Disclaimer: No, contrary to popular belief, I don't own Harry Potter, the wizarding world, or anything to do with Harry Potter. :)  But I do own Audric Bennett. (This disclaimer is for the whole story.)

A/N: Well, I've been reading Harry Potter fics for a while now and decided I wanted to write one of my own… so, here's chapter one!  Hope you enjoy it. :)

:Chapter One:

Dumbledore looked down his long nose at the file lying on his desk, with the name Bennett, Audric printed neatly at the top.  A photograph of a fifteen year-old boy with blonde hair and fair skin fidgeted and tugged at the tie around his neck as Dumbledore studied him.  Dumbledore smiled and began to read the letter from the headmistress of Beauxbatons.

          Dear Headmaster Dumbledore,

          Enclosed is all the necessary information about Audric Bennett, the fifth year student transferring to your school at the beginning of the new year.

          While attending Beauxbatons, Audric received top grades in many of his classes and is a model student.  I believe you can expect him to continue this behaviour at Hogwarts.

          Sincerely,

                   Madame Maxime

- - -

"But why, Audric?" asked Benoit as the two boys said their farewells for the summer.

          "Because Mamma says I must… you know… 'You 'ave no idea 'ow long your father and I 'ave 'ad zis planned!  You shall go to 'Ogwarts!'" Audric said, imitating his mother's heavy French accent.  "Mother and Father want me to experience some of what they experienced as students… and you know Mamma went here, but Father went to Hogwarts… And of course there's no gainsaying them."

          "No…" Benoit spoke thoughtfully.  "You will write?"

          "Often… I will tell you all about Hogwarts; the classes, the teachers, the students."

          "Come along, Audric, we do not 'ave all day," said his mother walking up behind him and placing her hands on his shoulders.

- - -

          The summer flew by at an alarmingly fast pace.  It seemed that in the same time it took to blink, Audric was packing his trunk in preparation to leave for Hogwarts. 

          Over the summer, his mother had insisted he read Hogwarts: a History so that he would have a little background on the school.  When they'd gone to Diagon Alley to buy his new school books, she'd seen it on the shelf and snatched it with a happy exclamation.

          "You must 'ave zis!  You will know all about your new school!" she'd said happily, handing him the heavy book.  Audric had looked at his father, hoping for help, but he just shrugged.

          After that, Audric kept laying the book down, conveniently 'forgetting' to pick it up when he walked away.  His mother, though, kept checking to see that he had it, and when she saw he didn't, made him go back and get it.

"Zere will be a time," his mother said, "when you will be thankful I made you read zis."  So they bought Hogwarts: a History, Audric's mother feeling pleased while Audric himself was rather displeased.

As he read over the summer, Audric discovered it was a pretty boring book, but there were enough interesting bits to keep him reading.

- - -

          "Audric?" his father called, knocking lightly on his bedroom door.

          "Come in," Audric called.  His father came in and looked around his son's room.

"Are you packed?  It's nearly time to leave for the Hogwarts Express."

"Yea, I think so."

          "I'll take your trunk downstairs," his dad offered.

          "Thanks," Audric said.  "I'll be down in a minute."  He stayed a moment longer in his room, trying to think if he forgot anything.

- - -

          When they arrived at the train station, Audric's father explained about platform 9 ¾ and they took the barrier at a run.

          "Now, remember Audric, just introduce yourself to someone, start a conversation, and you've got a friend."

          "I know, Father, you've told me before."  Audric forced a weak smile.  Now that he was actually preparing to board the train, it felt as though his stomach was doing cartwheels inside of his body.  His mother pulled him into a tight hug.

          "Owl us anytime… we will write to you of course, and check up on 'ow you are doing –" the whistle on the train blew, interrupting her.

          "Right.  Thanks, Mamma... Father.  I've got to go.  Love you!"

          "Have a good year," his father called as Audric boarded the Hogwarts Express.

          Audric walked slowly down the train, looking for an empty compartment.  He finally found one at the back and sat down, shutting his eyes.  If I'm this nervous now, I'll probably be throwing up everywhere when I reach the actual school, he thought.

          "Excuse me."  A timid voice broke into his thoughts.  He opened his eyes to see a boy his own age with a round face and big eyes looking at him.  "Can I sit with you?  Every other compartment's full."

