"D'you reckon we'll make any friends?" Pippa Hollingberry asked quietly as she clung to her twin brother's robes. The tall stone walls around them were rather intimidating as they waited to be called into the Great Hall. In order to be sorted, Professor Ravensdale had asked them to wait for his signal before coming into the hall where all the other students already waited.

"You'll be fine, Pip." Chase took his sister's hand in his, which was a little cold and clammy. So he was afraid too. Pippa didn't feel quite so bad about being nervous, then. At least she and Chase would be in the same house. They wouldn't split up twins, would they? They couldn't. Pippa nodded once as she came to the conclusion and bumped her shoulder against Chase. He grinned down at her; already he was a head taller than she was, and they were hardly eleven years old. His hair was auburn red and cut so it fell just under his ears on the sides, but a little shorter in the front so it wasn't in his eyes. He had strong features, which were tempered with a light dusting of freckles across his nose. His hazel eyes looked particularly green today, although Pippa could see the flecks of gold and the blue around his pupils. Above his eyes were thick eyebrows that arched slightly, the same color as his hair. He had broad shoulders for his age, and Pippa knew that under his robes he was slim and fit from playing Quidditch with their father and chasing his sister around the yard in silly games of tag.

"What house d'you reckon we'll be in?"

"What house d'you want to be in?"

"I dunno. A good one."

"I bet we'll be in Gryffindor." Chase said, certainty in his voice. Both of their parents had been in Gryffindor, so it stood to reason that they'd be the same. Pippa wasn't entirely sold that Gryffindor was the place for her; Ravenclaw sounded nice, and Slytherin… well, she assumed her parents would be a little disappointed if they ended up in Slytherin, but at least it wasn't Hufflepuff. Pippa had always heard that Hufflepuff was a good house, and plenty of good witches and wizards came from it, but she just didn't want to come from the black and yellow badger house.

"Is that what you want?"

"It is." Chase smiled at her, and Pippa was immediately caught in his positivity. She was glad that they were so close, because otherwise she didn't think she'd ever be able to do anything. Chase was the one that knew what he wanted, that was brave and strong and able. Pippa just followed along in the path he created, and both were perfectly happy with that arrangement.

"Then we'll be in Gryffindor." Pippa bounced lightly on the balls of her feet as she waited for the giant doors to open and let them in. When she decided that she was bored with that, she started glancing around at the other students, milling about aimlessly, talking quietly, looking just plain nervous and alone. Pip was always glad that she had Chase to go with her, because she felt bad for some of the other children. At least some of them had older brothers and sisters already in there. That had to help some.

There was one group of kids that seemed completely at ease in the back of the group. They laughed and chatted, and Pippa was fairly certain that they'd been friends for a good while. There was a boy with black hair and bright blue eyes, very pale and slim, that wore his uniform with ease and comfort. There was another boy with the same black hair and pale skin, but his eyes were a very pale green that almost blended in with the rest of his eyes. A girl with pale blonde hair, almost white, was hanging around with them; her eyes were a very bright green, and she was almost as tall as Chase, certainly taller than the other two boys she was with. Pippa watched as she grinned and laughed with the others in her group. Pippa looked away quickly as she looked at the other students, a gleam in her eyes.

"I'd bet those are Slytherins." Chase said, obviously looking the same way Pip had just been. "They seem the type, don't they?"

"I don't know." Pippa said quietly, looking at her shoes. "Maybe they're really nice and they'll be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw or… or Gryffindor or something." She knew Chase wasn't going to like her last suggestion; he had a lot of their parents' bias in him. Pippa just had a lot more difficulty accepting that certain people were just bad people.

"They are not Gryffindors, Pip. You can tell by the way they sneer at everyone else." Pippa could understand what her brother was saying; the girl's lip was curled up and one of the boys scowled, although the other seemed perfectly devoid of emotion. Still, she didn't want to dislike anyone, not until she was given a reason.

"I suppose." Chase nodded, and Pippa sighed quietly. Sometimes she and her brother would never agree, but she doubted he knew that most of the time. She was very likely to give him what he wanted to avoid an argument. She loved her brother.

