Chapter 7

The rest of the summer went by in a haze for the heirs of Hogwarts. Neville, Hannah and Luna had all sent Hermione their puzzles and Harry had snuck into town to the post office to have them delivered. He was silently wishing he could have been there to see Snape's face when he opened his. Hermione had found a nifty spell that changed the handwriting. Now all seven notes looked as though they had been printed off of a muggle computer. As Ginny had snuck her mother's wand away for them to do the spell, not even their magical signatures would show up, as using another's wand scrambles the signature so it is unreadable.

Now they were all staring at the beautiful red engine of the Hogwarts Express smiling at each other. They knew that this year was going to be hard but oh so much fun at the same time. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny all said their goodbye's to the eldest Weasley's and boarded the train. Hermione drug Ron off to the Prefect carriage leaving Ginny and Harry to find a seat. Harry was glad that even though he had been made Quidditch captain he didn't have to attend the prefect meetings. Ginny soon found a compartment with Neville and Luna sitting in it alone. Harry helped Ginny store her trunk and sat down. His eyes met Neville's and Harry nodded his head toward the door. He then tapped on his watch to signal to Neville to wait. Harry didn't want to talk without Ron and Hermione present. Soon the train was leaving the station and the door to their compartment opened up. In walked Hannah, Ron and Hermione. Hannah went and sat on Neville's lap making him blush. Ron slumped down in a seat while Hermione closed the door and started waving her wand around. When she was done she sat down.

"Well the door has been spelled so that no one can hear what we say and I even added a notice-me-not charm on it. If any one comes looking for us they'll have a hard time."

Harry smirked and shook his head. Leave it to Hermione to want to get right down to business. Although he was smiling at the thought of Malfoy, trying to find them for his yearly 'taunt and rogering'. Hannah smiled at Hermione and scooted herself off of Neville onto the seat next to him.

"Well as we didn't get a whole lot of time to really talk in that strange dream land. I think this is good a time as any to get all our facts straight. I for one am looking forward to seeing all of the teachers running around trying to figure out who we are."

The others chuckled and Harry gave Hannah a smirk that could rival Snape's. Ron shuddered "You know mate I'm starting to think that all Slytherins are inbred with that smirk."

Harry punched Ron on his arm "Well Ron if that's the case then I will have to watch myself. I don't want to make Snape's job too easy, now do I?"

Harry and his friends discussed their summers until they arrived at the station. They found a carriage and everyone got in after giving the Threstals a friendly pat. Luna had even brought a raw steak wrapped in foil as a snack for the horse like creatures. As they were riding toward the school Hermione got the chance to ask a question that had been bothering her.

"Neville, in the prophesy we were told, it said that you would be bound in magic and in mind. What have you done to fix that?"

Neville smiled "Leave it to you Hermione to remember that little detail. Yes everything that was said is true, but when I was meditating with Merlin in the dream world he showed me how to unblock everything. So when I got up the next day I mailed you that letter and started working on what he told me. I was able to unblock my magic first. That was the hardest, after that unblocking the mind came easily. However I now see why Harry had so many problems with the Dementors in third year. As one of the memories that were blocked was of the night my parents were attacked. I had nightmares for two weeks and I always woke up the whole house as I would wake up screaming. My grandmother put it down to coming face to face with Bellatrix last year."

Harry nodded his head in understanding. He could relate to what Neville had said as he remembered hearing his mother's scream in his nightmares for weeks after the first encounter with a dementor. Then Neville got to experience another thing that he wasn't used to. Four girls all crashing into him as they all cried their hearts out. Harry saw the look on Neville's face and decided to intervene.

"Girls if there is one thing that Neville and I will always have in common are the fact that pity is not something we really like. So perhaps you can get off of poor Neville and give the guy some room to breathe."

Hermione who was used to that side of Harry suddenly felt very embarrassed. "I'm sorry Neville. I should have realized that you would probably take pity about as well as Harry."

