A/N …still don't own Harry Potter, maybe I should find a different wishing well because the one I'm using isn't working…

Chapter Four: Sorting Which Witch Goes Where

Ron kept quiet for the rest of the trip, only talking when he was asked a direct question…well, this was after we got a visit from the head boy and girl, wands were show and Ron's chin were starting to bruise. Then there was the visit from my cousin, I guess, Draco Malfoy. That went over like a sack of angry kittens.

I'd have to write Aunt Cissy about her son and how to make new friends. Acting like a trumped up jerk-face and trying to steal someone's candy from the Honeyduke's cart isn't the best method. I had thought that everything had settled down after that…until Neville realized that Trevor had vanished.

There was a frantic search for him before we had to change into school robes. Neville wasn't having a good day, I promised that if we couldn't locate Trevor I'd get him another toad and stick it in terrarium. That seemed to perk the boy up but nothing did it better than when we were crossing the lake.

Once off the train, Harry had dragged us over to where a very big man was calling for first years. The man was practically a giant but Harry eagerly introduced us to the mountain of a man as Rubeus Hagrid. If that wasn't intimidating enough, the man had a big bushy beard and a very loud booming voice. All that scary was off put when the big man smiled when he seen Harry.

"Hullo, there Harry!" he called

Harry grinned up at the man "hello, Hagrid, I made friends."

Hagrid's eyebrows got lost in his long wiry hair "really?" Harry nodded "good for you, Harry. We'll chat about it later, but first…First Years! To the boats, only four to a boat please!"

I did feel a bit bad for Ron when he got stuck in a different boat as Harry had pulled Hermione, Neville and myself towards a boat once Hagrid had announced. All the chatter died when the castle came into view, lit up in the moonlight. This definitely made the top ten list of the most magical things I'd ever seen…so far.

Grinning, I felt Hermione's hand slip into mine. I think she needed the touch to remain grounded and to remind herself that this was real, considering the big dopey grin she was sporting mixed with the look of pure awe. The effect was so great that no one said a word until we were on the other side of the lake, it was like we'd all agreed to stay silent and not break the mood.

The mood was broken when something croaked from Hagrid's boat and the big man asked "did anyone loose a toad?"

"Trevor!" Neville squealed excitedly, practically shoving people aside to get there. That made me giggle, I was still getting him a terrarium though. Go magical, bigger on the inside.

Trevor returned to our group like a conquering hero, receiving pats from Harry and myself. Hermione was too squeamish to greet the amphibian. I helped Neville tuck the toad away in his pocket before following after him and the other too. Ron stuck with the Irish boy he'd come the lake with.

It was weird that I was actually happy to see Professor McGonagall. I smiled at her when she took over from Hagrid and began explaining the four houses and the rules. Also that fighting would not be tolerated, she was glaring at Ron when she said that. Then she told us to stay put so she could get ready for the ceremony.

I tried to catch her before she left the room but she whispered that we'd talk later but she did pat me on the shoulder and gave a smile so I guess I was okay with waiting. With a heavy sigh I wondered back over to where everyone was debating about how sorting was going to be done. Ron was convinced there was troll wrestling involved. I've seen a troll, it was in a cage but still they are not small. They make Hagrid look tiny; so glad when Hermione dismissed that.

"I told you, Potter," Draco came over, shoving the Irish boy aside and glared at Ron "you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort."

Harry just grinned and shrugged "I think I've got it figured out, thanks anyways."

"Seriously, Draco, you're trying too hard," I shook my head at him and turned into time to catch Hermione when she jumped because a ghost had come through the wall right next to her "okay?" I asked as the room started to fill with ghosts being silly.

"Yea," Hermione nodded, getting her feet back under her "I wasn't expecting that."

I chuckled as Neville whimpered out "I think that was the point."

An amused McGonagall returned in time to shoo the ghosts away. The corners of her mouth were turned up as she called us to enter the Great Hall. Whoa…Hermione had read a part of Hogwarts: A History to me once when she spent the night about the ceiling but nothing compared to seeing it in person.

"…it's enchanted!" I heard Hermione whispering to Harry and I could help but chuckle.

It looked just like the night sky but candles floating about. I almost felt like I was back on the lake but this time we were cutting through a sea of black robes. It was only when Hermione elbowed me that I realized we were now standing before a talking hat that had just sang some song. Totally missed that, the ceiling was much more interesting; I saw a pair of tap shoes work with a pair of mime's gloves and floating sunglasses to drive a car (no invisible person either)…talking hat was lame.

