Clara POV

We were getting to Hogwarts via boat, while the older students were going via horseless carriage. We climbed on to a boat, followed by a girl with dirty-blond hair. The girl had on odd glasses and didn't really seem to be paying attention.

"Hello, Luna," Ginny said, explaining that the girl was her neighbor, although they didn't really talk.

"Hi." Luna went back to reading a magazine sideways, and Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Yeh'll get your first look a' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called from the front boat. There were oohs and aahs as we passed an enormous gray castle. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

We clapped and cheered as we descended the boats and walked up the marble staircase to Hogwarts. We reached a stone room, and Hagrid said, "Wait here, everyone. I'll go get professor Flitwick."

Ginny gave a sigh of relief and whispered, "Good. I'm glad Snape's not on first year duty this year. When Fred and George had him, he was the worst."

I diminutive man who almost looked part goblin came out. "Hello, first years. I'm Professor Flitwick, charms professor and head of Ravenclaw house. Here at Hogwarts, your house will be like your home. The four houses are: Gryffindor, which honors bravery and chivalry; Slytherin, which honors cunning, leadership, and resourcefulness; Hufflepuff, which values hard work, kindness, and dedication; and my former house, Ravenclaw, which values intelligence and wit.

"Your house can win or lose points based on your behaviors. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the house cup, an award coveted by all the students of Hogwarts. So, let us begin."

We clapped at the speech and then entered into the great hall, where the roof was the night sky.

"Wow, is that real?"

"I think it's an enchantment, but I'm not sure," Luna said. But everyone's attention was on an old hat that had just burst into song.


Many, many years ago

When I was new and clean

Godric Gryffindor took me from his head

And placed some brains in me.

This was the way the founders four

Would sort once they were long gone

For what would become of their values

When their days were done?

Brave Gryffindor, the roaring lion

Only wanted what was brave

While Shrewd Slytherin, the snake

Only took those a wizard bloodline gave

Meanwhile, Witty Ravenclaw, the eagle

Chose all those who were smart

And Sweet Hufflepuff, the badger

All the rest, she taught.

Despite their views, the founders four

Became the best of friends

The rivalry between them

Remained playful to no end.

But Slytherin was different

He broke off from the rest

He decided that his views

Were what marked the best.

He caused a rift,

Irreparable and strong

And that is why the houses

Can never get along.


I clapped along with everyone else, and Flitwick began calling out names.

"Aconna, Rebecca?"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Avery, Nolan?"

"Gryffindor!"

"Ballias, Sandra?"

"Slytherin!"

"Bellis, Gill?"

"Slytherin!"

On and on it went, until, "Bradley, Clara?"

I stepped out in front of the hat, sat on the chair, and Flitwick placed it on my head. "Ah, yes, the secret Malfoy, I know all about you. Daughter of Apollo, gave the Weasley girl Bertie Botts Beans when you realized her story, brought peace between Clarisse and Renee, better be…HUFFLEPUFF!"

Well, I hadn't known the hat talked to you and probed your thoughts. Renee gave me a thumbs up as I went to sit with Rebecca Aconna and the other Hufflepuffs.


Renee POV

Well, now that Clara had gone, I had nothing else to do but wait. I looked around. The different tables were decorated with their house's animal and color. My name wouldn't come for a while, so I just waited. Shortly after Clara was called, I watched a mousy boy called Colin Creevy become a Gryffindor. I'm not sure why he stood out, but he did. I watched and waited as more people became Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins. Luna Lovegood, the girl from the boat, became a Ravenclaw

"Ruddernot, Tomasz?"

"Slytherin!"

"Rybalzat, Kat?"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Saban, Chloe?"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Samson, Rachel?"

"Gryffindor!"

And then me. "Sanderson, Renee?"

"Ah yes, daughter of Aphrodite and charmspeak extraordinaire. A ready mind, and kindness, ah yes, there is kindness, but it's hidden. You would not do well in Hufflepuff, though, I think quite the opposite. So what shall it be?"

