Author's comment: I know that I said this before, but: I really am sorry that it took me so long to write and update this chapter! That's why I decided to make this an extra long chapter. Hope you like it!

I recently watched 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II' and 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' and they both inspired me a lot to continue this fic.

Also I want to thank you. Without you I would have given up writing long ago.

Please read and review, it keeps me going!

Chapter 11

Every Gryffindor started to clap and cheer. I walked to their Table in some sort of trance. Somehow I managed to find Fred and George.

''We knew it!'' George said. ''We saved you a seat.''

''Thanks,'' I muttered, and I sat down between him and Fred. I peered at Snape. His face remained expressionless, though I spotted a strange glitter in his dark eyes. The words of Walburga's letter echoed in my head. And on top of that, he was sorted into the house of Gryffindor instead of the family's traditional house, Slytherin… I'm sure Snape will explain why that's a shame, he was in Slytherin himself…

''Excellent,'' I heard someone saying, and everyone in the Great Hall fell silent. I looked away from Snape, and observed this new person. He seemed very old, due to his silver hair and beard, but his eyes shined lively behind his half-moon spectacles. I came to realize that this could only be the Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore.

''You all must be wondering who that girl was.'' Several people nodded, others turned around to stare at me. I felt my cheeks turn red.

''Her name is Antares. She – didn't get the chance to study at Hogwarts when she was eleven years old, due to – complictated reasons. But I'm glad that she's with us now, and…'' He paused a moment. ''… I hope that she soon feels at home here.''

Many people now noticed that they weren't behaving in a very nice way. They ceased their gazing and turned towards Dumbledore again.

''Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast. As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presenty playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business. They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds and while they are with us I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises – or even Invisibility Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a Dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you...''

I stared at my golden plate, and tried to overthink what I'd heard so far. The Dementors were also on search for Sirius Black, the one I had to kill. I knew that I couldn't stand a chance against the Guards of Azkaban, and least of all to Sirius Black himself, since he had fooled them before. Everything puzzled me. The rest of the Headmaster's speech went on and on and I hardly listened. I clapped along with everyone else when two new teachers were presented, and at last I heard the Headmaster say: ''Let the feast begin!''

The plates and goblets in front of me filled themselves! My eyes widened and I looked around. Everyone else picked up their knives and forks and I hastily did the same. I helped myself to some delicious looking food.

''Finally!'' Fred said, while pouring some juice into his goblet. ''Do you want some as well?''

''Yes, please.''

I watched Fred filling my goblet. He looked up, and smiled.

''I think that it's really cool that you're in Gryffindor.''

''Hmm.'' That reminded me of another problem. Why did the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor? It had shattered my hope that being in Slytherin would've been enough for Walburga. Now I had no choice. I felt like a cold stone was sinking in my stomach, and I turned pale.

''Are you all right?'' Fred asked.

''Y-yes,'' I said, and I smiled weakily. "I'm a bit tired, that's all.''

Fred looked sideways at me. ''I don't believe you. Are you still afraid of that Dementor? You haven't been saying much since it attacked you.''

George, who had followed our conversation, poked Fred on his shoulder. ''Fred, I think that it's better to leave her alone.''

''I just want to help her!''

''I know, but you're not really helping her with nagging about Dementors.''

My eyes wandered back at Snape. I wanted to talk to him; I desperately wanted to know what he was thinking about all this.

I watched all the others eating, drinking and talking. They seemed all very happy with the start of this new school year. At long last the Headmaster announced that it was time to go to bed. I stood up, and looked at the Staff Table. Snape also rose from table.

''Antares?'' I heard Fred saying hesitatingly. I turned around, and felt a bit sorry for the way I had treated him.

''What is it?''

''We'd like to show you the way to our Common Room,'' George said.

''All right, thanks,'' I said, and I followed them as they walked to the Great Hall. When I reached the oak door I looked over my shoulder. Snape had gone. I sighed, and felt disappointed. I tried to remember the promise he had made. We'll meet again in the Great Hall... I straightened my shoulders and walked along with Fred, George and the other Gryffindors. Fine. If Snape had a problem with me because I was a Gryffindor now, then so be it. I already had enough problems to worry about.

''Mind to share your thoughts?'' I heard Fred whispering in my ear. ''You seem so worried about... things.''

I remained silent. Why couldn't he just leave me alone, just like his brother said?

''What do you think of the castle so far, Antares?'' George said. He glared at his brother, and I was happy that he had changed the subject.

Looking around I found out that I'd certainly missed a few miracles with being lost in my thoughts. I saw torches hanging from the wall; they only lightened up if you walked by close enough. The flames brightened up the portraits that decorated the stone walls. A small boy on one of them waved at me. I smiled, and waved back.

''It truly is magical,'' I whispered.

George chuckled. ''Wait 'till you see the Grand Staircase.''

''But we already climbed the stairs,'' I pouted.

''As we told you before, there are quite a lot of stairs here,'' George said in a mysterious way.

We shuffled through a narrow corridor and turned round a corner. I glanced over the staircases. They didn't seem very special to me.

''Quickly now!'' A tall boy with red hair gestured the first years to move on. ''Hurry!'' The first years rushed up the stairs, the other Gryffindors also made haste.

I wanted to follow them, but Fred laid his hand on my arm. ''Stand still,'' he whispered.

''Antares, I ask you to come here immediately!'' the tall boy shouted at me.

''Don't mind him,'' Fred said. ''He's our brother.'' I remained standing.

''I'm Head Boy! You must listen to me!'' He turned to Fred and George. ''How dare you to put this new girl into trouble! Come here at once!''

''Come now, Percy,'' Fred said. ''Since when did it become forbidden to just stand somewhere?''

I would never find out from what moment it became forbidden to stand somewhere, because of the staircases. They started to move when Percy was about to reply.

''Sorry, Perce, it seems that we're needed elsewhere!'' Fred grinned.

''This is a short cut,'' George explained, when we left the stairs behind us and walked through another corridor. ''Fred and I discovered it when... we needed to get back into the Tower of Gryffindor really fast.''

''You're a troublesome couple, aren't you?'' I laughed.

''Yes,'' Fred and George said simultaneously, with certain pride in their voices.

We arrived way before the others at the secret passage to the Gryffindor Tower. We leaned against the wall.

''This is the Fat Lady,'' George said, while pointing at the portrait. ''She guards our Tower. Only those who know the password will gain access.''

''Unfortunately Percy is the one who knows the new password,'' Fred sighed.

''That's right.'' I looked up. Percy and the other Gryffindors had arrived. ''The new password is Fortuna Major.''

''Correct.'' The Fat Lady swung back her portrait and the others climbed through the portrait hole into the Common Room. I did the same.

The Common Room was decorated with scarlet tapestries. A fireplace spread a pleasant warmth. I saw two doors, one left and one right.

''That one leads to the girls dormitories,'' George said.

''We can't get there,'' Fred added.

''I see,'' I said. ''Thanks for everything. Will I see you tomorrow?''

''Of course!''

''Meet us here!''

''Good night.''

''You've heard the Headmaster; it's time to go to bed! The lights will extinguish in ten minutes,'' Percy said warning.

The girls accompanied me to the dormitories. There I saw a lot of four-poster beds with velvet curtains and soft looking pillows. Very soon I found my bed; my own trunk stood next to it. I changed my clothes, and plumped down on my bed. I stared at the ceiling. Tomorrow would be the start of my very first year at Hogwarts. The year in which I had to found out whom I truly was. And the year in which I had to kill Sirius Black... I sighed, and closed my eyes. It took a long time before I finally got to sleep.