The Sorting Hat's New Song
Arthur didn't bother telling the others about the Thestrals, mainly because they'll think he's losing it since he had no proof of them. And because it was considered common knowledge that the carriages carried themselves.
"Did you all see that Grubbly-Plank woman?" Mary asked. "Why is she back here? You don't think Hagrid left, do you?"
"I'll be quite glad if he has." Luna said. "He isn't a very good teacher, is he?"
"Yes, he is!" Everyone excluding her said angrily, Arthur being the most angry of them all.
"Well, we in Ravenclaw think he's a bit of a joke." Luna replied unfazed.
"Of course you Ravenclaws think that." David spat. "You think anything that isn't up to your standards is a joke."
Luna didn't seem offended or perturbed by David's words, if anything, she just watched him for a while like he was some mildly interesting television programme.
Rattling and swaying, the carriages moved in convoy up the road. Once they passed between two stone pillars that were topped with winged boars on either side of the gates to the school grounds, Arthur leaned forwards to see Hogwarts Castle, where it loomed ever closer, a towering mass of many turrets, jet black against the dark sky with a window here and there blazing fiery bright above them.
The carriages then jingled to a halt near the stone steps that led to the oak front doors and Arthur was the first to get out of the carriage. He turned in the direction of the Forbidden Forest, only to see nothing but darkness and no lights from Hagrid's cabin.
He quickly went with the others up the stone steps and entered into the Entrance Hall, which was a ablaze with torches and echoing with footsteps as the students all crossed the flagged stone floor for the double doors to the right, which led into the Great Hall, where the start of term feast will take place.
The four long house tables in the Great Hall were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which is just like the sky they could glimpse at through the high windows. Candles also floated in mid air along the tables, illuminating the silvery ghosts that dotted around the Hall, as well as the faces of the students that all talked eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouted greetings at friends from other houses, eyeing one another new haircuts and robes.
Once more, Arthur saw people putting their heads together, whispering as he passed, which made him grit his teeth and take deep breaths through his nose to not make a scene.
Luna drifted off from them towards the Ravenclaw table.
Upon reaching the Gryffindor table, Mary was hailed by her fellow fourth years and sat with them. Arthur, David, Chrys and Mike found seats halfway down the table between Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost, and Parvati Patil and her best friend Lavender Brown, who gave airy and over friendly welcomes, clearly meaning they stopped talking about Arthur a split second previous. Arthur had more important things to worry about as he looked past the students' heads and up at the staff table, which ran along the top wall of the Hall.
"He's still on the mission." Arthur whispered to David and Chrys.
"It makes sense." David said, while Chrys bit her lip as she looked up and down the staff table.
"Who the heck the heck is that toad?" She then asked, pointing at the middle of the table.
Arthur looked and after first seeing Dumbledore, who sat at the middle of the bale in his high backed golden chair, wearing deep purple robes scattered with silvery stars and a matching hat, he saw that his head was inclined towards the woman that sat next to him, who talked into his ear.
Upon seeing that she was squat, along with having short, curly mousy brown hair, his heart sank when he realised that it had to be Umbridge, that witch at his hearing and who he suspected of sending the Dementors after him. She had a horrible pink Alice band in her hair that matched her fluffy pink cardigan she's wearing over her robes. She then turned her face slightly to sip from her goblet, revealing that pallid, toad-like face with a pair of pouchy eyes.
And his heart sank when he realised something. Umbridge is the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. This explained that theory book, as well.
"Umbridge!" Arthur snarled quietly.
"Who?" David, Chrys and Mike asked quietly.
"She was at my hearing. She also works for Fudge." Arthur explained.
"Talk about being ugly." Mike cringed.
"And I'm sure she's the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." Arthur then said, which made their hearts sink as well, knowing that if Umbridge works for Fudge, then this has to be his way to interfere with what's going on at the school.
Arthur then watched as Grubbly-Plank just appeared behind the staff table; working her way along to the very end, taking a seat that is rightfully Hagrid's. She had just led the first years across the lake and reached the castle.
A few seconds later, the door from the Entrance Hall opened up and a long line of scared looking first years entered, being led by McGonagall, who carried a stool that an ancient wizard's hat sat on, heavily patched and darned with a wide rip near the frayed brim.
