Disclaimer: I don't own "Harry Potter", it is hereby © to J.K. Rowling. I wrote this story when I was 11-12 years old and between the years 2001-2003, so the actual "Order of the Phoenix" had not been released yet. Errors in spelling and grammar have been purposely left in to preserve originality and my skill as a young writer. This story is complete. This is a repost.
Chapter Seven: A New School Year
They arrived ten minutes before eleven o' clock. One by one, each of them went through the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. They met each other on the other side where they saw the scarlet train that would take them back to their beautiful Hogwarts School. They found a compartment, put their trunks on the racks above their heads, and took a seat.
"What are you going to do Cho? I mean, they're putting you back into your fifth year. You're supposed to go to sixth!" Hermione exclaimed after she closed the compartment door.
"I don't know. But I don't understand because I passed my exams last year. And I got plenty of O.W. L. S. last year too!" Cho said.
No one said anything for at least a few seconds. Then Hermione's ginger cat, Crookshanks came out of nowhere and started to purr loudly. Still no one said anything. No one had anything that they could say. As hour progressed, still no one had said a thing. After another hour or so, Harry looked out the window and saw that the sky was dark and they must be arriving at Hogwarts soon.
"We should change into our robes." Harry stated quietly.
Cho looked out the window.
"Yes, we should." She said in a near whisper. "Hermione and I will leave. Ginny and Akira might need help with their ties."
So Hermione and Cho got up and left the compartment. Harry and Ron got out their robes and changed into them. The train began to slow down and stopped with a slight jolt. They disembarked and met up with Cho, Hermione, Ginny, and Akira. They squeezed into a horseless carriage that would take them to the front door of the school. They gazed out the window as they saw Hagrid and the first years sailing over the lake. And even still, no one spoke a single word. Each was lost in a thought or memory and looked out the window hungrily. The carriage stopped moving and they got off, went inside through the great oak doors, walked into the Great Hall, and took their seats at their tables. To Harry's great surprise, Akira went to the Gryffindor table with him as she waved at her sister over at the Ravenclaw table. Everyone started chatting happily with one another and then Professor McGonagall came into view with a three-legged stool and the Sorting Hat.
She placed them in the center of the room and proceeded to the doors that led to the landing by the dock for the boats. She opened the doors and a great amount of small, shaky, first years walked in.
"I want everyone to line up. Now, this is the Sorting Ceremony. When I call your name, you will sit down on the stool, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and when it announces the house you are to be in, you shall go to that table and take a seat. But first, our Sorting Hat would like to sing its' song." Professor McGonagall told the first years.
So I see you here today, entering a new year,
I can place where you have to be, so you need not shed a tear.
There are four houses that were founded long ago…
In which I shall list their names below…
There was the fair maiden Rowena Ravenclaw,
Of Glen. Her students were the cleverest nearly top the rest!
Sweet Helga Hufflepuff whose students were kind and loyal.
Brave Godric Gryffindor, whose hearts were brave and pure, they were probably
The best wizards for sure!
And last but not least, Salazar Slytherin, power-hungry, with great ambition.
But whose idea was it to create me when they were dead and gone?
Gryffindor! He whipped me from his head and put some brains in me
So I could choose instead. So step right up, do not fear,
I shall put you in a house for you to stay in for years and years!
There's nothing in your minds that I cannot see, with a shout I shall
Tell you where you ought to be!
The Sorting Hat finished the song and everyone applauded. Then Dumbledore stood up from his seat at the staff table and everyone presumed that they were the usual announcements that were said before every school year.
"Welcome to Hogwarts! And for those who already attend, welcome back! Now all students please remember to keep out of the Forbidden Forest, and in light of Voldemort's return, I want all students to keep an eye out for one another. Students third year and above may visit the Hogsmeade village only on yearly holidays that occur on the weekend," said Dumbledore.
Then Professor Flitwick walked up to Dumbledore and whispered something in his ear. Dumbledore's expression was still calm but showed a slight bit or worry.
"It has just come to my attention that one of our students has been placed in the wrong house. This student who was supposed to start her sixth year is instead going back to her fifth year. She did get several O. W. L. S. indeed, but she is to go back and be a guardian for another student. Someone that Professor Snape and you Mr. Malfoy would call a 'celebrity'. Will Miss Cho Chang please step forward to be re-sorted?" Dumbledore said finishing his previous statement.
Then Cho stood from her Ravenclaw table and all eyes were on her. Everyone started to whisper and point. As Cho passed by the Gryffindor table, Akira was just shocked. Harry saw that Cho near screaming at everyone. Ginny looked as if someone had just whacked her with a totem pole. Harry was somewhat shocked. He knew that Cho would be going back a year, but he didn't know that she would have to switch houses to protect someone. Hermione's mouth was open in horror.
"I know whom she needs to protect!" she whispered.
"Who?" Ron and Harry said instantly.
"It's you Harry, it's you! Cho needs to protect you from You-Know-Who!" Hermione hissed at them.