This Harry Potter story was written for fun. All rights belong to the wonderful lady (JK Rowling) who gave the world Harry Potter to read and enjoy.
"Regular conversation."
Printed Word in letters and newspapers.
{Parseltongue conversation}
[Iggy talking with Harry and Neville.]
"The Sorting Hat speaking and pontificating."
**SEARCHES FOR SIRIUS**Lady Hogwarts was perplexed by an unusual problem – her happy elves continued turning junk and trash into gold in the Room of Requirement. Most items were transfigured into lead, often just lead pellets, but statues or furniture retained their original form before the transmutation into gold. Nothing ever changed back into its original form of wood, porcelain or metal. Around the grounds, several statues with fresh paint stood in the gardens around Hogwarts to hide their composition of solid gold.
Finally, Lady Hogwarts took the Philosopher's Stone, placed it into stasis and hid it in the bottom drawer of the headmaster's desk underneath the complaints from parents about the terrible results of Snape's lessons in the potions classroom. He had ignored the complaints for all the years the man taught – now that Snape was confined to simple brewing for the school and for others (for a fee), the letters had stopped. And Dumbledore would never clean out his desk himself – he'd tell the elves to do it someday.
In the middle of August, Dumbledore sent an owl to Frank Longbottom requesting a meeting at Hogwarts. Frank asked Neville and Harry to ask their 'friend' if it was safe to meet with the headmaster at Hogwarts. Alice and Augusta were not happy with the idea of Frank visiting with the wizard.
"We'll go with you," Harry replied. "Iggy can update Lady Hogwarts on everything that's been going on this summer."
Neville said, "Iggy wants to know who else will be at the meeting?"
Looking at the letter, Frank replied, "He doesn't say that anyone else will be there."
[Tell your father to write back that he requires Professor Flitwick to be present,] Iggy said. With that specification in his reply, Frank sent his response and was not surprized when Professor Dumbledore declined that requirement and offered Professor McGonagall instead.
In Frank's next letter, he suggested a meeting at Gringotts which Dumbledore completely rejected and once again 'requested' that Frank come to Hogwarts. Slappy informed 'Mr. Frank' that the elves had removed the compulsion spells from the letter before bringing it into the library. Augusta immediately cast several spells on the letter and Frank to make certain there wasn't anything like the alchemy spells that had been used on Nymphadora Tonks.
(An examination found the alchemy spells on Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt as well and a trip to Gringotts for the Auror with his boss saw the wizard released from the compulsion after a half-bottle of No.8 was poured on his head.)
The next letter suggested that they meet at the ministry which Dumbledore again rejected, claiming the building was not 'safe' with the criminal Sirius Black on the loose.
That was when Frank agreed to come to Hogwarts and wrote, 'We seem to have reached an impasse, Headmaster. I shall come to Hogwarts for the meeting with you but I shall bring several witnesses with me for the meeting to ensure there are no spells or potions being spelled into me.'
Dumbledore's reply accepted this requirement and stated that the floo in his office would be open at 10:00 AM on Tuesday morning.
"And I would never use the floo to arrive in this man's office," Frank assured his wife and family. "We shall surprize the headmaster by apparating to just outside the gates of Hogwarts and walk up to the front door and then into his office."
"How long will that walk take?" asked Alice.
"About fifteen minutes if we hurry," Frank replied.
[We'll dither along the way and stop to admire that new golden bust of Rowena Ravenclaw in the entry hall,] Iggy told Harry and Neville. [That'll give me time to talk with Lady Hogwarts.]
Harry explained what Iggy had said and Frank nodded. At 9:30 on Tuesday morning, Frank Longbottom apparated to just outside the gates of Hogwarts. One of his elves was sent to the head elf who appeared and opened the gates without Dumbledore's knowledge. Once Frank entered the front door of the castle, the headmaster knew the wizard had arrived early and was walking to his office. This meant that the spells he'd set on the floo to divert any unwelcomed visitors were wasted. When he attempted to move them to the door of his office, none of his spells would move. They simply dissipated.
