Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, all rights reserved to J. K. Rowling.

Laughing we all make our way up to the castle. Ready for our start of the term feast. And of course Harry Potter's sorting, that's if he was even here. I doubted it but a small part of me wanted to believe it for real. I drop off Boots and we make our way in to the hall. We sit down in our usual spots next to Fred and George and we immediately start to chatter.

"Was it big?" Angelina asks about Lee's monster spider.

"Massive." Fred says.

"Enormous." George adds.

"Can we see it?" Katie asks.

Lee grins and pulls out his carrier and he opens it the slightest bit. A long brown hairy leg poked out and we all shrieked. The boys all laugh at our petrified faces.

"How did you get it? Is it legal?" Alicia asks, her father being apart of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures; Pest Advisory Board, naturally she was curious.

"No no no it's all legal!" Lee says proudly.

"It's a Class C tradable good." Fred adds in.

"Totally safe." George agrees "That is under proper control!" He gives us a devilish wink.

We all shudder to think what wold happen if it was under control of the twins.

"Oh look!" I say pointing to Professor McGonagall who was bringing in the first years.

"They look so tiny! I swear I wasn't that tiny when I was in first year!" Lee says shaking his head.

I elbow him and say "shh". He rolls his eyes but shut's up. We all wait patiently for the sorting to begin. Professor McGonagall sets up the rickety old stool and gently places the grubby old sorting hat on top. All the firsts years look very apprehensively around them. Poor things, I think, I remember how scary it was when I first go here. But then I saw him, that ruggedly handsome 3rd year. Oliver Wood. I shake him out of my head as the sorting hat opens wide at the brim to sing it traditional all applaud as McGonagall calls up the first years names. I bounce up and down anxiously in my seat, wondering if Harry Potter will ever be called. Were the boys just joking? I couldn't tell from the long line up of short little first years. Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding the usual long roll of parchment containing every name of every new first year. She cleared her throat, then spoke.

"When I call your name, you will step forward put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted" She said strictly "Abbott, Hannah"

A pink faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled, less then gracefully, out of line towards the hat. She put on the hat, which fell well past her eyes and sat down. A moments pause then "HUFFLEPUFF" cried the hat.

The Hufflepuff table cheered enthusiastically. I even saw the Fat Friar wave at her merrily. I had a big smile on my face as she sat down. She sort of reminded me of well me. Bones, Susan was Hufflepuff too but Boot, Terry was the first Ravenclaw so was Brocklehurst, Mandy. I was looking for all the new Gryffindors though. I finally got one when Brown, Lavender became a Gryffindor. The cheers of the Gryffindors reechoed off the high stone walls of the Great Hall before we were silenced by a sharp look from McGonigall. I focused again on the tiny first years just as Perks, Sally-Anne ran to her table. Then clear as day McGonagall yelled. "Potter, Harry"

Well the school was a buzz after that! The real Harry Potter? Here? Now?! This had to be a joke! There's no way that's him! Yeah it is! Look at his scar! He was behind the kid with sandy hair! No BEFORE the red haired kid! Yeah him! The one with the glasses? Yeah that's him! Oh my god he's actually here! I bet he knows more Defence Against the Dark Arts then the new teacher! He wouldn't need it anyway! Shhhhh! He's being sorted!

The hat only took only moments with him, but he looked as if he had a brain cramp the whole time. Maybe he was thinking something really loudly? I didn't have time to discuss it when the hat opened at the brim. Everyone seemed to freeze.

"GRYFFINDOR!" It yelled.

The whole Gryffindor table screamed and yelled as loud as they could. Some people even were jumping on the benches, it could have been an explosion. The twins were yelling "WE'VE GOT POTTER!" "WE'VE GOT POTTER!" Even Professor McGonagall was fidgeting around, desperately trying to hide her glee! He sat down a little shaken as everyone crowded around him. No one paid attention to everyone else who was getting sorted. All eyes were on Potter. I craned my neck trying to catch a glimpse of him but with no luck. I could have staring at a brick wall from what I got. I sighed and thought hey at least I'll see him in the common room right? The cheering did not die down and the whispers took even longer before Dumbledore cleared his throat leaving a red faced Harry Potter to settle in. After what seemed like an eternity Zabini, Blaise was made a Slytherin. Professor Dumbledore stood up and the whole hall went silent. He beamed at everyone in the hall and I felt my stomach do a small flip. He always made me feel special like I could I do anything. He opened his arms wide, as in to give us all a big hug.

"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words." He said smiling.

I looked around and saw Ron's face fall a little bit, I giggled Dumbledore never gave a big speech before the food that was for after. I turn my head back to Dumbledore.

"And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you" He said as he sat down.

Alicia, Angelina, Katie and I all laughed at the faces of the first years. Ron still had that bewildered look on his face, another girl with big bushy brown hair and big brown eyes to match was looking shocked as if she had expected a long winded speech and Harry Potter just looked politely confused. I took this time to study him he had jet black hair which was untidy, round glasses held together by what looked like Spello-tape, bright green almond shaped eyes and of course his trademark lightning scar. I suddenly felt pity for him poor kid, he just wants a normal school year. I snorted good luck with that, I thought.

