Summary: Fifth year student, Ann Sligo, witnesses a very different song from the Sorting hat on her first day back at Hogwarts. Little does she know, this is only the beginning...

Chapter 3: A new song

The loud chatter and busy conversation of students, just returned from summer break, filled the Great Hall of Hogwarts like thunder. It echoed around, filling every nook and cranny, frightening away the spiders and insects that had made it their home over the holidays. Ann Sligo was seated at the Ravenclaw table, talking hurriedly with her best friend Bethany before the sorting began. There was so much to tell, and Ann wanted to get it all out before the first years came in and they were all expected to watch silently.

"Indonesia was fascinating, very different from Australia. Not that I didn't love Australia, but we stayed out in the bush and it was terrible. It was a nice change in Indonesia, we stayed with Wizards. In Australia we were out in the bush, staying in this tiny little hut that an old couple rented to us. Indonesia was so hot, but they were all wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts. I barely wore anything!" she laughed and soon had Bethany giggling along with her. "And there were cats and dogs everywhere, roaming the streets. They were so thin, Beth! They looked like they were about to die!"

"They probably were, Ann," Beth reminded her. "They don't take care of animals over there like we do here. Those dogs and cats would have been strays, living off the scraps they found on the side of the road."

Ann nodded, but tears formed in her grey eyes. She couldn't bear to see an animal suffering, and it had pained her to watch as the poor animals crawled around, searching for something to fill their empty bellies.

"I know…" she looked down at her hands, but after a moment looked up, brushed the tears from her cheeks and began to continue her description. "Anyway… It smelled terrible over there! A lot like smoke and… heat! When we got back, everyone said we smelled something awful, and asked had we showered all holidays!" Bethany snorted loudly, but a quick glare from Prefect Elizabeth Dawson, seated across the table from her, made her cover her face quickly.

"But the wizards and witches over there are so different from us Beth. They didn't seem to notice the heat, and they wore their robes everywhere, I felt embarrassed when I turned up in my bikini!" Beth nodded and laughed again, and as Ann saw the headmistress leading in a long row of first years, she hurried to tell Beth more before they were quietened.

"They tried to teach me some of their language, but all I remember is 'thank you!'" McGonagall stood at the front of the hall and called for hush as the first years were seated in front of the four house tables. The girls turned towards her and Ann whispered quickly in Bethany's ear, "Terima kasih!"

The Sorting Hat had already been placed on a three legged stool in front of the line of first years, and Ann could see that every one of them looked nervous. Every one except a tall black haired boy with pale skin and a smug expression; she suspected he already knew what the hat was for. Looking away from the black haired boy, Ann focused her attention on the hat. It was sitting silently on the stool, waiting for complete silence and the students' undivided attention.

Just as Ann was beginning to wonder if the Hat would ever move, and the first years were frozen with nerves, it broke into a loud, racy song.

Welcome students, new and old,

I am the sorting hat,

I'm here to find where you belong…

At this point, the hat's cheerful voice turned cold, and the words that followed sent shivers down Ann's spine; they were not the words of the Sorting Hat.

You foul and filthy rats

The hat stopped singing and shuddered, then a cheerful voice sprang from its brim once again, the students relaxed slightly. Ann shivered though, and stared at the hat. Since when did the sorting hat call students rats?

Of the four houses I will find

The one to be your home.

I'll look into your head-

Once again the hat shuddered and a cold, almost evil voice rang through the hall. The Sorting hat interrupted itself with words that shocked every occupant in the hall.

-beware

Do not roam alone

Ann heard a shrill squeak behind her and turned to see Bethany, her eyes wide in horror and her hands over her mouth. Ann knew exactly how she felt; there was most definitely something wrong. She turned back to the hat and expected it to once again sing out in its cheerful tone, as though the terrible words it had just uttered were merely a dream. Unfortunately, the hat's tone didn't change, and the words that came next terrified the students and teachers alike. Ann was sure she saw Professor Trelawney faint.