"I don't want to be evil," I said in my head, knowing the hat would hear me.

"Now, Renee, who told you there was an evil house? Were they talking about Slytherin? Did you know, dear girl, that Merlin himself was a Slytherin? Slytherins show potential and determination, but are cunning and will achieve any means to their ways. I think you would make a good one."

I thought about it, and the hat said, "Take your time, Miss Sanderson."

"I'll do it, then," I thought with finality. "I'll show Ginny that not all Slytherins are evil."

"Ah, that's the ticket. Prove yourself, Renee. SLYTHERIN!"

I saw Clara clapping for me. She didn't even look disappointed that we didn't get into the same house, or that I was in Slytherin. I hurried to sit with the new first years, Tomasz, Sandra, and Gill, who didn't seem as bad as some of the older students.

When I got to the table, Sandra clapped me on the back and Tomasz smiled. I hoped I could be friends with these people, hoped that they wouldn't turn out evil. I sat and watched the rest of the sorting. The last person was "Weasley, Ginny," and I watched Ginny become a Gryffindor, clapping along with her house and Clara.

A tall wizard with a long white beard stood up at the staff table. "Now, a few words before we begin. Nitwit! Oddiment! Bubbler! Tweak!"

I looked confused, but food was appearing on our table, and I was too hungry to think about the strange man.

Sandra saw my look and smiled. "That's Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster."

"He's a little strange."

"Well, yes, but my sisters say he's brilliant. I'm a pureblood by the way, what about you?"

"Half."

"I thought so, but don't let it be too known here. You heard the hat, Slytherins value purebloods above all, and some of them go as far as to hate Muggle-borns and Muggles. My parents were true Gryffindors, and they never really messed anything up. They hated Slytherins with a passion. But, when Sophia became a Slytherin-she's head girl now, of course-they kind of had to accept it. Stacy is a new prefect, couldn't be prouder. My parents have high expectations for me as well. I do hope I can meet them.

"The reason we got into Slytherin was because we were major pranksters at home, and we would do anything for a laugh. But don't worry, we're going to be roommates, so I won't prank you."

I laughed. "Sandra, slow down," I commanded with charmspeak. "So let me get this straight. Slytherins can sometimes be kind of rude to non-purebloods, but I can tell you're not. Your parents were Gryffindors, but your two sisters, Stacy and Sophia, are here, and you're following in their footsteps. Sophia is head girl and Stacy is a prefect, you're going to be my roommate?"

"Yep. There are three other first year girls who will be with us, Morgana, Ariana, and Kaylee."

"Really? I didn't hear their names called."

"It's easy to zone out. And, well, I don't think they'll be like us. I'd say avoid them when you can. We can just stick together, along with Gill and Tomasz."

I nodded. "Are they purebloods as well?"

"Yes, I think so. But don't worry, not all purebloods are like that. Your friend Ginny, she's a pureblood, and there is no way she would ever act that way. Her brother Percy is a Gryffindor prefect, and he and Stacy have a pleasant relationship. Everyone loves the Weasleys. And us, of course."

I nodded.

"Hey Sanderson, I saw you clapping for the Weasley girl, what's wrong with you? You do that they're blood traitors, right?" It was Draco, Clara's half-brother. I groaned. "Why clap for a Gryffindor? You're such a blood traitor!"

He and his friends had surrounded me. Most of the Slytherin girls were much larger than I was. A tall guy who looked like a sloth was laughing. "You don't want detention on the first night, do you, Renee?" he sneered.

"Warrington! You can't give her detention on the first night! She didn't even do anything!" An older girl was yelling. "And anyway, I'm head girl. I can override any decision you make, Warrington. And I will, too!"

Sandra hugged the older girl. "Sophia, where were you? This table's so big!"

"I'm up at the other end. Congratulations on making it into Slytherin, and for letting Miss Sanderson know that not all Slytherins act that way. I'll make sure Stacy is the prefect who leads you to the common room, not Warrington."

