Before the train reached Hogsmeade station, Persephone and her friends removed their jackets and donned their school robes. Poor Gabriel was swimming in his over large uniform. A voice boomed through the train "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."

"Should I leave Riddles?" Persephone questioned while she safely stowed the kitten into his box.

Astoria peered out of the compartment. "I think so" she said confidently. "My sister says first years travel up to Hogwarts by boat and cats don't like getting wet." Looking at the concern on Persephone's face, she added, "Don't worry, they'll make sure he gets up to the castle safely."

The three piled out of the scarlet steam engine and on to the crowded, foggy platform. The ambiance was decidedly gloomy, due to the fog, and perhaps something else lurking behind it. "Firs years, over here!" An enormous bearded man shouted. Gabriel led the way, squinting to see through the freezing mist and pushing through the throng of students toward the gigantic man. "Mind yer step" the mammoth like man continued, as the smaller children clustered around him.

The fog obscured Persephone's vision and dampened her robes. She was quite glad she had decided not to subject her kitten to these conditions. The first years followed the large man down a steep path that led to a great black lake where dozens of boats thrashed, barely visible through the dense mist.

"No more'n four to a boat" the man (whom Persephone learned was called Hagrid) yelled over the constant pattering of waves on the wooden boats. Again, Gabriel took the lead, finding a boat for himself and his two companions. Shivering, they crammed themselves into the ghostly boat and waited for a fourth to join them.

"Maybe we'll get this boat all to ourselves!" Astoria said hopefully. But no sooner her had she spoken, than a bold looking girl with a strong, almost masculine chin, bounded into the tiny boat, sending it rocking violently.

"Hello!" she beamed, apparently immune to the dreary atmosphere. "I'm Romilda Vane, who are you all?" Her dark curls bounced gaily as she sat beside Persephone. Sitting side by side, one could not help but compare their appearances. Where Persephone's locks flew about wildly, Romilda's, though similar in color and texture, fell in ringlets. Both girls had large, dark eyes, but Romilda's lacked the ferocity so apparent in Persephone's. They were roughly the same size and their coloring was comparable. While Persephone's delicate facial features seemed misplaced surrounded by her mane of untamed curls, Romilda's face was far too brutish to be adorned with such dainty coils.

"Hi," Gabriel began, taken aback by her directness. "I'm Gabriel Urquhart, this is Astoria and-"

But Romilda did not let him finish. "Oh, you must be the Lestrange girl!" she said pointedly to Persephone. "You've got the same mad eyes as the ones staring out of your mums mug shot. My mum told me you'd be in my year and I was to stay away from you. Your mum killed my uncle Balfry."

Persephone was astounded by the girls sheer bluntness. Why did she have to bring up Persephone's parents? Why couldn't that stay in the past? She didn't know how to respond to such a statement, and quite frankly, she was insulted. "Well, you better listen to mummy then and go find another boat." she responded cooly.

"That's all right" the girl said, completely unfazed by what Persephone thought was a witty comeback. "What mum doesn't know won't hurt her, right?" The others stared at Romilda, confused and slightly annoyed and the boat began to move. "I figure you're parents can't have made that much of an impression on you, seeing as they've been in Azkaban your whole life. With them out of the picture, you still have a chance as long as you stay away from those Malfoys. Horrible people, those Malfoys, don't you think?"

Persephone opened her mouth to respond, but before she could get a word in, Romilda was speaking again. "I mean everyone knows Lucius is an evil git, but that Narcissa! If you ask me, she's worse. What a snob!" Persephone's jaw tightened. How dare this girl insult the women who so warmly welcomed Persephone into her family? "My mum was in her year at Hogwarts, they were in different houses, but they knew each other all the same, but when mum and I ran into her at Twilfitt and Tattings, you would have thought she'd never laid eyes on my mum. 'Miss high and mighty Malfoy' completely ignored us. Rude, that is! And her son Draco's just as bad." She continued, "I don't know him personally, but I saw him at the station. Recognized him right away, nose up in the air like he's better than the rest of us. If I were you," she went on, now speaking directly to Persephone, "I'd stay away from that lot. Family or not, they're nothing but trouble."

"I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself" Persephone snapped once Romilda ceased her jabber. "I am a perfectly capable judge of character and I will decide for myself who is and is not trouble." She said with finality, turning her back on Romilda.

