Hey. Anyway on with things, this is chapter two, I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter 2 – A Sort of Homecoming:

It was dark when the train pulled into Hogsmede Station. The first years had already changed into their robes and piled off the train. Sally was walking with Anieka.

"Firs' years, over 'ere, firs years," A booming voice called over the heads of the students. Sally hurried to follow the voice. Except somebody slammed into the back of her, knocking her to the ground. Sally stood back up quickly to see Peter.

"I tripped," He stammered apologetically, "Lost James and tripped."

"Its ok," Sally said helping him up, "We better go through." They ran to where a giant figure was standing. He was twice the size of an ordinary man and he had enormous amounts of beard and hair. His eyes were beetle-black and seemed to twinkle. He was ushering the other first years onto little boats while the other students walked past the station to the school gates.

"Wait!" Sally cried out quickly running up to the tall man dragging Peter with her, "Wait for us!"

"Hold your Hippogriffs! Its OK, wouldn't leave without yeh," said the man, "Right! I'm Rebeus Hagrid gamekeeper at Hogwarts I'm here to escort yeh firs' years to the school by boat."

"Why can't we go with the rest of the school?" Asked one of the triplets Sally had seen earlier, she was eyeing the boats with disgust and clutching her robes tighter around her for warmth.

"'Fraid no," Hagrid said shortly, "Now onto the boats. Four to a boat mind."

Sally and Peter clambered into a boat and were shortly joined by two girls, both with short, brown hair and sparkling green eyes. They smiled and the slighter one introduced herself, "I'm Marie and this is my sister Dee."

"I'm Sally and this is Peter," Sally replied smiling. The boat began to move towards the sparkling lights that could be seen from the castle.

"It's so cold," Said Marie clutching her robes around her.

"Here Mar," Dee passed her a small leave from her pocket which Marie ate.

"Was that Estus Coma?" Asked Sally inquisitively.

"Yeah," Dee beamed, "You know much herbology?"

"Yeah," Sally nodded, "My family owns a chain if apothecaries."

"Wow, hey, have you heard of Mimbus Mimbletonia?" Dee continued.

"Yeah, the ones that spit pus at you?" Sally nodded.

"Yeah, well," Dee looked nervously around at the other boats than pulled out a small plant squirming in its pot out of her pocket.

"Wow!" Sally gasped, "No Peter! Don't touch it! It doesn't know you." Sally grabbed Peter's out stretched arm before he could touch the plant. "Are you allowed that?" She asked.

Marie laughed uncontrollably, "I don't think so."

Peter laughed timidly too and Sally smiled. Sally looked back up at the castle which was now looming into view. Sally shivered and it had nothing to do with the cold, this would be her new home from now on. She however was looking forward to it.

The boats moored and the little procession of first years walked up the grounds to the castle. Peter whispered to Sally, "I think I saw something moving in the lake." Sally turned to see a giant tentacle extending from the lake. She began to walk faster. The first years broke out into many whispers and gasps when in the castle. They gasped at the armour that waved to them, the huge marble staircases and the ghosts they saw floating through the walls. Sally was amazed, everything was so big and there were passageways leading everywhere. She didn't know how she was going to find her way around. The first years walked up the marble steps up to a pair of great, double, oak doors. There they met a stern looking witch whose hair was pulled back tightly into a bun.

"I'll take it form here Hagrid," said the woman.

"Right yeh are' Minerva," with this Hagrid waved to the first years and then walked through the oak doors. Sally strained to see into the hall. She could hear a very large, chattering crowd. Nerves gripped her stomach and made it sink.

"I'm Professor McGonagall. I am transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house." She looked around for interruptions. Sally wouldn't have dared interrupted this teacher. She seemed stern and strict, "Welcome to Hogwarts," She continued, "I will call your names and you will come forward to be sorted into your house. Soon I will call you all into the hall. Until then I wish you to wait out here. Once sorted you will sit on your house table," Professor McGonagall smiled briskly than she too proceeded through the oak doors.

Once she was gone chatter broke out. Anieka made her way to Sally and Marie and Dee. "Did you see all the people!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah," Sally said nervously, her knees beginning to shake slightly. She glanced around at her fellow students. Her eyes rested on the triplets she had seen earlier, they were standing with that Black boy she had seen earlier as well. He was standing not speaking to a group of other students. A little ways from them was a boy of pale complexion, a hooked nose and greasy looking, shoulder-length hair and a girl with red hair who was talking nervously to him.

"Sev, everyone else here knows all about magic, you heard that boy on the boat, his Dad works in the Ministry! I didn't even know there was a magical government," Lily said anxiously.

"We'll be fine if we stick together," Severus said back reassuringly, "Just get into Slytherin."

"Why did that boy on the train think Slytherin was so bad Sev?" Lily asked, "I mean I've read in 'Hogwarts: A History' that some really evil people have come from Slytherin," Lily continued.

"Yeah and some really good people too, like my mum," Severus said, "Would I lie to you?"

"No," Lily shook her head and looked a little calmer, "I have to be in Slytherin that's all. We'll stick together."

Sally looked away and back at the Black boy and his friends. He saw her watching and gave her a haughty look.

"What are you looking at Sirius?" asked on of the triplets. She had dark, blonde hair and thick eye lids, "Who's that?"

"Nobody Bella," muttered Sirius. Bella however walked over to where Sally and her friends were standing.

"What are you looking at?" demanded Bellatrix.

"Nothing," Sally said defiantly back. Now the corridor had gone quiet at the first sign of conflict.

"What's your name?" asked Bellatrix shrewdly.

"Sally Massey," Sally answered. Bellatrix exchanged a look with the other triplets and then her expression changed,

"We got off to a bad start. This is Narcissa and Andromeda Black my sisters and I'm Bellatrix," she looked around as people began to whisper. Sally knew what they were saying, the Blacks were very famous for their prejudice, their involvement in the dark arts, their support of the rising power and their contempt of muggle-born wizards. Sally noticed James had come and stood next to her.

"And this is Sirius, our cousin. If you want to join us instead of hanging out with filth like this," Bellatrix gestured to the others.

"Filth!" Anieka exclaimed.

"Don't talk about her like that!" James pulled out his wand, so did Sirius.

"No thanks," Sally said firmly.

"You think you can treat people like that because your names Black?" James spat.

"Who are you?" Narcissa Black hissed.

"James Potter," James scowled at them.

"Potters are the biggest bunch of blood traitors," said another boy who had joined the fray.

"Just leave us alone," Marie cried angrily.

"If you change you mind-"

"She's not interested," yelled James. Just then the oak doors burst open and Professor McGonagall ordered the first years through the doors into the great hall.

There's chapter two. Done, it is a shorter chapter but I had to stop there because there is too much in the next bit too fit in. Thanks for reading. Please review.