Chapter Five

The Great Hall bubbled with quiet chatter as the returning students took their seats, awaiting the arrival of the first years.

Harry sat between Ron and Hermione, who had begun to bicker over some senseless topic during the carriage ride up to the school. Ignoring the argument, he glanced up to the staff table, curious to discover who their new professors would be.

Professor McGonagall was dwarfed by the large chair that was reserved for the Headmaster or Headmistress. Her presence in the seat served only as a painful reminder to Harry of the school's loss the previous year. On McGonagall's right was an empty seat, most likely reserved for the new deputy head, Professor Flitwick, who was probably off dealing with the first years. On the Headmistress' left was a new face, although not one unfamiliar to Harry; Nymphadora Tonks, soon to be Tonks-Lupin. She looked resplendent with somber black hair that was drawn back into a long ponytail. It offset her pale, heart-shaped face quite nicely; clearly, she had chosen a more serious look in honor of her newfound teaching position.

On Tonks' left was another new face, this one completely foreign. The second new teacher was a man, probably in his late forties or early fifties. He had closely cropped dark brown hair and a beard, both of which were graying slightly around the edges. His grey eyes were stern and serious, set within a face that was not all too handsome, although not necessarily ugly.

The rest of the table was the same as always, with the exception of the noticeable absence of Severus Snape. The spot where the man had usually sat was now filled by Horace Slughorn, who had apparently decided to risk staying another year. Harry could only assume that Slughorn now had the duties of Slytherin Head of House, since he could not remember whether any other professors had been members.

"What's taking the midgets so long?" Ron groaned, clutching his stomach comically in distress. "I'm starving!"

It was true, Harry realized, as Hermione reprimanded, "Don't call them 'midgets', Ron. It's not polite." The first years were taking their time in arriving. They must have been held up in the Entrance Hall, though, because Hagrid had come in several minutes previously and slid into his seat.

It seemed that Ron's words had served as a catalyst, for no sooner than he had uttered them, then the doors to the Great Hall swung open and a mass of black-robed children began pouring in.

As Kurama, Yusuke, and Hiei trailed up the broad steps to enter Hogwarts, a squeaky voice called out their names, summoning them over to where a diminutive old man was standing, having beckoned the Tantei towards him.

"Ah, are you Hiei Jaganshi, Shuichi Minamino, and Yusuke Urameshi?" he questioned, peering nearsightedly at a roll of parchment he held in his hand.

They nodded disjointedly in confirmation.

"I'm Filius Flitwick, the Deputy Headmaster. Professor Flitwick to you, of course. Minerva has informed me that you three are really undercover guards, but we'll still have to sort you into separate houses in front of the school. I'm afraid it has been quite some time since we've had to instigate the foreign exchange program. Now, where were those passes?" The man fumbled around in a pocket secreted within the numerous folds and creases of his robe. Coming up with three slips of paper, he handed one to each member of the Reikai Tantei.

"What're these?" Yusuke wondered as he looked at the paper. The translation potion was unable to translate writing for him; his textbooks had all been provided for him in Japanese.

"They're passes to allow you out past curfew," Flitwick explained. "That way you should have no trouble patrolling the halls. Just show it to a teacher if they try to stop you. Now, if you don't have any more questions, I really must go talk to the first years."

As the little professor hurried away, Kurama, Yusuke, and Hiei all looked at each other. After a moment's silence, Yusuke managed to voice the group's opinion. "Oi, Kurama. Is it just me, or did that brat Koenma never mention anything about guarding the stupid school?"

The talk in the Great Hall died out as Professor Flitwick led the first years in, halting them in front of the Sorting Hat, which broke into a song describing the four houses.

That completed, Flitwick pulled out a long roll of parchment and began to read out names, starting with "Aberman, Julie", who was promptly sorted into Ravenclaw. Sometime later, the sorting ended with "Yannin, Tori" being placed into Slytherin after a good deal of lengthy consideration from the Hat.