"When I call your name, you'll come up and put the hat on," McGonagall announced before looking to the list in her hand, calling out clearly "Abbot, Hannah."

The girl in question nervously, still the emotion of the day, made her way up to the stool planted between the teachers' table and the rest of the room. She sat down and looked questioningly up at McGonagall before the professor gently set the hat down. Hannah squeaked suddenly and flushed red in her cheeks. Her lips moved like she was talking to someone but the hat moved and a seam along the middle opened up and shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"

We all clapped as a relived but still mortified Hannah scurried off towards a table under a yellow banner that had a badger on it. Damn, the things I miss! I'd just now realized that there were banners over each of the four tables. Hermione elbowed me again to get my attention just at McGonagall called out "Black, Athena!" her voice was a bit shaky and she watched me intently as I causally walked up to the stool. She rolled her eyes at me when I gave her a small wave and nodded my head to her before I sat down.

'Interesting, very interesting!' a voice muttered in my head 'let me look through your head to see where you go.'

"I think you'd have more fun at checkers," I smirked back "nothing in this noggin but marbles and fishing lures."

The hat snort back laughter 'you've your mother's humor I see, that will do wonders for you, my dear. You're ambitious like she was, just don't know it yet. Maybe her house would work for you.'

"Not frigging likely," I growled at the hat "you put me in there and I'll tear you to shreds and use you as bird cage lining."

The hat tisked disapprovingly at me, so did McGonagall 'there's no need for violence, Miss Black. How about something else yes? I see courage and compassion with lots of brains. Hallmarks your father exceled at, even with all the time he spent in the Headmaster's office. Ravenclaw might be good…hmm?"

I sighed "be nice if it was sometime time today, Chatty Kathy."

'I see,' the hat murmured 'fine best be…' the hat drew breath…weird, shouldn't it not need to breathe…before shouting "Gryffindor!" for everyone to hear, I'd almost expected it to shout Hufflepuff. Too cheeky for Ravenclaw I'd think.

I looked up at McGonagall as she took the hat off looking stunned that I'd been placed in her house and told her "huh…beats his first choice. Greens not my color."

Happily I winked to my friends still waiting and went to sit down by the beam and cheering Weasley twins. Both of whom ambushed me with a hug and made me sit across from them, they dashed across the table only to be scowled at by another, older red headed boy. We cheered when Susan Bones happily headed for Hufflepuff.

One by one everyone headed off to their new houses. Frist Hermione, then Harry, then Neville and lastly Ron all came to join us under the red banner. The twins muttered that if their sister made Gryffindor they'd have a full house, all Weasleys sorted to the house of the lion. There three other girls and two more boys came to Gryffindor but at current moment I couldn't remember their names. Could have cared less once Dumbledore stood up.

The man looked like he'd seen a picture of Disney's verison of a 'wise' old wizard/Merlin figure and copied it. Stars and moons were on blue robes, all that was missing was a humanized mouse dancing with broom…or was it a mop? Don't remember but he finally spoke by shouting a WELCOME that echoed through the hall.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts," he smiled out over the sea of students, it felt like his gaze had lingered over the Gryffindor table "now is not the time for words but for filling empty stomachs while we ponder these four words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment and Tweak!" then he clapped his hands together in a dramatic motion and the long wooden table creaked as food suddenly appeared.

"What an odd, odd man." I blinked at the now sitting headmaster who had his head close to McGonagall's in conversation

"He's a genius!" the older red head sitting next to Harry offered, he was Percy Weasley, George whispered that he had a broomstick shoved up his back side and that's why he was the No-fun-Weasley "he's the greatest wizard of this age, brilliant man," Percy shrugged then as if he'd thought about it "you're probably right, Miss Black, he's probably a little mad. What genius isn't?"

"Well, firstly, I said odd, but now we know how you really feel about him, Percy," I grinned at the older boy while his younger brothers chuckled like mad hatters "got any more commentary on the other teachers…ow! Hermione! You've a sharp elbow! Leave my ribs alone!"

"Then be nice," Hermione shot back as I rubbed at my ribs and she was busy filling my plate with fruit pieces and crispy chicken legs, she'd already filled with mashed potatoes and a buttered dinner roll.

