Platform nine and three quarters was buzzing with excitement, much like it did every 1st of September. Parents made a fuss over their children, making sure they had everything they needed; the younger students seemed reluctant to leave the comfort of their mother's hugs while the seniors looked embarrassed. The steam from the train blanketed the platform in a white mist and ushers patrolled along the side of the carriages, making final checks. Owls screeched, Cat's hissed and Frogs croaked; it was almost as unbearable as the commotion between their keepers.

Everyone had someone to say good bye too, whether it be their parents, grandparents or their friends parents. Everyone but Lenore.

As soon as she had set foot onto the platform, a rucksack slung over one shoulder, Jacob, her black hooded ferret, perched on the other and a trolley with a single large trunk, she got straight onto the train. It was easy to find a seat, as everyone was still outside, and she ducked into a cabin at the very back of the carriage. Jacob jumped onto one of the leather benches scuttled up to the window and pressed his white snout against the pane of glass. He barked and danced on his hind legs with excitement. Lenore sat opposite him and watched as Jacob jumped from one paw to the other.

"Sit down Jacob!" She joked, a smile lifting her high cheekbones.

He barked in reply and leapt onto her lap.

The train's shrill whistle signalled departure and all at once students flocked onto the carriages.

Adults stood outside, waving to their children as they pulled out of the station. Lenore sat silently stroking Jacob's back, his fore paws were planted on the glass and his nose twitched with curiosity. It was plain to Lenore that everyone knew what they were doing, even if they were only first years. She, however, didn't. The extent of her Hogwarts Knowledge started at the fact that she was to start in sixth year and ended at the fact that she was to be 'sorted' privately; probably to spare her embarrassment.

As Jacob climbed like a spider up the burgundy curtains, Lenore put her head against the back of the seat, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She was asleep in less than 3 minutes.

The cabin was dark and cold when Lenore was woken by Jacob. He was scratching at the stained glass on the door and hissing violently.

"Um….I'm sorry to disturb you…" a beam of light shone through the half-opened doorway and thin pale fingers gripped onto the frame, "I…I was wondering do you know when we arrive?"

It was obviously a first year, or a senior student who was in the same situation as she was.

"I'm new here, so it's safe to say I know jack about this school." She replied as politely as she could possibly be.

"Oh." The intruder sounded crest-fallen rather than surprised, "Okay. Sorry I bothered you."

The door slid closed. Jacob walked in circles a few times before laying down, his back arched like a speed bump and his beady, blue eyes narrowed and fixed on Lenore.

"Stop that Jacob." She snapped, turning her back to him, "I wasn't the one hissing at the child, so don't go calling me rude!"

Jacob snorted.

"Pot, Kettle, Black – which one do you want to be today?"

There was a shuffle, a thumb and then tiny teeth were nipping at her ear. Jacobs paws were caught in her short, chestnut hair and his wet nose was leaving a slimy trail along her cheek.

"You have a funny way of showing me love!" giggling, Lenore lifted him by the scruff of the neck and set him on the seat across from her. She lifted her trunk down from the compartment above, took out robes and began to get changed. Jacob lay on his belly, his rear in the air and his forepaws covering his eyes.

It was the first time she had ever tried on her uniform, the shirt and jumper had been her older brothers up until his fourth year and she had received her skirt from Emily Constantine, an old friend and also a nurse at Hogwarts. The shirt and jumper were, obviously too big for her size eight frame, as were the long black robes but the skirt fit snugly on her hips. Finally she pulled on her black leather boots, fastened the rusted, silver buckles and smoothed her tights.

Jacob barked with excitement and sat up on his hind legs, his bottom planted firmly on the chair with his tail flicking from side to side. He clapped his paws together and seemed to be smiling.

Lenore lifted him up into her arms and stroked his mousy ears.

"I'm glad you like it. I should maybe change my hair though." She scrunched up her nose, "What do you think?"

Jacob buried his nose in her short bob. He began sniffing and playing with the separate strands, his paws holding the hair up so he could get a closer inspection. Lenore giggled.

"Okay, I'll keep it. G'off!"

He jumped from her shoulder to the bench opposite and reclaimed his post at the window. The trains whistle bellowed from the cab and the locomotive started to slow just as the gaslights of a station came into view. Lenore draped her bag over her shoulder and haled the trunk off the bench.

"Come on Jacob, time to go."

With a saddened whine, he leapt onto her shoulder, wrapped his tail around her neck and rested his torso on her head.

The train to an abrupt halt, students began to flock from the carriages and onto the platform. Lenore just followed the crowd. Emily Constantine was standing beside a tall, scruffy, and quite fat, man. They were chatting happily, each holding an oil lamp and an umbrella.

