Harry Potter and the Return of the Dark Ages

Chapter-3

THE UNCONTROLLED SITUATION

The next morning, Ron woke Harry and called that he was wanted downstairs as they were leaving foe the headquarters the same evening. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had already left ("to arrange the things for you," according to Mrs. Weasley). So Lupin and McGonagall (to Harry's and Ron's surprise) were to prepare and escort them to the headquarters.

They spent all their day in packing their material silently ("How are we suppose to pack all our things silently, on such a short notice!" Hermione cried after about every hour). In the evening, they were eagerly waiting to go when George and Fred Apparated.

"What? Are you also coming?" asked Ron, obviously not happy about that.

"What exactly are we going to do here when you all will be enjoying there, eat Dungbombs, my little brother?" asked Fred.

Finally, at seven, Lupin arrived. All of them went to the Grimmauld Place through the Floo. They all collected at the kitchen, and brushed off their dust.

"Now let's go to the dining room directly, we'll take your luggage afterwards," said McGonagall. George and Fred Disapparated to the dining room directly. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione shot each other a curious glance but followed him.

"SURPRISE!" yelled everyone in the room. By the sudden outcome of so many voices at the same time, Harry stumbled backwards and stepped on Ginny's foot by mistake.

"Ouch Harry! That was my foot," she complained.

"Sorry, Ginny," he apologized, embarrassed.

"Well done, Hermione and Ginny, we are proud of you both," said Mrs. Weasley with tears in her eyes and pointed to the banner on the opposite wall. It was written-

CONGRATULATIONS

GINNY WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER

NEW GRYFFINDOR PREFECTS

Both of them couldn't believe their eyes. Hermione was ecstatic for being made the prefect again. But Harry noticed that Ginny looked a bit disgruntled at being made a prefect. Harry was disappointed. "How come you know before us?" he asked Lupin. Lupin just smiled and said, "Dumbledore."

They were enjoying the party (it was also Harry's belated birthday party), when suddenly the Apple pie on the table burst. Several large fireworks were spinning over the table. Blinding rays of lights shot out as people ran away from the table in fright and sparks rained down on the table. Moody and Harry had thrown themselves to the ground with their wands drawn.

The fireworks finally started to slow down a bit. Glowing smoke in the air began to join together into a series of letters, forming a message over the table. It read,

His heart is as strong as a cold iron rod
His mind is as bright as the full moon
In cupboards he stayed, he was sixteen this summer
The hero with green eyes, who makes all the girls' hearts swoon

Harry laughed, a bit embarrassed. He applauded along with everyone else; although he noticed Moody wasn't applauding quite as enthusiastically as the others. He breathed a sigh of relief as the message finally faded away. It could have been much, much worse. The silly poem was tame by Fred and George's standards. He was glad they were on his side. Come to think of it, something about that poem seemed a little familiar, he thought, puzzled.

Harry got loads of presents from the member of the Order. Tonks gave him a book named- Advanced Defense Learning, from Moody and Shacklebolt was a long row of dark-art detectors, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley gave him a book- Bulgaria Quidditch Team, Percy gave him an elegant quill, ("it doesn't need any ink,"Percy said pompously while giving the quill to Harry), the Twins gave him a Special Discount Voucher which said, "this special person can take whatever item he wants, free of cost, and anytime he can take them in his entire life span" and Ginny gave him a box, with a lid named- Your Wand Care Kit, with all the needed for care of one's wand.

Just then Lupin came and handed Harry a photograph. "Sirius gave me this to give it you when he died." he said. Harry saw that it was picture of all four Marauders along with Harry's mother. Even Wormtail was there, waving the map at him tauntingly and smiling. Looking at the sorrowful expression Harry's face Lupin said, "He wanted Peter to stay. He said that this would always remember you that even your most trusted friends can turn into your enemies one day."

Harry's expression changed from sorrow to anger. A rage that never even touched Harry since the day at Dumbledore's, suddenly swept over him. His scar twitched but he ignored it.

How dare Lupin say that Hermione or Ron or his other friends can turn their backs on him? They won't ever do that!! Harry thought.

He was so angry that he rose and moved threateningly towards him.

"Harry..." Ginny tentatively came to him. But the look on his surely had scared her as she asked, "Are you alright?" But Harry roughly shoved her aside, took out his wand and continued to glare at Lupin.

