Thanks to all my reviewers and readers; I'm glad you enjoyed the first chapter, and I hope you like this one. Any and all feedback is appreciated. I eat reviews like IHOP pancakes.

They arrived in a rather quick fashion, with no unnecessary or unexpected halts. As the train slowed to a stop, the three new first years bolted up, much too excited (and nervous, though none would ever admit it) to remain seated.

"Bella, get the hell out of the way, you're moving too slow!" Lucius demanded, shoving her forward into fourth-year Evan Rosier. The upper classman turned and fixed her with a long, cool stare, before turning his attentions back to the crammed train corridor.

"Quit it, Lucy, you impatient little prat! Everyone else wants to get out just as much as you do; plus, we still have to get our trunks down from the luggage racks! So why don't you do the wizarding world a favor and stop whining?!"

Both Lucius and Walden stared at her as if she belonged in her own little compartment with padded walls at the back of the train. "Are you simply daft, then, Black? Honestly, women are supposed to be crafty and smart, especially women who are meant to be Slytherin. Meanwhile, you're as stupid as a peacock, and not even a female one either, one of the stupid old males. You'll probably end up in Hufflepuff or something," the Malfoy finished with a snort. Walden attempted to strangle a grin, but couldn't quite do it, and instead, it came out as a twisted smirk. Lucius, however, was smirking full force.

Bellatrix had the decency to look utterly gob-smacked for a moment before funneling her shock into rage. "Yeah, well, you'd know what a male peacock is like, wouldn't you Lucy? Always preening like one, and so utterly absorbed in yourself that you probably wouldn't even notice a silent predator sneaking up until it was practically upon you! And then, you'd run, squawking like a big old chicken! No, Lucius, you're such an utter magical disappointment that you aren't even good enough for Gryffindor!"

The little blonde warlock could feel the anger bubbling up inside of him, but forced it down. If he let himself get enraged, he would probably just smack the hell out of the girl, and hitting women was highly against his morals. He quickly detached himself from the moment, knowing that aloofness would be the best revenge. "I'm sorry, Bella, but I'm not inclined to listening to a little girl's temper-tantrum. Perhaps you should do it for someone who cares; maybe you could write your mum a letter or something after the feast?"

And with that, and a sneer for good measure, the Malfoy steered himself around the girl and left with Walden in tow, leaving her smoldering with fury.

Once free of the confines of the train, the two boys followed some tall professor yelling for first years and loaded into a small boat, with the company of Charles Avery and Rene Wiltshire. Their childhood friend sat in a boat with a boy and two other girls, and was still fuming, to Lucius's utter delight. In fact, she even pushed one of the other girls out of the boat on the way to the castle. Unfortunately, the lovely entertainment of the girl floundering and screaming was halted, once she was rescued by the giant squid and plopped back into the boat, soaking wet. Bella looked slightly happier, but still shot him an angry glare once she noticed him watching.

Apart from that little mishap, the ride was altogether uneventful. His dislike for Avery was doubled by the rides end, however. He had forgotten how utterly annoying the boy could be. Soon enough, though, they were out of the awful little boat, and making the trek up to the castle.

Once they arrived at the crest of the hill, a tall, slim witch greeted them in a set of midnight blue robes. She wasn't what one would call pretty, for her face and body were far too straight and severe, but she was certainly eye-catching. "Good evening, students, I'm Professor McGonagall. I'm the Transfiguration teacher here at Hogwarts, and for some, I'll serve as your head of house. Please line yourselves up, single file, and we will proceed in for the sorting."

The youngsters did as told and got in a line, with Bella sandwiched between Lucius and Walden, any previous transgressions forgotten. Despite their knowledge of the sorting, like all others, they were quite nervous. It was a moment of truth, one in which they couldn't hide anything. The witch, now known as Professor McGonagall, opened the double doors slightly, just enough to admit all the children.

"First years, if you are ready, please file in. I wish you all the best," she said briefly.

Then, she went in to the Hall, followed by the first in line. They all filed in slowly, one after the other, all slightly unnerved by the fact that every eye in the room was trained on them. A plump man with a sprinkling of thin hair closed the doors behind them, smiling gaily and shuffling up next to a stool with a rather bedraggled old hat, a scroll of parchment clasped in his chubby little hand. Walden, Bellatrix, and Lucius all knew this man as Mister Slughorn. He was, in fact, a family friend, and well traveled in pureblood circles. Here, however, he would have to be Professor Slughorn.

Slowly, the focus of the Hall shifted from the children to the hat, and all at once, the torn brim opened wide, and the hat began to sing:

Welcome one and welcome all,

My greetings I extend.

I'm here tonight to help you,

Though I won't offer a hand.

