"So," said Lily to the group as a whole, "Do you like the new sorting procedures?"
"I do," said Hugo clearly, "It was nice to be able to have some privacy with the Sorting Hat by being sorted in a private room in Diagon Alley."
"It was also nice, "added Devon, "To come into Hogwarts knowing what house I'm going to be in and not have to wonder or worry about it."
"The Sorting Hat considered putting me in Ravenclaw," explained Ainsley, "But it decided on Gryffindor in the end. Still, the privacy in which this year's sorting occurred eliminated the embarrassment factor from being a Hatstall."
"What is a Hatstall?" asked Samantha.
"A student that the Sorting Hat takes at least five minutes to sort." answered Lily. "Hatstalls are quite rare."
"A fact that would have only added to my embarrassment had the old method of sorting in the Great Hall at the start of term feast continued into this year." added Ainsley.
"Being a Hatstall is nothing to be ashamed of, Ainsley," said Lily supportively, "If anything it's something to be proud of."
"Think about it," said James brightly, "Being a Hatstall means that you were so well suited to more than one house that your qualities gave the hat a difficult decision."
"Exactly, " beamed Lily, "Being a Hatstall is actually a sign of a well-rounded person."
Ainsley smiled at James and Lily but admitted, "While Hatstalls being multi-talented by definition is a great point, I'm still glad I didn't have to have a whole hall full of people starting at me while I was being sorted. The private sorting really is a more comfortable way to do it no matter how you slice it."
"For a shy and uncomfortable girl like me, the private sorting was most welcome." said Samantha firmly,
"I knew I wanted Gryffindor, "smiled Stephanie, "So on my sorting day I wore Gryffindor Quidditch robes and carried a miniature figure of Aslan with me. I didn't give the hat a choice."
"The new sorting method is apparently popular, said Lily," But I would have liked to have sat under the Sorting Hat in the Great Hall. It's how my parents and brothers were sorted and when it was done at Hogwarts it had a rite of passage feel to it that I felt I didn't get with my sorting."
"It's okay, Lily," said Devon supportively, "Nothing wrong a difference of opinion."
"Personally," said James crisply, "I loved being sorted in the Great Hall and I would have been very bummed out if this change had been instituted when I was in first year. Then again, I'm outgoing and love showing off so..."
"The earlier and more private sorting isn't the only change at Hogwarts this year." said Lily, "The roommate concept has been jettisoned at Hogwarts. Each student will now have his or her own room."
"Yep," confirmed Hugo, remembering his Hogwarts letter that summer, "Over the summer all the dorms at Hogwarts were magically transfigured from some rooms for five to many rooms for one."
"Had this change not been implemented," said Samantha fiercely, "I would have declined my invite to Hogwarts. I would have wanted NO part of the working things out/working at interpersonal relationships aspects that naturally come along with having roommates."
"Everyone, no matter who he or she is, should have the solace of his or her own space and now Hogwarts students will," said Ainsley happily.
"The idea of my room not being my own space would have been pretty repugnant and repulsive," admitted Devon, "Glad to see Hogwarts making improvements for the lives of students."
"As someone who is going into your fifth year at Hogwarts, what are your thoughts on this change, James?" asked Ainsley curiously.
"Actually," said James happily, "I've always had my dorm to myself to myself because, through an exceedingly rare sorting quark, I am the only Gryffindor student in my year. That said, I'm philosophically opposed to the roommate concept and give this change ten rounds of applause."
Next nanosecond, Devon, Hugo, James, Ainsley, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily all clapped exactly ten times. and then smiled at each other.
The rest of the train ride passed uneventfully other than the mundane task of Devon, Hugo, Ainsley, Stephanie, Samantha, and Lily changing into their Hogwarts robes, but the post feast speech would bring news of even more changes at Hogwarts.
Devon, Hugo, James. Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily all took seats at the Gryffindor table upon entering the Great Hall.
There they were greeted by Lily's brother Albus and cousin Rose as well as Albus's and Rose's best friend, an Asian girl named Pamela Patil.
"This is my other brother, Albus, "said Lily, indicating him, "Along with my cousin and Hugo's sister Rose (Lily indicated Rose), and their best friend, Pamela Patil. They are third years this year."
Albus, Rose, and Pamela introduced themselves to Devon, Samantha, Stephanie. and Ainsley, and exchanged pleasant greetings with them and Albus, Rose, and Pamela, took off and found seats of their own.
