Chapter 2
Hunger

"All right, firs' years," said a voice, barely heard through the rain, "Over here please!"

Rubeus Hagrid was still a part of the staff at Hogwarts. He was still the Care of Magical Creatures teacher and was also the Head of Gryffindor. He still had the job of taking the first years across the lake and, even though it was raining, he was still going to do it. No other teacher would do it because of the infamous giant squid, who was only still living after so many years because Hagrid had been feeding him. And because it was tradition, the first years would have to go across the lake, no matter how soaked they were going to get.

"Ugh, why does it always have to rain on the first day of term!" said Jane, carefully walking around a large puddle.

"Oh, come on, Jane," said Richie, "It is so fun out here."

"Well maybe you should stay out and get wet," said Jane, "But I am going to look for a carriage."

Richie, however, followed his sister and cousins to the carriages and found an empty one.

"Gah, I wish we could hurry," said Jane, as she climbed into the carriage and sat down, "I hate rain!"

"You only want to get to Hogwarts so you can be with Joseph," said Richie.

Jane said nothing but was privately thinking of pushing her brother out of the carriage. She was about to do it when the carriage started to move.

"I love these carriages," said Jamie, "They are so warm and magical."

"You do know they only move because of the Thestrals," said James.

"Yes, but none of us can see them," said Jamie.

"Dad can though," said James.

"Yes," said Jamie, "We all know his adventures with the Thestrals. Only because he told us more then a dozen times."

Jamie never let her family or anyone know, but she was kind of annoyed with all the publicity her family had recieved because her father was the one defeated the greatest Dark wizard of all time. She knew she shouldn't be unhappy, but it would help if she didn't have to open her father's fan mail for him all the time! Jamie hated publicity... and it didn't help her grandfather was also the Minister of Magic.

After years of saying no to the offer of Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley finally accepted only because he knew the Ministry wasn't going very far when it came to an alliance with the Muggles. It had been two years since his inauguration to be the Minister. Shortly before this, former Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour had been sent to Azkaban for treason. He had admitted he knew where there were still some fugitive Death Eaters who had been on the run for over fifteen years... Malfoy's father was one of them, but he was still reported to be on the run. But where he was... no one knew. Jamie knew deep inside that Romeo knew where his father was, but wouldn't admit it.

The carriages had reached Hogwarts castle and all the students hurried out and ran up the steps so they wouldn't get any more soaked. When they reached the Great Hall, James and Richie walked along down to the middle of the Gryffindor table and sat next to their friends. Jamie and Jane sat down at the end of the table where the other seventh years usually sat for the special feasts. Joseph Lupin walked up and sat down next to Jane, who kissed Joseph on the cheek.

Joseph Lupin looked a lot like his father, but he could change his appearance when he wanted to. He had inherited his mother's ability of metamorphosis. Although he had the option, he never did change it much. He liked how he looked, just because he knew that other people did too. He had short brown hair and looked a lot like his father. Joseph was also the Head Boy.

"Jane, I didn't think you would want to do stuff like that," said Joseph, "I thought our relationship was secret."

"Oh come on, Joseph," said Jane, "Our relationship isn't that secret. Jamie knows we are together. And I am sure the rest of the school was betting on when we would hook up. Why do you want to keep this secret? Trying to keep your reputation as Head Boy safe. Or are you afraid your fan-girls would get too jealous?"

"Fan-girls?" said Joseph, "I wasn't aware I had..."

"Don't play dumb with me Joseph," said Jane, "You are the most popular student in Hogwarts, you are one of the Chasers on the Quidditch team and you happen to have a father that teaches here."

"Don't remind me," said Joseph.

More students began to sit down, including a few of the fellow seventh year Gryffindors. One of Jamie and Jane's best friends, Alice Longbottom, sat down next to Jamie.