"HARRY...WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU MAD?" Ginny turned and shouted at realizing what Harry was going to do.

"Do not interfere in between or I'll jinx you," he said quietly, not looking at her.

She came between him and Lupin and drew out her wand. "I won't let you do whatever you are trying to do Harry!" she said coldly and vehemently to him.

"Move aside ... I SAID MOVE!!" Harry shouted and pushed her hard so that she hit hard against the table there.

"Stupefy!" he paid no heed to her and tried to jinx Lupin. But Lupin quickly ducked it and looked at Harry strangely.

Just then, as Harry was about to put another curse on him, a thought came to his mind.

Lupin didn't want Peter to stay. It was Sirius' will! He never said that my friends may betray me...even Sirius said it by his experience only!

He lowered his wand and sat with a thump on the chair beside him, his pain in the scar subsiding a little. He still felt annoyed. It was at that time that he felt a bit strange and suddenly realized what had happened. He looked fearfully at everyone's shocked and uncomprehending expression, except Ginny... who looked at him with narrowed eyes, as if making sure she understood what had happened.
No one else had understood what had happened. Only Lupin and Harry had comprehended what happened.

***

But Lupin smiled at Harry's horrified face. "It's okay Harry," he said calmly to him. He turned onto the stunned silence in the room. "I believe Harry was not acting under his control." The people there gave more puzzled expressions. "To explain it better... there's no doubt that Voldemort took this most intense and emotional moment and Harry was temporarily was under the control of Voldemort," there were dawning expressions as people understood the reason for Harry's terrorizing attitude, "but clearly Harry fought him and that should make us all proud of him," Lupin concluded.

But Harry was ashamed. "I ... I'm ..." Harry wanted to say something but couldn't find words. He knew that he had put his guard down. Voldemort had possessed him. Had Harry not controlled his temper, he might have truly killed Lupin. Not knowing what to say anymore, he buried himself under his arms. Hermione gave him a hug and went upstairs slowly, thinking something. Following her lead, everyone went back to their rooms and work. Lupin patted him awkwardly on his back, said, "Its okay," and went.

However when the room was empty Ginny came to him and whispered, "It's alright Harry. You did nothing wrong. No one is going to be afraid of you or is going to hate you for what happened tonight. It was not your fault Harry. Please don't blame yourself for it!"

Harry raised his head. He looked in her concerned eyes and said, "It's disgusting. I am so angry at myself for trying to kill him. He's the only one left who was my father's best friend. If I would have killed him, I don't know whether I might have been able to forgive myself or what I might have done after that- maybe I would have killed myself."

Ginny just shook her head. "You wouldn't have done that, you are too good to do that. Now I think that you should get up and go to sleep, you are obviously tired or I think I should call Moaning Myrtle to come here and sing you a lullaby, I remember a certain day when she even agreed to share her toilet with you. I think it was your second year, but I bet she'll be so happy to do this work even today," she said and grinned mischievously.

In spite of his distraught mood, Harry laughed, feeling a bit better. "She was certain that I would die in the chamber, so she was shocked or disappointed -you can say-to see me come in one piece with you," he grinned at the memory how depressed he had felt at that time, when she said that.

He got up. "Thanks Ginny, again!" he said and hugged her.

"Anytime Harry," Ginny said, with her usual smile, not standing up to go. Harry thought she winked at him while he was turning back but just shook his head and went upstairs.

Harry wasn't able to sleep that night. In spite of the serious matter in the room, he had noticed a girl, who had hugged him downstairs.

I wonder why it took me so long to notice her...she's so beautiful with her long hair. But Harry shook his head. I should not think about her like that. She's a nice girl- but not for me! Ron would kill me if he comes to know about this. He thought, remembering Ron's feelings towards her.

But Harry wasn't able to contemplate his feelings towards her.

***

The next morning they got their school lists. Along with Mrs. Weasley and the Twins, all four of them went to Diagon Alley to buy their "stuff".

Fred and George went to their shops and the rest went to Gringotts (the wizard bank) to take their money. Ron, Harry and Hermione went in one cart and Ginny and Mrs. Weasley went into another.

