The Sorting Hat (A/N: OH YEAH!)
"The first years, Professor McGonagall." Said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." Professor McGonagall's sharp voice came.
She pulled the door open wide and led them across the flagged stone floor. It was noisy, as the rest of the school had already arrived, as usual. She gave them a lecture about the banquet, and about the sorting.
Harry was bored. Ron wasn't much fun to hang around with.
"I'm going to talk to Malfoy." Harry said to Ron and went off.
"Hey Draco. You want to be in Slytherin, right?" Harry said to Draco.
"Yeah, what's it to you?" Draco said, sneering.
"How about you?" Harry said to Blaise, who was standing behind Draco.
"Me? Slytherin definitely. In my opinion, it's the coolest house out of all." Blaise said.
"Really? Don't you want to be in Gryffindor?" Harry asked.
"Gryffindor? Why would I-" Blaise started but was rudely interrupted by several people, who screamed.
Harry knew why they had screamed, but he still flinched.
He turned around and saw about twenty ghosts- the ghosts of Hogwarts. It had been a while since he had seen them. He had missed them a lot.
He almost called out to Nearly Headless Nick when he remembered himself in time and stopped himself.
"Whoa! Who are they?" Harry said, pretending to not know them.
"I think they're ghosts." Draco said curtly.
"That's cool." Harry said nonchalantly.
"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall said. "Now, form a line and follow me." She said to the first years.
Everyone formed a line, Harry in between Draco and Blaise. They walked into the Great Hall, and Harry looked up to see the ceiling, which had been bewitched to look like the sky outside.
Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on a four legged stool, and everyone stared at it, eagerly.
Then the Sorting Hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Huflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you're a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
"The hat's pretty cool, don't you think so?" Harry asked to Blaise.
"Well, wizards can do anything, and I've seen much cooler things before." Blaise said.
"Just because you've seen cooler things before, doesn't actually mean that that isn't cool." Harry said.
"I guess that's true…" Blaise said, thinking. "So, what house do you want to be in?"
"Me? Gryffindor." Harry said simply.
"Malfoy, Draco." Professor McGonagall's voice rang through the Great Hall.
"That's me. Wish me luck!" Draco said.
"Good luck." Blaise and Harry said as Draco walked up to the hat. He picked it up and put it on. This time though, it took longer then he had in the other tense. But at last the hat called out, "Slytherin!" and Draco went to the Slytherin table, smirking.
Finally, Harry's name was pronounced, "Potter, Harry." And the familiar whispering rang through out the Great Hall.
"Did she say Potter, Harry?"
"The Harry Potter?"
"Harry Potter as in the Chosen One?"
"Yeah… he was supposed to come around now, wasn't he?"
"I can't believe it's the Harry Potter."
Harry walked up towards the Sorting Hat and put it on, expecting the worst.
Ah… I see, you've fallen through the veil, haven't you? You're not the first.
What do you mean by that? Harry thought.
What was his name again? I think he had a colour for his last name? White? Black? Anyway, he was sorted into Gryffindor again.
Sirius Black? Harry thought excitedly
Yes, that's the name! You should see Professor Dumbledore after this. I will tell him. Do not forget.
Yes er… sir? Mr. Hat? Harry thought.
Sir is fine. Anyway, since you were in Gryffindor before… GRYFFINDOR!
Harry grinned as he took his hat off and walked towards the Gryffindor table that he was oh so familiar with.
"We got Potter, we got Potter! Congrats Harry!" The twins shouted.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry called out.
"Hello Harry." Professor Dumbledore, with those familiar twinkling blue eyes of his.
"We need to use your Pensieve." Harry said.
"No need, Harry, no need." Professor Dumbledore said.
"But… why not?" Harry asked, confused.
"Well, first of all, I need to tell you something. Sirius changed a few things here. Things happened and he was also back in Year One. And… although we know that Peter Pettigrew is guilty, he hasn't been caught yet, because we didn't manage to get Scabbers yet. And, although I believe Sirius, and although his memories of what happened in the other tense is still there, you can't see them in the Pensieve for some really weird reason. We didn't expect you to come Harry, but I think the results will be the same. Don't worry, the Sorting Hat can look into your memories, and therefore see what happened. And with Occlumency, I could tell that Sirius wasn't lying." Dumbledore explained.
"That's… a lot to take in." Harry said at last.
All of this information was shocking him.
"Wait. Could I meet Sirius?" Harry asked.
"I'm sorry, Harry but at this point it might be hard to meet up with him." Dumbledore said sadly.
"I can see him through the fire, we did that before." Harry said.
"No, Harry. After Sirius came many things changed. The Ministry is keeping a close eye on all of Hogwarts fires, even mine. I'm sorry." Dumbledore said.
"Can you meet him though?" Harry asked.
"No. Even I can not." Dumbledore said.
Harry sighed. He had been thinking of using Dumbledore to ask Sirius for the mirror that could help him and Sirius communicate… He would actually use it this time, unlike before.
"Can't we apparate?" Harry asked.
"You can't apparate in or out of Hogwarts. It's in Hogwarts, a History." Dumbledore said.
That was what Hermione had told him several times and yet he still couldn't remember. What a shame.
"Too bad." Harry said, sighing.
"We need to talk more about this. Right now is not the time, unfortunately. You must hurry and go to your common room. Everyone must already be there." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Can you tell the Order. Including Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked.
"No. This must be kept a secret." Professor Dumbledore said gravely. "Anyway, we'll talk about why later."
"But-" Harry said.
"Now you must be off!" Dumbledore said.
Harry sighed and walked to the Gryffindor Common Room.
A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short! Have a great Family Day! With your family! Get off the computer and spend your time with your family. Tell them that you love them! But before you do that, review, follow and favourite! :P