Alice Longbottom was the daughter of Neville and Luna Longbottom. She had been named after her grandmother whom had died a couple weeks before she was born. She had her father's round face but looked a lot like her mother. Long-blonde hair and average height, Alice was known for her strange attitude. She would always wear carrot ear-rings, an heirloom from her mother. When she wasn't doing homework, she was reading the Quibbler, her favorite magazines or writing ideas for it. She had been promised a job as a writer for the Quibbler when she left Hogwarts.

"Have a nice holiday," Jamie asked Alice.

"Ooh, yes," said Alice, "Mum took me to Africa over the summer. We were looking for Swooners. They were rumored to have been seen around the last herd of Crumple-Horned Snorcacks. We were afraid they might have been fighting. Swooners are almost extinct, you know."

"Really, interesting," said Jamie, "Where is your father? He isn't at the staff table."

Neville Longbottom had been the Herbology teacher for five years. He had taken the job when the long-time Herbology Professor, Sprout, retired after getting attacked by her beloved Venemous Tentacula.

"Oh, he is talking to Mum using the Floo Network," said Alice, "I forgot to tell you, she is expecting another baby."

"Really, wow!" said Jamie, "Speaking of... did your sister get here fine? I know she is starting Hogwarts this year."

"Oh, yeah," said Alice, "Brooke was fine. She couldn't wait to come here. I hope she gets into Gryffindor, but she is so smart. She could go to Ravenclaw like my mother did."

"Really?" said Jamie, "Wow, you better watch out Jane. You might have competition. You might not be the resident genius anymore."

Jane blushed furiously. Jamie knew Jane hated to be called the resident genius of Hogwarts, but since she was much smarter than Jamie, Jamie made sure she joked around with it.

"Oh, don't worry Jane," said Alice, "My sister looks up to you."

"Because you are so tall," joked Jamie.

Jane rolled her eyes.

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A few minutes later Neville had arrived and taken his seat, but not before saying hi to Alice, Jamie and the others. Shortly after, the oak doors opened and Hagrid, along with the new first years, all soaked to their skin, walked down through the center of the tables toward the front. Brooke could be soon talking to a couple of fellow first year. She smiled at Alice, who smiled back.

"Oh, there she is!" Alice said, nodding to her sister, "Look, she has already made friends."

Headmistress McGonagall walked around the table and over to the sorting hat which still looked as good as ever even though it was so old and ancient. McGonagall had still taken up the job of calling the students even though she had taken the Headmistress job so long ago.

"Ahem," said McGonagall, waiting for the students to quiet down. When they did, she continued, "All right. First of all, I would like to welcome all the first years to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I hope that you find this place as comfortable as your own home, as many of us have done already. Now, after the Sorting Hat sings it's song, I will call your names and you will be sorted to your houses. This is just the first step in a long and, hopefully nice, road to magical learning. Now, I know I am taking up the Sorting Hat's time, so I will let him start."

The Sorting Hat's brim opened and he began to sing:

A/N: I am not very good with sorting hat songs, so bear with me... I will, to say at least, try.

A whole new year
new students to teach
Minds to strengthen
New goals to reach

Through many a-year
And this is quite apparent
I have sorted many young students
Including your parents

I have one job
I call it my sport
To divide into fours
The students I sort

Gryffindor has been known
to be brave and daring
But if this is where you lie
You must also be caring

Ravenclaw
The resident "smarties"
Have been known to read books
Not throw fun parties

Hufflepuff
The hard workers, are treasured
Their ability to do much
Cannot be measured

And Slytherin, the keen
Are sly as a snake
But their minds are sharp
And rough as a quake

So I sort you young ones
And yes, you must divide
Friends may be separated
But in your heart, you unite

So rest myself upon your head
And show me what you think
For I am the Sorting Hat
And Knowledge is my favorite drink!

The Hall erupted in applause. Headmistress McGonagall's hand raised up in the air to quiet the students, and the Hall went silent.

