Okay, I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update. I'm sure everyone has been eagerly awaiting this chapter. Therefore, I won't take up too much space whining about why I didn't have time to write this chapter (however, I assure you there are many legitimate reasons). Anyway, on with the story!

Woops, I forgot…

Disclaimer: I don't anything except for the plot and my characters! Don't touch my people or my plot or I will hunt you down! The rest of it belongs to J.K. Rowling, blah, blah, blah…

Chapter 4: Leoparda's First Day

When Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall that morning, there was already a great commotion. Many people had been moved to new Common Rooms during the night, others had watched their best friends pack their bags and leave the dormitory forever. Others were simply curious as to what the new classes would be like with an extra House added into the mix. Put all this excitement together and you get some idea of just what Harry and his friends were walking into.

"Harry, let's go find Ginny", said Ron. "I want to make sure she's alright in her new House."

"Okay", said Harry. Hermione also nodded her approval.

So the friends walked over to the Leoparda table. When they noticed a familiar mop of red hair amongst the crowd, Ron called out, "Ginny!"

Ginny looked away from the girl she was talking to, and came over to see her friends. "Hey guys. It's pretty chaotic in here, isn't it? You wanna talk outside?"

"Nah, here's fine", said Ron, though he was basically yelling in order to be heard over the mob of students.

"So Ginny, how was your first night as a Leoparda student?" asked Hermione.

"It was really great. There were a lot of other people who had been moved in from other Houses, so it wasn't too bad. But we were better off than the newcomers, though. We pretty much had to look after them. Apparently the ones who have come into a year above Year one have to have extra classes outside the normal times so that they can catch up."

"Ha-ha, suckers!" yelled Ron, although he was quickly silenced by both Ginny and Hermione's angry glares.

"Well, I mean, they're going to have so much extra homework! And I thought we got overloaded!"

Ginny and Hermione rolled their eyes.

"Ron, you are such an arse. Did you even consider that I might have become friends with some of the people you're talking about? You know what? I'm actually glad that I'm not in your House anymore, because you're such a self-centered git!" Ginny yelled. She stormed off angrily back to her table.

"She's right you know, Ron", said Hermione. "You can be very selfish sometimes. I really don't blame her for getting angry with you. I would've been if I were her."

Ron muttered something incomprehensible about the female species before directing his friends back to the Gryffindor table for breakfast.

By now, the teachers had arrived in the Great Hall and were seated at their table at the front of the room. Dumbledore stood up and called for the students to be quiet. "Students, please take a seat and be quiet", said Dumbledore. It took several more attempts before Dumbledore could fully catch the attention of the students. Once there was silence in the Hall, Dumbledore continued. "As I'm sure you are now very much aware, Leoparda has fully become a Hogwarts House. First of all, I would like to congratulate those students who have been re-sorted into the new house." There was a scattering of applause; many students did not feel it was right to congratulate their friends for abandoning them.

"In order to cope with the introduction of a new House, we have re-written all of your timetables to incorporate our new students. Of course, we have also had to write timetables for our students." Dumbledore clapped his hands, and an enormous swarm of owls of all kinds flew into the Hall, causing absolute chaos. There were envelopes falling everywhere, and it took some time for students to identify which one contained their new timetable. By the time the owls left the Hall, the floor and tables were covered in feathers, envelopes that had been ripped open and then discarded, and, worst of all, droppings. Dumbledore clapped his hands again, and every bit of mess disappeared. The Hall was silent as the students studied their timetables, though it soon grew louder as the students discussed their timetables with their friends. Finally, the noise grew too much for Dumbledore, and he called for silence.

"Students, please be quiet, if you have any intention of eating breakfast this morning…" This threat brought instant silence to the room. "Now, students, I want you to know that your new timetables take effect immediately. There will be no free time today unless it is listed on your timetables. I also expect all of you to assist our new students in getting to know the school. I don't want any complaints about behavior for at least a week. If I do, be assured that the punishment will not be light. Now, I believe that will suffice for today, as I am already very hungry. I hope you all enjoy the day ahead of you. Now, let us eat!"

At his last three words, food appeared on the tables, and the students immediately dived on it. Some of the newcomers gasped in shock, but quickly decided it was safe to eat.

For some time after that, there was no noise in the Great Hall except for the sound of students munching on toast, or gulping down pumpkin juice.

