The Potter Lost In A Hurricane

11. The Hat's Prophecy

POV Ron

After Hermione killed the mood by talking about death and watching people die, we rode in the carriage in an awkward quiet.
Annabeth gasped "Thats the castle? It's huge. And it's an architectural masterpiece. Look at the arches, and that tower"
"Annabeth. English. Please." Percy said. "But... wow."
"It's beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. Imagine the inside..." Hazel added. My first time seeing the castle feels like ages ago. But it's still a really nice castle.
"Is the ceiling like a painting? Or is it like really the sky?" Annabeth asked.

"It's enchanted to look like the night sky." Hermione said. "I first read about it" Ginny, me and Harry joined in on this last part for fun. "Hogwarts a History." We all looked at her. "Do I really mention that book that often?"

"Oh my gods." Percy gasped. "I'm gonna end up blowing up a castle. I've blown up every school I've ever gone too. And I'm going to school in a place that you definitely shouldn't blow up. I'm going to get expelled if I blew up a sad public school gym and now I'm going to blow up a castle."

"PERCY! Stop. Breathe. You're not gonna be expelled. We've done loads of crap and that should have gotten us expelled. And here we are." Harry said.

"Plus, something explodes here every other day. You'll be fine." I added. Percy looked just as nervous.

"So how do we find out what house we're in? Is it based on parentage or do the houses choose you?" Hazel asked.

"The Sorting Hat." Everyone who has been to Hogwarts said.

"What was it like at the academy? How were you sorted into houses?" Ginny asked.

"We don't have houses in America. But we were separated in Legions in California and Cabins in New York." Percy said. He only mentioned a few days ago that the school had two locations. But it made more sense after he told us that.

"Weird." Ginny replied, as we pulled into the courtyard and started walk king towards the great hall. Once we were seen, everyone began ogling at us, like we were some sort of zoo animal. I guess I know what Harry felt like when he first got here. Not too long after, Professor Flitwick walked over to us and took Percy, Hazel and Annabeth to the first years in order to get sorted.

As we walked into the Hall I tried to find other kids who had come back for their 8th year.
I saw Malfoy, Daphne Greengrass, and Lila Turpin, Hannah Abbott, Neville, Terry Boot, and Justin from Hufflepuff.

This was going to be a very odd group of people to have as classmates. I don't think I've ever once spoken to Lila Turpin or Daphne and we've known each other since we were eleven. But the class is still bigger than I imagined, I'd've guesses that half these people wouldn't come back.

"Reckon McGonagall's still gonna teach transfiguration?" Harry asked.

"Obviously. You think she'd give that up? She loves it." Hermione said.

The doors opened suddenly, reveling a large group of tiny little first years and three people looking very very out of place, al being led by Professor Sprout. Everyone had an amusing combination of fear and awe on their face. Percy and his friends caught our eyes, Harry mouthed his brother a good luck and everyone walked closer to the stool with the old school hat on it.

McGonagall gave a small speech welcoming the new students and inspiring everyone to use last year as a way to better ourselves. And Hermione was right, she is still going to be teaching transfiguration.

With an introduction from Professor McGonagall, it was finally the hat's turn to start singing. The seam ripped, much to the surprise of many new students and an almost amused expression from Annabeth, the hat started singing.
"Oh welcome welcome back to school, students new and old,
To another year of learing wAiting to unfold.
Years past have eventful this year is no exception,
A giver of prophecy told me this next verse, so, everyone please pay the utmost attention."