The Seers' Truth: A Broken Beginning

Chapter 2

Sorted, Sort-of

As Harry and Ron landed the last of the first years at the threshold of Hogwarts, they looked around in stunned silence. Some of the students were huddled together crying. Others were being taken to the hospital wing. They had no idea where Hermione was and both Ron and the twins were frantic about the whereabouts of Ginny. No one had seen her since they got on the train.

"Gryffindors!" McGonagall was speaking to them and a group of upperclassmen that had just returned from the crash site. "Get yourselves cleaned up and get back here for the Sorting."

"Sorting?" Ron squeaked. "We're still doing the Sorting tonight?"

"Of course we are, Mr. Weasley. The wards on the Hogwarts Express minimized the damage. Of course, the protection of the Hogwarts' students is the primary function of all the charms and wards. Luckily, they were working as they should, and no one was killed. Everyone is accounted for, aside from some minor injuries which will not interfere with the Sorting--"

"Everyone?" Ron asked. "Ginny is alright?"

"Yes, Mr. Weasley. I believe she is in the hospital wing with some burns, but she will be down for the Sorting. Now go."

Ron and Harry sprinted to the nearest men's bathroom, washed their faces and observed the effects of a cleansing charm on their filthy smoke-stained robes.

"I've got a rip," Ron lamented as he noticed the tear in the arm of his robe. He mended it, with Reparo, but it still looked sloppy and frayed. Clothes never really were his best charms.

"Let's go," Harry urged.

As they came back to the Great Hall, Harry heard the familiar voice of Professor McGonagall instructing the first years. "First years, please come this way..." and then Samara's voice above the whispering and sniffling. "Excuse me, Professor, my trunk..."

"Professor Dumbledore gave the House Elves permission to use magic," said McGonagall. "Your belongings will be delivered..."

"But my trunk's not in a compartment. It's stuck to the side of the train outside of compartment 4C with an adhesive charm--I hope."

"Indeed," said McGonagall, eyeing Samara's jeans and tee shirt upon which was printed 'Dancing is an Out of Body Experience'. "That explains your inappropriate attire, I suppose."

"Yes Ma'am."

"And this is not a portent of things to come from you, is it Miss Donnally?"

"No, ma'am."

McGonagall smiled. "In the aftermath of this disaster, I suppose clean robes are the least thing to worry about. Your trunk will be attended to, Miss Donnally. Let's just hope it is still there. If not, you can see me later about appropriate clothes for you. In the meantime, please follow Professor Sprout to your preparation and then you will come into the Great Hall to be sorted. WELCOME TO HOGWARTS."

Professor Sprout was leading the first years instead of Hagrid. That reminded Harry of all the changes that would be forthcoming this year. Hagrid was on a mission to the giants with Madam Maxim and if he were successful, giants would be guarding Azkaban instead of the dementors. Lupin and Sirius were scouring the countryside for wizards and witches who otherwise may not have known about Voldemort's return

The ministry's official answer was still ambiguous about what had happened that terrible night that Cedric died and he lost part of himself to Voldemort. Harry didn't think he was quite the same wizard that he was at this same time last year. Part of it was the loss of his blood "unwillingly taken" to feed Voldemort's rebirth, but that wasn't all.

Over and over, he looked at the choices he and Cedric made, not just in that crucial moment, but throughout the game. If he had taken the cup alone, Cedric would not be dead, but if he had not accepted the cheats given him by Hagrid, Cedric and Dobby, he would have lost, and Voldemort would not have regained a body.

Not for the first time, he remembered Dumbledore telling him in his second year, how important his choices were. It was his choice that put him in Gryffindor instead of Slytherin. It was his mother's choice that protected him and now, his choices had helped to bring Voldemort back. They seemed to be such little choices, but they grew such terrible results. He was as responsible for Voldemort's return as any Death Eater. That also made him responsible for the attack on the Hogwarts Express and the Dark Mark in the sky tonight. The thought repelled him and fascinated him at the same time, and he came back to the same thought that had tortured him all summer: if only he had made different choices. At least Dumbledore was here at Hogwarts.

That reassured Harry immensely. He would talk to Dumbledore...if he had any idea what to say to him.

"Worried about the OWLS this year?" asked Hermione at his shoulder.

"Hermione!" Harry threw his arms around her and hugged her. "We were so worried - and not about the OWLS."

"For Gosh sakes, Hermione, they're a whole year away!" said Ron.

At that moment a small squeaky voice broke in on their conversation.

"Please Miss Granger, Winky is so sorry. Miss Granger, Winky did not mean to let him go."

"Let who go?"

"The cat, Miss Granger. Winky is so sorry, Miss Granger. Winky is a good house elf. Winky is taking Miss Granger's belongings up to Miss Granger's room. Winky is seeing the cat, but the cat is not good, Miss Granger. He's a climbing the curtains and knocking over shelf. Winky is trying to catch him, Miss Granger. Winky's a trying to stop him from ruining room, but Blinky and Dobby are bringing Miss Brown's trunk. They are opening the door. They do, Miss Granger, and cat is running. The cat is not liking the room, Miss Granger. The cat is getting out. Winky is so sorry, Miss Granger."

"Where's Crookshanks?"

"Winky does not know, Miss Granger." The crying house elf suddenly threw herself at Hermione's feet.

