Harry had definitely not missed the staring, the staring that burned into him as he walked into the Great Hall. And the way they stared, you would think that he was some famous Quidditch player, not a war hero. Harry wondered idly if he'd still be allowed to play for the team.
"I wonder what the Sorting Hat's going to say this year," Hermione said as they got seated. "Now that the War is over."
"Probably just go on about his day, won't he? I mean, what's he going to say; 'brave chaps, you fought valiantly'?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "I don't think it's ever been that melodramatic, Ronald."
"It is a singing hat," Harry said, shrugging.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Ron asked, looking puzzled.
Harry exchanged a glance with Hermione. It was comforting to know that some things between them would never change.
They watched as McGonagall carried the Hat to the stool and placed it. Instantly, the hat broke into song:
I am the Sorting Hat,
And I have one purpose,
To separate all new students,
Into four precious Houses,
There is the House of Gryffindor,
Where all the brave ones go,
Or that of Ravenclaw,
To where all brains follow,
Third is cunning Slytherin's House,
He took the ambitious lot,
And last of all is Hufflepuff,
She the kind children sought
Though Hogwarts has suffered
Under all kinds of different threats,
The school has not wavered,
So no more should you fret,
Students, you have fought valiantly,
Now is the time to rest,
So now put me on your heads,
And put me to the test!
They all clapped, while Hermione and Ron looked flabberghasted. "I was just having a guess!"
They were silenced once again as the students were called forward to be Sorted. Harry noticed halfway through that not nearly as many new Slytherins were being given out as the other Houses, and he wondered if he wasn't the only one who requested a different House. Hufflepuff seemed overflooded, to the point where McGonagall had to elongate the table.
"Yes, well, thank you, students!" she said at the end, Vanishing the Hat and stool, and getting up to her golden stand. "Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. I imagine it has not been easy to return."
Harry wondered if anyone hadn't decided to return. As he looked down the Gryffindor table, he noticed Lavender and Parvati were missing. Now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure what became of Lavender after Hermione rescued her from Greyback.
"We have lost, but we have also gained," she said fiercely. "This is a new era for Hogwarts. Do not let your grief consume you; your Professors are here. We will aid you in any way that we can."
All the students in the Hall clapped, including the Slytherins. She quietened them again with a wave
"Speaking of new beginnings, we have a new Professor for Defence Against the Dark Arts: Professor Kennedy!"
Harry looked to see a tall, dark and handsome man with expensive-looking robes and kind eyes. The applause for the man was very enthusiastic from all Houses.
"Thank you, thank you," McGonagall said, embarrassed at the sight of the female students swooning for him. "Mr. Filch has some announcements he would like me to deliver."
A little reproachfully, she glanced at the man before she said, "Any and all items from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes are banned. And anyone seen to be... conspiring with Peeves the poltergeist will receive detention."
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Fanfiction"He wondered what he had originally thought would happen after the war, and whether he had ever considered that it would be this." He had never been taught how to deal with the end of the war. He'd never been taught anything, other than how to be a...
