A/N: Thank you amIfive, Potterfan82 and MostlySane for the kind reviews! I wasn't sure if anyone was reading this... :-)


Chapter 3

They arrived at Hogwarts station when it was already dark. Felicity had changed into her new black school robes, which she had purchased at Diagon Alley, a totally fascinating shopping street for wizards. It had been hidden in the backyard of a rather seedy pub and Felicity had not known where to look first, trying to take in all the strange shops and people and merchandise.

Of course it hadn't been her parents, that had taken her there. They wouldn't know how to find it, not being wizards, and they would never let themself be seen anywhere near a place like this. No, it had been a rather amiable elderly woman, who had come to her house two days ago, that had taken her. Her name was Murial Doge and she had said she was a friend of the headmaster of her school.

It had been that headmaster, who had been responsible for Felicity being allowed to attend Hogwarts after all. Like she had told James and Sirius, her father had thrown away the strange letter, that an owl of all things had delivered to their house. She had seen that it was addressed to her, but she had not been allowed to read it. When she asked her father, who had indeed looked into the envelope - even though his face was one of disgust - he just told her someone had pulled a rather stupid and silly joke. And that was that.

But letters had been coming and her father had gotten angry. Then one afternoon, a tall man with a long grey beard and the strangest clothes Felicity had ever seen had stood on their doorstep, asking if it would be possible to speak with her father.

It might have been the strange authority that seemed to radiate from the older man, that had prompted her father to let the weird looking man, who introduced himself as Albus Dumbledore, into the house.

Unfortunately they had gone into her father's study, where she was not able to hear anything through the closed door.

But after Dumbledore had left, her father had called her into the room. He had then told her that she would attend a special school from next term on. A school that dealt with people like her, who had a 'special condition'. Her father had been very disappointed about it. But Dumbledore had obviously convinced him of the fact, that what ever it was that was wrong with her, wouldn't be stoppable.

The next day Mrs Doge had shown up to help her shopping for all the stuff she would need at her new school. It were the strangest things. A cauldron, and long black robes and magic books... But the strangest thing had been the wand. She had spent the better part of an hour waving short wooden sticks in the air, feeling silly and like a total failure. Obviously Mrs Doge and the shopkeeper expected something to happen and it just didn't. When at last one of the sticks – wands – had suddenly erupted in golden sparks with a bang, she had been so surprised, she had dropped it.

She had the feeling she still had to learn an awful lot about being a witch. And all the other kids around her seemed to know so much more! Like Alice and James and Sirius. And even Lily! Although she had told them, that her parents were 'muggles' as well. But she had known about Hogwarts since July and read all about it. Her parents had been delighted, that one of their daughters was a witch, or so she had told them.

Her parents had been embarrassed. They were both doctors, in fact her father was a quite famous cardiologist. They lived and breathed science. All her birthday and Christmas presents were books about the human body and biology or famous scientists. Or a chemical kit and a microscope. It might even have been somewhat interesting, if it would not have been so much. There were other things she liked. Like books with real stories, or climbing trees, or just lying in the grass and watching the clouds float across the sky, searching for dragons and unicorns in their forms. She would have liked to play with other kids as well, but she only was allowed to do so with those her parents approved of, and most of them were just boring.

When she was eight her father had dissected a rat with her and her sister. Felicity had cried for a whole afternoon after burying the rat in their garden behind her mothers prized rosebushes.

Her older sister Marian, on the other hand was a real little star. She had already won three science awards at her school at the age of thirteen. Her parents were so proud of her. If she, Felicity, could just be a little bit more like her sister... And now that.

Her parents hadn't even brought her to the station. They had called a taxi and told her to behave and take care until Christmas. There had been none of the tears and hugs she had witnessed on Platform 9 ¾. She sighed sadly, but when Alice gave her an encouraging smile and Lily squeezed her hand and whispered „Don't worry!" she already felt better.

They made their way to the school with little boats that glid over the smooth surface of a lake. In the first boat was the man who had greeted them at the platform. He was huge and she had heard someone whisper that he was a half giant. It was to cool to be true.

The lake and the looming castle looked beautiful, but Felicity couldn't really appreciate it. She was too nervous about this 'Sorting', that would take place when they arrived at the school. James had told her, that she would have to wear a hat, and the hat would then announce which house she belonged to. That was strange in itself, but so was everything else she had seen in the last two days. Even if she felt a little insecure because she knew so little about all things magic, she liked it. It was all a little crazy, but she liked it! And she liked Alice and Lily and James and Sirius. They weren't boring, but really nice and they didn't sneer at her. Well that Avery guy had, but you got idiots everywhere. The thing was, she liked these people, these witches and wizards and she wanted to stay. But what if tonight, at the Sorting, the hat would announce she didn't belong here and wasn't a witch after all?

