Chapter 2

The Wrong Sort

Having to think about meeting up with the blonde haired boy, and his words of warning, Zeta did not talk much for the rest of the trip. The trio (which she now knew them by) talked excitedly about their summers, as Luna read her Quibbler. Zeta decided it was better to leave her conversation with the blonde haired boy out of topic, but she still wondered who he was. When the train slowed down at Hogsmeade Station, all of Zeta's fears came flooding back to her. What if she wasn't in Gryfindor, what if she turned out to be a Slytherin, with that annoying git she had just met? What would she do then?

"Zeta," Harry told her, pulling her from her thoughts, "We've got to get off."

"Oh," She said dully, still thinking about that mysterious boy she had met. Zeta picked up her trunk, and dragged it down the steps, having to drag her feet with it. She did not want to be here.

"Oh boy," Ron said sarcastically as the same blonde haired boy walked up to the trio.

"Malfoy," Harry acknowledged the boy, coldly, "Hoping we're going to get off on the right foot this year are we?"

"Far from it Potter," He looked at Zeta, staring her in the eyes. He walked towards her again, but Ron ran between the two. Malfoy shot the two of them a dark look, turned around and walked over to his trunk.

"God how I hate that pureblood git!" Ron swore, "He's the disgrace of wizards everywhere. And coming on to you like that, like your fresh meat, or something." Zeta swallowed hard, and decided not to tell them about her meeting with Malfoy. Climbing in with the trio and Luna, they made their way on the horseless carriages to Hogwarts.

-

First glance at the school, you'd think it was built for the entire wizarding world, not just a small percentage of them. The large castle had many high towers, and Zeta knew she was going to get lost in a matter of seconds. The giant oak doors were intimidating, letting no one in who wasn't allowed, and the Great Hall was wonderful. The charmed ceiling was showing the rain outside, reflecting Zeta's mood. Looking up at the staff table, she saw many new teachers, that reminded her nothing of her old school. She saw a large group of 11 year olds or so, who looked as cold as ever, soaking wet. A very large man stood next to them, who looked much like a giant. The first years were shivering like mad.

Ron leaned over, "I think that's your cue." He smiled at her, and Zeta gulped. Smiling back at Ron and the rest of the trio, she slowly walked over with the first years. She truly felt like an idiot, standing taller than the largest boy, who was only 4' 8", she herself felt like a giant. An old man at the staff table stood up, as the hall quieted down, the sorting was going to begin.

"I am pleased to welcome you to another wonderful year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore spoke, as the crowd cheered like crazy, Zeta suddenly felt like an idiot, the only one without a robe on, still in the ugly outfit her mother had made her wear. "I would like to remind you of the normal rules, and some of the new one's now that Voldermort is at large." The students all became silent at the name of the Dark Lord. "As all of you know, the Forbidden Forest is off limits," his eyes flashed to Zeta, "Dungbombs, Canary Tarts, and every other pracitcal joke toy is forbidden. If you would like a full list of all the forbidden items, Mr. Filch has the list in his office. No student is allowed in a houses dormitory not their own." He looked around the hall, as Zeta noticed Harry and Ron trying to hold back a laugh. Hermione shot them a dirty look, that said I-knew-we-were-going-to-get-in-trouble-for-that.

Dumbledore continued, "You should all know the normal rules. Now for the new ones." He looked around, and the hall went dead silent, "All sleeping rooms inside the dormitories are to be locked, at all times. No boy is allowed in a girls dormitory." A few boys errupted in stiffled laughter, "Leaving the school grounds without a valid purpose, told to a teacher is not permitted. Also, I would like you all to know, that Quidditch, while still going to happen, is going to be watched more carefully for any intruders, rough play, or charms." No one reacted, this must have been normal, the only one who did anything was Malfoy, who shot a dark look at Harry. Zeta wondered why, but was drawn back from her thoughts, by Dumbledore's next four words.

"Now, for the sorting." He stood up, and an old woman, who's face looked stretched and worn from stress, grief, and age, walked in carrying a stool, with a tattered hat sitting on top of it. The old hat was patched, and looked about as old and worn as the woman who had brought it in, maybe older. Before Zeta could think of its purpose the brim opened wide, and it burst out into a poem.

It explained the story of Hogwarts, how it was founded, what qualities put you in each house. Zeta was listening and realized Harry may be right, she might be in Gryfindor, she was brave, noble, and liked most people. The last thing she would be would be a Slytherin, she wasn't a pureblood to her knowledge, and she was nothing like Malfoy.

