Mina is sorted, dies (don't worry, it isn't permanent), and accidently shows the professor's that she can perform wandless magic. Oh, and Draco's little shit. Fun stuff.

The door opened to reveal a tall, black haired witch in green robes. Her face was stern, Mina knew she didn't want to anger her.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." Professor McGonagall led them through the massive entry hall, and to the doors that would open into Great Hall. She stopped right before doors and faced the students.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, the start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."

"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House cup, a great honor. I hope that each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours."

"The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up while we are waiting."

With that Mina glanced around the Hall and saw that quite a few students were fixing their hair or straightened their robes. Harry was trying to fix his hair, but he was fighting a losing battle, so Mina decided to try to help him.

"Hold still Harry, this is a spell I use on my own hair. Believe it or not, mine is actually worse than yours. Constituo et Sursum*." Mina got on her toes to see over Harry's head, and preformed the spell on Harry watching as it flattened slightly, then popped back into place.

"Huh, it seems your hair is able to resist the spell, sorry I couldn't help much, Harry." Mina said apologetically, she was going to research why her own spell didn't work on his hair later.

"It's fine, I haven't been able to tame it my entire life, so I don't expect a spell to work on it now. But, thanks for trying." Harry flashed her smile and turned to Ron. Mostly because he guessed that Ron had experience in the wording world, and Mina didn't.

"How exactly do they sort us into Houses?"

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said that it hurt a lot, but I think he was just joking." Ron said with a weird look on his face. Harry suddenly looked very nervous.

"Don't worry it's not a test that you need to worry about too much. They sort you with a hat, it's actually quite funny." Ron and Harry both looked at her with confusion.

"You'll see soon." The three were startled when screams came from the students at their backs.

"What the-?" Harry gasped, and quite a few other people did the same, but Mina only grinned and stared at the twenty of so ghosts streaming in through the back wall. All of them white and see through, drifted closer to them, arguing.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him another chance-" Fat Friar, a fat monk like ghost, argued.

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad names, and he's not even a ghost- I say, what are you all doing here?" The ghost arguing against Peeves asked.

"We're the new first years." Mina spoke us for the rest of the first years, not the least bit perturbed by the ghosts. Sometimes Kevin (Death) would take her with him to go greet a new soul. Often she handled souls when Kevin was preoccupied with a particularly restless one. As a result, living in limbo had made her used to ghosts and souls, and when she died, she would love to become a ghost at Hogwarts.

"New students! About to be Sorted, I suppose?" Fat Friar questioned, looking directly at Mina since she seemed to be the only one comfortable speaking to them.

"Yes, you're Hufflepuff's ghost right?" Mina asked while smiling gently.

"Why yes, I am, I hope to you and quite a few more in Hufflepuff." Fat Friar said surprised.

"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony is about to start." Professor McGonagall said sharply, and shooed the ghosts away.

"Now, form a line and follow me." McGonagall turned and led the way into the Great Hall, the First years following behind closely.

The hall was more beautiful than her memories could do justice. The ceiling glittering with stars, tables adorned with golden plates and platters. Candles floated around the room, lighting it extremely well. McGonagall led them to the teachers table, stopping right before, and positioning them with their backs to the teachers table.

Professor McGonagall set a stool down and put a dirty hat on it. They all watched expectantly.

"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 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're 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 folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get into a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole hall applauded as the hat finished, and bowed to each of the four tables, then becoming still once again.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a scroll, and shouted out names.

Mina was nervous, this was one of the few things that wasn't certain. In all of her visions of the future, she couldn't figure out her house, and she didn't know which one she wanted to be in.

Gryffindor would be great because she would have an excuse to be around Harry without causing suspicion. What would people say if a girl from a different House was with him more than she was with her own House?

Slytherin on the other hand would provide many opportunities. One of them would be to convince Harry that not all Slytherins were bad, some could actually be your allies, friends even. She would also be in her ancestor's House.

She could also fit in Ravenclaw, her wit and knowledge could be explained away here. No one would think any wrong of her for knowing spells beyond her age. She could learn more spells than she knew before.

Hufflepuff is a nice House, she wouldn't mind being sorted into that House at all. But it doesn't really suit her or her goal.

