I'm sorry for the delay between chapters, but what can I say? It's summer! I've also been reading a really amazing story lately, and although I don't know the author, I still recommend the story for some great reading material. The story is called Shields of Power by thunderful. I hope you guys like that story! And now, on with this story!
Harry, Ron and Hermione all walked quickly towards the carriages because of the rain. The sky was dark with clouds and everyone was having trouble seeing more than a few feet in front of themselves.
"I feel bad for Max right now." Hermione said, once inside the carriage.
"You feel bad for him? What about me, I'm freezing!" Ron complained.
"You don't have to cross the black lake in a boat." Neville said climbing in beside them.
"Oh blimey, that's right. I hope no one falls in the lake; I heard there was a squid in there!" Ron said nervously.
"A squid?" Alex said curiously, poking her head into the carriage. Alex and Ginny climbed into the last two seats in the carriage.
"That's just a rumour." Harry told his little sister. "I don't want her to get any ideas." He said in an undertone to Ron and Hermione.
"I heard that! Just because I know it's there doesn't mean I'm going to go find it. I was only curious." Alex said.
"Oh, that rule didn't seem to apply to that cursed potion you drank from the shop in Diagon Alley!" Harry retorted.
The two siblings continued bickering all the way up to the castle.
"I hope the sorting goes fast, I'm starving." Ron grumbled. Harry and Hermione were sitting on either side of him ignoring his complaining.
"Shut up Ron, the first years are coming in!" Harry sat up straighter.
Farther down the table, Alex and Ginny were sitting talking to Nearly Headless Nick.
"So are you two trying out for quittich this year?" Nick asked the two girls.
"Yes! I love Quidditch! I don`t know if I`ll make it though, we`re up against tough competition this year." Ginny said.
"Well I`m sure to make it. My brother`s the captain after all." Alex said proudly.
"Your brother Harry Potter is Quidditch captain? Isn`t he a little young?" Nick asked.
"Well yes, he`s only in his third year. But McGonagall allowed him on the team in his first year. He tends to run by different rules." Alex shrugged.
"Quiet, the sorting is starting!" Ginny said.
Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on the little stool and pulled out a long scroll.
"When I call you names you are to come up and put on the sorting hat. When you are told which house you are in, you are to go and sit at that house table." McGonagall told the first years.
"I hope my brother's in Griffindor." Alex mumbled. "Then I will have someone to pull pranks with."
"Finkle, Harper!"
"Well, aren't you a clever girl? Not a lot of bravery I'm afraid. Nor are you cunning. Better be, RAVENCLAW!" The hat said. Harper went and sat with her table.
"Potter, Max!"
"What have we here? Loyalty and a good heart. You lack knowledge and memory. How about, GRIFFINDOR!" The hat said. Max went and sat beside Alex.
"High five little bro, you're in my house!" Alex said smacking her brother's hand.
"Creevey, Dennis!" "GRIFFINDOR!"
"Jerko Phoenix!" "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"That concludes our sorting ceremony. I wish all new students the best in their new houses." McGonagall said.
Just then, Professor Dumbledore stood to make his speech. "To the new students, welcome! And to older students, welcome back! I am pleased to inform you that this year at Hogwarts will be run a little different than usual. We teachers have created a challenge for all students who wish to participate. It is designed to bring our four houses closer together. Your goal is to create a magical unit. It may be a spell, a potion, a bewitched object, or anything that suits your fancy. The teachers will review your creation and give it a grade. The students within the winning group will receive the prize, which I will bring out after the feast. More details will be posted in your common rooms."
"A contest? Hermione, you're on my team!" Ron whispered.
"Shh, I'm trying to listen!" Hermione waved her arm at Ron.
"Our usual notice from Mr. Filch," Dumbledore continued, "No students are to enter the forbidden forest at any time. Now, I realize that I am probably starving you by talking for so long, so let the feast begin, tut tut!"
Dumbledore sat down and the plates in front of everyone instantly filled with food.
"Oh finally!" Ron said piling his plate with food.
"This contest sounds very interesting. What kind of magical unit were you thinking of doing?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Shouldn't we get into groups before that?" Harry said.
"Right, two from each house. Who from Slytherin would want to join a group with us in it?" Hermione said scanning the Slytherin table.
"Hey, you two are going together? What about me?" Ron said with food in his face.
"We haven't decided anything yet Ron, we're just thinking." Hermione said quickly.
"I think we should get a bunch of seventh years in our group. We'd have a better chance of winning that way." Ron said.
"What seventh year would want to go with a bunch of third years?" Fred said, overhearing them talking.
"This contest sounds cool, are you going to enter?" Alex asked Ginny.
"Oh, I don't know. Usually when something like this happens one of my brothers always beats me." Ginny frowned.
"You obviously don't know my sister very well." Max said.
"You're good at making things?" Ginny asked.
"No, I'm good at sabotage." Alex said with a grin.
Later in the Griffindor common room...
"I saw the notice on the bulletin board about that contest." Hermione announced to the group by the fireplace. Sitting around her was Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Percy, Ginny, Alex, and Max.
"There are groups of eight people, two students from each house. In that group you make one item for the teachers to grade." Hermione said.
"Two from each house? Who are we gonna get from Slytherin?" Ron asked.
"They already gave us our groups." Hermione said.
"Tell us who we're with then!" Harry said.
Hermione read off the notice, "Group #1 - Harry and Alex Potter, Griffindor. Roger Davies and Justin Finkle, Ravenclaw. Jerko Phoenix and Malcolm Preece, Hufflepuff. Gregory Goyle and Draco Malfoy, Slytherin."
"Oh great! I get Malfoy and my little sister!" Harry complained.
"Hey! I'm just as good of a wizard as you are!" Alex yelled. "And what's wrong with Malfoy?"
"What's wrong with Malfoy? You know I hate that guy!" Harry yelled back.
"Who am I with?" Ron interrupted their yelling.
"You're with me." Hermione smiled. "And as usual, Fred and George, you two are together."
"Well this contest sure made things more interesting this year." Alex said.
Thanks to those who reviewed and read my story. Don't worry; the next update will be much faster than this one was.