The Four

-The Four-

The train ride to Hogwarts was silent and awkward. Only the Slytherins were making noise. They were obnoxious and annoying, even more so now that the news was out.

Over the summer the Ministry had gotten to the conclusion that Sirius was innocent, and had announced it over the Wizarding Wireless Network. Along with a full apology, Harry was allowed to arrange a funeral, which was paid for by the Ministry. The funeral was also announced on W.W.N., directly after the announcement and apology.

"Hmm..." Harry said with interest, looking at a new, and quite large addition to the collections of paintings that was hanging on Hogwart's walls. It was life size, hanging in the entry hall. "What is it of?" every word was dripping with sarcasm.

The painting was obviously of the Hogwarts founders. They were wearing full-body costumes of the animal that represented their house. A look at it could tell you that they were humans in costumes, because there were hooks about two of their feet (A/N: yes, I'm American) apart. Each hook was labeled with the name and animal. They were were dancing up right, on their hind legs.

By now almost the whole school *that didn’t need to be sorted* was piled around the painting. "Boy, you lot are fascinated easily, huh?" said Draco Malfoy, coming up and standing beside, but far enough away from, Harry. Malfoy's cronies came up a second after and stood beside him.

"Eat dung, Malfoy," Harry said, not taking his eyes off the painting. Ginny came up as Harry was talking. She didn't need to ask anything, she knew what was happening, and she knew not to interfere.

"Mr. Weasley!" Professor McGonagall wove her way through the crowd. Not bothering to answer or ask questions, she tapped his shoulder with her wand and gave him a look that plainly said that he it was no use struggling or resisting. "Mr. Crabbe and Goyle would you come too!" she said, turning to the two large figures. Startled Crabbe and Goyle looked at Malfoy for instruction.

Malfoy pulled up the side of his lip and said, "Go, dumb arses." McGonagall sucked in her cheeks and ignored the curse. She turned sharply and walked in the other direction. The three didn’t hesitate to follow her. Now it was only Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Drac...Malfoy left.

Suddenly the founders stopped dancing and stared at the four in the front row. The whole hall went quiet and stared at the painting. All of the founder's costumes, with a wave of their wands, disappeared off them and onto the hooks behind them.

A gasp was heard thought the hall. Everyone backed away, forming a half circle around the painting, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Malfoy. No one was blinking, they kept staring at the four in the circle. In unison, it seamed, everyone glanced at the painting, but looked back quickly. The founders were lined up face to face, staring straight into the eyes of the person they were facing. Hermione-Rowena, Ginny-Helga, Draco-Salazar, Harry-Godric.

Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Draco stared at almost exact replicas of them selves.