Chapter 1

I never wanted to go to Hogwarts. All I wanted was to live my life with the centaurs that raised me. The orphan that I am, I grew up wondering what my parents were like. Did I look like them? Why did they give me to the centaurs? Where did I get my wings? Oh yes, I had wings. Big, black wings that when completely stretched out wrapped around my entire body.

I was sitting in Headmaster Dumbledore's office, waiting for the welcome feast to start so I could join the other first years. The portrait heads lining the walls were very friendly and wished me good luck. I didn't know their names, but I thanked them anyway.

"Cora," came a voice from the door. I turned, looking at the face of Professor McGonagall in green robes. "We're ready."

I followed her out of the office and down one of the many staircases in Hogwarts. Ghosts were flying out of the walls left and right. Pictures were talking and moving. Nothing was new anymore. Well, at least to me. I've been stuck in the castle for almost two weeks now.

We reached the bottom of the stairs where the other first years are. They were staring at me, but I didn't mind. I was used to being stared at. Even the centaurs stared at me from time to time, though Triton, my surrogate father and leader, usually didn't allow it. I sat on the stairs while McGonagall went over with the other first years what Hogwarts is about. She left afterward, leaving me with the other first years. I stared off into space while they had their private conversations.

"If you don't mind me asking, why are you here before us?" A boy with white-blond hair walked toward me. His cold, grey eyes locked on my amber eyes.

"I got lost following you guys and took a boat by myself before you came across the lake. Professor McGonagall said I could stay with her until it was time for you lot to enter the Great Hall," I explained, feeling uncomfortable under this boy's gaze. He gave me an odd look, but turned to one of his friends.

Feeling eyes on me, I stood up and walked towards the Great Hall, signaling for the other kids to follow me. There was a lot of talking behind me, which eventually became whispers as we entered the Great Hall. Candles were hanging in midair, pure white against a stormy grey sky. I, like the other first years, was amazed at this display of magic and couldn't stop staring.

McGonagall was waiting for us at the very front of the room. Next to her was a stool with an old hat sitting on top.

"Now when I call your name, come up and sit on the stool. I will place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your appropriate house," she said. Pulling a scroll out of her sleeve, she began to read off a list of names. Eventually, she came to mine.

"Cora Jones." Walking up, I sat on the stool while she put the sorting hat on my head. The weirdest thing happened then.

So, you're the bird girl everyone has been talking about. Oh yes, I can see why Dumbledore brought you here. Brilliant mind, but that temper could get in the way. It better be. .

"Gryffindor!" the hat yells. I jumped off the stool and ran to join my new house.

The dinner that followed the sorting was uneventful, minus a small food fight caused by two boys near me. In their fight they seemed to have forgotten about the other people around them. One boy with glasses aimed for the boy sitting next to me, but his aim was off as a bit of baked potatoe landed in my hair.

"Oi! Stop throwing food. You're going to get in trouble," I say to him, throwing the potatoe back at him. He seems surprised.

"We're sorry. We didn't mean to hit you," the boy sitting next to me says. He had dark, wavy hair that reached his shoulders and warm grey eyes. I smile at him.

"Just don't do it again. . . Uh. What's your name?" I ask him.

As the dinner went on, I became friends with Sirius, the boy with grey eyes, James, the boy with glasses, and two other boys, Remus and Peter. Remus had hair the color of sand and Peter's a small boy whose eyes can't stay focused for more than two seconds.

At the end of it all, Dumbledore gave a welcome back speech and sent us to our dormitories. James ran ahead with Remus and Peter while I stayed behind and talked with Sirius. We talked about the food, our classes, our interests, and our families. Sirius' family had always been in Slytherin, which was sort of a surprise considering he ended up in Gryffindor.

The prefect leading us to Gryffindor tower was rude and snobby. He walked with the gait of one who's used to being in charge and didn't bother talking to us. He did warn us, however, about things I already knew about Hogwarts, like the moving staircases. Most of the kids stared in awe as we walked by portraits of people in old-fashioned clothes talking and fighting amongst each other, but I just kept on walking.

We stopped at a portrait of a fat lady in a pink ball gown. The prefect, whose name was Connor McCloy, said the password "bogarts." The common room walls were a dark red, giving me the impression of blood. Several couches were stationed throughout the room with a fireplace at the front of the room. I stared in wonder at my new home, with glorious shades of red and gold.

The moment was cut short when Connor went to the front of our group and told us the rules. We were to go straight to bed in separate parts of the tower, boys on the left and girls on the right. I didn't talk to anyone, but walked up the stairs ahead of everybody. Finding my room, I pulled out my pajamas and got ready for bed.

As I closed my eyes that night, I thought of the centaurs and what they would say if they could've seen me then.