REVISED: 19/10/2013
FIRST YEAR
Harry watched with slight interest as the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses, he was listening to Ron complain about how unfair it was that Percy got new robes and he didn't. Harry nodded sympathetically, understanding what it was like to live in hand me downs. At least Ron's hand me downs actually fitted him, Harry's had always been miles too big.
All the first years had settled down and Dumbledore stood up, about to speak when the doors to the great hall were flung open and a man with lank black hair and sallow skin strided down the walkway between the tables, his cloak billowing behind him, making him look bat like. Trailing behind him was a girl, obviously a first year as she wasn't sporting any house colours. Harry stared. He didn't know why, something about her just caught his attention. Her skin was pale which was a stark comparison to the crimson of her lips. Her hair was the colour of midnight and it fell down her back in perfect curls. She looked up and her emerald green eyes looked straight at him. He felt something lurking in his brain, an old faded memory, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
The bat like man had reached Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience Head Master, there were- problems with Miss Tanis' arrival."
"No problem at all Severus." The wise old man said, smiling at the girl. "She can be sorted now."
McGonagall looked slightly irritated at having to get up again but did so none the less. She indicated to the girl to sit upon the stool and she did so delicately. As she looked out across the hall with a certain air of confidence , Harry was sure, although it could've been in his mind, that the whole hall quietened to look at this tragically beautiful girl who had appeared all on her own, with only a scary looking professor as company. She jumped as the hat began talking and Harry chuckled under his breath. The hat took his time, obviously pondering on where to put her. Harry related instantly to her, remembering how not so long a go he had sat in that stool whilst the hat deliberated over which house to put him in. After a pause the hat spoke.
"Slytherin!"
Harry felt a pang in his heart as he watched her walk over to the Slytherin table, who were clapping and she sat herself next to none other than Draco Malfoy. He didn't understand why he felt like this over a girl he had only seen in passing but in his opinion she didn't belong with the Slytherins and certainly not with Draco. Harry turned to Ron
"Not everyone in Slytherin is bad, are they?" he asked.
"Well, i guess not but i wouldn't be surprised if half of their parents were big supporters of you- know- who. He was in that house y'know."
Harry nodded solemnly and took one more fleeting glance at the girl before turning back to his own table.
"Best stay away from her Harry." Hermione piped up.
"Who?"
"The girl who has just been sorted. She's with Draco, she's a Slytherin. It would be better to just leave her alone."
Harry nodded again and the feast continued merrily. Harry didn't know when, but by the end of the evening he decided to go against Ron and Hermione's advice. He was going to talk to the girl tomorrow.
