The doors swung open, to reveal another huge hall. Four long tables, set with gold silverware and plates, where in the hall. The group of children split off into different groups, each heading to a table. Stela stood and stared.

The door banged open again, and the huge hairy man strode in, with a pink umbrella in his hands, which were the size of garbage can lids. There was a sea of pale and terrified first years trailing behind him. They stood in a terrified huddle around him. They had their gaze fixated on something ahead of them. Stela followed their gaze.

They were staring at a hat, that was sitting on a stool in the middle of the hall. It was the oldest, dirtiest, worn-est thing that Stela had ever seen. The stool was none too clean either. Next to it, stood a lady. She looked stern, and fierce. Her lips were kept in a thin line.

Stela looked around for her friends, but she realized that she was standing in the hall by herself. They had taken their seats at a table decorated with red banners. James and Sirius were talking to someone next to them. Remus turned around and smiled at her. She didn't return the smile. She just stood.

The hat gave a little tremble, and a cough. Stela and the first years stared. Then, a rip near the brim opened like a mouth, and the hat began to sing in a wheezy voice.

Young students, one and all

get prepared to learn!

For the knowledge you'll find in these great halls

Is enough to make you turn!

No matter with who you're sorted,

No matter with who you're at!

You'll learn something in these great halls

Or else I'll eat my hat!

This year you'll learn

like never before,

things this and that!

Like that you are a fathead

it's true!

'Cause your brains made of fat!

No matter with who you're sorted,

No matter with who you're at!

You'll learn something in these great halls…

And that is that!

The hall burst into applause. The lady pulled a piece of parchment out of her robes, unfurled it, and cleared her throat.

"Hem, hem. Abernathy, Jonathan!"

A young, pink, freckled boy tripped over to the hat. He sat on the stool, and the lady put the hat on his head.

"Hufflepuff!" cried the hat. The boy went over to a table decorated with yellow. They welcomed him.

"Mohenbrock, Melissa!" A rat faced girl with blond hair walked up to the hat. No sooner than it touched her head the hat screamed:

"Slytherin!"

"Chase, Gerald!"

"Gryffindor!" squealed the hat.

"Tonks, Nymphadora!"

"Gryffindor!" shrieked the hat

And so on. The numbers dwindled down. The children were sorted right and left. The group gradually shrunk, leaving Stela alone in the hall. She was confused. Wasn't she going to be sorted? The prim looking lady had picked up the hat and the stool. She was carrying them away. Stela stood there. A kind-looking old man with a long silver beard and shockingly blue eyes was looking at her.

"My dear girl, whatever are you doing, standing in the middle of the hall?" he called to Stela. She looked at him.

"Please sir," said Stela despairingly. She felt every pair of eyes in the hall on her. "I'm a Ilvermorny transfer. I haven't been sorted. I have no House."

"Ah," he said, putting his fingertips together. "Minerva, could you please wait a bit. Miss ah, what is your name, dear girl?"

"Stela Ashlange. "said Stela.

"Well then, Miss Ashlange needs to be sorted. If you could please give Miss Ashlange the hat, this should be over soon." The lady walked over to Stela. Stela was almost sure she heard the hat mumble grumpily about a nap. The lady put the hat on her head.

"Hmm," said a small voice in her ear, "Where to put you? You're hard-working, but you have something else. Not a bad mind, either. Very eager to learn. But you're brave, too. Very brave. You had better go in… GRYFFINDOR!

Stela pulled the hat off her head, and ran over to the Gryffindor table. They applauded her, and they were all smiling and congratulating her. Remus moved over to make room for Stela between him and Sirius. She sat down on the bench, smiling and happy.

Once the hubbub had died down, the man with the silver beard stood up.

"Welcome back, to another year at Hogwarts!" Cheers broke out in the table, and Sirius gave a wild little whoop. "I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I have been asked by our caretaker, Mr. Filch, to inform our first year students, and maybe remind some of our older ones, that venturing into the Forbidden Forest is not allowed. I have also been asked to tell you that, if you have any plans to set off any Dungbombs today, I suggest rescheduling it for at least next week, as Mr. Filch has done some hard work on this castle in the last few weeks. He also recommends not setting that Dungbomb off at all.

"I have been blabbing for too long already. But I do have a few words to say to you. Succotash, hullabaloo, and squiggly. Let the Feast begin!" He sat down and tucked his napkin in his collar, knife and fork in hand.

Instantly the table in front of Stela were filled with platters of food. Everyone piled their plates, and dug in.

"So, that's the Headmaster, the man in the silver beard." Said Stela, sipping an odd drink that she suspected of being pumpkin juice.

"Not just the Headmaster, that's Dumbledore!" said James.

"Is that supposed to mean something, other than 'Headmaster of Hogwarts'?" asked Stela.

"It darn sure does!" said Sirius, looking affronted. But he was playing, and he went back to his plate.

"But I still don't know " began Stela, but she as cut off by Sirius.