"What's funny? Is it my hair or something?" Katie asked anxiously running her fingers through her sleek black hair.

"No No nothing. Can you pass me the mashed potatoes please?" I ask as my stomach growls.

Angelina passes them down and I load up my plate staring intently at the odd pattern it made. I felt my eyebrows furrow as I studied it further, it sort of looked like anchor, how do potatoes manage to look like an anchor?

"Olivia? Are you even here with me?" Alicia asks.

"Oh sorry. Pardon me?" I ask my manners kicking in automatically.

"Can you pass the chicken legs!?" She says rolling her eyes.

I blush and mumble more apologies as I pass the platter of chicken legs.

Angelina looks at me curiously "Are you okay Olivia?" She asks concerned.

"Yeah you seem awfully distant" Alicia pips in.

"Should we be worried?" Angelina asks putting down her steak and kidney pie laden fork.

"No no I'm fine. Just overtired and all you know!" I say waving my hand knocking over the flagon of pumpkin juice, staining the white table cloth.

They all glance at me as I turn red and fix the mess I made. "Scourgify!" I wave my wand cleaning up the mess.

"Well there's no more pumpkin juice but the mess is cleaned up right?" I say absentmindedly putting my elbow in my mashed potatoes.

"Ugh!" I said grimacing at my mashed potato covered elbow.

"Umm...okay...if you say so..." They say and return to their feast.

After I clean off my elbow, I grab some chicken legs, gravy and some peas and carrots. I finish everything and I groan clutching my stomach.

"Ughhh I ate way too much!" I groan as they all laugh.

"So fancy getting in to some mischief?" Fred asks grinning.

"This early? We haven't even had pudding yet!" I say astonished.

"Exactly!" George says winking.

"How much mischief?" I ask leaning in.

"Plenty!" The say in union.

I grin "I'm in."

They let me in on their plans in hushed voices. As I listen I slowly dip my finger in mashed potatoes, but alas when I reach the bowl it disappears! Now the tables groan not under the weight of scrumptious food but under the weight of thick creamy ice cream blocks, light buttery toffee, fluffy whipped mousses, heavy decadent cakes and for some mint humbugs. I raise my shoulder and grab a mint humbug to eat. The twins notice and they start to laugh.

"What's with you and your mashed potatoes?" They say laughing.

"Nothing!" I bush furiously "I just...I like the mashed potatoes! Is that a crime?" I say irritably.

"No not for us!" Fred says grinning.

"So back on to the plan" George says seriously as they continue to discuss our top secret prank. I put my elbows in and listen.

"Are you done with the trifle?" A deep voice asks.

I look up surprised as I see none other then Oliver Wood. I blush, being taken a back, as he flashes me his dazzling smile. I push my hair out of my eyes and see him standing there. His Hogwarts robes slightly crinkled, as if he was wrestling with his friends, which I had to remind myself, he probably was.

"Um no. You can have it" I say softy avoiding his eyes nervously.

I see him look at me questioningly and he takes the trifle cautiously, as if it would wound me if he whisked it away like a normal person. He sat back down with his friends but he didn't stop staring at me. I blush and side eye him. It seemed like he didn't even want to trifle, that he just came over to talk to me. I shake the idea from my head as quickly as it came and lean back in to Fred and George's discussion.

"So what do you think Liv?" Fred asks rolling his eyes at George.

"Pardon?" I ask feeling extremely out of the loop.

"Don't worry 5th years are always scary. But hey in 2 more years we'll be them!" Fred says as if that was why I was frazzled.

"Dungbombs or dragon boogies? For the hallway?" George adds in.

"Oh dung bombs, dragon boogies are cool but they don't last long enough. Dungbombs are the way for sure!" I reply nodding seriously.

"Ohhh" George says as if I had mortally offended him.

"He wanted dragon boogies" Fred adds rolling his eyes.

"C'mon George your losing your grip!" I say laughing.

"BELOW THE BELT THAT WAS!" He yells attracting the attention of several first years. We all laugh and I turn back to Angelina, Katie and Alicia.

"What are we talking about?" I ask pulling a face.

"Your face will stay like that you know!" Katie says laughing.

"It'll be better then before!" I add in laughing.

"Oh stop it! Your beautiful!" Angelina adds in.

"Simply smashing darling!" Alicia says batting her eyelashes.

"Fierce and fabulous!" Katie says flipping back her hair.

"Oh stop it I'm blushing! Seriously!" I say pulling yet another face to make them laugh.

We head towards our common room, laughing as we go. I had missed the busy sounds of Hogwarts; the benches scratching the floor, the thundering footsteps, the loud voices reaching up to the ceiling, I grin as I take it all in. We made it to he Fat Lady in record time beating the twins in racing up the moving staircases.

"Caput Draconis." I say to the fat lady.

"Welcome back girls!" She says winking mysteriously as we enter the common room.

"What was that for?" I ask Katie, but she just shrugs.

I shrug it off too as we make our way up to our dorm.

AN: Please review, I love hearing your feedback! Also if there is any mistakes [grammar, magical or other] please feel free to tell me and I will fix it!