Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked on contentedly as they watched the new first years come into the Great Hall. They were at their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. Fred and George, in their seventh year, were across from them.

"It's a shame we don't really know any of the new first years," Hermione stated.

"Yeah, but that means we won't have to worry about looking out for anyone but ourselves this year."

"Ronald Weasely! What do you mean by that?" Hermione asked appalled.

"Well, every year something's happened and this year we won't have to worry about watching over someone who can't handle things themselves," he explained.

"You could have worded it better," scoffed Hermione.

"Shush up, will 'ya!" Fred hissed. "The sorting's about to start."

"Big deal," Ron said under his breath, but it was a big deal. Everyone thought it was a very big deal.

When the sorting was done, there were twelve new Gryffindors. Professor Dumbledore stood to make his usual speech after all the first years were seated.

"I'm afraid this year's welcome will be longer than usual." A few, very hungry, people moaned. "First of all, we'd like to welcome all the first years to Hogwarts." The room was filled with clapping.

"Secondly," he continued raising his hands for silence, which he received, "we have a very special new student. She is here from America to further her schooling. I'm sure if you ask her she could explain all about it.

"Even though she is old enough to be a sixth year, she will be taking fifth year classes, for the most part. Now, would you all warmly welcome Miss Kathryn Malfoy."

"MALFOY!" Fred and George exclaimed together as a thunderous applause came from the Slytherin table.

"Great!" said Harry. "Just what we need, another Malfoy."

A tall, slender girl came through the doors to the entrance hall and walked briskly up to the head table. She turned and faced the rest of the school. She was thin and pale like Draco, but her hair was raven black.

"I know we will all make Kathryn feel like she is right at home here," Dumbledore continued. "The only real question is which house will she be in?"

Professor McGonagall brought the sorting hat over and placed it on Kathryn's head.

"We all know she'll be in Slytherin, so why don't they just put her there and let us eat?" Ron asked.

The hat was silent for several minutes. Then, it began to mumble to itself.

"What's taking so long?" asked Ron.

"How the heck should I know?" Harry snapped.

"Well, fine. You don't have to be so pushy about it."

It was odd. No one seamed to know why it was taking so long. Then the hat, out of nowhere, shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Roars and shouts of abjections flew up from the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables. Dumb shock has silenced Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

The girl muttered something and she hat shouted, "I don't care if you think you belong in Slytherin! I said GRYFFINDOR!"

Professors Snape and McGonagall were at Dumbledore's side. "There must be some mistake, Albus," McGonagall was saying.

"I agree," voiced Snape. "She clearly belongs in Slytherin!"

"Professors," Dumbledore said calmly, "the hat has placed her in Gryffindor and in Gryffindor she will stay." He addressed a hurt looking Kathryn. "My dear, please take a seat at the Gryffindor house table."

Kathryn removed the Sorting Hat and walked over to the Gryffindor table. There was a seat at the very front and all the first years scooted their chairs away from it. Even they knew of the Malfoys. Kathryn gave Draco a look that said she was sorry.

"How could a Malfoy be in Gryffindor?" Ron objected. Dumbledore spoke before Harry could answer.

"I know the Gryffindors will make her feel welcome. Now, let's eat!" Everyone turned their attention to the food that appeared in front of them.

Harry was just about to start on the plate he'd loaded with food, when he noticed Kathryn hadn't touched anything. He glanced at an empty seat across from him, next to George. Without a word, and against his better judgment, he stood up.

"Where are you going?" puzzled Hermione.

"To make a Gryffindor feel welcome."

Ron objected. "Are you crazy? She's a Malfoy! She wanted to be in Slytherin!"

"She's a Gryffindor and she could be nothing like Draco" Harry answered even though he doubted it. He walked to the front of the table, all eyes watched closely.

"Hello," Harry said to Kathryn. She had been staring blankly at her plate and now turned in her seat to look him over.

"Hi." She was definitely foreign. Her voice gave it away.

"Would you like to come sit with us, the other fifth years and me?" She glanced over at the Slytherin table.

"I better not. I don't really feel like getting o their bad side. I think I already may be."

"Understandable. Well, if you change your mind, we're down near the end."

"Thanks, but no thanks anyway." She turned back to her empty plate. Harry sighed and walked back to his seat.

"What did you find out?" Ron asked curiously.

"I didn't go over there to find anything out. I invited her to sit with us," Harry said as he sat down.

"You what!"

"Don't worry, she won't come over."

"It's because she's a Malfoy," Hermion said matter-of-factly.

"She just doesn't want to make the Slytherins any angrier at her," explained Harry.

"No, she just doesn't want to sit with us," Ron stated. "Serves her right. She's a Malfoy. She should eat alone. She's probably a snob anyway."

Somehow, Harry didn't think anything Ron said was right. He glanced back down towards Kathryn. Her plate was still empty.