Chapter One: Shopping, Shouting and Sorting.

I traveled quietly within Diagon Alley carrying my coin pouch and staring at the new wizards and witches. Just like last year, it was packed and the newest books and school supplies were being swept off the shelves of every store. I sighed thinking back, I should be in Hogwarts right now getting ready for these people to enter and sorted out into the house. Why in the world did my parents have to disappear?

My name is Bell Keehl, I am 14 years old turning 15 in the summer, my height is 5'6 and I have long dark blonde hair and have blue-green eye that changes. Needless to say I get attention for my height, but also abnormally large breasts for a young teenagers. Even in the magical market, I get a few stares as I'm trying to focus on my purchases as I blocked out the sound with my ipod.

Looking around, there were a few faces for some reason that stood out to me. There was another lone girl with shoulder length red hair staring intently at a crystal ball on display. Without consent my power to see people's hidden truths, apparently she was muggle-born and had no friends, just like me except for the muggle born part.

Shrugging my shoulders, I opened the near by wand shop and heard a delightful bell ring along with mine. A short woman hobbled over with a wood cane to the till and smiled pleasantly at me.

"How may I help you?"

"Do you have any wands made out of black cherry wood with dragon heartstring?"

She stared at me wide eyed, "Why so specific?"

"Learned from last year that not very many wands accepted me," I responded as I scratched my head.

"I will see what I have. I don't get many requests with black cherry wood."

She then hobbled away into the back room and I heard some clatter of boxes falling but she soon emerged with a gray box. Opening it, she revealed a beautiful dark wand with a sheen that looked as if it was covered in blood. I stared happily at it as I grabbed it and flicked it. I instantly received a small firework of acceptance.

"How much is it?"

"It's quite expensive for such a combination," The lady responded, "10 galleons."

I pulled out the money from my pouch, placed it on the counter and left with my wand. Checking my list again, I decided to move onto the pet store. As I entered, there were many people yelling and animal calls mixing in which assaulted my ears. In the distance, I saw a girl with black hair covering half of her face as she stared back into a small white ferret's face. It seemed they were instantly bonded just by the mere glance.

Once again, I shrugged my shoulders as I browsed around. I was stuck between two animals when the clerk came up to me.

"Is there anything that I may help you with?"

His glasses sunk down his face, almost falling off his nose, but he still stroked his hands in a creepy manner staring at me. If it weren't for his nametag, I would have thought he was a rapist of some sort.

"I can't decide between this rabbit or snake."

He whistled lowly, "Quite a difference between the two."

"I'm contradictory like that," I responded as I glanced at the black snake staring at me just as the grey rabbit was.

"They both seem to like you, but I honestly seeing you as a rabbit person."

I just nodded, I also thought the same thing, but wanted another person to agree with me. Picking up the excited rabbit, I went to the counter to pay for her along with a cage. Briefly, I turned around to see the snake still staring at me and gave it a quick apologetic glance before leaving from the noisy surrounding.

Arianna, my rabbit, soon fell asleep in her cage as I continued to walk the magic streets. Thankfully, I already bought my potion bottle kit and other objects so I didn't have to go into the cramped stores. Actually, I also bought my school books, but I heard new ones for the dark arts were being sold so I wanted to get a hold of them naturally.

People ran by me and bumped into me a few times, but I controlled myself not to lace out. I couldn't help but smile at the excited kids staring at the magically gimzos in the stores. That was me just last year with my parents over my shoulder. Slapping myself in the face, I moved on into the present and pretty much busted down the bookstore door.

"Hey! Move out of the way!" A girl a bit shorter than me with the same length hair but black pushed past me.

Staring closely at her, she was manipulative, controlling and power hungry. I coughed a bit since she wasn't the type of person I liked at all, but moved on. Hurrying inside, I searched desperately for my new books. It was so packed I was more so pushed to the right area somehow. It was the last copy and I charged by way to it, however, another pair of hands grabbed onto it with me.

It was the girl from before, "Hey, I found this first."

"Sorry to say it, but I did."

"Look, I'll make better use of it than you. You're probably just an amateur at it thinking it would be fun to try out."

"I've been learning it for years, now if you would be so kind to let go."

She then began to laugh at me, "You say you study the dark arts, yet you use such kind words and have a rabbit as a pet."

"Don't you dare make me beat the crap out of you and cook you into food for someone to eat," I said as I narrowed my eyes. "And for you information, I am going to train my rabbit to bite people's heads off."

She then blinked her green orbs at me, and started to speak in a British accent, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail?"

