AN: Sorry it's been a while, well a long while... well here is the latest chapter, as always I own the plot and everything else is not mine. Please enjoy!
The Sorting and Welcoming Feast
Harry and Hermione rode the carriages up to the castle quietly discussing what would happen at the up comng sorting. "Harry, what would you think if Ami ended up in Slytherin?" Hermione asked, as they exited the carriage and started up the steps into Hogwarts.
Harry was quiet, thinking over his answer, as he had asked this same question numerous times without an answer. As they entered the Great Hall of Hogwarts, he finally answered, knowing it was the right thing and the way he truly felt. He said, "If she is in Slytherin I would have to hope our budding relationship would continue to grow. I admit the thought scares me. And I worry that if she is in Slytherin that I will be forced to choose between House and family and I do not want to do that. I know that I'll have your support either way."
Hermione smiled at Harry as they took their places at the Gryffindor table, and replied, "Always will you have my support. I cannot wait for us all to be settled in. I hope that those six friends of our will be sorted correctly but at least in pairs. I feel that it would be the best for them."
"Yes Hermione." Harry said, nodding towards the Head table where the first years were coming in with Professor McGonagall.
Duo, Wufei, Quatre, and Trowa shared a boat on the way over, knowing that Heero and Ami would feel better about getting into the boats if they were all together. Ami was shaking as Heero led her to the boats. He quietly was telling her about everything in the scenery as well as what Hogwarts looked like from across the lake. "Ami, now we need to get in the boat, how about I pick you up and you can then sit in my lap."
"O…okay," Ami responded in a shaky voice.
Heero picked her up and moved them into a boat, sitting himself and helping her to sit comfortably on his lap. Throughout the crossing of the lake, he caught the others worried looks as he told Ami the story of Scheherazade, her favorite musical story to help distract her.
Soon the boats came to a stop and Heero carried her up to the doors before setting her down. Hagrid, knocked on the door which was answered by Professor McGonagall, "Thank-you Hagrid." Professor McGonagall said, "Come in."
As everyone walked in Professor McGonagall looked at Heero and said "You'll be sorted before the first years. I and Headmaster Dumbledore thought it would be easiest for you all. We will go by ages or if you had a better plan?"
Heero responded, "Can you use the order, Wufei, Quatre, Trowa, Duo, Ami and myself last, please."
"That will work, any reason?" The professor asked.
"Sometime for me to tell Ami what is going on and so she is fully calmed following the boat ride. Nothing happened, but better safe than sorry." Heero responded, watching Ami interact with Quatre and Duo.
"That will work." Addressing everyone now Professor McGonagall said, "Line up and follow me into the Great Hall where you will be sorted into you houses."
Every one of the students lined up and followed her into the Great Hall. Sitting in front of the Head table with all of the professors was a stool with an old tattered looking hat. Once the first years and transfers were in place the hat began to sing:
"Four houses there are,
Divided now, but not before,
In time when I was new
Four friends founded Hogwarts,
Their differences divided the students
Into four houses
Each known for the characteristics
The four friends preferred to teach
Gryffindor, took the brave and true,
Slytherin, the ambitious and cunning,
Ravenclaw, the bookish and smart,
Hufflepuff, all the rest.
Together the four used their strengths
To found this school.
History would divided them.
Now's the time to reunite
For it is divided we fall
In these dark times
Now sort you I must."
The hat received generous applause. Once it died down Professor McGonagall began the sorting, she said, "I'll begin with the new transfers. Chang, Wufei, year 5"
Wufei stepped forward, sat upon the stool while Minerva placed the hat upon his head.
"Hmmm…You are late in coming but you are here, there is pain in you past but also a great yearning for learning. You best be in…RAVENCLAW." The sorting hat called out shouting the name of the house Wufei was to join.
Wufei moved to the table that was cheering for him after he placed the hat upon the stool. Wufei sat in an empty seat and turned his attention back to the sorting.
"Winner, Quatre, third year," Professor McGonagall said.
Quatre quickly moved to the stool, the hat had barely touched his head when it shouted, "Hufflepuff." Quatre quickly left the hat on the stool and joined his housemates at their table, taking an empty seat returning his attention to the sorting.
Minerva said, "Barton, Trowa, fourth year."
Trowa moved quickly and gracefully to the sorting hat sitting upon the stool the hat was placed on his head.
"Hmmm…curious you are close to the two before you. But I see you wish to be close to Quatre to protect him. With the pain of your pasts, perhaps you should learn to heal with him at your side better be… HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat cried.
Taking the hat off and replacing it upon the stool, Trowa quickly joined Quatre and returned his attention to the sorting, whispering to Quatre, and "Duo will be placed with Wufei in Ravenclaw." Quatre smiled at him nodding. Before he could respond in any other way, Minerva said, "Maxwell, Duo, fourth year."
Duo repeated the actions of his friends. When the sorting hat was on his head it said, "My you lot and your pain. I see to be truly healed and to tap into your full potential it better be… RAVENCLAW."
Duo copied the actions of Trowa except he joined Wufei at the Ravenclaw table.
Minerva said, "Winner-Yui, Ami, third year."
Heero quickly led Ami to the stool once she was seated Heero found she was not releasing his hand. The hat slipped over her eyes and she heard the hat say, "My you are a difficult one almost as difficult as your brother. With him he chose to go to Gryffindor. You would do well there, but you would do well in all the houses. Where to place you, do you have an opinion?"
Ami thought back, 'I want to go to the house that would fit me the best, and while I am brave, I am not one that would rush in, and while I can be smart I do not enjoy learning as Wufei does. While Hufflepuff would fit me, so would Slytherin both would work but if left to me I would go to Slytherin if only because that is the house that I understand would be the best place to combine the traits of all house.'
"A very well thought out response. I could not have said it better. Very well good luck to you in SLYTHERIN." The hat called out, standing Ami could tell there was silence. Minerva quickly called, "Winner-Yui, Heero, fifth year."
Heero sat on the stool Ami had just left allowing Professor McGonagall to place the hat on his head.
"Ah you have much pain and just like the one you love a difficult selection you are. Though I suppose you are no different from your friends and the best place for you is at her side. Take good care of her, it best be SLYTHERIN." The hat called.
Seeing a table begin to clap Heero led Ami to their new house's table and joined their classmates. Quickly the first years were sorted, with no excitement happening. Headmaster Dumbledore said a quick welcome and the food for the feast appeared on the tables as all the students, new and old alike, ate and discussed summers and introduced themselves. Minerva smiled and thought, 'Maybe this will be the change Hogwarts needs.'
Soon the tables and plates were cleared and the Headmaster gave a speech welcoming everyone back and giving reminders about the rules. Following her introduction as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Dolores Umbridge stood up and gave a mind numbing speech about how the Ministry for Magic would be interfering at Hogwarts this year. When she had finished Professor Dumbledore quickly dismissed the students to bed for a good night's rest as tomorrow classes would begin.