I am alone at the dining table. Again. This is a very common seating arrangement. But with Harry, Ron and Hermione not here, it is even worse. Ginny is talking to some girls in her year. She had a fake smile, I knew why that was. The guy she loved, Her brother and her best friend could be dead, and she won't know. She may never she them again. I mean, I am upset-very-but she will be 10 times worse than me.

The first years walked in, but one girl stood out. She wasn't a first year. She looked 16 or 17. Auburn hair floating down to dust her shoulders around her pale heart shaped face. She was scaning the hall with wide, honey coloured eyes framed with dark lashes and a dark line around them. Her cheeks were dusted with freckles. The were very ligh and looked like a brush of gold on her cheeks. She was slim and curvy. Beautiful.

The names of the first years were called out. I guessed what house they were going to be in. I got 36 out of 45. Not bad if I do say so myself.

'Rubina Allis.' The auburn girl walked up to the stool. It took about 2 minutes for the hat to decide.

'GRYFFINDOR.'

I cheered along with the rest of my house. The only space left was next to me. She walked over and sat down.

'Hello. I'm Rubina Allis. But Ruby for short.' She held out her hand. I shook it. Her nails were painted a bright, sparkling ocean blue.

'Hi. Neville Longbottom.' I had grown 2 inches, making me 6'3. Also I had been moving sacks of soil and tools for herbology and helping my grandmother re-decorate her house, Bringing boxes down form the attic, Taking Boxes back up to the attic over the summer. So now I am no longer chubby, I am lean and toned. I have had looks from some of the younger girls, but my confidence levels around girls, apart form Luna, are still very low.

'What year are you in?' She asked looking expected. Probably hoping that she would know someone in her year.

'I'm a seventh year, You?'

'Oh thank Merlin. Your in the same year as me. You see I used to be homeschooled, but then the rules changed and I had to come to the closest one to home. All my friends went to Beaxbatons. Their parents were hoping to escape the brunt of You-Know-Who.'

'Yeah I suppose, but Hogwarts is great. Great teachers. Well they were until they came.'

'Whos 'they'?'

'The Carrows. They are deatheaters, and the headteacher, Professeur Snape. He killed Dumbledore. The greatest headteacher Hogwarts has ever had.'

'Oh well, This should be interesting. Anything else I need to know.'

We talked like that for about 20 minutes. Then the conversation moved so many times I lost count. We laughed and I actually had fun. I have a feeling we may remain friends. I found out that Ruby is 17, turning 18 in August, is a half-blood, Enjoys herbology and Charms. Also she doesn't like potions but, she is good at it. For her NEWTS she is taking Herbology,Charms, Potions, Muggle studies and Ancient Runes. She only has 2 subjects which I am not taking. Ancient Runes and Potions.

'Well, I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast.'

'Oh yeah, shall we meet in here at like, 9 O'Clock.'

'Yes thats perfect. See you later Neville.' She smiled, waved and followed Lavender up the stairs to the girls dormitory.

'Bye Ruby.' I waved back to her.

I went to bed happy. I have a friend at Hogwarts. Took me 6 years, but It happened eventually. Being myself does work Grandma. HA.

And with that, I fell asleep.