Evangeline Fawley was an observant child. For example, at the present moment, she could tell you precisely how many woman surrounding them on the platform were wearing black dress robes. Black. Such an unhappy color for such an occasion. Vibrantly standing out against a sea of muted greys and whites. The answer is forty-three, by the way.

She also couldn't help but to observe the differences between herself and her parents. Her father, Pius, was an exceptional man albeit a tad standoffish at times. Working as an auror had aged him with worry and made him look slightly older than he was. But, he was still a handsome man; sandy blonde hair with the slightest touch of grey and hazel eyes. His featrues were sharp and sculpted which almost made him look regal, she thought.

Her mother, Noxema, was quite the contrast to her father with long, billowy dark brown hair that fell down her back in careful ringlets and warm blue eyes. Her features were softer, with a rounded face and full lips. Her mother was beautiful.

So, it was with great observation that Evangeline thought she didn't quite take after either of her parents. Her features were not sharp like her father's, nor soft like her mother's. Her nose was a little more rounded at the end and her bottom lip was slightly larger than her top. Her eyes were a little too wide for her face and she certainly didn't have hair that fell in ringlets rather than frizzy waves. The only two things she had that resembled her family, were her mother's dark hair and blue eyes, although her eyes were a little more dark.

Pius cleared his throat, laying a firm hand down on his daughters shoulder. "You've got everything?"

"Yes, father."

"Good," he nodded. "Now, remember, don't put too much pressure on yourself about the sorting. There's only two places you could go-"

"Pius, dear," her mother smiled, "You know as well as I that she has many admirable qualities suited for any house. It doesn't matter which house she's in." The train whistled loudly behind them, signalling last call for boarding. Noxema flashed a watery smile and hugged her daughter tightly. "You'd better hurry, my darling. Have a wonderful year and write us as soon as you're settled."

"I will, mum. I promise." Toting her trunk behind her and casting a meek wave toward her parents, she made her way toward the scarlet steam engine.

Students of all ages pushed past her and clamored for compartments, greeting friends they hadn't seen all summer. After walking for a good two minutes, she finally found a compartment with only two children in it that looked her age.

She smiled broadly, opening the compartment door, "Do you mind if I sit here? Everywhere else seems to be full up."

A boy with pale blonde hair and freckles beckoned her in. "Sure. Name's Richmond McLaggen, but you can call me Rich. And, this here is Alice Rowle."

"Evangeline Fawley," she shook their hands and sat down opposite them. "Are you both first years, as well?"

Rich nodded, "Yes. My brother, Carmichael, is a sixth year, though. Gryffindor prefect. Mum and dad suspect he'll be Head Boy next year. I suppose I'm bound for Gryffindor, as well. Either of you know what house you'll be in?"

Alice shrugged, tucking a loose tendril of red hair behind her ear. "I'm not sure. Both my parents are non-magical." A light blush worked it's way across her cheeks, "I'm not very well educated on any houses to make an assumption."

"That doesn't matter," Evangeline smiled. "Maybe we'll get put in the same house? My father was in Slytherin and my mother was in Ravenclaw. I've always had a fancy for Ravenclaw, myself, though."

"Nah," Rich laughed. "Gryffindor is the best house. My family's been in it for ages. Ravenclaw is just a bunch of brainiacs, so says my brother. Hufflepuff is alright, I guess. Loyal bunch, they are. But, Slytherin," he faked a shudder, "righteous gits. None of them are good news."

Evangeline shot a glare at Rich, "Don't listen to him, Alice. My father was a Slytherin and he's the most selfless person I know."

Rich laughed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "All's I'm saying is, most of the people sorted in Slytherin aren't particularly people you'd want to meet alone in the corridor. Most of them are cruel. Now, what I'm worried about is passing the sorting test."

"Sorting test?" Asked Alice.

"My parents never mentioned anything about a test. And, I don't recall reading about it in Hogwarts: A History, either." Evangeline knitted her eyebrows together, trying to recall any detail she'd heard her parents speak about the sorting. She shared a worried look with Alice, "I don't think there's a test."

"Oh, there is," Rich grinned. "My brother told me all about it. Everyone has to battle a troll and however you go about killing it, that's how they determine where to put you."

