CH 143

The ride was almost in silence except for Hermione saying, "I wonder if Professor Snape will be waiting for Harry, again, this time."

Harry shook his head and said, "Dumbledore won't miss the sorting. I believe he genuinely enjoys it."

As it was the Sorting Feast, the Seven split and went to their own House tables. This time Harry was quick to be as close as he could to the end on the side facing where the Hat would be placed. He made sure he left the five spaces for a possible ten new housemates to be sorted into their House.

Talk around the table while they waiting for the new First Years to arrive was, of course, what everyone did over summer; and Gilderoy Lockhart sitting in purple robes at the head table with a wide grin on his face. Harry told his year mates about visiting different friends and family around the island.

When one of the girls asked him something about Lockhart, Harry said, "I'll have to congratulate him."

"Oh?" she asked. "What ever for?"

"For being the only person I've seen, so far, who apparently likes to wear robes even uglier than Dumbledore's."

The girl wasn't happy hearing that and wouldn't talk to him again for the rest of the night. When the First Years came in everyone first saw a big flash of light and a puff of purple smoke. At first, Harry thought the Weasley twins had decided to get their pranking in early this year. However, the flash and puff proved to be a blonde-haired boy with a camera. As soon as he entered the Hall he took the photograph.

However, behind the snap-happy boy, he was happy to see Luna looking around in awe, just like everyone else in her incoming year cohort.

The sorting song was along the same lines as the previous year and everyone appropriately applauded. Then the sorting actually commenced. Ravenclaw picked up the first sorted, a boy named Steven Bradley. The next was the budding photographer, Colin Creevey, who went to Gryffindor. The sorting continued with Ravenclaw picking up a few more. Harry had to ask one lass, a girl named Shirley Fawcett, to leave a space for a friend. Before long Luna's name was called. As predicted she ended up in Ravenclaw, and Harry applauded as much as everyone else in his House. She immediately took the seat between him and Miss Fawcett.

Last to be called was Ginny Weasley. Harry felt like a bit of a heel because he hadn't thought about her for the whole train ride.

As the Hat was being placed on her head he could see her concentrate really hard. It took a few moments longer than usual but the Hat eventually sorted her into Gryffindor, along with the rest of the Weasleys.

Harry did notice she looked over to him a little sadly. He wondered why and hoped it wasn't because she was one of those fangirls.

"Ginny looked unhappy with her sort," said Luna.

"You know her?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yes," replied Luna. "Our homes aren't that far apart. We often played as small children together." Looking a little askance at Harry she said, "We even played at being the lucky girl who would marry Harry Potter."

Dumbledore stood and gave his brief little speech he always does, then the feast was served. Harry returned to the conversation while he was loading his plate from the wide selection before him.

"Then you both must have been disappointed to learn I was actually betrothed," said Harry, not a little worried. "No, I wasn't," said Luna. "To me, it was always a game. But I think Ginny actually believed she would marry you, one day. She was crushed when that article came out in the Daily Prophet. She came running to my home carrying that issue of the Prophet and crying."

"She brought a copy with her?" asked Harry.

"Oh, yes. Daddy won't have it in our house. He thinks it's nothing but a - 'Lying scandal sheet that wouldn't know the truth if it was written as a statement of fact and signed in blood.' He really does not like them."

"Then it sounds like I need to organise a subscription to - The Quibbler, then," said Harry.

Luna beamed at him and said, "I shall organise it for you, Harry. It will only cost a little over a galleon for the whole year. And I have subscription forms available in my trunk."

At the end of the Feast, the First Years were led out by two Prefects and Harry hung back a bit to give Daphne a good night kiss before they each headed for their own common rooms.

Like a true feast, the Sorting and other feasts held throughout the year were always many multiple courses. They had salad, light soup, entree, mains, and desserts. Thinly sliced cheese was always available on the table to cleanse the palate between courses.

The number of courses was also the main reason they headed straight from the Great Hall to their common rooms. The feast went on for hours. The next morning, Harry was a little late to rise and found everyone but Neville and Hermione at the Hufflepuff table.

"God!" said Harry. "I feel like I've only just eaten and we're already sitting down for breakfast."

"You'll burn it off quick enough in the Come and Go Room," said Tracey. "I couldn't believe how fast over summer I started to lose that lovely toning we'd all developed last year training with those training dummies."

Nodding, Susan said, "Yes, we should have been doing something by way of exercise during the break."

"Something to consider organising for next summer," said Daphne. "I doubt the Christmas break is long enough to trouble us too much." "How about we head for the Room straight after class and before lunch?" asked Tracey. "I have this irrational fear it's no longer there."

The group agreed, and each would head directly to the Room straight from class.

As they were talking, their class schedules were handed out.

Harry took one look at it and said, "It's the same as last year. Nothing's different."

As they were discussing classes they were approached by young Malfoy and both goons. He was carrying an old copy of the Daily Prophet and dumped it on the table in front of Harry with the front page uppermost. On it was a picture of Harry just after he'd kicked Lockhart in the ankle.

"Bet you loved that, didn't you, Potter?" said Malfoy, wearing his usual sneer. "Famous Harry Potter. Can't even go into a bookshop without making the front page."

"Actually, I more love the expression on the face of the woodpecker, Lockhart," he laughed, before showing the others. "The silly git grabbed me inappropriately."

Looking up at Malfoy, he said, "Thanks for bringing that all the way from home on the Express for me, Malfoy. It gives me a chance to show the others the true side of Gilderoy Lockhart; idiot extraordinaire."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you enjoy reading? Visit my site on Tiendup! There you will find the advanced chapter in PDF format, ready for your convenience.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

https://fictiontopia.tiendup.com/