Apologies for the month off and apologies for the short chapter.
I was planning to delete this chapter in fact since it hasn't got much in it but reading it over again made me smile so perhaps you will like it too.
Disclaimer - The themes and most characters belong to my queen, JK Rowling, author of the true Harry Potter books.
The two delinquent professor's were released from the hospital wing in time for the Monday night arrivals. The school was prepared and cleaned by mid-day, Harry had no idea how much stress got packed into the small frame of time before the thestrals arrived from Hogsmeade station.
By the time the Hall filled for the feast and Hagrid was ushering in the first years, the professors were all ready to drop into bed and stay there through the following day's classes. There were extra tables in the hall, a small one had Hermione seated at it, Harry had received a brief hug from her before she'd gone to it. Also there were other students he recognized from his own year, mainly Ravenclaw students but also seated there was Luna Lovegood and Denis Creevey.
In fact the other five tables in the room didn't seem to dictate any house or age group in particular. It made Harry smile and he inwardly commended McGonagall for it.
The headmistress stood to address her students.
"Our world has come under a great strain these past years and we have yet to see the end of the destruction it has caused. Our only choice is to look to the future, you are that future and I will not see you swindling away your time or disrespecting your privileges with rule breaking and marauding. Be the fresh start this world needs and lead the change that is coming."
The headmistress took a breath as the students took in what she'd said.
"We have many changes this year, new staff as well as students. More importantly there will be less significance on houses. Your year level will now be your family, with dorms now split into seven, each year you graduate you will find yourselves in a new dormitory, this way you will have more varied peer groups to aid your study and there will be no unnecessary rivalry. As for houses they will be appointed to each Quidditch team, we will have two divisions of Quidditch teams, junior teams for first to third years and senior Quidditch teams for third years and beyond. There can be up to eight Quidditch teams in these divisions and anyone can choose to captain one if they can find the players before next week. As for sorting, I have been in a number of meetings with our hat and whilst he has informed me he has a plan he also wishes for it to be a surprise. I am extremely curious, therefore would the first years please enter."
A timid group of children entered, much more than Harry had expected, in fact he figured it out numbered any other year level by at least double.
"Arnson, Amynome."
The very tiny girl had to push her way out of her peer group who stood a head above her. She barely made it to the seat without help before the hat was placed over her head by Firenze.
The hat chucked manically.
"Gryffinpuff! Go and sit where you want!"
The girl squeaked as the centaur removed the hat and she took the first seat she came to.
"Arnson, Benjamin." A boy just as small came up this time.
"Slytherclaw!"
A house the next boy, Alcott, Raymond was put into as well. Blippet, Nadia was placed in ordinary Slytherin then Bucket, Jane was put in Slytheravendor. Christmas, Fiona was put in Ravenclaw and Cryke, Andrew became a Gryffindor but everyone reacted as Curley, Peter became the first Gryffleslytherclaw. Silence followed as the hat was taken off Peter, a large boy with blond hair. He sat there blinking for a moment and then everyone cheered. The sound burst Harry's ears as he found himself cheering too. He, like everyone else supposed that the boy had equal traits of all four houses and that was a marvelous thing.
Day, Samantha somehow became a Slytherpuff which left everyone confused, less so than Dibbon, Cepheus becoming a Huffleclaw right after Darke, Allimon became a Ravenpuff.
Very few were put into regular houses, King, Rexheart was put in Gryffindor so quickly Harry supposed it beat Malfoy's sorting record and entire clan of cousins by the surname Wintercliff all became steadfast Ravenclaws, which seemed to suit their pasty sallow skin and wide staring eyes.
Poor Trott, Maledonna was the only first year put into Hufflepuff.
By the time Zhan, Michael was called and placed in Slytherdor only half the students had been sorted.
"We have additional students joining us this year, transfers as well as the previously home-taught. They are all to be welcomed warmly as we are privileged to be extending our school to them. We shall begin with second years."
Griswold, Newton was put in Slytherin and Lynch, Bree became another Slytherdor, a surprisingly popular combination.
There were quite a few third years and by this time Harry wasn't paying close attention.
Therefore Blackfish, Mathew was sitting up there for an unusually long time before Harry looked. A small boy in large muggle clothes and black messy hair, Harry's stomach flipped, the thirteen year old even had glasses.
"I can't decide between Slytherdor or Gryfferin." The hat grumbled at him. "So you can be a new house, what will it be called?"
The boy looked absolutely mortified, the situation was uncanny and Harry noticed a few people who knew him well such as Hermione and Neville were gaping at him.
"Um…." The boy looked as if he had absolutely no idea what to do.
"Dragon?" He squeaked, the hat barked with laughter.
"Come on you can do better than that!"
"Dragon…wing?"
"Brilliant!"
"And, and our colors will be silver and black."
"Very well."
"And red!"
"Good."
"And yellow?"
"Enough! You're in Dragonwing, next!"
The next student who came up was Dacron, Summer. She marched up to the stool and sat, before the sorting hat got a word in she declared.
"I want to be in Dragonwing too!"
The hat humped.
"Very well does anyone else want to be in Dragonwing?"
Not only did many of the students waiting to be sorted raise their hands but also so did many of the students already seated around the hall.
