DISCLAIMER! This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy. New Movie is coming in April! Hurrah! Yeah, for Fanfiction – a great place to stretch your imagination and enjoy someone else's creativity too! The is the sequel to The Potter Cartouche.

Chapter 16: Sorting and New Schedule

Several changes were immediately evident in the Great Hall to the returning students as they stepped into the room. The four long tables were still in place, but they were a bit further apart from one another with chairs instead of the long benches, and they were broken up at varying lengths to permit students to walk from one side to the other without having to go all the way to the end of the table. The older students –especially the witches – were glad not to climb over the bench to get a seat. There were four chairs at the end of each long row of tables where their head of house would sit with their students – at the moment, those four professors walked around the hall, speaking to the older students as they selected chairs at their house table. Above the faculty table, a second higher table was placed there by magic on a transfigured or conjured platform. Seated at the highest table were two wizards, Headmaster Bennet and Albus Dumbledore. Bennet smiled and waved students into the hall while Dumbledore seemed resigned to the situation. The faculty table was much longer and filled with familiar faces and many new ones.

Harry exchanged greetings with Professor Carter, the new head of Gryffindor, before taking a seat with Neville at the table. Ron, Seamus, and Dean joined them, and Parvati and Lavender sat across from them before asking about Hermione.

"Did the bloody girl finally drown in the mud around her hut?" asked Ron, unaware the prefects were standing directly behind him. There followed Professor Carter's first time to take points from his own house and assign detention to Ron to help Hagrid clean the Hippogriff pens.

"But you can't do that! I'm Heir Old Weasley!" Ron protested, losing more points, and earning his second detention.

"Ron, shut up," urged Neville, and though he grumbled and mumbled to himself, Ron Weasley did shut it.

The ghosts appeared through the walls and closed doors to swirl around the hall and assume their positions in the rafters. And on ledges near the rafters, Harry saw several house elves appear, polishing cloths in their hands as they wiped the dust from the walls and quietly watched the proceedings in the Great Hall. The door opened, and Deputy Headmistress Longbottom led the first-year students into the hall. Harry wasn't sure where the applause began, but he joined in, rising to his feet to welcome the crowd of new students. Hagrid followed at the end of the gang of students with the Sorting Hat and a stool that looked more comfortable for seating with a padded cushion to sit upon.

Deputy Headmistress Longbottom thanked Hagrid for his help as the half-giant moved to his seat at the faculty table.

'Magic is something else,' Harry marvelled again as magic had stretched the width of the Great Hall to fit in the long table and provided a solid chair to hold Hagrid's weight.

Turning to the first-year students, Augusta announced, "Now, the sorting hat will speak first and welcome you to Hogwarts. Then I shall call your name from this scroll, and when I do, come forward, and I'll place the hat on your head. It will speak to you inside your head and decide which house is best for you for the next seven years at Hogwarts."

One young boy asked, "Will it hurt?"

The regular face appeared on the Sorting Hat, and it spoke up, "No. I never hurt anyone's mind. You and I will have a quiet, confidential conversation and decide which house you enter."

"Oh, okay," the boy replied, nodding in agreement with the hat. As Augusta Longbottom lifted the scroll of parchment to read off the first name, many living persons were present who remembered that Professor McGonagall had been the witch to read off the names for almost thirty years.

When Dumbledore frowned at the memory of Minerva…and himself…being the deputy, the ghost of the baron floated down until he was in front of the headmaster emeritus and said, "Albus Dumbledore, the moment always comes when a mortal must step aside for the next generation. Some wizards do it gracefully and assist with the transition for the 'greater good'. Since you mentioned that term so frequently in your term as headmaster, I ask you now, for the greater good, will you gracefully step aside this year or not?"

The deposed headmaster growled at the ghostly figure before him and motioned the Baron to move away. To Dumbledore's surprise, the ghost returned the growl, "Very well. On your head be it."

Before he floated away, the baron turned around to add, "Hogwarts will not accept your spirit when you pass on to the next great adventure, Dumbledore. You'll have to find some other castle to haunt."