The talk in the Great Hall had faded away and the first years all lined up in front of the staff table, facing the rest of the students, and McGonagall carefully placed the stool in front of them before standing back.
The faces of the first years all glowed palely in the candlelight. A small boy right in the middle of the row looked like he was trembling. It made Arthur remember how worried he was about being possibly placed in Slytherin, which gratefully didn't happen, mainly because his ancestors would've been disgusted.
The whole school waited with baited breath before the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song:
In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach!'
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach those
Whose ancestry is purest.'
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest.'
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach those
With brave deeds to their name.'
Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same.'
These differences cause little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For Instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with duelling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last three came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Where whittled down to three
Have the houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfil my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you…
Let the Sorting now begin.
The Hat now became motionless once more and applause broke out, now for the first time in Arthur's time at Hogwarts to his recollection, causing muttering and whispers from all across the Great Hall.
"That was much longer and grander than expected." David said.
"Yeah." Arthur nodded.
The Sorting Hat normally just described the different qualities of each of the four Hogwarts houses and its role of sorting the students. It never gave advice before, as far as Arthur knew.
"Did it ever give warnings like that before?" Chrys asked, sounding anxious.
"Yes, indeed." Nearly Headless Nick said knowledgeably, leaning across Neville towards her (which made Neville wince since it was uncomfortable to have a ghost go through someone). "The Hat feels itself honour bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels -"
But then McGonagall, who waited to read out the list of first years' names, gave the whispering students the kind of look that scorches. Nearly Headless Nick placed a see through finger to his lips and sat upright again as the muttering abruptly ended.
With one last frowning look that swept the four house tables, McGonagall lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment, calling out the first name.
"Abercrombie, Euan."
The terrified looking boy that Arthur noticed stumbled forwards and put the Hat on his head, which was prevented from falling down to his shoulders because of the boy's very prominent ears.
The Hat considered for a moment before the rip near the brim opened once more, shouting "Gryffindor!"
Arthur clapped loudly with the rest of Gryffindor house as Euan staggered over to their table and sat down, looking like he was about to sink through the floor, not wanting to be looked at.
Slowly, the line of first years thinned out. In the pauses between the names and the decisions made by the Sorting Hat, Arthur could hear his stomach rumble.
Finally, after "Zeller, Rose" was sorted into Hufflepuff and McGonagall picked up the Hat and stool, marching them away, Dumbledore rose to his feet.
Despite still being bitter towards the Headmaster, Arthur was soothed to see him standing before them all.
"To our newcomers…" Dumbledore said in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and with a beaming smile on his lips as he was saying his words before digging into the feast. "...welcome. To our old hands, welcome back! There is a time for speechmaking, but this is not it. Tuck in!"
There was a very appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat back down nearly and threw his long beard over his shoulder to keep it out of the way of his plate as the food all appeared seemingly out of nowhere. The five tables all groaned under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread and sauces, as well as flagons of pumpkin juice.
"About time." David said as he seized the nearest plate of chops and piled some on his plate, being watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick.
"So what were you saying about the Hat giving warnings?" Chrys asked.
"Oh, yes." Nick said, looking glad to be looking away from David, who now started eating roast potatoes. "Yes, I have heard the Hat give several warnings before, always at times, when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: stand together, be strong from within."
"But how could it know if the school's in danger?" Mike asked, very perplexed.
"I have no idea." Nick replied. "Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."
"Yeah, well, its advice would never be fulfilled with how the Slytherins behave." Arthur said coldly, looking at the Slytherin table, where Drack held court. "They'll never join the rest of us."
"Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude." Nick said reprovingly. "Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron.
"That's only because you're terrified of him." David corrected him, which caused the ghost to look highly affronted.
"Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins -"
"Just go and talk to the Creeveys if you're gonna try to get around the fact that you're scared of the Bloody Baron." David cut him off, making the ghost rise in the air, straightening his feathered hat and sweep away to join Colin and Dennis Creevey at the other end of the table.
"How rude." Chrys sternly said to David.