"You do know I'm old enough to do this myself? Right?" I asked pointing towards my plate

Hermione just shrugged as Harry and Neville sniggered, each on either side of the table "I know, but if I didn't you'd chat the fest away," she teased "oh, and it's not pumpkin juice in your cup, its sweet tea."

"YES!" I hissed in victory with a fist pump "there is a pantheon of divine beings."

Hermione sniggered and whispered "that or Jubilee defied your aunt and came to Hogwarts anyways."

My eyes went wide as I gasped "bite your tongue, you cheeky child!" Hermione was out right laughing now "don't laugh, that house elf is demented, I tell you, crazy!"

"House elf?" Fred asked between bites

Hermione had to explain because I had my mouth full "over the summer, Athena here was gifted a house elf from her aunt. Which is totally wrong, by the way, elves are sentient creatures who are basically slaves. The UK did away with slavery ages ago!" Hermione ranted and glared at me when I elbowed her for a change "anyways, the elf is very persistent in helping her 'Miss Athena', it was a little scary to be honest how she kept Athena to a strict schedule."

Before the twins could comment we heard Ron exclaim from just a bit further down the table "Oi! I know you!" he was grinning at a ghost in renaissance clothing. He had a frilly collar in spades and he was dressed like a noblemen "you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

The ghost frowned deeply at the young man "I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind, young man, or would you like me to call you Nearly Clean Weasley?"

Okay, that was funny but it ended when Hermione squinted at the ghost trying to figure out why he was called that "nearly headless?" she asked "how are you called 'nearly headless'?"

The ghost just heaved a sigh and rolled his shoulders, popping his head off to the side where it hung to his severed neck by a thin piece of skin. Hermione gasped, Neville and Harry looked surprised but I cheered. That was so cool!

"Do it again, Sir Nicholas! That was awesome!" I grinned stupidly at him whilst clapping like an idiot "is it bad if I have the sudden urge to poke you with a stick?" I asked

Another heavy sigh and a shrug of his shoulders, Sir Nicholas's head was back where it belonged "yes it is," he raised an eyebrow at me "you're either a Black or a McGonagall."

"Umm…both?" I offered uncertain if either was bad

The knight gasped and muttered something about 'Merlin save us all!' before he floated away down the center of the table spooking the chattering students. Everyone in my general vicinity expect Hermione were gaping at me; she's a smart cookie but she just doesn't know the professor is my grandmother. Percy was the first to blink out of his daze and ask…

"How are you both?"

I grinned devilishly "well, Percy," this was familiar "when a mommy and a daddy really love…ow! HERMIONE! Seriously! Imma go sit somewhere else. You and those ninja elbows…" I glared at her while the twins were beside themselves and Percy was turning red

Hermione ignored me and looked to Percy "it's complicated, leave it at that."

"Alright." Percy expected it pretty easily but the twins were gazing at me intently

They didn't say anything about the topic as diner closed out as the desert appeared. I was very happy and very sleepy at this point; which was why I growled when Dumbledore stood again and began to talk. All seemed like standard stuff, the Forbidden Forest was named just (because it's forbidden, what a shocker!), the caretaker of the school doesn't like fun and had band certain items from the school (would have made more sense if that list would have been sent out with the Hogwarts letters, why ya telling us now?) and lastly the third floor corridor on the right hand was considered out of bounds….to anyone who didn't want to die a grisly death (what the fuck?! Damn, I should have been paying attention, but why, oh, why would you tell kids that? That's like telling someone not to push the big red button).

I didn't have time to lament my lack of attention to Dumbledore as Percy and the other perfects were ushering forth years and younger up to frog march us to our new dormitories. None of us noticing that Dumbledore and McGonagall were following us. We made it to the Gryffindor Tower easily enough, Harry and Hermione oohing and awing over the moving paintings who were showing off for the first years. Yea, suck in the beer gut now ya frigging monk, just wait till the end of the year when you're letting it all out, I thought rolling my eyes.

The Portrait of the Fat Lady was just wrong, why had nobody ever learned her name? It was so rude and beyond not nice that they were just referring to her as the 'Fat Lady'. Even more annoying was her trying to show off her singing skills while ignoring Percy…wait, nope that was funny to see Percy getting irritated to where he had to shout the password at her. She then preceded to call him rude before swinging open.

Percy took a deep breath to compose himself as the first years gathered in the common room before him. He turned around to speak but stopped when he saw the two teachers just coming through the porthole. McGonagall pointed to the youngest Weasley, Percy nodded and continued.

