All a Dream
Chapter 15
Draco looked at Harry with concern. "Is everything alright, Harry? You look kind of mad."
"Oh," Harry was a bit taken back. Draco had never before taken an interest in how he was feeling. "No, I'm just trying to think. I remember you totally differently."
"Hmm..." Draco seemed interested now. "You probably wouldn't remember me well, no. I mean, you were only one when Oldie Voldie came after you. So, I believe introductions are in order. I'm Drake Malfoy. Our mums work in the same department at the Ministry of Magic." Harry blinked once. So this person was, quite basically, the real Draco Malfoy. The 'fake Draco' had been like a doppelganger, the evil twin. Even the names were different, if only slightly.
"Wow," said Harry. "What house are you in?"
"Ravenclaw, seventh year, had to start a year late," Drake replied. "Oh, here are the firsties. See you." And he hurried off to the table across the hall as the large group of first years entered the Great Hall, all of them looking rather nervous. Harry caught sight of Erin in the small mob, and she looked absolutely terrified, shaking from head to toe.
"Attention, attention please!" shouted Remus over the students. "When I call your name, you will sit on this chair and put on the Sorting Hat. But now, a few words from our...um...sponsor."
Remus placed the Sorting Hat on the chair, but the Sorting Hat did not sing. Instead, it said, "That's right. I'm a hat. I shouldn't be able to speak, but let's face it; I'm not your regular hat. No, I'm going to look in your head, whisper your strongest qualities in your ear, and then say in which house you belong: Gryffindor, bravery and chivalry; Hufflepuff, loyalty and diligence; Ravenclaw, wit and wisdom; and Slytherin, cleverness and ambition." With each house listed, the said table would cheer. "Now let the Sorting begin!"
Harry paid little attention until his sister's name was called.
"Potter, Erin."
His little sister pushed through the crowd to get to the stool. Halfway, she stumbled a bit and blushed a deep pink right up to her hairline. Erin sat on the chair, placed the hat on her head and waited. It was only a few seconds before the Sorting Hat shouted out "Hufflepuff!" Surprised, Erin took off the hat and walked the short distance to the Hufflepuff table, a slightly blank look on her face. The Hall all clapped politely, the rest of the Potters bewildered. This was, evidently, the first time a Potter had been sorted out of Gryffindor. Harry decided to keep unprejudiced; after all, he had nearly been sorted into Slytherin. All this meant was that Erin was a hard worker, and was dedicated. Those were both excellent qualities, not to be overlooked.
But still, it was a bit of a shock.
.:. :.: .:.
The next morning, classes began. Harry had Defence Against the Dark Arts first, and he couldn't wait to see Remus. Next, he had double Transfiguration with Professor Delgado, and then Potions with Professor Snape. Potions would be interesting, because this Snape would probably be very different from the Snape Harry knew, and he had no idea what to expect.
The DADA class was huge. It seemed like half the seventh year students from each house wanted to continue Defence, so the class had twice the number of students it should have.
Professor Lupin looked amazingly happy as he walked into the classroom. He didn't look all that tired, not like Harry recalled, and his hair was slightly lighter, and less grey.
"Wands out, books away, please put your bags by the door." While the DADA class was placing their bags in a haphazard pile, Professor Lupin was vanishing the desks.
"Um, Professor?" asked one student, her hand raised.
"Yes, Alanna?"
"Won't we need the desks later, for other classes?"
"Naturally. I have just moved them to the potions facility for now."
The class laughed a bit. Harry was confused. Surely Snape would be irate if Lupin had put approximately forty extra desks in his classroom, right at the beginning of a class. Wouldn't he?
"And so the year begins with another fine prank," Stew muttered, grinning widely.
"They're always like this?" Harry asked his brother.
"Oh, yeah, Snape'll have done something before this class is done, just wait," Stew chuckled. "It's all friendly stuff, see. It's never gotten out of control."
"Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of the class, Stew?"
"Just explaining something to my brother, Professor."
Professor Lupin smiled. "Ah yes, welcome back, Harry. The jokes are nothing to worry about, they happen every day without fail.
"Today we start with Patronises..."
A/N: How did you like it? Was it horrible? Tolerable? Awesome?
Oh, I'm now taking requests as to what should happen next. I expect to see a huge amount of e-mails in my inbox over the next week. I'll probably mix it up a little. But, for the next long time I'm not going to be able to write, because I'm going to visit my grandparents and other miscellaneous family. Fun, but not much computer access.
Oh, and check out my fic Thomas Marvolo Riddle. It's fun. And then vote. PLEASE! Reviews are accepted with open arms, too. And thanks to those who already reviewed. :)