"Keen, Wilhelmina!" Mina snapped to attention when her name was called. She made her way to the Sorting Hat, jammed it on her head, sat on the stool and listened for a voice.

"You're a special one, very special. Oh- you've got a mission, but I can't see where your talents would fit best. Before you continue on your path, let's make sure you get onto the right road, little one. So let's start where your talents would fit least. Do you like Hufflepuff?" A small voice questioned Mina. Mina gave a shiver when she felt the Hat sift through her mind, allowing anybody- or anything to sift through her head after a while provided her with a lot of discomfort.

"I don't really think my destiny is in Hufflepuff." Mina said quietly. The Sorting Hat heard her and hummed.

"That still leaves three other houses, you have the bravery and daring nerve of a Gryffindor, the wisdom and creativity of a Ravenclaw, and the cunning and ambition of a Slytherin. With the future laid out before you, think it is best that you go with either Slytherin or Gryffindor. Why don't you choose?" The Hat left her to think for a moment.

Mina immediately knew how a future in Slytherin would change how she went about doing things. She would have to either watch and guide from afar, or separate completely from the other Slytherins because they would surely ostracize her first for associating with Gryffindors'.

With Gryffindor she would be welcomed, but there would be quite a few times when her House would turn on her. Her path would only have minor bumps, but it would be clearer than if she was a Slytherin.

"That's quite some indecision, but it's enough- GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat was removed from her head and she was ushered over to the Gryffindor table. She swore she heard a quite good luck from the Hat, but she couldn't be sure.

"A while the Hat spent on you, what other House did it want to sort you into." Hermione asked from beside her, watching Neville be sorted. Mina did the same, and answered her.

"Slytherin." Mina stated simply, she wasn't really lying, and she wanted to avoid talking too much right now. She was exhausted from allowing only one into her mind, while preventing others from searching her mind. It was like stretching a muscle that hasn't been used in years. Hermione either didn't like that House, or noticed that she didn't want to talk, because she didn't ask anymore questions.

Soon enough Harry was being sorted, but she didn't really pay attention.

The feast and Dumbledore's speech came and passed with Mina barely staying awake. Mina half-heartedly sang the school song.

Mina rose up from her seat, promptly passing out on the floor. To be more precise, fell to the floor dead. She was not there to notice the commotion that she caused.

"Albus! When are you going to explain to us what happened to Miss Keen?" Minerva McGonagall shouted at Albus in the Headmaster's office. The other teachers and Percy nodded in agreement, they could not understand how Wilhelmina Keen could be dead, but not really.

Percy Weasley was the first to reach Mina when she fell to the floor, immediately calling Professor McGonagall over. Speaking in a hushed tone so the other students listening for information, could not hear. Albus came over to the three after telling the other prefects to take their underclassmen to their common rooms. The teachers all followed them after them to the Headmaster's office, quite curious. Mina was not being taken to the infirmary, but with them to Albus's office.

"It is best that you calm, Minerva. I cannot explain everything, that is Mina's choice, but to be quite frank. Mina has a special destiny that Death has laid out for her. She is to protect a few students that attend here, until her timely death. And from what I gathered of what she told me, she visits Death from time to time so they can speak one on one. Right now she is speaking with Death, she should be back soon enough. Ah!- There she is." Albus said while staring at Mina on the couch. Everybody turned and watched her with shock and confusion.

"-at do you mean?" Mina rose up suddenly from where she laid on the stiff red couch. While she recovered from the shock of coming back into the world of the living she summoned a mint from her room back in the Keen mansion. Shoving the mint into her mouth, she began to rant.

"Damn him! Shoving me out before I could finish my question, he's going to get hell for that! I'll make sure to haunt him! Oh!- Sorry that you had to witness that. I'm assuming that you all have questions, feel free to ask them." Mina said apologetically, finally noticing the others that stood there. Mina glanced at Albus and saw amusement, the others not so much.

"Were you really dead?" Percy asked quietly.

"In a sense, yes I was. My body techniquely died, but my soul didn't. It only left my body and entered what some would call the Purgatory. But I call it limbo, it sounds much nicer." Mina's eyes glazed over, recalling memories of what happened while she was in limbo.

