"What's your name?" I heard a female voice ask.

I turned around and looked at the ground, turning bright red.

"L...L...Luc...Lucy" I whispered.

"Right" the other first year on my boat said, giving a sympathetic look as she turned around to talk to someone else.

This wasn't fair. Why couldn't I ever talk in front of many people? The only people that I feel comftorble around are my sister, Molly and my family friend, Alice Longbottom. But Alice wasn't coming to Hogwarts until next year and for Molly the year after.

My looks don't really help either. I've got limp, brown hair that reaches my shoulders and is so thin that it's basically invisible. I'm so skinny that my robes absolutely over-flow on me. I haven't the trace of any curves on my body at all. My sister Molly, on the other hand, has everything. She's got beautiful and bouncy, long, auburn hair. Well she's only nine, so she can't really have curves yet, but trust me, when she's older; she's going to have plenty. Some people get it all, and some get nothing.

It's quite funny, actually. When people ask me for my full name and I tell them that I'm Lucy Weasley, they seem pretty surprised. Who am I kidding? They look pretty shocked. You see, I'm the daughter of Percy and Audrey, sister of Molly, and cousin to Vic, Dom, Lou, James, Al, Lily, Fred and Roxie, but none of them tend to know the real me. All they see is a shy and timid little girl, who can't stand up for herself.

Apparently, according to my Mother, I was practically born shy. From as early as when I began to talk, I never really responded. I would withdraw at Nana Molly's usual Tuesday night dinners at her place. While the other cousins would go play quiddich outside, or gather 'round for a gossip session, or even plan their next prank, I was never there. Don't get me wrong, they would ask me to join, but alas, I would always refuse and just settle myself down in the study with a big, large and thick book.

Reading was my only companion. When you read, you forget about everything else in the world. You forget you name, your age, even your family. You forget about annoying little cousin and mean girls at school, you just drift off into a completely and utterly different world. It's my favourite thing to do. In fact, I think that the house elves are probably dying right now from carrying my luggage up to my dormitories, it's so packed with novels. I shouldn't say that, Aunt Hermione will kill me.

"Umm, does she have a name?"

"I dunno, probably not. Oi! Freak! Get out of the boat...we're here!"

I drifted out of my thoughts and jumped out of the boat like it had been set on fire. I could feel my face turning bright red and could practically here the thoughts of the other students..."Ew, her face is turning so red! She's like a tomato!"

I walked behind the other students, uphill, to reach the great hall, until I felt someone walking next to me. Surprised, I turned around to face them. It was a boy. An actual, living, breathing boy.

"Er...hey...I'm Lachlan" he told me. He had the most startling blue eyes. I felt as if they could see right into my soul.

"Um...hi" I managed to squeek out.

"What's your name?"

I took a deep breath. Just be confident. "Lucy, what yours?"

Oh gosh. Oh no. He's already told me his name! Oh I feel so embarrassed. Why was I even born?

"Um, but you told me it was Lachlan, sorry, I'm forgetful" I rushed out and hurried up so hopefully he would move on to some other people to grant me no more embarrassment.

He hurried to catch up to me. What was this guy's problem? Couldn't he see that I wanted to be left alone?

"What house d'you wanna be in" Lachlan asked me, smiling.

"Um...Ravenclaw would be nice"

"What was that?"

"Ravenclaw would be nice"

"Oh yes" he laughed "I'm muggleborn, so someone just explained the houses to me on the train. Ravenclaw's my first choice. What blood are you, Lucy?"

"Half-blood. My Dad's pure and my Mum's a muggle"

"Cool"

I nodded.

By this time we were all standing outside the great hall, and Professor McGonagall was explaining how things were done here. I could see Lachlan looking immensely excited about Hogwarts. It really wasn't that big for me. It's not like I was the first one in my family that had gone.

Of course I felt heaps of pressure to be in Gryffindor like my Aunties and Uncles (none of my cousins except Victoire were eleven yet) but Mum and Dad sat me down last night and told me, strictly and firmly, that I was not to let my family get in the way. They're still my family and they'll always love me no matter what.

"If you'll follow me please" Professor McGonagall said in a stern voice. She then turned on her heel, opened the door, and led us into the Great Hall. We walked between the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables.

"Woah" I hear Lachlan say, astounded by the ceiling if the hall. I have to admit, even after seeing pictures and being told what it's like, it still appears beautiful.

I catch the eye of my cousin Victoire, currently in her third year here. She's a Gryffindor. No surprises there.

"Good luck" she mouths to me, I just simply smile shyly at her.

I'm shaking as we all assemble around Professor McGonagall. There's no denying it, I'm freaking terrified! Just the thought of getting up in front of all of these people is making me feel like I want to faint. I just really want to be at home right now, tucked up on the couch, reading a book, with my kitten, named Lullaby, sitting on my lap. Molly would be playing with her dolls in the other room, Mum would be cooking spaghetti Bolognese, my favourite, and Dad would be just walking in after a hard day at the ministry. He would drop his briefcase down and come into the lounge room, give me a gigantic hug and kiss me on the forehead like I was still a child. Then-

"Weasley, Lucy"

I gulp. Oh no! Everyone's looking at me. This is so embarrassing and nerve wracking. I feel my face burn red as I take the steps up to the stool, and place the sorting hat on my head.

Hmm, what have we got here? Yes, yes, another Weasley. But you're different, aren't you? You don't have much courage, although it's in there, very deep down. Uhuh, yep, I see, better be- RAVENCLAW

I jump off the stool, grinning and almost forgetting that I'm in front of a crowd of nearly eight hundred people. When I realise this, I walk over to the Ravenclaw table, take a seat, and watch Lachlan get sorted.

"Mathews, Lachlan"

I watch Lachlan struggle to put the hat on, and then, quite suddenly, it yells-

"RAVENCLAW"

He walks over to me and sits down, huffing.

"Thank gosh that's over, eh?" he whispers to me, winking.

I giggle and can't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, I'm in a place where I belong.

Do I even have to ask? You know what you need to do...so get going! I really didn't mean to sound that harsh and strict! Review!