I'm trying to find a better way

but I'm trapped, can't get away

All I think is about yesterday

I could die

Maybe I'm insane

walking on a wire

maybe I'm the same

Nothing can take me higher

I can't feel my heart

but I feel the shame

Nothing left to say

soon I'll fade away

-Korn I'm Hiding


Chapter Four: The Sorting Ceremony

The train had started to slow down as it reached Hogsmeade station. Ron took a feel breath and found himself feeling scared. Hermione sensed his fear and grabbed his hand.

"If you want to wait until everybody is off, we can." said Hermione.

Ron smiled slightly. "No, I'll be okay. I'll be here the next nine months so I need to get used to this shit."

George came by the cabin with a couple Hufflepuff seventh years. "Come on you two lovebirds. The first jump is the hardest." he said trying to force a grin to encourage his baby brother.

Ron stood up, still holding Hermione's hand. He looked at her with worry and fear that he couldn't hide anymore. Hermione stood on her her tiptoes and kissed Ron deeply.

"You have your brother, sister, and Harry here with you Ron. And of course you have me. You'll always have me. It's going to be okay. We will do this together okay?" said Hermione soothingly as she caressed Ron's cheek

Ron nodded , enjoying the feeling of Hermione around him. He gathered up all the Gryffindor courage he could and stepped off of the train with Hermione and George.

He looked up at the castle. From Hogsmeade, it still looked the same as it did the first night they arrived in their first year. You could even see Gryffindor tower with all of the lights shining through the windows, and well as the astronomy tower.

Looking at the castle now felt bittersweet. This was indeed his home away from home and he felt himself feeling horrible for actually loving the fact that he could go back to it one last time.

Fred couldn't.

A tear had escaped his right eye and had fallen slowly down his cheek. As well as another. Hermione noticed this and reached up to gently wipe them away.

"You can do this love." she said sweetly and strongly. "We can do this."

Ron looked down at the rock and the hope that was his wonderful girlfriend. "Thanks Mione." he whispered, missing her sweetly on the forehead as he took her hand once again in his.

A good lengths ahead, sitting in a carriage, Ginny found herself overflowing with emotions. The sight of the castle brought back the best as well as the worst memories she had. She was happy to be back and to be able to come back but she was mournful because not only did Fred die here, but her best friend Colin wouldn't be here with her any longer. They had discussions of their last year together at Hogwarts and how they were going to rule as the next prince and princess of Gryffindor after Harry, Ron, and Hermione graduated. They had debate themselves to be Head Boy and Head girl when they were only in 4th year. Colin was like another close sibling to her and it broke her heart for him not to be around anymore.

She was also at a war with herself over what her and Draco went through in secret over her sixth year. People had more than likely seen the two of them closer to each other at a glance, but no one in Hogwarts knew exactly how close the two of them were and why they were like that. And with what they had both done, what they had sent through, the angst of it all, it was too much to bare. She both regretted and missed what the two of them had at the same time.

It didn't help the situation that at that very moment it seemed like the only comfort she wanted, was from Draco himself. Though she would never admit it.

"Well well, if it isn't my favorite Gryffindor." said a silky smooth voice coming from outside the carriage. Ginny smiled and scooted over to make room for Blaise Zabini to sit down beside her. He took her into a brotherly embrace, the warmth of him causing Ginny to tear up even more.

During her sixth year Ginny and Blaise had developed a bit of a brother/sister type relationship. Blaise was there for her through the challenges she went through especially when Draco wasn't around. He had wiped her tears, healed her wounds (even though some of them he was forced to actually give her sometimes by the Carrows), listened to her stories and had been protective of her as much as he possibly could. And he was the only one that could properly be there for her through her ordeal with Draco, as he was the only person who knew for certain what was going on.

"I can't believe you came back." said Ginny, her voice cracking a little.

Blaise smiled his extremely handsome smile showing his perfectly straight and exceptionally white teeth. "Now I know you didn't think I would leave you here all by yourself did you Red? Besides, I didn't learn a damn thing last school year. Plus I couldn't abandon Drayke."

Ginny rolled her eyes at Blaise's nickname for Draco. "So how was your summer?" asked Ginny quickly, trying to keep the subject from going to Draco.

"Dismal. If you haven't heard, another husband has been offed so my mum went off somewhere to vacation with his galleons. So I was by myself for a lot of the summer." said Blaise.

"You should have written to me Blaise. You could have easily came over and spent the summer with us. Mum adores you." said Ginny crossing her arms.

You know the farm and country life isn't for me Red." laughed Blaise. "Though your mum's pies were very much missed. I was fine. I spent two weeks traveling with Draco."

"You sure are bringing up his name a lot." groaned Ginny.

Blaise smirked and rolled his eyes at the girl. The two of them were impossible. "So I take it the two of you still haven't made up."

"You say that as if you thought we would."

"I figured that you would, yes."

"Blaise..."

'Hear me out." said Blaise, putting his hand up. "Why don't you two try to work it out? Its obvious that you care for each other despite events."

"I don't care for him at all." said Ginny sounding very unsure.

Blaise chuckled. "You two are the bloody worst to each other. I'll leave you alone for now about it Red."

"I certainly appreciate that."


Harry got into the carriage with Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dean, and Seamus. He was very happy to see his other dormmates but he couldn't help but feel as if he didn't want to be part of the conversation.

He looked over at Seamus and noticed the scar that he had gotten on his face during the battle. It was a cursed scar that glowed red. Seamus had long since accepted it and throughout the summer even took advantage of it, telling the story of how he had gotten it to impress other witches.