Sandra smiled.

"I'm Sophia, by the way, head girl. Pleasure to meet you." Sophia looked just like Sandra, but with shorter, more wavy, blond hair. Looking around, I realized that I was one of the only Slytherin girls who was brunette, which wasn't a pleasant thought. Some girls had jet-black hair, even darker than Potter's. But no other Slytherin girls had my color. In a way that was good, I stood out from the rest. In fact, my hair had always been different from my friends. Of course, that could have something to do with my mom. I looked over at Clara to see if how she was faring.


Clara POV

I sat with Rebecca and Kat, two other first year girls. Rebecca was a Muggleborn, but she had older brothers, so she knew that she would be coming. Kat was a pureblood, but the oldest child in her family. Her parents had gone to Durmstrang, another wizarding school, but they wanted her to be at Hogwarts. The other school had a bad reputation, and produced many dark wizards. Kat was telling us about her summer in Brazil, but I wasn't really listening. I was watching Renee.

My, um, brother had just come over and said something rude to her. Even though I knew she was being helped by a couple other girls, I just wanted to go over and comfort her. She looked up at me, finally. I saw tears forming in her eyes, and I excused myself from the Hufflepuff table.

"Renee, are you okay?"

"Clara. You shouldn't be here, not with….you know." She looked at Draco.

"It's fine, he doesn't know."

"Don't even talk about it here, you're so clueless."

Renee was becoming her old self again, but I didn't mind. "Come over tonight or if you ever need anything. Rebecca said there's a safe space for the other houses if it's ever needed; if Ravenclaws can't figure out the riddle or if Gryffindors or Slytherins forget or are unaware of the new password. And…other stuff. Please, come tonight, and bring Sandra if you want. Just tickle the pear. They all know that Hufflepuffs are most likely to be friends with those from other houses. Just, don't replace me with Sandra, okay?" I said the last part in a whisper.

"Not if you don't replace me with Rebecca and Kat."

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm inviting Ginny, too."

"Oh, in that case, I won't bring Sandra. I think we need to be together. Kat and Rebecca won't be there, will they?"

"No, just the three of us. Ginny said she has something important to show us."

"Okay, midnight?"

"Midnight sounds great. Just tickle the pear, Rebecca knows everything around here."

"I bet Sandra does too. See you tonight."

I went back to the Hufflepuff table as the man with the beard started a speech. "Welcome, or welcome back, to Hogwarts. I am Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster. It's going to be a great year. Win lots of points for your house. Flying lessons for first years take place on October fourth, and Quidditch tryouts are up to your house captain. A reminder that nobody is allowed in the forest, and you may only enter Hogsmeade with a permission slip and if you are third year and over. But now, the night is young, and we will sing our school song! Everybody, pick a tune!"

He waved his wand and a ribbon of words appeared. I hoped that Renee and I would be on the same page for the song, which of course was "Good Day Sunshine," by the Beatles. I looked at her, and she nodded.


"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

Teach us something please

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff

So teach us things worth knowing

Bring back what we've forgot

Just do your best,

We'll do the rest

And learn until our brains all rot!"


Well, that was…interesting. "Ah, the joys of music! Now, off to bed, you have a big day ahead of you!" Dumbledore said.


A/N: So yeah, that was longer than most of them. Did you like Renee's battle with the sorting hat? And the OC's I introduced? I think Sandra is going to be the main other OC besides Clara and Renee for a while, but the others will factor in eventually. Did you like the ways I portrayed Slytherin and the idea of a safe space for Hufflepuffs?

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for the story.

Also, I chose "Good Day Sunshine," by the Beatles because I wanted an older song that would have been around in canon Hogwarts time. It was the first song that popped into my head, although I have no idea how the Hogwarts song would actually work out with that. My sister and I sometimes try to sing it to whatever tune we can.

Anyway, enough about me. Please review! I love my readers!