CHAPTER THREE

Harry, Luna, Ron and Hermione went looking for another empty compartment. When they came to one, they all went into it and sat down in silence. After about 10 minutes, Ron finally broke the silence. "What do you think about Draco and an apple," he said quietly.

"I think it could be a result of not being fed enough apples when he was younger, and now he is expressing his feelings in the only way he knows how," said Hermione knowledgably.

"What, by expressing his undying love for an apple, I don't know about you but I don't think I will ever be able to eat another green apple again," Harry said.

"Well, I personally think it is really sad, we have to do something before it gets out of hand," Hermione said bossily.

"Oh come on Hermione, nothing is going to happen," Ron said.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Hermione said darkly.

"Well, I agree with Hermione," Luna piped up, "There is obviously something psychologically wrong with him."

"You can talk," Ron said sarcastically.

"Shut up Ron, if you are not prepared to help us help Malfoy then don't say anything," Hermione snapped.

"What exactly are we trying to get him to do?" Ron asked.

"We have to get him to change, he is obviously a very troubled person," Hermione explained.

"Yeah, but Hermione, you are forgetting something," Harry began, while Hermione looked outraged at the thought she had forgotten something. "For us to help change Malfoy, he has to firstly admit he has a problem, and then he actually has to want to change."

"Like that's gonna happen, seriously Harry, this is Malfoy we are talking about," Ron said.

"I am serious," Harry bit back.

"But you're not Sirius, you're Harry," Ron laughed.

Everyone just looked at Ron and said, "Seriously?"

"Well I had to lighten the mood somehow, anyway, can we stop talking about Malfoy, it's depressing me," Ron said defensively.

"Fine, we are nearly there anyway, we had better get our robes on," Hermione said distantly.

They changed into their robes in silence. Hermione to furious to talk, Ron terrified of upsetting her, Harry not wanting to offend anyone and Luna off in her own little world, probably imagining Harry with no clothes on.

When the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, Harry, Luna, Ron and Hermione got off the train and walked to the carriages to take them to Hogwarts. It was only when they were all seated that Hermione broke the long silence. "I really think we ought to do something."

"About what?" Ron asked stupidly.

"About Malfoy of course," Hermione said to him, "We have to help him, he can't live life dating an apple, I mean he will be publically ridiculed."

"You sound like a Hufflepuff," Ron said.

"I don't care, I am going to help Malfoy whether you like it or not Ronald," Hermione said loudly.

"I agree with Hermione, I mean, I didn't at first, but now I think she is right, something needs to be done, he will not survive in Slytherin once they find out," Harry said.

"Fine, I will help him, but I will not be happy about it," Ron said.

"Good, tomorrow we begin," Hermione said.

"I hope the sorting doesn't go for too long," said Ron, quickly changing the subject, "I'm starving."

"Is food all you think about?" asked Hermione.

When the carriage pulled up in front of the castle, Ron leaped out like a frog and bounded towards the castle, looking just like Hagrid's dog Fang. Harry, Hermione and Luna got out of the carriage in a more civilised way and followed Ron to the castle.

By the time they got to the Great Hall, Ron was already sitting at the Gryffindor table, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth, in great anticipation for the amazing feast that he was about to shovel into his mouth, just as soon as the sorting was over. Luna went and sat at the Ravenclaw table, while Harry and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table. "Put your tongue back in Ron!" Hermione snapped at Ron.

"But I'm hungry," wined Ron.

"Ron, you have to watch the sorting first!"

"Well, they should hurry up and sort the first years already!"

The next minute, Professor McGonagall walked into the Great Hall with the sorting hat followed by a long line of first years, all looking petrified. She placed the stool with the sorting hat at the front of the hall, and everyone looked at it intently, when the rip at the brim opened and the hat broke into a song:

'Well, no doubt you've all hear of me

At the beginning of every year

All new students try me on

And I tell you where you ought to be!

Now, some of the older students may think it's a waste of time

To watch the sorting before eating

But I have other ideas.

Now just try me on, and I will tell you where you ought to be

You may belong in brave old Gryffindor

Where dwell the brave of heart

Or else in wise old Ravenclaw

Where those smart ones will always find there kind

Or else in Hufflepuff where dwell the kind of heart

Or else in Slytherin where you will always find comfort

Now try me on

Don't try to hide anything from me

For I can see everything

So don't be scared

You are in safe hands

For I am a thinking cap

Now before we can eat

We have to get the sorting underway

Before Ron Weasley withers away into nothing

Let the sorting now begin!

The students broke into applause, Ron rather pink in the face, as Professor McGonagall started reading out the long list of first years, "ABBOT, Louise," Professor McGonagall called out as a small pale girl with long plaits stepped out of the line and started walking nervously towards Professor McGonagall.

"That must be Hannah's sister," Hermione whispered to Ron and Harry.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Louise's head and a moment later the hat yelled, "Hufflepuff!"

Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table as Louise walked towards the table to sit next to her sister.

"Hurry up," moaned Ron and Professor McGonagall read out the next name on the list, "I'm starving!"

"Ron, shut up, the sorting is the most important part of the feast," Hermione said.

"That's what you think," said Ron rather darkly, "I think it's the food!"

Hermione gave Ron a dark look and turned away to watch the rest of the sorting.

Finally the sorting was finished. Gryffindor acquired 11 more students, 5 girls and 6 boys. Professor Dumbledore stood up, opened his arms wide and said, "Welcome to our new students, to our old students, welcome back. There is a time for notices, but now is not the time, now is the time to eat!"

"Hear, hear," said Ron loudly.

Professor Dumbledore sat down and food appeared on the tables. Ron grabbed everything in his reach, lamb chops, mint humbugs, roast potato, chicken legs and potato salad. Ron shovelled food into his mouth like there was not tomorrow. "Harry, we really do have to do something about Malfoy," Hermione said.

"Hermione, can it wait, I'm kind of busy now," Harry replied turning back to Nearly-Headless-Nick.

"No, it can't wait, he is our friend, we need to help him," Hermione retorted angrily.

Ron choked on the massive mouth full of food he had in his mouth, "Malfoy, our friend? Since when?"

"Well, maybe he isn't our friend, but we still need to help him."

"We'll wait till after the feast Hermione, when we get back to the Common Room we can come up with a plan," Harry said wearily.