The remainder of the boat ride was spent in awkward silence. Persephone feared her new friends would reconsider being friends with the daughter of Azkaban's most high profile prisoners. Astoria and Gabriel's acceptance had been too easy, and now that they knew how most people reacted, they would surely abandon her. However, she need not have worried. The boats were docked on the school grounds where two towering dementors stood guard. Persephone felt her blood run cold at the sight of them and could not help but hear faint screaming in the back of her mind. Astoria immediately took her hand upon exiting the boat and Gabriel said "Let's get away from that one" nodding toward Romilda, "as soon as possible. I hope she's not in the same house as us."

"How rude can one person be?!" Astoria replied as they strode up the grand staircase and into the incredible entrance hall of Hogwarts Castle. "Lots of us have family members in Azkaban, we don't need her reminding us."

A tall severe looking older woman with black hair tied into a bun was waiting just inside. "Here they are Professor McGonagall." Hagrid's booming voice called from behind the group of small children. "All the firs' years."

"Thank you Hagrid." she replied in terse yet friendly voice. Persephone knew immediately that this woman was not to be trifled with.

Professor McGonagall led the group into a small empty chamber. They all crammed themselves into the small room and waited for direction. "Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said, "Before the banquet begins, you must be sorted into one of Hogwarts' four houses. While you are here, your house is your family. You will share a dormitory with your housemates and spend your spare time in your house common room."

Professor McGonagall then went on to describe the house point system "When your behavior and achievements are admirable, you will earn your house points, and when you break the rules or act irresponsibly, points will be docked from your house. When term ends, the house with the most points is rewarded with the house cup." She then left the nervous group and promised to return when they were ready for sorting to begin.

"How exactly are we sorted?" Persephone whispered to Astoria.

"They put a grubby old hat on our heads and it looks into our brains!" Astoria answered. "or at least that's what my sister told me."

Persephone could not remember ever being so nervous, not even when she accidentally turned Sister Luke's shoes into cinder blocks! What if the hat said there was nothing worthwile in her brains and chucked her out? Everyone seemed unnerved by the situation. Romilda was loudly whispering to a group of girls that she knew she'd be in Gryffindor, but she did not sound as confidant as she wanted to. Gabriel was listing under his breath, all the spells he knew, and Astoria was clenching Persephone's hand so tight it hurt.

Just when Persephone thought she would scream from nerves and anticipation, Professor McGonagall returned. "Form a line, first years!" she said briskly. Doing so, they followed the professor out the doors, through the entrance hall once more, and into the incredible Great Hall of Hogwarts.

Persephone had never seen anything quite so magnificent. Thousands of candles gleamed around the room, floating in mid air. Four tables were laid with golden tableware and crystal goblets.

More impressive still was the ceiling. Persephone remembered reading in Hogwarts a History that the ceiling of the Great Hall was bewitched to look like the night sky, but she never expected it to be so realistic. She could hardly believe there was a ceiling at all. It was dark blue, and very foggy, with misty stars showing bright through the fog.

A fifth table was at the top of the hall, where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led the students in front of this table, so that they were facing the student body. She places a three legged stool in the center and produced the oldest and most horrible looking witch's hat Persephone had ever seen. Mother Superior would never have let any of her charges near such a filthy article, let alone wear it. Professor McGonagall placed it on the stool, and without warning, its brim separated from the pointed portion so it resembled a mouth, and it began to sing.

"I may not be the fashion statement

You had hoped to make

On your first day at school

but try me on for goodness sake!

Not shiny like a top hat,

nor am I a French chapeaux.

But if you find a smarter hat,

I'll gladly don a bow.

I'll delve into your brain and find

just where you ought to be.

I'll search through all your thoughts and dreams

and tell you what I see.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

where bravery and nerve

are valued more than brains and wit,

and chivalry will serve.

Perhaps you'll be a Hufflepuff,

a just and loyal friend.

Those Hufflepuffs are true and kind

and faithful to the end.

You could belong to Ravenclaw,

if brains are what you've got.

in this house, wit and cleverness

are very highly sought.

Or maybe you're a Slytherin!

Ambitious, cunning, sly.

You'll stop at nothing for your aim;

you're limit is the sky.

So put me on, don't hesitate!