Hermione sighed. "It's ok, Winky. He'll come back. Get up now, and you don't have to shut your ears in the oven door."

"Miss Granger is most kind. The most kind, most smart and most thoughtful person there ever was." Winky threw her arms around Hermione's waist and stuck there like a burr. "I knows Winky is lucky to know you when--when--" she choked, unable to get the words out. Then she began again as if she suddenly had an idea. "Thank you, Miss Granger. Winky a fix your room, Miss Granger. Winky a fix it really, really nice. Then Winky is wishing she will find the cat, Miss Granger."

With that, she went out to finish unloading trunks. Hermione stood frowning after her.

"Don't worry Hermione," Harry said. "Remember he roamed all over the Hogwarts grounds with Snuffles. He is probably just excited to visit his old hiding spots and try to find some gnomes."

"Either that or he hates me for sending him flying with you," Hermione said. "But he's usually such a good cat. I can't understand him climbing the curtains or tearing around my room."

"Oh right. He's a good cat," Ron mouthed behind Hermione's head. Even though Ron's rat Scabbers had turned out to be an animagusand the one who caused Voldemort to find Harry's parents, it was hard to forget Crookshanks trying to catch his pet rat. Ron didn't like Crookshanks very much. Ron looked at the ceiling as if in chagrin, but the fact that the ceiling wasn't there spoiled the effect. The ceiling was a multitude of stars that looked like a beautiful night sky. It wasn't, of course, it was the ceiling of the Great Hall. "I hope the Sorting goes quickly," said Ron. "I'm starved!"

"I wouldn't count on it," Harry said. "It looks like only half of the students are here. I wonder how many are really in the hospital wing?"

"Do you think we have time to go see Ginny?" asked Ron.

Harry settled himself at the Gryffindor table between Ron and Hermione, just as Neville was sliding into the seat opposite him.

"Here comes Ginny now," said Hermione. They looked up to see Ginny coming into the Great Hall with several other students, followed by Madam Pomfrey. Most were bandaged or covered with orange goo, apparently for the burns. They went to their respective tables and both Ron and the twins stood to hug Ginny.

"How was your summer, Harry?" Neville asked.

"Ok, I guess," said Harry. "Let's just say uneventful, but considering the last hour, uneventful sounds awfully good." Harry adjusted the ornate centerpiece so he could see Neville's face between the revolving planets and glittering lights, which were supposed to be comets or meteors. Somehow, the dainty centerpieces and the tablecloths seemed out of place when he knew there was a Dark Mark hovering over the wrecked Hogwarts Express.

"My summer was smashing!"

"Did you fly here?" Harry asked Neville suddenly.

"Yes. I can fly, Harry, even if I'm not good enough for the Quidditch team." Neville seemed hurt by Harry's question.

"Sorry, Neville," he said quickly. "Tell me about your summer." He hoped it would take his mind off of the sight of the terrified first years trapped in the flaming train car.

"Well," Neville continued proudly, "my grandmother got me a Quick Quotes Quill to take notes in class."

"Quick Quotes!" said Ron, turning to Hermione. "That reminds me, whatever did you do with Rita Skeeter? Hermione?"

Hermione was sitting with both hands over her mouth. She was staring at the front of the room. "Oh, Crookshanks!" she murmured through her fingers.

Crookshanks, meowing repeatedly, was walking around and around the Sorting Hat. Several times his intense rubbing against the stool almost knocked it over. Occasionally, he would extend a paw up to the stool where the Sorting Hat was sitting and poke at it. Most of the Slytherin Table had already noticed and were sniggering loudly. Others around the Great Hall were either laughing or throwing worried glances at the head table.

"Stupid cat," said Ron.

"You have to go and get him!" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"Miss Granger." It was Snape speaking and the hall grew quiet. "I believe that animal belongs to you."

"Yes, sir."

"Then kindly remove it."

Hermione moved forward, getting redder and redder as she past rows and rows of tables to the head table. The Sorting Hat was sitting on the stool, just a few feet from all of the professors. Harry noticed that Dumbledore did not look angry and McGonagall had a slight smile on her lips. She understood cats even if Snape apparently did not. Just as Hermione gathered a reluctant Crookshanks in her arms, a house elf entered through a side door that Harry never knew existed.

"We is so sorry, Miss Granger. Winky just found out that he was in here, Miss Granger. Winky is a bad elf for letting him escape. Winky is so sorry Miss Granger!"

"Oh no, you--" In attempting to transfer the big cat to the house elf's arms, Crookshanks escaped, raking a claw over the house elf's outstretched arm and drawing blood.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Crookshanks froze and dropped with a clatter of that sounded like stone against stone. Several of the new students screamed.

Snape stood with his wand outstretched. "I trust you can manage him now," Snape said to the house elf that was hurriedly picking up the large, statue-like Crookshanks in her arms. "You, Miss Granger, may return to your seat."

Dumbledore stood and calmed the first years by telling them that Crookshanks was not harmed and would recover shortly. He also noted that a number of wizards were not present this year owing to the fact that some of the sixth and seventh year wizards had already pledged allegiance to Voldemort and some parents were just frightened to send their children away from home at this turbulent time. "However," continued Dumbledore, "it has been my experience that those who need to be here, are here. And so, let us proceed with the Sorting." He turned to McGonagall. "Minerva."

Professor McGonagall stood and explained how the Sorting Hat was fashioned by the Four Founding wizards of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin.

