I won nothing that I do not create myself. Everything else belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 2: Flowers, Hats, and Blood

The great doors swung open and there stood a round faced man. The look on his face was something peculiar. Though you could tell by his eyes, he was kind-hearted, his stern face and just visible scars made it clear, he was not one to be trifled with.

"Here are the firs' years, Professor Longbottom," Hagrid said.

"I'll take them now Hagrid," Professor Longbottom said. He led them into the entrance hall.

"You could fit my house in here," Jane murmured, noting the huge side. They just walked by four great hourglasses. Above the hourglasses, and on both sides of the door were many black flowers painted on the wall, each one was about a foot long and were grouped in groups of five. Above them were the words in gold:

"For each flower upon this wall, remembers a warrior who did fall in this school's darkest hour fighting a malevolent power.

Please do not weep in sorrow, for they died the chance for happier tomorrow."

Jane didn't understand what that meant, but continued on with the group. Others who saw the memorial bowed their heads, Sam Creevey shed some silent tears. As they continued Jane noted that they didn't enter through another set of doors, which sounded like the rest of the students were, but through another set, into an empty chamber. The students became very cramped in there. When Neville reached another door, he turned around, his stern look remained.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," he said. "The start-of-term banquet will start momentarily. But before we can begin, you must be sorted into your houses. This is important because, while you are here, your house will be like a family. You will eat together, sleep in the house dormitories, and take classes together.

"They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw. Each one has its own noble history and created many outstanding wizards and witches. While you are here, any triumph will earn you points, any rule breaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the house cup. I'm sure each of you will do well in your house.

"The Sorting Ceremony will begin in a few minutes, in front of the entire school. I'd advise you to tidy yourselves up. You only get once chance to make a first impression."

Jane looked at Lily. "So, all we do is put a hat on?" Jane asked.

"Yes," Lily said. Jane felt relieved, but jumped when someone screamed from behind her. Jane looked up and saw twenty pearly -white ghosts streaming through the walls.

"Peeves is behaving better the past year," said a fat little monk noted.

"That's because Professor Flitwick allowed him to visit that toad-woman during the summer. He gets to release a great deal of energy doing- who are you?"

A ghost wearing ruff and tights just noticed the students.

"They look like this year's first years," said a pale, beautiful lady in a dress.

"I hope you're in my house," the Fat Friar said, "I was a Hufflepuff." And the ghosts continued on their way into the hall. Just as they left, Neville returned holding a parchment scroll.

"Form a line and follow me," he said.

As Jane entered the Great Hall, she thought she'd explode from excitement. There were thousands of candles floating in midair, the ceiling looked as though there was no ceiling. All there was, was a hole showing the starry sky above. She heard Hugo behind her note, "It's bewitched to look like the night sky. Mom told me she read it in Hogwarts, A History." Before them was a stool with an old hat upon it. Behind the stool, was the staff table. Jane saw Hagrid there, and only one vacant seat. The entire room seemed tense, and watched the hat. Suddenly, a seam opened, like a wide mouth — It started to sing:

"All students once, both old and new

Good evening to you watching me,

Come place me on your head now,

And I'll tell you where you ought to be.

A thousand years have come,

Since from my very humble start.

Now I must decide where you're to dwell:

With the cunning, brave, pure, or smart

With Slytherin, those clothed in green,

Hold great ambition and cunning, you'll see

While the Gryffindors, clothed of red

When faced with great danger, they will not flee

Then the Hufflepuffs, clothed of yellow,

Out of all, they'll accept anyone

And last is the Ravenclaws, clad in blue,

Who use their minds to ensure they've won

Each house is aged and old

And one that will be perfect for you

Now come and place me on your head

And remember, what I say is true.

The entire audience was clapping for the hat, who in turn gave a bow to each table.

Neville stepped forward with a roll of parchment. "When I call your name, please come forward," he said. Neville went down the names, and the hat called out the proper house, and the respective table cheered.

"Creevey, Samuel," Neville called. Sam walked up and sat down.

The hat barely touched his head before crying, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table cheered. Neville gave Sam a quick smile, remembering his uncle all to well. Neville returned to calling out names.

"Dursley, Jane," Neville called. Jane started out slowly. Lily gave her a push.