Those who travel by themselves

Will find that they shan't see

Their mother's eyes or father's smile

Again… they'll just see me

Ann shuddered, and looked around at the teachers. Why weren't they doing anything? They were all sitting there, staring at the hat, their mouths hanging open but their feet planted firmly in place. Ann felt like screaming at them, "Stop it! It's scaring the students, stop it!" but her voice wouldn't work so she remained where she was, silently gawking at the hat which had now become a monster.

Of course, dear students, don't despair

I will still sort you out,

That way I'll know just where your final

Ends will come about

Ann shook her head and covered her face in horror as the reality of what was happening shot through her. She glanced at the first years sitting behind the sorting hat. Some seemed to think this was some sort of joke, others were staring at the hat like Ann, and still others were moving farther and farther away from the stool it sat upon. Ann saw the tall boy with black hair and noticed that the smug look on his face was gone; it had been replaced by a look of shock and utter confusion. Obviously he had no idea what was going on. Ann did though, there was only one explanation; the Sorting hat was possessed.

So which house will I choose for you?

You'll have to wait and see

There's four, I hear, but one's the best

That one delivered me.

------------------

I do not talk of Hufflepuff,

Where weaklings hide in shame,

The ones no other house will take

Are Hufflepuff's to claim.

--------------------

Nor do I speak of Ravenclaw,

Where the brainy people go,

They may be smart but when danger strikes

Those Ravenclaws won't show.

---------------------

I am not meaning Gryffindor,

Where they are 'brave' and 'strong'

These foolish ones will save their friends

But shan't survive for long.

-----------------------

Yes, I speak of Slytherin

Where wit and cunning reign

This house takes no more than the best

Pure-blood values remain

Looking around Ann saw that the Heads of House were standing up and conversing with each other. McGonagall was talking to them quickly, gesturing at the terrified students and then heading for the hat herself. The hat seemed to notice her coming and began to sing faster and faster.

So those who think that they are sharp

Will head for Ravenclaw

The ones who feel they're 'brave' and 'bold'

I'll send to Gryffindor.

----------------------

The pure-blood line with cunning too

Will honour Slytherin

Then Hufflepuff can take the rest,

For no one else wants them.

------------------------

But all beware that I will come

Wherever you may be

And offer you the privilege

Of joining in with me.

--------------------------

Should you refuse then I must say

You will regret your wish,

For if you aren't with me then you'll

Be sleeping with the fish

McGonagall finally grabbed the hat and smothered it, turning to the closest teacher, Professor Trelawney, who it seemed had just come around, she pushed the hat into her hands and attempted to calm the panicking students. The Heads of house were leading their students out of the hall and each student willingly followed. Ann saw students clutching each other and staring warily at the stool the hat had sat upon, as though it might suddenly start singing too.

Ann felt herself being pulled along with her fellow Ravenclaws, but managed to push her way out of the throng and head over to where McGonagall stood, comforting the terrified first years.

"What happened? Why did it say those things?" Ann was practically shouting, not sure that McGonagall would hear her over the noise of the fleeing students.

"Miss Sligo, calm down. I have no idea what has happened to the sorting hat, but be assured we shall not be placing it on any student's head. Would you kindly head back to your common room, and tell your fellow students to do the same. I will make an announcement shortly." Ann nodded quickly as McGonagall spoke to her. She turned and began to leave when she noticed the first years, tears streaming down many of their pale faces.

"Where will they go?" she asked, gesturing towards the group.

McGonagall looked at the first years, a stressed look on her tired face.

"They will be split between the Prefects, who shall take them to their respective common rooms." Ann saw McGonagall looking over her shoulder and turned around to see several students, all with shiny P badges on their chests, looking at McGonagall, waiting for instruction.

"Where are the other Prefects?" McGonagall asked them, eyebrow raised.

"They must have gotten caught up in the rush," said a blonde Hufflepuff girl. McGonagall nodded and sighed. "Very well. Each of you take as many first years as you feel you can control, and lead them back to your common rooms." The students nodded and walked over to the first years.

As each Prefect led their chosen students towards their respective dormitories Ann followed, keeping the Ravenclaw Prefects in sight.

McGonagall sighed as she watched them go; this was only the beginning of yet another eventful year at Hogwarts.

Professor McGonagall finally headed back into the staff room, once she was sure every student was safely in their common rooms, and collapsed into an armchair.