Blinking at the implication that he would soon die; Dumbledore focused on his current health and finally decided the evil Slytherin ghost made the comment to distract him. He continued his mental examination and tuned out his surroundings.

After the last of the twenty-two children had been sorted to their proper house, an elf moved the hat and stool to the back of the Great Hall where he could watch the rest of the meal. Fawkes chose that moment to flame into the room, and she settled beside Luna Lovegood at the Ravenclaw table for the meal, warbling happily with the brilliant third-year witch.

SCENERY ALTERATION: Introductions

"Now that the sorting is complete, I need to take a few more minutes to introduce all the members of the faculty," Headmaster Bennet said. "If you'll rise when I call your name so the students can see you. And let me begin with our new deputy headmistress, Lady Augusta Longbottom."

When Headmaster Bennet introduced Headmaster Emeritus Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the old wizard ignored the introduction and did not rise from his seat. However, the headmaster paused for a moment. "Well, it seems that the headmaster emeritus is not feeling well. The word 'emeritus' means that Headmaster Dumbledore is retiring from an active role in the day-to-day operation of Hogwarts and will be with us for only one more year. He will deliver exciting seminars for each year level during the year, usually on Sunday afternoons."

Then the headmaster moved on to introduce the rest of the faculty, which took some time. Bennet began, "First, in the infirmary, Healer Angela Johnson will lead the medical services with Mediwitch Poppy Pomphrey helping to care for our students and faculty this year."

"Professor Gregory Haight-Poole will teach transfiguration for years five through seven in the classroom where the classes were held last year. He requests that you refer to him as Professor Poole. He will teach transfiguration for years five, six and seven, preparing students for their OWLS and NEWTS."

"Professor Emmaline Grayson-Spivey will teach transfiguration for years five through seven in the classroom next to the old classroom. She requests that you refer to her as Professor Grayson while she is teaching years one through four."

"Professor Filius Flitwick remains the Ravenclaw Head of House, and he will teach charms for years five through seven and prepare students for their OWLS and NEWTS in his old classroom. He will also conduct Duelling vs Fighting Seminars for years three through five. These voluntary seminars will be held in a special classroom near the charms classroom."

"Professor Antonia Bennet will teach charms to all students in years one through four in a new classroom next to the old classroom."

"Professor Pomona Sprout remains the Hufflepuff Head of House, and she will teach herbology for all years in her classroom with practical labs in the greenhouses. Herbology is an elective after your fourth year now, but the class is recommended for everyone who plans on mastering the art of brewing potions. Her classroom remains in the same location, and the greenhouses are all located on the southern side of the castle."

"Professor Andrew Carter is the new Head of House for Gryffindor, and he will teach Potions for years five through seven, preparing students for their OWLS and NEWTS. A new set of classrooms for our three potion classes has been set up on the third floor."

"Professor Melissa Moorhouse will teach Potions for years one through four. She will have the middle room in the set of three classrooms."

"And Professor Harriet Carter will teach a class on Potion Revision for years four through seven. You may test out of her class, but I urge each of you to participate fully for at least two months before opting to drop out of the class. Her classroom will be the third room."

Sighing deeply, Ron Weasley whined, "Can't we eat now? I'm starving."

Fortunately for Weasley, the new headmaster could not hear him and continued, "I am happy to introduce Professor Severus Snape as the Duelling and Defence instructor for years five through seven in the new Battle Arts classroom. Professor Snape holds dual masteries in potions and defence, so I urge all students to listen carefully to his instruction while preparing students for their OWLS and NEWTS. He will also conduct Duelling vs Fighting Seminars for years five through seven. These voluntary seminars will be held in his regular classroom."

"And for years one through four, I am pleased to introduce Professor Anthony Hilliard (Auror-retired) as the Duelling and Defence instructor in the second Battle Arts classroom. He will also conduct Duelling vs Fighting Seminars for years one through four. These voluntary seminars will be held in his regular classroom.

At the Gryffindor table, Harry felt nothing but relief as he understood that Snape would have no role as a professor for him this year – not potions, not Duelling and Defence, nothing. Beside him, Neville grinned and said, "A Snape-free year!"

