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 Eight: The Sorting Hat's Mistake

"Why would she need to do that?" Harry asked.

"I don't know! Just because I'm smart doesn't mean I know everything!" Hermione snapped.

Cho walked up to the staff table where Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head.

"Hmm…My first mistake. Well, you have great power, knowledge, and plenty of courage. I see where you fit in…GRYFFINDOR!!!!" The Sorting Hat shouted.

Cho ran to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to her sister. There was a dull applause after the Sorting Hat shouted out Cho's new house. It made her uneasy, unsettled.

"Alright, now we can sort our first years." Professor McGonagall said.

Then everything seemed to go back to normal instantly.

"Gregory, Jane!" Professor McGonagall said.

A small girl with blonde hair stepped forward and put the hat on.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted.

"Harrington, Laurence." McGonagall said once again.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Sorting Hat shouted.

Then sorting went on and on. Out of the whole group of first years, only two went to Slytherin. Four went to Hufflepuff, three to Ravenclaw, and nine to Gryffindor. After McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and stool away, the feast began. The Great Hall was soon filled with happy chatter.

"Ah, hello Miss Chang, welcome to Gryffindor! The Grey Lady tells me that you are a wonderful student. I'm sure that you'll do very well here in Gryffindor." Nearly Headless Nick said to Cho as he passed by.

"T-thanks." Cho replied, her voice shaking.

After that, no one spoke to Cho. When the feast ended and the plates were sparkling clean, Dumbledore stood up.

"I have some additional announcements to make. Firstly, we are doing something different with the House Cup Competition. We are holding a Quad-Wizard Tournament. We will have eight wizards or witches chosen two from each house. All students in fourth year or above may compete. An item similar to the Goblet of Fire will select the pairs from each house. We have no set date for this event, but Quidditch matches will still be on. And lastly, we have new prefects! Our prefect for Gryffindor is Miss Hermione Granger, for Ravenclaw, Miss Padma Patil, for Hufflepuff, Mister Edwin Cross, and for Slytherin, Mister Draco Malfoy. Now Prefects, you should know the new password for your House Tower. Assuming that you all do, please lead all the students of your house to their dormitories." Dumbledore said cheerily.

After those words, everyone exited the Great Hall.

"How did Malfoy become a Prefect?" someone in the hall whispered.

Several whispers followed. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Akira, Cho, and the rest of Gryffindor house reached the portrait of the fat lady in the pink dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Adora Adra." Hermione said.

Instantly the portrait swung forward and revealed the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Everyone poured inside the first years and Cho gazed around in amazement.

"Cho, welcome to Gryffindor Tower." Akira said.

"It's…it's amazing!" Cho said.

"I think she's going to like it here." Ron said grinning.

"I think you're right, Ron." Cho said.

"C'mon, I'll show you the girl's dormitory." Said Hermione as she ran up the steps that led to the dormitories.

"Sounds fun!" Cho said running up the steps following Hermione.

Akira plopped herself down on one of the soft chairs in front of the fireplace in the common room and reached for a nearby book and began to read. Hermione and Cho returned a little while later and saw Harry and Ron still standing where they were when they both left to go upstairs.

"Have you been standing there the whole time?" Hermione asked then curiously.

"Yeah. We haven't got anything to do. You got any bright ideas?" Ron replied.

Hermione was silent.

"Thought so." Ron said.

"Shut up Ron." Hermione snapped.

Akira's attention had been drawn to Hermione and Ron. She looked from one to the other and was very confused.

"They do this all the time, don't worry." Harry said after realizing Akira's confusion.

"I see." Akira said.

"Well, this is our first day back, we should be having fun! Maybe we could play Gobstones or Exploding Snap?" Cho asked suggestively.

"That's a good idea. I can ask Fred and George for their set of Exploding Snap. I could get my Wizards' Chess set too!" Ron said brightening up at the opportunity.

Ron darted for the Boy's Dormitory and returned in a flash with his chess set and his brothers Fred and George.

Fred set up a card castle with the Exploding Snap cards, while Ron and George played against one another at Wizards' Chess. Hermione was reading a book, Harry was watching Ron play chess, Akira was upstairs asleep, and Cho was playing the Muggle game, Mancala with another Gryffindor.

"Knight to E4," Ron said. "Checkmate!"

"Rematch!" George said after being beaten by his little brother for the fifth time in a row.

Harry got bored watching them and decided to go and see what Cho was up to.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Playing Mancala. Would you like to join me? The girl I was playing with didn't exactly understand the rules of game play, so she left. I need a new opponent." Was Cho's response.

"Ok. How do you play?" Harry asked.

She explained the rules to him carefully and they were quite simple. Soon they both were playing and Harry was winning the first game.

"Beginner's luck, I suppose…" Cho muttered after the end of the game.

She glanced at the clock.

"Harry! It's almost midnight! We need to get to bed!" Cho nearly shouted.

Groggily everyone packed up their games, headed to their dormitories, and went to sleep. Harry was rather tired and after he had changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed, he was fast asleep. He had an odd dream. Both He and Cho were in it. Voldemort had appeared in the dream also. His dream was a mere blur, then he saw Cho fall to the ground, lifeless. He heard the words 'She holds a great secret, Harry. You must be careful of it.' Harry opened his eyes and reached for his glasses. Sunlight filtered through the windows. It was morning. Classes would start that day. Harry got up and dressed then headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.