"Hey, he's the one who won't admit he's afraid of another ghost." David retorted before he continued digging into his food.
Arthur decided to just chat with Mike since David and Chrys bickering is considered a bit of norm. He ate through his steak and kidney pie and then a bowl of rice pudding.
Once the students had all finished eating and the noise level in the Hall crept upwards again, Dumbledore got to his feet again. This ceased all talking immediately as everyone looked up at the Headmaster. Arthur was now feeling pleasantly drowsy from all the food and now just wanted to go sleep in his four poster bed.
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start of term notices." Dumbledore said. "First years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out of bounds to all students, and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too. (this made the trio all exchange knowing smirks)
"Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door. We have two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures, we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Despite there being applause, it was polite and unenthusiastic. The trio all exchanged panicked looks as Dumbledore made no mention of how long Grubbly-Plank would be teaching.
Dumbledore continued "Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the -"
He broke off, looking inquiringly at Umbridge. She wasn't much taller when standing and Dumbledore didn't understand why Dumbledore stopped talking until Umbridge cleared her throat "Hem, hem" and it was clear she got to her feet to make a speech.
Dumbledore looked very taken aback for a moment before he sat down smartly, looking alertly at her, like he desired something other than to listen to her speak. Other members of staff didn't even bother hiding their surprise. Professor Sprout's eyebrows disappeared into her flyaway hair and McGonagall's mouth was the thinnest Arthur had ever seen.
Arthur understood and sympathised with them. Umbridge had no right to interrupt Dumbledore at all, regardless of her being from the Ministry. He held back a growl, noticing how many students were smirking. This stupid toad had no idea how things are done at Hogwarts.
"Thank you, Headmaster…" Umbridge simpered. "...for those kind words of welcome."
Her words were high pitched, breathy and downright girlish, all sparking that gut instinct in Arthur once more. That she's just putting on an act to hide her true evil self. And he just despised her in every way, from her stupid voice, her toadish face and even her fluffy pink cardigan.
She gave another throat clearing cough ("hem, hem") and continued on.
"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing her very pointed teeth."And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!"
Arthur looked around and no one looked happy at all, if anything, they were all just taken aback by her speaking to them as though they were five years old, which Arthur felt was just insulting.
"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"
Students exchanged looks at this, some barely concealing their grins.
"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan." Parvati whispered to Lavender, the two lapsing into silent giggles.
Umbridge cleared her throat again ("hem, hem"), which now irritated Arthur, and when continuing, some of her breathiness vanished from her voice, now sounding more business-like and her words had a dull learned by heart sound to them.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the wizarding community must be passed down the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."
Umbridge paused here, making a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of them bowing back. McGonagall's dark eyebrows had now contracted so that she looked hawk-like and she exchanged a significant glance with Sprout while Umbridge made another "hem hem" and went on.
"Every Headmaster and Headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weight task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress' sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation…."
Arthur was truly getting bored of this stupid speech and the quiet that normally filled the Hall when Dumbledore spoke now broke as students put their hands together, whispering and giggling.
Over at the Ravenclaw table, Cho was chatting animatedly to her friends. A few seats along, Luna got out The Quibbler once more.
At the Hufflepuff table, Ernie Macmillan was one of the few still staring at Umbridge, but he was glassy eyed, clearly pretending to listen to try and live to him being a Prefect.
Umbridge didn't seem to notice how restless her audience was restless. Arthur felt like if a full scale riot were to break out from under her nose, she'd just continue through her speech regardless.
The teachers all listened attentively and Chrys was drinking every word Umbridge was saying, and she didn't like them based on her expression.
"...because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognised as errors of judgement. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."
She finally sat down and Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Arthur saw that several of them brought their hands together once or twice before stopping. A few of the students joined in, while most were unaware the speech ended, not having listened to most of it.
Before they could applaud properly, Dumbledore stood.
"Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating." He said, bowing to her. "Now, as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held…."
"Definitely illuminating." Chrys said in a low voice.
"So what was she saying, exactly?" David asked, clearly having not listened. Mike didn't either, based on his bored expression.
"She's saying that the Ministry will be interfering at Hogwarts, which is not good, thanks to Fudge."