A few nanoseconds after Albus, Rose, and Pamela had departed, a redheaded fourth year boy and a redheaded second year girl approached Devon, Hugo, James. Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily.
"These are two more cousins of mine," said Lily, "Fred and Roxanne Weasley, the son and daughter of George Weasley and Angelina Johnson."
Fred and Roxanne introduced themselves to Devon, Samantha, Ainsley, and Stephanie and shook their hands before going to find seats of their own.
"Let the feast begin," said Headmistress McGonagall.
The food appeared instantly on the golden plates.
Devon ate twelve chicken breasts, ten steaks, nine chicken legs, twenty sausage links, ten bacon strips, four pounds of mashed potatoes, two pounds of fries, and fifteen breadsticks washing it down with twelve cans of Budweiser.
James, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily, though they all ate some of everything, all ate much more modest portions, though Stephanie loaded up on mashed potatoes. James, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily each ate one chicken breast, one steak, one chicken leg, two sausage links, two bacon strips, two breadsticks, and a handful of fries each. James, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, and Lily each ate a small helping of mashed potatoes while Stephanie ate a pound of mashed potatoes. James, Hugo, Ainsley, Samantha, Stephanie, and Lily each gulped down two cans of Budweiser.
Dessert was a similar story as Devon ate seven gallons of vanilla ice cream, two pounds of lemon jello, and one pound of chocolate pudding with Hugo, Samantha, Ainsley, Stephanie, and Lily having two scoops of vanilla ice cream, one block of lemon jello, and one cup of chocolate pudding each.
When the students had as much dessert as their stomachs would permit them to, Professor McGonagall gave her start of term speech.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years," said McGonagall, "And welcome back to those in second year and above. Please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. We also have some changes in curriculum this year."
The attentiveness level rose considerably at that.
"First, the retarded subject of Divination is being removed from Hogwarts curriculum effective immediately." said McGonagall delightedly.
Rose Weasley burst into applause at this news while Pamela Patil's face showed a very disappointed look.
"More importantly," said Professor McGonagall clearly, "Care of Magical Creatures is now a first year subject that is compulsory through fifth year."
The reaction in the hall to this news was pretty much all the students exchanging I wonder why type looks.
"The reason for this," continued McGonagall "Is that Minister Shacklebolt feels one of the biggest dangers facing young witches and wizards is dealing with unknown magical creatures."
"He's absolutely right," said Lily smartly, "After all, hadn't you better know not to insult a hippogriff, hadn't you better recognize a lethifold if you see one, hadn't you better understand why fwooper song must be enjoyed in moderation?"
"Exactly Miss Potter," beamed McGonagall, "However, Professor Hagrid must now receive permission from either the minister or myself before bringing live creatures to class."
Many students in second year and above, including Pamela, looked relieved to hear this. Lily had heard that Hagrid was not exactly responsible when it came to judging the safety or dangers of magical creatures. James and Albus had both told Lily about having had near misses with some of Hagrid's questionable creatures.
"Most importantly, "said McGonagall seriously, "Is that you will see an accelerated pace in Defense Against the Dark Arts and to a smaller degree Charms. In the case of Defense Against the Dark Arts, subjects your parents may not have covered until third year may now be covered in first year. The purpose of this is to allow for more advanced classes once you reach NEWT level."
There wasn't much spoken reaction to this, but many students, including everyone in both Albus's and Lily's groups, exchanged looks that said quite plainly, "That should be useful." Everyone was quietly taking in this news in his or her own way.
After the start of term activities were concluded, James went off on his own while Hugo, Devon, Samantha, Ainsley, Stephanie, and Lily followed the Gryffindor prefects up to Gryffindor Tower.
Once inside the circular common room, Lily climbed the steps to the girls' rooms and found the one with nametag Lily Potter on it.
There she saw bare hot pink walls along with a closet and a wonderful four poster bed and her trunk at the foot of the bed.
"My own room all to myself," thought Lily happily. "Yes, Hogwarts got that right this year. Having roommates would SUCK. The privacy, peace, and space of having one's own room are the way it should be."
Lily changed into her hot pink pajamas and hot pink slippers and climbed into bed.
Lily was very pleased to see that her bedsheets and pillowcases were also hot pink.
Smiling to herself and feeling she had made it, Lily fell quickly asleep.
