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Kristen sat in Professor McGonagall's office. Just the name of her soon-to-be teacher made her was to sit up straighter and listen.

"My dear, I am about to Sort you into your House. I admit 7th year would be a little bit late for a transfer, but you say, from America?"

"Yes."

"Do you have any family?"

"No, my parents died a few years back."

"Oh. Do you know what you want to become?"

"An Auror," Kristen answered.

"I see. That would require Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, many others. Are you aware of this?"

"Completely. I studied 6 years in my school before I came here."

"Alright. I shall Sort you now; put the Hat on."

Kristen took the ragged Hat and put it on. She almost jumped out of her seat when a voice started speaking.

Interesting…very…interesting. You thirst for revenge, your family's deaths. On that I would say Slytherin…and you fit it too. Cunning, sneaky…oh but what's this? Courage. Slytherin have no courage, except to save themselves. On this courage is obviously Gryffindor. Yet…smart are you? Smart…exceedingly. Ravenclaw. We know now, your choices do not include Hufflepuff. But this courage balances you out from Slytherin. Ooh, you have a head for what you want. Gryffindor's renowned stubbornness. Oh, not a bad thing. Not bad at all…Slytherin or Gryffindor. Are you pureblood?

Quite honestly what does that have to do with anything?

Not much really. Both Houses have purebloods in them…are you?

Three fourths.

Ah. Blunt honesty. Gryffindor if I ever say one. This has been a pleasant experience, and I now will re-evaluate what I call the traits of Houses.

"Gryffindor!" the Hat called to Professor McGonagall.

"That took rather long for the Hat. Welcome to my House! And now I do believe the student's are starting to come in so let's go to the Great Hall."

Kristen speechlessly followed her through the many corridors and into the Great Hall.

This place is huge! Jesus Christ!

McGonagall showed her where the Gryffindor table was and told her to wait for everyone.

The doors were flung open and Kristen winced. Eurgh. Now everyone's staring at me. Dear god.

Near the front of the crowd, Hermione pulled Ron, Harry and Ginny towards herself.

"Anyone know who that is?" she asked, still slightly annoyed.

This year, when she was finally Head Girl, Head Boy was none other than Ferret. Yeah. Draco Malfoy.

"No, but she's pretty," Ron whispered to Harry.

"Let's go talk to her," Ginny tugged them over to Kristen.

"Hi," Ginny greeted Kristen, sitting down.

"Hello," she answered, slightly nervously.

"So, are you a transfer?" Ron asked her.

"Yeah, I guess."

"Oh. We don't get much of those. What year are you in?" Harry asked. He and Ron had exchanged

"Oh, 7th. Just got sorted. Um, McGonagall seems…"

"Scary," Ron said bluntly.

Kristen laughed. "Yeah."

"Are you from America? Sorry to pry but you have a bit of an accent," Hermione tilted her head to the side.

"Yes, I am. British accents are hot," Kristen said with a straight face.

"Really? I love yours," Ginny giggled.

"Oh, you must be wondering who we are! I'm Hermione, Hermione Granger," Hermione shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kristen Lin," Kristen smiled back. They were being a little overly friendly for her liking—or maybe it had been too long that she hadn't been in good company.

"Ron Weasley."

"Ginny Weasley. I'm younger than you all unfortunately, 6th year. Psst, Ron's a git!"

"Harry Potter," Harry waited for the surprise that was sure to follow.

"Great to meet you all on my first day. Hm, Harry Potter…why does that sound familiar…oh right! Aha, sorry, I'm a bit slow. Been out of the wizarding world for awhile," she smiled apologetically.

"S'alright. Want us to show you around tomorrow?" Harry said easily.

"That'd be great thanks!"

All around them everyone whispered, 'Who is she?'

More and more odd things turned up, 'She's on the run from abroad!' 'She's really a celebrity from China!'

Meanwhile, a certain Draco Malfoy was watching the little group.

"Oi Zabini, d'you know her?" he asked lazily.

"No, heard she's some sort of transfer from America. She's beautiful," Blaise drawled, studying Kristen.

"Naturally, little Potty and his friends have swarmed her. Don't get any funny ideas about chasing some little Gryffindor," Draco added sharply.

"Naturally…"

Back at the Gryffindor table, the group was trying to teach Kristen about Hogwarts.

"See, there's a system of points for each House. If you're good…"

They talked for a long time, until Sorting began. Kristen's head was swimming. Wow. It's amazing here in Britain.

After the Sorting was done, adding twelve more people to the Gryffindor table, the golden platters of food filled. The conversation was light and pleasant; until they got to Inter-House rivalry.

"Our most hated rival is Slytherin, they're just so annoying. Pure-blooded dark witches and wizards you see. Complete opposite of Gryffindor," Harry told her.