These were the things that kept running through her head. James and Alice and Lily on the other hand, seemed totally unfazed and kept pointing out different things to each other. Or rather Alice and Lily were pointing them out to each other, while James pointed them out to Sirius.

Sirius seemed strangely subdued though, and there were little worry lines on his forehead. Felicity frowned puzzled. Why was he worried? His whole family were wizards, he should feel like a fish in the water. And there was no way he would be sent home... Then she remembered him saying, that his parents would be upset if he would not get into the right house. Slytherin, she thought it was called. Well, she didn't care what house, if she would just be sorted somewhere. Even if it was Slytherin, which seemed to be not much favoured by either James nor Alice, she would be glad. If someone like Sirius got into Slytherin, it couldn't be that bad...

***

An hour later, the Sorting was in full swing and Felicity was biting her lip until it almost bled in her anxiety.

Avery had been the first to be sorted and the hat had shouted without any hesitance: „Slytherin!"

A small little boy with glasses had become a Hufflepuff, as had a girl with a round face and short blonde hair.

Then Sirius stepped up to the stool, sat down and put the hat on his head. The hat was silent for a moment, and Felicity could see him swallow. He was nervous. Then the head said in a very surprised voice. „Well, I wouldn't have thought I see that day, but it is GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius eyes widened and the table to the far right, that was decorated in red and gold, cheered. The students on the far left table on the other hand hissed and booed. Someone called „Traitor!". That must be the Slytherins, Felicity thought. Sirius stood up slowly and put the hat back on the stool. His face was a mask, not betraying any emotion, as he walked over to sit with the Gryffindors.

The sorting went on, and faster as she liked, the people in front of her became fewer abd fewer. Lily had been sorted into Gryffindor as well and now she soon was next. When her name was called out, she gave Alice behind her a desperated look, but she just winked at her.

Hesitantly she walked up to the stool, aware that the eyes of the whole school were upon her. She sat down and put on the hat, waiting for it to announce she was an intruder and should be sent home immediately.

Then she heard the hat whisper into her ear.

Well Slytherin won't be an option with you will it? Although I see quite an urge to prove yourself... but they don't take well to muggleborns, you see...

Quite a good brain you've got there. Yes, I can see you becoming quite the brilliant student. So it might be Ravenclaw. Also you are a hard worker, too. Lot's of studying as far as I can see. But not so much joy for it, eh? It's a burden rather for you. So maybe I should put you in Hufflepuff... Although you might be starting to have some fun, if you get those spellbooks into your ha- Oh.

The sorting hat suddely stopped.

Oh, well, that changes things, I guess. Yes, I might make you after all, a GRYFFINDOR!

The last was shouted out loud, and the hat was lifted from Felicity's eyes to reveal the Great Hall and the cheering Gryffindors.

Felicity felt kind of dazed, but more relieved than she had ever been, when she walked to the Gryffindor table under the loud cheering of her fellow students. She was stunned. They were cheering! Because she belonged to them! Smiling like an idiot she sat down next to Lily, who hugged her, and smiled at Sirius across from her.

Sirius smiled back, butit didn't reach his eyes. He was a little white around the nose, as if he wasn't feeling all too well.

Felicity noticed, that she had missed some of the Sorting, when a laughing Alice suddely plopped down next to her and gave her a bear-hug. James followed her not too long after, the hat having shouted „Gryffindor!" before it even touched his head. He was grinning like a maniac and the rest of them grinned back.

„That's funny isn't it?! Alice said, looking around her. "That we all got sorted into Gryffindor? Maybe we'll soon be fighting dragons together!" she waved her arm about, like holding an imaginary sword.

James snorted. „You are girls!" He said. „You could not slay any dragons!"

„Excuse me?" Lily looked at him, her green eyes blazing. „We could do anything you boys can do, and probably even better."

„Yeah!" Alice exclaimed. „Because we wouldn't waste so much time, slapping our own shoulders, congratulating us how great we are!"

„Exactly." Lily agreed. „Although, from what I heard, dragons are an endangered species, so I think no one should slay them!"

James rolled his eyes.

TBC


Do me a favour, push the button! Please review!