Hogwarts was looking as stunning as ever. The great hall was decorated with hundreds of candles floating on the ceiling. The night sky was shining through. It felt like home. Everybody was excited to be back and spending another year. Dumbledore was sitting in his chair in the middle eyeing his students. McGonagall was currently out with the first years. Ruby was excited seeing the sorting ceremony for the first time as a Gryffindor. She spotted Hagrid sneaking into the great hall through the back door. She waved and he smiled when he noticed her.

'-Come visit me soon.' She saw him mouthing. She nodded and turned her head when the door opened. McGonagall, looking as stern as always, was making her way to the front followed by the first years. She knew exactly how they were feeling. She remembered feeling overwhelmed.

'-Were they always so small?' Fred asked next to her.

'-What are you talking about? We were first-year only last year as well.' Lee answered.

'-Yeah but we were not so tiny.' George said.

'-Will you two be quite the sorting is about to begin.' Alicia whispered. The twins and Lee looked up and just at this moment, McGonagall explained the sorting. The sorting hat began his song and it ended with the students clapping loudly.

'-I think the hat intimidated them only more.' Ruby said pointing. She saw a girl looking sick and the others were pale as well.

'-Well I would be as well.' Angelina said. She was talking about the fact that the sorting hat reminded them to stay strong and united because darker times were ahead of them.

'-Everything will be fine.' Ruby assured her. She took her hand and squeezed it. What did the sorting hat mean? What could be happening?

'-How about a little game?' Fred asked Ruby. She knew that he was trying to lighten the mood and she was thankful for it.

'-We could predict where the students are going to be sorted into and the winner gets a price?' Fred proposed. Ruby accepted.

'-Marcus Belby.' McGonagall called. A young boy with brown hair stumbled forward.

'-RAVENCLAW.' The sorting hat said shortly after.

'-Katie Bell.'

'-GRYFFINDOR.'

'-Cho Chang.'

'-RAVENCLAW.'

The sorting continued and ended with Cormac McLaggen getting sorted into Gryffindor.

'-It looks like you just lost.' Fred said smirking. He leaned back and enjoyed his triumph.

'-What do you want.' Ruby said grumpily. She only lost because she thought that McLaggen was going to be a Slytherin.

'-Let me think about it. It must be something very good.' He said.

'-It needs to be this year alright?' she asked. When he nodded the food appeared in front of them. She saw all her favorite dishes in front of her and she had the feeling that a certain house-elf had placed it in front of her.

'-We have to pay Ella a visit.' Ruby said pointing at the dishes in front of them. Her friends nodded and Lee had already his mouth full of a variety of food.

xXx

When the feast ended, they made their way to the tower. Ruby wanted to go and visit Ella straight away but Angelina reminded her that getting into trouble the first night could maybe cost her the position on the Quidditch team. Reluctantly she agreed and walked alongside Alicia and Angelina.

'-I've been thinking.' Angelina began. The two others looked at her and she continued.

'-We have to start training as soon as possible if we want to have a spot on the team.' She looked sternly at them and Ruby was reminded of Professor McGonagall.

'-We will.' Ruby said confidently.

'-Who's trying out for the team?' a female voice said snorting.

The girls turned around to face another fellow Gryffindor. She was older as them and currently a sixth year Gryffindor. She had blond hair and an arrogant look on her face.

'-We are.' Angelina stepped forward sounding confident.

She just started laughing.

'-Are you thinking you are making the team? How pathetic.' She continued.

'-And who do you think you are to tell us that we are pathetic?' Ruby said. She was fuming.

'-Not that it's any of your business but by name is Eliza. Eliza Sorrano.' She walked past them and turned around once more.

'-I wouldn't even bother training. You won't stand a chance against me.'

'-Well Eliza. I couldn't care less about you or what you're trying to achieve. We will meet at the tryouts and let me promise you one thing. We are going to outfly you.' Ruby wasn't even aware of how threatening she sounded. The sixth-year was gobsmacked at Ruby bluntness. She turned around and left the scene.

'-Who's this cow?' Alicia asked.

'-I know her.' Angelina stated.

'-Her father is an international quidditch player and I heard she was badly injured for a while. That's why she couldn't get a spot in the current team. But if she's better now we have a real rival. She is a force to be reckoned with.' Angelina sounded concerned.

'-Well we are not to be underestimated as well.' Ruby stated confidently and they entered the common room.

xXx

Ruby would never admit it but she was more worried than she wanted the others to know. She never had heard of Sorrano before and having an international quidditch player as a father wouldn't decrease her chances either.

'Well,' she thought. 'We just have to be better and work harder.'

The next morning, she made her way to breakfast with Alicia and Angelina. The boys were already at the table. They had a hard time waking Angelina up and wouldn't leave her back. No one was walking down to breakfast alone on the first day. You never know what happens on your first day back. After all, it's Hogwarts and anything might happen. As soon as they joined their table they were greeted by the twins and one very sleepy Lee.

