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There was something new with the castle this year. At first, Marina thought it was just her feeling weird for wearing a Prefect badge for the first time, but when she was the only one out of the Slytherin fifth-years who was able to see a dark horse dragging their carriage from the train to the school's front doors, she thought she was losing her mind.
Entering the Great Hall for the first time in three months was an incredible feeling for most. They say home is where your heart is, and for many curious students, Hogwarts truly was their home.
The four long house tables were filling up under the starless black ceiling, which was just like the sky they could glimpse through the high windows. Candles floated in midair above he tables, as usual, illuminating the silvery ghosts who were dotted about the Hall and the faces of the students talking eagerly, exchanging summer news, shouting greetings at friends from other houses.
"Guys, look," Millicent Bulstrode said with a sour tone, pointing at the big staff table. Marina turned around quickly, her eyes first landing on Headmaster Dumbledore, who was sitting in his golden chair. Then, next to him, sat a woman with short, curly hair and pink clothes. She was whispering in Dumbledore's ear, her face looking toadlike. "Who's that?"
"My bet is the new DADA-teacher," Blaise Zabini said as he slumped down into his seat at the table. Marina found hers in the middle of Parkinson and Malfoy.
The doors from the Entrance Hall opened. Draco let out a huff as a line of scared first-years led by Professor McGonagall entered. They lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students, and Professor McGonagall placed the famous old Sorting Hat on a stool in front of them, then stood back. Just a few seconds later, the hat burst out in singing:
In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started The founders of our noble school Thought never to be parted: United by a common goal, They had the selfsame yearning, To make the world's best magic school And pass along their learning.
'Together we will build and teach!' The four good friends decided And never did they dream that they Might some day be divided, For were there such friends anywhere As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw? So how could it have gone so wrong? How could such friendships fail? Why, I was there and so can tell The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, 'We'll teach just those Whose ancestry is purest. '
Said Ravenclaw, 'We'll teach those whose Intelligence is surest. '
Said Gryffindor, 'We'll teach all those With brave deeds to their name, '
Said Hufflepuff, 'I'll teach the lot, And treat them just the same. '
