Chapter 5
Welcome to Hogwarts

A tall, black haired witch in emerald green robes stood in the doorway, waiting for us with a stern face. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun and she looked very serious as she scanned our group with her green eyes.

"Thank you, I will take them from here," she stated. With a last wave at Hagrid, our large group followed her into the stone entrance hall. The hall was so massive that it made me feel rather small in comparison. The stone walls were torch lit and cast a welcoming glow throughout the room. I grabbed Harry's arm as we walked on.

The professor led us into a much smaller chamber, and stopped at a doorway at which hundreds of chattering voices could be heard from the other side. This must be where the rest of the students were. We gathered around the professor as she turned to face us.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she greeted. Even her smile seemed strict. "I am Professor McGonagall and I am the Transfiguration professor, as well as head of Gryffindor House. Now, when you go into the Great Hall just past this door, you will come up one by one to be sorted into your Houses. Your fellow students in your own House will be somewhat of a family while you are here; as you will sleep in the House dormitory, have classes with the rest of your House, and eat with your House.

"There are four Houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose your House points. The House with the most points at the end of the year will win the honorable House Cup. I will be back in a few minutes to get you."

Once she left, Harry turned to me. "Rule-breaking loses House points," he stated under his breath.

"Why're you looking at me? Why do you think I'm gonna break rules?" I whispered, pretending to be offended.

"Because I know you."

"I'll be a perfect angel, just you wait."

"Sure you will," he responded, and I lightly hit him in the arm I was holding onto. Harry then turned to Ron. "How do they sort us into the Houses?"

"Fred said it was some sort of test that hurts a lot. I think he was joking about the hurting part. Hopefully," Ron answered.

"A test?" I repeated worriedly. I looked around at the fellow first years and I was relieved to see that nearly all of them looked terrified. I wasn't exactly terrified but I definitely wasn't calm. My stomach gave a both excited and sickened jolt when McGonagall reentered and gestured for us to follow her.

We formed a straight line and nervously followed McGonagall into the Great Hall. I breathed in a sharp breath the minute I got a full view of the Hall. The stars twinkled above us on the ceiling. From behind me, I could hear Hermione Granger saying how it was enchanted to look like the current sky. Four long, polished wooden tables took up most of the hall. At these tables sat hundreds of kids of various ages. A fifth, smaller table headed the hall where the teachers sat. Candles floated a few feet above the heads of the students.

It had gone silent throughout the Hall, and I forced myself to look forward. In front of us, McGonagall placed a four-legged stool. What was strange was what was on top of the stool.

It was a hat. An old, worn, ancient hat.

I stared at it intently, not quite sure what to expect. What were we supposed to do with a hat? If we had to fix it to make it look new, I was hopeless. I nearly jumped a foot into the air when it suddenly twitched and a rip near the brim opened. It did the exact opposite of what I had expected it to do; it started to sing.

When it finished its song about the Houses and its founders, its audience of students and teachers burst into applause. Us first years were stunned but we joined the rest of the hall in clapping, completely befuddled. So all we had to do was try on the hat? That was simple enough.

McGonagall stepped forward, carrying a long roll of parchment. She adjusted her spectacles and focused on the list. "When I call your name, please come forward, place the hat on your head and sit until you are sorted," she instructed, and then looked back down at the list. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A small, timid girl with blonde pigtails and a pink face stepped up to the hat and placed it on her head. It was so big that it fell right over her eyes. A moment of silence came before—

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted. The table on the far left cheered loudly and Hannah rushed over to it. I hadn't even noticed the colors of each table when I entered. Hufflepuff's color seemed to be yellow. I was about to examine the other students, but…

"Black, Lydia!" McGonagall called. Right, of course I was next. My last name is right at the front of the alphabet. A wave of interest went through the crowd at the mention of my name. I glanced back at Harry who gave me an encouraging nudge. I advanced slowly to the hat and placed it on top of my head. Just like Hannah, it nearly fell over my eyes. I was startled when a quiet voice suddenly rang in my ear.