'-It's the first day back and you're already tired. How can that be?' Ruby asked amused.

'-Well we might have played exploding snap until late at night.' Fred answered shrugging. Lee wasn't in the mood to answer and just grunted.

Ruby chuckled softly. They were back.

When Professor McGonagall arrived with their timetable Ruby saw all of the familiar classes. Nothing new. She knew what to expect and that calmed her. Her first day was going to be far less stressful than in her first year.

'-You ready to tackle the first day?' Fred asked her. He looked at her and she nodded.

'-How could I not be?' She winked and continued eating. Angelina was slowly waking up and Alicia was laughing about a joke George just told her.

'-What classes do we have today?' Angelina asked.

'-We are starting with Charms and then continue with Herbology. In the afternoon we have transfiguration.' Alicia answered.

'-Not a bad first day at all.' Ruby stated.

'-You're joking right. McGonagall will not start gently. She will probably start by repeating everything we did in the first year.' Fred stated.

'-Yes, she will.' Ruby said chuckling.

'-Do you think I haven't forgotten everything?' George butted in.

'- Same here.' Lee said raising a hand.

'-So, the repeating won't hurt a bit.' Angelina said smugly. She eyed the boys who gave her a look of horror and disbelief.

After breakfast, they made their way to the South tower where they climbed up to the Charms Corridor on the third floor. When they arrived in the classroom, they saw that the Ravenclaws were already sitting and chatting. The first row and a part of the second row of desks, which all faced the teacher's table, where occupied so Ruby and her friends made their way to their favored seat in the third row. When Professor Flitwick arrived, the class stopped chatting and the class began.

xXx

Ruby dropped into a comfy armchair near the fireplace. She let her bag fall beside her on the ground.

'-A bit dramatic are we?' Charlie asked.

'-Well, it was after all a long first day.' Ruby answered not opening her eyes.

'-McGonagall even gave us homework. How can she? We just came back from the holidays.' The twins complained. They also made their way to the fireplace. But instead of sitting next to Ruby on the sofa they followed her example and mimicked her actions. All that could be heard was Ruby cursing under the weight of the twins on top of her, who didn't seem to care or to notice.

'-Hello? I'm dying down here!' she screamed angrily.

'-Ruby what are you doing down here?' George asked acting innocently.

'-Yeah! We didn't see you there.' Fred continued. He smirked at the look Ruby gave them and sat down on the sofa.

Charlie grinned and then remembered why he wanted to speak to them.

'-So I wanted to let you know that Quidditch tryouts will be in two weeks.'

'-WHAT?' Ruby said jumping up from the armchair.

'-In two weeks? And you didn't tell me earlier.' She was pacing around the common room and some students gave her an odd look.

'-Ruby calm down. I just talked to McGonagall. I didn't know sooner.' He walked her back to the armchair and let her sit down.

'-You got this Ruby. I know you do.' He stated.

'-Well don't you think it's a bit unfair that you're treating her this way?' A voice snorted.

Charlie turned around surprised that somebody had a problem with his behavior.

'-Who are you?' he asked looking confused.

'-You don't know who I am?' the blond girl stepped forward and had a look of utter disbelief plastered on her face.

'-I am Eliza Sorrano and my father is the international quidditch player Marc Sorrano. Does this ring any bell?' she asked in an arrogant tone.

'-Well if you have to use the status of your father so that people know who you are what does this say about you?' Charlie asked. Ruby never saw this kind of look on his face. Normally Charlie was surrounded by a warm and kind area, which was now replaced by some coldness.

'-Well that doesn't matter. I don't agree with the way you're treating her.' She said her nose high up in the air.

'-And what way would this be?' he asked.

'-Well you're treating her like she is something special and already has a spot on the team. As captain, you shouldn't favor anybody.' She said in a smart-alecky way.

'-First, she is something special. She is part of my family and don't you dare talk about her that way. Second, I am well aware of what a Quidditch captain should or can do and I'm not letting you tell me what to do. It's really none of your business.'

'-Well actually it is. I'm trying out this year and I don't see any competition. So you probably have to deal with me.' She looked smug.

'-We will see about that.' Charlie said.

'-I hope you will choose talent over family because otherwise, I see no other solution than informing McGonagall.'

'-And what if talent and family are combined in the same person. Not even you will convince McGonagall that my decision was not in the best intention for the team.' He took a step towards her and continued

'-I would train hard if I were you because there is no way you will beat her or her friends.' He had a challenging look on his face.

'-Well then I see you at the tryouts. And don't worry. I will beat them.' And with this, she threw her hair over her shoulder and left.

xXx

Hey everybody. I am really sorry it took me so long to upload a new chapter. I had some busy weeks. Thank you for reading and please leave a comment so I know if you like my story and how I can improve. Also if you have a good idea what should happen next I am always open for suggestions.