"I don't think I'm ready for this," Draco said as his face drained of all colour. The four stepped off the train and headed towards a huge man that was calling 'firs' years this way!'

Bridget took his hand and squeezed it encouragingly, "Yes you can Draco. We're all in this together."

"Exactly," Daphne agreed, "We'll stick together. Even if we do get sorted into different houses."

"Yeah," Neville agreed, "I hope we get into the same house though." He spoke the words that everyone had been thinking. They were all aware of the fierce house rivalry and knew that if they were in different houses, it probably would be harder for them to stay friends. These thoughts loomed in their minds as they stepped into a boat and were carried across the lake to their new home and school, Hogwarts.

The four new friends shuffled nervously into the Great Hall. Hogwarts was unlike any place any of them had ever encountered. Already they had encountered boats that steered completely on their own and a rather annoying poltergeist who showered them with pumpkin juice and treacle tart. Neville was sporting a blob of custard that strangely resembled Northern Ireland on his left shoulder. Some annoying blonde girl had been shrieking about pumpkin juice in her hair until Daphne whipped out her wand and cast a quick scourgify on it. The other three gazed at her with astonished looks.

"How in the name of Merlin do you already know how to Scourgify? That's fourth year magic at least!" Draco exclaimed. Daphne looked between the faces of her friends and shrugged.
"Potions accidents. It pays to have an uncle who's the youngest potions master of the century. I learned all kinds of cool things from him. Did you know that frog guts when mixed with Armadillo Bile pro-"
"Ugh! That's so gross Daphne. Please, for the love of my appetite stop right there," replied Neville, whose nose was wrinkled in a disgusted fashion.
Daphne smiled and agreed to wait until a time when they wouldn't be eating relatively soon. She wasn't about to admit that she wasn't hungry because of her overwhelming nerves. If her Uncle Sevvie had taught her anything, it was not to give away too much personal information right away… and not to call him Sevvie.

After Abbot, Hannah was sorted into Hufflepuff the line of first years waiting to be sorted dwindled rapidly. Bridget's sister Granger, Hermione was sorted into Ravenclaw and Bridget said a quick prayer that she would be anything but Ravenclaw. Professor McGonagall called out Greengrass, Daphne and the petite redhead made her way to the stool with the strange talking hat on it. It only took a few moments from the time she placed it on her head for the hat to call out "ah. Well then, SLYTHERIN!" A shocked looking Daphne placed the hat on the chair and made her way to the Slytherin table. Bridget made a mental note to ask her what it had said.

Directly following Daphne was a platinum haired boy named Halliwell, Orion was sorted into Hufflepuff after what looked like a very vehement argument with the sorting hat. Draco thought he looked strangely familiar, but anyone who looked relieved to be in Hufflepuff couldn't be a familiar of his. He was fine with the other houses, but Hufflepuff was just pathetic. After Orion had taken his seat Neville's name was called. Bridget gave him an encouraging pat on the back before he made his ascent up the dais to the sorting hat. He was visibly sweating and Bridget felt a pang of sympathy for him. It took the hat a while longer for Neville than it did for Daphne. Finally the hat opened it's mouth-like seam and shouted "GRYFFINDOR."

Bridget smiled and clapped for her new friends, but her heart sank a little bit. She made a mental note to tell Daphne that they should go exploring for a neutral place that they could all meet.

"Lupin, Bridget," She gulped when she heard the foreboding professor call her name and timidly walked up to the stool.

"Ah yes!" the sorting hat said when it was put on her head, "Miss Lupin. I remember your parents well, but now it's time to turn the page in your family's history. Where to put you? Destiny awaits you oh yes. And it will be difficult. But that's a story for another time. Hmm...you'd do well in Slytherin. Very cunning. Ravenclaw would suit you as it would have suited your father. Oh yes, you're very brave as well."

"Put me with Neville," Bridget whispered, hoping that the hat would take the hint that she wanted to be with Neville.

"Loyalty as well. Ah well, as you wish." The hat then proceeded to shout out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Bridget smiled as she practically threw off the hat and ran over to sit with her friend.