After breakfast, Harry, Ron and Hermione headed quickly back to the Common Room before their first classes, discussing their new timetables as they walked.

"Oh, crap, we've got double Potions first", complained Harry.

"Mate, you obviously didn't see who we're sharing with", said Ron in glee. "We're with Leoparda – so we can, um…" Ron cut off with an uneasy glance at Hermione.

"Alright, fine. I'll leave you two boys to your guy talk. I'll see you in class." Hermione headed back down the way they came.

Once Hermione was out of sight, Ron continued, "Mate, we'll probably get paired with Leoparda's, to 'help them get settled in'. Dumbledore, you are brilliant! Have you seen some of those girls, Harry? Harry?"

Harry had tuned out of his friend's ramblings. Harry really didn't have time for it. Frankly, he didn't agree with Ron's attitude to women.

"Why is it all about how they look?" asked Harry, knowing his friend would never think of a reasonable answer.

"Because… well, um… uh… just… because…" stuttered Ron, completely at a loss for words. Harry knew Ron would still go checking out all the "hot" girls, and there was nothing he could do to change that. But he enjoyed putting Ron on the spot like that, and he enjoyed torturing him with simple logic.

"Well, it's not like you can talk is it, having fallen for Cho. I mean, you only really liked her for her looks, right?" asked Ron.

"Well, I've learned from that experience, haven't I?" retorted Harry. He hated going over his failed relationship with Cho. It really had been disastrous.

Since the incident with Fleur in Fourth Year, Ron had definitely gained confidence around girls. Some would say he'd added to what he had previously. Although he wasn't on the same level as Harry or Draco, Ron definitely had his followers.

"We better get going, Ron", said Harry. "If we don't get there soon we'll be late."

"Yeah, okay."

The two boys hurried back down the stairs to the dungeons, and managed to get to class on time. They saw that there was already a large crowd of students gathered around the classroom door; Snape was running late.

"Harry, look over there", said Ron. He motioned towards a group of students standing apart from the others, looking lost and somewhat confused.

"I'll betcha they're the Leopardas", said Ron.

Harry nodded eager to get in and out of the class as soon as possible. Hermione saw them and came over, with another Gryffindor girl Harry didn't recognize.

"Hey guys! This is Hilary. She's one of the new students", said Hermione. "Hilary, meet Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."

"The Harry Potter? Wow, this is so exciting! Just wait till Amber finds out! She'll be so jealous!"

"Hilary's twin sister got moved into Leoparda", explained Hermione. To Hilary, she said, "I didn't realize you'd heard of Harry."

"We're half blood. Mum's a witch. She was always ranting about Harry. She got so excited when we got the letter from Hogwarts, and insisted that we owl her as soon as we heard of him here. I've never seen her so hyped up. Sorry, I'm sure you get this all the time, but could I possibly see the scar?"

Harry smiled uncomfortably, but yielded, and lifted up the tuft of uncontrollable hair that covered his scar for Hilary to see.

"Wow, that is so cool", she said. When Harry got a distant look in his eyes, she said, "I'm sorry, it must be hard having lost your parents."

However, Harry was quickly swamped by Leoparda students who had noticed him showing Hilary his scar, and he had no time to respond.

"Oh my god! It's Harry Potter!"

"I wanna see the scar!"

"Back off!"

"STUDENTS!" Snape's bellow brought instance silence over the students. The Leoparda students moved away sheepishly from Harry, who quickly returned to his friends, embarrassed.

"I expect more appropriate behavior from Seventh Year students, now matter how new to the school they may be", said Snape, casting an angry glance at the group of Leopardas that had once again formed. They looked even more nervous than before.

"Now, if I could please get to the door so we may begin our class?" said Snape. A pathway instantly formed through the sea of students. Snape opened the door and the students filed silently into the murky Potions classroom. As Harry was walking into the classroom, Snape stopped him and said, "Try to keep that scar to yourself, boy. I don't want it causing as much trouble as it did in your First Year. Now get inside."

Once Harry was inside, Snape closed the door of the classroom, and so the first class with Leoparda began.

Alright, there's the new chapter! Hope you all enjoyed it! Once again, I am sorry it took me so long to update. I'll try to take less time with the next chapter. Next chapter will be during the Potions class, because I want to do some more with that class (it's an important milestone for the story).

Anyway, until next time! Please review this story before you leave!

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