Julz and Elisa followed Draco and his group of friends out into the Entrance Hall. They were about to descend a flight of steps when a loud banging noise drew their attention back to the front of the Entrance Hall.

The huge double doors had been flung open and someone stood in the door frame, silhouetted by the blazing sun behind him.

A house elf appeared from nowhere, just in time to catch the heavy travelling cloak that fell from the man's shoulders. The man had another, thinner cloak on underneath, with a hood pulled down low over his eyes. He pushed it aside and reached up, pulling two pins out from behind his head. Long, brown curls fell around his shoulders as he shook his head slightly.

He shrugged and the second cloak fell- into the house elves out-stretched arms- to reveal a trailing, blood red-gown.

He… Was a she.

"She's the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher," The girls heard Draco whisper from behind them, "Father told me about her. Apparently, she just turned up here a month ago and Dumbledore gave her a job. No one's ever heard of her before, and Father did some digging but he couldn't find out anything. It's all very mysterious."

The woman was now staring around the Entrance Hall in what looked like distaste. Her eyes finally settled on the group of Slytherin's. The girls stared back, confused. There was something oddly familiar about that glare…

The woman started walking toward them, and as she got closer a look of recognition dawned on Elisa's face.

"Linley!" She exclaimed, as the woman (or girl; she couldn't have been any older than them) swept past. She stopped mid-stride and turned to look at them. Her eyes narrowed.

"That's Professor Swift, to you, Miss. I would watch my tongue if I were you." She said, before continuing her stalk through the hall and disappearing through a door on the other side.

Julz sighed at Elisa.

"Parallel universe, remember?" She said, rolling her eyes. Elisa made a face.

"Oops."

-

They continued their journey down flights of stairs to the dungeons, where they stopped in front of a huge stone gargoyle.

"Ashwinder." Draco said, and the gargoyle sprung to life, moving aside to reveal an oak door that swung open, and bowing as the group walked in.

-

The door closed itself behind Julz and Elisa as they stood, staring around at the room they'd just entered.

"Welcome to the Slytherin common room." Someone near by said, but the girls hardly noticed.

The room was huge, and more extravagant than either could have imagined.

It was decked in Slytherin green and silver, with Slytherin flags and banners hanging from the ceiling.

Many students lounged around on plush, velvet, moss-green couches in front of the many roaring fire places, talking and laughing and teasing each other.

House elves rushed around, carrying trays of steaming Butterbeer and bowing and thanking students every time they were kicked across the room.

One end had been made into what looked like a mini library, with shelves arranged in a semi-circle around an enchanted window. Students sat in the middle at mahogany desks, studying in silence.

Huge portraits of smug-looking witches and wizards lined the walls, including one painting of a warlock who seemed to be having a heated argument with a second year student.

It was all very overwhelming.

"This is so…" Julz said, staring around her in awe.

"Slytherin." Finished Elisa, with a nod. The girls grinned at each other.

-

After being shown around the common room and being told the way to the potions classroom (just down the hall to the left), Draco instructed Pansy to show the girls back to the Room of Requirement.

"Potions first," He'd said, "So you'd better changed into Slytherin robes. Best not to get into Snape's bad books right away."

Pansy had been delighted to show them the way, and they were forced to endure her gossiping until they arrived.

"I'll come fetch you in an hour!" She'd been saying, as Julz closed the door in her face.

"Ugh, she's annoying." Julz said, turning to look at Elisa, who had flung herself, face-down, on her bed.

She rolled over and smiled at her friend.

"Who cares? I am way too excited to think about her. Just think… Potions…"

Julz smiled back at her before turning to her bed and starting to get changed into the robes that had been laid out for her.

-

The girls had only just finished getting changed when there was a knock on the door. They both glanced at their watches before looking at each other in confusion. Surely Pansy couldn't be back to fetch them. Barely 20 minutes had passed.

Elisa walked over to the door and opened it, before almost being knocked over in a huge bear hug.

"Linley!" She spluttered into the girls' hair, "What the fuck are you doing?"

Linley pulled back to smile at her best friend.

"I'm so glad you're here!" She exclaimed, "It's been so long… I thought I'd never see you again!"

"What are you talking about? I thought we didn't know each other? In the Entrance Hall…" Elisa said, uncertainly, taking a step back.

"That was an act, silly! We can't let them know we're from a parallel universe."

"They already do." Said Julz, "So you fell through a portal or whatever too?"

"Yeah!" Said Linley, "And I was really starting to miss you guys."

Elisa laughed at this.

"Linley," She said, "Don't be so melodramatic. It's only been a day."

"A day?" Linley cried, "Elisa, I've been here at least a year!"

-

AN: That's right folks, I decided to update this story!! I am so out of practise (I haven't written anything but poems for like three months or something) so I'm really sorry if this is crap writing. Anyway, tell me what you think!