"Well, well, well, another Black?" the hat said thoughtfully. "Hogwarts has had many Blacks, all great wizards. Most were members of the Slytherin house."

"Yeah, I know," I thought regretfully. The hat seemed to hear my thoughts. It noticed my displeasure.

"Not too fond of Slytherin, eh? Hmm, your father shared your sentiments. He too wasn't very fond," the hat examined. I jumped at the mention of my dad. He didn't like Slytherin? "Yes, very rebellious indeed, he wanted to be set apart from his family. I see some of that in you as well. You're very eager to prove yourself. Great spirit, you've got; and a very true heart. Incredible courage, friendship, loyalty."

The hat paused for a minute, thinking over its choice. "Not Ravenclaw. I don't think Slytherin would be right for you. Though I'd argue that you'd do well in Hufflepuff, I have to go with my first instinct. It looks like—GRYFFINDOR!"

Gryffindor… I got Gryffindor!

The second table to the right, whose color seemed to be red, burst into applause and cheers. Beaming, I raced proudly towards it. I found Harry and Ron in the crowd of first years and smiled at them. They returned it, clapping happily for me. I hoped they would be in Gryffindor as well. I don't know what I'd do if Harry got placed elsewhere.

I sat down near the Weasley twins and Jason Ericson.

"Good job," Jason muttered to me. I grinned at him. I turned my eyes back to the sorting where a girl, named 'Bones, Susan' had just gotten sorted into Hufflepuff. I glanced around at the teachers and caught the eye of one; one that made me shudder and actually fear for my life.

"Who's he?" I asked the older boys, nodding my head at the teacher with greasy black hair and cold black eyes glaring at me with disgust and hatred. I flinched away from his gaze.

"Oh, him? That's Professor Snape," Jason explained. "Don't take the glare personally; he hates everyone."

"Everyone that isn't in Slytherin, that is," George corrected. "He's head of the Slytherin house, and the potions master—"

"And a downright git," Fred finished. George and Jason nodded in agreement. Jason glanced back at the teacher's table at Snape and looked away quickly.

"Though, I really haven't seen him look at anyone like that before," he added and turned back to me. "I'd watch out for him, if I were you." I sighed.

"Great; I've been here twenty minutes and already a teacher hates me. And I haven't even done anything yet," I said deliberately. Fred and George picked up on my last word.

"Yet?" they questioned together.

"It's just that I'm not very good at following authority. I reckon it'll be a problem at some point."

The twins smirked identically.

"Well, not following authority is our middle name," Fred said.

"You just happen to be talking to the two greatest pranksters in the school," George informed, prideful. I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" I mused.

"Really," they chorused. Jason sighed.

"Just as a forewarning, I'm not covering up for you two this year after that week's worth of detention I got because a certain pair of brothers forgot to inform Filch that they made a new trick step," said the fourth year boy pointedly.

"You even said that it was worth it by the look of Filch's face!" Fred intervened. Jason shrugged it off with a wave of his hand.

"Details. I'm trying to be a prefect next year," he responded. Fred and George pretended to gag. I giggled and turned back to the sorting just in time to see Hermione Granger head towards the Gryffindor table and sit across from me. Wonderful.

"I'm so glad I got into Gryffindor!" she started, buzzing with excitement. I sighed and tuned out her voice as she conversed with the rest of the students around us.

The toad boy, Neville Longbottom, stumbled forward to the hat and after a long pause was announced a Gryffindor. I didn't laugh when he ran off with the hat still on his head; he seemed nervous enough already. Malfoy was declared a Slytherin, just like he wanted. It barely had to touch his greasy pale hair. We met eyes and glared at each other until he took his place at the Slytherin table.

After a few minutes, the name "Potter, Harry!" was called. I perked up anxiously, ignoring the enthusiastic and curious whispers around the hall about my best friend. Harry set the hat on top of his head calmly, and waited. Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor. I crossed my fingers.

