"He was on the train." Ron said pushing past his sister to get to the table where he slid onto the end of the bench near to the door. Hermione sat down next to him as he moved up a space, exchanging a quick look with him that confirmed Harry would take the seat in between them when he returned.
"What do you mean he was on the train?" Ginny sat down opposite her brother and her new friends quickly took the spots next to her.
"Sirius put him on the train this morning and sent Dobby with a note to let us know so we could find him." Ron said succinctly.
"You could have found me on the train and told me!" Ginny argued fiercely.
Ron shrugged. "Couldn't give Harry's position away, could I? It wouldn't have been safe and Sirius would have had my head, not to mention Mum."
Ginny opened her mouth and snapped it shut again, obviously realising the validity of Ron's words.
"Why's Looney with him?" Lydia asked snootily, casting a look back over her shoulder to where Harry and Neville were stood by the Ravenclaw table.
Hermione pursed her lips disapprovingly. "Luna," she stressed the girl's name, "is Harry's friend." She shot a look at Ginny who got her meaning immediately if the bright red blush was anything to go by. She ignored her own twinge of jealousy that Luna might fit Harry's criteria for a girlfriend since it was clear that she saw him for himself and not for his titles.
"Ron!" Lavender took the seat next to Ron and smiled at him coquettishly as Parvati took the seat beside her.
Hermione blinked. Had Lavender just batted her eyelashes at Ron?
Lavender ran a hand over Ron's arm. "I love your new robes! Very stylish! Where did you go? This isn't Madame Malkin's work."
Ron swallowed hard. "Um, well, Bill has this mate and…"
"Oh, does he do women's clothing?"
It was all Hermione could do to not to start laughing herself silly at the utter horror on Ron's face at the question.
"No!" Ron said immediately.
"That's a shame, but he obviously does good work." Lavender smiled again. "You look smashing!" She suddenly took on an air of concern. "I was really sorry to hear about your family getting attacked, Ron!"
"It looked awful in the papers!" Parvati commented, settling her robes around her.
"Awful!" echoed Lavender. "But you were a real hero rushing into the tent to save your Dad!"
"And Neville and Harry are heroes too, of course!" Parvati frowned, her lips forming a perfect pout. "Where are they?"
"Over there at the Ravenclaw table." Lydia remarked sourly, pointing behind her.
"Here, budge up, Gin-Gin! Angelina wants to talk with the team over dinner" Fred slid onto the bench, immediately followed by the Chaser girls and then George. They forced Ginny and the other third year girl to slide further up the bench and away from where Harry would be sitting.
Fred grinned at Hermione and she mouthed 'thanks' at him. She craned her head to sneak a peek at Harry who had been accosted on his way back to the Gryffindor table by some of the Potter alliance Heirs including the new Head Boy. Neville had stayed with him.
Ron followed her gaze and sighed. "They never give him a minute of peace, do they?"
"Well, politically he is their leader." Hermione murmured unhappily but she was in agreement with Ron. The alliance members were great but they needed to remember Harry was just Harry now he was back at school.
"Children!" Professor Dumbledore's voice rose above the babble and commanded silence. "Please take your seats! Our first years are awaiting their Sorting and I'm sure we are all hungry enough not to wish to delay our welcoming feast any longer than necessary."
Everyone not seated immediately scattered for the tables.
Harry slid in between Hermione and Ron as Neville took the seat Hermione had left at the end for him with a grateful smile.
Hermione gave Harry a quick smile as the side door opened and Professor McGonagall led the first years in. They looked so small and scared. Hermione knew intellectually that she and her peers must have looked the same but it seemed so unlikely.
The stool and the Hat were placed solemnly, and the Hat opened its mouth.
"I am the Sorting Hat
Not a mat, a bat, a cat.
I will Sort you once tonight
Making sure your home here's right.
Those with cunning,
Slytherin bound.
Those with loyalty,
Hufflepuff sound.
The brave and noble,
Gryffindors be.
Knowledge and witty,
Ravenclaws, see?
But the cunning need
To watch for greed.
And the loyal may hide
A too trusting side.
The brave always fall
To the reckless call.
Thinkers fail to look
Further than a book.
But you are all these things
And our battle will be won
Only when this truth is known
And Hogwarts stands as one."
Hermione absorbed the words of the Sorting song and sighed. It was paradoxical to harp on about Sorting people by attributes one moment and to talk about unity in the next. Of course, their idea for an inter-house Common Room was the same foolishness in some respects but maybe that was the Hat's point; that they should try to see beyond the differences of their House placements and see the similarities of being Hogwarts' students. She politely clapped as the first student was Sorted into Hufflepuff.
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