"Snape-less," quipped Harry before returning his attention to the new headmaster.

Headmaster Bennet paused to take a drink of water before he continued. "Returning once again to reach runes, I am pleased to introduce Professor Bathsheba Babbling. Her classroom and office remain in the same locations as in past years."

"Professor Septima Vector will teach Arithmancy and Magical Life for all students born and raised in Mundane Britain. There are many daily activities that you need to know about making your way in magical society. If you are to live in this world, you must understand them better."

"Professor Aurora Sinistra will teach Astronomy and the new mandatory Physical Fitness class for all witches. Years will be grouped as first and second years together, third and fourth years, and then five, six and seventh years together. The girl's gymnasium, swimming pool and lockers are spelled to keep out all wizards. Any student wizard who attempts to enter these areas is subject to detention or expulsion."

"Professor Charity Burbage will teach Mundane Studies, which remains an elective. However, there is a new mandatory class called Mundane Life for all students born and raised in Magical Britain. The mundane people have tremendous power and great inventions. We must understand them better to keep the Statute of Secrecy in place."

"Professor Remus Lupin will lead your classes in History of the World (Magic and Mundane) and the new Physical Fitness class for Wizards. Class groupings will be the same as for witches with combined years. The boy's gymnasium, swimming pool and lockers are spelled to keep out all witches. Any student witch who attempts to enter these areas is subject to detention or expulsion."

"Other returning personnel include Madam Irma Pince, our Librarian, and Madam Rolanda Hooch, our veteran flying instructor and in-house Quidditch referee and manager. Finally, we have Professor Rubeus Hagrid returning for Care of Magical Creatures and Grounds Keeper. Professor Hagrid will follow a carefully mandated list of creatures to introduce to our students."

SLIGHT SCENE CHANGE

Hagrid blushed and dropped his head for a moment – his first day in the castle, Headmaster Bennet tore through Hagrid's pens and threatened the half-giant with exile to the lands of the giants in the mountains of Norway or worse if another experimental creature was ever bred on the castle grounds. When he learned about Hagrid's half-brother, a full-blooded giant living in the Forbidden Forest, and the colony of giant spiders devastating the forest's ecology, Charles Bennet did lose his temper. He cursed the giant with stinging hexes for ten minutes, and only the intervention by his wife kept the new headmaster from firing Hagrid. The half-giant was forced to take a week-long trip to the mountains in Norway to find a suitable home for his brother among his mother's kinfolk. When he returned from Norway, Hagrid learned that the spiders had been relocated to an island somewhere far away with their silk to be harvested for the benefit of the school's vaults. (And their numbers would be severely reduced with additional harvests of carcasses each year as potion ingredients.)

SLIGHT SCENE CHANGE

Headmaster Bennet finished the introductions saying, "And finally, Professor Sybill Trelawney has retired to a family home somewhere in Ireland. The class in divination is cancelled, but any student who has gifts of foresight or prediction will be screened by the centaurs and privately provided with tutoring. And the caretaker, Argus Filch, has retired as well."

Taking a deep breath, Headmaster Bennet said, "And now, I am certain you are all hungry, so I call for the feast to begin."

SLIGHT SCENE CHANGE

Before he floated away, the baron turned around to add, "Hogwarts will not accept your spirit when you pass on to the next great adventure, Dumbledore. You'll have to find some other castle to haunt.

Blinking at the implication, Dumbledore focused on his current health and finally decided the evil Slytherin ghost made the last comment to distract him. Suddenly smelling food, Albus blinked and noticed that the sorting was complete, the introductions had been made, and the students were eating.

"I am glad to see you decided to join us," Charles Bennet said beside Dumbledore. "I was about to ask Healer Johnson to check you over."

Scowling, Dumbledore said nothing. Then he noticed 'his' phoenix sitting in a chair at the Ravenclaw table, singing a few notes as if she were having a conversation with the witch seated beside her. The headmaster emeritus frowned – Fawkes had refused to return to his office since June and never answered his call.