"So you're a Weasley?" The voice was cold, slippery, and overall sent a shivery feeling down Pippa's spine. She glanced at the boy who had spoken. His dark hair seemed greasy as it fell down to his shoulders. His eyes were cold and gray, his face closed. He must have very attractive parents, Pip reasoned, because she could see already that once he shed the baby fat in his cheeks he would be a beautiful man. If that wasn't spoiled by a rotten attitude. He spoke to Chase, looking up at the tall boy.

"Somewhat." Chase responded, his eyes flicking over the boy quickly before deciding that this must be a Slytherin as well. Pippa could see it in the set of his shoulders, the look in his eyes.

"D'you not know, then?"

"I know."

"Then what are you on about? Come on, let's hear it. Who're your parents?"

"Lily Potter and Nathaniel Hollingberry. And you?"

"So you are a Weasley then."

"That isn't our name."

"Our name?" The boy looked around Chase at Pippa, her brown hair with red highlights pulled into pigtails and her wide hazel eyes innocent and a little scared. Pippa was slim and unimposing, usually ignored by the other kids when they went out to play. The boy seemed to think the same, because he turned his attention back to Chase.

"Well, I'm Ollie Flint." He offered a hand, which Chase ignored. After a moment he dropped it, a sneer on his face. "Well now, that's no way to be polite."

"Chase Hollingberry. And my sister Pippa."

"Well Chase, are you into Quidditch?"

"Yes."

"Then you better watch out for me. I'm going to be a Quidditch captain. I'll beat your grandfather at youngest Quidditch player, you watch."

Chase didn't bother to answer, and Pippa knew it was because he was getting rather angry; he didn't like to get mad, but sometimes people pushed his buttons the wrong way. Then he clammed up and stopped talking, because father had always warned Chase not to use his strength against the other kids. It wasn't fair.

"Whatever. I'll beat you on the field, Hollingberry. Hollingberry, what kind of names is that?" Ollie pushed through the kids, making his way toward the three that Chase had pegged as Slytherins. Once he arrived and spoke a few words, raucous laughter burst from them. Pippa felt her face go red as Chase's did the same. He stared at the ground and squeezed Pippa's hand once, reassurance that they were together and no one else mattered.

"He's not worth our time." Pippa whispered, and Chase squeezed her hand once more but wouldn't look at her. Pippa knew he was embarrassed. She was as well. But she wouldn't let bullies ruin her day. She'd been waiting for a long time to go to Hogwarts, ever since she'd first started noticing the little bits of magic that she couldn't control. Now she would get to use those powers for real, and learn how to do cool things with them, and she was really excited about that.

Pippa glanced back at the group of laughing kids just as the great doors opened. Pippa jumped a little before turning around, squeezing Chase's hand hard. She was really scared, too. Excited, but scared. Slowly the group crowded through the doors and down the narrow aisle to the front of the room, where the staff sat at a long table on a raised platform. In the middle of a second platform sat a stool with the weary old Sorting Hat rested on top of it. It was a battered hat, with patches and tears, but Pippa knew from her parents' stories that it had looked like this for a long time; maybe it was more beat up now than it had once been, after the battle against Voldemort, but it still worked its magic just fine. Pippa was equal parts nervous and excited to feel it sit on her head and tell her where she would spend the rest of her school career.

The group stopped just before the sorting hat, all of them waiting anxiously. Suddenly, the hat straightened, and Pippa heard it clear its throat. She smiled up at Chase before turning her attention to the hat; their parents had told them stories about this, too.

I am getting rather old now,

You would think I'd have retired.

But somehow I'm still singing songs

Although somewhat less inspired.

The days are long and sometimes dull

As I sit and write my songs

But when you've all come here to school

The days never seem so long.

Of Gryffindor I sing courage

The brav'ry of a lion

Of daring, chivalry, and nerve

All stronger than a diamond

For Ravenclow, the word is smart,

The knowledge of the eagle

Their witty words are something quick,

Their intelligence lethal.

And Hufflepuff, dear loyal friends!

Work hard just as the badger!

Your patience does you much credit

Your fair play gives you stature.

Last, Slytherin, ambitious, yes,

And as cunning as a snake.

