Part One: Autumn

Chapter 1

"No more'n four to a boat! Everyone in? Right then ー FORWARD!"

Tara Adair couldn't tear her eyes away from the castle looming above them in the starlight. She could hear the awed whispers of the other first years and felt both excitement and a slight panic fight for control in her chest. Emotions swirling as she stumbled out of the boat onto the shore, the young witch barely processed walking up to the [run down] entrance and passing through the doors.

The group came to a stop in front of a rather small man. The giant who had been leading them before seemed to have disappeared.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," the man said, smiling widely. "The start of term feast will begin soon, but first you must be sorted into your Houses, as is tradition. You will become either a Ravenclaw, a Gryffindor, a Hufflepuff, or a Slytherin. These Houses dictate your dormitories and classmates. All of these Houses have produced great witches and wizards and you yourself can both earn and lose points for your House depending on your actions. The House with the most points at the end of the year will win the House Cup, a great honor, I assure you.

"Now, I believe they are ready for us. Please form a line and follow me." The man gestured with his wand and the doors to the Great Hall opened slowly, as though under protest.

The first years filed into the Hall and watched as a stern looking witch placed a shabby pointed hat on a four legged stool. The entire Hall held its breath. Then the hat cleared its throat and began to sing.

"These Houses four have seen many magic folk,

But twas not till the Battle we saw what they valued most.

For no matter if their colors were red, green, blue, or gold,

Their actions spoke louder than any values that are told.

Those Hufflepuffs laid down their lives

For those who could not fight

And Ravenclaws used every trick they knew

To save every last life

Gryffindors charged,

Slytherins barred,

Guarding all the doors.

Both protecting all the young ones

They cared so deeply for.

These Houses four have seen many magic folk

And at the Battle we saw what they valued the most.

For red or green, blue or gold, they all became a blur,

As the love of their fellow man was where their hearts were.

Though my song is short, I think I've made my point

No matter where you're placed, let your hearts be joined.

So come now, children, try me on and I'll see your best.

It is time to take your place within the Hogwarts crest."

A quiet sob pierced the moment of silence after the hat was through. Tara looked around and saw many of the students were crying silently. The small man who led them in had to try a couple times before he managed to speak again.

"Abbott, Sarah."

A girl with long blonde hair stepped out of line and walked up to the stool. The hat took a moment before proclaiming, "RAVENCLAW!" The girl looked pleased and headed over to the cheering table of blue.

"Adair, Tara."

Heart pounding, Tara took her place in front of the school.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Tara made a quick guess that the table with students standing up to cheer was where she was supposed to go and made her way there as fast as she could without running. She hated being the center of attention and felt immense relief when the next student was declared a Slytherin.

The clapping wasn't nearly as loud for this boy, Ren Bachman. The only ones putting any heart into it were the Slytherins themselves. As a matter of fact, most of the red table sat still and a handful of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws followed that lead.

"Bailey, Serenity."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The girl strode over to the Hufflepuff table, grinning, and plopped down next to Tara. The Sorting went on and at last the final student (Timothy Vaughn) was sorted into Gryffindor. Admist the clapping, Tara heard a groan of frustration from an older Hufflepuff. She tried to work out who it was, but then the stern looking witch stepped up to a podium that Tara was sure hadn't been there before.

"I have only one announcement to make before we all begin our meal. Though you are currently divided by House at your tables for the sake of the Sorting," she gestured at the brightly colored banners that hung above the tables, "from this moment onward you are allowed, and encouraged, to mix among yourselves as you wish." The banners disappeared without even a whisper of a spell. "Now I daresay you all are starved, so I will save the rest for later." As the witch turned to take her place with the teachers, piles of food appeared and covered nearly every inch of the long tables.

Tara noted that a couple students switched tables quietly. Timothy Vaughn was joined at his table by a Hufflepuff girl who must have been a sister or a cousin, going by the identical black curls.

By the time the witch once again commanded the school's attention, Tara had learned that she was the Headmistress, Transfiguration teacher, and had fought in the Battle of Hogwarts the year before. Professor McGonagall, it appeared, was becoming something of a legend.

