Continued from last chapter...the sorting of Harry, Ron and Draco!

When the train reached the station, Daria felt ready to bang the twin's heads together and shove Lee's spider down his throat. The whole journey, Fred and George had been trying to trick her into eating one of their prototype joke sweets that they'd developed over the summer and Lee kept tormenting her about her fear of the spider. It had taken her walking out of the carriage and refusing to talk to them for two hours before they realised that maybe they'd gone a bit too far in their teasing. Once they'd realised however, it didn't take long for them to track her down and apologise and as always, she just had to look in the twin's chocolate coloured eyes and her heart melted so she had no choice but to accept their apologies.

They took their seats in the great hall and Daria couldn't help but snort in amusement at George's complaints that it was taking too long for the sorting ceremony to take place. As they waited for McGonagall to bring the first years through, Daria couldn't help but think about when she was sorted and once again, she wandered why the hat seemed so confused for her to be in Gryffindor. She also wandered about why it called her Malfoy. Part of her was telling her to stop being stupid and that maybe since she was from a wizarding background, the hat could tell which one but another part of her still thought that maybe the hat was simply confused and getting senile in its old age.

The great hall doors opening shook her from her thoughts and she turned her gaze to the line of first years walking up the middle of the room, some in awe, some with excitement, some with fear and a couple that looked ready to bolt or pass out. She fought not to snigger as one boy in particular gripped a toad in his hands and looked as though he was squeezing the poor thing half to death. Professor McGonagall set up the hat and stool and once that hat finished its speech, the ceremony finally began.

As the names were read, Daria found herself spacing out, until one name was called that pulled her abruptly back to the present.

"Draco Malfoy."

With a gasp of surprise, her head shot up and her jaw dropped when she saw the blonde haired boy from the station swagger up to the hat. Before he even sat on the stool she knew what house he was going into and true enough, the hat hadn't even touched his head before it called out 'Slytherin'. Daria kept her eyes on him as he took his place at the Slytherin table, this time seeing him in a different light, noticing how he had hair only slightly darker than her own, with eyes a much paler shade of grey than her own, but still grey nonetheless. A feeling of dread washed over her and she found herself wandering if maybe there was a possibility of being related to the boy. Looking closer still, she noticed with horror that there was definitely something familiar in his appearance, which reminded her of her own looks.

Draco's gaze swept across the room and when he saw the girl that had bumped him at the train station staring at him, he glared and gave her a scathing look. Daria rolled her eyes and turned away, deciding that even if there was a chance they could be related, she wanted nothing to do with him and his family. She silently made a memo to write to her parents in the morning and also vowed not to talk to the twins about her thoughts; they'd never let her live it down.

"And students are forbidden to go into the forest that borders the grounds" Dumbledore's voice spoke, reminding Daria that she had been spaced out and needed to focus.

Daria grinned when she saw Dumbledore's eye flash towards the twins with his note about the forest and Fred nudged her in response.

"You okay? You seemed a little lost in your thoughts for a moment there" Fred whispered once they'd finished singing the school song.

Daria nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just wondering what the timetable will be like this year."

Fred rolled his eyes at her thoughts before turning his attention to the table that was now overflowing with food. Daria also turned her attention to the food, but her thoughts were stopping her from actually feeling hungry.

"Hey Daria!"

Daria looked up and smiled at Ron, who was sitting a few seats down from her.

"Hey Ron, well done mate." She congratulated.

Ron smiled.

"Thanks. I want to introduce you to my new friend; this is Harry Potter."

Daria looked at the small boy next to Ron and gave him a warm smile, determined not to treat him like everyone else had done so far at the mention of his name. She gave him a warm smile and held her hand out to him.

"Hi Harry, I'm Daria Jackson. Nice to meet you."

Harry gave her a shy smile as he shook her hand, but Daria could also see the gratefulness in his eyes that she hadn't freaked out upon hearing who he was. She gave him an understand nod before turning her attention back to the conversation the twins were having with Oliver about finding a new seeker for the team this year. Daria smiled when she saw the hopeful look Oliver gave her, book firmly shook her head.

"Nope. I don't mind substituting but I'm not being a seeker full time. You know I want chaser."

Oliver smiled and shrugged in defeat.

"I knew that would be your answer but I still wanted to try anyway just in case."

Daria smirked.

"Nice try, but no."

She felt slightly guilty at the way Oliver's shoulders sagged, but her determination to become chaser for the team was stronger than her guilt and she found herself easily returning to her food and changing the subject to a more jovial one, laughing as George tried to stop Fred from choking, only to end up choking himself when he laughed and inhaled some food at the same time.