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Chapter 7

Last Time:

"Exactly." McGonagall wipes the fallen tears knowing what Alex is getting at. She feels like she can't have anything of her's to be her's. Someone always ruins it for her. She also feels out of place.

McGonagall kneels down and cups Alex's face with her hands.

"This is what I will do. I will tell Dumbledore that it will be just you this year and if possible, Justin and Max can come next year. I will also tell him how you feel and everything you told me. I will come back in five days to come and spend the day and night here with you. Then we will leave at 10:30am to go to the train station and we will get you on the train. After that, Hagrid will pick you up at Hogsmeade station and you will take a boat across the lake and to the castle. I will come and get you and the other first years and I will take you to the Entrance Hall. When all the returning students are calmed down, I will take all of you into the Great Hall and all first years and yourself, will be sorted into houses. But it will only be you this year and I will make sure of it. Does that sound good?" Alex nods and wraps her arms around McGonagall's neck and hugs her tightly.

Now:

Over the next five days, Alex has packed her trunk with her clothes, books, robes and everything she will need to go to Hogwarts. Over that time, Alex isolated herself from the family because Justin is mad at Alex. Alex has no idea why Justin is always yelling at her so she would just go downstairs to eat then stay in her room the rest of the time.

With McGonagall she told Dumbledore exactly what she promised Alex. Dumbledore told her that Justin and Max will not come to Hogwarts until Ramona is eleven, and that will be in Alex's third year. So Alex will have two full years alone at Hogwarts with no Justin, Max or Ramona.

Alex hears a knock on the downstairs door and knowing that no one is home, Alex run down the stairs to opens the front door. There, behind the door, is McGonagall.

Alex smiles and tackles McGonagall with a hug.

"Hey honey, how were your five days?" McGonagall greets and hugs Alex back.

"Not good." Alex mutters in McGonagall's cloak that she is wearing.

~A&H~

Alex sits on the train and feels it begin to move. Alex pulls her knees to her chest as the door of her compartment opens.

"Hello, may I sit here?" Alex looks up to see a girl with bushy brown hair and brown eyes.

"Sure." Alex forces a smile as the girl sits down across from her.

"I'm Hermione Granger." The girl holds out her hand for her to shake.

"Alex Russo." Alex shakes Hermione's hand.

"How old are you?"

"Eleven. You?"

"Eleven as well."

"What house are you hoping to get into?"

"Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. What about you?"

"I don't know. I know I don't want to be in Slytherin or Hufflepuff. I'm not exactly smart so I guess Gryffindor."

Hermione gives Alex a smile.

"I'm sure you will be in Gryffindor. You don't seem like the definition of Slytherin, or Hufflepuff or even Ravenclaw. So Gryffindor will be the place for you."

"If you had to pick between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, which would you rather be in?"

"Gryffindor. I know life isn't always about books and doing well in school. So I think I would rather be in Gryffindor."

And for the rest of the train ride, Hermione and Alex bonded. She hasn't seen her other friend Harry Potter so she guesses she will see him later.

~H&A~

After crossing the lake and entering the school, Alex and Hermione are now standing side by side waiting for their turn to be sorted.

"Granger, Hermione." McGonagall calls. Alex squeezes Hermione's hand and gives her a reassuring smile. Hermione gives one back weakly and walks forward.

As Hermione sits down on the stool, McGonagall places a black hat on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouts. Alex grins as Hermione looks at her and McGonagall removes the hat. Hermione winks at Alex before walking over to the Gryffindor table and sits down.

Alex watches as the 'P's arrive.

"Potter, Harry." Alex turns to see Harry, her friend, walk through the crowd and up to the stool. The hat sits on his head for awhile before...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

They finally arrive to the 'R's and Alex's name is called.

"Russo, Alex." Alex walks up the stairs and sits down on the stool. The hat lands on her head and covers her eyes.

"Ahh, a very bright witch. You do have an evil bone in your body but it only comes out if one of your friends or family is hurt. So Slytherin isn't for you. You don't mind school but are a slow learner so Ravenclaw is out of the question. You are seriously brave so Hufflepuff is clearly out. Better be... GRYFFINDOR." The sorting hat whispers before shouting at the end.

McGonagall removes the sorting hat and Alex gives her a smile before joining Hermione and sits down on her right as Harry is on Hermione's left.

After the sorting and dinner, Alex and Hermione are following Percy Weasley to Gryffindor tower.

"Hey Alex." Alex turns to her right and smiles.

"Hey Harry. I didn't see you on the train. Did you get on alright?" Alex asks.

"Yes I did. Did you have a nice summer?" Harry asks.

"Not really. The best part was seeing McGonagall, Hagrid and making new friends... you and Hermione. You?"

"Same as you, but put Ron instead of Hermione since I don't know a Hermione."

"She's the girl that sat between us."

"Ahh." Harry nods as Alex waves at him before catching up to Hermione and Harry returns to Ron.

~A&H~

As Alex crawls into bed that night she smiles as she looks at her second friend. Hermione's bed is on Alex's right and is fast asleep. Alex is happy she is away from her family to give her breathing room. Sure, it is hard to be away from home, but Alex knows she is going to like it at Hogwarts.

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