Evangeline's eyes widened in shock. She knew a few spells that her parents taught her over the summer in preparation for the year, but she was certain she wouldn't know how to bring a troll down. This sounded completely barbaric. She was mentally scolding herself for not asking her parents about the sorting rituals.

Some time later, an older boy wearing a Hufflepuff crest on his blazer and a badge with a P on it poked his head inside their compartment to alert them that they'd be arriving soon and that they'd better change.

Evangeline looked out the window as the train lurched to a stop and smiled happily at the castle in the distance. It was even more beautiful than her mother described.

Making their way off the train, they spotted a group of first years huddled around an old man with snow white hair. "First years! First years, over 'ere, now! Four to a boat. Come on, come on!"

Waiting their turn in line, they made it to the dock and shared a boat with a young boy with dark eyes and hair. His pants and blazer seemed a tad too big for him and upon seeing his boat mates, his face upturned into a sneer.

As the boats made their way across the lake, small specs of light illuminated from the looming castle ahead glittered over the surface of the water like small fluttering fireflies.

The boats took them to an underground harbor beneath the castle, and there they were met by an older woman who ushered them out of the boats and up a long winding staircase and down a long corridor with several paintings on each side, greeting the fresh faces.

The woman stopped in front of a set of large double doors. "Welcome, welcome! I am Professor Merrythought and I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts here at Hogwarts. Now, in just a moment, you will walk through these doors and proceed to be sorted into your house. But, before you do," She adopted a rather stern look and swept her eyes over each new face. "Headmaster Dippet has asked me to say a few words. While you attend Hogwarts, you will act with the utmost respect and treat your peers justly. Your house will serve as your family. Good deeds and marks will earn you points, while any rule breaking will cost you points. The house with the most points at the end of the year will win the coveted House Cup. Understand?" A chorus a 'yes, ma'am's' answered her. "Very good. Now, follow me."

Evangeline and Alice huddled together as they walked through the doors, eyes darting all around to check for the trolls. Would they appear later? Or, were they hidden around the castle?

Professor Merrythought led them down the aisle and stopped in front of a shoddy looking stool with an old hat on top of it. "When I call your name, sit down and I shall place the hat on your head to sort you."

Glowering, Evangeline turned to Rich who only winked in return. "Trolls," she muttered.

"Abbott, Arnold."

A few students later and Evangeline's name was called. With shaking knees, she made her way up to the stool, eyes cast downwards as the hat was placed on her head.

"A Fawley, I see. Yes, yes." A voice spoke, causing Evangeline to jump. She hadn't heard the hat speaking before, only to call out houses. "Cunning, resourceful. You'd do well in Slytherin, I'd bet. But, there's a loyalty there. Hufflepuff, maybe? No, no. That won't do. A thirst for knowledge. Always needing to have the answer. Well, I know where you'll find it,"

"Ravenclaw!"

She hopped off the stool and made her way to the Ravenclaw table, smiling in relief while accepting welcoming words from her new housemates.

"McLaggen, Richmond."

"Gryffindor!"

Rich caught her eye on his way to his table and offered a friendly wave, taking a seat by who she assumed to be his brother. They had very strong and similar features.

"Riddle, Tom."

The boy who she shared a boat with walked up to the stool with an almost casual elegance. The hat had only just touched his head when it called out, "Slytherin!"

Then, it was finally Alice's turn. She'd taken a few deep breaths to calm herself before taking a seat. The hat seemed to be on her head for almost three minutes before it called out, "Ravenclaw!"

Alice grinned, showing off her dimples, and took the seat next to Evangeline. "I'm glad we're in the same house. It'd have been awful to be sorted into a house where I didn't know anyone."

"Me, too. But, I would've been your friend no matter what house you were in. McLaggen, on the other hand,"

"Oh, I know, that awful boy. I actually believed we were to fight trolls. How dreadful would that have been?"

After the feast, a Ravenclaw prefect took them to the Ravenclaw common room and Evangeline was sure she had never seen something as beautiful. She and Alice entered their dormitory and introduced themselves to the two other girls sharing their room, Alyssa Wright and Beatrice Fletcher.

After a couple hours of chatting, the girls decided to call it a night and get some sleep for classes tomorrow.

Evangeline dreamt of trolls that night.

Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, the following chapters will be better. I promise. Each year will be about 1-2 chapters until they get to fifth year, then the years will be much longer. Thanks for stopping by!