The Sorting Hat’s New Song

           HarrydidnotwanttotelltheothersthatheandLunawerehavingthesamehallucination,ifthatwaswhatitwas,sohesaidnothingmoreaboutthehorsesashesatdowninsidethecarriageandslammedthedoorbehindhim.Nevertheless,hecouldnothelpwatchingthesilhouettesofthehorsesmovingbeyondthewindow.

           ’DideveryoneseethatGrubbly-Plankwoman?’askedGinny.’What’sshedoingbackhere?Hagridcan’thaveleft,canhe?’

           ’I’llbequitegladifhehas,’saidLuna,’heisn’taverygoodteacher,ishe?’

           ’Yes,heis!’saidHarry,RonandGinnyangrily.

           HarryglaredatHermione.Sheclearedherthroatandquicklysaid,’Erm...yes...he’sverygood.’

           ’Well,weinRavenclawthinkhe’sabitofajoke,’saidLuna,unfazed.

           ’You’vegotarubbishsenseofhumourthen,’Ronsnapped,asthewheelsbelowthemcreakedintomotion.

           LunadidnotseemperturbedbyRon’srudeness;onthecontrary,shesimplywatchedhimforawhileasthoughhewereamildlyinterestingtelevisionprogramme.

           Rattlingandswaying,thecarriagesmovedinconvoyuptheroad.Whentheypassedbetweenthetallstonepillarstoppedwithwingedboarsoneithersideofthegatestotheschoolgrounds,HarryleanedforwardstotryandseewhethertherewereanylightsoninHagrid’scabinbytheForbiddenForest,butthegroundswereincompletedarkness.HogwartsCastle,however,loomedevercloser:atoweringmassofturrets,jetblackagainstthedarksky,hereandthereawindowblazingfierybrightabovethem.