The Sword of Excalibur.

(Ok so now I know that this story will become a cross over with Charmed, but not in the way you think….hopefully, later on today I hope to be able to post more of Harry Potter and the People of the Light, if any thing can come to mind. Anyways I hope you enjoy.)

Chapter 2

The train had eventually come to a halt. As the day had grown on, the weather had gotten increasingly worse. Now there were thunderstorms, ice cold showers, thunder claps that shook the ground and vibrated through the train. There had been a hail period which had lasted for about an hour, and then followed by torrential rain accompanied by more thunder and lightening.

A few of the first years had broken down into tears from fright, Hermione helped comfort one that had stumbled into their compartment, along with Ron. She turned out to be a very nice girl called Isis, she then went on to explain that her parents were obsessed with Egyptology and just had to name at least one child after and ancient Egyptian god (and how embarrassing it was).

Climbing out of the train compartment, Hermione first, then Ron and Harry behind him, the trio ran to a free horseless carriage. Unable to make the unusual hello to Hagrid, the resident gamekeeper of Hogwarts, Key of Keys and a very good friend to the trio, due to the insane, chaotic, stampeding school children, not wanting to get wet (which was useless anyway because by the time they got to the carriages they were already soaked right the way through).

The carriages themselves smelt of old, musty hay and straw. The seats had foam emerging from the split seams in the padded seats. The weather the way it was made the carriages even more depressing than they already were. Harry seemed right at home in them with his depressed attitude.

'Mission 1: make Harry cheerful again,' Hermione thought.

Just like the train ride, the journey in the horseless carriage was made in comfortable silence. Ron and Hermione both knew that Harry would talk when he wanted to and not before. The only noises where that of the carriage travelling up the rocky road from Hogsmeade Station to Hogwarts School; the pounding of the rain on the windows and on the roof of the carriage; and the sound of the thunder above them.

The three of them ran up the stone steps of the centuries old castle, keeping and eye out for Peeves (well Hermione and Ron were, Harry looked like he couldn't care less). As if on cue Peeves the Poltergeist came zooming along the hallway. He wasn't doing much though, just blowing in the students faces and messing up their already messy hair. It was nothing compared to last year, when he threw water balloons at everyone in range. It was odd. Very odd, perhaps he had been told to tone his pranks down by Headmaster Dumbledore, If so,' thought Hermione, 'That's a good thing.'

The student body took seats at their respected house tables and waited for the first years to enter the Great Hall and be sorted…if they hadn't been drowned on the way in the lake. It was traditional for the first years to travel in boats across the lake and get their first view of Hogwarts that way.

The Great Hall must have had special warming charmed on it as the students were now more or less dry. Everybody started talking to each other whilst waiting for the first years, whilst some of the teachers were getting restless . Five minutes later the first years arrived looking like drowned rats, and petrified out of their wits.

Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher lead them in carrying a tatty old hat in one hand, the Sorting Hat, and in the other the three legged stool, in which the students were to sit upon to get sorted, and a scroll with all the first year names on just about to be sorted. Her hair was done up in her unique style of bun and her lips not as thin as normal. She place the stool on the marble floor and the hat on top of the stool.

The hat began singing, startling the first years.

'A thousand years ago,

As many of you know,

I was made by Gryffindor,

As the story goes.

But tonight, you good people,

I have another story to tell.

One of King Arthur and his mentor,

And a Sword in a Stone.

Excalibur was the name,

Stone was his game.

The towns people tried to remove him,

Yet they all fell before him.

One young peasant boy,

With not much strength at all,

Pulled mighty Excalibur,

From his hold.

Centuries after the sword was lost,

Only to resurface once more.

For one of many, yet is still unsure,

Will hold Excalibur for ever more.

Respect this person, who will surprise all.

And Merlin's soul will return,

So that our warrior can learn.

That is my story for now,

All will be revealed, have faith.

Dear first years it is time you were sorted,

To which house is most suited

Would it be brave Gryffindor?

Or would it be clever Ravenclaw?

Could loyal Hufflepuff be for you?

Or is it ambitious Slytherin?

Put me upon you head,

And you will know were you fit best.'

Having no time to think about what the Sorting Hat had said, which was strange within it's self as it usually told stories of the Four Founders of Hogwarts the sorting began.

'When I call your name you will sit on the stool and place the Sorting Hat upon your heads.' Professor McGonagall told the first years. They looked really small and scared down there. They looked like miniature ghosts. Isis saw Hermione sitting at the Gryffindor table and waved, Hermione returned it with a smile that said don't be scared.

'Acorn, James,' Professor McGonagall said clearly

'Slytherin!' the hat called

'Cane, Amber.'

'Ravenclaw!'

So the sorting went in, tuning most of it out, clapping politely when a student was sorted into Gryffindor, Hermione started studying the Teachers table. All but two of the chairs were filled, the chair on the right of Professor Dumbledore was Professor McGonagall's so the chair on the Professor McGonagall's right must belong to the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, who was probably running late or giving a surprise entrance

The sorting had finished with Gryffindor earning eight new students, four female, four male. Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and silence descended over the pupils of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

'Good evening ladies and gentlemen, in fear of being called a boring old fool, I shall leave the Start of Term notices until after the feast, enjoy it!. He clapped his hands together twice and foods of different types appeared at the tables. Ron dove right into it, where as Harry didn't even try to eat. This fact got to Hermione and she snapped at them both.

'Ron! Slow down or you'll end up regretting it!', she started, 'Harry eat something or I'll force feed you and that will not be very pleasant believe me!'

'Yes Hermione!' they both said together. Ron's was more of a military salute but Harry's was just a dull 'yes'. that made her just a tad bit more irritated and she blow up, hoping some shock tactics would make Harry snap out of the depression cycle that he was currently in, she started her shock talk.

'For Heavens sake Harry! Get out of this mood right this instant! You hear me? I have had enough of your constant moping!' Harry looked at her in alarm, the only other emotion she'd seen from him in a while, 'Don't look at me like that, just listen- every single body in this room knows that you did not kill Cedric Diggory!' her voice was getting louder and a few people started staring at the scene unfolding before them, 'You know who did kill him though, it wasn't you! It was Voldemort!' the whole room had gone deadly silent but Hermione kept going still, 'It was not your fault, it was Voldemort's! you got that?' Harry looked at her again, with the truth and reality starting to run through him like electricity.

'Thank you, Hermione, I needed that. Badly. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't my fault.' Harry kept repeating this to him self, he then launched himself at Hermione with such a force it knocked her of the bench, getting her into a bear hug.

Professor Dumbledore started clapping, with Gryffindors taking his lead, cheering and laughing because they got their Harry back, Ravenclaw started as well, and Hufflepuff did join in slightly. The only house that didn't was as per usual when something good happens was Slytherin.

'Well I obviously missed something,' came an American voice from the Great Hall entrance door.

(Wow, this is the longest chapter I have ever written….well except from my original writing piece… feedback is appreciated. Many thanks)