Neville shrugged "I get pity all the time at home. 'Oh it's too bad he's not as good as his father.' Or even 'It's too bad about his parents.' And my all-time favorite 'Poor baby, it's so sad that he won't amount to anything.' If they only knew the truth it would probably kill half of my family with heart failure." Neville gave a laugh that the others joined into, glad that the tension of the moment was gone.

When they arrived at Hogwarts they all said their goodbyes to Luna and Hannah. Neville and Hannah's farewell lasted longer as there were some cute kissy scenes between them. Harry sat down at the Gryffindor table and let his gaze travel through the staff. What Harry saw made him snort. He poked Hermione in the ribs and pointed towards the staff table. When Hermione turned to look Harry threw his spoon at Ginny. She turned to glare at him and he pointed towards the staff table again. All three of them were trying to hold in their laughter at what they saw.

Professor Sprout was staring at a piece of parchment sitting in front of her. What caught their attention though was the fact that there were multiple vines in her hair and a large smudge of dirt on her left cheek. Professor Flitwick had a quill stuck behind each ear, three stuck in his beard, four stuck in his hair and one in each hand. He was furiously checking off something on a large parchment sitting in front of him. Every now and then he would unroll a smaller piece of parchment to check on something then roll it back up and go back to the larger parchment. What got to Harry the most was professor Snape. He was, like the other two, looking at a piece of parchment. He was running his hand over each line then he would pause then look to be writing down notes on a muggle notebook that was hidden from the Slytherin table by a his place setting.

Harry whispered to Hermione "Looks like they got their puzzles and it appears to be puzzling them."

Hermione shook her head "Harry you really are hopeless aren't you?"

When McGonagall walked in with the first years the seven heirs all had to stop themselves from laughing. Walking down the aisle with the first years trailing behind her, McGonagall was looking at a piece of parchment, that they all recognized as yet another logic puzzle, while she walked. She placed the puzzle on her place setting before picking up the sorting hat and its stool and placing it before the first years. The sorting hat opened the rip and began to sing a new song:

For many a year I have sorted the lot,

Now the time has come to do so again,

But this time I bring good news,

The seven heirs of Hogwarts are here.

They hide in plain sight,

But not for long.

Those who teach have been given the clues,

Now all they must do is figure it out.

But for now I shall place you where you belong.

You might be a Ravenclaw,

Where knowledge is the key.

You might belong to Gryffindor,

Where bravery is expected.

You might go to Hufflepuff,

Where the loyal find their true place.

You might rule in Slytherin,

Where the cunning find their home.

Now onto the sorting!

Harry did his best not to look shocked. He clamped down on his feelings as he shared a look with Ron. He could see that he was thinking the same thing, 'That was too close.'

After Dumbledore's usual speech, where a new potions teacher was announced to be Professor Slughorn and that professor Snape is teaching Defense classes, dinner was served. They all ate at a sedate pace to not attract too much attention. They really shouldn't have worried because as soon as dinner appeared the entire staff was bent over the parchments. Each trying their best to help their fellow teachers. Even Snape was accepting help from professor Sinestra and professor Slughorn.

After a filling meal Harry, Neville and Ginny made their way to Gryffindor tower while Ron and Hermione were helping the first years. The boys said goodnight to Ginny and made their way to their dorm. Once there Neville and Harry shared a look and immediately began laughing. They had calmed down just in time to see a tired Dean and Seamus walk in. There was no talking, even after Ron joined them complaining about snotty first years. They all climbed into bed and were asleep within minutes.

Things were not so peaceful in Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw houses however. As each house has a house meeting directly after the opening feast. There were multiple students asking to help figure out the clues that were given to their heads of house. None of the teachers were above asking for help so there was a long debate going on in each house other than Gryffindor.

Ravenclaw House

Professor Flitwick had walked into his house common room and was met with a tidal wave of noise. Once the noise had died down professor Flitwick spoke.