When Frank reached the staircase leading toward the tower where the headmaster's office was located, the stairs locked into place and permitted him to climb without delay. All this time, Iggy had been in conversation with Lady Hogwarts.
"Iggy reports that Lady Hogwarts has put all the portraits in the hallways to sleep," Harry told his Dad. "None of them are reporting anything to the headmaster."
At 9:57, Frank reached the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office and Neville spoke to the statue, "We're here with Lady Hogwarts to visit the headmaster."
The stone figure slid out of the way and the stairs began a slow rotation with Frank and the boys stepping forward. At the door, Frank hesitated to knock but the door opened by itself, revealing Dumbledore coming down the stairs from his bed chamber, his hat in his hand as if he had not known his visitor was approaching.
"Frank… I thought you would come through the floo,"
"Now Albus, I trust you less than I do any government press release in the Daily Prophet," Frank replied.
Frowning Dumbledore continued, "And you said you were bringing witnesses."
Looking shocked, Frank asked, "Do you mean you can't see them? Really Albus, your ill-intent is growing to include everyone!"
Pulling out his wand, Dumbledore cast multiple detection spells and found nothing.
"Frank Longbottom, this is unacceptable!" Dumbledore shouted as he turned his wand toward his guest but the wand flew from the headmaster's hand and into the hand of a young woman who appeared standing to one side of the office.
"Albus, you have caught my attention again," the woman said, her voice tinged with magic.
Frank bowed and said, "Lady Hogwarts, you honour us with your presence."
After thanking Frank Longbottom for his polite greeting, the spirit of the castle said in a comfortable chair. To everyone's surprise, Fawkes appeared and settled onto the back of her chair, not anywhere near the headmaster.
"Well, Albus. Why did you ask Frank to visit?"
"Who are you?" the headmaster asked the woman.
From the shelf behind him, the Sorting Hat spoked up, "Albus-many-names-not-your-own, it is sad that after almost a century living in her castle, you refuse to acknowledge the 'person' of Lady Hogwarts."
The woman explained, "I am not a ghost nor am I an imaginary character like you hoped for so long."
Dumbledore sat at his desk and gathered his thoughts, attempting to regain control of the conversation. He failed to notice that the image of Lady Hogwarts appeared to be conversing with other invisible people in the room. Her eyes flashed with anger as she narrowed her gaze at the headmaster
"Frank…"
"You have got to begin showing respect for other persons!" the Sorting Hat insisted. "We understand you've been censured by the other members of the Wizengamot for your lack of respect for the Lords and Ladies of Magical Britain. And Hogwarts would like to see that censure expanded to include our students."
Grimacing, Dumbledore took a deep sigh and pretended to be offended though no one in the room believed the elderly wizard shared his true emotions.
"Very well. Mr. Longbottom, I appreciate you taking the time from your busy day to visit. We are involved with preparing the castle for the return of the students on 1 September."
To divert the headmaster, Frank asked, "What have you done about the Dementors that Minister Fudge ordered to take up positions around the castle?
"My hands are tied to influence the decisions that Cornelius–uh–Minister Fudge makes."
Smirking, Frank fell silent again and waited. Dumbledore attempted once to scan the 'thoughts' of the woman but the slap to his probe left him with the beginnings of a headache.
"In any case, I called you here today to discuss the return of my personal belongings that were taken–practically stolen from me–that day I had the misunderstanding with your mother at Longbottom Manor."
"Do you mean the day you forced your way into my family home?" asked Frank. Shaking his head, the wizard continued, "Mr. Dumbledore, you are lucky that my mother didn't have the wards rip you to shreds that day! She simply ejected you and directed you into a pond instead of a pasture or nearby muggle roadway."
