Thread: The 8th Year [HP] (xjynx & lia)

Harry watched the sorting with interest clapping loudly as the new Gryffindors joined their table. A few of them came up to him shyly, and he did his best to smile at them. He remembered that he himself had been a bit terrified and overwhelmed on his first day in the castle. As the sorting was going on, Nearly Heeadless Nick floated down to the trio. All the younger students burst out in cries of ew or something similar when Nick pulled on his ear to expose the inside of his neck. Harry laughed a little. The sorting ended quickly, and Professor Mcgonagall stood to speak. Harry listened carefully to the rules about the 8th years. He had received a letter about it over the summer, but hadn't read it thoroughly. It was disappointing that they wouldn't be back in their familiar dorms, but he understood there wasn't room. As soon as she mentioned Quidditch, Harry was fully focused and planning a Quidditch team. Help Gryffindor? Of course he would, but he was definitely planning on being part of an 8th year team as well. Hogsmeade was good news as well. There was more freedom, and fewer warning than there had been in past years. The most danger they would have to deal with was disappearing stair steps. With this in mind, Harry relaxed. He was back in the first place that truly felt like home, and he no longer had Voldemort on his tail. The rest of the feast passed without anything interesting happening. Harry was, perhaps, a bit wary of the look Hermione got in her eyes when she looked at the food and muttered something that sounded awfully like houselves aren't slaves. He hoped SPEW wasn't about to make a comeback. When the feast was over, Harry watched the rest of the Gryffindors trail after the prefect and head to Gryffindor tower. He almost followed them, but he knew he had somewhere else to be. Either of you know where the 8th year dorm is? He asked Ron and Hermione. Ron shrugged. Hermione pursed her lips. It was on the letter we received over the summeron the fifth floor, behind the portrait of Eirene. Harry and Ron followed after her to the painting. It was a corridor that Harry didn't recognize, and Harry looked around curiously. The trio split in the common room, Hermione heading one way, and the boys another. Harry glanced at the two doors to the boy's dormitories wondering which he was in. He was sure it had said in the letter, but had neglected to commit it to memory. He pushed one door open, and looked for his own trunk. The person with the bed at the end had already arrived and arranged their things. Harry wondered which 8th year had gotten to the school early. He shrugged it off, and started unpacking his own things around the second bed. Ron looked around frowning. Looks like we're in separate rooms, he said, a shadow crossing his face. Harry straightened up, holding a spare pair of socks. I'll see you around then, he replied a little awkwardly. It would be strange being at Hogwarts and having Ron in a separate room. In all of their years at the school, he had grown used to Ron's presence on a few feet away from him. The redhead exited the dorm, leaving Harry to continue setting up his things. Harry picked the photo album off of the top of the pile of things in his trunk holding it in his hands for a moment. It was comforting to have a momento like that with him. He placed it on his bed gently, and went to going through the rest of his things.