          "Sure," Audric said, grinning, some of his nervousness ebbing away.  "I'm Audric Bennett – I'm transferring from Beauxbatons."

          "Really?  I'm Neville Longbottom.  This is Trevor."  The boy held out a toad.  "So… Beauxbatons, huh?"

          Before he'd even really realized it, Audric had a new friend.  Maybe things won't be bad at all, he thought, actually looking forward to arriving at Hogwarts.  A little.

- - -

          When the train arrived at Hogwarts and all the students had gotten off, Audric heard a shout from a man nearly as large as Madame Maxime.  "Firs' years over here!  Firs' years with me!"

          "What should I do?  Do I go with him?" Audric asked Neville.

          "No… I don't think so.  I'm not sure how it works for transfer students.  Hermione might know."  He craned his neck, looking through the swarm of students.

          "Hermione?" Audric asked.  Neville's face brightened and he bounced on his feet.

          "Hermione!  Over here!" he called, waving his arm in the air.  A girl pushed her way over to them.

          "Neville, come on – we have to get in the carriages," she said.  "Harry and Ron are waiting for me."

          "No, wait – this is Audric, he's a transfer student.  We don't know if he goes with Hagrid or us," Neville explained.

          "Well, I don't know," the girl – Hermione – said.  "There's never been a transfer student before.  I would ask Hagrid, if I were you.  It's good to have you here, Audric.  I'll see you later!" she said and turned, disappearing back into the crowd.

           "Audric Bennett?" someone said.  He turned to see a tall woman with her hair pulled back into a severe bun standing beside him.  "I'm Professor McGonagall.  Headmaster Dumbledore arranged for me to bring you up to the castle.  If you'll come with me into one of the carriages…?"

          "Okay," Audric said.  "See you in a bit, Neville!" he called over his shoulder.

          "All right!" Neville replied, running to catch up with Hermione and her friends.

          As the carriage pulled up along with the other ones, Professor McGonagall said, "Now, you'll have to go with the First Years, so you can get Sorted."

          "Oh – right."  Audric had read about the Sorting in Hogwarts: a History.  The professor stepped out of the carriage and looked around. 

          "Oh – there they are.  Come along – we have to get you in line with them."

          They rushed over to the group of eleven year olds.  Some looked at Audric with curiosity, but most looked to be too busy feeling nervous to notice him.

          "May I have your attention, please!" Professor McGonagall said, addressing all the First Years.  "I am Professor McGonagall.  Now, if you will listen, I will explain the Sorting to you.  The Sorting is really a very simple thing.  All you have to do…"

          When she finished explaining what they needed to know, she led them into the Great Hall, where they formed a line. 

          "Are you really a First Year?" a girl said, tapping Audric's arm.  He looked down, startled.

          "Wha – oh, no.  I'm a Fifth Year… I'm transferring," he tried to explain, but the little girl just looked confused.  "Never mind," he said, just as the Sorting hat began a song.  When the song finished, McGonagall read from a long scroll.

          "Alonza, Lana!" she called.  A timid looking girl stepped forward and the hat was placed upon her head.

          "Ravenclaw!" the Sorting hat called.  One of the tables burst out clapping, and Audric assumed those were the Ravenclaws.

          "Bard, Otis!" was Sorted into Hufflepuff.

          "Bennett, Audric!"  Audric took a deep breath when his name was called and walked up to the small stool, where the patchy Sorting hat was sitting.  McGonagall placed the hat on his head and he sat on the stool, feeling large and awkward on the seat meant for much smaller people.

          "Hm…" a little voice inside the hat said.  "I'm thinking… Gryffindor… or Ravenclaw, if you really want.  But Gryffindor suits you better.  GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted, before Audric had a chance to reply.

          The Gryffindor table burst out clapping and whistling.  Neville stood up and slapped Audric on the back as he sat down, grinning.

          The Sorting went on, placing "Ellard, Hanson!" and "Hamilton, Robert" in Gryffindor.  The line of First Years dwindled down until only one girl was left. 

"Wymer, Alicia!" McGonagall called as the girl walked confidently to the stool.  She was Sorted into Ravenclaw.

A man that Audric had no trouble recognizing as Dumbledore stood and said, "Let the feast begin!"