"Nonetheless, I want my belongings back! Those were expensive robes and I have sentimental attachment to the artefacts that were taken," Dumbledore added.
Frank shrugged and replied, "I don't care what sentiments you have. Those items were taken from your person after you invaded my home."
[It is the wand! He wants the wand back!] Iggy realized.[Notice he didn't say anything about the wand!]
For another twenty minutes, Frank continued to refuse each request from the headmaster.
[We need to wrap this up,] Iggy told the boys. [She's getting tired.]
Fawkes began singing at that point and the image of Lady Hogwarts vanished.
"Well, that's my signal to leave," Frank announced as he stood and turned toward the door. Dumbledore reached to pull his wand and cast a compulsion spell on the wizard but he realized he didn't have his 'funny' wand or his other, 'regular' wand.
The sigh of regret from Albus Dumbledore was real and Fawkes began laughing before she flamed out to escort Lord Longbottom, Heir Longbottom and Heir Peverell from the tower and back to the gates.
"Will Lady Hogwarts return his wand?" Frank asked the boys.
"Iggy says she'll hide it under his pillow tonight," Neville told his dad.
*** Pictures of 'You Know Who'The Editor of the Daily Prophet had no ill-intentions toward Harry Potter. However, he did possess an overwhelming desire to boost sales of the newspaper. Increased sales would allow him to raise his advertising rates, so the man and his art department experimented with the cover of the paper for the day the Hogwarts Express returned to Scotland.
That summer with the fear about the escaped prisoner gripping Magical Britain, talk came back to Harry Potter again and again. And on the first of September 1993, a large picture of Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom appeared on the front page of the Daily Prophet and in the magical picture they waved to someone. The headline read 'Black Can't See Potter! Can You'?
Several persons did not understand why the newspaper printed a picture without anyone appearing, while others around them, shook their heads and began lectures on how much everyone in Magical Britain owed to Harry Potter. More sympathizers of the 'dead' Dark Lord were uncovered and other witches and wizards were determined to just be 'mean' people.
Sales of headache potions skyrocketed that day and the apothecaries sold out.
** The Hogwarts Express 1 September 1993 **As the Hogwarts Express travelled the length of Britain in a single afternoon, the older students made certain the youngest witches and wizards were comfortable and anticipating their sorting. For the first time ever, the Slytherins kept their opinions about muggleborns to themselves and did not go out of their way to be rude or say unpleasant things to children travelling alone. Head boy Percy Weasley and Head girl Penelope Clearwater drove home the 'be nice or be silent' policy with the prefects who carried the idea up and down the train.
After spending time getting to know several first years in different compartments, Harry and Neville settled into one compartment with Luna, Ginny, Colin and the next Creevey brother, Dennis.
"I was just thinking about prophecy, Harry," Luna announced. "There is a difference between prophecy such as Professor Trelawney makes and what I 'see'. She gives her audience a statement of nebulous things that might mean several different things. I just 'see' things and sometimes I don't like it."
There was an adult sleeping in the compartment, slumped over in the seat with his head propped up on one hand.
"That's our DADA professor for the year," Luna said, pointing to the sleeper.
"Did you 'see' that?" asked Ginny just as Hermione entered the compartment.
"No, he wasn't asleep when we left London and he was talking with Percy for a couple minutes about the DADA book for the year for seventh-year students."
[Harry, that's Remus Lupin, a good friend of your first father and Sirius Black,] Iggy said. [Wonder where he's been for the last twelve years?]
The cloak wasn't happy that Lupin should suddenly appear from out of nowhere after being missing from Harry's life for more than a decade. Neville and Harry both felt Iggy's disquiet but kept this revelation to themselves.
"Come on guys, there are a bunch of our friends two compartments over and we can compare the books for this year with last year," Hermione said, looking significantly at the sleeping man.
"Go on girls," Neville said. "Harry and I will stay here with Colin and Dennis."
