results and she had received eight O.W.L.s. Hermione and Emily spent their time reading their course books while Ron was redoing his Potions essay.

Harry had a small quiet birthday party at the Burrow. He received a box of homemade sweets from Mrs. Weasley, Ron had given him a book on the history of his favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons, Hermione gave him a Golden Snitch that had his name engraved into it and was told that it was bewitched to not stray too far from the one whose name was on it, Fred and George "tried" to give him some of their products; but Mrs. Weasley told them not to since he was named Head Boy. Fred and George acted surprised and spent the rest of the day teasing him with names they used on their older brother, Percy, but they didn't bewitch Harry's badge like they did to their brother, Percy's, badge in the past. Ginny had given him a card she had made, and Emily; not knowing when Harry's birthday was, had given him an accurate drawing of himself.

The month of August ended with Harry spending the month either rereading his mother's diary or practicing Quidditch with Ron and Ginny near a plot of land the Weasleys owned. The first of September came with Mrs. Weasley braving again calling Muggle taxis that would take them to King's Cross. There had been no incident when they traveled toward King's Cross.

They approached the barrier between platforms nine and ten that would take them onto their platform of nine and three-quarters. Emily was scared how they were getting onto the platform, but was able to swallow her fear and follow Hermione through the barrier. Harry followed them with Ron as they passed through the barrier. They had appeared at another platform with a scarlet red engine and many other Hogwarts students talking to their friends and family. Ginny followed soon are them with her mother. Hermione was helping Emily with her trunk as she lifted it into the compartment with others the same age as Emily. Harry and Ron found a nearby compartment as they lifted their trunks into the luggage rack as Hermione came over with her trunk and Harry helped her lift her trunk into the luggage rack. Mrs. Weasley bid them a good term since she had to leave before they left on the train.

The steam engine's whistle sounded and the compartment door started to close. Harry and Hermione; with their badges fashioned to their shirts, left their compartment and proceeded toward the Prefect's carriage while Ron was left to patrol the corridors of the train. The compartment was the same as the other compartments but there had been a barn owl sitting in the compartment with a letter with the Hogwarts seal on it. Hermione relieved it of its burden and it left through the open window. The new prefects of the houses arrived and some of them Harry knew since three-fourths of them were in the Defense Arts, D.A., club.

"First of all," Hermione started, "you will all patrol the corridors of the train every so often, and I have the passwords to your common rooms." Hermione took the letter with the Hogwarts seal and opened it. Inside it was four sealed envelops; each with the crest of the house they represent. Hermione handed them out and they left. Harry and Hermione left to return their compartment. Hermione had let out Crookshanks before she took one of her course books and continued to read.

Ron came back a few minutes later staggering into the compartment. His nose was bleeding and a black eye.

"Ron, what-" before Hermione could finish; Ron was pushed forward and hit the wall below the window groaning in pain.

Harry looked up to hear a snicker. It was Malfoy and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, with Pansy Parkinson with them.

"If it isn't-" Malfoy started but froze when he saw the badge on Harry's chest.

Sensing an advantage, Harry stood up and spoke, "I would be careful if I were you Malfoy, we; that is Hermione and me, have the right to deduct house points and give out detentions to other students and that includes Prefects. I will let you off with a warning; this time, but if I, or Hermione, sees you take your anger on anyone else, or abuse your position as Prefect; I will make sure that you and your friends get detention until the end of the summer term."

Malfoy left with his friends following acting particularly scared. Harry sat back down as Hermione closed the door as Malfoy's friends followed after Malfoy. Ron was sitting next to Hermione as he had his nose pinched and his head back in an effort to stop the bleeding.

"That was bloody brilliant Harry, but too bad it's not true about handing out detentions," Ron said with his voice slightly higher due to his nose being pinched.

"Ron, Harry's right. We have the right to deduct points just like Prefects, but unlike Prefects; we can hand out detentions if and only if it is approved by Professor McGonagall," Hermione promptly said.

The lady with the trolley came by an hour later and Harry bought them one of everything. They spent the trip talking and laughing. Some of their friends came by for a chat and Malfoy hadn't been heard taking his anger on anyone since Harry's threat that Malfoy would get detention until the end of the summer term; that is if Harry can manage to get him detention until then.