There was now a great clattering and banging all around them as Dumbledore had just dismissed the school since everyone stood to leave the Hall.
Chrys jumped to her feet, as well as David.
"We're supposed to be showing the first years where to go."
"Right." David said.
A group of the first years all walked shyly up the gap between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables, all trying not to lead the group.
They all seemed pretty small, making Arthur think if he was that small when he first arrived. He watched them and saw a blonde boy next to Euan Abercrombie look petrified before nudging Euan and whispering something in his ear. This made Euan look equally frightened and made a horrified look at Arthur, who looked away at the gullible first years.
"See you two later." He told David and Chrys as he made his way out of the Great Hall with Mike, trying to ignore all the whispering, staring and pointing as he passed.
With Mike by his side, he just kept his eyes forward as he walked through the crowd in the Entrance Hall, making his way up the marble staircase.
He expected this kind of thing when he'd go back to Hogwarts since all these people were just too scared and too stupid to believe what the Daily Prophet and Fudge said about him and Dumbledore. Of course, the end of fourth year didn't allow any time to give a detailed explanation of what happened that night of the third task of the Triwizard Tournament.
Arthur and Mike had reached the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor common room and came to a halt in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, waiting for someone to come with whatever the password was.
"Arthur, Mike, I know it!" Neville's voices panted up behind them, jogging towards them. "Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once." He waved his stunted little cactus that he showed on the train. "Mimbulus mimbletonia!"
The Fat Lady's portrait swung open towards them like a door, revealing a circular hole in the wall behind, which the three boys climbed through.
The Gryffindor common room looked as welcoming as it ever has been, a large and cosy circular tower room full of dilapidated squishy armchairs and a couch in front of the fire as well as rickety old tables. The fire crackled merrily in the grate and a few people warmed their hands by it before going up to their dormitories.
On the other side of the room were Jack and Kevin who pinned something up on the noticeboard. Arthur and Mike waved them goodnight before heading straight for the door to the boys' dormitories, not being in the mood to talk at the moment. Neville followed after them.
Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were already in the dormitory and were in the middle of covering the walls beside their beds with posters and photographs. They talked as Arthur pushed the door open but abruptly stopped upon seeing him.
"Hi." He said, moving over to his trunk and opening it.
"Hey, Arthur." Dean said, putting on a pair of pyjamas in West Ham colours. "Good holiday?"
"It was fine." Arthur muttered, not even wanting to go into detail. "You?"
"Yeah, it was okay." Dean chuckled. "Better than Seamus', anyway, he was just telling me."
"Why, what happened, Seamus?" Neville asked as he placed his plant tenderly on his bedside cabinet.
Seamus didn't answer immediately, trying to get his poster of the Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch team straight.
His back was still turned to Arthur when he finally said "Me mam didn't want me to come back."
"What?" Arthur and Mike asked at the same time as they finished pulling their robes off.
"She didn't want me to come back to Hogwarts." Seamus said, now turning away from his poster and pulling his pyjamas out from his trunk, still not looking at Arthur.
"Why?" Arthur asked, knowing that his mother was a witch, so he didn't understand at first.
Seamus didn't answer until he finished buttoning his pyjamas.
"Well." He said in a measured voice. "I suppose… because of you?"
"Excuse me?" Arthur frowned as Mike looked at Seamus with a frown as well.
"Well…" Seamus said, still avoiding Arthur's eyes. "...she… er… well, it's not just you, it's Dumbledore, too…."
"So she believes the Daily Prophet?" Arthur growled. "She thinks that I'm some liar and that Dumbledore's some old fool, doesn't she?"
Seamus now looked up at him.
"Yeah, something like that."
Arthur screwed his face up in annoyance as he threw his wand onto his bedside table and angrily stuffed his uniform into his trunk before pulling out his pyjamas, putting them on.
He was just sick and tired of people staring at and talking about him all the time. If any one of them knew what had happened and had the faintest inkling of what it felt like to be the one that all these things happened to… Mrs Finnigan, all of them, had no idea… idiots.
Arthur got into his bed, as did Mike, and was about to pull the hangings around his bed closed when Seamus said "Look… what did happen that night when… you know, when… with Cedric Diggory and all?"
