This chapter is dedicated to IcyGhostLlama for supporting this story and being a great friend. Love you!

The Sorting - Back To The Known As Unknown

As soon as Dumbledore put the sorting hat on his head, the hat began to speak.

"Oh, a Potter! How delighted I am to see you. I see, I see what you've gone through.... a great loss, subjected to great pain, now.... the very difficult task. You should do well in any house - because you really have all of the traits required.... you are cunning, witty, hardworking,loyal.... but the stongest trait in you is your determination and bravery. You have a spirit of never giving up, which is essential in the task you are undertaking. Better be.... GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry grinned widely as Dumbledore congratulated him.

"Very well Mr Potter, you'll find your name on the top of the bed alloted for you in the Gryffindor boys dormitory. I'll have someone show you the Gryffindor common room. Pooh!" Harry was startled at the sudden 'Pooh!' sound. He just opened his mouth to clarify what Dumbledore meant when he heard a loud crack. A house elf stood infront of him, bowing. She had long pointed ears and large green eyes. She was a painful reminder of Dobby.

"What can Pooh do for you sir?" He bowed to Dumbledore. Harry almost smiled. The house elf was named Pooh.

"Pooh, take Mr Potter to the Gryffindor Seventh Year Boys Dormitory, if you please." Then Dumbledore turned towards Harry. "Mr Potter, you'll share the dormitory with four other seventh years. Pooh will lead you down to the Great Hall while dinner. Since you're early, there would be no students for another week. But there will be few of the teachers, Hagrid, the gamekeeper and me. Now, off you go." Dumbledore turned around to extract a letter from a newly arrived owl through the window.

Harry followed the house elf through the corridors he knew so well. Hogwarts had been his first home, the first place where he had felt wanted. Now he was back there again.

The corridors where just the same as he remembered, the same suits of armor, the large windows and sun streaming in through them. Everything seemed so familiar, so known to him. But he knew that it was not entirely true. He was back to the place he had known and loved for several years, he was back to the known as unknown.

Yet, he couldn't feel but being elated. Before coming out of Dumbledore's office, he had noticed the familiar curved neat handwriting on the envelope Dumbledore had received. That handwriting was too familiar to him, due to the innumerable number of times he had copied his homework from those writings.

He didn't know why she had sent Dumbledore a letter or what was written in it, but knowing Hermione, she'd have planned something sensible. Now, he desperately wanted her to join him at Hogwarts. She was the last remaining link to the world he hoped he would change. He wanted to change the future for good, to create a world where there would be no boy bearing a lighting-shaped scar, and no Voldemort to fear.

Pooh left him in the Seventh year's dormitory, with a large bow. Breaking away from his depressing but at the same time, optimistic thoughts, he looked around. The room was just the same as he remembered, scarlet curtains covering the four poster beds. He saw five beds there. The one at the extreme end besides the small window bore the sign- 'Harry Potter'. The one besides him read Remus Lupin, and the one besides that read Peter Pettigrew. Two beds where placed across those three, facing them. The one in front of Harry's read Sirius Black while the one in front of Remus's read James Potter.

Harry was mentally glad that Pettigrew was far away from him, or he might've had an urge to strangle him in his sleep at the middle of the night. But his bed being far away, that would prove to be difficult. Placing his trunks besides his bed, he landed on the bed with a jerk, and despite the sunshine, he drifted into an exhausted sleep, which had nothing to do with physical tiredness.

^_____________^

Hermione apparated to London, carrying her trunk and the beaded bag. The time turner was carefully tucked at the front of her shirt. Hermione entered Leaky Cauldron, and asked for a room for the night. The bartender Tom was still the same.

Entering her room, she took out her quill and parchment from her beaded bag. Sitting at the table by the window, she started writing a letter.

Respected Professor,
I am Hermione Granger, a half-blood witch from the outskirts of Britain. My father was a muggle, and my mother was a witch. I've studied in the Rafledia Institution of Witchcraft, which as you're aware, was destroyed previous month due to a massive deatheater attack. My parents had died when I was young. I didn't feel safe to go back to my house, where I live alone, incase a deatheater attack occured. I am currently at Leaky Cauldron. I was about to start my seventh year in the institution. My other friends would be completing their education from their parents, but I being an orphan, couldn't do the same. I've read about Hogwarts and henceforth I'd like to complete my education there.
I'd be really grateful if you therefore, grant me permission to complete my education at Hogwarts.
Yours Sincerely,
Hermione Jean Granger.

Hermione reread the letter twice, it was perfect. She put it into an envelope and went downstairs. She took an owl from Tom, and sent the letter to Dumbledore. Her plan was perfect, she knew Dumbledore wouldn't deny her request. She had read about the destruction of Rafledia Institution from an old Daily Prophet from the library in 1996. It had occured to her now, as a perfect coverstory. Having her dinner quietly, she went to her room again.

She took out her battered copy of A History of Magic, and started reading. Her reading was soon interrupted by a sharp tap on the window. Looking up, she saw a tawny owl, which she recognized as a Hogwarts owl immediately, with a letter tied in its leg. She had expected a quick response, but not quite as quick. She tore open the letter to find Dumbledore's slanting, thin handwriting.

Miss Granger,
You are most welcome to complete your seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You will be getting your Hogwarts acceptance letter soon after this letter. Hopefully you're ready to board the Hogwarts express by the end of the week.
Your Sincerely
Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster,
Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry.

No sooner than she had finished reading the letter than another owl tapped at her window. Hermione untied her Hogwarts Acceptance letter and list of possessions.

The letters reminded her of past. How she used to wait every year for her list to come by owl, sitting besides the window of her parent's small but peaceful house, from where she used to see the moor. She used to sit there for hours, doing her homework, reading, and writing letters to Ron and Harry. Hermione smiled lightly at the happy memories, her jaws seemed oddly stiff. Putting down the letters, she went out to buy some remaining possessions from Diagon Alley. She couldn't wait to attend Hogwarts again, and to join Harry at her beloved school.

I know I had promised an earlier update, but I just didn't get the time! I'm really sorry.

Hope you liked the chapter though! I've put a lot of effort into it.

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P.s.- 85 votes, over 650 reads already?! Thank you so much! Love you all. :D