Disclaimer: I do not own HP. It belongs to Misses Rowling.

I know this took forever, but I was trying to come up with a Dumbledore ballad. But nothing fit, so I am basing the song on a little ditty I came up with listening to the main HP movie theme. It's lame, but it could work. Special note at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 9

A Sort of Sorts

The rest of the ride on the Hogwarts Express was dull and gloomy. Even the woman pushing the food cart seemed upset.

"She's losing business with so few students," Hermione muttered in-between one of her assigned walkthroughs on the train. She and Ron, along with prefects, had too make sure nothing too terrible happened during the trip.

"Where were you lot last year?" Harry murmured when they had both left. With some anger and embarrassment he remembered the year before when he had been left under one of the seats. Luckily Tonks arrived and bailed him out.

The weather itself seemed disturbed, and the ride to the castle was rainy. Harry was sure the lake must have been horrible to sail on, but Luna pointed out that there was only one boat, and Hagrid was at the head. At least they hoped. They never got a reply from Hagrid about his decision with leaving Hogwarts.

When the small, waterlogged group entered the Great Hall an even greater sadness settled. The Head Chair was empty, and McGonagall was nowhere to be seen. Most of the other teachers were in their seats, but there were three empty chairs that stuck out. One was the giant chair at the end which usually supported their half-giant friend. The other was that of Snape's. Just looking at it caused hate to rise up in the pit of Harry's stomach. Slughorn was also missing from his seat.

Luna left them to sit at the Ravenclaw table, and there was a collection of nervous higher year students that greeted her. Most of the older Gryffindors were still attending, even some second years. Hufflepuff and Slytherin had taken the hardest blow. Looking to their table, the Slytherin's had only one seventh year. Malfoy and his group had left. But the ones that had stayed carried a look of arrogance rather than fear. This couldn't be said for the Hufflepuffs. The few second years were huddled close and one seemed to be crying. That's when Harry noticed that all the younger years were sitting closer to the older students, as if for protection. It struck him that, other than simple start of the term jitters, it was true.

The teachers were all making quiet chatter, to simply fill the silence. It appeared that most of the teachers had decided to stay at Hogwarts, but they still seemed on edge. Firenze was tapping on of his hooves on the marble floor, Professor Binns seemed, if possible, paler, and Professor Flitwick was stuttering with every word he said.

Harry sat with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, greeting his fellow Gryffindors, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. Dean, who had Muggle parents, mentioned how his parents almost didn't let him come back and Seamus had a similar story, his father also being a Muggle. It dawned on Harry that Hermione hadn't mentioned her parents all summer. He wondered how her family felt about some dark wizard rising from the dead and attacking their witch daughter. As if reading his mind, she joined the conversation.

"I got off easy. I just told my mum that the danger was as bad as common plaque," Hermione grinned with her magically straight teeth. Both her parents were dentists. When Ron gave her an odd look, she began to explain it to him, but was interrupted when the doors to the Great Hall opened.

Leading the first years, to everyone's relief and surprise, was Hagrid. He gave what was meant to be a small wave to the Gryffindors, along with a wink. Behind him, filing in single-file, were the first years. Out of the small collection, one stuck out. A small blonde girl wearing a blue uniform that looked all too familiar. It was Ron's sister-in-law, Gabrielle Delacour. Next to her was a boy in heavier red robes, and he was looking around the hall with some suspicion. Hermione, Harry, and Ron all exchanged glances.

"Did she tell you she was going to attend Hogwarts?" Hermione asked, glaring at Ron. For a moment he simply stared, and then managed to stammer a no.

"But she is the right age for a first year," he replied, craning his neck as if expecting Fleur to come in as well.

"Harry, look. Aren't those two wearing uniforms for Beauxbaton and Durmstrang? What are they playing at--" but before Seamus could continue, a greater silence descended on the hall as the first years reached the Head Table. And waiting for them was the Sorting Hat.

Standing next to the stool that held the Sorting Hat was Professor McGonagall. She looked different from the end of the term. Older, wearier. She quickly cleared her throat, and addressed the students.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Some of you are returning, while others are stepping through these doors for the first time," McGonagall gave a weary smile. "This year, along with our first year students, we have two visiting students from Beauxbaton and Durmstrang Schools of Wizardry. This is in an effort to create a greater sense of unity amongst the young wizarding community during these hard times." She paused, and took a breathe before continuing, "Please help them to feel welcome. And now, the Sorting shall begin!"

There was a great buzzing about the Hall. Mostly about the two newest students.

"If this is for an international unity, why are there only two representatives?" was a common question. Another that Harry heard was "Did they send some of our students over there?" "Has the Hat ever Sorted anyone other than first years before?"

