A/N: I happen to like author's notes so I will leave them a lot, if you do not, feel free to skip them. This story has been bouncing around in my head before the fifth book came out at least, and I have spent the years after it came into being perfecting it without knowing. I really have no idea where this story will end so bear with me.
Disclaimer: As much as I want them, Harry Potter and all ideas from it do not belong to me, only JK Rowling
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The Hogwarts Express pulled out of platform 9 ¾ just as it has done for many years. Although the parents and the kids rotated through, things were still almost the way they had been for as long as anyone could remember.
There was one thing, however, that was not the same, although you couldn't tell by looking. To everyone, it just looked like an average 11 year old girl just perhaps a little short for her age. Her most striking feature was her very blue eyes shining from under her stringy brown hair that hung just past her shoulders.
She hurried along the moving train and opened the door of a compartment.
"Can I sit here?" she asked the two boys already sitting in the compartment.
"Sure," one of them said, he had black messy hair and glasses, "my name is James, and this is Sirius," he motioned to the boy sitting across from him, whose black hair was longer and better groomed, "what is your name?"
"Ari" she said as she sat down. "Well, Aribeth really, but everyone calls me Ari"
"So are you exited to be starting Hogwarts?" James said.
"I guess so." Ari replied.
"I'm very excited," James said, obviously trying to get some form of conversation started, "my parents have been telling me about Hogwarts for ages, and I can't wait to finally get to go."
"I didn't even know Hogwarts existed to tell you the truth." Ari said "so I really don't know what to expect."
"You're Muggle born?" asked Sirius suddenly, speaking for the first time.
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"Well no, I guess not, it's just, well I've never…oh, never mind" Sirius finished lamely.
"You're not on about that Pureblood junk are you?" asked James.
"Well, I never saw what all the fuss was about, but my parents always made a big deal about people's blood."
"The only people who should be interested in blood are vampires and Healers, end of discussion."
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Through the rest of the trip, James and Sirius took it upon themselves to educate Ari on the entire wizarding world. As they disembarked from the train Ari was learning of the most exiting wizarding sport, Quidditch. A gruff call interrupted James' story of when the Canons' Seeker, Brian, caught the snitch by jumping through one of the goalposts, but then fell twenty feet before the Keeper could catch him.
"First years this way, come on now." The biggest man that James and Sirius had ever seen was calling them. He had a black scraggly beard, but his eyes looked nice enough.
"Do you think it's safe or do you reckon he is going to eat us?" joked Ari as the trio made their way to the big man.
"Somehow I doubt Dumbledore would allow a giant cannibal on the grounds." Sirius said, pretending to look thoughtful.
"Everyone here? Let me welcome you and tell you my name, Hagrid. Come on then to the boats." And Hagrid led the somewhat (or in some cases very) nervous first years in the direction they assumed the boats were located.
"So how do you suppose the rest of the school gets to the castle then, if we get the boats?" asked James, "think they swim?"
"Nah, they ride in horseless carriages, see?" Sirius pointed to a line of carriages that indeed had nothing visible attached to their harnesses.
"I knew that."
"Four to a boat everyone." The trio jumped and looked around, having not realized that they had arrived at their destination.
As Ari, Sirius, and James were climbing into their boat, a voice sounded behind them.
"E-excuse me, b-but can I…I mean m-may I ride…" it was a slightly chubby boy who seemed to be shaking.
"Of course you can," said Ari with a friendly smile, scooting over to make room.
The mini fleet of boats cast off on Hagrid's signal. As they made their way across the lake a giant squid stuck its tentacles out of the water to the squeals of delight and fear of those in the boats. Everyone fell silent as the students looked up at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for the first time. It seemed to glow and its reflection in the shimmering water simply added to its perfect picture.
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"So what house do you want to be in?" Ari asked Sirius as they made their way up the center of the Great Hall.
"My parents want me to be in Slytherin, but I want to be in Gryffindor, what about you?"
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor would be good, James?"
"Gryffindor, definitely."
"Attention students, when I call your name please come forward and be sorted into your houses," said Professor McGonagall.
The hat that she had just placed on the stool in front of her suddenly ripped open at a tear near the brim and began to sing:
I may look like an old dumb hat
One found in a closet or box
But I can assure you that
I know where you should be
Perhaps in Gryffindor
Where away from danger they do not shrink
Or maybe in Ravenclaw
Where they do like to think
Possibly in Slytherin
For those who are most sly
Or perchance in Hufflepuff
Where they know the heart doesn't lie
Now that you know the choices
It's time for the moment of truth
I will look for your souls' inner voices
And tell you where your home is
"I wonder what it is like to be a hat." Ari pondered. Sirius and James snickered quietly.
"Abel, Jennifer," called Professor McGonagall.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" cried the Sorting Hat.
Cheers echoed off the walls.
It wasn't long before…
"Alagondar, Aribeth"
As the Sorting hat was placed on her head, a voice nearly made her fall off the stool,
"Strange, either you have a very vivid imagination or the phrase 'looks can be deceiving' works especially well for you. I really have no doubt when I say…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Black, Sirius"
Sirius made his way up to the hat, suddenly feeling sick.
'Not Slytherin' he thought as McGonagall put the hat on his head.
"Really," said a voice, "you know your family's all been in Slytherin, but I see defiance in you…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
After Terry Portwood was sorted into Ravenclaw, it was James' turn, and he was in…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
James sat himself by Sirius and across from the boy from the boat who had introduced himself as Peter.
Once Alfred Zullo was sorted into Slytherin the man of the hour stood to address the school.
Albus Dumbledore stood from his seat at the center of the head table, his magnificent midnight blue robes and long silver beard glinting in the candlelight.
"I'm excited to welcome all of my students either to or back to this wonderful castle I hope you will learn to call your home away from home. Just a quick note before we fill our bellies, first years should be aware that the forest on the Hogwarts grounds is forbidden to all students. Now, without any further chatter, eat!"
Food appeared on the golden plates in front of all the students and no one hesitated to dig in.
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A/N: First of all, please REVIEW! This is my first Harry Potter fic and I really want to know what you think, don't be afraid to point out errors, my writing can't get better if no one tells me how to fix it. Also, if I ever get to the Marauders becoming Animagi, I need a nickname for Ari, I have been racking my brain for years and can not think of anything. Ari will become a white tiger, just think on it and tell me anytime, I will remind you when (if) I am closer to that point. And if any of you are already seeing weird things going with Ari, and think I need to add more things to my disclaimers, I will, but I do not want to give anything away so I will add those when all is revealed. I'm done babbling, now please review.