A long silence followed, and Harry started to tense up. "Come on, Potter," I muttered to myself. More silence…

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Yes!" I exclaimed loudly, shooting out of my seat. I cheered and whistled loudly. Harry had received the loudest cheer from any table yet. The Weasley twins yelled, "We've got Potter! We've got Potter!" Harry, his face flushed red, rushed to our table. I hugged him joyfully.

He took a seat next to me, and he received attention from all over the Gryffindor table. I looked over at the teachers again and saw that Snape was now glaring at Harry, only with even more hatred. I scoffed and looked away. I already hated him.

I chatted with Harry, Fred, George and Jason until I heard Ron's name be called. Looking green, he put on the hat. Only a few seconds later the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" as well. I cheered loudly again with the rest of my House. What a relief. Ron's ears were red as he plopped into the seat next to Harry.

The Sorting finally finished with "Zabini, Blaise" being sorted into Slytherin and McGonagall rolled up the scroll, taking the old hat away from the stool. An old man with long silver hair and a beard to match stood and smiled at all of the students. His blue eyes twinkled under his half-moon spectacles as his arms opened wide as a welcome. This was undoubtedly Albus Dumbledore.

"Welcome!" Dumbledore greeted. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before the feast, I'd like to say a few words: Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak! Thank you!"

I stared at him, confused, as he sat and the rest of the students cheered.

I shrugged to myself and looked down at the plates. I did a double-take and my eyes widened. Where the golden plates had been clear before, now there were mounds of fresh, delicious food of every type I could think of. I had never seen this much food before in my life. I met Harry's eyes in amazement, knowing he must be thinking something similar. We had always been given less at the Dursleys. Even if there had been plenty of food, they had only given us a very small amount. It was something we had gotten used to, though I knew it wasn't fair.

I piled everything I could reach on my plate. As the many students of Hogwarts began digging into the sumptuous meals before them, the noise in the hall reached staggering heights.

I dug into my food gleefully, seeing as I never had a meal this good in my life; and not just a meal, a feast.

"That does look rather good," a man's voice from behind me said. When I turned around, I nearly screamed in shock. There was a man there, but when I tried to look at him, I was able to see right through him. He was pearly-white and transparent; a—a ghost!

"I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years," said the same ghost sadly, the one wearing an old-fashion neck ruff. "I do miss it. Forgive me; I'm Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, at your service. The ghost of the Gryffindor tower."

"I know who you are! My brothers told me about you— you're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ron announced interestedly.

"Well, I'd prefer if you called me—" the ghost started stiffly, but another boy, whom I knew as Seamus Finnigan interrupted.

"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" he asked. Sir Nicholas looked agitated, and defeated.

"Like this," he sighed testily. He grabbed the left side of his head and pulled. His head fell onto his right shoulder, held together by only a little flap of skin. Whoever had tried to behead him needed to learn how to use an axe. The closest Gryffindors all blanched and quickly retreated from the sight. I turned back around when he had placed his head back onto his neck, where it should be and should always stay.

"Well," Nicholas continued, "I surely hope that all of you new Gryffindors are going to help us win the house cup this year! The Slytherins have had it for six years in a row now." He gestured over to the Slytherin table where another ghost, notably coated in blood, was sitting. Fortunately, the ghost was next to Malfoy, who didn't look very happy about this.

The entrees soon disappeared only to be replaced by a new round of desserts. Of course I was already full, but that didn't stop me from piling cakes and pies and ice creams onto my plate. The chatter around us was now on the subject of families. I discovered that Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas were half-blood while Neville Longbottom was pure-blood.

"I don't think I ever really did anything magical. Not that I know of," I said, joining the conversation after Neville's story on his first magical act.

"What about your hair?" Ron asked, taking a bite of his apple pie. "It turned red before. Redder than mine."

"Oh well, it's always done that. Just when I get angry though," I shrugged. "I think Hagrid called me something before. What was that name? Morgatician? Melatonin?"

"Metamorphmagus," Jason finished for me.