It's a wondrous world of magic,

That not many seem to know

Except for the lucky ones

That the magic chose

They get to learn their magic

They get to hone their skills

But none of this can happen

Without a House, if you will

There's Ravenclaw, where wit's are all

There your friends won't let you fall

Gryffindor has lots in store

For those willing to do more

Hufflepuffs are mighty friends

That will be with you 'til the end

And Slytherin, the mighty snake

Be careful of the friends you make

As the days grow darker

And hope seems to slip away

Remember all your friends

From this fateful day

Harry was surprised at how strange the song was. Despite the Hat being a hat, it seemed always aware of the events unfolding around it. And for the past few years it had offered advice. This year was no different.

The room quieted again as McGonagall threw her sharp gaze around the room. "First, Brocklehurst, Mandy." A thin boy walked up to the stool, his face red from the eyes of Hogwarts beating down on him. He picked up the Hat, uncertain, and then dropped it on his head, holding his breath. After a moment he opened one eye, glancing around, no doubt, for the voice in his head.

"Ravenclaw!" Mandy hurried on his way to the table, where sixth and seventh years greeted him immediately. Harry saw Luna talking to the boy, and whatever she said made the boy flush deeply with what Harry could only hope was pride. Luna didn't need another student to think she deserved the nickname Loony.

"Delacour, Gabrielle." Stepping forward with all the grace of her heritage, Gabrielle sat lightly on the chair, and somehow managed to make the tattered Sorting Hat look even worse for wear. Everyone was silent, wondering which House the first new student would enter. A whole minute passed before the call.

"Hufflepuff!" Gabrielle set down the Hat gently, and skipped over to the table. She immediately began making introductions, pointing frequently over to the Gryffindor table, mentioning her relation to the very red Weasley siblings sitting there.

"MacDougal, Morag." A rather burly young boy walked up amid a hushed chatter. Normally there would have been a lot more students, but this year the alphabet had skipped from D to M. Ron looked the boy over, and turned to Harry.

"Bet anything he'll be the newest Slytherin." A moment later the hat did indeed call out Slytherin House. Harry gave Ron a poke. "He's one of those old blood families, where everyone was in the same House."

"Like you and Ginny?"

"Sort of. But I hear this bloke is actually okay, despite his upbringing."

"I hope so. Last thing we need is for the next generation of Slytherins to be gits," Harry replied, turning back towards the Head Table. The boy from Durmstrang was next.

"Migato, David." He was a slightly taller lad, but not as big as Morag. The hat began to fall over his eyes as it called it's decision. "Slytherin!"

"Soran, April." A petite figure went to the hat, and when she put it on it went well over her face. There were some chuckles from the other students.

"Gryffindor!" April emerged, her face bright red. But she was smiling as she joined them, listening to introduction after introduction.

"Tough luck April. You're in the House with both the Head Boy and Girl," someone said as the newest Gryffindor passed.

"Soran, Ryan." The twin brother was nothing like his small sister. If anything, he would be the next Ron Weasley in height. He was very pale looking, but that could have simply been because of his raven locks. He cast a nervous glance at his sister before allowing the hat to land on his head.

"Ravenclaw!" He joined his new House, sticking close to the older students and shrugging to his bewildered sister.

Hermione patted April on the hand, and began a quiet conversation with the first year. Ron rolled his eyes, knowing that she was simply trying to prove that she was worthy of Head Girl.

"Taylor, Liam" was the next student, and he became the second Gryffindor. "Trent, Robyn" was the second Hufflepuff, followed by "Truing, Josh". "Turpin, Lisa" was another Ravenclaw, which seemed to be greatest in size. There was only one student left.

"Ziln, Madison" became a Slytherin, and the feast began.

Later that night, after everyone had been fed and the rules explained, Hermione, Ron and the prefects led the few first years to their Common Rooms. April and Liam stared in awe as Ron led them to the Fat Lady's portrait. Harry remembered his own first experience in the castle.

Ron gave the password (Hogwarts Express), and led the Gryffindors in. Hermione joined Harry and Ron by the fireplace.

"This is amazing. Other than Gabrielle and those two Slytherin boys, all the first years are Muggle born," she said.

"You must be kidding."

"No. I guess every student that would have been starting this year was kept back by relatives that knew the dangers. This is bad. Eleven first years."

"But at leas it's two more than nine, thanks to Gabrielle and David," Ron interjected.

"I suppose," Hermione cast her glance around the room. "We should get to bed."

The names of some first years are special. They are the students named in book 1 that were never mentioned after the Sorting Ceremony. So I'm giving them the story they deserve. When I finish this story, I think I'll make a story about this group of first years.