(Harry Pov)

“Harry?” A voice calls my name. “Harry?!” Another voice joins in. I slowly open my eyes, squinting in the light. “Wot?” I yawn. “We’ve been trying to wake you up for five minutes now.” “The train just stopped mate.” The faces come into focus- I forgot I was on the train for school! “Mate, since when do you sleep like a rock? It used to be super easy to wake you up!” Why am I so tired? Ron is right- I wake super easily- something isn't right. Could it have to do with my recent nightmares? Hopefully it's nothing and I just sleep differently on the train. :”I'm fine, guys. I just didn’t sleep great last night.” The three of them seem to buy it for now. “Let's get off this train before we get left here.” Hermione suggests. “That is a great idea ‘Mione” Ron says as he puts his arm around her waist. I know they love each other and want to show it, but it’s hard not to gag when they act all lovey dovey like that. 

  After a bit of walking to where the carriages are, I hear Draco, Ron, and Hermione gasp. I forgot they didn’t used to be able to see the beautiful creatures that ‘drove’ the carriages . “What. Are. Those?” the three say at the exact same time. “Those are the thestrals. They take the carriages everywhere.” Wait a minute- “You two have ridden on them before. How do you not remember them?” Ron and Hermione exchange a knowing look. “Harry, we weren't able to see them when we rode them.” “Yeah mate, I thought they looked different- a lot different.” Draco looks a bit confused “When did the three of you ride those things?” I forgot he’s never ridden them before. “At the end of 5th year, it's how we got to the ministry.” Just as he's about to open his mouth, Luna and Ginny appear. “Hullo friends.” I smile. “Hey Luna. Hey Ginny.”

   But Ginny isn't paying attention to me, she's glaring at Draco. “Is this jerkish idiot bothering you guys?” Oh great. I forgot Ginny hated him the most out of everyone in Gryffindor. I take a sneak peek at Draco to see what he thinks of this. His face is totally unreadable.“Ginny, it's fine. He's our friend now.” Her jaw drops so low, it could basically touch the floor. “Harry and Hermione forgiving him is one thing, but you Ron? I thought you were better than that.” The two of them spend the rest of the carriage ride arguing while Luna makes conversation with Draco. I think this year is off to a good start. 

  After about an hour, the carriage stops in front of the school. They rebuilt as much as they could over the summer, but there are still a ton of areas that are in ruin. The astronomy tower is one of the main destroyed things I can see. I wonder if Hagrid is going to be teaching the care of magical creatures this year. I haven't heard from him, since right after the war when he went behind some trees with Madame Maxine. 

  “I'm starving, let's go in.” Ginny breaks the silence. Hopefully the grand hall was the first place they fixed up. “I'm with Ginny, why haven't we gone in yet?” Hermione says as her stomach growls. The doors finally open, and everyone floods in. Profes-Headmistress McGonagall is sitting where Dumbledore once sat. Hagrid is at her side, with professor Trelawney as well. He must have returned to teach potions now that Snape is gone. McGonagall clears her throat and stands, just as everyone else sits down. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. I know you all must be starving but I have a few announcements for the changes in this year. First we have to resort some of the- erm- eighth years, as a lot of students decided not to come back for a proper year, leaving the houses with uneven numbers.” She pauses to give everyone a chance to process this. Everyone, including Ginny, Luna, and Hermione groan. “Some parts of this school are still under construction so I advise you to stay away from them. We also have some new members on staff.” She nods toward the table behind her, where a girl that looks about our age is sitting. She has wavy brown hair, brown eyes, and she appears to be hispanic. “This is Rose Diaz, she is the new head of slytherin house and the new defense against the dark arts teacher. I hope you show her the same respect you showed to head-professor Snape- may he rest in peace-” She glances over at Gryffindor table. “Or maybe more respect.” that was clearly targeted at us. “I am also pleased to welcome back Professor Slughorn as the potions teacher. His position is permanent this time so he is still bringing his things in.” She pauses looking out at our hungry and tired faces. “The first years have already been sorted so all of you eight years wait until Ms. Diaz calls you up.” The new teacher pulls out a list that has all the eighth year’s names on it. She walks up to where the sorting hat is and clears her throat. “Abbott, Hannah” After a few seconds,  Hannah gets up, sits down on the stool, and places the sorting hat on her head. “Hufflepuff” A lot of students get put in the same houses. “Dursley, Dudley” Ron and I exchange a confused glance and Ginny gasps. “Dursley, Dudley?” Ms. Diaz repeats. Some people start to murmur. His name isn’t supposed to be on that list, how is this possible? Suddenly, the doors open, but professor Slughorn walks in. 

  “Sorry I'm late. Dropped my luggage outside and this nice chap had to help me pick it up.” My jaw drops when I see my cousin, Dudley Dursley walk in with his own luggage in hand. He spots me gawking and grins sheepishly. “Are you Dudley Dursley?” Ms. Diaz asks, breaking the eerie silence that had slowly encased the school. “That's right ma’am.” He looks in my direction again and cocks his head to the side, asking me what he should do. I nod towards the hat and the platform. He walks towards the platform and sits on the stool. Ms. Diaz places the hat on his head. “Harry! How did your cousin get here?” Ron whispers impatiently. “I'm sorry Ron, I really don't know.”  The hat seems to be having a difficult time choosing what house to sort Dudley into- probably because he isn't supposed to be here. “Gryffindor!” Dudley takes the hat off and walks in my direction. “H-hey Harry.” “Dudley. How did your name get on that list? Did you not leave the station earlier?” He sighs “Can we talk about it later? People are staring.” I nod, looking at the stage to see Hermione getting sorted into Gryffindor again. “Malfoy, Draco” he walks up there and just as the hat touches his head, “Gryffindor” There's another silence that sweeps across the grand hall. He walks over to the table I'm sitting at and it takes so much effort to not hug him. After a while, it's finally my turn. It's been a long time since I sat on this stool and got sorted but I remember it like yesterday. Ms. Diaz smiles at me as she places the hat on my head. “Hello Mr. Potter, it's been a while.” “Yes it has. How have you been?” The hat seems a bit surprised about my question. “I've been as great as it gets when you're a hat. Before you ask, I don’t know how your cousin got on that list but I advise you to keep an eye on the new head of Slytherin.” Ms Diaz? But she seems so nice. “How do I keep an eye on her if I'm in Gryffindor?” “I won't put you in Slytherin if that's what you're asking. You are the perfect Gryfindoor. This new teacher is now teaching your best subject. That's how you keep an eye on her.” I can feel his voice go from in my head to out loud as he tells me this private information. “Gryffindor!” I walk back to the table with a new mission. I knew this year was going to be weird.