Seamus sounded nervous yet eager. Dean, who bent over his trunk to retrieve a slipper, went oddly still. He was listening hard.
"Why ask me?" Arthur retorted coolly. "Just read the Daily Prophet like your mother and every other scare and stupid person and they'll tell you what you need to know."
"Don't you have a go at my mother." Seamus snapped.
"I'll have a go at anyone who thinks I'm a liar." Arthur snapped back.
"Don't talk to me like that!"
"I'll talk to you how I want." Arthur said, his temper now rising to the point that he grabbed his wand. "If you can't stand sharing a dormitory with me, go ask McGonagall to move so that your stupid momma can stop worrying -"
"Leave my mother out of this, Pendergast!"
"YOU BROUGHT HER INTO THIS!" Arthur roared at him.
"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?"
David appeared in the doorway with a frown, looking back and forth from Arthur, who pointed his wand at Seamus, to Seamus, who stood with his fists raised.
"He's having a go at my mother!" Seamus yelled.
"And why would he do that?" David asked.
"Because his mother started believing all the garbage the Daily Prophet is writing about me!" Arthur said at the top of his voice.
"I see." David said, looking at Seamus like he did something naughty.
"You know what?" Seamus said heatedly, casting Arthur a venomous look. "He's right, I don't want to share a dormitory with him any more, he's mad."
"You're being out of order, Seamus. Step down." David snarled,
"Out of order, am I?" Seamus shouted, going pale. "You believe all the rubbish he's come out with about You Know Who, do you, you reckon he's telling the truth?"
"I do, because I'm not some stupid moron who's too scared to face the truth!" David said angrily.
"Then you're mad, too." Seamus said in disgust.
"Watch your mouth, Seamus, I happen to be a Prefect." David said dangerously calmly, showing off his badge. "If you want detention and lose Gryffindor points before we get some, be my guest and keep talking rubbish."
Seamus looked for a few seconds like detention and losing points was a reasonable price to pay to say what was going through that stupid mind of his, but with a noise of contempt, he turned on his heel and vaulted into bed, pulling the hangings shut so violently that they were ripped from the bed and fell in a dusty pile to the floor. David and Mike glared at Seamus before they look at Dean and Nevllle.
"Do either of you have a problem with Arthur?" David said aggressively.
"My parents are Muggles, mate." Dean shrugged. "They don't know anything about no deaths at Hogwarts, because I'm not stupid enough to tell them."
"You don't know my mother, she'd weasel anything out of anyone!" Seamus snapped at him. "Anyway, your parents don't get the Daily Prophet. They don't know our Headmaster's been sacked from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he's losing his marbles -"
"My gran says that's rubbish." Neville piped up. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's cancelled our subscription. We believe you Arthur." Neville said simply as he climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to his chin, looking owlishly over them at Seamus. "My gran's always said You Know Who would come back one day. She says if Dumbledore says he's back, he's back."
Arthur felt nothing but gratitude towards Neville for believing him.
"And both me and my mum believe in Dumbledore, regardless of what others think. He has and never will lose his marbles. Who else did the wizarding community ask to defeat Grindelwald before he could take control?" Mike added his thoughts, further demonstrating how Seamus is the sole minority here.
No one else said anything as Seamus got his wand out and repaired the bed hangings before vanishing behind them.
Dean got into bed, rolling over and falling silent. Neville, who had nothing else to say, gazed fondly at his moonlit cactus.
Arthur lay back on his pillows as Mike did and while David bustled around the next bed, putting his things away.
How many other people will think he's lying or unhinged? Arthur kept asking this as he thought of Dumbledore, who suffered as well.
Arthur knew that eventually, everyone will be proven wrong and see that Arthur and Dumbledore were right that Voldemort was back.
David got into bed and extinguished the last candle in the dormitory as Arthur knew he'd have to prepare for what may be the worst and most insufferable year at Hogwarts to date.
Let's all prepare for the hell that Umbridge will bring down on Hogwarts.
While the Sorting Hat's song has an important message, it would never come to be, thanks to how Slytherin are.
And Seamus has to be a prime disgusting example of how people refuse to believe Arthur and Dumbledore.