Smiling mysteriously, Luna said, "I know several good locking spells that magical creatures cannot pick. But I don't think you'll need that here."
A couple hours passed with no visitors when suddenly the train slowed down and the temperature grew very cold. The door of the compartment flew open and Percy Weasley came in, stepped to sleeping man and shook his arm.
"Professor! Professor! We need your help. The Dementors are just outside the train and they are making everyone worried and cry! Help us!"
The man was instantly aware of his surroundings and drew his wand to follow Percy out of the compartment. Without another word, both wizards headed toward the front of the train. Neville stood and closed the door, flipping the lock. All four boys huddled as far away from the door as possible as the temperature seemed to grow colder. Then a dark shadow appeared at the door and fiddled with the lock. Spindly, bone shaped fingers pushed the door open as the dark figure from a child's nightmare floated into the compartment. The creature saw two young wizards and reached for the youngest, Dennis Creevey.
TrainingWhen Frank returned from Potter Manor with his sons, he sent Harry to his detention with his Mum and Gran for three hours. But as soon as the time was up, he called Neville and Harry into the duelling chamber where he taught them the incantation to cast the Patronus spell.
"This is a special spell that is impossible for anyone with Dark Mark to cast," he told them. "It will protect you from the Dementors around Hogwarts this year. The creatures run from it when it is corporeal and even when it is a shield, they cannot pass through or around it."
Outside the door, Alice and Augusta watched as both boys were able to cast the beginnings of the shield after the third time with the incantation.
"Think about your happiest moments!" Frank encouraged them.
Neville and Harry smiled identically as they knew the moment to use–that first hug in the receiving room here at the Longbottom manor when they were reunited by Frank and Alice for the first time in twelve years.
On their fourth incantation, the shield that both boys produced was extremely strong.
[I like that,] Iggy said. [Feels like springtime, Christmas and fresh baked bread all rolled into one.]
[How do you 'feel' bread?] asked Neville a little later when the lesson was over.
Iggy replied, [I've never been alive, remember. All I know about bread, I know from the experiences and memories of others. It's like sex – I know humans like it but…]
[UGH! Stop!] Harry commanded.
Iggy giggled and said, [The adolescent wizard is lots of fun to tease. Now, the Patronus spell is something you will take–may take–some time learning how to cast. You might have to wait until your magical core is larger. But I can take parts of that spell and put it into our Friend Fire spell and make it into Invisible Fire.]
ResultsScowling at the creature reaching for the helpless younger boy, Harry's wand silently cast 'Invisible Fire' at the Dementor.
Instantly, the creature keened with pain and turned away. It threw itself against the side of the compartment, flopped about because it could not find the door and then again, threw itself against the other side of the compartment before it found the doorway. On his feet and angry that these 'things' were on the Hogwarts Express, Harry charged ahead with Neville close behind.
Watching Harry's back, Neville saw his brother cast the invisible fire spell three more times before the last Dementor left the Hogwarts Express. Standing between cars, Harry leaned out and saw two more Dementors leaving the front of the train, chased out by a wolf Patronus. The train brought the boy beside the Dementors floating beside the train in less than a minute and Harry once again cast Invisible Fire, sending the last two Dementors screaming into the sky.
For the next few minutes, students pressed up against the windows on the east side of Hogwarts Express and watched the Dementors trying to fly away as they were engulfed in white flames. Each of the Dementors burned out and fell to the earth, much like a torch being extinguished.
Professor Lupin, Percy Weasley and Penelope Clearwater walked up and down the length of the train, making certain that everyone ate some chocolate. Draco appeared with chocolate frogs that he shared with everyone regardless of their blood status.
He whispered, "My mother will skin Cornelius Fudge alive for this."
Neville snorted. "Our Gran will remove several of his body parts before your mum gets there with her knives."