For the first time, Harry did not felt ashamed to take out the money from his vault. Now, thanks to Fred and George's shop, the Weasleys' vault was also considerably full. So they took the money and went upstairs, where Hermione exchanged her Muggle money from the counter.

They were just getting separated from Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, when Dean, Harry's fellow mate came. "Good morning, Mrs. Weasley! Can I and Ginny shop together today?" he asked her.

Mrs. Weasley thought over it and was about to agree when-

"Mum, actually, what about if Gin' comes with us and do her shopping? You can go over to Fred and George's shop. Isn't it a good idea?" Ron interrupted loudly, looking suspiciously at Dean, who returned an uncomfortable look at him.

"Oh, yes dear, sorry Dean. Ginny has to do her shopping and who better than with Ron, Harry and Hermione? I am sorry, she can't cone with you today, Dean. Perhaps, some other time?" Mrs. Weasley said politely to him. She turned to Ron. "You four will meet me, in the Leaky Cauldron after two hrs, at the maximum," she said.

Ron breathed slowly. Dean looked disappointed, but nodded and went away. As soon as Mrs. Weasley turned round a corner, Ginny rounded on her brother and snarled on his face.

"If you even try to do that again Ronald Weasley, I promise you that you will be the next to get my Bogey hex- even in front of Mum."

"Okay, okay, point understood."

They went to buy Harry's new robes as they were too short now. When Harry was giving his size, Hermione said to Ron, "Ron, I'll buy you a new set of robes for your next year, your present set is awful...they will be your birthday gift," she added hastily as Ron went scarlet.

"You don't need to buy mine..."Ron started to say but Hermione cut through his words and snapped, "I wanted to buy them for you since a couple of months....I am going to buy them for you and now don't argue," Ron was turning more and more scarlet (if that was possible) at every second. "Ginny, please help me take his size, Madam Malkine is taking Harry's size," Hermione called to Ginny's help, who nodded and went over to them, trying not to giggle hard.

Seeing Ron there with his face red, Harry was strongly reminded of Mr. Weasley, who looked exactly the same whenever Mrs. Weasley snapped at him. His view drifted to the two girls taking Ron's size, particularly the one standing beside Ron.

Somehow she looked different than usual, with the bright outdoor sunlight casting a glint to her hair. A memory sparked in his head, of when she had embraced him the last night. Her hair had been very soft. He continued to look at her for several long seconds. Suddenly she looked at him, sensing him staring at her. Their eyes locked for a split second, and before Harry could stop himself, he quickly darted his eyes away.

What am I doing? He thought. He felt inexplicably nervous. With difficulty, he brought himself back under control. He forced a smile and looked back at her. She looked him in the eye, with the same smile. Harry felt his heart thudding in his chest, her eyes looking very pretty. He felt very confused; feelings had been building up in him since the summer, but suddenly she looked a whole lot more like a girl - a pretty girl.

They bought new robes for Harry and Ron (in his case it was gifted), their books and new potions kit. As there was an hour still left to meet Mrs. Weasley, they stopped for a few minutes at 'Quality Quidditch Supplies'. But their 'few minutes' took so long that finally Hermione had to drag the rest three away from the shop. Ron went particularly mad at the life size poster of 'The Chudley Cannons".

On their way to the Leaky Cauldron, they met many of their school mates, who were all eagerly asking him to re-start the DA meetings. They were half way through their second bottles of Butterbeer when the Twins joined them.

"Looks like Dumbledore couldn't find a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," Fred said, consulting Ron's book list.

They argued at this topic for a long time, when Mrs. Weasley announced, "It's the time to leave children!"

"We'll meet you soon!" shouted Fred. It took a few second for Ron to understand what Fred had said. But by the time he turned to ask the reason, the twins had vanished. He shook his head and went first. And they left for the Grimmauld Place by the Floo Powder Network.

***

Finally the day arrived when they had to leave for Hogwarts. When they were about to go, Lupin beckoned Harry to a corner and held him in a rib-breaking hug. "Harry, you still don't have to blame yourself for that night, remember that," he whispered. Harry nodded. Everybody present there- Lupin, Mr. And Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George, Moody, Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt were all prepared to see them off to the platform.

Ministry now finally came to their senses and many buses like the Knight Buses were now started for safety. The group boarded one of them. Ron and Ginny gave very apprehensive looks at the rest of the group. Finally, Hermione and Harry had to push them respectively to get everybody on the bus.