I'll stop this chitterchat.

I'll find out where you ought to be,

for I'm the sorting hat!

The students and faculty alike erupted into thunderous applause as the hat sang its last note. Persephone however, could only half-heartedly clap along. What if the hat felt she belonged somewhere other than Slytherin? Her family would surely be angry. She squeezed her eyes shut tight and took a deep breath before opening them again.

"When I say your name" Professor McGonagall said, stepping forward, "you will sit here on this stool and put on the hat to be sorted." She then glanced at a long scroll of parchment and said "Adleson, Derek!"

A rosy cheeked boy with dark hair and a nervous disposition stepped up and put on the hat which promptly shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The Hufflepuffs cheered from the table to the far right.

"Bailey, Kelly!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat once more and Kelly scurried off to the Hufflepuff table.

"Bolder, Bart!"

This time, the hat did not immediately call out a house; it seemed to deliberate for some time before announcing "RAVENCLAW!"

Next came "Carlson, Meaghan" and "Channing, Paul" who went to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectively.

"Crabbe, Tabitha" became the first Slytherin. Astoria rolled her eyes scornfully at the girl. The hat had taken quite a while to place the fat faced girl. She anxiously tugged her mousey brown ponytail, which hung just above what would normally be a neck, but since she seemed not to have one at all, her back. When the hat finally made up its mind, she seemed very pleased with its decision and waddled off to sit with a boy who had to be her brother. He had the same chubby face and lack of a neck. To Persephone's surprise, she recognized the boy. It was one of Draco's friends.

When Professor McGonagall called "Greengrass, Astoria!" Persephone heard a nervous squeal from beside her and gave a reassuring smile to her new friend.

"SLYTHERIN" the hat called after a few seconds.

Good, Persephone thought.

After what seemed to be a century, Professor McGonagall shouted, "Lestrange, Persephone!"

A quiet murmur escaped from a number of the Slytherins and a few others. Persephone had expected as much. She was glad her infamous surname only seemed to be recognized by a small portion of the students. Before the hat fell over her eyes, one boy sitting at the Gryffindor table caught her attention. He stared at her with something like contempt in his eyes. His buckteeth were bared in an almost pained grimace, and his round face was tensed. She could tell he meant to frighten her, to stare her down, but she could not help but realize how sad he seemed. Before she could finish assessing the boy, the hat fell down her face, breaking their eye contact.

"Well, well." whispered a quiet voice. "You'll be very difficult to place, I see that. Cunning and resourceful, that's obvious enough, and quite a bright mind you've got. Loyal to a fault, you'd do anything for the people you care about. And you're brave too. My, my, very brave. I expect you're not afraid of anything, but where to place you…"

Persephone clenched her fists into tight balls and thought furiously, Slytherin! Slytherin!

"Slytherin hmm?" said the quiet voice, "Why not Gryffindor? You could be a heroine with nerve like yours! And moral fiber! You know right from wrong but… hmm, I think you are the kind that might push that aside to prove yourself… yes I think you're right – SLYTHERIN"

The last word was said aloud, and the Slytherin table cheered as Persephone made her way to sit beside Astoria. When she passed Draco, he grinned happily and said "Nice job, Cousin!" Persephone's heart swelled with pleasure. Yes, she was in Slytherin!

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Gabriel was also sorted into Slytherin and to his, Astoria's and Persephone's delight, Romilda Vane became a Gryffindor.

The feast began after the sorting was completed and the food was delicious. Though Persephone had always had enough to eat, never had she been exposed to such rich and scrumptious foods! Her daily diet of oats, flavorless stew, and white bread, simply did not prepare her for the wonders of Hogwarts cuisine! Stake, baked potatoes, roast chicken, Yorkshire pudding, carrots, gravy, and oddly enough, strawberry sausages, covered the table.

When everyone had thoroughly stuffed themselves, desert appeared, and it was just as overwhelming, treacle tart, cakes of all kinds, pies, éclairs, and even Jell-o! Persephone managed to cram a few mouthfuls of this into her already full stomach before resolving to leave the feast with the other Slythirins and go to bed.

Before getting up and following the Slytherin prefect down to her common room however, she noticed a perfect pomegranate, sliced in half, directly in front of her. She could not resist taking a seed and popping it in her mouth.