Dean and Harry had become almost as close as he and Ron because of the weeks spent at Shell Cottage. Dean had done a lot during the battle, but unlike his best mate Seamus. He stayed humble about it and really didn't speak on it unless someone asked and even then he didn't divulge much. He didn't want to come back to Hogwarts, but it was his mother that wanted to see him finish his education.

Neville had decided to come back despite his grandmother wanting him to stay at home. He was excited to be back amongst his friends and fellow battlemates and most of all, excited to see a certain dreamy eyed witch.

As Harry listened to Dean talk about his summer with the others, he looked up at Gryffindor tower. That seemed to be the only place not touched by the battle. He felt a lump in his throat as he looked upon it. That was his home. His escape from the Dursleys, the place where he and his friends would sit and talk about everything from girls to Quidditch. Pranks were played, relationships were formed as well as broken. Plots and schemes were hatched.

As the carriages got closer to the entrance, Harry started to feel like a first year all over again. The pathway almost looked new, with trees missing and some boulders added from the battle.

And then the gates appeared.

They looked as if they were never crashed into my a giant. Every golden piece was in place.

The six got out of the carriage and looked up at the castle. It looked as if no evil had touched it. If there was a battle here, the only want you would know is if you were a part of it.

Harry actually found it to be a bit insulting. And looking at the faces of the others, they must have shared the same thought.

They left their trunks and animals (Trevor, Pigwidgeon, and Crookshanks) at the gate where everyone else had left theirs. They walked the long pathway into the big entrance doors, and turned the corner to enter the great hall.

It was just as enchanting as it usually was, with the ceiling twinkling with stars and there were a few clouds in the bewitched sky. The four house tables were set up like usual, as well as the teacher's table and and Headmaster's podium. It then hit Harry how this would be his first school year without Dumbledore as the Headmaster. That caused another lump to swell up in Harry's throat.

The students sat down and waited for the first years to be sorted. Gryffindor had gained at least 15 new students, Ravenclaw got 12, Hufflepuff got 16, and Slytherin got 11.

They thought it was all over but Professor McGonagall had stayed with the Sorting Hat still sitting on the stool.

"This year at Hogwarts we are going to start something that Professor Dumbledore had spoke about doing for years. Sixth and Seventh year student, even the ones returning to their seventh year, will be allowed to be resorted if they so choose."

The room erupted with conversation. McGonagall allowed it for a few moments and then put her hand up for the room to get quiet.

"Now the Professor always believed that people grew and changed their mindsets and ways as they got older so we have decided that the age 16 would be a good determining age of change. You don't have to be sorted if you are comfortable in your house. However, those that want to may line up. Don't see this as a betrayal to your house. Some may get sorted right back in. See this as an opportunity to rediscover yourselves. If by after the holidays you do not wish to remain in the different house, you are more than welcome to go back to your original house."

"Now with the new sorting you will be able to share breakfast and lunch with your friends from other houses but each dinner you are to sit with your house as its always has been. You are to be in your common rooms, no exceptions."

The room started getting loud with conversation once again. Of the sixth years, Emilie Warren, Jessica Bess, and Tyler Macmillan of Ravenclaw, no sixth year Hufflepuffs or Slytherins, and Dennis Creevey and Romilda Vane of Gryffindor stood to be resorted.

Ginny thought that the idea had potential and decided to take a chance. As did Dean, Seamus, and Parvati Patil of Gryffindor, Zacharias Smith of Hufflepuff, Theodore Nott, Cameron Harper, and Tracey Davis of Slytherin, and Luna Lovegood, Padma Patil, and Terry Boot of Ravenclaw.

Harry also thought that this would be an interesting experiment so he too stood up, much to the shock of Ron and Hermione.

All of the sixth years with the exception of Dennis and Romilda were resorted back into their houses. Dennis was sorted into Hufflepuff, while Romilda was sorted into Slytherin. A move that Harry thought suited the girl. He hasn't trusted her since the love potion incident.

Luna and Zacharias became Gryffindors. Neville was very much ecstatic. Dean was sorted into Hufflepuff along with Tracey. Parvati was resorted back into Gryffindor, and Padma was sorted into Gryffindor as well, the twins finally in the same house together. Seamus was sorted into Slytherin ("No surprise there" said Ron to Hermione who agreed) Cameron, Theo, and Terry were resorted back into their houses.

When Ginny approached the stool she suddenly became nervous. She felt herself ready to go back and sit down but she glanced over at Hermione, who gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs up. She nodded and sat on the stool, allowing McGonagall to place the hat on her head.

"Ah! The girl Weasley has returned. Just as much spirit as ever as well as Gryffindor courage. You still are as stubborn and as fiery as ever. I also see a new ambition in you, and your cunning ways have become more apparent. However I sense much confusion in you. Confusion that I believe you would work out well in..."

"SLYTHERIN!" cried out the hat.

Ginny sat there wide eyed. Ron jumped up and shouted no while the rest of Gryffindor gasped. Ginny walked over slowly to the Slytherin table and sat beside Blaise, who looked ecstatic for his friend to be in the same house as him. Pansy glared at the new arrival with hate in her eyes. Daphne gave her a sympathetic smile, while Draco gave her a small grin, which Ginny looked down from.

It became eerily quiet as Harry sat on the stool. McGonagall herself was hesitant to put the hat on his head.

"Back again Harry Potter. Savior of the wizarding world. Still as brave, talented, impulsive, and loyal as ever. I still see that thirst to prove yourself. And the want to achieve your goals by any means necessary. I still stand by what I said in your first year, dear boy. Where oh where should I put you?"

Harry looked at Ron, Hermione, and George, the three looking nervous for him. He then looked down and closed his eyes tight.

"Do as you feel." whispered Harry.

"SLYTHERIN!" yelled the hat immediately.