Millicent Bulstrode was the girl whom everyone overlooked. She was a tad overweight and overly quiet, almost looking like the mirror image of her mother with her dark brown wavy hair, thick frame, and posture. Only her rabbit-like nose and grey eyes served to distinguish her. Mrs. Bulstrode, on the other hand, had blue eyes and a pointed nose. Her father had light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a slim frame, none of which Millicent had inherited. It was strange how she didn't resemble her father at all, yet no one questioned it.

As a young child, Millicent was raised by a Russian male au pair. Nikolai, or rather Kolya, had only been 19 when he took on the job but was nonetheless well-suited for it. He was stern with Millicent and urged her to strive for perfection in all her endeavors. Under his tutelage, she became fluent in English, French, and Russian. Despite his discipline, Kolya gave his charge unconditional love. She considered him like a father as her own most certainly did not regard her with any affection.

The day for her to attend Hogwarts had at last come. The eleven year-old was excited with the prospect of meeting other children her age and was thrilled to be finally able to practice magic. Of course, it was Kolya who took her to the train station.

"How do you suppose we'll get in, Kolya?" Millicent asked when they had gotten to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Suddenly, two identical boys with auburn hair rushed by them with carts and disappeared into the seemingly solid wall. That seemed to satisfy her curiosity.

Kolya looked at her with concern and inquired, "Are you ready?"

The two walked through the barrier and were met with the sight of a steam engine. He helped her get her things into an empty compartment. After saying their goodbyes, Millicent found herself feeling anxious. What will the others think of me? She wondered.

Ten minutes passed before the compartment door was opened by a tall boy with sandy hair and light green eyes. It was the one person she dreaded the most, Theodore Nott. At every chance he got, he would torment her. Millicent often wondered why her parents would arrange for her to be married to such a foul, loathsome boy. They had plenty of money but the Notts did not. That was the only explanation for such a distasteful engagement that she could come up with. Or perhaps, it was his lack of a mother. However, this thought was disregarded when she of her began to think on her own relationship with her parents. Millicent had hoped that once the bloody wanker saw her, he would leave but her prayers were in vain.

"Oi, Mimby!" Merlin, did she despise the nickname he created for her when they were little. It was an anagram of all her names combined with a personal touch.

She chose not to answer his greeting and turned to look out the window.

"Are you deaf as well as dumb? Look at me when I address you, you ugly hag!" Millicent sighed and directed her attention towards him.

"Yes? What do you want?" she snapped.

"Just wanted to let you know that you are not to associate yourself with me during our time at Hogwarts. I can't believe I'm being forced to marry such a witless monstrosity. Just look at you- fat, hideous, and stupid." This made Millicent huff with indignation.

"At least I'm not gormless! Now get OUT!" She shoved him outside into the corridor and closed the door shut. An agitated Theo opened the door seconds later.

"How dare you!" She instantly regretted not placing a locking charm. A sharp slap to her left cheek brought her out her thoughts as she fell into the seat. Theodore hovered over her, staring at her for a moment as he searched for a response but received none. He drew his wand and lightly drew it across the red mark he had made.

"That will teach you to treat me with the respect fitting for your future husband." he sneered, looking down upon her condensendingly.

His wand began to painfully drive into her left cheek. It seemed that he had been craving to say more. Theodore ultimately left her there alone but not before slamming the door behind him. Millicent would not give the prat the satisfaction of knowing that she was bothered by his abuse. She was secretly grateful that no one else had entered her compartment throughout the rest of the trainride. Her time became consumed with hopes that her future career at Hogwarts would not be tainted by that vile boy.

When they arrived, the first-years were ushered towards rather dingy, small boats with laterns by what could only be described as a half-giant. Luckily, nobody fell into the lake. They continued their journey to the castle uneventfully until the blonde boy, whom she knew to be Draco Malfoy started making a ruckus with a boy who supposedly was Harry Potter. She had known Draco since childhood and knew how bratty the boy could be. It was a wonder that Uncle Lucius and Aunt Cissy, her godparents, could put up wit him at all. Suddenly, all noise was cut short when they were greeted by a rather stern woman with greying hair tightly wound into a bun at the back of her head. The woman introduced herself as Professor Mc Gonagall and begain to instruct them as to what would shortly occur.

"Welcome to Hogwarts,' said Professor McGonagall.

"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She paused for a moment to gaze upon the new additions to the student body.

"I will return when we are ready for you,' said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." Millicent began to daydream of the possibilities waiting before her.

"Move along now," said a sharp voice, startling her slightly. 'The Sorting Ceremony's about to start.' Professor McGonagall had returned.

'When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,' she said. (Philospher's Stone p. 113-114)

The wait for her name to be called didn't take long since her name was closer to the beginning of the alphabet.

"Bulstrode, Millicent." She quickly sat on the stool, hoping it would soon be over.

Hmm...You harbor some secrets that you, yourself, are not aware of...yet. You're rather clever and kind...Tormented by the one you are betrothed to...So, where to put you I wonder?

'Anywhere Theodore is not and a house that wouldn't upset my parents terribly, if you please.'

Is that so? Then it's off to..."RAVENCLAW!"

A polite applause was directed towards her while she walked towards her respective table. Millicent sat next to a fellow first-year, though she couldn't recall her name. This was soon remedied as the girl in question, with reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes, turned to her.

"Hullo! I'm Mandy Brocklehurst. You're Millicent, right?"

"Yea." Millicent had no idea what to say but Mandy didn't seem to mind. In fact, the other girl spent all night chatting. She had barely gotten any opportunity to talk to the other girls in her dormitory. Even the discovery that her new mate was a half-blood didn't bother her. All that mattered was that she had a friend.