The sorting started with Alberts, Rachel, and she was a Ravenclaw. Zeta looked over at the table, as it errupted into applause, the rest of the hall cheered, and clapped half-heartedly, except for the Slytherin table. Zeta noticed that as each first year was sorted, whatever house they were, Malfoy was the one who clapped first. It was as if the rest of them had to make sure it was alright to cheer. Whenever a Slytherin was sorted though, he would get excited, and lean over to two large, clearly idiotic "body-gaurds" next to, and whisper something in their ears. While the cheering was still going on, the two would errupt into laughter, as Malfoy smirked watching the next first year be sorted. Zeta was watching Malfoy do this for so long, she had forgotten where she was, or who, but was suddenly pulled back when she noticed she was the only person standing there. Suddenly feeling self-concious she became very red, she heard Malfoy stiffle a laugh.

"As you may have all noticed, we have a new student, who is not a first year." He smiled at Zeta, as his eyes twinkled, she felt like she was getting redder by the minute, "Her name is Zeta Arwin, she is a seventh year, and she requests to be sorted at the ceremony. Zeta will you please come up." Feeling more and more like a moron with each step, Zeta carefully walked up to the stool, her heavy shoes her mother made her wear, clunking with every step. Once she got to the stool, she turned around to face the school. Every unknown eye was on her, as she felt herself redden. Malfoy tried his hardest to stiffle a large laugh. She shot him a cold look, and sat down on the stool, full of hatred for the blonde haired boy. She felt the hat set on her head, and she heard it talk to her.

"Hmmm..." It said, "Very hard to decide, you would do wonder's in Gryfindor. Brave, noble, loyal, friendly. Very intelligent as well, maybe in Hufflepuff." While all this was going on, Zeta thought nothing, just waited. She did not argue with what it was saying, for she agreed with it. "Hmmm..." It said again, "I have the perfect house for you...SLYTHERIN!"

"WHAT!?" Zeta yelled suddenly, before anyone could clap, before the crowd could respond, Zeta had yelled as loud as she could. The entire hall went silent, as Zeta spun around looking at Dumbledore, who himself looked completley perplexed. The silence was piercing, as Zeta waited for some sort of response.

-

"I don't get it!" Zeta yelled, walking with the trio after dinner, that same night. "I should not, under any circumstances be a Slytherin." Zeta said to word as if she was swearing. She was disgusted. Something must have gone wrong, the sorting hat had goofed. There was no possible way Zeta was in that terrible house with the grimy, pureblood, gits with-

"MALFOY!" Zeta wanted to throw up, she had just thought about the fact that she would be rooming with the annoying prat, "Oh, GOD!" Hermione put her hand on Zeta's shoulder.

"You'll get over it." She told her, "I read in Hogwart's a History, that even if you don't think you were put in the right house, there is a reason for it."

"And what's my reason? To get tortured for eternity? So I can know what might happen to me if I follow the Dark Lord? Oh, thanks I already knew that part." Zeta yelled at them sarcastically.

"Not all Slytherin's are bad you know." Harry began, "Just look at..." He thought for a while, "Well you'll be the first!"

"That doesn't help me with the fact that Malfoy already hate's me!" She threw her arms in the air, as they neared the staircase slowly.

"How does Draco even know who you are?" Ron asked.

"I met him on the train," Zeta began, filling with hatred once again for the annoying git, "We ran into eachother, literally, and he asked me all this stuff. I don't even remember anymore." Zeta ran her finger's through her black hair, it fell perfectly back into the bob around her face, "He told me he was Slytherin, I gave him a dirty look, and kind of showed him how much I hated his kind. He told me I couldn't use that tone with him, which really ticked me off, cause he has no right to tell me that. I called him a worthless git, and the jerk slapped me." Zeta finished her rambling to see the three of them looking utterly surpirsed.

"We're going to talk to Dumbledore tomorrow to see if we can get you switched." Ron told her, once he had taken it all in. "With that pureblood in there with you, who knows what he could do. Probably use you as the Slytherin Slut."

"RON!" Hermione yelled, hitting the red head.

"What? It's probably the truth. He's so slimy that's something he would do. He's so disgusting. The annoying little-"

"I know all of that Ron." Hermione told him, shooting a menacing glance, "But you don't need to scare Zeta like that. She doesn't need to know about him just yet. And besides, we don't know about him this year, he may have changed." Hermione said this, and suddenly thought about what she said. Ron responded first.

"Yes, Hermione," He began with a laugh, walking up the stairs, "And Fred and George will become the Minister's of Magic."

"You know that could happen too," Hermione began, "They were good at studies and they-"

"Just watch your back Zeta." Harry but-in on the conversation, "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. Especially with Malfoy on the lose, and no belt, to keep his pant's buttoned."

Hermione hit Harry hard on the arm, and Zeta followed a girl she had seen sitting at the Slytherin table down a dark, cold hallway.