Chapter 3 Hogwarts, here I come!

For the remaining time of the summer, I learned to use my wand. I read all my school books, and tried to do some spells that were written there. Some of them I could do easily but some were difficult to master.

I also gave to Harry the same necklace as mine of a tiny clock. He was really happy for the birthday present and thanked me at least ten times. It was a silver necklace with a clock with Roman numerals as a charm. Behind the clock there were the words 'Amor vincit omnia' it meant 'Love conquers all' in Latin.

When James gave it to me, I had asked him to buy another one for Harry, and he had agreed, and I had kept it since then. It was perfect for Harry, since it was the power that he possessed that Voldemort didn't have.

And then the day to depart to Hogwarts finally came. I hugged Harry like 10 times at least, and told him to look after himself, and to wait for me, as I would come back in the summer. Then I quickly went inside, before I started crying or something.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My black curly hair reached my shoulders and most of the time I just let it loose. I had my mothers midnight blue eyes that were very bright and obvious to be seen by everyone who looked at me. I had tiny lips and nose, high cheekbones and a light skin colour. I was short from height and pretty skinny. Except my eyes, there was nothing impressive about my looks. Oh well, maybe by the time puberty came around I would look better or worse. It all depended on the manner of time.

I took my trunk with Ventus in a cage on top of it, took a deep breath and departed to Kings Cross station.

I stared at the chaotic and magical platform and couldn't help but grin. I had just arrived at platform 9 3/4, after saying goodbye to Mrs Figg outside of the wall. Going trough the wall had felt weird at first, but I'm sure I would get used to it.

And here I was. Well no regrets I suppose. I walked to the train and with a lot of difficulties put my trunk on the train. Ventus creased loudly when he saw me trying to catch my breath. Now it was time to search for an compartment.

Most of them I saw, were already full with students, but I found one were there was a girl sitting reading a book. I knocked on the door and looked inside.

'Excuse me, can I sit here?' I asked the girl. 'Yes, of course, go ahead.' She told me. I sighed in relief and quickly walked inside and put my trunk away. I placed Ventus next to me and sat down opposite the girl. It was obvious that she was a first year as she was already wearing her uniform that didn't have her house on it. She had blond hair in a high ponytail and green eyes.

'I'm Hope Selwyn.' I told her and exchanged my hand. She looked up from her book again and smiled at me. 'Felicity Eastchurch' she said and shook my hand. 'So which house would you like to be in?' she asked me.

'Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.'

'Really? Me too. Although, I prefer Ravenclaw.' I nodded at that. It didn't really matter to me in with house I was, as long as it wasn't Slytherin. And no, it wasn't because of how 'evil' the house was, but because I couldn't be close to Harry if I was put there.

We talked further, and I found out that Felicity lived with her parents and little brother in London, and that her whole family was magical. She loved playing gobstone and watching Quidditch, but was terrible at playing it.

I told her about my love for books and that I lived with a guardian since I lost my parents at a young age.

'So you've never seen a Quidditch match? Wow. I grew up seeing them, since my father works at the Department of Magical Games and Sports and he always has to help organise new Quidditch games.' she told me.

'Really? You think I can come watch one?' I asked. She nodded enthusiastic. 'I'll as my father for free tickets for you don't worry, then maybe we can go together!'

I smiled at her when she said that. It felt really nice to make a friend here. Since I had lived so long on my own with no girl friend to talk too. Of course I had Harry, but it was really nice to now that I would have a friend in Hogwarts before he came here. I hope we ended up in the same house.

'First years this way!'

I heard Hagrid's voice over all the students that were trying to get of the platform, Felicity took my hand and we both followed the voice of the half giant.

Hagrid beamed at us, and explained that the first years took the boats to go to Hogwarts. We all nodded, and went into the boats with four people each.

There were two other boys, me and Felicity in our boat and one of the boys (a boy with short curly hair and a smug smirk around his face) was holding the lantern in his hands. He looked vaguely familiar, but I couldn't remember from where.

And then Hogwarts came into sign, and I forgot everything. It was in one word, breathtaking. I heard a few students gasp, and Smug boy (I'm going to call him that from now on) blew a low whistle under her breath.

The castle looked magnificent with it's lights on and gave away a well... magical feeling. I couldn't help but smile brightly. Now I knew why Harry always saw it as his home. It really had a homy feeling to it.

We all stepped out of the boats when we arrived and followed Hagrid to the main entrance. Felicity squeezed my hand, and we both smiled at each other. It was obvious that we were nervous. We went up the stairs and I immediately recognised Professor McGonagall who was standing with a stern expression waiting for us.

'Welcome to Hogwarts' she said clearly and firmly. All the chatting quitted down as she got everyone's full attention.

'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.' She took a deep breath and looked at all of us with a stern gaze.

'There are four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Wait here shortly before you will be able to enter.' Her gaze swept over the first years again, and stopped for a minute on me, then she turned around and disappeared around the corner.

All the students started talking with each other in hushes, while I remained still. You may think that I know her because I had been sending Dumbledore letters, but no this was my first time meeting her. And I haven't been writing Dumbledore that much, once a year or so, but that's about it. I mean the last time I wrote him was nine month ago.