She told the students that they would be called in alphabetical order and the Hat would be placed upon their head. After being sorted, they were to sit with the appropriate table. During McGonagall's speech that stressed that, although their house would certainly be like their family while they were at Hogwarts, the whole of the wizarding community needed to befriend one another regardless of house, Ron leaned over to Harry and whispered: "Two galleons says Beatrice is a Hufflepuff."

"You don't have two galleons," Harry answered. "But you're probably right. I'd guess Samara's a Ravenclaw--all that studying she did."

"Sh-h-h. The Sorting is about to begin," said Hermione.

"Yeah," said Ron, "But look at Hermione. Samara could be a Gryffindor. I hope she's a Gryffindor."

"Will you two shut up!" snapped Hermione.

The Sorting Hat had been introduced by McGonagall and was singing its song.

The great wizards Four, a gift gave to me,

To now ascertain, where you each should be.

I'll check in your heart, and I'll check in your head.

Come forward all. You have nothing to dread.

Fear not. Never yet have I made the mistake

Of sending a badger to live with a snake.

In Gryffindor House so brave and so true

Family and friendships are precious to you.

Hufflepuff House! Oh the just and the fair!

I will see now, should I put you there?

Though Slytherin House the Dark Lord did shake,

Here rises the power and wit of the snake.

For I tell you now, no house will be slighted.

A wrong neglected tonight will be righted.

Under the Eagle eye of intellect,

The finest minds Ravenclaw does select

To tell you all brothers and sisters to be

If ever my powers should fail to sort thee.

Professor McGonagall stood and announced the first name.

"Stuart Anton"

Stuart was a tall thin boy who wore glasses. He had pale blond hair and a quiet demeanor that reminded Harry vaguely of Cedric Diggory. He looked older than eleven to Harry. He sat tensely on the edge of the stool and McGonagall put the hat on his head.

"Hmmmm," hummed the Sorting Hat, "I see intelligence here. Yes. Witty and clever."

Ron leaned close to Harry. "The Sorting Hat didn't talk out loud when we were sorted."

Harry shuddered, but he didn't answer. He was remembering what the Sorting Hat had said to him.

Images flew into his mind and in a moment were gone:

"Plenty of courage...not a bad mind..."

That would have been embarrassing enough without the rest.

"talent..."

Harry felt his hands begin to sweat just thinking of what the Sorting Hat saw there. Of course, Harry now knew what talent the Sorting Hat had seen. He didn't even know it himself then.

That followed by: "thirst to prove yourself..."

And then Harry's plea: "Not Slytherin."

"You could be great, you know...Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness..."

It would have been so easy to say "yes" at that point, but Harry Potter had said "no" and that had made all the difference. "Choices," he thought.

"And from an old wizarding family," continued the Hat. "I remember your father well. So, I shall put you in--SLYTHERIN!"

Slytherin broke into vigorous applause. The other houses joined in politely.

"Calvin Anthony"

"Oh Calvin. The soul of a poet--"

"Do you know if there are any good prospects for Alicia Spinet's chaser position this year?" Ron asked Harry quietly.

"Donno. There's still Wood's position too, and his is a hard act to follow. I don't even know who the Captain will be this year. Maybe one of the twins."

"Be serious, Harry. I can't imagine either of them as Captain of anything. You would be a logical choice."

"Me? No, I don't think so. Maybe Angelina. Looks like it might be a rough year for us, especially with Slytherin having a good team and Nimbus 2001s."

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the Sorting Hat.

"Ming Chang," called McGonagall.

"Sh-h. That's Cho's little sister," said Harry.

"Ming Chang. Oh yes, I remember your sister, and so I shall put you in SLYTHERIN."

Harry glanced over at Cho. She looked horrified. She buried her face in her hands and Harry could see one of the Ravenclaw girls put a supporting arm around her as she started to sob. Harry noticed Ming was also crying.

"How many is that for Slytherin?" Harry asked.

"All of them," replied Hermione.

"That's impossible." Harry said.

"The Sorting Hat doesn't make mistakes."

"Samara Donnally"

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the Hat.

"That's a new record," said Ron. "It didn't decide that fast for Malfoy."

"She's not a Slytherin," said Harry. "Why haven't the professors seen that the Hat is mistaken?"

"Beatrice Ellis"

As she walked to the stool, she stopped and took two long breaths of her puffer. She was visibly shaking.

"There's another Mudblood for Hufflepuff," whispered Malfoy to Goyle in a voice that carried easily across the room.

When Beatrice was seated on the sorting stool, McGonagall patted her shoulder and waited for her to take yet another breath from her puffer, before putting the hat on her head.

"Beatrice, my dear you have some spirit in you; but such a sweet little girl--never spoke a harsh word to anyone: a talent not many have. You are a very talented person, Beatrice. Yes, your talent should be put to good use; therefore I shall put you in a house where people can understand you: SLYTHERIN!"

The entire Slytherin table seemed to erupt in disbelief.

"What!" Harry, Hermione, and Ron jumped to their feet in unison, but no one noticed.

Minerva McGonagall snatched the hat off Beatrice's head. "Stop.These students are NOT all Slytherins."

"I tend to agree with you, Minerva," Snape said. "That last one is definitely not a Slytherin."

Dumbledore raised his hands for quiet and the students grew still. "What do you suggest we do?" Dumbledore softly asked the teachers.

