A/N: I have started the bidding for Sirius at one dollar. Do I hear two?
Sirius: Hey! I'm worth a hell of a lot more than that! Don't you read any of the stories on here? I'm a wanton sex god! Well, I was in my twenties at least. But I've still got the moves and the know-how! I bet right now I could...
Author: Yeah, all right. Shut up, will you? Jeez! Anyway, I don't own any of Ms. Rowling's characters. I wish I did, I'd have a nice house out in the country with multiple bedrooms and a Mustang (Older version, I haven't made up my mind what year though.) It would even be complete with a white picket fence! About all I do own is a car (I love my car) and a wardrobe full of clothes. But there I go rambling on about me when you want to read the story.
Sirius: Yeah, like anyone wants to hear about your clothes!
Author: Dumb dog! Don't make me get my rolled up newspaper again! Anyway, here goes.
The feast that night was fantastic. The sky on the ceiling showed a cloudless star-filled night complete with a new moon. Harry was happy about that, it meant that Lupin was feeling pretty good considering his condition. The hall was alive with the sounds of friends meeting up again and going over their summers. The feeling of happiness was so permeating, Harry and Ron forgot all about Hermione's problem. Whatever it was to begin with.
"Oi! Harry, Ron! Come over here and sit down before you completely clog the doorway!" Dean Thomas said. He was right, they had both stopped right in the middle of the doorway and were blocking traffic. They hurried over to the Gryffindor table and made sure to save a seat for Hermione.
"Hey, aren't you supposed to be doing prefects' duties in the hall?" Semus asked Ron.
"I wish the food would get here. No, they leave that for the fifth years. I could have if I wanted to, but I'm just lazy. Did you hear about Ginny becoming a prefect, too?" Ron asked raising his voice so more people could hear. He was proud of her.
Semus grinned. "Yeah, Dean told me. You did know that they're going out, didn't you?" He cast a nervous glance at Dean and then stared at Ron like he was about to go on some kind of pigmy man-hunt or something.
Ron tried to remain calm. "Of course I knew, he's been over to the Burrow at least once a week all summer. I just didn't know if he told you, that's all. And don't look at me like that! I'm okay with him dating my sister."
Dean was surprised. "Why thank you. Your opinion matters a lot to her, whether she takes it in to consideration or not. Did that make sense?"
Ron nodded. "Yes it made sense. I didn't finish. I'm okay with you dating my sister, as long as you don't do anything to make her cry in any way, or touch her or kiss her. If you do, I know where you sleep. Got it?" Harry grinned and shook his head; some things would never change.
Dean looked a little scared. Before he could speak up Hermione spoke up from behind Ron. "Well, then what do you suggest they do, Ron? It's not as if Dean was the one to give Ginny her first kiss. She had that two years ago."
It took a minute or two for that last part to sink in. After she had already sat down and moved the conversation on to something else it dawned on him what she had just said. "WHAT?! My sister was kissing boys two years ago? Why does no one tell me these things? Why doesn't any one ever said, 'Hey Ron, did you know that so-and-so kissed your sister yesterday? Yeah they're going out now.' I wish you people would tell me these things. It would have been much less of a shock if you would just tell me! I can't protect my sister if I don't know what's going on!"
Harry was laughing a little too loudly at this and broke Ron out of his tirade. "What? Harry, tell me what? What's so funny, huh?" he shouted at him.
Harry seemed taken aback, Ron was over-protective, yes. This was bordering on that little pigmy manhunt that was mentioned earlier. Harry tried to contain his amusement "It's nothing. I just think I know what Herm's talking about. Was it Christmas time, Herm?"
She shot him a dirty look. "Yes, Har, it was, and don't call me Herm!"
Ron looked like he was going to explode. "Well...?"
Harry scooted a little bit away from Ron. "It's nothing, we just happened to be under the mistletoe together. It's your fault for putting it in that doorway to the dorms."
Ron didn't speak or look at Harry for a minute. Then, without any warning he lunged at Harry and sent them both to the floor. Ron was strangling him. "You kissed my sister and you're blaming it on ME? How could you do that?"
"Oh, give it up Ron. We didn't even use tongue." Ginny said walking up. "Harry, are you okay? Ron! Get off of him! Honestly, he's your best friend! Here you go, Harry. I think some pumpkin juice will help that nice little bruise you're going to have on your neck when the feast starts." She led him to the table and sat down next to him. Harry smiled weakly, still shook up about everything. Ginny looked up and noticed everyone looking at them. "Oh! What are you looking at! It's not as if anything of importance just happened! Go back to your own conversations and leave ours alone!"
Everyone obeyed except the Slytherins, but she just ignored them and went back to her worrying over Harry.
Just before Ron could say anything again, however, the Sorting Ceremony began. The hat was placed upon the stool and Professor Macgonagal lead in the new students.
Suddenly the Sorting Hat broke into song. It's tear just above the rim moving as a mouth.
Long ago when I was young,
And Hogwarts' purpose had just begun,
There stood four friends, great and true,
Who lived in peace and taught to you.
