The sun had set by the time the Hogwarts Express started to slow. Without speaking the three girls had changed into their robes, both Ginny and Penny starting to look nervous. As the train stopped all three of them climbed out onto the platform.

'First years!' A giant of a man bellowed down the side of the train 'First years follow me!' Penny moved closer to Hermione, uncertain of approaching the enormous man. Hermione glanced at the two younger girls before ushering both of them towards the giant.

'Go on, that's Hagrid, he'll take care of you. I'll see you up there' Hermione whispered, gently pushing the girls forwards. Sharing a hesitant glance, Ginny and Penny made their way forward.

'Alright, everybody here?' Said the giant named Hagrid looking down on them, his glittering eyes lingering on Penny's features, a small hint of recognition crossing his own before he continued. 'Ok, follow me' he said turning and leading them down a path. As they turned a corner everybody gasped. Across a large lake on the mountainside stood a massive castle, its many windows sparkling in the darkness. Penny stared opened mouthed at the magnificent sight. Turning to Ginny she saw the same look of awe on the redhead's face.

Climbing aboard small boats, the first years crossed the black lake. Penny stared transfixed at the castle as they moved. This, she thought, is where I belong. Once across the lake they had to duck down as the boats moved into a dark tunnel, apparently running into the mountain itself. After climbing out Hagrid waited as the first years scrambled out before knocking on the huge oak door. As it swung open Penny smiled as it revealed the tall figure of Professor McGonagall.

'Evening Professor' said Penny, inclining her head politely, her smile widening as the other first years glanced between them.

McGonagall did not return her smile but acknowledged rather stiffly 'Miss Black' causing Penny's smile to fade slightly. Gesturing them to follow McGonagall lead them up several flights of stairs, before leading them into a chamber off the side of a humungous entrance hall. Inside Professor McGonagall explained to the anxious first years about the School Houses and the House Point system. Leaving them briefly the first years chattered nervously amongst themselves.

'What if I'm not in Gryffindor?' wailed Ginny 'My whole family have been in Gryffindor!'

'Then you'll be free to be your own person rather than simply doing what's expected of you' Penny replied absent-mindedly before realising her words had not comforted Ginny at all, who looked like she might faint. 'Look' Penny said searching her brain for anything to say 'I'm sure your parents will love you regardless.' She finished lamely before falling silent. The next moment the whole chamber shrieked as transparent figures walked through the walls. The ghosts appeared to take no notice of the students who were staring at them. Bloody hell, thought Penny, what next?

McGonagall returned and lead them out of the chamber and into the Great Hall. Walking between the long tables Penny's eyes went wide for the hundredth time that evening as she stared at the stars above her. She had read that it was enchanted but nothing could have prepared her for the beauty that spread out above her. Most of the way down the tables Penny spotted Hermione sat on the far left table. Penny nudged Ginny and pointed as Hermione smiled and waved at the pair of them.

Reaching the top end of the tables Penny looked along the High Table. In the centre she recognized Albus Dumbledore from his picture in 'Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century'. As she scrutinized his face she became aware he appeared to be doing the same to her. Their eyes met and Penny felt oddly exposed under his penetrating gaze. Narrowing her eyes slightly she felt a twinge of annoyance as a bemused smile crept onto the old man's face. Sniffing irritably, she turned her eyes down the staff table. None them caught her attention, aside from noticing with dismay the man with the annoying smile she had seen in Flourish and Blotts was sat there. Dressed in a flamboyant lilac jacket Penny mentally confirmed her previous thought.

'If he doesn't like cock I'm the tooth fairy' she commented silently. She didn't have long to consider this as her attention was caught by another pair of eyes staring at her. Next to the lilac jacket of his colleague, this man dressed entirely in black could not have contrasted more. Through a curtain of thick black hair Penny's bluey green eyes met black. Although they did not feel as penetrating as the Head Master's gaze, something about them made Penny distinctly uncomfortable. Try as she might, she could not detect any emotion from this man, a first for her, who was used to reading people so easily. He seemed to be considering her thoughtfully, but what he was thinking was completely concealed from Penny. Breaking eye contact Penny turned her attention back to the events unfolding in front of her.

McGonagall seemed to have placed a stool in front of the group of first years. On it was a filthy hat. The Sorting Hat, thought Penny recalling 'Hogwarts: A History'. It was said that at the start of the ceremony it was suppose to….