"Girls dorms are that way to the right," he pointed towards one stair case that led upwards "boys are that way to your left, there be a plaque by the door that says first years," he pointed to the second staircase "everyone but those involved in the fight on the train, off you go."

Percy ushered the other first years away, who all gave us a backwards glance before disappearing at either staircase. The five of us left took seats at the Headmaster's insistence, taking up the couch and the plush chair at the end of the couch. McGonagall took the other chair at the other end of the couch and left the chair by the fire for the Headmaster. We all shifted under the Headmaster's gaze.

"So," he said softly "would someone like to tell me what happened?"

Ron's face turned red as he looked away from me. Neville spoke first before even Hermione got the chance "Ron tried to attack Athena with his wand, he was going to use magic on her just because she's Bellatrix Lestrange's daughter. I tackled him before he could, wouldn't have had a chance to defend herself," he stated bravely "she'd vowed to prove on the debt to my house to me for what happened to my parents, sir, promised to be my friend and to aid me if I ever needed it. I couldn't let him hurt my friend! When Fred and George started to break up the fight, Ron put is knee on our wands and broke them…sir." He added quickly

Ron's face was now the color of his hair. His temper got the better of him as he jumped out of the chair at the end of the couch and pointed at me "she's the daughter of a Death Eater! And she's the heir to a dark house!" he cried almost pleading with the headmaster never once seeing the danger for the head of his house "she should have been in Slytherin with the rest of the slimy snakes!"

"That'll be quite enough, Mr. Weasley!" McGonagall snapped and took breath to continue on but Dumbledore stopped her.

"Did Miss Black threaten you in any way, Mr. Weasley?" the man wanted to know speaking softly, calmly.

I sputtered at the question "pfft! No! Why would I?" I demanded

"Miss Black," Dumbledore motioned for me to be quiet "I just want to understand why he tried to attack you."

"Because he's a scared little boy who doesn't understand the whispering of adults!" I snapped "he's heard my name in connection with my mum's name, did the math, two and two made seven and off he went!" I glowered

"I thought two and two make four…ow!" Harry whispered loudly and was promptly elbowed by Hermione, he winked at me when I looked at him and chuckled.

The old man smiled at that "thank you, Harry but not right now, please."

"But her lot killed my uncles!" Ron cried "killed a lot of people! She should be punished for it!"

"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall's voice was strained "we do not punish children for the sins of their fathers! I can personally tell you that Miss Black has not seen her mother since she was six months old! Athena is not responsible for the actions of her parents, sit back down!"

"Huh…" I muttered with a raised an eyebrow as I sat back in the couch "I didn't know that."

Ron looked back and forth between Dumbledore and McGonagall, looking pleadingly "but…but…she's in the daughter of a Death Eater…"

"Ron," I sat forward with my elbows on my knees "do you know who my father was?" I asked ignoring McGonagall sharp breath "hmm?" he shook his head as he collapsed back into his chair "his name was Robert McGonagall, her second son," I pointed to our head of our, ignoring my friend's shock (new emotion of what was being a very long day?), "that makes her my grandmother, you git, which makes your whole commending me for your own prejudices pretty stupid. You know nothing about me or how I was raised. You simply heard a name and decided to try and be the big man on campus."

"Athena," McGonagall waved me wearily off when tears started slipping down Ron's cheeks "enough, I think he got the point," she sighed and looked to my friends "it would appreciated if you kept that bit of knowledge to yourselves." They just nodded silently.

Dumbledore took control again, I wonder how he felt about arguing with children "there's also the matter of Miss Black offering to pay for new wands for Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Weasley," oh, slick, change the subject. He looked at me "does that offer still stand."

I drew a big breath and nodded "yes," I said trying not to yawn "it does. I just don't have the coin on me…"

Dumbledore waved me off "I'll just have you write a promissory note authorizing the transfer of funds. I'll take the boys to Digaon Alley in the morning so none of my teachers miss their classes on the first day," he looked to Hermione, Harry and myself "I would hope that such good friends and house mates would take good notes to be shared."

Everyone else was sent off to bed while Dumbledore had me write out the note with a sheet of parchment that McGonagall had produced. The older witch told me what to write: that I, Athena Black, authorized the payment for two wands from Ollivander's Wands, one for Ronald Weasley and one for Neville Longbottom with coin the Black family vaults. Then I got to use my signet ring for the first time in a puddle of magic green wax and a Hogwarts ribbon that McGonagall had summoned from her office (she called a house elf to get it).