Without speaking, Professor McGonagall quickly sat down on the stool, closed her eyes and jammed the hat on her head, crumpling the brim in the process.

"OHH!" said the Hat in surprise. "Such anger, my little Minnie. And courage too, considering what I said to you the last time you sat in this chair. Do you remember?"

"Yes," said McGonagall in a small voice that sounded strangely pathetic.

"Then I won't tell you again," said the Hat kindly.

"Thank you."

"And so, my dear, since you wish to be resorted, I shall put you in SLYTHERIN"

Dumbledore stood and clapped his hands. "New students, who have been sorted, go back with the other first years." There was a shuffle as the students all began to move. Several of them mumbled under their breath that they WERE Slytherin. "Now, teachers," Dumbledore continued, "I am open to suggestions."

"This will take too bloody long!" complained Ron. "It's been at least six hours since we ate this morning. I'm starved."

"How many chocolate frogs did you eat on the train?" asked Hermione.

"Those don't count."

The teachers were talking quietly among themselves and the students began to get restless. There was much shuffling in their seats and whispering. Dumbledore clapped his hands for quiet.

"Obviously, the Sorting Hat has been tampered with. We don't know how and we don't know why. In these dark days, we need the help of the Four Great Wizards that founded Hogwarts, but it seems that we will have to find new great wizards among this company, and to find new ways of doing things, not the least of which is sorting you into your proper houses. The heads of the houses suggest that they are relatively adept at sensing which of the students belong in their own house--or at the very least--they can tell which students do NOT belong in their houses.

"Professor Snape assures me that several of you are definitely NOT Slytherins.

"Professor Sprout reminds us that the Sorting Hat spoke to us in the song about its accuracy so far and was perhaps warning us that it was tampered with. So, the first order of business is to get you sorted into a house, even if it is not your permanent placement.

"Minerva McGonagall suggests that we not consider this sorting as permanent as if the Hat had sorted." Dumbledore paused and looked at Professor McGonagall. She nodded. "Professor McGonagall consented to my telling you that as an eleven year old, the Hat considered sorting her into Hufflepuff, but it took into consideration her desire to be a Gryffindor."

There was a slight stir at the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables as they considered McGonagall as a Hufflepuff. It seemed unbelievable.

"Therefore," Dumbledore continued, "if after one week in the house you are given tonight, you wish to change houses, and we will review each case on an individual basis. As Professor McGonagall reminds us, and many of you can attest to this yourself, the Sorting Hat does take into consideration the wishes of the student, so I ask each of you to please remember that the wishes of the students are important and part of the sorting process.

"Finally, Professor Flitwick offers the way that we will monitor the sorting process this year, which was also suggested by the Sorting Hat. By assigning an older BROTHER or SISTER to each of the new first years, we can monitor the progress. It will be your responsibility as an older student to use all of the abilities available to you to determine if the first year student is in the right house. To do this, first years will have to take all classes with their mentors, at least temporarily. We will adjust the classes accordingly. At this turbulent time, it may not be a bad thing for a wizard to learn as quickly as possible. In any case, many of the things you will be learning this year will be new to all of you. I had already decided that we would not follow the regular OWL schedule."

"No OWLS?" There was shuffling and whispering at Dumbledore's news.

"I did not say there would be no OWLS," Dumbledore repeated. "What I said was that we would not follow the regular OWL schedule. I believe there are topics that should be covered that are not usually on the OWLS. With Voldemort's return, it is imperative that we defend ourselves and defend one another.

"Now on with the business of Sorting: sixth and seventh years, there will be special assignments for you this year, which I will explain shortly. Therefore, you will not have the time to mentor a first year student."

There was a small outcry from the Ravenclaw table, and Harry glanced at Cho who was now whispering hurriedly to the forth and fifth year girls at her table. Dumbledore paused and looked over his glasses at Cho. As soon as she felt his eyes on her, she sank into her seat. "Sorry," she murmured, and Dumbledore continued.

"Forth and fifth years who gain first year students to mentor, if, for any reason, you have doubts about the correctness of the sorting of your charge, you must immediately see the head of your house. If you cannot do this, do not volunteer to be a mentor to the new students. In the meantime, we, your teachers, will try to determine what happened to the Sorting Hat. Now, we will begin."

Dumbledore raised his hands and slowly lowered them, lowering the light level in the room. As if on cue, Professor Trelawney walked slowly down the center aisle of the Great Hall.

"I have sensed a great disturbance in the peace of the castle," intoned Trelawney. "There is confusion, pain and fear. There is much darkness, even death..."

"Sybill," said Dumbledore, "we require your assistance. Please come and sit here near the sorting stool."

"It is the Hat!" cried Trelawney.

"Ha!" Ron blurted. "What a pity she didn't notice the train wreck."

"Yes," said Dumbledore, "the Hat has failed and we must do the Sorting ourselves. The other teachers have reminded me that they usually can tell which students would do well in their own houses, so we were going to assign a student mentor to each new student according to the teacher's suggestions."

"If I may make a suggestion..."

"Of course, Sybill."

"Obviously, the teachers can feel the harmonic vibrations in their own house, but so can the students," she said.

"I don't exactly feel harmonious right now," whispered Harry to Ron.

"If it gets us something to eat, I could probably force it," said Ron. "I feel--chicken--roast beef--"

Harry hid his laugh behind his hand.

