Hello all! First I would like to say that this story is a group story: Catherine (who doesn't have a fanfic account), Kinz (umm... Kinz), and I are all writing this story together. We weren't sure about the title of the story, so we were wondering if it caught your attention or anything, and if you thought it should be changed. If so, can we have your ideas please? Thank you!

Don't worry, the next chapter is MUCH longer than this one... this one is just kinda to get things going.

Please Read and Review! Enjoy! And don't worry - Chapter two and after get into more of a plot.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, nor these characters, the school, etc.

Chapter 1

'What a bunch of morons,' was Bellatrix's first impression of those surrounding her as she sat in one of the small boats that were gliding on the lake in front of Hogwarts. Honestly, it wasn't that grand of a castle – put anything in the middle of nowhere and then give no good scenery for a few hours, and anything would look inviting. The lake was just there to top the whole thing off.

In ten minutes all of the first years were finally inside of Hogwarts, waiting to discover how they would be sorted. Bellatrix wasn't worried – whatever came, she felt she would be able to handle. Not only that, but they were there to learn magic, and it was illegal for them to have used it before other than by accident. Only someone without a brain would have thought that the sorting would have something to do with their skill as a witch or wizard. Of course… she figured she might as well add fuel to the fire, and possibly see if there were any Ravenclaws she could fish out amongst the crowd.

"What?! We have to fight a giant squid?!" shrieked one student, followed by a chorus of, "They let us cross a lake that has a giant squid inside of it?!"

Bellatrix smirked to herself. Although the shrieking and yelling was annoying, the reaction it caused was definitely worth it.

"Alas, it seems as though Ravenclaw is going to be extremely short on students this year," Bellatrix mused to herself boredly glancing at her fingernails as she spotted only a handful of kids that were still relatively calm. As she said this, she eyed a group of boys coming over towards her with a facial expression much like her own.

"What's your name?" said a boy slightly shorter than her with dark hair. "I saw you start the rumors about the squid. So, I'm assuming that you already know the real way we get sorted, which means you're a pure blood."

"Bellatrix Black," she responded, already able to tell that he would be a fellow Slytherin with her.

"Over here, guys," called the boy. "It's a Black, who knew there'd be one in our year?" he explained to a few people that arrived to see what his friend wanted. "I'm Rudolphus Lestrange, and these here are Avery and Rosier."

"Well, you already know me. So, are you two -"

"First years, follow me," called a woman with square glasses. Bellatrix only glared at her, but stopped talking. After all, might as well start off on a good foot, right?

"Now, for the sorting of everyone into houses, you will all line up and put on the sorting hat," the woman now identified as Professor McGonagall explained. There were some sighs of relief and some disappointed grunts as the rumors about the squid were suddenly crushed. All the while, Bellatrix just stared at her fingernails dully.

"Black, Bellatrix," called McGonagall, startling her slightly but not enough to cause her to jump. She hadn't been paying attention, but it didn't matter – she already knew what house she would be placed in anyways. Smirking, she began to walk up to the stool, and the hat was placed over her head.

'Sheesh, can't they get a hat that fits everyone better? My head's not THAT small,' Bellatrix thought to herself. However, before McGonagall even released the hat, "SLYTHERIN!" was called out from the hat for all to hear. Her smirk only grew wider as she made her way to the table where she had known she would be located already. She sat down across from Avery and next to a boy that seemed slightly older than her and reminded her of someone.

"So, a notorious Black, eh?" said the boy beside her. "What gives me the honor of -"

"Oh, stop it already. I already know I'm a Black, and I'm sitting across from Avery since I know him a little."

As she finished her small rant, Rudolphus came up next to Bellatrix on her other side and sat down.

"She's got a slight temper, eh little brother?" asked the boy next to Bellatrix, making her realize why he had looked familiar. Seeing her look of understanding, the older one smirked and said, "The name's Rabastian."

"Bellatrix," she answered knowing that it was relatively pointless at this point anyways, but not knowing what else to say. The four of them began talking amongst themselves as the feast started and the sorting came to a close.

Bellatrix was pleased with the sorting and her newfound friends. Yes, her family would be proud indeed. She only hoped that one day she would be even more powerful, and show just how far she would go to defend their beliefs…

Thank you for reading! Once again, please review and tell us how you liked it and what you thought about the title.