"But not even in American? You you don't she doesn't know who Dumbledore is?!"

"Hey, take it easy on her," said Remus. He patted her shoulder. "Remember, American, mate."

"It's just, I kinda expected the Americans to know 'bout him." said Sirius, scratching his head.

"Well, they don't." said Remus looking expectantly at Sirius. "So, Sirius. Explain."

"Dumbledore is the greatest wizard to ever live! He's bloody brilliant! Supreme Mugwump! Order of Merlin, First Class! He's in the Wizengamot! And on the Chocolate Frog cards! And the greatest Headmaster that Headmaster that Hogwarts has ever had in HISTORY!" Sirius was almost yelling now. Many people in the surrounding tables turned around to stare at him. Some of them raised their glasses and said "Hear, here!" Remus groaned and put his hand to his forehead.

"Should of done it myself." he muttered.

"Who was you Headmaster?" asked Sirius, ignoring Remus's comment.

"Hortense H'Owle." said Stela proud of learning under her. She may now live in England, but she kept he American pride.

"New'er her' 'o 'her." said James through a mouthful of potatoes. "Is she good?"

"The best." replied Stela, "She's brilliant. But pretty strict."

"Hey, speaking of strict, you'll need to watch out for Filch. He'll put you in detention just for being suspicious. He hates us." said Sirius.

"Does he have a reason to hate you?" asked Stela.

"Well, yeah," admitted James.

"Well then," said Stela.

"But he does that to everyone. Just us more than most." He retorted. "You also want to stay away from the Slytherins in general, especially Atticus Faunz, the guy who punched Sirius. And Lucius Malfoy."

"Why? Is he a brutish idiot too?" asked Stela.

"No," said Remus, "He's not stupid at all. Mouth's too smart for his own good, the cruel, stuck-up, power-hungry, cowardly, Muggle-born hating git. I hope he catches Dragonpox."

"Also watch out for Bertha Jorkins. Don't say anything you don't want the whole school knwing. She is the world's biggest snoop, tattle, and secret-spiller." said Sirius. He pointed at the Hufflepuff table. "That's her over there." She was plump, with usually average features. Her cheeks were very pink, her hair a very boring shade of brown, and her eyes small and piggy. She had a unsightly spray of freckles on her face. She was listening to a girl who was talking in hushed voice to her friend.

The four boys told her about all the things that she should avoid at Hogwarts, and all the things that she had to do, because she hadn't lived until she tried them. They taught her about life at Hogwarts. Stela was a bit overwhelmed, but she would have a head start.

By the time the boys couldn't eat another bite, dinner had disappeared, and in it's stead, came every kind of dessert imaginable. They all got some ice creams, but they barely touched them.

"Is there always so much food?" asked Stela, who had wiser than the boys, and had abstained from eating so much, so she could enjoy her ice cream.

"Yes," groaned James, "But normally no one eats this much. We're just all celebrating coming back to Hogwarts."

Soon, dessert dissipated, leaving the plates shining gold. Dumbledore stood up again. "Well, I hope we all enjoyed our feast and ate far more than we should of. I, myself certainty did. But now, since I am feeling particularly buoyant, we will now sing the Hogwarts anthem." He raised his wand, and a golden streamer flew out. It twisted itself into the cursive letters HOGWARTS ANTHEM.

"Just choose your favorite tune, and we will begin. Now, three. Two. One."

And the hall burst out in a great cacophony:

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with some filling,

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare, and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot!

It was loud, horrendous, and incredibly. It wasn't nearly as long as the Ilvermorny one, in which everyone sang at the same time, to the same tune, in perfect order. Stela herself had sung to the Ilvermorny tune, which was wistful and slightly mournful, but intensely beautiful all the same. James and Sirius sung to the same, wild, dancing tune. Peter had chosen a tune that wasn't well suited to his high voice. Remus sang to a tune Stela couldn't place, if she was happy or sad.

Once the song had ended, they stood, happy. Dumbledore spoke again.

"Well, that was wonderful if you don't know what a tune is. First years, please follow your House Prefects. Have a good night!"

There was a loud noise of students clamoring to get up, and the scraping of benches as they were pushed backwards. A tall red-haired boy stood up. "Okay, first years, follow me. Make way, I'm a prefect!"

"Whos that?" asked Stlea as she walked with Sirius and his friends. The redhead had all the Gryffindor first years gathered around him. He was being accompanied by a girl with the same flaming shade of hair.

"That's Arthur Weasly. He's a prefect. And that girl is Molly can't remember her last name." said Peter.

They followed the prefects out of the hall and into a large staircase.

"This way, follow me." said Arthur. He walked up the stair case, the students following. They walked up staircases and into dead ends, and behind tapestries.

"You need to watch the staircases." Warned Remus, "They change. Oh, and jump!" He grabbed Stela's arm and forced her to jump a step. Gerald Chase, a first year, was not so lucky. He sunk knee high in to the step. He screamed. Remus grabbed Gerald's arm and pulled him out.