Following the sorting and welcoming feast, the students in Gryffindor trooped to their tower, where they found their head of house waiting to begin a house meeting. The potions professor for the upper-year students, Andrew Carter, was stern but tried to appear fair. He shared his office location (McGonagall's old office) and the hours he would be present.

"When I am in the potion classroom and laboratory with students, it is safest if you don't come there. Go to the prefects or other professors during those hours, and we'll get you settled afterwards."

Professor Carter spent more time with the students from the first- and second-year, answering their questions and making a favourable impression on all the Gryffindor students (except for Ron).

Hurrying up the stairs, Harry realised he was tired, so he changed, brushed his teeth, and crawled into bed for a good night's sleep.

SCENE CHANGE: First Classes

On Friday morning, most of the Gryffindors waited to escort the first-year members of their house from the tower to the Great Hall. They found three Slytherin students frozen in place on the landing before the entry hall while their new head of house (Professor Sinestra) lectured them on their stupidity and foolishness.

"You sent a pureblood witch to the infirmary with a broken arm! Before schedules are distributed, you are attacking other students! Did you forget what I said last night? The days of endless forgiveness for fighting were over!"

"Professor Snape will overturn…." Draco attempted to deny the witch's words.

"Silence, Mr Malfoy!" Sinestra demanded, and the fourth-year wizard found himself with his mouth sealed shut by magic. "Professor Snape is not head of Slytherin any longer. And at the very least, you're going to be sent home for five days, and your mother will be forced to travel here today to pick you up."

The fifth-year wizard who'd followed Draco in the attack moaned, thinking how angry it would make his father when the wizard lost a day at work, and the third-year boy had tears in his eyes.

Moving on to the Great Hall, Harry noticed the changes made since the feast the previous evening. The highest table had been banished, and Headmaster Bennet sat at the head table with the rest of the faculty. However, Sprout and Flitwick walked along the lengths of their house tables, distributing class schedules to each student. (Professor Sinestra began to hand out schedules when she entered with the silenced Malfoy and other Slytherins that she stuck to seats at the end of the table). Professor Carter was the last head of house to come into the Great Hall, and he explained to several students who asked that Miss Hightower was resting in the infirmary for the day to have her arm healed. Several fifth-year students volunteered to visit her at different times during the day to assure her they'd share their notes from their first class.

Fawkes flashed into the Great Hall and walked the length of the Gryffindor tables this morning, settling in a chair with the firsties and warbling happily with these girls and boys for the entire meal. Harry received his schedule from Professor Carter and was pleased to see the line-up of classes across six days of the week. 'There's time for experiments and Quidditch so long as I keep up with my homework.'

Glancing at Ron, who was keeping his distance this morning, Harry smirked, thinking about the phoney homework assignment he'd created for Ron to purloin and turn in.

'If you don't do your homework, you might get to repeat the fourth year too,' he thought, watching his erstwhile friend.

The punishment for the three Slytherin students was announced at lunch by Headmaster Bennet. And Harry finally noticed that Dumbledore had not been present for breakfast or luncheon.

SCENE CHANGE

Draco remained defiant and silenced when his mother arrived two hours later. Narcissa Malfoy left the magical charm in place after hearing from Professor Sinestra and Headmaster Bennet that her son had one more chance at Hogwarts before he would be expelled for the remainder of the year.

Headmaster Bennet explained, "With a new provision in the ministry, your son's wand would be seized by the Aurors and not returned until 31 August of next year. He would be allowed to return to Hogwarts then to begin his fourth year for a second time."

Draco stomped one foot in anger but leapt into the air when a stinging hex hit his buttocks. He was mortified to discover it was his mother who'd cast the spell, and she grabbed him by the ear to lead him from the school before they apparated home.

SCENE CHANGE: Friday 2 September

Harry's first class was a Slytherin-Gryffindor transfiguration lesson led by Professor Grayson. She explained theory, wand movements and reasons for the spell before providing her students with the opportunity to practise the magic. After he transfigured a silver teapot from a hunk of raw silver, Harry took a minute to look at his classmates – Ron, Dean, Neville, Seamus, Lavender, and Parvati were comfortable working together. There were few Slytherin students in their fourth year – Blaise Zambini, Theo Nott, Tracy Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and Millicent Bulstrode. Missing were Gregory Goyle, Vincent Crabbe, Pansy Parkinson, and Draco Malfoy.