There were many teachers seated in the staff room, talking worriedly, and when they noticed her they all jumped up and ran over.

"Not until the heads of house return." McGonagall mumbled; it was as good an excuse as any, and it was true that she would prefer all the teachers to be there when they discussed the matter of the rogue Sorting Hat.

A few minutes later, professors Sprout, Flitwick and Marcell dashed into the room. McGonagall sighed and went over to the table. The other professors soon followed.

"So, Minerva, what happened to the hat?" Sprout asked, her brow furrowed and her hair messy.

McGonagall sighed again, and leant forward to look into the other teachers' eyes. When the only gaze she could not hold was that of Trelawney's, she began to speak. "As you all saw, the Sorting Hat is not it's usual self at the moment." There was a mumble of agreement between the other teachers which quickly faded as McGonagall's sharp eyes pierced into them again.

"I know that I do not have to tell you that it has caused tremendous problems. For a start, we cannot allow any student to place it upon their head, therefore need to find an alternative method to sort our first years. Our older students are not taking it particularly well either."

"But what has caused this to happen? What is wrong with the hat?" Pomona urged, the other teachers nodding encouragingly.

McGonagall shook her head and met the eye of each teacher once more. "I would think that it is obvious what is wrong. The Sorting Hat is either possessed or has had a rather advanced spell placed upon it. We do not know by whom, how they managed it or why they have done it at all. The only course of action we can take it to keep the hat isolated until Aurors can come in and apply their specialist knowledge to it," she stated. The teachers nodded quickly and McGonagall leant back, rubbing her tired eyes and wondering, not for the first time, how Albus had managed this so well.

At that moment, a large barn owl soared into the room, an official looking parchment attached to its leg. McGonagall sighed again and grabbed the letter, quickly thanking the owl before turning back to the other professors to read it.

Minerva,

Thank you for alerting us; The Ministry has been expecting something like this for some time now. After months of silence, and Mr. Potter's consistent denials that he-who-must-not-be-named is gone, we have been awaiting the day that he would finally make a movement. We are not entirely sure as to what has happened to your sorting hat, but we shall be sending in several Ministry Officials to guard it. You can expect them some time early tomorrow.

The hat will remain at Hogwarts under Ministry protection until we know for sure what is going on. Please inform us immediately at the first sign of danger, and we will show you the same courtesy.

Sincerely,

Clayton Oppery,

Head of the search for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

McGonagall placed the parchment on the table in front of her and quickly scanned it again, taking in all of the information. Officials would be arriving in the morning? The last thing she needed was Ministry Officials creeping around Hogwarts. How long did they expect them to be here? She wouldn't have them disrupting the childrens' schooling. She knew from prior experiences that something always went awry when the Ministry sent people in to 'guard' the school, or in this case the Sorting Hat. At least there was no Harry Potter around; problems came less frequently now that he had left Hogwarts.

"Head of the search for He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" queried Filius Flitwick. "Does this mean they think this has something to do with You-Know-Who?"

"What do they mean by 'We shall be sending in several Ministry Officials to guard it'? What does the hat need protection from?" Pomona Sprout's round face was creased with concern as she questioned the Headmistress.

McGonagall held up her hand to silence them then quietly began to talk. "I think it is fairly straightforward when Mr. Oppery states that he will be sending Ministry Officials to guard it and, since he was the one to write the letter, then they must think it pertains to You-Know-Who. As to what the hat needs protection from, I rather think that it is the students who need protection from it. It is probably best if we do what the Ministry wants as long as their demands are not too onerous. After the debacle with that Umbridge woman, I would say that would be the best course of action. I, for one, do not want a repeat of past events. We will meet the officials tomorrow morning and see where to go from there. Now, however, I am going to bed. I shall see you all in the morning."

She rose from the table and, tucking the letter from the ministry into her robes, departed the staff room. Her head ached and her stomach rumbled; she hadn't eaten at the feast, but she didn't complain. This was what it meant to be Hogwarts' Headmistress, and she knew she couldn't very well whine; she had a reputation to uphold. All the same she thought to herself, as she had ever since that fateful day; This school will never be the same without Albus Dumbledore.