Visitors at HogwartsAt Hogwarts, the professors were surprized when Minister Fudge and his retinue entered the Great Hall only minutes before the Hogwarts Express was due at the station. There were Aurors, two reporters and a photographer from The Daily Prophet with the minister's party.
"Dumbledore! Have you gotten your hands on that magic elixir yet?" demanded the witch dressed all in pink. Delores Umbridge was a magically weak witch but she was a consummate bureaucrat who knew how to push people around and force her decisions down the throats of everyone below her in the pecking order. And she possessed sufficient blackmail on the other undersecretaries and department heads, that no one would dare to speak against her now that she was seated at the side of Cornelius Fudge.
The four Aurors assigned permanent duty as the protective detail for Minister Fudge had decided collectively if the situation ever arose where they had to apparate out of a dangerous situation with the minister, the 'pink toad' would be left behind. Two of the Aurors kept trying to create dangerous situations with werewolves, vampires, or Dementors where they could leave the 'witch' behind.
"Ah, Cornelius, welcome! Welcome! I hoped you would accept my invitation to visit for the sorting," Dumbledore replied and ignored the question from the witch.
"Well? Have you got the elixir?" Fudge asked, echoing his undersecretary.
Sighing and looking cast-down, Dumbledore shook his head and escorted the pair to chairs set up at the head table.
The three talked for a time in low tones and would have been surprized that no one wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Suddenly, Delores lost her temper and shouted, "Well then grab some of the children who are their friends! We'll twist their arms until Potter hands over the elixir! We can use the Lovegood girl! Her father is crazy anyway!"
Four Hogwarts ghosts popped into the Great Hall and swooped down upon Minister Fudge and Undersecretary Umbridge to swoop pass through them again and again.
"Arrggh! Save me!" screamed Delores as she pushed at Nearly Headless Nick without affecting the ghost, while The Fat Friar moved through a squirming Cornelius.
Dumbledore stepped away, leaving his two guests alone with the ghosts. The Aurors stepped closer but the ghosts ignored these wizards giving their attention to the minister and undersecretary. Eventually, Cornelius and Delores hid behind their chairs and the ghosts left them to move to the doors to greet the students as the Great Hall echoed with the ringing of a large bell, the signal that the Hogwarts Express had arrived at Hogsmeade.
*** The Sorting Hat's Sense of Humour SCENEAll of the upper year students were gathered in the Great Hall. There was much talking of course, and the Madam Pomphrey hurried around, passing out more pieces of chocolate to the students who were still shaken by the appearance of Dementors on the train. The news of the 'invasion' by Dementors during the trip was discussed by the professors – Dumbledore and McGonagall dismissed the reports while the other professors walked down among the students to check on them.
Once it was placed on the stool by Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, the Sorting Hat 'woke up' and turned back and forth to survey the room. To get a better look, it levitated itself off the stool, and while hovering in the space above the stool, it announced, "Since the Headmaster Dumbledore decided to invite unwelcome visitors to the sorting tonight as well as the Daily Prophet, Hogwarts herself has determined that there will be a few changes to the ceremony tonight."
"Now, Hat, that's not appropriate," Dumbledore replied to establish his control over the evening.
"Shut it old man," the hat replied. "Do you want detention again? Didn't you learn anything when you were confined to your office for the winter and spring terms last year?"
"Hat! Do not…" Dumbledore began to pontificate but the prominent Hogwarts ghosts appeared again making Cornelius Fudge and Delores Umbridge scurry to hide behind their chairs. However, this time the ghosts surrounded Dumbledore's throne at the head table. Nearly Headless Nick sat on Dumbledore's lap while The Bloody Baron sat on his left arm and The Fat Friar sat on his right arm. The Grey Lady and Moaning Myrtle appeared behind the throne and began whispering in Dumbledore's ears about how he would not enjoy his 'next great adventure'.