By the time they reached the station, it was very late and Mrs. Weasley was shouting at the top of her lungs unconcerned about the dark looks she was getting from the crowd passing by.

Mr. Weasley was looking curiously at the muggle passenger- train nearby, as he turned to talk about this to Harry, Mrs. Weasley hit him hard in the ribs and gave him a stern look. "I kept saying we would be late...but no one would listen..." she kept muttering this and snapped at people all the way to the entrance of the Platform 9 and ¾.

Harry and Ron leant through the barrier and were surrounded by Tonks in the front and by Lupin in the back. Ginny and Hermione came next, followed by the rest of the party. Mrs. Weasley quickly started giving them the sandwiches. Every body had now circled around Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Harry was annoyed and kept saying that he doesn't need it but the others paid no heed to it.

Mrs. Weasley gave each of them a hug and gave Harry a special bonus hug. She gave them all 'safety tips'; while Moody was giving Harry and Ron a lecture on wand safety and how to operate his Dark Detectors, importance of Legilimency and Occlumency classes. Harry became increasingly bored and Ron seemed no less. He kept rolling his every time Moody said 'Constant Vigilance!".

Harry was now bidding good bye (an extremely emotional one) to Lupin, when they heard pops in front of them and Harry and Lupin had to duck as a Stunner was sent directly at him.

Chapter-4

ATTACK ON THE PLATFORM

Tonks was quite quick as she swiftly turned and shouted, "Stupefy!" at the top of her lungs, at the Death Eater responsible for the Stunner.

But many of the other Death Eaters had Apparated at other spots on the platform and had created a havoc and chaos all over the platform by shooting various curses on the innocent people.

Harry was still pushed down in a ducking position and tried to get up and help others but when he did so, Moody pushed him down again and growled, "No you don't, laddie."

Harry tried to sit that way, but he had had enough. He quickly stood up and shouted, "Stupefy!" on one of the Death Eater who tried to attack Lupin from his back. Lupin turned to Harry and winked at him in a grateful manner, which reminded Harry of Sirius. Shaking this depressing thought out of his mind, Harry came out of his guard circle. He didn't have much of a problem as now everybody was indulged with their respective Death Eater. He started stunning as many Death Eaters as he could but obviously they were large in number. He also got quite a large number of curses on him -but they were just minor cuts. Harry believed they were from the new Death Eaters from the Slytherin House. Surely Harry could see more of his DA member fighting with other Death Eaters.

Then there was a catcall, "SEVERUS SNAPE HIS HERE!! THE TRAITOR IS HERE- HELPING THE OLD DUMBLEDORE." Harry turned and was shocked to see the sudden change of atmosphere near him. The five Death Eaters near him and Snape showed sudden signs of over activated hatred. They started gathering upon The Potions Master, who didn't look a bit like himself (as Harry thought). Suddenly he was flung upside down in air- his robes had fallen off and every one of the Death Eaters was laughing at the sight of his pink knickers. Snape was trying his best to safeguard his life but could not jump to a conclusion as to what he should do first - save himself from his humiliating position or save himself as various spells were coming from the Death Eaters.

Harry (though later shocked, when he thought of it again later) wanted to rush to save Snape but couldn't do so as just then a Death Eater came in front of him and tried to kill Harry, until he was stunned by Moody from his back. But Luna must have felt some pity for the Master, as she ran amuck through the chaos towards him. She quickly stunned them and helped Snape down. Gradually he also gained some of his senses and started conjuring all sorts of spells on the Death Eaters.

Just then there was a panicky cry from one of the Death Eaters - "DUMBLEDORE IS HERE- RUN!"

The reaction was very sudden. At the blink of an eye all the Death Eaters as well as Snape vanished into the thin air before Dumbledore could do anything.

There was a chilled silence on the platform, except the cries and whimpering of the injured people. There was a scene of catastrophe at the platform. It was then that Harry noticed the catastrophe at the platform and noticed a small lying on the floor, staring at the sky with goo-goo eyes. Though knowing the answer, he pointed her out to Lupin and asked whether she was dead. All he received was a nod for an answer.