McGonagall came back, and we were aloud to go inside the Great Hall. I looked at the grand table and saw all the teachers there watching us enter. I looked at Dumbledore for a minute, but he was looking around the students. We stopped in front of the Sorting Hat, that was lying on a chair, and McGonagall walked up and took a big peace of parchment.

'When I call your name, you will come forward and put on the Hat, to know in wich house you will be sorted.'

'Anderson George!' The first student to be sorted walked up to the hat with a nervous expression on his face. He stayed under the hat for a minute before it shouted, 'GRYFFINDOR!'

Grinning the boy walked down the farthest table, who clapped and cheered while receiving there newest housemate.

'Belby Marcus!' A confident buy this time with a smirk on his face. 'RAVENCLAW!'

'Bell Katie!' 'GRYFFINDOR!'

'Bletchley Miles!' 'SLYTHERIN!'

'Carrow Flora!' 'SLYTHERIN!'

'Carrow Hestia!' 'SLYTHERIN!'

'Daren Simon!' 'HUFFLEPUFF!'

'Douglas Nathaniel!' 'RAVENCLAW!'

'Eastchurch Felicity!'

I looked at Felicity, she winked at me and walked up to the Hat. After a minute the hat shouted 'RAVENCLAW!' She grinned and walked over the table that was right from the Gryffindor table. I hoped I was in the same house as her.

I zooned out a little, because it was a long way before it was my turn. Slowly the students became less, until it was my turn.

'Selwyn Hope!' I could have sworn that almost every teacher looked up when my name was called. I ignored them, and walked up to sit on the chair. I put the hat on my head and waited.

Well well this is interesting...a smart mind, and also very brave to protect the once you love...hmm...I wonder...

I waited patiently. The Hat probably needed a long time to think about which house to put me.

Oh! It said suddenly. A seer, no less! How impressive! At such a young age! Hmmm I'm thinking about Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, but Hufflepuff would also be good, since you are so loyal. What do you think?

Me? I asked startled. I didn't know you asked people for their opinion. I heard a distant laugh. Child, it is no crime to ask that...So which house would you like to go?

I thought about that for a minute. If I went to Gryffindor I would be closer to Harry, but Ravenclaw should also be good for me, since I loved learning new things. And Hufflepuff wouldn't be so bad either, weren't they the hard working once?

I heard the hat laugh again. I think you have been sitting here too long child, look around. I looked up and saw people whispering too each other. Oh, had to be quick then. Now that I thought about it, it didn't really matter to me so much, as long as I was in Hogwarts.

I'll let you decide I told the hat. Very well it told me. And don't worry about your little secret of reincarnation, I will keep my mouth about it. It's not every day you meet someone like you.

Before I could react the Hat already shouted:

'RAVENCLAW!'

I stood up and there was a loud applause from the Ravenclaw table. People were standing up and clapping. I quickly made my way to the table. I heard the some students whispering something about a HatStall or something, before I walked up to where Felicity was and sat down next to her. She grinned at me, and I couldn't help but smile back. I looked at the grand table, and saw Dumbledore watching me. I nodded at him, and he smiled. I didn't know what to think about the Hat knowing about my reincarnation. Would it tell it Dumbledore? I hope not.

'You were a True HatStall!' Felicity told me. 'A what?' I blinked at her. She rolled her eyes at me. 'It means that the hat took a long time to decide in which house to place you. You took six minutes! The last True HatStall was more than twenty years ago!'

I looked up at the table of the teachers again, and saw all of them looking at me. Joy, now I would be seen as some celebrity or something. Now I know why Harry hated this. 'Wait, I told Felicity 'what do you mean with True?' Felicity gave me a flat look. 'Sometimes people have a near HatStall, were there sorting is for four minutes for example, but True HatStalls are for five minutes or more.'

Ooh right. Now I remember. Didn't Harry have a near HatStall? The hat couldn't decide between Slytherin and Gryffindor, with him. It was pretty dumb of me not to know this, since I was you know, a Ravenclaw!

It was time to make the make the best of this year, before Harry came with his trouble.

After eating we were guided to the Ravenclaw tower on the fifth floor by a prefect by the name of Robert Hilliard. I couldn't help but look awed at the moving staircases and the talking portraits.

We arrived at the tower after climbing the spiral staircase and stopped in front of a door without a doorknob or keyhole, but a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

'In order to enter the room, a person must answer a riddle asked by the eagle knocker; if they answer incorrectly, they must wait for someone else who gets it right.' Robert told us. All the first years blinked and nodded slowly. It was obvious it would take a while to get used to this for them. Robert turned to the knocker, and waited for his question.

The eagle looked at Robert and opened his mouth. 'Under pressure is the only way I work and by myself is the only way I'm hurt. What am I?'

Robert looked thoughtful for a second and the smiled. 'A diamond.'

'Correct.' The door opened as all of us watched in awe. Wow, so you had to guess those kind of riddle's everyday? Mah, I'm sure I will get used to it.

When we stepped in I looked around in wonder. It was the perfect place to relax or study.