I'll assist you in a choice

That one must make when coming here;

On where to go and what to do,

With whom or what, and where.

Of these choices there are four,

That help make up the rest.

You might wonder, aren't there more?

But four are on the Hogwarts crest.

Though there are many types of people,

And all types come through these doors,

Their character is clear to me,

And so, dear child, is yours.

If you are quite intelligent,

With wit to beat all others-

You might belong in Ravenclaw,

Amongst other knowledge lovers.

But if, perhaps, your strong suit

Is faith for all you are a part;

Maybe you're a Hufflepuff,

With great loyalty in your heart.

Maybe you have courage,

Enough to beat all other things.

Then you should be a Gryffindor,

And stay with other jungle kings.

But perhaps you are quite cunning,

With trickery to give you pull.

Then you might be Slytherin,

The viper to kill the bull.

You cannot make this choice yourself,

But I can't make it for you.

You'll have to place me on your head,

So I can aid your school debut.

Now I shant stall anymore,

I can tell the state you're in.

It's time, now, to examine you-

So let the sorting please begin!

And begin it did. Professor Slughorn unrolled the parchment and called out clearly-

"Andia, Michelle!"

A little brunette girl separated herself from the line and shuffled over to the stool, sitting down carefully. After a few seconds of debate, the hat called out- "RAVENCLAW!". There was raucous cheering from the Ravenclaw table, and the girl hurried over, sitting next to some older students and shaking slightly, but still looking rather pleased.

"Atticus, Princely!"

What an awful name that was. A chubby boy with mousy brown hair separated himself from the group, and reverently placed the hat on his greasy little head. "HUFFLEPUFF!". The appropriate table cheered, and the boy ran as fast as his fat little legs would carry him.

"Avery, Charles!"

Avery walked over slowly, skeletal looking boy he was, and placed the hat on him, not even bothering to sit. A moment later, the hat decided- "SLYTHERIN!".

"Beladia, Angela!"

That awful girl from the boat ride separated herself from the line. Though she was no longer soaked, to the trio's great disappointment, she still looked just as awful. She put the hat on her frizzy red hair, and then- "GRYFFINDOR!" Typical, that so irritating a girl should be a Gryffindor.

"Black, Bellatrix!"

A murmur traveled through the tables. Yes, anyone who was anyone knew of the Black family, and many probably had little doubt where she'd end up. It was just a matter of how quickly. One could only imagine the whispers MacNair and Malfoy would send through the tables.

Bella picked up the hat, with Professor Slughorn beaming at her. She lowered the hat onto her head, and just as it touched the first hairs of her head, it yelled- "SLYTHERIN!". The Slytherin table erupted into cheers, and Bella flounced over to the table, a wide smile spread across her face as some upperclassmen and Avery whispered their congratulations. Gracelessly, she shoved Avery over and moved so that a space was on either side of her: seats for Lucius and Walden. She made eye contact with them, and both saw what she meant, and smirked in return. Naturally. What else could one expect, really?

And so, the sorting dragged on and on. Goyle and Crabbe both made it to the Slytherin table, which was good. One needed a few good brutes around as the brawn for the Slytherin schemes. Finally, another important name came up. Or, at least, one that was important to Bella.

"MacNair, Walden!"

Walden stalked up to the Sorting Hat, confidence exuding off him in waves. Just as expected, a ripple of whispers traveled through the Great Hall. He plopped the pile of rags onto his head (with a rather disgusted expression, one might add), and seconds later- "SLYTHERIN!".

Another large cheer, and Walden joined Bella on the seat to her right receiving more congratulations, like his comrade had. The two exchange quick kisses on the cheek before both looked at Lucius expectantly.

"Malfoy, Lucius!"

These were the loudest whispers yet. Everyone knew of the Malfoy money, just as everyone knew of the Black lineage. Not that the Malfoy lineage ranked far below the Blacks, or the Black fortune ranked far below the Malfoys, but both were legendary in those respective fields, because they were the best.

Lucius strode over to the hat, and just as quickly as Bellatrix- "SLYTHERIN!"

The table was screaming, banging goblets as the youngest Malfoy situated himself next to Bella. He grinned at his comrades, receiving several congratulations, just as his friends had before him.

So, the sorting dragged on, and the Slytherin table received several more additions, including Rene Wiltshire and Augustus Rookwood. Finally, the affair was over, and the trio stuffed themselves full of various foods. So far, things weren't so bad at Hogwarts. In fact, Bella figured she could adjust this place to suit her purposes quite nicely.

Again, hope you enjoyed. I wrote the Sorting Hat song myself, by the way. I'm quite proud. Please don't use the song without permission!

Please tell me what you think, if you can. I love to know what my readers really think.