Harry felt miserable. Why Voldemort wanted to kill the innocent? The thought came over and over in his minds and with each time, his hatred towards Voldemort intensified. He was shaken and he sat down on the hard floor. He then felt a hand on his shoulders. Startled by this, he took out his wand and turned around, ready to shoot.

"Relax Harry! I am not a Death Eater to curse you!" Ginny said indignantly and smiled at him. But Harry remained silent. Suddenly her face became serious and as if reading his mind, she said, "Voldemort always hits the innocent people, Harry. It's his best trick to cause casualties and scare people. But still, Thanks for giving us the DA lessons- I was able to patch about five of those Death Eaters. And all of us fought them bravely," she said and pointed out Ron, Dean and Ernie who had, as it looked, only a few broken bones and some cuts and Seamus Finnigan, who was woken up by an Auror.

"Is Hermione serious?" Harry asked Ginny, noticing Hermione injured and sitting stone hard on the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Ginny looked at her, testing. "I don't think so. Just the shock of the attack, probably. By the way Harry, look at yourself. You are bleeding from nearly every spot," she said, gasping.

His face and hands felt like it had a few deep scratches. Ginny got down on her knees next to him, looking concerned. She conjured a handkerchief and started wiping the blood from Harry's nose and face. As Ginny gently cleaned his face, Harry felt himself growing a bit flustered. His breathing had calmed down, but he felt it growing more labored again as she cleaned him, very close. She bent a little to clean his arm, her pony tail falling and touching his face. He swallowed as she backed away a little.

"Erm, I can try healing the scratches... unless you want to wait and have a Healer here do it..." she said and pointed to the point where Healers were popping up, each carrying a Portkey, looking extremely solemn. It was announced that those who needed special treatment had to go to St. Mungo's via a Portkey, which they could get at a corner of the station.

"No!" said Harry quickly. He definitely didn't want that. "No, please... you do it."

"All right," she said. "Why don't you lie down on that couch over there... it'll be easier."

Harry noticed a long couch with only a back-rest at one end, along with a regular chair, had appeared. He got up off the floor and laid down comfortably, sitting upright with his back against the end. She sat down on the chair and turned it toward him, frowning at the cuts. She reached over and touched a spot on his cheek.

"That's a nasty one," she whispered. She began slowly tracing a line across his cheek, causing Harry to wince. She whispered the healing spell, causing Harry to feel a little tingle in his cheek as she mended the injury. She then wiped away the rest of the blood at the former spot. "This one, too..." she said in a low voice, as she traced it as well with her finger. Harry wasn't certain the finger movement was necessary or not for the spell, but he didn't particularly feel like correcting her about the fact. She worked slowly across his face, making him very nervous. He felt himself growing a bit hot; he wondered why the atmosphere seemed to be warming... or was it... he wasn't certain anymore...

"There," she said, and beamed at him. "Good as new," she looked him in the eye, with her usual grin-like-smile.

"Thanks Ginny," Harry managed to get out the words. She smiled and started to say something when Mrs. Weasley came and hurried her to a Healer. By that time, many reporters had arrived.

Dumbledore, seeing them, announced, "I request the reporters here not to pester anyone here at the platform. The required information will be given to you all at the Ministry Of Magic. To the rest, I just have a few words to say. Magical camps have been put up here for proper treatment without any inconvenience. The train will now leave after 2 hours," saying so, he disapparated.

***

The journey to Hogwarts was a quiet affair. Nobody could and wanted to talk about what happened at the Platform 9 and ¾ as they were internally disturbed and weakened by the mayhem. Ginny and Hermione went to the prefect coaches.

Harry and Ron searched for a compartment which was not difficult. They found an empty one, and soon Neville joined them. When everything was settled, Ron departed saying, "I have to go," not looking straight and went away. After a few minutes, though, he came back along with Ginny and Hermione. Ginny was a lot calm but Hermione still looked pale and on the verge of tears. As if to spoil their further, they heard the most unwelcome voice from the doors.

"Another year, Potter. Another year," he sneered. Abruptly Malfoy opened up the rest of the door of the compartment. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him, looking bigger, meaner and dumber than ever. He then spotted Neville and snapped on him, "Did they allow you back to Hogwarts, Longbottom? One would think a student would need to pass at least one OWL," Malfoy said snidely. Crabbe and Goyle looked away nervously.