Harry let his mind wander, unable to listen to any more of the song. He felt a little guilty for doing that, because every year the song was different. The hat got to hear everything that went on in the head master's office, so last year his song carried a warning about the dark lord that disturbed everyone.
Said great Gryffindor, I'll take the brave.
And so it stands to this very day.
Smart Ravenclaw took those sharp of mind,
And left all others far behind.
Now Slytherin wanted those pure-bloods who
Showed great cunning and slyness too.
Dear Hufflepuff, she did not mind
To take what the others left had left behind.
That outburst of Ron's really shook him up! It wasn't that big of a deal. Although, now Harry knew that she had a crush on him at the time... but he didn't know that then! It was kind of nice, though. She had really soft lips. Hmm... Ginny poked him to bring his attention back to the song.
They had four houses, one to each,
And sought out perfect harmony.
But alas, I feared, peace wouldn't last.
And then one day it came to pass.
Each sought to rule, supreme in thinking,
None of them would have an inkling,
What would come to pass from this,
The warnings there they all did miss.
Ginny did have really soft lips, Harry's mind lapsed again. And pretty hair. Did she always smell this good? Then the rational part of his brain came around. What are you thinking? Did you see what Ron almost did just now? He would have really hurt you and you wouldn't do anything back because he's your friend! You could have been in the hospital wing all night and missed the feast!
And so I say, dear friends of mine
Please find peace, it is devine.
For if you fight inside these walls,
The school itself will surely fall
To find what we so greatly want,
We must survive the biggest hunt.
They will kill those in their path,
But their ways will earn our wrath.
Listen to me, I beg. Take heed!
And fight against these evil deeds.
Untied we stand, divided we fall,
But we can rise above them all
So in short, please hear my cry,
For those fighting, they may die.
But if they do, I pray don't weep
For they are free from the secrets that we keep.
Another disturbing song from the Sorting Hat. Harry could only guess whom he was talking about with that last part. Could it be... oh let's see...hmm, this is a hard one. Oh, maybe Sirius? Unless someone else died while Harry was at Privet Drive? A pang of fear shot through him. He'd have to ask Ron. He thought about this for a while, oblivious to the sorting. He did manage to clap and cheer at the appropriate times, however, and smiled at the new students. There were quite a few getting into Gryffindor this year.
Dumbledore got up to speak. "Welcome, students! Welcome old friends! Another year at Hogwarts! I trust everyone had an enjoyable summer? Now, as you all know, the real speech begins after the feast, so I will only say a few words. Here goes... A Few Words! Enjoy!" The old man's eyes were twinkling merrily at the confusion and laughter breaking out before him.
The tables all suddenly groaned from all the food that appeared on them. Harry helped himself and pushed the thoughts of people dying out of his mind.
After everyone had eaten their fill, and Harry's throat felt a little more normal, Professor Dumbledore got up to speak again. His stomach poked out of his robe a little more than last time he got up, evidence of how much he had really eaten. He smiled warmly, winked at Harry and spoke in a loud clear voice that held no sign of his age. "I want to welcome you again to another year at Hogwarts. I do have a few things to tell you about, however, so please bear with me a little more and then you can go up to your common rooms and then to bed, I know I want to." A few chuckles were heard through out the hall. "Well, now. That was an interesting song, this year, wasn't it? I do hope you'll take his words to heart. He doesn't normally give warnings. When he does, though, it's good to listen to them. Now, getting down to business. We have another new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! I'd like you all to welcome Ms. Helena Thorpe. "A pretty brunette with short layered hair stood up and bowed and smiled. "Ms. Thorpe is an auror normally, but we convinced her to take time off work to teach to all of you. Please be as kind and courteous to her as you would be to me. Maybe we can convince her to stay here with us, hmm?
"Also, I would like you to note, this year's Hogsmeade visits will be a little more plentiful than last year. We will revoke them, however, if too many grades start slipping. I have every reason to believe that all of my wonderful students will not let that happen. I do have an announcement on a bit of a sadder note, Professor Binns will be leaving us after this year to go seek out his fortunes elsewhere. He's decided it's time for a change. So, be good to him in his last year teaching and show him how much you are all going to miss him.
"First years, I want you to know that the Dark forest is strictly forbidden. The rest of you keep that in mind as well. If you have any questions, please report to your head of house and they will be answered." During this last little part he was looking directly at Hermione, bring the question of what had bothered her earlier to Harry'' mind. "That is the end of my speech, I bid you all good night."" He turned and walked out the door and left from sight.
A/N: Okay, so Harry didn't look into the penseive yet. I'm getting to that. My, oh my I'm good at fluff. Don't you agree Sirius?
Sirius: Yeah love, whatever you say. Can you just get to my memories? I'm really interested to hear what you have to say happened to me.
Author: All in good time. I really liked that part about the pigmies. Pigmies are cool. Can I have a pigmy, Sirius? I promise to clean up after it and feed it and water it and walk it every day!
Sirius: You would not, you barely manage to do that for yourself! No, you can't have a pigmy. I don't think they would like it either. Speaking of them, I don't know if they go on man-hunts. I'm not too sure about the word slyness either...
Author: Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever. It worked. I'll update tomorrow.