Professor McGonagall stood up and raised a hand for silence. "Now that the Sorting is complete, I have several announcements to make," she informed the school. "This year, we will be welcoming three exchange students from Japan into our school. I hope that you will welcome them into our society and make them feel at home. Now, we shall commence with their sorting, if you will, Professor Flitwick."

"Ahem. Jaganshi, Hiei!" the diminutive man called out.

Hiei stepped up to the stool, eyeing the ragged black hat with his fierce crimson gaze. He sat down on the stool and slid the hat over his spiky hair with surprising ease.

'You're no ordinary student, I see. Your mental barriers are admirable; I can't see into your mind a bit. Unfortunately, however, you shall have to lower them if you wish for me to sort you,' the Hat informed the hiyoukai. Hiei seriously considered sending the old rag up in flames, or at least slicing it into tiny little pieces with his sword, which he soon remembered was inconveniently locked away in Kurama's trunk. His mind was a place that was considered to be extremely private; you try and get in without permission, you die. Or at least become seriously injured.

However, Hiei's conscience, which sounded suspiciously like Kurama, told him that for the sake of the mission, it would be best to let the Hat into his mind. Keeping this in mind – and eternally cursing Koenma for subjecting him to this torture – Hiei lowed his mental block.

'Hmm…at first glance, one would definitely think you would be a Slytherin, wouldn't they?' the Hat considered thoughtfully, 'You definitely have the cruel, sly, cunning, and ambitious parts down. However, if you take a slightly deeper look, I can see that you're caring to those who are important to you, courageous when the need occurs and most certainly brave, loyal to a side once you pick one, and that, despite the front you put on, you would do almost anything for your friends if the situation arose.'

'Hmph,' Hiei thought to the Hat in reply. 'I don't care where you place me. Just wherever it is, do it quickly.'

'Now, now, don't rush me,' the Hat admonished. 'You'll be spending the year with this house; it doesn't pay to be hasty. Now what's this I see about a sister? Hmm…I think I know exactly where to put you now…GRYFFINDOR!'

As the last word was shouted out loud, the hall broke out into applause, most concentrated from the table decked out in predominately gold and crimson shades.

Hiei slipped off the stool and walked over to said table, where Ron, Harry, Hermione, and Ginny were all cheering enthusiastically, although all four seemed a bit surprised that Hiei had made Gryffindor.

Over the noise that had exploded in the Great Hall, Professor Flitwick managed to somehow make him self heard shouting, "Minamino, Shuichi!"

When Kurama stepped up to take his turn being sorted, the Great Hall fell back into a respectful silence, but almost immediately broke out again in a flurry of excited whispers and giggles, mainly among the female population of the school, although a few boys had joined in as well.

Kurama slid the hat over his head, and it slipped over his ears, effectively blocking the murmurs that circulated the room.

'My, my, you are an interesting one, aren't you?' The voice in his head startled Kurama slightly, but he let no sign of it show. 'Almost as interesting as that other one, Jaganshi, only you don't try to block me out. Now, where to put you, though…?

'Hmm…you most certainly are intelligent, I'll give you that. However, most of your knowledge is gained from experience, and even though you do have an amazing mental capacity, you don't actively seek learning, although you do attempt to make the most from the situation presented. For that reason, I don't think you would belong in Ravenclaw, despite your genius.

'Now, you are brave and would sacrifice your life for your friends any day, and very nearly have. However, you do so with a steady mind, calculating the effects and consequences, instead of rushing in with the blind faith of a Gryffindor.

'I see that you are cold and calculating, and cruel and ruthless, traits that no Hufflepuff would ever posses. In that case, the place for you is…SLYTHERIN!'

Applause erupted from the long table draped in sliver and green, although it came in rather scattered amounts from the other three houses, with the exception of Ginny and the Trio, who still clapped heartily for their friend, no matter what his house.

As the applause faded out of existence, Flitwick announced the last name on his extremely short list: "Urameshi, Yusuke!"