'The Death Eaters fled Britain and took their families with them,' he remembered. 'Nott's father is in Azkaban, and his grandfather was never arrested or put on trial. Bulstrode – I guess her father's not a Death Eater. And I suppose Draco will return.'

In their second class in the afternoon, Harry and Dean joined with the third-year muggle-born (mundane) students from Gryffindor and the fourth- and third-year Ravenclaw mundane students for their first class about magical life. The professor focused on magical clothing, shoes and hats for the entire time that pleased the girls and kept the boys' attention.

The classes on Saturday were enjoyable. Professor Harriet Carter spent the entire time reviewing ingredients for brewing. She spoke with the Slytherin students and kept her face blank as she learned about the extra tuition in potions provided to the Slytherin students but not to Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Harry listened and kept his opinion to himself but decided the Slytherin students were purposefully exposing Professor Snape's past prejudices to the new professor.

The first seminar (class) with Professor Flitwick was the best class Harry had ever attended (besides flying class). The half-goblin challenged the interested students with the idea of spell chains, mixing spells for defence and offence with unusual spells to throw your opponent's concentration off. He demonstrated using shields, piercing spells and glamour charms to leave his dummy opponent pressed up against the wall, with holes in both arms and its face covered by a combination of hair growth and hair weave charms.

"Now, a living opponent would also be casting spells back at you as well in this duel," Flitwick said. "And in a duel, you're not trying to kill your opponent."

Theo Nott asked, "What about an honour duel, professor? Don't wizards usually kill each other in an honour duel?"

"Excellent question, Mr Nott. We can talk about honour duels later in the term. However, none of you is an adult, and so you cannot challenge anyone to an honour duel."

"I'm an heir! I can so challenge anyone I want to an honour duel!" declared Ron Weasley.

"Mr Weasley, are you an adult?"

"Uh, no."

"Then you cannot challenge or participate in an honour duel," Flitwick responded.

"That's not what my tutor told me this summer!" declared Ron.

"Who was your tutor that told you this erroneous information?"

"My mum," Ron replied as though that fact resolved everyone's questions.

Flitwick sighed and motioned for Ron to wait. They would discuss the subject after the class. The half-goblin suddenly decided to solve his problem in a goblin manner, so the professor announced, "Before next Saturday, I want each of you to write ten inches on the differences between a fight and a duel. You'll have to compare Chapter 4 with Chapter 8 your textbooks. Any of you who do not wish to continue with this class can simply leave the textbook on the table at the door, and there'll be no penalties or detentions for not returning to my seminar next week."

"Merlin, no one said anything about homework for a simi-nard," Ron complained as he dropped off the textbook. Harry noticed that several purebloods left with no intention of returning, including Miss Weasley. Sunday was quiet at Hogwarts, and Harry worked his way through his homework and the first chapters of his textbooks for his upcoming classes.

On Monday, 5 September, Harry, and Neville hurried to Charms' classroom. This was their first face to face meeting with Professor Antonia Bennet, and she seemed very interested in their classes for the last three years, collected their homework, and asked how charms had been used in their lives in the past. The magical born had many more examples than the mundane, and she spoke about how the mundane students would learn about household charms.

He enjoyed his first real potions class with Professor Moorhouse in the afternoon. The witch carefully explained the ingredients to be used, the steps required to prepare them, and the sequence of steps to brew the potion. Harry and Neville worked together to brew the potion for a burn salve. Theo Nott complained that he'd learned how to brew the potion in his third year, and Professor Moorhouse asked for a list of all the potions the different students had successfully brewed to be turned in to her office before lunch the next day.

Tuesday was excellent with a start to their new Duelling and Defence class in the Second Battle Arts classroom. Their professor was a retired Auror who kept their attention by constantly moving his feet and torso while pointing his wand at the dummy in the classroom corner. And then Harry spent the afternoon in the classroom where Professor Babbling laid out several vital objectives for her advanced fourth-year class.

END OF CHAPTER