"Is he — a bit mad?" Harry asked Percy uncertainly.

"Mad?" said Percy airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?

Merida laughed at Harry's astonished face as all the plates in front of him were now piled with food.

She started to eat when a ghost in ruffles nearby said, "That does look good." She looked up at him, seeing a sad face.

"Can't you -?"

"I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."

"I know who you are!" said Ron suddenly. "My brothers told me about you — you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy —" the ghost began stiffly, but Seamus interrupted.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

"Like this," he said irritably. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell unto his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it properly. Looking pleased at the stunned looks on their faces, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck, coughed, and said, "So — new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable — he's the Slytherins ghost."

*               *               *

After dessert, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again and the hall fell silent.

"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all well fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. and a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Elsa heard laughter from some people, but there were only a few who did.

"He's not serious?" she muttered to Luna.

"Must be," said a prefect who had overheard them, frowning at Dumbledore. "It's odd, because he usually gives is a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere — the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Elsa noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And it went something like this:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with some filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

Everyone finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they finished, he was the one of those who clapped the longest.

"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

It took a while to get to Ravenclaw Tower, but when they all did, the prefect leading us told us that in order to get into the tower, we needed to answer a riddle.

A raven head folded out of the wall and asked us, "What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?"

"A man," the prefect answered after a minute.

The door opened and everyone walked into the common room, which was elegantly decorated in blue and silver. Elsa climbed the stairs to the dormitories after listening to the prefect go over the rules and general stuff. After picking a bed and drawing the curtains shut, she slowly drifted off into sleep.

~~~

Hey! Just wanted to let you know that I'm going by the book, so the video, up at the top, side, wherever it is for you, is the deleted scene from when they made the Goblet of Fire. But keep in mind, they sung that song in the first book and differently.

Dedicated to MrPhoenix for the funny comments! Always love to read what you have to say.

Votes and Comments are greatly appreciated, Lovelies!