"Yes! That's the one!"

The older boy looked impressed. "That's really rare."

The others at the table examined me interestedly. I was happy to see that some, like Harry and Hermione, were just as clueless as I was. "What the heck is it?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"It means you can change your appearance at will," Dean Thomas answered. I can do what?

"Try changing your hair to a random color," Jason suggested. I looked at him hopelessly.

"How?" I simply stated. He shrugged.

"I don't know. You're the Metamorphmagus," he replied matter-of-factly. I narrowed my eyes.

"I don't even know if I am a Meta-whatsitcalled!" I protested huffily. He sighed.

"Metamorphmagus," he corrected impatiently. "Just try it. Focus on changing it or something."

I closed my eyes, ignoring all of the eyes watching me intently. I pictured my hair blue and nothing but it. I felt the familiar prickling on my head, almost like bugs were crawling around on my scalp. I opened my eyes when those around me suddenly gasped, and looked around at the amazed faces.

"What? Did it work?" I asked them curiously. A couple of them smiled. I looked down at my hair, picking up a few strands and let out a gasp myself. It really was blue!

"You really are a Metamorphmagus," stated Percy, in a formal sort of voice. "Congratulations. Metamorphmagi are really very rare. It's less rare to meet one. I'm Percy Weasley. Black, is it?" He stuck out his hand befittingly.

"Yes. Lydia Black," I responded, a little thrown off by his formality. He shook my hand and quickly went back to his conversation with Hermione about school subjects. I looked back down at my hair to see that it faded back to black.

By the time almost all of the food filled the stomachs of every student, I was merely picking at my food, too stuffed to eat another bite. Soon, the desserts vanished. The hall simultaneously fell silent as Dumbledore stood once again.

"I have just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. First years, please note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And it would be best if a few of our older students remember that as well," he noted, his eyes twinkling as they rested on the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. Finally, I would like to add that this year the third floor corridor on the right side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."

I laughed nervously, as did Harry, but we stopped when we realized that most of the students weren't laughing. I leaned toward Harry. "Wait, was he serious?" Harry shrugged.

Dumbledore smiled, lightening the mood in the Hall. "Now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Pick your favorite tune and everyone join in!"

He gave his wand a little flick and reluctantly, the school started to sing. I panicked for a moment when I realized I didn't know the school song. But with the flick of Dumbledore's wand, suddenly the lyrics popped into my head. Together the school sang:

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.

Everyone finished at different times. Fred and George were last, with them singing to a very slow funeral march tempo. After everyone had finished, Dumbledore announced bedtime.

I stuck near Harry, Ron, and the newest friends I had made and sleepily followed them as Percy led us through the crowds and up the great marble staircase. The inside of the castle was as incredible of a feat as the outside. The numerous portraits that were draped along the castle walls waved and chattered amongst themselves as we passed. A few ghosts drifted by, tipping their hats to us. And finally, after a brief encounter with a rude Poltergeist named Peeves, we halted unexpectedly in front of a large, ornate painting of a robust woman in a frilly pink gown.

"Password?" she said kindly.

"Caput draconis," said Percy clearly, and the door swung open.

A large fire crackled on one side of the room, casting a warm glow over the scarlet walls. Banners embellished with the Gryffindor crest hung from the walls, and comfy looking armchairs and sofas littered the room. Polished wooden tables were set around the perimeter of the room; and from the window, something that looked like an oddly shaped American football field was visible. Quidditch maybe?

"Girls dormitories are on the right and boys are on the left. The dormitories are in order by year, so the dormitories you will enter will be the first you come to," Percy explained in a bored voice. "Off to bed now! Don't want to be late for classes tomorrow!"

There were separate rooms for boys and girls. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. I turned to Harry, somewhat sadly. "I guess we won't be sharing a room. This is the first time we won't be sharing a room since we were babies," I informed. He frowned.

"Yeah, I guess it is," he said.