Resourceful in the hardest times

Leave much good work in your wake.

But still, dear friends, please listen well,

Don't let Houses divide hearts,

For classmates are our great allies

When the world it's hate imparts.

The hat fell silent as his song finished, sitting still on the stool once more. Pippa couldn't help but grin up at Chase again, her excitement growing every moment.

Professor Ravensdale pulled a piece of rolled parchment from his robe and called, "Freddy Jackson." A boy with curly brown hair and dark eyes pushed through the crowds of people, apologizing to everyone he touched but not being gentle in the least. He stepped forward out of the group of first years and stopped. After a moment, Professor Ravensdale cleared his throat and gestured to the stool. Freddy jumped and scurried to take his place on the stool, to the quiet laughter of all the students in the room and a few amused smiles from the staff. He sat down hard on the stool and straightened his back as Ravensdale set the sorting hat gently on his head. It took a few seconds, but soon the sorting hat boomed "Ravenclaw!" and Professor Ravensdale pulled the sorting hat off of Freddy's head just before he ran off to join his new house, all smiles and congratulations as he sat down.

Several other students were called to the front, being placed in a variety of houses. Pippa waited anxiously, begging for her name to be the next one called. After Anya Cabrera was put into Ravenclaw, Pippa was certain it would be her next, or maybe Chase first, since he was the older one. But instead of a Hollingberry, the name called was Ryleigh Malfoy, and the girl with pale blonde hair slithered to the front of the first years. Chase made a loathing-filled face as she pushed him aside, whispering Hollingberry under her breath and laughing. His grip on Pippa's hand tightened painfully for a moment before he realized what he was doing and dropped her hand completely. Pippa rubbed her sore fingers as she glanced at him. She'd never seen him so angry before. It scared her.

Ryleigh sat on the stool like it was her throne, her back perfectly straight and her hair in place, acting as if she was the queen of Hogwarts. Ravensdale set the hat delicately on her head and stepped back. For a few moments, the hall was silent. Then Ryleigh frowned and shook her head slightly, seeming to mumble something. Pippa wanted to know what she was saying, but it was just barely too quiet for her to make out the words. Chase seemed to be a little interested, although his anger kept him from being too keen on the conversation.

Finally, the hat seemed to make a decision, because Ryleigh slumped a little on the stool. "You will do well in GRYFFINDOR."

The entire hall fell silent as Ravensdale pulled the hat off of her head and she slid to the floor. She kept her head down and didn't make eye contact with any of her friends that sat at the Slytherin table already, their jaws slack. Chase's fists were tight at his sides, anger apparent in his face. Although Pippa was rather surprised by the turn of events, she couldn't be upset; if the girl had gotten into Gryffindor, then she must be a good person. She must be. Not that Slytherin was bad people… Pippa shook her head. She didn't want to listen to the stereotypes that her parents had taught them. She wanted to make her own decisions.

Finally, Ravensdale looked down at his parchment and called Pippa's name, much to her excitement. The hall was incredibly silent still, but Pippa didn't care; it was her turn! She would get to be sorted. She skipped up to the seat and sat down, a little surprised by how soft the hat was once it rested on her head. She closed her eyes tightly and waited, kicking her feet back and forth.

A quiet voice in her ear startled her slightly, but she'd been ready for it; she'd heard about this from her grandfather, about how he picked Gryffindor when he was a first year, about how the sorting hat listens to you if you ask something of it.

"Pippa Hollingberry, descendent of both Weasleys and Potters, with a little extra Hollingberry on the side. Good traits, and all speak of one house. But you don't want that house, do you?"

Pippa shook her head a little, and then nodded. Now that it came down to it, what house did she want? Where did she want to be sorted?

"You could choose Ravenclaw, if you'd like, but you'd be lonely there. In Hufflepuff you'd often find yourself bored silly, and Slytherin… well, that isn't an option you'd like, is it?"

Pippa shook her head once more.

"Don't let yourself be influenced by your family, child. Although Slytherin isn't quite where you'd be happy, either. Gryffindor, then?"