"Thank you," said McGonagall, "And thank you, Sorting Hat. Now, when I call your names, first years, you will one by one come up to the stool and sit down. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and it will sort you into your house. Then you can join your fellow students at your respected tables."

McGonagall began to call students up to the hat. Ten minutes later, Brooke Longbottom was called. She eagerly waved to her father and sat down on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat upon Brooke's head. It took about thirty seconds before the Sorting Hat yelled "Ravenclaw!"

"Well, I knew she could have been sorted into Ravenclaw," said Alice, standing up and applauding her sister.

Brooke walked over to the Ravenclaw table and waved to her sister. The sorting continued until it ended with "Zabini, Grace" ending up in Slytherin.

McGonagall walked back up to her seat and motioned for the students to get quiet again. Then she began to talk.

"A nice start-of-term speech is in order, of course," said McGonagall, "But that can wait. I know all of you are hungry so..."

McGonagall raised her hand and all kinds of food appeared on the tables.

As Jamie was eating, she couldn't help but notice how Jane and Joseph kept getting closer together. She smirked at this.

"What are you smirking at?" Jane asked her best friend.

"Nothing," said Jamie, "I just can't figure out why you would want to keep such a thing like your relationship secret."

"We don't want to showcase it, Jamie," said Jane, "And while we are talking about this, why don't you have anyone to... you know, write notes to?"

"Oh," said Jamie, blushing a bit, "There isn't really anyone I fancy."

"Yeah, but I am sure you could find someone," said Joseph, "You are the Captain and Seeker for the Quidditch Team. I would think someone secretly fancies you."

Jamie blushed again and as she began to grab some chicken and rolls, she couldn't help but notice Romeo Malfoy smirking at her. She shook herself on the inside and decided to ignore it. But she couldn't help ignoring the feeling she got inside the pit of her stomach. She told herself it was probably cause she was hungry. All she had on the train was a pumpkin pasty.

Why would you even think that Romeo Malfoy fancies you? said a voice inside Jamie's head, He supposedly likes Jasmine Nott. Besides he is a Malfoy, remember!

Jamie couldn't believe she would think something like this. Romeo Malfoy... like her? Pfft, she doesn't even like him that way... does she?

So many thoughts were roaming inside her head. She decided in the end that some good warm food would clear this up. That would do it... she was just hungry, that was all. It was silly to even think a Malfoy would want to be friends with a Potter, not to mention fancy one!

"Something wrong?" Jane asked Jamie.

"What?" asked Jamie, ignoring her current thoughts, "Oh, no. Just hungry."

"Well then eat up before the food disappears... literally," said Jane.

Jamie obeyed this and decided to forget about any of the thoughts that were still buzzing through her mind like a swarm of bees.

After dinner and dessert, the plates disappeared, and McGonagall stood up and hushed the students. She then began to talk.

"Well, so begins another year of knowledge and good times," she said, "I would like to remind all of you that the Forbidden Forest, how ever many times you want to think about going in there, is strictly forbidden."

In the center of the Gryffindor table, James and Richie pouted.

"The Quidditch tryouts will be coming up soon," continued McGonagall, "and anyone who wants to try for the team needs to talk to their respected Captain to see when the try-outs will be held. On a lasting note, I would like all of you to have fun while you are in school. Now that may sound hard, but it is my wish, and every other Professor's wish as well. Learning is the first step of doing, as I like to say. Knowledge is power. Now, I think you all look pretty tired so I end with a couple words from a late, dear friend. Pip Pip and Tuck In!"

The students all stood up and began to walk out of the Great Hall. As Jamie and her friends walked out of the Hall, Romeo and his goons (as Jamie called them) passed by. Jamie had swore Romeo winked at her again, but decided to forget it, reminding herself she was very tired. So Jamie and her friends headed for the Gryffindor Common Room and their dorms, ready for a good night's sleep.

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Okay, that was a good chapter. I hope the Sorting Hat song was good enough...

Would love more feedback... as always!