A light sheet of rain was falling from the dark clouds; Jacob ran down her back and dived into her bag while she pulled the hood of her robe over her head. Other students made various complaints about it always being horrible on the first night of school.

"Lenore!"

She looked up to see Emily waving at her franticly.

"Hey." Lenore made her way briskly over to her and set the trunk down on the concrete with a thump, "You didn't have to stand out and wait for me."

"Nonsense, how else would you know where to go?"

"Aye. I wound'n a be'n able to take ya to th' office." Bellowed the large man, "I 'ave these 'ins to look after."He pointed over his shoulder to the group of first years all standing anxiously to one side, " I'll see ye's la'er."

He left without another word.

"Come now Lenore, under the umbrella before you catch a chill and we'll go on up to the castle."

Emily firmly held onto Lenore's bicep. Within seconds, their feet had left the ground, Lenore's body felt like it was being pulled apart, although it was not painful, it was uncomfortable. With a quiet pop they were standing in a wide and elegant corridor. At the end there was a large, golden griffin, pictures lined the stone wall (on closer inspection they appeared to be moving) and the moon shone the high and ancient windows.

"You okay Lenore?" Emily asked as she folded up the umbrella.

"I will be when my heart starts again." Lenore was leaning over, her hand over her heart, "What in the name of Merlin was that?"

Jacob jumped onto the floor in front of her and shook is fur, he was also obviously disorientated.

"Apparition. Usually it isn't permitted within school grounds but Albas gave me special exception this evening. He didn't want you arriving soaked to the skin."

Emily waved her wand and Lenore's trunk disappeared.

"Whoa! Where –"

"It's gone to storage until we know what your house is." Emily cut in, "Now let's go."

Lenore followed Emily towards the golden griffin, Jacob scuttled behind them both, finding it hard to keep up with their pace.

"Acid pops." Emily stated firmly at the statue.

Lenore cocked her eyes brows in confusion and glanced down at Jacob. All at once the griffin started to move upwards, a spiral stair case extending from its bottom.

Emily took hold on Lenore's hand, looked back at her briefly and started to climb the staircase; Lenore quickly took hold on Jacob by the tail and followed.

As they ascended the stairwell in single file (Jacob unamused and hanging by his tail), Lenore couldn't help but feel slightly excited. She had heard stories from her later elder brother and Emily about all the magical things that went on within its walls (and in the grounds), about all the teachers and architecture. Professor Albus Dumbeldore was spoken very highly off by both of them, and it was only now that Lenore realised that he must be the schools headmaster. This made her feel self conscious about her appearance; did she look respectable enough? Clean enough? Would he shout at her for not attending when the previous five years?

Her feelings of dread only increased as they finally entered the elegant office and spied five people, 4 tall and 1 small, standing around what Lenore could only assume Dumbledore's desk.

"Ah Emily." A wizard with a long silver beard, half moon glasses and beautiful blush red robe stepped forward, "I hope there were no problems at the station, and I know you don't usually travel down that way."

"Now Albus, you know me, my navigation skills put Christopher Columbus to shame."

"I'm afraid poor Christopher was second to none at navigation."

"That's what I meant." Emily laughed, "But to answer your question, no there were no problems."

She stood to the side, so Lenore was exposed to the small group, "This is Lenore Requiem."

Lenore gave a small and coy wave.

"Good evening Miss Requiem, it's a pleasure to meet you." Dumbledore stood forward, took her hand and shook it gently, "My, you look so much like your brother did."

"Minus the blue highlights in your hair." Spoke the shortest of the crowd.

"Oh I do apologize. Allow me to introduce the head's of houses." He gestured to the small and goblin like man, " This is Filius Flitwick, head of Ravenclaw house and Professor of charms," He turned to the tallest of the women, her black hair tied into a bun on her head, oval spectacles and holding a stern expression, " Head of Gryffindor house, deputy headmistress and Professor of Transfiguration, Minerva McGonagall. " Next he gestured to a taller and thin man with a hooked nose and shoulder length black hair, "Severus Snape, Professor of potions and head of Slythern House." Finally he extended his hand towards a stumpy witch, with grey curls and jolly red cheeks, "And last but by no means least, Pomona Sprout, Madam of Herbology and head of Hufflepuff."

Each of them gave a small 'hello' in reply, ether with a smile or a slight smirk and Lenore nodded coyly.

Dumbledore turned his back on her and strode towards a tall, oak chest of selves. It was lined with hundreds of books in a variety of colours and with a variety of languages wrote on their spines. He reached for an aged and dilapidated brown leather wizard's hat, pieced together with lines of stitches.

"Now Miss Requiem." Dumbledore turned to face her, the hat in his hands, "this is the sorting hat. He'll tell us what house you belong to in a moment. Just come take a seat on this chair here while he wakes from his slumber."

