Ah, listening to Hedwig's theme, it's just so sad :') Harry Potter will never be over. The Mary-Sue's will continue the legacy! xD

Oh, well, thanks for the *review*. Yes, in singular. About 20 people read the second chapter. 1 person reviewed. I feel so loved :/ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. Reviews get me through my updates!

Here goes :)

The Sorting Ceremony

Harry, Hermione, Ron and the others headed for the carriages.

"Where's Hagrid?" Ron muttered.

"Dunno." Harry looked around. "He's hard to miss, if you know what I... woah!"

"What?" Hermione and Ginny asked simultaneously, cutting short their conversation.

Harry pointed at the carriages. "There's... there's... what's pulling the carriages?"

"Nothing's pulling the carriages, Harry." Hermione said, concerned.

"Are you all right, mate?" Ron asked worriedly.

"Yeah, look!" Harry pointed at the large, horse-like creatures. "Don't you see them?"

Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance.

"I'm not going mad!" Harry said irritatedly. "Why won't you just look?"

"I don't see anything, Harry." Ginny said in a soothing tone.

With one last look at the creature, Harry clambered onto a carriage.

"Don't worry." Luna smiled. "I see them too. You're just as sane as I am."

Harry was not particularly reassured.

"I hope there's pudding." Luna said abstractly.

The Great Hall was full of commotion.

Hermione and Ginny looked at each other meaningfully. Ron caught the look.

"What?" He demanded.

Hermione glanced at him with an unfathomable expression. "Look at Snape."

Ron and Harry briefly turned.

"He's still a git." Ron commented.

Ginny looked at him incredulously. "You don't notice anything different?"

"He used shampoo?" Ron sniggered.

"Very funny." Hermione rolled her eyes.

"He looks different." Harry said.

Ginny blushed. "He looks... good."

Ron and Harry stared at her as though she's just professed her love for Professor Dumbledore.

"WHAT?" Ron burst. "You think... He..."

Hermione rushed to Ginny's aid. "The Plague, Ron! Snape has the Plague!"

"I can't believe you think he looks good!" Ron said indignantly.

"I don't fancy him, if that's what you're trying to say!" Ginny snapped.

"Who's the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher?" Hermione asked suddenly.

Harry suspected that she'd changed the topic on purpose, but he looked at the staff table.

His mouth dropped.

"She was at my hearing! She works for Fudge!"

Hermione's mouth was set in a grim line as she heard that.

"She's so... pink." Ginny giggled. "Symptom of the Plague?"

"She wore pink to the hearing as well." Harry assured her.

McGonagall carried in the Sorting Hat and a hush fell over the assembled students.

(AN: Insert Sorting Hat's Song here. I'm not putting that in :S )

The audience applauded, looking a little uneasy.

"What was that bit about external deadly foes?" Ginny asked nervously. "Surely it doesn't mean... the Plague?"

Hermione looked anxious. "This can't be good. Has it ever done this before?"

Nearly-Headless Nick floated over. "It certainly has. Whenever it feels that the school is in danger."

He fell quiet as the Sorting began.

Slowly, the long line of first years thinned. Harry and Ron were starving. Harry could see Luna at the Ravenclaw table, staring at her bowl, longing for pudding.

Finally, Dumbledore stood up and beamed. "To our newcomers, welcome! To our old hands- welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

"Hear, hear." Ron said heartily, as food appeared on the table.

"Do you ever stop eating?" Fred asked, fascinated. "Hi, Hermione." He winked.

Ron choked on his turkey. Harry patted him reassuringly on the back.

Ron glanced accusingly at Fred and Hermione, and continued to eat.

"So, Potter." A voice drawled behind him. Harry suppressed a sigh.

"Back for another year at Hogwarts are you? Look at Dumbledore, that old coot. Hogwarts really has gone to the dogs."

"'Ey!" Ron said, with his mouth full. "Nobody cares! Why don't you go eat your food?"

Draco wrinkled his nose. "As if I could eat this... rubbish. Wait till my father hears about the food they serve here."

Harry couldn't resist a jibe. "Too bad your father works for Voldemort, huh?"

The people around fell silent. Neville craned his neck to listen in.

"Watch your tongue, Potter." Draco sneered. "Then again, with the company you keep," He nodded at Hermione. "It's no wonder it's filthy."

"Lay off, Malfoy!" Ron snapped.

Draco smirked. "You've got yourself a boyfriend, Hermione. Surely even you could do better."

He stalked off, leaving Hermione wondering whether she'd just been complimented by Draco Malfoy.

"Know what," Ron said irritatedly. "Why don't you do Malfoy's list, Hermione? Since he's so fond of you."

Hermione glared at him. "I am not fond of him!"

Harry sighed. "Could you two just... relax? I'll do Malfoy's list, okay?"

Hermione noticed that Ginny was staring at something. She nudged Ginny.

Ginny noticed Hermione's questioning look and blushed. "Er, nothing."

Hermione looked in the direction Ginny had been staring in. The Slytherin table was at the far end, and Malfoy had just sat down and was laughing with his friends. He looked up and caught her eye.

Hermione's cheeks turned red and she looked away. When she glanced again, he was smirking at her.

"Harry." Hermione said in a low voice.

Harry turned questioningly.

"I think you should give Draco a 2 on acting out of character."

Harry raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He pulled out the checklist.

Hermione glanced at Ron talking animatedly to Fred and George. Nothing too out of character.

She looked up at the staff table, to see if she could spot any differences. Sitting at the staff table, she noticed Snape staring at her. He immediately looked away when she saw him, but Hermione was officially creeped out.

(AN: Yes, Hermione is going to be a major Mary-Sue! She's one of the most popular ones, isn't she. Gods, I hate reading Hermione Mary-Sue's. People need to realise that she is in no way a super-flirt. Maybe a little, but... ah, I'm rambling :P )

Ginny looked a little put out as she meddled with her treacle. Neville was leaning across to talk to Ron. Harry looked deep in though, and extremely worried.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked him.

He shook his head. "It's the bloody Plague."

"Sh!" Ginny warned. "Dumbledore's going to make a speech."

Hermione fell silent and they turned to the staff table.

Dumbledore smiled at all of them, all though it was slightly forced. "Before I commence, I would like to announce a new transfer student. The Ministry has especially requested for her to be here. She will be starting her fifth year, so will you all please welcome, Marietta-Sue!"

A collective gasp ran through the Great Hall as the new student apparated into the castle.

AN: Heh, heh. Suspennnse ;) Well, leave a review, PLEASE. I NEED REVIEWS TO UPDATE! Hugs and kisses xoxo