It was a wide, circular room with a midnight blue carpet, arched windows hung with blue and bronze silks, and a domed ceiling painted with stars.

The room was furnished with tables, chairs, and bookcases; and by the door leading up to the dormitories stood a tall statue of Rowena Ravenclaw made of white marble.

Robert waited until all off us were inside, and then pointed at the door to the dormitories. 'You will go trough that door to your dormitories, boys on the left and girls on the right. When you see a door with first years on it, you will enter there. All of your belonging have already been brought to your room. Good luck.'

We all quickly went inside and found our room for the girls of first year. I took the bed next to the window and Felicity took the bed right from me. I ignored the other three girls who were looking at me with nasty looks. If you were wondering who they were: Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe and Latisha Randle. Yes, you heard me right, Cho Chang.

The girl Harry liked so much. I was not really impressed with her. She had been giving me this weird looks at the Great Hall. Those three girl were sitting together giggling about something while looking at me and Felicity.

Next to the Asian girl there was Marietta who had reddish curly hair that was in a ponytail and brown eyes. As last there was Latisha with her brown short hair to the chin and hazel eyes. It was obvious that they didn't like me (and Felicity) for some reason.

Felicity rolled her eyes. 'If you have something to say to me or her' she pointed at me 'then you better say it to our face' she told the girls. Wow, go Felicity. I new there was a reason I liked her. They just looked away and started unpacking there stuff. At least the stopped giggling. It was obvious that the didn't want any conflict, but only gossip. I smirked at Felicity when she looked at me. Although I could have told them myself, it was nice to have a friend who stuck up for you.

I quickly unpacked my stuff and putt on my pyjamas, let's see how my first day in Hogwarts would be tomorrow was the last thing I thought before I fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up with a terrible headache. I had a weird dream, which could or could not be a vision. Not the best way to start my classes.

I quickly showered and dressed, and went downstairs to the Great Hall and waited for Felicity, while I ate some eggs. 'Hey, aren't you that HatStall girl?'

I looked up, and a Ravenclaw boy a few years older with blond short hair and blue eyes who was grinning at me. He was sitting across me and eyed me up and down. I raised an eyebrow at him. 'Is that how I'm going to be known now?'

He laughed at that. 'Maybe for a while, but don't worry it will die down.' Then he stretched his hand out to me. 'Jason Samuels, third year' he told me. I took his hand. 'Hope Selwyn.'

'So, you nervous about your first lessons?' He asked me.

'A little' I told him.

'Don't worry, the classes are really interesting, especially Charms and Transfiguration' he reshured me. I smiled at him, thankful. I wasn't sure if he was trying to befriend me because I was a HatStall or just because. I was way to paranoid, if you ask me. Then someone called him from the other table, he stood up and grinned at me. 'See you around, Hope.' I nodded at him. 'Sure, you too, Jason.'

Just when he walked away Felicity set down next to me. 'Who was that? You already going after boys?' She grinned at me. I gave her a flat look. 'I'm eleven, Felicity I'm not interested in boys.' She shook her head with a smile. 'For now.'

'So, first years, here are your timetables!' Professor Flitzwick, head of Ravenclaw said while he walked up to us. I looked down (because he was short, you know) he smiled at me when he passed me my timetable. I nodded and took the paper.

First period Charms with the Gryffindors and then Herbology with the Slytherins. I looked at Felicity and saw that she had the same.

Time to go to class then.

Charms went good, if you didn't count my parther. I mean I wasn't the best of the class, but at my third try I was able to let my feather fly. Yes we were practicing Wilgardium Leviosa. Professor Flitzwick looked very proud every time a Ravenclaw did the spell right.

Of course the Gryffindors could also do it, and I also found the smug boy from the boat there. Unfortunately I had to work with him. His name was Connor McLaggen and he was a real pain in the arse. He kept talking about his fathers job in the Ministry and how he was so good at Quidditch and that it was a shame that he couldn't play because the first years weren't aloud.

Felicity gave me a pitiful look, when she saw with who I was stuck with. She was with a Gryffindor girl that I didn't knew the name off. At the end of the class, I was ready to just punch him. Felicity quickly took my hand and dragged me out of the room.

Herbology was a little boring at first but eventually I would probably get used to it. Most of the class I kept thinking about my dream vision.

After I had my first vision when I was two, I had only had two more visions. One was of me meeting Harry and the other of me buying my wand. Of course the were never really clear. I just saw some blurs, but over the years the got better.

Sometimes it was dreams, and sometimes I just got a vision in the middle of doing something. And I always remembered them. So I didn't go all weird like Professor Trelawney. Dumbledore had told me to ask the teacher to leave class, if I ever got a sudden vision. He never asked me what the visions were about or anything. Which was really weird, now I think about it.

My dream from last night, had been me in a dark room and then someone suddenly turned on the light, and I heard a mans voice scream my name. So it was really confusing. I didn't recognise the dark house nor the mans voice.

I should probably write it down in my notebook. I kept a notebook with my visions and what I knew would happen in the near future, that I knew from the books.

I wasn't sure if me being here had changed anything, but if it did, I was going to find out.

And there you have chapter 3!

Thanks for reading!