With five ghosts piled on top of each other just beside him, Professor Flitwick rose from his chair and moved it about a foot closer to Professor Sinestra to increase the space between him and the ghosts. Contact with the ectoplasmic figures was chilling to most humans and for three of the ghosts to be seated with contact to the headmaster's arms and lap, the elderly wizard definitely felt the cold.
When Deputy Headmistress McGonagall returned with the group of new students, she noticed the situation at the head table and wondered what Albus had done to irritate the ghosts. She saw that the guests of honour were huddled behind their chairs, peaking out occasionally to see if the ghosts were moving toward them and then ducking back down.
The photographer from the Daily Prophet had already shot two rolls of film when the Deputy Headmistress announced, "The First-Year students are ready to be sorted."
"Excellent! Marvellous!" declared the Sorting Hat while everyone waited for the hat to sing.
Instead, the Sorting Hat whistled a tune before he announced, "This year will be different. Hogwarts wants to liven things up a bit and she decided that there should be some jokes! And all the jokes will be at the expense of our esteemed headmaster and his over-glorified guests."
In a confidential tone of voice, the Sorting Hat added for all the persons seated in the Great Hall to hear, "Did you know that in the last thousand years–the whole of the existence of Hogwarts–there has never been a 'guest' invited to the sacred sorting? Almost feels sacrilegious, don't you think? I bet someone gets detention for the whole of the fall term for this!"
McGonagall frowned, glanced toward Dumbledore who was buried underneath ghostly shapes and then muttered, "Get on with it then."
The hat floated up from the stool, twirled around a couple times and then said, "Everyone knows that Albus Dumbledore always sits on a throne. Here in the Great Hall, in his office here at school, and in the Wizengamot, his wrinkled posterior always has to be seated on a throne. What everyone doesn't know is that in the bathroom, his 'throne' in there has been transfigured to be a grand, high-back throne as well!"
And as the ghosts suddenly vanished, Albus Dumbledore was left sitting on a replica of the porcelain 'throne' in his bathroom. And the water tank at the back was a tall porcelain tower with the Dumbledore family crest embossed on the front of the tank, just above Dumbledore's head. While everyone stared, the toilet flushed and an unpleasant odour filled the room for about ten seconds.
"Whew! Headmaster, you gotta do something about your diet," the sorting hat commented and screwed up his face as if it could actually smell. Then the hat frowned because few people in the audience laughed.
In a petulant tone the Sorting Hat asked,"Are my jokes too juvenile for you or are you guys gonna be a tough crowd all night?"
As the headmaster attempted to rise from his uncomfortable seat, the ghosts reappeared to force him back down on the 'throne' as the sorting hat yelled,"Sit down, Albus. You're the guest of honour tonight…or are our guests of honour supposed to be Cornelius and his undersecretary, Delores?"
When no one replied, the hat continued, "Doesn't matter."
"Hey, I know–here's a joke. How can you tell if a Dementor wants to be friends?"
The captive audience in the Great Hall was silent–the adults fearful of the coming punch line and the children mystified.
The hat roared, "Because he'll be on fire, my friends! He'll be on fire! That's how you know he wants to be friends!"
While Harry and Neville smiled at the inside joke, Iggy roared with laughter inside their heads. Across the hall, there were a few scattered laughs that were more an expression of nervous energy by the children after their run-in with the dementors earlier in the day, than true laughter. That afternoon, crowded into the compartments and pressed up against the windows of the train, they had all seen the creatures fall from the sky, burned out as the invisible fire turned them into ashes.
"How about another? What does a hungry Dementor call Cornelius Fudge?" asked the hat in a loud voice heard clearly by everyone in the room.
After a moment, the sorting hat yelled out, "LUNCH!"
This time there were more short laughs, and the youngest children appeared to have heard other versions of the joke and enjoyed it.
Again, the hat called out, "What do you call a diabetic Dementor?"
This time, at the Hufflepuff table, a group of second-, third- and fourth-year boys called out, "I don't know, what do you call a diabetic Dementor?"