"Some students are very adept," Trelawney continued. "I'd like to suggest that we block the entire front of the Great Hall from the view of the older students. Then as each new student sits on the stool, ask for those who volunteer to be the student's mentor to stand. The teachers can choose from the standing students. I venture to guess they will all be from the same house."

"Very well," said Dumbledore. "First years, make a cue behind the front table. We will choose you in no particular order so that the older students cannot make assumptions from what the Sorting Hat said about the previously sorted students."

Once the first years were hidden from sight behind Dumbledore's magic screen, he motioned to one of the teacher's to begin.

"If it helps you to concentrate, close your eyes," whispered Trelawney. She began to hum softly in a monotone voice. To Harry's chagrin, Parvati and Lavender began to hum with her.

Just what his aching head needed, he thought.

"Who will mentor this student?" asked Dumbledore.

Immediately, three Slytherin girls stood up. Dumbledore waited a moment, but no one else stood. He walked behind the screen, presumably to confer with Snape about which of the girls to choose.

"Gloria Snood," he announced, "Slytherin; Mentor: Lauren Avery."

"Who will mentor this student?" asked Dumbledore.

Terry Boot rose and then slowly, Alvin Nott of Slytherin, then another Ravenclaw, PadmaPatil and finally a third Ravenclaw, Lisa Turpin. Again Dumbledore conferred briefly with the teachers and announced:

"Stuart Anton, Ravenclaw; Mentor: Terry Boot."

"Who will mentor this student?" asked Dumbledore.

Hermione stood immediately. After a long pause and a bit of whispering at the Hufflepuff table, Susan Bones and Hannah Abbot stood. With hands joined and still humming, Parvati and Lavender rose in exact symmetry. Dumbledore waited but no one else stood. Dumbledore disappeared behind the shield. After a moment he returned and announced:

"Beatrice Ellis, Gryffindor; Mentor: Hermione Granger."

"Who will mentor this student?" asked Dumbledore.

Malfoy stood immediately, followed quickly by Crabbe and Goyle. Harry wasn't sure if they felt vibrations or Malfoy's foot kicking them. There was a long pause and a bit of shuffling, then Ginny Weasley stood up. She hadn't even looked at the people who were standing. She had her eyes closed.

"Sit down, Ginny. It's a Slytherin." Ron hissed.

Still Dumbledore hesitated. He went behind the screen as Malfoy looked around the hall and tried to pull Pansy to her feet. She punched him.

Dumbledore returned.

"Samara Donnally, Gryffindor; Mentor: Ginny Weasley."

"Way to go, Ginny," cheered Ron.

"Who will mentor this--"

Cho Chang had already stood up before Dumbledore finished his sentence. As if remembering that she wasn't allowed to mentor a first year, she quickly sat down again. The entire group of forth and fifth year Ravenclaw girls stood.

"Ming Chang, Ravenclaw; Mentor: Lisa Turpin."

"Are we ever going to get to eat?" moaned Ron.

Two more Hufflepuffs were sorted and another Slytherin. Harry rubbed both hands over his face. Although it was a little slower than the Sorting Hat, Harry thought that it was working out well. He had already decided that he was not going to volunteer. He had too much on his mind with Voldemort's return. The last thing he needed to do was baby-sit. Too bad Hermione decided to take on Beatrice. Oh well, at least he still had Ron...he looked around for his friend and realized that Ron was standing.

So was Goyle.

"Who will mentor this student?"

"Stand up, Harry," hissed Ron. "I'm sure it's a Gryffindor"

"No. Tell Neville to stand up."

Neville stood.

Crabbe stood.

"Might be a good Quittitch player," teased Ron.

Harry stood.

"Joseph Foresman, Gryffindor; Ron Weasley, Mentor."

"Who will mentor this student?"

Two Hufflepuff boys stood, followed a moment later by a third Hufflepuff, a girl.

"Calvin Anthony, Hufflepuff; Justin Finch-Fetchley, Mentor."

"Who will mentor this student?"

Harry's scar pulsed with a dull ache, but that didn't mean anything anymore, it had been hurting all summer, and more this night since the Dark Mark.

"We need a new keeper and a chaser," said Ron.

"No," Harry hissed, rubbing his scar. "Absolutely not."

Malfoy stood.

"Are you going to let Slytherin have him?"

Lavender and Parvati stood.

"Harry!"

"No Ron," he said, but even as he spoke, he found himself on his feet.

"Edward Lestrange, Gryffindor; Harry Potter, Mentor."

Bloody hell, thought Harry as the new student strode quickly forward to the Gryffindor table and Ron moved over to let him sit by Harry. He shook hands firmly with Harry and smiled.

"I'm So-o glad to be in Gryffindor," he said. He turned to Ron. "I think I already met your sister," he said as he shook Ron's hand. "Same red hair. Although, I'd have to say, she's considerably better looking than you." Edward's grin was open and infectious. Harry noted that even Lavender and Parvati had stopped humming long enough to size up the new Gryffindor.

Edward turned around and met her eye even though she was seated several feet away. "Virginia, right?"

Ginny blushed furiously. "Just Ginny," she murmured.

"Yes," Ron said carefully, "Ginny's my sister. How did you meet her?"

"Oh, I was just her transportation. When the car next to us exploded, my first thought was my broom. Then, she was hurt--so I gave her a ride to safety."