The Spirit Detective put the hat on with some misgivings, not positively sure as to what would happen once he did.

Perched on the stool, he leapt slightly when the Sorting Hat's voice echoed in his head.

'Ah, you're a bit different from the last two, aren't you?' the Hat pointed out. As Yusuke opened his mouth to reply, the Hat hurriedly corrected him. 'No, merely think your words and I'll hear them.'

'Well, I'm human, and Hiei and Kurama are both youkai, was what I was gonna say,' Yusuke explained.

'I had gathered that much from their minds,' the Hat replied with a wry chuckle. 'Now, if we may get onto the subject of your placement…I must say that you are a good deal easier to choose a house for than your friends. Judging by the displays of courage you have shown of, and your clearly undying loyalty for your friends and companions, along with your tendency of not always thinking things through, I would say that you are definitely a…GRYFFINDOR!'

Yusuke took off the hat and placed it back on the stool. He walked over to the cheering Gryffindor table and took a seat next to Hiei, who was glaring over towards where Kurama was being swamped by girls (the fox didn't seem too happy about it, either), and shunning all attempts at conversation his fellow Gryffindors attempted to strike up with him.

Professor McGonagall stood to make several last announcements before the feast started. "Welcome new, returning, and exchange students, to yet another year at Hogwarts. Before the feast begins, I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out-of-bounds to all students, and that magic is banned between classes, as well as various items listed outside Mr. Filch's office door. I would also like to introduce two new professors who shall be joining us this year. Taking my place as Transfiguration professor is Nymphadora Tonks, an auror with wonderful credentials, who happens to be a metamorphmagus."

Tonks raised a hand in greeting to a warm round of applause as McGonagall introduced her, because she had the friendly, fun to know, air that permeated the air around her.

Now, all eyes were focused on the second teacher, the man. "This is Michael Cardille, also an Auror with amazing qualifications, who shall be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."

Once again, the Great Hall erupted in applause, accompanied by thrilled whispers.

"So who's this Cardille guy?" Harry asked Ron as they pounded their palms together.

"You've never heard of him?" Ron demanded, looking at Harry in disbelief. "Cardille's practically famous. One of the best Aurors of his time, but never rose very high in the department 'cause he was 'too sympathetic and compassionate to the enemy'. Old Crouch actually tried to get him arrested for it once. Never happened, though. I didn't recognize him at first; he's a lot younger in all the photos, but now I can see the resemblance."

"I can't believe he'll actually be teaching us!" Hermione exclaimed. The clapping had been replaced with talk as food appeared on the tables. "He'll be a wonderful teacher!"

"I wonder when we'll get to have his class," Ginny said, piling potatoes onto her plate, pointedly ignoring where Yusuke was ravenously digging into a piece of chicken on her left and where Hiei was watching the other boy distastefully while filling his own plate up with food.

"Well, we won't know till tomorrow, will we?" Harry pointed out, starting to select his meal. "Until then, all we can do is wait."

Disclaimer: YuYu Hakusho belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi and all related industries. Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling and all related industries. I make no profit off this work of fiction.

Notes:

-Yes, I was too lazy to write the Sorting Song; poetry is not my strong point.

-I hope my reasons for putting everyone in their respective houses was clear enough.

-Professor Cardille is pronounced CAR-deel. He won't be too important.

-Why is Tonks the transfiguration professor? She's a metamorphmagus, which (in my little world) gives her a natural talent for transfiguration.

-Why both Aurors? This satisfies everyone. The Ministry gets two of their people in the school, and the Order gets one of their members, two good professors, and two great guards.

-Please tell me if I'm making anyone too out of character. I want to know!!!

A/N: I am truly sorry that you had to wait this long. School started up again, along with all my lengthy extracurricular activities. That, coupled with my natural procrastination…go figure. Also, I recently had the final audition for All State Orchestra…I failed. However, since I've only been taking cello lessons for about two years, it's only to be expected. But, really, the point of all that was to say I have utterly no excuse for the lateness of this chapter.