Pippa nodded, a little relieved and yet a little disappointed. Gryffindor was the obvious choice for her. It just wasn't the most exciting, she didn't think.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The sorting hat's voice echoed around the hall, and scattered applause started before the Gryffindor table got over their shock of a Malfoy and began cheering enthusiastically. Pippa was sliding off the stool when she could have sworn she heard the hat say, "Just give it a chance," before it was pulled completely off of her head. She skipped over to the table, taking a place on the opposite side as Ryleigh had. She kicked her feet back and forth under the table as she received various congratulatory pats from her new house mates, friends. She thanked them quietly and smiled shyly as Ravensdale looked for another name. Immediately she grew silent when Chase's name rang across the hall. He walked up, almost tripping, and sat down on the stool. It hardly reached his head when it called Gryffindor, and he gave a small smile to Pippa as he sat next to her.

The rest of the first years went rather quickly; Pippa enjoyed it so much more sitting at the Gryffindor table, where they made small comments and guessed who would go where. Most of the time they were right, which was even more amusing than if they'd been wrong.

Finally, the sorting was finished. Headmaster Longbottom stood and said a few words about the year, and then the students began their meal. Chase and Pippa spoke quietly to each other as they ate, too overwhelmed to talk to the other students around them. Ryleigh sat across from Pippa, picking at the meal and staring across the hall at the Slytherin table. Occasionally she would make faces, and Pippa could only assume that she was trying to speak to her friends. Chase just ignored her, looking around the table at the other Gryffindors that they would soon be forced to meet. For Chase, that wouldn't be a problem. He was good at making friends, and Pippa then made friends by default; they could only be Chase's friend if they were also friends with Pippa. But she never enjoyed it, and wished her brother was as content to keep to themselves as she was.

"So, Chase, I hear you're a Potter grandkid?"

Pippa and Chase both looked toward the older students, meeting eyes with a boy who had dirty blonde hair, a toothy grin, and a pleasant face. He was a few years older than they were, Pippa assumed, but his brown eyes still seemed childish and over excited.

"Yeah, Pippa and I. Lily's our mum."

"Aw, that's awesome. Grandda's always telling me stories of him when he was younger. Apparently he really looked up to Harry, although it's no wonder why, is it?"

"And… who are you?"

"Ellis Longbottom." He offered a hand to them, which Chase took immediately and shook, smiling. "So Headmaster Longbottom…"

"Neville Longbottom, my grandda. Really awesome guy, but you should hear the way he talks about Harry."

Ellis offered Pippa his hand, and she took it and smiled hesitantly. He seemed so nice, and certainly friendly.

"But hey, you should meet some of the other Gryffindors too. This is…" Ellis slowly began introducing them to everyone around them at the table, everyone that could possibly hear. There was Laila, Bradley, Sienna, Elsie, Mason, Levi, Zach, Willow… Pippa couldn't keep track of all the names, but she smiled at everyone and was relieved when they told her not to worry about remembering everyone. Chase immediately started conversation, showing the charismatic side that Pippa admired but didn't have. Everyone was polite enough to the girl, but she was glad when it was time for them to go to the dormitories to get some sleep. Pippa grabbed Chase's hand as they were warned of moving staircases and ghosts that enjoyed pranks, afraid of getting lost. Chase squeezed her hand reassuringly and they followed the line of new Gryffindors.

Pippa felt as if she already knew every corner of Gryffindor tower; from the chairs to the fireplace, the windows and tapestries, Pippa had heard every inch described lovingly by her parents and grandparents. Everything felt warm and cozy, a happy place to end a long day of classes and to spend hours in, just hanging out with friends on weekends. Although she'd had her doubts about Gryffindor, Pippa had never doubted the comfort of this room.

"Why, hello new kids." Pippa stifled a shriek as a ghost rose in front of her, but she grabbed Chase's arm and took several deep breaths. Although they'd been raised in the wizarding world, Pippa had never actually seen a ghost before. It was a new experience, and admittedly a little terrifying.

"Hey Fred." Ellis said, smiling at the ghost and making as if to give him a high five, but instead his hand passed right through.

"Longbottom. Taking care of the new ones?"

"Of course. They need someone to do it, and I figure headmaster's grandson gets the responsibility."