The sky had become dark as they neared the train's destination. Emily hadn't come by and Harry was sure that she had made some new friends. The train had slowed to a stop; Hermione made sure that Crookshanks was shut in his cage and her book put away. The students started to disembark and it was Harry and Hermione's job to make sure that no student was left behind.

Harry heard a booming voice outside and he knew that it was the groundskeeper's voice, Hagrid, who was beckoning the scared first years toward him to ride in the boats across the lake. Harry met up with Hermione after they had finished their patrols and boarded the last of the horseless carriages, but carriages were not horseless to Harry. They were skeletal creatures called thestrals and they only can be seen if you had seen death. Their black leathery wings were folded to their sides and their white eyes were pupil-less.

Their carriage followed as the last one past the twin winged boar statues and toward a multi towered building. Their carriage stopped after they had neared the oak doors that led to the Entrance Hall. They entered the Great Hall, which had four long tables that each of the houses of Hogwarts sat at and on the other side of the room was the High Table, which the teachers and headmaster sat at. They took their seats across from Ron, who was talking a sandy haired boy name Seamus Finnigan.

The doors of the Great Hall opened and in stepped Professor McGonagall, a stern looking woman with her hair tied up in a bun and wearing square glasses, as she led the scared look first years toward the front to be sorted into the house they belonged to. Harry could tell as well as Hermione that Emily was particularly nervous. She led them to the front of the High Table and came back a short time later with a stool and placed an ancient looking hat on the stool. A rip near the brim of the hat opened the hat began to sing:

"It has been centuries since I have been newly sewn,

I have sorted students a many,

Into the houses they are deemed worthy.

Though I separate thee,

Friendships can still be maintained,

For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.

Chivalrous Godric Gryffindor,

Took the brave at heart are his.

Loyal Helga Hufflepuff,

Took those who are patient are hers.

Intelligent Rowena Ravenclaw,

Took those of a ready mind are hers.

Cunning Salazar Slytherin,

Took those achieve their needs to any end are his.

So put me on,

So that I shall sort thee,

To where you ought to be!"

The hat returned motionless as the Great Hall erupted into applause. Professor McGonagall unrolled a roll of parchment and started calling out the names of students on the parchment.

"Anderson, Joseph!" a boy with a boy with black hair approached the stool where he put on the Sorting Hat. "HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hufflepuff table erupted into applause as Joseph joined them.

"Bass, Albert!" a boy with brown hair approached the stool. "RAVENCLAW!" the Ravenclaw table erupted into applause.

Harry could recall just how nervous he was when he was about to be sorted. He feared that he would be put in Slytherin since the Sorting Hat sensed qualities of Slytherin in him, but Harry chose not to be put in Slytherin and was sorted in Gryffindor. He could see Emily being particularly nervous as the group of first years slowly grew smaller.

"Granger, Emily!" Emily approached the stool and took her seat. After a few seconds, the Sorting Hat said, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor Table erupted in applause as Emily took her seat not far from Hermione. The Sorting ceremony continued until the last person was sorted into Slytherin. Professor Dumbledore, an ancient looking wizard with half moon shaped spectacles, blue eyes, and a long beard that fell below his belt, dressed in aqua-blue robes, stood up.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have some start of the term announcements to make, but they can wait until the end of the feast." he spoke magnificently and everyone in the Great Hall erupted in applause as he sat down.

The food appeared magically and everyone filled their plates and began to eat. Everyone ate as much as they could as they talked about their families or the recent Quidditch World Cup news. The desserts replaced the food after everyone ate as much as they could. After the desserts had vanished, Professor Dumbledore stood up again.

"Now that we are well fed and watered; I have several announcements to make. First of all, no magic is to be used in the corridors at any time, and lastly, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to anyone at any time. Now off to your towers."

The Prefects led the first years to their towers as Harry and Hermione made sure that no student was left behind as they slowly made their way toward Gryffindor Tower. Ron also made sure that some of the other Gryffindors made their ways toward the tower and made sure they stayed out of trouble. They made their way toward the entrance of their common room; which was behind the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"Password?" the Fat Lady asked.

"Sneezewort," Hermione said and the Fat Lady's portrait opened and they entered.

Harry went up to his dormitory as Hermione went up to hers. Harry entered his dormitory and changed into his pajamas and fell into a dreamless sleep.

Copyright: I own the character Emily Granger.