Ron had gone ghost white thinking of Ginny that close to the explosion. "Thanks," Ron whispered.

"No more than anyone would have done. I was just at the right place at the right time."

"You're a first year," Ron whispered. "First years don't have brooms at Hogwarts."

"Well, I'm not strictly a first year. I'm 13. My Granny wanted us to stay home and learn the basics with some family friends. Then she considered Durmstrang, but I really didn't want to go there." Edward seemed to just notice Neville. "Hey, hi. I saw you too, but I don't think we were introduced." Edward extended his hand toward Neville.

"Neville Longbottom."

"Who will mentor this student?"

Pain shot suddenly through Harry's head and he grabbed his scar.

Malfoy stood.

No one else did

Harry stared at the magic screen as if he could see what was behind it. He couldn't.

"Ethan Lestrange, Slytherin; Draco Malfoy, Mentor."

Harry looked hard at the boy sitting next to him. He and the boy sitting with Draco Malfoy were identical down to the last dark hair.

Edward smiled thinly. "That's my brother--twin actually. I always thought we would be in the same house." He shrugged.

"You any good at Quidditch?" asked Harry.

"Hate the game. But my brother's a decent chaser."

"Terrific..." Harry said dryly.

Not knowing how many more students were sitting behind the screen to be sorted made many of the students start to get restless. Dumbledore seemed to recognize this and occasionally told them how many students were left to be sorted. "Fourteen more now..." and later, "Eight more students." Everyone was so tired. This was much more exhausting than just waiting for the Sorting Hat to decide. Harry couldn't understand why that was so, but everyone seemed to feel it.

Applause was getting sparser and usually only attempted by the house that won the new person. By now, many of the people Harry knew had first years to mentor. Neither Parvati nor Lavender had anyone, but that could be because they constantly stood up together with their arms locked together. Perhaps Dumbledore thought they were already matched with each other.

Neville didn't have anyone, but he had only stood up once on his own and that was for a Hufflepuff girl, Justin Fitch-Fetchley's little sister--and she was little. She didn't look like she could be eleven. She was a thin, frail child who looked as if she might burst into tears any moment. In fact, her face was blotchy and her eyes were red as if she had been crying.

Maybe Neville didn't trust his Seeing powers. Ha! Not that Harry had any aptitude for divination. He was hoping for a good Quidditch player, but he got the wrong twin. He could wish that they both turned out to be Gryffindors, but they probably weren't. He sighed. He could hope, after all. The Weasley twins were both Gryffindors, but Parvati and her twin sorted into different houses and without the Sorting Hat to be sure...

"And now," Dumbledore interrupted his thoughts, "the final student to be sorted."

The hall broke into weak applause, which died down almost immediately.

"Who will mentor this student?"

No one moved. It could have been that everyone who wanted a little brother or sister already had one, or it could have been that everyone was tired and hungry and no longer 'focusing' as Professor Trelawney kept telling them to do. For whatever reason, there was a long and agonizing pause. Harry felt sorry for the person who was being sorted. What if no one stood up? If he didn't already have a first year, he would have stood up now.

There was a sharp 'klunk' as Neville's head slipped from the arm it was resting on and knocked over the table decoration. One of the little spheres that depicted planets fell off and rolled under the table.

Neville stood up and then crawled under the table to fetch it. As soon as Neville was in a standing position again, Dumbledore spoke:

"Llywelyn Styvesant, Gryffindor; Neville Longbottom, Mentor."

Most of the Gryffindor table that saw what had happened were laughing, but Dumbledore began the applause and then raised his hands. "I have only two words to say: Let's eat."

The table filled with all sorts of delicious food.

"At last," sighed Ron and for a while all conversation was centered on the food and the train wreck.

The obvious conclusion was that there was a Death Eater on the train. It had to be a student. Only students were on the train.

"Malfoy?" suggested Harry.

Edward snorted, "Him?" There was a moment of silence as they all considered the possibilities.

"I know Malfoy's father is a Death Eater," said Harry.

"How on earth would you know that?" interrupted Neville's first year, Lou.

"Long story," said Harry shortly. He had no intention of explaining. "We'll just have to keep our eyes open. There's no way of knowing if Malfoytook the Dark Mark this summer, short of asking to see his arm."

"Why would it have to be a student?" asked Hermione. "The Death Eaters could have Apparated onto the train."

"No," said Harry. "I don't think you were with us when McGonagall said there were wards on the Hogwarts Express. That's what kept students from getting killed. Of course, I just assumed that they were similar to Hogwarts' protections. Maybe the Death Eaters could Apparate onto the train."

"The cars that were burned were cars with the first years," said Lou. "Do you think someone wanted to kill one of the first year students?"

"Hey, Harry," said Ron. "That would be a switch, wouldn't it? You-Know-Who preoccupied with someone besides you."

Neville had started to gather up his plate and utensils. "What's the matter?" asked Hermione. "You don't look too well."

"I was just going to sit by Ginny," said Neville. "I can't...I can't...I just don't want to talk about this."

"I'll see you after dinner, alright, Lou?"

"Sure."

"Neville, we can talk about something else," suggested Hermione. "You don't have to leave." But Neville had already moved.

"So much for Gryffindor bravado," said Edward.