"I guess our predictions were right," Neville said with a smile.

"I guess so. I wonder where Draco will be put." A few other students were sorted. Ernie McMillan was placed in Hufflepuff. Others were sorted before the teacher finally shouted "Malfoy, Draco!" Draco took a look a Bridget and she smiled back at him encouragingly. He took a deep breath then headed up to the stool where Bridget and Neville had previously occupied.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat cried out almost immediately and Draco took his seat among the Ravenclaws. He glanced over at his other Gryffindor friends then at Daphne who was sitting over at the Slytherin table. Draco knew that his mother would be proud. She had said to him on a number of occasions that she hoped that he got into Ravenclaw like herself. He was glad that he hadn't disappointed her.

The line of first years slowly dwindled down. A shy girl with dark hair by the name of Pansy Parkinson was sorted into Gryffindor. In Bridget's eyes, she looked a little lonely and out of place.

Bridget looked at Neville as if to get the okay and said, "Do you wanna sit with Neville and me?"

The girl nodded gratefully and sat down with the two. "Thank you." Her voice was soft and quiet. The blonde studied the girl next to her. She was small and petite with lonely dark eyes. Her skin was paler than Bridget. If Bridget had to guess, she would say that the girl was probably abused and malnourished.

The sorting continued and the attention was turned back to the ceremony when Professor McGonagall shouted, "Potter, Harry." A hush fell over the students as a small boy with jet black hair and glasses headed towards the professor and the hat and took a seat.

Professor McGonagall looked at him suspiciously, then placed the hat on his head. The hat barely touched his head before shouting "SLYTHERIN!"

"We got Potter!" Bridget could hear the Slytherins cheering from the table near her. She studied the boy. Neville was right, there was some dis trustworthy presence about him. She shuddered.

"Are you okay Bridget?" Neville said from beside her, "You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," Bridget assured him as she pulled her cloak closer to her and tried to shake the feeling.

The rest of the students had been sorted and were now with their rightful houses. Bridget looked at the tall old wizard that now stood up from the table. He was wearing dark robes with blood red trimming. Oh his nose (which looked like it had been broken on a few occasions and never healed properly) was half moon spectacles. The feeling emitted from him. It was the same one she got from Harry Potter.

"Welcome first years to the beginning of your magical education. I wish all of you well and sincerely hope that all of you will be successful in your," Professor Dumbledore paused for a moment before saying, "training."

Bridget made eye contact with Daphne. It was almost as though she was thinking the same thing that she was. Training? It wasn't the oddest word that he could have chose, but even still. Something about that word seemed to have more meaning behind it.

"Now, tuck in." Dumbledore beckoned and Bridget forgot the feeling and realised how hungry she was.

"So, where are you from?" Bridget asked Pansy as she took a bite of her biscuit.

"Right outside of London," Pansy responded. Bridget and Neville both watched the girl eat. It was as if she hadn't eaten in weeks.

"That's cool," Neville said, "My parents and I live in Lancashire. My Gran lives with us. It's been hard for her since my granddad died.

"I live in London. My house is kinda small, but my dad let me have the biggest bedroom." Bridget added with a grin.

Pansy looked down and didn't say anything. Both Neville and Bridget could tell that Bridget hit a sore note with her previous comment.

"Sorry," she apologized.

The dark haired girl shook her head, "It's nothing. I just don't really like where I live. You're lucky that your parents actually care."

"My mom's dead." Bridget told her, "It's just me and my dad."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"What are we talking about," Daphne squeezed herself between Pansy and Bridget. The Great Hall fell into a shocked and amazed silence. Bridget looked at the headmaster. He looked angry.

"We're talking about how awesome this place is!" the blonde looked at her new friend. Draco looked shocked. No one had ever actually broken the rules and gone to sit at another house table as far as he knew. His mother did a lot of the assistant directing for the Hogwarts Theatrical Society. He shrugged and joined them as well. Bridget scooted over and looked at Dumbledore. A shiver ran down her spine as their eyes met. Her father's warning flashed through her mind as she shook the feeling of uneasiness off.