"What are you doing back at Hogwarts anyway, Malfoy? Did your application get rejected by Young Death Eater Council?" prompted Ron. The car broke out in laughter.

Malfoy glared at him. "How do you end up at Hogwarts, Weasley? I suppose your tuition comes from the Hogwarts Charity Fund, but it will be a waste anyway. Even I won't give you a job in my mansion after Hogwarts," he said smoothly. Ron clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Your mansion, Malfoy? That's a funny name for Azkaban," Harry retorted, feeling irritated already.

Malfoy's expression turned cold as ice. "I would watch your mouth, Potter. The wind is changing, and you might hear some news about that before too much longer," he said and gave a cruel smile.

"Just what is it you want, Malfoy?" said Hermione sighing tiredly. Malfoy's face split into a grin that threatened to cause the top part of his head to fall off.

"I wouldn't say such offensive words, Mudblood, because soon this place would be empty of you people...the new days are here, the old ones are lost..." he started singing to himself but stayed in the compartment.

Harry lost his temper. He launched out of his seat, utterly enraged, and pulled his wand. "Are you going to tell why you came here, Malfoy or should I make you blurt it out?" he spat, gritting his teeth and barely opening his mouth.

"Harry, no!" said Hermione and Ginny together. They each took an arm and pulled Harry back. Ron followed a split second later, pulling his wand, ready to defend Harry. The others stood up as well. Malfoy took a step back, his face showing concern that he might have pushed Harry too far.

Ginny pulled her wand as well, loosening the grip on Harry's arm a bit. She fixed Malfoy with a cold stare. She twirled her wand in her fingers. "Apparently you didn't learn from what happened last year in Umbridge's office, Malfoy. Do you need a little reminder? I would be happy to do so."

Malfoy eyed her wand warily. By the time he decided what he should do, Seamus and Dean also joined them and seeing Malfoy, they raised their eyebrows so high that one would think they were thinking to curse Malfoy, without even thinking what curse they should use. Seeing more Gryffindors than he could himself handle (surely Crabbe and Goyle were of minimum use), he sneered nastily at all of them and went away, beckoning his two cronies behind him. Dean and Seamus greeted them quietly and went back soon, saying they just wanted to see whether the rest of them (only Ginny, according to Ron, in case of Dean) were alright.

Just before the train reached Hogwarts, the compartment door opened and a scared looking Cho peeped in. In a single breath, she fired Harry with various questions, without thinking about the other people in the compartment.

"Harry are you alright?" It seemed that she wasn't in need of an answer as she went on, "I was dead worried about you after what happened at the platform. Oh Harry! It was so nice of you to take the DA classes and teach us all the defense spells." There was a sudden choked cough in the otherwise compartment. It was Ron. The cough was, however, enough to break the flow of Cho's ranting. She broke off, as if suddenly acknowledging the presence of the other Gryffindors in the compartment. She blushed and sounded flustered then. "Urm... hi Hermione, Ron, Neville and Ginny," she sounded a bit edgy though when greeting Hermione. Hermione also nodded politely (still shaking slightly. Ron saw her, worried but remained strangely quiet), but Ginny didn't even made a slight and polite nod. She kept staring at Cho until she was out of sight. But Harry was so shocked by her arrival that he didn't even notice it.

"Er- Harry, did you hear me?" Ginny broke into his thoughts and he forced his mind to listen what she was to say.

"Ya?" he asked.

"The train is about to reach, you may better change," Ginny replied, herself already dressed in her robes, her Prefect badge shining. She helped Hermione also, who seemed to have lost all her energy.

Gradually they reached Hogsmeade, with Harry thinking miserably...How much more is left in my account of miseries?

As soon as they reached the carriages, Harry asked before he could stop himself, "Can anyone else see the Thestrals now?" Beside him, Hermione nodded slowly though nobody else replied. Harry didn't pursue further.

At last they reached the castle, which (oddly) looked very gloomy, and quietly went up the front stairs leading to the Entrance Hall. There was no decoration, but black drapes were put in place of house decorations. Students quietly came and settled at their respective house tables. Professor McGonagall brought the Sorting Hat and the first-years into the Great Hall.

Suddenly a tear appeared at the bottom rim of the hat and it burst into a song...