"You make it sound like you've done this often, and why would a child like you have a special destiny?" Severus Snape asked in a rather sharp tone. Mina only smiled at him.

"Oh, I have, I used to live there when I died in 1926. It is only of recent that I was pulled out of limbo, eleven years ago to be exact. And I don't know why Death gave me this special destiny." Mina knew perfectly well why she was given her destiny, but she couldn't say it with her twin attached to the back of Professor Quirrell's head. She summoned another mint while waiting for another question.

"How are you preforming silent wandless magic?" Minerva asked, surprised that someone younger than her was able to do what she did, and do it well.

"It would be quite boring if I just sat in limbo not doing anything worthwhile, so I learned magic, history, potions, and other means to accomplish my goal while in limbo. And I didn't have a wand there. In fact I could become a teacher here on any subject, if there wasn't an age requirement." Mina said humorously. That was her dream job, if she didn't have spend her entire life protecting the golden trio.

"Oh! And I have one request for you all, if I die again in the hallways, Great Hall, or your classroom, please just move me to the infirmary without causing much commotion. It's better if I'm not known at The-Girl-Who-Died-Again-And-Again. Sorry, but may I go to bed, I'm really tired." Mina finished quietly. Albus nodded and Mina left the office, Percy following after her to make sure she got to her dormitory.

The others followed soon after until Snape and Albus were to only ones left.

"Does she change things?" Severus asked after letting everything sink in.

"She changes things, I suggest you go to bed, tomorrow will be stressful. Try not to give Mina too much trouble, she has her own burdens, burdens worse than both of ours combined." Albus took his half-mooned spectacled off, and cleaned them on the edge of his robe sleeve.

Severus left with a non-committal sound, thinking about the strange little girl.

Mina and Percy made their way back to the dorms together.

A thick silence hang over the two, neither wanting to disturb it.

That decision was taken from them when Percy realized that she was leading them, and they were going the right way.

"Hey Keen, how do you know the way?"

"That's a secret, but let's just say I know the whole school like the back of my hand." Mina smiled faintly, and summoned another mint.

Percy gave a sound of disbelief, but didn't counter her claim.

"Hey Percy? Can I ask a favor of you?"

"Depends."

"Can you keep everything that you learned today a secret? And if anybody asks you what happened to me, can you tell them that the exhaustion and excitement of finally coming to Hogwarts overwhelmed me? I know it's a lot to ask of you, but it would keep matters rather uncomplicated, for both of us."

"Sure."

"Thank you!"

Mina managed to get into her bed and fall asleep without waking anybody up. She considered that to be an accomplishment because she wasn't exactly silent on her way in. Her dreams that night were not calm, displaying her worst fears.

She woke up breathless, but didn't know why.

Most of the week passed with Mina pretending that she didn't know anything about magic, and occasionally she became bored enough to the point that she did things right on the first try. She didn't 'pass out' after the first time in the Great Hall, she was mocked quite a bit for it, but she didn't really mind it.

When she wasn't pretending to not know much about magic, she was making sure Harry made it to the Great Hall and classes on time. It wasn't any small feat because Harry liked to chose the trickster staircases whenever she let him lead.

On Friday Mina went to breakfast early so she would have some time to see Dumbledore, leaving the other two to find their way to the Great Hall without her. She ate her breakfast early and rushed to the Headmaster's office. The password this time was Lemon Drops. Calmly walking up the staircase, she knocked on the door and waited.

"Come in, Mina." Albus called out quietly. Mina entered the office and saw Severus waiting inside with a look of contempt. Mina didn't give it a second thought, and closed the door behind her.

"Come, sit, lemon drop?" Mina sat down in a chair next to Severus, denying the the lemon drop, she started right away.

"Dumbledore, would it be too much of me to ask if I can to add another level of security to the stone?" Surprisingly Severus stayed quiet, watching with suspicious eyes.

"Why not? Just inform me what you added, when you've added it. I'd rather not run into something on my way in. Isn't your first class of the day with Professor Snape, Mina? You should walk with him to class, if that is so." Mischief twinkled about in Albus's eyes. Severus cast a suspicious look towards both Mina and Albus.