Harry grabbed the front of Edward's robes. "Don't you ever say that about Neville.You have no idea what he went through. What his parents went through. His dad was an Auror and..." Harry suddenly became aware of what he was about to say. Neville had never told him this story. He had seen it in Dumbledore's pensive and he had no right to tell it to anyone, especially not Edward who he hardly knew.

"Never mind," Harry said, abruptly releasing Edward's robes. "It's for Neville to tell you, not me." Harry rubbed his hands across his forehead again and made a conscious effort to get himself under control.

Edward dragged his hooded eyes from Harry and looked across the table to where Ginny and Neville were talking animatedly to Samara. "Are Ginny and Neville a couple?" he inquired softly.

"Would be news to me," said Ron.

"Good," Edward suddenly turned back to Harry with a smile on his face. "So, Harry," he asked, "have you decided what classes we are taking this year?"

"Same as Ron, I guess," said Harry. "I still don't really know what wizarding skills are important. How about you Hermione? You aren't using a time-turner or anything this year for classes, are you?"

"Not this year," Hermione said. "The Ravenclaws had them all signed out by the time I decided."

"You are hopeless," Ron said while stuffing a piece of chicken into his mouth. "Why would you want to torture yourself?"

"I just think I should try to learn everything I can while I am here. You grew up in a wizarding family. Many of the things you take for granted, I don't even know."

"But you're not taking Divination, are you?" Ron questioned.

"No. In my opinion, that is a complete waste of time. If I need to find out the future, I can do just fine with Arithmancy. Trelawney is a complete fraud."

"So--" interrupted Harry, "You're taking Arithmancy again this year..."

"And we'll have Potions together and Defense and Transfiguration. What are you doing for your Herbology elective?" asked Ron. "Plants that Poison or Healing Herbs?"

"Healing Herbs. I thought there would be less likelihood of the class being overrun with Slytherins," said Hermione.

"I wonder who the new Care of Magical Creatures Prof will be?" pondered Harry.

"Forget Care of Magical Creatures. I wonder who the Defense Againstthe Dark Arts teacher will be," countered Ron.

Just then, Dumbledore clapped his hands for quiet. "It seems as if most of you are finished with the main course of your dinner. If you are still working on dessert, just go ahead and eat while you listen. I don't mind your chewing, and we took so long with the Sorting, I thought we'd better go ahead with this year's announcements. First of all, the Forbidden Forest is still forbidden. Also, there will be no Care of Magical Creatures class until later this year since Hagrid is gathering the Giants to help us in our cause. And now I'd like to introduce an old friend and a new teacher this year, Mrs. ArabellaFigg. We are very lucky to have Mrs. Figg with us. She is an excellent witch and I'm sure you will learn a lot from her--"

"Didn't you study with her, Beatrice?" Harry asked, leaning across Hermione. "What is she like?"

"Is she a Gryffindor?" Ron interrupted.

Beatrice started to answer, but the room erupted into applause led by Dumbledore when they looked up, Mrs. Figg was standing and smiling. Snape was smiling too.

"Uh-oh. Snape smiling. That means trouble," said Ron.

"Will you two shut up," said Hermione. "I didn't hear what Mrs. Figg is going to teach."

"They didn't announce it," piped in Lavender.

"Well it's obvious, isn't it? There's only one opening, isn't there? Defense," said Ron, but he quieted down so that they could listen to Dumbledore's speech.

"And so," Dumbledore continued, "the sixth and seventh years will be doing quite a lot of fieldwork with selected wizards, including Professor Snape, Professor Lupin--"

"Lupin, the werewolf?" came a loud whisper from the Hufflepuff table.

Dumbledore ignored the shuffling, and continued. "Arthur Weasley, Percy Weasley, and others. Some of your classes will be combined, because as I'm sure you've noticed there are less than fifty percent of the wizards here who are eligible to be here. I can only assume that some of them have already sided with Voldemort and will not return to us. Others decided to support the Ministry of Magic and Cornelius Fudge, which I understand they may think is neutral territory. However, in this fight, there will be no shades of gray. Wizards will either be with Voldemort or against him. I'm not sure what that will do to the wizards who try to side with the Ministry. I'm afraid they will have too little defense and be too late to stop Voldemort. That is the reason for the field works at the Ministry, which will be headed by the Weasleys. We must allow those who side with the Ministry now a chance to oppose Voldemort whole-heartedly if they wish to do so at a later date.

"When the sixth and seventh years are absent, that will mean that the fifth years have seniority. Fifth years, I expect you to act accordingly. I'm afraid you will have to grow up rather quickly. This brings me to the schedule changes, most notably Apparition for fifth years, taught by Professor Sinistra. It will be a small class and give each of you a chance to mingle with the other houses. Learn the names of your fellow wizards and, of equal importance, learn to whom they give their allegiance. That fact may save your life or the life of someone you care about in the times to come."

A murmuring and stir of movement at the Ravenclaw table caused Dumbledore to pause. "Did you have a question Miss Chang?"

"Yes, sir. If the sixth and seventh years are going to be traveling, what will happen to the Quidditch Teams?"

"I'm afraid, Miss Chang, that we may have a very different Quidditch season this year. For those of you who will be graduating, I know that your last year of Quidditch is very special to you, but we all must be prepared to make sacrifices. I don't want to cancel Quidditch at this time..."

"Cancel Quidditch!"The murmuring turned to a low roar and Dumbledore raised his hands, but the murmuring didn't cease and he was forced to clap several times, the last time obviously magically enhanced, before the hall quieted.