"Now first things first, I would like to welcome our newest Ravenclaws into the house. Now as you all seem to be interested in what the sorting hat said I will explain what I know. Yes I received an owl about two weeks ago with a logic puzzle on it. I have been able to narrow down the possibilities of who the heir is. Now as I am going about this purely non magical way I think it is safe to say I could use the help of the house. For those that wish to help me, I will think of a proper reward. Perhaps a pass for half an hour in the restricted section of the library or something similar. Then he placed the parchment down on the floor and half of his students gathered around to try and figure out the puzzle. The first years and some of the older students all went up to bed.

Hufflepuff house

Hufflepuff house was on pins and needles as they waited for their head of house. When she finally arrived they all gathered around her like a peck of chicks around the mother hen. She quieted them all down and told them to sit on the floor around her.

"Welcome to our returning Puff's and to those just now joining us. We in Hufflepuff are known as hard working and loyal. We strive to do our best in everything we do. If you have a problem please see the prefects or you can come directly to me. My door is always open to my Puff's. If you are in need of a shoulder to cry on or even just a good ear to talk off. Please do not hesitate. Now I am sure that you are curious about what the sorting hat was talking about. I am pleased to tell you that I did receive correspondence from the Heir of Hufflepuff. Now who that person is I am still not sure. I was given a logic puzzle and as I have never been one to boast about having a sharp mind for this kind of thing, I am at a complete loss. I have been trying my best to untangle this little puzzle; however I am glad that you are all here now. To show just what Hufflepuff house is all about. I would like your help in solving it. I am sure that with all of your sharp, young minds on the problem it will be solved in no time. Now I have made copies of the logic problem and they will be available to pick up in my office at any time. It is not required for any of you to help. So those in fifth and seventh year, if your work load is too much, you don't have to bother if you don't want to. Now as it is late and I need to take a shower to get these vines out of my hair. I think it is a good time for bed. Goodnight my little badgers."

With that professor Sprout stood up and walked out of the common room. She didn't realize that she would have to make even more copies as her little badgers were more than willing to help solve the puzzle. She also didn't know that a couple of her badgers had made a wager with a few Ravenclaws to see who would figure it out first.

Slytherin House

Professor Snape was not bum rushed by either noise or over anxious children when he walked into the Slytherin common room. He did see that all of his snakes sitting in a perfect semi-circle in front of the fireplace. They were quietly talking to themselves and answering questions from the nervous first years. Professor Snape smiled to himself as he watched his snakes.

"Well I am pleased to see that we have some new snakes to add to the nest. I know that a lot of you are wondering about the identity of the heir of Slytherin. If the letter I received is anything to go by I can already tell you that it is not the Dark Lord. However I have not yet figured out who this person is. Now to the important things right now is to get our newest members settled. Now Slytherin house is a house of cunning and ambition. We have many alumni in places of great power. The ministry and Wizidgament are just to name a couple. I hope to see you all in such places when you are older. Now I will rarely rake points off of our house mainly because the other teachers seem to enjoy doing that for me. I will however give you detention if the crime is bad enough to warrant it. I like to hand out detention to the other houses as much as the Headmaster likes to hand out those infernal lemon drops of his. I do this because they need to know that we are not to be ignored. The first and most important rule of Slytherin house is 'Slytherins Stick Together'. Now for those of you that are not first years or prefects you may go to bed. Prefects you know what to do."

Professor Snape now turned to the first years. "We now have each of you looked over by the school nurse. That way if there is anything wrong it can be taken care of right away. So please line up in two rows in front of the fireplace. We will be taking the floo to the infirmary."

After a long night where only one student was found to come from an abusive household, professor Snape found a list tacked to his office door. When he looked at it the first thing he saw was his first and most important rule written in bold on the top. Under that was a list of thirty student's names. On the back was a note:

Professor Snape,

We of Slytherin house have banned together. We wish to help with whatever clues this supposed Heir of Slytherin gave you. The faster we figure out who it is, the faster we can see if they are fake or real. Please let us know if you wish for us to help.

Signed

Slytherin House.

Severus Snape let a true smile cross his face as he thought 'Merlin I love this house!'