A/N- Thanks for continuing to read this! It really means a lot.

Disclaimer- I don't own anything… all that… Everything belongs to JK Rowling… Etc.

Also, I am using the Sorting Hat's song in this chapter. I don't own that either.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

As Natalya ran into the compartment, she thrust her pitch black owl, cage and all, into Phoebe's arms, causing her Turkish Van cat to go running, hissing all the way down the narrow hall. Groaning, Phoebe turned back to the compartment, only to find Natalya and this Darius Black figure locked in a tight embrace. Confused and blushing furiously, Phoebe turned her attention to the cat, Clover, who was currently cowering by the door.

Darius had finally bidden goodbye to his parents, albeit, half-heartedly, and had just gotten settled into an empty compartment when a girl with bright pink hair screeched his name and leapt into the compartment, landing right on top of him. When the girl finally let go, he studied her features with intent to figure out who she was. He was slowly, but carefully focusing on the details of her face, noting her icy grey eyes and bright pink hair, when the hair suddenly, and quickly, changed colors to a fiery red, appearing to match her personality. Recognition slowly showed itself on Darius' face as he grinned back at her and swiftly hugged the girl back. He looked the girl in the eyes and asked a question he already knew the answer to, "Are… are you a Tonks?"

Natalya looked back at her cousin and nodded, still grinning. "Yes, and to be specific, I'm Nymphadora's daughter, Natalya." Darius nodded, immediately knowing this to be one of his cousins, and knowing that her grandmother was Andromeda Tonks, one of the several ex-Blacks to be blasted off the Family Tree.

"You already know this, but I'm Darius Black. I also believe you deserve to know that I am not an insane pure-blood enthusiast. In fact, my favorite family member is my – our, I suppose – Uncle Sirius, the supposed blood-traitor."

Natalya visibly relaxed. "That's good. It probably wouldn't be very good if I barged in on you and you were one of those people who were like that."

"No, that wouldn't be very good, would it?" Darius mused. "I probably would have hexed you on the platform if I was, I mean, that red hair of yours really stands out." Darius grinned.

Natalya blushed, and hugged her cousin tightly, and though the motion surprised him, he quickly recovered and accepted the gesture. "Hey, I think your friend there could use some help," Darius said, pointing to the girl standing outside the compartment struggling with both the owl's cage and the cat that sat on the floor.

Natalya turned around at the mention of Phoebe, Oh, how rude it had been for her to just drop her owl in her arms and run in here! Phoebe felt bad for a moment before opening the door and beckoning her friend to come into the compartment. "Phoebe, this is my cousin, Darius Black. Darius, this is my friend Phoebe Prince."

Darius' eyes bugged out when he heard she was a Prince. "Prince? As in the pureblood family as ancient as the Blacks?"

Phoebe shook her head, no. "I'm a Muggle-born, so I doubt it, unless I'm from some part of the Prince family that lost their magic but saved their name, but doesn't that seem a bit unlikely?"

"Unlikely, but completely possible! It's happened quite a few times before! I mean look –"

Darius was quickly cut off by Natalya speaking. "I think that we should drop this before we completely overwhelm poor Phoebe. Really, not all that long ago she gets a letter saying that she's a witch, and here she is now, living in this world she's never heard of. I would think it's a little much to take in."

Darius pondered this and slowly nodded his head in defeat.

Several hours later, the Hogwarts Express came to a halt in Hogsmeade Station. Soon after everyone unloaded the train, Phoebe, Darius, and Natalya heard a loud voice booming over all the noise in Hogsmeade. "First years this way! First years come with me!" Natalya and Darius looked at each other, shared a grin, and each grabbed one of Phoebe's arms and dragged her to the front of the group.

"What are you guys doing? I really don't appreciate being pulled like this! What is going…" Phoebe trailed off as she gasped; looking out across the large, black lake. "Oh my…" Phoebe was speechless; the lake looked to be so beautiful, especially in the dark.

Natalya and Darius grinned back at the girl who was standing in front of them, clearing staring out at the lake in awe. "First years! It's time to get yerselfs in the boats! Now, three to a boat, don' wan' anyone to be fallin' into the lake, now, do we?"

