They all filed into the castle in a pack, laughing and joking amongst them. Sirius and Remus were explaining the Sorting and the Welcome Feast to the girls as they passed down the corridor toward the Great Hall. A presence suddenly appeared behind them and a slightly amused voice interrupted the boys' descriptions.
"Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin, if you will excuse the girls, I must speak with them briefly before the Feast."
"Of Course Professor." " We'll see you in the Hall" they told Luna and Ginny before heading off again.
The girls turned as one and faced the man neither had seen in two years since his death at the end of their 5th term. He smiled down at them and said "If you will follow me was can discuss this predicament you seem to have found yourselves in."
They followed him into a room they had never seen before. After they had entered, he began talking.
"Now Professor Sinistra, Our Divination Teacher, warned me that something out of place and time was going to show up at this feast. Am I correct in assuming that she was referring to you?"
Ginny blushed and Luna looked downtrodden, "Yes Professor." They said together, "There was an accident on the train in our time and we were sent back here. We don't know what happened or how to fix it." Ginny continued for them both.
Luna took the items from her bag and handed them to Dumbledore. "These were my mothers'", Luna supplied. "We don't know what she was working on but we assume it had something to do with time," she grimaced, "Obviously…"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily "Well, I suppose the two of you will just have to continue on here until we figure this all out. You will have to be sorted again. Of course, I'm sure you bright girls have managed to come up with a cover story as to who you are and where you came from."
The girls quickly explained their cover story to him and thanked him for his help. Both felt vastly better about it all knowing that Dumbledore was now trying to help them get home.
"I will send to Diagon Alley for your school supplies and I will authorize a trip to Hogsmeade this evening to buy clothes and the like as an old man like me would have no idea what to get." He chuckled softly at his own joke and continued, "You may take the Floo from my office tomorrow morning since classes do not start until Monday. The password is Chocolate Frogs. Good? Good! Well let's get to it shall we?"
He headed out of the room down a short hall and into another small room. He turned to them before he opened the door. "I will ask you to wait on the other side of this door while I make a brief announcement explaining your presence and you will be sorted before the first years." He smiled at them and directed them thru the door into the Hall beyond.
Dumbledore stood in front of the podium and raised his hands for attention. Just as it had been in their time when he was alive he got it, instantly. The Hall went silent as he began his speech.
"Before we begin the sorting of the first years I would like to welcome two new students to our fair school. They are transfers from the acclaimed Moirae Academy here for their final year of schooling. Please make them welcome to Hogwarts. Lunara and Ginnae Callahan, would you please come forward to be sorted into your houses."
Professor McGonagall brought the stool with the Sorting Hat forward and placed it on the dais. Once there, the shabby hat began to sing as it had for years before and would for years to come.
A Thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from the wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw from the glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream;
they hatched a daring plan
to educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
formed their own house, for each
did value different virtues
in the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor the bravest were
prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
and power hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
their favorites from the throng,
yet how to pick the worthy ones
when they were dead and gone?
It was Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
the founders put some brains in me
so I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
and tell where you belong!
Once the Hat was finished, Professor McGonagall started to read off the names.
"Ginnae Callahan".
Ginny stepped forward and picked up the hat, sitting down on the stool as she placed it on her head.
Hmmm odd very odd the hat's dusty voice sounded in her head you do not belong here yet but since you are here I agree with myself and place you in…
"GRYFFINDOR" the Hat cried out.
A great cheer rose from the Gryffindor table as Ginny walked over to it. Sirius pushed Remus over to make room for her next to him. She sat down and smiled at him as he reached over and squeezed her hand. "Welcome" he whispered in her ear.
"Lunara Callahan" the Professor called.
Luna stepped forward and Ginny held her breath as her friend placed the hat on her head.
Another one out of place…but different you are. You were placed where you once belonged but you have changed in ways we never expected. There is no other choice for you now than…
"GRYFFINDOR"
Again the table erupted with cheers as a bemused Luna walked toward the table and her very shocked friend. She sat down next to her and whispered in her ear "I'll tell you about it later." Ginny nodded and blushed again as Luna's eyes flicked to where Sirius was brushing Ginny's fingers with his, trying to draw her attention.
"Lunara?", a soft voice asked her hesitantly.
"Yes?" She returned as she turned to face Remus who was sitting next to her.
His voice seemed to catch in his throat as she raised her aqua eyes to meet his storm colored ones. "Ummm, I'm glad you're here… in Gryffindor I mean." He stumbled over the words as he continued to drown in her dreamy eyes.
"Thank you Remus," She replied, "I'm surprised but very happy to be here."
Her cryptic remark puzzled him briefly but he pushed it aside as his focus was broken moments later.
"Bill Weasley"
"GRYFFINDOR" the Hat cried almost before it had touched his head. The table erupted again. Ginny cheered her heart out to see the pride in her brother's face.
Dumbledore stood again smiled and simply said "Let's Eat."
And the tables filled with food. The First years were ooohing and ahhhing over the abundance of it all.
Everyone seemed to attack the food in front of them, the tables filled with laughter and talk.
Ginny looked up to see Lily across the table. Ginny watched her as her bright green eyes flicked over to watch James as he talked Quidditch with Sirius. She smiled to herself; hopefully it wouldn't be long until Harry's mom admitted to herself how much she really cared about James Potter. Luna and Remus were deep in a conversation about NEWTS. The feast was winding down and the Prefects were preparing to escort the first years to their dormitories.
"So Moony, you joining Prongs and I this evening?" Sirius interrupted his friend.
"What? Me? Miss my first look at the Head's Room? NEVER!" Remus replied.
Lily looked across at the two new girls. "Would you like to come too?" She asked.
Luna tried to demure but Lily continued, "Please? Don't leave me alone with Potter and his crew."
Ginny laughed, "Sure Lily we would love to."