Chapter 1: The Night After

[Word Count: 1,510]

Harry and his friends sat talking about the ridiculous essay assigned by Snape that day. Ron was eagerly awaiting the food and Hermione sat with her nose in a book. Harry's mind wasn't on the upcoming dinner though. Rather he was thinking about the night before and with the fight with the troll. He had seen the blood on Snaps leg the night before, and with his limp today it was obvious something had happened.

Harry was almost sure that it had been Fluffy that had given Snape that leg, but why on earth would anyone want to go in there with that thing? Did it have anything to do with the trap door? Harry's thoughts were interrupted though as he saw Dumbledore stand at the head of the Staff table and give a gesture for silence.

It didn't take long for the conversation in the Great Hall to turn to whispers and then nothing. Dumbledore usually only talked when there was something important was going on, and everyone hoped he would tell them about the happenings with the troll from before.

Dumbledore smiled and nodded greeting the students, "I am so glad to see you all before our fine dinner tonight, especially after the events of the previous evening." With this Harry and many others leaned forward eager to hear more. Though Ron gave an audible moan as he realized dinner would be delayed.

"But that is not the Subject I wish to discuss tonight." A murmur passed through the student body, curious as to what else there was to talk about. "There is someone I would like to introduce to all of you. Please give a warm welcome to out new student Martina Filch."

Ron turned and asked Harry rather loudly, "Does he mean Filch like the Janitor?" Hermione gave him a light slap on the head telling him to be quiet. She, to, was eager to see the new student. They looked to the left of the staff table where Dumbledore turned to, and saw a girl with her back to the students. Mr. Filch stood proudly in front of her with a crooked sort of smile. She stood short to him, her head reaching the bottom of his crossed arms.

"Ahem, Miss Filch, care to join us?" He asked with laughter in her eyes. The Girl turned around with a laugh as she realized he was addressing her. 'Wow I'll really have to get used to that, Filch.'

"Of course professor I'll be right up." She said with a laugh and handed the gray cat in her arms to Mr. Filch. Harry looked surprised as he realized it was the demented Mrs. Norris that had been in the girl's arms. He remembered the cat following him down the hallways; the thing gave him the creeps.

Harry returned his attention to the girl, along with the rest of the Great Hall and gave her a once over. She had dark tanned skin, like she had been outside any moment possible. Her hair was a light brown with blonde and blue streaks through it, giving her a bit of a wild look. She wasn't wearing a school uniform, and instead stood in a pair of faded jeans with a bleached pattern of random stars and spots, and a black shirt that read "Coca~Cola." Her eyes though sparkled in the candle light, shining a bright emerald green.

"She will be sorted into her house and then we will have dinner, please pay her respect while the sorting is going on please." Everyone didn't take their eyes off of the girl as she sat on the stool and the familiar ratty sorting hat. The hat slipped over her eyes and Martina was plunged into darkness, the cloth over her ears muffling the sounds of the great hall.

Martina thought about how she shouldn't even be eligible for this. She had only turned eleven the day before. But here she was. She couldn't believe that Dumbledore had allowed her to join Hogwarts. Over the summer she had traveled through the entire school, the dorms, the hallways, the secret passageways. All of it had been amazing. She had hour long talks with paintings and ghosts, and only a few months before she was worrying about going into the sixth grade.

She was young, really young. But she had seen a lot. She had never known she was a witch, nor did she have any idea of her father. It was a relief and a trouble all at once. Now she knew that Bartholomew wasn't her real father, which she was happy about. But she was curious as to why her mother never told her about Filch. She had always thought her name was Martina Grevin. Now she had a new name completely, and a new world to match.

Supposedly her mother had been a witch to; now that had been hard to take in. She had learned about all the great things that wizards could do while she had been here. Why on earth was her mother with Barth? And why had she never told her daughter? Martina didn't want to think about it, but she did, almost whenever she had a spare moment.

Suddenly a voice spoke in her ear. "Ah," He said, it sounded like a he. He said it like he had made a grand discovery by being placed on Martina's head. "I see you've had a long life, haven't you. Yes very many attributes, and a difficult one to understand. Looking at everything you've been thinking this will be a very hard decision."

She shifted uncomfortably thinking that someone, or something had been listening to her thoughts but shook it off thinking maybe it was what was needed to get her in the right house. "Difficult you are indeed. Wise you are like the raven. But you are also brave and trust worthy, signs of the Lion. With a thirst for power and to prove yourself and with those Slytherin would be a good choice. But Hufflepuff would work just as well." The hat sighed seeming to think. "The strongest force in you is wild, nature if you will. You wish to never be controlled, by anyone or anything."

"Um… I'm not really sure which one I'd like to be in… erm, Sir?" Martina whispered a little rushed, "But maybe you could put me where Mr. Filch'd like me to go?" She asked quietly. Outside the hat children were waiting hungrily. She had been sitting there for at least twenty minutes, what could be taking so long? Filch looked a little worried, afraid his daughter wouldn't ever get assigned a house. Dumbledore stood quietly his long fingertips touching together, thinking.

"All right then, if you're sure, he wants you to go to," His voice then raised for everyone to hear, "SLYTHERIN!" Martina lifted the hat to see a roaring and cheering silver and green table in the corner. They were a little confused but they still yelled happy that they got the new student. A greasy looking boy shot a glance over to Harry potter and saw that the boy was staring at Martina. 'This could be fun.' He thought to himself with a smirk.

Martina headed over to the table, walking quickly happy to meet her new house mates, She reached the table and was offered the hand of the prefect, a burly looking guy, and the head boy, a boy with black hair, pale skin, and a pinched looking noise. "Nice to meet you," she said nodding and shaking the hands a little intimidated by the tall boys.

Soon the excitement died down and she ended up sitting next to a blonde haired boy with light almost silver eyes. "Hello." She said trying to start up the conversation, but the boy seemed not to hear her and turn away. What was she not good enough to talk to? She shrugged it off, she didn't need him anyways, and struck up a conversation with the girl across form her.

It was a pretty normal conversation, about how easy or hard the teachers were. But it was a bit annoying because the girl kept glancing at the boy beside Martina like he had a neon sign over his head. She kept forgetting what they were talking about when she did and it was starting to get on Martina's nerves.

Martina stood up bidding a quick goodbye to the girl. She didn't seem to care much though and waved goodbye, resuming staring at the boy. Martina looked around the Great hall wondering where to go.

Across the hall Harry hadn't been able to take his eyes of the girl. There was something weird about her, and Harry wasn't sure if it was good or bad. He jumped though when he looked and saw she was heading over to their table. He turned to his food and began to eat, not wanting it to be noticed that he had so far left his food untouched.