Chapter 1. The Grey Witch's Hat

Clara woke with a start. She heard the unmistakable sound of a train, and felt a trembling sensation all around her. Her eyes adjusted, and she found herself alone in a train car.

What am I doing here?

She started to panic, and shifted uncomfortably. Don't be stupid, you're going to Hogwarts's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

She was certain of this, but also uncertain. She felt a nagging sensation in her head, and could only remember a flashing light, before the memory completely faded away.

Clara looked down, she would have to put her robe on soon. She could just see the sky starting to dim, and something told her that was a sign she was getting close to the school.

Clara quickly tossed on her robe and decided to look around her empty car. There was a shelf right above her seat, that had a massive trunk on it. The trunk was brown and leathery. With curiosity, Clara attempted to bring the trunk down. However, the trunk was really heavy, and it wouldn't budge. Clara just sat down in her seat and sighed.

Clara remembered her mother, kind, with the same brown eyes Clara had, and a warm smile. For some reason, a dry, red leaf appeared in her memory. Clara didn't know why, so she simply dismissed the thought.

Clara scratched her head, and was surprised to find her hair to be at her shoulders, she expected it to be just a few inches shorter…

Minutes later, the train came to a stop. By now, it was completely dark outside and Clara could see millions of stars.

Stars.

"All firs' years with me!" A gruff voice yelled. Clara for some reason suspected that she was a first year, and leapt out of her seat. She walked down the aisle, trying not to bump into some very not-nice looking people.

"Hey!" A boy yelled. Clara shouted a quick "Sorry!" And bounded off.

Clara jumped of the steps of the train, and onto a platform. A large man came up to her and asked, "And what would yer name be miss?"

"Clara, sir."

"Aye, well yer a first year?"

"Yes, I think."

"Ya think?"

Clara smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, just you know, nervous."

"Well Clara, my name is Hagrid, I'm the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. Oh! We'll be late if we don't hurry! Quick!"

Hagrid began yelling at the first year students to get in the boats.

"No more than four kids per boat please. Would rather not have to tell yer parents you drowned on yer first day."

Clara carefully made her way into the boat. Three other boys sat with her. Clara kept quiet as possible as the the boats seemed to skim on the water by themselves.

A few minutes later, the boats stopped at a dock that seemed to be falling apart, and algae was creeping up its posts.

Clara made sure to step off the boat quickly and carefully, lifting up her robe to prevent it from getting wet. Other students shrieked at what apparently was really cold water that splashed on their legs.

Hagrid lead them into a huge castle and was met by a woman in a green, shimmering robe.

"Thank you, Hagrid." She said briskly.

Hagrid turned, and walked away.

The woman, who seemed about sixty years old, turned to all the students and glared.

"My name is professor McGonagall. You are about to enter the main hall where you will be sorted into your house. There are four houses: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. While you are here, you house will be like your family. Acts of intelligence a valor will gain your house points, while acts of stupidity and foolishness will make your house lose points. The house which has the most points by the end of the year, will win the House Cup, which by the way, is a great honor." McGonagall said all of this in what seemed like one breath, yet was not showing any signs of pulmonary distress.

The professor turned, and Clara and all the other students followed her into a room. Clara could feel butterflies jumping inside her, as she was loved the unknown.

The room really was grand. It had candlelights hanging from an impossible ceiling, four table with what seemed like about two hundred kids at each one. A string of adults sat at a table with either really stern, or tired looks. There was one though, that kept admiring himself in what seemed like his plate.

McGonagall stopped, and had a word with a bearded man. McGonagall then turned back to the students and declared that they would now be sorted into their houses. The woman pulled a piece of parchment out of her robe sleeve and began to recite a name.

"Abbott, Nolan."

The boy sat on a stool, and McGonagall placed a grey, ratty, old witch's hat on his head.

"Hmmm…," The hat said. "Kind, loyal, I'm thinking...HUFFLEPUFF!"

A loud cheer came from students in yellow and black ties.

"Affer, Sandra."

The hat was placed on her head and the hat distorted its face. "How about...RAVENCLAW!"

Another cheer erupted, from a different table than the first.

After what seemed like forever, McGonagall called Clara's name.

"Oswald, Clara."

Clara stepped up, her legs shaking, and sat on the stool.

'Hmmm...what have we got here?' A voice asked in Clara's mind.

'How are you doing that?' Clara asked.

'Well, I need some information to tell me what house to put you in… Let's see… Aaah, smart, cunning, loyal. You would be great in Ravenclaw or even Hufflepuff.'

'But…?' Clara asked timidly.

'I see traces of fear, and loss.'

Instantly, an image of Clara at her mother's funeral came up. Clara got the slightest detection that she was crying.

'A part is missing, and I don't know why…' The hat said in her mind again.

"What's missing?" Clara asked out loud, not in her head. She felt herself blush.

"Better be...GRYFFINDOR!" Clara frowned, as the hat seemed to have quickly just dodged the question.

A huge cheer came from one of the tables, and she was ushered over there. A boy with red hair said, "Welcome, mate. Gryffindor's the best. Haven't won the House Cup in years since last year. Al thanks to 'Arry here."

The ginger pointed Clara to a boy with thick black hair and round glasses. "Anyway, why were you crying? Also what was that bit about what was missing?"

"Oh, well, you see I just remembered my mum, she died a year ago," Clara said with a shaky breath.

"Oh, sorry," the boy said. "Well. My name's Ron, Ron Weasley."

"Nice to meet you. If you didn't know, my name is Clara."

"Well, nice meetin' you." Ron turned and started talking to a bushy haired girl.

Clara wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to the names that were being called. She just looked absentmindedly at her silver plate. Well that is until she heard one name…

"Smith, John."