Harry was used to the pointing and staring. He knew that if he came back to Hogwarts, it would be worse. So he just ignored everyone and followed Ron and Hermione into the great hall.

The great hall was magnificent as ever. Under the endless ceiling which was enchanted to look like the sky outside there were thousands of floating candles above four long tables, one for each house. There was another long table in front for all the teachers. McGonagall and Flitwick were the only known staff members who were not there. There was only one witch who Harry had never seen before.

"New Defence against the dark arts teacher you reckon?" Harry asked, nodding towards the witch. She was a short young witch with short sleek brown hair which was so straight, Harry wondered it would cut her shoulders. She wore black robes and was sitting with her arms crossed, staring at the table, making sure that her plate and cutlery were perfectly arranged.

"Wonder what she is like." Ron said, frowning at her behavior. "She does not look like she could last long here."

Just then McGonagall entered the great hall, followed by Hagrid. They took their place at the table.

"Where are the first years? When is the sorting going to take place?" Ron said impatiently.

Then the doors opened again and Flitwick arrived, carrying a scroll of parchment and a dirty patchy old hat. It was the sorting hat. He was followed by a huge crowd of first years.

The whole hall erupted in mummers about the number of first years, who were nervously admiring the great hall.

Flitwick placed the sorting hat on the stool in front of the tables and then cleared his throat. Everyone fell silent. The brim of the hat suddenly opened and it spoke:

Years ago, there were four,
Unique to their very core
Together they came with a plan,
To help the entire Wizarding clan.

Together a school they built,
For as many as they could fit.
To teach them about plants potions and charms,
And to protect their loved ones from harm.

Brave Gryffindor gave them strength, 
Having adventures was a day well spent.
Leading battles everywhere,
There was no time to despair.

Sweet Hufflepuff showed them care,
Kindness, passion and to be fair.
Second chances often bestowed,
To stop them taking the darker road.

Good Ravenclaw made them wise,
So that the fallen may arise.
Bringing strength to mind and soul,
That was their ultimate goal.

Proud Slytherin taught them ambition,
Chose the worthy for admission.
Loyal and true to ones chosen,
All gone once trust is broken.

When the four could not decide,
Who to let inside.
They called upon a higher power,
Summoned at the highest tower.

Through the storm and through the rain,
I began to feel pain.
Then the Unknown came to be,
Something only I could see.

All those thoughts in your mind,
All the thoughts only I could find.
Everything that made you, you,
All I needed was a clue.

On your head I sat,
Sorting through this and that,
Till I find that piece I need,
Which determines where you need to be.

The sorting hat lay motionless again. The Great Hall erupted in cheers!

"Start the sorting already!" Ron grumbled, his stomach growling loudly. "This is going to take forever!" He added looking at the long line of students waiting to be sorted.

"That's because of all the students who could not join last year. All the muggle borns who did not receive their letters for their own safety are here now." Hermione said.

The sorting had started and sea of new students began to thin out. The hat sorted many students into Griffindor and hardly any into Slytherin.

When Erin Mcoy was sorted into Slytherin, Harry looked over to their table. With a jolt, he recognized a blond haired boy.

"Malfoy is back?" Harry said, surprised.

"Wonder what education he missed out on last year." Ron said, rolling his eyes.

"Goyle isn't here." Hermione observed.

They watched Malfoy quietly watch the sorting. He wouldn't cheer for any of the sorting. Harry felt he looked a little lonely. None of the Slytherins were paying attention to him like before.

Finally when the sorting was over, the Sorting hat had been taken away. McGonagall stood up and cleared her throat. All the excited chatter died down. "Tuck in." She said and the plates magically filled with food. There were roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak, joints, steak and kidney pie, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and peppermint humbugs.

This was clearly something Ron enjoyed. He dove for the bowl of chicken legs and then went for some potatoes. Laughing, Harry and Hermione joined in.

Suddenly Nearly Headless Nick popped out of the plate of chicken legs, making Ron jump badly.

"Hello! It's so good to see you again." He said cheerfully. "I am so glad I have the opportunity to thank you personally for everything you did for the wizarding world." He took Harry's hand and shook it. Harry felt like his hand was plunged into a bucket of ice. "Just the other day I was telling Sir Patrick Podmore about how we fought together at The Battle of Hogwarts."

Harry felt uncomfortable because people were starting to stare again. He just smiled politely letting Nick drone on for a while and then continued to eat after Nick was done. Ron grinned at Harry with his mouth full of potatoes.

Once everybody had eaten and the plates were sparkling clean again, professor McGonagall got up to give her first speech as Headmistress.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. Last year was difficult for most of you which is why you are back. This year, there are some new rules and the old ones will be enforced. If anyone has problems they are most welcome to come to me or Professor Flitwick who is now the Deputy Headmaster of this school."

Students cheered when she mentioned Flitwick who stood on his chair in acknowledgment.

"As for staff members, I am happy to announce that Professor Masie Alden, will be with us as our new muggle studies professor." Professor McGonagall said, gesturing the witch with short straight hair. She stood up and bowed and everyone clapped politely.

"Finally," Professor McGonagall continued. "I would like to impress on you, the seriousness of your education. Badgering students to relive the incidents of what happened last year will not be tolerated." Her eyes strayed to Harry, at these words. He gave a small nod to show he understood.

"What is that about?" asked Hermione.

"I asked McGonagall for some help, just in case." Harry said softly.

"Good idea." Hermione said brightly.

There were loud banging and scrapings, the students stood up and started moving to the entrance hall. Harry yawned. He couldn't wait to go back to his dormitory and sleep.

As they followed the rest of the Gryffindors to the Gryffindor tower they heard a loud bang from the nearby corridor.

They ran forward to see what was happening. It was Malfoy. He was standing over a first year boy who was on the ground but also had his wand out.

"Stay away from me!" He yelled at the Gryffindor boy. Then he noticed everyone staring at him. With a terrified look, Malfoy turned on his heals and ran away.

"Are you ok?" Ron asked the boy on the ground, helping him up. He was tall for his age, had blond hair and freckles on his face. He had a long nose and looked like he wore a permanent frown.

"I'm ok." He said, adjusting his robes.

"What did Malfoy do to you?" Hermione asked.

The boy just looked at them. Suddenly conscious of everyone watching, he just tucked his wand back in his robes and walked away.

"Strange." Ron said raising an eyebrow.

"Why did Malfoy look so scared though?" Hermione asked. "He told him to stay away."

"Does not sound like our problem." Ron said flatly.

"He probably has his reasons. The Malfoy family was not exactly dormant during the war." Harry said. He couldn't help feel sorry for Malfoy as he changed into his pajamas and rolled into bed.

*******

Hey guys!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.... What do think of the sorting hat song? It was the toughest part to write.

What do you think is up with Malfoy and the new Gryffindor boy?

Don't forget to vote, comment, follow !
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