"Go on, you'll be fine," Lily whispered. Jane finally made it to the stool. Neville placed it on her head. When he did, Jane heard a quiet whisper in her ear.

"Hmm. Very difficult," the Hat said, "Plenty of courage, kindness for those you don't know, and a good mind. And a desire to prove yourself. But where to put you?"

"I just want to go where I fit in best, where I can make more friends," Jane thought, "Somewhere like that."

"Interesting, friends you want? You strive for friends? Well, then it better be," the whisper said, "Slytherin!" Jane felt the hat come off, and saw her table cheering for her. She looked at the remaining first years, Lily and Hugo stared at her dumbfounded. When she got to the Gryffindors, James and Albus had similar looks to their sister. Then, when she got to the Ravenclaws, Kay and Rose looked like they had been hit on the head with an iron pan. Jane slowly made her way to the table and ended up sitting next to Scorpius Malfoy.

"Welcome," he said to Jane, holding out his hand. Jane shook the third year's hand.

"Thanks," Jane said sitting down. Neville continued down the list of names.

"Didn't I see you in Potter's compartment?" Scorpius asked.

"Yes," Jane said, "We're cousins."

"Well, most wizarding families are," Scorpius noted, "Even distant ones."

"But I meant through my father, he's a muggle. He's Albus and Lily's father's cousin. My mom is also a muggle," Jane said. Those listening to them were taken back, especially Scorpius.

"You're a Muggle-born?" he asked.

"Is there a problem with that?" Jane asked. Scorpius was about to answer, when Neville called another name.

"Potter, Lily," he called. Jane looked away from Scorpius and watched carefully as the hat was placed on her friend's head.

"Gryffindor!" the hat called after a few seconds. Jane gave a sigh, before looking at Scorpius.

"You were saying?" she asked. But Scorpius hadn't said anything. He was still caught up on a Muggle-born becoming a Slytherin and just happened to sit next to him. He had been raised to know that, though Muggle-borns were wizards and witches, he was just better than them. Though, most of those came from his mother and her side of the family. Grandpa Parkinson held onto what his father called, the old ideas. His father was slightly more accepting of them. He wasn't friends with any of them, but he wasn't outright mean or ignorant to them. His father coined it as a "Live and let live" policy.

"No," Scorpius said, "There isn't. It's just rare when a Muggle-born becomes a Slytherin."

"Why?" she asked, "Isn't this the house of cunning and ambition?"

"Yes, but it wasn't always," Scorpius said, "It had a bad reputation for a long time, since many Dark Wizards came from this house." Scorpius thought how his father's mother's side was filled with that class of wizard. Due to his mixed upbringing, he strived to grow up different, it was his ambition to become different, and that ambition ended him up in the same house.

"But there also were some good wizards, right?" Jane asked, "That's what cousin Harry said."

"That's true," Scorpius said. Neville got to one of the last names on his list.

"Weasley, Hugo," Neville called. Every Weasley and Potter in the hall watched with keen interest where this one would go to. The hat sat long on Hugo's head, debating on what to do with this boy.

"Hufflepuff!" the hat cried. Those in the hall who knew the Weasley's personally and the Weasleys in the hall themselves were shocked. Neville continued on. A girl named Alice Zabini joined Slytherin. She sat on Scorpius' other side. Neville rolled up the parchment and took the stool and hat away.

As Neville walked out of the hall, he sent a patronus to Harry.

"Finally, a stupid Weasley gets where they should be," Alice mutters to Scorpius. "Have a nice summer, Scorpius?" Jane hears this.

"All right," Scorpius said, finding himself in an uncomfortable position. Scorpius was saved when Professor Flitwick spoke.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," he said standing on his chair, "Before we start our feast, I wish to say some very important words. 'The treacle tart is most excellent this year, I'd advise you to try some.'

"Now, let's begin." Many students laughed and clapped at his comment as the food rose up onto the plates before them.

"Wow," Jane said taking in the variety and sheer quantity of food before them. She started by putting some roast beef, with fries and peppermint humbugs.

"So, what's your ancestry Jane?" Alice asked.

"Ancestry?" Jane asked.