McGonagall cleared her throat and the dishes emptied themselves and a hush fell over the student body. "Thank you. Now a few short notices.

"First years should note that the Forbidden Forest is named so for a reason. With the exception of those being accompanied by a professor on official business, no pupil shall cross into the forest. I expect prefects and our Head Boy and Girl to take part in ensuring this rule is strictly followed.

"Our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has a list of banned items in his office for those who wish to see it," McGonagall's voice held a touch of exasperation. "A general blanket ban remains over Weasley products. Quidditch trials will take place in the second week of term. If you are interested in playing for your House, please contact Madam Hooch by way of a prefect."

McGonagall paused for a long moment. She seemed to be preparing herself. "As all of you should know, Hogwarts was the final stand against Voldemort last year. Because of this, the castle has been...stained with Dark Magic. Though we believe it will fade throughout the year, all students are urged to be cautious when encountering something out of the ordinary. First through fourth years are advised to walk the halls in pairs or groups.

"Now, I believe it is time to retire to our dormitories." The doors to the Great Hall opened slowly once again and prefects began herding the first years out into the hallways.

"Gryffindors this way!"

"Ravenclaws, with me!"

"Slytherins, here!"

"Hufflepuffs, follow us!" Tara looked around wildly for the source of these cries. "First year Hufflepuffs!" It was the curly haired girl who had switched tables. Tara tried not to exactly push her way through the throng, which was pushing her every which way, but still weaved her way through the older, bigger students in order to keep the Hufflepuff prefect in sight. Finally it seemed everyone was going the same way.

"Okay, can everyone hear me?" The prefect called out, still walking. The Hufflepuffs were making their way past what must have been the kitchen, coming from the smells they couldn't quite locate. "Now, there is a pile of some pretty big barrels in the right hand side of this corridor where the wall dips in. The barrel two from the bottom, in the middle of the second row, will open if you tap it to the rhythm of 'Helga Hufflepuff.' Be careful not to tap the wrong one, or get the rhythm wrong. You don't want to end up soaked in vinegar." With that she began tapping, "Hel-ga Huff-le-puff!" The wooden lid swung open and the first years began to disappear into it one by one.

Tara was surprised to find the floor of this hidden passage to be made of dirt. Even more surprising was that it smelled of the earth after a good rain. After walking up the mild slope a ways, Tara was suddenly in a room that gave her a distinct impression of the inside of a bee's nest. She barely had time, however, to take in the sight before she was being given directions to the first year girl's dorm by the prefect, who she learned was called Rivkah Vaughn.

A familiar squeaking got her attention as soon as she entered the room. Smiling in relief, she rushed over to what she assumed was her bed and released her rat from her cage, stroking her to calm her down.

"Why'd you pick a rat?"

Tara turned, startled. She hadn't realized there was a girl sitting on the next bed. "What?"

"Why'd you pick a rat?" The girl repeated. "Most students prefer owls. I know I did."

"I like small, furry things," Tara shrugged. She put the aforementioned small, furry thing back inside the cage the shopkeeper claimed was self cleaning and would never smell of anything but sawdust. "I just couldn't resist Pikachu when I saw her…"

"What did you just call it?"

"Um…" Tara felt her face turn pink and hoped it wasn't too apparent in the dim light. "It's a Muggle name…"

"I know!" The girl said excitedly, "I'm halfblood! My younger brothers are always ranting about Pikachu this or Ratta-something that. So are you a half or a Muggleborn?"

"Well…" Tara wasn't sure how to answer this. "I'm not really either."

The girl, Serenity Bailey, Tara remembered suddenly, scoffed. "There's no way you're a pureblood."

Might as well just get it over with. "My parents are Squibs," she said shortly.

Serenity's eyes bulged. "And the magic resurfaced that fast? Huh. The rest of your family must be pretty powerful. What's your name?"

Tara told her, then busied herself with digging pajamas from her trunk.

"Adair…" Serenity mused. "It's not one of the Sacred 28... but plenty of mixed families still have some strong stuff." She was still hypothesizing when Tara declared she was going to sleep.