"Blimey. A test? I've heard it hurts," a boy with red hair and a freckled face standing next to Hermione spoke up. Neville gulped and a few others groaned. Hermione remembered him from the train station. The Weasley, her father had told her.

Just then he turned to Hermione and remarked, "Is it true? You're the Girl who Lived! Hi, I'm Ronald Weasley but you can call me Ron." He smiled and held out his hand, "You might not want to go about making friends with the wrong sort if you know what I mean," he continued looking at Draco.

Hermione raised her eyebrow and was about to speak but Draco beat her to it, "Watch it Weasel. I don't think you need to introduce yourself. The red hair and hand me down robes speak for themselves," Draco said arrogantly. He smirked when Ron turned red. Theo and Blaise snickered.

Just then the doors reopened and Professor McGonagall stepped out. She instructed them to form a line and follow her. The students all gasped in amazement. Candles in midair over four long tables where students were seated. Golden goblets and plates lay on the table. The ceiling was a velvety black, dotted with white stars. Hermione knew the ceiling had been bewitched to look that way. She had read about it.

The line came to a halt in front of a four legged stool, upon which Professor McGonagall placed an old fraying hat. The hat sat still for a minute before bursting into a song about the founders, the different houses and their attributes. When its song ended, everyone broke into a thunderous round of applause.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Now, when your name is called I expect you to step forward and sit on this stool. I will then place the hat on your head. The hat will then do its task."

She began announcing names from a long parchment in her hand. Soon she had come to the Gs. "Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione took in a deep breath. Daphne gave her hand a comforting squeeze. She walked over and sat down. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. At first there was nothing and suddenly she felt the hat speak into her mind, "Ah! Great potential here. A charming and smart young lady like you would do well in Ravenclaw. But you also have a sharp and quick mind and a thirst to prove yourself. A Pureblood no less. Yes! I've figured it out." Then out loud the hat exclaimed, "Slytherin!"

The Slytherins cheered and Draco and the others looked at her proudly. Hermione was relived to be in Slytherin. Her sorting was followed by Daphne's who was sorted into Slytherin. The same went for Draco, Theo and Blaise. Soon all the students had been sorted and Professor McGonagall folded the piece of parchment and took away the Sorting Hat. Professor Dumbledore got up and stepped out of his seat.

He cleared his throat and the students stopped their conversation to pay attention to what he had to say. "Welcome! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. First years should note that they are forbidden to enter the forests is off limits. Mr. Filch the caretaker has asked me to remind you that you are not allowed to use magic in the corridors and between classes. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Contact Madam Hooch, if interested. The third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds, unless you have a death wish. On a lighter note, let the feast begin."

As soon as the words had left his mouth, the tables piled themselves with food. During dinner, the boys fooled around, Crabbe and Goyle hungrily stuffed their faces while Hermione and Daphne told each other how they both had been almost sorted into Ravenclaw. Theo piped in saying that the same had happened to him too. Pansy made a fool of herself, fussing over Draco and kept on shrieking "Drake!" until Draco told her off for calling him that. Hermione smirked. She was well aware of the fact that Draco hated being called Drake.

After dinner, they all filed into lines and followed their House prefects to the Dungeons where the Slytherin dormitories and common room was located. They stopped in front of a portrait of a man on a horse. When he asked for the password, one of the Prefects, Stephen Murray or someone answered, "Purosangue." The portrait swung open to reveal a hole. The Prefects lead them into a magnificent common room. A tapestry hung on one end with the Slytherin crest woven onto it. Below it was a blazing fire place. One side of the common room had a glass wall. The view from it made it quite clear that they were underwater. The prefects informed them that the staircase on the right lead to the girls' dorm rooms while the one on the left lead to the boys' dorm rooms.

Hermione looked around what would now be her room for the next seven years. Five four-posters hung with deep green, velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up. Too tired to talk much, they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed. She would be sharing this room with Daphne, Tracey Davis, Millicent Bulstrode and unfortunately Pansy. Hermione and Daphne sat on Hermione's bed chatting for a while but soon their eyes started to get droopy. They decided to call it in a night and soon fell asleep.

The first week had been quite hectic. It was difficult to find their classes. There were almost a hundred staircases, including trick staircases, staircases which changed their path, which had a step that vanished at certain times of the day. Added to this were the numerous corridors and twists and turns and passages. The first years often lost themselves. However there was a lot to learn and the first year students soon learnt that magic was not simply waving your wand around. There were theories and history to learn too. Hermione enjoyed Transfiguration the most. Charms wasn't that bad either. Potions had initially seemed like a nightmare but by the end of the first class, it had become clear that unless you were Snape's godchild you would be tormented. Being a Slytherin meant you would not be tormented as much as the rest.

On Monday morning, the owl post arrived. Hermione received a letter from her mother. She asked how she was and wanted to know which house she had been sorted in, had she made new friends and were Draco, Daphne and the rest in the same house as hers. This reminded Hermione to write her mother a detailed letter soon. Draco's mother had sent him a box of chocolates which he passed around. Daphne too had received a letter from home and a copy of the Daily Prophet too. Hermione asked her if she could borrow it and made a mental note to subscribe to the Daily Prophet so she would have her own copy in future.

She gasped when she read the headline.

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN

Most likely the work of Dark witches and wizards, there was a break-in at Gringotts on 31st July. The goblins insist that nothing is missing and the vault in question had been emptied earlier that day. The spokesman refused to reveal what was in the vault. (For further information turn to page 5)

The picture showed Vault 713. The one that she had seen Hagrid take the strange parcel out from. She wondered what the parcel contained that made it so special. Hagrid had insisted that it was some highly secret Hogwarts business. She mentioned it to Daphne.

"Hmm. I must say it is quite strange. First Hagrid says that it's some secret Hogwarts business and takes it out of the vault on Dumbledore's orders. The next thing you know, there's a break-in and the same vault is searched. I don't think its a coincidence," Daphne said. Hermione nodded in agreement.

Just then Pansy arrived at breakfast and started shrieking, "Drakie, I want to sit with you." Daphne rolled her eyes. Theo snickered while Blaise said, "Yes Drakie, make some space for Pansy dearest. Budge over Drakie." Hermione started giggling and Draco shot them all glares. Pansy however seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in Blaise's voice and sat between Draco and Goyle.

Hermione went back to thinking about what the parcel could have been but soon breakfast ended and she found herself being dragged to the Quidditch pitch by an enthusiastic Draco for their first flying lesson. "Calm down Draco, it's just a bloody flying lesson," she said.

Draco stopped and looked at her with a horrified expression, "It's fun. It's not just a bloody flying lesson, okay. I don't know why you hate flying so much." Hermione rolled her eyes as he continued dragging her to the pitch. The Gryffindors were already there. Many brooms lay in a pile. Hermione groaned. It was going to be a long lesson.