The wind swirled around the turrets, sending an eerie song throughout the castle. At last, it was time. It was time to welcome the students back from another summer holiday and brush away the cobwebs from their brains. Minerva McGonagall stood at her usual post at the top of the stairs, anxiously tugging at her brooch. A door slammed somewhere below and the resonance of the boom echoed to the buttresses of the ceiling. Minerva heard footsteps approaching, and she swiveled her head to see who had disrupted her last moments of precious silence. As Albus Dumbledore's eggplant robes came into view, she subconsciously smiled before dismissing the fluttery feeling in the pit of her stomach. As Albus reached into his pocket, Minerva called out,

"Now Albus, no more sweets. You'll spoil your dinner and I'll have to listen to your complaints all throughout our chess match,"

Albus jerked his head up in surprise and withdrew his hand from within his pocket saying,

"My dear, always one to see right through me" He began to climb the stairs. "May I compliment you on your lovely evening robes. The color is absolute perfection,"

Minerva smiled, "And yours, might I say, are atrocious. Eggplant and auburn definitely do not mix,"

Albus reached the top and said, eyes twinkling madly, "But, Minerva, my dear, I am a doddering old fool who has to dress the part whilst you are an enchantingly beautiful young witch who dresses the part subconsciously," At the end of this declaration, Albus bestowed a kiss upon Minerva's hand—a courtly gesture of honor and respect. Still, as Minerva shooed him away to the Great Hall, she couldn't help but smile at the thrilling feeling that was flooding through her veins. She couldn't help but wonder about Albus's possible feelings when all at once, another door slammed open and the chamber filled with a myriad of voices. Minerva shifted a bit and put her hands inside her sleeves. She began to analyze the several first years clambering up the stairs to her as directed by a prefect—Durnberry from Hufflepuff. Most were in groups of threes or fours—obviously newfound friends from the train and the boat ride. Only one girl was by herself. Minerva's interest was piqued. This girl was nothing beautiful but nothing plain. She had big brown eyes and an oval, pale face. Minerva's eyes widened when the girl withdrew her hood—her hair was short and spiky, the style of a much older girl, woman even. Minerva realized that this girl was very independent and probably very confident—that's why she would take such risks with hair and be okay with walking by herself. Minerva's musings were cut short when the first years finally reached the top. As she surveyed them, the talking and chatter gradually grew quieter, but it was still existent.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you please. I wish for you to listen to what I have to say," Minerva's soft brogue echoed and immediately quieted the hissing noise. As Minerva went through her disciplinarian speech, she surveyed each and every one of the prospective students. Most conveyed a blank and wide-eyed fear. Minerva couldn't analyze those just yet, but she knew that if they were scared now, they would not be in any way superb students or the troublemakers. Speaking of, Minerva flinched notably at the sight of a redheaded boy, lounging care-freely against the banister, a smirk on his face. Damn Weasley family Minerva thought silently while trying not to smile. Her eyes landed on several well-dressed and sneering boys…ah, Malfoy and Black families I'll bet Minerva hypothesized. Her eyes fell on the shorthaired girl. Posture ramrod straight, eyes forward showing neither fear nor any boredness, the young girl was standing at attention. Minerva, still speaking, decided to test this little girl. She kept staring at her, seeing if the girl would break eye contact to look at her shoes or the wall hangings or something. She didn't.

At last, Minerva led the students through the huge double doors and gave them their first glances at the Great Hall. The second through seventh years were already seated and they applauded the first years as the later made the long hike up to the staff table. As Minerva walked forward, Albus, standing and clapping, gave her a brilliant smile. Minerva felt herself blush but returned the smile nonetheless. When she reached the front of the hall, she picked up the familiar hat off the familiar stool and withdrew a roll of parchment from within her robes. She told the first years the general idea of things and the sorting began.

As the list became shorter and shorter, most of Minerva's predictions were proven correct—the redhead was Billius Weasley. She knew his father Septimus. Those dressed in fine clothes were indeed Blacks and Malfoy—Alphard and Abraxas respectively. Minerva gave a small sigh as Richard McAvery rose from the stool and went walking off to the Ravenclaw table. Minerva looked at the next name on the list.

"Robin McDermott!" Minerva looked up from the list to see none other than the girl with the spiky hair striding confidently towards the front of the hall. As she passed Minerva and sat down, her straight posture did not change, nor did she flinch when the hat began to speak to her. Minerva, not usually one to listen in on the students' sorting process, edged a little closer to the stool so as to hear the conversation between this strange girl and the old hat.

"Hmmm, Robin McDermott. What a pretty name," the Sorting Hat said.

"My mother chose it," Robin answered. For Minerva, hearing the all too familiar Scottish lilt nearly clasped her heart in shock.

"Your mother and father—they are Muggles then. Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes. Eliza. She's at Oxford, studying dentistry,"

"Hmm. Bright family then. I think you'd be best in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor,"

Minerva's heart gave a funny little jolt at the mention of her house. Now she was secretly rooting for the latter choice.

"Either would suffice for me. I think both would provide me with an amazing experience,"

"Excellent! Now I'm going to ask you a question. Your answer will determine in what house I shall place you. And you must choose one of the choices I give you no matter how much you think you'd choose both. Understand?"

"Yes,"

"If you saw someone tormenting another unfairly and the condition was perilous, would you either risk your life to save that person or run as quickly as possible to find help?"

Another look of incredulity passed over Minerva's face. This girl was being asked things that were way above the average maturity level of an eleven year old and yet, she was answering as someone who had seen them before, had an opportunity to rehearse the answers.

"I've made my decision. I would risk my life,"

"Robin, congratulations…. I choose GRYFFINDOR!"

The Hall, which had been alive with whispers, now gave a great cheer and Minerva pulled the hat up from Robin's head. As Robin got off the stool, Minerva said,

"Miss McDermott?" Robin spun around quickly,

"Professor?"

"Won't you stop by my office this evening, after the feast. I'm your Head of House and it's in Gryffindor Tower,"

"Of course, Professor."

A/N: Okay…do you all like so far? I know the chapters are short, but I think the overall approach to the story in this form makes it better. Please review if you liked it. Please review if you think I could do better. Please review if you hated it so much that I should never ever write anything again. Thanks.