The ghost just nodded, acting serious. It looked a little strange after the huge smile he'd had moments before, which seemed natural on his face. He was slim and tall, with messy hair and mischievous eyes. Pippa could have sworn his hair was red, but with ghosts it was always so hard to tell.

"So who are these, then?"

"Pippa and Chase Hollingberry."

"Why does that name sound familiar?"

Because Harry and Ginny are their grandparents."

"Ah! Yes, of course! She would kill me if she thought I'd forgotten her son-in-law, but I think that'd be a little redundant, don't you?" He just grinned and stared at Pippa and Chase, taking in every detail. Pippa shifted uncomfortably, but didn't say anything.

"You're Fred Weasley?" Chase asked, a look of delight slowly spreading across his face. "Grandmum told us about you."

"I should certainly hope so." Fred grinned. "Tell her she should come visit me, next time you see her." There was a sudden look of sadness in his eyes as he said that. He tried to smile as he said, with forced lightness, "She's getting on in years, and I'd like to see her before…" He trailed off and shook his head. "Anyway, welcome to Gryffindor kids, I'm off to scare some of the other newbies." He smiled and turned, floating through one of the other Gryffindor first years and laughing as they jumped. Pippa looked at Chase, who was still smiling, and then back at Fred just before he disappeared into the fireplace.

"He's a good guy. Shame he's a ghost, really." Ellis said, shaking his head and smiling. "Anyhow, that way leads to the dormitories, don't go mixing with opposite genders. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I am, at this moment, going to go to bed, since I was up at ungodly hours to talk to Grandda. Good night, friends, and I'll see you in the morning." Ellis waved as he turned, to a chorus of goodnights from both Pippa and Chase as well as the rest of the dormitory. Then conversation went back to normal, a quiet buzz mixed with the crackle of the fire that was quite comforting.

"I figured I'd go to bed as well. I'm a little worn out." Chase said quietly. Pippa could see the weariness in his shoulders and face, but she was still too excited to go to sleep.

"Alright. Good night."

"I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Chase turned and trudged toward the dormitories. Pippa stood where she was for a moment longer, looking around at the other people in the common room. There were older girls that she didn't know gossiping by the window, a group of guys sitting around the fire, and Ryleigh. She looked really lonely, sitting in one of the arm chairs by the wall and staring at everything around her. She looked traumatized; Pippa really didn't know how else to describe it. Like being sorted into Gryffindor was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.

Chase would have told her to stay away from the Slytherin girl, if he had still been in the common room. Since he wasn't, though, and Ryleigh wasn't a Slytherin girl, Pippa walked over and sat in the chair next to her.

"My name's Pippa Hollingberry." She said quietly, staring at her hands. "What's your name?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I thought… well, maybe we could be friends?"

Ryleigh took the time to glance up at Pippa, attempting to decide if she was being sincere or just trying to look good, maybe even pulling a prank. When she saw nothing but openness and honesty, she couldn't accept it.

"Why would I want to be friends with you?" She sneered.

"Because all of your friends are in Slytherin, so I thought… well, when you can't be around them, maybe we could hang out. You don't have to hang out with me when you want to be with them, that's alright, but I mean, since neither of us knows anyone else in here right now… well, we can be friends, right?"

Ryleigh looked at Pippa again, longer, and shook her head. "Why are you being nice to me? I shouldn't even be here, the hat was wrong."

"But maybe it wasn't."

"But it was."

"How do you know?"

"Because I'm a Malfoy. Malfoy's belong in Slytherin. Grandda's going to be so upset that I'm in Gryffindor…"

"What about your Da?"

"He's a little more forgiving, but he also married a Hufflepuff, so he would be, wouldn't he? I'm going to talk to the headmaster tomorrow, get this all sorted out. I'll be in Slytherin by the end of the week."

"Well… I don't have to be your friend when you're in Slytherin, that's alright."

"Good. Gryffindors and Slytherins aren't friends. It's the rule."

"But right now you're a Gryffindor, so…"

"Fine, we can be friends. But only until I go to Slytherin."

"Good." Pippa smiled, and Ryleigh gave her a small grin in return.