The first years all gathered in the Great Hall, awaiting the Sorting Ceremony. The threesome stood in the middle of the crowd, chattering away about what houses they hoped to be in. After explaining the houses, Phoebe was certain she would be placed in Gryffindor, while Darius and Natalya each thought Ravenclaw would suit them both well. "You guys don't think you'll be in Gryffindor? I think you both will be sorted into Gryffindor, look at you, Natalya, you practically crushed Darius on a whim, hoping that he would accept you. You know that if you were to do that to your more direct cousin over there," Phoebe pointed towards a particular blonde-haired boy standing nearby, whom they had talked about a little in the compartment. "that more than likely, his 'Father would be hearing about this!'" Phoebe exclaimed, in a very impressive impression of the words they heard one Draco Malfoy utter not 30 minutes ago.

Phoebe shrugged her shoulders as Professor McGonagall stood up and called for silence. "Now has come the time for this year's First Years to be sorted into their respective Houses. I will call you each up one at a time, and you will sit on this stool when I place the Sorting Hat on your head." The First Years were looking at their Professor expectantly, when they heard a sound come from the hat sitting on the stool, causing them all to jump.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The first years stood facing the hat, eyes open wide, and Professor McGonagall took this time to call the first name: "Abbot, Hannah!" The Sorting Hat was placed on the girl's head, and pondered a moment before calling out: "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Black, Darius!" Darius slowly walked up to the front of the Great Hall, and sat on the stool once his Professor placed the hat on his head.

"Hmm… You're an interesting one. A Black, yes, but you admire your uncle for his bravery for standing up to your family. You have many Ravenclaw attributes, ah, I see that you think you may do well there. Yes, you may have wit, but you have ambition. You have cunning. You're very determined. Yes… that is what I will do," Before Darius could get a thought in, the Sorting Hat that sat on his head called "SLYTHERIN!"

Cheers and clapping was heard from the Slytherin side of the Great Hall; they had another Black! Meanwhile, Darius slowly walked up to the Slytherin table, all the while attempting to discern what just happened. Darius was lost in thought until Slytherin gained another, and the Slytherin table again erupted in cheers. They had just earned Draco Malfoy, and Draco had just sat down right next to him. Darius attempted to ignore him and turned his attention back to the ceremony, a boy name Harry Potter had just been called up, and that got his attention. Darius watched intently as he saw the boy internally fighting the Sorting Hat until the Hat called out "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor side of the hall erupted in ear-blasting noise.

Phoebe stood next to her friend as she watched her cousin slowly make his way to the Slytherin table. Phoebe could tell that Natalya was shocked at not only how long the hat had taken to sort her cousin, but at the fact that he was sorted into none other than Slytherin House. Phoebe reminisced in her thoughts until her attention was pulled away as her name was called for her to go be sorted. Phoebe confidently walked up to the stool and sat down, Sorting Hat on her head.

"Ahh, this year does seem to be a difficult one, doesn't it? What do I have here…? You are very loyal, very chivalrous. You will stand by your friends no matter what. I know, you must be… GRYFFINDOR!"

Phoebe looked down at her friend, and gave a confident smile before walking down to her new family.

"Tonks, Natalya!" Natalya jumped as her name was called; she didn't know if she was ready to be sorted, she was so nervous. She felt herself walking up to the head of the Hall, sitting on the stool, and having the Hat placed on her head.

"Ooh! It appears that I have another Black to sort! Yes, you're a Tonks, but a Black, no less! Hmm, let's have a look here. I see you have a very loyal personality; you want no more than to help your cousin! Yes, yes, but you are very much a Black! You've got ambition! You will stop at nothing to reach your goals! You are very determined, and you are very intelligent, you know exactly how to get things done! You'll fit in well in SLYTHERIN!"

Natalya was shocked, too shocked to realize the confused looks on both of her new friends faces, too shocked to hear the clapping, and most of all, too shocked to notice her breathing was shallowing, and too shocked to notice her breathe was quickening. She only truly grasped what was going on around her when she saw the concerned looks on the Professors' faces. Only when she fell off of the stool and passed out.

A/N – Thank you to everyone who has read this! It means so much to me when I see that people have read my stories. I hope you enjoyed this! I will try to update every 5-7 days, but I'll let you all know when I'm having trouble coming up with material.