Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter

I hope that you enjoyed Chapter 1 and like the story so far. Catherine is an invention of mine, though you may recognise some familar names of actual characters throughout the tale. Please review the story, which I will continue to update and tell me what you think. All feedback, positive or negative is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Chapter 2

"Gryffindor," boomed the sorting hat. Catherine felt confused. Tom Riddle had expressed a particular desire to be placed into Slytherin and she had hoped that she would be with her new friend. Still, Tom hadn't been sorted yet and there was a chance that he was a Gryffindor too. She stumbled towards the long table and was met by enthusiastic applause and cheers. The warmth of the welcome was somewhat overwhelming and she half forgot her worries of being on her own. It seemed that house unity was taken seriously at Hogwarts.

Two students slid apart to make room for her to sit down. She felt her hand being grasped by many unknown people and she was patted on the back every few seconds. A hush fell and the next person was sorted.

Four students later, Tom Riddle was called forward. He calmly sat on the stool placed before the staff table and whispers blew swift as a wind though the hall, as every student laid their eyes on the unafraid boy.

"Slytherin!" The contact with the hat and Tom Riddle's head had been so brief, Catherine hadn't noticed it being placed upon him. Several people jumped at the forcefulness of the hat's declaration – but not Tom. No, he was smiling; a certain glint of triumph in his eyes. The Slytherin table erupted and the other three silent houses watched Tom approach his seat. Catherine, who felt a bitter disappointment, tried to catch his eye, but he didn't even glance around. Not until Lombard Switch was sorted into Griffindor, where Tom watched him approach the table and then noticed Catherine staring at him. He kept her gaze and tilted his head to the side slightly. Then he pulled his mouth into a small smile and winked subtly, then turned his attention back to the sorting and thereafter his own house members.

Lombard sat across from Catherine, looking relieved and smiled at her.

"Hello," he beamed. "I'm Lombard, but everyone's always called me Lommy."

"Oh, I'm Catherine, any nicknames are fine," she grinned.

"This place is absolutely brill-" Lommy began when a pearly white head popped abruptly up through the table and glanced around. Catherine gave a start of horror as she registered the translucent man with a ruff around his neck. His head remained in this position, as though perched on the table and he awaited end of the sorting. Catherine, however, was unable to take her attention away from the ghost. One upon a time, she had been so convinced that ghosts didn't exist; how wrong she had been.

"Hello first years," greeted the ghost, once the last person had been sorted. "I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, the Gryffindor ghost!" He spoke proudly. "Whenever you are in need of guidance, I will always be at your service." He soared upwards with a whoosh and the force caused his head to flop sideways away from his neck until it was being held on only by a tiny hinge of skin. Catherine squealed, but Lommy laughed with delight.

"Apologies," said the ghost, flipping his head back into place and looking delighted with the response.

"Nearly headless Nick," exclaimed Lommy. "A second year told me about you, on the train." Then after catching the look on Sir Nicholas' face he added, "They said you were the best ghost at Hogwarts." He looked appeased and floated down the table to the other students. Only then did Catherine realise that the once empty tables were now piled high with scrumptious food. There was almost too much to choose from and it was nothing like what Catherine was used to. In the muggle world, a term she had only recently become used to, everything was about war and rations, but here seemed to be thoroughly unaffected.

"Brilliant," muttered a boy with a strange accent, who was sat to the left of Lommy. He looked up at Catherine. "I'm Llew, by the way. Llew Llewellyn."

"I'm Kate Trelawney," piped up a dreamy voice to the right of Lommy. Feeling thoroughly overwhelmed by the numerous people, Catherine introduced herself to her fellow first years timidly, as did Lommy. She realised then, that these three people were her friends and after realising this exciting revelation, she relaxed completely and conversed with Lommy, Llew and Kate. She particularly enjoyed asking Llew to repeat phrases in his fascinating accent, which he explained originated from Wales. She had only ever spoken to English people before now and the change was like a small adventure in itself.

Once the feast had ended, the tall Prefect gathered the first years together and guided them through the school. Catherine walked beside Kate and stared at the many moving pictures on the wall, who watched them pass, waving enthusiastically. The long winding staircases, so she was told, had a habit of moving and every time she stepped onto a new one, she tensed, ready to run or jump, should it happen. Eventually, they reached a life size portrait of a rather round woman.

"The Fat Lady," Lommy muttered from behind Catherine. "She guards the Griffindor dormitories."

"The password is Scwibbly wiggly," announced the Prefect and the portrait swung forward, revealing a hole to climb through. "Take care to remember it."

The first years clambered through the hole and met a cosy looking room plastered in red and gold. A lit fire sent waves of warmth washing over them and Catherine instantly felt sleepy. The Prefect showed them the way to the dormitories and Catherine and Kate gladly made their way towards them.

"Night," called Lommy, to their retreating backs.

"Night," the girls and Llew chorused.

The girls entered their dormitory and found their trunks beside four poster beds. They both made their ways to the beds, got ready and climbed in. As Catherine snuggled under her warm covers, she turned her mind to Tom Riddle and realised that she had almost forgotten about him in the light of making new friends. Still, she would probably see him tomorrow, so she would be able to talk to him then. Her worry slipped away and she closed her eyes, feeling content. Hogwarts was where she belonged.