"Very well your all in Dragonwing!"
"May I be in Moonfrog house?" Asked a very familiar voice.
"Who said that?"
"Me." Replied Luna.
"Very well you're now in Moonfrog, anyone else in Moonfrog?"
Everyone's hands remained down.
"Our colors can be pink and green." Luna suggested as though she thought that would entice people.
"She doesn't even go to this school anymore!" Someone shouted out.
"Anyone?" The hat asked again, ignoring the shout.
Harry felt himself raising his hand, at this at least four or so others raised their hands too.
"You're all in Moonfrog." The hat declared.
After that Frost, Larissa going into Slytherin set the mood back to dull. Eventually Sidebottom, Margot, a new fifth year was told, to her apparent dread, that she was definitely a Moonfrog, which ended the sorting.
Harry's vague count told him there were nineteen new houses, twenty-three in total, there were still Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, then there were Slytherpuff, Slytherclaw, Slytherdor, Hufflein, Huffleclaw, Huffledor, Ravenin, Ravenpuff, Ravendor, Gryfferin, Gryfferpuff, Gryffinclaw, Slytherhuffleclaw, Griffleslytherclaw, Slytherravendor, Gryffenravenpuff, HuffleGryfferin, Dragonwing and Moonfrog.
He was now in Moonfrog and Luna had enthusiastically drawn their new mascot, a purple fury beast that looked like an engorgio'd pigmy puff with two curly horns and chicken-like legs. Hermione had convinced her to make the colors pink and gold and so a glorious swirly background backed the Crumple-Horned Snorlack.
Denis who was also a new Moonfrog member seemed pleased with the design.
"Did you see my nephew?"
Harry was half surprised to see he was seated next to Nightingale; she was extremely beautiful up close.
"Princle Valentine, he's my sister's boy but I think he looks like me, he went into Dragonwing with that Mathew."
Harry smiled and nodded even though he hadn't seen him.
"What house are you in?" He asked his fellow professor. She looked thoughtful.
"I don't know, I suppose I'll just go in Moonfrog like you, that design is awfully pretty."
Luna, possibly with Hermione's help had managed to float to picture over to the wall where the original house banners hung and stuck it there beside them.
"It's a Crumple-Horned Snorlack." Harry informed Nightingale, making her laugh.
"Of course it is! My goodness, we'll need a Quidditch team right away, you should get one together, they can be called the Snorlacks."
Harry smiled.
"I'm sure the head of the house will make sure that happens, I don't think it'd be fair if I got involved, being Flying professor."
Nightingale went to say something else but was interrupted as McGonagall stood back up.
"Well that was a surprise. It doesn't seem very likely there will be any head of houses seeing as our teaching staff doesn't amount to twenty-three. I have no idea how a point system will work, I suppose you can all continue earning points individually, I don't see why not, I'll apologize to Peter Curley in advance for your obvious disadvantage."
The large first year smiled and shrugged but Harry saw a definite glint of determination in his eyes.
"For now just eat, I'm sure it will all sort itself out in time."
The tables quickly filled with food, and to Harry's delight this included the table in front of him.
Nightingale kept up conversation with him, which made things quite awkward as he always seemed to have his mouth filled when she asked a question.
Finally she finished yet another story about Princle and before she could ask Harry another question he got up.
"This night has been so weird. I need a whole nights sleep to get through tomorrow, I'll see you another time."
She offered him a weak smile, which Harry returned before leaving.
"What's wrong with you?" A small voice whispered harshly.
Harry looked startled at Neville who was at the end of the table.
"Sorry?"
"Don't you like her?" Neville discretely pointed his fork toward Nightingale.
"Of course…"
Neville shook his head.
"Good luck with class tomorrow."
Harry gave his thanks and went to leave the great hall for good.
"Not so fast!"
McGonagall's voice compelled him toward her.
"Since the students are no longer living in houses, the first years need to be taken to their dorms and since they're in the old Gryffindor tower you will do it."
Harry nodded, trying not to look too tired.
"I need you to check on the second years on the way back too, I've made Jade Montague their head of year and I don't think she's so conscientious that she'll make sure everyone knows the password."
Harry nodded again.
"Would you like to know where the second year dormitories are?"
"Oh, yes I suppose so."
McGonagall pursed her lips.
"Sixth floor, left-wing tower."
Harry nodded.
"And I suppose you also want the passwords?"
"Yes headmistress."
"For the first years, Monkswood and the second years, Sheep Skin."
"First years Monkswood, second years Sheep Skin." Harry repeated back to her."
"Very well, remember you are a professor now and a role model to these students, not unlike your days here as a student yourself. No poor behavior will be tolerated. Your first class will be tomorrow morning and many eyes are watching you closely."
"I understand."
"Well hurry up the First years should have been in bed long ago."
"Right…FIRST YEARS COME WITH ME!"
Harry rounded up the eleven year olds whose flushed and tired faces suddenly became a bit brighter as their world's hero called them to him. The headmistress watched them leave with amusement and felt suddenly a stab of emotional pain as she saw how very much older Harry was to the tiny things he was leading from the hall. It didn't seem too long ago that he was one of them.