Chapter Text
Harry did not wanna return to Hogwarts this year if he was being completly honest, especially not after he found out the toad-like lady from the ministry would become a new professor, why her? And why now? Of course he knew why now, to keep an eye on Dumbledore, because after all Dumbledore did believe that Voldemort had returned, something the ministry was strongly opposed to. But still he was already convinced he got expelled, and now part of the reason he almost got expelled would be a professor, and not just a professor, she would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. For which he had needed to buy a shit ton of books, and he heard rumours it would just be theory, which would probably be boring.
So all things considered Harry would rather stay with Sirius and the order at Grimmauld, but of course that wasn't allowed. Just like he wasn't allowed to become a member of the order just yet, just because he was too young. Like he hadn't survived Voldemort, twice. So he had gone with the Knight Bus to London King's Cross, and crossed to platform 9 3/4 and now he was on the train with Neville, Ginny and the blonde girl he didn't know, he recognized her face from probably passing her in the hallway, but that's it, she had introduced herself as Luna Lovegood. Hermione and Ron weren't here either, because they started of by the prefect compartments, another fact that did not make him more excited for the school year, the fact that Ron and Hermione were prefects now. Of course he was happy for them, after the jealousy faded atleast, but still they had a lot more responsibilty's this year. Which meant less time together for the three of them.
The rest of the train ride went by in a blur. Half way through Hermione and Ron showed up, before that Neville his cactus had exploded. And Draco of course had also played a visit. When they went to the carriages he suddenly realised they were pulled by horses, how had he never noticed that before, and why were Ron and Hermione acting like there weren't any horses? Was he really going insane?? The ride to the castle went smoothly, they talked a bit about random stuff they came up with.
They arrived at the castle, and every student went to sit down at their houses' tables. Then it was time for the sorting ceremony. First of course the hat started with his song:
"In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of 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, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused 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
Maintained 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 there 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
Were 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."
"Is it just me or is the hat singing longer than usually?" Ron asked, "And what is this about Hogwarts being in danger??" Harry wanted to facepalm, think Ron think, he thought, then Ron's face lit up as if he might have an idea what the hat was warning about, "Oh you know who."
Then the sorting started, a few first years were shaking with fear, others walked confidently to the chair, but still breathed a sign of relief when the had picked their house abd they were alowed to leave and go sit with their house. Harry remembered his first year and how he had practically begged the hat to not put him in Slytherin.
After the last first year got sorted, Dumbledore got up to hold his speach. Basically just welcoming the first years and welcoming the rest back, and telling everyone to enyone the food.
But right after Dumbledore finished the toad look-a-like stood up and started with a speech of her own.
"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." She started, "Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty 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's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..."
She continued, but Harry realised he was dozing off, and he wasn't the only one, Luna had gotten out the quibler again, Cho Chang was talking with her friends, a few students were still staring at Umbridge, but with glassy eyes like they weren't really paying attention to what she was saying. Fred and George were making bets about something, probably how long it would take for someone to fall asleep.
The only ones still paying attention were the teachers and Hermione. Umbridge was still continueing
''... 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.'' Umbridge finished, before sitting down again.
Dumbledore brought his hands up to clap, when suddenly a white, blinding, light flash flashed across the room. Followed by the sound of something, or someone, hitting the floor. A student close to were the flash came from screamed it out, scared of what he saw. Everyone in the hall that wasn't sitting to close stood up to take a look at what happened.
Laying on the floor was a girl, she had just an as shocked expression as most students had. But that was not the most noticeable about her.
The thing that really took the attention, was the blood streaming down her face, and other body parts, she was quickly laying in a puddle of her own blood. She was a witch Harry noticed, when he saw a want laying not to far away from the girl.