With the help of magic, the sorting hat's brim grew wider and his smile was just as wide as he answered, "The last thing to ever kiss Cornelius Fudge!"
This time, there were many laughs in the Great Hall at the expense of the Minister for Magic, who looked angry enough to roast Albus Dumbledore with a simple glare.
On a roll at last, the Sorting Hat continued, "Four wizards at Hogwarts were talking about how cold their dormitories were.
The Hufflepuff wizard said, 'My dorm is so cold, we have to use two blankets every night in December.'
The Ravenclaw wizard said, 'That's nothing. It's so cold in our dormitory in January, we wrap up in three blankets.'
The Gryffindor wizard looked lost for a moment but then asked, 'Blankets? I knew there was something I left a home.'"
Pausing just a moment, the sorting hat next spoke in a posh, pureblood tone saying,"Finally, the Slytherin wizard replied, 'Our dorms are the best! It is so cold there that when we pick our nose, out comes a yummy-flavoured booger!'"
This time, the Great Hall was filled with laughter or groans of distaste as even the Gryffindor and Slytherin students were affected by the crude joke.
"You've been a great crowd so let's end your torture with a final joke before we start the sorting!" the hat declared and paused.
Then he asked, "What do you call a sick Dementor?"
In unison, all the students and most of the professors replied, "I don't know, what do you call a sick Dementor?"
With a straight face, the Sorting Hat replied, "The 'only' thing to ever kiss Delores Umbridge!"
There was a great deal of laughter this time and many students who exchanged glances before looking toward the witch dressed in pink robes who was cursing and yelling at the Minister for Magic. There were two Aurors casting spells at the witch to 'calm her down', and Cornelius Fudge continued to stare at Albus Dumbledore with daggers in his eyes.
And with that, the hat returned to the stool, blinked innocently at a furious Deputy Headmistress and said, "You may proceed Minerva."
The jokes left the students uncomfortable but certain to write home with the details. The two ministry guests were very unhappy to have been the object of several of the jokes, and the professors already dreaded what was to come in the months ahead if the Sorting Feast was this juvenile and crude. The reporters had written down every word and the photographer got many interesting pictures of Fudge, Umbridge, McGonagall, Dumbledore and a few students.
While they waited for the sorting to be completed and the feast to begin, Iggy told his boys, [I think Lady Hogwarts is pleased that you protected her students. If she could fire off spells, there'd be a shooting gallery as the muggles call it, from the astronomy tower tonight and every night until the last Dementor fell from the sky like a fireworks display.]
It was obvious during the sorting that Luna Lovegood looked uncomfortable. She kept glancing over her shoulder and under the table as the first-year students went to the different houses.
"What's wrong Luna?" asked Colin Creevey after his little brother Dennis was sorted into Gryffindor with the rest of 'Harry's Crew'.
"I keep hearing someone laughing. It's a woman's voice and she really liked the jokes the Sorting Hat told," Luna explained. "But I can't figure out who she is."
[Tell Miss Sees-all that the lady laughing is Lady Hogwarts. She is very happy tonight because her children are home for another year with her. She's also happy because the Dementors are scared and will stay as far away from the castle as possible. And she is also tickled that Cornelius Fudge and Delores Umbridge were the butt of Sorting Hat's jokes and they will be printed in the Daily Prophet tomorrow,] Iggy instructed Neville who was seated beside Luna.
With her usual observant nature, Hermione asked, "What's Neville telling Luna?"
Harry smiled and replied, "Let Neville finish and then Luna can decide what she wants to tell you. Say, do you think the Daily Prophet will print those jokes for everyone to read tomorrow?"
"They were very juvenile and hurtful," Hermione replied while Colin, Dennis and Ginny laughed.
"They were funny! Come on Hermione, you grinned and laughed too," Ginny reminded the third-year girl. "At least you did once the Sorting Hat got warmed up."
++***++ End Chapter Scene