"That's fine with me, I would love to talk with Professor Snape. Is that okay with you, Professor Snape?" Mina asked politely, she knew Severus had questions for her, and this would be the perfect opportunity for him to ask them. Severus nodded curtly. They both left Albus's office, with Severus leading.

Mina paused and let a ghost pass by when Severus asked his first question.

"What're you going to add, Keen?" Severus tried to his his curiosity, but Mina saw through it.

"I'm going to add a charm that only allows people I trust in, or people accompanying me. It will keep the people that don't need to come in, out. You won't have to worry about me escorting you in, as one of the people I whole heartledly trust, Professor." Mina offered a mischievous smile, and began skipping.

"To other topics. Am I correct to assume that you'll be protecting Potter?" Severus asked, looking down on her. Mina only nodded, skipping a little faster so she could keep up with him. Severus only threw her a dirty look, and looked forward.

"It's not wise to prod at my barriers, Professor Snape," Mina smiled at him, and secretly added another layer of protection.

"Why is that, girl?" Pausing his prodding, instead focusing on the girl.

"There are ears listening, but the knowledge inside would make a man go insane," Mina whispered, tapping her head. "How are you Draco?" Mina turned towards the would be eavesdropper. Draco jolted with surprise at being noticed behind his corner, after all, he stayed silent trying to listen.

"How did you notice me mudblood?" Draco asked with sharp eyes, ready to spit out an insult if need be.

"Draco call me what you must, but don't use that name in front of any professor. Others will be more offended than I. But to answer your question, I heard you footsteps when you ran behind the corner. It's not polite to eavesdrop." Mina scolded.

"I have to agree with Ms. Keen, as much as I'd hate to, on all of her points. Five points from Slytherin." Severus sighed and turned to Mina, only to find that she had already went ahead to class. Draco was sputtering about how he wasn't wrong.

"Come Draco. Let's hope that you do better than Keen and Potter in Potions." With robes whipping around, they headed to the potions classroom.

Servers started the class off with calling the roll.

When he called Mina's name out he sent a sneer her way and continued on when she said 'here'.

"Harry Potter."

Mina had been very busy.

She was busy maintaining her charm around the stone, it required daily boosts.

She was also busy making sure that Harry didn't run into more trouble than he was supposed to, which was harder than it looked. To be frank, Draco is a little shit. Draco liked to pull fatal pranks, he probably didn't even know they would be fatal, but you never know with him. At one point he had set a cutting hex to fly at the doorway of the Gryffindor Common room once it was opened, but Mina got to it first before it hit anybody. The hex would be fatal if no proper treatment came quick enough. The only reason she knew who set it up, was because his magical signature left a subtle mark that only experienced wizards could detect.

Otherwise, each of her classes were a breeze, it was the pretending not to know what the hell she was doing that was the hard part. She had to let Hermione get it first before she even dared to actually try. Hermione had to be known as the best or, her future wouldn't be as bright. Her reputation as the Brightest Witch Of Her Age, would get her far. Mina didn't want to take that away from her.

Harry and Ron got on well, and there didn't seem to be any problems, for now at least. Mina was not looking forward to keeping the peace between them.

But for now, she was writing to her parents.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Hogwarts is great! A lot of it is review for me, but I like the lessons and the teachers. The only thing I don't like is writing their essays! They make it ridiculously long, and even knowing what I'm writing ahead of time doesn't shorten the time it takes to write. They decided that since I know everything they're teaching, they'll give me longer essays on different topics than the other students. I've just about run out of ink. Do you think you could send me some ink? Thanks!

I often have to stop a few students from pulling pranks on unsuspecting students. It's quite ridiculous, the other day I had to stop a Slytherin from sending a fatal hex at another student! If I was a teacher, that would mean -50 House points. But I hold no grudges against them, I'm only disappointed. It's not likely that the hex would've hit it's target, it was more likely to hit an innocent bystander. That's why I'm disappointed.

On to other things! I can't wait to see you guys, but I don't really miss the parties that you drag me into. How's Annaclaire? She should be getting her letter and a house visit anytime soon. Take care of my garden please!

Love,

Wilhelmina Keen

Mina sent the letter off and headed to bed.