The Great Hall looked the same as she remembered. The high ceiling reflected the night's sky and candles floated around lazily. The four House tables were back in their proper places in the middle of the room. At the end of the room, the professors sat down at the High Table and began conversing together in low tones.

Professor Flitwick jumped up from his seat and waved a few students over to him, whispering something in their ears. They nodded in agreement and ran to their places in the choir box. With a wave of his wand, the students began singing the school song; the sound soothed Ginny's ragged nerves. They might not have their frogs with them, but they still sounded beautiful to her—even if it was a silly song that reminded her too much of Professor Dumbledore.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling,

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Above the steady chorus of the choir, the hall was filled with laughter and easy conversation. The only table not taking part in the lively celebration were the Slytherins. Only a few students from that House had returned for their seventh year, and many of the younger ones' parents had decided to homschool them.

The harsh glares at the far end of the room did not damper the rest of the student's cheerfulness in the slightest, however. They deliberately ignored the gloomy atmosphere being projected from the silent Slytherins.

The sudden sound of the Great Hall doors creaking open startled the students, and a wave of stillness swept the room. Only soft whispers could be heard as everyone watched the first years walk forward behind a plump Professor Sprout. The young eleven year olds continued up the aisle and did not stop until they reached the foot of the High Table where a rickety four-legged wooden stool sat waiting.

McGonagall carefully placed a battered hat on the stool and stood back. The hat opened its slit near the brim and began singing a lively tune. Ginny smiled as she saw the delighted first years exchange grins with one another. She had always enjoyed the Sorting Ceremony. It was almost as if she was up there once again, waiting to be Sorted into Gryffindor.

I wonder what my life would have been like if I did not become a Gryffindor. Would I be terribly different? Or does House really matter as much as everyone seems to think it does?

Enthusiastic applause echoed through the hall as the last notes of the song rang out and slowly faded. Finally, McGonagall cleared her throat and proceeded to call the students to come up to the Sorting Hat to be sorted into their respective houses. In the end, Gryffyndor ended up with fifty-two new students, Hufflepuff with forty-two, Ravenclaw with forty-one, and Slytheryn with only twenty.

The stunned looks on the other students' faces amused Ginny when a little girl with a bright, cheerful smile ran over to the Serpent table and sat down beside a scowling Draco. The girl attempted to strike up a conversation with the young man, but he shook her off angrily. Even when he slid down a few seats, the girl followed Draco and smiled up at him. Ginny almost laughed at the horrified expression on his face when the girl snuggled up to him, her tiny arms wrapping around his waist. The other Slytherins stared at the trapped young man, their mouths hanging open incredulously.

Only the loud clap of McGonagall's hands brought their attention back to the front of the room.

"Students, I would like to welcome you all back to another year at Hogwarts. The past two and a half years have been very challenging on all of us. However, I know that if we all try to put the past aside, we can work together to build a better future."

"But first, I have a few announcements to make. Reginald Blackhurst has kindly agreed to become our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Uncertain claps echoed through the hall as the students wondered how long this teacher would last. The tall, barrel-chested man smiled at their wary expression.

"Taking over my position as Transfiguration professor will be a close friend of mine by the name of Amaylia Dingelberry. I trust that you will treat her with the same amount of respect as you did me," McGonagall added threateningly, her eyes narrowing behind thick, gold-rimmed glasses as she gazed at each individual student.

"Also, first years should note that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits to all students. Hogsmead visits by those students years three and above will start in three weeks. Do not forget that Quidditch try outs are in four weeks; be sure to rest up the night before. Thank you," she finished. Another clap of her hands had the plates overflowing with food as usual.

"I've missed the Feast," Ron commented between bites of lamb chops, his eyes sliding closed in appreciation for the juicy meat. "Mhhh, this is heavenly. Not even Mum's cooking is this good. Just don't tell her I said that or she'll send me a Howler for sure."

Neville grinned at him, while Hermione merely shook her head in half amusement, half exasperation. "Oh Ronald," she sighed, picking up her own fork and spearing a ravioli on the end.

Ginny smiled at the interaction between her friends. It was nice to be back at Hogwarts where everything seemed normal, as if the past two years had never happened. If only that were true, she thought with a sigh, poking at her own food. Suddenly, the feeling of being watched made her glance up warily. She was startled to find a pair of cool grey eyes staring back at her from across the hall.

Draco silently cursed himself as he jerked his gaze back down to his plate. Blast my curiosity! Why can't I get her out of my head? She's nothing special, just another red-haired, freckle-faced Weasley.

Therein was the lie, however. She was special. There was just something about her that drew him in like a moth to a flame. One of us is going to get burned, and I don't intend to let it be me. Suddenly, he realized how melodramatic he was being and winced. Get a grip, Draco, he commanded himself. This is pure rubbish. She's the little She-Weasel, nothing more. So stop thinking about her!

A tug on his robe sleeve brought his attention back to the annoying life form beside him. The girl smiled up at him, stubborn cheerfulness shinning in her big blue eyes. "The others told me that your name is Malfoy. I tried to introduce myself earlier, but it's hard to talk to someone who just glares at you," she stated matter-of-factly, blinking her eyes slowly.

Draco scowled at her and ripped his robe out of her grasp. "Why don't you just go and bother someone else? I have no time for little girls who like to annoy their older housemates." Under his breath, he muttered that the Sorting Hat was clearly going senile and had sorted her into the wrong House. She's a dumb 'Puff, not a cunning Serpent, he mused with a sharp glance at her.

The girl frowned, her brow furrowing. "But you look lonely. I didn't want you to feel sad," she replied. Her innocent happiness was beginning to drive him mad. She's like a Bat Bogey Hex that just won't dry up!

"Look, kid, I don't care what you think you know about me. You have no idea who I am. I'm a vicious Death Eater who knows five hundred curses that would turn you inside out. Now scram!" snarled Draco angrily, trying to shove her away.

With a startled yelp, the girl clutched her hand to her chest and hastily scrambled out of her seat. As he gazed at her retreating form, Draco felt a small flicker of shame at hurting her; he had honestly only meant to get her away from him, not twist her wrist, but it worked either way. He was alone once more, empty seats surrounding him on every side. However, his already small appetite seemed to have deserted him completely after that display of aggression he did not know he still had in him.

Sighing to himself like an old man, Draco pushed off the table and stalked out of the room, headed for the privacy of his new common room. This is going to be a long year...


While the Deputy Head(master/mistress) usually leads the first years out, Professor Sprout is not the new Deputy. Flitwick is, but he had to stay inside the Great Hall for the singing. Sprout is just fullfilling his role tonight.