"Thanks!" squeaked Gerald breathlessly.

"No problem." said Remus. Gerald ran off to his brother Arangus, a third year. Arangus smiled a Remus and waved. Remus waved back.

They walked up another staircase until they ran into a portrait of a fat lady, dressed in pink. She smiled and said "Password?"

Arthur walked up to her. "Aeturna Gloria." The fat lady grinned broadly and the frame swung open to reveal hole in the wall.

"Follow me," said Arthur, and he climbed through the portrait hole. Everyone followed. As Stela went through, she saw a cozy round room, plastered with the Gryffindor emblem, and full of sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables. People were walking through it, some plopping down in armchairs, some walking up some staircases. Stela looked around.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"The Gryffindor Common Room," said Sirius, spreading his arms and gesturing around. "if you're not in the dorms, or in class, or on the grounds, or just wandering around, or in the library, you'll be in here. Those show the House Points." He pointed at four hourglasses inset on in the wall.

"House Points?"

"When a student is good, does well in class, or stuff, they can win their House points. At the end of the year, the points are counted, and the House with the most points wins the house cup." said Remus.

"Who got the Cup last year?" asked Stela.

"Gryffindor." said Sirius proudly. "We've won the Cup every year senice we got to Hogwarts."

"Um, okay." said Stela. "Um, where do I sleep?"

Peter pointed at one of the staircases. "That's the girl dorm."

"Okay." Stela began to walk towards it. Then she turned. "Thank you. For everything. See you guys tomorrow, I guess."

"Your welcome, Stela." said James. Stela waved, then continued to walk to the stairs. She climbed up. It twisted, and led to a large room. Stela walked in nervously. It was red and gold, and had several four-poster beds with red velvet curtains. She spotted her trunk, and she walked over to it. It was at the foot of one of the beds, so Stela presumed that it was to be her bed. On the bed next to hers was a girl. She was pretty, with shockingly green almond-shaped eyes, and long thick dark red hair. She smiled at Stela.

"Hi," she said, raising a hand.

"Hi," said Stela, returning the gesture.

"You're the new one, right? The American?" she asked.

"Yeah. My name is Stela. Ashlange."

"I'm Lily. Evans." she tilted her head a bit. "You know, you're the first American I've ever met. I mean American witch."

"You don't get a lot of those here, do you?" Asked Stela. "In Hogwarts."

"Nope," said Lily brightly. "You're probably going to in the next edition of Hogwarts: A History. So, what do you think of our school?"

"Oh, it's grand. And pretty. Ilvermorny had lots of pretty things, the school itself wasn't pretty. And they had tiny grounds, I'm talking about a couple of acres. We didn't play Quidditch. And they would never allow this much magic."

"What?" said Lily disbelievingly. "No Quidditch? No magic?"

"Well, not large spells. In America, they're really afraid of being caught by No-majs I mean Muggles." Explained Stela.

"Wow," said Lily, "I'm not going there in the near future."

"Oh, but it has it's upsides too." said Stela. "It has awesome deserts, and mountains, and forests. And in California, where I was born, we have trees that are older than Hogwarts, and are hundreds of feet high. I might go back to climb one." added Stela as an afterthought.

"Wow," said Lily, looking upwards, as if imaging trees as tall as that. "So, of what you know, do you think you'll like Hogwarts better?"

Stela thought about it for a bit. "I think it'll just be different. Oh, and do they make you do music class here?"

"It's not mandatory. Why?"

"Well, at Ilvermorny, they force you to do music. And as a result. I play tons of different instrumets. And I was hoping that I could maybe, I don't know, use this as an excuse to skip it." Stela smiled apologetically.

"Oh. Good plan." said Lily. "What instruments do you play?"

"Violin, viola, cello, piano, and some others." said Stela. "Violin is my favorite."

"Really?" Lily slid off the bed and dropped to the floor. She reached under the bed, searching. When Lily found what she was looking for, she stood. In her hand was case. She blew the dust off it, the laid it on the bed. When she opened it, inside was a violin. "A Muggle aunt gave it to me. I never learned how to play it. Have a go." Lily offered the violin to Stela. Stela took it and picked up the bow. She placed it under her chin, and began to play the Ilvermorny anthem.

The sound of violin filled the girls dormitory, and several of the girls in the common room came up to see what was going on. They stood and listened as the music filled the room. When Stela had finished, she put the violin back in it's case. The girls clapped, and Stela smiled shyly.

"I think, I'm going to bed. I want to be up early." said Stela.

"Okay," said Lily. "Goodnight!"

Stela changed into her pajamas, the climbed into bed. She lay there on the red bedspread for a bit, looking ip at the velvety ceiling of her curtains. After a few minutes, she pulled the red velvet curtains closed. She lay down, thinking about tomorrow. She sighed, the fell of to sleep, dreaming of what awaited her the next morning.