When we had gotten off the train, entered the Great Hall, and situated ourselves at the Gryffindor table, it was like being born again. The Hall's ceiling was just as tall as I remembered. You could see the beautiful night sky on the ceiling because it was enchanted to look just like the sky outside. It was always amazingly breathtaking. The four house tables were also beautiful. The tables were filled up with crystal dishes ready to be filled with food and the plates were just as large and golden as they once were.

Harry, Ron, Ginny, and I sat down at the Gryffindor table. It was then that I noticed a change. In previous years, all the house banners for each house hung above the appropriate table. This year, the banners were all mixed in with each other. It was an unexpected sight to see the Slytherin "S" hung over the Gryffindor table. Harry and Ron didn't seem to notice a thing, but Ginny was making a face so I could tell she noticed too. I was about to start up a conversation with her, but just then, McGonagall raised her hands for silence. As silence fell over the Great Hall, she began to speak.

"I am so proud to welcome you back to Hogwarts. I am amazed how many of you are attending this year after what happened during our last school year. Things will be different this year; for example, you are all staying back a year, unless you have performed well enough to move on," Ginny beamed with happiness as McGonagall caught her eye and smiled. "So because of this, the first year will be bursting. We will call the incoming first years and the ones who are repeating. At the end of this year, there will be a test. Half of the first years will go on to be second years and the other half will repeat first year again. We will only be doing this one time because it's better to have a full grade of students then an exploding year of students." The repeating first years rolled their eyes and groaned.

"Anyways," McGonagall continued, "Let's go on with the sorting." The Great Hall erupted in cheers as the hat was brought out by Professor Sprout and placed on the stool. The new first years started filing onto the stage in front of the room as the hat started to sing,

"It began on a brave September evening:

I was the most smart Wizard around,

He was the most unique student.

He was my student,

My unique student,

My student.

We used to try so well together,

Back then.

We wanted to wear together, around the world,

We wanted it all.

But one evening, one brave evening,

We decided to wear too much.

Together we tested a friend.

It was cunning, so cunning.

From that moment, our relationship changed.

He grew so loyal.

And then it happened:

Oh no! Oh no!

He fought a friend.

Alas, a friend!

My student fought a friend.

It was sad, so sad.

The next day I thought my brim had broken,

I thought my top had burst into flames,

(But I was actually overreacting a little.)

But still, he is in my thoughts.

I think about how it all changed that evening,

That brave September evening.

My top... ouch!

When I think of that unique student,

That unique student and me. "

The entire hall erupted into applause.

"What," Ron asked me, "was that?" His face was contorted in horror and confusion. He looked quite ridiculous, actually. I had to work hard to keep myself from laughing at his face. I compromised by leaning over and giving him a swift kiss on his lips.

"I don't really know Ron. Maybe it's talking about him and an adventure he had with Godric Gryffindor. I'm not sure what that might have to do with sorting, but it works." He still looked confused. Poor Ron.

"Ok. I guess so. Alright. Whatever." He just seemed to be spewing out words at random. I couldn't control it anymore and I laughed. Ron glared at me but before he could get a word out, McGonagall started the sorting.

I wasn't really paying a lot of attention. I actually ignored the sorting all together. The food popped up onto plates as usual but I didn't take anything and just let Ron spoon feed me whatever he was feeding me. I was starting to feel a bit depressed. This was the room where all the fallen's bodies had once lain and here we were, eating and laughing and talking like nothing had happened. It hurt a lot. Tears started to run down my face in a silent cry as I remembered their bodies. Fred Weasley. Remus Lupin. Nymphadora Tonks. Colin Creevey. Severus Snape. Lavender Brown. And so many others that I couldn't remember. Ron looked at me with concern in his eyes but I shook my head as he wiped my tears away. I looked over at Harry and Ginny. They were locked into a deep hug and snogging like there was no tomorrow. Then the room fell quiet and everyone turned to face the front of the room.

"So there has been another change this year," Headmaster McGonagall stated and all the students looked extremely worried. "This year, all seventh year boys will come and pick a seventh year girl's name out of a hat. They will be expected to treat this girl with the utmost respect. They will be expected to spend an entire day with each other and attend an evening party and sleep in the same place that night. When it is over, they may leave. This is our way of spreading inter house unity. We are hoping that it will make you all appreciate each other more. Oh and did I forget to mention that the person you are going with will be of another house?"

Most of the hall groaned but a few people looked genuinely excited. I just let it be for now as McGonagall continued. "You are also to keep the identity of your date, for lack of another word, a secret from anyone until the day of it. Prefects, please lead the students from your houses to your dormitory. Seventh years. Wait here."

We watched the prefects lead the students up to their dorms with annoyance. It took such a long time for them to leave I wondered if they ever would. Finally, everyone else was gone and we all looked frightened.

"I will call your names and when you hear it, come up here and line up to pick your name out of the hat. Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Ernest Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Wayne Hopkins, Terry Boot, Stephen Cornfoot, Kevin Entwhistle, Roger Malone, Oliver Rivers, Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, and Theodore Nott."

All us girls sat there and watched as the boys walked obediently to the front. Us with boyfriends were worried about what might happen with another girl.

"Girls may leave for their dormitories but boys stay here until I've had a word with you all."

Me and Ginny walked up to the Gryffindor Dorms and fell asleep without saying a word.