I guess that meant that I would have to find some girls to room with. All of the new friends I had made were boys. I did my best to convince myself that it wouldn't be that bad, and put on a smile for Harry. I shoved him in the shoulder playfully.

"Don't miss me too much," I joked.

"At least I don't have to hear your sleep-talking anymore," he smiled. I pretended to be offended.

"Hey!"

I bid my best friend goodnight and watched as he and Ron, along with our new friends Neville, Dean, and Seamus headed to their dormitory. Looking around, I started to feel a little uncomfortable. A few more girls than boys had been sorted into Gryffindor, and I had to assume that all eight of us wouldn't fit into one room.

Four of the girls, whose names I didn't know, had already seemed to have grouped together and were leaving the common room for their dormitory. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and turned to face a sleepy-looking Hermione.

"Hello. Do you want to share a room with myself, Lavender and Parvati? We have room for another person," she offered and gestured to two first year girls near her. The two girls didn't seem to be too pleased at this arrangement.

I hesitantly nodded. "Yeah, sure. Thanks." Hermione smiled and took my arm, leading us to the vacant dormitory with Lavender and Parvati.

The room was gorgeous. It was large, with four comfy beds draped with royal red and gold covers. The beds were arranged in a semi-circle on one half of the room while the other half consisted of two giant brown dressers, meant to be shared between two people. Next to each bed was a chocolate colored nightstand.

Our luggage had already been loaded into the dormitory, one by each bed. Mine was set near the bed closest to the wide window. Between the long train ride, the excitement of the day, and the copious amounts of food I'd eaten, I was exhausted. I smiled at Crescent, perched in her cage by my bed, and she hooted gleefully back.

"She's beautiful!" admired one of the girls, Lavender, adoringly. She had been looking at me rather evilly before when Hermione had asked me to room with them, but whatever animosity she had had, it seemed to be gone now. She sat on the edge of my bed and attempted to stroke her beak. Crescent did an odd sort of happy dance and nipped Lavender affectionately.

"Thanks," I replied, with a small smile. I pulled my pajamas out of my luggage while the girls cooed over my tiny owl.

"What's her name?" Parvati chattered.

"Crescent," I replied. Hermione took a breath, and for a fearful moment I thought she'd break into a speech about the history of owls.

Instead, she said, "You should let her out to hunt. After she's done, she'll find her way to the owlery."

I nodded and picked up her cage carefully and unlatched it when the window was opened. Crescent stretched out her gorgeous black wings, hooted happily and took off into the night.

When I had sat back down on my bed, I noticed the two new girls eyeing me again. I couldn't tell if it was out of curiosity or disgust. I felt a twinge of annoyance.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" I asked, trying to keep the confrontational edge out of my tone.

Lavender leaned in closer, as if she was about to divulge some huge secret, and asked quietly, "So are you the daughter of… well, you know?"

I felt another spark of irritation. So that's why.

"What, are you afraid to say his name the same way everyone's afraid to say Voldemort's name?"

Both Lavender and Parvati gasped, hands flying to their mouths. Hermione, on the other hand, barely reacted. Like Harry and me, she had grown up in the Muggle world, so I guess she hadn't really had time to learn the fear associated with the evil wizard's name.

I ignored the shocked girls, resolving to deal with the consequences of my big mouth later. I walked out of the room to a door I had seen before, hoping for a bathroom. And a bathroom it was. I changed into my pajamas and got ready for bed slowly, hoping the more time that I took, the less chance there was of the other girls being awake. I was about to go back into the room but I hesitated and turned back to the mirror.

Concentrating on blue and only blue once more, I narrowed my eyes at my reflection. I felt the tingling on my head once more. Slowly, in the reflection, I watched my hair fade into blue. I stared at myself in the mirror, amazed. How on Earth did I manage to get this rare ability? What else could I do with it now that I knew I could control it?

I returned to the dormitory shortly after, thankfully now dark and silent, and plopped into my bed. I stared at the ceiling, clutching my necklace absentmindedly in my right hand.

Tomorrow was a big day, and I could hardly wait.

~o~