"You know it, now let go of my book."

She sighed and let go of it, "Fine, I'll go flirt with that guy to get us. Pray that we don't meet again, I might have to challenge you."

"We'll see."

With that we glared at each other and made way in different directions. Looking down, Arianna was rattled from my little quarrel with that mysterious girl. Looking over my list once more, I smiled triumphantly to see that I was done shopping. Going to the closest chimney I could find, I pulled out my small pouch of transportation powder in order to get back home. After saying my destination, I found myself sprawled out on the my living room floor.

All I heard was people shouting as always which got Arianna frantic in her cage. Quickly picking up my scattered items, I dashed up the stairs to finish my last packing before I was to be sent off to Hogwarts. There was no greater joy then finally getting out of this house. It's not like I absolutely hated living with another wizard family for the brief time being, but they always fought amongst themselves which ached my ears.

The night went by fast as I dreamt easily with my perusal random dreams that were almost easy to believe were real. Grabbing my bags, I heard Lizzy yelling for me to hurry down so that I could catch my train.

"Got all you books and clothes?" Lizzy asked as she held onto her checklist which she marked on. Her brown hair, as always, fell in front of her face as she scribbled but she left it be.

"Yes, Lizzy, now can we go?"

"Where's your rabbit? You didn't even introduce me to her."

I couldn't help but smirk from her ability to sense and attach to animals easily. Pulling up the small cage, the grey fluffy rabbit sat there patiently staring at Lizzy, "Her name is Arianna. Now may we please go!"

"Yes, yes, get your little butt into the car and we'll drive you there quickly."

I smiled as I grabbed onto Arianna's cage along with my bag which held my ipod, couple books to read and study and finally my wand. Lizzy managed to carry the other two trunks by herself and wouldn't let me even graze a side of one otherwise she would have bit off my finger.

Lizzy then slammed the car door behind her and drove as if the road as falling behind us. I had to hold onto Arianna instead of the cage so she wouldn't bust her head on the bars as I used my other hand to ensure my head wouldn't bust open as well.

"Well, we're here! Now hurry up! You can't miss your train!"

I breathed heavily as I recollected my scattered thoughts of different ways of dying from her driving as I exited the car. She already had a trolley with my luggage on as she tapped her foot impatiently. My pace soon shot up after that and followed her quietly as we made our way to platform 8 and ¾. Many muggles stood in our way and Lizzy just mowed them down with the trolley as I said sorry to everybody as I jogged with her.

When we got to a dead end with the sign 8 and ½, Lizzy turned to me as she passed the trolley to me.

"You know what to do, right?"

"Yes, you're going to be following me right after anyway," I said rolled my eyes and aimed my trolley for the brick pillar.

Charging to it, I didn't hesitate a single step as my trolley got closer and more hazardously approaching it. Suddenly, I found myself through the brick pillar and onto a new platform which was marked 8 and ¾. I noticed many more wizard and witches wearing the same garb as me. They all said good bye to their parents and marched onto the train.

"Well, this is where we part ways," Lizzy said from behind me.

Her eyes were brimming up with tears which, for once, had no affect on me, "I'll be sending you letters, you know that."

"You better or I'm sending you a red letter to embarrass you in front of everybody!" She yelled as she crushed me in her hug.

"You're embarrassing me right now! I gotta get on the train, Lizzy."

She let got of me reluctantly, "You better find a seat with a window to wave good bye. And I truly enjoyed you staying with me and my family up until now."

I honestly wish I could say the same thing, but I was dying to get out so that I could learn more about magic and search for my parents on a whole new scale. Jogging to get onto the train, I didn't even bother to find a window to wave good bye, instead, I went to the last car on the train to avoid as many people as possible.

I set down Arianna's cage and let her jump around the small car room that could hold 4 people as I started to read my new dark arts book. Moments passed before I felt the train to start moving and loud calls of goodbyes of people waving to their parents. Sighing, I just rested my head against the wall and waited for this long trip to be over.

Over time, a couple people did enter my car but I didn't acknowledge their presence as I continued my book and petted Arianna. They didn't seem to care that I was ignoring them with my music as well.

You may be wondering how I'm able to bring my ipod to Hogwarts since we're unable to use them. However, ever since Hogwarts was rebuilt after the war with you-know-who, a few changes were made as well. Now to enter the school, you had to be 13 since they didn't want younger kids to get into harms way again. Also, technology can be used there, but honestly, you can only use your ipods but when those are shorted out in class so you don't ignore the teacher. I'm just so excited to see what the new buildings looked like and who are now teaching the classes.