""Well, it was called 'blood-purity' before," said a girl named Darcy Goyle, who came down from one end of the table. She had a gaunt face and sat across from them. "Dad remembers those good years when your blood decided what class of wizard you were." Alice nodded in agreement. Scorpius shifted uncomfortably.

"Oh, that," Jane said coolly, "I'm Muggle-born." Alice and Darcy choked on the food there were eating.

"You're a Muggle-born?" Alice asked, surprised.

"Why are you in this house?" Darcy demanded, as though Jane had just insulted her parents.

"Well," Jane started.

"Alice, Darcy, what qualities did the Sorting claim were part of this house?" Scorpius asked the two first years. His tone made it clear, he didn't favor their prejudices.

"Cunning and ambition," Darcy replied, slightly taken back at Scorpius' defending of this Muggle-born.

"So you're saying that Muggle-borns can't have either?" Scorpius asked calmly. Darcy and Alice looked at each other over the food.

"So you're protecting her?" Alice asked, with a sneer.

"No," Scorpius said, "I'm defending you two."

"What do you mean by that?" Darcy asked.

"By your views, you are a great deal better than witches born like Jane, yes?" Scorpius asked, "So, answer this, which is worse, being beaten like I did you by me, a 'pure-blood' or Jane?" Darcy and Alice turned red very quickly, realizing he had gotten them twice. They didn't say anything after that, just shooting looks at Scorpius and Jane. Jane smiled into her goblet, so the girls couldn't see. She couldn't wait to write home about this.

Soon dinner became dessert and Jane decided to try Professor Flitwick's advice. Scorpius remained quiet since his intervention. He seemed debating something inside him, Jane thought.

"Hey Scorpius," Jane said finally. He, Alice, and Darcy looked up. "I was told, when we get to our third year, you can pick alternative classes. Which ones did you pick?" Scorpius looked somewhat relieved. He hadn't expected Jane to ask him about that, let alone know about it. But thinking back to the company she kept before, it makes sense she knew bits and pieces.

"Well," Scorpius started, Darcy and Alice also listened, "I take Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, despite father's warning, and Arithmancy."

"What's wrong with Care of Magical Creatures?" Jane asked.

"The professor," Scorpius said, "Hagrid sometimes forgets things aren't as dangerous to him as they are to us."

"Was he the giant guy who brought me across the lake?" Jane asked.

"That's the oaf," Darcy said. Jane ignored Darcy's insult.

"They sound interesting," Jane said, "Which one do you like best Scorpius?"

Scorpius seemed to think for a minute. "Arithmancy," he said, "It's a challenge, and I always like a challenge." Jane nodded and noticed the chatter die down. She soon saw why: The desserts vanished and Professor Flitwick just stood up.

"Well, now that our feast has filled us up, I have some announcements to make," Flitwick said, "First, to our first years, the Dark Forest is strictly out-of-bounds. Also, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has added several of the latest joke items on sale from Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

to the banned item list. If you desire, you may see the entire list, containing I believe five and thirty-seven items now. And Quidditch trials will begin next week for every student who is at least a second-year. Contact your house head for more information. Now I wish you all a good night sleep." Jane turned to talk to Scorpius, but he had already left. She continued to look for him, but was distracted by a call for Slytherin first years.

"Slytherin First years, this way," called a female Slytherin prefect. Jane got up and followed her classmates. They turned down a long corridor to deep dungeons. "This is the quickest way to our common room," exclaimed the prefect. Eventually, she said, "Here we are." Jane looked and stared at a blank wall. "The current password is, 'Potions Master'." The door opened and Jane entered. She looked at the low ceiling, with many green clad lamps and chairs. On her left, was an announcement board.

"All right, boys' dormitories are on the right, girls' on the left. Jane followed Darcy and Alice up their stairs and entered the room. There were three beds stationed in the circular room, with a heater in the middle. The beds had green and silver laced curtains and velvet like blankets. Jane sat down on her bed and smiled.

"Just because we share the same house, don't expect to become friends with anyone," Darcy commented before closing her curtains.

"Yeah," Alice said. Alice also closed her curtains.

"Like I care about you two," Jane thought as she lay on her bed. She soon fell asleep, dreaming about trains, snakes, lions, weasels, hats, and scales.