"Oh. So with the Quidditch and end of year House Cup we generally try to win over Slytherin?" Kristen asked.

They thought for a moment. "Yeah basically," they chorused.

"I almost got put in Slytherin," Kristen commented off-handedly.

"Yeah me too," Harry agreed.

"Why?! You're so nice!" Ginny was shocked.

Hermione was watching them carefully, especially Kristen.

Kristen shrugged. "Dunno. Just one of those things."

The rest of them let it go.

"I think I'm going to sleep in the Gryffindor dormitory today, we can have a little sleepover thing. And I don't want to leave you alone with Lavender and Parvati, they're so annoying sometimes, twits…as well as the fact I don't want to sleep in the same area as Draco Malfoy." Hermione said.

"Who's that?" Kristen asked.

"Head boy. Slytherin, pure-blood and everything. And he's rich, so he goes around like he owns the whole school. Hell, all Slytherins are like that," Ginny said.

"He's over there, next to Blaise Zabini," Harry pointed him out for her.

"Hot damn," Kristen muttered, not knowing Ginny and Hermione were in earshot. They giggled.

The feast ended with Dumbledore dismissing them and told the Head Boy and Girl to lead their respective Houses to their dormitories.

"Okay, our password's 'fairy dust'. I have to lead the first years in, go on before we cause a stampede!"

Ron and Harry led the way back up to the Gryffindor dormitory.

"This is the Fat Lady, she monitors the passwords," Ginny said.

"Fairy dust," Ron chanted and they said their goodbyes.

After Harry and Ron had gone up the guy's staircase, Ginny said 'night as well. Kristen went up to the highest rooms, where her trunk was waiting. Hermione got back ten minutes later, out of breath.

"Bloody…first years…"

"I'm guessing everyone thinks their annoying?" Kristen laughed.

"Yeah. Hey want to come with me to the Head dorms? I think we have a guest room, you could live there if you don't want to put up with Lavender and Parvati."

"I'll go with you and check it out, but um, would McGonagall approve of that?"

"Please! I need you there to help me keep my sanity! And McGonagall…I could say I'm helping you out with the castle and classes. Please live there with me!!!" And, this way she could keep a better eye on Kristen, if she turned out not having so great intentions.

"If you want me to that badly," Kristen bemusedly levitated her trunk and followed Hermione out the door, the trunk floating after them.

'Wow Hermione everyone's staring at me and I feel like a complete idiot for having a trunk floating after me," Kristen laughed.

Hermione grinned. "Ah well we're here."

There was a bright portrait, completely abstract with Picasso standing in it.

"Password?" he asked.

"1998 Graduation," Hermione answered.

"Correct," he said and swung open.

Inside, Draco was talking to Crabbe and Goyle. He nodded to Hermione.

"Granger. Who's your friend?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "This is Kristen Chang, transfer from America. Now, I'm sure she doesn't want to stay in your presence as long as I have to so, we'll be going…ferret."

"Ferret? Am I missing something?" Kristen asked, amused.

"Ah yes. Back in our fourth year he was taunting Harry so our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher back then, Moody, who actually turned out to be a Death Eater impersonation…but anyways, the guy turned Malfoy into a ferret and bounced him up and down the Great Hall. Amazingly funny," Hermione snickered.

"Sod off Mudblood," Draco spat.

"Amazing comeback. Come on Kristen," she walked off with Kristen following.

"Oi Granger why's there a floating trunk following you?" Draco shouted to them.

Kristen laughed. "Should I tell him?"

'He doesn't need to know. And the guest room's right next to mine, you'd get your own bathroom…while Draco and I have to share…"

"You could borrow my bathroom if you want. Do you shower in the morning or at night?"

"I shower in the mornings, you?"

"Usually at night…but today I showered in the morning…depends really…So you could use my bathroom, and then go back to your room or something then I'd use it."

"Yeah. Deal."

Draco Malfoy appeared behind Hermione.

"And Granger, is she moving in or something?" he sneered.

"Actually, Ferret, she is."

His grey eyes narrowed. "Why, exactly?"

"Because her roommates are twits and if she's here I'll keep at least half my sanity!"

"Merlin fine! Just don't go in my room!" he stomped off.

"And why would we do that?" Hermione shouted after him.

Kristen popped her head of her room, taking a break from unpacking.

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were an old married couple, you know, on the verge of divorce," she grinned.

Hermione's shocked face was enough for her to backtrack and add hastily, "Kidding!"

"Ermm…enough heart attacks for one day! I'm going to turn in now. Breakfast ends at 8:00! See you tomorrow!"

Hermione disappeared into her own room. Grinning, Kristen turned off the lights and slept.

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