"Candy trolley! Does any one want some candy?" I heard a loud woman with a thick British accent call.

"Over here!" I stood up and called.

"What would you like, sweety?"

"Chocoballs, a blood-flavored lollipop, licorice wands, and peppermint imps."

"My, what a sweet tooth you have."

I just smiled as if it was as sweet as the candy and paid the woman. When she trotted away, I grabbed a couple peppermint imps and stared evilly at my co-passengers. They stared at me startled, leapt up and went to another car. I couldn't help but laugh as flames danced off my tongue. I wouldn't normally do this, but I felt like having some fun. Arianna seemed to appreciate it as well since she had more room to jump around now too.

The train trip didn't take too long after that as I stared out the window day dreaming. When we arrived to Hogwarts, it was dark and filled with stars and lanterns to light a path. I still gulped down hard as I felt my fear care over me but pushed myself off the train and onto the boat.

Someone took Arianna away from me in her cage and said I needed to keep my hands free for the ceremony. The boat wasn't really cramped which made me happy, but I still didn't like being around people I didn't know. Once back onto land, we marched into the main large building that was built completely with gothic architecture which I have always adored which also included living gargoyles as protectors. Next when we were finally escorted into the large hall, 4 enormous tables took up most of the space but there was a large space in-between the second and third for the newbies to sit in. From right to left, I saw it was Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. There was no point to put the sorting hat on my head since I already new which house I was entering perfectly well.

But still, I was pushed down onto one of the seats and awaited my turn to be announced. There was a long winded speech first from the headmaster who was selected after Hogwarts was finish being rebuilt 10 years back. Now it is Headmaster Evereqin, she was probably much older than she appeared, but I didn't use my power to see cause I truthfully didn't give a damn. Her black pinned hair fell out in the front to frame her face which had few wrinkles anywhere. She was probably about the 5'5 but still wore a long robe which dragged on the ground as she walked.

After the speech, which I didn't listen to, they started to call up names what appeared to be random, but apparently they had an order. I stared lazily up as I heard Trinity Jeevas called up. It was the girl from the crystal ball shop, and she walked hesitantly up to the chair. When the hat was placed on, it took only a second before she was placed into Gryffindor. Walking to her table, she got greeted and patted on the back, but she just smiled weakly, she was really timid to be in Gryffindor, I thought.

The next name that stood out to me was Tech Phantom which I recognized to be the girl from the pet store. She was much more confident compared to Trinity and appeared to not give a crap to what people thought of her. She was the kind of person I liked to hang around most of the time when I'm in a friendly mood. When the hat was placed on her, once again, it took just a second before she was placed into Gryffindor. The other members greeted her just the same and she happily talked to them.

The name right after caught me a bit off guard since very few people was named Fae. Fae Kirkland walked up to the seat proudly and I couldn't help but sigh loudly recognizing her from the book store and our spat we had. The sorting hat barely grazed her head when it placed her into Slytherin, and it wasn't a total shocker to me because of her personality. This is going to be an eventful year.

"Bell Keehl!"

I stood up slowly and walked to the stage with my head down so people couldn't see my face. I caught a few skeptical teachers faces since they recognized my family name, but of course none of the students were familiar with it's background. Sitting on the stool, I felt the hat weigh heavy on my head as I awaited it's housing assortment.

"Ah, it's been awhile since a descendant from the Keehl family had been sorted." The hat spoke softly just so I could hear.

"Yea, yea, just place me in a house already."

"But you should know which house you're in."

"I do, but I can't get off this damn chair until you say it."

"You've got the attitude of your family, that is certain. SLYTHERIN!"

Once the teacher took the hat off, I walked lazily to the table my other house members. Trying my best, I tried to hold back the bitter face that I wanted to show but replaced it when a very weak, faint smile.

"So we're in the same house," Fae said as she laid her head into her hand.

"Apparently so," I sighed as I took a seat away from her.

"Hey, welcome to the best house in Hogwarts," A boy with short black hair said with an evil grin. He did have a nice face to look at but his green-grey eyes were just too sinister for me. "My name is Ren."

I narrowed my eyes as I saw he was a playboy, cheat and an egomaniac, not a surprise for him to be in this house, "Not interested."

This agitated him, "Now listen here, I'm your elder and you should listen to me."

"Actually, I'm the same age as you since I was held back a year for family reasons. Now would you please shut up? I am trying to day dream to pass the time."

He grabbed onto my collar instantly, "You looking for a fight, bitch?"

"Are you looking to lose?"