Lenore looked at Emily and raised an eyebrow. She may be a witch, but with no experience of anything remotely magical, despite her own and her brother's abilities, the idea of a hat waking from its slumber seemed hard to believe. Hats don't sleep; they don't even breathe for goddess sake! Emily waved her on and Lenore strode over to the chair and sat down unwillingly.

The elderly hat groaned and shook its pointed top. Lenore stared bewildered at the animated clothing, her amethyst eyes were wide and her hands gripped the wood of the chair.

"That time of year again Albus." The hat huskily groaned, "I must be getting too old for this business by now."

"Tired are we?"Dumbledore chuckled.

"Too many birthdays, old bean," it sighed, "Far too many birthdays."

"You're a hat, you don't have birthdays. And you do nothing except sit on someone's head so how can you be tired?"Lenore pointed out.

"Let's turn you into an item of clothing and see how you feel after a few centuries!" The hat snapped.

Lenore sat back in her chair.

"Sorry." She uttered.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, "Shouldn't we get on with the sorting? We have more students to sort this evening as well Albus."

"Indeed Minerva, absolutely right. Now, don't worry this should only take a moment."

He placed the hat over Lenore's chest-nut bob and at once it began pondering aloud.

"You have the same mind as your brother, yes; I can spot that very clearly. You were very close. You had a younger brother too. Nasty business." It sniffed and 'hmmm'ed, " Your mother was a Griffendor but there's a lot more of your father in you." There was another pause, Lenore held her breath, "Yes, its very clear now. Slythern!"

Lenore sighed with relief as the hat was taken from her head. She jumped up from the chair and went to stand by Emily.

"Slythern, excellent. Professor Snape is your head of house and your dorm is in the dungeons. Your bags are already making their own way there as we speak." Dumbledore said, "Now I insist that you join your new house mates at the feast. "

"I'll take her to the hall Albus. " Emily put her arm around Lenore's shoulders and manoeuvred her towards the door way.

As they descended the stone stairs Emily started telling Lenore all about the 'fun' she would have here at Hogwarts, all the friends she will make and how good it will be for her. Lenore chose to drift into her own mind instead and morbidly considered how Hogwarts was the lesser of two evils, how irritating trying to make friends would be and how the continuous flow of humanity would probably drive her to the nearest bottle of poison. Some would say she was a pessimist, others would see her more as harshly realistic. She hated the idea of living in a 'dorm' so close to other people, basically sleeping beside a perfect stranger and what if they didn't like each other?

Emily started into a speech about the learning opportunities just as they exited the spiral staircase, the golden griffin locked into its former position and Lenore peered back to gaze at its red gemstone eyes.

Jacob was perched on Lenore's right shoulder, his tiny fore paws gripped onto her skull while his tail was wrapped softly round her neck. His nose twitched as he took in the many scents of his new surroundings. His tail flicked back and forth, tickling Lenore's chin.

"I'm afraid that Jacob will have to go up to your room." Emily said regretfully.

Jacob whined and clung tighter to Lenore's skull.

"Please Jacob. Don't make a fuss." Lenore pleaded, She lifted him off her head and held him under his forearms, his face inches from hers, "I won't be away long. I promise."

She laid him on the floor and with a snort he disappeared. Lenore stared flabbergasted at the spot where the mammal had stood just seconds ago.

"I sent him to your room." Lenore gazed at Emily, who stood with her wand in her hand and smiling, "Shall we move into the dining area?"

It was more a command than a question, and Lenore followed, still recovering from the sudden disappearance of Jacob, she was convinced the ferret was no doubt going into cardiac arrest.

As they approached large, dark oak doors, that stretched to the ceiling, the chatter of voices was could be heard from the room behind them. Emile waved her wand and on creaked open slightly, the din didn't so much as shiver. Lenore slipped through the opening behind Emily. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of students were seated at four tables, each, Lenore assumed, assigned to a certain house. Griffendor, with its large crimson and gold table cloth, was at the far left of the hall, Slythern, covered with emerald and silver, was on the far left. In the center was Ravenclaw, which was blue and bronze and Hufflepuff, yellow and black, were in the center. The top table was obviously reserved for staff and close beside them was two sets of large, empty hour glasses.

Lenore looked to the ceiling; white, wax candles and the hazy night sky floated over head.

Emily touched her shoulder gently, "Your table is over there," she pointed to the Slytheren table, "I'll speak to you later, I have to take my seat at the top table."

Lenore nodded and hesitantly moved to her house table, and sat on the edge of the bench. A few students looked at her, but she kept her eyes on the table cloth, pretending to study the fibres. There was whisperings coming form not only the Slythern pupils, but the others as well.

Before anyone could make any snide remarks or ask any questions, the hall's doors crashed open and the ceremony began.