Just as the thought formed in Penny's head the hat burst into song:

'So I may not look shiny and new

And I'm covered in mould and grime

But I'd love to see how you will look

In a thousand years time

But despite my age I can see

Into your mind so clear

For I am the Sorting Hat

And I Sort them every year.

I may sort you into Gryffindor

Who would select his class

Based on those with daring nerve

And brave and bold as brass

Or you may belong to Ravenclaw

For those sharp and smart

For these willing learners new knowledge

And them are never far apart

Or perhaps in Hufflepuff

For those who believe in playing fair

For the loyal hard workers

Who are always willing to share

Last you may belong in Slytherin

If you are brimming with ambition

These cunning folk use any means

To beat the competition

So step forward as you are bid

And dare to try me on

For I alone truly know

Just where you belong.'

At this the hat fell silent and the hall erupted into applause. Penny's stomach twisted uneasily. If what the hat said was true and it could see all her mind then it would know about….Penny went pale under her dark locks. McGonagall unrolled a long scroll and began calling out names. Penny vaguely noticed a few people stagger forward and the hat call out the house names. None of them seemed to take very long. She fidgeted anxiously, not sure if she wanted to go through with this after all. Too soon her name was called, being a 'B'.

'Black, Persephone.' Called McGonagall, who peered down expectantly at her. Penny stumbled forward her face white as the ghosts in the chamber. As she approached the stall she could sense the looks of curiosity from the High Table, the Headmaster and the dark man were both peered intently at her. Turning round she shared a split second glance with Hermione and the little redhead who gave her a quick smile before McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat unusually slowly onto her head.

Penny waited as darkness fell over her eyes. Trying to control her frantic thoughts she stifled a squeak as she heard a voice in her head.

'Curious' the hat mumbled quietly 'A mind sharp as Rowena Ravenclaw herself, she'd have loved to have had you as her own. But then…you burn passionately with the desire to prove yourself…hmm curious, it is your attempt to make up for your guilt?' The hat asked almost mockingly

'Shut up' Penny thought angrily as the face of her Nana swam behind her eyes 'That's none of your business'

'Oh but it is' the hat replied bemused 'For where am I to put you?'

'I don't care' Penny snapped back 'What difference does it make? I make my own choices' she said proudly, dimly aware that the other people in the hall were becoming restless. This felt so much longer than the other Sortings.

'Very well' the hat chuckled 'You have your mother's spirit.' Penny's retort got muffled by the hat's continued commentary 'Your Ravenclaw wit and your Slytherin ambition are equal rivals, so purely based on the blood that runs through your veins…SLYTHERIN!' The hat shrieked to the entire hall.

Penny sat frozen for a second 'Because I am evil?' she asked in a quiet thought, reflecting on what she had heard from the two girls that day.

'No,' replied the hat gently 'Because you are great' it said just before it was pulled off the young girl's head. Standing up she walked over the table on the far right. Malfoy, the blond boy from earlier saw her approach and shifted nervously on his seat. She shot him cold look before sitting further down the table. Looking to over to the other end of the hall Penny's light eyes met Hermione's brown ones. Smiling slightly and shrugging Penny received a weak smile in return.

The Sorting Ceremony continued and Penny noticed the darkly dressed Professor exit quietly via a side door. Looking back to the Ceremony Penny saw the little redhead move forward and sit under the hat. Within seconds the hat shouted 'Gryffindor!' and Ginny rushed to join what could only be her brothers on the far left table.

'Curious' thought Penny 'it took far longer with me.'

It appeared that the Sorting Ceremony was finished following Ginny's sorting and the Head Master stood briefly and opened the feast. Penny's mouth dropped open as the plates in front of her filled to the brim with dishes of all sorts. Tucking in, Penny listened absently to the conversation that filled her table. The dark Professor reappeared briefly, speaking in Professor McGonagall's ear before she followed him out of the Great Hall.

Once all the plates had been cleared she sleepily went with her fellow first years, following a Slytherin prefect down into what looked like a dungeon. After a few minutes the Prefect stopped in front of a solid wall.

'Serpent's tongue' the Prefect said proudly, causing a hidden door to swing open. Penny barely had the energy to acknowledge it before following the Prefect in. He briefly explained where they were to sleep and a few rules before strolling off to his friends. Penny stumbled up the impressive stairwell, pushing the door marked 'First years' open. Inside her and her fellow female first years wordlessly undressed by their allocated beds, climbing under the dark green bed covers.

Curling up with a full stomach and a comfortable bed Penny smiled to herself. A last thought occurred to her before she fell asleep.

'I could get used to this.'