"As I was saying, I don't want to cancel Quidditch. Voldemort wants to put us all in a panic: to change our day-to-day routines and control our lives by succumbing to fear. We need to be prepared, but not panicked. Even after the attack on the Hogwarts Express, we must not panic. Let's all remember that the protections and wards around the Hogwarts Express obviously kept our students from being killed. Even the injuries were primarily minor. It is the fear that paralyses us which could cause our downfall. We will not succumb to that fear."

There was a pause and then Roger Davies began slowly applauding, followed by a few other Ravenclaws and older Gryffindors. Harry and Ron joined in as the entire Gryffindor table broke into applause, followed by the Hufflepuffs. Harry noted that the Slytherins were applauding sparingly and looking around their table as if to try to discern which of the Slytherins really agreed with him and which were playing the role of good student to hide their Death Eater reality. Surely the teachers had already figured out that at least one of the students had to be able to conjure the Dark Mark, unless it was Snape. The explosion happened close to the school. Harry glanced at the head table, but Snape was also applauding with the other teachers, not that his applauding made Harry trust him. The applause died down, and those students who had stood, sat back down.

"Thank you for your show of support," Dumbledore said. "I wish I had such support from the Ministry, but perhaps this attack on the Hogwarts Express will open their eyes." He took a deep breath and continued. "So, as I started to explain, we will continue to have Quidditch as always, but I suggest that each of the teams practice with substitute players because you never know when one of your key players will not be available to play--especially if those players are sixth and seventh years. I will not compromise our protection and our intelligence network because of a school Quidditch game. Surely you see that."

The hall fell into an embarrassed silence. Of course, defeating Voldemort was more important than Quidditch, but it was a blow, especially to the graduating students, to learn that Quidditch would play such a small part in their lives this year.

"Continuing with schedule changes, first years, as stated before, will take classes with their mentors, unless they are one of the many wizards found by our search teams. You may have more advanced skills and have to be scheduled differently, but you will begin classes tomorrow with your mentors, except for first period, which will be beginning flying. Madam Hooch wants to test each of you and decide whether or not you need a flying class. If you do not, you will be free to choose another elective class. By the end of the week, you will all have met with the head of your house to discuss any difficulties with your class schedule or your house placement and corrections will be made.

"I would like to honor the brave and quick thinking actions of the upperclassmen who rescued the first years that were trapped. I applaud you now." Dumbledore brought his hands together and immediately, most of the Hall broke into applause. As soon as the noise died down, Dumbledore said, "Now, you may socialize here in the Great Hall or retire to your common rooms at your leisure. I remind you, classes begin tomorrow. And I bid you all Welcome to Hogwarts!"

The teachers began drifting around the hall to talk to each other and to the students. The Ravenclaw table cleared out almost immediately. Edward got up and excused himself. "I want to talk to my brother for a minute," he said and strode across the room to Malfoy and his gang.

After a few moments, Hermione and Beatrice stood too. "We'll see you back in the common room," said Hermione, "if you aren't too late. I want to go to bed early tonight to be fresh for class tomorrow. I'm just going to show Beatrice around Gryffindor a little bit."

Harry nodded, his eyes still watching Edward, now talking animatedly with his twin brother and Draco Malfoy.

"Wait, Hermione. Samara and I will come with you," Ginny called. Then more softly, she continued, "Do you know that Eloise and I are the only fourth year Gryffindor girls who returned to Hogwarts this year? As a matter of fact, there's just Colin Creevey, Eloise Midgin and me from fourth year. None of the other Gryffindors have returned. Professor McGonagall is trying to decide whether to put us with Gryffindor fifth years or with the Ravenclaw fourth years. She said she'd work on it tonight and I should see her in the morning before class."

"Are you coming Harry?" called Ron, who was walking a little behind the girls with his first year, Joe.

Harry gestured toward Edward, who was now sitting at the Slytherin table. Hermione saw Harry's predicament and waited too.

Samara wasn't as subtle. "Hey Eddie!" she yelled across the Great Hall. "Move your ass! Unless you're planning on sleeping with the Slytherins tonight!"

Edward looked up and then sauntered across the hall to them. The Slytherins were doubled over in bouts of laughter. "Past your bedtime Eddie?" Malfoy called and Harry noticed that Edward's twin punched him hard enough to take the wind out of his insult.

Snape moved to the Slytherin table, apparently taking care of his golden boy, Malfoy.

Edward didn't turn around. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting," he apologized to Harry, but his eyes didn't meet Harry's. They were already fixed on Samara with a murderous stare, and he moved forward so angrily that Harry unconsciously reached for his wand, but instead of hurting her, Edward wrapped his arm around Samara's waist. Harry noticed she didn't protest as he leaned his head close and whispered something to her from between clenched teeth. She laughed aloud and tossed her glorious mane of black hair as she glanced back to the Slytherin table. Harry felt a knot tighten in his stomach as Edward reached out his other arm and wrapped it around Ginny.

"Ginny and I are going to take our first years on a tour of Gryffindor," Hermione said. "Neville and Lou are coming. Are you and Ron bringing your first years too?" she asked Harry.

"Ron can do what he likes," said Harry. "I'm going to bed."

"What about Edward?" asked Hermione.

"He looks like he's doing fine without me," said Harry. "Good night."

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